"Ron! Hermione!" He shouted and ran towards them.
Hermione embraced him in a tight hug.
"Hermione, please, I would like to breath." Harry said.
"Sorry." She said quietly, while blushing even though no one could see it.
"Where are we?" Ron asked looking around at the land.
It was quite dark and foggy out so their vision was slightly impaired. Harry sat down on the grass. Ron and Hermione looked down at him. Then, his scar burned with excruciating pain. He clutched his forehead. Ron looked quite worried, while Hermione tried to remain calm.
"Does that mean, he's here?" Ron asked.
Hermione shrugged and said, "I dunno." She kneeled next to Harry and Ron sat on the moist grass. Harry's scar stopped burning and he let go of his forehead. Then again it burned and stopped. This continued for several minutes.
"We can't just sit around like this." Hermione said perturbed.
"What are we suppose to do? Wander around and get lost?" Ron snapped.
"Calm down both of you! Pull yourselves together." Harry said raising his voice slightly. He stood up. "There's a stable down a ways or at least it looks like it. It might be safe to go there, because it looks like it's about to rain." He continued.
He led them down a small hill to the stable. There was a dim light glowing in the window. Ron peered in. Harry gave him a questioning look and Ron shook his head no. They headed in. There was an undersized fire in the large fireplace and there were only a few horses in the stalls. Harry pulled a clump of hay up to the fire and sat down. Ron remained standing and Hermione pulled up a wooden stool. There was silence while they stared into the fire then Ron spoke. "What are we suppose to do now?"
Harry contemplated over what had popped in his mind before. He thought about sending an owl to Dumbledore, but he forgot he didn't have an owl. He had also thought about signaling Sirius somehow, but he didn't know of any spells.
"I suggest we stay low here for a while incase Barry was coming after us to finish us off." Hermione recommended. Ron went red with fury.
"I can't believe I acted like that. I thought he was a better friend then you guys." He shook his head angry with himself. "I'm sorry I treated you that way." He apologized to Harry and Hermione.
Hermione hugged him. (It wasn't as tight as she hugged Harry.) "We're glad to have you back, Ron." Hermione said cheerfully.
"Now what do we do after we lay low for a while?" Harry said returning to the subject of the plan. Hermione looked at Ron. Ron had a dark look on his face.
"I've got a plan." Ron said. "It might not be practical, but I like the idea."
Hermione looked worried that Ron had come up with an absurd plan. The fire crackled and popped. Nodding Harry urged Ron to continue.
"Well, whatever we do we have got to get back at Barry, I think we should put him through hell with Snape…"
Hermione looked at him warningly, "Ron!"
"Sorry." He said and continued. "We get him in trouble with Snape…"
But he didn't finish because he was cut off again, but not by Hermione but by Barry.
"I don't think I'll be able to get in trouble with Snape because after tonight I won't be going back," He said with a wide grin. ", And neither will you three." He took a pause and stepped forward. "I hope you enjoyed traveling here? I know I most certainly did. I thought this would be the perfect place for you to come, especially since it was where so many were killed. Now are any of you bright enough to figure out where we are?"
He scanned over them. His eyes lingered at Hermione for a second longer then Harry and Ron. Hermione tried to speak, but Barry started talking again.
"I wouldn't try to answer, Granger, you don't know what I'll do to you before I kill you."
Hermione gulped and gripped the short stool she was sitting on until her knuckles turned white.
"What about famous Harry Potter? Does he have an answer?" Barry stepped forward and kept eye contact with Harry. "One right answer keeps your two friends alive longer." He hissed in Harry's ear.
Harry could feel some spit hit the side of his head. He thought for a moment then answered, "If I answer correctly, I save their lives."
Barry tutted and shook his head. "No, you heard me wrong, Potter, they stay alive longer. They don't stay alive forever."
Harry stood up off his patch of hay. He pulled out his wand and pointed it straight at Barry. "If I answer this question correctly, they live." He said jerking his head towards Ron and Hermione.
Barry had a hint of terror portrayed on his face. "Fine they live, but it becomes two questions." Harry nodded and placed his wand back in his pocket. Barry seemed to be breathing again now that Harry put his wand away.
"I'll repeat myself. Where are we?"
Harry started talking out loud explaining his answer, "You, Barry the great-grandson or whatever of the stable boy, brought us here, so it will have some significance to you." Harry paced the small room slowly. He looked at the few horses in the stable. "We're in a stable," Harry continued, ", meaning we would be on Cabrini College grounds." He finished off.
Barry's eyes narrowed and he clenched his hand in a fist.
"Correct." Barry replied silently.
Harry faced Ron, who was smiling, and Hermione, who still looked white with fear. Harry thought about what Barry had said earlier. How Hermione had a secret. Maybe it was another time-turner. Harry shook the idea off and placed his attention on Barry who was preparing the next question.
"Got it." Barry stated. "Here is a riddle and one of my favorites." He paused. "I live in the dark. I live with a large family. I am the ruler. I am the king. I will be around forever and will be around longer then Potter. Who am I?"
Barry had himself a small laugh at the puzzled look on Harry's face. He saw Hermione's eyes light up in the corner of his eye. She knew the answer, he could tell it by the look on her face. She was as easy to read as a book. Hermione tried to mouth the words, but Harry couldn't make it out. Ron saw Hermione trying to tell Harry the answer and he tried to make a distraction. He threw a stone at Barry's head, which captured Barry's attention.
"You little weasel." Barry said to Ron.
At this time Hermione took out her wand and started writing in the air. She wrote an L, then an O. Then next letter looked like and R or a B, he wasn't quite sure. The next few were, D, V, and O. Barry turned back at Harry and saw Hermione writing the letters.
"Erasero!" Barry shouted pointing his wand at Hermione's writing. The writing vanished. "Granger, you ruin all the fun. Now, for your foolishness, I think I will kill you all and you have the pleasure of going first." He raised his wand over his head.