Dedication: She is one of the main reasons I continue to write.

DISCLAIMER: Own nothing. Straight to the point.

/

Students began to leave for the holidays. The snow had continued to fall outside making Hogwarts seem like a winter wonderland. The atmosphere of the school was of positive glee. People were humming Christmas tunes. Presents were being exchanged by friends as parting gifts before they left. "Happy Holidays!" could be heard echoing through the corridors for most the day and even the night. The winter dance had been a hit after it finally began. All of the students were blissfully unaware that another student had gone missing from Hogwarts. Some still had no idea that Hermione Granger was missing from the halls. McGonagall had tried to keep it as quiet as possible. The entire Gryffindor house knew, so of course the word seeped in to other houses.

Despite all of the happiness that was filling the school and the blissful ignorance of many about Hermione's absence, Harry was not in the holiday mood. Harry had not gone to classes for the past week. McGonagall had lectured him half heartedly about attending classes. About keeping his education going. However, Harry could tell that she too was deeply affected by this. While Harry had Dumbledore as his mentor, McGonagall had always been Hermione's mentor. They had a bond that most students and teachers did not have at Hogwarts. After failing at her attempt at ordering Harry to go to classes, she appeared vulnerable for a second. Let the title of headmistress fall for a moment and talked to Harry as an equal.

"I know how much she means to you Harry. And believe me, I know how much you mean to her. Hermione being taken is…Awful. We just must have faith that we will find the Death Eaters. Hermione is a strong girl. I trust that she will be okay." McGonagall then went on to tell Harry that he would not have to attend classes. She would tell the teachers that until after the holidays Harry would have leave of classes. All McGonagall required of Harry was that he do his nightly rounds. Harry did fulfill this request. It was the least he could do.

Touring the halls at night was much different without Hermione. Often he would imagine the conversation they would be having that night. Whenever it seemed that students were not around they would take each others hand. Intertwine their fingers. Every now and then even share a kiss. No matter what Harry imagined though it could not help the hallow feeling he had in his gut. Hermione was gone. No matter what Harry did he could not figure out where she was. What was happening to her. Harry was not even sure if she was still alive.

Harry laid in his bed that night just staring at the ceiling of his room. He had not slept the past few nights. Harry could bring himself to. The lack of sleep however seemed to be catching up with him and he was slowly drifting to sleep. His eyelids began to sag and his room melted away. That was until the bone chilling scream. Harry's eyes bolted open to find himself now staring at the sky. He jolted upward when he heard the scream again. Harry had heard a scream like that only once before. It was in Malfoy Manor. The screaming was coming from Hermione. Harry jumped to his feet and ran towards the source of the noise. The scream echoed throughout the forest getting louder and louder. Finally, Harry came to an opening to see a limp Hermione lying on the ground.

Hermione was in a dress. It was beautiful red dress. Much like the one she wore to Bill and Fleur's wedding but it was much more than that. However, the dress was now torn and ripped. Mud smudged across it, along with a thicker red that Harry knew to be blood. Hermione's eyes were puffy and red. Blood was trickling down from a cut on her lip. She looked ghostly pail.

"Please…Don't…" Hermione whispered on the ground.

"Crucio!" A Death Eater shouted expelling another scream from Hermione. She cried out louder than before as she twitched on the ground. Clearly this spell and others had been cast on her several times in the past few days.

"Enough!" A voice called from the other edge of the clearing. Lucius Malfoy emerged from the darkness crossing over to Hermione. Tears were now rolling down her cheeks as she caught sight of Lucius. Lucius had a crooked, cruel grin on his face as he knelt down beside her. He ran his hand along her cheek brushing some hair away from her eyes. "Oh my dear girl. You look awful. Is there anything we can do for you?" Several Death Eaters laughed listening to Lucius. Hermione managed to pull away from Lucius's touch which only made him grin wider. "You are quite beautiful. It is too bad you are a mudblood."

"Harry will find me…" Hermione whispered before wincing in pain. "And he will defeat you."

"Sadly my dear, your boyfriend will only be finding a corpse." Harry snapped out of the dream jolting up straight in bed. Sweat was running down his forehead along with tears running down his cheeks. The image of Hermione's weak and tortured body was imprinted in to his mind. The rest of the night Harry did not sleep. He only thought of Hermione. Hoping that he could save her. Hoping he could find a way.

/

Gerald Godfrey, a person Harry could have gone without seeing for a while was back. Harry found himself sitting in McGonagall's office again. This time Gerald did not seem as stuck up as last time which was gone. However, just his voice was like nails on a chalkboard to Harry. Hopefully this would be a quick meeting.

