2 Days

"I don't think you should be going out there with us, Albus," Harry said over the dining room table. It was five-thirty in the morning, and he had only come home to shower and take a nap before heading back to the Ministry. "You should go back to Hogwarts."

"Absolutely not," Albus said, pulling on his jacket. "I'm going with you."

"You're a student," Harry reminded him. "And I can't be putting you in danger out there while you're worried like this."

"I'm not in danger," Albus said. "We'll find him. If it's my safety you're thinking about, I'm not worried. I'm with you."

Harry cringed, but Albus wasn't sure if it was because he was clearly unconvinced or if it was something else.

"Al -"

"Dad, I can't go back to Hogwarts," Albus said, raising his voice. "I have never been at Hogwarts without him, and I refuse to go back until he's safe."

Ginny, who was sitting on the counter, looked from her husband to her son. Harry looked back at her.

"Well?"

Ginny sighed and looked at Albus, whose eyes were pleading, and when she spoke to her husband, she did so quietly and gently.

"Don't do to him what you did do me," Ginny said to Harry.

Harry sighed, clearly overruled.

"Fine," Harry said. "But if I tell you to do something -"

"I'll do it. I just want to help."

Harry set his empty mug down.

"Mum, I don't have any of my things. I'm out of clothes -"

"I'll take you to Hogwarts to pick up some of your things," she said. "And then you can go meet your father at the Ministry."

Harry nodded, stifling a yawn.

"We'll start at seven," he said.

Albus walked into his dormitory quickly, determined to be out as soon as possible and not at all interested in keeping the noise down. He turned the lanterns lining the room up, and the three other boys woke with a start.

"What the hell?"

Flint rubbed his eyes as Pucey and Farley stood up.

"Did you find him?" Flint said urgently, climbing out of bed.

"No," Albus said, grabbing his rucksack from under his bed. He began ripping his clothes from his wardrobe quickly and indiscriminately. "I'm just picking up a few things."

Pucey and Farley crawled out of their beds too as Albus stuffed his rucksack full of everything he thought he could need, trying not to look at Scorpius' bed until he had to.

"Do you have any idea what happened?"

Albus shook his head, changing into a pair of jeans and an old t-shirt. "No more than what we had to go on in Hogsmeade."

Albus sat down and took off his Quidditch boots - the only shoes he'd had with him - and exchanged them for a pair of trainers before walking over to Scorpius' wardrobe and pulling out a few pairs of his pajamas and pants and his favorite sweater.

He'll want them when we find him, Albus told himself. He shoved the clothes in his bag, but thought better of it and pulled the sweater on, zipping it up.

The collar still smelled like him, and it was the most depressing, comforting thing Albus could imagine.

"Can we help?" Farley asked. "Can't we just leave with you?"

"No," Albus said. "The only reason I'm involved is because my dad is allowing it, and that took some doing."

Albus pulled the drawstring tight on the bag and reached under Scorpius' bed, pulling out Freya's carrier and shaking it out. He scooped Freya off the bed and urged her into it despite her hissing protests.

"You know, I love animals," Albus said. "I'm good with animals. I can't stand this cat."

"She's jealous because her owner likes you better."

"I'm taking her to the Malfoy Manor," Albus said. "He'll want her if we..."

Albus stopped and shook his head.

"When you find him," Pucey said.

"Send me owls with notes and our class assignments so I at least know what we're catching up on," Albus said.

"Can do," said Flint. "It's almost time to go home for the break anyway."

"It is, isn't it?" Albus said. He grabbed his things and scooped up Freya's carrier, earning him an agitated meow and a hiss.

"Oh, shut up," he said to the cat. He looked back to his friends. "I'll let you know when we find something."

"As soon as you know anything," Farley said. The others nodded in agreement.

"Right. I'll... see you all soon," Albus said, backing out of the room. As comforting as it had been to see them, he knew he had to get to the Ministry by seven.

"Be careful, Al," Pucey said.

"Careful isn't going to find him," Albus called back as he left.

Ginny was waiting outside the Slytherin common room.

"Is that everything?"

"No," Albus said, walking down the hallway. Ginny, being several inches shorter, struggled to keep up. "One more thing."

Albus led her down several corridors and past the still life that led to the kitchens to a large pile of oversized barrels. Albus threw his things down and set Freya's cage on the ground before counting them and banging on the one he'd selected.

Albus pounded on the lid of the barrel over and over again.

"What on earth are you doing?" Ginny asked.

Before Albus could answer, a sleepy Hufflepuff girl opened the door.

"I'm sorry to wake you, but it's urgent," Albus said. "Can you get me Ainsley Greengrass?"

"Yeah," the Hufflepuff said, rubbing her eyes. "Yeah, hold on."

Albus folded his arms, trying to ignore the scent of Scorpius' soap on the sweater, and waited silently until Ainsley appeared in her pajamas, putting her glasses on.

"Albus?"

She looked terrible.

"Come here," Albus said, leading her out of the portal. She followed him into the hallway where he turned and set both of his hands on her shoulders so she had to listen.

