Ron didn't see what animal had attacked him until they were flying over it on Buck's back. He was dizzy, and he felt achy and strange, but he was able to focus enough to get a good look at it. It was barking and growling as it sprinted below them, its dark fur nearly blending in with the night.

Must be a grim, thought Ron. His head felt weird, like the time the twins had played "healer" and fed him a double dose of pepper-up potion.

It was a big dog with dark fur and teeth that burned like fire. That's what Percy said a grim was. Ron wondered if he'd die within twenty-four hours, like Uncle Billious had. The thought didn't scare him as much as it should have. He felt too tired to be scared. Buck was flying him to safety and the only thing he could really do was lean into the feathers as Harry called his name, trying to ask him questions. Pain shot up from Ron's forearm as Buck hit a pocket of wind. He blacked out and Harry screamed as Ron nearly fell off of the hippogriff. He held onto both Ron and Buck for dear life as the creature flew them to safety.

It felt like only a second had passed when Ron opened his eyes, though his body was quick to inform him that he'd been out for a while. He felt heavy, like a boulder was pressing him into the mattress. His head and stomach hurt too.

"Ron?" that was the frightened whisper.

Ron groaned.

"Ron?"

He opened his eyes as someone shook his shoulder.

Harry was there, and he looked frightened.

"Ron?" he chocked.

"What's wrong?" Ron asked weakly.

"You got bit," said Harry, his eyes wide.

Ron felt pan in his right arm as he remembered. The grim, he'd been attacked by a grim.

"Are you okay?" Ron asked his friend as he struggled to sit up. "Where am I?"

"You're at Fletch's," whispered Harry.

Ron nodded, finally pulling himself up straight.

"Are you okay?" he repeated. Harry looked like something was wrong with him; he was so pale.

"Yea," said Harry, but he didn't look like he was telling the truth to Ron.

"What happened?" asked Ron. His arm hurt enough to make him want to cry, but boys didn't cry. Ever. Especially in front of a friend that looked so pale and upset.

"Fletch said I should let him explain," said Harry, not looking him in the eye.

Ron was about to ask more questions when a sharp feeling, like a punch to the gut, hit him. He put his hands to his stomach, feeling sick.

"What's wrong?" asked Harry.

"Need the lou, help me," Ron grunted, trying to stand.

Harry pulled Ron back onto his feet and had Ron swing an arm around his shoulder.

The pair moved carefully down the stairs. It was very quiet, none of the bar rooms were being rented at the moment and customers were non-existent this time of day.

They went into the small bathroom and Ron went into the single stall that held the toilet while Harry waited by the slightly dirty sink.

It was so quiet that, when he heard low voices a couple minutes later, they were loud and clear.

Fletch's voice was the first he recognized and his tone instantly put Harry on high alert.

"It's them…don't know how I didn't see it sooner. The ministry will have our hides for this.

"Slow down, Fletch." Harry recognized Mundungus's voice. "What're you on about?"

Fletch lowered his voice, and Harry listened closer.

"The kids, they aren't just any kids, they're the Potter and Weasley kids."

Mundungus was silent for a moment, then he asked.

"What're we goin' ta do?"

"I'm going to modify their memories, it's our only option. Come up with me, we can't risk them escaping."

Harry drew back from the wall and darted over to the stall.

"Ron," hissed Harry.

"Hang on a minute," snapped Ron.

"Ron, Fletch and Dung went upstairs, they said they know who we are and they're going to modify our memories."

There was a pause, then Ron burst out of the stall.

"We have to go," he said. The two stepped out in the hall and heard Fletch's voice calling for them upstairs.

They moved quietly through the hall as Fletch's calls grew more agitated. They were half-way down the stairs when they heard a shout. Harry grabbed Ron's wrist and ran for it. Ron stumbled, trying to keep up as Harry shot out of the bar and down the street. The air was cold and it stung Ron's arms. He hadn't been wearing his sweater when they went downstairs. It was a miracle he'd even been wearing shoes when they bolted. It was dark still, the streets were empty except for them.

They heard footsteps echo loudly behind them and a spell hit the wall right next to them as they kept sprinting.

Harry realized with a panic that the men were gaining. Ron slowed down as he began to wretch and spells continued to fly.

Harry pulled Ron into a shop entrance, using the brick wall for cover. Harry tried the door, but it was locked. Harry pulled at it again, fear and desperation coursing through him and the door suddenly gave way. He yanked Ron through it, into the dark shop. Lights went on and a scream filled the air. The scream sounded like it was coming from all around them and Harry looked all around for the source.

