The first blow had felt immensely satiating. Her fist had struck him square in the jaw. She heard his teeth clash together. She didn't stop, her next blow went right into the side of his ribs. It was like punching a wall. She must have hit something sensitive however as his chest jerked as though to pull away. The pain in her neck that came next nearly stole her sight but she managed to strike out, again and again. Her fists thumping over his chest trying to find that one weakened spot again.

Snape didn't resist, nor command her to stop. She needed this and even though she had thoroughly rung his bell he didn't fight back. He didn't move to stop her until her body started to pitch sideways. She switched to kicking him then, but his concern was somewhere else entirely.

The brand was expanding out, black inky lines of broken lightning stretching out over her neck. He watched the sparks arch off her skin as she continued her assault. She pulled and struggled against the hold he had on her forearms. Her teeth barred and her eyes wild. He'd never seen anyone reach this point. She looked almost as insane as Bellatrix in her bloodlust.

Suddenly, a large bolt ripped through her entire left side actually cracking like lightning hitting the earth. He own body tingled before he noticed her assault had come to a stop. His hold shifted to her biceps pulling her into him before slowly lowering down with her shaking form. The residual sparks that lept over her skin actually made the hair on his own arms raise up. He tried to call back its power, but the brand didn't heed his command.

Deep airy sobs caught in the back of her throat and her hands clung tight to his jacket, pushing or pulling he couldn't tell. Her eyes bored into his. He could see the whites all around the edges. Black lines crept up her jaw just under the freckles beneath her left eye. Blood came down from the corner, mixing with the tears that had fallen.

Her chest shuddered and her mouth parted in a last attempt at breath before her eyes lost all focus; heavily lidding as they no longer saw what was before them.

Snape nearly lost his hold when she abruptly went completely lax. She had reverted for only a second before her mind had shut down completely. Her head fell back exposing the pulsing of her throat. Her heart was furiously beating out of time. The lines that had crept up started to retreat then. Her chest was uneven, the left not rising as high as the right.

He swallowed thickly. What would have happened if the lines had reached her heart? He lowered her down onto the floor. Blood was starting to come from her ear now, mixing with the hair that had fallen from her braid. Her breaths popped and gurgled softly and he feared the damage she had come to him with had been reopened.

He leaned over her for what felt like an eternity before pulling his wand free. His own chest rising and falling quickly from the shock of what he'd just witnessed. A diagnostic charm revealed partial respiratory arrest and he quickly set to making it right. Her heart was slowed to a normal pace and set back into rhythm with a complex series of spells that he had taken time to learning after he'd switched sides of the war. He repaired her busted eardrum as well, hoping that she hadn't lost the ability to hear.

He cleared away the blood that had run down, relieved when none came anew. He cradled her head gingerly in his hand before reaching down to take the rest of her into his arms. His jaw ached when he clenched it tight and the blow she'd managed to the missing piece of bone in his ribs left him still a little light headed.

He needed to put her somewhere safe. He had given her too much freedom. He still needed her alive, not just for Potter but himself as well. He lifted her from the floor with as much grace as he could manage and carried her past the whispers and into the security of his rooms, "Poppet."

A soft pop at his heel turned his attention down, "Restore the room, add a window but make sure it can't be open or seen."

"Yes, Master. Right away."

Snape turned his eyes to the lounge and moved over. He laid her out over the expanse before turning to his potions cabinet. He pulled out a pain potion and quickly drank it down before popping his jaw with a sharp hiss.

She had a hell of a right hook.

oOo

"Please, is there anything else you can tell us?" Harry had Luna's hand in his hand when he spoke. Her body was repelling the poison but it would take time.

"There is nothing else." Galia turned her head away, "Leave now, I can not stand to be in his presence anymore."

Ron looked confused when her eyes turned to the backpack he'd set down. He looked at Harry for an explanation but found him looking away. "We don't know how to destroy him...we want to but we can't..."

Galia glared even harder and turned her head towards Ron, "I can not help you."

"Ron leave it, we got the information we came for..." Harry didn't want to anger the woman who had possibly saved two lives despite not wanting to help. He felt as though they were already pushing their luck.

