Author's Note: Thanks for the continue support! Just a note that if you have any questions, just ask! I reply to reviews via PM! Sorry for the cliffhanger, but I couldn't resist. Here's how it all happened, but you'll have to wait for the why. ;)

Chapter 7

September 1999

"We were having a row that day. Things were getting pretty serious with us. We were dating just over six months and, well, after what felt like years of, um, let's just call it tension between us, once we decided to be together and be serious, we moved pretty quickly. Ginny always said it was that war mentality, like why waste another second, you know? But I thought that was just her excuse to be with Harry." Ron took a deep breath, everything from that day was so clear, it was like he could bring himself right back to it.

The couple had been looking at apartments to rent together. Hermione had insisted on living in the muggle world, believing that it would be a unique experience for Ron.

"You're really expecting me to live without magic?" he asked her as they strode down the street. He'd been complaining about the prospect ever since Hermione announced they'd be looking at places to live in a normal muggle area of London.

"Of course not!" Hermione exclaimed but then lowered her voice. He was on her last nerve lately. "There are spells to put on the windows and walls so no one can detect there's magical activity from the outside. Anti-muggle type charms so they're oblivious to it. Seriously Ron, like I'd expect either of us to go without magic, honestly!" Hermione checked the piece of paper in her hands as they stopped at the corner. "It's just across the street," she murmured and crossed when the street was clear. "Behave yourself," she whispered to him as they approached the muggle realtor who would be showing them the apartment. They were brought up to a fifth floor flat and shown around, Ron being moody the entire time for being admonished like a child by his girlfriend.

"Isn't the drawing room lovely, Ron?" Hermione asked, grinning as she looked out the giant bay window. "Ron?" she asked when she got no response. "Ronald," she reprimanded when she saw him leaning against a wall, lost in thought. He snapped out of it and straightened up.

"Hmm? Oh, yes, lovely," he quickly responded but it was too late. Hermione's eyes blazed, he was in trouble. The visit was cut short, Hermione's patience being exhausted. She kept quiet until they were safely back inside Grimmauld Place.

"Honestly, Ron, you ruined a perfectly fine day that should have been exciting for us!" Hermione yelled as soon as the door was closed, storming into the living room, Ron trailing behind. She roughly pulled her coat off, tossing it and her wand down on a nearby chair. "You want to just stay here forever, don't you?"

"What's wrong with here?" he asked after tossing his own coat and wand in a similar fashion. The wands were ditched when they fought. Their fights weren't often but were explosive when they occurred. The look on Hermione's face quickly told him he shouldn't have spoken.

"Being here is just like being at school, practically. We're not going to grow together if we stay here forever, Ron, and you making this so difficult is like saying you don't want to be with me."

"Well with the way you're acting lately, staying here forever seems like paradise!" Before he could take his next breath in, a vase was flying at his head. With her frustration overflowing, Hermione had exploded and grabbed the nearest object to throw at him. The vase was better than a hex, though, Ron figured.

He ducked before the vase could hit him and he noted that the same vase had been thrown at him the last time they had a big fight. Hermione must have magically repaired it afterward. The next few moments seemed to go in slow motion. Ron straightened to watch her next move, taking a few steps towards her to try to physically stop her from throwing anything else at him. He grabbed her arm as her other outstretched to the mantle where another vase Ron hadn't noticed before sat. As soon as her fingers wrapped around it, they were both being pulled through time and space by the navel.

They landed in a poorly lit room that felt cold and damp like a dungeon. It felt familiar to Ron.

"Petrificus Totalus!"

There was a flash of light and Hermione screamed as she saw Ron's limbs stiffen and then heard the thud when he landed on the floor.

"Lumos."

Hermione saw a light appear as the tip of someone's wand lit. As her eyes adjusted to the light, she gasped as she saw Draco Malfoy.

"Hello," his voice echoed and he began to laugh, the sound bouncing off the walls.

"Draco," Hermione said cautiously. "Wh… what are you doing?" she stammered. He began to walk towards her, an evil smirk on his face as he pointed his wand at her.

"Getting even," he answered, his voice solidly evil.

In the distance, a few pops could be heard and the ceiling rattled as people ran above them. Voices began to fill her senses. "Check upstairs!" boomed a voice. "We'll take the basement." A look of panic flashed over Draco's face. In an instant, he grabbed for Hermione, his arm going around her neck and pressing against her windpipe so it was hard for her to breath, let alone yell for help. His wand was pointed at her head. She struggled against him as aurors charged into the dungeon, casting spells to light up their surroundings, wands pointed at her and Draco. "Let her go," boomed the same voice from before. "Draco, drop your wand!"

Draco's breathing was heavy and he panicked then, shouting out a spell. "Oblivi Kedavra!" There was a bright blast of light from the tip of Draco's wand. It was almost blinding. Hermione let out an agonizing scream. The aurors began to shoot spells at him as he let go of Hermione and she collapsed on the floor near Ron, unconscious.