Severus pursed his lips looking at the diagram inside the book that he'd been able to retrieve. The device inside of Granger was called a Duel Dragon, he'd not only have to find the second half, but also the ring that controlled it if there was any chance of removing the device from her person. He had an idea of where to start but he couldn't very well go blasting his way through all Voldemort's snatcher camps without raising immediate suspicion. He needed to tread lightly.

Albus had not only been able to provide him with the text but also a safe way to move her to Hogwarts as well. It was a rather rare piece of magic but it would be invaluable in keeping his and her heads on their respective shoulders.

A suitcase, with an entire world hidden away inside, it would make a perfect hiding place. He'd already explored its insides. It was massive but was easily bendable to his needs. He would make great use of it in the future. He could virtually hide her in plain sight.

He was just about to return to his home when his arm seared to life. He cursed the fates that always seemed to be on the opposite end of his goals and quickly shrunk both the suitcase—something he couldn't do with a living thing inside—and the book putting them quickly into his jacket.

"Take care of her Severus."

The dark haired man gave a piercing sneer towards the portrait before disappearing in black smoke. He would take of her and he was going to make sure this war was won without any more casualties on his hands. Whether Albus approved of his methods or not.

oOo

"Ah Severus, I want to introduce you to your new teachers."

The Carrow twins grinned darkly before inclining their heads in mock respect. Severus, of course, knew of them and their... particular teaching methods. Even from where he stood he could see the lust for blood gleaming in the corner of their eyes.

"They will be settling into their new quarters tomorrow. I trust you have everything accounted for?" Voldemort's voice was low, with an unearthly calm that preceded many a violent outburst. His warning was clear.

"I shall do everything in my power to make sure they are taken care of, My Lord." Severus lowered his head but watched the madman rise to his feet to come around the small table between them.

"My victory shall be swift, let us hope that you have made all the right choices." The snake-like man hissed deeply, "Do enjoy yourselves tonight. For tomorrow the real work begins." Voldemort made his way past, dismissing them all with his absence.

Severus felt his blood run cold at the underhanded warning. He swallowed down his fear, keeping his unease from showing. Instead, he turned his eyes to the twins, "I shall meet you at the front gates, tomorrow afternoon."

He didn't wait for their reply, turning sharply on his heel to see himself out of Malfoy Manor. His back was so tight he was sure he could bounce a sickle off the muscle but he pushed it aside for more pressing matters.

Three quick steps out of the front doors and he was gone. His stomach turning. There was still so much to do. So little time. He'd been away far longer than he had planned. He just hoped that the girl had managed well enough on her own. Though a niggling feeling in the back of his mind told him otherwise.

oOo

Wormtail groaned loudly, his hand curled tight in the girl's cut locks. Her release still painted his tongue and his body ached to have her properly. He wasn't sure if he could risk it, not until she was back with him. Still, the other half of the Dual Dragon was meant to go to the head of the snatchers. He wouldn't be able to feel her until he delivered on his promise.

Just as he ripped her head back from his length denying her his taste to land on her cheek, his ears picked up a slight creak from downstairs. His lust having clouded his mind from his original plan of just taking her and running had been completely ruined. A sharp snarl painted his face as he quickly tucked himself away. Shrinking down, he darted under the bed searching for a hole or a crack to make his escape.

Hermione panted loudly, her throat releasing a deep whimper on every third breath. The sickly sweet taste of her reward mixing with the taste of what had given it to her. She had tried hard but his thrusts had been erratic forcing her to breathe where she could, leaving her unable to taste the salty substance that preluded the end of her suffering.

Her body burned, every synapse that controlled her remaining senses working in overdrive. She needed more, her body ached all the way down pleading for release. The stone inside her was still, not teasing out more of her pain to bring her higher. Her mind in shambles. Knowing only that she was alone again.

The air smelled thick with their deeds only making her stomach churn. The food inside was gone, leaving only the potion that she'd swallowed down. It left her body spinning with no landing in sight.

oOo

As soon as Severus appeared in his home, something felt off. His sharp ears picking up the sounds of the girl above but his senses were telling him they were not alone. With speed and stealth he had mastered over the years he took the stairs, wand out and at the ready.

He was at his door in seconds, he was quite certain he'd left it completely closed but in his morning haze, he couldn't be certain. Not wanting to risk casting out a life detection spell and scaring off any idiot dimwitted enough to infiltrate his home; he lined himself up with the crack.

He could see Granger, sprawled out on her bed, the blanket and cup on the floor. The bedside table had been moved—of that he was certain. Her chest was heaving and her face was twisted somewhere between pleasure and pain. Her breathy whines blocking out any other sound in the room.

Of course, he'd cast out his natural senses but her muddled mind was overpowering. Just as he was certain he'd picked up on a familiar and very unwanted presence it was gone. Like dust in the wind.

Severus pushed open the door, his mind still sharp even though the threat seemingly had gone. He reached out towards his wards then but they had been set to only alert him of a request for his presence not to keep out unwanted guests. For who in their right mind would have ever risked their life entering a death eater's home? Very few even knew where he'd lived which left the pool of intruders exceptionally shallow.

