Chapter eight.

Hermione and her fellow Gryffindor's sat in the Great Hall eating breakfast. It had begun snowing a few week s ago and Christmas break was to start at the end of the week. Most students weren't leaving as those who had returned this year felt it was safer at school than out in the world where havoc was being reeked daily. They were unaware of the whispers and snarls which only came form the sound of Slytherin's plotting behind them.

"And that's when Ginny sped down with lightning speed and we were like… phwoar! And she caught that bastard right in the gut and he went pummelling off his broom to the ground! And then Flint sent the bludger straight the goals and the buzzer sounded and the crowd went wild! Aww Hermione you should've seen it!" Neville said. He had been going on about the Quidditch game all morning.

"Yeh I wish I had." Hermione said grinning. Hermione had missed the game as she had been with Draco. They hadn't really admitted they were dating even to each other. Hermione was unsure what was really going on there. All she knew is whenever she was around him she felt so safe, and all her problems would dissapear. Hermione sat smiling to herself as she thought of Draco until she noticed Ginny sitting quietly stirring her oats with a morbid expression on her face.

"Ginny what's wrong?" Hermione asked.

"Nothing." Ginny said in a barely audible whisper.

"Ginny, do you want to go for a walk before class starts?" Hermione asked reaching out and stopping Ginny swirling her oats which were now nothing more than brown mush. Ginny looked up and Hermione could see she was on the brink of tears. Ginny nodded and got up from the table and they walked silently out the doors of the Great Hall and into the grounds of Hogwarts. Outside was freezing and the both unconsciously headed towards the now frozen lake.

They sat in silence as Hermione waited for Ginny to talk.

Ginny cleared her throat.

"Have you heard from Harry or Ron?"

Hermione hadn't told Ginny that they had been to the school a few weeks earlier.

"Mum is so worried something has happened to them. When she heard you had come back because the death eaters found you she was distraught and now every one is, I mean what if something has happened! What if when they got back the death eaters were in the tent waiting for them and killed them! We would never know!" Ginny was speaking so fast it was hard to understand what she was saying her tears began to fall as they sat in the snow by the lake.

"Ginny… I … I was told not to tell anybody, but a few weeks ago I saw Harry and Ron."

Ginny looked up her eyes wide as she wiped away a tear with the back of her sleeve.

"They came to the school hoping McGonagall would know what happened to me and then found out I was at school… So I..."

"They were at school!? Hermione they were here!?" Ginny yelled.

"Yes… They asked me to go back with them but I said no, so they left and I haven't heard form them since."

"Oh Hermione why didn't you go back! I mean I'm so glad you're here and you're safe, but they are just two stupid boys! Who knows what mess they could have gotten themselves into! You were always the one who kept them in line! Hermione they need you!" Ginny said getting up from the snow and standing above Hermione.

"That's not true they don't need me! It was as if I wasn't even there! They never listened to me or let me help I simply sat in that darn tent for a few weeks waiting for them to return and tell me they hadn't found anything!" Hermione yelled back as she stood up to come face to face with Ginny.

Ginny was crying hard as she tried to calm herself. Her breath was coming out in pants.

"I just…I-I just need to know they're o-okay M-Mione. I just n-need to know."

She choked out as she flung her arms around Hermione. Hermione felt her eyes well with tears as well.

Ginny spoke softly as her sobs began to subside.

"I woke up this m-morning with the most terrible f-feeling. I think s-something's wrong Mione, I jus-just have a feeling that they're in t-trouble."

Hermione pulled away far enough to see Ginny's face.

"I just get feeling's sometimes…" She said looking at her feet. They were both shivering from the cold. Hermione nodded. She couldn't stand to see her friend like this. They walked back up to the castle silently.

"I'll see you later Gin, I've got some things to do." Gin gave her a weak smile before turning and heading back towards the great hall. Hermione went in the opposite direction and headed towards Draco's dorm.

Draco hadn't returned to the Great Hall for meals since his first night back. Sometimes Hermione would join him in his dorm to eat and they would sit and talk about something ridiculous or study. That morning he sat eating his toast and re-reading the same letter over and over again that he had received that morning when he heard the portrait open and a distraught Hermione clamber through.

"Hermione what happened?" He said as he stood and met her halfway across the room sweeping her up in his arms in a tight embrace.

"Ithinksomething'swrong! Ginnysaidshehasafeeling ndWeasleyfeelings areusuallyright andsomething'swrongDracosomethingswrong!" Hermione said so fast it would have been thought impossible someone could understand a single word she had said.

"Whoa Granger slow down! What's wrong? What feelings? Breathe Granger just breathe!" Draco said soothingly as he rubbed calming circles on Hermione's back.

Hermione's breathing stabilised and she closed her eyes. Being in Draco's arms calmed her and she relaxed. She felt safe in his embrace, as if nothing could hurt her.

"Ginny said she has a feeling that something is wrong with Ron and Harry." Hermione said.

Draco tensed at her words. 'How could the She-Weasley know?'

"What makes you think she's right?" Draco said

"Because the Weasley's can usually sense when something is wrong with another family member. They're usually right about these things. She's so worried Draco." Hermione said. She pulled away and looked up into Draco's grey eyes.

"Okay Hermione, okay we'll figure something out." Draco said softly. He pulled Hermione in tighter and rested his chin on the top of her head.

What Hermione had just said only confirmed his fear's from the letter he had received earlier that morning. The truly were in trouble, but how in hell were they to rescue them?

A/N: What are you thinking!? Any ideas what kind of trouble they're in? What was in that letter Draco recieved???? Hmm??? ANY IDEAS??? Please please review and let me know what you're thinking. xoxoxo