Harry was on the ground panting as Voldemort stood over him, laughing
menacingly. The ground was as cold as his laugh and Harry didn't have
the strength to get up. He felt Voldemort's wand on his aching back as
Voldemort hissed in his ear. ''Today, I will do what I have been meaning to
do for eighteen years.'' Harry could feel the Dark Lord's cold, serpentine
breath on the back of his neck and he shuddered.  ''Today,'' Voldemort
continued, ''You, Potter, will die!''

Harry felt Voldemort's wand lift and he raised his head a bit, the searing pain of his scar limiting his sight. Through clouds of fogginess he saw Voldemort reach in his robes for a dagger. Harry didn't have the strength to transfigure himself and escape.  He' knew any second he would feel the dagger's slice, although he doubted its pain would challenge the sting of his scar.

Then, Harry felt it. The Dagger was thrust into his back and its
cold penetration made his eyes water. He started to drift away from it
all. His vision was no more than a soft light that was slipping away and
becoming darkness. The last thing he heard was Voldemort crying out in
pain...

-_-_-_-_-_-_

Ron woke up from a breeze that caressed the curtains framing his
window. At first he was very groggy, trying to decide if he really was
awake before opening his eyes widely. He jumped from the big fluffy bed
he had been sleeping in. He turned towards his bedroom door, which had always been to his right in his room in The Burrow. But he realized he was not at the Burrow. The Burrow had been destroyed by Voldemort's followers.

Ron headed down the stone steps with his bare feet, half wishing he had put on his slippers. He couldn't believe that it had happened again. Ron appeared downstairs where Mrs. Weasley was knitting in the farthest corner of a large dinning room.

''Ron, you're up early. Would you like some breakfast, then? Some Kippers or toast or-," Mrs. Weasley stopped short, seeing Ron was panting and out of breath.''Ron what is it?'' Ron had dashed the last part of the journey through his new home, a mansion the Weasley's now lived in.

''Mum! It's happened for a second time!'' Ron said, enthusiastically pointing to his head. His voice was ragged from his run. ''I saw that night through Harry's point of view!''

Mrs. Weasley looked a bit frightened and she said, ''Was it the very
same as the last time?'' Ron nodded, his breath returning to a steady
intake. ''Well,'' Mrs. Weasley proclaimed. ''Calm down a bit and I'll send your father an Owl.''

Ron was back in his room, sitting at a grand desk by the window with
Pigwidgeon. He was writing furiously to Hermione.

Dear Hermione,
It happened again! I was asleep and I dreamed about Harry! It was from
his perspective again. I felt the pain and everything! I woke up and
told Mum and she's sending an Owl to Dad at the Ministry. I'm kind of
freaked out right now so get back to me as soon as possible!

-Ron

Ron attached the note to Pigwidgeon's leg and leaned back in the chair,
hoping Hermione would appear within moments out of the fireplace in his
room. How he wished he could just see her...

*****

Hermione had indeed arrived soon and she sat on the end of Ron's bed as he recounted his vision. After he was done he looked at Hermione with the hope that she might have the answer to his problem. She didn't look like she made any major breakthrough, but she seemed like she
understood vaguely what it all meant.

''Well, Ron, it only brings me back to what we discussed before,'' she
announced, matter of factly. ''Harry is still out there.'' Ron thought about
the night when Harry had vanished. Ron and Hermione had arrived to find Voldemort standing over Harry with a dagger in his back. Hermione
shouted the 'Avada Kadavra' curse at, Voldemort, but as he and Harry, by the slice of the dagger, had passed at the same time, Hermione couldn't see this possible.

''Trewlany predicted that either would die, Harry or Voldemort, and not both. It's highly likely that they are both still out there.''

Ron looked frightened and almost fell off the bed when Ginny barged
into the room, asking, ''Ron, did you really dream about Harry?!'' Ron
nodded hesitantly and Ginny smiled triumphantly. ''I knew it! Harry must be alive! If only we could find him!''

***

Hermione was sitting at the window and Ron at the desk as Ginny lay
sideways on the bed, her head hanging over the edge and her hair
hanging limply. It had been an hour since Ginny came in, and nobody had said a word since.

''Well, you know,'' Hermione had said fully as if they had all been deep
in conversation, ''The Order is looking for him, but they don't really know where to start, do they?'' ''No,'' Ron agreed. ''I guess...''

Ginny sat up and looked at the two. ''You know what bothers me?'' Ron and Hermione looked a bit perplexed. ''Voldemort has been in this state.
This state of barely living. He knows how to get around and come back.
What if Harry can't--'' she stopped, unable to finish her sentence. Nobody said anything after this.The moment of silence was almost expected.

Ron stood up suddenly. ''Why are we standing around? We should be
looking for him! He saved us! WHY-ARE-WE-JUST-SITTING-HERE!?''

Neither of the girls had jumped, as they may well have been about to
scream themselves. ''Well what do you suggest we do?'' Ginny responded.

