Happy New Years! I really, really hope that 2021 treats everyone way better than 2020. Best wishes to all of you!

Also – I saw a review that was a bit confused on Hermione's dreams during the time she was captured by Constantine. If you're still confused, feel free to send me a Private Message and I can explain it better! If more than one of you is confused, I'll go back and try to re-write the chapters or post a better explanation in a future author's note.

Thank you once again for all of your support! I truly appreciate each and every review from each of you.

Hermione tapped her fingers against the side of the bed. She took a breath, trying not to feel irritated. Madame Pomfrey had lifted the ban against visitors, but besides a quick stopover from Harry, no one had come by. As the hours ticked closer to bedtime, anxiety started to gnaw at her stomach.

Of course, she knew that her friends were busy. There were some exams coming up soon, and she would have insisted they revise anyway. But still – she'd expected some visitors.

At least, she'd expected one visitor. He'd told her he would be back in the night to help her sleep.

Close to curfew, there was a shuffling by the door. Hermione sat up, but to her confusion and disappointment, Luna wandered in.

"Oh, hello, Hermione." Luna said, as though she was surprised to see Hermione here.

"Luna, it's nice to see you." Hermione replied. "Is everything alright? Are you feeling ill?"

"I'm fine, but thank you for asking. I've got your Potions homework here. I just thought I'd come by and give it to you."

"Oh, that's very kind of you." Hermione murmured, furrowing her brow. "But I thought Draco was supposed to come by with it. And – have you seen Harry and Ron? Ron came by earlier, but I thought they would come back for tonight."

"I thought so…" Luna mumbled to herself. She turned to face Hermione, handing over the assignments as she did. "I had a feeling they wouldn't tell you. Something bad has happened."

Electricity jolted through her. Hermione felt herself stumble out of the bed before she even realized that she'd stood up. "What is it? What's happened, Luna?"

"Well, you see, it all started when the mimbledrops –" Luna cut off at Hermione's expression. "It's Draco's Mum. She's gone missing, and he thinks that crazy witch who took you has her. He's gone to Malfoy Manor to trace her now, I overheard Harry and Ron talking about it earlier. I think Blaise Zabini told them."

"He's going to Malfoy Manor alone?" Hermione demanded.

"No, of course not." Luna smiled reassuringly. "Harry, Ron, Blaise Zabini, and Theodore Nott went with him."

"What is their plan?" Hermione looked for her wand wildly. "Those five are the stupidest boys I know! What do they plan to do when they get there? How are they going to find Constantine – what if they have to face her dark magic? She's got magic from Merlin, Luna! This is bad. They're terribly unmatched – I need to go right now!"

"I thought you might say that." Luna told her sweetly. "Here. Ginny took it from Harry when he wasn't looking."

Luna handed her Harry's Invisibility Cloak, and Hermione threw her arms around her. "Luna, you're a genius! Thank you!"

Luna blushed at the compliment. She helped Hermione put it on, and then together they stuffed pillows underneath the blanket to try and fool Madame Pomfrey.

"How can I get to Malfoy Manor?" Hermione mumbled to herself.

"You could try to apparate in." Luna suggested. "You were there during break, after all, and the aurors would have returned the wards to their state before the break-in."

"The anti-apparition wards – I'll need to get off Hogwarts grounds." Hermione told her.

"I can't help with that, but I know someone who will." Luna told her. "Follow me!"

The girls snuck out of the Infirmary and Luna took a turn for Gryffindor Tower.

Ginny was standing outside the portrait of the Fat Lady, talking to Dean. As soon as she saw Luna, she started ushering him inside. "I need to find Harry, it's urgent. Can you check in your rooms?"

"What is it? Maybe I can help." Dean started to offer, but Ginny hurriedly cut him off.

"No, it's something only Harry can help with. It's about – it's about our relationship. I think I'm going to break up with him."

Dean's eyes widened and he stumbled into the common room. "I'll get him right now!"

"Ginny!" Luna scolded as they got closer. "That was mean."

"It's not true, and it's not like Harry will ever find out." Ginny shrugged. "Did you get Hermione?"

Luna nodded, casting a suspicious glance at the Fat Lady, who was trying to blend into the background.

Ginny understood and the two of them immediately began down the hall. As soon as they were out of sight, they ducked into a corner and Hermione pulled the hood off the cloak.

"Great, we've got Hermione. Are you sure you'll be alright though? You haven't been cleared by Madame Pomfrey yet." Ginny looked at her worriedly.

"I'm fine." Hermione reassured her. "Madame Pomfrey was only keeping me to observe me overnight, and I've slept through most of the day. What's the plan? What have the boys done?"

"Let me get under the cloak with you." Ginny said. "We need to go for the front doors before they close for curfew. Luna's heading back to the dorms, so she'll come with us partway and cover if anything goes wrong."

"Pansy found Ginny and told her everything." Luna whispered. "Ginny will explain as soon as you both get out of here."

Hermione nodded, and then realized Luna couldn't see her. "I understand. Let's go!"

They scurried down the hall, while Luna made sure to walk leisurely behind them. She skipped a few times, twirled about, and did a few toe touches, just to ensure that anyone walking past would focus their attention on her and not the shimmering air ahead. Hermione had to admit, Luna was well-sorted into Ravenclaw.

They reached the door without incident, and Ginny stuck her hand out of the cloak for one moment to let Luna know. Then, she led Hermione to the Quidditch fields.

"As far as I know from Pansy, the boys are planning to get to Malfoy Manor through floo – Pansy said they already left when she'd gotten to me. Apparently, Snape has a floo in his private quarters and Draco has used it before. Anyway, they're planning to floo into Draco's bedroom and then use spells to trace Constantine's wand."

"Couldn't the aurors do that?" Hermione asked. "That doesn't sound like anything any one of them know how to do."

"Don't ask me." Ginny muttered. "Harry and Ron didn't even tell me they were going!"

Hermione frowned. "Something just doesn't seem right, Gin. Besides me, no one in our group knows how to trace spells to find wands…and why would they come up with a plan that revolves around something none of them know how to do?"

Ginny stopped and turned to Hermione. "You're right. But I don't think Pansy was lying to me…she seemed really distraught, she said that Draco wasn't listening to reason. Maybe that's why?"

Hermione shook her head slowly. "I think we should be prepared for the unexpected. Whatever their plan is, they didn't tell Pansy. Let's just focus on getting there – what are we doing?"

"We need speed." Ginny declared. "As soon as we get off Hogwarts grounds, you can apparate to Malfoy Manor. I figured we could go to Hogsmeade, and Luna will help me sneak back in after you leave."

"Then why are we going toward the Quidditch pitch?" Hermione asked. "Hogsmeade is the other way."

Ginny winced. "This is the part you're not going to like so much…I thought it would be faster if I flew us there on my broom."

Hermione's stomach plunged. "F-flying? But…b-b-but…"

"Hermione, I know." Ginny said softly. "And if there was another way, I would have picked it. But I really think this is the fastest way to get you off Hogwarts grounds, and I know – with everything in me – that you're the best person to bring Harry home safely. And the others too, of course. Please, Hermione."

Hermione wished two things: one, that she was braver, so she could fly without fear. Two, that she wasn't so brave, so she could tell Ginny to shove off and just run towards Hogsmeade herself.

"F-fine." Hermione whispered unsteadily. "Just try not to kill me before Constantine gets her chance, will you?"

Ginny gave her a quick hug and then grabbed her wrist to yank her toward the brooms.