Hermione awoke to the sound of a female voice and then the voice of the man had haunted her nightmares.
"No, I don't think Severus knows yet. She was unconscious before she had time to scream" Said Andreas.
"Good." Said Lucius to Andreas.
He then walked over and placed his long pale fingers up against the bars of the cell and gazed down at Hermione. "I see you are with child, dear Hermione. You know that is my child you carry and I will get her. You don't deserve to have Malfoy, you are dirty, vile and tainted. I can't even look at you."
He turned to look at Andreas again and snarled. "Watch her!"
Hermione raised her head slowly and looked around, terrified. She didn't recognize where she was. She was in another cell with iron bars but it wasn't at the Malfoy Manor. She was lying on a cold dirt floor and the walls looked crumbling and ancient. Tears filled her eyes.
"I wondered when I could catch you all alone, sweet Hermione. You don't know how much I watched you, waiting for you to leave Severus' and Potters sight. But you never would, and then I had to deal with that disgusting redhead drooling all over me." Said Andreas viciously.
"Where am I?" Hermione whimpered. She reached up and touched her necklace as a shock of understanding hit her. She could tell Severus where she was, but she didn't want Andreas to notice.
"Do you think I'm going to tell you, you filthy mudblood bitch. You're going to rot here. No one is coming to save you this time." Andreas spat at her.
Hermione looked away and pretended to dissolve in tears as she crawled into the dark corner where she was slightly less visible. She turned her back to Andreas and whispered Severus Snape parco mihi ex periculosus. Hermione felt as if a spark wave shot through her body and she visible jumped. Andreas looked at her suspiciously for a second and Hermione feigned another bout of tears.
Andreas snorted with disdain "Are you scared mudblood? I would be too. I know what Lucius has in store for you."
Hermione felt cold dread flood through her body. What if Severus didn't arrive in time? What tortures did Lucius have in store for her this time.
Severus was just about to go and see what Hermione was up to as she had been gone to the bathroom for quite some time, he thought she might be sick, when suddenly his body went rigid. He collapsed to the floor as images flashed through his mind. An old derelict building in the countryside, Hermione sobbing on the floor, Andreas Brusselle laughing ruthlessly at her, Lucius pacing outside, the country around the building that he recognized from his days as a deatheater……
Molten panic overwhelmed him and he clutched his stomach to keep from being sick.
"Hermione! HERMIONE! WHERE ARE YOU!" He knew it was no good and apparated immediately to Hogwarts where he was pounding on the Headmasters door in seconds. Dumbledore's face turned paper white as Snape explained the story.
"We don't have time to call help from the order. We will have to do without. I'm going to go fetch Harry and Ron. They will be able to help, believe me." Dumbledore said, and was off quickly, his blue robes trailing behind him. Severus paced Dumbledore's office trying to wrestle down his barely under control panic. Minutes later Dumbledore arrived back at his office with Harry and Ron. Both of them looked grave.
"Hermione had been taken captive by Andreas Bruselle who is operating under instructions from Lucius Malfoy" Dumbledore said sadly, looking particularly at Ron.
Ron had turned pale and had a sick look on his face. "I can't believe it…..I trusted her. It's all my fault this happened to Hermione….."
Dumbledore placed a hand on his shoulder "No one is at fault here Mr. Weasley and it will not help Hermione to more and blame yourself when she is in need. We have to pull ourselves together and help get her back."
Ron still looked pale and disgusted but he finally shook his head in agreement. This was for Hermione.
Harry nodded in concordance, his face set and Severus had to admire his stark determination. "Were ready." He said.
"Okay Severus." Dumbledore said. "Tell me exactly where Hermione is."
"She is at an old abandoned building near Aberdeenshire. I believe you know the one it is Headmaster?" Severus said.
Dumbledore's face had turned into a mask of fury "Yes, I remember it all too well. We must get going immediately. I can't risk these two (he pointed at Harry and Ron) apparating there when they don't know the exact location. I can make a portkey. He grabbed a ceramic dragon off his desk and whispered "portus". It glowed blue for a few seconds.