A lingering scent, just under the smell that filled his room now confirmed his suspicions and his blood boiled.

Hermione could feel another's presence approaching, though her nose failed to identify them, the vibration of their even steps answered her brains weak plea. The hand that laid out over the bed reached out weakly and the other that had been curled under her chin took a soft— yet desperate, hold on the long oval stone.

Severus' sharp facade weakened when he watched her take hold of the stone for pain. What had he left her to? What had happened in his absence? He already knew but refused to believe he had been so careless.

Apprehension brought him down to the bench he'd moved back beside her, his eyes dutifully refusing to look between her parted knees still dangling over the edge of the bed. Instead, he cleared away the mark on her cheek, his eyes narrowing at the corner of her still panting lips. Where had he seen that color before?

His wand shifted, pulling away the small red droplets that painted her lips purple. The smell alone was enough to get his brain turning and he instantly added another potion to his list. His eyes snapped back when her head arched up, her tongue peeking out just so as though wanting something.

Severus brought down two fingers to lightly caress her cleaned cheek, to tell her that it was him that had come to her side—when suddenly, she took them eagerly into her mouth. It wasn't like before and the action of her tongue sent a sharp heat all the way down his back. His legs closed instinctually but her hold on him risked injury should he remove them with the force his body would have used.

Hermione searched every small crease, every clean nail bed, searching in vain for more of what her body craved. His smell was not lost on her but even so, she hoped that he would have been given the privilege to sate her needs. His lack of reward only compounded on her original thought that he was very much a prisoner like herself.

Severus could feel a very uncomfortable sensation growing in his stomach though just before he made to make her release him she relented on her own. A soft choking noise running up the back of her throat before her body lurched and the meager water she'd taken in that day came up onto the mattress just barely missing his hand. Severus frowned deeply before coming to his feet. His entire house felt violated. He felt violated, he could hardly imagine what she felt. His eyes turned to her glistening folds, the dragon's heads were slowly coiling back, letting her outer folds close.

What had he done?

"I'm so sorry Miss Granger..." His words were soft, morose with guilt dripping from every syllable.

He tried to think of the bright side, he knew someone was just as addicted to her as she was to the potion they were feeding her. Which meant, they wouldn't be able to wait long before risking their life to see her again. A small light shimmered in his eye at the thought of revenge. As evil as it sounded, he knew he'd need to use her to get to them. Perhaps he could even take down the entire ring—if he played his cards right.

A plan already forming, he reached over disconnecting the drip from the IV in her hand. Though she reached out for him he avoided her hands until he was ready to take her into his arms. His arms ran under her shoulders and legs before pulling her still vibrating form to his chest. Her body twisted slightly, her hand curling into the seam of his coat.

He held her with more care than he would ever admit. Leaving behind the robe and linens, he turned slowly on his heel before making straight towards his bathroom. She needed a proper wash, something that would give her senses too much to focus on. Something that would feel soothing and calming. Without the aid of his various potions. She needed to self-soothe, to take control of the potion that had hijacked her system.

oOo

"You promised me Wormtail and yet this is the second time you have failed me."

"I know, but I know where she is, we could go together. We could-"

"Get more of my men killed? Not a chance, you bring her by nightfall or it won't be just the Dark Lord coming after your head."

"There is a revel tonight-"

"Then you better be quick. You know what to do."

oOo

Severus was very cautious when he leaned over the tub to lower the girl inside. He'd been able to calm her somewhat by simply holding her in his arms while the tub filled. The tremors that clashed her teeth abated in that time as well but she'd still been excessively possessive of his person, even going so far as to capture his index finger in her mouth. He'd let her do as she pleased as it kept her hands from trying to remove his coat. She'd actually made it most of the way through before he'd been able to turn her hands away.

It had been a rather interesting grapple, she had actually struggled to release not only his shirt but his slacks as well. As he'd sat her in his lap while he worked on putting lotions into the bath water he'd been momentarily taken off guard. As well as not wanting to drop her onto the hard floor, he'd been temporarily outmatched.

He'd also tried to wrap her in a towel but she'd pushed it away with a deep moan. It had actually been that action that had escalated the others. He could only guess that with all the movement and smells she had become disoriented once more.

He'd kept his grip under tight control but his temper had gotten the better of him in the end. He'd actually taken her by her upper arms and given her a harsh shake as though the action would rattle loose some semblance of thought in her scattered brain.

However, the look that had crossed her face afterward had undone him. The look of pure helplessness, of not being in control of one's actions, of being lost with no way to know which way was home. It had been then, that he'd taken her back to his chest, folding her arms around her own ribs before pressing her chest against him.

The hold was firm but had comforted her regardless, with her head tilted back resting in the crook of his elbow. He'd made to brush the sweat-matted hair from her brow when she'd taken his finger. He had not been able to refuse her then.

Hermione was falling down a tunnel that seemed to have no end. The world around her had become much larger than she could possibly understand. She'd known she'd not been in her cage for some time but she had no idea just how large of an area surrounded her. She only knew that she could feel the sun but not the wind.

