Light rain danced across the tall windows of Grimmuald Place, while perspiration beaded down the brow of a trembling red-head. The man didn't move other than the few shakes and shivers that took hold of his body. Blue eyes flickered beneath his eyelids as his unconsciousness played images of the person- who he treasured above all others- being taken away from him forever.
As a jet of vibrant red sparks flew towards the side of an auburn coated fox, Fred flew upright in bed with the faint hissing of "Sectumsempra!," clinging to the back of his mind. His heart beat wildly in his chest as his wheezing filled the darkness of his chambers. The maroon curtains were drawn over any windows that the room contained. The shadows reflected his grief.
Fred ran a large, pale hand through his hair with a sigh. He threw a slightly hopeful glance at the opposite side of his bed; as if there might be a chance that his horrible nightmare was not, in fact, real. Fred's eyes revealed his deep depression, when he found his bed was void of anyone but himself. His beautiful girlfriend was no where in sight.
His hand slid from his hair and over his face, trying to wipe away all his sorrow and mask it away from the world. Fred knew that his moping would not give the Order any advantages in finding Hermione. What he really needed to do was be up and dressed and working to help Remus locate The Hunter's headquarters. With these thoughts in mind, Fred scrabbled out of his bed and ambled into his lavatory.
Harry and Ron were seated in the Blacks' ancient study. Lord only knew why the bloody hell the mansion need a spare study and a library. However, this fact was currently working to the advantages of the duo. Bill was in the library trying to sort out the dilemma about Hermione's pendant. This left Harry and Ron to their selves, allowing them to discuss the current situation.
"Do you think The Hunter is someone we knew from Hogwarts?" Ron questioned, skimming over a book on Tracking Charms.
"It's a slight possibility," said Harry, "Yet, who do you remember from Hogwarts who was as intelligent as The Hunter seems to be?"
"Malfoy?"
"Nah, he may of acted akin to a leader in Hogwarts; but, he's a follower at heart. He wouldn't be able to think up half the stuff that The Hunter has. Unless it's his daddy's idea."
Ron chuckled and nodded his head in agreement, "I guess I shouldn't even mention Crabb or Goyle as possibilities…"
"You would have to be mad to think they'd pull this war off. They had to be the two biggest dunderheads to ever grace the halls of Hogwarts!"
Ron suddenly turned grim, "We'll get her back. Won't we, Harry?"
Harry glanced up at his best mate. Upon looking into Ron's eyes, Harry saw the same uneasiness that had nearly suffocated Ron before the previous war. It was a look that told Harry that reassurance would be very much appreciated. "Of course, Ron. She'll be back in no time. There isn't a way to run from a determined Order of the Phoenix. You know how much everyone cares for 'Mione."
Giving an almost indecipherable sigh of relief, Ron nodded, "Yeah. You're right, mate. As usual. If it wasn't Hermione being an insufferable know-it-all back at school, it was you."
"Lies!"
"I think not," said Ron.
Remus was just returning from a hasty visit to Hogwarts, having had the need to tell Headmistress McGonagall of recent occurrences. Quickly, he walked down the hall and into the main foyer of Grimmuald Place. He pushed open two thick oak doors to his left and strolled into the library.
"All right, Bill?" Remus asked gently, eyeing the man who had his hand pressed against his forehead in frustration.
"Oh, I'm bloody brilliant. How about you?" Bill's sarcasm was not lost on the older man. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you, Remus. This whole situation has had me on edge."
Remus smiled understandingly, "It's quite all right, Bill. I know I'm not going to have a pleasant rest until 'Mione is safely at home. I'm guessing you feel the same way on the issue?"
Nodding, Bill sighed, "You love her, too?"
"Most definitely. She's quite the outstanding young witch. She's been like a daughter to me since she was thirteen."
Bill glanced up from the table he was sitting at and looked at Remus, "What happened when she was thirteen?"
"Has she not told you?" Upon Bill's frown, Remus said, "Oh, well when she was thirteen, I was the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts. 'Mione found out about my lycanthropy after a few months of school. To my astonishment, she kept it a secret."
"I do recall her saying something of the sort," Bill nodded.
