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Chapter 17 The Kidnap
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What do I tell him?
How do I tell him?
Oh come on Hermione, You.Are.A.Gryffindor.
You can do this!!
Oh crap, somebody help her!
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Hermione was at Hogwarts Library in the restricted section to have a quiet time to read her articles when she finally understood everything. She could do it! She could lift the curse and Severus will be himself again! All she needed to do was to concentrate hard and clear out her mind to cast the spell and that's it! There were loads of warnings about the consequences but she didn't care. All she wants to do now is to get Severus back.
She packed her bag and noticed that it was way after dinner and she really had to go back to Grimmauld Place before people start to get worried about where she was. She left a note on the kitchen table, informing whoever it was who managed to read it first of where she will be that afternoon.
Hermione set out of the library and walked towards the apparition point out of Hogwarts. When she reached the gates, she prepared herself for her departure only to be hauled back by a shadow and dissapeared along with it.
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Back at Grimmauld Place, Severus was having his usual questionnaires with the Weasley in the kitchen. With his head in both hands propped on the table, he got himself ready for a full blast headache.
"Do you remember James Potter?" Arthur asked.
"You mean the guy who looks like him?" Severus points to Harry, "No..." he answered sarcastically.
"Fine, moving on. Do you remember anything about your parents?" Molly asked.
"Yes, they got married, spent a night together and made me." Severus rubbed his temples.
"Severus you have got to co-operate with us otherwise we can't help you out!" Molly plopped herself down on the bench beside Severus.
"I'm getting tired of all these... playing twenty questions everyday when I can actually be with Hermione! She makes me remember most of my past anyways." Severus scowled.
"Speaking of Hermione, where is she anyways?" Ron asked, trying to find the bushy-haired girl.
"She left a note saying she will be at Hogwarts Library for some 'quiet reading'. She was supposed to be back by now." Ginny frowned, looking at the watch.
"When did she left?" Harry asked.
"I don't know... I think probably a few hours after breakfast."
Severus frowned. That was odd. It's already seven in the afternoon and Hermione will never be out for more than six hours or so. He felt a certain twinge in his guts and he knew something was wrong.
"No... No... " Severus stood up from his seat and began clutching his stomach. Everybody starts to tense up.
"What's wrong, Snape?" Harry asked.
"Something's... wrong. Something is happening to Hermione. I can feel it. Hermione is in danger!" Severus ran out of the kitchen and up to his room.
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Hermione woke up in an unfamiliar room, her neck feeling a little sore as she tried to sit up on the four-poster bed. Where the hell is she? She saw that the room was pastel beige with little light green patterns on it. A big wooden antique like wardrobe at the side, mahogany table under the window by her right and two doors which one Hermione presumes to be the bathroom door and one to be the exit. There were dark emerald drapes around her poster bed and windows and it was already night time when she saw the darkness looming outside, thunder and lightning being heard and seen.
Hermione didn't know where she was but she had a strong feeling that she was in a certain Slytherin house. Hermione tried to open the door but to no avail. She felt for her wand but there was nothing on her. She looked around, hoping to find a loophole and get out of the place.
"Oh, Severus please... where are you?" Hermione asked to no one around.
After pacing about the room for around fifteen minutes, Hermione sat down on her bed, leaning back on the headboard and waited. She didn't have to wait long before a small pop was heard nearby. Hermione jumped and defended herself for oncoming danger but none came. Confused, Hermione crawled to the edge of the bed and saw a small house elf. Once the elf saw Hermione, he bowed down low.
"Mips are here to tell Madam... Master will be waiting Madam in the dining room. Master insists Madam to follow Mips." The elf straightened up and held out a hand to Hermione.
"Who is your Master?" Hermione commanded harshly. Not to be mistaken but she do love elves and insist on releasing them or have them insist on having wages but she is in danger and has no interest in befriending more elves.
"Master says Master will clear everything at dinner. Madam must follow Mips." Mips kept his hand in mid air, waiting for Hermione to take it.
Hermione frowned at the elf's persistence but took it anyways. Once the elf grabbed hold of it, they dissapeared with a small pop.
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Meanwhile... at Grimmauld Place...
Severus ran down the stairs, all ready to go when he was stopped by Remus and the rest.
"Out of my way, Lupin!" Severus snarled.
Severus suddenly had a flashback of him, Remus and Sirius in an old house with his wand pointing at the both of them. Sirius was dressed in rags and Remus was behind him.
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(Flashback)
"The joke's on you again, Severus, As long as this boy brings his rat up to the castle I'll come quietly..."
"Up to the castle? I don't think we need to go that far. All I have to do is call the dementors once we get out of the Willow. They'll be very pleased to see you, Black... pleased enough to give you a little kiss, I daresay... I --"
"You -you've got to hear me out, the rat -- look at the rat --"
"Come on, all of you, I'll drag the werewolf. Perhaps the dementors will have a kiss for him too --"
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(End of Flashback)
Snape almost fell down the stairs as he shook his head from the sudden intrusion but thanks to Remus's fast reflex, he was stopped halfway by Remus.
"Severus, are you okay?" Remus asked, concerned about his sudden lapse.
Severus was looking at Remus and the others, perplexed.
"Why are you all doing this?" Severus asked.
Remus and the rest were curious about what he was trying to say.
"Doing what?"
"This... Helping me out and all even though I've been mean and nasty to you all. Especially towards you and Black." Severus shook his head.
Remus took in a deep breath.
"What makes you say so?"
"I saw... a memory. We were at this..." Severus tried to find the word, "... old house and Black was in rags... and you were there too."
Remus turned to Sirius, who was in the middle of biting his bun but faltered, and tilted his head sideways.
"In a house? The Shrieking Shack!... During our third year! That was years ago!" Harry said, looking back from Sirius to Severus.
"What did you remember?" Sirius asked.
"Something about a rat... dragging the werewolf and you to the Dementors for a kiss..." Severus rubbed his temple to relieve the pain in his head.
"Oh yeah... I remember that. You were a real bastard at that time." Sirius went back to the bun he was holding.
"Sirius!...Well... now we know that there's improvement in the daily questioning. The only thing we need to worry about now is... how do you know that Hermione is in trouble?" Remus frowned.
"There is this... gut feeling I have. I know something bad has happened and I know Hermione is in danger... and I have to find out before anything happens to her." Severus tried to get pass Remus but was stopped halfway.
"Severus, we got to take this rationally first. Harry, go to Hogwarts with Ron to see if anybody has seen Hermione there. We will wait till they come back." Remus said and gestured for Severus to follow them into the library while Ron and Harry went to Hogwarts.
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Hermione followed the elf down the stairs and into the dining hall which was really big and elegant looking. A large chandelier was above the dining table, which was filled with scrumptious food. The portraits around her were those of haughty looking aristocrats with icy glares as they watch her walk in. Seeing the rain fall out the window caused her to think of Severus. Where was he? Was he worried about her? He knew that she will never venture out longer than ever. Would he try and rescue her?
"Ah... There you are, Miss Granger. It's lovely to see you again."
Hermione turned to see her host standing behind her.
Lucius Malfoy.
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