Thank you Alaksandra, Because-I-Got-High, radiofreegirl, and the person who identified themselves as 'a' for their reviews. To those who asked if my brother was okay: yes, he's fine. It turned out to be nothing serious or life threatening.

Disclaimer: I don't own it, I don't claim to own it, no profit is being made and none ever will.

I jumped, nearly letting out a shriek. Crookshanks hissed, his hair standing on end.

Someone was knocking at the door, and they certainly shouldn't be. I stood, gripping my wand tightly. Maybe some neighbors noticed the lights and they were just coming to check up on the place?

I cautiously walked towards the door. There were no windows at the right angle to look through, and I had no idea what could be on the other side. The neighbor I was hoping for? A police officer? A Death Eater, perhaps?

Taking a deep, not-so-steadying breath, I opened the door, tense and ready for action.

"Petrificus Totalus!"

Maybe not as ready for action as I had hoped, I thought as my body went rigid and I slammed painfully against the tile floor. It was cold and the cold from outside made it worse. I was wearing flannel pajamas and socks, but it didn't help. It felt like I had smashed my shoulder and hip to pieces.

I caught sight of my attacker and would have screamed if my mouth not been clamped shut. Instead, I whimpered pathetically, closing my eyes against my view of Professor Snape, flanked by Mad-Eye Moody and Tonks.

"Hermione?" Tonks asked. The curse was undone, and I scrambled up and away from them, staring at them with wide eyes, wand hand shaking slightly.

"What's going on?" The confusion was obvious in her voice and eyes.

In response, I just shook my head, making a noise that meant nothing.

"I think I have an idea," Snape sneered, glaring at me with cold black eyes.

"As have I," Moody growled. "It appears Granger here ran away from home."

"She wasn't kidnapped?" Tonks asked dumbly. If my brain had been working properly, I would have wondered what made her think I had been kidnapped. Instead, I was only wishing she had the ability to catch on a bit quicker and that they would all leave.

"No, she wasn't kidnapped."

"Then...why would she run away from home?"

"I believe that is a reasonable question. Granger? Why don't you enlighten us," Snape said mockingly, adopting an expression of one contemplating a conundrum.

I shook my head forcibly, hair falling in my face. I didn't push it out of the way, as I usually would. I didn't want to see them, and I didn't want them to see me.

"We're doing no good standing around here," Moody said gruffly. "C'mon, girl, get your things."

"No," I said quietly. "I'm staying."

"You're coming with us, Granger."

I straightened my spine, shook my hair out of my eyes, and stared determinedly at them.

"Tonks, go get her things," Moody ordered. She looked between Moody and me, then bowed her head and left the room.

"I'm perfectly fine on my own!" I said angrily.

"I take it you haven't seen this, then," Snape snapped, flinging an edition of the Daily Prophet into my hands. I looked at the page it was on and a choking noise escaped my throat as I saw the picture and headline.

Hermione Granger Gone Missing!

A picture of me was under that, and the article went on. I was too numb to read it. I was missing? Since when did anyone ever notice when I was missing? Since when was I actually missing in the first place?

"You're coming with us, Miss Granger, whether we have to force you or not."

I could only nod stupidly.

A/N: Yeah, people are probably upset that I didn't update sooner. Yeah, it's short. Don't give me a review saying I better update soon and make it longer, because I'm not in the mood to read your complaints. Just be happy with what you have. Constructive criticism is, as always, welcome.