"What happened is not your fault," he said clearly.

Ainsley's lower lip quivered as she looked up at him, and Ginny watched her son in the distance.

"You got caught in the middle of something," Albus continued. "If you hadn't been with him, they would have taken him. If he'd been in a group, they would have waited - whoever they are."

"I - I couldn't help, Al," she said, tears streaming down her face. "I'm so sorry. I tried."

"I know you did," Albus said. "No one doubts that you did the best you could. There was nothing more you or anyone could have done."

"Why didn't they take me too?"

"I don't know," Albus said, shaking his head. He hated doing this to her - making her cry - and when she pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose and looked away, Albus saw the resemblance to Scorpius and cringed.

"We're going to find him, Ainsley."

She just nodded, and Albus pulled her into a tight hug.

"It's not your fault. I needed you to know that."

He felt her nod against his chest and he released her.

"I'm sorry I had to wake you," he said as she backed up, wiping tears away. "I'll let you know when we find something."

Ainsley nodded and thanked him, and when she walked back to the Hufflepuff portal, he heard her greet his mother politely before disappearing down the hall.

"Do you really think it wouldn't have been different if you or someone else had been with him," Ginny asked.

Albus scooped Freya and his rucksack off the ground, ready to go.

"If I'd been with him, I'd probably be dead."

When dawn came, Scorpius was pulled back up to the drawing room. Selwyn given him fresh clothes and allowed him a brief moment in the bathroom to rinse off, but nothing more.

"Good morning," Daphne said once again, setting her copy of The Daily Prophet back in her lap.

"Is it?" Scorpius muttered. She shot him a glare, and he had to check the impulse to apologize. He wasn't sorry.

"I trust you got some rest," she said.

"I wouldn't call it that," Scorpius said. He'd spent the night staring out the small window at the little patch of sky he could see, too tired to move but too uncomfortable to sleep.

He stood in front of her as Selwyn unlocked his restraints and stretched his shoulders once his arms were free.

"I think we should continue from yesterday," Daphne said. Scorpius stared at her.

"How so?"

Daphne pointed to a book on top of the desk.

"If you can make that levitate for five minutes straight, you can have breakfast."

Scorpius stared at her.

"Can you fix my glasses first so I can focus?" Scorpius asked.

Daphne made a tsk sound and shook her head.

"Don't be needy."

Scorpius looked from her to the book and took a deep breath, seeing no other path but to comply.

"There's a very good chance I'll set the book on fire," Scorpius warned her.

Daphne went back to reading the Prophet, bored.

"Then you won't get breakfast."

Albus had a bad feeling when they got to the Selwyn estate. It was clearly inhabited - house elves were trimming the hedges in preparation for Christmas and he could see movement through the house's mostly-glass front, but snow clouds hung heavy over the sky and the wind had turned bitter again.

"How well do you know the Selwyns?"

"I met Angus' brother several times," Draco admitted. "Nasty piece of work."

"I think he killed my owl, Hedwig," Harry said.

"I never told you this," Draco said, "but that owl was bloody beautiful."

They walked up the steps to the house.

"Hagrid got her for me for my eleventh birthday," Harry said. "First real birthday present I ever had."

"He had better taste than I thought," Draco said, slamming the door knocker three times. "Also, that's terribly depressing."

Harry just shrugged, and Albus shook his head, wrapping Scorpius' sweater tighter around himself.

"That is terribly depressing," he said to his father.

A woman a bit older than Harry opened the door, her hair graying around the temples, with a dirty apron on over her dress.

"Can I help you?" she asked coldly. Harry folded his arms.

"I don't believe we've met," Harry said. "I'm Harry Potter, and I'm with -"

"I know who you are," she interrupted, glancing at Draco and Albus. "What do you want?"

"I want to ask you a few questions about Angus Selwyn. Are you related?"

"He's my husband," she said.

Albus and Draco exchanged looks, but said nothing.

"Do you mind if we come in and take a look around?"

"You can if you come back with a warrant," she said defiantly.

"Ma'am, a young man is missing," Harry said. "We think your husband may have been involved."

"And when you find the no-good, cheating bastard, maybe he'll let you in."

She stepped back to slam the door shut, but Draco held out his hand and stopped her.

"Any idea where we might find him?"

Mrs. Selwyn glared at Draco.

"Probably with that Greengrass whore. Go to her with your questions."

Draco released the door, taken aback, and she slammed it quickly. Albus heard the click of the lock from the other side.

"Daphne?" Draco said.

"Are there any other Greengrass women that you know of?" Harry asked.

Draco shook his head.

"Only Daphne," he said. "And her daughter."

"Ainsley had nothing to do with this," Albus defended, "but it would explain why she was spared."

He and Draco looked to one another and nodded.

"Well, what are we waiting for?"

After finding the sole record for Daphne Greengrass in the Ministry archives, Harry, Draco, and Albus went to through the nearest public Floo network fireplace. It was getting late when they walked up the street in a wealthy London neighborhood where children were playing outside, already out of school for the holiday.

"It doesn't feel like Christmas," Albus said grimly.

