Chapter 9

Half way back to the tower, Hermione came skidding to a halt when she spotted Ron and Harry walking in her direction.

"Harry...Ron...what did Lupin have to say?"

She looked nervous as she ran to them. Harry frowned.

"Let's see...they're pretty sure there is a war starting, that Voldemort does have the girls and Lupin and Snuffles are off to go look for them."

"And we have to be good little children and stay here."

Ron added as he kicked a suit of armour. His ears had gone red again, showing his frustration. Harry just kept shaking his head.

"Well, that's it then. There's nothing else we can do now is there?"

Hermione looked at her friends...they stared back at her, in disbelief.

"I can't believe you! How can we just leave them out there Hermione?"

"Ron...what else can we do? Dumbledore and Lupin don't want us leaving."

Harry sighed heavily.

"Let's just go back to the common room..." Seeing the look of shock in Ron's eyes, he quickly added, "For now. Maybe we can come up with something."

Harry started heading for the tower, Ron, however, was still glaring at Hermione.

"What did Dumbledore tell you?"

"N-nothing Ron...just that we have to stay out of it." Her voice was shaking, which told Harry that Hermione wasn't telling them everything. He stopped and looked at her, an eyebrow raised.

"What do you know that you're not telling us Hermione?"

"I know as much as the two of you do...maybe even less than that. I...I need to study, I'll see you in the common room."

And with that, Hermione quickly left them staring after her as she turned a corner.

"She knows something...I know she does. Harry...how are we going to get her to tell us?"

Harry shrugged.

"I have no clue."

They both sighed and headed back to the tower...but Hermione was no where in sight. They sat down in front of Ron's chess board. Ron picked up pawn and set it down, waiting for Harry to move one of his pieces.

"I don't like this Harry. I don't like this one little bit."

"Neither do I Ron, neither do I. Think we should 'borrow' some truth serum from Snape?" Harry said as his pawn moved in front of Ron's. Ron was staring out of the window as his pawn destroyed Harry's.

"I think that might be to risky. Snape's looking for an excuse to chuck us both out. Besides...Hermione will be expecting us to pull something on her."

"True. I just wish I could think of something to..."

He trailed off as the fire in the common room grate suddenly turned green.

"What the?"

Both of them had stood up, eyes on the fire. A whirling shape came into view and Alex stepped out of the fire, followed closely by Cat. Both girls had their wands out and were pointing them at Harry and Ron, the locket around Alex's neck was glowing an eerie blue. Cat spoke, her voice sounding distant.

"Take us to Dumbledore...or die."

Cat had moved forward, a gauntlet formed around her arm that held her wand on them. Harry glanced at Ron and blinked, then looked back at Cat.

"Dumbledore isn't here Cat. Where...where have you been?"

Cat looked over her shoulder and nodded, then Alex moved forward, lowering her wand.

"Please help us. We...we don't know what's happened...only that we woke up in the forest."

Ron started towards Alex, but Harry grabbed his arm and shook his head before turning to her. He looked into her eyes, eyes that normally held a fire within them, but there was nothing, just a coldness that made him shiver. They were being controlled. Ron raised an eyebrow at Harry, then understood.

"How can we help? We can't leave the tower, all Gryffindors are to stay here until term starts."

Again, Cat looked at Alex, it was like she was giving her instructions telepathically. Alex pocketed her wand and walked over to Ron. She stood very close to him, smiling in a way that just didn't suit her, running her finger gently down his cheek.

"I'm sure I can think of a few ways you can help me Ron...just get us to Dumbledore first, then we can talk...all alone."

Ron blushed, and had the situation been different, he would have been smiling as well. Ron knew that Alex wouldn't say this to him. Harry was listening, but his eyes were locked on Cat. It seemed, to him at least, that Cat was pulling the strings here. If they could distract her, they might be able to get Alex back and that was a start. Ron must have thought the same thing because he took Alex's hand. He was playing along, Harry hoped he wouldn't get to caught up in the act.

"How about we talk first. I've missed so much Alex. We can go sit in a corner and just talk for a bit."

"NO! Dumbledore first."

Cat had shifted her focus onto Ron. Harry didn't even have time to think...he just acted. In a mere second, he had pulled his wand, pointed it at Cat the moment she took her eyes off of him and he shouted, "STUPEFY!" Ron had grabbed Alex's other hand and was struggling with her to keep her from reaching her wand as Cat fell to the floor. Alex suddenly blinked and went slightly limp in Ron's arms as Cat became unconscious. She shook her head, the life now back in her eyes. She frowned at Ron as her locket stopped glowing.

"Why in the bloody hell are you holding me?"

Ron grinned, he couldn't resist.

"Because you were just telling me how much you love me Alex."

Harry snickered as he bent down to check on Cat.

"Oh very funny Ron. Let go of me."

Alex had pulled herself away from him and then saw Cat lying on the floor.

"Ok, someone tell me what is going on? What happened to Cat? When did I get here?"

They looked at each other, winced, then turned back to Alex.

"I think you better sit down. Ron, go and get Dumbledore."