Severus landed hard on his face, a deep groan passing his lips into the dirt below. His heart was pounding out of rhythm making his entire body ache. Carefully, he rolled himself onto his back and opened his eyes. A bright blue sky with puffy clouds floated overhead and he couldn't help but wonder where he'd been sent.
The air smelled clean and crisp, and oddly like lavender. With as much grace as he could muster he made his way to his feet trying to take in his surroundings. When his eyes landed on a very familiar barn his heart skipped back into rhythm.
He'd sent him to the farm, the farm he and Hermione had been staying at the past few months. The message couldn't have been clearer.
Shaking his head to clear it he cast a tempus charm to check the time. He still had 30 mins from when they were supposed to take Hermione. He needed to get back but needed to be careful. With one last look to another home that had been stolen from him by his dark past. He turned on the spot with a loud crack.
Assuring his glamour was still in place, Severus made his way up the gargoyle protected staircase. Deciding it would be best to announce his presence he gave the door at the top a heavy knock. It took no time for the door to open and Minerva was suddenly standing in front of him. A gasp and a hand over her heart at his dirty and disheveled appearance made him smirk.
"Relax Minerva, it's me."
"Oh, Merlin pants, Severus." Minerva stepped aside and let him step inside, closing the door tightly behind him. She didn't miss the dark wet spot on the back of his silver hair nor the smell of blood when he stepped past her.
Draco lifted his head slowly, a look of helplessness over his features.
Shacklebolt came around Minerva's desk urgency filling his voice, "Do you have it?"
"I do." Severus pulled the glowing vial from his front pocket, "Where's Hermione?"
"They took her, about 10 minutes ago..." Draco came to his feet, running his hands down his slacks.
oOOo
Hermione was doing her best to keep her calm, taking deep breaths through her nose and letting them slowly through her partially parted lips. The lift felt like it was going down much farther than it had before and her nerves were starting to raise the hair on the back of her neck.
Her eyes turned up to the man who had come to get her. He stared dead ahead with eyes colder than the darkest night of winter. She shifted slightly against his hand that held her elbow, the chains around her wrists felt heavier with each floor they passed.
When the car finally came to a shuddering halt, Hermione felt her heart beginning to beat faster. This wasn't where she'd been before, and she was quite sure it was way colder than any other place she'd been before. The air felt thin, and there was a deep silence that seemed to fill any void. Two guards turned their heads inside the car looking from the officer then to her. The man who escorted her showed his wand before taking a step out. Hermione tried to keep her breathing level as she turned her head behind, watching the lift gate close and the elevator shut down. The light inside blinking out.
The hall was built of black marble, the walls and even doors that lined the narrow hallway were solid stone, even their steps made no sound as they moved forward. The hall seemed to stretch on forever before coming to a T shaped junction. The man gave her a sharp pull to her left and she jogged to keep in step.
Her eyes tried to take in the doors as they passed, but each one was identical to the other, not a scratch or chip on their surface to tell them apart. They came to a stop in front of one of the many doors and the officer pushed his wand inside a small hole.
The door let out a loud click but didn't echo as it should have. The officer pulled his wand free from the lock and let the door slide open. The room was small and simple, with only a bed on the far wall. It was all white flat unpolished stone, with a dim light overhead embedded in the ceiling.
Hermione tripped slightly as she was pushed inside. She stumbled the three steps it took to make it to the bed before spinning around, only to see the door shut and lock heavily.
Fearful tears wet the corner of her eyes as she turned them around the space. There was no window in the door, at least none that she could see, and she could tell by the sound of the locks that the door was thick, there was no way any amount of force would make a sound against it.
Everything felt wrong, from the moment the officer arrived til now. The growing sense of something building to a climax was picking away at the sanity in her brain. With shuddered breaths, Hermione lowered herself down upon the cot, wincing slightly at the sound of old metal springs creaking under her weight.
