Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter…it's all JKR's…but you all know that. D

A/N: Thanks for the reviews! They are appreciated! Please review if you read this!

The next morning dawned cold and grey; it was if the skies knew that the hero of the wizarding world had disappeared, leaving his loved ones behind to mourn.
Ron sat stony faced in the Great Hall, with Hermione and the rest of the Weasley's surrounding him. Across the Great Hall, he spotted Cho sobbing; Ron thought that with Cedric dying and Harry disappearing she was allowed to cry as much as she liked.
A grave looking Dumbledore stood up in front at the front of the Great Hall; most students weren't eating anything, and the few that were eating, were picking at the food on their plates. Only the Slytherins seemed to be enjoying the delicious food the house-elves had provided.

As Dumbledore began to speak, Ron tuned the Headmaster out; anything that Dumbledore would have to say, Ron already knew. Last night, Dumbledore had taken Ron and Hermione into his office once most things had settled down. Although Ron had yelled quite a bit at Dumbledore, seeing as he was exhausted and wanted Harry to come back, the headmaster had remained calm. Hermione had in a wooden chair in the corner, watching Ron with terrified eyes; she had barely said anything.

Dumbledore had told the pair about the "real" Mad-Eye Moody and they had been taught by one of Lord Voldemort's most faithful servant's, and about Karkaroff being a death. Both men had fled last night, during the third task, and the top Auror's were searching for them. Most importantly, Dumbledore told them that Cedric been murdered by Lord Voldemort, and that Lord Voldemort had returned to full power.

Ron and Hermione had walked silently back to Gryffindor Tower after the meeting with Dumbledore. They returned to any empty common room, and Ron and Hermione told each other they were going to bed. However, neither of them had slept at all.
Gasps from the students and teachers in the Great Hall brought Ron out of thoughts; he knew that Dumbledore had just told them about Voldemort returning.

"…Anyone with any information on the events of last night is urged to step forward. Complete anonymity will be assured, of course," Dumbledore explained. "One can only hope that it will lead us to finding Harry Potter."

"Come on, Hermione." Ron said, pulling her arm, "Let's go."

Hermione nodded; Dumbledore had just finished his speech, and she didn't feel like staying in the depressing Great Hall.

As they walked out of the Hall, Ron and Hermione spotted a gang of Slytherins standing near a flight of stairs.

"Ron," Hermione warned as they approached. She knew Malfoy, who was in the center of the circle, would probably say something horrible. "Just ignore him."

Ron ignored her, and continued to walk towards the knot of Slytherins.

"Ah, it's Weasel and the Mudblood!" Malfoy shouted across the Hall, which caught the attention of all the occupants of the Great Hall.

Within a second, Ron had grabbed his wand from inside his robes and was glaring at Malfoy.

"Ron, don't!" Hermione said pleadingly, struggling to hold him back.

"So it looks like Potter finally died!" Malfoy yelled. "About time too, I don't think I could've stood him much longer! Pity you and Granger couldn't have died with him!"

At Malfoy's words, Hermione released Ron from her grip and stalked over to Malfoy. With all her might, she slapped him across the face; Hermione slapped him even harder than the previous year. The sound from her slap echoed through out the Entrance Hall, and a bright red handprint remained on Malfoy's face. Everyone in the Entrance Hall fell silent and stared at Hermione.

"You little effing -------"she screamed, in the most un-like Hermione voice as possible. "Don't you ever say anything like that ever again! Now, get out of my sight, and leave me alone!"

Hermione continued to stare at Malfoy and his gang of Slytherins until they turned around and scampered down towards the dungeons.

Without another word, and ignoring the stares she was receiving, Hermione stormed up the stairs towards the Gryffindor common room.

"Wow, Hermione," Ron, who was running to keep up with Hermione, said in awe. "I can't believe you just slapped Malfoy again, especially after you told me not to fight him!"

"Ron," Hermione explained, "the maggot went too far with what he said."

