Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

In this chapter, there are little snippets of all the main characters.

This is for HermioneJoan.

Chapter 19

Ron woke up with a slight headache and discovered that he was lying on his old bed at the Burrow. His recent memories came flooding back to him and he sat up, confused. Ginny was sitting in a chair by the door, reading a book.

"Gin," he said quietly.

She looked up and smiled. "You're finally awake!"

"What happened?" he asked.

"We're not sure. You sort of just fainted when you came up here."

"I don't faint," he said defensively. "How long was I out?"

"About 45 minutes. Are you feeling okay?"

"Just a small headache, but I'm okay. Where's Harry?"

"He had some things to do back at the Ministry. He said he'd talk to you next time." She put the book down and stood up. "If you're feeling better, Ron, I think I'll go. You'll be joining me at the Leaky cauldron before I go back to Hogwarts tonight, right?"

"Yeah, I'll be there in an hour. And thanks for staying."

"Hey, Ron, I was wondering something..."

"What is it?"

"Have you seen Hermione?"

All of the doubt Ginny had that Ron had something to do with Hermione's disappearance was gone. She noticed a flicker of fear in her brother's eyes while he opened his mouth, unable to answer.

"I- I haven't, Gin."

Ginny smiled at him. "That's okay. I miss her, that's all. I hope you feel better." With that, she left the room. She made her way downstairs to say goodbye to her family. Once she was clear to leave, she flooed home, grabbed her backpack, and flooed to Malfoy Manor.

Ron wasted no time leaving the Burrow. His mother had tried to convince him to spend the night there until they were sure he was okay, but he insisted on leaving. Instead of apparating straight home, he decided to pay Blaise a visit.

Once at the Zabini home, he made his way to Blaise's kitchen, where he knew his friend would be busy drinking. Sure enough, he found Blaise sitting on the counter, with a bottle of alcohol in his hand.

"How do you do it, Weasley?"

"Do what?" asked Ron as he took the bottle from Blaise.

"Keep her there, trapped. What happened to you?"

Ron looked surprised. "You're the last person who should be asking me that, Zabini. You brought me here, to him."

Blaise stood up suddenly andtook the bottle back from Ron. "I thought you were at least a bit human, Weasley! But you're just like him..."

"What's wrong with you?!"

Blaise didn't answer. Instead, he turned on the spot and apparated away. Ron shook his head and apparated home.

"What do you mean it activated?" asked Harry.

"The portkey activated. Are you blind, Potter?" Draco held out the pendant in front of Harry's face. Harry eyes widened and he reached for it. Draco pulled it back. "We can't go right now."

"Why not?"

Draco rolled his eyes. "We need a plan."

"We have a plan. We have to find her!"

"He's with her right now," he said quietly.

Harry sat down on the floor, shaking his head. "How didn't I notice it before? He's always been the jealous type, but to keep her away from the rest of us all of this time..."

"We don't know anything yet. We have to get to her when she's alone. That way we don't risk getting caught by him wherever she is."

"And how are we going to make sure he's not there with her?"

"That's where I come in, Malfoy," said a voice behind him. Ginny had appeared on the roof with them. "I'm going to meet him at the Leaky Cauldron in an hour."

"How long do you think you'll be able to keep him there?"

"I'm not sure. But I don't think we'll be there for more than a few drinks. So maybe half an hour."

Harry stood back up and walked over to his wife. "Gin, you're the best." He bent down and kissed her softly.

The three of them made their way back downstairs where Ginny flooed back home to pack her bag and shower before leaving to the Leaky Cauldron.

Hermione was sitting on the bed when she heard Ron calling her from the kitchen. When she reached the kitchen, she noticed he was smiling at her, which was something she wasn't used to anymore.

"'Mione!"

"Yes, Ron?" she asked cautiously. She kept her eyes on the floor in front of her.

"We're hosting a dinner party for a few friends of mine next weekend. You are to prepare a feast for half a dozen guests. I expect nothing less than perfection. I think I've trained you well enough. Right, 'Mione?"

"Of course, Ron. Nothing less than perfection."

Hermione watched as Ron walked away into the sitting room. She let out a breath she wasn't aware she was holding in. It would be the first time in months that she would come in contact with anyone else but Ron.

It's my only chance, she thought, I have to escape.

Draco sat at the edge of his bed, staring down a bottle of firewhiskey. He was nervous, although he would never let Harry see. He didn't want the other wizard to see how vulnerable he was becoming. He was fighting a losing battle against himself. While one part of him wanted to walk away from his new priorities and drink himself to death, the other part of him knew that what he was doing was the right thing. His thoughts never seemed too far off of Hermione Granger, and that sudden feelings he felt for her confused him further. He would have never thought he'd be playing the hero with Harry Potter to save her.

The thought of Weasley's hands on Hermione angered him. He wondered what he was doing with her right now. He hoped that he and Harry were wrong and that there was nothing wrong going on. For once, he hoped that Weasley and Hermione were happy together and that she simply didn't want to see any of her old friends. But he knew that wasn't very likely.

He gripped the bottle a little tighter. His mid was too far off into him thoughts to hear Harry's knock on the door. Draco didn't even notice when he walked in. It wasn't until he sat down on the bed.

"Malfoy?"

No answer.

"Malfoy," he said again quietly. "It's almost time."

"I can't get her out of my head." He tipped the remaining drink into his mouth. "I keep picturing them together and it- it's driving me mad."

Harry wrenched the empty bottle out of Draco's hand. He got up and pulled Draco up with him. "I'm not going to sit here and watch you do this to yourself. We're going to her now. And we'll help her if she needs it. So let's go!" Harry motioned to the portkey that was resting on a desk in the far side of the room. They walked over together and simultaneously put their hands right over it. "On three."

Draco nodded. "One..."

"Two..."

"Three!"