Harry lay there in his bed that night, tossing and turning, thinking of where she could be and what she could be going through

Harry lay there in his bed that night, tossing and turning, thinking of where she could be and what she could be going through at that moment. He shuttered when he thought of all of the terrible things the Death Eaters were capable of doing. No, he assured himself, don't even think of those things . . .

When he let unconsciousness finally take hold of him, he was brought into the world of nightmares that he never wanted to re-visit ever since that summer.

Hermione was in a dungeon, imprisoned by the many chains that bound her to the cold, stone, wall. She seemed to be asleep, until the door slammed shut and in walked Bellatrix Leastrange. She smirked at the sight of the unconscious girl. And before anyone could stop her (even though there was no one present) she shot a curse directly at Hermione's chest.

She writhed in pain and agony; this was not the proper way to be awoken. Tears freefell down her cheeks and stained her already blood-ridden skin. Her screams were enough to sent Bellatix laughing hysterically at the pitiful site. She soon lifted the curse and proceeded to walk up to Hermione's limp form.

"Your dearly beloved can't save you now." She hissed.

"He will come." Hermione managed to choke out.

Bellatrix chuckled, "And risk his own neck? He is probably to busy getting in-between some other whore's legs to give a rat's arse about you."

"You're wrong."

"Am I?"

"He loves me . . . he will come."

"Well if he does come, we'll be sure to give him a welcoming present."

Hermione looked up at her with furrowed eyebrows, a confused expression passing over her features. Bellatrix simply smirked and cast another silent Crucio. A scream escaped Hermione's lips before she could even muster up the strength to try and stop it. Bellatrix lifted the curse and looked at Hermione's form, hanging weakly from the chains.

"He will be welcomed by your dead body."

Hermione shook her head. "You can do whatever you want to me. But you'll never live once Harry finds me dead."

Another chucked escaped Bellatrix's lips, "You really think Baby Potter will stand a chance against me? He couldn't cast an Unforgivable if his life—or should I say yours—depended on it."

"He can do a lot of things that you wouldn't imagine."

"What? Turn me into a wristwatch? I think not."

"He will defeat you, Voldermort, and every other Death Eater alive."

"You dare speak his name? Mudbloods do not speak the Dark Lords name, or they will be severely punished,"

"Do your worst."

Hermione's screams echoed through the vacant dungeon until her strangled breaths were the only audible noise present. A few more gasps later. . . there was utter silence. Bellatrix laughed and left the room.

Harry awoke shaking profusely. He quickly swiped the sweat that was soaking his brow and got his glasses from the bedside table. When he read the clock, it showed him that it was six in the morning. Even though it was the weekend he got up and out of bed and made his way to get ready, dreading the idea of going back to sleep and having another nightmare.

He figured no one else would be up this early in the morning, so he sat down on the couch and picked up a book that was on the table; "Horcruxes: A Complete Guide". He had never seen this book before. Not even in the restricted section of the library. He carefully picked it up and opened the binding. There on the lower left-hand corner of the binding was the name Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.

His eyes visably widened at the sight of the abnormally large name inscribed onto the binding. Of couse Dumbledore would have a book on Horcruxes, but why hadn't he told him before?

Harry started to flip through the thick pages and came upon a piece of parchment stuck in the binding towards the middle of the book. He gently removed it and stared at the familiar thin, neat handwrting. It was a list.

Slytherin's Ring check

Diary check

Hufflepuff's Cup check

Ravenclaw's Diadem (tiara) check

Tom Riddle

Nagini

As he observed the list for a bit longer, Harry realized that this was a list of Horcruxes. And by the looks of it . . . more than half of them were destroyed. Dumbledore only told him of two of the seven being destroyed, not four. What else had Dumbledore not been telling him? If he had had this information earlier, he wouldn't have had to worry about destroying as many.

This considerably lightened his mood. Not having more Horcruxes to go after. But he still needed to figure out the last Horcrux. He had no hints or clues . . .

Harry suddenly rushed up to his dormitory and started rummaging through his trunk. Throwing aside the Invisibility Cloak and Marauders Map, he came upon his Hogwarts letter that he had received that summer, and opened it. The note that Dumbledore had written to him clutched in his hand, he rushed down the stairs and reclaimed his spot on the couch.