Get out! We have to get out of here!

But he heard someone yelling upstairs and he knew Dung and Fletch were closing in.

We have to hide, hide, hide!

Harry's mind was so full of panic there were no thoughts in his head other than finding somewhere, anywhere to hide. His eyes flew around the shop, over piles and piles of merchandise. He spotted a wardrobe and he sprinted for it, Ron right behind him. He wrenched open its door and jumped in, dragging Ron in after him.

The screaming stopped. There was nothing but silence. Harry fought to quiet his breathing. Ron was slumped against the side of the cabinet, struggling to do the same. Harry knew this was it. They were too loud. Any minute someone would rip open the cabinet and he was too scared to think of what they'd do next.

They waited for footsteps to come close, for the sound of someone grabbing the knob on the cupboard. It was silent though.

Every sense was heightened, but there was nothing to hear or see. It was pitch black in the cupboard and dead silent outside. Minute after minute passed by and nothing happened. Harry's breathing had grown silent. Ron's was still a little shallow, but it was much quieter now. Harry could smell the fevered sweat on his friend's skin and hear the slight wheeze when he took in a breath, but he couldn't see his friend or ask if he was alright. They both just had to sit there, minute after minute in the dark silence.

After a very long time Harry 's heart rate slowed down and he began to wonder if they were safe. He spent a moment channeling his courage then, trembling, he reached out a hand and pushed the door open the tiniest crack. He saw...a stone floor, lit by candlelight. The silence persisted. Harry pushed the door open a very little bit wider. Still just stone floor lit by candlelight and…a desk. No people yet. Holding his breath, Harry opened up the door just a little bit more. More desks. And—stone walls. It felt—different, like the room had changed. Harry peeked carefully around the door. Startled, he realized the room was full of desks.

"What is it?" Ron whispered.

"I don't know," Harry breathed.

Ron shifted his position to get a closer look as Harry leaned forward. Ron nudged Harry on accident. Harry lost his balance and went tumbling out of the cupboard.

Harry jumped to his feet, ready to run, as Ron forced himself out of the cabinet on shaky legs to face whatever was waiting for them—

But no one was there. They were in a classroom.

"Where are we?" whispered Harry.

Ron shrugged, leaning against the side of the cabinet they'd been hiding in.

"I'll check the door," said Harry as he spotted a door at the far end of the classroom.

"I'll come with you," mumbled Ron. It hurt to move but he didn't want to leave his friend either.

Harry helped Ron over to the door and he peeked outside. They saw a windowless hallway, lined with candles and suits of armor.

"We're definitely not in Knockturn Alley," whispered Ron.

They carefully moved through the hallway.

It was quiet here too, nothing was stirring, which left the boys to jump at their own shadows when the candlelight had an unexpected effect. It was so very quiet. Neither of them knew where they were or how they got there, they just wanted to find a way out as soon as possible.

Harry was taking a lot of Ron's weight and each step felt painfully slow, which made them both anxious. They passed by a few tapestries and Harry frowned.

"It's like we're in a castle," he whispered.

Ron grunted, struggling to pull himself onwards. The effort was too much though. Ron's muscles gave out and he fell forward onto the stone floor.

"Ron!" Harry hissed, kneeling down and shaking his friend's shoulder.

Behind him he heard a screech. He jerked around, but nothing was there. An ominous feeling that he was being watched fell over him and he shook his friend's shoulder again.

"Ron," he said, insistently.

Ron didn't move; he was unconscious.

There was another screech and Harry looked for the source. Then he saw it: one of the suits of armor was turning its helmet to look at them.

Harry jumped out of his skin as, slowly, it lifted up a metal foot and stepped away from the wall.

What is that?! Is there a person in there?

"Ron, Ron, Ron, Ron, Ron!" said Harry, shaking Ron's shoulder urgently, his eyes fixed on the suit of armor. It was moving towards them, one screeching step at a time.

"No way," said Harry, hysterically. This was unimaginable, a nightmare that just kept going no matter how fast they went or how far they ran.

Harry almost froze up then and there. He almost curled up in a ball and surrendered, but then the armor began to reach out its arms towards them menacingly. Harry snapped out of it, rolled Ron over, and then brought his hand down across Ron's face. He slapped him so hard the sound echoed through the halls and a red mark appeared on Ron's cheek.

Ron's eyes opened abruptly.

"MOVE!" Harry yelled at him, grabbing him by the shirt and forcing him to stand. They lunged out of the way just as the armor leaned down to grab them and they hobbled as quickly as they could. They rushed into another open classroom and shut the door.

