DISCLAIMER: HARRY POTTER, characters, names, and all related indicia are trademarks of Warner Bros. © 2001.
***
Eventually, Harry gave in and fell asleep, but it wasn't a peaceful one.
"Harry, why haven't you found me yet?" Hermione said.
"I am trying, but you have to stay in one place for a few hours," Harry tried to explain.
"You should've been able to have rescued me by now. I thought your powers had grown," Hermione protested.
"I am trying," Harry said.
"Harry? Harry, wake up!" Lupin yelled.
Harry was covered in a cold swet. He had been thrashing about on the floor when Lupin had come in the living room.
"She won't let me sleep," Harry said.
"So I see, but that must be for a reason. Maybe she is actually worse than what you thought," Lupin said.
He was trying to explain the unlogical with logic. Harry could tell that Lupin was steadily growing wearier just the same as he.
"Lupin, go and get some sleep. One of us needs to be able to think clearly once I find her,"Harry said.
"Are you sure that you will be okay?" Lupin asked uncertainly.
"I am as sure as I can get right now. I promise that I will wake you as soon as I know where they are," Harry said.
"Okay, but I am going to owl Ron first. He should be getting back from his game tonight and he needs to know what is going on," Lupin said before walking off into the study.
'Now to find my love,' Harry said to himself.
***
The train's breaks started squealing as the train slowed down at a rapid pace. Hermione had almost fallen out of her seat when the train stopped moving.
"This is our stop. Let's go," Brad said.
Hermione struggled to force her mind to register where they were. She had been there once before, but couldn't remember where it was.
***
"This place is familiar to her, but she can't register it. Come on, 'Mione, just look at a road sign or something!" a frustrated Harry said.
***
It was pretty dark, but Hermione's eyes could still see almost everything. Brad pulled his bags down from the overhead and handed them to Hermione.
"Here, you can handle these, can't you? Thanks, hun!" Brad said.
'I can't believe his nerve! Harry, get here soon; I can't handle much more!' Hermione screamed to herself.
They were the only ones getting off of the train at this stop. In fact, it seemed that no one else had noticed that the train had even stopped. The platform was outdoors and in the middle of nowhere, yet Hermione still thought she had been here before.
They walked through a clump of trees until they came to a clearing where a carriage was waiting for them. After climbing into the carriage, Hermione tried her luck again.
"Are you secure enough to let me know where we are yet?" she asked.
"You really do have to know everything, don't you?" Brad asked.
"I won't tell you where we are, but I will let you in on another little secret," he said with a smirk.
"What's that?" Hermione asked.
"About two and a half years ago was when I met my master. He told me everything that I ever wanted to know. He knew that past, he knew the presant, and he knew the future. My master told me of how many times Harry Potter had foiled his plans and how his strength lied within his friendships to Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. You, of course, were our target so I was sent to watch you and become your soul mate, if there is such a thing."
"As soon as Harry left to go on his quest for knowledge, I was to make my move. I learned to be the person that you thought you loved and slowly work into controlling you to destroy Harry Potter. Unfortunately, you became "involved" with him before my plan was finished. For that, I will be punished, but by bringing you to my master and in turn bringing Harry Potter to my master, I will be greatly rewarded," Brad said with a sinister laugh.
"You are sick!" Hermione spat.
She soon felt the familiar sting across her face.
"Hopefully, you will learn to hold your toungue before your pretty face becomes bruised," Brad said coldly.
After an hour or so, Brad had fallen asleep, but Hermione was starting to remember where they were.
"You're going to love it in Cornwall, Hermione!" Ron said excitedly.
It was one of the first games that Hermione had gone to without Harry.
"I may love it, but it won't be the same without Harry," Hermione said sadly.
"Come one, Hermione, he would've wanted you to still have fun while he is off studying. Besides, he'll be back before you know it; you just have to get your mind off of him," Ron said.
'Easier said than done,' Hermione thought to herself.
They had taken the train to that same platform and taken a portkey from the clearing.
'Harry! I am in Cornwall!' Hermione screamed excited to herself.
***
"CORNWALL!" Harry screamed outloud.
Soon enough, all sorts of aurors and members of the Order of the Phoenix were in Harry's living room devising a plan to rescue Hermione.
There was a loud knock on the door that startled their silence. Harry cautiously got up and went to the door to find Ron busting through the door.
"I came as soon as a found out. Mum is going to be mad about my clothes on the front lawn though," Ron said, trying to lighten the mood.
***
The carriage came to an abrupt halt and Brad jumped out. Hermione helped herself out and found herself in front of a very large mansion.
"Now listen up! This is my master's home and I really don't want you to touch anything with your filthy hands," Brad demanded.
The house reeked with bad magic. It had been built that way and would stay that way until the end of time.
Hermione was taken to a plain room by one of the house's servants while Brad went to tell his master of their arrival. The room had only a bed and a light bulb hanging from the middle of the ceiling. There was a chair in the corner with a nightgown and another day's change of clothes for her. She changed into the nightgown and climbed into the old bed. Even though it was severely uncomfortable, her body ached for sleep, so she gave in.
***
A plan had been made, but it was dangerous.
"Everyone listen to me for a moment," Harry said.
He looked into the faces of several old friends. Tonks, Mad-Eye Moody, Professors Mogonagall, Snape, and Dumbledore were to his left. To his right were Lupin, Ron, and Neville Longbottom. Right in front of him were Ginny and Draco Malfoy. There were a few people that Harry did not know, but he was glad that they were there to help him.
It had come as a bit of a shock to Harry when he found out that Neville and Draco had decided to become aurors, but it was even more of a shock when he had found out that Ginny and Draco were to be married.
"This mission may not seem dangerous, but we do not know who we are up against. It could be a force the same or greater than that of Lord Voldemort himself. We will all go in to do our best, but some of us may not return. I am thankful to each and every one of you for staking your lives on this mission."