"Is everything packed?" Harry grunted, pushing his dirty shirt into his bag.

"Yeah..." Ron, who'd barely had enough mind to tie his shoes these days, dropped his bag down before taking a rest on a nearby log.

The both of them had been running blindly since the attack at the wedding. Lost in the chaos, they'd grabbed whatever they could and stuffed it into their rucksacks before running for the woods surrounding the burrow. They'd been secluded in that time before they'd decided to finally break into the ministry. That day, was finally upon them.

Their first stop had been Hermione's home. It had taken them days to get there as neither of them had trusted their ability to apparate. That fear had quickly passed when they'd nearly been captured while trying to find their own clues inside her home. Having tripped a ward on their way in to investigate what had been left behind, they'd barely made it through the front door before they'd been spotted. All they had been able to find was an empty house and a wide trail of blood leading into the kitchen that had long since dried.

Neither Ron nor Harry had been in any position to take to finding her themselves, having trusted in their elders up until the fall of the Ministry. It was a constant weight that had fallen on them both. Each day, weighing down their hearts even farther.

"Dung had said Umbridge had the locket now..."

"Yeah... we'll look for it..."

"You think she's still alive?"

"Yeah... I do." Harry closed the picture he'd managed to save for them both. A group picture of them from their fifth year. It was old, but it was all they had to remind them, to bring them hope.

"Come on... We've got work to do..."

oOOo

Severus stood tall in the shadow of an alcove over looking the courtyard. His face devoid of any emotion, though his eyes held the weight of every child who marched passed. He counted silently, noting instantly who was missing. He was sure the Dark Lord had made some last minute adjustments to his enrollment. He would do everything he could to ensure—there would be no more.

He turned away slowly, taking the stairs leading back to his office. He'd settled Hermione into the sitting room. She had asked him to stay—begged him. He had had to leave her in tears, curled up on the pillows. He'd hidden the suitcase inside the trunk at the end of the bed with a blood ward that would only open to him. It was risky, as he could be struck down at anytime but the alternative was even worse to bear.

Soft murmors filled his ears as he walked through the office, unable to lift his eyes. He could feel the weight of their judgement boring into his soul but he would not bend to them. A glance to the mirrors overlooking the grounds told him his presence would be requested soon.

oOOo

Hermione sniffled deeply trying to breathe through her tear stuffed nose. Her silent cry had left her throat sore and her mouth sticky. The comfort he had brought to her had gone, leaving her mind and body at odds. She had laid there for an undetermined amount of time, unable to raise her body.

The potions he had given her were not helping. Her inner ear felt like it was doing cartwheels and her eyes burned both from the tears and the medicine he'd given her. She had lost her sense of time without the sun burning her skin, it only served to make her more anxious. He had said he'd return for lunch but there was no way for her to know when that would be.

Hermione rolled slowly onto her stomach, the dull ache between her legs reminding her of what he'd done. She tried to hold onto the feeling but just like everything else in her dark world it fluttered just out of reach. Her mind turned trying to think of how she could feel him again. Not just there, but everywhere.

On and on her mind went, running in circles before the sound of her own breathing threatened her remaining sanity. Her hands came up, clawing at her ears, trying in vain to take away the sound that he'd given her. It was torture. An all new breed. She needed to move, needed to get away. She needed something more to cling to. Something real, alive.

She managed to get to her hands and knees, pushing her way through the pillows to the soft carpet beneath. The feeling of it under her fingers was enough to help calm her mind somewhat and gave her a new purpose; explore her new prison. The hope that he was just in another space pushed her forward from the pillows and off of the rug they had been laid on.

Fear crawled up her spine when her hand landed on the smooth surface just beyond. While he hadn't explicitly told her to stay she felt as though she were breaking some unspoken rule. He had told her that she had access to a loo and had even brought her hand over the raised path that supposedly led to it.

Her head pulsed as she felt along the outskirts of the rug, searching for the raised path. Her natural sense of direction was useless without the moving heat that the sun had provided. The space was merely too big to discern without some sort of way point.

Eventually, her hand fell upon what she'd been searching for and she hesitantly reached out as far as she could, testing the waters of her imprisonment. When nothing and no one came to stop her, she slowly left the safety of the pillows. Her body trembled as her knees settled onto the hard floor, it felt like wood and lacked any identifing smells.