''I don't know!'' Ron said, a bit let down. ''I just feel that we should
be helping him. He could be hurt. Or alone! Or scared...'' Ron turned
around and Hermione really didn't know if he was crying or not. She
got watery eyed as well, for she herself had worried about Harry. But
mostly, they had all missed Harry. In fact, everyone missed him. Mrs.
Weasley had cried daily and the morale of the Daily Prophet had been
low as well. People all wanted Harry found safely. Stories filled every
paper about Harry and Voldemort's mysterious disappearance, though the story was at least given fully. And everyone wanted Harry to return-
before Voldemort...

***
The wind is so cold... This is the only way to move... I'm too light.
Floating...floating...floating... the buzzing doesn't go away. The...
floating... stay awake... Is the wind always...cold... floating...
stay... is this... light...?

Arthur Weasley returned home to Mrs. Weasley rather late. Ron and Ginny were already asleep and Hermione had gone home. Mr. Weasley sat down in a beige chintz chair and asked, "So Ron had the vision again?"

Mrs. Weasley nodded. "Arthur," she said anxiously, "You do think- I mean, any luck finding him?"

Arthur looked down at his shoes and quietly answered, "No."

Mrs. Weasley looked out the window for a few minutes. She thought she saw an owl, but no. "And what about…" she shuddered, "him."

Mr. Weasley looked up at her, perhaps wishing she hadn't asked. "Well, as a matter of fact, I was about to call the order to meet."

Mrs. Weasley was suddenly on her feet. "Vol- well, he may be back already…"


***

The sun had slowly crept in Ron's room and was getting closer to his face. It was certainly harder to get up. Ron turned over with his eyes closed. Much too tired. He began to think of Harry. Was Harry tired right now? Poor Harry, he thought as he squinted his eyes in the bright room. A bird sang merrily out through the window and Ron guiltily got up.

Ron journeyed to the kitchen to find Ginny downstairs attempting to make pancakes.

"Oy, Ginny. Where's mum?" Ron asked her as he looked reproachfully at the lopsided cakes.

Ginny turned around and wiped her forehead, "Didn't you know? Honestly Ron, you're going to sleep your life away." Ron rolled his eyes and lifted his eyebrows in expectation of his first question answered. "Dad's called a meeting for the Order." Ron's stomach churned a bit- were they here cause of his vision?

Ginny placed a tray of pancakes on the table along with some maple syrup, "Tuck in." She sat down and put two pancakes on her plate. Ron had put three on his, though he wasn't sure he even wanted one. Ginny was pouring the syrup over her cakes and was about to say something when her eyes widened. Ron turned around and saw that she was gaping at the open door.

"Ron!" she yelled and started pointing madly at the door.

"What!?" Ron yelled in reply wondering why she was making such a commotion over an open door. But Ron looked again and noticed the doorknob had been blown off. Ron heard a noise from the top of the staircase. "Ginny," he said, "go get dad!"

Ginny looked at Ron searchingly, "But Ron you haven't got your wand." Ron realized this and felt like a Muggle in a scary movie. He slowly left his seat and quietly made his way to the stone staircase. Looking up, he saw no one and so he backed away. Ginny had silently followed him without his knowing and he bumped into her, yelping.

Ginny and Ron had realized that they didn't know where the room the Order was meeting in was because the house was so new and the room secret. Ron and Ginny tip-toed up the staircase, Ginny with her wand out. There was no noise above them as they made their way up. All of the doors were open and no light was being hidden through shadows. He's up here… Ron thought to himself. They made it up to the top and looked directly in Ron's room. Immediately, they saw who was standing there: Peter Pettigrew.

Ron flung himself at Peter, not thinking once about being wandless. Ginny had shouted, "Petrificus totalus!" but the spell just brushed over Ron as he had tackled Wormtail to the ground.

Ron had started punching Peter and Peter was yelling, "Please- stop! Please I need…"

Ginny pulled Ron off with much difficulty and shouted to Peter, "What?"

Peter dropped his wand and said, "Please I'm unarmed!" Ron jumped up and Ginny held him. "Listen! I came to help you but if this is the welcome I get, then…"

Ginny pointed her wand at him, "Help us with what?"

Peter had stood by the window and told Ron and Ginny his story. "So," Ron said crossing over to his bed, "You say Voldemort's back and he has a new target?" Peter nodded.

Ginny looked very nervous, "Who is it?"

Peter shook his head, "I don't know. I thought it might be me, but he has spared me by letting me live and I fled. Pity he talks so loud, though I know he plans on killing me."

Ron looked suspiciously at Peter, "And why is it you're telling us all this?"

Peter looked at Ron squarely, "Potter spared my life, and I owed him. I don't know, or care if this helps, but it's what is due and now I don't owe him anything!"

