The school walked in silence up the path to the main doors and quietly took their seats at their House's table.
As Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat down at the end of the Gryffindor table, two screech owls appeared. One flew down and landed in front of Hermione, the other in front of Draco Malfoy.
Hermione opened the parcel and discovered a pin with the initials HG on them. A cheer from the other side of the hall came from Draco who had a pin too, only labeled HB.
"Congratulations Hermione! You're Head Girl!" said Parvati and Lavender, hugging her.
"Thanks." Said Hermione, dumbfounded.
"NOOOOOO! Not her!" Draco's shouts carried through out the hall. Hermione knew that he just found out that she was the Head Girl. For some reason she did not seem happy about being Head Girl.
After Margaret Zoller was sorted into Hufflepuff, Dumbledore stood up and the hall got quiet.
"After the train incident today I am glad to know that nobody was hurt. We are still trying to figure out what happened. We think that it was some kind of dark magic, but not to be alarmed, the teachers have taken roll of the students in their house, and-" Professor McGonagall whispered something in his ear, "Oh dear, Um, I have an announcement to make, It seems as though one of our Gryffindor's' is-" he paused and cleared his throat, "missing." Chatter came from all directions. "I am sure that all of you are wondering who is missing, that information will not be released until later, now I want you all to have a nice feast then head up to your dormitories for a good nights rest, lessons will begin, as usual, tomorrow." He clapped his hands and the plates in front of them filled up immediately, Ron dove in head first. Hermione didn't touch her food, but merely walked up to the high table and whispered something in Dumbledore's ear. She walked back to the table unnoticed and sat there staring at her food. A thought dawned on her, the same one on Harry; he tapped Ron on his shoulder.
"What?"
"Ron, where's-"
"Ahem, I have talked it over with the teachers and they think that you have a right to know who is missing, I will also let you know that our suspicions have been confirmed, this was done by dark witches or wizards." Everyone gasped. "The student who has gone missing is..." He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and said, "Ginny Weasley."
It was dead silent in the Hall, there was a clatter of china and a crash as Ron's fork fell to his plat and his goblet smashed into the plate. Every head turned in his direction. Ron sat up from the table and ran from the room. Harry looked at Hermione and followed him. Since Ron's legs were longer he had a better advantage. He didn't stop running until he reached the north tower. He fell to the floor in silent tears. Hermione sat down nest to him to comfort him and Harry on the other side. They sat in silence for what seemed like hours.
They heard hurried footsteps and looked up and saw Professors McGonagall, Snape, and Dumbledore.
"Of all the places you chose the North Tower." said McGonagall. She knelt down and with the help of Professor Snape helped Ron up.
"Harry, Hermione, I would like it if you two returned to your common room." Said Dumbledore.
"Albus, maybe, it would be better for him to cope with if he had his friends with him."
"Headmaster, are we sure that Potter and his friends will not get into trouble once they are alone like every other year?"
"Severus, I trust them, OK, you may stay with Mr. Weasley." said Dumbledore and Snape frowned.
He glared at them as they left, then walked briskly back to his office.
When he reached his office there was a note on his desk, he stared at it curiously. He reached out to pick it up, but something told him not to open it. Ignoring that feeling he reached out and grasped the envelope. Everything seemed normal, so he opened it, and started to read:
Severus,
We have the girl. We did our part, now its time to do yours. Get Harry Potter and make the trade. He won't want anything to happen to his little girlfriend.
Make the trade at midnight tomorrow; send your reply that you got this with the owl...
Severus looked up, and sitting on the back of his chair was an eagle owl. He read the last of the document:
...This had better go through, that mudblood saw us in the woods, we are not sure if she thinks anything of it, but this better not be foiled by that damned potter and his abnormal friends.
Send word ASAP.
LM
Snape quickly flipped the letter over and wrote:
Lucius,
I don't think we should
He stopped and scribbled that out and instead wrote:
OK, midnight.
SS
He folded up the letter and attached it to the leg of the eagle owl, and watched it fly out the window.
Harry and Hermione fell asleep in a couch in the Hospital Wing, next to Ron's bed. There was nothing wrong with him, but he was severely depressed.
Harry woke up the next morning to find Hermione at Ron's bedside talking to him. She was talking quietly as not to disturb Harry while he was sleeping. They seemed to be arguing.
Harry pretended to be asleep and catch what they were saying.
"Ron, you can't, don't go doing something like that, she'll be OK, Dumbledore will find her!"
"I'm going to do it Hermione, and don't go thinking you can stop me, because you wont!"
"Ron! You can't kill your self.....what if Dumbledore finds her and brings her back, and she finds out what is she going to think? What about your mum? Your brothers, and dad? Harry? What about...." She trailed off into tears. "What about me! I need you Ron! I love you."
Harry's eyes snapped open at that point, what had she said? He pretended he had just woken up.
"Hey, guys." He said.
"Oh, morning Harry, lets go." said Hermione grabbing Harry above the elbow and forcing him out of the hospital wing.
"Hermione! What are you doing?"
"I'll tell you later!" she snapped as she led him down the staircases to the great hall for breakfast and to pick up their schedules.