Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 1 ~ A Dark Wizard’s Assistance
The metallic scent of blood assailed Hermione’s nostrils as she darted, from pillar to pillar, occasionally firing blasts back at her pursers. A large chunk of stone exploded from the column she’d just ducked away from, bits of shattered stone stinging her arms and legs as she ran. The cries and howls of fighting wizards filled the air, some suddenly silenced mid-scream. Hermione zipped into a cloud of smoke, tripped and stumbled over something soft. She caught herself on her hands and looked back to see her trainer was covered in blood. The gray mist cleared somewhat and she saw what she had fallen over, the upper torso of a dead deatheater, cut in half and lying in a pool of congealed blood. The bottom half was nowhere to be seen.
“She went this way!” she heard a rough voice cry out to her left. Desperately she pushed off the ground, running low, trying to lose the deatheaters in the swirling smoke and ash. She could hear the sounds of their feet closing in and fired a blast over her shoulder. She was rewarded with a scream and a thud.
“The blast came from over there!” shrieked a female voice. Hermione dodged just as a stream of blasts flew in her direction, passing harmlessly behind her. Suddenly she hit a solid wall, almost knocking herself senseless. The witch ran along the length of it, frantically running her hands along its surface, seeking a door, window anything. The region she was in now was clear, there was no smoke to hide her.
“Shit, I’m going to die,” she thought as the shouts of deatheaters echoed behind her as they spotted their prey. Her heart pounding Hermione ran as fast as she could, hearing the deatheaters drawing closer, their footfalls right behind her. She was winded, her lungs burning. A pain ripped through her shoulder, blood flying as one of the hexes hit her and she cried out, gripping her arm…it was useless and her wand fell. She didn’t have time to pick it up as she fled.
“Here, she’s dropped her wand. No need to kill her from a distance now. We can have some fun,” a male voice said, laughing cruelly. A round of agreeing shouts went up, and Hermione hoped she would come to the edge of a precipice, where she could fling herself off to an easy death, rather than fall into the hands of the dark wizards that pursued her.
She fled, her steps slowing. They were going to catch her. They were going to rape and torture her, and not be merciful enough to kill her outright but open her veins let her die slow as they tormented her. She knew what they did to young witches. Even moreso what they would do to a muggle-born witch. She stumbled forward and met a hard body.
“Come with me,” a voice hissed, grabbing her hand and dragging her along. She looked up and saw that it was Snape. He was covered in blood, but it didn’t appear to be his own. He had a wicked looking short sword in his other hand.
“Look, Snape’s got her! He’s helping her! Traitor! He’s a traitor!” a male voice called out behind them. Blasts erupted all around the fleeing pair.
Snape sheathed his weapon, halted, turned and released Hermione’s hand before thrusting both hands forward in the direction of the pursuing deatheaters. A powerful blast shot from his palms and for a moment she could see the silhouettes of five bodies encased in light. They screamed and writhed as the light hit them, then disintegrated, only their clothing remaining to fall to the ground. Snape grasped Hermione’s hand again and took off running, his robes billowing as he dragged the witch behind him.
“Run!” he hissed at her, pulling her along. A shout went up to the right of them, and Snape halted just as a hex passed in front of them, and again he thrust out his palm in the direction the blast came from, and sent a great burst of power that melted the attacker away with a howling shriek.
Hermione had never seen such a display of power before. Not even Albus melted the enemy away, leaving nothing but their clothing. Professor Snape was a very powerful wizard, more powerful than she had ever imagined. They came to a tall pile of rubble and Snape flung her behind it, then himself. She fell, and Snape knelt next to her, feeling about in his pocket. He pulled his hand out and pushed something small and hard into her hand.
“Keep this with you at all times,” he said softly. “It will protect you.”
He then placed his hand on her wound and muttered something. The pain instantly vanished and she was able to move her arm again. She looked at him in wonder, and Snape’s black eyes met hers. He looked frightening and dangerous, his face covered in streaks of blood. Suddenly Snape cupped her face and drew her to him, kissing her hard. Hermione was shocked, but quickly responded, feeling his tongue snake into her mouth and explore it hungrily before he pulled back, releasing her, his eyes hot. Hermione looked at him, trying to catch her breath. That had been one hell of a kiss.
“One of the things I’ve always wanted to do to you, Miss Granger,” he said silkily, “Portis”
The object in her hand glowed blue. Hermione felt a tug at her navel, then she was pulled between space, blurred concentric circles of light washing over her as she was drawn through a pulsating void. It was freezing. Suddenly she stopped, space bending around her, then pulsing, forming a room full of wall-to-wall books. Disoriented, she staggered a bit. She looked down at her hand. In her palm was a silver ring formed of twisted serpents, mouths to tails. A large letter “S” carved from onyx graced it. Snape’s ring. It was a port key. And this must be his study. He had sent her back to Hogwarts, to the safety of his rooms.
Hermione placed the ring on her finger, and felt it magically tighten to fit her. The Professor had saved her life. And from what he said to her, and the way he kissed her, it was plain he believed he was never coming back.
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A/N: Just something that popped in my head this afternoon. As usual, I don’t know where it’s going. Hopefully it will get there. Thanks for all the supportive comments, folks. It’s not the net…it’s my phone and I use dialup. I have PeoplePC for 9.95/month. I can handle that. But it’s nice to know you care, 🙂 Now please review.
Obsidian_Hair: YOU are too funny. Such concern. ::snort::: I am going to try and make sure every single chapter I write till I go offline ends in a cliffy because of your comment. 😀
The Burning Pen
The Ring
by Ruth Solomon
The story content is adult in nature and can contain graphic sex and violence. Those under the age of 18 are asked to leave this site immediately. You are not welcome here. The author is not responsible for those under-aged who view these works.