The Internet and Hogwarts Don't Mix, Hermione!

By: Mari G. (a.k.a. MalfoysGirlfriend)

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN THE HARRY POTTER CHARACTERS.

Chapter 7:

(Read the authors at the end of the chapter because there is another thing I want you guys to vote on that WILL affect the story.)

"Look, she left a letter," said Ron, a little numb with shock. Harry snatched it up and tore it open. As he was reading it his eyes widened.

"What does it say?" asked Ron.

"Oh my God. No…she couldn't have…" said Harry sitting down roughly on the bed.

"Give me that," said Ron, snatching the paper out of Harry's grip. It read…

Dear Harry and Ron,

I've run away from Hogwarts and I'm never coming back. I couldn't take all this nonsense anymore. I felt trapped and alone and you two weren't helping much. I know you were trying to help me but these problems that I have can't be solved by you. I'm sorry if this comes as a shock to you. I'm also sorry that I never had any true friends. You two are best friends and I've always felt like I was the spare. Like three's a crowd. You should be happy because I'm out seeking my true happiness, a place where I belong. I belonged at Hogwarts until something unexplainable happened that made it feel cold and unwelcome. Don't look for me, I'll be fine.

Love,

Hermione

"How could she have left?" asked Ron quietly.

"It's my fault. She's going to get herself killed and it's going to be my fault," Harry said, covering his face with his hands.

"She must have gone to somebody's house. Maybe to one of her muggle friends. They'll find her in no time," said Ron, but he didn't believe his own words and didn't expect Harry to believe him.

"What do we do now?" asked Harry, getting up and pacing.

"Go look for her."

"We can't go look for her. We don't know or have the slightest clue were she is."

"You're right," said Ron, leaning against the wall.

"Let's tell Dumbledore. He'll alert the ministry and they'll find her."

"Yeah, just how they found Bertha Jorkins."

"That's different. Voldemort killed her."

"Don't say his name!" said Ron sharply.

"Whatever. I'm going to go tell Dumbledore. You stay here and see if anything comes up."

"I don't think Dumbledore is in his office this late at night."

"He is. He usually works late. I'll be back when I talk to him," said Harry, stuffing the letter in his pocket.

Harry walked out of Hermione's room and down the staircase. When he opened the portrait hole he started walking quicker and quicker until he broke into a run. Suddenly it seemed important for him to tell Dumbledore about it as quick as possible. To his terror, he felt tears in his eyes and he came to a halt in the middle of the hallway. His mind had been numb, but now the shock was wearing off. He felt his knees give out from under him and he fell. He started to remember things…

Hermione's lip trembled, and she suddenly dashed at Harry and threw her arms around him.

"Hermione!"

"Harry- you're a great wizard, you know."

"I'm not as good as you," said Harry, very embarrassed, as she let go of him.

"Me!" said Hermione. "Books! And cleverness! There are more important things- friendship and bravery- oh Harry, be careful!"

Her words echoed in his brain and he felt a pang of misery. He loved her more than anything but something had made him stop from ever getting too close to her. If Voldemort ever found out Hermione was his girlfriend she would become a target. If she died Harry felt that would be the end of the world. He felt this was the end of the world. He remembered another moment…

Hagrid turned around and hurried back toward his cabin, his face buried in his hankerchief.

"Look at him blubber!"

Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle had been standing just inside the castle doors, listening.

"Have you ever seen anything quite as pathetic?" said Malfoy "And he's supposed to be our teacher!"

Harry and Ron both made furious moves towards Malfoy, but Hermione got there first- SMACK!

She had slapped Malfoy across the face with all the strength she could muster. Malfoy staggered. Harry, Ron, Crabbe, and Goyle stood flabbergasted as Hermione raised her hand again.

"Don't you dare call Hagrid pathetic, you foul- you evil-"

"Hermione!" said Ron weakly, and he tried to grab her hand as she swung it back.

"Get off, Ron"

Hermione pulled out her wand. Malfoy stepped backward. Crabbe and Goyle looked at him for instructions, thoroughly bewildered.