"It has come to my attention that a Miss Hermione Granger has gone missing from the school as well." Gerald said glancing between McGonagall, who was standing by the door again, and Harry.

"That is correct sir." Harry stated flatly finding himself looking around the room rather than at Gerald directly.

"I have heard you two are close. That you have been friends for some time." Gerald had a key grasp of the obvious. This time Harry did not even answer. He just continued to gaze at random objects in the room. This was the last place Harry needed to be. Talking to someone he did not care for. The person who was supposed to be on the hunt for the Death Eaters. However, instead of hunting them he was again paying Harry an unnecessary visit. "I am sorry to hear that she has been captured. Truly is tragic."

"Does this meeting have a point sir?" Harry asked sharply now looking at Gerald. Gerald shifted uncomfortably in his seat tapping his fingers along the desk.

"We…The Ministry, believe we may have found the Death Eater camp. The location of Lucius Malfoy." For once the Ministry actually seemed to be on to something. Harry perked up in his seat now actually interested. "Tonight the Aurors will go to the location and attempt to apprehend Lucius Malfoy and the other Death Eaters. And hopefully find Hermione…" Gerald's voice seemed dark and hopeless.

"What do you mean hopefully find Hermione?" Harry asked now narrowing his eyes on Gerald.

"Harry, you must realize that…Since she is close to you, that they may not keep her alive. In order to pull you to them…Perhaps thinking you would go to seek revenge. The chances of her still being alive are very slim. I mean, you must know this." Gerald was speaking so matter of factly. How could he talk like this. Hermione was one of the brightest and strongest witches Harry knew and Gerald was signing her off as dead.

"She is not dead…" Harry whispered lowering his head. Gerald leaned forward in McGonagall's chair with a large frown drawn across his face.

"Harry, I am just asking yourself to prepare…"

"She is not dead!" Harry shouted slamming his fist down on the desk. Gerald flew back in his seat in fear of Harry. That fact made Harry smirk. Harry rose to his feet shaking his head before pointing his finger at Gerald. "You underestimate her. You greatly underestimate her. Hermione is alive. I know it." Harry said before turning around and again barging out on Gerald. Only this time McGonagall did not have a smile of approval.

/

The day had arrived for students to leave for the holidays. Harry was not saying his goodbyes to anyone. He had not seen Ginny, Ron, or anyone else for that matter since he told them about Hermione's situation. Often they would come up to talk to Harry yet he was not willing to communicate back. Harry found himself in a shell that he did not want to break out of. The news hanging overhead about the assault on the Death Eater camp was also still running in Harry's mind. It was last night that the Aurors had supposedly gone in to capture Lucius and the others. Yet it was almost mid day and Harry had not heard anything. Harry did not know whether to interpret that as good or bad.

Someone was knocking at the portrait hole and Harry reluctantly pulled himself to his feet to open it. On the other side was Ron with his bag and a weak smile. "Hey…" Ron spoke in a soft whisper. Harry nodded in his direction and turned back to take his place on the couch. Ron slowly shuffled in to the room setting his bag down by the couch before filling the seat next to Harry.

"How are you holding up mate?" Ron asked turning to Harry. The news that Hermione was captured had also affected Ron greatly. For a while he acted like Harry. Withdrawn from people and events around him. Now he was trying to act as normal as possible. Just trying to stay optimistic. A quality Harry was lacking.

"I am doing alright." Harry looked over at his bag with a frown before turning back to the fireplace. "Ready for the holidays?" Harry asked in a sharp tone. While Harry was not celebrating the holidays mostly because of the fact that he had to stay at Hogwarts, it also felt wrong to celebrate Christmas in such circumstances.

"Yeah…Holly is actually coming to the Burrow. Her parents are going on a vacation this year. So…She will meet mum and stuff…" Ron's voice was weak and Harry half expected him to just get up and leave. Instead Ron began to dig through his bag looking for something. Harry did not pay much attention to him until he saw what he pulled out. It was the Deluminator that Dumbledore had left to Ron. Ron twirled it in his fingers. "I remember on the hunt…After I left how badly I wanted to go back. To find you guys. Often I would just sit flicking this on and off. Sucking the light out of the room and then sending it back…"

Harry now turned to Ron wondering where he was going with this. Ron seemed to be in a dream like state as he continued to gaze at the item. "Then one night a ball of light emerged from it. That very ball of light led me to you and Hermione." Ron grabbed Harry's hand and placed the Deluminator in it. "Perhaps…This time it will help you find Hermione." Instead of saying anything more Ron stood up and began to leave. "Happy Christmas Harry." Ron called from the portrait hole.

