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They waited patiently on the stone steps for what seemed hours. Aurors were down in the dungeons, collecting the bodies of the muggle-borns. Harry couldn't help his hands from shaking in not only anger but fear as well. Was Hermione down there? Was she one of the dead they found? The thought made him feel physically sick. He leaned his head on top of Ginny's and kissed the crown of her head softly.

"Five muggle-borns," she mumbled. "Dead."

"Shhh," Harry soothed quietly, rubbing her hands that were placed in his. He glanced over at Ron and saw that he was staring blankly ahead, frozen, in what Harry guessed, terror. Mr. Weasley was sitting with him, a hand placed firmly on his sons back.

"There were ten missing, though." Ginny said, looking up at Harry with red-rimmed eyes. "Where are the other five?"

"I don't know," Harry answered.

"I heard the Aurors talking before," George said from beside them. "They said the five others are most likely still alive. The death eaters seem to be dumping the bodies here."

"Why?" Ginny asked. "Why Hogwarts?"

"I guess they figure that if any dead bodies were found here, people would think it was from the battle." Harry said, solemnly, risking another glance over at Ron. He was now staring in the direction of the dungeons, waiting for someone to emerge.

"George, do you know if..." Ginny began but was quickly cut off by her brother.

"They didn't say if she was down there or not," George answered knowingly before letting out a deep sigh.

Suddenly, footsteps were heard coming from the corridor next to them. They immediately stood up and walked towards Arthur and Ron. Ginny gently grabbed Ron's arm and squeezed it reassuringly, letting him know that whatever happened in the next few moments, she would be there for him.

Slowly, bodies began levitate into view, covered in white cloths. Ron quickly began to move forward but Arthur held him back. Savage and Savannah came into view a few moments later with exhausted looks on their faces.

"Savannah," Arthur said, tightening his grip on Ron's shirt. She turned to face them and sighed. She stuffed her hands in her pockets and approached them slowly. Her green eyes were dark behind hooded eyelids. Her posture was slouched giving them the impression that she hadn't slept in days. Once she reached them she placed a hand on Ron's tense shoulder and shook her head.

"She wasn't down there."

Ron nodded as she said this and placed his head in his hands. Arthur patted his sons back as Ginny squeezed his arm for the second time. Savage approached the group and let out a large sigh. "Brutal down there, it was."

"Williamson still down there?" Arthur asked.

Savage nodded. "McKinley and Erickson as well. They are searching some more. There are five more missing muggle-borns out there; they're just making sure they aren't someplace else in the castle."

"This really is terrible," Savannah said before looking at her watch. "I really should get going. I have to see the families of the victims."

Savage sighed and patted her shoulder. "Good luck, Sav." She nodded and walked away from the group and towards the gates of the castle. Savage turned back towards the group and shook his head. "It's a damn tragedy this is. Imagine having to go to Muggles and telling them their son or daughter is dead because they aren't magical."

Arthur shook his head. "Horrible," he mumbled. "Who was down there, Savage?"

"Young ones, that's who. All look around Hogwarts age. Casey Moore, Douglas Transue, Brian Knight, Linda Chandler and Denis Creevey."

Harry took a deep breath. Denis Creevey-

First his brother died during the battle and now him...their father must be beside himself.

"Damn shame," Savage said as if he knew what Harry was thinking.

"Where are the others?" Ron asked.

"We still haven't found that out, but we're looking."

Ron sighed angrily. "You have to find them before they turn out like this lot!"

Savage sighed and nodded. "We will."

Harry was sure that Savage was just saying this to appease Ron and he knew Ron figured this out as well because he turned away from him and muttered some curse words under his breath.

Arthur sighed and grabbed Ron's arm. "Let's get you kids back home, shall we? Molly's probably worried sick."

They all nodded albeit hesitantly and headed back home to the Burrow.


