Hey all sorry for the delay. Thank you for the reviews and your patience.
Chapter 20: Snape to the Rescue
---------------
Hermione shivered slightly from where she sat on the floor of the cell the death eaters had thrown her in a few hours ago. Harry lay unconscious next to her, his muscles twitching slightly from being crucified just an hour ago.
"Har…Harry?" She called shaking his shoulder carefully.
Harry moaned at the touch, turning away from Hermione's hand almost violently. "It's ok…Harry….it's just me." Hermione whispered scooting closer to her friend.
"'Mione is…is that you?" He asked in a soft voice.
Pained emerald eyes opened to look dazedly around the small cell that they were locked into until they came to rest on Hermione. He gave her a weak smile as he struggled to sit up. Immediately Hermione went to his side, carefully helping Harry to sit up and lean against the wall.
"I feel like I was run over a truck." Harry joked half-heartedly.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't doubt that." She muttered wrapping an arm around her friend's shaking shoulders.
"How long have we been here?" He asked.
Looking around Hermione only shrugged. "We don't have a window." Is all she said
"I wish Snape would get us out of here." Hermione whispered.
Harry nodded in agreement. "Being rescued by Snape would be better then staying here with these blokes." He said with a smirk.
Time passed slowly as the two sat in their cell huddled together for warmth and comfort. Every once in awhile a death eater would pass by on their rounds through the dungeons, throwing insults at the two teens through the magically enhanced bars of the cells.
Since they had no way of telling what time it was Hermione could only guess it was early evening when a death eater came to a stop in front of their cell. The death eater glared at them behind his mask.
"The Dark Lord is in need of your presence." The death eater growled in annoyance as he began to mutter the charms to unlock the cell.
Pointing his wand at the two he moved out of the cell door. "Get to your feet." He ordered.
Obediently Hermione and Harry staggered to their feet to follow the dark wizard down the damp corridor. Hermione shivered faintly hearing the sounds of torture echo through the chambers they passed. The masked wizard jabbed his wand sharply into Hermione's back pushing her forward.
"Watch it." Hermione snapped irritated with being pushed around.
The death eater jabbed Hermione harder in her back causing her to stumble.
"You ok?" Harry asked quietly as he grabbed her arm to steady her before she fell.
Hermione nodded grasping Harry's arm as they were pushed down the corridor. What little light that was lighting the corridor Hermione spotted a large mahogany door at the end of the corridor.
The huge doors opened on their own accord revealing a vast chamber dimly lit by torches on the walls. Hermione glanced around the room seeing the inner circle of death eaters gathered around the back wall. Placed against the other wall was a throne like chair in which Voldemort himself was sitting in idly twirling his wand between his long pale fingers.
Harry was gasping in pain through clenched teeth as he stumbled along beside Hermione. A horrible feeling developed in the pit of her stomach as she looked up defiantly at dark lord.
A cruel and truly evil smile appeared on the snake like face as the evil wizard rose gracefully from his throne still twirling his wand lazily.
"Harry Potter…how nice of you to come." Voldemort said
Emerald eyes glared at red ones. "Like…I had…any choice." Harry retorted.
"Do not talk back." Voldemort barked pointing his wand at Harry. "Crucio"
Clenching his teeth Harry bit back a scream as immense pain hit him. He sank down to his knees still clenching his teeth shut.
"Stop it!" Hermione cried.
Voldemort glared at her. "Silence you insolent witch." He ordered turning his wand on her. "Crucio" He hissed.
Immense pain filled her body as she too fell to her knees before the monster. Harry reached out and discretely squeezed Hermione's hand.
Rough hands pulled the two teens to their feet. "Luciussss…" Voldemort hissed to a cloaked death eater to his right.
"Yes my lord?" The death eater asked coming out of the ring of wizards.
"What should we do to these two children that cause me nothing but trouble?" He asked lazily.
Malfoy sr. bowed his head. "I know not my lord?" He answered respectfully.
At the answer Voldemort sneered pointing his wand at Malfoy. "Cruicio"
"Severusssss…"
Hermione's head shot up and looked around to find said man coming out of the inner circle.
"Did you bring me what I asked?"
Snape bowed low. "Yes my lord." He said holding a vial of black liquid above his head.
"You have done well Severussss." Voldemort was quite pleased.
