Though the trees were dense in this part of the forest, a patch of sky was visible above the camp, and in the mornings the sunlight fell on Hermione's tent, licking its way through the opening and falling onto her face, waking her.

Each morning she would awaken to the heat of the sun, and open her eyes only slightly, squinting at the brightness as she made her way out of bed.

This morning, it was a different sort of heat which awoke her.

The sun would not rise for several hours yet, but Hermione suddenly found herself jolted awake – a large hand had hit her in the face, coming to rest over her forehead. She gasped and sat up quickly, already reaching for the pocket knife she kept stored under her pillow, when she remembered.

Next to her on the narrow cot lay Ron, snoring softly, mouth wide open. Was that drool? He had not even stirred at the small commotion; some warrior he was, thought Hermione wryly.

She found herself staring at him for a long time, just trying to process everything that had happened the day before. Her and Ron… Neville… the tournament… Harry…

Harry.

Something inside Hermione had shattered when he had been taken. A sinking feeling in her stomach, she climbed over Ron, careful not to disturb him, quickly dressed and left the tent. She looked out over the silent camp, which had been her home for so long now, thinking of all her friends and comrades as they slept silently, innocently, unknowing of their fates. How many of them would not make it till twilight had passed, to see another moon come to rest in their little window to the skies above?

She felt remorse for them. Yet something inside her, something selfish and uncompromising that she had never felt before, was relentless to get Harry back. The stand against Riddle would be taken, and it would be taken today – they had waited long enough, lived long enough confined behind bars with bark and roofs with leaves. It was time.

She thought again of Ron and Harry, who had lived in here their whole lives. The joy on their faces when they had first seen the world outside she would not soon forget, and she knew that when she would fight later it would not only be for the parents she had never known but for Harry and Ron's freedom too, and all the others who had been driven into exile by the Dark Lord…

There was a thought. She frowned for a moment, considering. To an onlooker Hermione looked perfectly still, but her mind was working at full speed. Finally, she had made her decision. She slowly crept back into her tent and packed a few choice belongings, took one last look at her sleeping – friend? That was a question for another time – and left.

On her way out of the camp she grabbed her bow. If she made haste, and if Harry and Ron's recollections had been accurate, she would be there and back again before high noon.

"Hermione?" Ron groaned, his arm moving across the cot to wrap around- wait.

He sat up, confused. There was no Hermione on this cot. Did he imagine everything that had happened yesterday?

His heart sank (and yet felt oddly elated at the same time). No, because then Harry would be snoring on another cot in the same tent, and he clearly was not. He was held captive by Lord Riddle, on who knows what hour, and by the sounds coming from outside the camp was beginning to gear up for the battle.

So where was Hermione? She must be outside getting ready, Ron thought, jumping off the cot and picking up his tunic on the floor.

He left the tent to find the camp in a state; people were milling about carrying weapons and armour, and shouting orders or names. Ron grabbed the arm of someone hurrying past – the person dropped all the shields he had been trying to maneuver, and they fell to the forest floor with a crash.

"Oh, sorry mate," Ron told Neville, bending down to help him pick them up.

"Ron," Neville said distractedly. "Don't worry, I'm just taking these to Sir Lupin."

"I'll help you," Ron said, picking up the last few shields. "Say, have you seen Hermione about?" He tried, and failed, to sound casual.

"I thought she was with you," Neville said absently, already on his way again.

"She is probably with Lupin," Ron mused. Where else would she be?

The boys walked along in silence for a bit. Finally, Neville took a deep breath.

"So, today is the day."

"Looks like it."

Neville turned to look at Ron, anguish painted on his face. "It's all my fault!"

Ron raised his eyebrows. He could pin what happened yesterday on quite a few people – including himself, Lupin, Hermione, Lady Ginevra, Lord Riddle or even King Albus for leaving his kingdom to Riddle's mercy - but Neville wasn't among them. "Your fault?" he asked incredulously. "Why?"

"Well," Neville started, "If I had not been so rubbish a shot, perhaps Riddle would not have seen Harry as such a threat. Or if I had not distracted him before he made his shot, or-"

Ron cut him off. "You can see how ridiculous that is, right?" Neville stayed silent. Suddenly something hit him. "Your grandmother. What happened to her?"

To Ron's surprise, Neville smiled a little. "She was ready to jump Riddle's soldiers herself. But I got her out of there with the other women and children. She was halfway to Hogsmeade when I left her to rejoin the fight."

"The village by the castle, right?" Ron asked. He knew of several villages on the edge of the forest; Hagrid had always suspected he might have come from one of them when he was little, though he might have also been left by a traveller. The forest was big though, so there was no way of knowing for certain.

