A/N Hey everyone! Sorry it took me so long to get this chapter out. I've been having a hell of a time trying to get all my lore and reasoning straight for the rest of the story. The number of outlines, plot maps, character analysis I have on my google is a bit ridiculous at this point but that's what i get for creating so much lore.

I'm rushing to get this out right now! I should have been in bed a couple hours ago.
Anyway excuse any errors as this is unbeta'd.

Thank you to all my lovely readers, reviewers, commenters, and all the kudos.

Happy Reading!

Severus knew that Narcissa would be strong enough to enact Healer's Bain again but he prayed she wouldn't have to. He had more magic in his core than Hermione and hoped that the draining of it would not be so fast. His own torture under his former comrades had been vicious. What he was feeling was a shadow of the calculated mental assault that Voldemort favored when he wanted to keep his victim physically alive but mentally suffering. Were she not occluding so deeply, the pain would have been worse.

The bond was there, dimmed, but solid. She was trying to protect him. It had come up in the recent weeks as they researched the bonds. Together they had gone over the differences in how they experienced it. The fiery feel of Hermione's magic versus the dark liquid warmth of his own. They had examined memories of when the Gryffindor had reacted to his own torture. Hermione had feared that if she were ever hurt as badly that he would feel it too.

Then he recalled how he had heard her shout his location in his head. She had found him and determined he was alive using the bond somehow. Even as his body flailed with each bout of phantom cruciatus, he curled his magic around the bond, seeking her out. But the wall of her deep occlusion was solid.

Hermione! Please, you have to let me in! Let me help you. Please!

There was no response. When a few minutes passed without another shocking attack, he knew the Dark Lord had ceased for the time being. The idea of her alone, suffering under the demon's hand brought forth a protective rage he was all too familiar with. He tried to sit up and was unceremoniously shoved back onto the hospital bed by both shoulders, Poppy to his left and Narcissa to his right.

"Stay down. He's stopped, for now. We have to restore your magical stores while we can. Who knows how long the next bout will last," Narcissa's voice was harsh and focused. Severus was grateful to have such a resilient witch nearby as his own confidence waned.

"Professor? Is she still alive?" Potter appeared, looking angry and desperate. The rest of the room that was bustling with the rest of the rag tag group all stopped, waiting for his response.

He croaked, wincing at the rawness of his throat, "Yes."

"Voldemort has her! We don't know how but I saw it! Like the attack on Mr. Weasley!" Potter was shooting off spontaneous sparks of magic with his harried emotions.

"Albus?" Severus asked, turning his head sluggishly to survey the room. The absence of the headmaster proved to him that his worries had come to fruition. Albus would not help Hermione.

"He won't let us go! He says he has to confirm it first. Doesn't want to risk it after what happened in fifth year," Ginny appeared looking like she was fighting back tears.

Damn you, Albus! Now you believe in proper procedure?! An aftershock shot through him. "Where is he now?"

"His office apparently," Potter bit out, the venom in his voice surprising but not unwarranted.

Despite everyone's protests, Severus sat up, growling at anyone who attempted to stop him. He grabbed the boy by the collar. Looking at Potter suspiciously he questioned him, "You were with her before she disappeared. Did she tell you anything?"

"She said she was going to destroy a horcrux! A diadem. I would have never let her do it on her own! I even told her to wait until you and Remus came back. But she tricked me," Potter didn't sound angry like Severus had expected, instead he sounded defeated. He knew how stubborn and cunning their Gryffindor Princess was. Potter stood no chance.

"Did she mention where, Harry?" Remus took the young man by his shoulders, speaking gently. "I know she's been doing her research. Do you have any idea at all what she found?"

"Hermione had said something yesterday about figuring out the Ravenclaw relic since you and Snape were handling the Hufflepuff cup," Potter looked at Remus then back at him.

"Ravenclaw's lost Diadem," Draco chuckled, despite the situation, "Of course Granger manages to find an item that has been lost for centuries. Wait! Bella said something about the Room of Requirement. She wanted me to get something for her!"

