The Coin

Ron Apparated into the kitchen of the Burrow, startling his mother. Taking one look at her youngest son's face, Molly Weasley dropped her teacup into the empty sink. Paying no heed when it shattered into a thousand tiny shards, she rushed to Ron's side.

"What's wrong? What's happened?" Molly asked anxiously.

Ginny, who had heard the teacup shatter from the other room, walked into the kitchen just as Ron collapsed heavily into a chair by the scarred wooden table.

"Lissa's gone. She's been kidnapped by Nappa." Ron's voice bore no emotion; his eyes were bleak and lifeless.

Molly gasped and sat quickly in the chair next to her son. Ginny's hand flew up to cover her mouth.

"How did it happen?" Ginny asked. "Why would he take Lissa?"

"Harry. Because of Harry." Ron's previously emotionless face contorted into a sneer. "Anyone who gets close to him is only asking for heartache." Fury snapped icy blue fire in his eyes.

"Ron, dear," Molly began soothingly, patting his hand which rested on the table, "that isn't quite fair to Harry, is it? You know better than most how devastated he was over what happened to Hermione, and I'm sure he never wanted anything bad to happen to Lissa, either."

"Mum's right, Ron. Just because Harry has enemies, that doesn't make him responsible for the bad things that they do, even if it's done to get back at him." Ginny tried to reason with her brother.

Ron rose angrily from his chair and stalked over to the window, gazing unseeingly into the night. "All I know is that I've been looking for Lissa for several hours and couldn't even pinpoint where she disappeared from. And that if it weren't for Harry, she'd be at home, safe with me."

"And should you have really been out there looking for him by yourself, dear?" Fear for her son's safety clouded Molly's eyes. "He's such a dangerous wizard; shouldn't you leave it to Harry?"

"Weasley, you know I'd normally be the last person to defend Potter," Draco Malfoy drawled from the doorway, "but in this case, I have to agree with Ginny and your mother. It's not Harry's fault." Draco walked into the room and stood beside Ginny, slipping his arm around her waist for support.

"No one asked for your opinion, Malfoy," Ron snapped furiously.

"Nevertheless, Ron, you need to work with Harry to get Lissa back, not against him. What's he doing to try to find her?" Draco asked.

"Harry? I don't know. I left him and...I left him at Lissa's when he brought me the note from Nappa saying that he had her. I went out and started looking for her immediately."

"What did the note say, Ron?" Ginny queried anxiously.

"Just that Nappa had taken Lissa. He wouldn't even say if she was alive or dead, nor did he make demands for her return." The cold, detached tone was back in Ron's voice. Molly muffled a sob.

Draco turned Ginny to him, grasping her by the arms. He could see the worried look in her brown eyes. "Gin, owl your brothers and your Dad. I know he's away on Ministry business, but he needs to be here. I'm going to take Ron and we'll see if we can find Harry." Ginny nodded her acquiescence; Ron muttered his dissent.

"I'm trying to help here, Weasley. Don't be a git. What's more important-- your stupid misplaced anger at Potter, your resentment of accepting help from a Malfoy or finding the woman you love?"

"Finding Lissa is the only thing I care about right now."

"Good, then let's go," Draco said. He waited until Ron stood by him and then together, they Disapparated.

Ginny found some parchment and a quill in a drawer and quickly started writing owls. Molly rose slowly from the table, took out her wand, and repaired the broken cup in the sink, and then began putting away the rest of the dishes that had been washed. Busy work was what she needed right now or she might break down. As she put away the repaired teacup, Molly thought that for all the charms and spells in existence, there wasn't one that would fix the broken pieces of her child's heart if Lissa wasn't returned to them safe and unharmed.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Elizabeth watched Harry bark orders at the other Aurors, a worried expression on her face. Since she'd gotten his owl about Lissa and had Apparated straight to the office,

she had been watching him frantically send agents out to try to gather some information about Nappa's current whereabouts. However, at this point, they hadn't even been able to determine where Lissa was taken, and Harry was not happy about it in the slightest. The only reason he was even still in the office and not out in the field searching for Lissa himself was because she had convinced him that he could be more effective organizing the search from a central location. At least, until they got more definitive information of Lissa's whereabouts.

Elizabeth smiled sympathetically at the latest victim of Harry's ire as the Auror scurried out of the office to do his biding. "Harry, people will be quicker to do what you ask if you're a bit nicer to them," Elizabeth tried to calm her partner's temper.

"They'll do what I say because I say it," Harry snapped at her.

Walking over to the desk, Elizabeth placed a comforting hand on Harry's arm. "Harry, it's not your..."

"Don't say it's not my fault. I wouldn't let Hermione tell me that and I'm not going to listen to it from you, either." Harry shook her hand from his arm and strode over to the filing cabinet.

Elizabeth understood perfectly why Harry was in such a state. She knew from bitter experience that he would be feeling angry, scared, and most of all, responsible. She'd even stood idly by while he'd taken out his emotions on the Aurors unfortunate enough to be under his supervision. Though it rankled her to do so, she'd understood his need to express his anger. But enough was enough. She'd be damned if she'd continue to allow him to treat her and everyone else that way. They were partners, and more than that, they were supposed to be friends. Being upset and angry was one thing, taking it out on anyone who was hapless enough to cross his path was another entirely and it was about to stop.

