A/N This is my first Fanfic story so please, no flames! Constructive criticism is welcome though! I hope you like the story!

Disclaimer: Nope….not mine…but the plot is…

Chapter 1: Reunited

A cold winter breeze swept through the dark and up-lifted land. It was well known to be dangerous and was most often left deserted, and any poor unlucky souls that did happen to come across it, never did they return to tell the tale.

And that is why it was very surprising, very surprising indeed, to see two hooded men, walking across it, talking in hushed tones.

"Bring her to me." Rasped one of the two. His voice seemed strangely inhumane. It was as cold as the wind that blew their in the air.

His face was merely visible beneath the dark hooded garment. All that was seen was deathly pale skin and slightly slit-nosed nostrils.

The other man, well not men exactly, because he looked around seventeen, seemed more pleasant than his companion but it was well obvious that he was slightly 'evil' as well. May it be the militant gleam in his eyes that gave it away or the self-satisfied smirk that rested on his lips. It didn't matter. He looked evil.

"She will join us." Continued the slit-nosed man evilly.

"She is not worthy. But I will follow your commands, my lord." The Seventeen year old replied, bowing slightly.

"Good. As is expected." And with those words and a loud 'crack' the older man disappeared.

The seventeen year old immediately dropped his smirk and all signs of evilness and let out a frustrated yell before he too, disappeared into the wind.

Hermione Granger dropped the heavy cauldrons she was holding and they fell to the hard ground with a loud 'clang'.

People in front of her jumped at the noise and then turned to glare at her but she wasn't paying any attention to them.

She continued to stare transfixed at something or someone outside Honeydukes and merely managed to contain a gasp of shock.

And then as if jolted back to life, she dodged over her shattered cauldrons and pushed past the crowds of people until she stood outside Honeydukes as well, standing behind the person she had been staring at.

Hermione watched the figure bend to pick up some Droobley's best blowing gum and tapped him on the shoulder.

The figure turned round and his eyebrows immediately shot up in surprise.

"Hermione?" He questioned.

Hermione couldn't answer. She couldn't speak. After so long. After so damn long she had waited for this moment and when it came her voice failed her. And she had tears in her eyes. Great. Just perfect.

Harry Potter made up for it anyhow, as he pulled her into a tight hug. Hermione clutched him back, tighter, as tears started rolling down her cheeks.

"I never thought I'd see you again. Parvati said you had moved to Peru. Lavender said Russia. Dean even thought you might be dead! I will never forgive you for that!" she cried into his shoulder as Harry patted her on her back awkwardly.

"Don't you dare leave me alone again Harry. I hate you for what you did." She was sobbing heavily now and was beginning to babble rubbish now.

"S'alright now Hermione. I'm back. Ron's back. I wont leave again." Harry comforted.

"Promise?" whispered Hermione wiping away tears.

"I promise." Harry replied smiling.

"Oi Harry! What's taking you so long with that gum?" called a voice from inside the warm-smelling sweet shop.

A few seconds later, a tall boy with red hair, a grumpy expression and a large amount of freckles on his face, emerged from it.

Hermione lifted her head from Harry's shoulder and looked up at him with pain-filled eyes.

Ron pushed past a large man, testing some Sugar Quills and made his way over to her. He stopped in front of her and she threw herself in his arms, the tears starting again.

"I'm sorry Mione. I had to leave with Harry, you know I did. But I still feel the same way towards you as ever," Ron murmured into her hair and Hermione smiled slightly.

"Yeah, yeah. Save the mushy crap! No one cares." She teased looking up. Ron's electric blue eyes met her soft hazel ones.

"Oh god, I've missed you." Ron whispered and Hermione leaned forward to kiss him.

The kiss was soft and gentle, and brought back the sweet memories of sitting in the garden at the Burrow, and watching Mermaids sing outside Hogwarts-

"Ahem."

Hermione and Ron pulled apart sheepishly while Harry grinned and continued to clear his throat.

"How about I treat you's to a Firewhisky? We can catch up. You can tell me what you've been up to since you left." Hermione suggested and both boys nodded, following Hermione into the nearby pub. The Three Broomsticks.

Once inside, Hermione motioned for them to get seats while she ordered their drinks. Madame Rosmerta had mysteriously disappeared the night Albus Dumbledore had been murdered.

It was rumoured, that she had joined the Death Eaters. But it was also said that she too, had been murdered. So the bar had passed onto Madame Rosmerta's grim looking brother.

"Three Firewhisky's over to table Thirteen. Thanks." Hermione said ignoring the sour look that she was getting and placed six Galleons on the counter.

She pushed herself, once again, through the crowd and made her way over to Harry and Ron, who were looking glumly around at the changed bar.

"So, where have you been since Hogwarts?" Hermione asked sliding into a seat and looked expectantly at the two males in front of her.

"We met Voldemort, believe it or not. Barely got away. Good news is, Snape's dead. We just got back two weeks ago. Bought an apartment near the Ministry of Magic. We're just stocking up on food and such." Harry answered and Hermione smiled softly.

"Here's yer drinks." Came a gruff voice from behind them and the man slammed their drinks so hard on the tables that some slopped over. Ron glared after him as he walked away.

Harry grinned at him, took a sip of his Firewhisky and asked Hermione, "So, what've you been doing?"

Hermione stirred her drink thoughtfully for a second or two before replying "I work for the Order. We've had to deal with more attacks than usual so something is definitely going on, on his side. I share an apartment with Lavender. It used to be Tonks as well but she's moved in with Remus after the wedding." Hermione finished and received a chortle of laughter from Harry and a huge grin from Ron.

"What?" Hermione frowned.

"Sorry, Hermione but you and Lavender? You're complete opposites. You don't even like each other very much do you?" Harry asked and Hermione shrugged.

