Cyclic Desperation of the Soul

What Happened Before the Storm:

"Show me how it ends

It's alright

Show me how defenseless you really are

Satisfied and empty inside well that's alright

Let's give this another try

If you find your family don't you cry

In this land of make believe dead and dry

You're so cold keep your hand in mine

Lay your hands on me one last time..." **Breaking Benjamin: "So Cold"

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Hermione closed her bloodshot eyes and yawned. Ron was already asleep in his chair, snoring lightly.

She rolled her eyes and kicked him in the shin under the table. He jumped slightly, mumbling something about "already awake."

"Ron, if you're not going to take this seriously then I can't possibly see us gaining anything from our long hours of studying...just because one of us doesn't have to take the exams doesn't mean that you and I don't have to either."

"Come on, Hermione, I'm really trying. Really," he emphasized under her glare. "Harry said he'd help us out anyway..."

"Well, he isn't here, is he? Frankly, I don't really know where he is." Hermione frowned slightly. "Ron, have you seen Harry anywhere since this afternoon?"

Ron furrowed his brow, deep in thought. "Let's see, right after Potions he said he didn't feel too hot, so he said he was off to the hospital wing...nope, I haven't seen him since then."

Hermione raised her eyebrows to an uncanny height. "So, you haven't seen Harry at all? Not even back at the dormitory or anything?"

"Jesus, Hermione! It's not like I have one of those tracking-thing-a-gummy's on him. No, I haven't seen him!"

Hermione stood up, feeling apprehensive. "Come on, Ron. We have to go see where he is."

"Nervous, Hermione? What is it? Do you have one of your 'feelings' again?"

Hermione gave him a long, hard look straight into his eyes. "Yes, Ron. I have one of those 'feelings'."

**************************************************

They stood at the bottom of the stairs, looking up.

"Okay, Ron, I'll go to the hospital wing and ask Madame Pomfrey if Harry's there...you run upstairs to see if he's in the dormitory."

"What if we can't find him?" Ron nervously asked.

"Then we go to Professor McGonagall."

"What if she doesn't know where he is, then?"

"Then we go to Professor Dumbledore, and if he doesn't know where Harry is, then we're..."

"Screwed!" Ron finished.

Hermione gave a grim smile. "Meet me in front of McGonagall's office as soon as you're done, okay?"

Ron nodded, and they headed up the staircase.

***************************************************

Fifteen minutes later, Hermione was knocking on McGonagall's door; Ron behind her, was muttering to himself.

Professor McGonagall answered Hermione's knock almost immediately.

"I thought I would have been expecting to see the two of you earlier than this," she said with a bleak look on her face.

She motioned to the two of them to sit down, and then sat behind her desk. She seemed to be gearing herself up for a speech she did not want to give.

Hermione broke the uneasy silence. "Professor, do you know where Harry is?"

Ron coughed, but said nothing. McGonagall merely looked dismally at them across her desk and starting shaking her head.

"I can't be entirely sure where Potter is or isn't. All I know is that just after lunch was served it appears he vanished without a trace...but of course we all know that's impossible. No one can just vanish like that in Hogwarts. If anyone knows where Potter is, it's Dumbledore, but he's currently away from the school. Fudge," she said with her nose wrinkled in distaste, "needed to see him. Apparently it was of great import."

Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but said nothing. Ron sat in his chair, seemingly at a loss for words.

McGonagall eyed them, took a deep breath and said "This could be it...the end of all ends." For the first time they could remember, she looked absolutely terrified.

Ron finally seemed to regain the power of speech. "What end are we talking about here? Harry, or He-who-must-not-be-named? I mean, Harry's capable of a lot, so this could be good, right?"

McGonagall appeared to be shocked. "Mr. Weasley, any student, especially Harry Potter, who vanished right out from under the watchful eyes of this school is never, and I mean never a good thing."

Hermione, stunned stood up. "Professor, we need to find him! We need to know where Harry is! We have to help him, if we can!"

"Miss Granger, as much as it pains me to say this," with tears in her eyes, "Potter is completely beyond our reach and our help."