Yeah, I know, I'm taking a long time with this. But I'm in the midst of all my training for swimming, (8 practices in 5 days, competitions on the weekends....) and I just was away camping. I wrote a lot in my notebook while I was away, but it takes a while to type it all up! I just got back yesterday!

So, speaking of my camping trip, I do have a dumb brunette story. (Yes, that would be about me....) So, It was about 10 p.m., we were sitting by the campfire, and my dads was reading, so he had the cooler beside him with the lantern on it. I wanted to move it over so I could read too and not be sitting in the way of all my smoke. So brilliant me, I go to pick up the cooler. Thinking I'm saving time, just moving it without taking the lantern off. But I leaned over too much and well, shall I say... Sizzle? The top of the lantern was scorching hot, and well yeah. It didn't really hurt, but it's kind of scary when you hear a sizzle and realize it's your own skin. So I jumped up, yelling, running over to run cool water over the burn. It didn't really hurt, but now I have a huge burn on my chin. Yes ladies and gentlemen, a big, red, crusty burn on my chin. So there's my dumb brunette story. Here's hoping I don't scar.
Of yeah, just a reminder, text [ between ] these thingies are their conversations inside of their heads/

Here goes Chapter 23. I tried to make it long, so it was worth the wait. This chapter was really hard to write....


Harry lay asleep in the forest clearing, hugging himself against the cold. Hermione desperately wanted to go to him, to hold him, but her eyes fixed on the motionless body lying next to him.

Ginny lay sprawled on the ground, perfectly still. Her cold eyes stared back at her.

Staring into those cold, dead eyes, she screamed.

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Ron as jerked out of his deep sleep by a loud scream. He jumped from Lavender's bed and headed toward Hermione's.

"Herm?"

She sat up in bed, air coming in jagged gasps, squeezing her eyes shut against the tears.

"Just a dream..." She managed to say. "It's just a dream..."

He climbed onto the bed next to her. "What happened? You look pretty shaken up."

"Harry was asleep in this clearing And- Ginny was there... she was... Oh God Ron, she was just lying there..."

"Like you said, Herm. It was just a dr-"

Suddenly, the door flew open and Seamus entered the room.

"What happened? I heard a-"

He stared right ahead.

Right at Hermione.

"What the hell? She's dead... We buried her... killed, I mean- where did-"

Hermione looked up at Ron.

"You're not going crazy, Seamus, Hermione's really alive." He finally sighed. "And you're the third person today who thinks they're seeing things."

"Well, yeah! She supposed to be dead! I mean, there was a funeral... What the hell is going on?"

"Listen to me Seamus. I'm alive and breathing, and though I'm not doing too well right now, but you're not going crazy and I know I should be dead but I'm not, okay? And I'm not fond of that look you're giving me and even though I'm sure it won't be the last that I'll see, please quit standing there gawking at me and give me a hug."

He looked at her strangely for a moment and then came over to give his friend a hug.

What happened?" He asked as they pulled apart.

"Harry this really rare and ridiculously advanced spell and brought her back." Ron said.

"I thought that was impossible."

"Only three people can actually do it." Hermione answered.

"Harry and who else?"

"Professor Dumbledore and-"

"Me." Hermione said.

Seamus seemed about to ask more but decided against it. "Where is Harry anyway? And I haven't seen Ginny either. I've been looking for her all day."

Ron and Hermione looked at each other. Hermione leaned back into the pillows sighing.

"What happened?" Seamus asked, immediately sensing something was wrong. "Where are they?"

There was a pregnant pause.

"We don't know." Hermione finally answered quietly.

"What? What Happened?"

"They're missing," Ron said. "Voldemort kidnapped Ginny-"

Seamus' eyes went wide. "What? Is she okay is she-"

Ron continued, avoiding the question. "Harry and Herm went to go find her... Herm got back, but Harry and Gin... We don't know."

Seamus squeezed his, trying to shut out his thoughts.

"What are the chances..." He finally managed to say.

"Harry is not- a normal wizard." Ron said. "He also can do a different type of magic, without a wand. Meaning he's a lot more powerful. But-"

"We still don't know." Hermione said grimly.

"So, what happens now?"

