The Hunt

Chapter 25

Where is Harry?

Remus had just finished with a small meeting of key figures in the Order of the Phoenix apprising them that their war may not be completely over. He did not want to tell them what Dumbledore had done nor who the possible new Dark Lord may be. It was possible that Grindelwald might leave things well alone after all it had been fifty-five years since his last reign of terror and he had been kept docile for all that time. Tonks had come up to him slipping an arm about his waist. "'ere now Remus, you do look good taking over the Order as you have." Brushing a wisp of orange hair from her eyes, he said "Oh how I wish I did not have to my love, how I wish." They had held the meeting in Tonks's flat as Hermione had finals to study for, and Ron had his last test to certify him to be an Auror first thing in the morning so he held a smaller meeting with them earlier and then let them have their evening to either study or relax. They both wanted to be at the meeting but Remus knew all too well where to strike and he did by telling Hermione, "Hermione your education is much more important than this, and Ron will be starting his new career after tomorrow, besides you both already know what I'm to say tonight, so stay home and support each other and relax."

Remus himself intended to get one good nights sleep before racing off to search once again for Harry and to have a night alone with his bride to be. He had just sat down in front of the fireplace and was waiting for Tonks to finish clearing up the clutter from the nights meeting when a soft knock at the door came. Tonks went to the door before he had the chance to rise. "'ere now wot's this?" Tonks said as a small green bundle hurtled itself past her and stopped at Lupin's seat. Dobby was breathing hard and fast and started tugging at Remus's pant leg to get him to follow but Remus reached down and dislodged Dobby's hand and held him away. "Dobby, what's wrong?" "Master Harry is hurt badly Dobby is to tell Mr. Remus that Prongs says to make haste!" At the mention of Prong's, Remus leapt to his feet. "Tonks, my coat please and a quick knapsack. Quickly now!" The roughness and sternness of his voice caused her not to question and she quickly gathered up the items that he requested.

"Dobby where is Harry?" Remus asked not all to politely either. Dobby looked perplexed and then agitation took over as he tried to think of where Harry really was. He didn't know. Shrugging his shoulders Dobby looked up at Remus and spread his hands outward and said "Dobby does not know where his Master is sir, but Dobby can take you to Master Harry sir." Remus had an idea of about where Harry may be but he simply asked "Dobby can elves perform what we wizards call side along apparation?" "Dobby can take small children sir, but Dobby is not knowing if he can take a man." Remus frowned at this and for a moment he was lost in thought trying to figure out how to follow Dobby to exactly where Harry was. Just then Tonks hurried into the living room carrying his cloak and a small knapsack. As she handed the requested items to him she spoke telling Remus that she had also packed several potions and ointments to help Harry with. As she helped Remus into his cloak he grabbed her hand and stared at the ring that he had given her so long ago and an idea came to him. Taking it off of her finger he said "My love I need to borrow this only for a little while. Dobby cannot take me directly to Harry and I will have need of it to find him. Tears came to her eyes as he removed the ring but she did understand why he needed it. Kissing her, he whispered in her ear "Your ring my love, will guide me to Harry. Once I am with him, I will have the elf return it to you immediately…, I promise you." Tonks stepped away from him and nodded to him but the tears still flowed freely down her cheeks.

Remus turned to Dobby and handed him the ring and told him so that Tonks could hear him plainly. Dobby this ring belongs to my heart so do not lose it. You will go to Harry and place it on his hand. Do no more than that, until I arrive. Do you understand?' Dobby nodded and took the ring very carefully and placed it into the breast pocket of his butler's uniform and then bowed to Tonks and spoke "lady I will guard you ring with my life and will forever be in your debt for your aid to my Master." And before anyone could say anything else he pop out of sight. Remus turned to kiss Tonks once again and then stepped outside of the flat and apparated.

Percy went back to his bedroom but he was now wide awake. The elves were acting very unnaturally and they were up to something. In fact that Dobby chap seemed very agitated by something and that something was not Winky's refusal to let him see his niece. "This has something to do with Harry," he muttered to himself as he sat down at his desk to try to figure out what was going on. Dressing himself he eased himself out of his room and quietly stepped back to Molly's room and listened through the door just in time to hear Dobby say that he was going to get Remus, and then all was quiet. He was about to go back to his room to puzzle through what he had heard when he heard someone enter the house down in the kitchen. Peering down the stairs he caught the shadow of a man moving about. Percy stepped down the stairs on at a time until he was able to see who had come in by the small candle light that was always alit in the kitchen. It was his brother Bill. "Ah Bill, you've finished with your meeting?" Startled, Bill turned around and saw Percy just entering the kitchen and smiled "Sorry Perc, I didn't mean to waken anyone." Bill had just taken his cloak off as Percy filled two mugs with some hot tea and offered one to his brother. "No Bill it wasn't you that woke me." He said. "The strangest thing just occurred. Do you have a moment?"

