Hermione was lying in the middle of a very big, yet very comfortable bed. Sitting up she looked around, dazed. She couldn't quite remember how she got where she was. Over to her left was an amazing bookshelf, filled to the brim with books, past that was a patch of wall that had been filled with a portrait of a beach. Then the door leading to the hallway. On the wall in front of her was another door. Spread evenly out were more portraits of beaches, rivers or mountains. Then on the wall to her right was a big dresser with a huge ornately carved mirror. To the right of that was some wardrobe doors. Hermione looked back at the bed. It was a four poster bed with each pole having roses and vines carved into the edges and sitting there at the bottom of the bed was an amazing blue dress.
"Oh crap. I thought it was a bad dream." She muttered as she got up from the comfortable bed. She walked over to the dressing table mirror. Hermione looked terrible. Her hair was everywhere and her clothes were torn. She then heard a small pop to her left. Her head flicked over to the intruder. It was a house elf.
"Hello Miss. I Alfred Miss. Alfred will be getting you ready today. Alfred thinks you want to look good for tonight!" He bowed, his nose touching the floor.
"What's happening tonight?" Hermione's face showed concern. Alfred stood up straight.
"Miss does not know? Alfred does not understand. Master said Miss would know." Alfred frowned. "Alfred knows!" His face lit up. "Alfred will call Master here! Master would probably want to help decide what Miss should wear to the thing Miss does not know about!" Alfred left the room.
Hermione, with nothing else to do, opened her closet. It was filled to the brim with amazingly posh looking clothes. Clothes that she knew would have cost a lot.
"Alfred said you don't know what's going on." Hermione turned. There, standing in her doorway was the one and only Draco Malfoy. "I thought Mother told you what was happening."
"Well she didn't. I'd like to know."
"There's a ball. To welcome you to the family. You will be wearing that dress." He pointed to the one on the bed.
"Ball? What ball?" Hermione's voice went up an octave.
"I just told you. Let Alfred help clean you up. You need to be ready in an hour." Malfoy left the room quickly.
"Miss you should have a shower." Alfred pushed her towards her ensuite.
Hermione stood looking at herself in a full length mirror, which resided in the hallway. She looked amazing. Her hair had been curled into thick ringlets and was styled up on top of her head, with a few wispy bits hanging around her face. The make-up didn't crowd her face, just simple lip gloss and dark eyes. The dress was the highlight in her eyes though. It was strapless and clung to her body, until her waist. It then fell straight down to the floor. The bodice had a simple line design on it. The only jewellery she had on was simple diamond earrings and a necklace with one princess cut diamond on it.
Hermione thought she looked fabulous.
"Hermione dear! Please come down now!" Narcissa was shouting up the stairs.
"How unlady-like." Hermione muttered, her features turning dark, but she obligingly walked to the grand staircase. Just before anyone could see her, she paused.
"You should probably go and see her, you know." Hermione jumped as she heard Draco's voice from behind her. She turned around.
"Wow. You look very nice. Alfred does do a good job." Draco then walked past her down the stairs. "She's coming Mother. Don't fret."
---
"Harry, sit down. We will find her." The Order of the Phoenix was crammed into the meeting room. Everyone tired after looking for Hermione all over England and the neighboring countries for the past 24 hours. They had had an anonymous tip that the Grangers were in danger. Harry was the only one with enough energy left to continue pacing. Ron walked over to him.
"We'll find her mate. We just need some rest." He put a hand on Harry's shoulder.
"We can't rest. We're wasting time. I know something isn't right. I can feel it."
"Look, we're all worried about Hermione, but if you make us search any longer, we won't be able to fight any Death Eaters we come across."
Mrs. Weasley walked to the front of the room.
"I would appreciate it if all my children went to bed. Harry can you please go too?" She looked at him worriedly.
"Mum! I'm sixteen! I shouldn't have to be told to go to bed!" Ginny stormed up the staircase, pausing to knock over the trolls leg hat stand, really loudly.
Screeches of 'Filthy Half-breeds and Disgusting Mudbloods' filled the house.
"C'mon mate, let's ago to bed." Ron walked past Harry out into the hallway and up the stairs.
Harry was lying in bed, staring up at the ceiling. He heard snoring from Ron's side of the room. He didn't get how Ron could be so calm when the 'love of his life' was missing and probably being held captive by several hundred Death Eaters at this very moment. He got up and walked over to the window. Leaning on the window sill, he opened the window and cool wind rushed at him. It felt refreshing. He was worried about Hermione. Something didn't feel right. Unfortunately for him, he didn't trust his instincts as much as he used to.
He needed time to sort out his feelings on the matter. He needed a day of not being Harry Potter.
"Yes, the amazing, fantastic, excellent, I Have No Feelings, Boy Who Lived, Harry Potter." He muttered sarcastically under his breath. "Well I do have feelings. That was proved in the last three years of my life. Maybe I don't cry, but it sure as hell rips me up in the inside." He went to step away from the window sill, when the moon caught his eye. A full moon. It looked glorious, even though it was causing one person in the household pain.
An owl swooped over the lamp post. The light flickered. He held his breath. But expelled it quickly. He was looking for any sign of the late Dumbledore. With one last glance at the moon and lamp post, he stepped away from the window, closing it behind him. Lying gently down onto his squeaky mattress, he fell into a dreamless sleep, that didn't last the whole night.
Casualties were held too lightly here in his opinion.