Oh hey everybody =) So this was quite good, right? Quite a fast update I think. I hope you're all very proud ;) Thank you everyone who reviewed the last chapter! It helps me so so much and I really appreciate your comments.

So, here we go - we're on the home straight now - the next chapter…

Potentially Problematic_Chapter Eighteen_Escaping The Caves

The exit, which vanished as soon as Hermione was through it, led out onto a deserted backstreet. They could have very well still been in London, Hermione wasn't sure. The moon was high and the air refreshingly cool. Distantly, a clock began to chime the hour and then Hermione heard Harry cry a rather alarmed 'Sir!' She looked up, all the delight of the fresh air and relief of finally escaping very quickly forgotten as she found Professor Dumbledore standing in front of Harry.

"Professor Dumbledore!" Hermione exclaimed, wincing at how high and guilty her voice sounded. She walked slowly forward to stand beside Harry.

Dumbledore regarded Harry and Hermione and the floating Ron and McFinnius with a strange, quizzical sort of look. "Harry, Miss. Granger...I believe it's after hours and you're both out of bed."

They stayed silent. Hermione finding, for possibly the first time in life, that she was at a complete loss for words.

"I assume you both have an explanation for being here now."

"Umm -" began Hermione, before falling into silence once again. She looked down to her shoes, but not before noticing Harry's sideways look that blatantly said 'oh gee, great argument there Hermione.'

"We had to save Ron, Professor!" Harry explained determinedly, doing a much better job than Hermione had at fighting their corner. "The kidnapper only wanted me. ...And I didn't want them to hurt Ron, or anyone else, because of that."

"I see," said Dumbledore, tone unreadable. "Well it would appear that you were quite successful. ...It's been a while since I've seen Makaby McFinnius. And, you know, never quite so quiet and…weightless."

"He was the one behind it all Sir," said Hermione meekly.

"I had come to such a conclusion myself, thank you Miss Granger." Hermione flushed, but caught the hint of a smile in Dumbledore's expression. "What you did tonight was entirely reckless. You could have very well gotten yourselves both killed...thereby adding to the list of students who have gone missing -"

"But Sir!"

"I have not finished, Harry," cut-in Dumbledore firmly. "You put both your lives at risk, the life of Mister Weasley and no doubt the lives of anyone else who might of come looking for you -" "Sir -" "Do let me finish Harry. ...You followed your heart over your head. And whilst it was foolish, that is yet still…admirable. And it is something that I have no doubt been guilty of myself, even now, when I believe I am supposed to be much older and wiser," said Dumbledore, this time quite obviously smiling at the two. "You are both so young. Apparently inexperienced - but yet again you've saved the day. Mister Weasley is safe and McFinnius has been caught for questioning. Why I believe an Auror - any Auror - couldn't have done a better job."

"Thank you, Professor," said Harry, face alight with triumph.

"Now," continued Dumbledore. "I believe you left a Thestral around here somewhere. I'll take a little search for the creature and instruct it to fly back to Hogwarts. In the mean time, you two touch this when you're ready - making sure, of course, that Mister Weasley touches it also. It will transport you back to Hogwarts. I shall take Mister McFinnius with me...just in case." At this, Dumbledore placed an ivory hairbrush on the ground in front of Harry and Hermione. "When you're ready," he reminded with a wink, before taking out his wand and steering a still floating McFinnius away from Harry and over to himself instead.

"If you don't mind me asking Sir...um, how did you find us tonight?" asked Harry.

"I searched for you Harry," said Dumbledore simply, as if that explained everything. "Though you only just popped back onto the radar a few minutes ago. I assume that wherever it is you were, it was guarded from such seeking spells. ...Speaking of which, when I return Harry, if you wouldn't mind coming down to my office I would quite appreciate it." Dumbledore inclined his head to both Harry and Hermione in turn and then strolled off, whistling cheerily and gliding Mcfinnius along in his wake.

"Well that was certainly close," said Hermione after she was sure Dumbledore was out of hearing range. "Can you imagine? If that was any other teacher..." But any continuation of that sentence abruptly ended as she noticed Ron's eyes opening. "Oh Harry!" she cried excitedly, waving her hands about. "He's waking up. - Ron! Oh, let him down Harry."

Harry obliged - lowering Ron gently to the ground and re-pocketing his wand.

"H - Hermione!" Ron suddenly yelled, sitting bolt upright and looking about in a panic.

His eyes were wide with terror and Hermione was at his side in an instant. She dropped to her knees and laid a soothing hand gently on his shoulder. Ron's wild gaze fell to her hand and then rose up to her face. She smiled.

"I hurt you," he choked out in horror. Hermione felt his whole body begin to tremble. "I didn't want to but - but, I couldn't stop myself. I knew what I was doing…but…I didn't want to do it!"

"Ssh. Ssh, Ron. It's ok," consoled Hermione. "Really. You were being controlled by the Imperius curse. It's not your fault."

"I should have stopped it though," Ron uttered in that same haunted voice. He gulped. "Should have controlled it. Harry would have. Harry did…in class that time."

Harry, who was still standing a few feet away, said nothing.

"It's in my head," Ron continued. "I can see myself…p - pointing…and you Hermione, you fell and - and -"

"Stop it Ron," said Hermione. She could feel tears sting at the back of her eyes. She didn't want to be reminded. "Please. It's over now. And I'm fine."

