Dysfunctional

50 - Brothers-in-arms

Monday, July 14

"What do you mean Harry's gone?" burst out Mrs. Weasley.

The lazy evening in the Burrow had not lasted long, not when Remus and Tonks had Apparated in, bringing with them dreadful news. There were only Fleur, Hermione, Ginny, and Ron at the Burrow with Mrs. Weasley. Mr. Weasley and Bill were yet to return home from work and Charlie was camping at the twins' on Mrs. Weasley's insistence that they not be left alone.

Hermione couldn't believe what she was hearing. She turned to look at Ron, who stared back open-mouthed, looking as dumbstruck as she was.

"How can he be gone? He was safe under the Fidelius!" Mrs. Weasley looked on the verge of breaking down, while Ginny and Fleur exchanged worried looks.

"Molly, calm down! It's not Remus' fault that Harry decided to leave his home," said Tonks calmly, but also with a slight edge in her voice.

Mrs. Weasley sighed. "I'm sorry, dear. But what do you mean he decided to leave, Remus?" she repeated, turning once again to Remus for answers. "You're not telling me Harry ran away willingly?"

"I'm afraid that is exactly what happened," said Remus with a long-suffering sigh, rubbing his eyes and looking very drawn. With the full moon in just three days, Hermione realized that he didn't need the stress at the moment. "His clothes are gone and so are some of his things. He's even nicked some gold from Sirius. He did this knowingly."

"Why would Harry do that?" asked Ginny with wide eyes. "Did Sirius and Harry have a fight or something?"

"No, they were perfectly fine," said Remus. "That's what perplexes me. He really had no reason to leave the way he did."

"We can 'elp search for 'im," said Fleur with worry etched in her face. Hermione and Ginny nodded swiftly in agreement.

"Sirius alerted us as soon as he found out and we've searched everywhere - Number Twelve, Hogsmeade, Leaky Cauldron, and even his Aunt's house," said Tonks. "We had to do it without raising any alarms - it's safer for him if word doesn't get out he's missing - but he's just disappeared!"

"There must be some way we can contact him," said Mrs. Weasley tearfully. "Have you sent him a Patronus?"

"Don't you think we haven't already tried that?" said Remus, uncharacteristically short-tempered. "The only person who he told he was leaving was his house-elf."

"He has his own house-elf? But that's great!" exclaimed Ginny. "He can find Harry wherever he is!"

"Harry must have ordered Twitchet to not reveal his location." Remus ran a hand through his hair, betraying his anxiety. "She's incredibly upset, but she's also very loyal. She refuses to say anything other than the fact that he's safe and to stop trying to contact him!"

"But surely, she can disobey Harry just this one time?" said Hermione, getting worked up despite herself due to the idiotic rules that house-elves were subject to. "For Harry's safety, at least?"

"That's not how house-elves work, Hermione," said Ron, shaking his head before turning to Remus again. "Didn't Harry have that mirror which Sirius gave him?"

"He left it behind," said Tonks ruefully.

Everyone was quiet, taking it all in. Mrs. Weasley was silently crying and Tonks proceeded to comfort her. Remus was frowning in both worry and agitation.