Harry and Hermione cautiously climbed the stairs to the main level of the castle. Harry paused when they'd reached the top. He was sure he remembered the way back to the door where he'd seen Snape, but he wanted to be certain there was no one in the corridor. He motioned to Hermione with his head, and they crept down the passage together.

As they moved along, Harry wondered if Snape would still be at his post outside the room where he thought Ginny must be. If Snape was still there, it would pose a problem. Harry would have to find a way around him somehow without revealing anything to Hermione.

They turned another corner. Harry was certain this was the right passage, but it was now deserted. He wondered for a moment how they were going to manage to find the right door, but that problem was solved when they heard a muffled cry.

It was Ron, Harry was sure of it. He thought Hermione made a soft, strangled sort of sound in her throat, as if she was biting back a cry of her own. By tacit agreement they quickened their pace, hurrying onwards as they heard Ron shout again, heedless now to the noise they might have been making themselves. It didn't matter. The corridor was empty, and they were soon standing in front of their goal.

Harry reached out a hand to snatch open the door, but Hermione's hand on his arm held him back. He looked at her, eyebrows raised, and she shook her head once. They may have been invisible, but the door opening in a rush would surely attract attention.

He reached more slowly this time. They could hear Ron screaming more loudly than ever, and Harry's hand shook with anger. He slowly eased the door open, and they both slipped into a bare room with stone walls. It was as cold and dank as a dungeon. His gaze quickly assessed the scene.

There were four Death Eater lackeys standing with their backs to the door. Their attention was drawn towards the centre of the room where Lucius Malfoy stood, his wand turned on Ron, who was writhing in pain on the floor. Ginny was bound to a pillar nearby, her eyes screwed shut but obviously awake now and unable to stop her ears to her brother's agony.

Malfoy lifted his wand, pointing it towards the ceiling, and Ron lay twitching slightly. "Don't give in to him, Ginny," he panted. His voice was barely audible, but Harry heard every word clearly in the echoing chamber.

Ginny opened her eyes slowly, and her chin went up in defiance, but Harry could see the fear in her eyes. A tear escaped and slipped down her cheek.

Then his eye caught a movement in the background. Someone was lurking in the shadows near a door at the back of the room. Harry thought it might be Snape, but it was difficult to tell.

"Still not convinced?" Malfoy sneered. "It's in your power to spare him, you know, but if you don't act quickly he'll be fit for St. Mungo's." He shrugged as Ginny stared back at him in silence. "All you have to do is say the word." Then he turned back to Ron. "CRUCIO!"

Hermione started beside Harry as the screams began again. He could feel her tense up as if she was ready to spring. He wanted to jump forward himself, his wand at the ready, but he knew he couldn't afford to. Not yet, not until they'd retrieved Ron's and Hermione's wands. He put out a hand to restrain Hermione, thinking as he did so of all the times in the past she'd kept him out of trouble with Draco Malfoy by holding onto his robes. He started to glance over at her in order to silently communicate the need to wait when a new voice was added to the din.

"STOP! Stop it! Let Ron go, and I'll do what you want!"

Malfoy lowered his wand and turned to Ginny, an evil smile contorting his features. "I knew you'd see reason. Eventually." He almost sounded happy that Ginny had held out for so long. Then he addressed his lackeys. "Take him back to the dungeons. And if you want to take turns with the Mudblood, be my guests. He can watch."

Harry felt another jolt of anger course through him, but before he could even think about moving, Hermione tugged on his sleeve. She was pointing at one of Malfoy's men, who was bending down in the process of hauling Ron to his feet. Two wands could be seen sticking out of a pocket in his robes. Harry pointed his wand at them and whispered, "Accio." The wands flew out of the wizard's pocket and into Harry's hand. He quickly slipped them under the invisibility cloak and handed them to Hermione, who took hers and pocketed Ron's. Harry didn't think anyone had noticed.

Then he turned his head to where Ginny had been a moment before and saw that she was gone. Lucius Malfoy had disappeared as well. This was too much for Harry. A red haze of anger seemed to cloud his vision. He threw off the invisibility cloak.

"Stupefy!" he shouted.