Cautiously she krept forward, keeping her body low. Her nose twitching as she tried to smell any changes. Hand over hand, she followed the raised line further and further. Like a cat on the prowl, her small form slunk forward until the path took a turn. Another pause, a desperate attempt to hear anything before she turned her body.

Her heart was pounding now, her entire body pulsing. She had left the safety of the pillows, he had not come. No one had come. Her head lowered down as her body began to lose its strength, her forehead pressing down onto the floor. What was she doing? Why was she tempting fate? Was she trying to get herself killed? Wasn't that want she had wanted? What if... What if her actions got the Medicine Man killed?

That thought froze her in place. As much as she didn't care what happened to her—after all, she was nothing—the mere thought of harming the Medicine Man was too much. He'd already been injured because of her. What if this time... he couldn't be saved?

What if he was bleeding out right now? What if he had gotten to him first? What could she do? Nothing. She could do nothing. For she, was nothing. Her soul pulsed, as though to refute the words that had been so viciously beaten into her.

"Miss?"

Hermione jolted so hard that she actually collapsed to the side. Her arms coming up around her head instantly, her body curling up tight. Soft apologies murmured unintelligibly passed her lips as she struggled to breathe through her bruised and now constricted throat.

"Oh, dear..." Misty wrung her hands before coming closer. Her years of service in the hospital wing had removed her timidness but she still felt guilty for having startled her. The Headmaster had asked her to come keep the girl company until he would be able to return. Her promise to protect her with her life was easily made.

"It's alright... you're safe..." Misty didn't touch her but did come closer, tilting her head to try and hear what was coming from her mouth. She had recognized her instantly when she'd come the first time but the headmaster's warning prohibited her from sharing her knowledge. Though she was unaware of the circumstances, her duty to the school and all those in it stood strong in her heart. It wasn't her place to know how she'd come to be there.

"The H-Medicine Man has sent me to look after you while he is away..." Misty kept her voice soft and her distance friendly.

A small step closer turned her head down and her brow lined with worry. A small spell removed the liquid from beneath them both but her heart ached at the sight of the once brightest witch of her year quivering with unbridled fear. "Hermione...I promise... it'll be alright..."

oOOo

"You have some nerve taking my elf Severus. What do you even need her for?" Poppy's tone was sharp but even. She wasn't so much upset about loosing her assistant so much as not having had the situation discussed first.

"I am not at liberty to say." Severus kept his tone even but made a point of inclining his head ever just so towards the portrait behind him, "I assure you she'll still be available should an... emergency arise. As for now, I am in need of her services."

Poppy narrowed her eyes at the portrait feigning sleep behind the dark haired man before fixing her gaze onto the man before her. She could tell he was injured, she'd seen to him too many times not to know the signs. Sallow complexion, tense jaw, pulsing vain by his temple. She knew when it was wise to ask and understood now was not the time. She had yet to have taken sides over his allegiance, having so many times seen the results of his exploits first hand. She was sworn to secrecy by an unbreakable vow but even still she knew he wouldn't confide in her.

"Very well..." Poppy straightened herself up, "But know this, I will bury you, before I bury any of these children." With that, she turned on her heel knowing he was wise enough to hold his tongue.

Severus let out a slow breath as the door to the office closed. A sharp flick of his wand warded the door before he turned away. As much as he wanted to be alone at that very moment, there was no time for rest. His lunch had been delivered just before Poppy had come to make her point and he knew the girl must have been starving.

With a spared glance towards the mirrors—adjusted to over look the great hall—he picked up the tray and retreated to his rooms. Practiced ease removed the wards from the trunk and a wandless motion of his hand opened it. He only hoped his plan had worked. He above all others knew what solitude could do to the soul.

His head turned over the half-walls, his feet leading him towards Misty's kind voice reading aloud a wizarding fairy tale. It was the much needed break from the absolute silence the suitcase provided. When he rounded the corner his frown deepened.

Granger was no longer on the pillows, the entire lot had been removed, replaced with a low set crib style bed. Granger had her face pressed into the wooden bars, one hand curled around one of the posts while the other was pressed to her open mouth that held two fingers inside. Her face was relaxed and her body was partially curled but all in all she looked relaxed. Her robe was gone, dressed instead in silk pajamas that looked suspiciously like his own.