Ron slumped against in, his legs giving out once again. Harry could do nothing but lean against the door as well, bracing himself against it to keep the armor out.

"What is you doing here?" a voice asked

No, this can't be happening. No, no, no, no, no!

Harry's eyes moved to the source of the voice and he saw—it looked like a goblin he'd seen walk down Knockturn Alley from the pub window, but with a slimmer body and bigger ears, and different colored skin, and more wrinkles…so maybe not a goblin…

"Boy is hurt. Can I be helping him?" said the creature, setting down a cleaning rag.

"You want to help us?" asked Harry desperately. The door started to rattle. The armor was trying to get in.

"Yes, sir."

"There's men trying to hurt us," said Harry, tears leaking from the corners of his eyes. "Please help us! Take us somewhere they can't get us."

Ron slumped all the way to the floor as he lost consciousness again and Harry fell forward as the armor forced its way into the room. Harry's heart pounded as he went to push himself back up, but before he could move the creature had grabbed his wrist.

He felt the way he did when Ron disapparated them. It was like he was being squeezed to death. When the pressure let up he saw that he was in a completely different room, surrounded by more of the small goblin-like creatures. His head was spinning.

"Please," he begged of them. "Don't hurt us. Don't tell them we're here."

He sobbed once and fainted.

Dumbledore had just fallen asleep when the alarm near his bedside alerted him to the presence of someone outside office. Quickly pulling on his robes, he left his chambers and strode down into his office. Someone was pounding on the door.

"Headmaster, Headmaster! It's Bill Weasley."

Frowning, Dumbledore flicked his wand. The door opened and the red-head plowed into the office. He was waving a piece of parchment and an envelope in his hand.

He just received news of some sort on the case. Thought Dumbledore, his mind already gearing up.

"Headmaster!"

"Bill," said the headmaster sharply and the boy stopped, startled out of his nervous flurry.

"Please, be calm. Have a seat and tell me what is going on," he said. He gestured to chairs by his desk as he moved to sit down himself.

Bill sat and handed Dumbledore the letter.

Dumbledore began reading it as Bill began to talk quickly.

"The goblins say they have a lead on Ron, but they don't have him in custody. They won't tell me what the lead is unless I give them Uncle Billious's ring but if I give them the ring and the lead's a dead end, then I've lost my bargaining chip for nothing and the goblins won't be looking anymore."

Dumbledore barely managed to listen and read at the same time because Bill was talking so fast. He might as well have left the letter alone though; the boy had hit the nail on the head in his interpretation of the words.

Dumbledore pulled a piece of parchment on it and carefully wrote a note. He addressed it to the goblin who had sent the letter to Bill and then rolled it up. He stood and handed the note to Fawkes.

"Please take this to Goldmeer," he said to the phoenix. The bird hummed and vanished in a burst of flame.

"What was that professor?" asked Bill.

"I have an old and very valuable broach that the goblins have been trying to get their hands on. I am not overly fond of it, but I've kept it for an event such as this. I told Goldmeer that he cannot have the ring unless he delivers the boys to us alive, without harming them. Your ring is far more valuable than you realize, and accepting anything less than their safe return would be a very raw deal indeed. I told Goldmeer that he may have the broach in exchange for the information though, provided it is a valid lead. That is a far more equal trade. "

Bill looked at Dumbledore, relieved.

"Thank you sir, I—Your generosity is…" Bill took in a breath, let it out and inclined his head towards Dumbledore. "Thank you."

"I care about their safety too, Bill," said Dumbledore softly. "No thanks are necessary."

A burst of flames emerged as Fawkes reappeared.

He dropped a note on Dumbledore's desk and settled on his perch.

Dumbledore unrolled the parchment.

"Ah, a standard wizard-goblin trade contract."

He read it over.

"Yes, this will do," he muttered to himself. He picked up a pen and signed, handing the parchment to Fawkes, who vanished again in a ball of fire.

Bill folded his arms.

"Should we call my parents?" he asked.

"I'd prefer to verify our findings first," said Dumbledore calmly. "We don't want everyone to get their hopes up over a trick."

Bill's heart dropped and disappointment filled him. He'd acknowledged verbally that the information might not get them anywhere, but in his heart he truly believed that whatever the goblins had found would lead them to Ron. He wanted so desperately to have him back, the idea of this being a dead end made his chest ache.

"This isn't the only lead we're going to run across," said Dumbledore softly.

Bill was too heartsick to respond.