"Well... Dumbledore sent us up here to get some sleep, but I don't think there'll be anymore of that so- We might as well go back up to his office."

"I want to help."

"Seamus, I don't think-" Hermione started, but he cut her off.

"My girlfriend and my friend are out there. There's no way I'm going to sit around and just wait to find out if they're okay or hurt or- dead." He paused. "The whole wizarding world owes Harry their lives a few times over. And plus, Voldemort took something of mine before. He's not going to do it again."

Hermione noticed his fist clench up as he spoke. Seamus' uncle had been murdered by Voldemort three years before, and Hermione knew he had been close to him. She knew it was useless arguing with him.

"Let's go then." He took bot Ron and Seamus' hand and they left the dormitory, heading for the Headmaster's office. The halls were deserted, due to the classes in sessions. They met no one until they reached the entrance. Professor McGonagall was just exiting, a grim expression on her face. She stopped, seeing them.

"Welcome back, Miss Granger." She smiled weakly, but it was not at all encouraging. "The Headmaster is waiting for you." And with one last grim look, she left them, walking away.

They headed up the stairs, moods sinking by the minute.

********************************************************************************

"So?" The Headmaster asked.

The blond woman shrugged, holding up the watching stone. (A/N- You guys had forgotten about those, huh?) "I can't read him, Albus. He's too far away or something's deliberately blocking the stones. Or-"

"He's dead." Sirius finished for her.

No one said anything to contradict him.

Dumbledore sighed. "Arabella- if something is blocking the stones, you could detect it, couldn't you?"

"I could try, but I don't think that's the case. No one else knew we were using the watching stones."

"Try anyway."

"So what?" Sirius said, frustrated. "We just sit here? Hoping this will work? But even if we can get the watching stones to work, we still won't know where they are. I don't know if I can sit here while my god son and-"

"Sirius!" Dumbledore interrupted him. "I'm not giving up on this."

"Yeah, I know. I- I'm sorry."

"We need Hermio-"

At that moment, the trio entered the office. The Headmaster turned to Hermione and Ron first.

"Did you guys get any sleep."

"Barely." Hermione said.

The Headmaster then turned to Seamus.

"Mr. Finnigan. I assume you wish to help."

Seamus nodded. He prepared to argue why he should stay, assuming the Headmaster was going to send him away. But he never did.

"Thank you." He said simply. "Your uncle would have been proud."

The room was excruciatingly silent.

"Hermione, are you ready to try it again?" Dumbledore asked, finally breaking the painful silence.

"I can try, but I need help. Seamus, Ron, give me your hands."

What do I do?" Seamus asked, puzzled.

"Will you power to me. Just close your eyes, concentrate on giving me your power." He nodded.

"Ready?"

Both boys nodded and closed their eyes.

Hermione immediately felt the surge of power flow through her. She pushed it out, like a ripple, going farther and farther. She willed it to find him, seek him out.

She still couldn't feel him.

She pushed it even father. Ron and Seamus were straining to keep their power flowing she knew, she could feel the flow of power weakening.

They couldn't hold on much longer.

With what she had left, she forced the power farther, hoping it would reach.

She felt a jolt, then a moment of joy.

She had found him.

And then the world went black.

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Harry awoke with a jolt.

"Hermione?"

He felt her... But the sensation, like he could feel her, her aura faded just as quickly as it had come.

He glanced frantically at Ginny, his mind racing, hoping...

She was breathing, but barely.

He wracked his mind, searching, trying to think of any spell that could help her. Buy some time.

He thought of nothing.

He had to regain the connection with Hermione.

Fast.

Or Ginny Weasley would die.

********************************************************************************

"What the hell was that?"

Seamus and Ron caught Hermione and lowered her gently to the ground. Arabella bent down and took a look at Hermione, making sure she was okay.

"What happened?' Sirius asked, extremely puzzled.

"I- I don't know." Ron said. "It was getting harder to hold on, and then we felt this strange jolt just before she passed out."

"Jolt?"

"Yeah." Seamus nodded. "I felt it too."

"Dumbledore smiled briefly. "That means she found him."

They all breathed a sigh of relief, though short-lived.

"Arabella, revive her please." The Headmaster said.

She nodded and pointed her wand at Hermione, lying prone on the floor. "Enervate."

