Hermione Granger and Severus Snape sat in a contemplative silence, both deep in their own thoughts.

After many minuets in which Hermione changed the position on her seat at least twenty times and Severus mentally went through all the poisons he had ever possessed, Severus said,

"It was you, wasn't it?"

"Hmm?"

"It was you who told McGonagall, that's why it was you who found him." Hermione sighed and shifted yet again, feet tucked firmly under her,

"Yes, it was me. I figured that something was wrong so, when I had to stay behind for my…detention-" She glowered slightly at the memory of the indignity, " I took the opportunity to check it out and…" She shook her head and looked down, unwilling to go on. But Snape knew what she meant.

"Why did you tell?" Hermione frowned,

"I'm sorry…"

"No! I didn't mean it like that! I mean…" Severus growled. He didn't like trying to explain things when he didn't exactly know himself, "I mean, why didn't you just walk away, pretend it didn't happen? Why did you care what happened to him?"

"Because, Professor, I am not a Slytherin." Hermione answered , almost coldly, "I, unlike some, give people chances even if they have been really evil to me before." Severus narrowed his eyes, slightly hurt by the Gryffindor's comment. Besides, his Slytherins weren't evil, they were alternative. But he chose to move on,

"He appeared to take a liking to you, Granger." Hermione shrugged,

"He's a nice kid. Shame he changed. really."

"How do you know he did?" Snape challenged, interested on how the muggle-born would respond to this. Hermione raised an eyebrow,

"Well, look at it from my point of view; he taunts me and my friends for no particular reason other to amuse himself, he goes out of his way to be horrible and he calls me a you-know-what."

"But perhaps now, you can understand a little why he is how he is?" Snape asked, almost tentatively. Hermione smiled a faraway sort of smile,

"Yeah. I guess I can."

Suddenly, the door burst open and Izzy flew in, wild eyes and flustered,

"Where is he?" she cried hysterically, "I can't find him! I can't feel him!" She broke down, falling to the ground on her knees, "Something's happened! I know it has!" She sobbed. Severus, not accustomed to having to deal with distraught girls, went by her and tried, (unsuccessfully) to comfort her,

"Ssh. It's okay." He offered feebly,

"No, it's not okay! This has never happened before! Please, Severus, tell me he's all right!" She looked up at him, purple eyes full of hope and fear,

"I don't know." He said, honestly, then recounting the whole evening to her.

At the end, she let out an anguished cry,

"No! He can't go back! Not at that age! Severus, you remember what it was like, why didn't you stop him?"

"He did." Hermione spoke for him, "But Dumbledore said that Lucius had every right to take him." Izzy looked at her quickly, clearly very surprised,

"You can see me?" She whispered, "Who are you?" Hermione gave her a strange look,

"I'm Hermione Granger. But…why might I not be able to see you?"

"Only people who Draco trusts can see me. Severus has, up to now, been the only one."

"Oh!" Hermione exclaimed, understanding creeping into her, "You're an Aengel! I've read about those." She added as an explanation. Severus rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath,

"Bloody dictionary." But the comment was a light one instead of his usual scathing remarks when referring to Hermione.

"So, you'll help then?" Izzy asked eagerly, "You'll help us rescue him?" Hermione frowned,

"Rescue?"

"Izzabella, for Merlin's sake, slow down!" Severus cut in quickly, before the Aengel went too far, "We can't just go and kidnap Draco with no grounds to base it on. We need a reason."

"Reason?" Izzy shrieked, "We have reason! You've been there! You've seen it! What more reason do you want? Please, Severus, don't leave my Draco there!" She clung to the front of his robes, purple eyes both fierce and pleading, face wet with tears of misgiving and helplessness.

The thought; 'She looks so beautiful when she's crying.' Crept, uninvited, through Severus' mind. He frowned, not knowing where it had come from but agreeing with it none the less…

He mentally kicked himself,

'Don't be stupid, Sev. She's not even human! Besides, you've got Draco to worry about first.'

"We will rescue Draco." He promised, fighting the urge to give Izzy a reassuring hug, "But just give it time. Be patient."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A/N: Hiya pplz! I hope u guys still like it, I wasn't so pleased with this chapter, but the next one's written and I like it better. (Cissy's addicted to caffeine. Heh heh…)

Hugs from Draco, Hermione, Severus or Izzy to the following wonderful People…:

Chapter 8:

Summer-Sunrise

Timemage0955

13BlackAngels

TobiasHawk13

Chapter 9:

Rockstarhobbit

Timemage0955

13BlackAngels

TobiasHawk13

Demonchildssister

Layler!

PLEASE REVIEW AND RECOMMEND!

Luv Lily xxxx