Draco, Blaise, Hermione and Harry were running into the Great Hall from the common room. As soon as Harry and Hermione had burst into the dormitory, a magnified voice belonging to Dumbledore declared that everyone had to report to the Great Hall immediately. When they got there they were surprised to find their names hovering over their usual seats in a silver glowing script, so the four split off and sat with their houses instead of with each other. That would be way too suspicious anyway.
Harry and Hermione sat down next to Ron who was really confused by the look of it. The hall was full of chatter from the students, wondering why they had been summoned all of a sudden. Soon the older students started to notice Snape wasn't at the heads table.
"Guys, do you have any idea what's going on?" Ron asked, looking flabbergasted. They had all just left the hall as dinner had just finished, why were they being called back? It was not even fifteen minutes later. Harry held up a hand silencing him and Hermione gave him a look clearly to say 'shut up!' Ron looked offended for a second and then focused his attention onto the teachers table. He was just about to complain about Snape not being there but obviously Hermione had seen it coming and smacked on the side of his head before he had a chance to speak. She then put her finger to her lips and 'shh'ed.
As the last of the students arrived the silver of the last name disappeared and Dumbledore took note that everyone else was here. He stood up addressing his students.
"It has come to my attention that Professor Snape is not on Hogwarts grounds. Without informing anyone prior to his obviously hurried departure, it is clear it was not voluntary. Has by any chance, Professor Snape contacted anyone in this room before dinner today? That is when it seemed he disappeared." Professor Dumbledore announced, looking at blank faces, not that many people looked affected by the Professors dissapearance.
"Very well then, all report to your dormitories, anyone out of bed will have detention with Mr. Filch." He knew he was being harsh, especially as Filch looked rather happy, Mrs. Norris purring at his feet. "But could the following people go to my office immediately, Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy, Miss Parkinson, Mr. Weasley, Mr. Zabini, Mr. Crabbe, Miss Granger and Mr. Goyle. Mr Potter could you go and get the 'map' please. Thank you." He walked away out of the back door leaving the student to file out.
Ron looked at Hermione and Harry about to ask questions but they both just brushed him off. "We'll explain later, Ron." Hermione said dismissing his inquiry and craning her neck over the students trying to spot Draco and his friends.
"I'll be back in a minute, guys, just getting the map."
"What does Dumbledore need the map for?" Ron asked and Hermione almost banged her head on the table at his stupidity.
"Harry, don't go on your own!" Hermione gasped, grabbed his sleeve hurriedly and wove her hand in the air at the direction she could see platinum blonde hair. In less than twenty seconds they were surrounded by Slytherins. Hermione let go of Harry.
"Blaise, go with Harry to get the map, can't have Harry Potter wandering around on his own." Blaise didn't argue he just followed Harry out the room, wand in his left hand preparing to defend his boyfriend.
Ron and Hermione stood awkwardly staring at the Slytherins in front of them; they had kind of formed a 'V' defence structure, Draco standing at the front. "We best get going, come on." He walked off leading the way to Dumbledore's office, everyone in silence until they reached the statue.
"What's the password?" Ron said looking around at everyone. Hermione shrugged, she didn't know.
"Mars Bar." Draco said from beside her smirking and watching everyone file up. "We we're all just here earlier, how could you not remember, that memory of your failing honey?" Draco asked innocently as they walked up the steps behind everyone. The tone was slightly tormenting but she could tell he was only playing. She blushed as he slyly held her hand up the stairs. Hermione was sure she was going to cardiac arrest when he had called her 'honey'.
As they arrived in the office they found that seven chairs were surrounding Dumbledore's desk in a circle, the desk had been cleared and there was a pot of tea and several cups there. And of course, lemon drops. They all sat down waiting in silence for Dumbledore and for Harry and Blaise to return with the map.
Soon Ron noticed that Hermione was sitting really close to Draco and he was sure he was holding her hand. He stood up and leaned over the table and he was right.
"Hermione! Don't hold that ferrets hand?" He yelled, arms flying madly pointing at Draco. Draco didn't like to be pointed at.
