The Change

Now to take the time to acknowledge my reviewers

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Thank you so much for your kind words. As you have seen, I love to keep my readers questioning and on their toes. If a story just explains everything, sometimes they can be boring so I try to keep everyone guessing. Again thank you for your reviews.


For those who wish to know the update, seeing that AFF hides the email addresses now, feel free to drop me a line at ShadowFlamePanther@tampabay.rr.com. When I update, I will send out the email letting you know. Any flames that come into my mailbox, will be ignored and any trolls or those who try to bother me will be forwarded to the web site.

I want to send extra special thanks to slytheringriffendor21 and Solaris. Between these two, my story ideas and plot bunnies get written.


Also, you all can thank slytheringriffendore21 for this chapter. She helped get my ideas together for it. I hope it is up to her standards and please check these author's stories out on this site. They are both great writers in seperate fandoms.


Now that all of that is done, on to the next chapter....



Chapter 4

It had been four hours since Hermione had fallen to her knees in the foyer of Malfoy Manor. During that time, she had been taken to one of the guest rooms, bathed and placed into a bed. The young girl hadn't woke from the time that she had cried herself to sleep in Narcissa 's arms, the anger of Severus still lingered in the air.


Draco had slipped off from the sight. The young man wouldn't admit it so soon but seeing the usually strong Hermione, sobbing like a broken child in his mother's arms, gripped his heart tight. He found his way outside and was sitting on the porch, trying to calm down.

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When Hermione was situated, everyone left the room, leaving Severus sitting beside her bed. The man had already went into her mind and saw the memories of what drove her to the manor, that being the reason he refused to leave her bedside.


The door slowly slid open and Voldermort walked in, nodding to the younger man and sitting down in the other chair.


"How is she, Severus?", he questioned cautiously, not wanting to upset the man.


Severus sighed. "She is an emotional wreak. I dare say that this might have been her breaking point. For her to run as quick as she did, must have been shortly after the Weasley brat left. He said that he saw the Death Eaters walking around and myself going into the room. He also stated that money changed hands so the innkeeper must have told him where she was."


Voldermort sat and watched as Severus gently moved a strand of Hermione's hair off her face. "Severus?"


The younger man sighed again. "It is taking all I have not to go over there and pound that boy into the ground. I don't want to leave her side. But what can I do? He has beaten her, twice now."



Voldermort sat back in the chair and folded his hands together, the tips of his fingers touching lightly. "If you were to go over there, you would have the right to hurt him as he has done her. I know that love makes you do some strange things. No woman deserves to be beaten."


"My lord?", Severus questioned.


Voldermort sighed. "You know I am a half blood, correct? That my father was a muggle?"


Severus nodded and turned towards the man. "Indeed. It is a well known fact."

"I am going to tell you something that no one else knows. Remember when I killed Lastrange? I gave no reason, only the fact I had killed him?" Severus nodded and waited on him to continue. "I killed Lastrange because he did to Bella what my father did to my mother every night from when I could remember.


My father found out only when I was born that my mother was a witch. Being a muggle, he didn't understand and thought he could beat it out of her. I had to sit back and watch every night as he beat her near unconsciousness. When I was old enough, I killed him.


I swore I would never allow another woman I loved to be harmed like that. Hence the reason, both my father and Lastrange are dead. I caught him beating Bella one night. Don't get me wrong, I am evil but inside this chest does beat a heart. I did what I thought was right for Bella, can you do the same for her?"

"My lord. Will you sit with her for a while?", Severus requested.


"It would be my honor. Go now but do be careful and hurry back."


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Ron had come home and told both Ginny and Harry that he couldn't find Hermione. The three were sitting in the kitchen whenever the back door flew open, slamming into the wall and Severus stalked in.


Without even adknowledgement to the other two in the room. Severus walked over and grabbed Ron, slamming him into the wall and holding him two feet off the floor by his throat. As Severus' dark orbs gazed into Ron's frightened ones, Severus smirked.