"C'mon," Malfoy muttered, and in a moment, all three of them had disappeared into passageway to the dungeons.

"Hermione!" Ron said again, sounding both stunned and impressed.

"Harry, you'd better beat him in the Quidditch final!" Hermione said shrilly. "You just better had, because I can't stand it if Slytherin wins!"

He had to admit he was impressed with her for slapping Malfoy. Harry, at the time when the slap happened, decided this would be one of the memories he would remember and laugh at in the future. Now he felt the memory was painful. It reminded him that you don't know what you have until you lose it. He lost her. Maybe he would never see her again. What if she died and he never told her how much he loved her? Harry's shock had worn completely off in that moment. Tears slid down his cheeks and he didn't hurry to wipe them. He was going to find her if it was the last thing he ever did.

Turns out Hermione didn't need to stowaway at all. The people just sold her a ticket without a single question about who she was, which completely astounded her. Now she sat in a compartment on the Hogwarts Express, looking blankly out the window. She avoided the compartment she, Harry, and Ron always sat in so it wouldn't further complicate things. Hermione heard, rather faraway, someone open the door. A tall witch with short black hair popped her head in.

"Hermione!" said the witch, completely taken by surprise at who was sitting there.

"Janet?" said Hermione, looking nervous.

"What are you doing out of school?" asked Janet. Hermione froze in her seat as the word "busted" echoed in her head. She had to come up with a good lie.

"Janet! How nice to see you! Um… I'm running an errand for Professor Dumbledore. He wants lemon drops," she lied, giving Janet what she hoped was a comfortable smile.

"Why didn't he ask Filch to fetch some?" asked Janet suspiciously.

"Oh, didn't you hear? Filch has a horrible head cold and going outside would kill him," said Hermione. She was getting less nervous with every lie.

"Well, I do hope he gets better," said Janet.

"Yes," agreed Hermione.

"Ok, I'll see you later then. Bye."

"Bye," said Hermione, giving her a cheerful wave. Janet stepped out and closed the door behind her. Hermione felt the train come to a stop at a station that it usually stops in to pick up passengers. She looked out and saw some strange people pile onto the train. There was a knock in her compartment door and Hermione looked at it and froze again. Maybe it was Janet who didn't believe her and was going to send her back to Hogwarts. She though it was no use to not let her in.

"Come in," said Hermione softly. To her relief, the lady who came in wasn't Janet. It was an old lady who, Hermione guessed, was about 70 or 75 years old. She was carrying a bag in her hand and had a rather large purse slung over her shoulder.

"Do you mind if I sit here with you, darling?" asked the old lady softly.

"Oh, sure. Go ahead," said Hermione, pointing her to a seat in front of her.

"Thank-you. I've been waiting for this train to get here for the longest time. My feet are so tired," she said, putting her purse and bag on the empty seat next to her.

"You're welcome," said Hermione politely.

"You look young. Do you go to Hogwarts?" asked the old lady.

"Yes."

"What are you doing out of school at such late hours?"

"I'm running an errand for Professor Dumbledore."

"Oh yes. I know him. He's the headmaster, right?"

"Yeah."

"I used to go to Hogwarts. Those were the saddest years of my life."

"Why?" asked Hermione, curiosity taking the best of her.

"Well, I never had any true friends. I was always a lone rider. I thought once of running away," said the old lady.

"Why didn't you?"

"Because I learned a valuable lesson those years. I learned that the more you suffer the happier you'll be in the future," said the old lady wisely.

"Is that true?" asked Hermione, interested.

"Yes. I wouldn't take those years back at Hogwarts for anything in the world. By the way, my name's Margaret," said the old lady, extending her hand to shake Hermione's. Hermione took it.

"I'm Hermione Granger," said Hermione, smiling.

"Well Hermione, we have about an hour until the train arrives at Kings Cross," said Margaret, checking her watch.