"Problem, Weasley?" Draco snared, spitting the word 'Weasley' like poison. He stood up to his full height of 6 foot 2 inches, a little smaller than Ron but he was still intimidating with the full Malfoy sneer in place. Hermione ignored the fact she felt all tingly being on the protected side of that smirk. She pulled him down by his sleeve and he fell back into his chair glaring at her then folding his arms in a mood.
"Ron, Draco. Don't fight!"
"Hermione! What's got into you?"
"You know what's got into me, now leave it!" Hermione glared at him across the table, holding onto the edges so hard her knuckles were white.
"Hermione, cats out the bag! Pansy, I'm seeing Granger, Crabbe and Goyle that means Hermione's my girlfriend, Weasley, that means she's not yours and won't ever be! Okay? I'm glad we cleared that up!" Everyone in the room looked shocked apart from Ron who looked completely fucked off.
"Well, I don't like him." Ron said childishly.
"Good, I don't want you to like me, your names not worth shit on my shoe!"
"Draco!" Hermione yelled, smacking the side of his head hard. He winced and shut up.
"Well… I hate you." Ron muttered his expression a permanent frown. "Even if she loves you, I hate you."
Draco smirked and leaned across the table. "Love me or hate me, it's still an obsession, love me or hate me? That is the question, if you love me then, thank you." he winked at Hermione then turned back to Ron. "And if you hate me then… fuck you." Ron turned bright red even to the tips of his ears.
"How creative." Pansy muttered back, she had come around from shock now, Crabbe and Goyle were still processing the equation of Hermione Granger + Draco Malfoy = Girlfriend + Boyfriend. "Draco, now answer me this, what the FUCK do you see in that Mudblood?" Pansy was over the shock but not the anger.
"Pansy, really, don't ask me things like that it's personal."
Tingle.
Swirl.
"PANSY YOU BITCH YOU JUST ACTIVATED AN EXPRES… She ain't got no money, her clothes are kinda funny, her hair is kinda wild and free, Oh, but love grows where Hermione goes! And nobody knows like me!" Pansy smacked her head with her hand, great… now to try and snap him out of it.
"Earth calling Draco!" Pansy yelled frustrated, Ron looked like he was just about to eat Draco alive.
"She never talks lazy, and people say she's crazy, and her life's a mystery! Oh, but Love grows where Hermione goes! And nobody knows like me!"
"Oi, Dray!" Goyle clicked his fingers in front of his face but Draco seemed to have zoned out with a loving expression on his face, giving him the appearance of a love sick teenager.
"There's something about her hand holding mine, it's a feeling that's fine, And I just gotta say, she's really good at magical spells, and it's working so well that I can't get away!" He sighed love sick.
"Finally, he shut up," Pansy muttered darkly.
"I'm a lucky fella, and I've just got to tell her-"
"That's it! I'M GUNNA KILL HIM!"
"Weasley don't you dare!" Pansy seethed at him. Hermione though it was nice Pansy was defending her friend even though she didn't agree with what he was going. "Because I wanna do it!" Or not, Hermione rolled her eyes. Ron and Pansy started fighting in the corner.
"That I love her endlessly, because Love grows," Draco was cut off when Hermione grabbed him by the tie and kissed him shutting him up. Ron and Pansy looked as if they were going to throw up as Hermione and Draco made out the other side of the table.
"Mr Malfoy, Miss Granger, although a lovely expression of feeling that is not appropriate," Dumbledore said as he walked in followed by Harry and Blaise who closed the oak door behind them. Dumbledore waved his wand and cast a silencing charm on the room.
"Okay, is everyone comfortable? Help yourself to refreshment." he looked around at everyone, trying to smile at the seven students but seeing their grim faces there was no point pretending. "Okay, to the point then yes? Professor Snape is missing and I really have no idea where he might have gone. But I do suspect, there had been a breach of security, Severus would never leave without informing anyone of anything." Draco and Pansy nodded knowing Snape very well.
