A/N: Goodness, I can't believe it's been thirteen weeks already; where has the time gone?

The usual disclaimer- I still don't own anything! Happy reading:)

The last week of February came and went without event, as did the first week and a half of March. Things were quiet at Hogwarts, and Hermione needed more books.

She was hesitant to ask Severus if they could go out again. While she was scared that she'd see them again, she also knew that he wouldn't want to let her leave the grounds.

That night at dinner, she was quiet; she was trying to determine the best way to ask him. He had never really lost his temper with her, and she didn't want that to change now. Severus seemed to notice that something was wrong, but she brushed him off and he left her alone.

They walked to their quarters in silence, and it wasn't until they were on the couch that Severus pressed the issue.

"Hermione, what's the matter?"

"Nothing, really."

"I don't buy that for a minute. You've barely spoken a word to me all day. What is it?"

She sighed and turned so she was facing him. "Don't get mad."

His eyebrow shot up, but he nodded. "I shall do my best."

"Well, I just… I'm bored. I've read all of my new books, so I'm rereading things now. I want to go out and get more, but I'm still scared. They probably won't even be there again, but I'm just so sick of being scared all the time. I know you don't want me leaving, but I don't know how much longer I can go without a new book, Severus."

She looked away, not realizing that she was crying until long fingers were wiping tears from her face.

"Hermione, I understand that you're scared, and I know that it is tiring. It takes all of your energy and focuses it on the worst possible thing that can happen in any situation. And I know that life without a new book is awful, as is having to reread what you've already read, especially when you remember most of it like you just read it yesterday. With that said, you are correct that I would rather you stay at the castle. I just want you safe, Hermione. But, I don't want you to feel like you have to be afraid to ask or tell me anything. You know you can always talk to me, don't you?"

She nodded her head.

"So why were you scared that I'd be angry with you?"

"Because of what happened last time. Severus, I know you just want to protect me, and I'm grateful for it, but I think I feared that you would think I was being foolish for wanting to go back out. I didn't want you to feel as if I'm taking advantage of having you with me."

"Taking advantage how?"

"I don't know, like a guardian or something. Gods, this is ridiculous."

"Yes, it is."

She looked back up at him, and his eyes were searching hers; for what, she didn't know. His face was gentle, and his soft tone eased some of her worry.

"You had absolutely no reason to be scared that I'd be angry, Hermione. You know as well as I do that you aren't taking advantage of me. My temper may be awful, but I wouldn't be upset by something so small. You know that."

"Yes, I do," she murmured.

"We'll go Friday afternoon. Is that agreeable?"

"Thank you, Severus. I'm sorry."

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead. "Apology accepted. Now, let's go to bed. It's either that or marking, and I'm not sure that either of us can deal with that at the moment, lest we set them all on fire."

As promised, they set out after the last class ended on Friday. It was comforting, and Hermione was happy to get out and see something other than the castle for once in her life. They had gone to the bookstore first, and she bought another eight books; hopefully, these would hold her over longer. Now that she'd started the fifth years, she didn't have as much time to read as she used to.

Severus had taken her to get the ice cream they'd missed out on last month, insisting that he owed it to her and it nothing to do with his 'small liking for sweets.'

It was nice to just be out with him. He made everything feel so simple and easy, and she was able to forget that she was scared for a couple of hours.

They were walking to the Apparition point to return to Hogwarts when a tall man with dark hair passed them. Hermione looked at him hard; she was almost positive it was him, but needed him to turn his head. Then he did, and damn it, it was him

She pulled Severus closer to her, trying to forget about it. He hadn't noticed her; his head hadn't even turned in her direction. He was just looking somewhere off to the left.

Severus noticed, though, and slowed his pace. He drew his wand and looked down at his witch. He could tell she was trying to convince herself that nothing was wrong, which only meant that everything was wrong.

"Hermione, is it him again?"

She shook her head.

"Then what is it?"

"It's the other one."

