"I just don't know where to look anymore!" Harry groaned. "Talk about needles and haystacks."

"I know, we need Hermione – she'd know." Ron put in, trying to be helpful. All he received was a withering look from Harry.

"If she was here, Ronald, we wouldn't be looking for her, would we?"

"Was only tryin' to help…" Ron muttered, returning to his Quidditch annual.

"Well don't." Harry replied curtly.

The truth was, he didn't know where to start. After a few ideas he'd had had been unfruitful, and he was out of leads. He'd tried Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, and pretty much put his hopes in someone there having seen her or heard where she was going. But nothing. It was like she'd never been to either of the places. Never in his life had he thrown his name about so much. He'd even got Mrs Weasley to trim his hair so his scar was even more obvious. He'd taken out an advertisement in the Daily Prophet. Nothing too revealing, just requesting that anyone who had heard from Hermione Granger should get in touch with the newspaper. So far no one had come forward.

Harry shook his head. Surely someone must have heard from her, or seen her? She couldn't just have disappeared – it's impossible. She'd need money, temporary lodgings and food. She must have been to Gringotts at least. Unless she went to her parents' house… no impossible – the note to Ginny showed she'd gone somewhere. And she couldn't have gone far, otherwise there's no way she could've owled Ginny so quickly. Maybe a visit to her parents would throw up something…

"It's Harry, isn't it?"

"Yes ma'am. Harry Potter."

"Of course! Harry dear, how are you? Hermione's told us so much about you. Naturally, we've not seen you for some time what with school and that-"

"Who is it love?" A voice called from within, causing Mrs Granger to stop mid-sentence.

"One of Hermione's friends, Dave!" She called to her husband. Then to Harry: "Come on in dear, let's not leave you on the doorstep. Come on now."

Harry shuffled in, feeling slightly nervous. He'd never been in Hermione's home before. Hell, he'd never met Hermione's parents before! What was I thinking? Oh hello Mr and Mrs Granger, your daughter and I were going out – oh yeah and I annoyed her, she broke up with me and ran away. Know where she is? Like that would work. He entered their living room and Mr Granger stood up to meet him. He shook his hand and sat down.

"Well, dear, what brings you here?" Mrs Granger asked gently. "Would you like a drink?"

"Oh, yes please. Thank you very much Mrs Granger."

"Well boy, you're quite a favourite with my little girl. What is it we can do for you?" Mr Granger spoke up as his wife went to make Harry a drink.

Harry cringed, Mr Granger seemed to be a typically protective father. Great, just what I need, an overprotective father and a dentist to boot. I'll be lucky if I get out with any teeth at this rate…

"Well, Sir, the thing is-"

"Call me Dave."

"Thanks, er, Dave. Well, you see, the thing is, me and Herm- I mean Hermione and I, well we, we were, pretty good friends…" Harry started.

To his surprise Mr Granger slapped his knee in mirth and guffawed. "Oh son! You had me going there! You're Hermione's boyfriend aren't you? Well, why didn't you say so!" Mr Granger laughed further and Harry blushed.

"Now Dave, stop teasing the poor boy. You're making him uncomfortable." Mrs Granger reproved her husband. "Here you go dear, lemonade. Sugar-free."

"Thank you Mrs Granger. I was just telling your husband about Hermione and I."

"Oh! Of course! You're going out aren't you?" Mrs Granger nodded.

"You knew?" Mr Granger looked at his wife in surprise.

"Of course! Hermione – what do you call it – owled me as soon as they got together. Rather sweet if you ask me. She was deliriously happy Harry."

"Oh." Was all Harry could say. He cleared his throat. "Have you, seen Hermione recently? Or heard from her?" Harry spoke tentatively.

