Chapter 15: Taken

A paradoxical psychological phenomenon wherein a hostage expresses adulation and has positive feelings towards their captors. These feelings are generally considered irrational in light of the danger or risk endured by victim who, who essentially mistake a lack of abuse from their captors as an act of kindness.

Irrational belief.

Hermione Granger was said to be the smartest and most rational being of those around her, so it didn't make sense that she, Hermione Granger, could ever succumb to such an irrational belief, such as those which led to Stockholm syndrome. Surly it was a mistake. A clever trick of the mind, perhaps, because it just wasn't possible for Hermione Granger to be victim to such feelings.

Yet in the moment she saw him, there was no questioning her feelings.

Memories flashed before both of their eyes of the year they had spent together. Her words echoing in both of their minds.

"You play games with them." She whispered. "You show them a little bit of hope before shattering their faith in mankind. You abuse them with your words. You use violence to make them succumb to your will. You manhandle them when you feel like it. You rape them. Beat them. Curse them. But for some ridiculous reason, they learn to love you. The man that treats them like whores who aren't worth the dirt on the bottom of his shoes. The man who took them from their homes and tortured them nearly to death. They love you because you're all they know. Then you reject them. You mercilessly take away their hope, their love, their dignity. You take everything from them. They lose their sanity. Lose the will to live. Then they become like walking zombies. So you get bored and dispose of them."

"And which part of that scares you the most?"

He had done just that to her. They both knew it. He beat her. He raped her. He showered her in gifts. He opened up his heart to her. He loved her. Then, he let her go.

"And which part of that scares you the most?" The words echoed in her mind again because now she fully understood which part she truly should have been scared of: falling in love with her captor.

She had so many questions for him that her mind could barely focus as he took his lips away from hers. Where had he been this whole time? What was he doing? Why was she here? Why did he kill all those people and burn down his childhood house? What did he want from her? Did he find out about her secret? Did he still want to kill her? But she asked none of those questions.

"You broke your promise." She stated instead. His face remained cold and impassive as he continued to stare at her.

"No, I didn't." He finally replied.

"You said you wouldn't come looking for m—"

"Velia." He finished. "I promised Velia I wouldn't come looking for her."

"But—How did you find out?"

"Severus. He told me he knew the whole time." It was quiet as those grey eyes searched her soul. "The whole time you were right there in front of me. The bane of my existence."

Hermione's heart hammered underneath her chest. She knew that deep down inside that she should be screaming or running or trying to get away somehow, but she couldn't. She was too curious to see what the man who haunted her dreams had in store for her. She couldn't help but have these strange feelings for him.

"I drove myself crazy thinking about you. Waiting for you to show up unannounced and finish the job you had been attempting to complete for so many years. And here you are."

She had sent dozens of aurors to find him in the six months she was made minister. He was a threat to their new society. If he could kill those Deatheaters the way he did without any remorse, or better yet, if he was able to defeat Voldemort, then who was to say he wouldn't also try to control the world like Voldemort did. He needed to be found and locked away to ensure the safety of the people. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't find him. It was as if he disappeared off the face of the earth.

"So, what now?" She whispered.

"I'm taking you. This time I'm not letting you go."

Supershort? Yes. I apologize, but I've just lost my muse for this story. I did my best to finish it and that's all I can give you! Hopefully everyone enjoyed it. There won't be any sequels.

Thanks for being a loyal reader!