Chapter five: An Intruder in the Castle

It was a sad morning at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where a Slytherin student passed away from someone poisoning her. Severus was completely heartbroken over the loss of one of his students. He will be finding out who did this to an innocent child who doesn't even have deatheater parents, they just happen to be pureblood and the bad part of it was, she was one of the few whose families wanted the light to win. Severus marched down back to his quarters, slamming the door and screamed as loud as he could. He needed to get his frustration out. Hermione heard his screams of sorrow and ran out of his bedroom and entered into the living room where he started to through things around and breaking them. She's never seen him so angry before. Before she could do anything he threw a lamp so hard, it actually hit her and she let out a yelp in pain. Shattered lamp pieces surrounded her and she had cuts on her small body and blood started to spill out. Severus then stopped throwing things and saw her bleeding over the shattered lamp and rushed over to her.

"Oh Shiloh! I'm so sorry! Hold on!" Severus begged. She never realized how big that lamp was or how much blood she was losing. She's only a puppy after all, but yet her vision was starting to get dizzy as she looked at Severus as he pointed his wand at her and started healing her the best as he could. She whimpered as the pain still aches through her entire body.

"Shiloh, hang on… I can't lose you too….I'm sorry" Severus kept on and on. Hermione was actually starting to feel better as he kept saying healing incantations. The blood that was spewing from her small frame sucked back into her and her vision started to come back. After what seemed like forever, she was finally healed from the incident but still a little week from the loss of blood. Once Severus knew she was going to be okay he scooped her up and held her close.

"I am so so very sorry Shiloh…I…I didn't realize you were in the room…I've lost a student today…a first year girl…Elizabeth Baker….she was poisoned. I don't know why…she was one of the few good Slytherins…she was smart, like Granger…I swear she could compete with Hermione when it comes to smartness." He chuckled for a moment as he thought about Elizabeth. Hermione understood now why he was so upset earlier. He had lost one of his most prized students from a dark act she's sure one of the death eaters children did.

"I hope you can forgive me Shiloh. I truly am sorry for hurting you." Severus said. Hermione has never seen him so…what's the word for it? Pitiful, she licked his face as a sign for forgiveness. He smiled at her with a sigh of relief. Then, without warning, Albus came by floo powder.

"Severus I need you in the Great Hall to announce the death of Elizabeth Baker. I will need to announce the disappearance of Hermione Granger….is that a dog?" Albus asked as he spotted Shiloh. Severus smirked.

"Yes, this is Shiloh…I found her a week ago in my potions lab. I don't know how she wondered off in there." Severus replied.

"Well…she is cute…I'll see you in the Great Hall in five minutes. You can bring her if you want. She doesn't have to be cooped up in here." Dumbledore said and disconnected the floo. Severus grunted, he didn't want to announce another death and a missing person.

"Would you like to go with me to the Great Hall?" Severus asked Hermione. Hermione shook her head yes in excitement.

"Already then come along, and stay close. Are you feeling alright to move around?" Severus asked still a little worried after the incident. She shook her head yes and ran to the door, wagging her tail. Severus smiled a little and leaving his quarters with his puppy walking beside him.

As they were walking to the Great Hall, Hermione started to walk between his legs in a weaving eight motion. Severus looked down upon her.

"If I step on you, don't blame me. You were the one who decided to walk between my legs." Severus said. Hermione looked up for a split second and continued walking between his legs.

As they entered the Great Hall for breakfast, all the students saw Professor Snape walk in. What had gotten their attention is the little white Shepard puppy walking with him. He made his way up to the teachers table and sat next to Dumbledore.

"Are you ready?" Albus asked him. Severus nodded and Albus stood up and cleared his throat.

"Attention students, it has come to my attention, and the attention to Professor Snape, that something dreadful had happened in the Slytherin common room this morning. But I will let Professor Snape clarify what has happened." Albus said as he sat down, Severus stood up.

"This morning at around 7:00, a student, I will reframe from any names, came to me with grievous news. As I ran to the Slytherin common room, it was destroyed; I heard a scream
in the first year's dormitory. I found Elizabeth Baker violently shaking on the floor. I did all I could to save her. When my healing spells didn't work I picked her up and ran towards Madam Pompfry. Unfortunately, she couldn't save her either. She died this morning at 8:00. The cause of death is poison. Apparently we have an intruder in our school that we will find whoever did this, and put him/her to justice for killing an innocent child." Severus announced. The look on his face showed revenge as he talked about Elizabeth. Hermione was quit worried about him. As he sat down, Headmaster Dumbledore stood back up again to announce disturbing news.

"On another note, it has come to my attention that a student is missing from Hogwarts as well. You may know her as none other than Hermione Granger, a seventh year…" Albus paused for a brief affect from the students of this school. He looked at Harry and Ron whose face was so distraught looking as they heard the news.

"We will be having a search party in the meantime, please stay calm. We are not sure who is responsible for these events occurring at Hogwarts, but we will find the prosecutor and we will give him or her justice. Mark my words, if I find anyone, a student…or staff responsible, there will be terrible consequences for their actions." Albus said his eyes like fire ready to spread…

"You may eat." Dumbledore added as he sat down and composed himself.

Instantly, the students began chatterboxes and noise filled the Great Hall. The talk of the death of Elizabeth Baker and the disappearance of Hermione Granger rang through everybody's ears, more importantly, Harry and Ron.

"I thought she was sick, not…gone." Ron said as he munched on some bacon. Harry was too shocked to even touch his food.

"I had no idea that she was missing. We are such idiots, we should've noticed sooner." He couldn't even speak. Harry was too upset to even think about anything else but Hermione. He thought about the last time he saw her. Then the thought of Ron hit him.

"It was your fault." Harry said, anger building within him.

"My fault? How is it my fault?" Ron said dumb founded.

"If you didn't ask her to do YOU'RE homework the night before it was due, none of this would've happened. She'd still be here. But NO! You are too damn lazy to do your own shit." Harry said, he was too upset to eat anything; he had gotten up and stomped out of the Great Hall. Ron did stop eating as he was confused at what just happened.

"I don't think it was my fault…right?" Ron asked Ginny as she gave him an evil look.

"Everyone is right…you are an idiot…if something happens to Hermione, I'll never forgive you, I'll tell mom." Ginny said, taking a plate full of food and leaving the Great Hall in search of Harry.

"Ah…COME ON! It isn't my fault that Hermione disappeared!" Ron shouted agitated. Apparently, the entire Gryffindor table heard what happened and scooted down away from him, leaving two empty seats beside him and in front of him leaving him sitting by himself. Ron planted his head in his hands.

"This CAN'T be happening!" Ron shouted in disbelief.

A/N: Here's another chapter! Yeah I got my muse back! Hopefully I can finish this story! Lol…Please read and review and tell me what you think!