Prologue: Down the Rabbit Hole

Everything hurt.

Her legs, her arms, her head, her heart, everything. Blood mingled with tears to the point of where she was unable to tell which was which.

She cracked her eyes open slowly. Her wand lay a few feet from her. She tried to move but immediately regretted the action as a sharp pain shot through her abdomen and she recalled being hit with a rather nasty severing charm.

The young woman rolled herself over so that she lay on her back and hungrily inhaled the cool, earth-scented air. She slowly pushed herself to rest against the cobble-stoned wall behind her.

Brown eyes flitted wearily to her stomach where blood continued to seep through the injury. The wound itself wasn’t too deep. She looked across the dark room to where her wand lay. Gripping a protruding edge of rock, she heaved herself with some effort and took a few moments to right herself before stumbling over to the other side of the corridor.

Dropping to her knees, she grabbed her wand and muttered a quick spell to seal the cut. Her muscles were burning and sweat coated her forehead as she began to assess her current situation.

She knew she was still in the castle; it was simply a matter of ‘where’.

-----oOo-----

It had been late when Seamus had run into the library to warn her. The professors had gone ahead to ward the castle before it could be breached. A bang resounded throughout the structure announcing their failure.

Her peers were running through the halls in panic when she had called them to order. Quickly recalling the secret passage beneath the One-eyed Witch, she was able to get the remaining students out of the castle in time to see Professor Mcgonagall running down the hallway, Flitwick and Binns in her wake.

“Miss Granger, thank heavens. Are the other students safe?” The Scottish woman had questioned, frantically.

“Yes, they are on their way to Hogsmeade through the One-eyed Witch passage.”

“Brilliant girl. We have little time for idle-chit chat. Death Eaters have invaded the castle. I have sent for re-enforcements, we will have to hold on until they make it, I’m afraid.”

Hermione nodded in understanding, her heart rate increased as a wave of fear washed over her.

“Just tell me what to do.”

Suddenly, a sickening smile that was anything but Mcgonagall spread across the elder woman’s face, the two men behind her chuckled. The young Gryffindor felt her blood turn to ice. Every cell in her screamed to run, but she held her ground lifting her chin in defiance. It was her duty to guard the entrance, if she was going to die, it would be protecting her fellow students.

“You, my dear, need do nothing, but stay put, like a good little girl, and you may just live to see the light of day.” The voice that emitted from her head of house was all too young and familiar as the figure before her rippled like a mirage and transfigured into the wild-haired, pale-faced female.

“I highly doubt that, Lestrange.”

The woman smirked in response, “Hmm, you are a smart one.” She giggled insanely pulling out her wand.

“Expelliarmus!” Hermione exclaimed.

Bellatrix easily shielded herself from the spell, “Is that all the greatest witch of her age is capable of? I must admit I’m rather disappointed.”

Her comrades smirked.

Shrugging, she sighed, “Oh well, and here I was hoping for a bit of late night sport.”

Hermione took advantage of the woman’s monologue and using wordless magic, discreetly stupefied the two behind her.

“You talk too much.” Hermione provoked.

Beady black eyes sparked in anger, “In a hurry to die, aren’t we? Crucio!”

Bellatrix screeched out and Hermione threw herself to the floor, having anticipated the spell. She tried another Stupify, but missed, hitting “Binns” again.

“Crabbe, Goyle, what’s wrong with you oafs, get moving!” She ordered when “Binns” had failed to side-step the spell. Then her eyes widened when it dawned on her.

“Wordless magic, now I’m impressed. You should be proud!”

Spells were being cast back and forth between the women for a good fifteen minutes when Hermione realized the witch was merely toying with her. Letting her believe she was actually able to hold her own against a Death Eater, lulling her into a false sense of security then going in for the kill, literally.

A blasting charm hit her square in the chest and knocked Hermione against the wall. Ignoring the pain, she quickly shot up and cast a jelly-legs jinx.

It hit Bella in the right leg, and the woman fell to the floor.