'A treasure hidden lost and gone

Forever destroyed by point of wand

Doing evil and never done,

Only safe in the hands of the one'

He stared at the riddle for hours it seemed, but nothing came to mind. If only Hermione was here, he thought miserably. He gave up for the time being and glanced at the clock. Two hours had gone by, he figured at least Ginny would be up, so he made his way to the Great Hall, feeling oddly out of place without Hermione's hand within his.

When he entered, he found not only Ginny, but also Ron as well eating at the Gryffindor Table. He made his way over to them. It didn't take them to long to realize that he was alone.

"Where's Hermione?" Ginny asked.

Harry looked down at the table. Even hearing her name brought him close to tears. He wished more than anything to be back up in his dormitory, reading and trying to distract himself from wandering thoughts of her. But Ginny and Ron deserved to know.

"Harry . . . is everything alright?"

"Hermione's gone." He said bluntly, still looking intently at the table.

"Gone? What do you mean, gone?" Ginny asked.

"Last night . . . she was . . . k-kidnapped."

"WHAT?!" Ginny screamed, earning the attention of neighboring tables. She ignored it, intent on hearing the full story. "How could she . . . why was she . . . oh Merlin."

Ron did his best to look as miserable as Harry felt. He really did hope that she was okay. That was the deal; no harm would come to her. He only hoped that his deal wouldn't fall apart.

Harry now had tears on his face and was wiping them away with his palm. Ginny saw this and couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Hermione might be her best girlfriend . . . but Harry and Hermione had known each other for longer. She could only imagine the pain he must be feeling. Ron, too. But as she looked at her brother's face, he was stirring his cereal around in his bowl, seeming not as affected by the news as she and Harry were.

Before Ginny could question Ron's behavior, however, she heard the tapping of a glass goblet, signaling a speech from the Headmistress. The Great Hall quieted considerably following the sound, their full attention at the Head's table. McGonagall stood up with a look of sorrow on her face, momentarily staring in Harry, Ginny, and Ron's direction before continuing.

"I am sorry for interrupting your morning feast, but I have a rather disturbing announcement to make." She started. Murmuring between the students started, but quickly stopped at the look McGonagall was giving them. "I was informed last night, that there was a break in, inside the Heads Dormitory. One of your fellow students has been taken from our mists. Miss Hermione Granger." Everyone's eyes drifted to where Harry was sitting. He felt as though they were all blaming him as well. Everyone knew that the Heads lived in shared dormitories.

The eyes left him at the sound of the Headmistress speaking again, "Furthermore, I must warn each and every one of you to be extremely careful. That is why a new curfew has been set. Every student must be in their dormitories by six o'clock every evening." People visibly groaned at the idea of a new curfew, not going unnoticed by McGonagall, "Keep in mind that it is for your safety."

She quietly sat down as the hall erupted in whispers about this newfound information. Harry's name could be heard once or twice in the mix of rumors being spread throughout the student population. He did his best to ignore it as he continued to pick at his breakfast, keeping his face hidden behind his bangs as best he could. Ginny placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, causing his to look up and have a small smile emit from his lips.

Hermione's day had been considerably different than she had expected. The only pain that she had was the feeling of nausea in the morning, causing her to rush to the toilet.

She couldn't believe this was happening. She was pregnant. Not only that . . . she was pregnant with Harry's child. Why hadn't she thought of protection? Why couldn't she have taken the two seconds it required from her and preformed the contraception charm? She had only one answer; she was stupid.

But being pregnant did have its advantages; she was not having curses inflicted on her, as she thought would happen. Why? What were they planning to do to her? Was she going to stay here throughout her entire pregnancy? She wouldn't allow herself to imagine that. No, she would not. Harry would rescue her . . . any day now . . .

"Supper." A low, raspy voice said from the other side of the door. Following the voice, a bowl of soup and a spoon appeared on the floor by her bed. Hermione picked up the bowl and allowed her mind to settle down a bit.

Oh, Harry. Where are you?

Harry was currently studying in his room, a Charms test was approaching. He usually didn't study, but it did allow his mind to focus on the work in front of him rather than . . . other places.

It was when he heard a familiar feminine voice that he dropped his quill, allowing ink to flow on his paper. Oh, Harry. Where are you? It was Hermione. He was sure of it. But why was he hearing her voice? Was he going crazy?

I need you, Harry.

