J K Rowling owns all the rights to the books and the amazing characters she created. I write only to satisfy my imagination and use my creativity and make no money from my writings.

Chapter 9 – Some Very Angry People

It was Hermione Granger's birthday. Harry always remembered her birthday and reminded others. But Harry wasn't here and, worst of all, presumed dead. Once Harry reminded him, Neville always gave Hermione something for her birthday, usually flowers from the Longbottom greenhouses, picked by a house elf and sent via owl.

Neville had been named the "Real-Boy-Who-Lived" by Dumbledore, much to the shock (and derision) of the entire school. Had Draco not gone "missing" he would have relished taunting poor Neville even more than usual, but in his absence, Pansy Parkinson, accompanied by Crabbe and Goyle who became her bodyguards since Draco's disappearance, led the Slytherins in the abuse of Neville. Then three days ago she went looking for Neville but found only his clothes and wand. He was gone just like Harry.

Ron, who became Neville's "new best mate" after Harry's disappearance and Dumbledore's announcement, was livid. Dumbledore had given Hermione and Ron the honor of looking after Harry, keeping him on the side of the Light and away from undesirables and giving him their friendship and company. Hermione did it because she trusted Dumbledore and really liked Harry who, after Neville to some extent, was her only REAL friend at Hogwarts. Ron was supposed to be her friend but she knew better. He only tolerated her because Dumbledore had decreed it and Harry (and especially Ron) needed someone to help them with their school work or they would fail.

Hermione had suspected that Harry was more intelligent than he let on. Since he was so desperate for friends, he dumbed himself down so Ron wouldn't be jealous that Harry was smarter than him and got better grades. Ron did have a brain (of sorts) but was lazy and just did the minimum to pass. Hermione had noticed since first year that every time Harry tried to do his homework or study, Ron would browbeat him unmercifully until he goofed off with Ron and then both of them would scramble at the last minute to get their assignments done. That was where Hermione "proved her worth" and helped them with their homework.

Hermione knew more about Ron and the Weasleys than she let on. She knew that Ron, Mrs. Weasley and at times Ginny were being paid to control Harry. Ron and Mrs. Weasley received money and Ginny received "gifts" such as a gift certificate to Madame Malkin's for the clothes she desperately needed. Also Ginny had confided (or bragged) to Hermione that she and Harry were to be married after his 17th birthday. It was all arranged between her mother and Dumbledore but it had to be kept secret from everyone to protect Ginny from those who wished Harry harm. Even Harry wasn't aware of the fact but no doubt would be delighted when he found out.

Ron was angry when Harry disappeared and absolutely furious when Neville also did. Without them he didn't get paid and perhaps wouldn't be Head Boy as Dumbledore promised his mother. At least he would definitely make the Quidditch team this year and would "inherit" Harry's Firebolt. Unfortunately for everybody, although Ron did make the team as keeper although he wasn't the best, as Neville was still around so the "fix was still in" but so did Ginny who was made seeker. Therefore, since the seeker needed a fast broom, Dumbles decreed that Ginny would get Harry's broom.

The fight held in the common room between brother and sister was one for the records. Ron had no chance of winning as the Twins sided with Ginny and so would her parents, but at least Ron got to vent his spleen by using a multitude of cuss words, some so very bad that when Hermione yelled "language Ron" he directed them at her and added a few more very hurtful ones aimed at her hair, looks, teeth (even though Madame Pomfrey had fixed them last year) and penchant for reading and learning.

But the worst was the last one which caused the poor girl to run out of the common room in tears, which put a large albeit sickening grin on Ron's face because he not only caused her considerable pain but slurred her reputation and honor.

"It's your fault that Harry disappeared" he shouted. "You should have looked for him sooner but no you waited an hour and had to get the Head Boy involved, otherwise Dumbledore could have done something sooner. Then after my new best mate Neville was revealed to be the Real-Boy-Who-Lived, he disappears the same way as Harry and again, you waited too long to look for him and then found him gone just like Harry."

That was totally unfair and definitely untrue but Ron wasn't done yet. "Tell me MUDBLOOD" he said causing some gasps from some people, "Did you sell out to the Death Eaters? Did they promise you and your muddy family would be spared if you delivered Harry and Neville to them? Well ANSWER ME YOU TRADITOUS BITCH!" he demanded.

The room was silent except for the sound of Hermione running out of the room. That was when the laughter began with Ron starting it and his sycophants following.

