Picture it, April 2004. I have just recently posted the sixth chapter of this story, and am almost finished writing the seventh. Then, it happens…dundundun…my computer revolts once again. Anyway, I ended up loosing the story. It's broken three more times since, and I still haven't gotten it back from being repaired from the last time. I was expecting it to break once, as it has broken every summer for the four years I've had it like clockwork, but four times…. ugh. Then my mother's computer decided to break as well. I had to rewrite this whole chapter (not as good as the original :( ) ON A TYPEWRITER…an old thing from like the 60s or something that types all blurry…. oh, and the computer that I'm using to type this up on is realllly old, so Word doesn't have grammar check, and I dont think the spell check works right either. In any case, I'm srry it took so bloody long for this ch to be posted….

"How do you find someone who isn't supposed to be found?" Harry paced back and forth in the library. In front of him, Ron was sitting on the floor leaning back against one of the many bookshelves. It was Saturday on a Hogsmeade weekend, and a beautiful day to top it off. Mostly everyone third year and up were in town, and those who weren't, younger students included, could be found outside enjoying themselves. Madame Pince was the only other person in the library, and so long as they weren't breaking any rules, she wasn't likely to disturb the two boys.

"This is hopeless. We're never going to find her and then it's going to be too late!"

"There has to be a book in here somewhere with a spell to help us find her. I bet if Hermione were here she'd know just where to look."

"Yeah…funny how she's not here to save herself."

"Yeah…wait a sec…" Harry cocked his head to the side and stared at the space next to Ron's right ear.

"What is it? I don't have something on my face, do I?" Ron began rubbing furiously at his forehead. Meanwhile, Harry reached out his hand. Ron ducked to the side just as his friend grabbed a book from the shelf behind him.

"Bloody hell…it can't be…"

"What is it?" Ron repeated.

"The Lost Book of the Lost"

"Isn't that supposed to be, you know…lost?"

Harry flipped through the thin book until he located the page on finding lost people. The page was blank except for two lines at the very top.

'To find a person who is lost,' the text read, 'tap your wand to the center of the page and say the name of the person you are trying to find.' And below that: 'Note: this will not work for people who are dead or in another dimension/plane of reality (see page 15).'

Harry lifted his wand to do as the book instructed, when Ron broke in. "Hold on mate, maybe we should try using her new name first. If she's not using her real name anymore, then it might be easier to find her this way."

Harry did as his friend suggested; lifted his wand, tapped the center of the book and said "Jayne Johnson". A swirl of ink appeared where his wand met the page. Words formed reading 'Hermione Granger can be found at…'

"Wow. I guess the book knew who we were talking about…"

"Um, Harry…isn't Hermione supposed to be in Texas?"

"Shit."

.........

Two sudden "cracks" broke the silence that had fallen on the dark street. Harry and Ron pulled back the invisibility cloak that had hidden them as they journeyed just outside the boarders of Hogwarts to the first place from which they could disapparate (of course, they had tried to do so while they were still in the library, but then the memory of Hermione constantly quoting Hogwarts, A History -"You can't apparate or disapparate inside Hogwarts grounds!"- came to them and they thought the better of it). Both boys drew their wands in preparation for whatever dangers they might face.

"This certainly isn't what I would expect for a death eater hideout."

Harry looked about. Ron was right; this quaint little home didn't look like the kind of place where one would find dark wizards.

"Well we don't necessarily know that there are any death eaters here. All we know is that this is where Hermione is. For all we know she could be perfectly fine, but in any case we need to warn her that Voldemort has sent people to America."

Despite this fact, both were on high alert as they looked for any signs of life in the house. The room that they had apparated into looked like a common Muggle living room. In the center of the room was a coffee table which, unfortunately for him, Ron didn't notice right away. With a yelp of pain, he leapt back and hopped around trying to rub the pain from his right foot while balancing on the left. Despite his best efforts, gravity was acting against him, and Ron fell back against the plush couch just behind the evil table. As Harry tried to calm his friend, who was presently muttering a few select words at the table, light flooded the room. Now having a better view of their surroundings than could be provided by moonlight alone, the boys noticed the set of stairs that led from the living room up to the second floor. More importantly, they noticed the teenage girl in pajamas standing at the top. Apparently the sound of Ron's encounter with the coffee table had foiled their efforts at remaining unnoticed.

"Who's down there?" she called timidly, peering downstairs.

Neither Harry nor Ron said a word. Instead, they stood in shock, as surprised at the appearance of a girl who looked about their age as she was of these intruders. Suddenly seeing their raised wands, the girl backed up slowly, not taking her eyes off the young wizards, and made her way into the nearest bedroom.

