For the next four days, Harry worried that his owl got intercepted. But on the fifth day, the owl soared through the Great Chamber and dropped a letter on Harry's head. He unfolded it and held it out for Neville to see. It read:

Neville (and Harry),

You might already understand! You understand that you're going to have to kill He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named! Just put your lips to the snitch, Harry, and say "I understand that Neville Longbottom and Harry Potter must kill You-Know-Who. Remember to say his actual name, though Ginny is here when I'm writing this so I can't write his actual name or she'll freak. Come on Harry, It's what Dumbledore wants you to do. This is Ginny by the way. Hermione told me everything. Now, I just want to get one thing straight before I write any more. I will NOT freak if Hermione writes You-Know-Who's name. The Beauxbatons people just won't let us get this letter through if we write it. I'm starting to remember too, guys. That's how I know about Dumbledore. (Hermione didn't tell me about that) How come Ron isn't part of this? Didn't he believe you, Harry? Sorry, I have to stop writing now. Hermione's coming out of the bathroom. Sorry about that that little excerpt from Ginny. But she's right. Also, I did a little snooping and found out that Dumbledore is making us remember. I saw him over a sleeping Ginny waving his wand. When he saw that I saw he simply said "Hello Hermione. I would prefer that you did not mention this to anyone besides Harry, Neville, and Ginevra, please." Then, he continued with his wand waving. When I woke up the next morning, Ginny started remembering! Absurd, huh? Write back as soon as you can!

From Beauxbatons to Durmstrang,

Hermione Granger and Ginny

P.S: I hope this letter helped (Ginny)

P.P.S. I am very pleased by your agreement to say sorry to as soon as possible.

There was silence for a second, but then Neville broke it by saying, "How 'bout we show Ron these letters? Ginny does ask why Ron isn't in this."

"Okay then, but if he doesn't believe us still, then I'm officially giving up." Harry responded. "Afterwards, we can try the snitch idea."

"Let's go," Neville said, getting up from the table.

"Ron! Oi! Ron!" yelled Neville, jogging over to where Ron was sitting.

"Neville!Harry! What's up?"

"Hey, Ron, sorry I ditched you for a while. I had to... find something out. But now we have to tell you why. Come here." Harry breathed.

"Um...it's okay," Ron replied, embarrassed as he walked over to where Harry and Neville were beckoning him. Neville was the first to speak.

"So," he began, and the two boys, part by part told Ron all about killing You-Know-Who, about Hermione's letters, about Ginny's excerpt. About sneaking into the Department of Mysteries. (Ron's mouth was gaping at that part) About Dumbledore and Hogwarts and remembering.

After Ron was all filled in, he confessed that he had something to tell them, too. "The reason I wasn't so astonished about Dumbledore and Hogwarts," Ron began, "is that I've been getting those memories, too. I was too scared to admit anything, because I thought I was going mad! I didn't want to be stuck next to Lockhart in St. Mungo's. What really surprises me is that you really need to kill You-Know-Who. Wow."

"How can we possibly do that? He's the most powerful wizard in the world, bar Dumbledore!" yelled Harry.

"Harry, you have to... what will we do if you don't?"

There was turmoil at school. All of the professors looked extremely harassed. It seemed the wards around Durmstrang had been tampered with, but no one knew who did it. Igor Karkaroff left the seclusion of his office to inform everyone that there was nothing to worry about, and the wards would be back up soon. Meanwhile, some of the older students' Dark Magic classes would be cancelled to keep the government from detecting the magic they used.

The dining hall filled with complaints as students of all ages began to protest. Karkaroff quieted them with a bang from his wand. The students fell silent as Karkaroff gave instructions for the prefects to round them up and keep them inside the castle.

Neville, Harry, and Ron gathered in the library to discuss who could be behind the attacks. "Maybe Karkaroff knows...did you see his face when he announced the attacks?" Ron whispered. "Certainly suspicious..." Neville agreed. "But Karkaroff?! Even WE know that Voldemort doesn't trust Karkaroff in the slightest. Why would he let him have the job?" Harry interjected. Neville and Ron looked at each other. "Yeah, good point, mate." Ron admitted. "Hmm," Neville said, "Voldemort could have arranged for Karkaroff to let another Death Eater into the castle..." Harry sighed. We should go...gonna be a big day tomorrow." Half laughing-half sulking, the three boys walked out of the library. Suddenly, Harry took off, Ron and Neville following, confused.

Voldemort sat on a tall, black chair at the head of the dining table at Malfoy Manor, stroking Nagini's head. The Death Eaters were gathered around him, waiting in fearful silence. Igor Karkaroff walked up the many stairs of the manor, finally reaching the dining room. He bowed to Voldemort, murmuring 'My Lord'.

"What news do you have, Igor?" Voldemort asked quietly.

"I report success, my lord. The teaching staff has been successfully imperiused into removing the protective wards around Durmstrang."

" I trust their memories have been properly modified?"

"Yes, my lord."

"Deliver these messages to Potter and Longbottom upon your return to Hogwarts, Igor. Do not let them know you delivered them. And make a visit to Beauxbatons to do what we discussed earlier."

"Yes, my lord."

"CRUCIO!"

"Harry! Are we going NOW?!" Without thinking Harry, took off, Neville and Ron at his heels. He ran into the deserted common room and up to the boys' dormitories. There were two notes, stamped with a silver snake seal: one on Harry's bed and one on Neville's. Harry tore open both notes, which were identical, except for the names. Harry's read:

Greetings, Mr. Potter. Wondering why you haven't heard from your friends, Ginevra and Hermione? It's because I have them temporarily in my custody here at Malfoy Manor. Now, I do not doubt that you and your band of miscreants will want to rush in on a hippogriff and rescue them. If you wish to see them alive, you and Longbottom must come to the front gate and surrender your wands to the guards within 24 hours. Ginevra and Hermione will be killed if you bring any Order member or adult with you.

Lord Voldemort

"I knew Karkaroff didn't just come out of his office just to make an announcement," said Harry.

He looked at Neville, who looked at Ron, who looked back at Harry.

"My sister's in there. Hermione's in there," said Ron, looking pale.

"We'll get them back!" yelled Neville, with surprising ferocity.