Wow! Another chapter and it didn't even take me weeks to finish! Go me!

I want to thank everyone who has reviewed. It really means a lot. Expecially as you bear with me. I have not actually written anything in quite a while and it is taking me some time to get back to my old standard. Hopefully the quality keeps going up.

A special thanks to my buddy Scotty who took time away from listening to the Half Blood Prince to listen to my story. (waves)

As always if you see a major problem please let me know, and enjoy!

Look at the Time

When she finally awoke, Hermione noticed she was once again alone. The bottom end of her bed shook. Or almost alone. Crookshanks sat at the foot of her bed watching her expectantly. She ignored him.

Or, more accurately she tried to. She felt the bed tremble as he made his way up to her face and patted her cheek with his paw. His low rumbling purr filled the room as he tried to get her up. She ignored him as he patted her nose, licked her cheek with a rough tongue, and rubbed his head against her hair. He didn't take kindly to it.

"MERRROOOWW" Hermione shot up in bed, rubbed the ear he had just meowed into, and scowled at her cat. He looked decidedly satisfied. He now lay curled up on the pillow she had just vacated, looking supremely unconcerned if he had just disrupted her hearing for life. Just like a cat.

Hermione glared down at her cat for a few moments before she realized that, what he wanted, he got. Giving up she rose out of bed and got dressed. She did not know what time it was but someone was bound to be awake. And if not, that suited her fine. She had exited her room and was on the way to the kitchen when she heard voices coming out of the upstairs sitting room.

Hermione stepped up close the cracked door so she could hear what was going on. From the sound of things the entire Weasley family was in there and arguing. Violently.

"Boys," Wailed Mrs. Weasley "You can't. You just simply can't." her voice broke and she started to sobb.

"We're going and you can't stop us. They took Ginny." Yelled one of the twins. "Right up off the street. In front of our shop. We should have been there." Finished the other..

"Fred, George" Mrs. Weasley pleaded.

"No mother, the twins are right. We ARE going and you can't stop us." Hermione had never heard Bill sound quite that grim before. Normally one could almost hear him laughing through every word he said. Now, Hermione only could hear the underlying steel of his determination and the potential wrath of vengeance.

"I… I jus.. just can't stand to loose any one else." She Hiccupped. "Please. Please don't do this." It was hard to understand Mrs. Weasley through her tears.

"Your Mother is right. This is not the time to go running off with ill conceived plans of vengeance." Mr. Weasley's voice was sterner than Hermione had ever heard before.

"You can't just ask us not to do anything!" shouted Bill. He was making considerable racket clomping back and forth across the floor in his sturdy boots. "We can not abandon her. She is our SISTER!"

"AND SHE IS OUR DAUGHTER!" Roared Mr. Weasley "But I will NOT go running about trying to get myself killed uselessly. When we find out where she is, you will all be with us when we go to take her back. But until then, nobody will be off making calls at Deatheater's doors. DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?" there where a few grumbling resentful consents. Hermione released a breath she didn't realize she was holding.

"But how do you figure on finding her? How do we know that she is still alive?" Ron's despondent question rang like a death knell inside the room and pinched Hermione's heart. How WOULD they know. And if they knew, how to find her. Then she knew, or, more accurately remembered.

She took a deep breath and pushed open the door. To her surprise the Weasley's were not the only ones in the room. She spied Lupin and Harry with them as well. Everyone else had spread out all over the small sitting room. Mrs. Weasley was sitting in a squashy armchair crying while Mr. Weasley stood protectively over her patting her shoulder and murmuring comforting words into her ear. Lupin, who was the only one to notice Hermione slip into the room, leaned against the wall close to the door. Hermione noticed that he had his wand in his hand, which he kept concealed by his shabby coat. He was obviously ready to stun the younger generation if they failed to listen to reason.

Fred and George were propped against the window frame, both staring moodily outside watching the rain hit the glass pain and slowly slide down. Hermione sighed, how appropriate it was to rain now. Charlie was still pacing back and forth in front of the twins. Bill had his back to everyone else in the room, head was bowed, and his arms were spread, braced against the right wall with his clenched fists. Every now and then Hermione could see them flex in frustration. On the small loveseat was someone she had not expected to see, Percy. He sat hunched over, elbows on his knees, head buried into the palms of his hands. Hermione watched as a drop of moisture slide around his wrist and fall to the floor soundlessly. She looked over to the left side of the room and saw Ron and Harry. Ron sat on the floor against the wall with his arms wrapped around his knees and his head bowed in defeat. Harry watched on helplessly beside him.