"Jayne! Wake up!"

Ready to kill whoever was shaking her, Hermione rolled over to see Kerri standing over her, in a state of panic.

"Jayne…there are two guys downstairs…and they have wands!"

This caught Hermione's attention and she sat up with a start. Grabbing her wand from its place on the nightstand by her bed, Hermione began giving orders.

"Go get your mother."

"What? What about you?"

"I'm going to try and see what they want. Don't worry, I know what I'm doing…I think."

Hermione led the way out of the room. She walked over to the stairs, which stood conveniently right across from her door. She motioned for Kerri who then edged her way down the hall to Mrs. McBride's room. Meanwhile, Hermione began to make her way down the steps, stopping halfway, wand raised. She was prepared to attack if she had to…until of course, she saw the strangers' faces.

"Oh my God!!! Harry! Ron! What are you guys doing here?" Hermione squealed as she made her way into the living room and pulled her two best friends into a tight hug. "How on Earth did you find me!?"

"Hermione…" Harry choked out, "We kind of can't breathe!"

"Oh, right, sorry." Hermione released them from her death grip.

Ron stepped back and squinted at the girl in front of him. "'Mione?" he questioned timidly, "What happened? You look so…different."

"Oh yeah, it's a new look…just in case. You like?" She spun around so they could experience the full effect. Before there was a chance for a response, Mrs. McBride appeared at the top of the stairs.

"What is going on down here?"

Thus began the introductions. "Mrs. McBride, this is Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. Guys, this is Mrs. McBride."

Any attempts of the older woman to respond were cut off by her daughter. "Oh. My. God. Harry Potter and Ron Weasley are in MY house!"

"Oh year guys, this is Kerri."

"Mom!" squeaked Kerri like a little girl who had found an abandoned puppy, "Can we keep them?"

"Sweetie, they're people, not dogs. You most certainly cannot keep them."

"But…still…Harry Potter and Ron Weasley are in my house! I mean I've read all about you guys, but I never imagined that you'd be in my house! I can't wait to tell my friends about this!"

Mrs. McBride took immediate action to quell her daughter's excitement. "Kerri, you know you can't do that. Your Muggle friends can't know these boys are anything more than characters in a book. You know that."

Harry's ears perked up at that.

"Character in a book?" He repeated.

"Oy, why don't you sit down and I'll explain everything." The boys followed Hermione's request. She told them all about the books; needless to say they were quite stunned- especially Ron- at finding out that they were the main characters in "fictional" Muggle stories. Once the shock wore off, it was their turn to do the talking. They explained to Hermione how and why they had sought her out. When they got to the part of the Lost Book of the Lost, Hermione really became interested.

"That book has been lost for hundreds of years. Every once in a while it will appear to people in need. Then, once it can no longer be of help, it becomes lost again."

"Well, it's not lost now." Said Ron, "Harry has it in his cloak. Show her Harry."

Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out the book.

"That's amazing." Said Mrs. McBride, "I've never heard of that book staying in one place for so long. Maybe its work here isn't done yet."

"Would you mind if I hold on to it for a while? I'd like to read it and see how it works."

Harry handed Hermione the book. Hermione in turn, examined the cover briefly before placing it in her lap so she could pay attention to the conversation.

"Guys, I'm really flattered that you came all this way for me, but I honestly don't think that You-Know-Who has a chance of finding me here. After all, the only people who know where I am are in this room. Well, except for Dumbledore…oh, and Tom Johnson, but I don't think he actually knew who I was. Besides, Dumbledore never actually said that I was the reason You-Know-Who was sending death eaters into America."

"She's right." Mrs. McBride cut in. "But still, it's getting late. You boys can stay here tonight, but you'll have to be heading back to school first thing in the morning."

This found a groan of protest from Kerri. "Really Mom, do they have to leave so soon? Besides, they haven't seen Jayne in ages, and who knows how long it will be before they see each other again. It would be wrong to separate them so soon!"

There was a murmur of agreement from the others in the room.

"Alright, fine, I give up!" Mrs. McBride conceded to the majority. "I'll write to your headmaster in the morning. After that you can stay here only as long as he agrees." She was momentarily cut off by shouts of joy from Kerri and Hermione. "Now now, don't get too excited. Given the state the magical world is in, I doubt that he'd let you stay here for too long.

..............

Albus,

As I am sure you have already noticed, two of your students are no longer at your school. It just so happens that both Harry Potter and Ron Weasley have found their way to my house. I assume that you would want them back at Hogwarts immediately, however they would rather stay here a while longer. Personally, I don't have a problem with this, and my daughter Kerri is very pleased to have them here, but considering this whole business with Voldemort, I would understand if you think it is unwise for them to remain.