"Yes. And she didn't even tell Harry and Ron."
"Quite a shocker, there," Bill chuckled.
Remus smiled, "She only let the truth out when she thought I was a threat to Harry. Even then, however, I could not see revulsion in her eyes. Merely fear and the firm desire to protect Harry and Ron from a presumed murderer."
"She is one-of-a-kind."
"Right you are. She reminded me so much of Lily," Remus looked down, sadly.
"Potter?"
"Yeah. They both shared the ability to make me feel like I belonged."
Bill held back the rush of grief that coursed through him, "I know exactly what you mean, mate. I was just thinking along those lines earlier. Of how much of a savior Hermione was to me when I was first cursed."
"You love her," Remus calculated Bill's expression.
"She's my brother's girlfriend and my other brother's best friend."
"No. She's more than that to you, Bill. I can see it clearly," Remus' eyes were warm when he smiled slightly, "Not that I can blame anyone for falling for 'Mione."
Bill cringed at his own inability to hide his feelings, "Please, Remus, don't tell. Fred's going through enough as it is. He doesn't need to know that his eldest, most trusted, brother is lusting after his girlfriend."
Remus nodded in understanding, "Fine. You're going to need to move on, though. You know that, right Bill?"
"Unfortunately."
"You'll be fine. Just like Hermione will be fine and James will be fine." Bill didn't know who Remus was trying to convince. It was either Bill or himself.
Fred was leaning over the main dining table which was now completely covered with maps and official paperwork. Kingsley, Tonks, George and Moody were at his side. He hadn't seen his brother, Charlie, since earlier that morning. Fred vaguely remembered Charlie saying he had gotten an emergency call from a friend in Romania. Something about his dragons on the rampage. Harry and Ron were off doing Lord knows what.
Moody aimed to a dot on the map saying, "There's Bristol where there was a raid two days ago."
Tonks placed her pointer finger on a dot a little to the north, "Cokeworth, is where the last raid was and-."
"I've got it," Bill announced, practically sprinting into the room, "When Hermione is--is no longer with us, the pendant will die. The pupil will disappear all together."
"That's all you needed to figure out?" George asked with a raised eyebrow, "And it took you this bloody long to do so?"
Fred opened his mouth to concur with his twin; but, he was cut off by Bill. "Yes, that originally was what I was searching for." He glanced behind him as Remus entered the room, walked over to Tonks, and placed a light kiss on her cheek. "I found out a little more about the pendant that Hermione happened to forget to mention to you, Fred," said Bill.
"What?" Fred looked utterly dumbfounded, "She wouldn't keep something important from me."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that, mate." Remus said quietly, "She would if it meant protecting you."
"Well-"
"Anyway!" Bill intervened, "Turns out the pendant has another important ability besides telling us when or when not Hermione is in danger."
Everyone in the kitchen was staring at him, waiting for him to continue. Bill, however, looked completely uncomfortable. He was annoyed beyond logic at Hermione for not telling him- or anyone for that matter- about this herself. "So…" Tonks urged.
"Oh! Right," Bill jumped back into his previous train of thought, "Hermione failed to mention that this pendant," He pointed to it's location around Fred's neck, "Holds her power."
"I'm sorry. What?" Fred asked in confusion.
Bill sighed, "Someone bound her magic to that pendant."
"You're speaking in riddles, William," Tonks declared with impatience before Remus put a comforting hand on her shoulder and shot Bill a look to get on with wherever he was going with all this.
"Hermione's ability and power to practice magic is all contained in the All-Seeing-Eye. She doesn't need to have the necklace on her person at all times, she just needs the pendant to exist. Which it obviously does. However, if someone were to get a hold of that necklace, they could take the power for themselves. Adding to their already existing power, if that person were a witch or wizard to begin with."
Bill's audience were dead quiet as they took in all of this. "So, if the Hunter got a hold of Hermione's pendant-," George began to ask.
"He'd be immensely powerful," Bill concluded, "Probably unstoppable, being that Hermione is extremely significant even by herself."
"What happens if the pendant breaks, but Hermione is still alive?" Remus questioned, Bill could tell he was sucking in his every word like a sponge.
