AN: Thanks to all people that reviewed and that followed the story ^^ I'm touched cause I never suspected the story would have any chance among all those other amazing fanfics.

Well it's good to see I was wrong. Big hugs to WhiteWave14 , just because I want :P

And again I bow to lalalerah for her talent in being a beta ^^ And you just must read her story "AWOL" and "Island of birds" from Teen Titans, they're just awesome ^^

Enjoy !

The sky was growing increasingly dark. There was a high chance that it would rain soon, but the figure at the window wasn't looking for the sun. He was gazing at the empty grounds of Hogwarts, playing with a peacock quill between his fingers. His eyes were very tired, yet still alert. Eventually he left the window and sat heavily in his armchair, setting the quill down on the large mahogany desk.

Dumbledore was writing a letter to an old friend, something he hadn't done in over 20 years. But recent events had required certain counter-measures to be taken. The man's phoenix watched his moving hand with wisdom not suited for an animal. It's stare was almost accusing.

"I won't release you, and you know it well enough." Dumbledore's voice rang out quietly in the office. The portraits of the deceased Headmasters were all empty; their occupants had been banned from entering those walls for as long as the current Headmaster wished it. And there was a reason for it. No one would ever know what was happening in that office. And no one would ever be about to release her.

Dumbledore's writing was interrupted by a screech and the noise of a moving chain. The man behind the desk halted his movement and looked towards the trapped bird through his spectacles. "I have told you many times that you cannot change. I'll be needing you soon, and until then no one can suspect that you are in this dimension. So stop whining like a school girl, you're a demon for goodness sakes!"

The bird sighed as only birds can.

The Headmaster finished his letter and signed it with his many titles that drove anyone reading them all mad. Then he rose and left his office with it, locking the door securely behind him. He passed a few students and teachers on his way to the owlery, answering their greetings with a silent nod. Even if they thought this to be weird behavior, Dumbledore didn't care. Today was not a good day for pointless pleasantries. He would have to find a way to inform the Wizarding world that their savior had vanished and it was more than likely the work of the newly recovered Dark Lord. The bearded man had truly imagined all of this differently when he had set his plan into motion so long ago...

…...Flashback...

Dumbledore was standing before Tom and a young Harry Potter, still in his crib. He was sent a bright smile from the child and a venomous glare from the Dark Lord. "This boy is already MINE, Dumbledore! You cannot stop me now just as you couldn't stop me before!" The villain raised his wand, ready for another murder.

"But I will, Tom. The boy will be of so much more use to me than he would to you." The older wizard wordlessly created a powerful shield around himself, ready for an attack.

"You know nothing of what he'll become when I claim him! You will fall, Dumbledore, and I'll make sure that he will be the cause of it!" Tom spat the words and then a powerful dark curse was hurled at the Headmaster. His shield shattered with force of it, but did it's job. There was a small whimper from little Harry, his eyes beginning to water.

Both wizards fought with the intention to kill. Voldemort used the killing curse, along with some dark parseltongue spells while Dumbledore relied on powerful elemental magic. When the fire erupted it momentarily blinded the Dark Lord, giving Hogwarts' Headmaster the opportunity he needed.

Another scream joined Harry's, but it was different. It was a scream of intense despair, of a soul being ripped away from a body. The violet string of magic that connected Harry, Voldemort, and Dumbledore then disappeared as quickly as it had be evoked, Voldemort going along with it. An unconscious baby Harry with the Light Lord's lighting bolt mark upon his forehead and the man who had created it were all that were left. The exhausted old man smiled triumphantly in the center of the blazing inferno.

…...END FLASHBACK...

Dumbledore walked into the owlery, calling upon his silver owl as he did so. When Ares was comfortable on his arm the man tied his letter to the owl's leg and scratched him beneath his head. "Take this to Aelfric Maundrell, you know where to find him. Be swift for time is of the up-most importance now."

Ares bit his finger in understanding and took of quickly, vanishing into the approaching night. Dumbledore hoped that his friend would answer his call. This time he wouldn't be able to control the British Wizarding World without aid, seeing as the Dark Lord had finally gotten what he wished for.

Ron and Hermione had never been so depressed. It just, it just couldn't happen... After all they were the Golden Trio-no matter what happened... So where was their support? Was he okay? Was he even alive? Hermione wished that she could do something, anything! She wished that she could go and rescue him, but nobody knew of his whereabouts. Ron was just as pissed as she was. He should have never allowed this happen! He should have been there with him, to suffer and die with him. So how was it that he could do nothing but sit in the empty common room and try not to break anything!?

"We need to, we need to do something! We can't just sit here, Hermione!"

"I know, I know! It's just...what can we really do?" The bright girl put her head in her hands. "It's not like we can go up to any Death Eaters and demand to be taken to Voldemort!"

Ron spun around to look at his friend, determination shining in his eyes. "But we can! We can ambush Malfoy and have him take us to his father! Then we'll..."

"Then we'll what!?" Hermione shot off the sofa and started in Ron's direction. "You'll get yourself tortured and killed because you lack ANY preparation or planning! So that's what you're going to do!?" Her eyes were full of tears again. He hated it when she cried.

"I... I don't know, 'Mione. It's just... we've never been ready for this, even though we've claimed to be." Ron sighed and pulled at his red hair with desperation, his voice softer than before. He closed the gap between then and wiped her tears away with his fingers.

"We, are, a-always together... w-we should be there, with h-him now... But I'm scared! I'm so scared, Ron!" Hermione looked up into his sad eyes. "What will we do... How will we, get him back... There m-must be a way..." Her last words were barely even a whisper. Ron stroked her hair affectionately and kissed her forehead.

"I don't know yet, but we'll thing of something. We always do..."

Hermione smiled a bit at his words. "Yeah, we always do..."

A/N: Well that went quite nicely I think! ^^ It was a good chapter if I say so myself, aaaaaannd we have some OC's :D

Now I'd like you to think "who the hell is Aelfric?" and "just what's going on with Dumbledore's Phoenix?" I'm really curious to see what you all will come up with ^^

To those of you who wished for some HP/LV action: I'm terribly sorry but I felt the need to make some plot. I promise next time you won't be disappointed!

Thanks for reading!