"We've got to find her! She's either alone in the woods, or worse!"

Harry was struggling against Ron and the twins holding him back. The Ministry officials were out looking for whoever had cast off the Dark Mark in the sky. They knew about Lizzie being missing, but then so were lots of people. They would find her when they found her. Somehow Harry didn't think that was good enough for the girl.

Hermione was holding onto her wand and had one hand resting over her mouth. She had tears in her eyes. "Hermione," Harry pled, "I know you know I'm right! They're not looking for her or anyone else; they're looking for that man! They won't find her and something is going to happen to her!"

Hermione sighed and stretched her hand out, wand handle facing Harry. Ron, Fred and Gorge let him go and Harry ran out of the tent, swiping the wand on his way.

Harry ran out of the tents that remained untouched by fire and through the field. Once he entered the woods, he lit his wand and turned his head this way and that looking for a flash of red hair or some pearly white skin.

"Lizzie!" he cried out, walking forward, lifting his wand higher to illuminate the area better. "Lizzie!" there was no answer.

He kept walking. Still no sign. Then, shining his wand to the right, there was something…something moved. It was barely visible. Harry made his way over to the figure, brushing by bushes and stomping on low shrubbery. "Lizzie, is that you?!"

Harry stepped into a narrow clearing. He looked around for a moment, then something caught his eye. Something was moving out of the corner of his eye. He looked around and saw a young girl backing away against a tree. "Lizzie," he said, walking to her and crouching down. He reached for her, but Lizzie, eyes full of fear and cheeks wet with tears, flinched, still pushing her back against the tree and trying to shrink into a small ball.

Harry lifted his free hand in a calming gesture, showing eh meant no harm. "Come on, Lizzie. Come with me…you're safe now…"

She was shaking, but after a moment she pushed away from the tree and thrust herself into his arms. Harry sat back on his heels, holding the girl close to him, smoothing her hair. "It's all right," he crooned. "It's okay. I'm here."

He couldn't get her to stand for a long time. But once he did, Harry let her ride on his back and while they walked back to the Weasley tent, Harry was sure Lizzie had fallen asleep, or was at least dozing. When he got back to the tent, he laid her gently on his bed while they waited for morning. Everyone else got some sleep, but with Lizzie in Harry's bed, he simply sat against the headboard, her head in his lap. Harry couldn't sleep. There were too many questions.

How had she gotten herself so lost? Someone must have scared her to cause her to run in a different direction from everyone else; Lizzie was smart she knew better. It never would have happened if she hadn't been terrified. Someone shook her up good. And then there was his own troubles. The pain in his scar from a few days before? The Dark Mark? Something wasn't right, but whatever it was, he had no idea.

Finally Harry dozed, half sleeping, head lolling off to the side and Lizzie resting comfortably curled up beside him. She shuddered once in a while, whimpered and moaned form time to time, but a stroke of her hair from Harry quelled her nightmares. Whatever had happened to her when they got separated, Harry felt that it wasn't over for her. Not by a long shot.