"Good!" Mr. Weasley shouted from by the door, "Then get out of my house!" Ron and Ginny jumped onto each other and Peter almost fell out through the open window. Mr Weasley had his wand pointed directly at Peter as he stood in front of Ginny and Ron, his ears bright red.

"Now, now Arthur," Dumbledore said, appearing in the doorway, "Peter has indeed been helpful to us and for that we should at least appreciate his presence." Dumbledore swept in and picked up Peter's wand, handing it to him briskly, "Now if you would be so good as to leave this house and never return."

"Hermione?" called a woman's voice.

"Dear, calm down I'm sure she's just having a nightmare,” said a man's voice behind hers.

"I'm just checking!"

The door to Hermione's room opened and a small drape of light crept on the floor. "Hermione, dear, are you all right?" the woman said approaching a bed, "we heard you scream..." There was no noise.

"Oh my!" The man turned on the light and the woman screamed. The bed was empty.

***
It was about mid-afternoon when Ron, who had been sitting around doing nothing all day, decided to go for a walk around the property. He had not had the chance to do so since the move in, plus there was a small studio on the hill farthest from the house. He had thought about making this a clubhouse. One for him and Harry to… him and Harry to share.

Ron pulled on some shoes, staring fully at a crumpled piece of parchment that sat inches from a silver dustbin. He wasn't really interested in it, nor was he deep in thought; he was trying desperately not to think about anything, as he found that every subject usually led to the thought of Harry. He grumbled something about the "stupid parchment" as he left his room.

"No, Ginny, I want to go alone!" Ron said pulling on a jacket and noticing Ginny following him.

"Oh Ron, don't be so foul," she protested. “We've both been cooped up here and I'm not going to sit around this place for another moment! Besides, no mail has come for days!"

"Well this is the day, so stay here and wait for it!" Ron said going out the door into a windy, gray day. He started to walk around the side of the house when Ginny appeared behind him putting on her coat. He walked on, annoyed.

The grass was very tall and there were mounds of land everywhere. Just in front of him was the path to the hill. Hmm- perhaps he wouldn't go there yet. After all, he wanted this clubhouse to be Ginny-free. After about five minutes of aimless walking, Ginny let out a scream.

Ron flung himself around, pulling out his wand, "Ginny what are you tryin' to do, kill me?" He looked at what she was screaming about. Errol was lying on the floor along with half a dozen other owls. They were petrified. He noticed that none of the owls were carrying letters, and all of them had expressions of fear. (As far as he could tell, anyway.)

"I think I know why we haven't been getting mail," Ron said grimly. "Who would do this?"

Ginny hadn't spoken or moved and she finally whispered, "I'm going to get Mum." She sped off towards the house and Ron heard a noise behind him: a sort of crashing sound. It was coming from the studio on the hill.

He knew his mother would be out soon so he decided to rush over and see what made the noise. He stepped up the grassy hill and approached the door, which was slightly ajar. He slowly pushed it open and looked inside. It was fairly dusty with a few boxes and an old table in the middle, but other than that the room was in very good order. It seemed larger than it looked from the outside though, and on the other side of the room was a small door. Surely it led outside, he thought, for there was no possible way this building could go on. Ron stepped inside the room and approached the small door. He opened it and saw that it led into a small storage room that held nothing but a tall, red door standing strangely in the middle of the room. Impossible, he thought.

"Ron?" he heard his mom yell.

He quickly left the studio, slamming the front door shut and running down the hill. "Yeah, Mum?"

"Oh there you are! Ron, get inside quickly! Your father is coming with a ministry member to see what's going on with the owls." Her voice was strong and he wondered if she had expected this all to happen.

He ran up the steps to his room and when he got there he looked out the window. The great field around his house swayed with the wind and he wondered if perhaps he would see Dumbledore approach the house. Did Dumbledore ride a broom? he thought to himself. He was interrupted by ash exploding in the fireplace. A cloud of black soot rose and subsided as a small cough came from within, and then the figure emerged. It was Luna.

"Luna, what are you doing here?" Ron asked urgently and concerned. Luna stepped out of the fireplace leisurely, almost as casually as if she were here for an invited afternoon of tea and light conversation. "Hello! Did you hear me?"

"Oh, hello Ronald," Luna said surprised, "I was hoping to find you here."

Ron almost questioned why she would be so surprised to find him in his own house, but decided against troubling her with any more questions.

"I had to come at once!" Her manner had changed quickly to urgency, which surprised Ron. "I couldn't get a hold of Hermione and letters to Ginny didn't seem to reach her." She seemed to understand the need of a more satisfying explanation that was on Ron's face and so she continued plainly, "I found Harry!"

Ron had made a sort of holler as he grabbed Luna's jacket and said loudly, "You've what!? Where?"

Ginny had entered upon hearing Ron's commotion and after seeing Luna, she stopped and made an inquiring face, wondering whether she was hallucinating. Luna turned to Ginny and exclaimed once more, 'I found Harry!" There was a moment of hullabaloo and Ron and Ginny finally sat down for details.

