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Chapter Seventeen

It had been a week. Hermione had been locked into her old room for an entire week, and she hadn't anything to do but think. She refused to eat the food they brought her or drink any of the drinks they offered in fear that they would be poisoned. She spat rude remarks out at any given chance but was often backhanded for each one. Andy would come in and talk to her. Slowly, but surely, she was devising a plan in her head to get out of the hell she was trapped in. It was weaving together in her mind, ready to be set into action as of today. She would get out alive. If not, she'd at least get Andy out alive.

Ginny finished off the last of her night's homework. She'd done it without making one sound. The whole common room was quiet. Draco and Blaise sat with her. They were afraid to leave her alone. She considered that they may be afraid she would do something, as if she were suicidal or something.

For the last week, she hadn't eaten but mere scraps, she'd spoken only when need be, she'd participated in anything aside complete and utter silence and hopelessness next to none. Her heart wasn't in the world as it had be sucked into the void she had begun feeling the first day of Hermione's disappearance. The void locked it away for safekeeping, and Ginny couldn't help but think it wasn't coming back.

She felt alone without Hermione. Hermione was her other half. Since she was gone, Ginny was no longer warm. She was cold… so cold.

Andy came in with yet another lunch that he knew Hermione would not eat. He wished so dearly that she would eat. He knew she was suffering.

"Here's lunch," he shut the door behind him. He sat the tray onto her desk and hopped eagerly onto the bed with her. She immediately enfolded him in her arms.

"Thanks, baby."

"Would you please eat? I watched them make it this time! He didn't do anything, I promise."

"No, baby, I can't take the chance. Now, did you pack you bag like I told you to?"

"Yes."

"Okay, tonight, when you bring me dinner, slip my wand under a paper towel. I'm sure they've got it hidden in the kitchen in the last drawer on the right. That's where they usually hide things. Can you do that for me?"

"Yes," he nodded.

"Good, maybe we'll get out tonight."

He nodded again and rested his head against her arm, shutting his eyes. She noticed and began to sing a lullaby in his ear. "Hush little baby, don't say a word, Momma's gonna buy you a mocking bird. And if that mocking bird don't sing, Momma's gonna buy you a diamond ring. And if that diamond ring don't shine, Momma's gonna buy you a Valentine." Her voice drifted off as he fell into a deep slumber.

"Maybe we should go to the kitchens and grab some food for Ginny. We know what she likes best. She hasn't eaten well all week and desperately needs to. Have you seen how pale she is?" Ron asked.

"Yeah, have you seen how quiet she is? Ginny's rarely quiet. It's a bit unnerving." Harry answered as they set off to the kitchens.

"Dinner," Andy pranced merrily into Hermione's room. She smiled weakly at him.

"Did you get it?" she whispered.

He nodded, handing her the tray. She sat it on her lap and put the napkin on the bed. Her wand was a wonderful sight. Quickly, she put it into the pocket of the jacket she was wearing.

Finally, she looked at the tray. "What do we have here?"

"Peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a side of cinnamon graham crackers. I made it, so will you eat it?"

"Yeah, baby, some of it. Are they eating?"

"Yes."

"Okay, sneak out to get your bag. Bring it here and shut the door behind you. Stuff it under the bed once you get back."

When he left, she tore half the sandwich off and folded it into the napkin, knowing she would be able to eat much after not eating at all. She was taking a bite out of the left over sandwich just as Andy reentered. He smiled at her and stuffed his little book bag under her bed.

At about 10 PM, her ex-father came into the room, noting that she'd eaten. "Alright, Andrew, time for bed."

"Can I sleep with Hermione tonight, please, please, please?" he implored. "I'll be super good!"

"Fine," his father eyed the two. "Don't try anything!" He walked out, muttering a charm to lock her door on the way out.

Hermione hugged Andy fiercely. "Oh, I love you."

They waited two more hours, in hopes that both of them would be in bed by then. When the clock blinked 12:01 AM, Hermione hopped up. She pulled her wand out. Whispering spell after spell, she prayed she gotten what charm place on, off of the window. She unlocked the muggle lock and pushed up. It gave.

Hermione smiled. It was a new day in both senses. Hermione and Andy were on the brink of escaping.

She silenced the screen before popping it off. In a moment of triumph, she jumped for joy. Andy climbed out first. She then handed him his backpack. Afterwards, she made her way out and pulled with her a backpack of her own. The walked a ways away before Hermione pulled Andy into an alley.

"Now, Andy, I'm going to apparate. I have to. This is going to feel very weird. Just hold on to me tight and don't let go until I say you can. Okay?"

He nodded, "Okay."

Hermione closed her eyes, concentrating extremely hard. With a pop, she was in Hogsmeade. "We're here. We've got to walk up to the school though."

He held fast to her hand and let her guide as he took in scenery he hadn't seen before. His heart skipped a beat as he saw the school. It was magnificent. He looked up at Hermione, to see her reaction. He tilted his head to study her once he really saw her. She was tired, he could tell. She was weak and probably couldn't go much farther. He hoped she would live.

Hermione smiled weakly when she saw that the gate was cracked open ever so slightly just for her. She stepped through it with Andy. They walked up the rest of the way and up the stairs and through the massive doors. Portraits whispered as she made her way to the hospital wing. They came to another set of doors.

"Andy, I love you." There was a look in her eyes that Andy couldn't register. "Now, I need to be checked out, maybe healed. Ms. Pomfrey will take care of you while I'm here though, okay?"

He nodded, "okay. I love you, too. You're not leaving me, right?" he asked. In the next moment, she fainted. "Hermione!" he yelled. "You're not leaving me, right, right?" His little fists began banging on the doors in front of him.

"Goodness gracious, what is the-" she stopped, staring at the young boy and then at Hermione. "Oh dear," she said and rushed them in.

It was the middle of the night. Ginny was sound asleep. Suddenly, she bolted upright. Blaise, who had, for some reason, decided to stay up and talk to Draco about quidditch, stared at her strangely. They were sitting on a makeshift bed that Blaise had placed in Ginny's room. She looked over at them. The void that had swallowed her heart let a little piece of it out. She smiled slightly, jumping up and pacing, wondering what it meant that she suddenly bolted up. She had a feeling something was happening. Something she had been dreaming about for the last week. Maybe, just maybe… Hermione was back.

Author's Note: Okay, here is Chapter Seventeen. I hope you enjoyed it. I wrote it quickly but thought it was good. I'll start Chapter 18 after I post this but don't promise to get it out today. It might be out tonight and possibly tomorrow but don't get any hopes to high. I don't want to crush anything. ;)

Okay, in general reply to a review I've gotten previously: Yes, this story is supposed to be confusing. The puzzle will hopefully fall into place in the end. And as for Jake coming into the castle without Dumbledore's knowledge, no one has said that Dumbledore doesn't know. Ginny's in seventh year in this story. Jake gets in with Dark Magic. Hermione doesn't trust the Daniels and is afraid to ask for help. Her "parents'" death was faked and her dad had an act on during Hermione's whole life. : )

Review, review, review!

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