AN: I hope the characters aren't too OOC. I've found I'm having trouble keeping Severus in character. In response to a few reviews, I'm honestly not sure what year this is in. I am tentatively setting it in Harry's fifth year, so I might throw Umbridge in a little later. Thank you to everyone who is faithfully reading this! And for all the reviews! It makes me have a happy heart (and it's what keeps me updating)! THANK YOU!

Severus felt a tingling along the back of his neck, and glanced over the heads of his students. It was his last class before lunch, but it was composed of Gryffindors and Slytherins. He was genuinely surprised nothing had exploded yet. The tingling on the back of his neck intensified.

"Obviously none of you have managed to brew the potion correctly, and won't manage it in the rest of the time. Clean up and get out."

The students cleaned up in a record amount of time and ran out of the dungeon. Severus waited a minute before hurrying towards Minerva's room; something was wrong. When he arrived at the ground level, he decided to get Albus' help. He ran towards the Headmaster's office, entering just as the students began running towards lunch. Severus darted up the staircase and into the office, startling Albus.

"Severus, is everything okay?"

"No, I think Minerva….." Severus trailed off, not sure how to explain.

"Merlin! Why are we standing here?" Albus was at the door before Severus realized it, and the two ran towards Gryffindor tower.

Most of the students had already entered the Great Hall, leaving the hallways empty. When they arrived at Minerva's door, they could hear nothing from inside. Albus raised his wand and casted several non-verbal spells until her door opened. He entered first, and Severus followed, his wand outstretched. They checked her outer room, but found nothing aside from the shelf that looked like something had been shoved against. Severus cautiously opened her bedroom door, and he felt like he was finding Lily all over again. Minerva lay on her bed, unmoving, with her chest barely rising. That tiny bit of movement kept Severus on his feet. Albus entered behind him, but Severus didn't pay any attention. He moved towards Minerva and ran a gentle finger along her face. Her eyes twitched, but she remained unconscious.

"Oh Minerva…."

"Get her to Poppy." Severus nodded as he wrapped the blankets around the witch and effortlessly lifted her up. He cradled her head against his chest as he followed Albus out into the hallway and up to the Hospital Wing.

Poppy was at his side as soon as he walked through the door. She didn't ask any questions as Severus laid Minerva in a bed, but set to casting diagnostic spells. Severus hovered by her bed, and Albus a few feet away. The room was silent save for Poppy's words. Finally she dumped a potion into Minerva's mouth, sighed, and sank into the chair by her bed.

"She'll live." Poppy shrugged as she contemplated what to say.

Severus felt one concern slip from his shoulders, but many still remained.

"She's not safe here, Albus."

"Then where is she safe?"

"Until that bastard is killed, I'm afraid nowhere."

Severus felt his arm begin to sting, and looked down at the blacked robed limb. Apprehensively he rolled up his sleeve as a roar of pain lanced through his arm; his Dark Mark was ink black.

"Go, Severus. Go and find out why he wants Minerva."

Severus stood and pulled his sleeve back down. He didn't want to leave, but knew it was necessary. He approached Minerva's bed and caressed a stray piece of hair out of her face. Then he bent down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. With a squeeze of her hand, and something that felt like a squeeze back, he turned and flew from the room.

He walked through the empty hallways and out the entrance door towards the Forest. A few feet in was the Apparition point. As soon as he reached it, he felt the world around him close up, and a few moments later appeared in front of Malfoy Manor. As Severus approached the manor, he cleared his head of the past few hours. If the Dark Lord wanted Minerva, Severus wasn't going to give him more incentive to hurt her.