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How To Disappear Completely	By : AppleFiend Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 12305 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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How To Disappear Completely by KerryMuggle

Disclaimer: All belongs to Mrs. Rowling, except for Indra Karnstein.

�The Lacemaker� by This Mortal Coil from the album �Blood�

Chapter 4: The Lacemaker

�Dreams are like water - colorless and dangerous�

There was a frustration in her tone. It read on her face. The black and white image of her running her hands over her face as if she could wipe off her troubles in an instant. After covering her face, she began to move her hands to her neck and her fingers lingered on the back nape of her neck. She looked up and a radiant light greeted her face as her eyes remained closed. It was an image of peacefulness, but he could easily sense the troubles that were etched in her skin.
Severus Snape never before had the direct pleasure of having images or sounds wake him on the same night. He stomped out of bed making a mental note to himself that he may have to take a dreamless sleeping draught tonight. He quickly changed and washed up, hoping for a few moments to catch up on some potions research before breakfast when Albus�s face suddenly appeared in the fireplace with the familiar green haze surrounding it.

�Severus, we require your presence immediately in my office. It is rather important.�

�What? Peeves pulling another prank?� Severus cursed before Dumbledore�s face vanished. �Old fool.� he muttered soon afterwards.

What could really be of that much importance were the first thoughts running through his mind. He racked his brain, but really couldn�t come up with any solid solution. There was the lingering worry in the back of his mind that the rumors of rogue Death Eaters were true, but the Ministry�s investigations into the matter always turned up empty. He still believed that there was something in the rumors to be found but didn�t feel he had the energy to devote his time to anything that wasn�t of great significance.

Then there was the scream that he could have sworn was real. It was now somehow imprinted in his brain. And what exactly did the face represent? It was familiar, but he couldn�t quiet place his finger on it.

Not much had changed now that the war was over. Yes, he did lose some of his colleagues, but it amazed Severus how much things had almost returned to normalcy. Whether it was Dumbledore�s way of getting people to move on or a way to somehow not get people to think about just how much damage was done, he would never know. As he buttoned up his robes, he felt a small pang of hunger in his stomach, but pushed it aside as he walked out of his rooms and warded them.

It must have been too much to ask to have a few more weeks of peace and quiet until the school year started again. Even though some decided to pull their children out of Hogwart�s, opting to send them to another wizarding school, some felt that it was safer than ever and chose to return. Severus would be the first to admit that he considered leaving now that Voldemort was dead, but the supposed rumors, that were always proven to somehow be false, worried Dumbledore a bit and he suggested that his Potions Master remain on staff for a few more years.

As he reached Dumbledore�s office, he muttered the password and saw the gargoyle move. As he climbed the steps he heard an all too familiar voice. Before he could knock, the door opened slightly for him and he entered.

�Aahhh Severus. Please take a seat.� Dumbledore suggested.

Severus walked further into the room and saw Minerva McGonnagal and Draco Malfoy who took the vacant Defense Against The Dark Arts position after Moody decided to retire. While it did irk Severus for a while, he found that he was satisfied, for the most part, with his position. If only he could get students who were as passionate about the subject as some of his former ones were. He sat down in the chair Dumbledore pointed him to and turned to his right to see Harry Potter sitting there.

�Well then. This must be really important if Mr. Potter is gracing us with his presence.� Severus snarled. �What exactly is going on? I�m trying to enjoy the time I have left before the dunderheads return to no doubt make me regret deciding to stay here after all.�

Harry was starting to get angry, but thought better of it when Dumbledore raised his hand.

�Now Severus, I wouldn�t have done this and asked for Mr. Potter to come if it wasn�t of the upmost importance. I asked all of you here because I trust none of you will let this slip out in the open. I figured it would be best to have the best here with me in this circumstance. I plan on alerting the Weasley�s after our meeting. This morning, I received something rather disturbing.� Dumbledore said as he reached across his desk and pulled out what appeared to be a badge - only it was stained in blood. Harry immediately reached for it and recognized it.

�It�s Hermione�s old prefect badge. What�s happened to her?!?!� Harry asked with a calm panic in his voice.

�After I received this, I had the Ministry send out a group of aurors to the Granger�s.� he paused for a few seconds then continued. �Unfortunately, the Granger�s were killed and Hermione was nowhere to be found. A fire was started to try and cover up any evidence and the Dark Mark was above the house. Luckily, the aurors got there just in time to stop the fire from destroying everything. From this, I�m assuming that Miss Granger is still alive.�

�Was there any clue to where Miss Granger may be?� Minerva asked.