"So I called you here to ask for a second opinion." Pansy looked shocked at this and almost choked on the tea she had just poured.
"I was just in Severus's quarters, all his belongings are there, including his wand, which I have now, and there was no sign of a struggle or anything like that. But I do believe he was taken because of these soul expressions. Miss Granger and Mr Potter were both supposed to be cured today after dinner and that was when Severus went missing, along with any traces of the cure."
"Harry had an expression?" Ron spoke calm now, more curious and confused than anything else.
"Apparently it was caring." Draco snickered. Typical Potter.
"Yes, but now we've got the matter of a Malfoy, the smartest witch in the school and Harry Potter in soul expressions, I believe someone from the outside cast the expression to make weaknesses on the most valuable students." Dumbledore thought out loud. Blaise looked guiltily and Pansy glared at him, daring him to tell. He took a deep breath.
"It was me."
"Sorry? Mr Zabini?"
"I put the expression on Draco so he could fall in love and wouldn't turn out like his father I didn't know it would reflect." Dumbledore put his cup down and massaged his temples thinking. "Very well." He wasn't heard though because Harry had stood up and started yelling at Blaise.
"IT WAS YOU! OH MY GOD, YOU ARSE! I WAS WALKING AROUND PRACTICALLY SUICIDAL THINKING IT WAS ME AND I'D BEEN POSSESSED BY VOLDEMORT OR SOMETHING AND IT WAS YOU PLAYING MATCHMAKER!" Harry yelled at his shocked boyfriend.
"Mr Zabini, ignore him, it's the potion talking." But Blaise didn't ignore him he let the words sink in then he burst out crying. Harry seeing what he had done started to panic.
"Oh Blaise, no don't cry!" But Blaise continued to cry into his hands. Harry looked panicked.
"See what I mean about the crying thing, he NEVER used to be like that, bet he's got an expression too." Draco whispered to Hermione before turning to Harry. "Potter move, swap seats with me."
"WHAT NO! Blaise, I love you, I'm sorry don't cry!" Harry said flapping his hands about not knowing what to do. Ron sat staring turning slightly green as his brain slowly worked out what was going on.
"Potter, move by Hermione, NOW!" Draco said standing up and walking around the table then pulling Harry out the way forcefully as he sat in his place and hugged Blaise who started crying to his shoulder and whispering in his ear. Draco rubbed his back understandingly.
Ron glared daggers at Harry, Hermione and Harry looked jealous, Pansy looked pissed off in the Gryffindor direction, Crabbe and Goyle looked confused and Dumbledore ate a lemon drop.
"Harry, are you sleeping with that Slytherin?" Ron hissed under his breath even though it was clear everyone could hear him.
"Yes, he is actually." Pansy declared.
"Draco, are you sure you and Blaise don't have-"
"GOYLE, WE DON'T HAVE SEX!" Now that got Hermione and Harry annoyed and they stood up abruptly and started yelling, Blaise cried harder and Draco whipped out his wand at Ron who called Blaise disgusting. Harry also defending his boyfriend beat Draco to any injuries as he punched Ron in the Jaw, Hermione screamed, Pansy laughed, Goyle kicked him and Dumbledore sang. Yes that right, he sang, quietly at first then gradually louder, still at in his chair sipping his tea.
"Oh happy days, oh happy days, when Jesus washed, oh when Jesus washed, he washed his sins away. Oh happy days! OH HAPPY DAYS!" Everyone stopped one by one and looked at the old man as if he was mad. "Now, have you all finished hurting your friends yet?" Everyone looked guiltily around and sat back down. "We were talking about Severus, you know? That potions master! The one's that missing! I'm disappointed in you! I thought I told you seven to look after each other." A mumble of 'sorry' could be heard from around the room.
"Now as we was discussing, where was we?"
"The potion Blaise made."
"Oh yes, well seems Mr Zabini made the potion and spell then it seems I was wrong, but does everyone agree the Professor could have been taken because of that." Everyone nodded.
