A/N; Thank you, all my lovely readers and reviewers!!

Hermione took a deep breath and ran her fingers through her hair. It was useless to cry, she needed to be strong now. Standing up and straightening her dress out, she began to walk back towards the castle. Just before she got to the front doors she took out her wand to get rid of the marks on her dress. Looking at her arm she noticed it was red where she has been grabbed by not only Snape buy Malfoy as well that night. She held out her wand to it wondering if Slytherin boys were aware of their own strength. A blue glow rested on her arm for a second before it was gone, the burses along with it.

Hermione shook her head and walked back in to the hall. She didn't notice that whilst she was out side she was being watched, she still didn't notice when her stalker followed her back inside. A confused expression on his face. Did he just hear what he thought he heard? If he had heard correctly, not only was Snape double crossing Voldemort and his father, but the little Mudblood was in on it too.

Draco scowled after Hermione, it didn't matter though who was double crossing who, it would all end tonight anyway.

IIIII

Inside the hall Hermione spotted Ron and Harry and made her way over.

"I tell you its creepy" Ron was saying

"What is?" Hermione asked joining the conversation

"Snape" Harry said frowning, "Ron recons he's in love with me"

"What?!" Hermione laughed spitting out the mouthful of pumpkin juice she had attempted to swallow.

"Didn't you hear his speck?" Ron asked, "He was talking about Harry, he must love him".

"What on earth makes you think that?" she asked genuinely surprised.

"The whole I'd die for you thing was pretty much a giveaway" Ron argues back.

Hermione just rolled her eyes, "he want talking about you Harry" she said simply.

"Who was he talking about then?" he asked.

Hermione narrowed her eyes thinking, she knew he was talking about her, but she couldn't tell Harry and Ron that. They would think he was in love with her, and he most definitely was not in love with her. "He was being figurative" she said, "The 'One' he was talking about was the student body as a whole" she rolled her eyes at the boys, "Jeeze do you think Snape would be that nice to anyone in particular, especially you Harry?"

"Suppose not" he agreed.

"Besides you know he hates us three, what would make you think he loved you?" she laughed

"The whole die for you thing" Ron said as if it was obvious.

"Ron you are incredibly thick" she rolled her eyes, "stop putting ideas into Harry's head".

Ron blushed and turned to take another swig of his butterbeer hiding his face. Shaking her head playfully Hermione sighed, it was the moments like these she would miss. She couldn't even say goodbye to either of them, if they knew they would inevitably stop her. And that would inevitably get Snape killed, she couldn't do that. Sure she could risk her own life but that was different. She was almost one hundred percent positive that Snape would protect her. Almost.

"I'm gonna call it a night" she said looking at her two best friends.

"Hermione no" Ron protested.

She just looked at them; they knew it was no use trying to convince her otherwise.

"Ok we'll see you in the morning then" Harry smiled and gave her a hug.

"Night 'Mione" Ron said.

Shaking her head at the use of that nickname she turned to leave, she needed an early night. After all it could be her last; shaking that thought from her mind she made her way up to the common room.

IIIII

Severus paced his study, he couldn't do it. Take miss granger to almost certain death. Had it been potter or Weasley then perhaps, but he would not waste her life. Not when he considered it to be a too valuable thing indeed.

Taking a breath and composing himself he left his private chambers, he would have to find her to tell her that it just wouldn't work.

The first place he thought of was the Gryffindor common room, he knew she wasn't outside anymore, he had watched her leave. He quickly made his way up the stairs, his paces twice those of someone walking at normal speed.

"Password" the portrait sung out to him.

"I don't have the password" he said angrily, "can you just tell Miss Granger that I want to speak with her".

"I'm afraid not" the fat lady replied.

"Look I'm a professor, you will do as I ask" his acid voice demanded.

"I know who you are" the lady said calmly, "and if she were inside then I would gladly inform her, but I'm afraid Miss Granger has not returned".

Severus stared daggers at the infuriating woman in the frame, "fine" he sneered before turning on his heel and heading down to the hall.

So she had returned to the ball then, obviously she wasn't too upset, he thought to himself as he rounded the corner to the great hall. As he passed by one of the corridors he had the sudden feeling of being watched. Years of spying had heightened his senses to these sorts of things. He immediately slowed his pace. Who would be watching him? Looking down the corridor a pair of grey eyes flashed back. Draco Malfoy. Why would he be watching so intently?