"Then it's true that she found it. But if it was in the castle how did she ever end up leaving the grounds?" Narcissa muttered. "Draco, Remus, Mister and Miss Weasley, considering the current circumstances I think it wise that we move in groups. You should check the Room of Requirement. See if you can find any clues."

"I'll go with you," Severus replied, moving to stand but was thwarted by a sticking charm from Madam Pomfrey.

"No, you will stay right here. Narcissa and I have to monitor you if the…torture starts again," The older witch reminded him.

Severus snarled at the medi-witch who was unphased by his recalcitrance, years of healing him had made her grow a tolerance. There was a bit of shuffling as Draco led the way out of the hospital wing to see what they could find out. Seeing that he was stable for now, Madam Pomfrey and Narcissa went into the Medi-witch's office but kept her door open.

Now that the aftershocks had abated he felt right as rain but Poppy was right. It wouldn't do for him to become once more incapacitated when the others were running a small task. He hoped there were more clues to the whereabouts of Hermione. It was only his own occlusion that was keeping him from rushing off like a beheaded chicken. As long as you can feel the bond, it means she's alive. The Dark Lord would want to kill her in front of you or Potter. He wouldn't waste that opportunity. He ignored the part of him that raged at the very idea of her death.

Remembering the Boy Who Lived, he turned his head and saw that the young man had his back to the room as he looked out the window. It was fully dark now and a crescent moon hung in the sky. He could see Potter's hands and shoulders shaking.

"Potter. Loathe I to say it, but it will do no good to beat yourself up over her disappearance. We have all learned that the girl is more stubborn than an ox and 1000x more clever." Severus said, closing his eyes, intending to organize his thoughts in his own mind. His years of severe control were being put to good use as he compartmentalized his roiling emotions.

"Why won't he help her?" The voice of the young man was more broken than he had ever heard it. Severus couldn't stop the wave of pity he felt for the reluctant hero. Regardless of their romantic feelings for the same witch, the boy truly wasn't that bad. Once years had proven that Potter had only inherited his father's face and hair, Severus had felt better about choosing to protect him. He had seen the arrogance of youth teach the boy through failures and successes but he had never seen the boy bully or demean anyone just for the fun of it. That alone was leagues ahead of his sire. Lily would have been proud. But she would also be horrified at the life her son had lived until now. The ex-spy had not allowed himself to dwell too much on the very real possibility that the boy must die to end the war.

"His reasoning is somewhat sound, unfortunately. It would likely end in catastrophe if you were to barge into the Manor, wands blazing, with no plan in sight," Severus wasn't normally one for soft platitudes but he knew that whatever panic he was feeling was multiplied several times over in the youth. This would be a turning point for the young man. The reality of war was hitting even closer to home and in his time of need, Dumbledore was an obstacle rather than an aid. "It is a hard truth for you to learn today, Potter, that Albus's main priority is you and you alone. The loss of bystanders was never calculated into his plan and never will be."

"But this is Hermione! She's more than half of the reason why I'm still around for him to show off like some trophy," Potter turned and Severus could see the angry tears. Crying women was hard enough to deal with but a crying teenage boy with anger issues was something else entirely. "She's in Malfoy Manor right now! He's probably ripping through her mind as we speak."

"No," Severus interrupted the building rant, "She is in deep occlusion. I can feel it. The Dark Lord will not be able to retrieve any information but the longer she stays in that state, the harder it will be to pull her consciousness back to the surface."

"Hermione can occlude?" The boy's jaw dropped.

Severus's brow raised in confusion. "You didn't know she could?"

"Did you teach her?" The question was tinged with accusation. Severus remembered the catastrophe of their lessons on the subject and how it had .

"I didn't have to. Truthfully, I was impressed that she could and to the extent that she is able. If she weren't such an insufferable swot I might have thought someone taught her. Being self taught seemed like the only possible answer as the only ones with any accomplishment in mind magics in the entirety of the UK are the Headmaster and myself," Severus answered, looking away from the younger man. Suspicions arose as he recalled just how perfect her occluding was. Maybe she had been taught and his own affection for the girl had blinded him to the oddity of it all.

