An Outlandish Affair

Chapter 12 - 2001

When Albus Dumbledore arrived unannounced at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement via Floo Flame the Friday after Halloween, Harry immediately knew something was very wrong.

Harry Potter had known Ron Weasley since they were eleven years old. He had seen him through countless ups and downs; the awkward stages, first dates, end of year exams, magical mishaps.

Like that time in second year, when Ron accidentally cursed himself with the slug vomiting charm. He had been defending Hermione from some pureblood elitist snob who'd dared to call her 'a filthy little mudblood', but his wand, which had been broken and poorly taped back together, failed and the curse backfired.

Harry had been the first one Ron told when Hermione agreed to be his girlfriend, and he was there for him when Ron failed out of Auror training, which took everybody by surprise.

But Harry would be at a loss for how to help his friend through this.

Albus had only told him that there was an emergency back in Scotland, and Ron needed him urgently. As he stepped out of the fireplace in Dumbledore's office and towards his best friend, who was seated in an overstuffed armchair, he could see that Ron had been crying. Harry rushed to kneel beside the chair, his hand coming to rest on Ron's shoulder.

"What's happened, Ron? What's going on?" Harry looked quickly between his friend and Albus, who had come through the floo behind him and moved silently to stand near his desk with his hands clasped in front of him solemnly.

The redheaded man looked at his friend, eyes shining with fresh unshed tears. He opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it again, words seemingly failing him. He glanced to the Headmaster, and then to the floor, the tears that filled his eyes spilling down his cheeks.

"Merlin, would somebody please tell me what's happening? Has somebody died?" Harry exclaimed as he stood, his voice raising slightly in panic, when it dawned on him. Standing next to a crying Ron, in Albus' office, he realized there was somebody who wasn't there with them.

"Ron? Is it Hermione? Tell me what is going on." Harry knelt back down, this time in front of Ron, forcing him to make eye contact.

"Harry, I-" Ron's voice cracked, and he cleared his throat, trying again, "I need your help. 'Mione is..." He took a deep breath, "Hermione is missing."

Harry felt all the wind leave his lungs. Missing? Capable, clever, resourceful Hermione, was missing? He couldn't believe it. It wasn't possible. If anybody was ever lost in the world and needed to find their way back home, Hermione would be the one who would be able to do it!

Harry spoke calmly, despite the worry that was slowly gripping him. "What do you mean 'missing'? When was the last time you saw her? Are you sure she isn't just out foraging? I know she mentioned a while back she'd found some new patches tha-"

Before he could finish his sentence, Ron stood without warning, knocking Harry over onto the floor.

"She's missing, mate! Nobody has seen her in nearly two bloody days!" Ron shouted, his eyes wide and full of panic. Harry looked up at Ron, taking in his disheveled appearance. His hair looked as if he'd been pulling at it repeatedly, his robes were unkempt and wrinkled, his eyes were dull, and the bags underneath were a telltale sign that he hadn't slept.

Ron paced the room as Harry stood slowly, and Albus finally cleared his throat to speak. "Harry, we have checked the surrounding hamlets. Rubeus has taken up a search party in the forbidden forest. The professors, house elves, ghosts.. they have all been questioned. But indeed, Ronald is correct. Nobody has seen or heard from Hermione since the morning of Halloween."