Ron nodded shakily. "It'll just take a while," he explained, closing his eyes for a moment. "I don't think I'll ever be able to forget it. Thank God you stopped it when you did Harry. I don't know what I'd do if, if I had…" The sentence died away. Its meaning was understood without needing to be voiced. They all knew what a sustained Cruciatus curse could do.

There was a pause and then Ron said, "I've been a prat I have. A complete and utter…prat."

"Ron, you were under -"

"Not that," Ron interjected, regarding Hermione with wide eyes. "All the other stuff. The other stuff before."

Hermione's heart gave a little jolt of delight.

"I'd even forgiven you after a while, but…"

"It's alright Ron, you don't have to say anything," said Hermione. She gave him a watery smile. "I'm so sorry I hurt you." Leaning forward, she enveloped Ron in her arms and was pleased to feel him enthusiastically return the embrace.

As she pulled away from Ron, her eyes caught Harry coming forward. Ron had forgiven her…but how forgiving would he stay if he found out about her and Harry kissing? Would Harry tell him?

"I'll explain everything," she blurted suddenly. She threw a quick glance at Harry, hoping he'd understand what she meant. "When we get back to the castle."

Harry caught her gaze briefly, acknowledging, before he knelt down beside her.

"Oh - hey Harry," said Ron, smiling up at him, seeming not to have noticed anything.

"Hey mate," replied Harry. "How are you feeling?"

"Oh well - you know. I've had better days, haven't I?" said Ron. His eyes flickered to Hermione, before he continued, "But it hasn't been all bad."

Harry's mouth twitched - a very small movement, but Hermione caught it.

"Dumbledore left us a portkey," Harry said.

"Dumbledore?" queered Ron. "He's been here too?"

"Just left," said Harry. "You think you're up for this?"

"Well, I can't move very well, but could someone just grab my hand and put it where it's supposed to be?"

The next thing they knew they were all laying on the floor of the hospital wing at Hogwarts - having just crashed on to it from a great height. Hermione wondered, as she struggled to sit up, if she'd ever get use to portkey travel.

"Oh my Goodness!" cried Madam Pomfrey, who came belting around the corner towards them. "What has happened here!"

"Portkey," spluttered Harry in explanation, as he tried to wiggle out from under Ron's legs. "Ron needs help."

"And so does Hermione!" argued Ron instantly.

"I'm fine Ron," said Hermione. "You're the one who's been held captive for twenty four hours."

"You've been hit by the Cruciatus curse! You need healing more than me!"

"Ok - that's quite enough!" cried Madam Pomfrey. "Stop this bickering - you all look like you're in need of some treatment if I'm to be perfectly honest. Now on to the beds! All of you!"

"But Madam, I have to go and see Professor Dumbledore," said Harry.

Madam Pomfrey shot him a firm look. "Professor Dumbledore would be much more concerned with your wellbeing than your meeting him I'm sure. Now, it won't take long - I just need to look you over. Make sure everything's where it's meant to be."

Harry seemed to relent and begrudgingly jumped up onto a bed. Despite her protests that she was indeed quite capable of doing it herself, Ron helped Hermione onto her own bed and then fell into the one next to hers.

After a half hour of analysis Madam Pomfrey deemed that Harry may leave but Hermione and Ron should stay in over night just to be on the safe side.

"He'll probably want to know all about what happened tonight," answered Hermione to Harry's question of what Dumbledore wanted to see him for. "I hope he can do something to close those caves up for good. So that no one else will be tempted to use them."

"That would be great," agreed Harry. He stared at Hermione a moment too long, causing her to flush lightly under his gaze. He turned away, quickly mumbling, "Well I'll be back tomorrow, alright? Both of you get some rest."

"You're the boss," quipped Ron, giving Harry an army salute as a goodbye.

"We'll be good," promised Hermione. "Don't miss us too much." She smiled.

"Impossible," said Harry, smiling back, before he left.

Hermione watched him go and then sunk low into the bed, pulling the sheets up to her chin and sighing in contentment. "After what we've just been through this feels like heaven."

"Tell me about it," said Ron. "After having nothing but the ground to lie on for ages."

Hermione rolled her eyes, but smiled as she droned sarcastically, "Oh yes, must have been terrible for you - all that lying down you had to do. Meanwhile, me and Harry were facing giant snake women and fire walls and blind ghosts."

Ron shifted over onto his side to face Hermione. "What happened then? Tonight?"

Hermione turned towards Ron and began the whole hellish story from the time she had discovered Ron missing to the time they had found him - editing out certain kisses of course.

Ron nodded when she had finished. "I don't even remember getting dragged away from Hogwarts. Just that I was suddenly in that place. …I'll tell Harry when I see him, but thank you Hermione. I mean that. You're brilliant. And if I ever tell you you're not -"

"I'll know you've gone back to normal," Hermione chimed in.

Ron smiled. "I won't ever say you're not again. Ever. I promise."

"We'll see," said Hermione playfully.

"I won't!"

Hermione laughed. That night she slept well.

Aw, cute right? Please review. It only takes a few minutes and I would love you for it. Next update will come ASAP =)