The few days left of term passed slowly and painfully. Holding classes had been attempted, but barely any student or teacher in the castle felt like learning. After two painful days of classes, Dumbledore finally announced that classes for the rest of the year would be canceled.

Searches for Harry Potter continued, but produced few and disappointing results. Although no one (except the Slytherins) dared to say it, hope for finding Harry was dissipating, but nobody seemed to want to give up looking for the-boy-who-lived. Even Muggles had been informed of Harry Potter's disappearance. His face covered newspapers and TV screens around the world.

The disappearance of Harry Potter and the return of Voldemort sent the entire wizarding world into a depression. The wizarding world had not yet been attacked, so it seemed as if He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named hadn't returned to full power. However, protection guides were sent out to wizarding families, and everyone became extremely cautious.

Term ended at Hogwarts on June 30th, and the students returned to their homes. The Burrow, which was usually loud and chaotic, became unusually quiet and somber. Hermione had moved to the Burrow a week after term ended; she now spent her days in a quiet atmosphere with the Weasleys.

Hermione walked down a cold, dark corridor. A feeling of uncertainty filled her entire body. She knew that she was unwelcome here, wherever 'here' might be.

Down the passage way a bit, Hermione could see two small, bright orange dots; she assumed they were torches and slowly made her way towards the light.

When Hermione reached the torches, she saw an archway looming in front of her. She also noticed shadows on the walls which were created in from a fire inside the room. Carefully, Hermione peered around the corner of the door. A dark figure lay crumpled on the stone floor at the far end of room. With quick glance at the rest of the room to see if anyone else was there, Hermione swiftly hurried into the room and over to the figure.

Hermione let out a gasp when she saw that the body lying on the floor had messy, raven hair. "Harry?" she whispered, hoping with all her might that this body wasn't Harry's.

"Oh!" Hermione cried softly as she turned the person onto his front. Looking back at her was one of her best friends—Harry Potter. His face was extremely pale, and made his scar stick out more than usual on his face; the light from the fire cast a strange glow across his face. His eyes were closed and his breathing was shallow. He looked thinner than the last time Hermione had seen him, and his robes were filthy.

"Harry?" she said once again, more frantic this time. "Harry, come on! Wake up!" Hermione checked his pulse; she found one, but it was faint.

Hermione heard footsteps approaching from the hall. She dropped her best friend's wrist and anxiously looked around the room for a hiding place or way to escape.

The small, stone room didn't have another door or any windows; however, the fireplace stuck out quite a bit into the room, and Hermione crouched down next to the right side of the fireplace. As long as whoever came into the room didn't walk more than halfway into the room, she wouldn't be spotted.

Breathing hard and sweating, Hermione desperately tried to make herself smaller as the footsteps reached the room.

"Ah, Mr. Potter," said a cruel, women's voice softly. "Are we awake?"

Hermione stiffened as the mysterious women walked forward. Fortunately for Hermione, the women did not look to her right.

"Wake up, Potter!" the women shrieked. She had long, black hair, a thin, pale face, and wore long, black robes.

The fourteen year old on the floor began to stir. Hermione noticed that his bright emerald eyes stood out brightly on his chalk-white face. He immediately spotted Hermione, and eyes became wide with fear. Hermione shook her head at him, as if saying, 'Don't worry about me.'

"Potter," the black-haired women spat. "Do you wish to cooperate now? Or do need a little bit more convincing?" The women pulled her wand from the pocket of her robes, and began to play with the wand; she wore a smirk on her face.

Harry lay on the floor, unable to get up. He shook his, telling the women that he would not cooperate.

"Very well," the women said, sighing. "The Dark Lord will wait until you are ready."

"I'll never give up," Harry managed to croak out in a hoarse voice.

The women laughed; a high-pitched, malicious laugh. She raised her wand and shouted, "CRUCIO!"

Hermione screamed louder than she ever had in her life. She felt as if the pain from the curse was running through her veins.