"Well, first things first," Harry said standing up and pulling the map out of the back of his trousers and handing it to Dumbledore.
"Oh yes, had forgotten, memories not what it used to be."
"What's that?" Said the Slytherin boys.
"This is by no means to be repeated to anyone." Dumbledore said staring pointedly at each Slytherin in turn. "This is the Marauders map and belongs to Mr Potter here, it is, simply speaking; a map of Hogwarts, a very useful map. Would you like to do the honours Harry?" Harry and Dumbledore opened the map together, it almost filled the whole table and people had to pick up cups and put them on top of it. Harry whipped out his wand and Blaise and Draco looked alarmed for a second but it disappeared as soon as they watched him tap the map.
"I solemnly swear I am up to no good." A huge smile broke out on Blaise and Draco's faces as they watched tiny lines form into words and everyone leant in and read.
'Mssrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs proudly present: The Marauders Map.'
'Mr Moony would like to say there had been strange occurrences.'
'Mr Padfoot would like to agree with Moony.'
'Mr Prongs would like to inform you a certain Snivelling Slytherin was suspicious.'
"Snivelling Slytherin?"
"Harry? Since when does the map so this?" Hermione asked shocked.
"I put a progress spell on it, it tells me anything that shouldn't be able to happen in Hogwarts like if someone had apparated, or people going into the wrong houses, or people going off grounds, thought it would be helpful."
"Yeah, but 'Snivelling Slytherin'?" Pansy asked.
"Snape, they used to call him Snivellus."
"Who?" Draco asked pushing the matter; this thing had to be made by geniuses.
"My dad, Sirius black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew." Draco took it back. Great! Voldemort's right hand man, a werewolf, a murderer and a dead guy. What a lovely bunch of people! And he still wasn't sure why they had called it a map though, all it did was speak. Kind of.
"Harry read!" Hermione hissed as more writing appeared. They gathered around again, Dumbledore reading upside down.
'Mr Wormtail would like to put in account of 3 unknown people arriving into the building.'
'Moony agrees it's very strange indeed'
'Because then: SEVERUS ACAYON SNAPE, POTIONS MASTER OF HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY, SLYTHERIN HEAD OF HOUSE, ORDER OF MERLIN 3RD CLASS' disappeared off the premises when walking to the hospital wing.'
'Mr Prongs would like to remind you this is Snivillus.'
The writing disappeared and then suddenly Draco understood why it was a map, and some map it was! It had the entire castle on there, secret passage ways, passwords, and even people were marked. He watched the Slytherins walking around in the common room, and stared at Theodore, who was in the dormitory as usual.
"Poor Professor Snape! Who would do that?" Hermione asked shocked leaning against Harry who put an arms around her.
"In any other world you could tell the difference and let it all unfurl into broken remnants. Smile like you mean it and let yourself let go. 'Cos it's all in the hands of a bitter, bitter man
Say goodbye to the world you thought you lived in. Take a bow, play the part of a lonely lonely heart. Say goodbye to the world you thought you lived in. To the world you thought you lived in."
"Although highly endearing Mr Malfoy we don't have time, I'm sure your referring to Voldemort." Harry was surprised to see no-one wince as Dumbledore said this.
"That's the one, couldn't get my words out." Draco said.
"Well, that is certainly a huge possibility. Oh hang on; Mr Puse is out of bed. Mr Weasley fire call Professor McGonagall and inform her that Mr Puse is on the fourth floor corridor heading for the Ravinclaw common room." Ron nodded and stood up.
"Why is he out of bed? He's knows someone's went missing, is he mad? He could be seriously hurt!" Hermione fumed.
"Hermione, calm down." Draco whispered across the table looking her straight in the eyes. She instantly felt soothed.
"So, questions still open. One, where is Snape? Two, How did he get out? Three, who were those three people? It's obvious who he was taken by isn't it?" Pansy said, starting to get into it, it had finally clicked that Professor Snape had been kidnapped and there was no point sitting and moping about it, something needed to be done. Ron shrugged as he sat back down next to her.
