September 20, 1999

When Hermione awoke, she was deliciously sore. She stretched like a cat, relishing in the ache before opening her eyes and allowing her consciousness to return. As soon as it did, she felt an intense feeling of dread. The feeling was so intense that she jumped up expecting a dementor to be hovering over her. When she realized she was safe, she saw that Charlie was gone and her mood was instantly soured. She pushed the covers back and stood, heading to the shower.

As she got out of the shower, she caught a glimpse of herself in the bathroom mirror and began picking herself apart. Her hair hung limply by her face. She had a pudge under her chin. Her breasts sagged low. There were stretch marks on her hips and stomach. Her thighs were huge. She had cellulitis on the backs of her legs. Her feet were too big. On and on her criticism went. She finally forced herself to dry off and get dressed.

Having been at the Burrow for so long without coming home, a layer of dust had collected on everything. Trying to push away the bad feeling she had, she went around the house trying to tidy up for Harry and Ron's arrival so they could go shopping for their wedding attire. However, the voices and memories refused to stop. Her imperfections, her failures, every spell that misfired, every person that died. It was like they were screaming in her head. Through all the screaming, one voice cut in. It was telling her that she could still save her parents if she went back to their former home. It told her that there was something there she needed. She dropped the cloth she had been holding and apparated there immediately.

When she arrived it was dark, cold, and empty. She went up the stairs and stood outside her bedroom door. Trembling, she reached her hand out, grasping the knob and pushed the door open.

Hermione let out a horrified scream at what she saw. Wendell and Monica Wilkins were tied up in the center of her bedroom. They were bruised, bloody, and shaking from head to toe. A silencing spell kept their screams quiet and as Hermione raced forward, a shield stopped her.

"NO!" She tried again but the shield wouldn't budge. She began banging on the outside of it with her fists, screaming for her parents. "MUM! DAD! PLEASE!"

She felt, rather than heard, the movement behind her and turned quickly, drawing her wand.

"Ah ah ah. One more move, Granger and you can say goodbye to them forever."

Hermione was face to face with Draco Malfoy, his wand pressed against her throat. Dressed in black wizard robes, he was the spitting image of his father.

"I'll be taking this, thank you. You won't be needing it." He said with a smirk as he took her wand from her and put it in his coat pocket.

"I'm sure by now you've figured out why I'm here. After all, you always were the brightest witch of your age, for a mudblood, that is."

He flicked his wand at Hermione and the voices she had been hearing increased, once again screaming at her. She grabbed at her head falling to the floor.

"Make it stop. Please!" She begged, panting. Draco released the spell and circled her.

"If only you knew how much research it took me to create that spell, you'd be impressed. It's specifically designed to target your weaknesses and use it against you, slowly driving you insane until you finally realize that you're a waste of space. Of course, I underestimated how long it would take to be effective against that mind of yours. Or did you already figure it out? I wouldn't be surprised if you did." He knelt down, close to her face. "Do you need me to tell you why I'm here, Granger? Or have you figured that out too?" He waited for her answer and when she didn't, he shot the spell at her again.

"ANSWER ME!" He demanded her before finally releasing the spell.

"No. I don't know." She gasped, clutching at her head and curling inward.

"Very well. It's rather a short story anyway. You testified against my father, putting him in Azkaban again. Not even a week in there and he was killed by some of the Dark Lord's most loyal followers for defecting at the final battle. He had finally broken free of them, and you still put him in Azkaban. You took my father from me and there's nothing I can do about it…. except avenge him. So, here's what I've decided to do." He flicked his wand towards her parents but kept the silencing spell up.

"After I successfully embedded that spell into your home, I went off in search of your parents. Obviously, I found them and although your memory spell was strong, I was able to reverse it. Take a good look, Granger." He told her, kicking her towards them. When she looked at them, they screamed for her and Malfoy kicked her roughly in the back. She yelled out in pain and he laughed, kicking her again. Gasping, she turned back towards him.

"Now, I've embedded that spell in here too. You have two choices. I'm going to lock you in here with the filth you call parents. Option one, you kill them. Once you kill them, the spell releases and you're free to go. By then I'll be long gone, and no one will know. Option two, you kill yourself like the mudblood filth you are. If you choose option two, your parents will be automatically returned to Australia, and they will keep their memories. If you choose to do neither, the spell will slowly drive you insane and you'll kill yourself anyway. Your parents will be stuck here and eventually die. Obviously, you won't be able to leave, and no one will be able to get in until you complete one of the tasks. Your choice, you filthy little mudblood." He dropped a large knife on the ground next to her and apparated away.

Harry and Ron flooed to Hermione's cottage so they could have lunch before going shopping but when they arrived, she wasn't there. They checked the bedroom, pointedly ignoring the few bits of clothing on the floor and found a piece of parchment half hidden in the covers. It was a note from Charlie.

Hermione,

I had a bloody fantastic time last night and can't wait until I can taste you again. I'm afraid I'll be out of post range this week as we're still tracking that new dragon breed and we can't have any disruptions, but I look forward to seeing you at Sunday dinner. I'll even try to get away early for you.

I hope you'll be thinking of me, as I'll be thinking of you.

Charlie

P.s. I'm hoping after last night, I've finally taken over as your favorite Weasley. If not, I look forward to competing again.

Ron gagged as they finished reading the note.

"Bloody hell, that's disgusting. I wish I could wash my eyes."

"Oh, come off it, Ron. You should be glad she's finally got someone who treats her well. Besides it's not like you've never shagged anyone." Harry told him, setting the note back on the bed.

"Yeah, but that's my brother and my best friend. It's like thinking of you and Ginny." He exclaimed, gagging again, following Harry back to the floo.

Normally, it wouldn't be so alarming for Hermione to disappear, but she had made plans and it wasn't like her to cancel them without telling someone. No one had seen her anywhere. They checked the Burrow, her office, all the places she frequented in Diagon Alley, and muggle London. It was as if she disappeared.

Everyday one of the Weasleys took turns looking for her. Their last hope was that she had gone with Charlie and that's why all of their owls were returned unopened. They decided if Charlie came home alone, they would officially label her missing.