The Change

Thank you everyone for your reviews. As of now, there will be no more Author's Notes on the reviews. Only about the story.

With the last chapter, I wanted to bring at least one of Hermione's old friends in. It just seemed natural for Ginny to be that friend. As for putting her with Draco, please keep in mind that this is a Hermione/ Severus story so even though there are mentions of other couples, there won't be in depth looks into the relationships. And I am shocked I haven't had that much touching on the OOC part of the story. I wanted to write a side of Severus that we really don't see that much of. This story will be darker now. I don't know how many chapters there are remaining because I didn't make an outline of the story. Good thing I didn't, if I had then I don't think it would be as good.

On with the next chapter....


Chapter 10

It had been two weeks since Ginny had moved into the manor and more nights then not, both Draco and Severus were gone all night long to meetings. Both women understood this, for that was part of the life they entered into with their relationships.


Ginny had sent an owl the next day to her parents, telling them she wouldn't be returning and not to look for her. Like Hermione, after a discussion with Draco, they had come to a decision that Ginny would not fight either.

Voldemort had met with the both of them and promised that if they were needed in the battle, then they would be allowed to fight, but only as a last resort. Most of the female Death Eaters or the wives and girlfriends of said followers, were being forbidden to fight. Bellatrix, naturally wasn't happy about this and neither was Narcissa. When the fight started, all females would be apperated or port keyed to Severus' manor and would remain until it was over.


Hermione flopped down on a couch in the sitting area, looking at Draco and Severus. Ginny followed not a minute afterwards.


"Problems my love?", Severus questioned while looking up from the paper.

"We're bored, Severus." Hermione answered with a sigh. "There is nothing really to do here at the manor. I haven't been out really, except to go to Malfoy Manor."

"There are reasons for that.", Draco said, looking at Ginny.
Ginny nodded. "Yeah we know, the Order, Ron, blah blah blah."


Severus chuckled. "Very well. I will arrange for you two to go to Diagon Alley today. You may go, only if I can send two unknown Death Eater 's with you. For your protection. They won't be wearing robes, so, do not get out of their sight. Please, be careful. If any problems arise, we will be at Malfoy Manor and do not take too long."


Hermione squealed and crossed the room, hugging Severus. "Thank you so much."


Severus kissed her cheek. "Yes, the things I do for the woman I love."

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Three hours later, Hermione and Ginny were walking along the street. The two that accompanied them were Joshua James and Christopher Randall. Even though the two males were somewhat new to the ranks, they were strong wizards. Failure meant punishment and both had not messed up an order yet.


The two girls went in and out of shops, purchasing things they needed. The two males were never more than five feet behind them, not over crowding the two. When they went into a store, the males followed them inside. By watching, if one didn't know what to look for, they would never know the two were being protected.


They walked to the outskirts of the village and Hermione smiled, taking a breath of air. "This feels so different and great to be out of the manor. I can understand the reasoning but being overprotective isn't good."


Ginny nodded. "Yes. I mean, we really can't stay hid forever."

Two hard thuds of bodies hitting the ground had the two turning to see Joshua and Christopher knocked out cold. Ginny barely had time to react before a fist met her face, knocking her down. Hermione screamed her name and then everything went black. The last thought on her mind was Severus before the blackness overtook her.

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The occupants of Malfoy Manor jumped when the wards went off, blaring through the huge house. When they ran into the foyer, their wands at the ready, what they saw froze them in their tracks.


Ginny was laying over the top of Joshua and Christopher, both still unconscious. Her cries of pain had Draco running over and gently turning her. "I couldn't do nothing.", she gasped, her nose still pouring blood. It happened so quick. One minute, me and Hermione were talking, the next she was gone. I failed and it wasn't their fault, they were the first to fall. No one knew..."

Bellatrix cleaned her up and waved her wand, stopping the blood flow and healing her nose. Draco pulled Ginny onto his lap and buried his nose in her hair. "It's alright, Ginny. We will find her. I promise. You didn't see anything?"


Ginny shook her head, her sobs overtaking her body again. "I...should...have..protected...her.."


Lucius touched Draco's shoulder, causing him to look up and meet his father's rage filled gaze. "Take Ginny to your room and stay there with her. Allow her to rest. I will send Violet up with a calming and sleeping drought. Looks like tonight and the next few days won't be calm. Come Severus, let us go back to where it happened. Perhaps we can find out who took her."


No one noticed when a member of the gathering slipped away and apperated from the manor to a place they knew, they could get some answers.


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Tonks and Remus both looked up as a pop, signaled someone apperating inside their wards. The two slowly walked over to the window and their eyes opened wide at the person standing there. A quick knock on the door, had it opening and the figure stepping inside.


"What do you want?", Tonks asked as the door shut. "You shouldn't be here."


"Is this place secure? No Order members or nothing?"


Remus shook his head. "No one but me and Tonks. Why are you here? And why don't you have you wand out or no one with you?"


"They don't know I left. I serve my master, first and foremost. I ask that you trust me, please."

Tonks came back out with firewiskey and glasses. "Let's hear what you have to say cousin. Then we will decide if you can be trusted."


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Bellatrix raised her tear filled eyes to the couple. "Hermione is gone."


Remus nodded. "We know."


The dark haired woman shook her head. "No, she is gone. Earlier today Ginny and her went for an outing. We sent two very well trained Death Eater 's with them for protection. Ginny just returned to Malfoy Manor, her nose broken with the two men. She has no idea what happened, only that Joshua and Christopher went down first."


Tonks placed a drink in her hand and sat down beside her on the couch. Remus shook his head that she wasn't lying because he could have scented it. The woman then placed her arms around her cousin and sighed. "Bella, where has Hermione and Ginny been? You asked us to trust you, then trust us."


