Fantasy Loremaster – Thank you so much! I love new readers! I'm so glad that you are enjoying the story and I really hope that you continue to do so!
xxx-kisses-xxx – Just for you I'm thinking of doing something in the not so distant future so that they can get some time together as humans:) Thank you so much for your review!
moonyNZ - Flint and Malcolm got away from me and started that partnership on their own I swear! So I'm just as intrigued as by what they are going to have up their sleeves. lol I know that sounds weird, but just when I think I know where the story is going to go, it somehow changes and goes in a totally different direction. Thanks for the review, I hope you will continue to enjoy the story!
dancing in rain - I have a feeling people may even come to like the guy ;) We shall have to see how evil he can truly be. Rat in a maze…that could be fun! I may just have to work something like that in there! Lol Thanks again for all your inspiration and help!
PadfootsLuvr - YES! Lol Thanks for the review! I hope I don't get too evil for ya.
Mai Gamit – lol I think there is a lot under Merlin's skin…I don't think Hermione will like much of it though. Thanks for the review hun!
The room was quiet and everyone in it seemed to just look at each other apprehensively. There had been no other abductions, but Dumbledore had put the ministry on alert and people were being warned quietly to stay within the wizarding world. Remus and Harry were both wringing their hands, knowing that soon both of them would be key in trying to retrieve the missing wizards and witches.
When Severus entered the room, he almost paused and gaped at all the expectant faces that met his arrival. Instead he continued into the room with his robes billowing and his face set in a grim sneer. He let them all suffer for a moment before speaking.
"I have the potion with me, but we need to go over some of the finer points. First," Severus looked towards Harry and Remus. "You will need to both put a hair each into the vial before you drink it. This will bind the potion to both of you. Then the person who drinks first will be the beacon, and the second to drink will be the radar. Got it?" Severus asked in a no nonsense tone.
Both Remus and Harry nodded quietly.
"Remus, I have made up several vials of polyjuice potion for you as well. They may come in handy for you at some point as I have also made another potion that will prevent you from falling unconscious. Of course you will have to pretend to do so if they try." Severus continued.
Remus nodded and gave Severus an admiring look. "Brilliant thinking Severus."
Severus seemed stunned for a moment, but then just nodded accepting the compliment.
"I would recommend you cast a concealment spell so that if they try and search you they will not retrieve the polyjuice potions." Severus said.
"I will do that." Remus stated.
"And Potter, I expect to go with you when you follow." Severus growled as he looked over to Harry.
"I wouldn't have expected otherwise Severus." Harry said.
The group all relaxed somewhat when Severus finished and Dumbledore took this time to speak up. "I trust you will all be very careful, but I have confidence in you all to save all that you are able. I just pray that we are not too late."
The group looked grim but all nodded agreeing with the Headmaster's statement.
"We can't be too late…" Harry whispered softly so that only Severus and Remus could hear. Both men looked at him but his gaze was off in the distance as his heart desperately ached for his best friend to be back with him.
To say that Hermione was shocked when the strange man entered the room after Malcolm had mysteriously left was an understatement. She immediately recognized him as the one that killed the old man and his handler and she couldn't help but recoil in fear. This one was dangerous indeed and when he started speaking to her she could hear the soothing tone and couldn't help but relax a little.
Hermione wasn't born yesterday though and this man was a killer and the enemy. He didn't flinch when that gun blew away the old man's head and only looked down upon his handler with a cold callous glare. She saw the way his eyes were, and they were the complete opposite at this very moment. He was angelic in so many ways, but Hermione knew there was a demon beneath the exterior.
When he commented on a bath, she couldn't help but feel a strong desire to soak herself in hot water and rid herself of the several days she had spent without one. She complimented the man in her mind because he knew just how to strike a woman when she was down. He was up to something, and the silver bracelet on his arm had not been unnoticed. He was indeed her new handler and she wasn't sure if she should be scared or happy.
He led her out of the training room eventually and instead of heading towards her cell, they turned the opposite direction and headed towards an elevator. Hermione hugged her wand close to her for without Sirius with her, it was her only form of comfort at that very moment.
They entered the elevator and the man pushed the second floor button. Hermione made note that there were only 3 floors to the elevator and that their cells were located on the the 3rd level. Now whether that was up or down she did not know, but she stored the knowledge away for later.
The elevator doors opened to reveal a long hallway of doors and Merlin walked out, leading Hermione along with him to the very end of the hall.