The Death Eater lifting Ron slumped over. Harry barely registered the sound Ron made as his breath was released in a whoosh. The other lackeys turned and sprang into action.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry bellowed at one, but he dodged the spell.

He staggered sideways as another spell hit him at unawares, but it was repelled in a white flash. Beside him, he had a vague sense of Hermione ducking and firing off a spell. Another lackey crumpled. Harry turned to face the Death Eater who had tried to blindside him.

"Impedimenta!"

The wizard began to move in slow motion. Harry then fired a binding spell at him, while Hermione took care of the remaining henchman.

They both rushed over to Ron and heaved the inert body off him. Harry noticed some cuts and bruises on the Death Eater's face, no doubt a result of an earlier encounter with Ron and Hermione. Ron groaned.

"Oh, Ron, are you all right?" Hermione gushed.

"I've been better," he replied, but at least his voice sounded strong. "About time you got here, Harry." Then he seemed to remember something. "But how did you know where to find Hermione and me? How did you even know to come after us?"

"No time to explain now," Harry said. "Can you stand?"

"Give me a minute."

They let him catch his breath and then helped him stagger to his feet. He leaned heavily on both Harry and Hermione, and Hermione put her arms around him. Harry could see how tightly she was holding Ron, and he looked away.

"No time for that now. Did anyone see where Ginny went?"

But no one had. Ron hadn't been in any condition to notice, while Harry's and Hermione's attention had been diverted elsewhere.

"She can't have gone out the way we came in," Hermione pointed out. "We'd have seen her pass."

"Malfoy has obviously taken her off somewhere. Last we saw, she was tied up." Harry didn't mention it to Ron and Hermione, but Snape seemed to have disappeared as well. He could only hope that Snape had followed Ginny and Malfoy and was doing whatever he could to stop Malfoy from carrying out his plan.

Harry looked towards the door where he'd seen Snape lurking earlier. It was open.

"This way," Harry said, pointing.

"Are you all right to walk, Ron?" asked Hermione.

"Yeah," he replied grimly. "I'll just have to be, won't I?"

Harry didn't bother with the invisibility cloak this time. There wasn't any way the three of them were going to fit under it, and he reckoned that he'd lost the element of surprise now, in any case. He picked it up off the floor where it had fallen, folded it up and put it in his rucksack. He'd had enough of skulking about. He'd been itching for a fight, and he'd had one, but it wasn't over yet. He would not rest until they'd got Ginny safely away from Malfoy.

They left through the other door and found themselves in another dim passage. It was completely quiet. Harry thought it was late at night, but he'd lost all notion of time when he'd dozed off earlier. At least there was no sign of anyone else.

They advanced, wands out, but met no one. The passage twisted several times and seemed to be leading steadily downwards. Harry wondered if this would lead them into the caves where Ron and Hermione had been captured. After a while, Harry could see a light ahead. The passage was coming to an end at last. He quickened his step. She had to be in there, she just had to.

He found her in heap in the middle of the floor where the passage ended at an underground chamber. There was an odd, burnt smell in the air. Malfoy was there as well, his back half turned towards Harry, standing over Ginny and removing his hand from his pocket.

"You're mine, Malfoy!" Harry yelled.

Malfoy turned and drew his wand, a slow smile spreading over his face. They began to move in a tight circle, their gazes locked. "Harry Potter," Malfoy said evilly. "It will be my pleasure to present you to the Dark Lord."

"Expelliarmus!"

Malfoy leapt aside with surprising agility. "Really, Potter, that's getting old. You mustn't be so predictable… CRUCIO!"

Harry relied on his Seeker's reflexes to dodge the curse. He trusted his talisman to turn it aside, but he'd been knocked out by the force of the blow last time that curse had hit him, and he couldn't afford that now.

As Harry landed squarely on his two feet again, he launched his next attack, aiming at the ground directly in front of Malfoy.

"Reducto!"

Once again Malfoy got out of the way, as a large hole was blown in the floor at his feet. "Child's play, Potter," he commented, laughing. "I was a Seeker in my day. Didn't you know? Draco comes by his talent honestly."

