Semper Fi, Hermione

After three miserable days Hermione became quite ill. Her treatment was savage, raped at the whim of whatever Death Eater who was bored at the moment, nothing to eat and little water to drink. She lost weight and was dehydrated. The cold, damp dungons had worked an insidious job on her. The damp, moldy air she was breathing had given her pnemunia. Starvation made her weak and the disease was slowly draining Hermione's strength. Sleeping was impossible between the nightmares and coughing. All hope was lost each time her body was used, too weak to fight anymore all Hermione wanted was death. Preferably quick, if not painless.



Malfoy was bored with her already. The girl was a shell of what she had been. For Lucius it was like a chess game. He ruined her mind, damaged her body and checkmate was her giving up hope. The Dark Lord wanted a blow to The Order, and most especially to Harry Potter. Returning her to her friends half dead would do the trick. Even if she lived, it was more than likely her mind was gone forever. With any luck, he would be rewarded most handsomely for his efforts. Even if his efforts didn't earn any recognition, he did get amused with her pathetic cries and struggles. Snatching her right from under the headmaster's meddelsome nose made all the Death Eaters laugh, his daring got him some respect from the inner circle if nothing else.



Malfoy noted it was almost midnight. Things should be quiet at Hogwarts, he mused while indulging himself with a glass of port. He decided it was time to bring things to a close with the Mudblood in his dungon.



Hermione had fallen into an uncomfortable doze. She woke up from a harsh kick to the ribs. She curled into a fetal position trying to protect her head and ribs from any more blows.



"Get up filth! I'm finished with you." Malfoy kicked her again, screaming at her to get up. "I'm done with you, useless thing that you are! Get up, you are leaving now!" When he saw that his only responce was going to be a few whimpers and her huddling he snarled, reached down and pulled her up by her arm. He noted she was hot, her skin dry, and burning. He lowered the wards to his estate and apparated them to an area near Hogwarts.



They walked about five hundred yards when he finally spoke; " We are quite near the wards on the Forbidden Forest side of the school, so sorry I can not escort you to the door, as it is not in my best interests." with that, he shoved her. She slid down a rocky hill, her body landing at an painful angle blood seeping from her head.



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Severus noted it was about three in the morning when he finished his meeting with the headmaster. Since it was so late he decided not to got to bed. He was restless and needed an outlet. Hermione's dissaparence was eating away at him. He heard nothing from the Dark Lord and he worried if his spying days were almost over. He was aggravated with the chit's kidnapping. Potter and Weasley were more annoying than usual. They were watched constantly without their knowledge so they wouldn't go on some damn fool hardy mission to rescue their friend.



Professors Snape and Flitwick had searched Hogsmeade, Locator Charms were used and every so called rock was kicked over looking for the girl. Word was sent back to the school and most of the staff came running to help in the search. The Headmaster tried to aid them, but there was simply no trace of Hermione. All future Hogsmeade visits were canceled until further notice, unfortunatly it was a day late and a Galleon short to help Hermione, but it would keep other students safe. He knew Death Eaters had her and shuddered to think what they would do to her. He even wondered if she was still alive. All of little-miss-know-it-all's classes were affected. Her brains kept all of her teachers hopping; the other student's couldn't seem to answer the simplest of questions. Hermione was the driving force of class rooms as well as the trio. Damn, he thought, Potter is falling apart at the seams because of his missing girlfriend. He passed a window in the hall, noted it was a full moon and decided to gather some herbs. The activity would do him some good.



The night air was cold so Severus cast a Warming Charm. He glided into the Forbidden Forest melting into it's darkness. He walked to the far side deciding to gather Moon Flowers and Lavender, while the Lavender grew wild all over, the Moon Flowers were in only one area of the Forest he knew. He reached his destination and gathered enough of the herb to fill most of his inner pockets of his cloak. He was about to head back to the castle when he noticed some of the plants were disturbed. No one went out this far other than him and there was nothing to note beyond those plants. His curiosity was aroused so he decided to take a look.



What he saw shocked him. Not believing his eyes he carefully manuvered himself down the steep incline he saw the Granger girl. He wasn't even sure if she still lived, but he wouldn't, couldn't leave her like this. Severus was finally able to reach her. Noting she was breathing, even if the chit's breath was shallow, at least she lived. Hermione was covered in bruises, her right ankle was obviously broken, and, he suspected her ribs as well. Merlin alone knew what else was wrong with the girl.



"Hermione," he softly said, "wake up. You are safe now, I need to get you to the Hospital Wing." Severus was used to terrorizing students, but this wreck of a girl wouldn't be able to handel any roughness.



Hermione started sobbing, she must have been delierous because The Potion Master couldn't clearly understand her. Just repeated over and over "No more, please no more." in a broken voice. To his absolute horror the girl tried to crawl away from him. She was terrified so badly that even in her deplorable, pityfull condition she was trying to escape her torment. Time was of the essence. The girl was in dire need of medical help. He made his decision quickly. Severus put her in a modified body bind, she would not be able to move on her own, but he would be able to carry her. The headmaster needed to be notified, so he sent his Patronus ahead. Help would be waiting for them. Hermione was scooped up into his arms, cradled against his chest; her eyes wild and glazed he could feel her shaking through the spell. Severus draped his cloak around her so she could get a bit warmer and for the sake of her modesty.



He must have made some impression on her; he just kept repeating, as if it were a montra "You are safe, no more harm will come to you." tears streamed down her face but she did stop struggeling against the spell. Hermione went limp in his arms allowing whatever faith she had left to be shown. She still shivered, but she accepted the spell to minimize any damage that could be done by struggling as he suspected she would have done.



He was not surprised to see not only Poppy, but Albus and Minerva, all waiting for them to return. Poppy took one look at Hermione and with troubled eyes brought her to the Hospital Wing. She immediatly started running diagnostic spell clucking with disaproval. Albus, Minerva and Severus were waiting for news about Hermione.



Albus looked to Severus and asked how had he stumbeled across the girl. Minerva watched him, her eyes brightly shining with emotion. Severus took a deep breath, sighed and told them about his herb gathering that turned into a rescue mission.



Poppy finally emerged from behind the curtian. She cast a silencing charm to be certain they would not be overheard and called for Dobby. She placed an order for chamomile tea and biscuits. When everything arrived she finally sat down ready to face her co-workers.



"Hermione is very ill, she has several broken ribs, a broken ankle, a concussion, soft tissue damage and bruising over most of her body. She is also dehydrated and malnurished. I gave her a potion to prevent pregnancy and any sexually transmitted disease she may have been exposed to. I can only guess at the horrors Hermione was put through, and if she will have her mind left. I think she will live, but it's touch and go at the moment. No matter what happens, she will never be the same girl we all knew."



Minerva had tears streaming down her face, Albus looked troubled and to a person who did not know Severus well, he appeared to be cold and withdrawn, In reality her was plotting revenge for the girl.



True evil had befallen a student in his care, on his watch. He felt a certain amount of guilt, he was a chaperon for a Hogsmeade trip. Severus, true to his nature assumed all of the responcability for the current situation. Professor Flitwick may have been there as well but Severus didn't even think on that bit of information. He blamed himself, as he did everytime Voldermort or one of his loyal Death Eaters did a evil deed.