"Harry," Elizabeth said sternly, "I understand that you're upset about Lissa; I wouldn't expect anything less. But taking everyone's head off isn't the best way to go about ensuring cooperation. Nor is it the way to treat your partner and friend."

Harry at least had the grace to look a bit ashamed. "I'm sorry, Elizabeth." He walked back to the desk, a thick file in his hand. "I'm just worried about Lissa. There wasn't any indication this time that he wants a meeting or any kind of ransom. He simply took her because he knew it would hurt Ron, thereby hurting me. We don't even know if she's dead or alive."

"So there's no news?" Ron asked dejectedly from the doorway. Draco stood a step behind him.

"I'm afraid not." Elizabeth met Ron halfway as he entered the room and gave him a tight hug. "But we will find her, I promise."

Ron's smile was weak but grateful. "Elizabeth, do you remember meeting Draco at Hermione's funeral?"

"Of course, I do. Mr. Malfoy, it's nice to see you again."

"Draco, please, and it's too bad it has been under such unpleasant circumstances," he said.

Ron glared at Harry belligerently. "I want to know what you're doing to try to find Lissa."

Harry laid down the file, walked around his desk and stood in front of his best friend. "Everything we can, Ron. I promise. We're trying to locate the exact point Lissa disappeared. If we can do that, then we can trace the Apparation particles to find Nappa's location. But so far, we haven't found anyone who saw it happen. We are dealing with Muggles here so we have to be very careful how we go about asking questions. If we raise too many suspicions, then we'd have to send the Memory Charm Squad over half of London Obliviating Muggles' memories."

"I don't care how many Muggle's minds you have to Obliviate. I just want to get Lissa back," Ron said angrily.

"I know you do. So do I, mate." Harry placed his hand on Ron's shoulder and was encouraged when he didn't immediately knock it away. "I'm sorry, Ron. I am so sorry."

Ron looked into his best friend's eyes, the contrition obvious from behind the round frames. And he knew that he was. He knew that just as he had told Harry that what had happened to Hermione had not been his fault, neither was what had happened to Lissa. His grief and despair at finding out that Lissa was gone had colored his view of the situation. As he had all his life, he'd let his anger speak first, then rational judgment follow later.

"I know you are, Harry and it isn't your fault. I'm sorry for acting like an angry git," Ron apologized.

Harry drew Ron into a tight embrace. "She'll be okay."

When Harry had released Ron, Draco drawled, "Now that you're friends again, maybe we can get down to the business of finding Lissa." Draco gave a self-deprecating snort. "Who would have ever thought I'd be volunteering to help the two of you, much less look for Weasley's Muggle fiancée?"

"Things changed a lot when you turned your back on your father and his dark wizard associates," Harry said.

Draco's pale brow furrowed. "What did you say the wizard's name was who took Lissa?"

"Nappa," Elizabeth supplied. "We don't know much about him except he appeared a couple of years ago and started creating havoc in the wizarding world."

Harry noted the thoughtful look on Draco's face. "You know something about him?"

"Perhaps. Years ago I remember Father had an associate by the name of Collins who had a son named Nappa. He was about our age, but didn't go to Hogwarts. His parents sent him to Durmstrang. That has been bothering me since Granger's funeral. I knew that name sounded familiar but I couldn't place it until now. Do you think it could be the same person?" Draco asked.

"It's worth checking out," Harry decided. "Tell Elizabeth everything you remember about the family."

Elizabeth got a parch pad and began taking notes as Draco filled her in on all the details he could remember. Ron drew Harry off to the side and spoke quietly.

"How's Hermione holding up?" he asked.

"She's fine. I almost had to use a Binding Charm to keep her from following me here. She's very concerned about you, too," Harry said tiredly.

"That's our Hermione. Is Eric staying with her?"

"Yes," Harry bit out tersely. "She didn't have to seem so happy about it when I told her he would be the one that would be staying with her around the clock, protecting her."

Ron smiled for the first time since Lissa's disappearance, but his expression quickly turned serious. "Tell her, Harry. Tell Hermione how you feel. Tell her that you love her. That you want to spend the rest of your life making her happy."

"Ron..." Harry began.

"Don't `Ron' me. Didn't almost losing her prove anything to you? Hasn't Lissa's disappearance? You're never promised tomorrow, Harry. If you're lucky enough to find love then you need to grab onto it with both hands and never let go. Tell her before you run out of chances."

Before Harry could reply, they were joined by Elizabeth and Draco. "I think I have a good bit to go on," Elizabeth told them. "I'll go down to the research department and see what I can dig up. I'll let you know as soon as I find anything." She gave Ron a reassuring smile as she left.

"All right, Harry, what do you want us to do?" Draco asked.

"Go home," Harry told them.

Both Ron and Draco began to protest, but Harry held up his hand for silence. "Ron, I need you to be at Lissa's, just in case Nappa sends another owl there. Draco, I'm sure Ginny's upset; she and Lissa have gotten very close, she'll need you now. I know it's very hard to sit at home and wait for news, especially for you, Ron. But I've got my best Aurors on the job. Let me see what they can turn up. I promise I won't rest until I bring Lissa home safe."

