Ron had been awake all that night, restlessly tossing and turning.
What did Hermione think she was playing at?
Hanging around with Malfoy?
It was just so unlike her.
So, just 'cause Harry is gone, she just gives up on being good, Ron thought bitterly, what about me? Aren't we best friends as well?
Ron looked over at Harry's empty bed.
Oh God, where the hell was Harry when you needed him? He was always better with dealing with Hermione.
He flung himself out of bed.
That's it. I'm going to find out what's wrong with Hermione.
Even if it kills me.
''''''''''''''''
After touching the key, Hermione felt very strange. Dizzily she looked around.
It was a forest. The trees towered over her like looming shadows and Hermione felt eyes on her.
No, she wasn't imagining it. There was eyes on her.
A pair of green eyes.
"Harry!" She ran to him, abandoning Malfoy.
She was so glad to see him. He was sitting down, his back against a tree. He wasn't tied up.
"Hello Hermione," he said.
Hermione froze. Shivers crept up her back. He had said that so softly, so dangerously. He looked different too. He wasn't wearing his glasses. He was wearing all black and his scar was luminous on his forehead.
He looked handsome and dangerous. He was smiling softly. Hermione had never seen him smile like that before. It was a dangerous smile, slightly amused.
The kind of smile Voldemort would wear.
"Harry?" Her voice was so openly uncertain.
He laughed.
"Harry," she whispered and she felt like she had lost him. Like he had disappeared and left something different in his place.
She looked back at Malfoy who was wearing the same smile. His eyes were hard and piercing.
And then Hermione saw a dark hooded figure and everything hit her. She was suddenly terrified.
"I thought I said to bring both of the friends," Voldemort said in his terrifying voice.
"Weasley will be here in a minute. I saw him following us," Malfoy answered.
"Voldemort," Hermione whispered. She was in shock.
"Ahh!"
Hermione turned around to locate the shout and saw Ron with a face full of dumb bewilderment.
"Hello Ron," Harry said again and smiled.
"Harry! You're alive! You're alive!" Ron sounded like a happy young child.
"I'm bored now," Harry said, his attention riveting from Ron and Hermione. He looked up at Voldemort and asked him something.
Hermione was so full of fear and shock that the question Harry had asked Voldemort didn't register in her ears. But slowly everything snapped and she realised what Harry had just asked.
"Can I kill them now?"