Sooooo sorry it took so long for this ch. I did not have a computer for most of the summer, so that made updating a tad difficult. On the upside, I've already written up to chapter 11, but I still have to edit, so with any luck the rest should be up soon. Argh, I'll be so happy when this story is finished…

Upon finding out that Mari was in hiding as well, Hermione decided that it would be best to not know the other girl's identity after all. Knowing that the alternative could put them both in danger, Mari agreed with her, although after the appearance of Harry and Ron, she was pretty sure she knew just who Jayne Johnson really was. After all, who else would they come all the way to America for? Meanwhile, Hermione took it upon herself to introduce Mari to her friends. The next surprise Hermione received was when she realized that Mari seemed completely unfazed by the encounter with Harry- someone who she had not only known of through her life as a witch, but also from reading about him in the books. Having expected Mari's reaction to be similar to Kerri's, Hermione was a bit shocked at first, but she quickly brushed it off as she got to know the other girl. Mari in turn started spending more time with Hermione and her friends. As the week wore on, Hermione and Ron found their relationship heading back in the direction it had been going before Hermione had to leave school. This just confirmed Mari's guess as to Jayne's identity.

"They make a cute couple, don't they?"

It was Saturday afternoon –exactly one week since Harry and Ron had arrived in America- and the group had decided to spend the day at a park near Mari's house. Kerri was spending the weekend with her dad, so that left Harry and Mari to entertain each other, as Ron and Hermione were spending a great deal of time off together on their own.

"Yea, they do." Harry replied as he and Mari sat on the swing set watching their friends. Hermione had just stolen the Yankees hat her boyfriend had been wearing, and Ron was currently chasing her around trying to get it back.

"It must be hard." Mari broke the awkward silence that kept intruding as she and Harry sat alone.

"What?" he asked.

"Being famous and all. I can see it on your face. You just want to be normal like everyone else, right? And not have to worry about Voldemort." Mari took a breath and continued, "I know about that prophecy thing…I read about it in the books. I assume that Jayne knows as well."

Harry drew his eyes up from the on the ground on which they were focused. "She's never said anything…"

"Well she wouldn't, would she? It's you business to tell as you see fit. But I bet she's wondering why you haven't told them yet. I realize why that might not be something you want people to know about…even your closest friends." Mari sighed before continuing. "Look, I'm not going to presume that I know what your going through, how your feeling, because in all honesty there's no way I could. But, my point is that sometimes it helps to let people know. What I wouldn't give to be able to talk to someone about…certain things. But unlike you, I don't have that luxury. As long as I'm in hiding, I can't tell anyone what's really bothering me. If I did, then Voldemort would be that much closer to finding me."

Harry cocked his head to the side and stared at her curiously.

"What is it?" She asked.

"Nothing…well, it's just…you said his name."

"Oh, come on, surely you've heard people say his name before…just look at Kerri!"

"Well, sure I've heard people say his name, but I can't remember the last time I heard a witch, someone being pursued by him nonetheless, refer to him by name without flinching."

"Oh well, I guess when you've lived the life that I have you start to realize just how stupid it is to be afraid of a name."

"You know what?" Harry said slowly.

"What?"

"I don't think I've ever met anyone quite like you. I mean, I've only just met you, and…I know it sounds incredibly corny, but I have to say it. I feel like I've known you for so much longer. It's like you actually understand me in a way they can't." He motioned to Ron and Hermione as he spoke. "And…aannndd I'm defiantly making a complete fool out of myself." He leaned over and put his face in hands in embarrassment.

Mari laughed. "No, defiantly not…I completely understand. I wish I could just tell you everything right here, but…well, maybe someday I'll be able to."

"And maybe in the meantime we can take a break from all that and, you know, just be normal."

"Normal…" Mari repeated the word as if it had been spoken in a foreign tongue. "You know, maybe-"

But Mari didn't have a chance to finish her sentence, as midway through Harry, unable to resist, leaned in and kissed her. It wasn't a time-stopping kiss, like one in the movies. All it was was just a quick peck on the lips. Harry pulled back and looked away, once again embarrassed about how forward he was being. But when he looked back he found Mari staring at him. She gently turned his head so it was facing her. Then, resting one hand behind his head, Mari became the one to instigate the kiss this time. She gently took his lower lip in between hers. This kiss was deeper than the first. When they finally decided to break apart for air, they found Ron and Hermione standing in front of them watching their every move.

Harry was the first to speak. "Um, we should…"

"Yeah…we should."