Harry resisted the impulse to make a sarcastic comment, even as he heard a bark of incredulous laughter from Ron. Both he and Hermione seemed to understand that this was an unofficial duel between Harry and Lucius Malfoy, and they were staying out of it for the moment. But Harry knew they'd be ready to jump to his side if the situation warranted.

Harry kept his gaze focused on Malfoy's wand tip. No doubt the older wizard wanted to distract Harry with his running commentary. He didn't bother dodging the next spell Malfoy sent his way. Although he didn't recognise the incantation--he thought it must be some sort of Dark curse--he was confident that it would be repelled by his talisman.

Harry, in his turn, sent the Conjunctivitus Curse at Malfoy, but once again, he was able to avoid the spell. His reflexes really were infuriating. This last movement brought him very close to where Ginny was lying on the floor. Harry saw his eyes dart down for a moment, but before Harry could cast a spell, Malfoy shouted, "Serpensortia!"

A great snake shot from the end of his wand and coiled itself on the floor. Harry's eyes widened in horror as it hissed threateningly at Ginny. Without thinking, Harry ordered the snake off, but this gave Malfoy the moment of distraction he needed.

"CRUCIO!"

This time Harry didn't have time to dodge. The spell hit him full force. There was a blinding flash, and he was knocked off his feet. He fought with all his might not to lose consciousness. He heard a voice shouting, as if from a distance, and realised it was Malfoy. Then he heard running feet and more shouting. He thought Ron and Hermione might have entered the fray.

He continued to fight the encroaching blackness until his vision cleared. Sitting up, he saw that two of Malfoy's henchmen had entered the room. Then his heart began to beat faster. One of them was Snape. Even as he recognised his former Potions master, Snape cast a spell in Ron's direction. It was wildly off target, and Harry suspected that he'd aimed badly on purpose. Ron turned on Snape now, raising his wand.

"RON, NO!" Harry shouted, jumping to his feet. Ron looked askance at Harry. "Don't curse him, Ron."

"Why not?" Hermione had just come up. Looking around, Harry saw that the other henchman had been dispatched, but Malfoy was gone again. Ginny, however, was still on the floor.

Harry met Snape's gaze. "What happened to Malfoy?" he asked, ignoring Hermione's question.

"He escaped."

"Where?"

"Most likely to the nearest safe Apparition point."

"And where would he be going?"

"You're not going after him, Potter!"

"What the hell is going on here?" demanded Ron. He was advancing on Snape, his wand at the ready. Snape raised his own wand, and this time he looked as if he was prepared to defend himself.

"I can't explain now," replied Harry quickly, hoping to defuse the situation. "Just trust me."

"But that's Macnair," Ron protested. "He tried to kill Buckbeak."

Harry shook his head. "I promise I'll explain it all later."

Snape pointed his wand towards the door. "Claustrum!" The door snapped shut, and the room seemed to be encased in a greenish light, which faded after a moment.

Ron looked alarmed now. "You're going to explain that?"

"Things aren't what they seem," Harry told him. "Just accept that for now. I can't say any more without endangering someone I'd rather not." He realised the words were true as he said them, but Harry refused to look at Snape, even though he could feel the older man's eyes upon him.

"You all need to get out of here now," Snape said sharply.

"And just how are we supposed to do that?" Ron asked stubbornly. "You've locked us in."

"I've only locked down the room to lessen the chances of another unfortunate interruption. I'll make you a Port Key that will send you all back to Hogwarts."

"And how do we know it won't send us all straight to You Know Who?"

"Ron!" Hermione broke in. She'd evidently decided to take Harry at his word.

Snape looked Ron in the eye. "You don't."

Harry wanted to laugh, as he saw Snape's eyes glint. He was sure the older man was enjoying this.

"What about Ginny?" Hermione asked, concerned.

"Let her rest. I think she needs that more than anything else. Madam Pomfrey can look at her when you get back to Hogwarts."

Hermione looked sharply at Snape, and Harry wondered if she wasn't working out who "Macnair" really was.

"Give me something I can use," Snape said impatiently. "Something big enough that you can each touch it at the same time."

Harry removed his rucksack. "Will this do?" he asked, holding it out.

