DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters used hereafter.

CHAPTER 3: DIMENSIONS

Hermione was floating; where exactly she was she didn't know. She could be anywhere. The pain was almost unbearable, every inch of her body felt like it was on fire. Her mind was spinning as she tried to remember what had happened. She remembered fear and then pain. A lot of pain. Slowly her mind began to remember what had happened as images of the cliff came back to her. Images of Harry and Ron tied up and lying on the ground surrounded by Deatheaters. Images of herself being tortured mercilessly. Images that she wanted to be just a dream, but she knew they weren't. They were real.

Her eyelids fluttered as she urged them to open. They opened a small amount and she winced with the pain and effort it caused her. She couldn't see anything. Everything was so dark. Dark and cold. Her body gave an involuntary shiver. She lifted her head and turned it slowly from side to side hoping to see something, anything. Nothing. The movement made her nauseous so she stopped. Where was she? How had she gotten here? Where were Harry and Ron?

Then it all came back to her. That spell! The one Malfoy used on her! She was lost. Lost between dimensions with no way back. As if the pain she was already in wasn't enough, she retched involuntarily spilling the contents of her stomach and leaving a sour taste in her mouth. All she could do was wait. Wait for death to come and take her away. Wait for peace.

As she floated, Hermione thought of all the people she loved. She knew they'd be trying to find her, but she also knew they had no chance. To start with they didn't know what the spell was and secondly she'd never read of anyone being brought back from such a dire situation. Floating through the blackness she began to sob silently, tears rolling down her cheeks. 'Please let it end soon.' She thought to herself. 'Just make it quick.'

Harry and Ron sat in the library, the only light source a small candle that was nearing the end of its life. Books were scattered everywhere, pages of spells and incantations surrounded them. They'd been desperately searching for the spell that had taken Hermione away from them. It had been almost a week since she been lost. Dumbledore had since examined their memories. He had managed to learn a few of the key words used in the incantation and now it was up to Harry and Ron to find the right one. "Here, look at this one." Said Ron interrupting the silence, "It has almost all the same words as the list Dumbledore gave us." Harry looked up, his face expectant, but it fell almost straight away, "No mate, it's tempus that we're looking for. That's tempum."

"Oh, sorry. It's just that it's identical other than that. I guess I'm just tired." Harry smiled at his other best friend weakly. "Don't worry mate, we'll get her back soon. I think we should take a break to get something to eat for now though. We're no use to her if we die of starvation you know." Ron smiled back weakly, "You're right. Let's go, and come back quick so we can get through a few more books before bed" The two stood and walked out of the library towards the great hall.

After half an hour of pushing food around their plates both boys returned to the library and began searching again. After only a few minutes Harry leapt up out of his seat, a wide grin on his face. "I've found it!" he yelled, his happiness radiating from him, "Quick Ron, let's go show Dumbledore!" Ron, who had gone into shock, shook himself and leapt up to follow Harry running out of the library. They dashed through the corridors towards the principal's office at break neck speed and came to a skidding halt opposite the gargoyle statue. "LEMON DROPS!" yelled Harry as he hopped from foot to foot impatiently "Come on… Come on… Open faster…" Before the gargoyle had fully turned to reveal the staircase to Dumbledore's office he and Ron were up it and banging on the door. "Come in." came Dumbledore's calm voice from behind the door. The two pushed through the door and began talking rapidly at the same time to the old man. Dumbledore cleared his throat, a slight twinkle in his eye. "I take it from your happy faces and sudden animation compared to the last few days that you've found the spell in question? He smiled. "Yes," panted Ron, "Now we can get her back!"

"Very good. May I see it?" he asked nodding pointedly to the book still in Harry's hand. Harry handed him the book and sank into one of the chairs in front of Dumbledore's desk. He hadn't been happier in a long time. She was coming home. When he had finished reading the page Dumbledore looked up at the two. "Well, it would seem that it is indeed the correct spell. However," Harry did not like the sound of that and he sat up straight to face Dumbledore, "While the book does state exactly how to reverse the spell, it does also mention that it can be inaccurate."

"What do you mean sir?" asked Harry concerned. "Well Harry, Hermione is trapped in between dimensions correct?"

"Yes, you already told us that, but what does it have to do with getting her back?" Dumbledore looked grimly at the two boys, "Everything I'm afraid. You see, she was ripped right out of our reality and into 'nowhere' as such. She has been floating around in limbo for some time now. The problem is that there is no guarantee that she will be able to get off at the right place if you follow me."

"So what you mean sir is that it's like a train. She got on at one stop and wont be able to get off at the same one until the train does a whole circuit?"

"Exactly Mr. Weasley. Only a trains path only has so many stops along it, with dimensions there are so many that it could take forever to get back to the same one." Harry felt his heart sinking. They'd found a way to get her back, but not to where they wanted. Dumbledore turned to Harry. "Harry," he said softly, "I know she meant a lot to you. Both of you." He said looking at Ron too. "She must be in a lot of pain right now. Her injuries have not been treated, she probably hasn't slept, eaten or drank in over a week and she's all-alone. I think you know what we have to do." Ron's head snapped up, "You mean bring her back to some other time or reality?"

