(A/N: Thank you soooo much for the wonderful response to last chapter. I realize some of you were confused by it, but at this point I can't give much away without sacrificing the plot, so I'm sorry, just try to bear with me! I'm writing as fast as possible with everything in my life getting into order with the school year arriving! Thanks again, you all are amazing!!! Hugs, Haystack)

To my FANTASTIC, WONDERFUL, reviewers:

SamboTheGreat: All in time...I'm sorry I can't give you anything else but that but that's crucial information to the plot! Just bear with me...thanks for reviewing!

HogwartsHeadGirl1: I'm sorry about the update, I know it was a while, but once again, I'm sorry, you'll just have to find out! Thanks for reviewin!

SOBs 4 Sirius 223: Glad that your happy about Harry not being evil. Me too, an evil Harry? No! I love him! Lol...thanks for reviewing

Courtney Anne Yes I'm sorry about the cliffies but the most exciting chapters are always supposed to end in cliffhangers so...I can't help myself! I'm sorry! Yes you'll find out why Hermione screamed in this chapter. Hopefully you'll be satisfied! As for Harry being evil because of the Death Eaters bringing him back...just wait and see, I've got a few things prepared for you all! Lol...thanks for reviewing!

dracoisahottie13: Don't worry about it! I completely understand how time creeps by you like that, plus with school and everything everybody's life is hectic right now! Glad you thought Harry being back and the last two chapters were good! It is nice to hear from you again! Thanks for reviewing!!

USUAL DISCLAIMER

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CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: OF ELATION AND FEAR

"Where'd Potter Go?"

"I don't know. Search the cave for him!"

"Hermione down!" Draco hissed

It had been a few minutes and even though Hermione had lost sight of Harry...she remained standing. But by the time she'd heard the scurrying of footsteps, she'd realized her immediate mistake. In a desperate attempt to conceal herself, she did the first thing that came to mind...she ducked behind the chair to which Draco was bound.

Her breath came in short gasps, too much was happening at once; her mind and body were having a hard time keeping up!

Avery sighed. "Is Malfoy still there?" He asked annoyed

"Yes he is" Crabbe responded "But there's something else there too...what is it?"

"Where?"

"Behind the chair...it looks like a leg or something!"

Draco tried to block her legs, but it was no use he knew. In a flash, both Crabbe and Avery were there.

"Keeping Mr. Malfoy company while we were away, Miss Granger?" Avery said sarcastically in a cold voice.

"Hermione run!" Draco ordered. But before either knew it, Crabbe had grabbed her; pulling her arms behind her body and holding in her in some kind of death grip.

Not knowing what else to do, Hermione screamed. One of those high pitched, ear piercing screams, that seemed to continue minutes after she was finished.

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"Ginny, Neville Quick! It's Hermione..." Ron said weakly, feeling sick

"What's wrong? What happened?"

"She's caught!" Neville said in disbelief. Ginny gasped.

"No no no....Hermione!" Ginny moaned, tears forming once again in her brown eyes

"What do you think they'll do to her?" Neville asked hesitantly

"Do to her?!" Ron cried; voice filled with the most grief Neville had ever heard a voice possess. "They'll either torture, rape, or kill her; that's what they'll bloody do to her!" With that, he cradled his head in his hand, leaned his head against the rock and sighed. "How could we have just let her go? I can't believe I broke my promise!" He said this last part to himself.

"What promise?" Ginny asked, enough water gathered in her eyes that it could have overflowed any moment.

"I promised Harry to always protect her...to keep her safe." Ron said, remorse evident in his tone, but suddenly, in a flash, from grief to anger "What kind of a twisted bastard am I? I'm about to loose my best friend and here I am feeling sorry for myself? I'm going to get her!" Ron said defiantly, already beginning to crawl away.

"Ron you can't!" Neville cried

"Don't go!" Ginny cried grabbing his arm desperately

"Don't you see?" Neville said grimly "this is what happens when all of us are Gryffindors. We all go rescue each other and end up getting killed for it."

"But I can save her!"

"That's what Hermione thought. She thought she could save Draco and look what's happened! Ginny and I couldn't make it if you died too! Two out of the original seven?! That's crap..." Neville said hotly

"Your right" Ron said miserably, sinking to the floor, tears falling from his brilliantly blue eyes.