"Of course. If anyone could figure it out on her own it would be Hermione," The boy sounded wistful. "If Hermione were the chosen one this war would have ended ages ago."

"If she had been the chosen one, her and her muggle parents would have died 17 years ago with no idea why they were a target to begin with. Make no mistake. It is a blessing that the girl came into her prowess when she could use it to protect the people that she cares for," Severus grew tired of the conversation. Why he engaged the boy to begin with was a mystery. He reached for the bond again and while it was still there, warm and strong, he still could not feel her consciousness.

Potter had stepped closer to the cot, desperation evident with every breath. His shoulders and hands still shaking with barely restrained emotions as if he couldn't decide whether to be angry or scared. "We're going to get her back, aren't we Professor?"

"Or we'll die trying."

Draco led the way to the Room of Requirement, his nerves were on edge. When the door to the Room of Lost Things appeared the bottom of it was charred black and the distinct smell of burnt wood greeted them. Lupin stepped forward and cast a few charms. Finally, deeming it safe enough, he spelled the door open. The smell of char and smoldering embers flooded into the hallway. With ease they placed bubblehead charms and stepped into the cavernous room.

"Blimey!" Ron said as he surveyed the room. Draco agreed with the sentiment as he took in the burnt refuse and the small remaining flames scattered in the space.

"Fiendfyre…" Lupin intoned solemnly next to the group of students. His eyes were on the ground examining the ashes.

"I guess that's one way to do it," Draco walked further into the room, dispelling the haze of smoke that still lingered. "If the diadem was in here it's completely destroyed now along with pretty much everything else. Pity that, I remember there being a few things I wanted to nick from here."

"If that's true, how did Hermione find out about it? Malfoy, you mentioned earlier that your aunt said something was hidden in here. That's the first we heard of it. But obviously she didn't just figure out there was one in the castle, she also figured out where it was, all by herself," Ron expounded as he kicked a charred chair leg.

"How do you think she got out of here, anyway? It's not like anyone would have been in here to kidnap her. There's only one entrance," Ginny spelled some debris out of their way as they searched the rubble for clues.

"That's not necessarily true though, Gin. Remember how the entrance moved all over the castle during the DA meeting? I'm sure if you ask the room to show us how Hermione got out it would," Ron said, using his not inconsequential height to look across the room from on top of a mostly intact dresser.

The room took that as its cue to shift smoothly until a large shattered bay window showed on what would have been the outside wall of the room. At the sudden appearance the ragtag team made their way through the rubble until they stood and took in the view of the grounds and further on the Forbidden Forest.

"It could have brought the window up fully repaired. I think the room is showing us how Hermione got out," Draco took a tentative stop toward the glass. He could feel the early spring breeze that still sent a chill down his spine, "I know she's brilliant but I doubt Hermione flew out of here. I don't think my godfather's bat wings are contagious."

"Maybe she did," Lupin said as he kicked a remnant of a table away to show a stack of broomsticks in various states of disrepair. "Hermione was never good at flying but I am confident she would rather fly out of here than fall."

Curious, Draco summoned one of the brooms and watched it hover for a moment before mounting it. He was only able to get a few yards in the air when the broom jerked powerfully. It was only his skill and experience as a seeker that kept him from being thrown off into a pile of smoldering debris.

"You alright, mate?" Ron asked as he examined another broomstick. Draco nodded as he looked out into the grounds again, deep in thought.

"I bet all of the brooms in here were pretty defunct. But that doesn't mean that one couldn't have behaved long enough for Hermione to get somewhere safe," Ginny turned to the former Professor, then paled. "Harry said Greyback was there with Hermione. Didn't you mention that You-Know-Who was putting the werewolves out on patrols? They could have been out in the Forest when Hermione flew out."

