Severus

On the second day of term, Severus entered the Great Hall with robes filling out behind him. The smell of breakfast foods - toast, bacon, eggs, porridge, and pumpkin juice - stirred his hunger. As he aimed for usual his seat, he found the head table empty. Strange. Students were standing in clusters, whispering together. He passed a few of these groups noting that they broke up as he approached.

He neared the Slytherin table. 'Draco!' He barked at the pale boy, bent in conversation with Crabbe and Goyle.

'Sir?' Young Malfoy jumped at Severus's voice but stood up as his Professor closed in on him.

'What's all this commotion?'

'Uh. We just heard the Gryffindor girls tell McGonagall that Potter's gone.'

'Gone where?' He asked, bemused.

'No one knows. Crabbe and I think she finally cracked under old Umbridge. Goyle thinks You-Know-Who's got her,' he said conspiratorially, elbowing his fat friend. 'Professor? Are you ill?' Draco's smile slipped away.

Severus did in fact feel sick. He offered the boy no reply, stepping around the students instead and heading for the staffroom.

What is she thinking? Where is she? Is this my fault?

He went to the staff room, only to be told the same thing. Gone. No one knows where. She didn't have the Trace on her anymore. She could be anywhere. Umbridge reported Holly's broom stolen from her office the night before, but the toad-like woman seemed satisfied at this latest progression.

Umbridge took his arm and spoke softly, 'The detention must have been a tough one,' she giggled, winking knowingly. He wanted to vomit.

Dumbledore was watching him and Umbridge closely, McGonagall at his side. Severus broke away from the pink-clad woman and joined the headmaster.

'Did she leave or was she taken?' He asked urgently.

'I do not know Severus, however, this is grave news either way,' Dumbledore said, shaking his silvery head. 'According to her peers, she was last seen returning from detention with you,' he peered at Severus over the top of his half-moon spectacles.

'Are you implying that this is somehow my doing? I had no part in this madness!' he hissed.

'Now, now Severus, I imagine we are all equally disturbed by this news… I merely wish to enquire about Miss Potter's state as she left the Dungeons last night?'

Equally disturbed? She is not to them what she is to me. They have no idea what this means.

He struggled to quell his emotions. 'Potter was not unwell,' he said earnestly, trying to remember her leaving. 'She gave me no reason to suspect that she-' had plans? She had mentioned as much. Fuck. '-had any intention of leaving the Castle,' he lied smoothly while looking Dumbledore straight in the eyes.

The headmaster nodded solemnly, 'We will alert the Order. Assemble a search party.'

'Please. Keep me updated,' he said quietly, before nodding to them both and withdrawing to the Dungeons.

I need to think.

666666

Severus turned the shiny Muggle object over in his hands, its front-lit up and he swiped a finger over it - imitating what he saw Holly do.

The images on the front changed. He tapped carefully on the picture of a Muggle telephone and felt his heart beat faster as he managed to conjure the small image of her face. He stared at it for a few moments before pressing the picture as she'd demonstrated on Christmas. The face of the device changed and he heard the muted ringing sound.

'Hello?' Holly's voice. She sounded far away.

'Muffliato,' he murmured, waving his wand at his office. 'Holly?' He asked at the device, raising his voice so that she might hear him.

'Put the phone to your ear,' she said, a little louder.

He did so.

'Are you there?' She asked, this time into his ear as if she were right next to him.

'I am,' he said quickly. 'Where are you?' He tried to keep his tone civil and calm.

She was quiet for a while. 'I'm safe,' she finally replied.

He sighed deeply, putting his head in a shaking hand. 'Where?' He repeated.

'I don't want you to come here.'

'I have to. Please. Let me.'

'Severus. Listen to me. No one else has to get hurt because of me. This is between me and him.'

'Don't do this.'

'Don't you make this more difficult than it already is. I'm going to go now. Don't call again. I'm going to find these things myself.'

'Holly!—'

Beep. Beep. Beep. Silence.

NO.

Severus lowered his head to his hands and knew true desperation.

Dear readers, thanks for sticking around... Stuff's been going sideways recently BUT I'm finally ahead with writing the story - just five chapters left to edit (real heavy editing, mind you), and then I should be done! So I'll be posting more regularly now :) Here are two chapters for the weekend, just to say sorry :P