A/N: Someone tell me how long I haven't updated this?!!! *groans*

Anyway, soooooooooo sorry for the long wait. I hope you've enjoyed your happy days while I'm doing this.

Darklyssel: Here is Chapter Four, and this is when things turn REALLY serious. Oh and Sirius is here already. And Dumbledore tries to put every piece together. Then another tragedy happens *oh my*

Winky: Can't you just get on already? Me is tired of waiting.

Darklyssel: EH! How did you get here?!

Dobby: That is secret, but you must go on now! We is going impatient!

Winky: Ah truly.

Darklyssel: Erm-yeah whatever. Anyway, forgive me for some mistakes here. Hope you'll enjoy this and pls. tell me when there is an OOC.

Even If…

Rating: PG-13

Chapter IV:

Vanishing Act & Wild Guesses

~*Ron*~

"Harry, hey Harry wait up!"

I dashed after Harry as we made our way down the Great Hall. Harry seemed to ignore me however.

"HEY HARRY!!! HEY EARTH TO MR. HARRY POTTER!!!" I ranted causing him to blink in shock. "Uhm, what's up Ron?"

"Harry, what's with you? You seem so disturbed." I started. "Is it about Hermione writing to Sirius, she's really worried so we can't blame her or…"

"Honestly Ron, I'm worried about that and also about what happened a few weeks ago. I mean won't that bother you when that'll happen?" Harry stated. I simply nod.

I mean, when a stranger suddenly grabs you then intends to kill you isn't what usually happens in an ordinary guy's life. Then again, Harry doesn't sound so ordinary. The scar on his forehead says it all.

After breakfast, Harry and I went to our first class, Charms, but then we saw Ms. McGonnagal stop us.

"What is it, Professor?" Harry began.

"Well Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley I'll have a word with Professor Flitwick informing him that you're excused from his class." The Head of the Gryffindor House said.

Now that's another thing that don't happen to me at my ordinary life, but it seems more like a miracle than a disturbing event (to me at least). Though it makes me curious, but Harry got ahead of me asking…

"Why is that necessary, Professor?"

"Well, the Headmaster would like to have a word with you. And by the way, the password is again 'Lemon Drop'. Well so long, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley." And with that the Professor entered the classroom where Harry and I are supposed to enter.

"What was that for?" I muttered.

A chat with the Headmaster, a talk with Dumbledore. Of all the unusual things that happened in my life, this one of those I least expect.

~*Harry*~

"Well, the Headmaster would like to have a word with you. And by the way, the password is again 'Lemon Drop'. Well so long, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley."

I was stunned. Dumbledore wanted to talk to me?

"What was that for?" I heard Ron ask.

"Do you think he knows?" I asked.

"What happened to you? Guess so." Ron said grimly.

"So like I have to go through some questions or something?" I sighed. "Hey, why are you coming too?"

"Dunno. Probably it's because I was a witness to what happened before right?" Ron said.

"Oh well let's get a move on." Ron and I went to the usual gargoyle statue that leads the way towards Dumbledore's office.

I've been there more than once, and I'm pretty sure I could remember how it looked like.

Airy and grand, with portraits of the former headmasters, I could even spot the Sorting Hat and Fawkes who would usually greet me before I ever got a chance to see where her perch is.

"Lemon Drop!"

At once the gargoyle opened up to a staircase leading the Headmaster's Office. After entering, Fawkes came to greet us, and Ron came to look at the Sorting Hat near a table and occasionally poking it. I've got a hint that the Sorting Hat wasn't pleased, it even threatened to bite Ron's hand if it will not stop. *Well the Sorting Hand looks like it has a mouth so… (thinks)*

Then Dumbledore came into view.

He looked aged, but was still in his usual cheerful yet mysterious spirit. He was kind, gentle but that's just the outside. Well why would Voldemort fear him if there is no inner darkness inside of him?

He waved at us in a rather kind manner. "Hello there, Harry and Mr. Weasley."