"If I ever catch you near Hermione again, trying to talk to her, or even seeing her, I will make you regret the day you were ever born. This is the second time you have harmed her, there will be no third."

He then dropped Ron to the floor and wiped his hand on his robe. "Remember who I am Mister Weasley. Don't take my threats to kindly."

Ron, being the idiot he was, jumped up to stand face to face with the known Death Eater/ spy. "Whatever, as if the whore is worth anything now as it is. How many times have you fucked her? Sloppy seconds isn't it? She abandoned us and deserves what she gets."


Just as Ron finished speaking, he suddenly slammed into the wall after the sound of flesh hitting flesh, echoed in the kitchen. Ginny just stared in shock, her mind trying to comprehend that Severus had just sucker punched Ron hard. The red head slid to the floor and stared up at Severus, his nose pouring blood.


"How does it feel, Mister Weasley? Knowing that Hermione felt the same pain when you hit her? Stay away from her, I mean it."


He then spun and looked at Ginny and Harry. "Potter, Weasley.", the with a swish of his robes, the man was gone.

Ginny looked at Harry with her hands on her hips. "Someone explain to me what is going on and how does Professor Snape know about Hermione? Why does he know where she is when we don't and what's this about Ron hurting Hermione?"


Harry sighed and bent over, looking at Ron. "Might as well tell her the truth, Ron. You know it will come out, sooner or later."


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Severus was back in Malfoy Manor, sitting in his place beside Hermione's bed. He had washed his hand and was sitting and flexing his fist back and forth. A low moan from the bed, had him sitting up and bending over.

"Hermione? Are you alright?", he asked, his voice full of concern.

She nodded and looked over. "Severus?", she whispered.


He nodded and watched as her face fell and she started to cry again. He sighed and stood up, taking his shoes and shirt off, lifting the covers. As her tears wet his chest, he vowed to protect her. He wrapped his arms around her and just held her as she slept. In a few days, he would move her to his manor, he would make it to where they couldn't find her.


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The next day, while Hermione was sleeping, an owl from the Order landed on the table and moved over to Severus. He took the note with a sigh and stood up. "I will return."


When he got to the Burrow, he could hear the voices from inside the house. With a sigh, he pushed the door open, causing all the voices to stop.

When the meeting started, the normal was reported, Death Eater activity, attacks and who was caught. Then the conversation turned to what Severus knew it would.

Minerva sat looking around the room. "Has anyone heard from Miss Granger?"


Severus arched his eyebrow and looked at Ron with hate. Ron of course stared back.


"Professor Snape has seen her.", Ron spat.


Severus arched his eyebrow again. "I have. Just as you have."

Arthur knew where this was going and he spoke up. "Severus, please tell us why you came storming in here today and punched my son."


Severus smirked. "Why of course. He beat Miss Granger in her room. This is the second time he did it. The first time was the night before he left Hogwart's and yes Mister Potter was aware." He held up his hand as Ron, Harry and Ginny opened their mouths. "I know this because I have seem Miss Granger 's thoughts, her memories."


"Where is she?", Minerva whispered.


Severus shrugged. "It is not my place to say. Miss Granger wishes not to be bothered by the Order. She is going through a trying time right now. Until she wants to speak to you, I will not give away her location. She is under a protection spell, meaning she can not be found by locators. You would do best to leave her alone and respect her wishes. If you continue to try to find her, you will loose her, push her further away. Allow her time to heal. As for punching Mister Weasley, he will learn not to speak about Hermione the way he did. I will take my leave."


The man vanished out of the house, leaving the entire Order to stare at Ron. "Well son.", Arthur started. "You three have some explaining to do. And before you try to lie, I believe Severus was stating the truth. Now, care to enlighten the Order as to why Hermione is no longer here?"

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P.S. There you happy now Amber and Lindsey? I updated days ahead of schedule for you.