Love's Journeys *COMPLETE*

Love’s Journeys

Chapter 4- Taken From Love

“Before we continue Albus I want to know something.” Severus started.

“What is that my boy?” Albus asked.

“You said last night that you would place a spell on Hermione that would let us know if she was in danger and then another one that would let us know if Malfoy returned to the castle. Why didn’t the spells work?” Severus demanded.

Dumbledore sighed. “I wish I could answer that. I placed the spells as soon as you left my office last night. They should have worked. How Mr. Malfoy was able to get near Hermione let alone the castle without me knowing I wish I knew.”

“Professor, if your spells can’t detect Malfoy then what am I suppose to do? I mean, if he’s here and goes to class, which we both have at the same time for the most part, I can’t avoid him. Plus, I don’t have as many classes with Ron and Harry anymore and they can’t always be there to keep him away from me.” Hermione added.

Severus reached over and took her hand in his and squeezed it gently while rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand.

“I realize that Hermione. I wish I knew what we could do to help.” Albus said softly while watching the two lovers.

“Albus, what if we moved Hermione down to the dungeons? If nothing else I could set up wards around the area that would alert us and you if someone were to appear in or around my rooms or Hermione’s without us knowing about it.” Severus suggested.

“That could work. Hermione has her own room anyway with being Head Girl and all. We could also set up a floo connection to the Head Boy and Girl common room so that no one would notice in the mornings or in the evenings. What do you think Hermione?” Albus asked.

“I think that would work. Neville wouldn’t question it. I usually study in my bedroom any way unless Neville needs help on something. And if I’m helping Harry and Ron, we study either in the library or in the Gryffindor common room. It could work.” Hermione said.

“Then I’ll have the house elves send your things to the dungeons where you can sort things out later with Severus.” Albus said.

Severus and Hermione nodded. “Is there anything else Headmaster?” Severus asked.

“That will be all. You both be careful. Not only is Mr. Malfoy a threat to Hermione, but he may be a threat to you as well Severus.” Dumbledore said as the three rose to their feet.

Hermione and Severus nodded then turned and left the Headmaster’s office. They walked in silence back to the dungeons without encountering any students or faculty. Once they reached Severus’s sitting room they curled up in each other’s arms on the couch. Severus held Hermione tightly to him as she rested her back against his chest.

“You alright Hermione?” Severus whispered as she rested her head on his shoulder.

“I’m just scared. I don’t know where Malfoy is. I mean never knowing where or when he’ll show up is kind of terrifying. Especially since he can just disappear whenever he wants now.” Hermione answered.

Severus tightened his hold around her. “I know. But you can have Potter and Weasley walk you to the classes you three have together and whenever you’re not with me they can watch over you for me. Would that work?” he asked.

“I think so. Should we tell them about you and me?” she asked.

“I would rather wait. After all, Albus did say for us to use discretion. Besides, we need some time to ourselves to talk things out.” Severus said.

Hermione rose up so that she was now facing Severus on the couch. “We do need to talk. Everything happened so fast last night. I have no regrets about it. Don’t doubt that. We need to know where we stand with each other. I told you that I believe I had fallen in love with you. I meant every word I said.”

Severus smiled. “I agree. Things did happen rather quickly. Like you I believe I’ve fallen in love with you. I want nothing more than to spend more time with you. Get to know you. Plus protect you from that little bastard Draco.”

He placed his hand against her cheek. Hermione sighed and leaned into his touch. With her eyes closed she covered his hand with her own. Severus reached out with his other arm and pulled her tightly to him. Hermione slowly opened her eyes and looked into his. Severus leaned into Hermione and captured her soft lips in a gentle kiss. She slid her hands up to his shoulders and then tangled her fingers in his hair. He moaned into the kiss as he gently laid Hermione on her back on the couch underneath him.

“I thought you wanted to talk.” Hermione said in a whisper as she looked up at him smiling slightly.

“We can talk later. Right now I just want you so bad Hermione. I can’t help it.” Severus whispered huskily as he lowered his lips to graze her neck.

“Oohh…Severus. Then take me.” She moaned.

Severus stood up and swept the young woman into his arm and carried her into his bedroom. There he gently placed her on the bed as if she was a precious china doll. The two quickly began to undress each other and then made sweet gently love once again.

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“Severus?”

“Hmmm?”

“Are you okay with me?” Hermione asked.

“Oh you silly girl. I’m fine with you. What about me?” Severus replied.

“Don’t change Severus.” Hermione whispered as she rested her head on his chest and drifted off to sleep.

Severus laid there holding her in his arms. ‘I had given up hope of ever falling in love and being loved in return so long ago. And here I am in love with a beautiful woman and she returns my love. How did I get so lucky?’ he thought as too drifted off to sleep.

