Y/N's POV

As I exited the room, I acted as nothing had happened. The Ministry workers were in chaos as news of Harry Potter's appearance at the Ministry had spread. I assumed they had left which gave me the challenge of trying to figure out where they went.

My first order of business was to remove the Trace from Tabitha, it was quite simple really. I just had to repeat what Voldemort had done for me. Secondly, I went and looked around to find the Snitch that Dumbledore had left me. I don't think Voldemort would know much about it so all I needed to do was to grab it and keep it to myself.

As I strolled through the Ministry, most people cowered at the sight of me. I smiled to myself, my cover as Voldemort's right-hand man was still intact. The only two who knew of my true loyalties on Voldemort's side were dead.

Once I was finished, I promptly left the Ministry with the Snitch and without a second glance. It wasn't really a place I wanted to be in, after what happened with Sirius and the disgusting statue of the Muggles, it made me feel sick.

Where would Hermione have gone?

Once I was away from everyone, I Apparated to Grimmauld Place but as I walked in, there was an eerie feeling. I called out for the other three but it seemed like they weren't there...

However, it did seem like something was inside so I took out my wand and walked cautiously. I could hear footsteps nearby and as I turned the corner I felt hands clasp around me.

I kicked around and as I was stronger, I managed to elbow my attacker in the face before turning and casting a spell that rendered him unconscious. I looked at him and recognised him as one of Voldemort's lower-ranked Death Eaters. I cast the Obliviate spell on him before dragging his body to an alleyway nearby.

After I was done, I racked my mind for ideas of where Hermione could've gone. I had a sickening feeling that something had gone wrong if a Death Eater had gotten access to Grimmauld Place. As I was thinking, my mind flashed back to all the stories she used to tell me.

Flashback
Third Person's POV

Y/N's head was resting on Hermione's lap as the two of them were by the fireplace in the Gryffindor Common Room. They were both in their fourth year and it was just before Y/N's final Triwizard Tournament task.

"Are you worried?" Hermione asked Y/N in a delicate tone.

Y/N shook his head. "No, because I know you'll be waiting for me on the other side."

"I will," Hermione grinned, planting a small kiss on his forehead whilst continuing to stroke and play with his H/C hair, "it's a maze right?"

Y/N nodded. It was one of the rare moments where Hermione would talk about the tournament without frantically mentioning tactics and spells Y/N or Harry could use.

"It'll be like forest," Hermione giggled, "like the forest I used to go to with my parents."

"'Mione, a maze hardly compares to a forest." Y/N chuckled.

Hermione smiled. "I loved it, my parents used to take me camping there."

"Maybe one day you could take me there." Y/N said, his eyes looking adoringly into Hermione's chocolate orbs.

In that moment, the two love-sick teenagers knew they loved each other. But neither had to say it.

They just knew.

Flashback Over.

Y/N's POV

That singular conversation I had with Hermione prompted me to try and see if she was there. It was a long shot, but it was worth a try. Everything swirled around me and soon, I was standing in the middle of tall, towering trees. All around me were trees and wildlife with birds chirping above, I took a minute to absorb and appreciate this beautiful sight before trying to see if Hermione was here.

"Hermione!" I yelled. "Harry! Ron!"

My yells echoed around me but I couldn't see or hear any sign of them. I was just about to Apparate away when something appeared. It was Hermione's Patronus, I looked at it hopefully before hastily following it.

It was a short jog before I was met with a disturbing sight.

Ron was sprawled on the ground, blood coming out of him. He had been splinched. I noticed that Hermione had made the smart decision of using Dittany on him, but he still looked like he was in a lot of pain.

Hermione was speaking. "As we Disapparated, he caught hold of me and I couldn't get rid of him, he was too strong, and he was still holding on when we arrived at Grimmauld Place, and then...well, I think he must have seen the door, and thought we were stopping there, so he slackened his grip and I managed to get him off and I brought us here instead!"

That explains the man. 

"But then, where's he? Hang on...you don't mean he's at Grimmauld Place? He can't get in there?"

Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears as she nodded. "Harry, I think he can. I-I forced him to let go with a Revulsion Jinx, but I'd already taken him inside the Fidelius Charm's protection. Since Dumbledore died, we're Secret-Keepers, so I've given him the secret, haven't I?"

The truth hit Harry and he let out a disappointed sigh.

"I cast the Obliviate spell on him," I informed them, their heads turning around to see me, "he won't remember being there but it's still a risk. He can still get in."