"These are my quarters when I stay at the facility. They will be yours now for the rest of your stay. Do not worry yourself, I shall occupy another room. I'm not out to bed you Hermione. I believe that you and I can be friends." He said softly as if talking to a skittish deer.
Perhaps she was a little overly skittish she thought to herself. She had yet to speak with him, but she had been gauging all of his chatter with her and knew that this man had an agenda and somehow she fit into it. What it was she had to find out though. Finally though she decided to use her voice.
"What about my dog?" She said softly.
"I will have him sent up immediately. I only wish to make you as comfortable as possible my dear. When you are in the bath I will have clothes sent for, and if they are not to your liking just let me know and I will get new items for you." He said with seeming sincerity.
Hermione was still so wary of this man, but the room when she entered distracted her. She couldn't help but gasp out loud. Walking farther into the room she saw the sunken living room with a grand fireplace placed in the center of it. The ceiling vaulted two floors up and a balcony led to what must be the bedroom and bathroom. A kitchen was off to her left and it was a grand affair. All the appliances were stainless with a huge island that had several stools in front of it.
"It's beautiful." She said softly.
"Thank you, I tried to make it as homey as possible. Now you probably have many questions to ask, but I believe you wished for a bath. Please let me show you where the bathroom is and you can get yourself all washed up while I retrieve your clothes and dog. Then after that I will answer any questions that you have." He said softly.
Hermione nodded and let herself be led once again. The two headed up the stairs and when he opened the bathroom door she walked in and looked around.
"There are assorted oils and bubble baths in the cupboard, please help yourself." Merlin said before pulling the door closed, leaving her by herself for the first time in days.
She walked towards the mirror and got a good look at herself. 'Merlin, if Harry got a look at me now he would laugh hysterically.' She thought to herself as she turned this way and that to get a good look at the outfit that Malcolm made her put on. 'To have proper clothing, it will be a dream come true.'
Hermione promptly rid herself of the offending clothing and threw them in the garbage muttering 'Good Riddance' softly to herself as she did. She grabbed a large fluffy towel and placed it near the bath while she ran the water and decided on some nice jasmine scented bath salts to soak in. Soon she was ensconced in the luxurious scent and the water soothed her somewhat frayed nerves.
She wasn't sure how long she had been in the bathtub for but the sudden thud against the door startled her and she turned in the tub to face the door. "Hello?" She called out and the responding barks and whines let her know that Sirius was here. He scratched, whined and barked at the door until she heard Merlin's voice.
"Hermione, he is rather distraught so if you don't mind me saving my door from more claw marks I'm going to let him in." The door opened slightly and then suddenly Sirius burst into the room scrabbling to gain a proper purchase upon the floor as his paws skidded against the tiles.
"Snuffles…Snuffles calm down I'm ok…no Snuffles! No!" Hermione said with wide eyes as the dog ran straight for her. Soon she was naked in the tub with a thoroughly wet dog that was licking her repeatedly on the face.
"You ok in there Hermione?" Merlin called out.
"Um, well my bath is now filled with a dog which I must say is killing the point of my bath salts. But I'm fine thank you." She gave Sirius a chastising look.
After the initial elation of being together again, both wizard and witch suddenly realized their situation. Sirius stared down into the tub, his tongue lolled out and Hermione wondered if he was about to drool. She screeched and covered herself suddenly and felt her cheeks burning furiously.
"Bad Dog! Snuffles out this instant!" She yelled and she could hear chuckling on the other side of the door. Sirius cocked his head to the side and she couldn't help but laugh as the dog winked at her and then jumped out of the tub, shaking himself so that it sent water spraying everywhere.
Hermione grumbled about her bath water being ruined and Sirius yelped when she said, "I should have you neutered for this!"
"I'll leave you two alone now." Merlin called through the door. "Your clothes have been put on the bed in the room adjoining the washroom. Take as long as you need. It is your food that is next on my list."
Hermione felt odd about the thanks that she yelled back. When his footsteps receded down the stairs she glared at Sirius. "You are so dead Padfoot." She couldn't help but chuckle softly though but soon turned serious. "I don't trust him as far as I could throw him, so don't you go worrying yourself ok?"
Sirius whined and lay down facing the bathroom door, letting her know in no uncertain circumstances that he was going to guard her with his life.
"Thank you Snuffles." She whispered and he turned to look at her once before resuming his guard duty, leaving Hermione to finish up her bath without worrying about him watching.