To keep Hermione alive after being captured, Snape convinces Voldemort she has been spying for him under the pretext that Severus had seduced her. When the most unexpected person has such an impact, sparks fly and fires rage. SSHG

This fic is following 6th year. Dumbledore and Sirius are alive. Ignores parts of HBP and all of DH.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, etc.

Chapter 1: Please

As if in a daze, Hermione stopped in front of the door leading out of her house. She had asked Harry and Lupin to accompany her to say good-bye to her parents, but had asked them to remain outside. She hadn't told Harry she was going to Obliviate her parents, and she didn't want anyone to see.

Hermione unintentionally took much longer to say good-bye that she meant to; to her parents, she was just saying good-bye before returning to school again but Hermione knew this may very well be the last time she saw them. Times were dark and the War was quickly turning for the very worse.

Looking back one last time at her confused and Obliviated but calm parents sitting at their dining table, Hermione opened the door and distractedly stepped out into the ironically bright and beautiful day. Something immediately didn't feel right.

She froze, looking up only to see cruel grey eyes and a spell already fired at her. She could barely hear Lupin and Harry crying frantically for her to move out of the way as they ran toward her from far away. They had apparently gone for a stroll when Hermione took so long with her parents.

The curse hit her and her entire body clenched as unequalled pain tore through her. She hit the ground and felt someone grab her arm and Apparate, and she knew it was not one of her friends.

Harry and Lupin threw open the door at Grimmauld Place unceremoniously, eliciting an ear-piercing shriek from the portrait of Mrs. Black.

"Damn it, I told everyone to open that door more quietly-" Sirius entered the hallway from the kitchen but froze when he saw their expressions.

"What happened? Where's Hermione?" Sirius asked looking alarmed.

"It's- Where is Dumbledore?" Remus asked as calmly as he could. Mentally he was berating himself. He should have stayed with her.

"In the kitchen," Sirius said and quickly led them in.

As they entered, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Moody, and Snape looked up from their conversation and Snape's disdainful eyes ran over both Harry and Lupin. The group could tell something was wrong instantly. Remus put a calming hand on Harry's shoulder before somberly retelling what had just happened. Dumbledore's eyes darkened and McGonagall's mouth fell open in horror.

"Lucius Malfoy has Hermione?" McGonagall said faintly. Harry seemed unable to speak but nodded his head.

Unbearable silence filled the room.

"Severus…" Dumbledore said softly.

"I will go to Headquarters and see if Lucius has taken her there," Snape said indifferently, referring to Voldemort's new lair.

"Please, Severus," Remus said almost pleading. "Please find her. It was my fault; I should have stayed with while she was dealing with her parents. Please." Though Snape wondered for a second what Lupin meant by being 'dealing with' Hermione's parents, he settled for a condescending sneer.

"Severus," Dumbledore said warningly. Snape gave him a sharp nod and turned on his heal towards the entry.

"Oh dear, lost another one have we?" mocked the voice coming from the portrait of Walburga Black as Severus was about to go out the door. She was referring to Kingsley Shacklebolt's capture only a month earlier. He had escaped with the help of Severus, unbeknownst to the Dark Lord, but not before the damage was done. He had been bedridden upstairs with Madame Pomfrey caring for him constantly for a week.

"Do shut your bloody mouth," Severus said and with a flick of his wand, the curtain was once again covering her before she could start screeching again.

He stepped outside, sighed heavily, and Apparated away.

The kitchen was a very uncomfortable place to be for a few dark moments.

Dumbledore left the room without a word, closely followed by McGonagall and Moody. They way they sharply closed the door behind them did not invite anyone to follow. Sirius moved over to his Godson and placed a comforting hand on his back.

"There is nothing we can do now. We just have to wait for Sev-" Sirius stopped at the look on Harry's face.

"Harry, I know you do not like having to trust Severus. Believe me, Sirius and I understand your distaste for him. But he is loyal to the Order. He will do everything in his power…" Remus trailed off.

Harry rubbed his temples for a moment before shrugging off the comforting hand. He, too, left the room without a word. When Harry had been gone a few moments Remus and Sirius exchanged looks.

"Do you think…do you think Severus will be able to find Hermione before anything happens to her?" Sirius asked in tone that clearly reflected that he dreaded the answer.

In the hallway, Harry leaned closer to the door, wanting to hear what they would say.

There was a dark silence while Remus carefully considered his answer. "After Severus helped Kingsley escape, You-Know-Who will no doubt keep better guard of his prisoners. Even if Severus' cover is still safe it will be hard. Assuming Lucius…takes her directly to Him."

Sirius inhaled sharply. "That's what I am afraid of. He has been known to take liberties with his female prisoners. I'm sure he would take great pride in..." Sirius could not finish the statement.

Harry felt his stomach turn inside-out. He didn't really hear the rest of their short conversation as he slid down the wall, slouching onto the floor. His stomach twisted again as he realized they were going to have to tell the Weasleys when they arrived later that evening.

Harry couldn't help but think this had been his worst birthday to date. Order members had arrived at 11:59pm on Privet Drive the night before and taken him to Grimmauld place quickly and discretely. Harry had thought he couldn't think of a better way to spend his 17th birthday than to be at Grimmauld place with Sirius and Remus, and Hermione and the Weasley's.

But now…

Harry didn't want to think about it.

Hermione woke up and almost screamed in pain, but made herself stay quiet. Her entire body throbbed in pain in the most unrelenting way, especially between on her chest where she assumed the curse had hit her. A curse. Her memories flooded back to her. Harry and Remus yelling at her. Then pain. Then nothing.

She opened her eyes but could see nothing but a blur.

"Ah, Ms. Granger. So glad you could find the time to awaken." She immediately recognized the snobby, regal voice. Lucius Malfoy.

She opened her mouth to say something-

"Crucio."

She writhed in pain she had never known before. She felt like her soul was being ripped from her body. She began to feel her consciousness fade when it finally relented.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Mudblood. Were you about to say something?" Lucius purred.

Hermione remained silent as she could only sob and gasp for air. Her blurred vision focused enough for her to confirm who her captor was as she saw long platinum-blonde hair.

Hermione did not have long to recover before she felt an incredibly strong hand close on her throat and lift her from the ground into the air.

"Now, what to do with you? The Dark Lord insists that we bring any prisoners to him directly and immediately, but… what an honor it is to have one of the members of the Golden Trio in my house. I think I'd rather play a little first."

Hermione's eyes widened in fear as the senior Malfoy's voice dropped to a husky, threatening whisper. Lucius threw his prize prisoner down. She readied herself to be thrown onto the hard floor, but instead fell into something soft. Her pulse doubled in terror as she realized it was a bed.

She opened her mouth to scream but he quickly flicked his wand and said "Silencio" in a dangerously cold tone.

"Now, don't be mistaken, I will hear you scream in pain and beg. But not until I want you to."

She could feel him crawl onto the bed, and she wanted to fight, to kick and scream, but she felt so weak. She could not help but feel hot tears welling up in her eyes as he got close enough for her to smell his ragged, whiskey-laden breath.

She wondered if anything or anyone was going to save her from this.