The six Weasleys and one Potter, watched in sorrow as Hermione fell apart. Worry consuming her until she couldn't breath. There she sat, at the packed dinner table, while images of her son invaded her mind. Hermione couldn't bring herself to move an inch. Her eyes were wide with terror, looking unwaveringly at the pale wall at her front.

"No. No, you don't think-. Do you?" Her lower lip was trembling as her gaze landed on Harry.

The raven haired man visibly gulped, "'Mione, everything is going to be fine. We'll head out to James' grandparent's house right now. C'mon, love." He tried to keep the optimism playing in his voice. Inside, however, he was grim. If anyone harmed Hermione's son, there would be hell to pay. Ginny could see the green in Harry's eyes sparking.

Ron stood up hastily and made his way over to Hermione, reaching out and taking her hand before gently pulling her from her seat. "I'll be going with you two, just in case. No need to pile all eight of us into the house."

Arthur watched the young 'Golden Trio' take their stand by each other's sides. Though years had passed, he knew they wouldn't let anything happen to each other. Not after everything that had happened, especially with Hermione.

Hermione nodded slightly to Ron and looked to Harry with a little smile, "Thanks, Scar Head. Ronald." Both boys chuckled lightly. "Ralph and Nora Alexander are both blissfully oblivious to my powers. They know nothing of our world. Jay didn't feel up to mentioning it. He promised he'd explain the few details he'd figured out, when we were wed. But that never happened. We should apparate just outside of their residence. Go in by the door as to not frighten them into early graves. Just grab hold of my hands for a Side-Along-Apparition. Remember, hold tight."

Harry and Ron nodded, the trio was now in mission-mode. There was no more room for sarcasm or humor. Fred watched as Hermione took the two men's hands. She glanced his way before looking to Arthur who explained, "We'll wait for you at headquarters. Many of the members should be there before you guys come back. Remus has made the Black Mansion his permanent home, so he will call out for the others," Mr. Weasley nodded for them to apparate, "Oh, and do be careful."

With that, they were gone. George grabbed Ginny's hand, ever the big brother, and pulled her with him into the fireplace, grabbing a handful of Floo Powder and throwing it down, "12 Grimmuald Place," his shout echoed off the Burrow's walls as green flames engulfed the two bodies.

The two eldest Weasleys followed after him, separately. Fred took the moment alone to sigh and glance around the house. It felt like it was going to be a while 'til they were all back home again. Last time, right when the threat of Voldemort had summoned all the Order into action, this was exactly how the Burrow was left. Right in the middle of a home-cooked meal. All traces of a hasty exit still there. Yes, the Weasleys weren't going to be back home for a while. Fred bit back the sorrow that this knowledge brought, before making his way to the fireplace.

Meanwhile, the 'Golden Trio' had landed themselves in the midst of late eve. Standing in the middle of a freshly tended to lawn. This, however, was not what had Hermione in a full out sprint of terror towards the Alexander's cottage. Harry and Ron followed after her just as quickly. To their dismay, the front door had clearly been blasted off and into pieces. The after-effect of a powerful Reducto spell.

Hermione ran through the living room, which was torn to shreds, and into a spare bedroom. Harry stood in the doorway next to Ron at the awful sight. There was a small bed, suitable for the average three-year-old, empty. The haunting image laid on the floor at the bed's side. Two elder bodies. One male and one female, eyes wide in fright, yet reaching towards the child's bed.

Hermione just stared, too lost to do anything else. Harry stepped forward, "They died doing what was right, 'Mione. They were trying to help James. It was a quick death, there are no signs of torture or the Cruciatus Curse. The Killing Curse is a instantaneous, 'Mione. You, of all people, know."

Hermione nodded but leveled her gaze to the empty bed, "They took him. They took James, Harry. They took him!"

Ron rushed forward and pulled his best friend into a tight embrace, "We'll get him back. 'Mione. No harm will come to him. The Hunter knows better then to kill the child. He's just being used to lure us in."

"But what if we can't get to him? What if everything goes wrong and James is hurt? How did I let this happen? I shouldn't of placed this peaceful household in harms way. I should of known better then to let my muggle family baby-sit a child wizard." Hermione sobbed uncontrollably into Ron's shoulder, staining his maroon shirt with fresh tears.

Harry stepped forward, "You couldn't have foreseen this. Not even the most reliable Seer in the world, could of." He kissed her forehead when Hermione finally leaned out of Ron's embrace. A firm look was upon her face. It was clear to the two men that she was in hunting-mode. She would work her arse into the ground to find James and kill The Hunter. No emotion was to, now, cloud her mind. The brilliant mind that had drawn The Hunter into action in the first place. Hermione would use it against him. To hunt the hunter.

"We should head back to headquarters to tell Remus and the others," Ron said.

"First, I want to know what happened here, exactly. Every piece of information we can gather about the scene." Harry walked into the living room, "Why did they tear it apart? Death Eaters usually make a mess, but not when kidnapping. They try to leave everything as it were. Just take the person."

