I'm sorry! No one hurt me! It's not my fault! I'm up to my neck in stuff to do! I'm getting up at 5:30 in the morning on Mon. Tues., Thurs. And Friday, plus afternoon practices everyday but Friday for my swim team, swim meets on the weekends, and I have Softball district Championships this weekend, so we've been practicing a lot, plus, I'm ass-deep in algebra homework! Meaning, I get home from school, start my homework, go to swim practice until 6:30, then I go to softball practice, get home at about 8:45, eat dinner, take a shower, finish my homework, go to bed, then get up at five thirty the next morning. Meaning, I start the cycle all over again! So, yeah, I'm a little busy. This is the first time I've been able to writing days! I'm totally wiped... but I thought you might enjoy another part!!!!

So yeah, this was kind of depressing to write, but I had to write it! Please review!



"What do you mean they're in the clouds?" Ron asked. "That's impossible!"

Hermione frowned at him. "Not exactly. Voldemort said no one would fine the place. It's a non-geographical location... in a way. And I think I might be able to figure it out."

She stared at the magical map that had still not disappeared. It seemed to be constantly moving, zooming in. Finally it blinked out and Hermione smiled in triumph.

"They're in the clouds... right above the castle."

"Right over our noses..." Ron said.

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Voldemort stared at him. "You are but a small obstacle, Potter. I will overcome you. And I am powerful."

Harry brought the Dark Lord's wand down over his knee, breaking it in half. He threw the two pieces on the ground. He said the druid incantation in his head and the wand burst into flames that flashed blue and green.

"So am I."

Voldemort's eyes widened.

"Surprised?"

Voldemort eyes flashed with rage. He threw his power at Harry. Even without a wand, he was powerful enough to do damage. Under normal circumstances, Harry would have moved, but...

There was a flash and the power bounced off Harry. It seemed to suddenly disappear, like whatever shield Harry was using just destroyed it.

"You can't hurt me. I'm using a powerful protection spell."

"There is no normal spell that can do that. What is it?"

"Well, that's just my little secret isn't it."

Voldemort pulled at sharp dagger from his robes. He knelt over Ginny.

"I'll kill her Potter. Is that what you really want?"

"Try it."

Voldemort brought the blade down hard, near her head. There was a loud sound, like metal hitting metal. The dagger was bent, and unable to penetrate the protection spell.

"What the-"

"Goodbye..."

Harry muttered the last of the spell and he disappeared, taking Ginny with him.

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"How do we get there though..." Ron said. "Could we ride our brooms?"

"No, too many magical wards, if I'm not mistaken." Dumbledore said. "He's probably being very careful."

"I think we'll just have to pull them out of there with the spell... The same way we got there." Hermione said. "We're not prepared to fight him, and that's the only way we can avoid it."

"But how do we do that?" Ron asked.

Hermione shook her head. "I don't know. I don't think I can do it without him trying on the other end. Even if I could bring him back, chances are, I couldn't bring Ginny..."

"Hermione, can you still talk with him?" The headmaster asked.

"I don't know..."

"You have to try."

She sighed, closing her eyes. She reached out with her power, willing it to find him.

[Harry? Harry, answer me... Please... Oh God please...]

No answer.

She shook her head, tears slipping down her cheek. She buried her head in Ron's shoulder, tears flowing freely.

"I can't do it... I can't do it Ron... He's out there, by himself... And I can't help him..."

Ron squeezed her hand and looked over her head into the headmaster's eyes.

And there he saw something that was not often there:

A look of the deepest dread.

And fear.

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Harry opened his eyes, feeling a wave of exhaustion overcome him.

But where he was, he did not recognize.

"Oh Shit..."

They were supposed to be back at the castle... Where the spell originated from... He didn't see anything familiar, the sky, still dark, even though it was nearing dawn, was no clue. Neither were the tall trees that closed in on them from all sides.

And wherever the hell they were, he knew he couldn't get them out.

He felt helpless.

He sat on the ground, feeling very week. Ginny lay sprawled on the ground beside him, still unconscious. HE dared not move her, in case her injured her even more.

