/I don't own anything you recognize in this story. /

Chapter Eleven

Walking quickly through the woods, Harry stopped to quietly listen to his surroundings. Everything seemed quiet, but he didn't want to take the risk. He didn't want to misinterpret his situation and get himself killed when he wasn't supposed to.

Satisfied that nobody was following, Harry continued on the way towards Malfoy's mansion. Earlier he had found a piece of parchment on the ground on the edge of the woods, and saw that it was the same on which Malfoy had written the directions to his house on. Not believing his luck, Harry had followed the instructions and was nearly there, now.

Continuing to walk, Harry kept his eyes flitting around, making sure there wasn't anything unusual happening. As the Malfoy Mansion began to come into view, Harry picked up his pace. He was almost there and perhaps he would find Hermione there.

Movement suddenly flitted around ahead of Harry and he stopped short. Something was coming towards him and he didn't have much time to react. Quickly pulling out his wand, Harry moved foreword cautiously. Whoever was ahead could be the Malfoys for all he knew.

"C'mon, Ron, we've got to get out of here. I don't want to be re-caught by him. We'll have to find Dumbledore and Harry…" a voice said.

Harry stopped, not daring to believe. Could it really be Ron and Hermione? Sprinting ahead, Harry nearly shouted when he saw that it was his two best friends. Finally reaching them, Harry grabbed Hermione and brought her into a deep embrace. He didn't seem to notice that Ron fell to the ground with a yelp.

Gasping, Hermione finally calmed down when she realized who it was. She couldn't believe that Harry had found them, but she was ever grateful for him trying to find both her and Ron.

"Er…it's nice that you two are having a lovely merrymaking, but I'm kind of in pain right here, and I need help to get to a nurse or something to help me," Ron said after several moments.

"Right…" Harry and Hermione pulled apart and helped Ron to stand on his two feet, though it looked like Ron was a little pained from doing so. Putting an arm around Harry's shoulder, Ron looked at Harry apprehensively.

"What do you think you're doing here? You could be killed by these madmen back there," Ron said savagely.

"I was trying to find Hermione here to try and save her! I was worried about her and I didn't want Lucius trying to kill her!" Harry exclaimed.

"Oh, yeah? And what about me? You two surely didn't make the effort to try and find me and save me, did you? I was stuck in a freaking mad room where Lucius hooked me up to a machine and tortured me until I was screaming my guts out! He was so sure I knew where you were but I promise you I didn't. But I'm sure it doesn't matter whether Ron lives or dies, as long as he serves the purpose of the greater good. That's what you've been telling all the new Aurors, haven't you?" Ron said angrily.

"Oh, Ron!" Hermione said exasperatedly, "we were trying to find you, but everything made it so difficult."

"That's never stopped you in the past, now has it?" Ron spat. "I could've died before the either of you found me or even knew about it. I don't know why I agreed to become an Auror anyways."

"It was your decision, Ron, whether you wanted to be one or not. You thought it was going to be a bit exciting so you decided to train up a bit," Harry said, beginning to feel his own temper rising.

"I only wanted to be one was so I could get a lot of money! You know I've grown up with practically nothing and a little bit of it sounded appeasing to a poor boy like me! But of course, you've never had to worry about it, did you?" Ron nearly shouted.

"Yes, I do. You forget that two Muggles who didn't care for two pence about me brought me up. I grew up with baggy, second-hand clothes with barely enough clothes, hardly any food and no money whatsoever. Have you forgotten about that, Ron?" Harry asked quietly.

"Oh, would you two PLEASE stop fighting! You're driving me crazy! Can't you two just get along? We all get the point from one another and let's continue on! We're still on the Malfoys' property and I don't really want to get caught here," Hermione exclaimed hysterically, bursting into tears.

The two of them immediately stopped talking. They rarely saw Hermione cry and hated it when she did. It was almost as if they did something wrong to make her cry. The two of them slowly made their way back into town in a subdued silence.

When they were nearly into town, Harry suddenly let go of Ron and started heading back the way they were going. Ron and Hermione stared after Harry in shocked silence.

"What are you doing, are you mad?" Ron called after Harry.

"I have to go do something! I can't let this war drag on any further and whatever you do, don't follow after me! If I don't return in a couple of hours, know that something bad has happened and go look for Dumbledore!" Harry called and soon he disappeared down the lane.

Ron and Hermione glanced at each other before watching Harry disappear over the horizon. Somehow, Hermione knew what Harry had gone to do. He had went back to demand to see Lord Voldemort.