Snape took it and began muttering a series of spells over it much as Hermione had done with the book. Had that happened just last night? It seemed like an eternity. Harry sincerely hoped that Snape had had more practice making Port Keys than Hermione. He wasn't prepared to take another ten mile hike.

"There," Snape said after a few moments. "It will activate in exactly five minutes. You need to get into position. I only need you to do one thing before you leave."

"What?" asked Harry.

"Stun me."

"What?"

"If I'm the only one left un-stunned in all this, don't you think that will look suspicious?"

"Come back to Hogwarts with us."

"That would look suspicious, as well. This disguise is too handy to give up now if I can help it."

Harry had to admit he was right. "You can do it, Ron," Harry said.

Ron began to grin. "Of course." He raised his wand.

"Wait!" cried Hermione. "You've locked down the room. How will anyone get you out of here?"

Snape nodded curtly and waved his wand. "Finite Incantatem!" The door sprang open once more, and the walls briefly glowed red. The he turned to Ron. "Go on then."

"Stupefy!" Snape keeled over. "Now, who have I just stunned?" asked Ron. "You're not going to have me believe that was Macnair."

"I'll tell you when we're back at school."

"Will I like the answer?"

"Yeah, I think you will."

Hermione was giving Harry a searching look. "Come on," she said. "We need to get into place."

They gathered around Ginny. Harry picked her up gently, and then they all held onto his rucksack and waited. It wasn't very long before Harry felt the familiar jerk behind his navel, and they were all whirling off into space.

*

They landed heavily in the Gryffindor common room. Harry purposely let himself fall backwards to spare Ginny, and the wind was knocked out of him as she landed on top of him. It was dark; even the fire had burned down to embers. Ron came over and lifted Ginny off Harry, while Hermione helped him to his feet.

Ron looked down at Ginny, frowning. "What have they done to her?"

"None of us knows, do we?" asked Hermione.

Harry shook his head. "She was sleeping when I found her this afternoon. It's all she wanted to do."

"How did you find her?" asked Ron.

"Yes, tell us what happened, Harry," added Hermione.

Harry saw Ron shift Ginny in his arms, getting a better hold on her, as she'd slipped a bit. They were all exhausted. "Perhaps we should save this for morning," Harry suggested.

Ron was shaking his head. "No, I want to know who I stunned."

"Well, sit down, at least," Hermione said. "Harry's right, we all need our rest."

Ron sat down on the nearest sofa, while the other took nearby armchairs. He kept a tight hold on his sister. "All right, who was that pretending to be Macnair?"

"It was Snape."

Ron gaped for a moment before he burst out laughing. "No, really, Harry," he said when he'd got control of himself. "Who was it?"

"I'm telling you, it was Snape."

"Well, how did he get himself to look like Macnair? Polyjuice?"

"I'd better start from the beginning…" And he told Ron and Hermione how he'd managed to find Ginny in the tower asleep and how Snape had come in and convinced Harry of his true identity.

"Snape," said Ron dreamily when Harry had finished. "I stunned Snape… That rates right up there with Draco the amazing bouncing ferret, that does." But then he stopped and looked concerned. "We should take her to Madam Pomfrey," he said, indicating Ginny.

"Snape said she needed sleep. She can do that here." Harry didn't want to admit it to Ron, but he was loath to let Ginny out of his sight now that they'd got her back. If she was sent to the hospital wing, he knew there was no way the matron would permit him to stay with Ginny. Here in Gryffindor Tower, with almost all of the students gone for the Christmas holiday, he had more of a chance. He was fairly sure the other sixth year girls had all gone home and Ginny's dormitory was empty but for her.

To Harry's surprise, Hermione agreed with him. "She'll sleep better in her own bed. We can take her to Madam Pomfrey tomorrow." Harry felt as if she'd read his mind. "Come on, Ron, we all need to get some sleep." She motioned with her head towards the girls' dormitory stairs. Harry remembered now that Lavender and Parvati had also gone home for the holiday. He had a sneaking suspicion that the seventh year boys' dormitory was going to remain empty tonight.

Harry stood and walked over to Ron. "You go on with Hermione. I'll take Ginny up to her room."

Ron looked sharply at Harry. "Just where are you planning on spending the night?"

