This chapter has a little bit of a scary scene in it towards the end! FYI! I hope you've been enjoying it so far!
Chapter 13: To the rescue
"Hermione! What? How?!..." Ron stammered
"Miss me?" she said cutely.
"Y-yeah of course! Like mad! H-how'd you find me though?!"
Hermione smirked, proud of her intuition. "I had a strong hunch that Hedwig flew to you after she made contact with me because of the direction I saw her flying in. I knew she was flying towards Egypt to find you. I read that owls can flee their residence for help in cases of emergencies and they will fly to their owner's loved ones and/or guardians."
"Y-yeah right!" said Ron. "So you somehow knew I would come back to the Burrow?"
"Yeah, it was my first guess," said Hermione. "Although I didn't think you would be by yourself to be honest."
"Yeah…" said Ron. "Charlie was able to apparate me back here, although it wasn't exactly a pleasant experience, let me tell you. Everyone else seemed to think Dumbledore had everything under control, but I didn't think so. He's so busy all the time. Plus, Hedwig has never seen Harry with Dumbledore, so Hedwig probably doesn't know about him and Harry. I bet Hedwig never made it to Hogwarts."
"Yeah...poor bird...I really should get my own owl…" said Hermione.
"It's alright. I still don't technically have my own owl either…" said Ron.
Ron welcomed Hermione inside. They hugged and even kissed shortly, but refrained from too much more so they could remain focused on their mission to rescue Harry.
"So how'd you get away from your parents?" asked Ron.
Hermione looked embarrassed. "I told them I needed to help Harry and that I was going to go find you, and they didn't approve. So I ran away and was able to pay to use a portkey to come to Ottery St. Catchpole."
"Hermione!" breathed Ron.
"I know…" said Hermione miserably. "I know they'll be mad, but I had to! Harry is everything to me! I know he is to you too! We can't just sit idly by knowing he's in trouble when Hedwig came to us for help!"
"That's what I was thinking!" said Ron. "I...sort of had to run away from my family too. Dad probably will understand...I hope, but Mum will kill me. I know it. But I don't care at the moment."
Hermione grabbed his hand. "We have to do this. Our consciences won't let us rest until we save Harry."
"Exactly…" said Ron, squeezing her hand. "By the way, last night I was able to fly to Surrey to Privet Drive to see if Harry really was gone, and I confirmed it. Harry's uncle was a complete arse to me and told me he was glad Harry was gone."
Hermione cupped her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide. "That fiend! I can't believe Harry has to live with such awful relatives!"
"Oh I know," said Ron, still mad at Harry's Uncle Vernon.
"We should go to Dumbledore! He'll know what to do!" said Hermione.
"You mean, go to Hogwarts?" asked Ron. "Is he even there right now? School's not in session."
"Where else would he be?" asked Hermione.
"I don't know. London? The Ministry? I guess he could still be at Hogwarts."
"We came all this way. We might as well try for him at Hogwarts. Even if we can't find him, someone at Hogwarts needs to know that Harry is in trouble," said Hermione wisely.
"Right," said Ron. "Can you fly a broomstick?"
"You know I can't, but I wish I could."
"Well then, you'll have to ride with me on the beater broom I've been using," said Ron.
"That's fine. I'll just hold on tight to you," she said sweetly, batting her eyelids.
"We can't apparate, and I don't feel comfortable using a portkey since Hogwarts has so many protective enchantments. I've heard that you can still fly on a broom if the protective enchantments detect that you are a student at the school though," said Ron.
"Nice," said Hermione. "Let's do it."
And they were off. Ron led the way with Hermione keeping a tight hug around his midsection. They flew for about two hours, having to nearly yell to keep conversation in midair. Then after flying over a mountain ridge in the Scottish Highlands, they finally arrived at a massive forest, a massive lake, and, in front of the massive lake, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which, conveniently enough, was invisible to Muggles and surrounded by "No Trespassing" signs.
Ron and Hermione passed an invisible barrier that caused the broom to shudder for a bit before returning to normal.
"Must be the protective enchantment for broom flyers!" said Hermione into Ron's ear as they zoomed towards the castle.
They finally arrived on the grounds, the evening drawing on. Luckily it was summer, so they still had a few more hours of daylight.
They arrived just beyond the lake where the boats usually dropped off the first year students and walked up to the castle entrance, rather stiff from sitting on the broom for so long and also having crazy wind-blown hair.