Ron and Draco reluctantly agreed and left Harry to pore over more reports that left many questions but few answers.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

The room was completely dark, except for the small sliver of light that filtered weakly underneath the crevices. Cold seeped in through the stone block walls. Lissa sat with her back to the damp stone, her knees drawn up to her chest, her arms wrapped around them, staring with trepidation at the closed door.

It was hard to judge how much time had passed; probably only hours, but it seemed like much longer than that. Being in the dark didn't help, although it had served to heighten her other senses. She could smell a damp, musty odor that she associated with closed in spaces. She could still taste the slightly metallic taste of blood in her mouth where she'd bitten her lip in the struggle with her captor. The rough texture of the coarse blanket draped around her shoulders did little to ward off the invading chill. The noises coming from all around her were the things she was trying to block out most. Low, pitiful moans. Hysterical weeping. Voices crying out for mercy where no mercy could be found.

Instead, she tried to concentrate on Ron's face. On his voice. It was the only thing that kept the panic at bay. She tried to make sense of the situation. Why had she been taken? Did it have anything to do with Hermione's kidnapping? With Nappa? It had to be related, didn't it? But why her? Why not Ron, if Nappa was coming after more people close to Harry?

Lissa sat up straight on the lumpy bed. Footsteps approached. Was she about to find the answers to her questions or had Ron and Harry found her already? The door opened, briefly suffusing the room with a pale light and Lissa with a hope that maybe she'd been found. Then a hooded wizard stepped into the room, closing the door and extinguishing Lissa's hope as completely as he shut out the light. He walked across the room to stand before her.

"Who are you?" She hated that her voice came out a mere squeak.

"Your worst nightmare, Miss Sullivan. Your worst nightmare."

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

After a long, protracted and ultimately futile, argument with Eric, Hermione had finally grown tired of it and had agreed to rest. She was tired; her injuries still draining what little strength she'd gained. So she'd finally acquiesced and retreated to her bedroom only after Eric had promised to wake her with even the tiniest bit of news.

It had taken a while for her to fall asleep. Even though her body was physically exhausted, her mind wouldn't shut down to allow her body rest. Finally, she had given in to slumber. But it wasn't the healing kind that would allow her to wake up refreshed and ready to meet the problems of the coming days. It was fitful, restless. She tossed and turned, looking for a comfortable position but finding none.

Her mind still raced with disturbing dreams. Images. Disjointed and horrible. Pain, suffering. She could feel it. Taste the terror. There was something...clawing at the corners of her mind. She reached for it, trying desperately to grasp it. But it was just out of reach. If only...if only...

Hermione awoke with a start, bathed in a cold sweat and a terror like she'd never felt before. She tried frantically to remember what she had been dreaming about, but it wasn't there. It was gone, chased away by the pale fingers of the dawn weakly curling their way around the closed curtains. Hugging herself tightly with her arms, she turned back into the pillows, wishing fervently that it was Harry's arms encircling her. But he wasn't there.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Three long days had passed since Lissa's abduction with no further communication from Nappa. The Aurors hadn't turned up any witnesses. Although they had carefully reconstructed Lissa's day, there were no leads to her whereabouts. No leads at all. Harry and Ron were in and out of the house at all hours. Out mostly, coming home only long enough to shower and change and if Hermione nagged enough, take a short nap.

Hermione continued to gain strength daily, although her dreams worsened each night, a fact that she didn't share with Harry, Ron or Eric. And as she grew stronger, her restlessness became more pronounced; she discounted the fact that her restlessness might have had anything to do with her unremembered dreams.

She wanted to help in the search for Lissa. She wanted to do something. Anything. Nothing against Eric, he was a wonderful bodyguard and companion, but Hermione felt like she would go mad if she had to stay confined in the house for much longer. She'd just paced to the window to check for an owl for the third time in five minutes.

"It's a good thing we placed a charm on the windows so no one could see in," Eric said from his seat on the couch.

"I'm..."

"Just checking for owls," Eric finished for her. "Yes, I know, Hermione. You've been doing that all day."

Hermione sighed deeply and walked back to the chair she had vacated moments before. "Am I making you crazy?" Hermione asked with a self-deprecating smile as she sank back into the cushions, drawing her legs underneath her.

"Let's just say, I've had easier assignments," he winked at her. "Hermione, I know that you're chomping at the bit to be able to help. But the best thing you can do right now is concentrate on getting better."

"But I am better, or mostly. The doctor said I should be good as new in a few more days," she said on a frustrated sigh, once more getting out of her chair and pacing to the window. "And being confined to this house is about to drive me mad. I need to be doing something to help find Lissa. Not to mention that I have a job I need to get back to. A life. My family and most of my friends still think I'm dead. I can't discuss it with Harry, even if he were here for more than five minute stretches at a time, because he has too much to deal with right now for me to add to it."

"I know, Hermione. You've had more to deal with lately than most," he said sympathetically. "It's almost like you'd been cursed or something. I knew this wizard one time who dumped this witch and she cursed his wand because she knew he was always losing it. Some of the things that happened to him..."

But Hermione was no longer listening to Eric. Her mind was frozen. If this coin is held by two who love, its joy will all surround. But if lost before that love is known, only sorrow will abound. Could it be? But no, she hadn't lost the coin, it was still in her purse. And her purse was... She'd had it with her when Nappa had taken her.