They stood up and led the way out of the park, holding hands. As their friends walked past, Hermione and Ron couldn't help but exchange a knowing look.

As more time began to pass, Harry and Mari grew closer. Meanwhile, Ron was adjusting well to the Muggle lifestyle. In addition, their magic lessons from Mrs. McBride were proving very successful. Ron came to realize that without Snape hovering over him all the time, Potions could actually be quite an interesting subject. Mari had taken to stopping by during the lessons every once and a while. She was a year behind them in her magic (but oddly enough not in Muggle school), and she liked being able to get ahead. Besides, they were much more fun than the ones she was getting from the Smith family. It was on one such occasion that Hermione's mind began to wander.

"I wonder how much longer you two are going to be here for." She said, referring to Harry and Ron. "I mean, Professor Dumbledore never said how much time you would be spending here, and it's not that I'm not glad that you're here…because I am, BELIEVE me. But, well, I'm wondering how much time I have left with you guys."

"Actually," Said Harry, after they'd all had a minute to ponder that. "Mari, I kind of wanted to talk to you about that." He pulled her aside from the rest of the group. "Mari, we haven't been going out for all that long, but it seems like we've known each other forever, and I…er…well the thing is…er…"

"Harry, what is it?"

"I….it's just that….er…well…"

"Harry spit it out."

"I think I've fallen in love with you."

Mari just stared at him. For a full minute and forty-two seconds, she just stared at him.

"Mari," Harry said, beginning to get a bit worried, "Now would be a good time for you to say something…. Please?"

Mari broke from her reverie. "I can't deal with this right now." And without another word to anyone, she started on her way home.

Three days after Harry told her he loved her, Mari was preparing for her magic lesson when the doorbell rang. Curious to find who it could be, she opened the door to find…

"Harry!?"

Harry stood nervously at the door, peering in at her. "Hey Mari."

"Um, what are you doing here?"

"Look, I know you don't want to talk to me right now, but…"

"Your right, I don't. I'm sorry about the other day, but I just…need some time right now." She moved to close the door, but Harry stuck his hand out to block it.

"Please Mari, just talk to me. I'll only keep bothering you until you do."

"Mari! Get down here! I want you to meet a friend of mine." A deep voice called up from the basement.

Mari sighed and turned to Harry. "Alright, look, I'm supposed to start my lessons now, and apparently my 'uncle' wants me to meet someone." Her fingers made quote marks in the air as she emphasized the fact that this "uncle" was in no way related to her. "If you don't mind waiting, then you can hang around and we'll talk after, okay?"

Harry needed no time to think this over. "Okay." He agreed.

Mari led the way down to the basement where her magic lessons were held. She slowed as she reached the bottom, Harry narrowly avoiding bumping straight into her. A man with long white-blond hair was standing with his back to them. Facing him with a malicious smile was Richard Smith.

"Mari, great you're here. I'd like you to meet a friend of mine." Richard's exaggerated, overly fake innocent tone was one that his "niece" had never heard him use before. Richard's friend turned to face the two people standing at the bottom of the stairs. Mari gasped. Behind her Harry tensed up, and both simultaneously reached for their wands. But the stranger was too fast.

"Expilarimous!" With a quick swish of his own wand, Lucius Malfoy obtained that of the young witch and wizard in front of him. Too fast for what happened to have fully sunk in, he then stunned them; first Harry, then Mari. "Well well well. What have we here? Not only do we find the little witch-in-hiding, but also the famous Mr. Potter. How very fortunate."

Mari opened her eyes to find…nothing. It was dark; very dark. There was, however, a lit torch allowing a bit of light to pierce through the blackness. After a minute, Mari's eyes were able to adjust, and she found herself in a small jail cell. Three sides were made of old gray stone. The fourth side was made of metal bars from floor to ceiling to block their escape. On the other side of that was a hallway, the end of which could not be seen in the dim light that emanated from the single torch sticking out of the wall just outside the cell. Mari pulled herself into a sitting position and leaned against the cold stone wall. A groan from the other side of their little cell alerted her to the presence of another living being. Regaining consciousness, Harry slowly sat up and faced Mari.

"Bloody Hell. Please tell me we haven't been kidnapped by Malfoy."

Mari sighed and looked at the floor. "So, where do you think we are?"

Harry paused to consider the question before giving an answer. "Don't know. D'ya think he's brought us all the way back to England?"