"Hermione! Hermione!" a worried voice cried. "Are you okay?"

The bushy-haired teenager opened her eyes. Darkness surrounded her and she was breathing hard. Ron and Ginny sat on the edge of her bed, looking extremely worried. She could hear more people walking through the house coming to see what had happened.

"What's wrong, Hermione?" Ginny asked. "Why were you screaming?"

Hermione sat up in her bed, with sweat dripping down her face; her breathing still hadn't slowed.

"Hermione," Ginny said again. "What happened?"

"It was a dream," Hermione stated quietly, "a horrible dream."

"Who was it about?" Ron asked tentatively.

After a moments silence, Hermione replied, "Harry."

A stunned silence filled the room as Ron and Ginny stared at Hermione, open mouthed.

A few seconds later, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Lupin, and Sirius walked into the room; all of them looked worried and were carrying candles.

"Hermione, dear," Mrs. Weasley asked gently. "What happened?"

"I just had a nightmare, that's all," Hermione replied quickly. "I'm fine now, really."

"Are you sure dear?" Mrs. Weasley prompted. "You look awfully white."

"Who was your nightmare about?" Lupin asked Hermione.

"No one," Hermione replied hastily. "I don't even remember the dream now."

Ron and Ginny both glared at Hermione, but she shook her head at them, as if to say, "Not now."

All four adults continued to look concerned over the teenager, but exited the room anyway; Ginny, Ron and Hermione were left in the darkness once again.

"Hermione, why didn't you tell them about your dream?" Ginny asked in a somewhat severe voice. "It might have been important!"

"How would you know if the dream was important, Ginny? I haven't even told you about the dream yet." Hermione replied airily.

"Yes, but you're going to now, aren't you?" Ron said, looking at Hermione questioningly.

"Of course I am," Hermione said, and immediately began telling her friends about the dream.

When she had finished, Ron was staring at Hermione with his mouth open, and Ginny was on the verge of tears, with her had over her mouth.

"Hermione, that's horrible," Ginny finally said after a tense minute.

Hermione nodded but didn't say anything; she was still shook up about the nightmare.

"But it didn't really happen, did it?" Ron asked, looking even more worried than before.

"I don't know," Hermione replied, shaking her head.

More silence followed Hermione's statement as the three teenagers thought about the dream.

Hermione was the first to break the silence. "Ron, Ginny," she began, looking at each of them. "It's late, and I'm tired. Why don't we all go to bed, and we can talk about this tomorrow."

"Okay," Ginny replied, and Ron nodded.

Ginny got up and walked over to her bed in the spacious room, and Ron walked towards the door of bedroom.

"Night," he said, as he opened the door.

"Night," both girls replied.

"Lock the door, Ron, will you?" Hermione asked.

"Okay."

As Ron walked into his dark bedroom across from the girls' bedroom, he felt as if something was missing. He remembered to lock his door as well; he didn't want Kreacher to come in. As he climbed into his bed, he glanced at the empty bed next to him. If Harry were here, he would have that bed, Ron thought. But Harry's not here, Ron reminded himself. Thinking of the way things would be is not going to bring him back.

A few days after Hermione had moved into the Burrow, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had had a serious talk with the Weasley children and Hermione about spending the summer in a different house, one where the children would be helping out with an organization called the Order of the Phoenix. Everyone had agreed to go immediately.

At first, the children hadn't liked Number 12, Grimmauld Place (even though it was Sirius' house) because of the feeling of it being a dark wizard's house. However, after they had worked tirelessly on cleaning up the place, they eventually liked Grimmauld Place.

The Headquarters of the Order were extremely busy on most days, and people always seemed to be coming and going. The Order worked on fighting Voldemort, as well as finding Harry. Because the Ministry of Magic accepted the return of Voldemort, current members of the Order could recruit more and more people. The Order became stronger and bigger each day, and soon they outnumbered Voldemort's followers by at least 10:1.