"Eric," Hermione turned hurriedly from the window. "Do you know what happened to my purse after I was abducted?"

If Eric thought anything about the rapid switch in topics, he didn`t show it. "Yeah, actually, I think it was found and Elizabeth sent your secretary to pick it up."

"Do you know what Sabrina did with it? I really need it," Hermione asked anxiously.

"Don't know. I think she took it back to your flat, but I guess I could try to find out for sure," he offered.

"Would you, please?" she requested, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth.

"Sure, I'll send Elizabeth an owl right now." Eric went to write the note.

Hermione stood by the window, deep in thought. She hadn't given any credence to the old woman's story, but what if it was true? What if the coin had been cursed? And she had lost it? She needed to find her purse and that book that Sabrina had given her. But how could she do that? Asking for her purse was one thing, but if she started asking for books about ancient coins, that was quite another. She didn't want to arouse Eric's suspicions. But neither Harry nor Ron would think it odd if she asked for her Hogwarts, A History for a little light reading. Maybe she could ask Eric to take her back to her flat to collect her purse and some books. Although he'd probably tell her it was too dangerous, it was worth a shot. And if he wouldn't, she'd just have to find another way to get what she needed. She hadn't been called the smartest witch at Hogwarts for nothing.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Ginny pushed a shoulder length piece of red hair behind her ear and picked up the sales invoice for the third time in five minutes. She'd added the column of figures three times, but had come up with three different totals. Her mind wasn't on her work this morning. That wasn't a surprise though. It hadn't been since Lissa had gone missing.

Ron was out of his mind with grief and worry. And her mother had cooked enough in the last couple of days to feed half the population of the wizarding world.

Ginny put the invoice away and looked up to find Draco standing there staring at her, his silvery gray eyes a mixture of love and concern.

"Hey, babe," he smiled encouragingly at her. "Wanna blow this joint and have lunch with me?"

"Sounds good. What did you have in mind?"

"Well, while scrounging through the refrigerator this morning, I found a jar of chocolate sauce. I thought it might work well for lunch," Draco grinned sexily.

"Oooo, sundaes for lunch, how decadent," Ginny smiled.

"Yep," Draco grinned at her, "but you won't need a spoon for what I have in mind."

Ginny grabbed her purse from underneath the counter. "Ashleigh," she called out to her petite, blond co-worker, `I'm heading out to lunch."

"Take your time, Gin," Ashleigh said perkily, "I've got you covered."

Ginny threaded her fingers through Draco's and led him from the store. Her mind was consumed with something other than Lissa for the first time in days.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Darkness surrounded her---uninterrupted. Cold assailed her---bone numbing and mind chilling. Odors penetrated her--the smell of death--nauseating her. Cries filled her mind--some loud, some soft--all more than she could bear. Hands touched, groped, hurt.

She fled from it all, but it followed. It wouldn't leave her alone. She was never alone. Never any rest, even when she closed her eyes. Especially when she closed her eyes. She tried to summon happy thoughts, but they wouldn't come--gone with the wind. All that existed for her now was terror, despair, hopelessness.

Then she saw it...the figure in the distance, shadowed and indistinct. With a hand outstretched to her. But she couldn't reach it. She never could. She knew that. She didn't know why she kept trying. It always ended the same way.

Lissa awoke with a start. The dream had ended, but she knew it wouldn't be long before it began again. Hot tears tracked down her face in anticipation and dread.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

It had been a week since Lissa's abduction. Seven long days. The longest of Ron's life. Dark circles now shaded his once bright blue eyes from lack of sleep, although Hermione and his mother tried their best to make him rest. Stubble shadowed his face; it was more than he could manage to perform a simple shaving spell. His clothes were unkempt and beginning to hang on his tall frame; eating no longer seemed important to him. Nothing did but finding Lissa. And as each day passed, he began to despair that that would ever happen.

He tried not to allow himself to think of what she was going through...if she was even still alive. The thought of her being hurt or tortured was more than he could bear. It was like a thousand tiny knives ripping his soul to shreds piece by tiny piece. But he couldn't stop those thoughts, try as he might. All he could hear when he closed his eyes was Lissa's sweet, soft voice calling to him, pleading with him to help her, find her. And he'd tried, Merlin knew he had. And so had Harry. But it was all to no avail.

Ron stared blankly out at the people hurrying through the park on their way somewhere. Couples strolled hand in hand. Mothers walked with their children, holding their little hands. He despaired now that Lissa would ever bring their children to this park where they had first met and tell them the story of how their daddy had found their mummy crying on a park bench, offered her a handkerchief and forever changed her life.

He'd had such hopes for their future. Lots of little Weasleys running around with his sense of humor and Lissa's lovely smile and disposition.

He stopped short. When had he started thinking of his future with Lissa in the past tense? She wasn't dead. She couldn't be. If she was, he might as well be too. He didn't think he could go on without her. He knew he didn't want to.

But there had been no word from Nappa. None. Why would he have bothered to keep her alive? What purpose would it have served? He only hoped that her death had been quick, painless. As hard as it was to imagine her dead, wasn't that preferable to imagining her alive and suffering? Knowing that she believed that he would find her, rescue her and being unable to do so?

