Chapter 12

Hermione sat massaging the back of her neck; it had been a very stressful few days. Ron was getting grumpier every day, Harry was more restless and each day, though they searched and searched, they seemed to be getting further and further away from finding the weapon Harry needed. One thing they were all certain on was that it was to do with love. Hermione had spent all of the last two weeks looking through uncommon books she had taken from the school's library; she had taken them from the restricted section, with Dumbledore's permission. She had looked through many such as: The Powers of Emotion by Henry Radar, Powers to Destroy by Gillian McHeath, How to Destroy Evil: Book One by Patricia Fennel, How to Destroy Evil: Book Two by Patricia Fennel and Emotions and How to Use Them by Wilfred Anderson. Hermione had read them through about twenty times, each! Now she was running out of ideas as to where this weapon might be. They had got all their information from books Hermione had studied from before they had left. Hermione started sobbing quietly, they were finished.

"Hermione" Ron stepped stiffly out the tent, seeing her in tears he quickly ran to her aid "Hermione, what is it? What's wrong?" he asked, even when Ron was grumpy he cared deeply about Hermione.

"We're finished" she sobbed back "I have no idea where we could go next, and I don't even know what we are looking for!" Hermione's tears became thicker.

"Don't worry Hermione" he put his arm around her and held her close to his chest "We'll find it, we will win." He looked at her and gently wiped away a tear with his thumb "We won't stop looking" At that point Harry came out of the tent, in his hand he held a small photo album, he carefully flicked through the pages, and smiling he grinned down at Ron and Hermione.

"I think I know where we need to go." He said this with certainty

"Where?" asked a still sniffing Hermione.

"Well…don't freak out, but I was thinking…Hogsmede…" he let his sentence trail off waiting for Hermione's reaction.

"What?" she said looking up in shock "Are you mad?" Why would it be there?"

"Well…" Harry sighed "I was looking at my parents photos and they're all almost in Hogsmede…they seem so happy. I was thinking it might be there, if this weapon is purely about me, and not You Know Who, then well…yeah." He finished lamely.

"Well" said Ron "if we go at night, and under the invisibility cloak, then we should be fine." He said, before Hermione could object.

In the end Harry and Ron won. They started planning their trip to Hogsmede; they were never going to be able to succeed without the right preparation.

Meanwhile Ginny was huddled up in the corner of her cell, when she heard the door creak open in slipped Blackwood stepped towards her slowly closing the door.

"Ginerva" he whispered, no one had called her by her name, she had been girl or weasel, it surprised her being called Ginerva "Are you alright?" his voice was soft and caring, not like his earlier mood. Slowly Ginny shook her head letting a tear escape.

"I want my family." She buried her head into her knees crying silently. Uncertainty Blackwood stepped forward and sitting down beside her he cradled her in his arms, Ginny was too weak to do anything and eventually she relaxed.

"I'll try and help you" he whispered "I promise." Ginny had found a light in the dark, a beam of hope that lifted her mood. Blackwood carefully extracted a bottle from his coat and glancing back at the door he lifted it to Ginny's lips.

"This will help with the pain." When she had finished he swiftly went to stuff the bottle away, but just as he was doing it the door was flung open and Snape walked in.

"Blackwood, why have you been so..." Snape caught site of the bottle in his hand "What have you given her?" he said pulling his wand swiftly out from under his cloak and pointing it at Blackwood's chest. "And remember I am a very skilled at legilimency." Blackwood knew there was no chance of fooling Snape, he sighed deeply.

"It's a pain draught, the girl needs it." He said in a firm voice, he was not afraid if he was killed at least he died doing the right thing. Snape stood looking at him for a minute or so. Then his gaze turned to the small girl curled up on the floor her ginger hair so bright and fiery, it reminded him of the little Lily Evans he had known. No he told himself don't think of her, it will only hurt more, the reason Snape had returned to Voldermort was because he was angry, angry at himself, angry at everyone, he was so mad about Lily's death that he had turned his back on the world. He remember how kind she had been how caring, how she never let him down. Snape stared at Ginny for a few minutes, and then realized something, this girl did not deserve this she was good, kind and loving. Just like Lily. In that instant he knew Lily would have hated him for what he was doing, he knew what he needed to do…

"You will need to attend occlumency lessens with me, if you wish to remain here to tend for the girl." Ginny gaped at Snape, he had not said that! But he had and Ginny now had two rays of light, two angels, if they could be called that, guiding her out of the dark. "But be warned the Dark Lord may want to hurt the girl, we cannot stop him, we must let him and tend to the girl afterwards, is that clear?" Snape's voice was demanding.

"Yes and…thank you." Snape and Blackwood had never seen eye to eye before now. "When do I start learning occlumency?"

"Now." Replied Snape, and for over an hour they sat there learning occlumency, Ginny was taught it too, in case Voldermort came snooping…