471A/N; Ok hope you like this chapter, had to do it in a bit of a rush.
Enjoy :D
Hermione returned from the headmaster's office with a satisfied smirk on her face. He mouth tasted of lemon tea and lemon drops. He hadn't been too upset about the love potion. And after the transfiguration professor had left, they began to talk about her apprenticeship.
"So are you looking forwards to working with Severus?" he had asked.
"Yes sir," she smiled sweetly, "professor Snape tells me he had a lot planned for our lessons".
"Yes I am sure he has" Dumbledore smiled.
Hermione was sure she could see his beard twitch at the edges, indicating a smile. She trusted the old man with her life, but was sure that he always knew more then he was letting on.
As punishment for her participation of administering the love potion to Malfoy, Hermione had to assist professor McGonagall in a weeks worth of marking papers.
She knew it could have been a lot worse, but with being McGonagall's favourite student and all she had gotten off the hook without any grudges bared or severe reprimand.
So now as she sat alone in her room she thought back over the days events, she knew she should probably apologise to Draco as well. After all he was someone she would be spending her summer with, it only seemed right that they try and establish some sort of friendship.
Making her way down to the dungeons and the Slytherin common room Hermione was surprised to not find Severus anywhere to be seen.
She spent a moment pondering on his whereabouts, then deciding that he was probably just prowling the castle somewhere continued her decent into the dungeons.
Only when she got so far down that the light of the candles gave off an eerie, solemn sort of glow, as if they alone were fighting the darkness, did Hermione start to feel uneasy.
She compared the feeling to that of having someone's eyes watching her, someone she couldn't quite see. Determination set across her face she slowly continued her way down. As she reached the bottom she became faced with a large statue of a snake. She guessed that this must be the entrance to the common room. Looking around she was actually startled by one of her own shadows as it was cast against the cold wall from the glow of the candles.
Taking a deep breath and telling herself she was being stupid she walked forward towards the entrance. She had no idea what the password was and knew that a simple Alohamora wouldn't work. Deciding on another approach she reached out and knocked on the cold stone snake.
Just as the Fat Lady would inform her fellow Gryffindor's if they had a visitor, she hoped the snake in theory would do the same. Its hard form began to twist and turn until it was facing her. The snake was huge, approximately 15 foot tall and 4 foot wide. She just prayed that it didn't require her to speak parceltongue.
Looking into its dull carved eyes she opened her mouth to speak. Something was preventing her though. Reaching up to her throat as if she was being strangled Hermione started to panic. She couldn't breath, her hands were flaying about around her trying to grab hold of something to support her. With one had she fell against the nearby wall, with the other she reached for her wand. In another surge of panic Hermione realised she didn't have it with her. She was going to die, alone, outside the Slytherin common room. She tried to scream but no sound came out. Her chest started convulsing as it tried in vain to gasp for breath. Just as her eyes began to roll to the back of her head, just as she began to tumble to the floor, did she see him. His cold eyes sneering at her with a sly smirk on his face.
IIIII
Severus had been called. He felt the pain on his arm shoot through him like red hot daggers. It had been a long time since his last meeting and hoped that it would be a little longer till his next. He wasn't keen on facing the Dark Lord with his feelings for Hermione unable to hide.
As he apparated from the castle gates to a deserted spot in the middle of a field, he noticed the other Death Eaters in the clearing. Slowly he made his way over.
Lucius Malfoy stood to his right hand side Rabastan Lestrange to his left. Severus bowed his head slightly as a greeting to them as he made his way in the circle.
Suddenly Voldemort appeared in the centre of the enclosed group. "My faithful" he hissed, "I have brought you hear for a real treat"
Severus' hearing sharpened, he didn't like the sound of anything Voldemort would consider a treat.
"Soon our youngest member will be returning with a reward you all can enjoy" Voldemort said speaking in an eerie calm that chilled Severus bones.
Whatever this 'prize' was, he knew it would bring trouble. And with the other Death Eaters there watching over his every move he would be unable to stop it, he knew if he even tried Voldemort would kill him instantly.
Soon a flash of bright blue light lit up the midnight sky. Appearing in the centre of the group of Death Eaters was Draco Malfoy and an unconscious looking Hermione granger.
It all happened so fast Severus nearly was unable to hide his shock. What on earth had happened at Hogwarts? He was certain he left her with Dumbledore. If she had finished there surely she would have returned to her room in the Gryffindor common room. How on earth had Draco gotten hold of her?
Severus was fuming not only with himself, but with the blonde little chit that stood in front of him with a self-satisfied smirk on his pale face.
He knew if he made it back to the castle after this meeting in one piece, it would be time for another 'little chat' between him and the boy.
"Enjoy" Voldemort hissed as he dissaperated from view.
What on earth could he do now, Severus was more than fuming with the boy, he was beyond livid. He glared at Draco with a fire in his eyes that he was unable to hide.
If possible Draco turned paler.
Severus stepped forward and up to the limp body of Hermione. His heart was beating so fast in his chest he was sure he would lose consciousness himself soon.
He checked her pulse, she was still alive.
A wave of relief swept through him. Careful not to let his emotions show, he stood up and addressed the crowd. His face an unmoving, emotionless mask.
"She is alive" he informed them.
Looking at their hungry faces Severus turned to Draco. Threats of sudden death should he speak the wrong words flooding through his eyes. "So" he began, "she is your prisoner, what do you wish to do with her?"
Draco looked at Snape and then at his father. Whatever worth he would suffer from Lucius Malfoy seemed nothing in comparison to what he could expect to receive from his former professor.
He didn't mean for it to be like this. Not really. He wanted to piss granger and Snape off, pay them back for the love potion. He didn't expect Hermione to be offered up as a sacrifice.
"You take her" Draco said nodding in Snape's direction.
A silent glance of 'thanks' flashed past Severus' eyes. That is until the young Malfoy spoke again.
"First" was all he said, but Severus knew it was the won word that he didn't want to hear.
Banding down and sliding his arms around her with the uppermost delicacy he lifted Hermione to his chest.
What on earth was he going to do now? The rest of the Death Eaters would expect their turn, and without blowing his cover Severus was useless. It painted him more that anything imaginable to see what Draco had already done to her. To even begin to conceive what could be done by the older members was too much to bear.
Holding her protectively to his chest he had come to a decision. If it was his life or hers he knew which one to be the more valuable.
With one last glare at Draco, a reminder that 'this was not over yet' he diaasperated.
A/N; Well what do you think? Worth a review at least:D