Harry's face began to burn, and he was grateful it wouldn't show in the dark. He decided it was best not to lie about his intentions. "Same as you, Ron, with my girlfriend." Hermione emitted a squeak at that pronouncement. "You think anything's going to happen with her like that?"

"Nothing had better," Ron mumbled.

"Can you say as much?" Harry challenged. Although Ron had accepted the fact that Harry and his sister were a couple, it still seemed to Harry as if Ron had something of a double standard where Ginny was concerned.

"That's none of your business!"

"Then neither is what happens between Ginny and me."

"That's different! She's my sister!"

"What's your point, Ron? Hermione may not literally be my sister, but she might as well be."

Ron opened his mouth and shut it again. "Come on, Ron," Hermione broke in. "Let them be."

Hermione looked at Harry for a long moment, and he felt as is she could see straight into his heart. She knows, he thought to himself. She knows how I feel about Ginny. It was strange, because Harry himself had been unaware until this moment just how deep his feelings ran.

Ron allowed Harry to take Ginny into his arms, and he held her against him for a minute, letting himself sink under the weight of his emotions and revelling in it. Then he carried her up to her room. She hadn't stirred once that he could tell since she'd come back to Hogwarts, but he could feel the steady rise and fall of her chest against him, and he took heart in the simple fact of her breathing.

He hesitated on the threshold of her dormitory. The room was illuminated only by a pale shaft of moonlight coming through one of the windows. He had no idea which of the four-poster beds was Ginny's, but then he noticed from across the room a trunk, which was more battered than the others. He carried her to her bed and laid her down on it.

He looked down on her, noticing for the first time what she'd been wearing: her winter cloak over an old pair of jeans and a hand-knit jumper. But her clothes seemed unusually rumpled, even if she had been wearing them for the past two days. Her cloak was dirty and there was a large tear near the hem.

He thought she'd be more comfortable if he removed some of her garments, at least. He knew he didn't dare take them all off, but he eased her out of her cloak and shoes. She seemed to have another shirt on under her jumper, so he removed that too. Then he worked at the covers until he could tuck them around her.

He laid his glasses on her night table and stripped down to his T-shirt and boxers before climbing into bed with her. He gathered her close and kissed her brow before drifting off.

*

Harry awoke the next morning with the feeling of something weighing him down. He opened his eyes to blinding sunlight coming through the window. He'd forgotten to draw the hangings on the bed. Ginny was sprawled half across him, still oblivious. Her legs were tangled with his, and he had to remove a handful of her hair from his mouth. In spite of all he'd been through in the past two days, he felt strangely at peace.

It was difficult to tell, but he thought the morning must be far advanced. He'd probably slept through breakfast. His stomach rumbled, reminding him that he'd eaten nothing since the roadside lunch the previous day. There ought to still be something in his rucksack, and it ought to be edible. The food at Hogwarts was charmed so it wouldn't spoil.

He was reluctant to leave the warmth of Ginny's bed and lose this closeness, but he sat up carefully so as not to disturb her. It was probably best to let her sleep for as long as she wanted. He tentatively arched his back and twisted his neck. He ached in places he'd never known could ache, doubtless a result of walking so much the previous day. Then he tossed the covers aside and threw his legs over the side of the bed, reaching for his rucksack.

The sound of someone clearing her throat caused him to freeze. He squinted up and saw that a blur had entered the room.

"Put your glasses on, Harry," came Hermione's voice. He began to redden. Even though Hermione knew very well that they'd done nothing but sleep last night, he still felt as if he'd been caught doing something illicit.

Harry put his glasses on, and the blur resolved itself into Hermione and Ron, who had his mouth pressed into a fine line. He looked as if he were working hard at keeping it shut. He was also staring rather hard at Harry's state of undress, which, in Harry's opinion, wasn't really that bad. Harry resisted the temptation to pull the blankets off Ginny and show him that she was more or less fully clothed. He reached for his trousers instead, and Hermione obligingly turned her back while he put them on.

"Can I interest either of you in anything to eat, since we've slept through breakfast?" he offered, taking the sandwiches out of the rucksack.

