Chapter 5: Decisions

"Hermione!" boomed Ron in astonishment. "No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, NO!"

Ron walked out of Durdle's office shooting right past a bewildered Harry to the outside. He sat down on a bench shaking his head furiously. His head was swarming with contradicting emotions.

It's all my fault. I should have begged for forgiveness ages ago, thought Ron.

Well what does that have to do with anything? She got herself kidnapped, chided Ron's alter ego.

Well I have to save her, it's my job...

No you don't you can let Harry take over...

But I have to, if I don't I will hate myself even worse...

You have no reason to hate yourself...

But I called her...I called her a...Ron couldn't even bring himself to think it. "She will never forgive me," he finished aloud.

"I'm not so sure about that," came a voice from behind him, "if I was rescued from a dark wizard forgive the person for just about anything." It was Harry. (Of course.)

Ron turned around sharply. "Who says I'm even gonna save her," he said stubbornly, "she threw the first punch, remember?"

"You'll do it," said Harry confidently, "you know you will. You never were able to sit back while she was in danger. That has never changed and never will."

Ron grunted. He knew Harry was right; but it was not worth the smug look on Harry's face that would remain there the rest of the day if he admitted it.

THUD!

The sound echoed throughout Hermione's House. She had been up late doing some reading when she heard the noise. It must be Crookshanks again, thought Hermione as she continued reading.

CREAK...

Hermione's head jerked out of her book. She realized she must have fallen asleep. She wiped an eyelash from the page and replaced it with her bookmark. She then closed the book and headed upstairs to her bedroom.

As she approached her door, she noticed a steady stream of light exiting her room through the gap between the door and carpet. I didn't leave my light on, thought Hermione. If Crookshanks has learned how to turn that on...

She pushed the door open to see a figure standing near her window. "Expelliarmus," shouted the hooded man.

Hermione ducked instinctively but was too slow in her initial shock. Her wand flew out of her pocket and landed gracefully in the caster's palm.

Unarmed she dashed into the next room. She knew her attacker would follow her but she was not without defense; after all, she had grown up as a muggle for eleven years. She ducked under the desk as the man came cautiously after her. He hadn't seen her. He walked toward the desk as his masked eyes searched the darkness for her. He stopped just in front of the desk.

Quicker than she could think it her hands shot out toward the assailants ankles. She grabbed them forcefully, causing him to fall backward and hit his head on the opposite wall. Hermione took advantage of her invalid state and grabbed her wand from him before charging downstairs toward the door. She had placed a charm around the perimeter of her house similar to one she had found in Hogwarts, A History. No one, including herself could apparate or disapparate on her property. She did this to protect herself from unknown wizards entering her house, but now it was keeping her from getting out.

Mere meters from the door, Hermione was stopped in her tracks by a blinding red light that surrounded her body, and she was lost in a dreamless sleep.

A/N: How do you like it so far? Please review and tell me! Here is a shout out to the one who reviewd last chapter already:

Tiffany-45: I am glad you liked it. Some of my best written things are from when I was too tired to think about what I was writing. Lol. This story I like better than my last one, not necessarily because of the plot, but I like the way this one was written better. That was very sweet of you to say but now I feel like if the rest of my chapters arent as good you will shun me! Lol. (Please don't. I like reviews.)

Also, because you are the only one who reviewed this chapter before my next update I will do a little dance for you. Oh too bad, you can't see it. lol/ sorry! I'll describe it; it was an Irish Jig very similar to the Riverdance type and had a special hop and land (more like trip and fall) when my dog got in the way! Love ya! Keep Reviewing!