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“How sweet. The traitor and the mudblood. It’s so sickening! It doesn’t matter. The mudblood will die first then that traitor.” Draco Malfoy said from his hidden chamber in the Slytherin hall as he watched Severus and Hermione sleep from his magic window.

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“Hey guys. Great practice! I’m very proud of the progress that we have made so far. Keep up all the good work!” Harry Potter called to his team as he, Ron and Ginny walked off toward the Gryffindor common room.

“Have you guys seen Hermione this morning? She wasn’t at breakfast today.” Ginny asked.

“No. I asked Neville about that and he said he figured she was still asleep. She did have a patrol last night.” Harry said as he draped his arm around Ginny’s shoulders.

“True. She probably decided to sleep in for once.” Ron said as they entered the common room.

“Hey baby. How was practice?” Lavender Brown asked as she walked up to Ron.

“It went good. Hey Lavender, you know next weekend is the first Hogsmeade trip of the year. I was wondering if you would like to go with me.” Ron asked.

“I’d love too.” Lavender answered.

“Great. I have to get a shower. I’ll see you in a few minutes.” Ron said as he winked at Lavender before heading to the showers.

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Later that afternoon Hermione was entering the Great Hall for lunch when she spotted Malfoy at the Slytherin table. She froze for a split second before quickly heading to the Gryffindor table.

“Hey Herm. Where were you this morning?” Harry asked.

“I decided to eat in this morning. Guys I need to talk to you but not here, too many people. Just you and Ron.” Hermione said.

“Okay.” Ron answered while Harry nodded.

“Hey girl!” Ginny greeted as she sat down next to Harry.

The four friends ate their lunch and joked around for a good hour before Ginny said she had to go. Some of her friends were heading off to the lake to enjoy the still warm weather before it got too cold. Hermione stole a glance at the staff table and saw Severus glaring at Malfoy. Hermione shivered involuntarily as she felt Malfoy’s stare on her back.

“Guys, we need to talk now. Let’s go.” Hermione said as she rose to her feet. Ron and Harry followed suit and the trio left the Great Hall. They walked until they found and empty classroom. “Guys, remember when I told you that Malfoy had tried to attack me in New York?” she asked. Ron and Harry nodded. “Well, last night when I was making my rounds he attacked again. He used the immobulious spell and a spell that silenced my voice. He was going to rape me, but thank god Professor Snape was there. He saved me from Malfoy again.” Hermione said.

“Are you all right?” Harry cried.

“Did Malfoy hurt you?” Ron demanded.

“I’m fine. Snape got there before anything could really happen. Here’s where I need your help. In the evenings would either one or both of you be willing to escort me to my common room at nights and on the days we have classes together?” she asked.

“Of course!” both guys answered.

Just then the door to the classroom opened and in walked Professor Remus Lupin. “What are you three doing here?” he asked surprised at finding them in his classroom.

“Sorry professor, we just used your classroom so we could talk in private away from prying eyes and ears.” Hermione answered.

“Oh, all right.” Lupin said.

“Hey, you two go ahead. I’ll see you later this evening. I want to ask Professor Lupin something.” Hermione said. After reassuring the guys she would be fine this afternoon it was finally herself and Lupin.

“What can I do for you Hermione?” Remus asked.

“Well, I want to know if there is a spell that can protect someone from being raped.” Hermione asked quietly.

“What?! Why do you want to know?” Remus asked surprised at her question.

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Severus was walking down the hall when he bumped into Harry and Ron. “Professor?” Harry called out.

“Yes Potter?” Severus said.

“Thank you, for what you did for Hermione last night. You know, saving her from Draco and all.” Harry said.

“You’re welcome. Have you seen Miss Granger by the way? There are a few things I need to discuss with her about last night.” Severus said.

“Yes sir. She is talking with Professor Lupin.” Ron answered.

Severus nodded his head in thanks and headed for the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. A few minutes later found him standing outside the classroom and seeing Hermione crying softly in the arms of Remus Lupin.

“Hermione, Are you all right?” Severus asked as he entered the room. Completely forgetting that Remus knew nothing of his and Hermione’s relationship.

“Oh Severus!” Hermione cried as she threw herself into his strong arms.

“What’s going on here Severus?” Remus whispered as Severus cradled Hermione in his arms.

“Can you keep a secret Lupin?” Severus asked. Lupin nodded. “Hermione and I are together.” Severus said.

Remus was surprised. “When did this start?” Remus asked.

“Last night when Malfoy almost raped her.” Severus answered quietly as he held Hermione in his arms. “But she and I bumped into each other in New York and we both realized we’ve been falling for each other.”

Remus just sat there in shock. Not only from the information that Hermione had told him about what Draco Malfoy almost did to her but finding out that she and Severus were an item.