Curiously Severus changed path and made his way over to the blonde boy. "May I ask what you are doing roaming the halls alone Mister Malfoy" his silky voice purred.

Draco just glared at his professor with the uppermost disgust. A crash from behind suddenly startled both men out of their staring match.

"What was that?" Severus asked.

Draco just smiled, seeming to know more than he was letting on. Deciding he had the upper hand, Draco uttered just one word, "traitor".

Severus cocked his head to the side slightly, confusion and disbelief flashed over his eyes, what did the boy know? Suddenly his eyes opened wide in understanding. Draco knew, he knew of his spy status, he knew of…of Hermione!

"Where is Miss Granger" Severus suddenly asked panic cursing through his veins.

Draco smiled sinisterly at the older man, glad to finally have one over on him, "why" Draco said innocently, "I don't know".

Before Severus had time to react any further a louder crash was heard. This time half of the great hall came out to see what was going on. Slowly Severus turned around running toward the crowd gathering outside the doors of the hall.

Most of the students thought he had gone mad, seeing their potions professor running at them full speed. They didn't see the fear in his eyes.

"Get back inside" he shouted taking out his wand.

Scared, most of the students ran back in, thinking he had gone mad and was about to hex them all. Harry and Ron however knew differently. Both boys took out their wands and ran towards their potions master.

"Where's Hermione" Ron demanded pointing his wand at the advancing man.

Severus stopped dead in his tracks, "she's not in there with you?" he asked outraged.

"No" Harry frowned also pointing his wand at him.

Suddenly Dumbledore appeared out of the hall along with McGonagall at his heels, "Severus please explain" the headmaster asked somewhat calm.

Severus' eyes just widened in warning, "Draco Malfoy knows" he said simply, "it's happening, tonight."

Albus Dumbledore paled, "and Miss Granger?" he dared to ask.

Severus just looked at the older wizard, fear and panic threatened to devour his features.

It worried the headmaster that he had not seen Severus like this before.

Suddenly a scream sounded from the landing above, Harry and Ron darted off up the stairs in an instant. Severus made a move to follow but the Dumbledore held out his arm.

"Take care, do not do anything rash. Draco Malfoy is still a student" was his simple warning before removing his arm and letting Severus follow on up the stairs.

A sudden burst of red light, lighting up the downstairs corridors alerted the headmasters' attention away from Severus and toward a crowd of cloaked figures advancing on the great hall.

Fury like never seen before on such an old man flashed behind those half moon spectacles and he too took out his wand and stepped forward.

IIIII

Severus rushed through the corridors. Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. His feet carrying him where his mind no longer had control.

A loud buzzing noise was all he could hear, drowning out all other sounds of screaming and explosions in the background.

At the back of his mind he recalled learning that when a person heard that buzzing, it meant some of the cells in their ear were dying off. It created a pitch and tone that they would never be able to hear again. He didn't have time to enjoy the sound however, a brilliant flash of green light lit up the area in front of him.

The buzzing still continuing he stepped into the scene witnessing, Potter with his wand pointed at a nearby Death Eater.

Pointing his own wand to deflect a curse that was headed for Weasley, he sent a splicing curse in the direction of Avery.

"You" Ron said pointing at him angrily, "you knew something was going to happen, you know something about Hermione".

"I don't have time for this Weasley" Severus simply said stepping over the body of the Death Eater and rushing off up the stairs to where the screams were coming from.

He didn't know what drove him on, he couldn't explain it. Hermione was in trouble and he blamed himself. He needed to find her, to protect her. To lock her in the god damn tower if it meant her safety.

Looking behind him he saw two Death Eaters headed in the opposite direction to the rest, deciding that was his best bet he followed on.

"Lestrange" he shouted, as he got close enough to see who it was.

"Severus, why aren't you in your robes" the man asked.

"I had no time to change, I'm sure the Dark Lord won't mind me being in my formal attire" Severus snapped.

"I see, look Lucius has some girl we'd better go" Lestrange said before turning to follow the other Death Eaters path.

Severus felt his entire body go cold, the ringing in his ears came back, he could see Lestrange shouting at him, but he couldn't hear a word. He felt himself lose balance. Lucius had her. It was all his fault. All he could do was watch as the Death Eater in front of him stood frantically waving his arms and shouting in vain for Severus to follow, but he couldn't move. He just stood there as still and as cold as stone. That was until Ron Weasley caught up with him and shot a stunner between his shoulders. And then his world went black.

A/N; Review, or I'll send a plage of caterpillas after you ;P