Chapter 7
Hermione came out of the shower with a plan firmly settled in her mind. She didn't care how risky it was but she knew she had to get Mary Thomas back. She didn't want such an innocent girl to be corrupted by such darkness. Hermione got dressed and made her way out to meet Dean. She knew there would be questions, her and Dean had been missing all day, but Dean couldn't stay cooped up forever so they were going to get dinner in the Great Hall. Afterwards, there would be a meeting of the Order, after the trios fifth year they were permitted to join as the adults felt they had a right to know what was going on, where they would discuss Mary's kidnapping after that well Hermione had become quite good at sneaking out of places, she would get out of the country and hopefully meet an informant in Moscow, if the entire plan didn't fall apart.
She left the small room that the room of requirement had created dressed and saw Dean. She said to him, "Come on we're going to dinner in the Great Hall." Hermione saw the look of hesitation on Dean's face, " You can't hide in here forever." So reluctantly Dean followed Hermione out of the room.
Harry and Ron and the rest of the school were all at dinner. No one had seen Dean or Hermione since that morning. Then the door opened and it went quiet, as through the door came Hermione and Dean. They paid no attention to the silence that occurred because of their entrance, they just went ahead and sat at the Gryffindor table. The rest of the meal was fairly normal though people still seemed unsure of how to treat Dean and the fact that Hermione sat next to him rather than by Harry and Ron.
Dinner finished quickly and the sixth year Gryffindors returned to the tower, where Dean went to his dorm to go to sleep. Slowly others drifted away to go to their dorm rooms except for the trio who left the common room at 9 and went to McGonagall's office. So that they could be flooed to the Order headquarters at 12 Grimmauld Place. Hermione was silent the entire time.
Mary's disappearance and Dean's parent's murder was the first thing discussed by the Order of the Phoenix that night. There wasn't much to be said. Snape confirmed that it wasn't death eaters so not much could be done but keep an eye out for the little girl and to keep an eye on Dean. After this Harry and Ron turned to Hermione and addressed where she was with Dean all day. Her simple answer was, "Room of Requirement." She wouldn't tell them anything else, in fact, she barely spoke the entire meeting as after this they began discussing Voldemort's next move and then the members at Hogwarts returned.
The trio entered the common room and after noticing that it was empty. Hermione whipped around to face Harry and Ron and looked at them like it was the last time she would. "Promise me you'll look out for Dean," she said.
The boys exchanged confused looks but Hermione said to them again, "Promise me!"
"We promise!" they said at the same time.
Her answer was a whispered, "Thank you." Then she left to her dorm.
The boys again looked at each other confused but went to bed anyway. Harry ignoring the strange feeling he was experiencing.
Hermione sat. She was still. The other girls were asleep, it was midnight. She should be too.
Finally, she moved. Hermione picked up a bag, a bag she had packed all the time. Her Go-bag. It was filled with clothes, money, necessities and weapons. Now for most people weapons aren't a normal thing to carry. But, Hermione, no Mia was well used to carrying even around school she had at least 5 weapons on her.
She made no sound as she left the dorm. She had sworn to Dean that she would bring Mary home, that is what she would do.
Slipping out of Hogwarts and past the aurors was easy. Years of hiding in the shadows worked well, it was helped by the black catsuit she wore. The catsuit had a flower done in silver on her left arm, it was her mission suit designed to grow as she grew.
Hermione left to retrieve Mary, even if it was the last thing she did.
The sun awoke the boys the next morning. Dean still mourning went down the stairs with Seamus attempting to comfort him. Neville following behind.
Harry and Ron were dragging themselves down the stairs, Ron moaning about food. In the red and gold common room, the boys waited and waited. Hermione never came down. Deciding that she was probably already in the Great Hall the boys went down.
They didn't see her when they got down there. "She's probably in the library," Ron said while reaching across the table to grab some food.
Shrugging, Harry thought he is probably right, ignoring the gnawing feeling in his gut.
Classes passed and still no sight of Hermione. It was dinner now and the boys hadn't seen Hermione all day.
Going up to the girls, Harry asked Lavender if she had seen Hermione.
"Sorry, Harry," Lavender answered, "I haven't seen her all day, her bed didn't look like it was slept in last night."
Asking round Harry got similar answers from all the girls. Sharing a look with Ron the boys walked up to the staff table, the worry clearly seen on their faces.
"What is it boys?" Dumbledore asked the concern seen in his eyes at the looks on the boys' faces. McGonagall and the rest of the staff were also paying attention.
"Sir, Hermione's missing!"