The only real thing worth living for is love. Every one will find a sweetheart at some point in their lives. Take Harry Potter for example. It took him five years to find his sweetheart. It only took Ron Weasley three years to find his. And Hermione, well, lets just say she never did find her sweetheart. But, A sweetheart found her.

Harry was a serious student who always did his work and passed every class. He didn't have any crushes at the time (his fifth year.). He was too busy with his schoolwork and defeating Voldemort. He preferred to be left alone with his studies, unless something juicy was the topic of conversation.

Ron had found his sweetheart in the middle of his fifth year. Lavender Brown walked into his life at just the sweet age of 15. He had seen her before, but never really knew her. His heart exploded with joy when Harry told him that Lavender told him to tell Ron she liked him. Ron had his big chance to ask her out on Christmas Eve. His wish came true and he was truly happy. Nothing could come between him and Lavender. Not even the sad story of Hermione.

******

Hermione had gone home for Christmas of fifth year and discovered that her father had been murdered. She walked into her house and saw him, on the floor of the dinning room. She went to call the police, but found a man sitting at her kitchen table, dressed in an orange jail suit with a gun under his hand. He was sleeping, but Hermione didn't take a chance. She grabbed the phone and called the police. The man woke up at the sound of her voice and took the phone from her. He twisted her arm up behind her back and put the gun to her head.

"Now, just follow me, and I won't hurt you." Hermione was shaking, but did as she was told. The man led her down to the basement, where he had obviously been living for a while. There was trash all over, an old mattress, and a television. He took Hermione over a support pole (that held the ceiling up) and tied her to it. He put her arms behind her and tied them. Then tied her feet. He put a piece of duck tape over her mouth. "Are you comfortable, deary?" Hermione looked around the basement. She noticed a figure sitting, tided to a chair. She had long red hair and had her head down. Hermione recognized the women as her mother. Her mom looked up as the man turned the TV on. She saw Hermione and they both looked at each other for the longest time, trying to understand why this had to happen to them.

The man sat down in front of the TV to watch the news. Hermione turned her head so she could see the screen. There was a news reporter talking about a jail escapee. Then there was a picture of what the man looked like. It was the same guy that was sitting right next to her.

"Ha! That's a pretty bad picture of me, huh?" he looked at Hermione, who looked away. "Answer me, girl!" He turned and hit her across the face with his gun. Hermione's mother shrieked. Hermione's eyes filled with water. "Ah, shut up, ya' cry baby. I'll be back." He left upstairs and didn't return for the rest of the night.

******

"I wonder what happened to Hermione?" Harry asked Ron at breakfast one day. "Ron? Ron are you listening to me?" Ron was busy giving Lavender Eskimo kisses, making her giggle. "You two disgust me. You should be more interested in your studies."

"Harry, I swear you've become Hermione. I wonder where she is." Ron replied. Harry just rolled his eyes and went back to his book. "Oh, we're almost late for class. I'll walk you to your class, sweetie." Ron said, helping Lavender stand up.

"Oh, you're too kind, pumpkin." Lavender and Ron walked out of the Great Hall together. Harry picked up his books and walked out. On the way, he ran into Dumbledore.

"Excuse me, Professor, but. I was wondering. Did you hear anything as to why Hermione hasn't come to school yet?" Harry asked the headmaster.

"As a matter of fact, I don't. I will look into that for you. I didn't even realize she wasn't here. Thank you for bringing that up, Harry."

"Your welcome, Professor." Harry walked the rest of the way to his class thinking about where Hermione was.

******

Hermione was still tied to the pole in her basement, two weeks later. The man, Jonathan Stilton, had not fed her at all. But he had beaten her many times, her mother too. Hermione was black and blue from head to toe, and her eyes were red from crying so much. She had a bloody scratch down her cheek too. She was beginning to lose weight and strength. Most of the time she sat with her head down, crying. She was past miserable. 'How is anyone ever going to find me?' she thought to herself. 'I'm stuck here forever. Please, Harry, Ron, save me from this hell hole.' Jonathan had removed the tape from her mouth. He figured she was too weak to call for help and to miserable to want to.

******

"Ron, I'm really worried about Hermione. Harry's right. It's weird for her not to come to school. Do you think something has happened to her?" Lavender asked Ron. They were cuddling on the common room couch, in front of the fire.

"Yeah, but maybe she has a good excuse. Maybe she went to a different school, or she is still on a vacation with her parents?" Ron suggested.

"No, I don't think so. She would've sent an owl then. Should we do something?" Lavender asked, laying her head on Ron's shoulder.

"I don't know. I think she's just late. It's only been one week since school started again. Maybe we should ask Dumbledore if we could go to her house or something." Ron said.

"Yeah. That's a good idea. We'll tell Harry tomorrow and then go ask Dumbledore." Lavender got up to go to bed. She kissed Ron softly on his warm lips and went upstairs.

"I'm the luckiest guy on Earth." Ron said to himself, smiling.