He finally let the protection spells fall, though his instincts were telling him not to. He simply couldn't keep them up.

"Ginny.... Ginny, please wake up..." He said; though he knew his efforts were in vain.

They would be very lucky if she woke up at all.

Her chest rose and fell, taking in jagged breaths of air. He listened to her heartbeat. He knew she had a heart murmur, but still, the breathing was more erratic than usual.

He lay down beside her as the first of dawn's rays pierced the dark. The adrenaline had long since worn off and he finally gave in to the exhaustion weighing him down. He tried to sleep, and prayed.

Prayed that Ginny would make it while he slept.

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Professor Dumbledore, Ron and Hermione sat through the night in silence, the only sound Desiree's rhythmic breathing as she slept and Hermione's feet. They were trying to think of ways to help Harry.

And trying not to thing that their ideas would only work if he was still alive.

Finally, as the sun began to rise, Dumbledore spoke.

"Go to bed..."

"What?" Hermione said. "I can't sleep.. I mean, he's out there, Professor, and we have to help and-"

"My dear, there is nothing we can do, at least not until you are rested able to use your powers to their full potential. I don't like leaving him out there anymore than you do. But please, just rest. You are excused from your classes today."

Hermione, too tired to argue, stood, along with Ron, who gathered the still sleeping Desiree in his arms. With one last glance at the Headmaster, whose face was set in an expression of deep sadness and regret, they left his office and went to the common room, hoping they could sleep. They tucked Des into Hermione's bed, at the end, and then they climbed in at the top.

Hermione leaned once more against Ron, fighting against a fresh onslaught of tears.

"What was he like?"

"What?" Ron asked, puzzled.

"Harry. While I was gone."

"Ron sighed. "I don't know Herm... There's really no way I could describe it to you. He was- not all there. Like- he was dead calm after a while, few days. He barely talked except to me or Gin, which even then... He just sat around. I know he barely slept. And then, eventually, to most people, it seemed like he was functioning normally. But to me, and Ginny, and maybe a couple other people, he was not right, Herm. And I don't think any amount of time would have changed that. No amount of time would bring him back to what he was. You took a chunk of you with him, Herm. You should have seen the look of pure elation when you were back! He is so in love with you it hurts him. I was scared while you were gone. I was seriously scared, because, well... He was gone too."

Hermione wiped the tears from her face, looking questioningly up at him. "What about you, Ron?"

He sat in silence for a moment, as if thinking about it. "I- I don't know, Herm. It was hard. It- I needed you. You are my best friend, and I really needed you just to talk to, to hang out with. Hermione, Harry's totally in love with you. I will never be, but I love you. There is a difference. You're closer than a sister to me, and I value you, and Harry, above everything." He smiled. "And when I see you two together, it makes me so happy. I don't feel a tinge of jealousy. How could I? It doesn't matter to me. All that matters is that were here, together... And when you weren't Herm... It was hard to get up out of bed every morning... Hard to face the classes, the work, everything, without you. And without Harry. Because, well... he wasn't exactly himself. It was really hard."

"I don't know what I'd do without you... or Harry... Ron, what if-"

"Don't what if, Herm. Just don't, okay? Seriously. I promise you I will do everything I can to get Harry back here. Because I need to see you smile again, I need to see Harry laugh at me from behind his glasses, and I need to see you both happy again."

Hermione buried her head in his chest, letting the tears fall freely.

"Ron... I don't want to fight this anymore... I just want it to go away..."

"Me too, Herm. Me too..." He reached around and picked up his wand, whispering before she could see. "Dormiens..."

"Hermione fell asleep and he tucked her in, kissing her on the forehead. He stood and walked to the window while the sun slowly rose.

Stealing a glance at the other girls in the room, he sighed. His girlfriend slept on peacefully, her lips curled into a thin smile. Parvati also slept in relative peace, a look of contentment spread across her face.

They had no idea.

None of the students had any idea how much pain some people went to just to keep them safe.

Ignorance is a blissful thing.

