A/N: Hello everyone! Sorry for the late update, I wasn't here all weekend and I forgot to do it on Friday for you guys. Anyways, I've decided to put this story on temporary hiatus. I will continue to post up to Chapter Nine, which I think is the last one that I've got written. I'm in the middle of changing jobs, and I'm bout to move and I just don't have time to write anymore:'( Anyways, I do want to finish this story and will try to do so as fast as possible. And to all my Chapter Five reviewers, I love you all! Muah:-D

Chapter Six

Classes had resumed as normally as possible at Hogwarts. Of course, the classes weren't as large as usual, and there was hardly a Slytherin House anymore, as those students who had joined the battle left with the Death Eaters. A lot of the students were still in shock, it had only been a week since the attack. Lots of students had lost loved ones, or were in the hospital, the worst being taken to St. Mungo's. Harry was in a right state. If he wasn't taking his anger out on everyone, then he was in a daze, just going through the motions.

Ginny seemed to be recovering well. She had only sustained minor injuries in the battle. The thing that seemed to be bothering her was the way that Harry was acting. She knew what was wrong with him, hell she was upset by what had happened as well. But he was taking it out on her as well, and that's where she got upset.

It was lunchtime on Saturday. Today was supposed to be a Hogsmeade weekend, but it had been cancelled, and so were all the others as far as anyone knew.

Harry and Ginny were sitting across from each other at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. Harry was picking at his food, looking troubled. Ginny scrutinized him. "What's wrong Harry? I mean besides the obvious. You've been snapping at everyone lately, including me." She emphasized. "And as far as I know, I've done nothing to get on your bad side."

Harry sighed. "I'm sorry Ginny." He said, taking her hand and squeezing it. "But I need to do something. I can't just keep acting like everything's okay. Because it's not. It's not!" He said loudly, making a fist and slamming it on the table, causing people up and down the table to look at him.

Ginny nodded. "I've felt the same way. I mean this can't be it right? Just count our losses and move on? What about Hermione? She's been missing for a week and I have no doubt that they'll be torturing her. She is, after all, one of the best friends of Harry Potter." She said.

"I agree." Harry said. "I can't just pretend everything's fine. I won't! We have to do something Ginny, rescue her or something." He looked her in the eyes.

"Of course I'll help you with whatever you're planning on doing." Ginny agreed. "Just tell me how I can help."

"Well I don't have a plan yet." Harry explained. "I guess first we find out where she is, then go from there."

"Okay." Ginny said slowly. "But how do we figure out where she is?"

Harry looked at Dumbledore, sitting in his seat, talking to Professor McGonagall. "We use the invisibility cloak and sneak into Dumbledore's office. Tonight. I can't wait any longer." He said determinedly.

Ginny nodded her assent, and they went back to eating before the bell for classes rang. They stood up and went their separate ways.

Later that night in Gryffindor Tower

Harry and Ginny were sitting side by side on the couch, fidgeting nervously. There were still people up, and it was almost midnight. They tried to feign interest in the books and homework that was on the table in front of them, but it wasn't working. They gave up, instead deciding to whisper to one another.

"Finally!" Harry whispered, as the last person in the common room left. He took his cloak and put it over himself and Ginny.

They quickly walked to the portrait and went through it, making their way to the Headmaster's office. They had to stop a couple times, because teachers were now patrolling the halls at night, always on the alert since the ball. Luckily, they weren't found, and made it quite easily to Dumbledore's office.

They stopped in front of the gargoyle, unsure of the password. So they named every single Wizarding candy they could think of, until the gargoyle moved aside for "Chocoballs".

Quietly, Harry and Ginny made their way up the stairs to the door of the office. They looked at each other…how were they going to get in?

But their answer came when McGonagall came rushing by, almost brushing shoulders with Ginny, who jumped back away from her.

They quickly squeezed through the door as McGonagall went through it and found Dumbledore and McGonagall sitting down in their respective seats, each with a cup of tea.

Harry and Ginny went to a far corner and crouched down, out of the way, not wanting to be seen, even though they both knew that they were covered completely by the invisibility cloak.

Dumbledore sighed, and pushed his tea aside. "Minerva, I fear greatly for our students. An attack that big, so many students killed, and Miss Granger has been taken captive. I just hope the school doesn't close down. All those student Death Eaters, and I didn't even know. I didn't even know…" He said, shaking his head.

McGonagall leaned forward in her seat. "This is anybody's fault but your own Albus!" She said. "How could you have even known it was to happen?" She sighed, and leaned back. "Is there any update on Miss Granger?"

"In fact, yes, there has been." At this, Harry and Ginny leaned forward, eager not to miss anything. "I do not know what it is, but three owls came earlier and dropped a package off. Now call it an old man's intuition, but I feel it has something to do with her. I was going to wait until our meeting to open it."

Dumbledore took a big package from behind the desk, and went around to the front where McGonagall was and placed it between them. They started to tear the wrapping apart until they saw what was inside. McGonagall gasped and her hands flew to her mouth.

Harry edged forward forgetting Ginny was even there. He got behind their chairs and looked at the package.

Dumbledore stood up and pulled the tattered remains of Hermione's dress robes out. The worst part was that they were covered in blood.

Ginny silenced a gasp, and tears sprung in her eyes. Harry turned more pale than should have been possible and clutched Ginny's hand for support.

"Professor…you don't think…I mean she can't be…dead, can she?" McGonagall whispered, looking horrified.

Dumbledore shook his head, a confused look on his face. "I don't know Minerva. For some reason, I don't think that Hermione's dress would be flaunted at us like this if she were dead. I think perhaps they're flaunting the fact that they have her, and she's alive."

"But where would she be?" McGonagall questioned.

"I do not know. I might venture a guess to say she could be at Malfoy Manor, but I do not know for sure."

Harry looked at Ginny, excited about the information. They started to edge to the door to wait for their chance to escape.

"All right Albus, I must be getting back to my room." McGonagall said. She stood up and headed for the door.

Dumbledore nodded. "Goodnight Minerva."

McGonagall opened the door and Harry and Ginny escaped through it, narrowly missing her. They made their way up to Gryffindor tower and sat on the couch in the common room.

"Now what?" Ginny asked.

"I don't know." Harry answered. "Let's just got to bed and think about it later."

With that, they each went up to their respective dorm rooms and went to bed, plagued with bad dreams. Far away in his office, the Headmaster sat at his desk looking at the bloody dress, contemplating the meaning of it.

A/N: So there it is. Not quite the best chapter, but you'll love the next one coming up! I'll try to put it up tomorrow night, so be looking for it!

thedustbunny