He cursed under his breath, and was turning to take a different route to the Apparition point when a Stunner flew past him. He pulled his wand up, found the man, and aimed an Expelliarmus his way. The wand flew into his hand, but he didn't stop there. He was so angry with this man that he didn't notice when Hermione was no longer holding his arm. His Stunner hit the man square in the chest.

Just before it had hit him, though, he'd been reaching for something. Summoning the object, Severus found that it was a flask. He sniffed the contents. Polyjuice. And this flask was familiar. It belonged to Yaxley.

Turning to look at Hermione, he froze when she wasn't there. She was just… gone.

Severus stormed into the Headmaster's office. Albus looked surprised by the outburst, but didn't say anything.

"Hermione has been taken."

Dumbledore rose to his feet immediately. "What, Severus? What happened?"

"We were in Diagon Alley. She was out of new books and wanted to go out. I foolishly agreed, even after what happened last time. It happened again, only it was the other attacker. He shot a Stunner, but I don't know who the intended target was. I shot back, and hit him. He'd been reaching for a flask, and it was Yaxley's. He's been Polyjuicing. The other attacker must have taken Hermione while I was distracted. It's safe to say that it's either Dolohov or Rookwood; my guess would be Dolohov, especially because of the Department of Mysteries failure during Hermione's fifth year."

As he finished explaining, a sudden pain hit him. He'd been distracted. It was all his fault. Hermione was gone and it was because of him. He had failed her.

"Severus, it isn't your fault. You did what you could to protect her. Neither of you saw the second attacker, correct?"

"No, we didn't."

"Then, dear boy, don't berate yourself. That will do absolutely nothing to help you find her."

Severus nodded once, turning to leave. Then he thought of something.

"Albus, they have to be working for someone. They aren't smart enough to pull this off on their own. Sadistic and vengeful enough, yes, but their intelligence lies with that of Ronald Weasley."

"Do you have any ideas?"

"I don't know who has broken out of Azkaban, or even how many. There are so many possibilities."

"I understand. Go, I'll do what I can, but I think most this will fall to you, Severus."

It was very dark and very cold. Her head hurt from where it'd hit the ground, and Hermione had no idea where she was. She was pretty sure she was alone; it was very quiet, and all she could hear was her own breathing.

Gently touching the heart at her throat, she thought of Severus.

Hermione! Oh, thank Merlin, you're alive. What happened?

I'm not sure. You were fighting and then a Stunner hit my back. It feels like I hit my head when I fell.

But you are otherwise unharmed?

Yes.

Do you know where you are?

No. It's too dark; I can't see a thing. It's cold, though.

Oh, Hermione. I'm so sorry; this is my fault. I shouldn't have-

Stop that right now! I will not have you wallowing in self-pity while you're in my head; do you understand me?

But I-

But nothing. You were doing everything you could, Severus. If anything, it's my fault. I wasn't paying attention. I was too scared.

I understand, Hermione. Please do your best to stay calm. I'm unsure if I can stop an attack through thought alone.

Hermione heard something echoing through the hallway. Footsteps.

Severus, somebody's coming! I'm scared.

It's alright, it's okay. I'm doing everything I can, I promise you.

I know. I have to go; I can't let them know I have this. I love you.

And I you, Hermione.

She pulled her hand away just as he reached her. He cast a Lumos, and Hermione could see that she was in a cell, and standing before her was the toad.

"Miss me, Mudblood?"

"Who are you?"

"I asked you a question. I would suggest you answer it," he threatened, wand in hand.

"Not. One. Bit. Now who are you and where the hell am I?"

"Wrong answer, bitch."

Hermione fell to the floor as the Cruciatus curse overcame her. She'd felt the curse before at the hand of Bellatrix Lestrange, but that didn't make it any easier. Refusing to cry out, Hermione bit down on the inside of her cheek until it bled. It finally ended, and she lay writhing on the cold, hard ground.

He laughed. "Now, to answer your questions. You're in the Master's house and, as for who I am, you'll find out soon enough."

"Who is the Master?"

Another wave of intense pain hit her, and the man laughed harder. "No Mudblood deserves to know who the Master is."

With that, he turned on his heel and left her.