“What did she want?” Severus asked.

“She wanted to know if there was a spell to protect someone from being raped. I asked why she wanted to know then she told me about Malfoy and then started crying. Then you came in here. What can I do to help Severus?” Remus said.

“I’m not sure. I saw Malfoy today at lunch. He was staring at Hermione. When I saw her leave with Potter and Weasley I figured she was going to tell them about what happened with Malfoy. We agreed to keep us a secret. Only you and Albus know that we are together. We have moved her from the Head Girl room to a spare room in my quarters. My fireplace and the fireplace in her Head Girl bedroom by floo, that way no one will really notice.” Severus replied.

“She’s asleep Severus. Looks like all this has taken its toll on her. Get her to bed; you can use my fireplace in my room. Follow me.” Remus said as he noticed Hermione was sound asleep in Severus’s arms.

Severus brought Hermione into his arms and followed Remus through his office and into his private quarters. “Thanks Remus.”

“No problem. If there’s anything I can do to help just let me know.” Remus said as he took some floo powder and sent Hermione and Severus back to his quarters.

Severus exited the fireplace with Hermione in his arms. He walked into the bedroom and gently placed her in his bed and tucked her in. He then pulled up a chair next to the bed and sat down. He reached out a hand to move a stray piece of hair from out of her beautiful face.

“My darling Hermione, Draco will pay for even thinking about hurting you. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you are safe.” Severus whispered as she ran his fingers through her soft hair.

“Severus.” Hermione said in her sleep as she leaned into his touch.

Severus gently brushed his lips over her forehead then quietly exited the bedroom and headed for his office to finish grading papers for Monday. He closed the bedroom door then set up the wards over the door that would alert him of when she woke up or if someone got or tried to get into the room without permission.

He sat at his desk and tried not to concentrate on the sleeping woman in his bed that had somehow stolen his heart within a matter of weeks. What really had him worried was how frightened she looked when he entered Remus’ office. For as long as he had known Hermione she was not what you called a shrinking violet; however having a suddenly untraceable Draco Malfoy running around was a bit of a scary thought even to Severus.

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In Severus’s bedroom a figure stepped out of the shadows and stood over the woman sound asleep in the bed.

‘Time to go mudblood.’ Draco thought as he scooped Hermione from the bed into his arms.

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In the office a small ring was heard. “Hermione!” Severus yelled as he leapt away from the desk and ran to the bedroom.

Once he had the wards down, he burst through the doors and found his bed empty. He frantically searched the room but found nothing. No note and defiantly no Hermione. Severus ran from the rooms and headed for Dumbledore’s office. On the way he ran into Remus.

“Severus, what’s wrong?” Remus asked alarmed.

“Hermione’s gone. I think Draco’s got her. We have to get to Albus.” Severus said frantically as he and Remus began to run to Albus’ office. “Cotton Candy!” Severus yelled as they reached the entrance.

The two professors ran into Albus’ office and found him sitting at his desk. “Severus? Remus? What is wrong?” Albus asked in surprise at his two professors out of breath in front of him.

“Hermione is gone.” Remus said.

“How?” Albus asked concerned.

“It’s my fault. I left her alone. Somehow Draco got in and I wasn’t there to protect her.” Severus sighed as he dropped into a chair and his head fell into his hands.

“Severus, it’s not your fault. You can’t beat yourself up about this. We have to think about how we can get Hermione back safe and sound.” Remus said as he placed his hand on Severus’s shoulder.

“Listen to Remus. What are we going to tell Harry and Ron? If Hermione isn’t there at dinner they will be asking questions.” Albus said.

“We tell them the truth. That Draco has Hermione and that we are doing everything we can to get her back.” Severus answered.

“Are you sure?” Albus asked.

Severus looked up at his mentor. “Yes. She told them about what Draco had tried to do to her last night. They don’t know about her moving to my quarters or about us. We can leave that part out, though I don’t care at the moment about that right now. All I care about is getting Hermione back safe and sound and back in my arms where she belongs.” Severus said, fear and rage reflecting in his dark eyes.

“Very well, Severus, you and Remus need to return to where Hermione was taken and begin to do a tracing spell and try to find out where she was taken. I’ll get a hold of some members of the Order and have them begin searching for Draco and Hermione.” Albus said. Severus and Remus nodded and flooed back to Severus’s chambers.

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In a secluded area Draco was pacing the floor in a room where he had Hermione pinned down to the bed in the middle of the room. “I told you it wasn’t over mudblood.”

Draco’s evil laughter sent shivers of dread up Hermione’s spine. She watched Draco begin to move toward her and knowing there was nothing she could do to fight him off or even get away. Not this time.

‘Oh god! Severus where are you? Please help me!’ her mind screamed as Draco began to strip away her clothes.

T.B.C