Ron and Hermione both sat on the next bed, and they polished off the remaining sandwiches ravenously. When they'd finished Ginny still showed no signs of stirring. Hermione nodded in her direction. "What are we going to do about her? We're going to have to get her to the hospital wing somehow. And we're going to have to tell Dumbledore what happened."

"And just what is there to tell Dumbledore?" an irritated voice said from the doorway. "What is the meaning of all this?"

It was Professor McGonagall. Harry realised they were extremely fortunate that she hadn't turned up any earlier or even last night. Then he wondered what had taken her so long to check up on them. According to the story they'd fed her yesterday, Ginny was supposed to be feeling better. And then they'd gone missing for the remainder of the day.

"I'm shocked at this behaviour, quite frankly," Professor McGonagall was going on coldly. "You're Head Girl, Hermione. I expect you to set an example."

Harry thought it was a good idea for him to intervene before the head of Gryffindor house decided to take points, or worse, try to revoke Hermione's Head Girl status. "I'm sorry, Professor, this is all my fault. If you'd help us get Ginny to the hospital wing, I can explain everything, but I think Professor Dumbledore ought to hear this, as well."

Professor McGonagall pursed her lips into a fine line. "I'd like to hear the short version of events before I bother the Headmaster with this."

Harry swallowed. "Ginny wasn't ill yesterday, like we said she was. She was taken by Death Eaters. We only got back with her last night."

"I see," she said after staring hard at Harry for a long moment. Harry had expected her to explode, but she kept her voice low, and somehow that was almost worse than if she had shouted. "And would you like to explain why you decided to take matters into your own hands rather than go directly to the Headmaster with this information? Honestly, I know you three have been allowed a lot of latitude in the past, but to leave school and run off to who knows where…"

"I had an owl. It said not to tell anyone. They wanted me to come after her."

Professor McGonagall looked as if she had a good deal more to say, but before she could Hermione broke in. "Please, Professor. The hospital wing?"

"Yes, of course. But then the three of you are marching straight to the Headmaster."

She conjured a stretcher for Ginny and floated her along the corridors towards the hospital wing. Harry, Ron and Hermione followed glumly. They expected Dumbledore to understand once he knew the full story, but Harry wasn't as certain of his reaction this time. He still cringed at the memory of last Halloween.

When they arrived at the hospital wing they were all surprised to find Professor Dumbledore already there, as if he'd been expecting them. "I'll take care of this, if you don't mind, Minerva," he said, and Professor McGonagall withdrew. Then he turned to Harry, Ron and Hermione. "I'm sure you three have quite a bit to tell me, but I think Miss Weasley will have the most to tell us."

Madam Pomfrey had come up, and Ginny was floated into one of the pristine beds. The matron drew her wand and ran it over Ginny from head to toe, whispering spells over her. After a moment she said, "As far as I can tell, she's only asleep. Beyond complete exhaustion, I can't find anything wrong with her."

"Will it be safe to wake her up for a little while?" asked Dumbledore. "I'm afraid I need to know a few things only she can tell me."

Madam Pomfrey seemed to hesitate. "Just for a little while."

She turned back to Ginny and muttered something over her. Her eyelids fluttered for a moment and then opened. She stared at all of them, a surprised expression taking over her features. "Wh… what happened? Why am I in the hospital wing?"

Dumbledore looked very concerned. "Don't you remember ?"

Her brow furrowed as she concentrated for a moment. "Last I remember I was going to Hogsmeade…" She broke off and blushed as her eyes met Harry's. "I took your map and invisibility cloak. I'm sorry I didn't ask, but it was going to be a surprise…"

"It's all right, Ginny," Harry told her, moving closer and taking her hand. It was warm, and her grip was strong. "As long as we've got you back safe, it doesn't matter."

"What are you talking about? All I wanted to do was a bit of Christmas shopping. But… but I was sneaking out of Honeydukes, and… I don't know, I don't seem to remember anything that happened after that. Everything sort of went black."

Dumbledore drew his wand. "Will you permit me?"

Ginny nodded. Dumbledore touched his wand to her temple and muttered something Harry couldn't make out. After a few moments, Dumbledore frowned. "It's as I feared. She's had her memory modified. Several times."