"She's gone to get him now." Dumbledore nodded and continued watching his students, he didn't want to lose any of them, and he'd never forgive himself.
Harry nodded agreeing with what Pansy had said a moment ago. "Another question standing though, why does he need me and Hermione to be weak? Whoever stole the potion would know Draco can't be cured till he fell in love with Hermione, well hopefully they don't know it's Hermione…"
"We know what you mean Harry." Blaise said standing up and walking around the table and then sitting on Harry's lap and hugging him, Harry wrapped his arms around Blaise's waist, Hermione took this as her chance to sit back next to Draco.
She went to sit in the chair but he pulled her on his lap, she smiled buried her head into his shoulder.
"Why is it important that me and Harry are weak?" She said into his cloak.
"Isn't it obvious?" Came Draco's voice from beside her. "You are the golden team, you fight evil, it's what you do, if you're likely to start writing all over the walls in an attack on Hogwarts then you can't help defend, especially Potter. If Potter's defenceless the light side might as well surrender right here and now."
"What about me?"
"What about you Weasley?" Draco said darkly, a hint of disgust in his voice, he could adjust to Potter and definitely to Hermione, but he would never like a Weasley.
"Why haven't I got a soul expression then, I'm part of their little hero thing."
"Dunno, it was an accident who got expressions remember."
"Well there taking advantage of what they know." Goyle said still staring at the map.
"And," Said Crabbe. "There's a traitor among us." That got everyone's attention. Dumbledore looked up.
"The only people who know about the expressions are you eight, myself, Professor Snape, and Minerva."
"And Arazona." Draco thought out loud, stroking his fingers over Hermione hands that were held in his own.
"Who?" Ron spat rudely.
"Snape's wife."
"Snape has a wife?"
"He is human you know!" Pansy said elbowing Ron. He mumbled something that sounded strangely like: 'Who would want to marry grease?' This time Blaise elbowed him. Dumbledore stared at Ron over his half moon spectacles and he immediately stopped moaning. "Has anyone told anyone else?" Pansy continued, she looked so tired and mad at everything. Everyone shook their head no.
"Well, there is certainly a traitor at Hogwarts and they are not in this room. You eight have to protect each other, do not fight, you need each other more than ever." They all nodding understanding, they were reluctant but they knew it was true.
"Well, I would say that's enough excitement for tonight, I'm going to give you all a dormitory to stay in together, I don't think anyone with a soul expression is safe right now." Dumbledore skimmed the map with his finger then stopped above a room in a tower in the west wing of Hogwarts on the sixth floor. "Ah, Cronan Tower. I think this dorm here will be sufficient. Passwords on the map, change it when you get there, I don't want to see you until breakfast unless of an emergency. Goodnight children."
"What, is that it?" Harry said shocked. "What do we do about Snape?"
"We will discuss this further in the morning I will arrange to have your things moved to you new tower, I hope you will continue to look for people with soul expressions." Everyone was too tired to argue. Well, or so Dumbledore though. He folded up the map, handed it to Harry and bid them all goodnight.
On the way there everyone agreed to make a truce, after all, Hermione and Draco were already together and Blaise and Harry, it was just Pansy and Ron that needed to made amends with everyone. And thankfully they all agreed.
When they got there it was a huge portrait guarding the tower, it was a cartoon of the Hogwarts badge, the Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravinclaw and Gryffindor animals all lounging in the giant crest. The lion was asleep with the snake on top of its head, the badger was on its back snoozing and in the curve of the Ravinclaw crest, and the Raven was perched on top of the crest. And underneath the it was a baby dragon who was sleeping with fire shooting out of its mouth now and then.
Hermione looked and Draco and smiled. "Can I call you Dragon?"
"What, no?" Draco said looking alarmed.
"Why? That's your name isn't it?" She smirked; he must stop doing that around her.
"Yeah, but…" he protested.
"Please?" Oh… my… god… Hermione Granger was giving him puppy dog eyes, he was turning into goo on the floor she was making his knees so weak, he was sure of it.
