Chapter Ten: Three's a Crowd

"Harry?" Ron asked worriedly. Harry knew that he must look horrible.

Destroy me? He thought. It made no sense. The only person besides Voldemort that had a grudge against him was Malfoy. Harry passed the mysterious letter to Ron, and in turn, he passed it to Hermione.

After the letter had been read thru the four sets of eyes in the hut, Hermione spoke up.

"Harry, it's probably just a joke. Honestly, Voldemort has wanted to kill you since you were a newborn. Why would he write you a letter?" Ron, it seemed, did not want to be so optimistic:

"What if it isn't V... V...," he stammered, "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named," he finished grimly. Hagrid got up slowly and walked to the back window and peered out, as if the killer was going to appear out of the forest.

But there was someone there; a very large someone, at that. Hagrid shooed the trio away saying he had important business to go over for the order. Harry, Ron, and Hermione reluctantly left the hut thru the front door. A brilliant ray of sunshine reflected off of the lake and a lone eagle soared above, looking for a small prey to take advantage of. The path back to the gleaming castle was silent, but when they came to the tall, oak, doors, Hermione had something to say.

"Harry you mustn't go wandering about at night anymore. If there is someone that er... wants to harm you, we can not take any chances." What she said made sense, but seemed impossible. How could he be paranoid 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?

"Hermione, I have been a marked man ever since I parted from my mother's womb. Hell, even there I wasn't safe. It's not as if I am not used to it already. Voldemort... Quirrel... Sirius... Crouch... and not to mention all of the death eaters. I have a big burden but that shouldn't stop me from having a life."

"He's right you know," said Ron rather lamely. Hermione's eyes darted dangerously at Ron and backed up a few feet.

"Yes, Harry, there is no question of your ability, but you might be the only chance for the survival of the wizarding world and I don't think it would do any good to hand yourself to Voldemort on a silver platter," Hermione stated.

"Hermione," Harry said, "If this is a hoax, then I am not going to give this person what they want by shielding myself inside like some sort of hobbit." Hermione opened her mouth to further the conversation but Harry left her behind as he walked thru the doors. As Harry reached the middle of the Great Hall, he turned and saw Hermione bounding toward him.

"That was rude," she said threateningly.

"Sorry," was Harry's reply, and they set off toward the common room.

Harry and Hermione made their way up the stairs and said not a word to each other. That is until they reached the common room and noticed that one of their number was missing.

"Hermione," Harry asked nervously, "where's Ron?" Hermione, who was reciting the password to the Fat Lady, stopped suddenly.

"I..... I don't know. He was with us when we went thru the door... wasn't he?" Harry Potter's face turned pale.

"I don't think he was. When you walked thru the doors, he wasn't behind you."

"But how could he just disappear?" Hermione inquired, "Harry?" Hermione asked. Harry looked petrified. "Harry?"

"He's got him. The killer. The killer took Ron."

"No. Harry, it... it can't be."

"We have to go get him." With that, Harry rushed back down the stairs, only to be hit in the back with a well-placed petrificus totalus charm from Hermione. It was one of the weirdest feelings Harry had ever bore witness to. He could move none other than his eyes. He could still hear, but only vaguely. Apparently his brain still worked; because he was furious.

Why? No. It couldn't be. Was Hermione the killer? Hermione walked up to the rigged form of her best friend and dragged him by the hem of his robes, down the flights of stairs. It was too bad for Harry that he could still feel pain because it turns out that a stiff body plus cement stairs don't mix.

Harry had no idea where he was going. Hermione couldn't be the killer he thought. If she was, he was dreading their destination. Harry closed his eyes, wishing the pain would subside. His head suddenly it a smooth surface and he looked up at Hermione's face.

Pain. Fear. Sympathy. Regret. But no trace of anguish. Harry looked into her deep brown eyes and saw the truth. She is trying to help me. But how could this be help? My best friend is missing with a killer on the loose that will do anything to hurt me, and she is dragging me thru Hogwarts. Where is her logic? Harry saw Hermione speak a few words but he couldn't make them out completely. The next thing he saw was two stone gargoyles and a twisting staircase rising farther up than any staircase should.

McGonagall. She's taking me to McGonagall.

Albus Dumbledore sat in his high backed chair with a concerned look on his face. He scratched Fawke's head absentmindedly and thought about the letter he had just received from Rubeus Hagrid.

Professor McGonagall,

Harry Potter received a letter in my hut while he, Hermione, and Ron were in my hut. It was a blood red envelope with a death threat inside of it. I at once knew who had sent it and where he would be hiding. I directed him, Weasley, and Granger out of the front door, and went out of my back door and headed him off. Professor, he's twice as large as I remember and three times as strong. I held him off for a while but he eventually defeated me and flew for the three. I don't know what happened then. I just got really mad and he fell from the sky. I don't think that they saw him, but Professor he took Ron Weasley. I don't know where but I am sure he is going to use him as bait for Potter. I am sorry that I failed you, ma'am and I will most definitely resign and go and live at headquarters. But first I am already on my way to find Ron. I am not alone; let's say it will be a family affair. I will need help if this truly is Kinkou.

Tell Harry that I am sorry I failed.

Hagrid

To the best reviewers.......

Sorry you guys/girls. My PC crashed and it just now came back up. I am planning on having a more steady flow of chapters now. You will find out more about Kinkou in the next chapter. (Kin-Kow)

Princepessa: Thx for you kind review, hope you read more of this. Always good to have a new reader.

Goldeneyes: You were my first reviewer and still one of the biggest H/Hr believers I have ever seen. It's good to have optimism. I cant see R/Hr but it seems that JKR can. Hopefully not though. Girls are hard to understand so maybe I am reading her wrong. Keep reading.

Yo Momma: You are kinda scaring me, man. Thanks for the review and I will see you at school on Monday.

Shitza: Thank you and no it didn't surprise me but it was really good. The sequel is coming along nicely but I am only on chapter ten. When my PC crashed I couldn't get on to read it so I am behind a little. I will review when I am doe with Chapter 21.

Thanks again for the reviews and I will write again soon. Sorry if I offended anyone with Ron being captured. Just part of the storyline.