The next few hours passed in a blur. The only memory Hermione had of them was the soft green light of the fading afternoon that filtered through the trees. Then someone placed her on a cushiony fabric, and the chirping of the birds lulled her to sleep.
Hermione woke to the sound of thumping. Groggily, she sat up and scanned the room she had been placed in, looking for the source of the bothersome noise. It floated in from a propped bamboo window.
Slipping out of the plush bed she had been resting in, Hermione tread carefully over to the window and peered out, but all she could see were trees. The drumming had abruptly stopped.
Hermione furrowed her brow in confusion. She pulled the prop away from the window letting it snap close. The drumming continued.
Curious, Hermione tried experimenting. She pushed on the window, leaving about a centimeter of open space; enough to slide a single digit through. Once again the drumming ceased.
"Hm", she mused.
She turned away from the window and continued inspecting her quarters. The entire room was constructed of bamboo, or wood that looked like bamboo at least. A dark wooded vanity stood in the corner, with a large silvery mirror. Apart from the bed it was the only furniture in the room.
The worn door suddenly creaked open and a tall, slim woman strode in. Closing the door she turned a pair of grey eyes on Hermione.
Hermione felt her throat clench, those eyes reminded her of Draco.
The woman smiled and held out her arms to Hermione in greeting, "Good morning, I am glad to see that you are awake. I am Lena, we met at the creek."
Hermione stared at her dumbfounded, "Morning? But how long has it-"
"Been since you left Hogwarts?"
When Hermione nodded her reply Lena continued, "You were taken two days ago. Those men had traveled through the night with you, and half the next day."
"But-", Hermione started, "It felt like only a couple of hours."
Lena suddenly seemed nervous, "Time passes by faster here.", she said quickly, "Now come."
She swept out the door, her long dark hair swinging, leaving a baffled Hermione to follow.
Draco stared out the window of the office, wishing he could punch something, or preferably someone. He heard the droning of the man sitting behind the desk, but he wasn't listening. Instead, he replayed the words Dumbledore had spoken the night before.
"In the morning let's go to the Ministry! I'm sure they'll know exactly what to do about Ms. Granger's disappearance."
Harry and Draco had stared at each other in shock before vehemently protesting such a ridiculous idea. But Dumbledore had heard none of it. So, here they were sitting in the office of the little man behind the desk listening to him chant on and on about how the Ministry paid meticulous attention to every case that came in. Yeah, sure they did.
While Draco pouted, which Hermione said made him look like he was five; Dumbledore interrupted the official looking man.
"Thank you sir, for your concern, but I am now quite sure Ms. Granger is safe."
Harry and Draco stared at the old man, sputtering questions, but Dumbledore silenced them with a knowing look. Then he purposely walked out of the office, with Draco and Harry trailing.
A/N: Next chapter you'll find out who Hermione's hosts are. Till' then reviews would be absolutely marvelous :)