He was sure he wasn't imagining it now. He should go find Tonks. But when he checked his watch, it showed a quarter past six. He would be past curfew. Wait, he thought, I'm Head Boy. So, completely forgetting his ink-stained notes, he made his way to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.

After knocking on the door, he came face-to-face with a very awake Tonks. An improvement since their last meeting. "Watcher, Harry . . . what can I help you with?"

"Its Hermione."

Tonks's posture immediately straightened at the mention of Hermione's name, "What about her?"

"Well . . . uhh . . . I can, sorta . . ."

"Maybe we should talk inside?" Tonks suggested. When Harry nodded, Tonks opened the door further to let him in. He sat down in the chair opposite of her desk and looked at her. "Well . . . as you were saying . . ."

"Oh, well when I was studying I heard Hermione's voice in my head."

"Figuratively speaking, or—"

"No. I mean I heard her voice in my head, as though she was talking directly to me." He explained.

Tonks looked perplexed for a moment, then pointed her wand at her through, "HEADMISTRISS MCGONAGALL, PLEASE REPORT TO PROFESSOR TONK'S OFFICE IMMEDIATELY"

Harry had to cover his ears to prevent ringing in his ears. But alas, when he removed his hands from his ears, there was a faint ringing in them. "Sorry." Tonks apologized.

"S'ok." Harry reassured, "Why did you call Professor McGonagall, anyways?"

"It seems like her area of expertise."

"But you—"

"Have a specialty of tracking people down." Tonks smiled.

"So . . ."

"We are going to put our abilities together to find her, yes."

Harry smiled as well. After a few minutes of silence, Harry heard the door open and close behind him. Looking at the source of the sound, Harry saw Professor McGonagall entering and saw her take a place by Tonks at the desk.

"You wanted to see me, Professor?" she asked.

"Yes. Harry here has something he would like to share with you,"

McGonagall looked expectantly at Harry, "I heard her voice, Professor. When I was studying, it felt like she was talking to me."

McGonagall smiled, "You just discovered one of the many powers that Altus Limbido Amor has to offer. I was wondering when it would come into effect."

"Y-you mean, I actually heard her voice?" Harry asked.

"No, you heard her thoughts. I told you earlier in the year that that was one of the side effects. But now that you channeled it, maybe it can help us get a better idea of where Miss Granger might be." Tonks looked bewildered, but didn't ask any questions.

"How?" Harry asked.

"Just focus your heart on her . . . call out to her."

Harry nodded, "You sure this will help?"

"Positive."

Harry closed his eyes and focused on Hermione. Her eyes, her lips, her hair; everything that he loved about her. It wasn't long before he was calling out her name in his mid. Hermione . . .

She heard it. She swore just a second ago that she heard Harry's voice. Was he here? Was he coming to rescue her?

Hermione.

She furrowed her eyebrows it didn't sound that he was in the room . . . it sounded as if . . . he was in her mind. That couldn't possibly be. His voice sent shivers down her spine. She missed his so much; she wanted to hug, kiss, and just plain see his again.

Hermione? Can you hear me?

Should she answer? What if it was a trick. Oh, well, she wanted to hear his voice again. So she simply answered, Harry, is that you?

Yeah, his voice responded.

What is this? What's happening?

Never mind that. Are you okay?

I'm fine

Really? They didn't torture you, or—

No, they didn't. I'm fine, just cold . . . and alone

Do you know where you are? His voice sounded urgent.

No, all I've seen while I was here is the room I'm staying in.

Are there any windows?

Only one on the ceiling, but I can't see anything but the night sky.

Do you have any idea?

Well . . . I have an inkling. I sometimes hear voices outside of my door at night, and they kept on mentioning Malfoy. So I might be beneath or inside his house. But I can't be sure . . .

Well, it sounds logical. He recently escaped Askaban. He would do anything to make up for what Draco did.

It felt so good to hear his voice again. It was defiantly Harry; worrying about her and not how much danger he'll be in if he even attempts to rescue her. Hermione suddenly realized something . . . she should tell him that she was expecting. He deserved to know; she didn't know how much longer this connection would last.

Harry?

Yeah?

I have something to tell you.

Okay, shoot.

Harry, when I first woke up here . . . Bellatrix Leastrange started talking about luring you here. It's a trap Harry; it's all a trap. There're tying to lure me here so Voldermort can kill you. And then use me to destroy you.

Use you . . . how?

Harry . . . I'm—