"Normally this spell wouldn't work on Hogwarts' castle doors, but I bet I can use alohamora on the entrance since it's summer and school's not in session," said Hermione.
"Can't hurt to try it, right?" said Ron.
"You'd be surprised," said Hermione shrewdly, "But yeah, it's worth a try this time of year."
She grabbed her wand and murmured, "alohamora," on the castle door, which made a loud clicking noise.
"Yes!" said Ron in excitement.
They opened the door and found an empty castle. It was terribly strange being the only people in Hogwarts.
"Let's go to the Great Hall!" said Ron, his voice echoing through the quiet castle walls.
"No one will be in there will they?" said Hermione.
"Let's just check it out," said Ron. "I kinda just want to see what it looks like when it's totally empty."
"Oh, alright," said Hermione.
In no time at all they reached the entrance to the Great Hall. The doors were open, and, sitting inside, by himself, at the faculty table in the far corner of the Hall was none other than Argus Filch, having an early supper of soup and bread and reading a magazine.
"Eh?" said Filch, looking up and noticing two young people in the doorway. "Oi! What're you doing here?! Get outta here! No students allowed!"
"We need to see Professor Dumbledore! It's very urgent!" yelled Hermione across the Hall.
Filch grumbled. "Fine! But I'll need to take ya myself! Ya lot better clear outta here once you're done!"
Filch emerged grumpily from a seat normally occupied by Professor Snape and made his way down to meet Ron and Hermione. Soon, and seemingly out of nowhere, Filch's cat, Mrs. Norris, appeared to join the escort.
Ron and Hermione awkwardly followed Filch and Mrs. Norris from behind, exchanging looks whenever Filch would grumble to himself, muttering things like "in my day…" and "good for nothing…" and "don't pay me enough…"
They made it to the gargoyle statue guarding the headmaster's entrance.
"He might be there. He might not," said Filch with a sneer. "Wait on 'em. He should make an appearance this evening. You're lucky you came when you did. Sometimes he's gone for days on end in the summer."
Ron and Hermione exchanged nervous glances.
"Reese's Peanut Butter Cups," said Filch. Ron looked confused. Hermione giggled, unable to control her laughter.
"Off you go, then," snarled Filch, motioning for them to enter the upwardly moving spiral staircase behind the gargoyle.
Ron almost made a comment about the password when Hermione chimed, "It's a Muggle candy. I think it's American."
"Ahh," said Ron.
They arrived in Dumbledore's study. Neither of them had ever been in his office before. It was amazing, seeing the shelves full of books, windows revealing another side to the castle they'd never noticed before, Fawkes, his pet Phoenix sitting quietly on his perch, and all of the various magical objects in the room that even Ron and Hermione had no clue what they were.
They thought that Dumbledore was not in the room at first. Ron tugged at Hermione and said, "Look Hermione! It's…"
"A Pensieve?" called out a familiar voice from above the staircase.
"Sir!" said Ron. "I...we didn't see you."
"That's quite alright. And to what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you two fine young Gryffindors in the middle of summer holiday?" asked Professor Dumbledore politely.
"Sir, it's Harry," said Hermione quickly. "He's in trouble."
"Harry?" said Dumbledore, his countenance changing instantly.
"He...We both had Harry's owl fly to us recently without any mail. The owl was screeching and pecking madly. I figured it was a distress call," began Hermione.
"I went to the Dursley's house last night to check on him, but they said he'd disappeared. They didn't know where he'd gone to, and they didn't care," said Ron angrily.
Dumbledore's demeanor looked dark. "I'm very glad you came to me, Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger. I must have a word with Petunia Dursley about this. She should have immediately notified me when he disappeared. I shall check the wizard and witch registry for current Hogwarts' students to track Harry's whereabouts. I assure you, whoever is directly responsible for Harry's mislocation will without a doubt be sent to Azkaban."
Ron and Hermione gulped at the severity of the situation but also felt relieved, knowing that Dumbledore would take care of the matter.
"Miss Granger, will you please find Minerva McGonagall and bring her to me please? We must act immediately."
"Yes, professor," said Hermione obediently, also rather excited on reuniting with her favorite professor at Hogwarts, even if it was under dire circumstances.
Hermione left, leaving Ron and Dumbledore alone in the study.
