Satin by Viriditas

Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize.

Summary: Post-HBP The Golden Trio. Split up. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Gaining power. How can the Light side save wizards and muggles alike when they need saving themselves?

Chapter 1: Gone

The sun rose over the Burrow, whose chimney was already emitting smoke from the kitchen fire. Everything was just beginning to stir from their slumber. No gnomes prowled the yard; no chickens pecked at the hard ground; no birds sang their melodies. Everything was at peace.

The quiet of the outside world was reflected inside they Weasleys' home. In the kitchen, Molly Weasley silently hovered over the stove, cooking breakfast. Occasionally, she glanced at the cauldron in the fireplace to check on the porridge. With a heavy sigh, the witch turned away from her cooking.

"Breakfast is ready!" she called up the stairs. Her voice seemed strained and lacked its usual warmth.

Sounds of feet descending the creaking steps announced the awakening of the Weasley family, plus Harry Potter, who came for a brief stay with his favorite family before having to spend the rest of his summer at Grimmauld Place. Respecting Dumbledore's wishes, he stayed with his aunt and uncle until his seventeenth birthday and promptly left. Both parties were relieved at Harry's departure.

"Good morning, dear," said Arthur Weasley as he kissed his wife's cheek. "I'm afraid I must run to the Ministry today. Much work to do, much work…"

Mrs. Weasley smiled reassuringly at her husband and gestured for him to go. "Take a bit of toast with you. And be careful."

With a final look, Mr. Weasley stepped out the door and vanished with a crack. She turned toward the boys and Ginny, who were filling their plates with food. With another sigh, Mrs. Weasley joined them and began picking at her food, but not really eating.

A heavy silence fell upon the foursome. Apart from the clinking of knives and forks, not a sound could be heard. It was Ginny who broke the silence.

"Mum," she said, looking up from her eggs and sausage. "Any news of…?"

Mrs. Weasley shook her head slowly. The table lapsed into silence again.

Suddenly, Harry slammed his fist onto the table. He looked torn between anger and grief. With a strangled "It's not fair!", he stormed out of the kitchen and up the stairs to the room he and Ron were sharing.

"I'll go see if he's alright," muttered Ron, excusing himself from the table. He disappeared up the stairs as well.

There was no clinking of silverware this time. There was pure silence as Mrs. Weasley stared absently at Harry's chair. Ginny, on the other hand, had tears cascading down her face. She looked to her mother with reddening eyes.

"Wh-why did it have t-to be her? Why d-did they want h-her?" she asked despairingly.

Mrs. Weasley said nothing, her blank eyes never leaving Harry's chair.

"Excuse me," said Ginny quickly before she too ran up to her room. A slam of the door and silence reigned again.

Finally, Mrs. Weasley tore her eyes from the chair. Instead, she fixed her gaze on a cut out piece of parchment on the mantle of the fireplace. It was worn and faded and looked like it had been folded and unfolded many times over. It was stained in some spots, making the text hard to read in those places. One would assume that it was at least a few years old, but the date at the top indicated otherwise; it was only from a week ago.

The piece of parchment was cut out from the Daily Prophet, dated August 2nd.

HOGWARTS FUTURE HEAD GIRL, NOWHERE TO BE FOUND

Hermione Granger, age 17, was reported "missing" by friends and family this morning. Sources suggest that Miss Granger disappeared sometime between 7 pm last night and 6 am this morning, at which time her parents found her missing from her bed.

Miss Granger was at the top of her class and going into her seventh year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She had received a letter earlier in the summer announcing that she was going to be Head Girl opposite her best friend and fellow Gryffindor, Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived.

"She was very much loved by the whole school," said an anonymous Hogwarts student.

Very much loved indeed. Miss Granger had a brief relationship with the world-famous Seeker Viktor Krum during her fourth year. Unfortunately, Mr. Krum was unavailable for comment on this tragic incident. Her parents and friends were also unavailable for comment.

Could this have been the work of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named? Being a muggle-born and best friend of Harry Potter, she was a prime target for Death Eaters. We can only speculate.

As she looked at the wizard photo of Hermione smiling timidly at the camera, Mrs. Weasley finally answered her daughter's question, "I don't know, Ginny. I don't know."

..:To be continued:..

A/N: First of all, I am SO sorry for not updating as soon as I said I would. I hope you all forgive me… 

Anyway, that was Chapter 1! I will probably post a chapter a week from now on. I'm not promising anything, though, because it is nearing exam time and I have loads to study.

I won't lie and say I was a bit disappointed that no one reviewed the first chapter. But, my friend did warn me that I wasn't going to get much in the beginning… So, comments, criticisms, suggestions… PLEASE REVIEW!