Author's note: I'm so sorry I haven't updated for so long but I had so much stress with school that I had absolutely no time for even looking at my computer. Sorry!

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the story. All characters and the world belong to J.K. Rowling

Chapter 6

The search begins

Early in the morning of the first Christmas day, the five of them sent an owl to Neville and Luna. Their answers returned just the same day. Both accepted nevertheless they were confused. They had only received a very short summery of what had happened and therefore hardly understood what was going on.

They met on 27 December at the Burrow and Hermione told the whole story again. Neville sighed just as she finished while Luna smiled delightful. She liked the idea of such a great love which even wanted to defeat death.

Not quite an hour later, they had gone. To Mr and Mrs Weasley they said that they wanted to do something like a winter-challenge and went camping. They had decided to search near to Hogwarts as it was quite likely that he was somewhere in that area. Why? Well…Fred loved and Voldemort wanted Hogwarts.

"So…now we're near to Hogwarts. Only about 10 miles away from Hogsmeade…and how do we go on?" asked Neville.

"It's logical", answered Luna, "we now have to search him."

"But he could be everywhere!"

"So we have to search everywhere. Hey, my brother is alive and it would be a shame for both of us if he had to look like THAT for the fest of his…second life!" said George grinning. It was good that he could keep at least a bit of his humour.

"It's likely that he's hiding. His power isn't that great at the moment so it wouldn't be clever if he just walked around and tried to kill people or something like that." Hermione added and looked around. "Maybe he's in a cave or a deserted house."

"Well…I would say we split up into groups." Suggested Harry "Ginny with George, Luna with Neville and Ron and Hermione come with me."

All of them nodded, went to their partners and walked away in different directions.

"I'm sorry guys…" mumbled Hermione two hours later after Harry and Ron had sit down on a big stone.

"What are you sorry for? That we don't have a calm school year again?" asked Ron grinning.

"Well…yes. And that I brought HIM back."

"Come on, you don't have to excuse for that. We are used to stress so it would have been kind of strange if nothing had happened this year. It's not your fault…it could have happened to anyone." said Harry.

"Well…not really." said Ron "No one else would have been able to use that spell properly anyway."

Hermione smiled a bit and her cheeks blushed slightly.

Of course none of the groups found anything. Not even a little hint. But that was what everyone was expecting. People like Voldemort weren't known for being found easily.

They stayed the nights in a magical tent which was even bigger than the one Harry, Ron and Hermione had used the year before. Overall it had four 'rooms', three of which were bedrooms. Two for the boys and one for the girls.

Before they went to bed, they had tried to lift the mood which was, thanks to George's novelties and sweets, quite successful.

The more or less good atmosphere didn't stay for long though. When they hadn't found out anything on the last day of December, everyone was kind of disappointed. They had searched through Hogwart's whole surroundings. Through every cave no matter how small it was and through every house. But there was nothing. In the morning of 31 December, George had a small argument with Harry. Luna and Ginny were arguing, too. So, everything went wrong.

Still being totally upset because of this, Hermione couldn't sleep that night. No way. She lay on her back starring at the tent's ceiling. Silent tears gave her cheeks a wet look.

But it was good that she was awake. So she was the only one in the whole tent to see it. A green ball of light in the main room. Confused she sat up.

/"I have to wake up at least Ginny…don't go alone, Hermione…"/ she thought standing up from the bed. But in the end she didn't follow this idea but dressed on her coat and her boots. At the same moment she entered the main room, the green light flew out of the tent. Hermione went after it even though she knew it was probably not good.

Outside, the light led her into a forest near the tent. In there it disappeared. Everything was dark. From the distance one could hear firework…it was short time before midnight. She didn't wonder why some people started even before the New Year.

But she also hadn't time to think about it as few seconds after the light had disappeared, the Dark Lord stood only few meters away from her. Her heart pounded three times faster than normally. She was afraid as she didn't have her wand with her. On the other hand, he had already pointed it against her.

/"That's the end…"/ She thought swallowing and stepping back a few steps. The Lord came closer, she stepped back…until Hermione felt an old big tree behind her. Only sudden move and she was going to be dead. She knew it. Out of fear she pushed herself against the tree. Voldemort kept coming towards her.

He finally stopped when there was only one more step between them. His wand-free hand held her on the throat. Hermione closed her eyes…she neither wanted to see that face so close to her nor the death's face. If he killed her now, she wouldn't want to face it with open eyes.

But it wasn't dead which occurred. No, it was something really different. She felt his grip loosen…and the next moment she felt lips on hers. However they didn't feel like…well…like she was expecting Voldemort's lips to be. No, they felt…familiar. Nevertheless – or maybe especially because of that – she didn't dare to open her eyes before it was over…what happened few seconds later. Then she opened them…and didn't see the Dark Lord in front of her but Fred.

He didn't look happy at all. He looked rather sad and somehow tired. Hopeless maybe. And, of course, he didn't look good in this gown he had to wear at the moment.

Even before Hermione was able to say something, he had pressed his hand on her mouth. She gave him a confused look.

"Listen, 'Mione…you don't have much time to find me. Only a month. If you haven't succeeded in finding me and defeating him until then, he'll come back with full strength. And when this happens it will almost be impossible to defeat him."

"What will happen to you if we defeat him?" she asked after having pulled back his hand from her mouth.

"I don't know. And even if I did…I probably couldn't tell you."

"…I don't want you to go again. Neither now nor later!"

"But I have to…I can't stay myself for a long time. It's just long enough to spend the first minutes of the New Year with you and to give you a hint."

"A hint? You could also tell me where exactly you are…then we will be successful anyway!"

"That's not possible…I can't tell you everything." He said shaking his head a bit. "Listen well…you'll find the answer. Search where none of it can see me, neither moon nor sunrise. It is the place where you defeated me twice."

He disappeared just while saying those words. They still echoed a few times against the trees.

Not quite sure what she should say, Hermione went back to the tent. Thoughtful she then was finally able to fall asleep. It was likely that it was because she was also thinking about a good thing…that she had started the year together with Fred which she had thought to be impossible just a few moths ago.

The next morning she told the others about her trip and the brain teaser which she was able to tell them word by word. All of them were sure that it wasn't really a hard one…nevertheless they couldn't imagine an answer. So they decided to quit their search and go home until they could think about something.

Few days later, school started again. Just because of Hermione, Ron and Harry had all their homework they had to do during vacation. Well…no one could really concentrate on school at the moment as they had a fight against the time. Not even Hermione could! A month…this wasn't much time especially if you had lessons all the time…

End note: Yeah, I know, sucks as everytime ^^ And, can you guess where he is? Ah yes, I still have the poll open, so please vote which ending you would like to read. And, if you don't mind, you could also send me a review :)