"I was on holiday with my father," Luna began as she fiddled with a rather large and otherwise strange vial hanging from her necklace, "and we were looking for pink-spotted canker blossoms when I noticed something in the meadow where we were staying. It was a pretty meadow to be absolutely honest. Pretty dandelions-"

Ron had shouted at her ("Get on with it!") and Luna looked offended. She stroked the vial and closed here eyes, speaking again as if the words had been written on the inside of her eyelids.

"And I noticed a wisp of grey that I was sure was a hazy hipped hop…"

Luna had been staring out the window and she stopped talking for a moment though her face had not changed. Ron looked at Ginny nervously before Luna suddenly began talking again as if she had never stopped. "Then, I could hear it speak. I knew it was Harry… I knew ‘cause…"

Luna had stopped talking completely this time and was looking at Ron and Ginny as if she had been listening rather than speaking.

"And where is he now?" Ginny asked, "Can we see him? You know where he is, right?"

"He's here!" Luna exclaimed, smiling and Ron and Ginny jumped up and looked around, waiting for Harry to pop out of a hiding place and smile for them once again. "No," Luna said holding up the vial, "here."

Ron and Ginny looked at the vial up close and could see the cloudiness within. Ron was hoping he could hear Harry. He wanted it so much. Ginny looked up at Luna who took a strange fly out of a small container and opened the vial. She dropped the fly inside and closed the vial carefully.

"What's that for?" Ron asked, wondering why she would drop a bug on Harry like that.

"Oh that's a mayvie fly. They live for 12 years. Harry takes a living creature's life up at a quick rate so I have to give him a new life to live in every few days."

Ron and Ginny exchanged glances, as this was the most intelligent sounding thing Luna had probably ever said in their presence.

"But I'm running low on flies and I knew he'd be safer if adults knew so I had to come here and see you guys." Luna had said this with a bit of urgency herself which would have surprised Ron but just then the door opened and Dumbledore entered.

He didn't seem surprised to see Luna at all but Ron could see his face was not cheerful. He seemed to be about to say something, but he just went over to the fireplace. Everyone's eyes followed him and Arthur, Molly and Moody appeared in the doorway. Dumbledore raised his wand to the fireplace and whispered a spell.

"Professor…?" Ron asked.

"Just sealing this fireplace for a while. Do not worry Luna, you shall return home in another."

Ron looked at his father warily and he asked, "But professor, why seal my fireplace?" Ron had the feeling of freedom taken away.

"Because I must try and keep you safe… and keep you from the possibilities of a horrible death."

"A horrible death, professor?" Ginny asked.

"What are you talking about?" Ron asked in the manner of a teenager being punished for a deed he did not commit. "Why would I be trying to seek something like that through my fireplace?"

"Because Hermione Granger has disappeared."

Ron was lying on his bed, not moving. It was night now and the flickering light from a candle made shadows that danced violently in a blink. The window was closed and Ginny was in her own room with Luna who had been given permission to stay over. The door opened and Mrs. Weasley came in. Ron still hadn't moved.

"Okay Ron?" she asked motherly. "Fancy a glass of pumpkin juice or butterbeer, perhaps?"

Ron continued to stare directly in front of him. There was too much emotion. As soon as they got Harry back, Hermione disappears. No, kidnapped. He knew Voldemort must be back.

"Dumbledore took Harry with him to get him back. Isn't that exciting? Now- I know it's hard to be happy now, but we'll get her, Ron! Don't you worry at all!"

She had grabbed Ron's hands at this and was shaking them as her eyes watered up. Ron couldn't control himself and he started to bawl so that Mrs. Weasley threw her arms around him and they sat for a while, crying.

Mrs. Weasley left Ron to sleep after that and Ron woke up the next day feeling very strange. He couldn't give it a name, but he knew that something was a bit complete inside. He dressed and went downstairs to find Ginny and Luna eating eggs and bacon cooked by Mrs. Weasley.

"Eat up Ron! He'll be here soon!" Mrs. Weasley chirpped happily.

"Who?" Ron asked hoping for her to say Harry but not believing it possible.

"Why, Harry of course!" Mrs. Weasley said joyfully and she folded her hands around her face, smiling as Ron reacted merrily; dancing with Luna and sending out little colorful sparks through his wand.

After breakfast, Ron brought Ginny and Luna to the clubhouse (completely forgetting about it being Ginny-free) so that they could make it look nice for when Harry arrived.

They stepped inside and Luna looked disturbed, "This is a clubhouse?"

Ron looked a bit angered but fully explained how he wanted it to look for when Harry came. Luna summoned a broom from a murky corner to sweep and Ginny began doing odd jobs like cleaning the window and mending and oiling the table. Ron looked in the boxes but only found old pots and pans, so he threw them out. Ron was amazed that neither one of the girls had taken the slightest bit of interest in the small door that led to the other room.