"Precisely. Do you not think it is for the best? If we leave her she will stay in limbo forever. If we bring her back to somewhere with other people she may be able to establish a new life for herself. There's even a tiny chance that she might be brought back her somehow. It can happen." The two boys nodded, it was for the best.

The next day preparations were made for the counter spell. Professor McGonagall called both boys out of class to be there at their request. They wanted to be there just in case. When everything was ready to go, Dumbledore turned to the boys. "Let us hope she is still alive" He turned and walked to the centre of the room and standing in a large glowing purple symbol on the ground began to chant the counter incantation. The circle began to glow and an outline of Hermione could be seen floating above the old mans head. Harry and Ron gasped. She was curled up not moving. Dumbledore stepped back, looking up at the image, "Hermione?" he said clearly, "Hermione, wake up." Hermione was still floating lost. She didn't know how long it had been and wasn't even sure if she was still alive. Suddenly out of the darkness came a voice. It was a strong clear voice. "Hermione, wake up." It said to her. Was she hearing things now? Had she finally gone mad? Forcing her eyes open she could see the faint outline of what appeared to be classroom. Just like the ones in Hogwarts. Lifting her head just a fraction so as not to make herself nauseous, Hermione opened her eyes further and blinked. It was definitely a classroom in Hogwarts. Confused she tried to call out to the voice. Her voice barely managed to escape her throat but she manages a weak "Who's there?" Harry and Ron watched as the outline of Hermione began to stir. They were even more shocked when it spoke in a weak, strained voice. "Who's there?" it asked. Dumbledore stepped forwards into Hermione's line of sight. "It's Dumbledore Hermione. You'll be okay now. Don't worry." Hermione felt so happy when she heard that Dumbledore was near. "Sir, did you find a way to bring me back?"

"Not quite Hermione," replied Dumbledore, "We cant bring you back to here and now but we can bring you back to somewhere and sometime." His voice was still so clear and strong. Hermione completely trusted him. "I understand sir. Please tell Harry and Ron that I love them." "They're right here Hermione, you can tell them yourself." Dumbledore stepped back and allowed the boys to move towards her. "Hermione?" Ron croaked, "How are you?"

"Ron? Is that you? I'm so glad to hear you. Is Harry there too?" Harry who had been silent stepped forwards "Yeah, I'm here Hermione." The outline of Hermione began to shake, her body racked with sobs. "My boys," she sobbed, "I've missed you both so much, and now I may never see you again. I love both of you more than anything else in the world." Harry's throat tightened and his eyes watered "We both love you so much too Hermione. You've always been there for us whether it was just doing homework or fighting along side us against Voldemort. We'll never forget you." A tear rolled silently down his cheek. "Please tell everyone else that I love them all too and I wont ever forget any of them." This was the hardest thing Hermione had ever had to do. It was killing her from the inside out. "We will 'Mione. Goodbye." Whispered Ron as Dumbledore stepped forwards to let them know it was time. "Goodbye" said Harry his voice hoarse as he stepped back too. "Good bye Harry, Ron." whispered Hermione.

Dumbledore stood in front of her now. "Hermione, it's time for you to go now. Everyone in this world will never forget you. You were a credit to witches and wizards your age all over the world. Goodbye and good luck."

"Thank you professor. I owe so much to you. Goodbye." Dumbledore stepped underneath the outline of Hermione and began to finish off the incantation and with a final flick of his wand she was gone. Harry and Ron just stared at the spot she had been and both began to cry uncontrollably. Professor McGonagall let out a whimper and hurried from the room. Dumbledore turned to the two boys. "Let us hope that she has gone somewhere with good people where she can settle down and live a normal life."

A/N: This is the chapter where it's revealed what the spell did to Hermione. I hope I explained it well enough for you guys to understand. So now Hermione's been thrown into a strange place. That's gotta be fun. Please read and review.

Remmy's Gurl: Wow, thanks a million. That was really sweet of you. I've reviewed it now and all. Thanks again for your lovely review.

amrawo: thanks for the review. Your enthusiasm encourages me to write more.

need-courage-to-write: Thanks for the review. Now that you've said that I might just kill her to annoy you. That would come back to haunt me though as she's necessary for the rest of the story. As for showing Harry and Ron's reactions more I didn't want to do that because it's Hermione's pain. Not theirs. Thanks for the review.

PaulC: I don't care that you're late reviewing it. It's that you did in the end that counts! I wasn't sure if I did Dumbledore right, but now that you've said I did I'm all happy. Thank you! And about the English teachers… Maybe we should invite them to Games class too… ;) thanks so much for reviewing again! And update your stories again soon!

whogirl: thanks for the review and now finally you can see what the spell did. Sorry about the accidentally on purpose delay in revealing all ;)

Zimo: damn, and I thought I was being all mysterious and elusive ;). Thanks for the compliments on my writing. Yes you did say that and yes you should be beaten… it's only fair to society. I didn't know anyone else in our year liked anime/manga of any kind until Pauline started talking to me when we were in Italy (how weird). We all know how he can be. Guys with short hair suck, poor Paul got DT off Murphy for not cutting his. I don't want him to lose all his pretty hair! (clings to Pauls hair) ok… that's really weird, I'll stop now… see ya around, we should meet up sometime and catch up… and throw a few slags Pauls way too while we're at it…