A/N: After what happened in London on Thursday, I had to revise my story a bit. You can probably tell where I revised the story. My heart goes out to all of those killed, injured, and the family of those involvedduring the guesome attack. It was a horrible thing that happened and it was an awful reminder to us, Americans, especially to the people close to the 9/11 event. I know my heart sank when I found out. The people behind these attacks will not get away. Karma's a bitch and it will come back around.

CHAPTER 20

Ron woke up one early October morning and met Harry and Hermione in the common room. They went to the Great Hall for breakfast. In front of them on the table were a vast variety of jam, meat, and cereal.

"Double Potions today!" Ron exclaimed spreading marmalade on one toast, and apple butter on the other. "Why do they have to give us double Potions first thing on Monday? It sets a bad mood of the rest of the week."

Harry nodded in agreement, pouring his third bowl of cereal.

"Where's Dumbledore this morning?" Harry asked looking at the head table.

"McGonagall's not there either," Hermione said. By now, the three of them were looking at the head table, noticing the headmaster and the Head of their House, absent from breakfast.

"Where do you think they are?" Hermione asked.

The trio didn't have to wait too long for an answer. Soon, Professor McGonagall was walking through the Great Hall's door. However, everyone was too tired or hungry in the morning to notice her coming in. So, when Professor McGonagall tapped Hermione on the shoulder, she gave a little jump.

"Miss Granger, will you please follow me?" she said quietly.

Her face was so grim they didn't dare to ask why. Hermione got up slowly from her seat. Instantly, Ron and Harry got up with her.

"You two will have to stay, I'm afraid," she said putting a hand on both Ron's and Harry's shoulder.

They both were going to protest, but McGonagall already pushed them back down to their seats.

"Miss Granger," McGonagall said, guiding Hermione along.

As soon as they walked out of the door, the morning owls came swooping in. Ginny took the Daily Prophet from the owl and paid a knut.

"I'm getting the paper for Hermione," Ginny explained when Ron gave her a puzzled look since Ginny usually doesn't read the paper.

The two boys went back to their breakfast, but Neville and Ginny read the paper and gasped. She looked at Neville really quick, as if she was making sure he was reading the same thing. And sure enough, Neville's eyes were wide with a bit of surprise and fear.

"Harry, I think you should read this,' Ginny said, turning the paper over for Harry and Ron to read. On the front page, it said:

Attacks On Muggle

At eight o'clock last night, two unnamed Death Eaters attacked a small town of muggles outside of London. The aurors were able to get to the scene before any casualties occurred. However, the two Death Eaters were able to get away before they were able to 0be caught. Aurors are still on the lookout for the two Death Eaters that did this.

"We're searching all of England," said Kingsley Shacklebolt, an Auror for the Ministry. "Thankfully, no muggles were killed tonight."

Instead, many muggles were injured, some seriously injured. The ministry won't give us an exact number yet. They have all been sent to St. Mungo's to be treated and have their memories modified.

Many believe this is a sure sign He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Name is ready to attack. After a quiet summer since You-Know-Who's return in June, a horrible wake up call alarmed the rest of the country.

The Ministry is urging all families to stay vigilant. There is no need to raise an alarm just yet.

"He didn't do it," Harry said, more to himself than to anyone else.

"Harry, did you have another, you know, vision," Ron asked.

"No, but I can tell. I know Voldermort didn't send the Death Eaters there. They acted on their own accord."

"That's something really hard to prove, Harry. Besides, it doesn't matter who allowed the Death Eaters to attack. The point is, they attacked. Whether it was by Voldermort's orders or on their own accord."

"No! It wasn't him! It's too early."

"Too early for what, mate?"

The bell rang before Ron could get his answer from Harry.

At Potions, Snape walked in, looking a bit tired and edgy. He snapped at all the students, even the Slytherins, his own house, but was harsher to Harry of course.

"Potter, what color would you call that?" Snape sneered down at Harry's cauldron.

They were halfway through the class. As usual, Snape started the class off with a very complicated potion, with very precise instructions. Hermione still hasn't come back yet. It wasn't like Hermione to be this late for class, or even miss it.

"Blue, " Harry muttered.

"Really?" Snape said slightly smiling. "Now, why is your potion blue when it's suppose to be green? Evanesco. Start over again, Potter. If you don't finish, you can serve detention with me, finishing it."

"But," Harry started.

"Potter, if you expect to get a N.E.W.T. in this class, I suggest you work harder. I don't even know how you got in my class in the first place."

Harry muttered more things to himself and Ron went back to his potions. He wasn't about to risk getting Snape on his back today.

Luckily, Harry was able to finish his potion on time. His color was a dark, forest green. Ron's was a pale green. They poured a sample into a vial and handed it to Snape.

"One of these days," Harry muttered.

"Hermione didn't come to class," Ron said.

"Yeah, I noticed, too," Harry said, forgetting his anger for Snape for a moment. "You don't think something bad happened do you?"

"I don't know," Ron said, now feeling worried. "Let's see if she's in the common room. We can drop our books off before lunch."