After the room was empty and clean they began to make banners that said "Welcome back, Harry!" to decorate the room. It was during this time that Ron had remembered about Hermione. He didn't want to think about it, but that was like trying to ignore the fact that your heart is missing.

The banners had gone up and Mrs. Weasley had come to the door with a tray of tasty treats and a pitcher of ice cold pumpkin juice. She smiled as she saw the improvement of the room. The wood floor was shiny and the walls were all painted blue. The table was set in the middle and there were wooden chairs surrounding it. A cabinet sat in the corner and had a few books and odd things.

Ron, who noticed her looking at every crevice of the room, was waiting for her to ask about the small door on the end of the building and was astonished when she calmly said, "Well this is just grand! And just in time! I expect he'll be arriving soon." She winked at them all and left.

Ron started to wonder if maybe he was the only one who could see the door. It was possible as he knew very little about the room itself and remembered about how only Harry could hear the Basilisk's voice, and how only Hermione could stay conscious during Binn's class.

Ron was staring intently at the door as Luna and Ginny were putting up the banner and Harry stepped into the room. Ron was deep in thought and only barely noticed him enter, "Oh, hey Harry, I was…" Ron swung around, his eyes as wide as onions and he shouted, "HARRY!"

Ginny and Luna spun around and gasped in shock. Harry was standing at the door smiling. He stepped closer and said, "I've missed you all so much!" Ron and Harry embraced and Ginny ran up as well. (Luna had focused her attention on the wall opposite everyone and smiled abstractedly.) Everyone stood around admiring how real they all were. Harry looked over at Luna and with a quick scope of the room asked, "Er, where's Hermione?"

Ron's head fell with his heart and Ginny clutched the open sides of her coat and said, "Er- Hermione, she- well, now Harry…"

Luna stepped up to Harry and slowly hugged him, patting his back, "There, there Harry," she said consolingly as Harry gave Ron and Ginny a look of surprise. "We know you're distressed about Hermione disappearing."

Harry had to be seated as he had a million questions about Hermione's welfare. Ron and Ginny interweaved parts of the story to him and by the end he stood, shocked and staring out the window. He turned to Ron and said, "We have to find her."

Harry looked out the window again and his eyes squinted as he was looking at something. Everyone looked in the direction as well. There was something in the distance. It was an Owl. Harry went to the window and said, "Hedwig?"

The owl was getting a bit closer and Ron said, "It looks like Hedwig. Where's he been off to?" They all ran to the doorway waiting for the owl to arrive and when it was nearly there, something whizzed from out of the ground straight for her. Hedwig looked a bit beat up and only barely moved out of the way so that the thing flew past.

Ginny and Luna screamed and Harry ran to the edge of the hill and shouted, "Hedwig, look out!" Hedwig flew closer and the speedy item returned, once again aiming for the owl. Harry took out his wand and shouted, "Accio Hedwig!"

Hedwig soared into Harry's hands, its letter dropped to Harry's foot. The speedy item was heading directly at Harry and they could see that it resembled a bludger with spikes littering its skin. Ginny had her wand out and shouted, "Finite Incantatem!" so that the thing blew up in the air only feet away from the small crowd.

Everyone ran into the clubhouse in case another one of those things appeared. Hedwig gave a small hoot and she looked extremely exhausted. Harry let Luna hold Hedwig and he quickly darted outside to retrieve the letter. It lay on the floor and he noticed at once Hermione's tidy writing.

Inside Harry Opened the letter as Ginny helped Hedwig drink some Pumpkin juice and eat a few treats.

"It says; To whomever gets this! Harry I hope you are back by this time! I called on Hedwig and bless that bird for always knowing where to find me! I'm in serious trouble! I only have time enough to write before the sun rises so I must be quick. Voldemort is back. He has a big plan on defeating the ministry, but he won't speak of it and the death eaters don't seem to know what it is. You must inform the ministry and the Order at once! If they don't stop him, I don't know what will happen! Plus, I'm in quite a predicament myself… Voldemort is planning on putting a spell on me so that I will be in a deep sleep forever. Now, you must focus on defeating Voldemort! I can take care of myself! I don't exactly know where I am, but I imagine it's in the mountains somewhere in Switzerland. The mountains are green with snow and the skies are unnaturally grey and purple. I can hear someone coming so I must go. Hope Hedwig reaches you safely. Hermione"

Harry lowered the letter and everyone looked around, not really sure what to do. Ron looked straight at Harry, "We have to save her. We must!"

Harry put the letter back into the envelope that bared the new Weasley address and he said, "Hermione said that we need to inform the adults, and I agree. I want to save her too, Ron, but we have no idea where to find her and I'm sure the order will be able to find her quicker." Ron knew Harry was right, but he was tired of always standing aside.

