Chapter Three

"Oh God what happened?" Hermione stared wildly around the black room. "How on earth did I get here?"

The room didn't reply. Hermione stood up and began to walk around her surroundings just for the hope that there was an exit concealed. After walking in a straight line for fifteen minutes she had came to the disheartening conclusion that this was not so much a room than an area of colour.

"What are you doing here?" A distinctly masculine voice echoed throughout the area

"Help me!" She ran to the direction of the sound "I've just woken up and I've got no idea how I got here!!"

"Got here?" a hint of a sneer "We're at the Magical Gardens, just south of Glasgow. You are a witch aren't you?"

"Yes I am a witch!" she snapped angrily "If I am at the Magical Gardens then why can't I see any plants?"

"Do open your eyes" the voice was more amused

Hermione opened her eyes quickly to find herself on her back in the middle of a rose garden staring up at…

"Harry!" she exclaimed "What are we doing here?"

The man rolled his eyes. "I am not a Harry! I have never been a Harry! I will never be a Harry!" he folded his arms defensively "Why does everyone call me Harry!"

"Oh I'm sorry" she apologised "It's just you look so much like my friend Harry and I'm sorry. What is your name?"

"I'm Tom" he extended a hand with a cheeky grin. She took his hand and shook it "I'm Hermione"

"Hermione?" he mouthed "God your parents must have hated you"

She bristled at his comment and he laughed.

"Sorry, sorry" he reassured her grinning "I'm joking, I haven't spoken to anyone in a while and to meet such a pretty girl it was a real slap in the face"

"Would you like a slap in the face?" she gave him a wry grin "These hands were made for slapping"

Laughing, he pulled her to her feet "Come on Hermione! Let's go for a romantic walk around the gardens and after we can go to a café and have a quiet discussion. Isn't that your perfect day?"

She nodded absently. He put his arm around her gently and pulled her around the gardens.

"It's working" Voldemort sneered to no-one in particular "The Obsessive Lust has made her highly suggestible and open for my particular influence"

The Death Eaters in attendance smiled behind their masks. Hogwarts would be theirs soon.

"Hermione" Lavender opened the door to the girl's dormitory "Where have you been all day?" Lavender walked over to Hermione's bed when there was no response.

Her eyes suddenly snapped down to the ground where the immobile Hermione slept. Lavender quickly sprinted down the stairs to the common room

"Everybody!" she breathed hysterically "Hermione is dead! She's not moving in the dorm!"

Ron gave a primal scream and dashed quickly to the dormitory after Lavender. His blue eyes darted wildly around the room until he saw the figure of his friend beside her bed.

"Hermione" he roared, crossing the room in a few easy steps "Hermione wake up!"

"Out of the way Weasley!" the Scottish burr of Professor McGonagall

"But she's my friend" he sobbed incoherently "She cant be dead, Professor!"

Professor McGonagall clucked disapprovingly at Ron. "She's not dead Mr Weasley" her voice softened "She is unconscious. We need to get her to the hospital wing

"Hermione" he stroked his cheek gently "You have to wake up"

Ron closed his eyes for a moment and met Harry's eyes. Harry was standing in the doorway staring at Hermione in horror. Ron coughed back the lump that had been forming at the back of his throat. Harry stumbled toward him and curled into a foetal position beside Hermione. Carefully, Ron put his hand onto Hermione's and his arm to support Harry.

"I'm so sorry Ron" Harry sobbed uncontrollably "I didn't want to let any more of the people I love get hurt"

"There, there mate" Ron soothed "We understand but you know we'll get hurt anyway because we love you, you bloody great Wally"

Harry and Ron sat on the floor, comforting each other, long after McGonagall had cleared out the dormitory and taken Hermione for observation.