She took another step into the interior of the room and cleared her throat. All eyes turned upon her. Hermione glanced at Ron and Harry and almost gasped when she saw the empty look in Ron's eyes. She twitched, nervous to be the absolute center of attention.

"I think that I know how to find Ginny." She finally stated.

The reaction was strong and immediate. The Weasley's eight pair of lifeless eyes suddenly sprang to life. They had hope. They waited impatiently for her to continue.

"Ginny was taking occlumency lessons from Professor Snape." Hermione braced herself for the coming reaction.

"WHAT?" Yelled everyone else in the room, including Lupin and Harry.

The next few moments were so full of questions from everyone Hermione had trouble sorting them out. It was Lupin who finally came to her aid, and quieted the demanding questions to give her time to answer them. She smiled gratefully at him.

"Ever since last Christmas Ginny has been taking secret lessons from Professor Snape. The fact that You-Know-Who was back worried her. She knew that Harry had gotten lessons from him, and she decided to see if he would teach her to close her mind as well.." Hermione stated, watching Ron and Harry hoping that they would forgive her for not telling them.

"After some persuasion he relented and she began to take weekly lessons from him. Over the summer she was to keep in contact with him using occlumency to expand her control of it. Maybe the professor can find her. Or maybe she can contact him and tell him where she is." Hermione finished weakly. The response to her proposal was instantaneous.

"I'll go call Severus now." Lupin pushed off the wall he was leaning on, pocked his wand, and started for the door. He gave Hermione's shoulder a small squeeze as he passed her too exit the room. She flashed him a small smile. Percy stood up and headed for the door as well.

"I'm going to go talk to the Minister. This will never happen again." He gave Hermione an oddly formal bow before he too vanished down the hallway. At the window one of the twins snapped to attention.

"C'mon Fred I have an idea." The twin, she assumed it was George, tapped his brother on the shoulder and they both started for the door. They paused long enough to ruffle Hermione's hair as they passed by. "Good one Mione!" one of them called over his shoulder at her as they walked down the hall to the stairs.

"Oh, what am I doing just sitting here!" Cried Mrs. Weasley. "Oh, everyone will be hungry soon." And with that she grabbed Hermione in a bone-crushing hug and hurried out and downstairs to the kitchen. Mr. Weasley stood behind for a moment.

"Well done Miss. Granger. Well done indeed." He smiled fondly at her and patted her on the shoulder. Then he too was gone.

"Well Bill," Charlie poked him in the side. "You and I need to be outside on a day like today. Meet you in the garden in seven minutes." He said while starting for the door.

"Make it five." Growled Bill rubbing his side.

However when they got to Hermione they stopped like the rest of the family. Hermione stared at them, surprised when they each took a knee before her. She watched incredulously as they each withdrew their wands and presented them handle first. She glanced over at Ron in confusion he nodded his head encouragingly. She gingerly took hold of the wands.

"We herby swear an oath of brotherhood. As long as there is life within our bodies, you will never stand-alone or apart. If you require help, all you need do is call. We will answer. Do you accept?" Bill and Charlie spoke in tandem.

Hermione felt the prickle of magic that ran up her arms as the two oldest Weasley brothers swore the Oath of Brotherhood. She felt the magic building up inside of her demanding a response. Tears welled up in her eyes.

"I do so accept." She answered solemnly. All at once the rush of magic was gone and Hermione felt the bands of magic wrap around the three of them for a moment. Then all was normal. She took a shaky breath.

"Well, see ya around little sister." Laughed Charlie as he gave her a quick hug. "Common Bill. We still have a meeting." Called Charlie.

"Yeah, Yeah, I'm coming." Bill winked at Hermione and grinned. "Welcome to the family." He turned to join Charlie as they exited the door still bantering back and forth.

"Do you think it will take me longer than six minutes to wipe the walls with you?" teased Bill.

"Five minutes? I'd like to see you do it at all Bank Boy." Growled Charlie.