She desperately wanted to 'talk' to Severus, but she couldn't raise her hand to her neck. Her entire body hurt, and all she could do was lay on the floor and try to get control of her body again.

Hermione woke to the sound of footsteps echoing again, and she forced herself into a sitting position. She was ready for the toad, but that wasn't who was at the door to her cell. It was Dolohov.

"Isn't that better, Mudblood? That's one of your questions answered."

"The toad," she breathed out.

"What did you just call me?"

"Nothing. It was-"

And Hermione was cut off by her own surprised scream. The Cruciatus curse was tearing her body apart yet again, and all Hermione could feel was the pain. The cold of wherever-she-was was blocked out; she her nerves only knew the intense agony of the curse.

When it ended, Hermione was unsure of how long it had been. She could hear the faint steps of Dolohov as he left her in her cell by herself once more.

It had been a day. Hermione had been gone for twenty-four hours, and Severus was growing increasingly worried. He and Dumbledore hadn't been able to find anything. Whoever was running this had planned it very carefully, but it was unclear what the outcome was. That was worrisome; if they could just figure out who, then it would be much easier to determine why this was being done and where.

Severus had touched his hand to the glass heart twice while thinking of his witch, but there hadn't been a response. While he knew that she may not be alone, he couldn't help but fear the worst.

He was to continue teaching; Dumbledore didn't want to alert the students that anything was wrong. Horace had learned of the situation and would be teaching all Potions classes for the time being. The staff were all doing what they could, but it wasn't much.

As far as the students were concerned, they only knew that Hermione was gone for a family emergency and that Severus had reverted back to his pre-war self. Without Hermione, Severus' temper had flared up, and he took more points than ever before.

Sitting at his desk in their rooms marking essays, he felt a light warmth coming from his pocket. He pulled the little glass heart out and thought of his witch.

Severus, please, please be there. Come on, Severus. Please. I need you Severus. It's him and I'm scared and I don't know what to do. Please-

Hermione, I'm here.

Thank Merlin! I love you so much. Please know that I'll always love you, okay?

Of course, and I love you as well, but this sounds like a goodbye.

It might be. I think I'm going to die, Severus.

Why? What's happened?

It's Dolohov. He was the other attacker. He says that they're working for a Master, but he won't tell me who it is.

Dumbledore and I suspected as much. Has he hurt you?

Hermione hesitated before answering.

Hermione. What did he do to you?

Cruciatus. Three bouts now, I think.

He didn't respond for a moment, but Hermione could feel his anger as if it were her own.

Severus?

Yes?

Can you owl Harry and Ginny and tell them what's happened?

If you would like. Hermione, we're going to find you. Have you been able to learn anything else about your surroundings?

I'm in a cell, but that's all I know.

Okay. It's alright, love. I'm here, whenever you need me, understand?

Yes, Severus. I'm so tired, and my whole body hurts.

I know, I can feel it. Stay strong, Hermione. I will bring you home.

I'm doing my best.

Okay, I'm in Dumbledore's office now, so I might be a little slow replying for a bit.

Alright.

"Severus! Do you have news?"

He told him what he knew from Hermione, and the Headmaster was very interested in knowing just how he'd gotten his information. When asked, he merely held out the glass heart, knowing that it wasn't as it appeared to Dumbledore.

Explaining Hermione's gift to him, he felt a brief panic in his mind, and it took him a moment to realize that it wasn't his own.

He's coming back. I have to go. I love you so much. Please hurry.

We're trying. I love you, Hermione.

And she was gone. He cursed, and Albus' eyebrows rose up.

"Dolohov is going back for her. I'm not sure how long it will be before she can 'talk' again."

"It definitely seems that this gift will be very useful. Try to get some rest, Severus, and let me know when you hear from her."

Nodding, Severus left the Headmaster's office. He wasn't walking anywhere in particular, and was unsurprised to find himself at their place by the lake. Sitting under the trees and facing the water, Severus allowed a few of the tears that had been building to fall, wishing that Hermione was safe again.

A/N II: Alright, well, I hope you enjoyed it. All feedback is always welcome, and I'll see you guys next week!