A tall, brown haired man with a few old scars across his face outstretched his hand to each of them in turn. "My name is Lutz Klum." He nodded to the old man standing next to him. "This is Captain Brunn Agerstein. He will be leading us tomorrow morning."

Harry shook the lean captain's hand. He looked old but strong - his face was pitted by pockmarks, his eyes a fierce gray. Agerstein led them up the stairs and into a well-lit dining room, with schematics of the school spread over it. Durmstrang looked like a fortress, much more forbidding than Hogwarts, with arrow slits for windows and a large courtyard in the middle.

"The Death Eaters have a shield erected." Agerstein told them. "But we've had a team of researchers on the counter spell, and they've assured us of how to break it. After that, we'll fly into the courtyard. I'm glad you all brought your brooms. We expect the most resistance there, so be prepared to fight. After that we'll regroup, and search all the rooms until we've captured the last Eater and freed the last student. You all will be in the back – you are not to sustain any injuries – and the only student you're allowed to come into contact with is the Hogwarts girl. Only because of her presence have you been allowed to participate, and after reaching her you are to take her directly back to England and not linger. Any questions?"

Ron, Ginny, Harry, and Neville all looked at each other nervously. Fred and George exchanged glances. Finally they all shook their heads. "Good." Agerstein said with approval. "There's seven hours until we depart. Your rooms are upstairs – I suggest you get some rest."

No one spoke much as they settled down for bed. Harry knew he was too anxious about finding Hermione to be able to sleep a wink, and wished he'd saved a vial of her potion. Looking at Ron, he knew he wasn't the only one. Ron was muttering to himself and looked horribly pale.

"Just think." Ginny said, trying to be reassuring. "By tomorrow night, we'll all be sitting down with Hermione by a nice fire."

"No – even once we get Hermione out of this stitch, we've got to face Dumbledore." Fred pointed out. "He won't be too pleased that we left."

"Not to mention mother." George said, making a face. "And I don't suppose anyone else will be too happy with us."

Harry felt anger rising at that. "And what does that matter? It's not like they can trust us any less now, is it?" Harry felt a surge of what had been burying in numbness all summer bubbling at the surface. He realized he was going after Hermione almost the way he'd gone after Sirius – at least with much more time to think it through this time. It didn't feel like a mistake – and last time the mistake had been Dumbledore's anyway. Or so Dumbledore had tried to convince Harry. "It's not like they're doing anything for Hermione. And I don't know about you, but I'm ready for another go at Bellatrix Lestrange."

Neville nodded fiercely. Ginny just looked scared. Fred and George both sighed, looking older and more serious than Harry had ever seen them.

"Well – let's go to sleep." Ron suggested finally. He tried to manage a smile. "Hermione sure will be glad to see us."

Harry tried to smile back, but it felt more like a grimace. As Harry lay down to sleep, he tried not to think of all the things that could have happened to Hermione in seven days . . .

Ooooooooooooooooooooooo

Harry, Neville, Ron, the twins, and Ginny lined themselves behind the last row of German Aurors. A group to the side was chanting, their wands pointed at the Death Eater's back, translucent shield surrounding Durmstrang. Harry was holding his breath, sure that Ron – standing by his side – was doing the same. The group had been chanting for what felt like an hour. If this didn't even work . . .

With a loud – CRACK – the shield was obliterated, sending out a wave of wind, and blowing up a mess of dust. With a shout, the group rose up on their brooms and flew over the fortress wall, into the courtyard. Because of the dust, Harry couldn't see anything, didn't know what was awaiting him. At the last second he saw the ground, and the rescue group all landed at the same time, brooms discarded and wands held at the ready, waiting for the onslaught to appear through the haze.

It never came.

For long minutes the group waited, watching the dust settle. It was finally clear nothing was coming. "They may be waiting in ambush somewhere in the castle." Said Agerstein. Even he sounded nervous. There was an eerie calm all around the castle.

They split into two groups to search, all the Hogwarts folk staying with the first group. It was mind numbing, jumping into room after room not sure if this would be the one containing the ambush. Each room, however, was empty – which only seemed to worsen their nerves.

"I don't get it." Ron whispered as the group descended a large staircase. "Did they just give up?"

Harry shrugged. This certainly didn't feel right to him either.

"They're here!" Someone finally shouted. "The students – they're in here!"