As soon as they reached the Burrow, Ginny and Harry headed up the stairs to salvage the remaining hours of darkness to get some sleep. Ron, however, remained in the kitchen and placed his head in his hands. He knew he should be overjoyed that Hermione wasn't one of the dead in the dungeons at Hogwarts and he was. He was more than overjoyed, actually but her not being there meant that she was still missing. She was still in danger of ending up like the others.

"Son?"

Ron glanced up at his father who was sitting across from him at the table. "I'm fine,"

"No you're not, but neither is anyone else here."

"I just can't..." Ron sighed and stood up quickly, almost knocking his chair to the ground. "I just can't stand being here knowing that I can't do a bloody thing to help. Everyone can keep saying they're going to find her-but I know everyone thinks that happening is not likely."

"Don't say that, Ron." Arthur said. "We will find her,"

"What when she's..." Ron couldn't bring himself to say the word. He sighed slightly and looked over at his dad and shook his head. "I know she's not dead." he said firmly. "If she was, I would feel it. As stupid and ridiculous as that sounds, I know it's true."

Arthur sighed and patted his son's arm. "It doesn't sound stupid or ridiculous in the least. You care for Hermione deeply...perhaps even love her?"

Ron looked at his father, the tips of his ears turning red. "Yeah," he said gruffly.

"I know you don't want to hear it, Ron, but everyone is trying their damndest."

"I know they are but it's not enough."

Arthur sighed again and stared at his son sadly. He was about to say something but a knock on the Burrow's door pulled his attention elsewhere.

"Who on earth is here at his hour?" Arthur asked, standing up from his chair and walking to answer the door. "Williamson?"

Ron stood up, his pulse beating quite fast. He watched his father join Williamson outside and cursed when they shut the door behind them. Ron took a few breaths, pacing the length of the kitchen before turning and running up the staircase to the second floor. He reached Harry's bedroom almost immediately and barged in, not bothering to knock.

"Ron?" Harry asked from his seat on the edge of the bed. He was startled by the sudden entrance of his friend but the look on his face scared him most of all. "What's wrong?"

"Williamson is here."

"The Auror?" Harry asked, standing up.

Ron nodded. "Y-You don't suppose they found her, did you? I mean, he was still in the dungeons when we left looking for the others...you don't think he found her do you? Why else would he come here..."

Harry took a sharp intake of breath and walked quickly towards the door. Ron grabbed his arm before he could exit the room and Harry cleared his throat. "It's going to be alright."

Ron nodded and followed his friend out of the bedroom and down the stairs back into the kitchen. As they entered, Arthur was walking back in the kitchen from outside, his hand on the back of his neck.

"Dad?"

Arthur looked up at both of them and sighed softly. "They've caught Dolohov."

Time seemed to stand still. Harry couldn't feel his limbs and Ron was staring at his father, dumbstruck.

"Um, is..." Ron started but he couldn't find the right words. His mouth was completely dry and he felt dizzy. Catching Dolohov meant catching the man who was potentially keeping Hermione. The man who was potentially torturing her and doing Merlin knows what to her. Ron clenched his fists and with sudden force, looked his father in the eye.

"Where is he?" he demanded.

Arthur sighed again. "He is being taken in for questioning."

"So they still don't know where Hermione is?" Harry asked, crestfallen.

Ron sighed and shook his head. "Where did they find him?"

"Williamson said they found him in the forest. He was bringing another body to the castle."

"Another body?" Harry asked. "Who..."

Arthur wasn't looking at them-in fact he was looking everywhere but them. His face looked completely distraught and pained. Harry looked at Ron and saw that his friend's eyes had doubled in size. He was backing away slightly.

"No.."

"Son..."

"No!" Ron bellowed. "No! It's not! It's not her! She's not dead!"

Arthur walked closer towards them but Ron stepped backwards. He had tears falling down his face and he was shaking his head back and forth.

"What on earth is going on down..." Mrs. Weasley trailed off at the look on her sons face. She then looked at Arthur before covering her mouth with hands and shaking her head in the same fashion as Ron.

"Arthur..."

"They think it might be Hermione."


Coming up next: Is Hermione really dead?

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