The Abduction

Chapter 2 ~ Taken

If Snape had hoped to get away clean with Hermione, he didn't manage to do it. The moment they stepped outside, several photographers reflexively snapped a picture, catching the dark wizard dragging an obviously struggling Hermione along.

Normally, when Hermione left the inn, Hugo ran interference, blocking a clear view of the witch, and even if he didn't, there was nothing exciting about her leaving with her bodyguard, and she never answered the questions shouted at her. But this?

This was news! They all knew who Snape was and his shady reputation despite his so-called service to the Greater Good. Many were of the opinion that he should have been executed for the death of Albus Dumbledore, or at least planted deep in the lowest bowels of Azkaban for the rest of his miserable life.

But, he was cleared, and was less than exciting when he was about, so Snape didn't make much news. Until now. It was clear that he was forcing Hermione Granger to go with him. But where was Hugo?

"Did you get that?" one excited photographer said to another, who nodded then entered the inn quickly, catching a groggy Hugo waking up and looking about. He quickly snapped more pictures.

"Where'd they go?" he snarled, leaping to his feet.

"Severus Snape Disapparated with her, by force!" the photographer offered helpfully. The expression on the bodyguard's face was murderous. He picked up his wand and ran out of the inn, followed by the newspaper men, who kept taking photos.

Hugo didn't have time to stop them. The person he was supposed to protect had been taken. That would look horrible on his resume if he didn't get her back and take care of the wizard that took her. Hugo pointed his wand in the air and made a number of motions with it. A translucent map appeared floating before him. He studied it, as did the photographers. Then he Disapparated, the map fading.

"Did you get a good look at it, Horace?" the first photographer asked.

"Yeah. I think it said "Spinner's End. What should we do, Frank?"

"We'll share credit. You take your photos down to the Prophet office, and I'll check out Spinner's End and take some more. Could be a BIG story here—"

"Hermione Granger Forcibly Abducted from the Hogshead Inn," Frank said, spreading his hands as if the headline was written in front of him. "That's worth a few Galleons. And by Snape? It doesn't get any better than that! I'm off to the office."

He Disapparated.

Horace took a moment to set his destination firmly in his mind. Ugh, Spinners End. One of the more dismal Muggle areas. To say it was bleak was an understatement. And the nearby river stuck to High Hogwarts. Well, a story was a story. What kind of newspaper man would he be if he couldn't take a bit of stench?

He Disapparated.

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Hugo appeared on a ill-lit street, next to an open area that looked as if it had been bombed. There was litter strewn around a crater. To the right were rows upon rows of sad little houses. Worker homes. A tall defunct chimney filled the sky above the houses, cold and black like some despotic citadel. The stench of the river filled the air.

Hugo looked around then created the map again, squinting at it. There, clearly written was the name "Hermione Granger" and a set of footprints that by rights, should be directly in front of him. But there was nothing but empty space. Hugo frowned.

She was here. He knew she was here somewhere. He began to walk around. There was another crack of thunder, and Horace appeared, snapping pictures of the surrounding area immediately. Hugo turned toward him.

"Where's your client?" the photographer called, snapping a picture of Hugo frowning at him in irritation.

"Get out of here before I shove that camera down your fucking throat!" he snarled.

"It's a public area!" Horace shouted back at him.

Hugo started to approach him, but the photographer melted away. He'd used a Disillusionment spell. He'd be next to impossible to see in the semi-darkness until he flashed that blasted camera. But Horace was a pro at avoiding hexes. He wouldn't snap another photo unless there was something to capture.

"Fucking paparazzi," Hugo muttered, walking through the open area. Hermione was here, hidden someplace. Maybe in an Unplottable abode. Damn it. He'd have to retrieve the Aurors in order to access it, and Hugo didn't want to do that. He doubted Snape would hurt her. Too many people had seen him leave the inn with the witch. But the issue was that he had taken her under Hugo's watch. His job was to keep her safe and people away from her. Hell, she'd brought it on herself. She invited Snape to sit down. She shouldn't have done that.

Still, it was Hugo's job to protect his client. As of right now, he wasn't doing a very good job of it at all. Hmm. Wait.

