Sorry for the delay... Will try to upload sooner next time... I kind of faced a writer's block... Anyway...

Thank you Philosophize, Anotherboarduser, Artur Hawkwing 1, discb, Onyx Obsidian, Nigelcat1, Saki-Hime, Goundry, Debanjan B and Natalie for your encouragement... Lots of love to you guys...

Here goes the next chapter... Please R&R...

I do not own Harry Potter. I'm just a fan of our Queen...

Hermione opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. It looked like the interior of a very big cave. She was magical bound to the wall facing the entrance. Ron just left through the entrance without a word after he had given Harry the warning.

Hermione thought to herself about the past few days. Everything happened so quickly. The second Wizarding War had come to an end, with the light side victorious. She even performed the Deathly Hallow's ritual successfully. No wonder Voldemort tried to destroy the book; he had always feared the dead.

Death himself had spoken to Hermione and granted her with the knowledge from the book to extract the gift of life. He even informed her that she no longer had a family. Her parents were safe in Australia, but her strong memory charm had worked better than anticipated. Only the elder wand could have reversed the effect but it snapped during the ritual. And she couldn't have waited to perform the ritual as it had to be done within an hour of touching the book. At least they were safe, Hermione thought to herself. Maybe she'll come up with a stronger spell in future.

But now she was stuck here, waiting for Harry to find her. Harry… the thought of him being alive and safe brought a smile to her face even during such a situation. Seeing his lifeless body in the arms of Hagrid had made her realize how much she loved him. Her heart had almost shattered thinking that Harry was gone…. Just like that. The only thing that stopped her from taking her own life then and there was the fact that she wouldn't let his death be in vain. She swore on his name that she will die fighting, taking as many death eaters with her. Or maybe even Voldemort himself.

If only she had revealed her feeling to him back then. If Harry couldn't find her within a day, Merlin knows what Ron would do with her. She would regret only one thing: she couldn't tell Harry that she was in love with him. She didn't care whether he reciprocated her feelings or not. She just wanted him to know. But that wasn't going to happen if she were to be stuck here!

Hermione tried to move, yanking at her wrists and kicking her legs, but in vain. As her right leg hit the wall behind her, she felt something solid and long inside her socks. It was her wand! She still had her wand! Now, all she had to do was somehow trick Ron into removing her entrapment. Then she could reach for her wand. So, Hermione came up with a plan.

The Great Hall

Meanwhile, everyone at the Great Hall was highly confused. It took five whole minute for Harry to realize what was happening while Molly Weasley rushed to the front.

"FRED! Oh my boy! You're back!"

"Of course! I didn't want your last memory of me to be about you pushing me aside to hug Percy!"

Mrs. Weasley chuckled through her tears while engulfing Fred in a hug while he patted her back reassuringly. George (the real one) came up to his twin and slapped his back.

"You scared the crap outta me Gred!"

"Well Feorge, enough chit chat. We have to kick our brother's arse and rescue the damsel from distress. You alright there Harry?"

At last, Harry could form coherent words and spoke up.

"How can you be back? Don't get me wrong, I'm extremely happy that you are here... But how?"

"What do you think the ritual was about? Hermione brought us back!"

"What do you mean by 'us'?"

"Wotchers Harry! Stop ignoring us... We have feelings you know..."

Harry turned and found his jaw almost hitting the ground. Many figures were apparating in front of him from nowhere and he found himself face to face with Tonks, her werewolf husband and Padfoot, when the third person spoke.

"You know Harry, that expression is not going to help you woo Hermione after you rescue her."

"I never thought I'd EVER agree with anything said by Sirius Black."

Even Nagini hadn't widened her mouth as much for biting the man currently standing next to Harry's godfather as Harry's mouth was right now. Before Harry had to be taken to Madam Pomfrey to fix his jaws, Professor McGonagall came forward and performed a few spells to detect any form of dark magic involvement, since she seemed to be the only one with exceptional recovery-from-shock quality.

More figures appeared at the Great Hall. Bill had rushed to the room where the bodies of the warriors had been laid to rest and found them disappearing one by one. There were tears of joy being shed for the reunited families.

Lupin stood on the podium and cast a sonorous charm before speaking.

"I know that you all are overwhelmed due to the current occurrence. Yes, we're all happy to be back. There are many who are still on the way. But, the person responsible for all this, is in danger right now and we need to bring her back. Without Hermione, all this wouldn't have been possible. Yes, we might have been victorious, but what's the point of victory which accompanies such a huge loss. So, I request all the uninjured to help us find her."

Cheers and encouragement erupted from the crowd, which prompted Lupin to continue.

"Now, we must first form a search team. We have to look at places where Ron could have possibly taken Hermione. Those who are up for the task, please come to the front."

There was some amount of scuffling amongst the crowd. The whole Weasley clan, Neville, Luna, Creevey brothers, Mrs. Longbottom, Dean, Seamus, Patil twins and Kingsley stepped forward. Even Snape and Malfoy stepped forward, the former eventually breaking the silence.

"The Dark Lord is definitely dead. Mr. Weasley has possessed his body, not his brain. Therefore, I suggest we think of places that he would come up with for hiding."

"Well, our Ronnekins would come up with the lamest, most predictable hiding place. He might even be within this castle right now."

"I agree with you Mr. Weasley. Our first step would be to search the castle. I don't know why I'm back. But I must say, I did miss lemon drops!"

The whole Hall went silent as the saw the sight before them. Albus Dumbledore was standing beside Fred, who almost broke his neck trying to turn towards the speaker.

"Albus! Is it really you? But how…"

"Well Minerva, as much as I would like to wipe those uncharacteristic tears from your cheeks and give all of you a proper explanation, I think we have a more important matter to attend. Kingsley, if you're done staring at me like I'm a masterpiece, I would like you to lead a search group around the castle. Severus, I suggest you take a team down the dungeons. Sirius, Remus and Tonks can lead a group to the grounds. Take Hagrid with you as well."

Everyone started forming search groups to look for Hermione. After a lot of struggle, and imposing pain on toes within the crowd, Rubius Hargrid came forward. Due to this, everyone missed the 'thunk-thunk' sound coming their way.

"Potter! Any idea where I could find my eye?"

"Moody!"

Tonks almost toppled over a bundle of wool to reach Mad-eye and hugged him. For once, Alastor didn't cast his impostor-detecting charm, which caught Sirius's attention.

"What happened to CONSTANT VIGILANCE?"

"Well, sometimes you can't help being a sentimental fool."

Speaking of sentimental fools, the bundle of wool got up and faced Harry.

"Harry Potter's Weezey take his Grangy away? Harry Potter need only ask once."

"DOBBY!"

After all this time, that was the first word Harry could speak.

"What do you mean Dobby?"

"Dobby can find Miss Grangy if Harry Potter asks Dobby to!"

"Can you do that Dobby? Please find Hermione and Ron. Bring them both here."

Dobby bowed low and disapparated with a crack.

"But why both of them Harry?"

Harry turned towards the tearful Mrs. Weasley and replied with full honesty.

"I'm not losing my first ever friend that easily. Everyone deserves a second chance."

The Hall went silent yet again as everyone waited patiently for the elf's return…

A/N: Please please please please please review... Will update soon...