They sat there waiting until Fawkes returned.

Dumbledore took the parchment and read over it. His eyebrows shot up and he moved towards the fire, tossing in a handful of flue powder.

"Moody!" He called, urgently.

Sirius was nursing his second cup of coffee of the day. He'd only managed to sleep for a couple of hours. Every time he closed his eyes all he could see were filthy stone walls and dementors.

Sirius sipped his coffee again, it had gone cold, but he didn't care. He was used to the cold.

A wisp of white light entered the room and Sirius jumped up. A patronus that looked like a hedgehog formed. Its gait was too agitated to be a hedgehog though. A knarl then.

He knew before it spoke that it was Moody. (Only Moody would have a patronus of an animal that attacked whenever you tried to feed it because it thought you were poisoning it.)

The knarl spoke.

"Meet for debrief, now."

Sirius shoved his clothes on, and barely remembered to disguise his face before tearing out of the room. He was staying in a diplomatic suite in the ministry because Fudge wanted to keep him close, which suited Sirius fine as he was able to make it to Harry's investigation room at record time.

He stood in front of Moody, not bothering to ask what was going on. He knew from years of working with the man during the war that he wouldn't give an ounce of information until everyone was assembled. Dumbledore and Bill Weasley were already there. He wondered why Bill was there but Arthur wasn't.

One by one, people ran into the room. Kingsley, Remus, Arthur, they all assembled and looked at Moody. He shifted his weight from his fake leg to his real one and he spoke, his voice rumbling like shoes on gravel.

"We're raiding Knockturn Alley, a bar called Fletch's place. We got a tip from the Goblins. Word is that the black market has been flooded with rare items. Since the week of the boys' disappearance unicorn hair, wand tree wood, a grindylow, and several magical herbs and fungi have been put up for sale. These things can all be found in the forests we suspect the boys have been in. The thing that caught the goblin's attention is the sudden influx of Kinder Pilz. They're mushrooms that grow in the forests where we had sightings of the boys and they can only be seen by children."

Moody paused and the group stared up at him in confusion.

"Are you saying Potter's been kidnapped by slave-traders?" asked one of the wizards in the room. "Why would they take Harry Potter if that was their intent? Why not take a child no one would miss?"

"I'd like to remind everyone that there are two children involved in this case. And both of them are missed." snapped Bill from the edge of the room.

The wizard blushed as he met the eyes of Ron's father and brother. Both looked livid.

"The motive doesn't matter," said Moody. "A lead is a lead. Now pay attention, I'm sorting you all into teams. Weasleys, you're on crowd control with Dawlish and Lupin. Black, Kingley, Dumbledore, you're on investigation with me."

A couple people looked at Sirius with irritation. Everyone in the room knew Sirius was innocent and had been sworn to secrecy on the matter but many of them were still warming up to the idea that he wasn't guilty.

"Bell, Diggle, you two are on health and wellness. Should anyone find the boys they will bring them straight to Bell and Diggle," he said firmly, looking sternly at Arthur and Sirius. "They are the pediatric experts and the most equipped to handle any mental or physical trauma."

The men nodded, hearts clenching at the implications behind the words.

"The rest of you are on standby. We'll need you to go door to door when the dust settles to canvas for witnesses. We're having hit wizards go in first to subdue the patrons and suspects. Everyone, move out and stick with your teams."

Sirius bolted towards the door as did everyone else. Arthur shoved his way through the crowd to run next to Sirius.

Arthur was angry at being assigned to crowd control. He wanted to barge in and demand the whereabouts of his son, but he couldn't do that without jeopardizing the mission. He was terrified though. That wizard's words reflected this entire case. Everyone saw Ron as a link to Harry more then they saw him as a victim; if push came to shove Ron could be lost in the shuffle. He needed someone to remember his son, someone who understood, so he ran for Sirius. Sirius, like him, had a personal connection to this. Sirius was putting Harry first, just like everyone else, but Sirius might also understand…

"Black," he whispered. "Listen, I know your priority is Harry, but—"

"I broke out of prison to find Harry, Arthur," said the man, already anticipating the words. Arthur felt desperation and disappointment but Sirius continued. "After joining this case though, and finding out more about what's going on, I want to find Ron too. They're both my priority, if I get to them first I'm getting them out of there. If anyone touches a hair on either of their heads, I'm prepared to die protecting them if I don't manage to kill whoever is responsible."

"Thank you," breathed Arthur.

"Get back to your group, Arthur. We need everyone to do their jobs if we are going to get our boys back."