Kissing the hems of the monster's robes Severus thanked the dark lord. The snake-like man turned to his faithful. "It is time to get rid of the enemy most dangerous to us."
The inner circle cheered at the announcement. "Silence"
Hermione stared at the kneeling form of Snape willing him to look up at her. But she knew he wouldn't.
"Severusss do usss the honor." The dark lord hissed.
Snape bowed his head. "Yes my lord." He responded.
Rising to his feet Snape approached to the two teens trying to wrestle out of the death eaters grasps. Hermione was terrified. In a few short moments she and her best friend would be dead.
The potions master stopped in front of them and nodded to his fellows who forced open Harry and Hermione's mouths. Long white fingers popped the stopper out of the top and lifted the vial to Hermione's mouth pouring half of the contents into her throat.
Ice cold thick substance ran down her throat as her mouth was held shut. It felt like a slow agonizing death, Hermione could feel her heart and breathing rate slow as darkness started to close in on her. Beside her Harry was screaming, calling her name.
Hermione's body went limp and the death eater's holding onto her let her drop unceremoniously.
Harry fought against the wizard that held him steady, rage coursing through his sore body.
"How…how could you. She trusted you." He screamed.
Snape glared down at the boy. Uncorking the vile again Severus was about ready to pour the contents down Harry's throat when there was a loud explosion off one of the deserted corridors.
Red silted eyes glared in the direction. "What wasss that?" Voldemort roared. "Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle go investigate."
"Yes my lord." The three murmured together as the charged down the dark corridor.
Voldemort watched them go before turning back to Snape. "Severuss… Wormtail. Dispose of these." He gestured towards the two children.
Severus grabbed up Hermione as Wormtail forced Harry to his feet and dragged him towards the dungeon corridor. Before they reached their destination a robed figure appeared in front of them and two stunning spells were cast at them.
----------------
"We have a traitor on our handsssss…" Voldemort hissed to his followers who circled before him.
Severus was being assisted by Lucius as their master spoke. "Peter Petigrew has betrayed his master. He has escaped with the blasted children leaving a fellow…" He gestured to Severus. "To suffer the consequences."
Voldemort turned his red eyes on the potions master. "Severussss…you have proven your loyalty time and time again. I send you to find Wormtail and bring him back along with Potter to be dealt with."
Bowing the best he could Severus whispered, "Yes my lord."
"Go now my faithful servant."
Turning stiffly on his heel Severus quickly left the layer making his way to the apparition point.
-------------
Arriving back at Hogwarts Severus all but ran to the Hospital wing. In the far corner of the room the last two beds were occupied.
"Severus I am glad you came back to us safely." Albus said from where he sat between the beds.
Severus wearily sat down in an empty seat watching the rhythmic breathing of the teens. "Do you need the usual Severus?" Poppy asked coming over to check the potions master.
Waving her off Severus closed his eyes thankful that he had not suffered from the crucatius curse.
"The Dark Lord believes Wormtail escaped with the two." Severus spoke softly. "He sent me to find them."
Albus looked worried as he contemplated what the future held for his two boys. In the bed next to Severus, Hermione began to whimper in her sleep. Severus unconsciously leaned forward and grasped the girl's hand whispering comforting words to her.
Hermione slowly opened her eyes confusedly. "Am….am I alive?" She whispered.
"Yes child you are alive." Albus responded the twinkle in his eyes returning.
Thinking about it for a moment Hermione scrunched her face in confusion. "But how can that be?"
Severus stood and began to pass the length of the two beds. "The Dark Lord ordered me to make a poison that would kill you and Potter. Instead I made a potion that makes it appear you were dead for a short time."
"Oh…" Hermione said. "Is Harry ok?" She asked looking over at the bed where he lay.
Dumbledore nodded with a smile. "Get some rest Miss Granger." He rose from his seat and walked out of the hospital wing.
Hermione settled back into the pillows and looked back at Severus. "Will you stay till I fall asleep?" She pleaded quietly.
Severus sat back down in the chair next to her bed and took her hand. "I will stay here as long as you wish."
Smiling Hermione closed her eyes. "Thank you."
-----------------
Hey guys I am so sorry for the long wait. I've been so busy with school and work that I've had no time or energy to write anything I hope you like!