Hermione's eyes fluttered open and she sat up, rubbing her head.

"Herm, are you okay?"

She nodded. "He's alive. I know- I felt him. We have to try again, we have to get them out..."

"Hermione, relax, you just passed out for god's sake!" Sirius said. "I don't know if it's really safe for you to do it again." He looked up to Professor Dumbledore. "She barely found him. Isn't getting them out of there going to be a little more difficult?"

"I can do it." Hermione insisted. "I have to."

Still, they looked skeptical.

"Look, this is our best chance, okay? I got his attention, I know I did. If he's not to hurt- I- He's probably trying to reach me now too. I can get to him easier."

"She's right," Dumbledore said. "We have to do it now."

"Albus-"

"Arabella, we're running out of time."

She looked to Hermione. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"No. I'm scared out of mind. I'm scared it won't work. Scared, they're going to die. Scared we're going to die. This list goes on. My head hurts. But it doesn't matter. I have to do it. There's no other chances."

Everyone remained silent after this.

She took a deep breath. "Okay, I need all of you to help or it won't work."

They all nodded and stood, taking each other's hands.

Hermione took another deep breath.

This had to work.

"Ready?"

Everyone nodded.

"Now."

Hermione felt an unbelievable surge of raw power. It flowed through her, welling up. It had to go somewhere. She pushed it out in a wave, farther and farther, like ripples in a pond.

If this didn't work, nothing would.

********************************************************************************

Harry grabbed Ginny's limp hand, taking a deep breath.

It was now or never.

He shut his eyes, and, taking a deep breath, pushed his power out. He felt it building up, and spreading out like water. It fanned out farther and farther.

His ring sparked and he felt a jolt.

********************************************************************************

[Harry! Oh God, answer me!]

She could feel him now, but he wasn't answering.

[Harry! Oh God, Please...]

Nothing.

********************************************************************************

Suddenly, Harry felt another jolt. He felt Hermione's presence around him, pressing against his magic.

[Herm?]

[Harry? Oh My God. Are you okay are you-]

[I'm fine, but Ginny-]

[Harry, I can't feel her. Is she-]

Please no...

[Not yet...]

[Okay... Harry, I'm going to get you out of there okay? The spell we used before. But you have to help me.]

[When?]

[Now. We're running out of time. Right now.]

Harry began to say the spell, concentrating hard. Hermione joined in.

[Wait!]

[What Harry? We're running pout of time!]

[Herm, if there's not enough power... We'll be, we'll be splinched.]

[I know Harry! Just do it!]

They finished the spell.

Harry gripped Ginny's hand he winced as the forests dissolved around him.

Please let this work.

********************************************************************************

Hermione opened her eyes. The world was blurry and she fell to the ground, but managed to stay conscious.

"Herm? What happened? Did it work?" Ron voice came to her, but it was distant. She could feel her eyelids drooping.

She forced her eyes open and scanned the room, through her blurring vision.

She didn't see him.

"It was supposed to work... They should be here... God! It didn't work... Oh God... Harry..."

She aware of hot tears streaming down her cheeks.

Oh god...

She tried to get up, screaming.

"Harry! Oh god, hat happened..."

She pushed herself up, but her head was spinning. Her legs collapsed under her.

"Hermione, calm down!"

She felt hands on her, trying to keep her down.

"Harry!"

"Hermione, calm down!"

"No... Harry..."

She tried to get up again, blinded by tears and her obstructed vision.

"Someone hold her down!"

"Hermione!"

Ron's voice was the last thing she heard before the world went black.

********************************************************************************

Harry opened his eyes slowly.

Where was he?

He was still outside, but examining his surroundings, his heart gave a leap.

He was on the edge of a forest and to his left, a top a hill-

Hogwarts.

He stood up nearly laughing.

But not quite.

He floated Ginny, running as fast as he could towards the castle.

It had worked.

And hopefully not too late.

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Okay so that wasn't that long. But I think you wanted to see something right? So here you go. That part was extremely difficult to write especially at the end, with Hermione. It gets a little hectic, but basically she had a breakdown. Wouldn't you?

Please review, I'll try to get the next part up soon. Soooooo sorry for the wait!

~Danie

Luv y'all specially my reviewers!