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Unfortunately, Hermione's scream had attracted all the other Death Eaters to them, Barty Crouch Jr. pushing his way through them to the center where he rubbed his hands together and laughed. "Miss Granger" He drawled "So nice of you to come by...Come now, let's have a look at you"

This statement issued such a panic within Hermione that she wiggled under Crabbe's grasp, arms and legs flailing everywhere; resulting in two more Death Eaters put to the task of controlling her.

Forcing her to her knees they pulled her face upwards for Crouch's pleasure. "Oh yes, very nice. My how you've changed since we last met. And for the better I might add." He sneered "I understand now, how you are attracted to her Mr. Malfoy. Though that is a pity, I would have had you for myself Miss Granger"

"Shut the bloody hell up! Don't you touch her!" Draco screamed

"My my...aren't we possessive?" He mocked "Now, Miss Granger..."

"What the bloody hell do you want?" She said through gritted teeth

"Fiesty, Fiesty"

"Cut the crap Crouch. What do you want with me?" But before Crouch could open his mouth to respond a shout echoed throughout the cave.

"HERMIONE!!!"

Hermione snapped her head around to see a running Harry, sprinting full speed towards her, shining like an angel or a God or...words couldn't describe the feeling of elation and fear she felt as she first glimpsed her best friend...back from the dead. "Harry" She breathed

To her surprise, no Death Eater approached him, no one tried to grab him or curse him; as a matter of fact no one even really looked at him. Instead, every Death Eater had their eyes peeled to the rocks where Ron and the others were. All appeared anxious, straining their necks to see something. But soon, that was the farthest thing from her mind, as Harry slowed down and approached her.

"Hermione" He repeated, staring directly into her eyes. Suddenly her knees became weak, and the Death Eaters were the only thing holding her up. No one in the room moved, all seemed to be concentrating on the two friends.

She couldn't believe he was back! It was too much! She'd accepted his death...they all had...and now he suddenly comes back? No...it was a trick! Or some sick joke!

"'Mione say something!" Harry said softly yet impatiently, shifting his weight under her gaze. Tears that had accumulated in her chocolate eyes, now fell to her cheek and eventually off her face.

Hermione didn't say a word, only instead, reached her slender hand, shaking, up to his face. No one objected, instead the Death Eaters stood watching; almost transfixed by the action.

Harry's breathing sped up as he watched her hand move closer and closer to his face. He shivered slightly when the hand finally made contact with his cheek.

Hermione moved her hand along his face, tracing all of his features, eyes fixated on whatever she was tracing. Finally, she stopped, her hand lingering by his cheek once more, and looked deep into his familiar emerald eyes.

"Your back" she whispered so softly Harry almost didn't hear her.

"Yea" He whispered back, still staring into her eyes.

"How?"

"I-I don't know

"Harry-"she paused in an attempt to control her tears "You have no idea...what we went through...how-Oh Merlin Harry I missed you so much!" With this, she flung herself onto him and he wrapped a strong arm around her, she, crying into his shoulder, soaking it with tears.

"Shh...it's okay. I'm here now." He said softly, stroking her hair and holding her tighter to him.

All the Death Eaters rolled their eyes, this was too much love and sentiment for any of them to handle. "I think that's enough of that" Macnair exclaimed to Goyle in a whisper.

"You can say that again" Goyle responded harshly. "Let's break this party up! Boss?" He looked to Barty for permission who nodded his head.

The grip at which Hermione clung to Harry, was scary, it was almost as though she believed he'd leave any second..........and that's exactly what happened.

Harry felt the choking sensation of someone gripping the back of his shirt, cutting into his throat. Hermione, shocked that he would leave her so abruptly gave a little gasp and when she finally opened her eyes and realized that the Death Eaters were dragging Harry away she panicked.

"Don't! Where are you taking him?! Bring him back!" She shouted after the Death Eaters, who continued to drag Harry further away despite her screams. "HARRY!"

"'Mione!" Harry gasped desperately, as he tried to fight off the Death Eaters.

"What are they doing to him Crouch?" Hermione growled, directing her anger in his direction. "Where is he going?"

"Oh my dear, Harry's not the only one going." With this Barty Crouch Jr. snapped his fingers and two more Death Eaters appeared at Draco's side and dragged him to away.

"DRACO! NO!"

"Oh yes, your precious Draco too!" He smirked "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some torturous deaths to watch" And with that, Barty Crouch strode off leaving Hermione with a mouth open, eyes bulged, and a heart that had stopped beating.

(I'm tryin to get the next chapters out asap...bear with me! And in the meantime....REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!!!!!!)