Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor can I read J.K. Rowling's mind. This is fan fiction, and therefore my version of Book 7.

A/N: Read and review and feel free to point out any misspellings or grammar mistakes I may have missed. I added a few lines of dialogue to this chapter that I had forgotten I wanted to put in, but they aren't important…or are they? Just kidding, they aren't.

Chapter Three: The Search

Snape Apparated with Harry into a very dark place and threw Harry into what appeared to a small room. Snape then did a few complex motions of his wand. Harry was sure that Snape was casting non-verbal spells. "There. Now no one can Apparate or Disapparate into or out of here," snarled Snape, "and you won't be able to leave this room."

"Snape! What did you do!" said Harry. "Where am I!"

"I put up a barrier. Only those with a Dark Mark and the Dark Lord himself can penetrate it, and now you are in the Dark Lord's hand's now. You won't be needing your wand for a while." Snape reached through the barrier and took Harry's wand. Then he walked away.

Harry sat down. He was wandless. He had no idea how to get out, or even where he was. Surely Ron and Hermione will save me, he thought, but how could they? I don't even know where I am, and Snape made sure nobody else could Apparate in or out, and the Dark Barrier. He couldn't possibly get out or could he? He remembered he had performed wandless magic, but it was always by accident. He never knew how it happened.

oOoOoO

Fred and George Apparated into their shop, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, Number Ninety-Three, Diagon Alley.

"I sure hope the rest of them will realize where we went," said Fred.

"Hermione's with them, of course they will," said George.

"Sometimes, I think she's too smart for her own good." As soon as Fred finished speaking, there was a loud crack and Hermione appeared with Ginny.

"About time, you made it," said Fred.

"Where's everyone else?" asked George, but before Hermione could answer there were several loud cracks as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Fleur, Charlie, Ron, and Mad-Eye Apparated into the shop. When Fred, George, Hermione, and Ginny saw Ron, they couldn't help laughing a little.

"What's so funny?" asked Ron appearing very confused.

"You have no eyebrows," said Fred as he continued to laugh.

"You must have left them behind, again," said George, also still laughing.

"For the last time, I only left half an eyebrow behind during my exam," said Ron.

"Don't worry, Ron. I'll fix it for you," said Hermione as she waved her wand and restored Ron's eyebrows to his body and then gave him a little kiss.

"I told you I'd never hear the end of it from those two," Ron whispered to Hermione.

"What happened?" asked Mad-Eye Moody.

"I'll explain once I send another message out to tell the rest of the Order not to go to the Burrow," said Mr. Weasley as he conjured his patronus and sent it off to deliver the new message. "Deatheaters attacked during Bill's wedding, and Snape kidnapped Harry."

"Not good, not good at all," responded Mad-Eye.

"We need to save him!" said Hermione and Ginny in unison.

"I couldn't agree more," said Mr. Weasley, "but we have no idea where Snape took him and surely You-Know-Who—"

Before Mr. Weasley could finish his sentence, Hermione interrupted, "would have made the location unplottable."

"Exactly," said Mr. Weasley ignoring the fact that Hermione had interrupted him.

"We need someone who knew Voldemort," said Hermione, and everyone else cringed. "We need to talk to a Deatheater."

"What!" shouted Ron. "Are you crazy, Hermione? Deatheaters are dark wizards! Surely they would send us in the wrong direction." Before anyone else had the chance to speak, there was a loud crack. "Professor McGonnagal! You need to talk some sense into Hermione. She's suggesting we talk to a Deatheater to find out where Snape took Harry! Surely they'd lie!"

"I fear that may be the only way, but first we must try Professor Slughorn," said Professor McGonnagal. "From what Albus told me, he was one of You-Know-Who's favorite professors." As soon as she finished saying that, she conjured her patronus, a cat, and sent it off to inform Professor Slughorn to meet them at Weasley's Wizard's Wheezes.

A few minutes later, Professor Horace Slughorn Apparated into the Weasley twins' shop.

"Doesn't anyone have manners any more?" said Fred.

"Everyone's Just Apparating directly into our store," said George.

"Oh, shut up," said Ron. "It is an emergency."

"Professor Slughorn," said Hermione. "Snape has kidnapped Harry."

"This isn't good," said the usually jolly Professor Slughorn in a morbid tone. "He was one of my favorite students."

"We know," said Ron, Hermione, and Ginny at the same time.

"Horace, when You-Know-Who attended Hogwarts, you were one of his favorite professors, right?" said Professor McGonnagal.

"I don't want to talk about," said Professor Slughorn.

"Professor, it is very important."

"Yes, I suppose I was, but he often gave gifts to a wide variety of teachers."

"The gift-giving is besides the point, do you think you know where Snape may have taken Harry on You-Know-Who's orders?"

"No. While he knew me and many of the other teachers really well, I didn't know him as well as he knew me."

"That poses a problem, then. I'm afraid, we don't have a choice. We need to find a Deatheater."

"Not necessarily," said Fred.

"You-Know-Who feared Dumbledore," said George.

"Of course! Dumbledore's portrait!" exclaimed Hermione, sounding disappointed she hadn't thought of it before. "Come on Ron," resumed Hermione as she grabbed Ron and Disapparated with a loud crack.

"Not even a good-bye," said Fred.

"I guess no one does have manners anymore," said George.

"Like you two have anyway," said Ginny.

oOoOoO

A few minutes later, Hermione and Ron Apparated to just outside the Hogwarts gates. "Surely, there's going to be a lot of protective spells here."