Bill took the offered mug and sat down at the table and indicated that Percy should do the same. "Something on your mind brother?" Percy st down and took a long sip of the tea before he began and then told Bill of everything that he had saw and heard. Bill listened carefully as Percy told him of the two elves arguing and Dobby seemingly being agitated over something that concerned Harry, or so he thought that way and when he finished speaking Bill remained silent for a long while. Finally Bill spoke up "Only one way to find out." Bill stood up and went to the door, opened it and then took his wand out. Percy thought he saw Bill speak to the wand and then a silvery wisp jetted from its tip. Bill put his wand away, closed the door and went back to his seat. "Well, we'll know what its about in just a few moments I think." Percy looked questionably at Bill with a raised eyebrow. "I sent a message to Remus or Tonks to ask what it was that Dobby needed. I think if you open the window a bit we'll have our answer soon enough." Bill said as he took another sip of his tea.

Both men turned to look as the all too familiar creak of their Mothers bedroom door alerted them that Molly had opened it. She entered into the kitchen white with fear and both boys jumped to their feet. "Mother what is it, what's wrong?" it was Percy that asked the question. Molly was carrying her clock with her and turned it so the boys could see it. Harry's hand was now pointing to "Mortal Peril." Bill took her by the arm as Percy rushed to get her a mug of the tea they were drinking, and as Bill sat her down at the table Percy placed the mug in front of her. "I, I just had this feeling that Harry was in trouble. No it was more like a dream I think. A woman told me in my sleep. I, I'm not sure but it woke me up and there was the clock just laying there. I don't remember putting it there but the hands…," Molly trailed off and took a long drink from the mug of tea. "Mum, Perc was just telling me of a conversation he overheard that woke him up too. It was the elves. Dobby wanted to get Remus, so I just sent an inquiry, we should have word any moment." Molly looked to Percy who only nodded in agreement with what Bill had just said.

The three of them sat silent and sullen around the table sipping their tea waiting for an answer to bill's message when the kitchen door opened and in walked both Ron and Hermione still dressed in their night clothes. They all stared blankly at each other and then Hermione broke the silence. "Ron had the strangest dream…, and we had to find out. Is it true?" Percy got up and poured two more cups of tea for the newcomers and set the pot about to make some more tea. Molly patted to table next to her and they both sat down as Bill repeated what they all knew thus far which was not much. Ron just sat there looking into his tea as if trying to read the tea leaves and Hermione reached out to hold Molly's hand as the five of them sat around the kitchen table in silence waiting for word of what was happening. After a few moments Percy left the room only to return moments later and he said "Winky is gone." The looks on the faces of the others forced him to explain that he had gone to Molly's bedroom to ask her to come down and answer a few questions but she was no where to be found.

The Weasley's all sat about the kitchen sipping hot tea while the one candle cast its small light on the sullen faces. Hermione left the room to go upstairs to look in on her daughter, she hadn't really seen her in days and she somehow needed the warmth of Molly's constantly shining face, if only to look upon to lighten her heart. Slipping inside the room, Hermione lit the tip of her wand. She didn't want to find any of Molly's toys under foot. A sudden curiosity took her over and she went to look in the nightstand where just a few days earlier George had returned Molly's wand. It wasn't there. Molly stirred in her sleep and Hermione bent over to kiss her cheek. Molly was sleeping with her wand in hand. Hermione only smiled, she knew what she had seen the other day but she wasn't going to take it away. Molly was extremely advanced for her age, very advanced and she was proud of her daughter especially dense Molly's only indiscretion whus far with the wand was to keep Crookshanks wary and on his toes. It did seem that he was rather fond of Molly and even fonder of his own natural color. She was very happy that Molly had Crookshanks to look after her daughter and even happier to know that her daughter had to house elves that seemed to have made it their personal mission in life to ensure a proper upbringing as well as proper playmates and she was very certain that Dobby was instructing Molly in not only playful magics but defensive ones as well. Molly was most definitely a Weasley. A very spoiled one if Fred and George had their way and quite possibly one with a most perverted sense of humor. Though the twins were truly the most, Hermione would not have them any other way around her daughter. Already three years old, Molly was certainly intelligent and she showed it but she also knew how to have fun in life as well. "I missed out on that baby, but don't you stop having fun," she whispered to her daughter.