Harry Potter was an Auror, and he really wanted to talk with Hermione although Hugo had orders to keep him away. He'd be able to help. Hugo suddenly Disapparated.

"Hey!" Horace cried, melting back into view, his wand in hand and camera dangling from a tether around his neck. "Where'd he go? Damn it!"

But the photographer decided to hang around. There had to be a reason Hugo came here first. He might come back and things get much more interesting.

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"What is this place? Where did you bring me?" Hermione demanded as she stood in a cramped living room covered floor to ceiling with books. Snape still had a hold on her wrist. A dim candle lamp burned overhead, and a couch and some chairs were arranged beneath the light. A door led off into another room, and there was a narrow staircase that led up to the top of the house.

"My ancestral home," Snape said, releasing her. Hermione immediately ran for the door and tugged at it as Snape watched her with a lifted eyebrow. After pulling on the knob for nearly a full minute, she spun furiously on him.

"I know you didn't think it would be that easy to escape me," the wizard said.

"This is kidnapping," she spouted at him. "Let me go now and I'll think about not pressing charges."

"This is 'Intervention.' Interventions are perfectly acceptable," Snape told her quietly.

"Intervention?" Hermione spluttered.

"Yes, intervention. And if you should have me arrested, I shall simply tell that to the court, using your behavior over the months as proof, that you are drinking yourself to death and my only motive was to help you. It's well known you have cut off all of your friends and won't listen to anyone under your own power. This was the only way I could hope to talk sense to you. The press will have a field day and I'm sure public opinion will be on my side, if just to keep the excitement up."

Hermione stared at him for a moment, then walked over to the couch and sat down on it.

"Do you have any alcohol?" she asked him.

"Yes, but you won't be getting any. Didn't you just hear what I said about your drowning yourself in drink? I imagine your blood is 100 proof."

Hermione snorted.

"All right. You have me here. What do you have to say?" she asked him. "I don't want to spend the rest of my night here."

Snape stared at her.

"You're in no state to talk. You're drunk and your physical condition is abysmal because of the way you've neglected your body. By the paleness of your skin, it's clear to see you haven't been eating properly. You're running on fumes. More than likely, your tissues and organs are starting to break down."

"Paleness? You should talk."

"I am naturally slender and pale," Snape replied, spinning and walking into the kitchen. Hermione heard a scraping noise, then the sound of water.

"What are you doing in there?" she called.

Snape didn't answer. Hermione stood up and began looking around. She wasn't interested in his books, a sure sign she wasn't herself. But she felt them, looking for a secret opening, someplace where he might have hidden a bottle of spirits.

The sound of water stopped and Hermione quickly fled to the couch again.

Something appeared in the doorway. It was long and wooden and kind of canoe-shaped. It was floating, carried by Snape's magic as the wizard walked out behind it, setting it on the floor. Hermione saw that it had herbs floating in it.

"What's this?" she asked, looking at it.

Snape pointed his wand at the elongated tub, heating the contents. Then, he looked at Hermione.

"Strip down and get in," he ordered.

"What? Strip down? I will not!" Hermione hissed at him, holding her robes together for emphasis.

"Very well. Divesto!" Snape said softly and Hermione screamed, curling over as all her clothing was removed.

"HOW DARE YOU!"

"Either get in the tub, or I'll put you in there myself. I'm anticipating the struggle," Snape said, his lips quirking. "I won't use magic, either."

Hermione stared at him furiously before she said, "Fine, turn around."

Snape did so and listened to her approach the tub and climb in. Hermione sunk low so only her neck, shoulders and head were visible. The end of the long tub had a little scoop and waterproof cushion, and she rested her head on this. It was rather comfortable.

Snape turned around, pocketed his wand and began to unbutton his robes.

"What are you doing?" Hermione demanded as his hands moved deftly over all the buttons.

"Joining you," he replied. "There's plenty of room at the other end."

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A/N: Just wanted to add a bit more to this. Still have no idea what's happening yet, but I'm making an effort. It's like pulling teeth. Dragon teeth. But, thanks for reading.