HERMIONE'S POV

I was sitting in the Gryffindor Common Room, homework spread out in front of me, when suddenly, my necklace glowed white-hot. I was confused for a second before I realized what this meant. Harry!

"RON!" I yelled loudly, causing a few near-by first years to jump with fright. "GET DOWN HERE!"

A minute later, the redheaded boy raced down the stairs of the boys' dorm.

"'Mione? Look at this, what's going on?"

Looking up, I saw that Ron was motioning to his ruby pendant. It too was glowing.

"It has to be Harry," I said worreidly. "Remember what he said about putting protection charms on these? It must work both ways."

I watched as a flash of unexpected anger cross Ron's face before his expression became determined. "Okay, so what can we do? Do you think we should go see McGonagall or something?"

Hermione slowly shook her head. "I think we'ld better go see Professor Dumbledore," she said quietly. "He'll know what to do."

Ron furrowed his brows, thinking hard, before finally nodding. "Let's go."

They raced out of the door in the direction of the Headmaster's office.

DRACO'S POV

I sat in the Slytherin Common Room, leaning back comfortably onto the couch. I was thinking about what had happened earlier.

Now that I've apologized to Pot-- Sebastien, I have to admit that I feel much better. When I first found out who "Sebastien" really was, I had been angry and confused, but as time went on, I realized that I was being stubborn and unreasonable, treating a friend as an enemy. It seemed as if a heavy weight had been lifted from my shoulders now that I had gotten the apologies done and over with.

I sighed, checking my watch, frowning slightly. Harry should have been back about fifteen minutes ago. I quickly dismissed the thought, thinking the boy had probably just gone down to the kitchens or something.

Suddenly, I felt something burn against my skin. Looking down, I saw that my pendant was glowing brightly. Something flashed in my mind, but it was gone before I could comprehend it. I was positive there was something important about this, but I couldn't place my finger on it.

Just then, Eliza rushed into the Common Room, banging the door of the girls' dorm shut. Her robes flew behind her as she headed towards the portrait exit.

"Wait, Eliza!" I called, noticing that her necklace (which was hanging just outside her robes) was also glowing. "What's going on here?"

She stopped slightly, a look of slight panic on her face. "Look," she said. "I have to hurry, there's not time to explain. Just... Just go to Professor Snape and show him your necklace. He'll know."

With that, the girl disappeared with a pop, bursting into flames.

I gaped after her, rubbing my eyes, wondering whether I had been dreaming. Was it just me, or did Eliza just Apparate into a ball of flames? Well, there was only on echoice as to what to do now. Rushing out the door, I headed in teh direction of the Potions Master's office.

SEVERUS' POV

As Harry ran out of the room, the door slamming shut behind him, I slid into a nearby chair, my legs no longer able to support me. I felt numb, as if I had just lost somehting precious to me. But why was it that I felt this way? Har--- no, Potter was nothign to me. I had only allowed myself to care for him because of Sebastien. But it was all an act, right?

I hated admitting it, but I felt lost and confused. True, I hated Potter, but was hate really what I had thought it as? I had cared about Sebastien and loasthed Potter, but in reality, they were the same people. How could two boys, seemingly so different, actually be one and the same? This, I just couldn't understand.

I couldn't help but remember how warm the child's body had felt in my arms, how.... nice it had felt to have someone depend on me. I had thought of the boy almost as a son've never had.

I gave myself a mental shake. No, I couldn't think this way. Potter was brat, and I would have nothing to do with him with I could help it.

At exactly that moment, I felt something burn against my neck. Looking down, I saw that an unearthly glow was radiating off of the deep black pendant hanging from the fine, silver chain. Which meant....

Harry's words from what seemed like an eternity ago came back to me. I cleared remember the boy telling me that the necklace had been charmed to glow when one was in danger. Which meant...

Harry.

Suddenly, I remembered. Harry's last words to me before he left my room twenty minute ago.

"I thought you understood. I guess you're just like everyone else then. Don't worry, I won't be coming back."

"I won't be coming back."

Severus suddenly felt as if something icy cold had gripped his heart. He wouldn't, would he? No, he wouldn't. Even he wasn't that foolish. Right?

But Severus couldn't forget the look of pain and despair in the boy's eyes as he left the room. The way his shoulder had been slumped, his head dropped.

He stood up suddenly, nearly knocking his chair over with the rough motion. Something was wrong with Harry: he just knew it. And he had to get there before it was too late.

Out by the Owlery, a small owl with beautiful, long wings rested. Specks of white mixed with the deep, mahonagy brown of its chest while streaks of midnight black stood out clearly on its wings. Her head was held high and proud, head cocked to the side, as she listened for something only she could hear.

