Hermione kept her word to Draco. She stayed in the dorm and never left. There was really no need as most everyone had gone home for the holiday and the halls of Hogwarts weren't safe for anyone. Even with the Carrows supposedly gone, Hermione didn't trust them anymore.

She wrote to Ginny often, using their own code to ask about the Order and her family. No one had heard from Harry or Ron since they'd left and while Hermione was worried, she knew this was the safest option. As badly as she wanted to write them, she didn't dare risk it in case the owl was tracked and they were discovered.

Unfortunately, she found she had to break her promises when early one morning, an owl delivered a letter from Harry asking for her help. It was two days after Christmas and she still had a week of holiday break. She could easily assist them with a Horcrux and be back before classes resumed.

As she stuffed clothes and supplies into a bag, parts of Harry's letter flashed through her mind.

We're so close to done now, Hermione. I'm pretty sure there's only one or two more, but we're at a loss and could really use your help.

Ron would be stopping by the Burrow at precisely noon that day. He'd leave after a minute but if she wanted to join them, she was welcome too. While she had an hour to get there, she'd have to walk almost half an hour into Hogsmeade before she could safely apparate. And that was assuming she didn't run into trouble between here and there.

With her wand in hand and a disillusionment charm cast on herself, she walked as calmly as she could from the Head's dormitory out of the castle. The professors would all be busy with their own tasks, but Hermione couldn't trust them to not pose a problem if she was spotted.

Luckily, she made it all the way out of Hogwarts without a problem. It took everything in her not to sprint to Hogsmeade and even then, she kept up an awkward bit of a walk-jog. She absolutely would not miss her chance to meet up with Ron and join them on their hunt and time was running out.

Rosmerta called out to her as she passed, but Hermione could hardly be bothered to wave. She almost asked to use her Floo, but she knew they were being heavily monitored. If the Ministry found out she was leaving Hogwarts after electing to stay the full break, they'd certainly wrangle her in and take her in for questioning.

When she finally reached the apparation line, panting and heart racing, she had five minutes before Ron would arrive at the Burrow. She took a deep breath and focused on the Burrow before raising her wand and apparating away.

"Oh my!"

Hermione jumped as Molly dropped a pan in shock. The only others in the house were Ginny, Arthur, and the twins. When they realised it was Hermione who had appeared in their house, they all rushed to hug her.

"What are you doing here?" Ginny asked as they all stepped away. "I thought you were staying at Hogwarts."

"I was—I am," she said quickly, glancing at a clock. Four minutes. "Harry and Ron need my help and Ron is apparating here at noon. I'll be back when classes start, but I need to join them."

"Ron's coming here?" Molly exclaimed, looking close to tears at the thought. Hermione nodded.

"Only for a minute," she said, feeling bad that Ron would be rushed away from his family. "It's dangerous for them, you see, and I'm surprised they even sent an owl. They're so close to finding the last—"

A loud pop interrupted her and they all turned to see Ron who was two minutes early. The room was silent for only a second before everyone was rushing to hug him tightly. He laughed at them all and Molly cried, hugging Ron the longest.

"I'm here to get Hermione, Mum," he said, patting her back and glancing at Hermione. "We kind of need her help."

"So we've heard," Arthur said. Molly stepped back and grabbed hold of Arthur's hand tightly. "Are you and Harry alright?"

"Yeah," Ron promised, smiling at them all. "We're so close, Dad. Just a few more Horcruxes and I'm sure Hermione can find them."

The house was silent as they all remembered Ron would soon be leaving again, taking Hermione with him this time.

"Well, you'd best be off," Arthur said, smiling at them both. "Tell Harry hello."

"Will do, Dad," Ron promised. He took Hermione's hand and smiled one last time at his family. "See you soon," he said before apparating away and taking Hermione with him.

The first thing Hermione saw when they landed was that they were deep in a forest. There was a tent in front of her and she could feel the wards surrounding them, something she was incredibly proud of her boys for doing. The second, and more important, thing she noticed was Harry.

"Harry!" she exclaimed, running forward and hugging him tightly. Harry chuckled and hugged her back. "I've been so worried about you both. How has the hunt been? Have you been successful?"

"Very," Harry told her.

He and Ron took her into the tent and explained all that they'd found so far. Just like Hermione had suggested before they'd left that summer, they had hunted down objects from the founders of Hogwarts. They'd destroyed a locket before going to get Hermione and felt certain they were close to finding another one. "We only have Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw left."

"Do you know where they are?" Hermione asked. Harry and Ron shared a look and Hermione knew the answer. "You don't."

"No, unfortunately," Harry answered. He'd heard about Ravenclaw's diadem from a drunk in a bar but had nothing for Hufflepuff. "The diadem is at Hogwarts since nobody's seen it in centuries. It's the last place it was seen, so I was hoping you could destroy it when you return."

"Of course," Hermione promised. She'd have to do much more snooping than she felt was safe, but she'd do it if it could help Ron and Harry. "Have you heard anything about Voldemort? I doubt—"

At Voldemort's name, both Ron and Harry rushed to shush her. Ron covered her mouth and Harry jumped to his feet, but it was too late.

"You can't say his name anymore," Ron hissed at her while Harry rushed to grab his wand. "It's taboo now. Snatchers come for anyone who utters it and now you've doomed us."

"Don't be silly," Hermione grumbled, shoving his hand away from her face. She followed Harry out of the tent. "You've set up wards. We should be fine."

"I wouldn't bet on it," Harry told her. "Quick, take down the tent and—"

Before he could finish, several pops of apparation sounded in front of them and a group of dirty looking men appeared. Hermione's eyes widened and her hand shot out instinctively to grab either Harry or Ron, whoever was closest.

"Run," Ron whispered. All three of them turned and raced through the forest, ignoring the shouts behind them as the Snatchers spotted them.

Hermione felt something wrap around her legs and a second later she was tumbling to the ground. Ron and Harry fell beside her and as Harry looked at her worriedly, Hermione moved quickly. The stinging hex hit Harry squarely in the face and his face swelled greatly before the Snatchers immobilised them and hauled them to their feet.

"Hey, this one kind of looks like 'Arry Potta," one of the Snatchers said, looking closely at Harry. Hermione refused to glance nervously at Ron as the other Snatchers looked at Harry too.

"Don't be daft," a second Snatcher exclaimed. "'Arry Potter doesn't look like that."

"Well I say 'e does," said the first Snatcher. Two other Snatchers looked at Harry and then the first Snatcher. "In fact, I'd betcha ten galleons it's him."

"What say you, Greyback?" the second Snatcher said.

Hermione's blood froze as the fifth Snatcher turned around and she was suddenly face to face with Fenrir Greyback. She knew for a fact the full moon had been a week ago, but his teeth were sharp and he looked to be half wolf. His eyes lingered on Harry for only a second before his attention moved to her. He frowned and stepped closer until he was sniffing her hair.

"This is certainly Potter's mudblood," he snarled. Spit hit Hermione's face and he grinned, glancing at Ron. "And that's a Weasley."

"It's 'im then, innit?" the first Snatcher said happily. "It's 'Arry Potta!"

Greyback hummed and eyed Hermione again, trailing a finger from her jaw to her shoulder.

"We'll certainly get no answers out here," Greyback said. He glanced back at his group and grinned wickedly. "The Malfoy boy is home for the holidays, however, and he would know."

Before Hermione could fully dread what that would mean, the Snatchers were apparating them all and she was dropped in front of a tall iron gate with the Malfoy crest. As she was forced to her feet and dragged forward by Greyback himself, her only thought was that Draco was going to be furious.