"Hello Sir." Ron and I greeted.

"Sir, is there anything you'd like to talk about?" I began.

"A lot of things Harry. But before that someone here wants to see you…" Dumbledore turned around to spot the familiar black, bear-like dog at one corner gaining on us.

"Sirius?" Ron gasped.

"Funny isn't it? I've just met him when I was in Hogsmeade, on my way out of Three Broomsticks." Dumbledore smiled as Sirius changed back to his real form.

"Erm, hi Sirius." I greeted my godfather.

He looked a bit pale as he sat down on an armchair near me, I reckoned he was tired but he managed to smile at me. "Good to see you, Harry."

"Uhm as we were saying…" Ron turned back to Dumbledore.

"Ah yes, it is now time to talk about some serious matters…" Dumbledore said.

Now this is when things started to grow more serious…not to mention complicated.

~*Ron*~

Dumbledore? Business? This is what I'm afraid of…

"Erm, what do you want to talk about?" Harry bit his lip.

"What happened a few weeks ago." Dumbledore said simply. "Any ideas, Mr. Weasley?"
"Uhm, it was this stranger and he suddenly grabbed Harry. Then I only saw Harry beaten up." I said, trembling.

"Harry, I think you're the one who witnessed the most of your own tragedy." Dumbledore stared at Harry.

Knowing that he needed encouragement, I gave him the best smile I could ever muster. Come on Harry. All we need to know is what happened and probably we can fish ourselves out of this crap.

~*Harry*~

"Harry, I think you're the one who witnessed the most of your own tragedy."

I felt a chill travel down his spine.

Sirius' warm hand on my shoulder and Ron's smile however encouraged me. 

"Well, it all started when Ron and I were walking down Hagrid's Hut when someone suddenly grabbed me and dragged me away. Then he made his move and nearly killed me. Thank God Ron and Hagrid arrived." I paused. "Do you think he works for Voldemort?"

"You mean You-Know-Who?" Ron said, trembling.

"Yes is the most probable answer." Sirius said. "Only Voldemort will be that desperate to kill Harry, but the question is: Who was the one who nearly killed Harry here in Hogwarts?"

"I have a feeling it's within this school, going back with Professor Quirrel." Dumbledore said.

"So Harry's in big trouble with Voldemort again?" Sirius guessed.

"Most likely. Voldemort must be growing stronger." Dumbledore stated.

"He always gets stronger, especially with the help of the Death Eaters." I said dully.

"So what do you think…?" Sirius was cut short by Dumbledore. "Only one thing, keep our eyes open. Harry, make sure that you, Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley are always together and keep on your guard. I'd advise the same to you Sirius. Who knows when another tragedy will strike?"

I felt partially grateful, partially annoyed at those words. Grateful, because I somehow felt Dumbledore's sympathy and concern in his words and annoyed because I feel like I'm weak and always needing Ron, Hermione, Hagrid, Sirius and Dumbledore to keep a look out for me.

I guess everything was shaken out of place because of me and my troubles with Voldemort. Then Ron broke the silence that hit us a few moments ago.

"Excuse me, but can I just suggest the usage of 'You-Know-Who' please?"

~*Draco*~

I was in the Potions Dungeon mixing some Pumpkin Juice on the table. Crabbe and Goyle stood watch over me…or rather over the juice.

My plan was perfect. All I have to do is steal some Potion, add it on this drink and let Hermione drink it. Of course, I wouldn't be stupid enough to give it to her myself after all she will be suspicious. So I decided that I will think about that later when she's all alone later.

A few hours later, I found Hermione all alone under a tree, reading a book as usual. There was a flask of Pumpkin Juice near her, and this is the perfect time to take action. Crabbe, Goyle and I went over to her.

"Aww, Ms. Know-it-all Granger studying again? Don't you have a break time for those? Or maybe it's just a Muggle instinct to work all day without closing an eye, Mudblood?" I sneered. Crabbe and Goyle laughed.