"But-"

"Leave it! We need to get Luna to a healer..." Harry looked back to the woman in the chair. "You've been kind... despite what happened to you...Thank you..."

Ron frowned but moved beside Harry. He pulled out the portkey that would send them back to Shell Cottage.

oOo

They arrived to chaos. The small house was awash with flames and spells were flying in all directions. Ron ducked down just as a green light whisked over his head.

"There he is! Capture him!" Bellatrix's shrill voice rose over the chaos and chilled them to the bone.

Tonks appeared then, stepping between them and the insane witch. "Get out of here!"

Harry's heart was in his throat, he could see Fleur a few feet ahead. Her eyes wide and glassy, her face painted red. Remus went down to his right with a sharp cry before he sent the deatheater responsible spiraling into the flames of the house. Mr. Lovegood was lying face down in the sand by Remus' feet, obviously being protected by the werewolf.

Harry, didn't know what to do until a hand grabbed him hard by the front of his jacket, he lost his hold on Luna just before he was apparated away by a man he'd not seen before. When they landed Harry registered that Ron wasn't beside him.

"Run! As far as you can. He's coming for you." The man disappeared again leaving behind a bewildered Harry. It took him a few seconds to register that Luna was no longer on his back and turned on the spot. He was alone, in the middle of the woods, with nothing but the clothes on his back and the wand in his hand.

oOo

Hermione felt exceptionally heavy. Her head pulsed with a headache to rival all others. Her arms and legs felt stiff and cold. Her throat was dry and her breath felt shallow. It took some time to register her limbs, her fingers twitching on her right hand first. A soft muffled noise came next, the sound of wood moving against stone and the rustle of starched fabric.

The last thing she remembered was clocking Snape square in the jaw. How had she ended up lying down? Better question, where were her jeans? Her heart sped up and she tried to lift her arms only to register that she'd been bound. Not only her wrists but her ankles too.

Her head rolled to the side and she forced her eyes to open. She could see Snape bent over the edge of the bed, a small kit of medical tools by his elbow. She blinked slowly to the feeling of his warm palm pressing down on her upper thigh before she felt the fabric of her knickers being shifted. She tried to move, but her limbs didn't respond the way she needed them to. The best she managed was a weak twitch when he pressed something cold into the curve of her hip.

He pulled a small bit of something red and shining from the skin around her hip and she couldn't help but hiss. His hand was so hot against her thigh, his fingers pressing against her soft skin keeping her from turning away. He made a face at whatever he'd pulled free and dropped it into a small cup before pulling the side of her knickers down more.

Hermione could do nothing but watch. He'd exposed her hip bone now. His hand moving from her thigh to the hollow, presumably to keep the fabric in place as he leaned forward again. There was a small pinch as though he'd cut her skin before she felt something being removed. Hermione made a small breathy noise and started when his eyes rose to hers.

"Be still." His voice was soft but held nothing about his true intentions.

Hermione's stomach fluttered. No one besides herself had ever touched her where he was now and despite how much she wanted to pull away she found herself bound by his command. He was being so gentle. She could make out a dark bruise forming on his jaw. Why was he being gentle?

Her breath hitched when his pinky absently shifted a bit too close to something she very much didn't want him near. However, he didn't seem to notice and continued with whatever he was doing. The burning that had been growing on her hip before all this had happened was slowly starting to abate.

Her limbs too were starting to come awake. Even though she couldn't move them she could at least feel the air over her skin. She tested her fingers, opening and closing them before letting them relax. She felt like she'd been hit by a truck.

Snape pulled another small shard of glass from the cut on her hip. He hadn't seen it during his initial assessment. He hadn't thought to. He had been concerned about her breathing more. If she hadn't have gotten the rash he may never have seen it. Small bits of what appeared to be crystal had cut deep into her skin as though she fallen into a pit of glass.

He had made the decision to remove them without magic, fearing possible recourse while the brand was still active. He simply hadn't wanted to risk it. Aside from that, the wounds were small and a small dab of dittany sealed them easily once the glass was removed.

She had been out for some time. Nearly two hours. He had filled her body with plenty of potions but he wasn't sure if they would have any effect. He had noted that her skin remained raised where the lightning had been even though there was no discoloration. He had removed her clothes to try and map the path, his interest purely scientific.