Harry, Ron, Ginny and Luna told Molly about the letter and she said she would call the Order at once. She whispered into her wand and a small wisp of silvery light soared out the window. Harry handed the letter over to Mrs. Weasley and everyone sat in the lounge, waiting for the order. Everyone sat quietly, not looking at each other.

Ron stood up and said, "I can't sit here, I'm going into the clubhouse to think." He left the house and started up the hill alone. He went into the clubhouse and closed the door. The room was drowning in gray light, Ron noticed, and he approached and looked out the window to see if anyone else had followed him, but no one had.

He went straight towards the small door and he opened it, stepping quickly inside and closing it. The red door was still standing in the middle of the otherwise empty room. He went over to it, hoping that this door could be of some help. It was really a desperate shot in the dark, as it could very well be a normal, unused door. It was painted a deep red and had a mail slot in it. Ron put his hand on the doorknob, not sure what might happen to him when he opened the door. He slowly turned the knob and the door behind him opened. Ron nearly jumped clear over the red door as he looked at Luna, who appeared quite relaxed and even a bit entertained with Ron's little leap.

"How did you get in here!?" Ron shouted.

"Well," Luna answered as though he'd asked a very obvious question. "That little door has been there all day, and I was a bit interested to see where it led."

Ron looked astonished, "You mean you can see that door?"

Luna nodded. "But Ginny can't. At least she never mentioned seeing it, and she cleaned all the walls. I watched her unconsciously cleaning around it."

Ron realized that Luna must see a lot of things that no one else can, and so he turned back towards the door. He got a sudden urge and he flung open the red door. There was nothing but the other side of the room. "Ha," Ron laughed forlornly. "Like this door could really lead to where Hermione is…"

Luna closed the door and Ron was about to leave. Luna then said, "I wonder…"

Ron turned to her and asked, "You wonder what?"

She pulled a postcard out of her jacket and said, "It's from where my dad and I stayed on holiday." She opened the mail slot and dropped the postcard through it. There was no sound of the card hitting the ground on the other side and Luna opened the door.

Ron's jaw hit the floor yet Luna looked a bit like she had expected to see the very field through the door. A breeze drifted through and a daisy was blown into the room. The field was indeed on the other side of the door. Luna turned to Ron and said, "The door reads description's of places and creates a portal to that destination."

Luna had closed the door and put the flower in her hair. Ron opened the door again, but the field had disappeared. "I guess once the door closes, the portal closes as well," he said. Luna went to the backside of the door and retrieved the postcard that had suddenly appeared. Ron's eyes became wide, "This is it! This is how we can save Hermione!"

Harry, Ginny and Luna were crowded around Ron as he spoke quickly about what had just happened. He stood pointing at the door, gleaming as if it was his own creation.

"But Ron," Harry said. "We don't have a postcard of wherever Hermione is."
Ron smiled still, "No, but we do have…"

Ginny had caught on, "…Hermione's letter! She described a bit of where she was!"

Everyone was very excited and they couldn't wait around for the order to arrive. Then Ginny inquired, "Wait, hold on a moment. How do we get back here?"

Everyone thought for a minute. "Well," Ron said, "we're not sure if the door stays put if we do close it. So we may not be able to come back. But that's not the point! We have to help Hermione!"

Harry agreed, "Yes, but we should have a way just in case."

Ron looked at Ginny, "I don't even know this address yet. Do you?"

She nodded, "We have to have it written somewhere."

Luna had knocked on the red door and everyone looked at her. "Well," she said, looking almost taken aback by all the sudden attention, "What about the envelope?" It hit everyone at once. Their address was written on the envelope holding Hermione's letter.

Ron pulled the envelope he had snatched when he left the house from out of his pocket, "Yes! Count on Hermione to remember my address before I do!" He kissed the envelope and everyone pulled out their wands; it was pretty much decided that they were leaving at once.

Ron took out the letter and put the envelope back into his pocket. Harry opened the mail slot and dropped the letter into it. There was no sound. Harry turned the knob and when the door opened everyone gasped. There were mountains covered in snow and the sky was indeed a purplish grey.

Everyone stepped through the door and turned towards the door frame. The storage room was warm and inviting on the other side and Harry said, "Maybe we should leave it open."

Ron stepped up and grabbed the door handle, "No, there are death eaters here, and if the door is open, anyone could just walk through to the other side." And so they closed the door.

No sooner had it closed; the door seemed to have evaporated into thin air. "No..." Ron whispered.

"Shush!" Ginny said, "Look…" Everyone looked in front of them and saw a small castle: snow white and barely visible. They might have walked right past it had Ginny not pointed out its existence.

The small crew started quickly towards the castle with their wands out and a spell in mind to cast if a death eater popped up. They came to a wall of the castle, but had to throw themselves on the ground when two death eaters were walking by. They went unnoticed and when out of danger, wondered how to get inside. Harry looked at the two death eaters as they turned the corner and he mumbled, "Hmm..."

Harry's plan had succeeded. The two death eaters were thrown to the ground by stunning spells and Ron and Harry snatched their cloaks. After putting them on, they were unrecognizable.