Misty turned her head to his approach, the words she'd been reading fading out as she came to her feet. She set the book aside before meeting his glare with a worried look, "She was anxious... The confined space... seems to help."

"I see." Severus set down the tray as quietly as he could not wanting to wake her, "How has she been?"

"Scared. Anxious. She doesn't understand what's happened." Misty moved aside to let the headmaster come closer, watching curiously.

"Her mind is very fragile..." Severus gently pulled her fingers from her mouth not wanting her to get sores over her frail skin, "I need a way to make her understand..."

"I will search the hospital wing for any text that may help..."

"I shall call you if I need you."

"Yes, sir."

A heavy silence filled the room as Severus merely stood over her. His mind—as brilliant as it was—gave him no answers. His fingers ghosted over her parted lips before tracing the rise of her cheek, "Miss Granger?"

His voice was loud even to his own ears, though it was barely over a whisper. His touch and tongue, however, roused her nearly instantly. When her head turned, he vanished away the bars keeping them apart, "I am here...Are you hungry?"

Her nod eased some of the pressure in his chest, his hands guiding her up onto her knees before carefully helping her out onto the floor. He didn't force her to stand but did move towards the chair that remained. A small glance down confirmed that she was trying to follow after him and he made sure his boots hit hard on the wood floor. Before he sat down, he elongated the chair and retrieved the food he'd brought with him.

"I want you in the chair with me. Do you understand?" Severus very much did not like the visual before him. The sight of her crawling hesitantly towards him, creating unpleasant visuals as to how and why she chose to move that way.

Hermione nodded, though it worried her to stand, she had been given a command. That coupled with the happiness of a fulfilled promise gave her the courage to do what was asked. As she settled into his side, she wrapped her arms around her shins. There was a small metallic sound before the smell of warm food pushed out all other thoughts.

oOOo

"That's the office..."

"How do we get in?"

"Straight through the front." Harry adjusted his invisibility cloak, "I need a distraction. Do you have those beetles from the twin's shop?"

"Yeah...?" Ron nervously peeked out through the small door of the cleaning cupboard they'd managed to sneak into. Their growing frames had made i difficult for the both of them to be completely obscured while moving. They'd both decided that Harry would try and get into the office alone, while Ron would be on look out.

"Count to twenty then release it, I'll sneak in during the chaos and try to get some answers."

"Right."

Harry pulled the cloak over his head, turning out of the small closet. His heart was pounding in his chest as he silently moved towards the door. The entire room was silent, echoing with the sounds of pages all being turned in unison. The air in the room thick and depressing. He needed answers. He knew his mission was important but so was finding Hermione.

It had been months and her guidance was sorely missed. Everything about her, was missed. He felt as though he was running blind, using his gut to tell him where to go. His dreams had been one nightmare after the other, creating impossible scenerios for why she had suddenly vanished.

The door to the office was unlocked, but the eye held in the frame was eerily familiar. A lump formed in his throat as he waited for Ron to do what he needed to do. His ear ticked when he finally heard the small beetle skittering across the floor before the loud trumpet sounded, exploding the room in smoke and chaos.

Dashing through the door, he quickly closed it behind him, locking the muggle lock for insurance. There was no one inside, they had made sure. His eyes glanced up towards the hundreds of cats before settling on the paperwork ladden desk. The window behind was partially shielded by curtains but he could still see the smoke rising up over the central room.

He made his way quickly over to the desk, pulling open any drawer that wasn't locked. Nothing exceptional caught his eye before he turned his attention towards the many files that laid on the desk. With a small glance over his shoulder to ensure that he still had time, he pulled open the top most file without taking care to read the tab. The image that looked back at him made his heart skip three beats.

A wizarding photo, black and white, of Hermione settled inside of an alcove in the library moved inside its frame. Her bright smile as she laughed at something wasn't what had made him stop. It was the bright red X over the image with the equally bright stamp just beneath reading 'deceased'.

His entire world tilted, the floor that was beneath him feeling as though it had suddenly fallen away. His hand came down, lightly touching the image before a loud bang from behind him jolted him back into reality. His time was up.

Without truly processing the danger, he grabbed the entire file, pulling it under his cloak and to his chest. It wasn't what they had come to find but he would be damned to leave it behind. Another cursory glance over the desk filled his mind with others who had supposedly perished before he hurried back towards the door.