Rescued

Searching: Harry

After classes the next day, we sat at a table in the common room next to the fire. Hermione had a big stack of atlases and maps next to her, and Ron was staring grumpily at his rat.

"It would make sense for him to head north," Hermione said after a few minutes of studying the map. "Because he sounds too intelligent to head to any countries right next to Britain. Harry, are you positive he hasn't told you about any countries he's wanted to travel to?" Hermione asked for the millionth time. I sighed.

"Yes, I'm pos---well, he did mention taking a trip to Switzerland for their chocolate," I suddenly remembered. Hermione smiled happily, and snatched an atlas of Switzerland from the towering stack. Ron sighed.

"But how do you know the bloke went there? He could've gone anywhere," Ron said. "Maybe he thought you'd remember that, Harry, and decided to go to a country far away from Swiss. America, maybe, or Africa." Ron was getting tired of poring through the maps, and he clutched his hair in frustration.

"But I have a really good feeling about Switzerland," I said. "Quite a marvelous feeling, actually."

The feeling only grew when I saw a brown owl sitting outside the common room window. Maybe it was from Sirius, saying he had been able to stop him in time! I tore the letter from the owl's leg, and the owl hooted and flew away. I opened it, Ron and Hermione peering over my shoulders.

Harry,

Remus left a note this morning in the kitchen. He said he had left for our safety. Stupid git! I told him it wasn't his fault! I don't know where he's gone, but he said he sent a letter to Dumbledore asking if you could come home. Stupid stupid stupid idiot git!!!

Anyways, I guess I'll see you soon. We'll find him, I promise.

Love,

Padfoot

I shook my head, my mood dropping to its former melancholy.

A girl I recognized as Parvati Patil, a first year Indian girl with long black hair, walked over to our table, and handed us a note.

"Professor Dumbledore asked me to give this to you three," she said, and left as quickly as she came. I opened the note.

Harry, Ronald, and Hermione,

Please attend a meeting in my office at nine fifteen tonight.

Headmaster Dumbledore.

P. S. The password is lemon drops.

"We'd better head there now, then," Ron said, looking excited.

"Good idea," Hermione said brusquely, waving her wand and making the pile of maps disappear.

"How'd you do that? We haven't learned that yet!" Ron said, looking shocked. Hermione blushed and smiled.

"What's wrong with learning a few early? They're useful, you know."

We left the portrait hole and made our way towards what we thought was the right direction. Instead, we ended up getting horribly lost. As we tried to grasp our bearings, we turned to a portrait of a knight with a fat pony.

"Sir Cadogan at your service!" He squealed, and hopped off of his pony.

"Can you get us to the headmasters office please?" Hermione said sternly but politely. "I'm afraid we've lost our way."

"Of course, fair and charming lady! Sir Cadogan will lead you on with his dashing and strong mount!" The knight jumped on to the saddle and kicked his pony. It didn't move, but continued eating the grass.

"Could you hurry up, please, we're  already late," Hermione said anxiously. So Sir Cadogan jumped off and began running.

"Follow me, lads and lasses!" He cried.

"Vain little bugger," Ron muttered as we picked up our pace and ran after him. 

We soon reached a stern looking gargoyle.

"What is this?" I asked. "This can't be the entrance!" Sir Cadogan looked offended.

"Not the headmasters office?! Foolish boy," he sniffed and ran off.

"Well, a nice fix we've gotten ourselves into," Ron said, sighing.

"Well, we may as well try", Hermione said, and I handed her the note. "Lemon drops," she said confidently, and to all our surprise, except maybe Hermione's, the gargoyle came to life and sprang aside. We quickly walked in.

We knocked on a second door, in relief when Dumbledore's voice came through, deep and mellow. 

"Come in."