"Okay" Dumbledore said and then he turned to look seriously at Harry and Ron "You must promise me you won't do anything rash. I know you are angry at Lucius but you must remain calm and use your senses. I trust both of you to do that and follow me and Severus' orders."
Harry's face tightened but he and Ron both nodded there heads.
"Very well" Dumbledore said. "On the count of three touch the portus. One. Two. Three."
They all three placed a hand on the portus and felt the soaring sensation before landing roughly on a grassy hill beside an old abandoned building.
Severus had to restrain himself from bursting right in there and throwing killing curses at everyone he saw, but he didn't. He had learned first hand from the death eaters, that to achieve something, you had to work in stealth and secret.
Slowly, all four of them crept up to the side of the building where Severus knew Hermione was being kept in the cell. He knew there was a side door that would lead them into the hallway in front of it and he quietly lifted it open to reveal Andreas Brusselle's fair face. She opened her mouth in an "Oh" of surprise before Dumbledore cried fiercely Petrificus Totalus and she collapsed to the floor. Ron stood and stared at her, a look of pure loathing written across his normally kind face. Severus ran to the cell door and opened it quickly enveloping Hermione in his arms. He kissed her bruised face, tasting her salty tears and smelling her sweet hair. "Oh my love, I was so worried something had happened to you. I am so sorry this happened to you. I should have been here."
Hermione just sobbed into his shoulder, his musky scent enveloping her in warmth and security. Seeing his face and feelings his touch told her that she was going to make it out of this. "Oh Severus, you are here. You are here."
Severus pulled away slightly and put his arms around her to lead her out. As he stepped outside, Lucius Malfoy appeared, his face twisted and white with fury.
"Dumbledore!" He cursed.
Harry and Ron had both there wands pointed at Lucius face and Harry said "You fucking bastard. Don't you dare touch Hermione again. You're through with now. I expect a little kiss will be waiting for you."
All four of them were grouped around Hermione shielding her from Lucius. "You can put down your wand now Lucius. You are outnumbered." Dumbledore said calmly.
All of a sudden before anyone could stop him Lucius pointed his wand at Hermione and shouted Crucio. He missed her small form my inches but the force of the spell threw her backwards and she collapsed forcefully onto the ground, cracking her head. Severus let out an inarticulate scream of rage and said what he had longed to say to Lucius for years Avada Kedavra. Lucius was not ready for it as he had been busy laughing at the fallen body of Hermione. He was hit right in the chest and collapsed instantly, dead before he hit the ground.
Severus didn't even look back at Lucius. He was by Hermione's side in seconds. He gathered up her unconscious form and turned to Dumbledore.
"Take the portkey back to the castle. We will deal with Lucius body and then apparate back." Said Dumbledore, his face showing a rare trace of fear as he looked down at Hermione's body.
Severus didn't hesitate and grabbed the portkey, him and Hermione instantly arriving at the gates of Hogwarts. He ran as fast as he could to the hospital wing where he arrived panting in the doorway.
Madame Pomfrey looked up and immediately ran to his side "Oh my lord, what has happened to her Severus?"
"Lucius was took her, he tried to curse and she collapsed and hit her head." He relayed, panic flowing through his body, clouding his senses.
Madame Pomfrey told Severus to lay Hermione down on an empty bed and immediately set to work, Severus hovering over her, praying silently to whatever Gods would listen.
Thirty minutes later Madame Pomfrey looked up. I think she may be alright Severus. She had hurt her head badly but I see no lasting damage. Thankfully the baby was not harmed either. Both of them had the Gods looking after them today. I have given her a sleeping potion to make sure she doesn't wake up too soon. Her body needs time to heal and I don't want her awake to agitate her wounds.
Severus collapsed against Hermione's bed, not caring if Madame Pomfrey was looking. He took her cold hand in his and pressed his lips against it. Relief was buzzing through his head and now he truly knew how lost he would have been without her. Without her, he would have had no reason to live anymore. You can't give a man a taste of heaven and then take it away and expect him to forget about it.