"Ok," Ron said towards Ginny and Luna, "You two stay here while Harry and I go inside." Ginny and Luna argued so much that Ron realized that leaving them out was impossible.

Harry gathered them around and said, "Ok here's the plan: Ron, you and Luna go and Find Hermione. Ginny and I will try and stop Voldemort." After that everyone gave a last look of luck and went towards either end of the castle wall.

Harry and Ginny were under the cloak and Harry said, "How will we get inside?"

Ginny looked around and said, "Well we could blast through the wall."

Harry smiled at her, "Well that could work."

On the other side Ron was boosting Luna up to a window and she jumped through. She then pulled Ron inside and they saw that they were in a dungeon looking hallway.

Ron looked Luna in the eye so that she would completely understand what he was going to say, "Okay, We have to be completely quiet. If anyone-!"

There was an explosion on the other side of the castle. Ron turned to Luna, "Ok forget that last part! We've got to find Hermione!"

Harry and Ginny ran through the cloud of smoke and immediately a few death eaters had run up and were ready to use spells. Ginny and Harry were much too quick and all the death eaters that had gotten there first were on the ground.

Harry and Ginny kept their wands out, for more death eaters were sure to approach and Harry said, "We have to get to Voldemort before he gets away!"

In the dungeons, Ron and Luna opened a big wooden door. "Yes!" Ron yelled as he looked at the row of dungeons ahead of him. There was a death eater at the end of the hall and he lifted his wand in surprise.

Ron flustered with his wand and Luna lifted hers quickly shouting, "Expelliarmus!"

The death eater's wand flew out of his hands and Ron shouted, "Accio Wand!"

With the guards wand in their hands, he surrendered and lay on the ground. Ron ran up to him and shouted, "Where is she? Where's Hermione? Where?"

The guard looked up and smiled, "You're too late!" His voice was scratchy and void of any sorrow. "Voldemort has already placed his curse upon her. She will sleep forever, that one!" He nodded in the direction of the cell at the end of the hall.

Ron felt a rage of anger in him and he yelled, "Petrificus Totalus!"

Harry and Ginny had to dart behind doors every time death eaters showed up. There seemed to be no limit to them. Stunning spells and curses of every type were flying down the corridors. Harry and Ginny were cornered into a doorway. There was no way out. Unless…

Ginny ugently explained, "Harry distract them with your patronus!"

Harry had no time to decide if this request was silly or not and he quickly thought about how he had recently been reunited with his friends. He shouted, "Expecto Patronum!" A silvery stag leapt from his wand and ran untouched through the hall so that the death eaters were looking at it with fear.

Ginny pointed her wand at the floor of the hall and she shouted, "Aquas endium!" The floor beneath the Death Eaters turned into a deep pool of water and they all fell into it, loosing their wands and struggling to try and swim. Ginny pulled an astounded Harry into the room and closed the door. She smiled at him, "George taught me how."

They chuckled lightly but stopped quickly as a voice in the room said, "Harry Potter. How nice to see you…"

Ron and Luna were standing on either side of a bed. They were crying. Hermione was in the bed, asleep and not moving. Ron didn't know what to do. It was like she wasn't alive. Luna was staring at Hermione, searching.

Ron was sobbing, "We- w- we should have c-come soos-sooner! Now- now she's g-g-gone!"

Luna reassured him, "Ron there's got to be a counter to this. Some way to undo it."

Ron looked doubtful and asked, "How?" Luna looked confused. Ron grabbed Hermione's hand and held it, his own hand wet with tears. He looked at Hermione and said, "Don't be gone forever…"

He let go of her wrist and Luna noticed something on Ron's Hand. "What's that on your hand?" She asked.

It was ink of some kind. Ron looked at Hermione's wrist and saw something written there: Salt.

**
Voldemort stood at the edge of a dark desk wearing a cloak of deep black which contrasted remarkably with his white skin. His long fingers were curled around a wand and he was smiling evilly.

Harry and Ginny looked at Voldemort and Harry said, "You couldn't get rid of me Voldemort."

Voldemort hadn't flinched at his name like Ginny had, but he looked disgusted. "Don't you say my name, Potter! You have a lot of Nerve! Do you think your…"

Harry interrupted, "Your equal? It was you that made that decision Voldypoo."

Ginny looked at Harry with Horror. Voldemort's reaction hadn't changed and he lifted his wand. Harry was about to lift his, but Voldemort put his back down again. "This won't be of any use," he said. Ginny slowly pointed her wand at the floor and at this Voldemort picked up his wand and shouted, "Accio wand!"

Ginny's wand had sprung out of her hand and into Voldemort's. He threw the wand out the window and again put his own down. He smiled, "Sorry. Can't have her playing anything funny."