"Stop it," he muttered aloud, startling a little old lady who was passing by. He had come to this park so he could feel closer to Lissa, not so he could imagine her dead. He wouldn't believe that. He wouldn't give up on her...on them. He loved her too much, more than he ever thought it was possible to love someone. He needed to get off this bench and do something...anything, rather than sitting here feeling sorry for himself. Lissa would kick his arse all the way to the United States and back if she knew he was doing that.

Ron got up from the park bench, a new determination filling him. He'd go see Harry. Hopefully he'd have good news.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Hermione was plotting. To the casual observer, she looked like she was engaged in her favorite activity--reading. But, her mind wasn't occupied with the words on the page; besides, she already knew Hogwarts, A History word for word anyway, so the book provided the perfect cover as she plotted her escape.

She had to get to her flat. The book on the coins and the coin itself were there and she was becoming more and more convinced every day that they were of vital importance. Every morning, she woke unsettled.. She knew she was having bad dreams every night, even though she never remembered them. And she couldn't help but think it was somehow all tied into the coin. She'd blithely dismissed the coin and the prophecy, while Sabrina had thought it important. Now, she wished she'd listened to her secretary.

Hermione had tried, and failed, to get Eric to allow her to pop over to her flat. The ruse of picking up some books to read and her purse hadn't gone over very well at all. Eric had said it was too dangerous, just as she had expected. They couldn't be seen coming and going from her flat; it might arouse suspicion. Hermione had countered that she'd be very quick and very careful. Eric still hadn't budged. Their voices had escalated. Names had been called-on Hermione's side at least. There had been a spectacular row. Eric had won. Eric had come into work the next day with a big stack of Hermione's books as a peace offering, but of course he hadn`t brought her purse. She'd smiled and thanked him nicely.

Now, she sat plotting her escape. Harry had told her he probably wouldn't be home tonight. They'd gotten what looked to be their best lead so far, so he'd sent word that he planned to work through the night. Hermione was sure when Ron got the news of the new lead that he'd be right by Harry's side. So that meant Eric would be spending the night.

So tonight was the night.

Hermione planned to feign sleep. Then, when Eric really went to bed, she'd take his wand, Apparate to her flat, get what she needed and be back home before anyone was the wiser. She stifled a yawn and shifted in her chair.

"Why don't you go on to bed, Hermione?" Eric suggested. "You know Harry's not going to be home tonight. So why not turn in and make it an early night? I know you haven't been sleeping well." Eric made a mental note to himself to tell Harry that Hermione's dreams seemed to becoming increasingly worse.

Hermione reluctantly shut her book and placed it on the table. "You're probably right. That's a good idea. You going to turn in soon?" Hermione asked, trying to keep the hopeful note out of her voice.

"No, probably going to stay up and watch movies for a while. Of all the Muggle inventions that I've been exposed to since I started staying here, I think I like the television the best," Eric grinned at her.

Hermione turned away quickly so he couldn't see her frown. "Good night, then."

"Good night, Hermione," Eric said, settling into the couch and flipping on the television.

It didn't matter to her how long he stayed up tonight, Hermione thought, as she walked to her bedroom. She was going to stay up longer. She might not get a better opportunity to get to her flat and get that book and make sure the coin was safely tucked away in her purse.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

It had taken Ron a while to find out where Harry was. He'd gone to the office only to discover that Harry was out in the field, and no one would tell him where. He'd talked to one Auror after another, but none could or would give him any information. They wouldn't even tell him if Harry's mission concerned Lissa. But by the way no one would meet his eyes, he'd suspected it did. About the time his temper had reached the boiling point--and that hadn't taken long--Elizabeth had come into the office, carrying a large stack of files.

"Where's Harry?" he'd demanded angrily before she had even gotten a few feet into the office.

"Hi yourself, Ron," Elizabeth had responded, depositing her load of files on the desk.

"Sorry, Elizabeth," he had apologized in a softer but no less frustrated voice, "but no one will tell me anything. Is something going on with Lissa?"

Elizabeth had just smiled sympathetically at him, placed her hand on his arm and Apparated them away.

Now, Ron stood a few feet away, watching Harry work. He was barking out orders like McGonagall at a class of first years. Ron thought briefly of the scrawny kid in Dudley's oversized castoff clothes he'd met on the train to Hogwarts so many years ago. Harry was a far cry from that boy now. A lot had happened to make Harry the man that he had become; some good, a lot of it bad. But one thing had not changed in all those years...the friendship that two boys had forged on the train that day. Ron knew that there was no one else he would trust more to find Lissa.

After Harry had dispatched his men in different directions, he ran his hands through his already messy black mane, his shoulders slumping dejectedly. He didn't hear Ron and Elizabeth approaching until she spoke his name softly.

"Harry."

He spun around, startled to find them only a few feet behind him.

"Sorry, mate," Ron said. "We didn't mean to take you by surprise. I was just hoping for some word on Lissa." But Ron could tell by the look in Harry's eyes that the news wasn't encouraging.

"I'm so sorry, Ron," Harry began. "I thought we finally had a good lead. But it's not panning out."

Ron's shoulders slumped. "I was hoping..."

"That we had some good news?" Harry finished for him. "So was I, mate. So was I."

"It's just..." Ron started.

"Just what?" Harry prompted.