"Yes, that's the one. We have a nice little cottage with a garden, I grow herbs there you know, and our neighbours are great. We have the Lovegoods on one side; I used to play with their daughter Luna when we were younger but we don't see much of each other anymore… and then there is Arthur of Burrow and his family on the other-"

"Wait," Ron said suddenly. "Did you say Arthur of Burrow?" He was sure that name was familiar…

"Yes," Neville looked puzzled. He looked at Ron for a long moment. "Oh," he said suddenly, "You know them. It is the family of Lady Ginevra, the girl in the castle."

Oh, that must be why that name sounded familiar. Burrow.

"They are a noble family?" Ron asked. He wasn't sure why he was so interested.

"Well, no," Neville said. "Actually Sir Arthur – or Arthur as he insists I call him – gave up his title when he married Molly Prewett. She was not a noble, but he loved her, and left his estate behind to be with her."

"That's a very romantic story," Ron said, smiling and thinking of Hermione.

"Rotten luck though," Neville continued. They had almost reached Lupin's tent now, and he sped up, anxious to get rid of the heavy shields he was carrying. "Not only did the family lose Ginevra, they also lost their youngest son. He disappeared into this very forest."

And with that he dumped the shields unceremoniously on the broad table Lupin was standing by, smiled at Ron and hurried away, leaving Ron standing, something strange stirring in his stomach.

Whatever conclusions he might have reached at that moment were cut off, however, by Lupin approaching him.

"Ah Ron, you are awake. Good. Now, if you would not mind showing me to Hermione, I wish to have a-"

Ron looked up at Lupin, startled. "She's not with you?"

...

Hermione was lost. Drat those dratted boys all the way to… something dratted! She should have known their sense of direction was inferior to the standard she was accustomed to, they had spent their whole lives in a forest! They made their way by looking at the shapes of roots on the ground or the indents of bark on the trunks of trees, after all.

This had been a stupid idea. As clever as she was, Hermione had a tendency to act rashly without thinking of the consequences – as witnessed yesterday when she got Harry imprisoned, and again today when she would get herself devoured by some big, hairy-

A figure emerged in front of her so suddenly that she jumped backwards – and when she had a proper look she screamed.

It was the terrible monster from the stories! All the time she had not believed such a creature existed, yet here it was in front of her, colossal and hairy and… speaking to her?

"Who – are – yeh?" It repeated, clearly thinking she didn't understand him.

Hermione took a deep breath. She was still alive. Maybe she could buy some time, and… something.

"I'm… I'm Hermione," she said.

"Hermione," the giant repeated. "I'm Hagrid. Nice to meet you."

Hermione's eyes widened. This was Hagrid? Harry and Ron had described him as tall, not… oh, but what did Harry and Ron know of normal size proportions? She could have slapped herself.

Instead she squealed and launched herself at Hagrid, throwing her arms around his middle.

Hagrid was so taken aback by this, he didn't react at first. After a few seconds, he patted her gently on the head. She would check for a concussion later.

"I'm sorry," Hermione said shyly, pulling away and stepping back to look up into the bearded face. "I've just been looking for you, I can't believe I found you."

Behind Hagrid a ragged, massive dog slowly peered out from behind a tree, whimpering a little.

"Oh Fang yeh old coward," Hagrid said, distracted for a moment. "She's not gonna hurt yeh-" he turned to Hermione, eyes narrowed. "Are yet?"

"No, no, of course not," Hermione said quickly. "I… Ron and Harry are my friends."

At hearing the names of his charges, Hagrid's eyes went wide. "Ron? Harry? Where are they? Are they alright? Oh Her-my-nee tell me everything."

"Hermione," Hermione corrected out of habit. Why did everyone always get her name wrong? "And, well…" she hesitated. "I live in a rebel camp closer to Hogswarth castle. It is led by Sir Lupin, I believe you know him?" Hagrid nodded, impatiently. "Harry and Ron… found the camp." She decided to leave out the bit of how she had almost killed them. "They stayed with us for a while, as we planned to attack the castle. But, well… something happened." She looked down. This was harder than she thought. "Ron, Harry and myself headed up to the Castle, for a scout mission. Only… Harry was captured."

Hermione had not expected the roar that followed. Hagrid leapt past Hermione, his giant footsteps rebounding on the forest floor. "SHOW ME THE WAY!" Hagrid roared, crashing through the underbrush, Hermione following behind him at a run.

Well, it was what she had hoped, if slightly more abrupt. She would have time to explain everything on the way, and hopefully the long walk would relax Hagrid a bit, couldn't have him storm into the camp like this. She knew that he would want to protect his boys, and that he deserved to be a part of this fight.