"The pendant dies, Hermione dies. Just like if Hermione dies, the pendant dies. They are interconnected. If her power is taken from the pendant, the Eye- along with Hermione- will die."
"Why the bloody hell would Hermione do such a thing to herself?" Tonks asked in horror.
"My thoughts are that she didn't have a choice," said Remus.
"All we know right now is that we cannot let The Hunter get his filthy hands on that pendant." Bill said.
Hermione hadn't managed a speck of slumber while in her position, curled up on the dungeon floor. The stones were damp and icy. Even her fox coating didn't prevent the cold from swarming her body.
It felt like days that she laid there; however, in all logic it had been mere hours. This didn't change the fact that Hermione was restless and becoming desperate. Transforming back into her human form, she grabbed her wand and attempted to disapparate out of the chambers, concentrating on the safety of being in Fred's arms. She had barely managed to disappear, when she banged into some sort of barrier and fell back onto the floor of the dungeon. Wonderful, an Ant-Disapparation Jinx. She should of known.
There was a throaty chuckle before the chamber's door was thrown open and Isaac stepped inside, "I was wondering how long it would take before you tried that one. There is a Stealth Censoring Spell set on this chamber, Ms. Ganger. I will know whenever there is any illicit behavior going about
"How lovely," Hermione grumbled, pushing herself off the ground.
"I figured you'd rather enjoy it. I know I do."
"I've got a question, Isaac," Hermione said, softly. Not wanting to give him further reason to decline her request.
Isaac chuckled darkly, "Somehow I don't find myself surprised."
Holding back a sneer, Hermione asked, "Can I please see James?"
Isaac stared at her, "You'll be seeing him tomorrow. I've placed him under the watchful eyes of two of my best Death Eaters."
"What if they hurt him!"
"And those two Death Eaters are under my watchful eyes, Ms. Granger," Isaac said, "I assure you, you needn't worry for anyone but yourself."
Hermione met his gaze with her head held high, "Oh? Well, far be it for me to put a damper on my perfect Gryffindor appearance. You know I'll always think of others before myself, Mr. Dawson."
"Too true," he concurred with an eye roll, "It'll be your eventual downfall, my dear."
"I've another question, Isaac."
"What is it now?" he patience was wearing thin; yet, Hermione didn't care.
"Why did your Death Eaters take a picture from my ex-boyfriend's parent's house. I didn't think the belongings of two muggles like the Alexander's, would interest you.
Unexpectedly, she saw a flash of confusion break through Isaac Dawson's mask of indifference. "I guarantee you, Ms. Granger, I don't have any muggle photographs in my possession."
"Then one of your loyal Death Eaters do! I know there is a missing photo. It was of James, his father, and myself. It was on Nora Alexander's mantel, prior to your invasion of the Alexander residence. You're wrong. It was stolen during your raid." Hermione was seething at Isaac's cold glare.
He strode closer to her, "You will do well to learn your place here, Ms. Granger. I believe I have already pointed this out to you before."
"I don't fit well with authority."
"Oh? I vaguely remember hearing of you being an insufferable know-it-all your entire life."
"Sod off!"
Isaac smiled frigidly at her, "Oh. I've brought you a little present. Would you like to see? I'll give it to you before taking my leave."
He didn't wait for her answer-not that she had any to begin with- before gliding over to the door and opening it wide. Just when Hermione was about to give up her patience and ask what the bleedin' hell he was doing, a tall figure with a silver mask veiling his face pushed another figure onto the floor of the dungeon. The victim, however, was most definitely not a Death Eater. He was beaten and unconscious. Hermione felt tears well in her eyes as she dropped to her knees and flipped the man over. His blazing red-hair made her breath come in short pants.
"Have fun, Ms. Granger," Isaac chuckled spitefully from the doorway before leaving.
Hermione suppressed a sob as she ran her hand over the pale, freckled, cheek of the guy before her. She tried to allow herself a breather, reminding her brain that he may have been beaten and rendered unconscious; but, he was not dead. "Sweetie. Wake up." She nudged softly and whispered, "C'mon. Charlie, wake up."