The poor girl ran and ran until she found herself near Hagrid's hut. She knocked on his door as she had to tell someone about her troubles but then remembered he wasn't there. So she sat on his doorstep and let loose a torrent of tears. She never even heard or noticed the popping sounds before a spell hit her and she fell into unconsciousness.

It would be difficult to decide who was the angriest – Albus Dumbledore or Augusta Longbottom. He had tried to keep Neville's disappearance under wraps but the day after the Daily Prophet screamed out on the front page "Heir to the House of Longbottom Disappears from Hogwarts: Headmaster Dumbledore blamed by Lady Augusta Longbottom for outing Neville as the Real-Boy-Who-Lived."

She had been contacted by one of the few truthful reporters of the Prophet with the news but she had refused to believe him until they both went to Gringotts (which was always opened to accommodate all of their clients) and checked Neville's trust vault. Apparently, like Harry Potter's, it had closed automatically meaning Neville was as dead as Harry Potter.

Augusta fainted but once she recovered she gave the reporter the biggest scoop of his career. She told about Dumbledore coming to her and telling her the good news that it was Neville who had really defeated the Dark Lord. "He must have compelled me to believe him as Neville wasn't exposed to You-Know-Who and it was confirmed that he had collapsed into dust at the Potters' cottage. The first thing in the morning I am revoking the guardianship of Neville and all it entails which he probably forced me to give to him."

She told the reporter all of the details of the contract which would also make interesting reading and she wanted it printed ASAP just in case Dumbledore tried something. "If I mysteriously die from an 'accident' or 'dragon pox' or 'old age'" she snarled sarcastically, "I want Dumbledore prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law as the contents of the contract made him Neville's heir – which is why I know he compelled, or worst, Imperiused, me as I would never do such a thing as if Neville dies without issue, there are other heirs who would inherit the estate."

There had been another exclusive interview schedule for the morning edition but that would instead be postponed until tomorrow. The Prophet would have three days in a row of glorious scandal, starting with Augusta Longbottom and then the outrage of the Head of the House of Prince, who told the story of his heir being prevented from knowing of his inheritance and blamed Albus Dumbledore and Lucius Malfoy for redirecting the heir's mail, keeping him ignorant of his inheritance and many other "despicable, underhanded, totally illegal actions, attempted line theft, betrayal of friendship (in Lucius' case) and abuse of an employer and mentor (Dumbledore) and who knows what else" Augustus Prince opined.

On the third day (Hermione's birthday) a question asked by Augustus Prince would be the headline. "Has anybody noticed that Draco Malfoy, the heir of House Malfoy, has been missing from Hogwarts since the first week? Hogwarts is proclaimed to be the safest place in Britain along with Gringotts, but three heirs have disappeared this year alone."

Courtesy of his heir, Augustus revealed some of the curious events at Hogwarts starting in the three missing heirs' first year. "Trolls rampaging during the Samhein feast, a Cerberus guarding a mystery item and then a teacher 'disappearing' and believed murdered. Second year students were being frozen because apparently the 'Heir of Slytherin' had released a Basilisk in the school."

"Third year Sirius Black escaped and was believed headed to Hogwarts to kill Harry Potter. Over 100 Dementors were 'guarding' the school full of children and few grown wizards/witches who could cast a patronus. Harry Potter was nearly kissed by Dementors three times and Black managed to escape after a werewolf had attempted to attack Black, a professor and three children with Harry Potter being one of them."

"Last year the Triwizard Tournament was held and Potter was illegally entered. Dumbledore insisted he participate despite knowing that he hadn't entered and would be ineligible to compete due to the illegal entry and being a minor. He never told the child that all he had to do was swear on his life and magic that he hadn't entered his name or had someone else do it for him and he could have been withdrawn until the first task. Once he participated in the first task, he had to continue."

"Four vicious dragons were being held at the school for the first task, hostages were taken for the second task, which was held underwater all but dooming the Veela participant because water and water creatures are enemies of Veelas and in the maze a Sphinx, Blast-Ended Skrewts, Acromantulas, Boggarts impersonating Dementors, golden mists and who knows what else that were at the school and could have possibly escaped and harmed the students and others. Then a promising young man, Cedric Diggory, was killed and there was no reason given other than one the Ministry totally discounted. It was also rumored that Minister Fudge had a crucial witness kissed by a Dementor."

"Is this any way to run a school?" Prince asked. "I am certain other things of a suspicious nature have happened since Dumbledore became Headmaster. In fact, my own heir was almost attacked by a werewolf in his sixth year but Dumbledore downplayed it as a mere nothing and it was hushed up and those responsible for exposing him were never punished."

