Harry was tired. He thought he would be able to find Voldemort's hideout with ease after following Severus sketchy notes. As it turns out, Harry was suffering the same fate of being in one of Snape's potions classes. Unable to determine what to do next, Harry sat down on the pavement with his head in his hands. He knew that he had made a mistake coming, without knowing where he was going. At least Hermione would have known where to go, she always did the right thing.
"Well, well look who we have here?" a familiar voice interrupted Harry's thoughts.
Amos Diggory was standing in front of Harry as he raised his head. Harry had meet Cedric Diggory's father last year on the way to the Quidditch World Cup.
"Mr Diggory, what are you doing here?" Harry asked surprised. Amos chuckled, he was not out of place but Harry certainly was. He was supposed to be at school.
"Well Harry I might ask the same of you, but my better judgement tells me rather to ask is there something that you need help with?" Harry couldn't believe his luck.
Within a few minutes, Harry was off in the right direction of where he needed to be and Amos Diggory congratulated himself in keeping Harry Potter out of trouble. He did not know that where Harry was heading would change everyone's life including his own.
* * * * * * * * * *
Ron waited till nearly everyone had gone to bed before trying to speak to his brothers. Fred and George where both glowing with excitement as Ron flopped down on a comfy chair across from them.
"We leave tomorrow morning," George whispered.
Ron looked around suspiciously and only when convinced no one was listening did he nod. He was not going to ask the twins how, knowing that if he probably knew, he would chicken out. Fred and George got up from their seats, gathering their papers and books.
"Be here at three in the morning, and bring your broom," Fred added before following his brother up the stairs.
Ron stared into the fire for a while wondering if Hermione was okay and if Harry was any closer to finding her.
* * * * * * * * *
Severus knew that time was running out. He glanced around the room as Voldemort took his seat and Wormtail hurried around him, getting him some wine to drink. Lucius did not look worried at all.
"Right, assuming that one of you is not who you say you are, we need to decide how we are going to smoke the impostor out," Voldemort growled with an evil smile.
"Wormtail, light two fires on the floor and let's see who has a higher pain threshold, and who will the truth," he added, his bony finger pointing to each of his captives.
Severus glanced at Lucius who now had a sweat droplet rolling down his cheek,
the true test had begun.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Hermione raced over to Vernon Dursley and threw her arms around his large waist. Dudley squealed with surprise while Pertunia Dursley's head darted the vicinity for anyone that might be watching.
Uncle Vernon, took Hermione by the back of her neck and pulled her away, looking rather annoyed by this thing that had latched onto him and his new suit for that matter. He barely recognised her, but he knew she went to school with Potter.
"What do you want?" he hissed now looking around as Pertunia had. Hermione ashamed of her moment of weakness regained a little composure.
"Mr Dursley, I am a friend of Harry's, but you see well, I no longer go to Hogwart's and I wondered off in well in my sleep and," she lied, glancing down at her attire, "and now I am lost, I have no idea where I am or how to get home," Hermione let the tears well in her eyes hoping that the Dursley's would show a little compassion. To her surprise it was Aunt Pertunia who put her bony arm around her.
"You poor girl, made the wonderful decision to turn on that awful school, probably plagued with nightmares and now lost, you are one of the lucky ones," she chimed but with her voice low enough not to have any passers-by hear what she was saying.
Hermione could not believe her luck. Aunt Pertunia pulled her into to the nearest clothing store and bought a lovely floral dress, while Uncle Vernon, muttered something about dishing out money to strangers.
"Of course my parents will compensate you and will be ever so grateful," Hermione went on hoping that they would hurry up so at least she could get home.
But she had been caught in her lie. Pertunia Dursley stopped short in fluffing Hermione's hair, her lips pursed disgustedly.
"Were your parents not killed?" she asked cautiously. Of course the Dursley's knew, it had been all over the papers, being muggles and all. The Department of Magic had worked closely with the British government to cover up with an appropriate story which happened to be that they were killed from smoke inhalation when their chimney had become blocked. Hermione had to think quickly.
"I just cannot accept they are dead," Hermione burst into tears.
* * * * * * * * * * *