"But Harry said Dumbledore took them down the night he died," said Ron.

"Ron, do you honestly think that the other professors wouldn't put other protective charms up in the place of the ones Dumbledore had. Don't you remember our first year? Several professors were charged with protecting the philosopher's stone." As Hermione was saying this, she took something out of her pocket.

"Hey, that's Harry's map. How'd you get it?"

"I ran into your house and got it with Ginny after the twins threw their Instant Darkness Powder down. I solemnly swear I'm up to no good." With those words, the Marauders' Map Appeared. "Well let's see, Filch is wondering the halls. That's not good, but Hagrid's in his hut. Hopefully he'll see this. Mischief Managed." Hermione raised her wand and sent up red sparks. Unfortunately, Hagrid was currently cooking his dinner and not paying too much attention to what was going on outside, but there was someone else watching, and before Hermione and Ron knew it an owl was flying down and transfigured into a man.

"What are you doing here? Term doesn't start for another month," said the man.

"We're friends of Professor Hagrid," said Hermione. "Professor Dumbledore's death really hit him hard. We wanted to make sure he was okay."

"Ah, I see," the man said in a tone that suggested he didn't believe them, but he conjured his patronus which was also an owl and sent it off to Hagrid.

"Hermione," said Ron, motioning her to come over closer to her. When she moved closer, Ron whispered into her ear, "How do we know we can trust him? We've never seen him before."

"You're acting suspicious, Ron," Hermione whispered back.

At that moment, Hagrid came to the gates and opened them. "Ron, Hermione! What are yeh doing here?" said Hagrid in a jolly voice. "Thank yeh, Professor Biggs." Hagrid led them to his hut and Professor Biggs transfigured back into an owl to resume watching the entrance to the Hogwarts grounds.

When they entered Hagrid's hut, Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but Ron asked, "Who was that?" before Hermione could say anything.

"Ralphael Biggs. New Transfiguration professor," said Hagrid. "How yeh've been? Wait. Where's Harry?"

"Hagrid, Harry's been kidnapped by Snape," said Hermione.

"No! Impossible! First Dumbledore, now Harry!" Hagrid couldn't help himself as he started crying again.

"Hagrid, we need to get to Professor McGonnagal's office."

"I can't bring yeh to her. She's not here."

"We know," said Ron and Hermione.

"Then why do yeh want to go to her office?" asked Hagrid.

"Professor Dumbledore's portrait. We believe, he may be able to help locate Harry."

"I'm not bringin' yeh to her office while she ain't there."

"But Hagrid! This might mean life or death for Harry!" yelled Ron.

"Hagrid, you know Ron's right," said Hermione.

"I know! I know! But so yeh know, Professor McGonnagal kind of scares me," said Hagrid.

"She'll understand," said Hermione as they walked out of Hagrid's hut and toward the castle.

Unfortunately on their way to Professor McGonnagal's office, they ran into Filch.

"What are students doing here at this time of year?" asked Filch in a harsh tone.

"Special meetin' with the headmistress," said Hagrid.

"She's not here."

"Didn' yeh see her, Argus? She got back about five minutes ago," said Hagrid.

"Oh, all right, but only because they're with you."

When they got to the stone gargoyle, Hagrid spoke to himself, "Password. What is it? Ron, Hermione, Do either of yeh know it?"

"No," they both said.

"Of course. Phoenix Lament," said Hagrid with huge tears coming down his face that he promptly wiped away with his handkerchief as the gargoyle jumped out of the way and the three of them walked to the stairs which started to move up.

"There it is!" said Ron. "Professor Dumbledore's portrait!" Considering it was late at night, all the portraits were asleep, or at least appeared to be.

"Professor Dumbledore," said Hermione. "Sorry to wake you, but we have a problem."

Professor Dumbledore's portrait yawned, and said, "That is quite all right, Ms. Granger. I'm always willing to help my students."

"Professor, Harry's been kidnapped by Snape. He's working for Voldemort now."

"I can't believe I trusted him, but even old men make mistakes. I told Harry that, you know, and he tried to warn me."

"Let's get to the point," said Ron. "Do you have any idea where he could have taken him?"

"Well, I suppose Harry has told you about our lessons. Voldemort liked places and items that were linked with either Hogwarts history or his own history. Surely, he could not have penetrated into the Hogwarts grounds after the events of last term," Dumbledore thought for a moment, "but there are two places that seem likely. "The Gaunt House. It was his grandfather's and uncle's house, or possibly even the Riddles' house."

"Where are they?" asked Hermione.

Dumbledore then explained to Hermione and Ron where these houses were, "but beware. Certainly Voldemort's Deatheaters will be watching over both of these places, and Dark Magic is certain."

"Thanks, Professor. Thanks, Hagrid. Let's go, Ron," said Hermione as she grabbed him again and began to run out of the office but instead ran into Professor McGonnagal.

"Ms. Granger, I am surprised at your actions. Leaving us in such a hurry, not telling anyone where you were going, and Mr. Weasley, your mother is very worried about you. If it were during the school term, I'd take—"

Before Professor McGonnagal could finish, Hermione interrupted, "Sorry Professor, but we may have found out where Harry is," as Hermione ran around Professor McGonnagal dragging Ron behind her.

"But how?" asked Professor McGonnagal.

"Ask Professor Dumbledore's portrait! Ow!" screamed Ron as Hermione dragged him out of the office.