She sniffled and looked down at her hands fiddling with the 5 links between each wrist. She'd never felt so alone. The room in and of itself felt oppressive. Like it was pushing down every ounce of fight she could possibly have inside her. Even her magic felt as though it had been sealed inside an impenetrable jar. The quiet of the space, felt so loud against her own breath and even her thoughts felt far away and quiet.
oOOo
Shacklebolt stepped through the floo leading to his office, the vial with the memory clutched tight in his palm. A look of determination on his face as he took three long strides to his desk. His eyes looked over the shuffled paperwork and he knew instantly that Hermione's file was missing. His eyes turned to the clock on his wall before a faint shimmer caught his attention.
His wand was out in an instant a spell at the tip of his tongue before the shimmer slowly revealed itself.
"It's just me!" Harry said in earnest holding his hands up to show he meant no harm. "We were waiting for you."
Kingsley lowered his wand with a small huff but before he could retort the fire inside the floo flared green once more. Minerva and some old man with a bandage around his head Harry was sure he'd never seen before came through.
"Just leave it alone." Minerva swatted at the man's hands as he made to pull it free from his head.
"Leave me be."
The man's sharp tone sparked a small suspicion inside Harry and he took a few steps out of the corner. "Professor?"
The old man narrowed his green eyes at him before turning away to continue pulling the tightly wrapped bandage from its place. Shacklebolt shook his head before leveling his eyes at Harry.
"That's amazing..." Harry blinked dumbly before turning his eyes to Kingsley, "Frollo was here, he took something from your desk and we heard him tell someone to take Hermione down to 'the lower levels'. I don't think Frollo was ever going to take her himself, I-"
"He's already taken her Harry." Kingsley raised his hand to bring silence to the room. "As far as lower levels. I'm not entirely sure what he's referring to but rest assured I will find out."
"Please, sir. You've got to get me into the courtroom somehow, if he's going to try an-"
"It's already been considered. Now please, we have a plan. Hermione is scheduled to appear in 15 minutes. We need to be heading towards the courtroom now." Shacklebolt moved over to a cabinet on his wall. He taped it three times with his finger before pulling the doors open.
It was a potions cabinet, filled to the brim, Shacklebolt shifted through a few with names before pulling out two vials. "Here drink this." Kingsley made his way to Harry first pressing the vial into his hand before turning to Snape offering out the potion. "It's good for two hours."
Severus pulled the dressing free from his head and took the vile turning it in the light with his fingers. "I know where the lower levels are." Shacklebolt's brow rose, "It's where they take Death Eaters awaiting trial."
"The catacombs? We decommissioned them about three years ago."
"Apparently someone found a new use for them."
"He said he's got guards, and I don't think they're loyal to you minister. We can't just walk through the front door."
"This isn't a spy mission Mister Potter. We're going through the front door."
"But what if Frollo runs or-"
"We shall deal with him first," Kingsley showed him the memory, "Then we'll release Miss Granger "
"Now drink, we have to state our case before Frollo gets a chance to twist the facts."
Harry felt like a teenager all over again, taking orders from elders without so much as a say in the matter. It roiled his stomach but he didn't have a choice if he wanted their help. His thoughts went to Ginny then and he hoped that Esmeralda was able to get the both of them out of harm's way. "He's going after my wife too, please sir. There must be something we can do. I can't just go running off without making sure she's okay..."
Shacklebolt frowned and moved over to the window that overlooked the front lobby, his eagle eyes spotted both Ginny and Esmeralda walking towards the floos. Just before they were to walk inside however an alarm sounded through the entire building. The floo gates shut down harshly and the doors in the hall outside of the Minister's office slammed shut.
Everyone inside the office save for Snape and Shacklebolt covered their ears, looking around for the source of the sound. Just then, the alarm decreased in volume and a voice rang out over the entire building.
"A dangerous criminal has attempted to escape. All non-combatant personnel return to your offices. This is not a drill. I repeat, a dangerous criminal has attempted to escape. All non-combatant personnel return to your office. Visitors, and civilians in the first-floor lobby please make your way to the press hall. All others, please seek your safety with verified Ministry Staff. Officers and Aurors please use code 0." The voice popped out and the sound of the alarm returned but at more manageable levels.