I look forward to receiving your reply.

Raleigh McBride

Raleigh,

Needless to say, I was quite surprised to receive your letter. I am glad to hear that Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley are safe, though I can't help but wonder how they came to be at your house, of all places. While I normally would insist on their immediate return to the school, I am afraid that recent attacks on nearby Hogsmeade village have changed my mind. As a matter of fact, I think that the boys could benefit from a vacation from school. I think it would be best if they were to stay with you for the time being. I will get back to you when I think it an appropriate time for them to return. In the mean time, if I remember correctly, you used to be a teacher at the White Wig School; perhaps you could help the boys with their lessons. I'm sure they will be able to tell you what they have been learning here.

No need to reply, you will be hearing from me soon enough.

Until then,

Albus Dumbledore

................

The next day (Sunday) it was decided that since Harry and Ron would be staying for a while, they, like Hermione, would attend Muggle school during the day, then have magic lessons in the afternoon. Mrs. McBride conjured up some Muggle clothes for the boys, as they quite obviously hadn't packed for a long trip. She also cast a glamour spell to hide Harry's scar. At night, the boys slept on sleeping bags in the living room (to Ron's dismay) only inches away from the table that had attacked him upon his arrival. Mrs. McBride had also taken it upon herself to inform her daughter's school that her nephews would be visiting from England for a while, and they would be attending the school.

On Tuesday morning, Mari walked into school not prepared to meet two new students. Having been out sick the previous day, she missed Harry and Ron's first day. By the time her first class ended, she had been informed that Kerri McBride's two cousins were visiting from the UK. It wasn't until lunchtime however, that she first saw them.

Mari had just sat down to eat when Kerri walked into the school cafeteria followed closely by Jayne, Harry, and Ron. Immediately, Mari recognized the two foreigners. Knowing any attempt to confront them in the crowded room would attract too much attention; Mari could do nothing but watch. So, from the time they entered the room until they had walked off past her table, Mari couldn't help but stare.

"Mari? Helllloooo? Earth to Mari." Sam Miller tried to get her friend to speak, respond…anything to show that the girl was still breathing.

"Sorry…what?"

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah…of course."

"You sure? You seem kind of out of it."

"It's nothing…anyway, you were saying something about that math test I just failed?"

Mari's last class of the day was English. Once again, Mari cornered Jayne as soon as the class had been dismissed.

"Alright, this has gone on long enough. I want to know the truth."

"What on Earth ah you tahkin' about?" Hermione spoke cautiously in her Southern drawl.

"I want to know who you are and why you're here."

"That again?" Hermione sighed. "Ah've told you a hundred times; my name is Jayne Johnson and ah'm from-…"

"Yes, I know, Jayne Johnson from Austin, Texas. That's what you've been saying since you first came here. But you and I both know that that's not true. So, why don't you tell me who you really are?"

Hermione paused before speaking. "You know this is never going to work, right? Ah mean, you could go on like this all day and all you'd ever know about me is just what ah've been saying all along. Besides, it's not like you're being honest about yourself. Ah know there's something your hiding. And another thing," Hermione was on a roll now. "What makes you think there's anything out of the ordinary about me?"

"Well for one thing," countered Mari, finally getting to the point, "There's the company you keep. Your little British friends aren't really Kerri McBride's cousins. They don't even look anything like each other, let alone like Kerri. Then there's also the fact that one of them IS BLOODY FAMOUS!"

"That's it!" gasped Hermione, "You're a witch!"

"And so are you, judging by your friends."

"You suspected it all along, didn't you?" Hermione didn't bother denying it. "That's why you were so suspicious to my reaction to that Harry Potter discussion our class had back when I first came here!"

"Gee," Mari replied wryly, "However did you guess?"

"It all makes sense now…well, most of it anyway."

"You realize that you still haven't told me who you really are."

"See, that's the thing…I kind of, well, can't."

"Bloody hell." Said Mari, figuring it out, "You're in hiding too, aren't you?"

"Too?" repeated Hermione, "Meaning you are as well?"

"Well then, I guess we have something in common after all."

Glad that ch is finally over with…and yay! I'm about halfway done with chapter 8, so that should be up soon too. And with any luck my computer will be back soon, as they've been "fixing" it for over a month. Ugh…

um…I should prob mention that that line bout apparating is from the books (big shocker)…and I think I may have stolen a line from stargate sg-1 so…. yay for that.

oh, btw….

Lily and James Potter: ::smiles evilly:: mwahahaha!!!! (hey, did u know there were 2 ls in evilly? I didnt…but THERE ARE!) hehe 0: )