Meanwhile, Dumbledore, Ron, and Harry had just arrived. They had called the ministry to deal with Lucius' body and Andreas Bruselle, who it turned out was not seventeen like she claimed to be, but actually 23. She had been working undercover for Lucius at Hogwarts.
All three of them were now on the way to the hospital wing to see how Hermione was doing. They opened the door to find Severus lying beside her sleeping form.
"Is Hermione okay?" Asked Ron, his eyes emanating raw concern.
"She will be fine. Madame Pomfrey has healed her. She has been given a sleeping potion and now we just have to wait for her to wake."
Dumbledore smiled and said "Alena Fulgencia-Latrice must have been looking over her today."
Harry went over to Hermione and whispered to her "I'm glad your okay Hermione, you're my best friend and I don't know what I would do without you."
Severus had never truly understood before then, the power of the trio's friendship but now he did. He still despised both Weasley and Hero-boy, but he now had a fraction of respect for both of them because they were there for his wife when she needed them.
Harry and Ron left after a while, leaving just Severus there with Hermione. He lay down on the remaining space of the bed and took her hand in his. He drifted off to sleep and has a very unusual dream in which a woman came to him.
He was standing outside, underneath the full moon. The air was warm and sweet, with a light breeze playing around his face. He saw a woman walking towards him. A beautiful woman with long inky black hair, flowing purple robes, a fair petite face and cherry red lips. Her eyes were enchanting and danced with happiness as she looked upon him.
When she opened her lovely mouth and spoke, her voice seemed to weave patterns and melodies through the air, tickling him and touching his thoughts. She cried with pure radiant joy "Severus Snape. You have made me happy beyond words. You have protected and cared for the woman that I blessed with your child. You're soul is pure and your heart is teeming with love for Hermione Donum-Unus."
She then spread her arms wide and laughed, a mystical enchanting laugh. She placed her hands on either side of his face and kissed him gently on the lips. He felt as if life was flowing from her mouth into his body.
"There Severus Tener-Unus I give you a gift also. Now you will never leave her alone. Stay with her forever. She loves you beyond words."
He looked up in fascination to find that she was already gone and a soft "Severus" was pulling him back out of his dreams. When he awoke, he felt more alive than he ever had in his life. Energy was coursing through him as he looked down to find Hermione staring at him.
She gasped "Severus, what happened to you?"
He looked at her in alarm. "What do you mean?"
She reached up to touch his cheek, her face shining with wonder. His face was smooth and young, his hair was shining with youth and vitality. He looked like 20 years had been knocked off of his age. "You look different…..you're face is younger….what happened?" She repeated.
Realization suddenly dawned on him and he jumped up to find a mirror. What he saw shocked him. He saw the face of himself at twenty years old staring back at him. He looked down at his arm and saw the death eater mark was gone. He yanked off his shirt to reveal his smooth, muscled chest…..free of scars.
He ran to her side and took her hand in his as he whispered "Alena Fulgencia-Latrice visited me in my dreams last night. She thanked me for loving you and protecting you. She then kissed me and I felt as if life was flowing into me. She called me Severus Tener-Unus and told me she gave me a gift also. She said now I will never have to leave you alone."
Hermione looked at him, marveling at how this mysterious woman had touched her life in so many ways. She reached up and placed her fingers on his soft lips "She gave you youth. Now you will never grow old before me." She leaned up and kissed him softly. Hermione looked down at her stomach and said "So our baby is alright then?"
Severus pulled up her nightgown with his artistic hand and kissed her round stomach gently "Yes, she will be fine. She wasn't harmed in any way. Oh Hermione….my love. I am so happy you are here now. Hermione Snape…..you are my everything. You don't know how many dark thoughts, unbidden came into my mind at the thought of losing you or our baby girl. Lucius is dead you know, I killed him after he tried to harm you. Andreas has also been taken to Azkaban……"
"Shhh. I don't want to talk about this awful day anymore. I am here now and I will never leave again." She placed her hand on top of his on her stomach. Thank you for saving my baby Alena Fulgencia-Latrice and for giving me everything I have ever wanted.
Author's Notes: Please Review