The Ice Queen [s.b.]

It Couldn't Have Been Helped - 56

June 25th.

"What can we do?" is what James asks immediately.

"One of you needs to go to check on Remus and Peter to make sure they're still there. The other should go to the girls' dormitory and make sure everyone's safe there, too. I'll go find Ginger," Anna directs, head clearing.

Without waiting for a response, she sprints off, well aware she's about to go into the Snake Den.

Which is why, as Annalee Fawley is not stupid, she casts a disillusionment charm.

"Facta, non verba," she whispers to the portrait keeping the dungeons safe from outsiders.

The words mean deeds, not words. This was the motto of Elizabeth Burke, a particularly nasty pureblood supremacist/headmaster. As expected, the portrait swings open to the common room.

She takes a minute to bask in the glory of being back in the dungeons, then sprints up to her dorm.

Repeatedly, she knocks on the door. You can't open the door from the outside at night.

After almost two whole minutes, Ginger groans as she opens the door, "For the love of Godric, what?"

Without wasting another second, Anna pushes Ginger back inside the dorm and slams the door behind her. She takes off the disillusionment charm.

"Hey, Ginge," she smirks.

Ginger gasps and gives her a hug. Anna explains the situation.

"Wesley is... missing?" Ginger asks quietly.

In recent months, it had been discovered that Wes, Ginger, Emma, Gracie, and Hallie were a friend group. Reportedly, the tension between Wesley and Emma was... catastrophic.

"Yeah. We've got to find him," the blonde agrees. The two Slytherins sprint back to the common room.

Inside, there are now at total of four people. Lily, Marlene, James, and Sirius. All pacing and conversing quietly.

"What's wrong?" Ginger asks abruptly when they get in.

Sirius looks over and sees Anna, then starts smiling like an idiot again. Lily and Marlene wrap Anna and Ginger in a group hug.

"Oh, Merlin, I missed you," Lily and Marlene breathe in unison.

Anna pulls away, "What's wrong?"

"Laura's missing," Sirius explains, reaching for her hand and grasping it tightly.

"Shit," Ginger curses not-so-under-her-breath.

"How do we find her?" Anna persists, holding Sirius's hand with both of hers now.

"Ow," Black mutters, as his hand is turning white from how hard she's squeezing.

"Sorry," she whispers back, loosening her grip. Louder, she adds, "Lily, I need to know something."

"Anything."

"Are Emma's boots still in the dorm? This is incredibly important," Anna asks, thinking of the charm bracelet.

She'd added two extra charms that have the St. Mungo's logo on it. Then, she spelled one so that it would, if the wearer were in danger, would cast a shield that will last at least three minutes. The other is activated by that one and produces a portkey which transports to the Gryffindor common room, which works for only one person, one time.

"Be right back," the Gryffindor says quickly, then runs up the stairs to find the boots aren't there. "The boots are missing."

Anna grins, "Then she'll be okay. For now, we need to find her."