Fighting that urge to run she ventured forward towards a small cave in the rock face close by, so that she could shelter from the growing winds and decide what to do next. It was a shallow little cave but it provided some escape from the elements. Plus, it made her feel a little less exposed to the outside world, which was an added bonus considering that she was currently somewhere that was strange and quite alien to her. She had figured out so far that she must be in that alternative plane that had been described by the Runes back in the library. The creature's prison. Only now of course that demon and her minions had found some way to escape from the bounds that held them to this world…Hermione was starting to regret not thinking this plan out more thoroughly.

For one thing, she was all by herself and the creature had already bested her and Severus twice. If there ended up being a third time it could be fatal for them both. Secondly, she had absolutely no idea were Severus really was. She had a vague idea from her dream that he was somewhere in the tower, but she was by no means certain of the exact location. Then again she also knew that she couldn't leave him now. Hermione lent against the rock face while pondering what to do. However as she lent back she heard a low, scraping sound from behind her and jumping back in shock she watched as the supposed back wall of the cave opened up to reveal a dark passageway. The first thing she did was look around to make sure the noise hadn't attracted any unwanted visitors. There was nothing nearby. 'I wonder where this leads to…' she thought to herself. Hermione realised that the passage could in fact lead to the tower itself, which would be a lot better and probably much safer compared to simply walking through the front door of the demon's lair. Then again, it might not. But she didn't have any other plan. Lighting her wand she took a deep breath and stared cautiously down the narrow passageway. She paused. Then she thought of Severus and what would happen to him if she didn't go down that passageway. Hermione shook her head and stepped into the gloomy passage. The thought of Severus was the only thing that kept her going now.

………………………………...

Severus was staring at the brick wall opposite him when he head footsteps outside his cell. He had a plan this time. Now he was stronger, this time when the goblin-like thing came back to collect his plate he would find some way to attack it. He guessed he would have to resort to a muggle's style of fighting, but Severus felt this was necessary as he figured that if he stayed much longer in this tiny cell he would go completely and utterly insane.

Now he could hear a jangling of keys again. He tensed, ready to spring. He could hear voices. A woman, who sounded angry. She shouted something. He couldn't make out what was said. There was a resounding crash. Then the door creaked slowly open. Severus froze in shock as he realised who it was.

It was the creature. Any hope that Severus had for escaping evaporated into thin air. The creature laughed menacingly.

"So, we meet again…" she said quietly, leaning against the door frame. Her red eyes gazed at him both mockingly and triumphantly, as though he was some strange and pitiful animal she had captured, but there was also an undercurrent something else... he knew better than to try and run away. He watched as she moved away from the doorway, towards him. He tore his eyes away from her for a second as he saw outside in the corridor that the same goblin creature that had given him food was now slumped on the floor. There was blood dripping on the ground beside his head and Severus guessed he was either unconscious… or more likely dead.

"I must apologise for not coming sooner, I've been very busy indeed." that cruel smile played across her lips once more as she appreciated some private joke of hers. She followed Severus's gaze to the door. "And I see you've met my former jail keeper. I did warn him not to give you any food, such a shame he didn't listen…"

Severus finally found his voice. "What do you want from me?" he whispered hoarsely. It was the first time he had used his voice properly in days.

The demon raised her eyebrows in surprise. "What do I want from you? Well I thought that was obvious." she laughed again, and walking over she crouched down beside him. "You're very special, very special indeed."

"I…I don't…I don't understand." his voice was barely audible. He wanted to move away but her piercing gaze paralyzed him.

"Haven't you ever wondered why you are more powerful than the average wizard?" she reached up with one of those skeletal hands and stroked his cheek, smiling softly. He flinched, the iciness of her hands chilling him to the bone. "Why you can do things the others cannot…" Severus was too scared to reply. "You see, you are in fact a descendant of the very fools that trapped me here in the first place. You're blood is rich with their magic. So very, very rich…" She murmured the last words almost to herself. Then she trailed her hand downwards to his neck. He felt the coolness of her touch in stark contrast to the burning of his wound. In the mist of his currently chaotic mind he vaguely realized that he still didn't know how exactly he had acquired the wound in the first place…

"You're blood, it gives me power, more power than I had ever imagined." he could feel her breath on his face as she spoke. She smiled slowly, seductively. He could see her teeth and they were deadly sharp. A fear like none other pounded in his veins. He could feel the cadence of his heart that was beating furiously against his ribcage. He started to panic and tried to pull away, but it was in vain. Her death-like grip stopped him from moving. "Don't worry," she whispered, "You are far, far too valuable to die," she bent her head down towards his neck and so very tenderly she sank her fangs into his soft neck.

……………………..

Hermione had continued through the passage and so far her only encounter had been with a rather large black rat. Fortunately it had seemed more scared of her than she was of it, and it had scurried past her before she could do anything about it. After a tense time of walking she had eventually reached a small wooden door. The hinges were severely rusted and it was covered in dust as though it had not been used in a very long time. She was extremely frightened. What about the creature? What about Severus? Was she too late?

Pushing these thoughts to the back of her mind, she reached out and tried the handle of the door. To her surprise the door opened easily, and thankfully it made very little noise. Stepping through the door she found herself in a dimly lit corridor. There were some torches in brackets but they provided very little light. Hermione continued slowly up the corridor, constantly on guard. The only noise she could hear as she walked was the echo of her own footsteps.

Finally she reached an other door and when she opened it she jumped back in shock as a black shape came pelting towards her. Without thinking she cast a stun spell at the thing and knocked it out, only to find that it was in fact yet another giant rat. 'Poor thing,' Hermione thought rather guiltily, and stepping around it she entered the next corridor. This one was shorter and she could see a door on one side. As she continued forward she felt her stomach twist as she saw a dark shape lying on the floor. She ventured forward and felt some relief when she saw that it wasn't Severus. However the sight of what seemed to be a freshly dead goblin felt rather ominous and the sight of the blood made Hermione feel very sick. She looked around but the door on the right hand side seemed the only way forward. She tried this door but unlike the other two it turned out to be locked. However she tried the Alohomora spell and smiled slightly as she heard the lock click in a satisfying manner.

She pushed the door open. Suddenly, she gasped in horror as she saw the very thing she had been dreading. Severus was lying sprawled out on the floor of a tiny cell, and he wasn't moving.

"No!"

Hermione ran over and knelt beside him, putting her hand on the side of his neck to check for a pulse. He was still alive. "Thank God!" She whispered. Lifting her hand from his neck she noticed there was blood on it, but she ignored it and put both her hands on his extremely pale face.

"Come on Severus," she whispered desperately, shaking slightly. "Wake up… Please."