A/N: Thanks to everyone who has given me feedback on my first chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, and I used some lines from PoA for Ron's letter.

Hermione was sitting on the balcony of a hotel suite in Paris, looking out over the city.

It's been a few days since she sent her letter off to Harry, and she was really starting to get worried about the lack of response. She tried her best to stay positive, telling herself that Harry was probably just busy, or that international owl mail was slow, but every day that passed without a reply made her anxiety build.

She was having a difficult time enjoying her vacation with the possibility of Harry having been kidnapped by a mass murderer looming over her. Her mind kept coming up with dark scenarios of all the awful things Harry would be going through, if the rumors were true.

Her consternation, as well as her lack of enthusiasm about her holiday was noticed by her parents. They constantly asked her if she was OK, or if there was something wrong. Hermione didn't want to worry her parents with the awful rumors she was stressing over. She tried her best to put on a cheerful facade, although she was sure her parents weren't fully buying it.

In her nervousness and growing apprehension, she even sent a letter to Ron asking if he had heard from Harry. She glanced down at the reply she got two days ago and re-read it for what felt like the hundredth time.

Dear Hermione,

No, I haven't heard anything from Harry, but I'm sure he's alright. Surely you're not worried about that hogwash about Harry getting kidnapped? It's all a load of bollocks, you know. You should see what they're printing in the international papers. We've been reading those, lately, since it can sometimes be hard to find a copy of the Daily Prophet in Egypt. Apparently, Sirius Black was just spotted at a beach in Majorca eating an ice cream cone. Like I said, it's all a load of bull.

It's been amazing here in Egypt. Bill's taken us to a few old tombs, and you wouldn't believe what some of those old Egyptian Wizards got up to. Our trip's almost over, so we'll be heading back home soon. By the way, Mum wanted me to let you know that you're welcome to drop by anytime, once we get back. I have a ton of stories to tell you.

For example, near the beginning of the trip, I got attacked by a wild rabid dog! It was crazy, this giant black dog just came out of nowhere and pounced on me! I wasn't hurt too bad, but the mutt managed to grab Scabbers in its jaws before we chased it off.

I was in a bit of a foul mood for a while after losing my rat. Bill said he'd get me a replacement pet, and I was hoping for something cool, but he went and got this thing called a Pygmy Puff, which is like a miniature Puffskein. It was probably my fault for asking him to get me a baby Sphinx.

I wanted to make him return it to the pet shop, but Ginny instantly fell in love with the little bugger and named him Arnold. I think it's a stupid name, but it's still really nice to see Ginny being more lively. This trip has been really good for her, I think, especially after all that Heir of Slytherin stuff last year. Doesn't make Arnold any less of a stupid of a name, though.

I still can't believe Dad won the Daily Prophet Draw! Seven hundred Galleons. A lot of it's gone towards this trip, but they're going to buy me a new wand for next year.

Don't let the newspapers get you down!

Try and come to the Burrow,

Ron

Hermione gave a shaky smile. She truly appreciated that Ron was doing his best to reassure her, even if she'd prefer he use less crude language. She had dragged her parents back to Place Cachée to pick up a copy of every newspaper she could get her hands on, and indeed she found one with an article about how Sirius Black was relaxing on a beach in Majorca.

Her parents were initially happy that she was back to showing enthusiasm about their holiday. That was until Hermione bolted herself up in her hotel room and proceeded to scour through the newspapers to find every single article that so much as mentioned Sirius Black.

Sprawled out on a small table in front of her were the fruits of her labor. Several newspaper clippings that reported alleged sightings of Sirius Black. Interestingly, she was starting to notice a pattern emerge from all the articles. There were a lot of major cities and popular holiday destinations listed as places where Black purportedly went. Assuming all of these articles were true, it painted a picture of someone going on an extended holiday throughout Europe. Of course, that was a very big assumption to make, as she had no way of verifying the articles. Not all of them had pictures, and those that did were quite poor, but still, it could mean something. This would require further investigation.

Suddenly, a hoot drew her attention, and she spotted a familiar snowy owl flying overhead.

"HEDWIG!" she cried, relief flooding her body. Harry wrote back to her. Harry was OK. She was worrying for nothing. Harry was going to explain that he obviously wasn't kidnapped, and then she was going to berate him for taking so long to respond, and then they would both have a laugh at the whole situation. "Oh, I can't tell you how happy I am to see you, Hedwig."

Hermione removed the letter from Hedwig's leg, and immediately tore it open and began reading.

Instantly, her smile dropped from her face. She felt tears begin to form.

"No…" she whispered, "Harry…"

Every single negative thought from the past few days came crashing back all at once, as her worst fears became reality. The rumors were true. Harry has been kidnapped by Sirius Black.

No, she thought, It's even worse than I feared.

Hermione re-read the letter, her eyes lingering on phrases like "seriously tortured", "constant beatings", and "starved for days". A part of her doesn't want to believe what she's reading. A small part of her desperately and frantically wished that this was just one big joke. She had to cling to that tiny amount of hope, as that was all she had left.

She immediately grabs a scrap of paper and hastily writes Harry, this had better be a joke. Love Hermione and held it up to Hedwig.

"Give this to Harry." she orders.

Hedwig remains still.

"H- Hedwig?" Hermione asks, uncertainty creeping into her voice.

Hedwig doesn't budge. Hermione could tell that she wasn't going to go anywhere.

Hermione starts to panic. She knows that Hedwig was a very well trained owl. There's no reason she wouldn't be able to deliver a letter. Unless…

Hermione's stomach dropped. There was one obvious scenario that would prevent Hedwig from being able to deliver mail to Harry. Hedwig couldn't give him a letter if he was already dead. She felt the last specs of hope in her chest fade away, as her tears begin to pour out, "Hedwig, please," she sobbed, "Please, he has to be alive. He can't be dead…"

Hedwig gave her fingers a light nip, as if to rebuke her.

"Wha-" Hermione was brought out of her misery, "You- You're saying he's not dead?"

Hedwig gave an affirmative chirp.

She felt the faintest ray of hope begin to blossom in her chest again. "He's not dead… But, you can't give him a letter?"

Hedwig gave another chirp, and then began preening her feathers.

Hermione felt a mixture of relief and despair. Relief because Harry was still alive, and despair from the fact that he was currently being held captive and tortured, while she could do nothing about it. She desperately wished that there was something, anything that she could do.

Maybe there is something I can do, she thought.

As she looked down at the newspaper clippings strewn about, she felt the flicker of hope in her chest ignite into fiery determination. There was indeed something she could do. She could research. Approach this problem logically. She already noticed a pattern in the newspaper articles. That was a lead. A clue to investigate, and if she understands it, she would be one step closer to rescuing Harry.

Hermione felt unwavering resolve seize her heart. She had a mission. She would leave no stone unturned, investigate every hint, follow every trace she could find. Whatever it takes, whatever the cost, she will save Harry!