"I went to the park today. I sat on the bench where Lissa and I met. I was feeling bloody low and sorry for myself. It's been a week, Harry. A week." Tears glistened in Ron's blue eyes. "We don't even know if she's alive or dead. I started thinking today that maybe it would be better if she were dead. I can't stand thinking about what she could be going through, Harry. What they could be doing to her..." Ron's voice broke on a sob.

It was all Harry could do not to sob right along with him. Elizabeth discreetly wiped her eyes.

Ron took a few deep breaths to get his emotions back under control. "But I realized something. That would be selling Lissa short. She's one of the strongest people I know and she'll do whatever it takes to hang on to come back to me. And I would know if she were dead. I would know it." Ron paused to wipe a stray tear from his face. "So don't give up, Harry. You've got to find her. She's out there somewhere depending on us."

Drawing Ron into a tight embrace, Harry whispered in a choked voice, "I won't give up, Ron. I'll find her. I promise you, mate. I'll find her if it's the last thing I do." Stepping back, Harry turned to Elizabeth. "Take Ron back to the Burrow. I don't want him trying to Apparate himself. He may end up at Malfoy Manor."

"Perish the thought," Ron shuddered in mock horror, a ghost of a smile lighting his face.

Harry managed a weak smile back.

"What about you, Harry?" Elizabeth asked. "You haven't been home to get a good night's sleep in days."

"I think I will go home for a while. I want to check on Hermione."

Ron's smile reached his eyes this time, happy that his two best friends had finally found each other. But then his face grew sober. "Tell her, Harry. Tell her before it's too late."

Elizabeth placed her hand on Ron's arm, and at his nod, Disapparated.

Harry stood pondering Ron's words long after they were gone.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Hours went by before Eric went to sleep, or so it seemed to Hermione. Finally, she heard his loud snores coming from the lounge room so she snuck quietly from her room to the couch. With trembling hands, she pulled his wand from his pocket. When he snorted and turned to his side, she held her breath in trepidation, but Eric slept blissfully on. Hermione exhaled a huge sigh of relief and Disapparated.

A small shiver went through her as she stood in the middle of her bedroom in her flat. She hadn't realized how much she had missed being in her own place. Lissa's was nice and comfortable but there was just something about being back in her own home that gave Hermione a warm feeling.

She held up Eric's wand muttered "Lumos" quietly and shielded it with her hand. She didn't think it wise to turn on any lights. One of her neighbors might see it and decide to investigate a strange light coming from a dead woman's home. Everything was just as she had left it, her bed neatly made, all her clothes hanging in color coordinated rows in her closet. And her purse was laying on her oak bureau.

Smiling in triumph, she walked over and picked up her purse and carried it to the bed. She rummaged around in the bottom looking for the coin, not finding it. Then she unceremoniously turned it upside down and dumped the contents out on the flowered coverlet, shaking it once more for good measure. Then she sorted carefully through the items, looking for the old gold coin. It wasn't there. She looked a second time, then a third, but to no avail. It didn't magically appear. Opening the purse again, she searched the interior, looking to see if it had gotten stuck in some crevice. But it hadn't.

The coin was missing.

Why did that suddenly fill her with dread?

The book, Hermione thought. Frantically, she began to search for the book on coins that Sabrina had loaned her. But that, too, had gone missing.

Sabrina. Of course. Harry had told her that Sabrina had been the one to take care of Crookshanks while she was in hospital. She'd been here taking care of the flat, too. She probably had seen the book and taken it home with her.

Now what? She couldn't just show up on Sabrina's doorstep and ask for the book back. She was supposed to be dead, after all. How bloody inconvenient. But, Sabrina was probably asleep, Hermione reasoned, so if she were very quiet... she had to risk it. She needed that book. She had to know what that prophecy said. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Hermione Disapparated.

*^*^*^*^*^**^*^*^*^*^*

Pale moonlight streamed in the window of Malfoy Manor, reflecting Draco's blond hair with silvery highlights. Ginny sat up in bed for a moment, drinking in the sight of the man she loved as he sat perched on the window seat. Not many would debate that Draco was handsome--certainly not her. That he was cruel and vicious and thoroughly unredeemable, she would debate to her dying breath. Oh, he had been all those things when they were in school together at Hogwarts. But something had changed him. Something he wouldn't even speak much to her about. But changed he had.

When she had met him again in that dark alley and he had saved her from certain harm, she had sensed that change instinctively and had gone with him without reservation. She hadn't looked back nor regretted her decision for a moment. It hadn't mattered that their relationship had met with stiff disapproval from her family at first, especially Ron. But Ginny wouldn't trade a single moment she'd spent with Draco for anything, even lately when it was becoming increasingly clear that something was wrong.

"Galleon for your thoughts," she said softly, startling Draco out of his reverie.

He turned towards her and smiled. "Worth that much, eh?"

"To me they are," Ginny replied, throwing back the covers and padding to the window, her long red hair and nightgown blowing in the light breeze coming in from the open window. "Aren't you cold?"

"Malfoys are cold blooded. Thought you knew that," Draco said with just a hint of the old smirk that she used to loathe so much.

"Then let me warm you up." Ginny crawled up into his lap and curled herself into him. Draco wrapped his arms tightly around her in response, breathing in the earthy, clean scent of her.

"What's wrong, love?" Ginny asked gently.