Molly stirred again and opened her eyes and smiled "Mummy." She whispered. "Yes dear mummy's here baby." Hermione sat on the edge of the bed and drew Molly up into her arms and held her. "Mummy, are you here because Uncle Harry is hurt?" Hermione just looked at her daughter for a short moment and then asked if Winky or Dobby had told her that or if she had heard them arguing. Molly nestled her head into Hermione's shoulder and shook her head and said, still whispering, "The white birdie came to take Dobby and she told me." Hermione frowned for a moment and the said softly "Hedwig?" I dunno her name but she looked very pretty mummy and she was funny too." "How was she funny sweetheart?" "She twied to pick Dobby up and take him and then she dwopped him. It was funny. She kept biting him until I had to say what she wanted. Dobby is silly he wasn't listening to her." "Molly dear, were you able to hear what the white birdie was saying?' "Do you hear other animals baby?" Hermione was now very curious now. "Only sometimes." "Do you hear Crookshanks?" Hermione was prodding now. "Uh-huh, but only when we're pwaying all alone, Cookchanks will talk to me, and sometimes I can hear what the doggie down the stweet says too."

Hermione wasn't sure how to take this information. She was both awed by it and shocked by it as well. She had always thought that Dumbledore had this very rare, was it a talent or a gift? She wasn't sure about that but decided that it could be both. "Molly, what else did the white birdie say to Dobby when he wasn't listening to her?" "She said that Uncle Harry's mummy and daddy were there with him and they were watching over him and…," she stuck a finger into the corner of her mouth and furrowed her brows as if she was thinking very hard and then continued. "She said that Uncle Harry had broken his back and that Dobby was to bring Uncle Remus right away…, that Prong's asked for Uncle Remus. Mummy who is Prong's?" Hermione had gasped when Molly mentioned Prong's and let out a stifled cry when Harry's back was mentioned. Hermione hugged her daughter just as Molly yawned. "Do you want to see daddy before you go back to sleep?' Molly only nodded and nestled even deeper into Hermione's arms as she rose to her feet carrying Molly back down to the kitchen.

Hermione entered the kitchen quietly and Molly had already fallen back to sleep in her arms but she still handed her over to Ron who took her into his arms and kissed her and then settled Molly so that she could sleep nestled in the crook of his arm and shoulder. After a moment he stood up and went into the family room and pointed his wand at the fireplace and muttered "Incendio." At once a small fire burst into the hearth and cast a glow that equaled to gloom that everyone was feeling. Ron sat down on the couch and holding Molly just stared into the fire in silence. After a few moments Hermione followed him and set down next to him moving Molly just enough so she could lest against him. One by one the rest of the Weasley's followed the two into the living taking sets in the silence and the gloom and together they began their vigilance. Minutes went by or maybe it was hours when a soft knock at the door caused Percy to stir. He rose to see whom it was and returned to take his set leading Tonks in behind him. Bill got up and offered his seat to her but she just shook her head and in a hoarse whisper said "Nothing yet." and took the empty space on the couch near Hermione and Ron. After a few moments Tonks looked to Bill and said simply "Fleur?" Bill shook his head and said "She's still asleep. She doesn't know either."

A soft tap on Ron's shoulder woke him up, it was his mother who had woken him and it was early morning. The smell of eggs and bacon wafted from the kitchen as Ron stretched out his arms and untangled himself from Molly and Hermione as he eased himself up into a sitting position. "Any word mum?' Ron asked quietly. Molly placed a finger to her lips and motioned for him to come to the kitchen. Before talking so as not to disturb the others who had fallen asleep where they sat. The gloom that had filled the night still hung over the Burrow as Ron stood stretching his sore back and cramped legs before following the elder Molly in for his breakfast. Fleur and Tonks were already setting at the table when he entered and took his own seat. Fleur reached over to pat his shoulders and murmured something to the effect that Harry would be alright. Tonks lifted her head and Ron saw that her eyes were swollen and red. She had either stayed awake all night or she had been crying but Ron suspected that it might have been a little bit of both or a lot but definitely both.