Now the medicine man had brought her to a new room, a thickly aired room that had the same lingering smell that rested on his skin. She'd kept tight to him, every brush of his coat against her skin felt like heaven against the potion that continued to warp her mind.

The finger that rested in her mouth had helped to ground her, keep her centered. She released it to the center knuckle, groaning softly through her nose before resting her head on his chest. Her brow furrowed when his chest flexed beneath her and his finger slid the rest of the way out of her mouth. She turned her head up curiously when he took one of her wrists into his hand.

Severus could feel her heart thumping through the skin of her back, though she had gone still the potion was still in effect, he was almost certain he had the ingredients for an antidote in his cellar, he just had to keep her calm in the meantime. He hoped a soothing bath would lay her back to rest and allow him to dress her.

If someone had told him he'd have a naked 7th-year student in his lap at any point in his life he would have had them committed for insanity. As it was, he'd begrudgingly accepted the circumstance.

Severus guided her hand towards the water's surface, just barely dipping her fingers in. She jumped—as he predicted— before she pulled against his hold to take her fingers to her lips. He kept hold of her wrist not wanting her to put the water in her mouth, guiding her hand towards her nose instead.

Hermione tilted her head, smelling the water before she found her hand pulled away again and down into the warm liquid. Deeper this time, he held her hand there and she slowly extended her fingers turning the water in her palm. He dragged her wrist through the water and her brow rose slowly. He was going to give her a bath.

Severus relaxed marginally when her brow released and he brought her hand back up, tucking it around her chest before shifting his hold. He kept his movement very controlled as he came back to his feet to lower her down, his jacket becoming soaked as he lowered her completely inside the bath.

Hermione held her breath as the warm ceramic touched her skin and the water enveloped her completely. Her fear response made her tense as she briefly believed he was going to drown her before his hand guided her back to rest her head on a cushioned backrest. The friction of his clothes pulled away and she found her knees lowering on their own, the warm water soothing the ache between her legs.

The water numbed everything around her and her waking mind found peace inside the lightly scented water. Her hands uncurled exploring the sides, running along the lip before pulling back into the warmth inside. Her head started to feel heavy, her body jerking telling her that she shouldn't let her head lower down. Then, his hands came again guiding her to rest it well above the water and a deep sigh passed her lips.

Severus let out his own deep sigh before vanishing away his wet jacket and shirt, leaving him in his tank undershirt. He turned, calling a washcloth from the rack in the shower before turning back to task. The herbs he'd added to the water would only counteract the poison in her system while she laid inside but it was enough to ease the worry on his heart.

A soft cloth tickled lightly at Hermione's dull senses but she had neither the strength nor the mind to do anything about it. Instead, she merely let him take her arm raising it above the water to lather soap into her frail limb. Her fingers opened and closed gently exploring the feel of his skin while he worked.

It was mere curiosity, a need so deeply rooted in her core being that she hadn't been able to resist. Unfortunately, she'd lost track of it somewhere along her collarbone, her brain simply unable to avoid the call of sleep any longer.

oOOo

Severus turned his eyes up towards the kitchen clock. The time for the revel was swiftly approaching and his plan had come together. He was certain every marked death eater would be in attendance to take their rewards for being faithful to their master but he was also sure there would be a few lower level grunts there as well. A cunning reminder of where everyone sat in Voldemort's 'perfect' world.

He'd just finished then potion meant to rid her body of the potion that had been given to her that day but he had to be assured that she would not receive another dose in within 24 hours of taking it. It was his plan to make his presence known to who he believed to have snuck into his home, then surreptitiously follow after them and rid the world of them forever.

He had already made a plan to pin their death on the Order thus securing his safety among Voldemort's most faithful. He had to make sure he was seen and he knew just who it had to be to ensure that his plan went off without a hitch. Though as always, he was prepared for things to go pear-shaped

Severus set the potion down inside the small box he'd made to organize his progress for Granger's care. The potion for her ears would be fully ready on the morrow and the ingredients for her eyes were drying out now. It would take three full moon cycles to bring her sight back, or so he hoped. He would know within the first few days if the potion would be viable.

He closed the chest with a heavy snap before hiding it into a cabinet below the island. It wouldn't do well for his intruder to find it. A soft sigh from the living room quickened his pace and he cleared his workspace with a well-trained wave of his hand, sending all his equipment to its allocated space.

He entered the sitting room where he'd laid her upon his old threadbare couch, not wanting her out of his sight as he worked. The bath had done wonders not only for her skin but her anxiety as well. He was sure the potion would still be flowing through her veins, its dose life a little under 12 hours.

He was cautious when he approached, using the back of his fingers to run along her cheek, stirring her further from her rest. Her brow furrowed to his touch before her nose turned into his palm gently nuzzling the rough surface.

Severus let her find her comfort before turning slightly on his knees to pull the small bowl of oatmeal and fruit he'd made for her dinner. He would have hazarded a guess that her body had stopped being able to tell her she was hungry, having been on the brink of starvation as long as she had been.

"Just a little longer, Miss Granger..."