Silence covered the room for long minutes like a heavy blanket. Just when Ginny thought he wasn't going to tell her, Draco spoke, "It's nothing I can put my finger on. It's more of a feeling, really."

"What kind of feeling?" she prodded.

Draco's hands, which had been soothingly caressing Ginny's back, paused. "Like there is something more that's important about Nappa that I'm not remembering."

"Something that could help find Lissa?" Ginny asked hopefully, sitting up in his lap.

"Maybe."

"Stop thinking so hard, then. You're probably just pushing it away," Ginny suggested, stroking Draco's face gently with her fingertips.

"I can't, Gin. It's right there. I just can't get it." Draco's pale brow furrowed in concentration.

"Then let me help."

She reached up and soothed the worried lines out of his forehead with cool, soft caresses, and then followed the path with soft, gentle kisses fluttered all over his face. She felt the tension leaving his body...only to be replaced with another, more satisfying kind. Capturing his mouth with her own, she kissed him softly, sweetly, with all the love in her heart. But soft and sweet quickly turned to hot and hungry as he swept her up into his arms and carried her back to bed. Ginny moaned in triumph as Draco claimed her as his own, knowing she'd distracted the man she loved into thinking of nothing else at the moment but the love they shared.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Hermione allowed her eyes to adjust to the darkness. She couldn't risk lighting Eric's wand for fear of waking Sabrina. Moving carefully, Hermione started to explore her surroundings. The feeble moonlight coming in from behind the curtains was barely enough for her to be able to read the covers of the books that she found. And though there were several books lying around the flat, she could not locate the book on coins that Sabrina had loaned her.

Wonderful, Hermione thought, I was hoping it wouldn't be in her bedroom. Just my luck. Treading carefully, she padded quietly into Sabrina's bedroom where her secretary lay tucked up under the covers, the top of her head the only thing visible. Hermione made her way carefully around the room, picking up the various books scattered around. No wonder Sabrina and I get along so well.

Her eyes fell on a photograph sitting on the bedside table. It was of her and Sabrina at the last office Christmas party. Sabrina was leaning over whispering something in her ear and the photographic Hermione was laughing. Hermione smiled at the memory. Sabrina had told her that it was too bad all the witches in the office were drooling over the famous Harry Potter because he only had eyes for one witch in the room. Hermione had burst out laughing when Sabrina said that witch was Hermione herself.

Hermione would give anything to be able to go back to those carefree days before everything had seemed to go wrong. She missed her parents, her job, her home, her friends, especially Sabrina. She missed her life. Before the melancholy thoughts overtook her, her eyes fell on a book beside the photograph. It was the right size. Could it be?

"Accio book," she whispered quietly. The book flew off the nightstand into her hands, but knocked the picture off in the process. It landed on the carpet with a muffled thud. Sabrina stirred. Hermione held her breath and released it only when Sabrina settled back down. Glancing down at the book in her hands, Hermione hardly contained her gasp of delight. She'd found it. Now, she had to get back before Eric woke and missed her. So focused on getting out without being discovered, she didn't remember to place the picture back on the table. With a relieved sigh, she Disapparated.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

The only sound in the house when Harry arrived home was the low murmur of voices from the television punctuated by Eric's snores. Harry suddenly felt an overwhelming need to see Hermione--to touch her and hold her--to assure himself she was safe. Making his way quietly to the bedroom they shared, he pushed open the door to find that Hermione was not there and the bed still neatly made. Less quietly now, Harry explored the rest of the house searching for Hermione, but she wasn't anywhere to be found.

"Where's Hermione?" Harry bellowed, knocking Eric's legs from the coffee table, waking him with a start.

Still groggy and disoriented, Eric made a grab for his wand, but it wasn't there. "What?" he blinked, coming to his feet.

"Where in the bloody hell is Hermione?" Harry yelled, fear quickly constricting his throat and tightening like a band around his heart.

"She's...she's in her bedroom, asleep," Eric stuttered.

"No, she isn't." Harry frantically snatched up the cloak he'd just removed and prepared to go in search of her. If Nappa had taken her again...if he'd hurt her... He couldn't finish that thought--it clouded his mind into blackness.

Just as he was about to send Hedwig with a note to Elizabeth, Hermione Apparated into the room.

Hermione took in the scene in front of her in a glance. Eric tousled and still a bit sleepy; Harry's green eyes snapping fire when he saw her, and she knew she was in trouble. Facing Fluffy would have been a piece of cake compared to this.

"Hi, Harry," she offered in a placating tone.

"Don't `Hi, Harry' me," Harry snapped, more furious than Hermione had ever seen him. The relief he had felt at seeing her alive had been quickly replaced by a raging anger that she would put herself in danger by leaving the house alone. "Where did you go and how did you get there?" Harry bit out.

"I can answer the how she got there. Can I have my wand back?" Eric asked through gritted teeth.

Hermione guiltily handed it over. She looked back at Harry, who appeared as if he might implode at any moment. Now was not the time to tell him about the coin or the prophecy. "I went looking for a book I needed," she said, a bit defiantly. Although she was contrite that she'd made Harry worry, she was angered that he didn't think she could take care of herself.

"Um, Harry," Eric began a bit hesitantly. "If you're going to be here for the rest of the night, I guess I'll go home."