"What now, Malfoy?!" Hermione frowned, standing up.

~*Hermione*~

"What now, Malfoy?" I growled at him.

I was studying odwn here not doing anything then here comes Mr. Malfoy with his two bulky bodyguards to tease me just because Ron and Harry are not here to help me. But I'll show them what a woman is made of.

"Oh, nothing. We just wanna say we're sorry about Harry's incident, right boys?" Malfoy and his companions laughed.

"Whatever! Leave Harry alone!" I said.

"Oh, defending your boyfriend now?" Malfoy teased.

"Argh! Well do you want to be in Harry's place when some stupid stranger just grabs you and nearly kills you ha?" I shouted.

Malfoy shrugged. "Whatever. I'm not wasting my time on you! Bye, Mudblood." With that the trio left.

Damn idiots. I frowned as I took a sip of my Pumpkin Juice. Then suddenly I felt a strange feeling take over me. What the hell?

Then my mind reeled out of focus and everything went black.

~*Draco*~

There, when I was teasing Hermione about Harry, my hand quickly grabbed her flask swapping it with my flask full of the Magical Juice and I watched her drink. Then she dropped the flask and seized her head. I motioned Crabbe and Goyle to leave and they soon vanished from view. Then I came to Hermione.

"Hermione, arise."

With that, Hermione, blank eyed, rose towards me.

Excellent!

I stroke her hair. Too late Potter, your precious friend is mine now! Then I bent over to Hermioine and sealed her mouth with mine as I held her close, kissing her passionately. I was elated when she wrapped her arms around me and moved her mouth along with mine. And then we vanished away from the Hogwarts Grounds to my master…Lord Voldemort.

~*Ron*~

-Dream-

I walked around an endless oblivion. "Hello?!" I shouted. And the response was just an echo.

I frowned but went on walking then I heard a voice…

Ron!

What? I turned around to look. "Who's there?"

Ron, oh Ron, please help me!

"Hey, who're you? Where are you?"

Ron, please come to me. Save me!

"But where are you? How do you expect me to save you if I don't know where the hell are you?"

Ron…

"Huh?" I turned around again and gasped. "Hermione?"

I need you now, more than ever…

"Hermione, wait can you hear me? What's all this?" I shouted as she started to fade.

Please save me from the Dark. Please… I need you and Harry, please come to me…

The Dark? "You mean You-Know-Who?"

Please take care of yourself and Harry…

Hermione faded even more but I came nearer to her and grabbed her hand. "Hermione, please don't leave yet. Tell me why do you need us now? What's going on"

Oh Ron… Hermione threw herself around me. I blushed but tried to comfort her for I could feel that she was crying.

"Hermione, I…" I didn't know what to say but she face me again, still in my arms.

Ron, I love you. Goodbye… She kissed my cheek , touching it lightly with tears in her eyes before fading completely.

"Hermione wait!" I gasped. All I could feel was the warm touch of her lips on my cheek before the light came in…  

"AAAH!" I woke up. I sighed. So it was all a dream.

But when I touched my cheek, it was warm. Just like how warm it was when Hermione kissed me. I blushed. Did she really mean that? Did she really love me? What's going on?

"RON?!" I turned to see Harry looking panicked.

"Yeah Harry?" I stood up.

"Have you heard the news?" he said, quickly sitting next to me.

"What?" I asked.

"Hermione's gone."

"WHAT?"

"And Malfoy too. Just this afternoon. No one has seen them, not even Crabbe or Goyle."

"Damn!"

"Then, what was the shouting for?"

"I had a dream."

"A dream?"

"It's about Hermione, and we must save her from the Dark."

"Dark? What Dark?"

Then something hit me, of course, why not him?!

"Ron?" Harry asked, worried.

"I know who the Dark is!" I said.

"Really, who?"

"It must be one of You-Know-Who's allies here…Draco Malfoy!"

=End for now…=