"Are there any clues that Hedwig left when she came to you?" asked Dumbledore to Ron.
"No sir, she was exhausted when she finally made it to me. Our family was in Egypt on vacation, see? She just collapsed when she finally arrived, but my brother, Charlie, was the one who pointed out that Harry was in trouble, noticing the lack of a package."
"When is the last time you heard from Harry?" asked Dumbledore.
"A couple of weeks ago. I told him I was leaving for Egypt with my family and he sent me a note just wishing me well and that I'd see him when we all got back to school."
Dumbledore thought for a moment. "There is no possible way Voldemort is behind this, because he currently resides in a weakened state somewhere in the forests of Albania."
Ron winced at the name and at the thought.
"However, if Harry is missing, I highly suspect that it is because of one of his followers who has not given up their old ways trying to finish what Voldemort started," said Dumbledore darkly.
"Right…" murmured Ron weakly.
"Harry has been kidnapped," said Dumbledore plainly. "We will find the culprit though, I assure you."
Ron gulped.
Hermione returned with Professor McGonagall, both of whom had worried looks on their faces.
"Is it true, Albus?" said McGonagall. "Harry Potter has been kidnapped?"
"I'm afraid so, Minerva," said Dumbledore grimly. "My Hogwarts' registry tells me he isn't at the Dursleys as he should be."
"How could this have happened?" said McGonagall.
"Only someone with very powerful magic could break Lily Potter's protective enchantments around the Dursleys' residence," said Dumbledore, "Or...something…"
"You mean, other creatures that can weld magic more powerful than humans?" asked Ron.
"Precisely," said Dumbledore. "The first one that comes to mind would be house-elves. Their magic is known to surpass that of most skilled wizards, in fact."
Ron and Hermione's eyes bulged. "DOBBY!" they both screamed.
"Pardon?" said Dumbledore.
"Dobby the house-elf!" they cried in unison.
"Dobby accidentally almost killed Harry last year! I'd bet you anything, he's the one that took Harry from the Dursleys!" exclaimed Ron.
"But why would he?" asked Hermione, turning to Ron. "Dobby always meant to help Harry…"
Dumbledore frowned in thought. "If he is still under the orders of his master, he must do as he is commanded, within certain limits. We do have certain wizarding laws set in place so that house-elves cannot directly kill or torture humans under the command of their masters," said Dumbledore. "Minerva, get me the house-elf registry. I believe I know who Dobby belongs to, but I want to double-check before I investigate any further."
She proceeded to rummage through piles of parchment behind a bookcase in Dumbledore's study before muttering a spell that conjured the registry for her.
"Here it is, headmaster," said McGonagall.
Dumbledore looked only for a moment. "Ahh, but of course," he said, almost amused. "Dobby is the house-elf of the Malfoys."
Ron and Hermione's jaws dropped.
"No way!" said Ron.
"You can't be serious!" exclaimed Hermione.
"It appears that Dobby is currently in a remote location, a location that very few wizards and witches know about," said Dumbledore, examining the map attached to the magic house-elf registry. "A place on the far side of the Forbidden Forest as it lies to the west, very close to Darkness Cave.
Ron and Hermione had puzzled looks.
"I've never heard of that location in my Hogwarts: A History book," said Hermione.
"That is because it is technically off school property, but well spotted, Miss Granger," said Dumbledore, smiling. "There is still part of the Forbidden Forest that yet remains to be explored, but access to this Cave is possible."
"Let's go! We're ready!" said Ron.
"Yeah!" agreed Hermione.
"I'm afraid, for liability's sake that I cannot ask you to partake in this rescue mission. However, I assure you that Professor McGonagall and I will have everything under control and will personally ensure that Harry is taken to number four, Privet Drive."
"But sir," began Ron to interject.
Dumbledore held up a hand, making his resolve final. "Minerva, if you would please escort Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger back to their means of transportation so they can depart for their homes. I will meet you in front of the castle."
"Yes, headmaster," said Professor McGonagall.
Ron and Hermione joined their transfiguration teacher in leaving the headmaster's study, bidding him farewell. It was a long, awkward walk back to the entrance to the castle. The only interjection was when McGonagall told them, "I don't know how you two made it here by yourselves, but we will find Potter. I promise you."
"Thank you, professor. He means everything to us," said Hermione.
"To us as well," said McGonagall, rather sadly.