Hermione made her way through the rubble, "They were looking for something."

"Well we know how they entered. Though, why they didn't apparate in beats the hell out of me." Ron murmured, eying the blue couch that was severed in half. "Severing Charm on the couch."

"Hey!" Hermione shouted, power walking over to the mantle. Surprisingly, all the pictures remained intact. Well, most of them. A few were on the floor in piles of broken glass, "There is a picture missing."

"So?" Harry asked coming up behind her, "Did you check the ones on the floor? Or maybe Nora and Ralph redecorated recently."

Hermione bent down and picked up the three picture frames, taking a good look, "No. None of these is the missing photo. And I was just here earlier today, Nora always comments on the picture whenever I'm here."

Ron was glancing around, looking for other broken objects, "Which one is missing?"

"The one of Jayden, James, and I. It was one of those pictures that Ralph took at the perfect time, you know? Where by looking into it, it just seems as if our whole worlds were perfect. We all looked so happy. I was holding James, he was only one at the time, and Jay was leaning in with an arm around my waist and kissing James' forehead. Beautiful, really." Hermione glanced at the others, "It's the only one missing. I know it."

Ron finally made his way over to the others, "That's completely queer."

"The only thing missing is a family photo?" Harry asked in disbelief, "Then why the hell is the entire room trashed? Even the other bedrooms."

"They were looking for something else, but didn't find it," Hermione supplied, "Not that I understand the need to take the picture at all."

"We should probably head out," Ron cocked his head to the door, "The Order will clear this all up and decide where to put the bodies. They'll want to make the deaths seem a bit less suspicious."

Hermione nodded before pulling out her wand and pointing it at the broken picture frames, "Reparo." Harry raised an eyebrow at her and Ron just shook his head. "What? I like these pictures. No need to leave them in disarray."

"Meet at the lamp-post." Ron said. An indicator that it was time to leave. Both others knew what he was speaking of and nodded.

With a blink of the eye all three were engulfed in the familiar pull of disapparation. Hermione braced herself, as usual, for the landing. She remembered the earlier years of apparition and disapparition for the three of them. It had been hell trying to get their licenses.

Ron and Harry were by her sides. An old lamp-post graced the street, right in front of them. The same lamp-post that Harry had touched down near with the Order back in fifth year. "C'mon. As much as it looks like a quiet old neighborhood, someone might of seen." Harry nudged the others in the side and took Hermione's elbow to steer her to where 12 Grimmuald Place would soon stand.

The others were expecting them. They had taken a little longer then anticipated due to resent findings at the Alexander residence. When Harry, Ron, and Hermione were within twenty feet of the worn buildings, the familiar sight of another residence expanding between numbers 11 and 13 greeted them.

"Ah, its good to be home," Harry couldn't help but grin, even in the midst of their horrid situation. The Black Mansion was the closest to a permanent house he had ever had. Though, recently he had taken to visiting the Burrow more often. Due to the fact that Ron and Ginny had taken to the habit recently, as well.

Harry had been living in the mansion with Remus since the war died down. Less traffic had been running through headquarters since then. Though, he had a feeling it would soon be increasing once more.

"Yes, home," he heard Hermione mumble. She hadn't stepped foot in Grimmuald Place since she was seventeen. It would be weird being cooped up there again for who knows how long.

"C'mon. No more visits to La-la Land for at least another hour. We've got to inform the others," Ron interrupted them. Two sets of eyes turned to him in what appeared to be awe, "What? It isn't the first time I've taken the head of a situation. But you only chose to realize this now? I'm hurt."

Harry chuckled lightly and Hermione glared, "No need to get snippy, Ronald."

"I'm getting snippy? Look at you! You're sterner than Mum when Fred and George threw a gnome into her knickers by accident. And she was close to going Crucio on their arse."

Harry grimaced at his idiotic friend for bringing up Hermione's unease. She had been doing a decent job at hiding her pain of the entire night, yet, bone-head over there had to point out her demeanor. Bloody hell.

"Ronald Weasley, how dare you!" Hermione fumed, "My son has been kidnapped. The two people I hold closest to parents, besides your mum and dad, are dead at the hands of James' captors! How dare you speak ill of my behavior. I am trying the hardest I possibly can not to let emotions get the best of me. Lord knows if I do, I would be out killing anyone who can possibly be The Hunter with my bare hands. Do not make me turn you into my first victim this night, Ronald." She said this all in one breath. Then, with that, she turned and stormed her way over to number 12. Leaving Ron almost whimpering and Harry ready to slap him.

"You're a blood idiot," Harry shook his head and glared.

"Yes."

"I haven't the slightest idea how you managed to even graduate Hogwarts-"

"Me neither."

"-never mind become a bloody Auror."

"I don't undersand it either, mate."

"Bloody miracle."

"Praise the Lord."