I ran out of the front door to see Harry and Draco standing over by Ron. Ron was trying to talk to them but Harry and Draco stared blankly at him just as they had done to me. Then I was shocked to see Harry shove Ron back into the wall. Harry and Draco walked off after that and I ran over to Ron to check to see if he was all right.

"Are you OK, Ron?" I asked.

"I-I-I'm fine."

"Harry's been acting really strange today. Take no notice of him."

"Why did he push me though? Harry's never been like that before."

I had no idea why Harry had shoved Ron or why he had knocked me over and then blanked me. It was something I was determined to find out though. Ron looked completely bewildered, even more so than earlier and I could understand his pain. Harry was his best friend and would never try to hurt him.

I went to the dinning hall where I met up with Ginny. We sat and ate our lunch together. I had my crumpled sandwich that I had picked back up off the floor and Ginny with just an apple and a small cake.

"Have you seen Harry recently?" I asked.

"No, I haven't Hermione. Why?"

"He has been acting very, very strange lately. He knocked me over in the corridor and didn't even apologize. He even pushed your brother, Ron."

"He pushed Ron? Violently?"

"Yeah. He's been hanging out with Draco Malfoy recently and it shows too. Harry's become almost a different person, so distant."

"Do you still fancy him then?"

I was stopped in my tracks for a second.

"Fancy him?" I said. "Well, why on earth do you ask? I've never said anything of the sought."

"Oh, come on, Hermione, it is so obvious. You two are made for each other. There's no point fighting it, it's fate."

"That's rubbish. I don't believe in fate or destiny and I don't really think Harry's my type anyway. We've been friends for so many years; it would feel too weird if we were in love. Ron's the same, I guess."

"Ron?" Ginny laughed. "Why on earth would you want to go out with Ron? My brother is a total dork."

"No, he's sweet and funny and nice. But we are simply good friends. He gets all shy and nervous when he's around me. I think he might have a crush on me."

"Well don't give into his schoolboy charms, Hermione. He is a total loser. You don't want anything to do with him, not if you wanna keep you reputation around here anyway."

"Well I'll take your word for it. But I'm really concerned about Harry. I want to talk to him. I've barely seen him this week, since he became friends with Draco. I wonder what they're up to."

"I dunno, but it can't be anything good. I'd steer clear of them if I were you too."

Ginny and I continued to talk over lunch and when the bell sounded for us to go back to class, we took our rubbish threw it in the bin, waved and parted ways. I was going to be in the same class as Harry now so it would be the perfect opportunity to talk to him.

I walked into the classroom. Everyone was already in there and Dumbledore had already started the lesson.

"You're late, Miss Granger," said Dumbledore. "Hurry up and sit down."

I took my place in the one available free seat. Harry was sitting on the opposite side of the room and didn't even look at me. I kept glancing at him hoping to get his attention, but he was completely unfazed. The lesson wasn't very interesting either. Dumbledore certainly had a dull way of teaching magic. I could have learnt more if I had studied on my own in the library.

The lesson finally ended after an hour and the all the students hurried off to their next lesson. I looked around to see if I could catch Harry alone, but he had gone as well. I left my books on desks and continue to read.

"The lesson is over." Dumbledore said. "You are dismissed, Miss Granger."

"No, thank you. I think I'm going to stay here and do a bit more extra studying."

"Very good, as you wish, Miss Granger."

Dumbledore left the room.

This was finally a chance for me to catch up on my magic skills without listening to Dumbledore's monotonous voice. It was also a great chance to think about what I was going to say to Harry. I had to get him to see sense and I knew Draco was a bad influence on him. Draco and I had never gotten along and I wouldn't be caught dead being associated with him, but I cared for Harry, maybe a bit too much.

I looked across and saw that the door had still been left open. Stupid Dumbledore, I thought. I got up and walked across the room to close the door. Suddenly I felt a pair of hands grasp my arms.

That shocked me but then I felt an arm being held tightly round my waist. Another hand came up holding a cloth and clamped it down over my mouth. I struggled with all the strength I had. There was a sweet, sickening smell coming from the cloth. I breathed it in and began to feel dizzy; my head started to spin.

I couldn't pass out though, I thought. I struggled harder but the person who held me was too strong. I tried to elbow my attacker in the side but I missed and I tried to stamp on his foot but I missed as well. I could no longer think straight and everything seemed hazy. I could hear laughter as my struggles weakened.

I was trying to hold my breath but I had already breathed far too much of the sweet smelling chemical. I had to get away from this guy though, if I were to pass out, then he would have his way with me. I may not have been able to think straight, but my attacker was definitely a guy. His arms were thin but strong and overpowered me with ease.

"Relax" came a voice from behind me. "Just relax and have a nice, long sleep."

I recognized the voice. I tried to look round to see who it was but his arms held me in place. I had no strength left and I closed my eyes, finally submitting to defeat as I fell unconscious.

oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

I groggily opened my eyes.

I had no idea where I was.

I saw the ground. It was moving.

My stomach hurt like hell, my thoughts were all cloudy and I could still smell that chemical on my breath. It didn't smell good and I was starting to feel dizzy again. But I managed to stay awake this time.

I saw the ground moving again. This is when I realised that I was being carried over someone's shoulder. I was just hanging there like a sack of potatoes, completely limp. Whoever was wasn't aware that I was conscious, and I would have liked it to stay that way. Also whoever was carrying me was awfully skinny and couldn't have been really tall either. I felt a bony shoulder digging into my stomach as I lay, draped over his shoulder. He couldn't have been really tall either as I could feel the vibration from the ground. My feet were almost touching the ground.

I definitely had to stay conscious now, whoever was carrying me, didn't seem very big or strong and that would give me the perfect chance for escape. I heard voices but I couldn't make out whose. There were two people, two men. They were laughing and joking. How dare they laugh at a time like this? This was an insult to me, Hermione Granger. I couldn't let them get away with this.

Their voices and their laughter echoed around my head. I had to find out where they were going next and if possible, I had to leave some kind of clue for someone to find me. I managed to pull a small ribbon out of my hair and drop it on the floor. I hoped that someone would find it.

The person who was carrying me was out of breath and he stopped for a moment. Was this my moment to get away? I wasn't sure. It would have been difficult, the person had an arm securely wrapped around my thighs to stop me from breaking free.

"Where are we headed?" the person who carried me said.

"We're not too far from there now, you'll see soon."

It was essential that I found out where they were headed. I felt myself being jolted higher up his shoulder. It was more comfortable now but the blood was starting to go straight to my head. I was dizzy but I kept trying to fight it. I kept telling myself that I couldn't lose this battle or I could die or perhaps worse. I couldn't let these guys win especially not this skinny guy who held me over his shoulder.

But I was helpless and too weak to do anything. I was just a girl. There was no way I would be able to fight off these two guys.

The blood rushed straight my head though and I could think no more.

I fainted wondering what would become of me.