Disclaimer: Now really, if we owned this we'd sue you all, milk it for all we could get, and in Sianum's opinion it would be known as Severus Snape and the Philospher's Stone.

Delusion of Times

Chapter Three

For what seemed an eternity there was darkness surrounding them, harsh wind pounded at their faces and the unforgiving bit at their faces. Harry and Ron, however, found their journey coming to an abrupt end and were thrust through what appeared to be a rip in the darkness; when they hit hard ground they looked around and found themselves in the Forbidden Forest, at night.

Pushing his glasses up higher onto the bridge of his nose Harry stared around, allowing his eyes become accustomed to the bluish darkness while all the time looking for Ron or on the look out for possible attackers. He was no fool, weather he was residing the 1940's or his present day he knew to keep his wits about him when in the Forbidden Forest at night.

The sound of somebody stumbling made him jump to his feet and grasp his hand tightly around his wand. Raising his hand which had now formed a tight fist around the thin strip of wood he heard Ron's voice say, 'Lower your wand would you, Mate.'

Harry gulped and slightly lowered the wand but mutter Lumos at the same time, causing a large web of light to fan out over them.

Harry looked at Ron for a moment then span around, casting his eyes in every dark crevice of the thicket. He could see no sign of his bushy haired, female friend, Hermione. 'Where's Hermione?' he asked sharply, wondering if Ron had perhaps seen her but he held little hope as he knew Ron would have bought her to safety.

He saw the redhead shrug and his face tightened in worry. Breathing heavily Harry attempted to clear his mind so that he could think properly, surely they would have to search for her, she could have landed anywhere, yet, Dumbledore had assured them that they would not have appeared anywhere outside of the Hogwarts grounds.

'She has to be around here somewhere. Dumbledore promised that we'd stay inside the Hogwarts foundations.'

Ron nodded, his face had gone considerably pale, and his throat appeared to have lost its function as he only made croaks when trying to speak.

-

After searching tirelessly, Harry and Ron threw themselves onto a damp ridden log on the edge of the Forest. Harry took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes forcefully, feeling, as always, the constant dull ache pulsating in his scar.

He was trying to recall weather at any point he had felt Hermione's hand slip from his. He heard Ron let out an angry noise beside him which sounded like the hiss Crookshanks made when someone, usually Neville, had stepped on the ugly ginger cat's tail.

Knowing that they had to finish their quest he stood and Ron's light blue eyes followed him. 'What're you doing, Harry?'

'C'mon, we've got to find Riddle.'

Ron gaped. 'Buh-buh-but Harry, we, Hermi-we can't, she's…'

'Look.' Harry's face hardened, 'We have to do this. Hermione knew the risks when she got involved.'

'But -'

'She wouldn't want us to give up.'

'Harry she might be in the castle.'

Running his hand frustratedly through his hair Harry growled, 'Well, if she is we will find her when we go up there.' he responded through clenched teeth.

Ron gave him a dark look that told Harry plainly his friend didn't not think much to his way of thinking, but Ron didn't understand. If Tom Riddle had never been allowed to progress to becoming Lord Voldemort then so many lives would be better: Harry's parents would be living, Mr and Mrs Longbottom would be with their son, Sirius would be still very much alive and all the ill fortunes he had bestowed upon people would be undone. For that, yes Harry would be willing to compromise searching for, what could have been a year long search, Hermione.

Placing his hand on Ron's shoulder he helped to heave his red haired friend into a standing position 'C'mon Ron, lets go find.' determination tainted his voice and ambition powered his steps as he strode, along with his friend, towards Hogwarts.

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