"That was my boss, he's in on it too?"
"We don't know that for sure, all we know is that Frollo got to the court first. Come on, they'll be in lockdown, you and I have clearance to open to open any door now. This may be a blessing in disguise."
"Do you really think she escaped?" Ever hopeful Minerva looked to Shacklebolt for answers.
"I don't know. But we need to find her before they do. Code 0, is kill on sight." Harry's heart was racing and his palms were almost too sweaty to hold his wand properly. His heart was torn between his wife and his best friend. His head starting to pound from the complexity of the entire situation.
Shacklebolt turned his head back down watching Esmeralda and Ginny walking calmly with the others on the first floor. His own personally vetted Aurors escorting those in the group to safety.
"Your wife is fine Harry, she and Mrs. Malfoy are with my most trusted staff."
"Yeah? Does that really say a lot right now?!" Harry gritted his teeth and hit the side of his head trying to think.
"I will go to them." Minerva stepped up putting a calming hand on the young man's shoulder. "Everything is going to work out." She gave him a stern look that basically told him to get a grip before turning back toward Shackbolt.
Harry lifted his head trying to calm himself down, for Merlin's sake he was an Auror! He had been trained for things like this. Hard impossible situations where more than his own life on the line.
"Where's Snape?"
All three turned on the spot, but the man in question was nowhere to be found. There was a sound from the file room, like a door being forced open.
"How did he...nevermind, Minerva take the staircase hidden behind that bookcase over there. It'll bring you to the press room without being seen. Harry come with me and drink that. We have to deliver this to the court and lift the lockdown."
oOOo
"Neville?"
"Oh! Hey Ginny, oh wow look at you, you look radiant." Neville gave her a kind bright smile.
"What are you doing here?" Ginny let go of Esmeralda's arm that she was sure she'd bruised by how tight she'd taken hold of her. The brown-haired woman rubbed the area surreptitiously but kept herself from drawing attention.
"Just renewing my teaching license for next year, its the final time before my apprenticeship is finished and I'll be a full professor."
His excitement eased some of the tension in her shoulders and she gently rubbed her stomach.
"What're you doing here?"
"Harry was...arrested."
"What? Why?"
"Um, it's complicated..."
Neville was flabbergasted. Just as he was about to inquire further McGonagall appeared-out of nowhere and he found himself straightening up out of pure respect.
"Uh, Headmistress its nice to see you."
"Longbottom, I trust you've finished your paperwork?"
"Uh, yes ma'am, just got to turn it in." He raised his hand that was filled with papers. He looked around them finding that most others had taken to sitting in small groups away from them. He lowered his voice, concern rolling over his features,"What's this about Harry getting arrested?"
Ginny took a sharp breath and held her stomach a bit tighter. Esmeralda moved forward then, taking the redhead by the shoulders and leading her to sit down.
"You needn't worry about any of that." Minerva's voice was firm but her eyes turned to Ginny.
Neville had taken notice too and turned to dig through his bag for something. He pulled out a small baggy of dried something and moved over to kneel in front of her, "How far along are you?"
"Not far enough for contractions...ah..." Ginny breathed through her teeth shifting to try and become more comfortable.
"It's probably the stress, here, chew on this, it'll help." He pulled out a small piece and offered it to her, "It's fruit, well, woman's fruit. It's supposed to help with pregnancy and stress."
"Thank you, Neville..." Ginny took the weird fruit into her fingers bringing it to her nose.
"It smells unpleasant but Luna tells me it tastes delicious."
Ginny made a small face before slowly pushing it into her mouth. He was right, it tasted like heaven. Like chocolate and caramel had a baby. Her eyes widened as she chewed before looking at Neville catching his implication.
"Luna's pregnant?"
"Twins." Neville beamed proudly and set the small bag into Ginny's lap.
"Congratulations Neville! That's wonderful news." Ginny couldn't help but take another fruit into her mouth. Genuinely happy for him.
"Yeah, we'd been trying for a while, and I'm just so happy to be a Dad."