McGonagall made sure that Ron and Hermione mounted the broom and were off before she and Dumbledore made their way to Darkness Cave.
Ron and Hermione were flying back, Hermione grabbing onto his midsection just like before to stay on the broom.
"The whole time we were walking back," shouted Ron behind him to Hermione as she leaned up to him to listen better, "I was wishing that McGonagall would change Dumbledore's mind and let us go with them."
"They'll handle it, Ron," said Hermione into Ron's ear. "The important thing is that we told them. I'm dying to see Harry though. I wonder what he's been doing this whole time…"
(meanwhile)
"Dobby! Help!" shouted Harry quickly. Dobby snapped his fingers, and created a forcefield around Harry. A giant bear, a bear bigger than any brown bear Harry had ever seen a picture of, a bear that must've weighed as much as a small truck, was charging him. Dobby had fortunately knocked it out with the forcefield that he had conjured.
"Thanks," said Harry weakly, staring down at the dead bear, blood oozing from its skull where it charged at the forcefield. "I-I don't think my magic is powerful enough to take out a bear like that…" he said dejectedly.
"Dobby is merely sorry that Harry is forced to stay out here," said Dobby miserably. "Dobby is forced to serve his master, and Dobby cannot break his master's wishes although he can bend his master's wishes to a certain extent," he said with a small smile.
"Is there any way you can be freed?" asked Harry.
"I must be presented with clothes by my master," said Dobby. "It is not likely that that will happen."
Harry felt miserable. He had been out in the forest for five days now. His hair was oily. His glasses were even more broken. He had been living off of a young roe that he had put the full body bind curse on and was able to kill it with a small bow and arrow he had Dobby help him make. Dobby was also able to help Harry increase the quantity of the small amount of food that it offered, and Harry used the bluebell flames spell to cook the deer meat over a pile of twigs and branches he had gathered. The gigantic bear was the only one that came up to Harry to attack him in the five days of being stranded with Dobby. Twice a giant had come by pretty close but never noticed Harry or the deer meat, much to Harry and Dobby's relief. Harry had considered sleeping at the entrance of the Darkness Cave, but once he stepped past a visible threshold, not only could he not see the hand in front of his face, but he couldn't see out into the Forest either. Also, it also supernaturally made him feel scared and sad, which he assumed was part of the "darkness which may be felt," part that Dobby was talking about. Harry eventually resorted to sleeping on the rock just outside the cave entrance, which made him incredibly sore and was hard to sleep on. He felt more safe on it, however, than sleeping on the floor of the Forest.
Harry and Dobby mostly passed the days asking each other about what the other one's life used to be like. It provided lots of conversation fodder. Harry and Dobby both played a few games with the fire, trying to get it to change color or seeing how tall they could make it when they were sure the coast was clear. Harry was always on edge, however, thinking that Dobby's master would come at any moment and do Merlin knows what to him.
Sure enough, on the fifth evening of Harry being stranded, as twilight was setting in, Harry and Dobby were sitting by the bluish flames when a loud popping noise startled Harry so much that he screamed and, to his horror, Lucius Malfoy had appeared 15 feet away from him, much in the same way that Harry must've done so with Dobby.
"Potter…" said Lucius slowly, his eyes crazy and his face creepy against the firelight and the lack of natural light. His blonde hair looked disheveled and unkempt. "I was hoping your being stranded in the Forest would eliminate you. My house-elf's presence lacking, however, tells me otherwise. You have managed to survive in this horrid forest?"
"M-Mr. Malfoy!" said Harry, feeling intimidated that they were the only two humans, presumably for hundreds of miles. Dobby merely whimpered helplessly, knowing that he could not directly or indirectly disobey his master in front of him. "It's you?!"
"Yes, it was me…" snarled Lucius. "I wanted the Forest to kill you so I wouldn't have to do it myself, considering I have a valuable reputation to uphold. I summoned my house-elf once I found out that he so treacherously betrayed me in going to seek after you last year when he found out my wretched plan to sabotage the Weasley girl. I found out that he knew your address, and I commanded him to use his powerful magic to summon you to a place I was sure would kill you."
"YOU'RE THE ONE WHO SLIPPED GINNY THAT DIARY?!" bellowed Harry. He was completely enraged now, barely containing his fury because of the fear of knowing that Mr. Malfoy was a grown man and, presumably, a highly skilled wizard himself. Harry had his hand clutched very tightly around his holly and phoenix-feather wand.
