"Ronald Weasley. To what do I owe this pleasure?" Draco drawled, looking back over his shoulder at Ron, who started chuckling softly.
"You owe this nothing, Draco. I'm here for Elian." Ron replied, smiling at Elian. "Well, don't you look different… like a Weasley..." Elian smiled brightly.
"Oh, well it was Fred's idea. A very smart man your brother." she replied walking over to Ron. Draco looked between them confusedly. "What's wrong, Dragon? You look paler than usual…" Elian smirked as she said this.
Draco shook his head and remained silent. 'What exactly happened while I was gone?' he thought to himself as he watched Elian hug Ron tightly. 'She used to hug me like that…' Draco thought sadly as he averted his eyes.
Suddenly a blinding light came from the forest. "Hermione!" Ron yelled as he released Elian and ran towards the forest. "Hermione, are you alright!" Ron yelled again as Elian ran up behind him closely followed by Draco.
"Where's Mione?" Elian asked, closing her eyes against the light. Ron's response was drowned out by a blood curdling scream. "Hermione, Ron!" Elian screamed, feeling a pair of strong, yet gentle arms wrap around her.
"Don't worry, I've got you." Draco whispered in Elian's ear. This brought memories rushing back to Elian, memories of before Draco had mysteriously disappeared and before everything she had known failed her.
Hermione slowly and calmly walked out of the forest and straight into Ron's arms, where she started sobbing. "Ron…" she whispered clutching him tightly, Ron slowly ran his hands up and down Hermione's back in a soothing manner.
"It's alright, Mione. It's alright." Ron whispered in Hermione's ear, which just caused her to sob harder. "What happened, guys?" Elian and Draco shrugged causing Ron to sigh heavily. "We've got to find out." Elian nodded glancing up at Draco, who also nodded.
"We should get her up to the castle…I have a bad feeling if we stay here something else will happen." Elian spoke softly looking up at the sky, her eyes misting over. Elian, Draco, Ron and the still sobbing Hermione made their way up to the castle, not one of them seeing the Dark Mark hovering over it.