"I'm not going anywhere. Hermione and I have something to settle," Harry said ominously. "And I'll deal with you tomorrow."

Eric paled. "See you in the morning," he said to Hermione before leaving hastily.

Silence so heavy it couldn't have been cut with a knife hung in the room. Finally, Hermione gestured to the couch. They both sat down-on opposite ends. Hermione pushed the book under the cushion.

"Harry," she began tentatively. "I know you're mad..."

"Mad?" he exploded. "Mad? With your overly large vocabulary, Hermione, is mad the best word you can come up with?"

Hermione's own hackles were starting to rise, so she attempted to tamp down her own ire and replied, "Right, Harry. I know you have a reason to be vexed, angered, put out, infuriated, enraged, incensed or just plain hacked off with me, but..." she paused, moving towards him until their knees touched, "this is about more than me just popping over to get a book without telling you first. Isn't it?"

Harry closed his eyes, letting the anger flow out of his body with the first gentle touch of Hermione's hand on his thigh. It still amazed him that she knew him so well. "I just left Ron. He'd had a bad afternoon. Almost decided to give up hope that we'd find Lissa." Harry opened his eyes to look at Hermione. "He said that he'd almost decided that he'd rather know she was dead than going through something horrible." Speech eluded him; he was too choked up to continue.

Hermione threaded her fingers through his. "You said `almost.' What changed his mind?"

"Lissa. Ron knew Lissa wouldn't want him to give up on her. He said he'd have felt it if she was dead."

Hermione nodded in understanding.

"And he said he trusted me, Hermione. He trusts me to find her.'

"Of course, he does, Harry. You're his best friend."

Harry breathed a frustrated sigh. "Some friend. We had what I thought was the first solid lead today and it didn't pan out. It's been a week, Hermione. A week with no real progress, yet Ron still has faith that I'll find her."

"And you will, Harry. I have faith in you, too."

Taking off his glasses and laying them on the table, Hermione urged Harry to stretch out on the couch. He complied and she lay down beside him, facing him. His arms found their way around her, pulling her body flush with his. She lay her head on his chest. They stayed that way for quite a while, just content to hold one another.

Finally, Harry broke the silence with a question. "Do you know how I felt when I came home tonight and you weren't here?"

Hermione looked up into his beautiful green eyes and nodded. "I think I can guess and I am sorry, Harry. I didn't mean to worry you."

"And I shouldn't have lost it quite like I did. Suppose I need to apologize to Eric, too?"

She nodded. "It wasn't his fault that I snuck out."

"But if anything had happened to you, Hermione..." Harry clenched his eyes closed at the thought.

"Nothing did. I'm safe, in your arms. Just where I always want to be."

The intensity with which Harry stared at her almost took Hermione's breath away. "I won't lose you--ever," he vowed fervently.

Warm chocolate met vivid green as the moment stretched into eternity. Just as Hermione thought she might cry if he didn't kiss her soon, his mouth swooped down and captured her own. It wasn't a gentle, sweet kiss like so many they had shared. It wasn't even a hot and passionate one. It was a claiming and Hermione submitted willingly to Harry's ownership, then staked a claim of her own.

Tongues battled, teeth clashed, hands touched and caressed. Before long, they were both breathing heavily and half undressed.

"Wait," Harry rasped out. "Hermione, wait." Harry pulled away so he could look into her eyes.

"Harry," Hermione panted out, "if you say we've got to stop, I'm getting your wand and hexing you to kingdom come and back."

Harry smiled down at her. "I was just going to ask you if you were sure. I guess that answered that question."

"Uh huh. Now shut up and kiss me."

Hermione pulled his lips back down to hers. Instead of kissing her hungrily though, this time he kissed her softly, worshipfully, almost reverently. He feathered kisses across her lips, then over her closed eyes, across her cheeks, down her throat, leaving a trail of liquid fire wherever he touched. His hands soon followed, working their own special kind of magic on her sensitive skin.

"Bed," Harry muttered.

Hermione reached down into Harry's discarded clothing on the floor and found his wand. Next thing Harry knew, they lay tangled together on their bed.

"So you think you're so clever, do you, Miss Granger?" Harry grinned down at her.

"About some things, yes. Others you can read about, but you can't really know until you actually do them," Hermione looked down, suddenly shy and unsure of herself. Harry had been with many witches and she was afraid what she had read in books left her woefully unprepared for the reality of making love with Harry. She didn't want to disappoint him.

Harry raised her chin with his finger until her eyes met his. "Then this is one lesson that it will be my pleasure to teach you."

And it was.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

This time the dream was different. The darkness was still there. The cold. The smell of death. The cries that screamed over and over and over again in her mind. But something had changed. She could sense it.

Hands still touched, groped, hurt. She couldn't get away from them. But there was more.

She still felt the overwhelming sense of despair. The hopelessness. She was still fleeing some unknown terror. It wouldn't leave her alone. Never alone. But something wasn't right.

Until...

She saw the figure in the distance. If she could only reach it. Get to that outstretched hand. That's when she saw it. There was something in the hand this time.

Lissa saw the jagged bolt of green lightening and screamed. Then all was silent.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

In a bed across town, Hermione jerked awake out of her lover's arms, a blood chilling scream tearing its way across her lips, emanating from her very soul.

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