Authors note: I'd like to thanks everyone who's been reviewing this story. I appreciate every single review I get and eagerly await more. I would also like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I really hope you enjoy this chapter, because the next one is going to be a ripper.
"Remus, I need to get out. I need to get out of this place." Hermione felt strangled. She had been stuck at Headquarters for going on a month, unable to see the light of day in the dank hell hole, let alone take in a breath of fresh air.
"Dear girl, I am sorry," Remus went to put his arm around her, yet upon seeing the glare that crossed her eyes, thought better of it. "You know that if I could, I would…but I just c…"
"Get the MUDBLOOD out of MY HOUSE!" The portrait of Walburga Black shrieked. Since Snapes sudden departure the portrait started up again, though Hermione had never even considered the shrill voice's absence until it started screaming 'mudblood' into the night.
Hermione felt defeated and Remus felt hopeless in the task of trying to cheer her up. He understood too well what it was like to feel an uncontrollable presence inside him, yet, by the same token, knew that nothing he could say or do could make things better for her.
"I'll make you a cup of tea." Remus stood up and walked towards the doorway.
"Tea!? I'm sick of bloody tea!" Hermione threw her pillow at him for no purpose other then to relieve her own frustration. It didn't work. "I just want to go outside! I just want to breathe. I'm suffocating in here! I miss everything about the outside world, I miss the sun, I miss the air and I miss my friends!" In fact, although Hermione did miss all of these things, the one thing that had been driving her mad had been something entirely unexpected. Her want, moreover her need for Snape.
She hadn't seen him since their interlude at the kitchen table. He had slipped out of the house and she was met the next morning by Remus, who hadn't left her side since. Remus told her Snape had 'unfinished business to take care of' and she wasn't to 'take it personally.' As if this isn't personal she thought as she pulled the covers to her ears to let Remus know she didn't wish to see him any longer.
Truth be told, her thoughts hadn't strayed from Snape since she had accessed Gripes memory of that night. She felt a rush of unfathomable hatred seep into her with the picture in her mind of his cold, black and distant eyes. This was challenged by a feeling of overwhelming care for him that she couldn't shake off. Her thoughts always, in loud or quiet moments, strayed to Snape and that kiss.
"Look, I've told you already. I'm under strict orders by Dumbledore to keep you inside." Remus assumed an authoritative tone. He felt sorry for Hermione, but he had been trapped in the house with her too and was growing weary of her childlike antics.
Hermione stood up calmly and walked towards Remus, collapsing at his feet. "Remus, all I am asking is for one moment outside, one moment out of these walls just to regain my senses. I'm begging you, please. You can come out with me and follow me back in. I have no wand; I have no way of breaking free. One moment…please…" She trailed off, sobbing.
Remus picked her deflated frame up by her arm with ease. She was so weak and frail, having refused food for almost a week he had to practically drag her to the entrance hall. As they moved towards the portrait, it screamed with delight.
"The MUDBLOOD and the DOG are leaving! The filthy scum are going! That's it! Leave you snivelling SWINE!"
Both Hermione and Remus sensed that if she could dance, she would.
Remus didn't say a word. He simply dragged her to the front door and using his wand, unlocked it. The door flung open and the light of day filled the room. The portrait was cackling as Remus let go of Hermione, allowing her to step out into the crisp, cool air of early spring. Hermione gave Remus a quick smile before squinting into the light, stepping with care onto the front porch. She looked towards the sky, and with a deep breath and a large smile, she disappeared.
When Hermione opened her eyes, she found herself standing in a nightgown, barefoot and entirely out of place amidst a crowd of wizards. Noting the surrounding shop windows and highly flustered crowd, she deduced that she was in Diagon Alley. But how? She wondered, as she swatted her hands on all sides of her, bumping them into things and people, making sure they were real. I must be dreaming.
After being noticed by one too many witches and wizards that looked as if they had just turned the corner from Knockturn Alley she ducked between Magical Menageries and Gambol & Japes to scan the crowd. The first thing she noticed about the crowd was their complete lack of interest in any of the shops, in fact, it seemed as though they were all focussed on something directly in front of Gringotts Wizarding Bank. The crowd were pushing towards the spot, all on their toes seeking a good look. Hermione peered around the corner of Magical Menageries to get a better look, but was suddenly knocked about the ankles by an angry looking House Elf who took absolutely no notice and continued steadfast towards the illusive spot.
