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Hermione quickly lost track of time once she left Hogwarts. Even thought she was gone, Hermione rarely had a thought cross her mind that was directly related to Hogwarts, and therefore, Severus.

Hermione didn't know it was possible to miss someone so much. She often wondered how he was doing, alone in his room and how the meetings with the Dark Lord were going. Was he getting extra punishment because she wasn't there? Did he have to care for his own wounds after their meetings? Did he miss her?

That night, Hermione didn't sleep. She simply clutched her book to her chest, silently thanking the man in black, praying that he was okay.

The days with the three passed slowly; there wasn't much they could do. Hermione read and reread every book she had brought with her. Harry moped around most of the time, staring at nothing for nearly hours on end. Hermione knew he was desperately trying to think of something, anything that could help them. Ron spent most of his time bugging her, trying to get her to talk to him and tell him what the two of them had been up to while he was gone.

Hermione couldn't keep her mind focused. She needed to help Harry, she missed Severus desperately, and she needed to let Ron down easily. She obviously knew that she couldn't reject him now, not when they all needed to band together.

Each night they would listen to the radio, praying that no one they knew would be there. They had already heard Ted Tonks, Nymphadora's father, had been killed. Hermione also listened for things about Hogwarts, and every now and then, Severus' name would creep through the static, before slipping away again, bring no decisive news for her to work with.

Hermione knew the three were slowly drifting apart, regardless of the fact that they lived with each other now. There was too much tension in the air, and they were too frustrated to be social to one another. On more than one occasion Hermione snapped at Harry for something ridiculous.

The stress was slowly wearing Hermione down, yet she desperately tried to keep working on her shields, but she knew they were significantly weaker than when she was with Severus. Every day, she felt herself growing weaker, feeling the stress seeping into her skin and invading her veins. Her thoughts acted as an accelerant. They were in the middle of the woods, yet Hermione couldn't recall a time where she's felt more claustrophobic.

As each day passed and Hermione could feel the tension building between the three. Something was going to give way, and soon. Hermione didn't know if she could handle what would happen between the three.

They continued to move around the countryside, afraid to stay in one place for too long. Food was scarce, making them all cranky. Hermione could see that they were all drastically losing weight and struggling to make it thought the days. The breaking point was quickly approaching.

Hermione was searching through the book she had taken from Bathilda Bagsot's home.

"Harry, come here," Hermione called after coming across a symbol she had seen numerous times before.

"What is it?" he said sitting beside her.

"Look here," Hermione pointed out. "I've seen this everywhere. Both Dumbledore and Grindelwald use it at the bottom of each of their letters, and it's in the book Dumbledore left me,"

Hermione instantly knew that Harry had seen the image before by the way his eyes widened.

"I saw this at Bill and Fleur's wedding," he said running his finger over the image.

"At the wedding?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, around Xenophilius Lovegood's neck, it was his necklace,"

"Luna's father?"

"Yes,"

The three looked at each other, a feeling of uneasiness settling among them.

"Hermione, we have to go," Harry said.

"I know," she said with a sigh.

That night, the three were silent, yet all awake. Hermione couldn't help but weigh the pros and cons of the visit they would be paying the following morning. This would be the first time they would be seen by someone since the incident at the Ministry. If Lovegood was anything like his daughter, the three would have to be especially careful.

Hermione spent the night watching the tent flaps gently lifting in the breeze, thinking of Severus, thinking through the numerous situations they could be confronted with when the sun rose the next day.

The next thing Hermione saw was the blinding light from the sun. Immediately she jumped up and began packing the tent up. The two boys awoke soon after and the three silently finished packing up the tent. Hermione pulled the beaded bag over her head, allowing the strap to cross her chest.

"Ready?" Harry asked, taking her hand while Ron took her other.

She nodded once, and then quickly Apparated.

When she opened her eyes, she was met with the odd structure of Luna's home. The three gave a collective sigh as they stared at the place where they would hopefully receive some sort of direction.

The three quickly made their way to the front door, making sure they were as quiet as possible. Harry immediately knocked on the door, and Hermione could feel her heart pounding in her throat.

The door swung open and they were met with a shaggy looking man. Quickly Harry worked and the man let them in.

"Mr. Lovegood, where is Luna?" Hermione questioned, knowing the students from Hogwarts should be on break.

"Oh, she'll be around shortly," the man said, keeping his face turned away from the three.

There was an uncomfortable silence as Xenophilius prepared them something to drink. As they forced the harsh liquid down their throats, Harry finally spoke.

"We were wondering if you could tell us about the Deathly Hallows?"

Xenophilius looked up at Harry as if he was seeing him for the first time. Slowly, Xenophilius began to tell the story of the three brothers.

Hermione's head was whirling by the end of the tale. She didn't know what to believe anymore. Could something that outrageous be true?

"Oh," Xenophilius said, jumping up and grabbing the tea pot. "I'll go and get you some more water,"

Quickly he left the room, making Hermione's stomach flip and her uneasiness of the whole situation increase to a near smothering level.

"That cannot be true," Hermione whispered, clinging to her bag.

"Why not? Harry already has the cloak," Ron protested.

"Either way, I think we should get out of here," Harry said, voicing Hermione's uneasiness.

The three quickly walked down the stairs where Xenophilius was clumsily moving around in the kitchen.

"Thank you for your hospitality, but I think we better be off," Hermione said.

No one expected Xenophilius' reaction. Immediately he moved to the door, locking it and blocking the door.

"I need you, he has her, he has my Luna,"

"Mr. Lovegood-"

"They were angry at what I was printing, and they took her. But if I have you, I could get her back,"

"Who has Luna?" Ron asked.

Xenophilius looked at them for a moment, and barely moving his lips, whispered one name.

"Voldemort,"

Instantly there were explosions around them, and Hermione fell to the ground with a scream. Her eyes found Harry's black hair and she desperately crawled towards him, snatching his hand.

Debris violently rained upon them, and Hermione tucked her head against her chest as an attempt to protect her face.

"Ron!" Harry yelled among the explosions.

The second Hermione felt Ron's hand touch hers, she Apparated, leaving the exploding house behind them.

The three were thrown into bushes with small grunts of pain. Almost immediately, Ron jumped up and started cursing Xenophilius. The other two slowly climbed to their feet, brushing themselves off.

"If I ever see him again, I'm going to kill him!" Ron shouted, his face turning red.

Before Hermione could make a retort, figures suddenly appeared before them.

Snatchers.