Ginny felt hopeless. After all, Harry and Voldemort's wands were no use when casting spells against each other…

**
Ron and Luna looked at each other and said, "Salt?"

Luna's eyes went wide, "That must be it! It must be the counter!"

Ron got very excited. Hermione had helped him again. "But where do we get salt?" he asked, a tear drying on his chin.

Luna smiled again, "your tears of course."

Ron leaned over Hermione at once and tried very hard to produce another tear. At once one fell into Hermione's eyes, this tear a tear of joy. While he leant down, he kissed her on the lips.

Hermione stirred at once. She saw Ron and Luna standing over her and she smiled and said, "So you've solved it!" Luna nodded and Hermione spoke again, "Well we must help Harry! I expect he's gone to find Voldemort?" Ron Nodded hastily and Hermione jumped up and started to lead the way.

As they exited the dungeon Luna whispered to Ron, "You didn't need to kiss her you know."

Ron looked at Hermione and then back to Luna and whispered back, "Yes I did."

Harry stood facing Voldemort and Voldemort said, "Potter, this is the last time I will try to kill you, for this time I surely will. I have deduced from our last meeting that only one of us can survive and it will surely be me." He snapped his long fingers and four of the death bludgers appeared out of nowhere, hovering dangerously behind Voldemort.

Harry lifted his wand and yelled, "Immobulous!" so that the bludger swayed dumbly in the air before falling lamely to the ground.

Voldemort laughed, "I can summon an infinite amount, and besides, your wand is useless against me!"

This time Harry laughed, "Oh is that so?"

Voldemort looked a bit nervous, "Y-yes! Last time we used our wands the spells were useless! Our wands won't work on each other!"

Harry laughed louder, "I have had a lot of thinking recently. While Dumbledore had me use Fawke's body so that he could bring me back. Fawke's is reborn when he dies, so I didn't have to worry about changing bodies."

Voldemort growled loudly, "What is your point!?"

Harry pointed his wand straight at Voldemort and shouted, "Petrificus Totalus!"

Voldemort seized up and fell to the floor. Harry ran over and picked up Voldemort's wand. He snapped it in half and threw it away.

Voldemort looked up at Harry. Harry looked down and said, "Our wands won't work when we cast spells at each other at the same time. You weren't holding your wand, so I could still cast spells on you. And now you don't even have a wand."

Harry and Ginny left Voldemort on the floor and Harry Retrieved Ginny's wand from out the window. They were about to get help to detain Voldemort, but a sound like broken glass shattered behind them. Voldemort was crouched on the stony floor looking weakly up at the two, regaining his strength. He snapped his fingers so that a death bludger swam out at Harry quickly.

The door flew open and Dumbledore dashed in and destroyed the bludger. Voldemort had a look of terror on his face and he turned desperately towards a black vase on the floor. Hermione, Ron and Luna appeared in the doorway and Hermione shouted, "No!"

Voldemort grabbed the vase and he was pulled out of the room by the portkey.

Dumbledore had quickly taken the children back to the Weasley's manor while leaving all the other Order members and a few Ministry Aurors to search the castle for clues.

Harry and the others were crowded around Dumbledore and he said, "I have to return to the castle. Ron, Your brothers George and Fred have been summoned here to watch over you all. Do not leave this house."

As Dumbledore turned to leave, Ron asked, "Professor, how did you know where to find Voldemort?"

Dumbledore looked as amused as Luna did and he said, "That red door. When your mother showed me the studio, I saw the small door and when I entered I recognized the red door and found Hermione's letter on the other side."

Dumbledore suddenly looked very serious, "I must however advise you never to make such a dangerous decision as to take things upon yourselves. You were very admirable, I must say, but if you had not succeeded in your mission…"

Hermione interrupted, "But professor, how have we succeeded?"

Dumbledore gently smiled as he looked at Harry, "Yes it is true that Voldemort now has more knowledge than before." Harry looked a bit regretful. "But he has seen Harry's cunning and ability to control situations smartly, and now he will not be so foolish as to underestimate any of you."

Dumbledore had left and Fred and George arrived moments later to hear the whole story, which they were very impressed with. George even beamed with pride at hearing that Ginny used a jinx he had taught her. They recounted their stories until the sun went down, at which time everyone had retold everything more than twice.

The night was very quiet and they received an Owl at around Midnight saying that the order would be home soon. Everyone was very tired and they were lying around the fireplace in the sitting room; Mostly everyone had fallen asleep.

Luna was looking into the fire and Hermione was looking at Ron, who was sleeping soundly. She sighed and Luna looked at her.

Hermione looked into the fire and said, "I had the loveliest dream. I had found exactly what I was looking for: Happiness, love, knowledge..." she laughed quietly to herself. "It was all just so real, but it was all just a dream."

Luna smiled and looked again into the fire, "If it was all a dream, you might still be sleeping."

Luna smiled at Hermione once more and turned over to fall asleep. Hermione looked at Luna, then at Ron and then she lay silently until drifting off.
~The End~