�I did receive a small note, but I�m afraid I cannot decipher it. It says something along the lines of one in our presence will know where to find her. I�m assuming that it is either Mr. Malfoy, or you Severus. We all know that they were aware of the fact that you two were spies. It also oddly has a marking, someone kissed the note.� Dumbledore said as he handed the note to Severus.

It was a neutral shade that didn�t stand out or scream for attention, besides Severus was just as baffled as Dumbledore was.

Draco Malfoy reached for the letter and studied it for a few moments. He appeared quiet pensive and tried to play it cool in front of the others. He really hadn�t spoken to anyone about how the death of his father, by his own hands, really affected him.

�I have no clue really. Apparently the rumor was true all along.� Draco spoke softly.

�I don�t understand. We were led to believe that the Ministry investigated those rumors Albus! What did they miss?� Minerva screamed in confusion.

�That�s what happens when you leave an incompetent group in charge of such investigations. Headmaster, with all due respect, it was foolish to rely on the Ministry to take on such a task. You could have sent Neville Longbottom out and he would have done a better job!� Severus spoke shuddering at the thought that the recently recovered graduate was soon going to be teaching Herbology.

�Could you read the note aloud please.� Harry asked, trying to remain calm among the group. It killed him already to lose many members of the Weasley family, including one of his best friends, and he couldn�t bear the thought of losing his other best friend.

�She awaits - pure no longer - for the army of traitors to come. So close, yet so far. There will be plenty of Karn-age to be found.� Draco read slowly. �Carnage is spelled strangely with a K and the last three letters are separated from the first four.�

�Ok. We know that this had to be a sect of Death Eaters that Voldemort had hidden, and I�m assuming from the lipstick that it�s a female.� Harry started.

�Well, that�s using your brains wisely Mr. Potter. Three points for our future auror-in-training.� Severus snorted.

�Look you pathetic excuse for a man! This isn�t the time for your smartass comments. Hermione�s life is on the line. She may even be dead for all we know. I shudder to think of what those bastards have done, or may even be doing to her at this very moment! Are you going to help us find her or not?� Harry said with a voice dripping in pure anger.

�All right, look you two!� Minerva shouted. �This isn�t the way we�re going to find Miss Granger. By Merlin, you�d think I was here with a bunch of first years! We owe her more than two peoples petty arguments! Now, it�s obvious this person in charge wants to be found. We just have to dig a little deeper to find where Miss Granger is being held. Professor�s Snape and Malfoy obviously hold the key and I think I speak for us all when I say that we need focus on the task at hand.�

�She�s right, unfortunately.� Severus said with a dismal note. �I am afraid that I don�t think I�ll be of much use. Albus, you know that I stopped receiving the vital information from Voldemort months ago. Why he didn�t just kill me when I was a suspect is a mystery.�

Draco remained quiet for the few moments between his reading the note and the outburst between Harry and Severus. He muttered the words to himself as he paced around the room, concentrating on every phrase.

�I came into possession with some of my fathers old journals after...........he died. I can look into them to see if anything rings a bell.� Draco offered.

�Thank you Professor Malfoy.� Minerva said.

Draco preceded to walk out of the room with Minerva trailing behind. The door closed and there remained Harry, Severus, and Dumbledore. Harry was so frustrated, he began to pace the room, fear evident in his walk.

�We�re going to find her Harry.� Dumbledore said reassuringly.

�Yeah, but will it be dead or alive?� he questioned with bitterness in his voice.

�You and I both know that it�s not wise to think like that.�

�Well what else am I supposed to think? She was just going to stay with her parents for a few weeks! We all thought she was going to be fine. I thought she was going to return back to the Burrows! I just...........I�m so tired of being surrounded with all of this death! Haven�t we lost enough already for shits sake? I know she was a prime target because of me. It�s come to a point where I can�t bear to think about how many people have died because of their associations with me. DAMN MINISTRY! THEY SAW THIS COMING AND THEY DIDN�T DO ANYTHING!!!!� Harry stated with fury as he punched the door to Dumbledore�s office.

Severus just sat back and observed the supposed boy wonder fall apart at the seems. He did have a right to be angry, but he was never one who could control his emotions. All this fuss over a girl. It was no surprise to him that she wasn�t promised to either Weasley or Potter. He grimaced internally at the thought of either Potter or Weasley�s children running around.

While he had to admit that Hermione Granger was probably one of the best students to grace his Potions class, ok, was the best, he didn�t hate the girl. He just didn�t like the people she associated with. If it were up to him, she would have been placed into Ravenclaw. Her intelligence was something that worked for her in so many ways, but it tended to turn some people off. He wouldn�t lie, he was fascinated by the fact that she, a muggle, was one of the more powerful witches to grace Hogwart�s. She would have gone on to do great things. Then he chided himself for thinking on her in past tense.

