Author:  Belladuchi

Email:    begmeeko@aol.com

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Summary: Before they begin their fifth year at Hogwarts, something shifts between Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The rift that forms threatens to shred apart everything that they share.  When the real Professor Moody returns from deep in Turkey, he proposes an offer that could restore all that had changed.  There are two things Harry must consider before he accepts Moody's proposal: his relationship with Ron, and his budding romance with Hermione. Which will he choose?

Finding Your Way

The Albus Dumbledore that lay sprawled on the couch, one hand clutching a tall half-empty bottle of alcoholic butter-beer, wasn't the same man that Harry had seen only a few months before.  The office, which normally was filled with organized clutter, lay in ruins.  What Harry imagined had once been the contents of Dumbledore's desk drawers was gathered in a large pile on the floor near the couch.  Dumbledore himself was as out of order as his office.  His pointed cap, which Harry had always had the urge to try on, teetered on the arm of the couch, the crown crumpled and frayed.  Dark circles only added to the effect of Dumbledore's clothes, which looked as if they had been slept in.

                  McGonagall quickly took the bottle from his hands and placed it on the table.  For a moment afterwards she looked at it, almost as if she herself wanted to drown herself in a glass.  The look that Harry had seen faded as she shoved the hat onto his head and pulled him into a sitting position.  Despite McGonagall's best effort, Dumbledore was beginning to slouch and the hat was slopping towards his right ear.  The Headmaster's eyes were dull, from which Harry could tell that this wasn't he first bottle of Dumbledore had drunken in the past few days.

                  "How long has he been like this?" he asked as McGonagall waved her hand in front of Dumbledore's eyes, though she got no reaction.

                  She looked up at him after sinking into the couch, "I'd say it's been at least a week. Most of the other Professors have either gone or simply aren't here any more."

                  "Would that include Trelawney?" Harry asked, suppressing a grin.

                  McGonagall gave Harry a hawk-eyed stare before she even began to reply, "She is very vital to our current situation, Harry.  I hope that you will better understand why when you are told what is going on."

                  "And exactly when am I going to be told?"

                  "You haven't seen Snape anywhere, have you?  He's almost worse off than Dumbledore here," at this Dumbledore grunted.

                  Harry shrugged, "Didn't you say that Dumbledore wanted to see me?"

                  McGonagall gave him a weak smile, "When I left he wasn't this far off.  After he sleeps this off, I'm sure he'll want to see you."

                  Before Harry could make it out of the office, McGonagall said, "They're in the dungeons off of the Potions wing.  Don't stay to long or Pomfrey might have more than a few harsh words with you."

           Harry could barely see through the thick darkness of the hallway despite the numerous torches on the walls.  The smoke that emitted from the sconces filled the passageway, making it difficult to breath much less see.  The hallways underneath the Potions wing had never been well ventilated, magical torches didn't give off smoke but Muggle ones did.  Harry pulled the shirt underneath his robe over his nose and mouth.  He quickened his pace and after a few moments ran into a thick oak door.

          A rather large splinter in his hand only slowed Harry down from turning the large iron handle.  Throwing his weight against the door, Harry was able to crack it open enough to slip through.  The air inside of the massive room he had just entered was just as crisp and fresh as outside if not more so.  The only piece of furniture in the room was a rough cut table that lay in the middle of the room.  As Harry approached the table he noticed a piece of paper that read:

       Hermione Granger

              Cell Number Three

              Imprisoned on August Second

             Reason(s) For Detainment: Unknown

             Council Heading Inquisition: High Council of Her Ladyship Almera Dunvagen

            Termination of Sentence: Undetermined

            Keeper: Mr. Harry Potter

     Ronald Weasley

          Cell Number Five

          Imprisoned on August Eighth

         Reason(s) For Detainment: Treason, Unknown

         Council Heading Inquisition: Council of the True Light, under High Lord Merlin Refshauge

         Termination of Sequence: Indefinite

         Keeper: Professor Servus Snape

     Harry was shocked to see his own name on the paper as Hermione's Keeper.  He ran his a hand quickly through his hair and started for the corridor with the plaque THREE over the arch.  At the end of the short passage Harry found himself looking at a small wooden door with a barred window.  Using the keys hanging on a hook near the door, he opened it and walked in.

     Since Harry was expecting to see the cheerful happy Hermione that he had last seen on his birthday, he didn't notice the small figure curled up in the corner.  He drew in a breath as his eyes came to rest on her weak frame.  Hermione's brown hair hung limp around her shoulders, dark circles and bruises adorned the area around her eyes, and the rest of her body was covered in marks and discolorations.  Harry hastily sat down at her side and stroked her hair.

       Hermione opened her eyes slowly, focusing on her face, "I was wondering when you would get here.  Took your time didn't you?"

       Harry wasn't familiar with the husky and strained voice that he heard, "I came as soon as I knew what had happened.  Come on, lets get you out of here."

       Hermione looked up at him with fear in her eyes, "Are you kidding?  The only way I ever get out of here is if I'm being questioned or Lady Dunvagen allows Madam Pomfrey to see me."

       "No one will tell me anything!  Who's Lady Dunvagen?"

       "She's leading the inquisition of myself and several other students," Hermione said as her body was racked with coughs.

        Harry could hear something break inside of him as he held her, calming her coughs.  He wrapped his arms tighter around Hermione, "You're my best friend, Herm.   And I wouldn't be much of anything if I didn't at least try to get you out of here."

        She looked up at him again, tears streaking through the dirt covering her face, "Come back after you eat breakfast.  They'll probably let you see me then."

        As Harry released Hermione, his body began to miss hers, "I promise I'll be here."

        Hermione reached out and squeezed his hand, "I still had some hope for you Harry Potter, and now I don't know what to think.  Does anyone else no we're down here?"

        Harry shrugged, "I don't think so.  But wouldn't you're parents have noticed that you were gone?"

        "My parents trust anything to do with Hogwarts, I guess they have yet to ask any questions yet.  As far as the Weasleys', they probably think it has to do with Ron getting caught up with his work or something of that nature."

        "How is Ron holding up?" Harry asked as he began searching his pockets.

        "He's being questioned by Refshauge right now, he'll be back in the morning," Hermione said as her eyes fell upon the chocolate frog that Harry had in his hand.

        "It's left over from the train. You need it more than I do," Harry said.

        Hermione's eyes once again filled with tears as she caressed it in her own hands, "You'd better leave now before someone finds you down here."

        "You're right as always Herm," Harry said as he leaned down to kiss her on the head.

         Hermione smiled and once again fell asleep on the straw pallet in the corner.

         The long walk was tiring, so as soon as Harry was vertical on his bed, he was asleep.  The night was a well-deserved rest for his body but not at all for his mind and imagination.