Hermione saw me and rushed over to engulf me in a hug. "You're alright Y/N, thank Merlin..."

I felt yet another sudden urge to kiss her but I knew there was still something between her and Nick. So instead, I held onto her tighter as we hugged each other.

"Did you get the locket?" Harry asked me.

I produced the Horcrux from my trouser pocket and showed them.

Harry let out a small smile.

"We got the locket?" Ron asked, surprised.

I nodded.

"You could've told me." Ron said bitterly.

"Are you alright?" I said, looking at Ron.

"Lousy," Ron said, "where are we anyways?"

"The Forest of Dean." both Hermione and I said at the same time.

"D'you reckon we should move on?" Ron asked Harry.

"I dunno," Harry replied, "let's stay."

I nodded. It was a smart decision, Ron looked like he was in pain and moving whilst he was so weak was a foolish decision.

Hermione stood up and started walking away.

"Where are you going?" Ron asked.

"If we're going to stay here then we're going to need some protective enchantments aren't we?" Hermione replied.

I walked around with Hermione in a wide circle, helping her place these enchantments around us.

"Salvio Hexia...Protego Totalum...Repello Muggletum...Muffliato..."

"You could get the tent Harry." Hermione suggested.

"Tent?"

"In the bag!"

"Oh...of course."

Harry stumbled over to the bag and using a Summoning Charm to get the tent. It was a lumpy mass of canvas, ropes and poles and as I looked over I recognised it as the tent we had used at the Quidditch World Cup.

Once we had finished with the spells and setting up, Harry, Hermione and I half carried, half dragged Ron through the entrance of the tent. The interior was exactly as I remembered it; a small flat, complete with bathroom and tiny kitchen. I shoved aside an old armchair and lowered Ron carefully onto the lower berth of a bunk bed. Even this very short journey had turned Ron whiter still and once we had settled him on the mattress he closed his eyes again and did not speak for a while.

"Is he going to be ok?" Harry asked, concerned.

I nodded. "Eventually."

"I'll make some tea." Hermione said breathlessly, going over to where the teabags and kettle were.

"What are we going to do with the locket?" Harry asked.

"Keep it safe until we work out how to destroy it." I replied, and I hung the chain around my own neck.

"I think we should take it in turns to keep watch outside the tent," I added to Hermione, standing up and stretching, "and we'll need to think about some food as well. You stay there," I added sharply, as Ron attempted to sit up and turned a nasty shade of green.

The three of us spent the rest of the day sharing the role of lookout. However, the Sneakoscope that Harry had gotten from Hermione one birthday, remained silent and still. Whether because of the protective enchantments and Muggle-repelling charms Hermione and I had spread around us, or because people rarely ventured this way, our patch of wood remained deserted - apart from occasional birds and squirrels.

The evening brought no change; I lit my wand as I swapped places with Hermione at ten o'clock and looked out upon a deserted scene, noting the bats fluttering high above me across the single patch of starry sky visible from our protected clearing. I felt hungry now, and a little light-headed. Hermione had not packed any food in her magical bag as she had assumed that we would be returning to Grimmauld Place that night, so we had had nothing to eat except some wild mushrooms that Hermione had collected from amongst the nearest trees.

After a couple of mouthfuls, Ron had pushed his portion away, looking queasy. Harry had only persevered so as to not hurt Hermione's feelings and I knew that beggars couldn't be choosers so I finished it all.

The surrounding silence was broken by odd rustlings and what sounded like crackings of twigs: I thought that they were caused by animals rather than people, yet I kept my wand held tight at the ready.

I knew that I couldn't be here forever, I had other obligations to attend to in order to keep my act as Voldemort's loyal grandson. I knew that I still had to be on his side in order to provide any valuable information that would result in everyone's, especially Hermione's, safety.

My watch continued with nothing interesting happening apart from Harry dozing off and having a dream. Hermione sternly reprimanded him for not going through with Occulumecy which meant that he was still vulnerable to these dreams that Voldemort could place. Harry kept on mentioning an oddly familiar name: Gregorovitch. He told us that he was dead and there was something involving a young thief. I listened carefully trying to pick up any useful information and see if I had any knowledge that could help.

Once that conversation had finished, we all got ready for bed. There were only three beds so I offered to share with Hermione.

There was nothing wrong with just two friends sharing a bed, right?

I climbed into bed and Hermione rested her head on my chest.

"We're going to be alright aren't we Y/N?" she mumbled softly.

I sighed. "I think we are..."

Well, at least I hoped so.