As much as she may have annoyed him, he tolerated her no less, and knew that she had to be found. Then the image in his dream of the face popped into his head. That couldn�t have been her? The scream?

He was so deep in his thoughts that he didn�t hear Albus�s words.

�Severus, my boy.�

�Yes, Albus.� He noticed that Harry was no longer in the room.

�I think it best if you too try to decipher the message sent to us.�

�I�ll offer up my services, if needed, but Albus, Miss Granger could be anywhere. Who knows were to even begin? Plus, I�m willing to bet there�s a warrant for the heads of Draco and I. We can�t just walk into shady areas of Diagon Alley and start asking questions.�

�We can�t lose hope for Hermione, Severus.�

�What, like that little flair of dramatics Potter just put on for us?�

�You know that was his anger talking, and he does have some right to possess it. We all do.� Dumbledore said as he picked up the blood smeared prefect back and handed it to Severus.

Severus took the badge without even realizing that he reached for it. There was more blood on there than he liked to have admit, but it dawned on him that his supposed time for peace and quiet was now going to be devoted to finding the insufferable know-it-all.

He devoted a good time of his day in Malfoy�s personal chambers flipping through Lucius Malfoy�s old possessions. Some of his belongings were warded, while others weren�t - but they were useless nonetheless. Finally, the two decided to call it quits for the day. Severus forgot to take the dreamless sleep draught.

It was spoken that Potter was spending time with the Weasley�s at the Burrow, hoping to find a shard of hope. It was one thing to lose family members to both good and evil causes, but to lose a close family friend was another sharp blow. Dumbledore felt it would be wise for him to spend time with those who became his second family.

He was walking down a hall that was painted a dark red. There were doors all on the right side, but they were all closed. He didn�t bother to try and open them, but just kept walking down the hall. It felt almost as if he were going around in circles over and over again because it all looked the same.

Severus looked down at the carpeted flooring and noticed that it was stark black and clean. His boots slowly paced down the hall, looking for something, but not knowing what it was. He could hear cheers and laughter on the floors above him and deduced that he was in some sort of grand manor.

One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six doors he passed before he looked straight ahead and saw someone standing in the middle of the hallway. He didn�t say anything as he slowly stepped forward. He reached the seventh door but stopped straight in his tracks when he noticed who it was. It was Hermione Granger and the first word that came to his mind was graceful when he saw her. She was wearing a white linen dress and her hair was pinned up. She didn�t have any shoes on, but there was a necklace that stood out. He wanted to walk towards her, but couldn�t. She was standing a few steps away from the ninth door and it was open. No words were muttered from her mouth. Nothing. She lifted her left hand and pointed to the door and then solemnly put her head down, almost in shame.

Severus tried to walk towards the door, but his feet were stuck in their spot. The more he tried to move, the heavier they got. All the while he kept looking at his former student, trying to see if she would give him anything else to go on by, but she didn�t. She just lifted her head and tears were flowing down her face, but they were tears of blood.

He shot up again in his sleep for the second night in a row. That was it. She was trying to tell him something. The thought lingered in him as to why him and not Potter, but if it would help them find her, then he would relay the information. He quickly dressed and noticed that the moon was still out and tried to floo Albus to let him know that he was going to be coming.

A moment later he flooed into Dumbledore�s office. Albus, wiping the sleep from his eyes and stifling a yawn welcomed his Potions Master into the same chair he did the previous day.

�I had a dream. I think Miss Granger is trying to tell me where she is?� Severus stated bluntly.

�Well, what is she trying to say?� Albus questioned.

�She isn�t saying anything, but she�s pointing towards something, a room. The night before we found out she was taken, I was awoken by a scream. I don�t know why I�m getting these messages, but maybe they will help.�

�Is the place you saw a familiar one?�

�No. I heard people on an upper floor, and the walls were painted red. There was black carpeting and a numerous doors that all looked the same. I counted more than ten, but she was pointing to the ninth room.�

Dumbledore was deep in thought for a few moments afterwards. �I wonder why you and not someone she is closer to - say Harry, or one of the Weasley�s even?�

�Your guess is as good as mine I suppose.� Severus said nonchalantly.

It was then that the fireplace emitted the green glow of Draco Malfoy�s face. He didn�t explain what he found, but as soon as Dumbledore saw him, he insisted he floo to the office.

�I think I�ve got it. I think I know who is holding Hermione and where she may be.� Draco said as he stepped into the room, clutching a book.

Authors Note: Thank you guys for taking time to read my story. Feedback would be greatly appreciated. And don�t panic, Miss Granger is found in the next chapter.
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How To Disappear Completely