"No." Mari replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Why on Earth would he bring us to where his master is? I'm sure he's just waiting for us to wake up so he can invite us for tea and send us on our way. After all, what more could he possibly want with the two people at the very top of Voldemort's most wanted list?"

"Well you asked! Wait, what do you mean two people?" Harry leaned forward. "Mari, what aren't you telling me?"

"Nothing!" She said defensively.

Harry was about to protest her response when footsteps approached their prison. Both stood as they each tried to mentally prepare themselves for whatever was going to happen next.

It was breakfast time at Hogwarts, and Ginny Weasley sat at the Gryffindor table nibbling on a piece of toast as she complained to Colin Creevy about the amount of homework they had.

"They expect us to do ALL this in addition to studying for OWLS? Are they mad!?"

"Speaking of owls…" Colin looked up as the birds flooded the hall, bringing with them letters and packages of all shapes and sizes. A plain brown owl dropped a newspaper, "The Daily Prophet", in front of Colin, just barely missing his eggs.

The headlines were of the same sort as they had been for almost a year now. Ever since the end of the previous term when Voldemort and his Death Eaters stormed the Ministry of Magic's Department of Mysteries, thus proving that he had in fact returned, his newly reestablished reign of terror had been all over the news.

"More attacks on Muggle-borns." Colin stated weakly as he scanned the print. Being a Muggle-born himself, this news did not bode well for the boy.

Ginny was about to say something reassuring to her friend when Professor McGonagall came up behind her.

"Miss Weasley," She said, tapping Ginny on the shoulder to get her attention. "If you have finished your meal, the Headmaster would like to see you in his office."

Ginny glanced up at the head table and noticed Dumbledore's absence from his usual place at the centre. Saying a quick goodbye to Colin, she stood and followed her Transfiguration teacher out of the room and up to the headmaster's office. When they reached the gargoyle that guarded the way, the professor gave the password (candy corn), and left Ginny to continue on her own. Ginny took the spiral staircase leading to her destination, and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Ginny pushed the door open and waked into the room.

"Ah, Miss Weasley." The old man stood behind his desk as she entered, "Please, have a seat."

"Good morning Professor." Ginny said as she followed his instructions.

"You are probably wondering why I asked you here." Dumbledore sat down as he spoke. "I know you are aware of the fact that Voldemort's power is steadily increasing. Fortunatly, he has not yet reached his full potential. There is only one thing that stands in his way. That, Miss Weasley, is you."

Hermione was getting worried. Harry had gone over to Mari's house five hours ago and had yet to return. At first she figured the two had reconciled, but when she called to tell Harry that Mrs. McBride wanted him home for dinner, there had been no answer. She proceeded to call Mari's cell phone, only to get the voice mail. That had been two hours ago. Since then she had been calling every half hour. Granted, this may have been slight overkill, but this is Hermione, she's allowed to be a tad neurotic. Mrs. McBride saw the girl pacing nervously and suggested she go to Mari's house and see if they were there. Shocked by the fact that she hadn't thought of such an obvious solution sooner, Hermione agreed and started on her way. It was getting dark when she reached her friend's house. The lack of lights was the first thing Hermione noticed as she cut across the front lawn. She rang the bell when she reached the door, then waited. She rang again. Still, no response. Hermione, for lack of a better idea, tapped her wand against the doorknob and whispered 'Alohamora'. Now, breaking and entering wasn't exactly high on Hermione's TO DO list, but she had been trying to get a hold of her friends for hours now, and considering the fact that Harry was…well, Harry, and that Voldemort had decided to send people to the States, she couldn't think of anything else to do at that point. The house was dark when she walked in, a detail that was quickly remedied by 'Lumos'. She walked around the first floor of the building. Now, Hermione had never been inside Mari's house before, but as she explored now she was pretty certain that something was missing. Well, more like everything. The rooms were bare, as though no one lived there. Hermione quickly scanned the upstairs only to find the same thing. This couldn't be good.

With a swish of her wand, Hermione apparated into Mrs. McBride's living room where her, Kerri, and Ron awaited her return.

"Well?" Kerri asked impatiently.

"They're…gone." She replied slowly.

"Gone?"

"Just…gone. Mari's house is completely empty-no people, no furniture, nothing."

"That's crazy." Interjected Ron. "That only happens in the movies, not in real life."

"Unless…." Mrs. McBride rose slowly from her place on the couch, "Unless Mari's 'uncle' was really working for…Him."

"Who?" asked Kerri, not fully comprehending the situation. Ron, however, did.

"Fuck."

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