Suddenly, she straightened, realizing something was wrong. Her master was in danger. And as any obediant pet, it was her duty to save him. Stretching her wings, she took flight, swooping through the castle. As she flew, she began to change: speckled body turned into a mix of blazing orange and yellow while her wings became longer, flecks of red and gold clearly visible. Fiery red tailfeathers came into sight, stunning and elegant. Whipping through the night time air, she disappeared around the corner, heading for the second floor.

Hermione banged loudly on the door of the Headmaster's office, screaming at the stone gargoyle to open up. Ron just stood beside her, sighing at the fiery display of temper.

"...JUST OPEN UP, DAMN IT, YOU IDIOTIC, ANNOYING BAS----"

Just then, the door clicked open and the headmaster himself appeared, dressed the long, sky-blue robes. His eyes twinkled brightly as he saw Hermione blink. The brown-haired girl began to blush as she realized what had happened.

"Well, Mr. Weasley and Mrs. Granger, come on in. Lemon drop?"

After they both declined, the Headmaster settled down, peering at them from behind his half-moon glasses. "Mrs. Granger? I believe you have something to tell me?"

So Hermione launched into the story of what had happened, beginning from the jeweled necklace to what had happened mere minutes ago. ".... and it began glowing so we came to you."

Dumbledore's face turned grave, his twinkle disappearing as he suddenly stood up, surprising both his students. "This is bad news," the older wizards said. "We must search the school, Mrs. Granger. Your help would be greatly appreciated."

Hermione nodded, her face set with determination. "If Harry's in danger, then we have to help him. Just tell us what to do."

"We must find Harry, but we mustn't tell the other teachers of what is going on. If you, Mrs. Granger, would take the first and second floor, Mr. Weasley, the third and fourth floor. I will take the fifth, sixth, and seventh floor. Hopefully, we will be able to find Mr. Potter."

Ron and Hermione nodded in understanding as together, the three headed out the door. They turned in different directions, each of them only having a single thought in his mind: finding Harry.

Eliza appeared in a ball of flames just outside of the Great Hall, wondering what she should do. It was evident that Harry was in danger, and judging by the brightness of her pendant, he needed help immediately. She could still sense Harry with her elemental powers though, so she knew for a fact that Harry was still inside the castle. And she had to find him. But where first?

Eliza sighed. There was nothing she could do but just look, starting from the first floor and looking all the way up to the seventh floor. She figured that with her elemental and apparation powers, she would be able to get around quicker. Turning, she made her way down and hall and began her search.

Severus rushed out of his office, running up the staircases and entering the section of the more well-known section of Hogwarts. He stood there, looking frantically around, wondering where he should begin searching.

His problem was suddenly solved for him when he spotted a fiery blur heading down the corridor at amazing speed. The blur turned the corner and headed in the direction of the stairs leading up to the second floor.

It took him a minute to realize what the blur had been. Harry's phoenix! Severus knew that animals should have a more pronounced sense of the well-being of their masters and mistresses. Whirling around, he quickly turned and began running and top speed after the phoenix. Hopefully, it would lead him to Harry.

He was running so fast that he didn't see the figure whereing green robes, calling after him.

Draco headed down to the dungeons, turning the corner and coming to Professor Snape's office. Walking forward, he raised his hand and knocked on the door.

No answer.

He knocked again, this time, slightly louder. "Professor Snape?"

Still no answer.

Finally deciding that Professor Snape wasn't there, he turned away, wondering what was going on. Just as he stepped out of the dungeon areas and onto the main floor, he saw a black figure racing past him. As the blur rushed by him, he saw the familiar sweep of black robes.

"Professor Snape!" he called out loudly, wondering what was going on. "Professor, wait!"

The man didn't seem to hear him: he just kept on running in the direction of the staircase to the second floor.

Draco sighed. First Eliza, now Snape. Looked like this was going to turn into one huge game of wild goose chasing. Turning, he bolted after his professor.

Severus raced as fast as he could after the phoenix. Running up to the corner of the second floor, he looked around. Damn it, he had lost the dratted bird. What could he do now?

Looking around, he saw that he was next to the girls' bathroom. A large "Out-Of-Order" sign hung from the door. He sighed. Guess he would just have to search on his own now.

He was about to turn away, heading back to the first floor, when something caught his attention. A trickle of red down the corridor, coming from the gap underneath the door of Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. He froze. Could it be?

Slowly, slowly, he turned towards the door. He put his and on the door handle and turned.

As the door swung open before him, he froze, a gasp caught in his throat.

Before him lay Harry Potter, eyes glassy and unseeing. And around him was a large pool of blood.