A/N: All reviewers said yes so far, so here's the next chapter. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Asked if I could have them, she said no. Darn.

Chapter 2:

"What do you mean she's not here?"

Severus' voice was low and menacing as he addressed Ginny in the doorway of her flat. He had come by to check on Hermione after giving her a couple of day's to cool off after their last argument. He thought by now she had come to her senses and would be preparing to move in with him at the castle. He didn't expect what he found instead.

"Just that Snape, or can you not understand English? She's. Not. Here. The end." Ginny's tone was every bit as menacing as Severus'. She was going to stick to her agreement with Hermione, even if he threatened her.

Hermione had received her letter from St. Mungo's the day after their argument. It stated they would gladly transport her to a patron field to help with her healer training. She had left that afternoon by port key, and not even Ginny knew what field they sent her to. Both girls figured it would be safer that way so that Severus couldn't even use Veritaserum to find out where she'd gone. Hermione didn't want him to have any way to find her once she'd gone.

"I realize how very childish this question is going to sound Miss Weasley, but is she going to be back soon? I have something I wish to discuss with her." Severus prayed that she'd just gone shopping or something of that sort, and that his gut feeling was completely wrong. Surely she wouldn't really have left without informing him first.

Ginny knew that telling him the exact reason she left would probably enrage him beyond control, so she only told him the half truth. "She came home all angry the other day. Wouldn't tell me why. She sent a letter off to someone then left the next afternoon. I have no idea where she's gone." Ginny didn't tell him it was her idea to leave, or who the letter was to. She figured the speculation would keep him busy for a while. She could imagine that he was the type that would go storming into St. Mungo's demanding to know where they'd sent her.

"If she contacts you would you be kind enough to inform her that I'd like to speak with her as soon as possible?" Snape's cool demeanor completely masked the rage building up inside him.

"Sure will. Can't promise you when that will be though. Sorry I couldn't be more help Professor. Have a good evening." With that Ginny shut the door in his face with a sharp click. 'Oh you better believe I'll tell her, Snape. And I really don't think she'll be as anxious to speak with you as you are with her.' She thought as she headed to the bedroom to get ready for work.

Severus' mind was reeling as he walked toward the Three Broomsticks. 'Does she think she can just leave me without a word? What the hell was going through that girls head? Maybe I should have told her the only reason I wanted her at the castle was for that apprenticeship with Madame Pomfrey. Why does she have to be so hot headed all the time?' he was thinking. He had himself so worked up by the time he reached the pub that he almost terrified poor Rosemerta as he barked his order for the all you can drink Firewhiskey special.

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About that same moment Ginny was arriving at the Ministry of Magic where she worked the night shift as a security guard. She showed up an hour early so she could catch Harry and Ron before they went home for the evening. They had been in on this since the beginning and she wanted to update them on Snape's visit.

Nodding to the secretary as she walked past, she headed straight for the door with 'Head Auror' shining on it in gold lettering. Both Harry and Ron had become Auror's after school, and both had worked their way up to top positions. Rapping loudly she opened the door and let herself swiftly in. She loved to make grand entrances that way because she thought it was fun to watch Harry's face color up when she bounced in on them so suddenly, and to make Ron jump so hard he would almost always fall off the sofa he'd been reclining on.

"Bloody hell Ginny, why do you always do that?" Ron asked as he picked himself up off the floor. "The bruises from last time were barely starting to go away."

"Sorry Bro, I guess I just like to enter with a bang, literally. Anyways, I just came to tell you guys that Snape came looking for Hermione."

"He did?" Harry almost looked excited at this news. "How did he take it?"

"Pretty well from what I could see. He told me to tell her he'd like to speak with her, if she ever contacts me. He left after that. I kind of left him something to ponder though. Thought it might keep him busy for a little while at least."

"What's that?"

"I told him she had sent a letter to someone the night before she left. But I didn't tell him who it was to. Thought that might throw him off for a bit. As long as he doesn't know who that letter was to he won't know where to start looking for her."

"Good thinking Gin. But how do we know he'll even try to look for her? He might just lay back and wait for her to return." Ron looked at his sister quizzically.

"I don't know about that. It seems this argument they were having was over him being too possessive and controlling. Knowing how he is with stuff like that he'll probably go through any length to get her back. But then again we'll just have to wait and see."

Ginny glanced at her watch, then stood up and smoothed her shirt front. "Well my shift starts soon and I need to do some stuff first so I'll leave you two to it. Toodles." And with that she left.

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Back at the Three Broomsticks Severus was working his way through his ninth bottle of Firewhiskey. He'd never been a heavy drinker. The most he'd ever had at one time was about four. But as he sat here with the thought of Hermione leaving him on his mind he wasn't paying any attention to how much he was drinking. Consequently, the longer he sat there the less rational he became. Pretty soon he began scheming in his mind completely pointless ways that he could find her. This soon became plans such as charming his socks to walk him to her (seeing as he couldn't walk very well by this time).

About midnight Madame Rosemerta came to tell him that they were closing. He had gone through fifteen bottles and was tottering on the edge of unconsciousness. As she helped him out the door to where a couple of school house elves stood waiting for him, he suddenly stopped and screamed loud enough for the whole village to hear " I'm going to find her and drag her home by her hair if I have to!" After that he passed out.

A/N: Well there ya go. We'll see what Hermione's up to in the next chapter. I need some ideas on where to send her though. Any body wanna help me out?