Pain rippled through Severus' body in excruciating waves. He kept his mind focused on his anger for Hermione. How could she have betrayed him? The pain intensified and he knew he couldn't withstand it much longer. If only he could focus long enough he could Apparate away from here. If the apparition barrier was down... Damn it! He brought Hermione's face to the front of his brain and felt the familiar wash of agony. Crucio was nothing to this. He grasped on to that pain, the one that made it nearly impossible to draw breath and Dissapparated with a pop.
Voldemort screeched in outrage as Severus disappeared from their midst. His reptilian features contorted into a fearsome mask of hatred and anger as he surveyed his followers. "Which of you incompetents was responsible for maintaining the apparition barrier?"
The Death Eaters parted quickly exposing the unfortunate follower who had failed so spectacularly cowering in their midst.
"Avada Kedavra!'
The man crumpled to the ground but no one saw him hit it, their fear filled eyes were focused on their leader. "We attack tonight!"
A great cheer shook the ground.
Tonight they would have their revenge. Tonight there would be blood.
Heart thudding Hermione collapsed in a heap on the soft, wet earth outside the Hogsmead hideout where she had hidden the boys. She grinned wickedly to herself. This was going to be fun.
A flick of the wand and she was ready. The glamour was perfect, the blood even smelt real. She only hoped Severus would be feeling heroic today. "Oh Severus, I'm sorry I locked you all in a dirty shack. Please, you have to help me! Lucius made me. He threatened to kill you! I had no choice!" She ginned. Oh yes. This was going to be fun!
Albus Dumbledore was not a man prone to anger. But today he was making an exception. He paced furiously from one end of his office to the other. Hermione Granger, one of the brightest witches he had ever seen had just stolen their champion, handed Hogwarts on a silver platter to Voldemort and not even been brave enough to stay for the fight. He hoped fervently that she hadn't yet killed Severus, Harry and Ron.
The door burst open, revealing a disheveled, bleeding Severus. "Tonight. They will attack tonight." He gasped before he collapsed on the carpet and was still.