Due to the articles (and exposure of certain things Dumbledore didn't want the public to know about) the Headmaster was livid. He "lost it" big time and no one was safe from his wrath. At least it explained where and why Snape was missing but that was the least of anybody's worries.

Thus Hermione's disappearance, and that of her cat Crookshanks, went unnoticed for several days. Sad to say it was only when complaints were made that the two Gryffindor fifth year Prefects hadn't been doing their rounds and that Hermione wasn't attending any classes, that Minerva McGonagall started looking for one of her favorite students. She asked Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil, her roommates – and the biggest gossips in the school - if they knew anything about Hermione not doing her rounds or going to classes. She was horrified when told about Ron's outburst.

Oh to be a fly-on-the-wall when Ron finally decided to go to the office of his Head of House after being summoned twice. As usual he tried to lie his way out of it, but after talking with Brown and Patil, McGonagall had asked others and was told the same thing. Few people (living at least) had seen McGonagall lose her temper the way she did with Ron Weasley. She made his mum's rants look like a genteel discussion of the weather over the tea table.

She relieved him of his Prefect badge and said she was giving it to Dean Thomas, who was better behaved and more dependable than Seamus Finnegan. Ron actually screamed back at her saying she couldn't take away his badge because "Dumbledore wouldn't allow it" but she replied "Don't bet on it as with Harry, Neville and Hermione 'missing' your services are no longer required."

After Neville disappeared, several new bets were placed on when Ron would lose his badge. Blaize Zabini won in Slytherin, Susan Bones won in Hufflepuff, Luna Lovegood won in Ravenclaw and Dennis Creevey won in Gryffindor. Those four and the reporter were the only ones who "won" that week.

Severus Snape hadn't bothered to give his notice that he was resigning his position as the Potions Professor and Head of House of Slytherin. Dumbledore deserved no such courtesy and would eventually figure it out since he knew who the Prince heir was, as did Lucius.

Speaking of the Malfoys, he knew that Lucius and definitely Narcissa would seek revenge on him for obeying the Dark Lord. They would expect that he would sacrifice himself for his godson even though it would be in vain as if he didn't do it, someone else would. That was one of the reasons he was still at Prince Place, the family seat. The other was he was bonding with his grandfather and learning the duties and responsibilities, as well as the perks, of being the eventual Head of House Prince.

He didn't bother getting his possessions from Hogwarts. Anything of real value he kept at his secret bolt hole. The important books he had in his private quarters or home at Spinner's End were copies not only for safety sake but to fool Dumbledore into thinking he would never abandoned his books. The House of Prince was famous for their skill at potions and Augustus had potions and potion ingredients, including some very rare ingredients, which Severus didn't have to worry about getting from his private stash. The only thing he did take before he left was his notes on potions he was trying to create for the benefit of people and definitely not for Dumbledore's Greater Good.

He just didn't care about anything anymore. Voldemort had been correct that the inheritance test would be upsetting but necessary and would explain much that had occurred in Severus' life. Voldemort told him not to respond to any summoning that was at Malfoy Manor – for safety sake – and if he didn't know better he would think that Voldemort was actually concerned for his welfare. He quickly discounted that as the Dark Lord cared for no one.

In any event, there was nothing that would tempt him to return to Hogwarts or visit Malfoy Manor. If fact, his grandfather had received word that Narcissa had left Lucius, taking all that was her's but especially her entire dowry, and she was planning to arrange "a hit" on him as the Muggles said. Also, she was considering whether or not to avenge herself against Severus Snape. At the very least, she was looking for him and even offering a reward to anyone who brought him to her or told her where he was.

Nope Severus Snape wasn't going anywhere if he could help it.

Last but not least, Lucius Malfoy was FURIOUS that Narcissa had escaped and took her dowry and property with her. She had also managed to claim Lestrange Manor, since it was through her sister that Lucius had claimed it for Draco. He had rented it out after taking anything of value and all house elves. He was to repay any and all rent he received for it and return the house elves taken from the estate and failing that, pay for their value. The three females had left with Narcissa, but Diddy was dead and Dobby was free so he had to reimburse his wife for two very skilled male elves.

Since she had divorced him, he could now actively search for a new wife. Sad to say there weren't any Purebloods females, with the fortune he needed, who would have him as his reputation proceeded him. Also, no one in their right mind would have him because it was known that the Dark Lord was "annoyed" with him and his future was iffy.

Thus, he contacted some distant relatives in France, Italy and Greece to find him a bride – and quickly.

Life didn't look too promising at the moment but at least he still survived.