He looked at the plate that his mother set before him but he only stared at it. He had no appetite this morning but his mother told him to tuck in saying that he had to have something in his stomach to help with his final test he had to take. Half-heartily Ron began to pick at his food and then finally he began to eat. Tonks then told him that she had received word from Remus during the night and by his first report, things were not good for Harry. Taking another sip of her tea Tonks took a deep breath before continuing on. "Remus has set and repaired Harry's arm and said that he had been cut up pretty badly and he has dressed those wounds but his spine has been severed in two places and he cannot move him for fear of causing any more damage." Ron continued eating, mechanically and most to have something to do as he listened to news that caused him more grief than he could remember except for the death of his father. Tonks seeing his silence as him waiting for more information continued her report, "He's been placed in the full body bind curse so he cannot move and then transported him to his campsite to get him out of the elements." Ron finally looked up showing no emotion and asked, "Why doesn't he bring him here?" Molly came to her son and hugged him and then looked him in the eyes and said very firmly "Ron we trust Remus's decision, if he feels that Harry cannot be brought here for some reason then I respect that and you must do the same. I'm sure that it's because he feels that Harry cannot be brought this far without further injury. Now I want you to finish your breakfast, pass your test, get your position and make your father proud of you today. Harry will be fine I know it and so do you…, deep down you know he'll be alright." Ron pushed his plate away and rose to hug his mum. "I need to go mum…, I need to shower and change before I go for testing." Without saying goodbye Ron walked outside of the Burrow and disappeared.

The mood at the Burrow was subdued as the Weasley's began their day. Bill had wanted to take the day off but Molly would not allow it. She did tell Hermione to run home for some clothes for her and Ron and insisted that she bring her study books back with her arguing that there was no point in her daughter-in-law wasting study time even if she could only pay half of the attention her books deserved plus it would help to keep her busy and from underfoot. Molly had a rough smile on her face when she mentioned the last part about being underfoot. "Normal routine that's what we need around here, normal routine. There's no sense in just setting around waiting when we know as much as there is to know right now." She had said this more for herself than anyone else and the others knew it but did as was suggested if only half hearted. Little Molly seemed unaffected by the mood of the others but she seemed to sense that she should perhaps stay out of the way, so she occupied herself during the morning by playing at degnomeing the garden. She couldn't throw very far, only a few feet but she laughed as she watched the gnomes walk around as if in a drunken stupor after she had twirled them before tossing them into the air.

It was mid-morning when little Molly's shrieks of "Mummy, the white birdie!" brought the ladies of the house all outside as Hedwig zoomed straight for little Molly. Molly held her arms out as if to catch Hedwig when the older Molly retrieved her first. "The poor thing she's exhausted." Molly muttered as she took the note from Hedwig's leg. She handed Hedwig down to little Molly who immediately held her as if she were a baby and Hedwig was willing to just lay there on her back and being cradled. Hermione touched Molly's arm and said "Sweetheart take Hedwig into the house and give her something to eat and drink please." "Okay mummy," and she turned to do as she was told. When little Molly left to go inside the elder Molly had un-rolled the note and read aloud.

"I need to consult with Madame Pomfrey but cannot afford to arrive at Hogwarts without arising suspicion and causing questions. Harry is taking food and water and has seemed to stabilize but I cannot risk moving him any further than I already have. I will arrive late this evening if some one will alert her to meet me at the Burrow with her bag. Tell her that it is for the Order and she will not question. I have placed a spell on Harry's owl to cause her to fly twice as fast so if some one would have Hagrid look her over before allowing her to return. You may have to restrain her as I do not think she has rested and worry for her as well.

Remus

Molly tucked the note into her apron saying that she would take care of this personally. Taking a few steps away from the others she let out a small exclamation as she was still wearing her night clothes underneath her apron. Red faced she allowed herself the time to go back inside to change into regular clothes. As she stepped back outside she whispered into Hermione's ear before disappearing.

Hermione turned to go back inside to see what Molly was talking about. Molly was setting near the fireplace with Hedwig nestled into the crook of her arm and she was stroking her feathers and whispering to her. "Its okay Heddig, Uncle Harry is going to be okay. Winky said so. Now go to sleep." As Hermione stood watching she saw that Molly was actually rocking Hedwig while talking to her. As Hedwig's eyes closed tightly Hermione slipped up beside her daughter and reached down to stroke Hedwig's feathers herself and felt the anxiety and weariness sleep away from Hedwig. "Did you feed her honey?" Hermione asked quietly. Molly nodded her head and then placed a finger to her lips and whispered "Shh, mummy she's sweeping." Hermione make one last stroke of Hedwig's feathers and then smiled down to her daughter and placed her own finger to her lips and said very softly "You take good care of her honey, you're her nurse." Little Mooly held her finger to her lips and continued to rock Hedwig in her arms.