"And if the broom decided to shoot her across the grounds right into their sightlines she wouldn't stand a chance," Ron said looking grave.

"Only one way to find out," Draco said, with a wide arc movement he summoned the Slytherin brooms from the practice room. "Get on. We need to be sure that Hermione ended up outside the castle rather than someone having broken in."

With nods of understanding the group of four shot off, out of the castle and towards the forest. It didn't take them long to trace the remnants of a broomstick. They landed in a small clearing. The Weasleys immediately went to examine the broken flying instrument while Draco surveyed the surroundings. He had been around Fenrir long enough to know that he might have left evidence. Next to him Lupin was sniffing the air.

A moment later the growl that issued from the normally docile man startled them all. The Order member was crouched down near the treeline. When he stood and turned to them, he looked grave. "It's her blood. She was here. At least we know the castle is still secure. Let's head back."

As they moved to mount the brooms again, Draco noticed something out of place as deep as they were in the forest. On the ground next to a large tree was a blue wrapper. A blue Drooble's candy wrapper. The Headmaster's password this term was Drooble's.

Hermione could feel herself weakening. As deep as she was hiding her mind away she could feel Voldemort breaking down some of her walls, digging deeper and deeper in his quest for information. She had to buy time and she knew that she couldn't stay locked away for much longer. With a wave of determination and a touch of hubris, Hermione began building another library, closer to the surface, while building layer after layer of protections around the real one. The one that held all her knowledge of her war strategies, her connections to Harry and Severus, and any fears and emotions that could compromise her.

She wasn't sure if the headache was a result of the evil man's mental assault or from how much mental energy she was exerting. The library surrounding her would fool anyone who had never spent any extended amount of time in the real one. Hermione could feel when the Dark Lord grew closer, breaking protective wards and mental walls. She didn't know how long it had been since she had first arrived in front of the dark wizard or if she had been under his assault for the entire time. But he had made headway.

Hermione sat at her desk, centering herself as the sickening creeping sludge of Voldemort's magic drew closer and closer. Then there was a knock at the door right across from her.

Like a pivotal scene in a horror movie, the sconces in the room flickered as the door creaked open. The dark view of the crumbled protections that lay behind the door were visible for only a moment before being replaced by the dark entity. He slinked into the room, bare and pale feet gliding soundlessly. She had never seen him up close before, only in glimpses of memories and pictures in the Prophet. It took a moment for her to recover from the shock of his inhuman face. He shut the door behind him and stepped into the center of the library. Hermione remained seated, looking into his eyes unflinchingly.

His mouth spread wide in a smile that seemed to suck the warmth from the room. "Brave little mudblood, aren't you Hermione? I can call you that, can't I? Though I'm sure you prefer it whispered to you in Severus's voice. He always did have that on his side despite the sorry state of his nose and hair."

"You're one to talk," Hermione let slip. She schooled her features to a bored indifference.

The Dark Lord's laugh was hollow as it echoed through the room. He began a wide circle of the perimeter, his long gaunt fingers gliding across the spines of books. It felt like he was caressing her skin. Sickening. "You were always a curiosity, Hermione. You who cannot even claim a half life as a half blood, yet you excelled. You put many of my men's children to shame."

"Maybe they should have been studying instead of listening to your misguided sermons," She responded, keeping her eyes locked on the lurking wizard.

"A Gryffindor as well. What a waste. What a pity," He ignored her insult. To her surprise he summoned one of the chairs and sat down across from her, the desk the only barrier between them. He gestured with his wand around the room. "This is an impressive, albeit predictable organization of your mind. Severus would have taught you something more subtle, more ambiguous. It seems you aren't the only one keeping their skills close to the chest. So how did you do it? How did you remove my mark?"

Hermione warred with herself, unsure of how to react to this almost amicable tyrant. She decided that the truth would come at a lower cost than being caught in a half-baked lie while the snakeman was in her mind, "Old ritual magic. I had meant to die but apparently I was deemed worth saving."