"Moving on swiftly before I am sick, what's the password Harry?" Predictably this was Ron.
"Never tickle a sleeping Dragon." Everyone looked strange at Harry as the portrait opened.
"What should we change it too?" Goyle yawned.
"Let's keep it!" Pansy piped up.
"We can't, it's too obvious!" Hermione stated, did they want themselves to get murdered in their sleep?
"How is that obvious?" Ron argued siding with Pansy and not realising it.
"It's the school motto!" Hermione said through gritted teeth, was everyone here challenged when it came to knowing things?
"No, it isn't!" Crabbe was confusing himself.
"Yes it is, doesn't no-one speak Latin?" Hermione asked as if it was the simplest language in the world. "Draco Dormains nunquam titillandus is the school motto and it means never tickle a sleeping dragon."
"I always knew Dumbledore was mad." Pansy said walking into the room.
"He's not mad he's the greatest wi-" Harry started to argue.
"Wizard ever, we know!" Draco finished following Pansy.
"Password people? What about… Slytherdor." Goyle suggested shrugging.
"Now that's cool." Hermione said.
"Okay deal, Granger change it." Pansy yelled from in the room. Everyone walked into the tower as Hermione finished changing it and closed the portrait from behind her.
As Hermione looked around she was surprised, it was a huge room, with beds lining down one wall, a fire place, two desks, two couches and huge tapestries of the houses were on the wall. A huge window was behind the eight beds; that would be annoying in the morning the Slytherins weren't used to light. There was also door on the right wall, obviously a bathroom.
Everyone looked at the trunks at the bottom of the beds finding their own. They all yawned while grabbing pyjamas to get changed into as they cued for the bathroom, Draco complaining about what the morning would be like.
Everyone was in bed half an hour later, but no-one was asleep.
"Erm, guys?" Pansy whispered. "Anyone awake?"
"Yeah." came seven voices. She smiled. She sat up, looking at the figures of everyone. "Hey Blaise, where are you?" The bed next to hers empty.
"He's with me." Harry whispered. Hermione shot up in bed.
"Rule number one, no sex, everyone agree?" There was a sharp round of 'yes!' Hermione laid back down feeling a little better.
"Well if you're in with Harry I'm in with Goyle!" With that Pansy climbed out of bed and got in with her friend.
"Pansy!"
"What!"
"You can't sleep there!"
"Why not? We're friends, friends share beds."
"But…"
"But, what?"
"Oh, I give up."
"I'm with Hermione!" Draco jumped out of bed and ran to her bed.
"I'm having Malfoys bed, it's bigger!" After everyone shifted around everything went quiet for a while until Crabbe climbed out of bed, pushed his against the empty one next to him and then fused them together making a double bed, he then laid down spread out diagonally.
"Hmm, that's nice." Everyone laughed.
Silence.
"So, what should we do about Severus, we can't leave him!" Draco whispered, his breath tickled Hermione neck and she shivered, they were spooned in her bed and she felt so comfortable, she just hoped things weren't going to move too fast. Then she almost smacked herself, of course they wouldn't she realised as she felt his ring, Harry said Blaise had took his off, Draco hadn't.
"What are we supposed to do? We don't know where he is!" Came Harry's voice from somewhere in the dark.
"Of course we do, there's only three places he can be!" Draco argued.
"Why didn't you say earlier?" Hermione felt like slapping him, he shouldn't hold back information!
"Well, I'm gunna go and get him tomorrow I can't leave him there."
"Where?" Pansy hissed. "You're not telling us from where!" Hermione realised what he meant.
"Well, there only are three places he can be: his house, Malfoy Manor-" Draco explained.
"And Riddle Manor." Harry finished, hugging Blaise closer to him.
"Love Me or Hate Me" (produced by Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald) is the sixth single from UK hip-hop artist Lady Sovereign. "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" is a popular song by "one-hit wonder" Edison Lighthouse. "Any other World" is a 2007 hit by Mika.
Fanfiction is by Faith Valconbridge. This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.