House of Caliban

Chapter 2

Albus Dumbledore had a bad feeling building in his gut since he had received reports from Arabella Figg of several sightings of dementors in Surrey. Nothing had happened and Arabella had even said she hadn't seen hide nor hair of Harry in a couple of weeks. That wasn't an unusual report so Albus had put it out of his mind while he pulled together the old Order to try to set them on the upcoming tasks needed to continue their fight against Voldemort since he had risen from the dead.

But when Albus received a patronus from Arthur Weasley and Kingsley Shacklebolt saying that Harry was not in the muggle home and hadn't been for weeks according to Harry's relatives, his stomach sank to his knees. He made his way to the Dursley house to interrogate Petunia himself in quick time.

Kingsley and Nymphadora Tonks were methodically searching the home when Albus arrived. In the kitchen sat Arthur with the sternest face he had ever seen on the laid-back man. Arthur sat across from a pale Petunia Dursley and an obviously silenced Vernon Dursley who was still doing his best to yell himself red in the face.

"Kingsley, Nymphadora." Albus nodded at the two aurors, ignoring the bright change in Tonks' hair color at being called by her given name. "What do you know?"

"The house is disturbing Headmaster," Kingsley spoke gravely. "There are signs of clear abuse and neglect in this house, but there is no sign of where Harry may have gone or if anyone took him. The muggles haven't seen him in weeks and from what I understand were glad to be rid of the boy. Just who have you had taking care of the boy? These people make some death eaters look like saints."

"While there may be little love lost between Harry and his Aunt and Uncle, the blood wards here give Harry the best chance at making it to being an adult. I have kept an eye on them and they have never physically harmed the boy." Albus quickly shrugged off Kingsley's concern. "The blood wards are still active so he couldn't have left under force. If it had been Death Eaters the muggles would be dead anyway."

"Maybe he ran away? To escape this hell hole of a house." Tonks piped in unhelpfully.

"Harry wouldn't run away!" Albus insisted. "Even if he did he would have nowhere to go but the wizarding world and we would have heard of sightings of him before now."

"I think you are underestimating the determination of a possibly abused and neglected 14-year-old boy," Kingsley said in concern but Albus waved him off again.

"We will need to get in contact with all of Harry's friends to see if he is hiding out with any of them, but if he is still a no-show, we will have to report this to the ministry," Tonks said seriously causing Kingsley to nod in agreement.

"With Voldemort active again we cannot trust the ministry," Albus said quickly.

"Be that as it may, Harry is a missing child. If he is not with his friends we have no choice. They have more ways to track down a missing child than we do." Kingsley admonished.

Albus grit his teeth in irritation but hopefully the boy would be found quickly so reporting to the Ministry would be a moot point. Where could that blasted child had disappeared off to? Albus had made sure the boy knew the importance of staying at the Dursley's house to recharge the wards and to stay safe.

Arthur having overheard the conversation between Albus and the aurors looked at Albus a little suspiciously but decided to add his own part. "If the boys have had any contact with Harry, I will let you know everything, Albus. I might have them write to him anyway just in case he has run away." Arthur stood up from the table and approached Albus, lowering his voice so the muggles couldn't hear. "Although if that boy has run away due to his treatment in this horrible house Albus, I would offer you the advice to sleep with one eye open because Molly will want to have words."