"Dragon Boy." retorted Bill.

Hermione listened to their voices fade down the hall before she turned to face Ron and Harry who were the only ones left inside of the room.

"I … I don't understand. Why is everyone so pleased with me? I didn't find Ginny. This may not even work." She turned to Harry who was grinning at her.

"I think Mione," Harry started. "That they are grateful to you for giving them hope. Well, that and everyone was really worried about you." he gathered her into a hug. "It's nice to see you up and about." He grinned. "Now, Mrs. Weasley was going to make something to eat. And I'm starving." And then he was gone, leaving her alone with Ron.

"Ron?" she said tentatively.

"Yeah?" he sighed, not even looking at her.

Hermione bit her lip. This was what she had dreaded since she woke up. Ron would hate her forever now. This was why she had hid from for so long. Hate she could handle. Ron was usually one violent emotion or another. But this. This resigned tolerance was something she could not live with. Her vision started to blur.

"I'm sorry." She whispered. "I'm so very sorry." She turned to follow everyone else out the door when Ron's voice stopped her.

"What? What are you sorry for?" Ron's toneless voice made her turn around.

"It was all my fault. It was my idea to go back to the shop. I wanted to talk to her. I'm sorry I left her. I'm sorry that you hate me…" she trailed off as Ron stepped up close to her and grabbed her shoulders.

"Hate you?" he whispered. "How could I?" he groaned as he pulled her in close.

Hermione stood perfectly still as his arms wrapped around her as he pulled her in close. She hardly breathed for fear of breaking this spell. She finaly, slowly, raised her armsup to wrap around his middle and placed her head on his chest. Ron tightened his arms and lowered his forehead to her shoulder, effectively wrapping around her in support. She felt something in her chest loosen. He didn't hate her. Tears of relief welled up behind her closed eyelids.

"All I can think about is that Ginny was taken, and almost you, while I was looking at a stupid broomstick." He whispered as his arms tightened convulsively. "I should have been with you Mione. You have nothing to apologize for. If anyone needed to apologize, it would be me." He murmured into her shoulder.

"Ron?" she whispered as he lifted his head up to look her in the eye.

"Yeah?" he was searching her eyes intently. His gaze dropped to her mouth.

"Its not your fault." She tilted her head up to look at him and nervously licked her lips.

"It's not your fault either." He said as he slowly lowered his face to meet her upraised one.

Just as Hermione's eyes drifted shut the sitting room door banged open to reveal Harry Potter; The Boy Who Was Going To DIE. Ron jumped back from her so fast she swore that she heard a sonic boom. She gritted her teeth in annoyance. So close. So CLOSE.

"Oi, guys you had better hurry Sna… Wow.. sorry." Hermione ground her teeth again. He didn't look sorry. He was grinning. She was going to kill him. When she got through with him there was going to be nothing left for You-Know-Who.

"Umm, anyway," he continued grinning. "You better get downstairs in a hurry. Snape just arrived. They have him cornered in the kitchen." Harry, Hermione noticed, was enjoying that fact a bit much.

"Right. See you downstairs." Ron said loudly passing Harry.

When Ron was gone Hermione stalked up to Harry.

"Er… Sorry Mione I didn't kno..Yeowww!" Harry finished on a yell as he grabbed the shin she had just kicked. She left Harry still hopping about as she stormed downstairs muttering irritably about Ron being next.

"Yesh.. Girls sure are moody." He grumbled as he followed everyone down to the kitchen.

At the doorway to the kitchen Hermione found herself walking into a room full of arguing people for the second time that day. Snape was literally cornered by four of the Weasley boys. Bill, Charlie, Fred, and George were all standing between him and the exit. Hermione thought that he was handling himself reasonably well, not a cower in sight. Snape was, in fact, berating them for being stupid.

"You simple minded bunch of Gryffindor's. What do you mean, 'If she is alive'? Of course she is alive. Just look at the clock." Snape waved his hand in the general direction of Mrs. Weasly's famous clock.

She turned to look at the clock along with the rest of the room. The hand with Ginny's name on it still rested directly upon deadly peril. She stared at it for a moment before it dawned upon her.

Ginny was still ALIVE.

Hope to see you soon!

Aleigh