“Finite incantatem.” She screeched.

Standing up, she hit Hermione with another blasting charm. Having just recovered from the last one, another was enough to knock her a few feet across the rough floor. Her wand flew out of her hand.

Breathing heavily, she tried to push herself up and was about reach for her wand when the black, pointed, front of Bella’s boot descended upon it, pinning the weapon to the floor.

She clucked her tongue, “Now, now, deary, you won’t need that anymore, at least not where you're going.”

Mustering every ounce of physical strength she had left, she kicked the back of Bella’s legs causing the woman to crumble to the ground. Her wand free, she snatched it from the floor.

She moved to stand up, but was immediately pulled back down. The duel switched to a physical brawl, wands forgotten, as the two rolled around the floor scratching at each other’s faces and Hermione throwing the occasional punch.

When Hermione noticed the effects of her spell wearing off on the two men, she quickly made to recast it. Bella took the opportunity to knee her in the stomach and she fell over on her side.

“You pesky little mudblood bitch.” Having somehow reclaimed her wand, the woman hovered over her form, smiling. Her eyes glinted in the torch-light.

“Crucio!”

This time, the curse hit right on target and Hermione screamed in agony as wave after wave of pain came over her. Tears began to stream from the corners of her eyes. As the waves subsided, Bella cast a severing charm. She felt and heard the sound of cloth and flesh being torn open.

Hermione laid broken on the floor in a pathetic heap.

“Lestrange!”

Bella’s attention was thankfully distracted with the arrival of another.

“Severus, how wonderful of you to join us, I’ve just about finished up with one of your former students. The mudblood brat was very persistent.”

Snape took in the sight. The Granger girl was barely hanging on, her breathing was labored, and Bellatrix was bloodied and disheveled, more so than normal. He silently applauded the young woman; she certainly did a number on the psychotic witch.

“Shall I finish her off, then?” Snape asked in a bored tone, “You look like hell, by the way.” He added, grinning.

“Gee, thanks Severus. Bloody greasy git, you are.” She muttered patting down her hair self-consciously.

Hermione listened to the exchange and felt someone kneel down beside her.

“Miss Granger, listen to me closely. If you want to live, I suggest you get moving. I’ll distract them. Head out through the passage, seal the way once you’re inside and don’t look back.” Snape whispered.

Hermione tilted her head slowly in a sign that she understood. Lifting herself was a battle all on its own as her bones protested and her muscles screamed.

“Severus, what’s taking so long? Hurry up and kill the wretch so that we can be off.”

Her adrenaline spiked and she was up and flying toward the passage entrance while Snape, robes whipping around, shielded her.

Hermione dove into the tunnel. The entrance shut firmly behind her and she quickly warded it about ten times over before taking off down the corridor. Tears blinded her vision and she found herself turning corners without even thinking. Thoughts were racing through her mind; where was the real Mcgonagall? Was Snapegoing to be okay, was he even still alive? Had the students made it to Honeydukes safely?

Rounding another corner, the ground below her seemingly disappeared. She plummeted through the gap with a shriek, legs and arms kicking out in panic. Her short seventeen years of life flashed before her eyes, her family, her professors, her friends, and her beloved school, Crookshanks, Harry and Ron.

She felt herself slam into solid ground and then utter darkness.

-----oOo-----

“Down the Rabbit Hole”- Peter Abrahams, Down the Rabbit Hole, An Echo Falls Mystery

Original Concept: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland- Lewis Carroll

End Note: Incase you missed the pairing. Salazar Slytherin/Hermione Granger. I apologize for any grammatical errors. I wanted to get this out before the last book. I don’t need things any more complicated than they already are. This story continues after HBP, Hermione and the gang are in the middle of their 7th year at Hogwarts.

The continuation of this story all depends on you guys. I'll post up one more chapter, but if I see that I'm wasting my time, then I'll take it down. So, let me know what you think, that means, REVIEW. I would really appreciate it, plus I want to hear from fellow Sal/Mione fans.