He'd left the shirt in place only lifting it where he needed to. He was becoming less concerned about her modesty and under the circumstances found it to be too inconvenient to give precedence to.

He'd tracked the raised lines down her neck and over the scar at her ribs before it stopped just above her waist, that's when he'd taken a closer look at the rash. He had bound her to the bed in the event she went into a seizure. The brand didn't appear to use the cruciatus curse but her body had been through so much in such a short time he didn't know what was going to happen.

He signed heavily through his nose and shifted her knickers even lower, he was able to see her go tense then and he paused in his work turning his eyes up to hers. Who was with him now?

"You have glass under your skin, I need you to hold still. The faster I can do this, the faster you will have your clothes back."

Her mouth opened but nothing but air came out. She closed her eyes tight but didn't attempt to make another sound. She didn't open them again until his hand shifted again. A small jolt of something she couldn't readily identify rolled up from where he touched her and it sent her mind looking for a reason.

It felt like the time Victor had kissed her after the Yule Ball. After her fight with Ron. Victor had taken them out by the lake to enjoy the snow and quiet it provided. He hadn't done anything she hadn't been ready for but his kiss had definitely sparked the same feeling she was feeling now. Her stomach flexed and she tried to push the feeling away.

What was wrong with her? She shouldn't even remotely enjoy Snape's touch, as gentle as it was, it was wrong. She wanted to feel disgusted but found herself unable to. Instead, the warmth only grew and her mind was overplaying the sensations it brought with. She snapped her eyes open to try and remind herself just who was touching her.

It didn't help. His hair obscured his face and his dark hair was much too like Victor's to help her mind make the distinction. She rolled her eyes up to the enchanted ceiling then. Focusing on her breathing instead.

Snape kept himself stoic, but he had felt everything going through her mind. It had made him pause and adjust his hand. He could feel her quivering beneath his palm and forced himself to stay focused. Just a few more, and he'd be finished. He was remiss to find that the true Granger was with him. He had hoped the pain would have reverted her. He was at a true loss now.

The fear and pain he had given her hadn't done anything intended. He would have no choice but to take her as she was to the revel. He was already resorting and suppressing all the memories that would get him killed, hoping his silver tongue could spare him as it had before.

A heavy sigh passed his nose when he pulled the last of the shards free. He dropped a bit of dittany over the wound before pulling her knickers back into their proper place. He set the forceps down on the tray and waved it off into the other room. Coming to his feet, he flicked his wand over her a warm set of flannel pajamas materialized over her, and he, as much as she, relaxed.

"You need to eat and rest." He leaned down removing the binds on her ankles, he didn't however, release her arms. "I don't suggest striking me again." He waited for his message to be clear, careful with his words.

Hermione nodded her head slightly though winced from the movement. She flexed her fingers and slowly dragged them up to her throat once she was released. Her mouth opened but nothing came out. Her eyes turned to his for an explanation.

"There's nothing to be done now. You'll have to wait." He stepped back then. He didn't really want to leave her but he had work to do. He had to have something to show for himself tonight, it just might spare their lives.

oOo

Ron groaned deeply holding onto his shoulder, he'd been hit hard just before Harry had apparated away. Bloody coward had left Luna behind as well. He hadn't seen the man take Harry, his focus had been on Ginny who had joined the fight seconds after they had appeared. More of the Order had pushed the small band of death eaters into retreat having taken out two before the rest had fled.

Their numbers weren't doing all that well either but at least none of them had been killed. Though plenty of them were injured: Fleur, Remus, George, and Hestia were all in various states. Ron had a dislocated shoulder but nothing else. Luna had been taken in with the others but no one had the heart to tell her that her father had been taken.

It was all a mess. One thing was certain though. He was going to bring Hermione home. He just needed to wait until it got dark.

oOo

Snape busied himself with the stones. Trying to keep his mind clear and focused. Having virtually inspected every inch of his captive had left an odd taste in his mouth and a weird feeling in his stomach. She wasn't so much of a child anymore. Any person in his position would have had to take notice eventually.

He wasn't a lecher and he didn't have any taste for children. But she was growing up. Leaving her childhood behind. It made him sick to think that she wouldn't make it past this year. He believed it, tried to come to terms with it, but it still hurt him. Another life cut short by his hand.