Everyone ran towards two double doors, which looked like a massive storeroom, barrels and bins all along the walls. Huddled in the middle were about 100 students of all ages. Their faces were dirty, their clothes stained. They stared blankly at the light being let in on them, at the rescuers. Harry felt immediately that something was still wrong – the children weren't running up to their saviors, they hadn't been screaming for help –

He barely noticed their raised wands in time to put up a shield. The German Auror with his arms open to them screamed once and then collapsed on the ground – other screams echoed his. Another Auror panicked, started throwing curses at the children – everyone was shouting, and in German. Harry threw up a shield in time to block being stunned, but when he raised his wand to counterattack he found himself staring into the innocent eyes of a child. Suddenly the only spells he could remember were the ones he'd just learned – the deadly forbidden spells he'd been practicing. He could only stare at the small child in front of him – she raised her wand, opened her mouth, and Harry froze, unable to think of anything that wouldn't kill her.

"Crucio!" Harry doubled over screaming. Bent over he was inches from her face. I don't want to hurt you! Harry thought desperately. She opened her mouth again. "Cruci-"A small red flame passed through her, sent by an Auror who had seen the struggle.

"Noooo!" Harry screamed. He caught her as she fell. She was twitching, convulsing. Blood started coming trickling out of her nose and ears. She tried to cry out and blood spurted from her mouth. She looked around wildly, confused. She was so small and frail in Harry's arms. "Help!" Harry screamed, but he could hardly hear it on top of everyone else's shouts and wails. Chaos was all around him – people running and screaming and dying –

Finally Agerstein raised his want in the air and shouted, "IMPEDIMENTA!"

Harry, and everyone else, was thrown to the ground. Harry got up quickly, saw the little girl still on the ground. Her eyes stared back at him, haunting and lifeless. She was too small to have that look on her face.

The rest of the Durmstrang children hadn't fully recovered from the impedimenta spell. Most were just starting to sit up. They looked stunned to find themselves there, confused at what was going on. A small boy saw the blood – the bodies – and started screaming. Other lips took up his cry when they saw, and Agerstein quickly organized to get them out of there, now that they had abandoned their attack. Abandoned Voldemort's attack. Harry thought. They were under his control the whole time.

The Aurors remaining, and the D.A. group, took stock of the situation – those left on the ground were either wounded or dead. There were 23 students lying motionless, 47 others crying softly, nursing wounds they didn't remember getting. Eleven German Aurors also lay dead, their lifeless eyes frozen in surprise. Harry was relieved to see Ron, Neville, Fred, George, and Ginny shaken but unharmed.

"Harry!" Ron rushed up to him. He was breathing hard, gasping and sweating. "I didn't see Hermione! She's not -"His eyes widened and looked at the ground, scanning the faces of the dead children. Harry followed his gaze. He wanted to be sick – looking at faces younger than his with dead eyes. He was relieved that Hermione's was not among them however. Fred and George had Ginny pressed into them, shielding her from the sight. They looked like they would have liked such treatment – both looked as ill as Harry felt.

From behind some storage bins near the corner Neville shouted. "Harry! Ron! It's Hermione!"

Harry and Ron rushed over to him. He had moved the bins, and sure enough Hermione lay on the ground. If she had been stuffed over here, Harry was sure she hadn't been part of the chaotic battle – but then . . . .

"What did they do to her?" Ron whispered, his face horrified.

Hermione was covered in bruises and cuts – some that looked quite deep. Her lips were cracked and bleeding – in the short week she'd looked as if she'd lost weight. She was shivering, hugging herself in the fetal position, not seeming to have seem them though her eyes were open. Open and staring, though they did not know at what.

Agerstein walked over to them, now sporting a limp. "Is this your girl?"

Neville nodded when he saw Harry and Ron staring at her helplessly, though he had to swallowed a few times first.

"Very well. You can take her and return to England. Your brooms have been collected and are waiting out in the hall." He reached to shake their hands, but they all just stared at it. "I'm sure she'll be fine, lads." With that he strode off.

Ron was the first to move. He picked Hermione up, wincing though she did not cry out, just knowing he must be hurting her. "Let's go then Harry."

Ginny started weeping when she saw Hermione, and the group hurried to get out of there. Sounds of children crying were still ringing through the stone halls. Quickly the group found a fire, took a pinch of floo powder, and were soon back in Grimmaud Place, away from the nightmare.