The crowd was already loud, but suddenly a deafening roar came about from them, and not a happy one at that. The crowd jeered and booed and hissed for what seemed as long as Hermione could bear until an ear splitting sound came from the bank to which everyone fell dead silent.
You have all heard about the sudden crisis.
Hermione recognised the booming voice straight away to be that of Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic. A voice Hermione had become a little too familiar with over the past few years.
Rest assured there is absolutely nothing to panic about. We have the situation well under control.
The crowd started yelling and hissing, and again came the cracking of the ear drums.
Now, now please, calm down. The escapees will be detained soon enough. We have our best Aurors on hand. It will only be a matter of time.
"Yeah, a matter of time till we're all DEAD!" A large wizard with a deep voice shouted dramatically from the audience while they all concurred with sporadic cries and jeers.
Hermione wasn't sure what to think. Who's escaped? She figured they must be wizards of some power and importance to stir up a crowd such as this. It must be new news too she thought, as it seemed it was a general assumption that if such news came with morning toast, most Wizarding families would have stayed home that day. Hermiones curiosity got the better of her, and she decided to brave the hostile crowd in order to at least get a glimpse at Fudge.
She shoved her way through the crowd, feeling an old strength in her. Her normally polite manner had vanished replaced by an intense need to find out what was going on. The muffled voice of fudge came through the crowd.
Now, now, let's not refer to them as 'Death Eaters', they are merely…
She pushed her newly thin frame further through and managed to almost get to the front when she felt her nightgown being tugged at. This made her fall backwards into somebodies arms as she twisted and tugged to get away from them. When she eventually stopped, exhausted and smothered by the mob around her, she looked up to find a set of unmistakable, glaring eyes peering down at her.
Without a word Snape pulled her out of the throng and marched towards Knockturn Alley. Throwing her down recklessly onto an old stack of the Daily Prophet, he turned away from her angrily. "What the HELL are you doing here!?" Snape had officially lost his cool.
"I…" Hermione started.
"Don't!" Snape swung round with dagger eyes. He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her further into Knockturn Alley, which was noticeably silent and still. "I do not want to hear your damned excuses!" He spat as he roughly let go of her arm and began to pace. "I could kill Remus! How could he be so STUPID!? I knew that mangy dog hadn't changed!"
"He only let me outside!" Hermione spat back, staring at him with contempt.
"He only let you outside, HAH! He let you disapparate!"
"But I didn't…"
"Of course you did you stupid girl, how else could you get here!?" Snape ignored Hermiones protests as he pulled her into Borgin & Burkes, which was open, yet completely deserted of wizards, including the store owner. He conjured a stool and sat her down on it, conjuring another for him. He seemed to refuse to let go of Hermiones arm, squeezing it so tight it began to hurt her.
"Ow!" She pulled her arm away which made Snape clench even tighter.
"Oh no, I am not stupid, I will not allow you to go anywhere." Snape seemed distressed, constantly looking around him, sweating as if he wasn't sure what to do. "We are first going to have a small chat," his voice calmed a little, "and then we will pay a visit to Dumbledore. I'm sure he'll have a lot to say to you."
Hermione looked at Snapes sweaty brow and felt his heart pump through his hand. She knew something big was going on and she could read all over Snapes normally calm face that he was frightened. Hermione felt compelled to comfort him, to hold him and to keep him safe but instead she turned her eyes away and stared at the filthy floor below.
"What do you know about today's events? What did you hear!?" Snapes voice was hushed.
"I…I…"
"Speak, girl, speak!" Snape shook her as if to wake her up.
"I heard prisoners escaped, that's it, that's all I know."
"You don't know who?"
"No." Hermione lied.
"Are you sure!? Are you absolutely certain you didn't hear anything, perhaps in passing?" Snape looked at her with wide, eager eyes.
"Yes, I'm sure."
Snape looked relieved and loosened his grip. Without a word he stood up, pulling Hermione with him and with a turn and a crack, they were gone.