"I don't have a choice, Harry. She's in the Order and it was decided by Minerva that it wasn't safe for anybody in the Order to live alone or with a Muggle. There's nothing I can do about it." Sighed Hermione and Harry stopped laughing.

There was a slight uncomfortable silence which was broken when Ron asked "Who exactly is in the Order now?"

"Um…A large number of people. Most of them are Ex-Hogwarts students. Some teachers. A lot of strangers. We get about two new recruits each day so its hard to keep track." Explained Hermione smiling brightly.

Ron finished his drink and started on Hermione's untouched Firewhisky.

"You'll be drunk if you don't watch out." Harry warned. Ron's head appeared from the bottle.

"I'm not drunk. But what a great idea! Let's all get drunk!" slurred Ron and Hermione shook her head irritably.

"He's drunk." Proclaimed Harry, shaking his head as well.

"This place has changed so much since-"

"Agggh!" A blood chilling scream broke Hermione off.

Hermione jumped up and grabbed her wand, as did Harry. Ron merely rolled numbly to the floor.

Hermione was pushed forward as everyone from behind her came running forwards towards the doors. Even the bartender.

"What the hell!" Whispered Harry and Hermione frowned.

"Who screamed and why has everyone run out like that?" Hermione whispered back.

And be it coincidence or let it be fate, she felt a cold tap on her shoulder.

Hermione whirled around petrified but kept it inside her.

All spells, vanished from her mind and she could do nothing but stare in shock. It was as if she had frozen over.

Standing in front of her was none other, than their very own:

Draco Malfoy. Theodore Nott and Crabbe.

Hermione took a step backwards, when she saw what fluttered behind them. Why everyone had run out. The Dark Mark

"I don't know why you've come here. But it was pretty stupid cause I'm going to kill you Malfoy. After what you did to Dumbledore. I'm going to kill you/" Harry said venomously as he stepped in front of Hermione.

"And I'm really scared" Malfoy drawled sarcastically and Crabbe sniggered.

"Stupefy!" Nott called pointing his wand almost lazily at Harry. Harry ducked but did not do so in time. The spell hit him on the shoulder and he fell to the ground.

Hermione yelped in fear, trying to keep her wand steady.

"Stupid Mudblood. You actually think you can take on all three of us!" sneered Malfoy.

"Petrificus Totalus!" She yelled pointing her wand at Nott. Nott's arms and legs snapped straight and he joined Harry and Ron to the floor.

Crabbe took out his wand at pointed it at Hermione. Hermione waited for a spell to shoot her way but it didn't. She frowned and moved slightly to the side.

"What do you want Malfoy?" she asked, voice low.

"Who say's I have to 'want' something?" Malfoy asked and Hermione shook her head bitterly.

"Oh, you want something. An obnoxious, self-centred bas-Agh!" Hermione started but was cut off as a spell was shot her way.

Hermione ducked but it grazed her arm, leaving a deep wound.

Crabbe sniggered loudly as Hermione closed her eyes tightly, trying to control the jolts of pain shooting through her body.

She could hear Crabbe whisper something to Malfoy and it gave her a second to think. Otherwise, with Harry stunned, Ron drunk and her outnumbered two to one. She had no hope of getting out alive.

"Protego!" She called, her wand at Crabbe and her eyes now open. Crabbe flew back into the wall. Head hitting the floor with a loud thunk.

"Oh, so the Mudblood does know how to fight?" sneered Malfoy.

"There's more to a witch or wizard than their wand Malfoy. If you don't mind me asking, actually, I don't care if you mind, what exactly did you do to become Pureblood? What major accomplishment did you succeed in?" Hermione asked her eyes practically red with rage.

Malfoy looked blank for a moment but then snarled "That's not the point."

Hermione laughed evilly and retorted "You cant answer can you? Because you did nothing! You know its true but you continue in calling me a Mudblood. And why do you? Becayse you are a born bastard! Diffindo!" she yelled at the unsuspecting Malfoy and his world went black.

"So, we will keep him prisoner?" asked Remus clutching a glass of sherry.

"No Remus. Not prisoner. Keep him comfortable. Give him food. Treat him like you would a guest. We will get information out of him sooner or later. He won't join us if we treat him like scum." Concluded Minerva.

"He won't join us if we treat him like the bloody Minister of Magic!" exclaimed TJ. (A new recruit.)

"We will try. It is what Albus would have wanted." Sighed Minerva and that statement closed the matter.

Draco Malfoy was staying.

Hermione opened her eyes groggily and got up from her bed, ignoring the searing pain that was pounding up and down her arm.

"Great. You're up!" Came Ron's voice from the doorway.

"I feel like hell." Muttered Hermione.

"You were brilliant Mione! Three wizards to one! I'm sorry I got drunk!" Ron grinned not looking or sounding in the least apologetic.

"Hey. It's not your fault you get drunk after only two bottles of Firewhisky!" smirked Hermione.

Ron scowled and Hermione laughed. His eyes met hers again and they stayed that way for a while before a blushing Hermione went into the neighbouring bathroom.

Ron sighed contently and walked away. But he didn't get very far before Harry came our from nowhere and bombarded him with questions.

"Did you tell her?" he asked.

"Er…no."

"Why! I told you to!" Harry asked exasperatedly.

"Hey, She looked happy. I didn't want to be the one to break her heart."

"You are such a girl."

If you really want her to know. Tell her yourself." Ron snapped angrily and pushed his way past a furious Harry.

"I am so dead." Muttered Harry and headed towards Hermione's room, preparing for the worst.

A/N I would Very much appreciate it if you would review my first chapter! I am hoping for at least five reviews before uploading my next chapter. Thank you.