Harry examined the object with a glimmer of hope that the Deluminator could help him find Hermione. When Harry did not hear the portrait close he turned to see McGonagall was now standing in the room. With a second of hope Harry jumped to his feet awaiting the news. However, once he took in McGonagall's expression he already knew what the answer was. "I am sorry my boy…But they did not find the Death Eaters. The area was used by the Death Eaters. But it seemed like they left only a few days ago."

Often Harry heard Christmas songs or stories talking about what children would want for Christmas. Many of them wanted toys, bikes, clothes, and many other things that they fancied. This year, Harry only wanted thing. Hermione.

/

Night had fallen and the school was nearly empty. Only Harry, a few other students, and professors remained on Hogwarts grounds. Harry had done his rounds quickly that night. To Harry's delight there were no students out and about. Harry was again sitting in the common room. The place he found himself more often than not now. Harry grabbed the Deluminator out of his pocket and continued to examine it.

Quickly he flicked it open and all of the light from the room flew inside. Harry flicked it shut and just stayed in the darkness for a while. A hope began to stir in Harry that once he flicked it back open and the room lit up he would see Hermione standing before him. He flicked it open and the light flew back in to the room. Harry was still alone. This became Harry's ritual for the night. He would flick it open. Sit in darkness. Flick it open. Sit in light.

Every time he sat in the darkness he felt the same hope that he may find Hermione again. Each time the room lit up again he was disappointed. Harry decided that after one more flick he would go to bed. It was no use sitting in the common room all night worrying about Hermione. He would have a full day of that to look forward to tomorrow. Harry flicked the Deluminator open and the light emptied from the room.

The metallic click let Harry know that the Deluminator was closed. "Please…" Harry whispered to himself. "Please…Help me find Hermione." Flick. This time instead of light flooding back in to the room a blue orb jetted out of the Deluminator. Harry stared at the orb in awe when he heard a voice.

Harry…

It was the voice of Hermione. Harry found himself on his feet continuing to stare at the orb. The blue light began to glide across the room towards the portrait hole and Harry quickly scrambled after it. Harry followed the orb downstairs and it continued to weave through the halls of Hogwarts.

Harry ,if you can hear me….

The orb again emitted Hermione's voice. Just hearing it brought a tear to Harry's eyes. He continued to follow the blue light hoping that he would hear Hermione's voice again. Just one more time.

Harry ,if you can hear me, know that I love you.

Suddenly the orb disappeared. Harry was standing in a corridor completely alone. Harry looked at the Deluminator again in confusion. Just as Harry was about to flick it open again someone came running around the corner. It was a flustered Draco Malfoy. Draco nearly knocked Harry over but slid to a stop in front of him. Draco was panting heavily and he seemed relieved to see Harry.

"Harry! Quickly! You need to follow me!" Draco began to sprint in the other direction before Harry cut him off.

"Where are we going?" Harry asked stuffing the Deluminator in his pocket. Draco turned around frustrated shaking his head.

"We don't have time for this. Just follow me! Now!" Draco again began to run down the corridor he just came from and Harry had no choice but to follow him. Harry ran after Draco as they weaved through the corridors of Hogwarts. Eventually they ran through the corridor that two weeks before they had found themselves in. Harry nearly slid on a patch of ice and afterward made sure he took more deliberate steps but knew he could not slow down his pace.

"Where are we going!" Harry again called out to Draco. The blizzard that was gusting around them seemed to muffle the sound of his voice and Draco did not turn around to answer him. Harry had to pick up his pace so he could keep Draco visible through the storm. As they continued to run Harry recognized that they were heading in to the Forbidden Forest. Harry reached in to his pocket to confirm that he did have his wand with him.

As they arrived in the forest Draco disappeared. Harry continued to run in the direction that he had seen Draco moving off in. Harry would have looked down to see footprints but the wind was knocking the snow around so much that any footprints that were left were completely wiped away in seconds. When Harry turned behind him he saw that his tracks were already completely gone.

"Draco!" Harry shouted looking around trying to find him in the storm. No one was around. No one answered back. The freezing wind was beginning to fill his body and he knew that if he did not keep moving that he could get frostbite or worse. Harry began running off in another direction hoping to find him. After a short ways he still did not find Draco. Harry had never seen a snow storm this bad before.

"Draco!" Harry yelled again at the top of his lungs now pulling out his wand worrying about where he was. "Where are you!"

"Sorry Harry…" That was the last thing Harry heard Draco whisper in to his ear before he felt a blow against the side of his head. Harry collapsed in to the snow as his head began to throb in pain. The snow continued to whirl around him and he saw Draco's feet emerge in front of him. Just before his eyes completely shut he saw other figures closing in around him.

/

A/N: Now I have a clear direction in which way this story is headed.

Still no idea how much longer it will be.

Or how the story will end. But I have narrowed them down.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!