"It's not going to," Draco replied.

Harry pointed at the largest house on the block, sitting comfortably on a corner lot.

"That's it," he said.

"Do you really think your sister in-law is involved?" Albus asked.

"Daphne is a nasty piece of work," Draco said, "but I can't imagine her actually hurting her own kin."

They approached the front door and Harry knocked before stepping back, wrapping his scarf tighter around his neck.

Daphne Greengrass opened the door, and Draco couldn't have looked less pleased to see her.

"Oh, Draco," she said, shaking her head in sympathy. "I heard about Scorpius. I'm so sorry."

"Thank you," Draco replied formally. "I believe you've met Harry Potter and his son, Albus."

"We were hoping we could talk to you about his disappearance," Harry said. "In case you might have heard anything that might help."

Daphne's eyes raked over Harry and Albus with clear distain, but she stepped back to let them in anyway.

Albus looked around. Her home was sterile and white with only abstract paintings on the walls - no family photos or anything personal.

"Elf," she called into the house. "Get our guests some tea. Quickly."

Albus looked at Harry and saw that his father looked deeply uncomfortable.

Daphne led them into the sitting room, and once again Albus found himself sitting between Harry and Draco.

"It's just awful," Daphne said.

She has the Greengrass hands, Albus observed. Long, lithe fingers. Scorpius' hands.

"What have you been up to, Daphne?" Draco asked.

Harry looked at Draco and met Albus' eyes for only a brief moment, but Albus knew to be quiet.

"Oh, you know," she said with a smile. "The usual. Trying to help some of the pure-blood families get back on their feet. Rebuilding is a long process."

She looked at Harry just long enough that Albus shifted in his seat, uncomfortable.

"Do you know of anyone you've talked to who would kidnap my son?" Draco asked. "There are a few names being passed around of those who might be involved. Nott. Selwyn. Yaxley. Travers. Have you heard anything?"

Daphne shook her head as the nameless House Elf brought in tea and set it on the table before scurrying off. She gestured for them to take it, and they did. Albus pretended to take a sip, not taking his eyes from her.

"I haven't heard anything," Daphne said, drawing her legs up beneath her and leaning comfortably into the arm of her chair.

"I wasn't sure," Draco said. "I'd heard you and Angus Selwyn were friends - maybe he'd mentioned a relation who was... having trouble adjusting. Even after all this time."

Daphne shook her head again. "No. I haven't seen Angus in months now. We were never really close, you know."

Draco sighed in defeat.

"I just can't figure out who would want to hurt him," he said, looking at Harry as he leaned back into the sofa. "He's such a kind boy."

"I suppose there are some who still take issue with how much some of the families have changed," Daphne said, as if she didn't understand it herself, but she was a poor actress and a nervous tick above her eye betrayed her.

She knows something, Albus thought.

Draco took another sip of his tea. "I thought Scorpius was fortunate to come from two secure families. I never imagined something like this would happen."

"You never do," Daphne said piteously. "I'm sure Ainsley is in a quite a state over it."

Albus bit his tongue hard enough that it bled.

The rest of the conversation was pleasantries until Draco's teacup was empty and he set it aside.

"I suppose we'll be going," he said, looking to Harry coldly. "We'll need to be seeing if the Ministry has managed to find anything."

"That would be a shock," Daphne replied. She smiled snidely at Harry. "No offense."

"None taken," Harry replied stiffly, standing. "We'll be going now, then. Send us an owl if you hear of anything that could be of importance."

"Of course, I will," said Daphne. "I do hope you find him. It would be a shame for Astoria's only child to be stricken from the family tree."

Draco said his goodbyes, cool and calm, and let the Potters outside and up the street in silence. It wasn't until they reached the next block that any of them spoke.

"She knows something," Albus said through gritted teeth.

"She knows more than something," Draco replied, stopping to look at the Potters. "What do we do?"

"There is no way I can dig up enough for a warrant," Harry said. "Not with that conversation?"

"Can't we just break in and search the house?" Albus asked, impatient.

It's been two days, he thought. Anything could have happened.

"No," Harry said. "Although this time I'd like to. The best thing we can do is set up surveillance and wait for something to come up while we keep digging."

"That is completely insufficient," Draco said.

"I know," Harry answered. "But it's the best we have."

Scorpius hadn't earned breakfast. He'd managed to levitate the book for two minutes before it burst into flames.

He hadn't earned lunch, either. There were scorch marks atop the desk now.

He sat back against the column with his hands in his lap. At least they'd cuffed him in the front this time.

When he heard footsteps on the stairs, he scrambled to get up.

"Sit down," said Pansy Parkinson. "I'll only be here for a minute."

"What are you doing here?"

She withdrew a wrapped sandwich from her robes and handed it to him.

"You need to eat," she said.

At this point, Scorpius didn't much care where the food came from, and he took it gratefully, ripping off the paper and taking a huge bite.

"Just... don't tell Daphne that I gave it to you, okay?"

Scorpius looked up at her, confused, and she only met his eyes for a second before turning and leaving him in the dark.