"They have been staying at Severus' hidden manor."


Remus chuckled. "I see. So which one is with Severus?"

Bellatrix raised her dark eyes with a half smile. "Hermione. She wears his brand. Ginny is with Draco of course, has been for the past year. We know it wasn't our side that took Hermione, Voldemort would have killed them."

Remus nodded. "Whose searching?"

"Lucius and Severus."


The werewolf smiled. "Tonks, love. Go with Bella. This has gone on long enough. Will you follow me?"


Tonks smirked. "As if you have to ask. Come Bella, let's go see cousin Cissy."


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Both Lucius and Severus spun, their wands out as a pop sounded behind them. Both glared at the werewolf, who calmly bent over, looking at the ground and sniffing. He then stood up and turned, not caring their wands were still pointed at him.

"Hermione was here, which meant Ginny was here. The two males were about five feet behind. It was a close attack, they barely had enough time to turn before Ginny was struck and knocked down. Hermione was grabbed here and they struggled backwards to here." He walked over and sniffed the air. His eyes then hardened in rage. "The fool. The Order warned him to stay away."


Severus and Lucius lowered their wands. "Not to be rude, Lupin, but why are you here? The Order doesn't know Hermione is gone yet.", Severus questioned.


Remus chuckled. "Just spent the past thirty minutes with Bellatrix. She came and told us what happened, us being Tonks and myself. My mate has gone back to Malfoy Manor with Bella to offer support, I came here to help. As I told them, this has gone on long enough. Hermione and Ginny will never return."


Lucius nodded in understanding. "Then your help is welcome. You know who done this?"


Remus crossed his arms over his chest. "Of course. Even though there was a spell to cover his signature, you can't hide the blood scent. While I can smell Ginny's, during the struggle, Hermione must have bitten him or scratched him deeply. It was Ron and he didn't act alone. Fred and George helped. We have to get back to the manor, Tonks can trace Hermione through a spell she knows. Only then can we find her because Ron covered himself well. We can't act like we know who took her, I know this bothers you Severus, but if Ron finds out we know, Hermione might pay the price."
Lucius nodded. "Then come. Our lord will want to speak to you both. For now we will do as you say and not respond."


The three apperated away, back to the manor.

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Tonks was in Draco's room, sitting and tapping her finger. Her hair kept changing colors from black to red and back again. The house elf was sitting on the bed, watching Ginny closely. The door opened and Bellatrix smiled.

"Voldemort is requesting a meeting. They know who took her."


Tonks nodded to the elf and walked out of the room, the door shutting behind them.


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Remus and Tonks stood with Narcissa as Voldemort started talking. Joshua and Christopher were bowed down in front of him.


"You two, rise and take your places. No punishment will be dealt because you did your job as best as you could do." He waited till the two took their places and he spoke again.


"We welcome both Tonks and Remus into the ranks. It is thanks to Remus that we know who took Hermione. It was Ronald Weasley.

Being with Severus, she used her mind, even during an attack. Whatever wound she gave him, allowed Remus to pick up on the blood scent. Ronald didn't act alone, his older brothers, Fred and George helped."


A form in the ranks, gripped their fists tight. His eyes hardening with every word that was said.


Voldemort sighed. "Hermione had made a decision last year. She wasn't fighting in the battle and this is what made not only the Weasley brat mad but Potter as well. This isn't the first time, Weasley has attacked Hermione. The first attack happened at Hogwart's, the second at her motel room, the third was here, in Malfoy Manor. We are to act like we don't know that brat took her. Who knows what he will do to her if he finds out. No one knows where they are, Tonks, I was told by Remus that you know a spell you can use to track her. Will this alert Weasley to it?"


Tonks shook her head. "No, my Lord. It will not. I learned the spell from Charlie Weasley. It is foolproof."


Voldemort looked over to see the one member with his fists gripped tight. He waved and he stepped forwards. "I see you are angry. Is what she says the truth?"

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Charlie nodded. "It is my Lord. The spell was made by the dragon trainers to trace dragons that move from their enclosed areas. We are able to track them with ease and capture them again without alerting the creatures. It can also be used on humans. I have done it and both Remus and Tonks have been traced. Neither knew I was there at the time."


Both Remus and Tonks nodded. "It is true."


Voldemort stepped forwards. "If you can cast the spell Charlie, why do we need Tonks to do it?"


Charlie smiled. "Because Tonks is or was Hermione's secret keeper. Hermione's magical signature has been bound to her. The only time we haven't known where Hermione was, whenever she was with Severus in his manor. His wards prevented us from finding her."


Lucius looked over. "Then how can she track her now, surely Weasley took those precautions."

Tonks giggled, causing everyone to look over. "Ronald, isn't that smart of a wizard. He knows that I am tuned into Hermione but yet, no one would ever suspect that myself or Remus would betray the Order. He can't cast that strong of a ward and he won't go to the Order about it. They would force him to bring Hermione to them. No, he wants her for himself."


Voldemort understood then. "How long for the spell to work?"


Charlie sighed. "Three days. We could do it sooner but we can't act until the Order says too. They will know, per Severus that Hermione is gone. Most of the Order has figured out by his actions that Severus knows where she is. Ginny was requested, more like ordered by Molly to find Hermione and talk her into coming back."


Voldemort nodded. "You have three days. This meeting is dismissed until further notice. We shall make a plan of attack. Right now, the battle is second priority to Hermione. I want her found and returned safe."


Severus looked over to Charlie as everyone left. Charlie touched his shoulder. "We'll find her Severus. I promise."