Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
"Ginny, what's wrong, why are you sitting out here alone at this time of night?" asked Harry concerned. Ginny looked up at Ron and Harry mournfully.
"I was stood up," she whispered, finally revealing her secret. Harry could almost hear Ron's fist clench with anger. He looked over at his friend who had turned somewhat pink from the heat rising through his body.
"Um Ginny, who were you meeting?" Harry asked slightly embarrassed. He hoped she was not going to say whom he thought she was going to say.
Ginny blushed, looking from her brother to Harry, trying to read their reaction.
"I was suppose to meet Neville,"
Ron let out a sigh. He had been thinking the same thing as Harry. Harry quickly took out his map to see Neville was. Creeping slowly though the halls of Hogwarts was Neville scared out of his wits; he hated sneaking out, in fear of getting caught.
"It looks like he is on his way," said Harry. Ginny looked confused unsure of what Harry could be looking at to tell where Neville was. She nodded thankful.
"How long, I mean you and Neville," stuttered Ron eventually. He was taken aback by the entire situation.
"It's been since we came back," Ginny said with smile. Harry nudged Ron indicating it was time to go. They said goodbye and just as the reached the entrance of the school, they saw Neville racing towards the lake out of breath.
"At least she was not meeting Malfoy," Ron said with relief as they reached the common room. Harry nodded in agreement, but he was confused.
'It still doesn't explain what Malfoy was doing wandering around,' he thought to himself.
*******************
Harry sat down on one of the Gryffindor's couches with a thud. He was exhausted from all the extra training he had been receiving. Not to mention additional Quidditch practices with their upcoming match against Slytherin. He was finally awarded team Captain this year although in Harry's mind it was the last thing that he needed. It was only after a few minutes, he looked around to see only one person in the room with him. Dumbledore was standing by the window looking out chewing on one of his favourite things, muggle candy. Harry wondered which one it would be this time.
"Professor Dumbledore, I did not see you standing there," said Harry as he approached the Head Master.
"Yes my boy, you must be exhausted, would you like a sour apple sweet?" asked Dumbledore offering Harry an open brown bag of green and yellow hard-boiled sweets.
"No thank you Professor, is there something you wanted to speak to me about?" asked Harry intrigued that Dumbledore would come see him there in the common room.
"Actually there is, right now everyone is in the hall, being told that the school might come under attack in the next week," he said weakly. Harry's eye's widened as the thoughts rushed through his head on what was going on.
"Has Hermione turned evil and Voldemort is now attacking?" Harry asked dreading the worst.
"No, my dear boy, Hermione is safe in fact she is here, and Voldemort wants her back,"
"Hermione is here, when, what happened?" Harry said excitedly unable to hold back his smile.
"Yes, but she has suffered greatly and has been hit by a Cruciatus curse,"
Harry's smile faded at those words.
He knew how tough it was to fight that, and in Hermione's state she might not be able to pull through.
"Can I go see her?" pleaded Harry, his emotion unguarded.
The old Professor nodded. Harry started to dash from the room.
"Not long Harry, we need to prepare you for what we are going to be up against," Dumbledore said just before Harry got to the door. Harry turned and nodded.
* * * * * * *
Snape was sitting by Hermione's bedside when Harry got to the infirmary. Harry watched astonished, as Snape took Hermione's hand to his face, holding it softly against his cheek.
"Don't do this to me now, Hermione, you are all that I have left, you must fight!" he whispered. He did not see Harry standing by the door puzzled by the affection and care that he was showing. Harry did not believe sometimes that Snape had a heart. But he allowed him his dignity and stepped back into the passage before pretending to burst into the room. Snape looked up surprised as he did and quickly dropped Hermione's hand. Harry rushed to the bedside and looked at the pale face of his best friend. She had aged in some way; her face was gaunt and tormented, her hair was now short.
"Will she make?" asked Harry quietly. Snape looked at Harry thoughtfully for a moment and nodded. Harry sighed but continued to look at the Snape who eventually could not stand it anymore.
"What?" snapped Snape, in his usual tone of voice.
"Thank-you!" said Harry sincerely. Snape stood up and was about to walk away but turned.
"For what Potter?" he asked.
"For bringing Hermione back, for looking after her," said Harry surprised that Snape had even asked.
"I did nothing of the sort, if you must know it is she who saved me!" he retorted annoyed. At that moment he gripped his arm and disappeared. Harry thought it was a trick and then he realized that Snape had been summoned to Voldemort. Harry dashed to Dumbledore's office and almost ran straight into him coming up the stairs to the Hospital wing.
"Professor, quick, Voldemort has called Snape, he is gone!" Harry said panicked.
"I know, Harry, I know," he said calmly putting his hand on Harry's shoulder.
"We were expecting it to happen and Snape is prepared," Dumbledore tried to reassure Harry.
"Oh," said Harry taken aback for a moment.
"In the meantime, Sirius is here but not for a friendly visit, you need to be tested on your ability's," said Dumbledore looking over the school grounds, ever watchful of what was going on.
"Has the war started, but without Hermione?" Harry was now confused.
"No Harry, but like I said Voldemort will come for Hermione and you will need to be prepared. He would take the opportunity to kill you and it is time for you to grow into the shoes that have be moulded for you!" said Dumbledore with conviction.
"Yes, I guess you right, I am not about to let Voldemort take Hermione again!" Harry said determinedly.
* * * * * *
Hermione tossed around in her sleep, dreaming. She felt Voldemort calling to her, encouraging her to return to him. She saw Severus with him, non-smiling but trying to tell her something. She could not understand what he was trying to say. Voldemort's red eye's seemed to draw her near. She then saw Hogwart's, Harry and Ron, everyone she knew, all of them looked cold and unfriendly. Someone shouted at her to leave, whilst Harry and Ron stood with their arms crossed, looking miserly and unfriendly. Hermione tried to call out to them but no sound would come out of her mouth. She then saw Voldemort again.
"Come to me, you seen Hogwart's don't want you, but you are wanted here, you can be great, powerful and show them who you really are!" he said smoothly, Severus sitting beside him nodding. Hermione felt confused, she just wanted to wake up.
* * * * * *
"Severus, what happened this morning, I thought you had the girl under control?" Voldemort asked angrily.
"My lord, she must have tricked me, I was surprised to see her, and then one of your followers cursed her, she is barely alive,"
"What, I told them not to hurt her, just stop her from leaving!" roared Tom Riddle. He looked around the room at the death eaters reading their minds to find out who had done it. His eyes stopped on Rufus Landross, who quickly looked away from the piercing glare; alas it was the last thing he saw as Voldemort struck him down with a powerful curse. His body dropped to the floor dead.
The other death eaters stepped back with fear away from the body, bowing their heads to their master. He dismissed them except for Severus. He looked at Severus trying to decide if he was still loyal.
"You will return to the school until she is well, then we will attack. Severus I warn you, that if you should waver one bit, I will make sure that the rest of your life is a pitiful experience and that no-one will put you out of your misery, do you understand?" Voldemort voice was cold and unfeeling. Snape nodded. Then Voldemort muttered a curse, and Severus reeled with pain.
"Just a remaindered, Severus, just a reminder, I cannot send you back unpunished!" he said with a vile laughter. With that Snape was transported back to Hogwart's, appearing in the middle of the great hall where the students were eating dinner. He fell to the ground, curled up in a foetus position, agony stretched across his face. It just so happens he lay right beside Gryffindor's table and the first thing he saw were the eyes of Harry Potter staring down at him startled.