The Serpent and the Lioness

Chapter 49

Severus landed hard on his face, a deep groan passing his lips into the dirt below. His heart was pounding out of rhythm making his entire body ache. Carefully, he rolled himself onto his back and opened his eyes. A bright blue sky with puffy clouds floated overhead and he couldn't help but wonder where he'd been sent.

The air smelled clean and crisp, and oddly like lavender. With as much grace as he could muster he made his way to his feet trying to take in his surroundings. When his eyes landed on a very familiar barn his heart skipped back into rhythm.

He'd sent him to the farm, the farm he and Hermione had been staying at the past few months. The message couldn't have been clearer.

Shaking his head to clear it he cast a tempus charm to check the time. He still had 30 mins from when they were supposed to take Hermione. He needed to get back but needed to be careful. With one last look to another home that had been stolen from him by his dark past. He turned on the spot with a loud crack.

Assuring his glamour was still in place, Severus made his way up the gargoyle protected staircase. Deciding it would be best to announce his presence he gave the door at the top a heavy knock. It took no time for the door to open and Minerva was suddenly standing in front of him. A gasp and a hand over her heart at his dirty and disheveled appearance made him smirk.

"Relax Minerva, it's me."

"Oh, Merlin pants, Severus." Minerva stepped aside and let him step inside, closing the door tightly behind him. She didn't miss the dark wet spot on the back of his silver hair nor the smell of blood when he stepped past her.

Draco lifted his head slowly, a look of helplessness over his features.

Shacklebolt came around Minerva's desk urgency filling his voice, "Do you have it?"

"I do." Severus pulled the glowing vial from his front pocket, "Where's Hermione?"

"They took her, about 10 minutes ago..." Draco came to his feet, running his hands down his slacks.

oOOo

Hermione was doing her best to keep her calm, taking deep breaths through her nose and letting them slowly through her partially parted lips. The lift felt like it was going down much farther than it had before and her nerves were starting to raise the hair on the back of her neck.

Her eyes turned up to the man who had come to get her. He stared dead ahead with eyes colder than the darkest night of winter. She shifted slightly against his hand that held her elbow, the chains around her wrists felt heavier with each floor they passed.

When the car finally came to a shuddering halt, Hermione felt her heart beginning to beat faster. This wasn't where she'd been before, and she was quite sure it was way colder than any other place she'd been before. The air felt thin, and there was a deep silence that seemed to fill any void. Two guards turned their heads inside the car looking from the officer then to her. The man who escorted her showed his wand before taking a step out. Hermione tried to keep her breathing level as she turned her head behind, watching the lift gate close and the elevator shut down. The light inside blinking out.

The hall was built of black marble, the walls and even doors that lined the narrow hallway were solid stone, even their steps made no sound as they moved forward. The hall seemed to stretch on forever before coming to a T shaped junction. The man gave her a sharp pull to her left and she jogged to keep in step.