Grimmauld Place was awfully quiet. Tense none the less, but quiet. The faint light of dying candles barely lit the faces of the Order's members who had all gathered in the kitchen. The younger were leaning back against the walls or pacing like animals in cage, while the older remained sitting, eyes into space. They had waited for weeks like this, wanting, needing something to finally happen. But in the same time, there was the fear of what may come out of it after all, they had already had several losses among their ranks. But this one.. This one would just have been unbearable.

The front door opened, letting a cold breeze in. Footsteps came closer, and eyes lifted themselves when the small outline of Filius Flitwick appeared at the door. The Head of Ravenclaw House who always was cheerful, yet appeared breathless, hagard. He stared at Minerva McGonagall for what seemed to last an eternity, before whispering, with a hoarse voice :

"They found her."

Everybody stayed dumbstruck, not daring to believe the Charms professor. Molly Weasley burst into tears, hugging her daughter, while Harry and Ron felt into each other's arms. Shouts of joy broke the silence, along with relieved sighs. Soon, the younger would pour whisky In the glasses, with shaky hands. They were already making plans on what to buy as "welcome back" present, laughing, singing, intoxicated by the wonderful new. They had found her. That was it: she'd be back any time now. She was alive, safe.

But Minerva couldn't take part in the celebration. As Filius kept staring at her, merely interrupted by Luna and Neville, who handed him a drink, she understood. She knew, in view of her long time friend, that there was more. Yes indeed, they had found her, but it wasn't it. It wasn't the end, on the contrary. She hardly had the strength to reply, fighting the wave of emotion that was threatening to overpower her:

"Where?"

Poppy Pomfrey let a tired sigh escape her lips as she opened the heavy door of the hospital wing; down the hallway stood Minerva McGonagall, stiffer than ever. She immediately walked towards her, eyes full of anguish and questions. Before she had the opportunity to speak, the Transfiguration teacher was softly cut by the risen hand of the nurse.

"You can't see her for the time being, Minerva." Seeing the revolted look she was already getting, she added promptly: "I am sorry, but I must insist. Minerva she.. She's in bad shape, really."

"What? Poppy, certainly I.."

"No, you cannot. Trust me, if you could do anything, I would let you in, but for now.." She patted her friend's arm. "you can just wait."

"And you mean I can't even see her?" Her tone was sharp while she tried to contain all the emotions that had been submerging her those last week: fear, anger, despair, the pulsing desire of deathly and cold revenge for those who had taken her. Of all the people, it had had to be her.

"You don't understand." Poppy clenched her teeth, the feeling of utter uselessness smacking in her face. "She is not seeable." She took a deep breath to compose herself. "I don't know what happened there, Minerva, but.. I truly hope you will find who did.. this."

The Scottish witch opened her mouth, not able to say anything. She felt her heart froze. During the first war with Grindelwald, lot of her friends and herself too, had been interrogated. After some time, she knew the answers didn't matter anymore; it was just fun to them. They tried till the end, till you'd break. She remembered every minute of it, could still feel the metallic taste of blood on her lips, hear her friend's screams slowly turning into a vague mumbling as he was breaking, as his mind just started giving up. Just to imagine what the young Gryffindor had been through..

"Now my dear, go get some sleep. If anything occurs during the night, I'll arrange for the portraits to wake you up."

"Thanks Poppy, I'll.." She stopped for a brief instant, not trusting her voice anymore. "I shall come tomorrow. Goodnight."

The nurse nodded before returning in the sick room, and soon, the Transfiguration teacher was all alone, enveloped by the silence of the night. She covered her face with trembling hands, not able to restrain herself anymore as she let her former student's name crossed her lips, between two sobs. Hermione.