The afternoon was waning. He hadn't made it to the library. Instead, he took to working on the spell. It was his back up, something to show Voldemort of his loyalty. Something to give them a few more days in this wretched world.

Cutting the runes into the stones was a very labor-intensive process. His fingers and hands were so big he had to take extra care. He'd just finished the first and was starting on the second when Poppet had brought his meal. He'd left it on the edge of the desk not wanting to disrupt his present endeavor.

It helped to keep his mind off what he had done. It wouldn't help him in the future. Albus' portrait was still vacant making him all the more concerned as to where he had run off to. It wasn't in his wont to wander. The looking glass chimed again and Snape glanced over the rim of his magnifying glasses. Minerva had finally entered the grounds. From the quickness of her step, he could tell she was on a mission. He just hoped that mission didn't involve him.

He'd perfectly locked the girl away, a perfect prison. Poppet had added a toilet to the small space preventing the need for her to come out into the main room. He'd locked and warded the door heavily. No one was getting in or out without his specific skills. The charm he'd set had remained quiet but he had shifted one of the many looking glasses to watch over the room. As it properly existed on the sixth floor he was able to use the various instruments to keep an eye on her. Presently, she was lying on the bed, her head turned towards the window. The tray of food that Poppet had brought was empty.

He was relieved that she had eaten. He had feared the worst but the fates had been kind to the both of them. His eyes shifted when the fireplace flared and he quickly put his work into the top drawer.

"Ah, Severus!" Lucius' voice was not a welcome sound but Severus forced a cordial grin on his face as he came over to lift the gate.

The blond stepped through as though he owned the space and took a slow look around. "Have you been enjoying the holiday?"

Snape's jaw twitched and he came around the blond who had certainly seen better days. His eyes were sunken in and red from lack of sleep. He looked as though he hadn't managed a proper shave in some time as well.

"To what do I owe the pleasure, Lucius?" Snape feigned indifference leading the overdressed man to a chair before taking his own.

"I just wanted to make sure you were all set for the event tonight." Lucius' tone set off alarm bells in the back of Snape's mind.

"I wasn't aware any special preparations were necessary." Snape couldn't help but become suspicious of the man's twitchy nature.

"You've been given a pet have you not?" Lucius scratched the side of his face trying not to look around too overtly.

"To what concern is it of yours?"

"Not really mine, no. But Bella has killed two of hers already. You know how much she loathes you, I just thought you'd want to be prepared. We are friends are we not?"

Snape would never have called them friends but still bowed his head slightly, "We are."

"Good, good...Where is it anyway?"

"She is locked away at the moment." Snape crossed his legs creating a defensive posture. He didn't really believe that Lucius had come out of the goodness of his heart. He suspected something else afoot.

"Can't an old friend have a peek?"

Lecherous was not a strong enough word for the man before him. "She's much too young for you Lucius."

"Just a little peek? What Narcissa doesn't know won't hurt her."

Snape's eyes narrowed, "Bella killed one of yours, didn't she? So you've come here to seek mine."

"Don't be that way Severus, the Dark Lord is in a right state. The raiding party came back two short. He's not in a state to be reasoned with right now."

"Surely you can wait until tonight. I'm sure there will be, plenty to choose from."

"Only if the raiding party does their job. But they fear there is a spy among them. Someone tipping off the order before they can lay their attack. You wouldn't know anything about that would you?"

The truth finally came out, Snape shook his head, "I've been here all day, doing the Dark Lord's work."

Lucius grimaced and turned away slightly. He trembled slightly and Snape could see the telltale of the cruciatus still in his system.

"Just a little peek? I promise to behave."

Snape knew it would be foolish to redirect the conversation. He could tell that the man had really come to assure that the girl hadn't escaped in some way and run to the Order. His eyes narrowed and he came to his feet. "This way."

Lucius all but jumped up. He bowed his head slightly allowing Snape to pass him. He followed quickly behind looking around the elaborate rooms, "Definitely a trade up. You actually get sunlight now."

Snape resisted the urge to roll his eyes and opened the door to his closet. He used the time it took the gawking man to join him to remove the more complex wards from the inner door before he knocked twice and pulled it open.