"You'll be a wonderful Father Mister Longbottom." Minerva couldn't help but smile even under the circumstances.
oOOo
Hermione had started to pace, the small room felt like it was getting smaller with each passing minute. Her wrists had already started to chaff from her fidgeting, a tiny bead of blood staining her wrist by the bone.
She had tried her wandless magic a few times and had received a very nasty jolt that sent to to the floor for her efforts. She'd tried reaching out to Severus but the wall on his end had been locked tight. No doubt in an effort to protect himself from whatever he was doing.
With a heavy sigh, Hermione sat back down on the bed looking down at her hands helplessly. She closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind, envisioning herself inside her space. It was hard to focus but with great effort and slow controlled breathing she managed to slip out of the world around her.
Her library was a mess, random books pulled out and littered the aisle, no doubt a visual representation of her current mental state. Her eyes ran through the rows before landing on the door far away that lead to Severus' mind. The wall on her side was gone but she wasn't sure if his was still present. Her mind had been quiet in her conscious state but this plane was different, stronger somehow.
A deep breath and resolve in her steps, she made her way through the mess and to the door. Her hands pressed over the carvings before taking the handle. The feeling of their connection growing stronger.
Turning the handle she pushed but felt resistance, like she was pushing the door underwater. That was new. Undeterred, she put her weight into it and finally felt the door come free. She fell forward into his mind only to find an empty space. No rotating doors, only a dim light far off in the distance. She stayed where she was, unsure about the new landscape and called out.
"Severus?"
"Hermione?"
Hermione turned her head, his voice was so soft like a whisper as if he were far away. She looked to where she believed the sound to come from but found no one there.
"Severus...your mind space... it's...barren."
"I'm o...luding. Where...you?"
Hermione squint trying to make out his words. She pushed herself up to her feet and tried to move further into his mind but found an invisible barrier preventing her from taking more than a few steps from the door.
"Severus? I can't hear you..." Her heart started to race at the thought that she'd done something to damage the connection between them when she had shut him out earlier.
"I ...an...ear...ou. Whe...a...ou?"
Hermione pressed herself against the barrier trying to strengthen their connection.
"Severus, I'm scared...I don't know where I am...the room is so white...so cold..."
"Her...ne? Wha...rem...er?"
Hermione pressed her forehead closer trying to discern his question but her concentration was abruptly disturbed by a sound from the outside.
Hermione's eyes snapped open to the source of the sound. A small window had appeared in the door and she quickly moved to her feet to try and see. Unfortunately, the glass appeared to only one way, all she could see on her side was her own terrified reflection. Schooling her features, she raised her chin.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Ms. Granger."
oOOo
Severus gritted his teeth and pressed his hand onto the back of his head. The pulse of his concussion was making it hard to focus. Between occluding, coordinating a body much bigger than his usual self and keeping his presence undetected; he found his mental strength wearing thin.
He pressed himself tight into the small alcove just outside the door he was sure would lead him lower. A troupe of Aurors were making sweeps through the floor offices and the door he needed was just on the other side of the hall.
However, Every time he'd chanced a small peek he found one of the Aurors standing guard in the hallway. Twice now he was sure he'd almost been spotted but his disillusionment charm had held firm thanks to the dimmed lights.
He could hear Hermione clearly, although she felt far away her words had been clear. He would suspect, however, with all the magic playing over his mind and body, his end of the connection was just too thin to make it through. It was hard enough to speak through when he was occluding but he couldn't risk setting off any of the sneaking sensors that littered the bottom floors.
"Seal off that hallway, we're going to move onto the next block."
"Yes, sir."
Severus leaned back further listening to bricks fall into place in the space between. When they finally settled he leaned out of the alcove and slipped over the closed gap taking to the door just to the other side. A silent charm released the lock the Aurors had placed over it and he opened the door as silently as he could.
He had to hand it to Shacklebolt, the security of the Ministry had definitely increased. Severus was just thankful they hadn't changed the layout since the last time he had been there. So far he'd been very lucky at finding the secret passages passed to him by Malfoy Sr. during his time as a ministry official.