Hermione talked to Margaret during the whole trip. She felt this was somebody she could pour out her heart to but restrained herself. She was also a lone rider and even though she and Margaret had led a similar life she couldn't bring herself to confess it. Hermione just smiled pleasantly and acted normal, trying to hold back tears at certain tales Margaret told of her days at Hogwarts. Her mind wandered over to Harry and whether he had found the letter. He wouldn't care about her just as she shouldn't care about him.

Harry ran through the hallways of Hogwarts and stopped in front of the Gargoyle that was the guardian of Professor Dumbledore's office. He knew the password because of so many times he had been led here by Snape. He knew it had something to do with candy…

"Licorice Wands," said Harry and the Gargoyle swung forward to reveal a spiral staircase leading to Dumbledore's office. Harry took the stairs two at a time and when he reached the door, paused to catch his breath. After a moment he knocked on the door urgently. Dumbledore opened the door and was surprised to see Harry.

"Harry, what are you doing here?" he asked.

"I have something to tell you."

"And it couldn't wait?"

"No."

"Very well, come in and take a seat," he said, leading Harry inside. Harry sat in a chair in front of Dumbledore's desk, where Dumbledore now sat looking worried.

"What's the matter, Harry?"

"Hermione ran away from school," said Harry. Dumbledore looked at him for a minute.

"Are you sure she isn't in the library where she usually is?"

"No, she left a letter," said Harry, taking the letter out of his pocket and handing it to Dumbledore. As he read it Harry saw the twinkle slowly fade from his eyes.

"Did you do anything to upset her?"

"Ron and I have been busy but we haven't ignored her."

"I see. Well, the only thing I can do is contact the ministry and the muggle police department and hope they find her," said Dumbledore. There was a long silence.

"Professor?" Harry asked uncertainly.

"Yes?" asked Professor Dumbledore, looking up from his desk.

"Will they find her alive?" asked Harry with a tight voice.

"Only time can answer that question," he said, "It's late Harry. Perhaps you should head back to the Gryffindor common room."

"Yes Professor," said Harry, getting up slowly and leaving the office. He shut the door gently behind himself and walked back to the common room with a heart filled with little hope, if any at all.

When Hermione arrived to King's Cross station she was nervous. She had just said good bye to the old lady and she felt lonely. She raced towards the barrier and appeared on the other side instantly. Now all she had to do was go and stand next to platform 10. Hermione walked quickly to platform 10 and stood there, waiting. The train station was fairly empty and for this she was grateful. She saw a tall man approach that had black hair and cinnamon brown eyes. He approached her.

"Hermione?" he asked uncertainly.

"Yes. Is it you, Mike?" she asked.

"Yeah. Nice to see you. My car is over here. Follow me," Mike said, and he led the way. She followed him all the way down a dark alley leading to a busy street.

"Hermione, can I ask you a question?" he asked innocently.

"Yeah."

"Did your mother ever teach you not to trust strangers?" he asked, grabbing her fiercely around the waist and slamming her against the wall. Hermione screamed and tried to push him away by hitting him. Pushing her against the wall with his body, he reached into his pockets and took out two things: a small towel and a bottle of a reddish liquid. He poured some of the reddish liquid onto the towel while Hermione struggled against him. He threw the bottle against the opposite wall and it shattered. Hermione screamed again and he covered her mouth and nose with the towel. She tried to push his hands away but the more she inhaled the weaker she got. She felt the world darken and the last thing she saw before completely blacking out was Mike smiling an amused smile.

"Lord Voldemort will be pleased to see I got his prize," Mike said, sweeping Hermione up in his arms and taking out his wand. With one small pop he disappeared.

To Be Continued…

(A/N: I know these cliffhangers get on some peoples nerves but they keep you coming back to read more, don't they? This is a trait I learned from one of my friends who would write stories with evil cliffhangers and she wouldn't tell you the rest until months later. It always kept me coming back for more. Anyways, Draco WILL appear next chapter because this story is getting really lonely without him. We need some of his rude humor. I promise there will be leather pants in a later chapter. I also decided, why have Draco be the lonely in leather pants when we could have Harry and Ron with their own pairs! Leather for everyone! Yeah! So Review right now and tell me something I really wanna know: do you want a sad ending or a happy ending?)