He turned and watched the sun rise, spilling a splash of brilliant color across the dull skies. The light reflected of the lake, making the water seem golden and unreal. The birds woke and soared back and forth between the trees, singing songs of the joy that came with the morning.

Or the sorrow.

He heard the sound of an alarm clock behind him and someone drawing back their curtains.

"Ron, what are you doing here?"

He turned around, and faced Lavender coming towards him.

"Just tucking Hermione in."

Lavender looked at him strangely.

"Did you say Hermione?"

"Yeah... Is there anyone else in the dorm other than you and Parvati?"

"No. It's just Parvati and I. Ron, are you feeling okay?"

"Yes."

"Ron... you do know Hermione's dead, right? Remember, the accident?" She had a concerned look on her face.

Ron laughed. "Oh right... Lavender, she's alive. Trust me."

"No... Ron, she's not. I'm sorry but-"

"I'm not going crazy, Lav! It may seem like I am, but I'm not..."

"What the hell?" Came Parvati's voice. "Are you guys fighting again?"

"No!" They said in unison.

"Okay, Lav... I don't have time to explain this to you in detail, but see for yourself. I swear I'm not going crazy..."

Lavender looked at him skeptically but followed him over to Hermione's bed. Ron drew the curtain.

Lavender gasped. She was there. Her chest rose and fell, taking in air. She was alive.

"What the hell! I mean, she was dead... we buried her, there was a funeral... Voldemort - I mean, this can't- it's impossible, what the hell is going on, Ron?!"

"What are you guys yelling about!" Parvati said, coming out of the bathroom. "Don't you realize it's really early in the-" She stopped in her tracks, staring.

She let off a high pitched scream.

Ron jumped over to her, clamping his hand over her mouth. "Shut up, you'll wake her up!" He let go of her, but made sure she didn't scream again.

"But- She as- I mean we- the grave- Voldemort killed her... She's dead, she's not- you can't bring people back- I mean-"

"Be quiet!" Ron said. "Let me explain this to you two very carefully, okay? We found a way to bring her back... But I don't think we can do it again. Anyways, we just got her beck last night... and then something- happened."

"What?"

"Harry and Ginny are missing."

"What? What do you mean they're missing?"

"Lav... I need you to keep this a secret, okay? No one should know except Dumbledore and us. Just go to class like normal... We've been up all night. We know what happened to them, but beyond that... Just go to class, everyone else will know soon enough."

They nodded. "Is Herm okay? I mean, is she-"

"She's fine. Just really upset and tired. But please, don't tell anyone."

Parvati nodded. "I'm going down to breakfast. Uh, say hi to her for me." She left them, still digesting what she had heard.

"What happened Ron? God, this should happen, I mean, she really was dead, wasn't she?"

He nodded. "I can't tell you yet, because well, it's not over yet." He yawned, sitting down on her bed. "And I really don't have the energy for anything right now..."

She sat down next to him and he lay down, closing his eyes.

"Is it bad?"

"Very." He replied, not opening his eyes.

"Voldemort?"

"They were with Voldemort. He took Ginny. Hermione and Harry did this advanced spell so that they could talk to her in their heads and get wherever she was. They got there... but the thing is, Voldemort doesn't know that Herm's alive. So Herm came back, and then the connection broke. All we know is that they were fighting him."

"Oh my God..."

"My sister and my best friend are out there somewhere. They could be dead, alive, injured, captured... I don't know. I have never felt so helpless in my life. Even Dumbledore seems to think the situation is beyond hope. I seriously don't know what to do now, Lav..." A single tear slid down his face.

Lavender kissed him on the lips. "Don't give up, Ron. That's the last thing we can do right now."

He nodded and rolled over, squeezing her hand. "It never frickin' ends..."

And with that, he fell asleep, leaving a very confused and worried Lavender.

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Okay, so that was short, but I thought you deserved a new part. I'm sorry, I'm busy! So yeah, I hope you like it... enjoy, yadiyadiyadda!

Please Review!

~Danie
water_nymph@swimmail.com