The man had had scores of maps and blueprints that Severus had put into his near eidetic memory. Severus took the stairs as quickly and quietly as he could, there was no way he would be able to hide if anyone were to join him. The staircase was for maintenance, it was narrow and twisted down like a corkscrew.
When he reached the bottom, he put his ear to the door listening for any more patrols. He could guess he'd only gone only two floors at the most and would have to find the next staircase that would lead him down even farther. He should be close to the courtrooms now if his memory served him correctly, the courts were held 2 floors above the general holding cells, and the catacombs were at least 10 levels below that.
With great caution, Severus turned the handle on the door opening the door just far enough to see out into the hall. He could hear murmuring but he couldn't see anyone through the door. With great discretion, he pushed open the door far enough for him to pass through and shut it silently behind him. The hall was rounded and clear in both directions.
Severus took to the right, keeping his steps light, the sound of a voice was rising and he knew that he was getting close to the door that led to the main room. A deep voice stilled his steps and he pressed himself closer to the inner wall, trying to hear more clearly.
oOo
"Council, I understand the seriousness of the situation I assure you. As the Minister of Magic, I can attest that your safety is not at risk. However, I would also like to address the issue to why all of you were summoned here today."
Shacklebolt came down the steps to the center gaining everyone's attention on the way down. "I'm sure you have all heard the testimony of Theosus Frollo regarding the supposed escape of Hermione Granger, the prisoner who was set to appear here today."
"Have you caught her?"
"How dangerous is she really?"
"What about the creature inside her?"
"Is there any way to stop those creatures?"
"Everyone, please! Calm down, you have all been led here on false pretenses. This matter is no more serious than an underage use of magic inquiry."
Another roar of murmurs filled the hall and Shacklebolt kept his eyes on the man sitting in the shadows in the far right corner. He could make out Harry trying to work his way to him without drawing attention to himself but it was slow work.
"Now, I have some evidence that I would like to present in regards to the judgment regarding this case."
"Her judgment has already been passed Shacklebolt! This was just meant to be a formal sentencing!"
"I understand that Corner I do! But I seriously believe that the council should reconsider its decision."
Another round of heated arguments rose to indistinguishable levels as Shacklebolt pulled the sphere from the floor. He glanced up towards Harry as he made to sit down next to Frollo, who was staying suspiciously quiet.
"This trial was built upon lies! It's time to reveal the truth!" Shacklebolt poured the memory into the floating orb and took a step back as the room grew quiet.
oOOo
"Why are you doing this to me?" Hermione took a small step towards the door her voice tight with anger.
"Oh, my sweet summer child, who said it was all about you?" His voice was mockingly sweet but deceivingly hard.
"What do you want?"
"The information you withheld from the council."
"What information?" Hermione let her hands fall down her tone turning exasperated. "I've told and shown you everything I know!"
"Not everything."
Hermione jerked as the door started to unlock and took a few steps back away from it. There was hardly anywhere to go aside from the bed. The backs of her knees pressed into it as Frollo stepped through. He kept his wand level with her heart turning only slightly to make sure the door remaining in the open position. They had been talking through the glass back and forth, but neither one of them had gained any information worthwhile.
This was about the third time that he had led her around the same line of questioning and Hermione's patience was wearing thin. The room felt even smaller as the man leveled his hooked nose with her own. His eyes sharp and hard as he raised the tip of his wand under her chin forcing it back just the tiniest fraction.
"You're going to tell me what I want to know, whether you want to or not."
Hermione's jaw twitched and her eyes turned to look at the wand pressed against her, "I have nothing...more to tell you."
"We'll see about that." With a flick of his wand to her chin, he took a small step back dragging the tip down her chest. The chains at her wrists grew and fell down to connect with added shackles to her ankles and neck. The chains were much tighter than the ones she had been originally brought in and the sense of dread was pooling in her stomach. "I have a friend I'd like you to meet. Though, I'm pretty sure you've met his kind before."