Malfoy suddenly had a scary smile on his face. "YES POTTER, IT WAS ME!" he said loudly. Harry was utterly terrified. "I CAN'T STAND THOSE BLOOD TRAITORS JUST LIKE I CAN'T STAND YOU!"
Harry winced. He was shaking from fear but held his ground as Lucius Malfoy stared at him with a crazed look.
"The Dark Lord will reward me...one day...you have only gotten lucky these few times, wretched boy, but no longer. Crucio!"
Harry felt as though hot knives were stabbing into various parts of his body. As much as he tried not to scream to satisfy Lucius, he couldn't help but yell as the severe pain covered his entire body. Whatever this deplorable spell was, he wished it didn't exist.
Harry's eyes were shut tight in pain. However, one time he was able to peek through his cracked eyes to see Lucius Malfoy standing down over him, that same creepy smile covering his face, as if he was possessed.
Suddenly, the pain ceased immediately, but Harry was too exhausted, physically, mentally and emotionally, to open his eyes. For some reason the desire to sleep overwhelmed him, and he was having a wonderful dream about him and Dobby flying around in the sky without brooms or wands. It was such a lovely dream.
(While Harry was asleep)
"Expelliarmus!" bellowed an older female voice. Lucius Malfoy's wand had flown out of his hand into McGonagall's hand as Malfoy was also flown forward from the blast of the spell. McGonagall and Dumbledore had just apparated behind him without his knowing. Dumbledore had eased Harry's pain with a spell that neither McGonagall nor Malfoy knew, apparently the reverse to the cruciatus curse.
Dumbledore then bound Lucius and forced him to look at them, his creepy smile faded now, only replaced by a face of intense, insane rage.
"Lucius!" bellowed Dumbledore angrily, commanding his wand at Lucius with his long fingers, glaring at him over his half-moon spectacles. "Your actions can ALWAYS be traced! Do not think that your connections to Fudge will allow you to escape unscathed!"
"How...did you find…" gurgled Malfoy, apparently somewhere between catching his breath and choking on something invisible due to a curse Dumbledore had placed on him.
"We have ways of finding our students, Lucius. Surely you knew that Hogwarts keeps a tab on every student that attends the school? Not to mention, we know the whereabouts of every house-elf in the British Isles."
"Thought you...couldn't find…" choked Malfoy.
"Ahh so you thought Fudge didn't allow Hogwarts' Headmasters access to that kind of information?" said Dumbledore with mock casualness. "I'm afraid you are quite mistaken."
"You will receive the full punishment for your crimes," said McGonagall. "You will hereby be charged with kidnapping, torturing, and abusing an underage wizard."
"No!" choked Malfoy.
"Couldn't resist fulfilling your old master's wishes, Lucius?" asked Dumbledore darkly. "I knew you weren't really under the Imperius Curse all those years. You were too politically savvy not to think straight. You were lucky I couldn't convince the others in the Wizengamot at the time of your treachery to the Ministry, but this is irrefutable proof. We will take your wand in and prove that you used the Cruciatus Curse with this wand to torture none other than Harry Potter himself!"
Lucius yelled like a maniac, but his voice was muffled and gurgled by whatever spell Dumbledore had used. Dumbledore successfully knocked Lucius out with another spell. Then, McGonagall apparated herself and Lucius to London to be submitted for questioning, while Dumbledore apparated an unconscious Harry back to number four, Privet Drive, leaving a very confused Dobby by himself in the woods, huddled behind a tree.
"Hello?" said Dobby. "Helllllooooooooooo? Is anybody still here?"
(Meanwhile)
Ron and Hermione made it back to the Burrow. The sun had set and Hermione was nestled up against Ron until the time came for them to dismount the broom. They were hoping to have somewhat of a romantic evening when they got back. They were holding hands, satisfied with what they had done for the day, knowing that Harry was presumably protected. Although they didn't know what they had planned next, it had appeared that whatever their immediate plans were gonna be, those would be put to a halt because the most shocking scene awaited Ron and Hermione when Ron opened the back door to the Burrow, the smile on his face quickly wiped off: Mr. and Mrs. Granger and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were standing in the living room, murderous looks on their faces, hands on their hips, as they made eye contact with their children.