When they walked through the portrait hole, they didn't see Hermione. Ginny was sitting with another fifth year Gryffindor, talking. A couple of third years were also in the room discussing their newly purchased Wheezy Weasley's merchandise. Everyone must be on their way to lunch already, Ron thought. He and Harry walked over to Ginny.

"Ginny, have you seen Hermione?" Ron asked.

Ginny said goodbye to the other fifth year and the girl got up and left through the portrait hole.

"No," Ginny said, standing up. "I've been waiting for her in the common room. She's not in her room either. I've checked. You don't think she's still with McGonagall, do you?"

"Maybe she's at lunch already," Harry said. "Let's go and see."

"Okay, I just got to drop these books off," Ron said, walking towards the stairway.

"Oh, can you take mine up too?" Harry said handing Ron his books.

"Okay, be right down," Ron said.

He walked up the staircase and into the sixth year boys' dormitory. He dropped both sets of books on his bed and walked back down. But this time, it was empty. The third year students seem to have left. So have Harry and Ginny.

"Great," Ron said outloud. "They couldn't even wait for me."

Ron opened the portrait hole, and Hermione stood on the other side.

"Oh," Hemione said softly. Her face was tear-stained and her eyes were red. It looked like she was crying her eyes out. She looked so completely small and vulnerable.

"Hermione, where have you been all morning?" Ron asked helping Hermione in. "I've been worried about you!"

"You have?" Hermione said looking up at him.

"Well, I mean, Harry and Ginny were worried, too."

"Oh," Hermione face fell and she walked over to the sofa and said nothing.

Ron walked over to Hermione on the sofa and sat there. He wasn't quite sure what to say.

He was never really good with "talking." But for Hermione's sake, he was willing to try.

"So, um," Ron said looking at his hands. "What happened with McGonagall."

At first Hermione didn't say anything and Ron was sure he might had made it worst. She slowly turned to look at Ron. Her eyes were filling with tears again, but she actually looked like she was trying to hold them back.

"My parents were attacked last night," Hermione said. "Well, not just my parents the whole town was, but my parents were part of the small numbers that were attacked."

"I saw it in the paper," Ron said softly.

"Yeah, well, Dumbledore reckons that the attack is only things to come. He says Vol-Voldermort might not come out of hiding now."

"But Harry said he didn't do it," Ron exclaimed.

"He didn't. Dumbledore said the two Death Eaters gave the alarm a bit earlier than what Voldermort had hoped for. He has been really quiet all summer, obviously working out a plan. And now it's all ruin by a surprise attack. So, Dumbledore said he is just going to work faster, but still stay hidden."

"Well, how are your parents?"

"They should recover. I can't see them yet, though."

Then, Hermione started crying again. Ron wasn't sure what to do when she was crying. Ron understood how Hermione is feeling, being he was in the same situation as she was last year when his father was attacked working for the Order. He wanted to hold Hermione's hand to make her feel better, but he didn't see how him holding her hand would make her automatically feel better.

"Hermione, your parents are going to be alright," Ron said, trying to be reassuring.

"He's going after muggles and muggle-borns. My parents were attacked because they were muggles in the wrong town. I'm going to be next, just like what Malfoy said. Remember in our second year. I was petrified, but if Voldermort had his ways, he would have wanted me dead."

"Hermione," Ron said softly. "Do you really think that?"

Hermione lifted her head, tried to wipe away the tears.

"What else am I suppose to think," asked Hermione. "He's alive and wants to get his revenge. I'm muggle-born, Ron, in case you forgot."

"No," said Ron shaking his head. "Do you really think I'll let him get to you? I know it may not be reassuring considering I'm not as smart as you. But, Hermione, I will never let him hurt you. Never!"

"Oh, Ron!" Hermione cried. She flew up and wrapped her arms around Ron's neck. She buried her face in his chest and started to cry again.

At first, Ron didn't know what to do. He remembered a moment like this three years ago. He was going to help Hermione save Buckbeak and she hugged him, just like this. But now, instead of patting her on the back, he wrapped his arms around her, trying to comfort her.

"I promise you, Hermione," Ron whispered in her ear. "I would never let Voldermort touch you."

Ron was surprised he could say the Dark Lord's name without a quiver in his voice. It took a while for Hermione to realize what Ron just said. She held her breath so they could hear nothing but the wind blowing outside of the window.

"Ron," Hermione said in awe. "You said his name."

Hermione unwrapped her arms and sat straight up.

"You're the one who told me I shouldn't be afraid of the name anymore," Ron said. "But what was I afraid of anyway? If Voldermort does hurt you, Hermione, it would be him, not me, scared for his life."

Hermione started to lean in to give Ron a kiss, but that seem to be the wrong time. Harry, Ginny, Seamus, Neville, Dean, and the rest of Gryffindor walked in through the portrait hole. Lunch was over.

Ron immediately jumped to his feet, away from Hermione.

"Right then," Ron said loud and clear. "Time for Transfiguration. Hermione…"

Both Ron and Hermione left without looking at each other or anyone in the room.