"Oh yes! Why, we got a letter from her back in June – she said exams were over, school was finished and her and some of her friends would be flat-sharing until they had good jobs and could get places of their own. Do you like it Harry? Hermione was rather vague, she mentioned you of course, and a couple of girls – Ginny and Parvati I think their names were. She said she'd contact us when the move was over and you'd all got your house straight. Why do you ask dear? Surely you see Hermione every day?" Mrs Granger was perplexed.

"When did she write this letter?" Harry was confused, he couldn't remember of any plans to house-share with Hermione's friends!

"Why, I think it was dated the middle of June… is something the matter dear?" Mrs Granger was slightly anxious and her hands clasped together worriedly.

"The middle of June…" Harry mused, thinking back. "Oh my goodness!" He murmured and put his head in his hands.

"Harry – has something happened to our daughter? Harry!" Mrs Granger crossed her legs and uncrossed them in panic.

"Hermione… Hermione left school in the middle of June. Straight after her exams. Before term finished. No one knows where she's gone. But I can tell you now that she's not house-sharing with me – or Gin or Parvati. Because Ginny is a year younger than us and is living at the Burrow, her home. Parvati was at my birthday party a couple of weeks ago. She's still living at home while she saves money. And I'm, I'm staying at Ron's for the summer."

"So you came here, looking for her." Mrs Granger finished in wonderment. "Oh my baby! What's happened? Why did she leave Hogwarts? She always wrote about how much she loved it."

"She did love it. Ginny saw her go. According to Ginny, Hermione saw something, misinterpreted it and left immediately."

"But what could she have seen? Surely she should've waited…?"

Harry shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know why she didn't wait. But I do know why she went – or at least, I know the reason she gave to Ginny. And I'm so sorry – it wasn't what Hermione thought."

"I take it this has something to do with you?" Mr Granger put in. "Tell us, son."

"She saw me hugging Lavender – a girl in our year. But it wasn't like that! I was hugging Lavender yes, but she was upset. Her brother had just been admitted to St Mungo's – that's our hospital – after being attacked by a Death – by a bad wizard. She was distraught and I comforted her. There was nothing more than that, I promise you. But Hermione didn't know that – she assumed I had gone off with Lav and so she went."

"Oh my god! Dave! Our daughter's run away!" Mrs Granger brought a hand to her quivering mouth in shock. Tears came into her eyes.

"I'm really sorry Mr and Mrs Granger – if I could change it I would. I love your daughter." He added the last part slightly awkwardly.

"It's not your fault Harry," Mr Granger sighed. "It's just unfortunate how Hermione took it. No one could have predicted that sort of reaction. I'm glad you came to us son. Even it is August." He shot Harry a reproachful look.

"I'm sorry sir, but we only finished school at the end of July. And since Hermione is seventeen, she is an adult in our world. So we couldn't report her missing – even to you."

"Oh Lord, Dave – what shall we do?" Mrs Granger spoke quietly. "How do we even know if she's all right?" The anguish in her voice was unmistakeable.

"Ginny got a letter from her, about 2 days after she left. All it said was that she'd found a place, she was settling in to her new job and was happy. Oh and 'don't try to find me'. That was it. No one's heard from her since." He honestly believed that to be the truth.

"Well, it seems she doesn't want anyone to find her until she's ready. There seems to be nothing we can do. She hasn't come to us for help. And if she has a place of her own and a job – well then that's something." Mr Granger evaluated. "It might be best to let her cool off steam, be independent, and wait for her to come to us. After all, we can't find her can we? We can't report her as missing because of this letter we have and the letter your friend – Jenny did you say? – has. So what can we do? She's in your world, I'm sure of it. And she knows we can't search for her there. Certainly if you can't – you're something of a celebrity in your world aren't you? – then two Muddles like us can't!"

Harry smiled in spite of the situation. Muddles! Jenny! Celebrity! Hermione would certainly have found that funny, Harry thought. He sighed resignedly. "You're probably right. This is so frustrating! I just want her back!"

"Mrs Granger reached over and patted his hand. "I know dear. So do we." She paused and sighed. "So do we."