"Old magic tends to be of the darker variety, Hermione," He seemed to sniff the air with his eyes closed. When he opened them they pierced her, "You've been toying with dark magic. I can feel the traces of it. Dumbledore would be so disappointed."

"Dumbledore couldn't care less if you killed me or not, Tom," She dared to use his name. The clench of his jaw and his raised brow was his only response. "They say it takes a dark wizard to know a dark wizard. I was simply growing acquainted with what we are up against. You cannot know how much light you will need if you are unaware of how dark it will get."

He laughed again, "Poetic with a sharp tongue. I see how Severus could become infatuated with you. He always did like women he couldn't control. But you are right, little lion. It is a flaw of your teachings that the dark arts were overlooked and reviled. How can you fight that which you do not know?"

Hermione didn't respond. She knew about Lily Potter. Severus had told her everything once. She eye'd Voldemort, waiting for him to continue. When he did not, she directed the conversation, "I worked on replicating the mark but couldn't find anything close, until I had access to the Black library. The Dark Mark was an impressive piece of work. I considered several different methods of removal but the ritual seemed to be the only thing remotely powerful enough to play host to the cleansing I had planned."

"Clever little lion. I would keep you as a pet if you hadn't already wronged me so," He was mocking her, tilting his head imperiously. "Does Severus know the cost of his freedom? That you've torn your little soul asunder for him?"

Hermione didn't answer but also didn't look away.

"I grow weary of this, Hermione. I know that Albus thinks he has an advantage, a secret weapon, and you are going to reveal it to me," The Dark Lord stood, pointing his wand at her face. "You should accept the truth of the matter. I will rise again and again. There will always be a piece of me ready to take my rightful place in a pure wizarding world. Tell me what he thinks he knows and maybe I will let you see Severus one more time before I end his life."

Fear sprang up in her throat at the imposing figure of Voldemort as he towered over her, pointing his wand at her forehead. In the back of her mind she felt a hard tug on the bond. It was a risk but she wasn't sure she could push him out while maintaining the deeper protections. Hermione prayed to Circe as she dropped the barrier around the bond and felt the powerful surge of Severus's magic flood the room. She reached for it quickly. There was a split second of unadulterated rage on the Dark Lord's face before he was thrown out and out and out of her mind with walls slamming shut behind him. Hermione forced the bond back behind its own wall before the mad man had a chance to break in again.

Without the fortification of Severus's magic, Hermione could feel as her body took another beating. She sank back into deep occlusion, hoping she had bought enough time for Severus to find her.

Lucius Malfoy was summoned to a room in his own home like a common house elf. When he heard the maniacal laughter of the Dark Lord he shuddered. Someone was being used as entertainment and the dark wizard was truly enjoying himself.

When he stepped into the room his occlusion fortified at the sight of the bushy haired Gryffindor lying broken on the marble floor. He ignored her as he stepped up to the Dark Lord and bowed. "My Lord, I am at your service."

"Lucius, you were always quite close to Severus, were you not?" The man was smiling in a way that haunted his nightmares.

"Yes, my lord. Before he lost his mind. I have not had any contact with him since-"

"Silence! I care not if you have but I would like you to see him," The Dark Lord stood and walked up to the girl, prodding her with his bare foot. Lucius could now see that her eyes were open but blank, she was breathing but bruising was already blooming across her cheeks. He glanced at Greyback who was crouched in a corner smiling lasciviously. The blond man watched as his master summoned a ring from the girl's finger. "Take this to him. Tell him that I will keep her alive so that he may say goodbye. I did not afford him that the first time he asked for mercy towards one of his pets. Maybe that was when his loyalty went astray. What a pity that even the Great Severus Snape is a victim of emotional folly. He will soon bear the consequences of his betrayals."

The Dark Lord cackled mirthlessly, dismissing Lucius. The Malfoy patriarch stole one more glance at the girl on the floor before he backed out of the room.

Dundundun
How will Severus react?
Will they be able to rescue Hermione?
Has Dumbledore lost his mind?
What do you think will happen?

Thank you!