Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the wonderful wizarding world and all credit must be given to Ms. JK Rowling, however, anything unrecognisable is of my own creation.
Chapter 7: The Missing Marauder
He's runaway from home. It's really happening. I felt numb, as I'd re-read Sirius's letter. I didn't know what to do. I knew Sirius eventually ends up living at Potter Manor, but I didn't know how that arrangement came about. I was motionless for several minutes. I was now panicking. I knew I could use the fireplace in the Hospital Wing to get to Potter Manor, which is the first place I thought of going. Luckily, I have a small stash of floo powder just for such emergencies. I scribbled Dumbledore a letter, explaining where I was going, before hurrying down to the Hospital Wing. The Hospital Wing was deserted, so no one caught me as I stepped into the fireplace. I threw the floo powder.
'Potter Manor!' The green flames erupted around me, and the next second, I was stumbling unannounced into the Potters' living room, where Dorea was sat reading. Dorea looked up as the fireplace burst into flames: her voice was laced with astonishment as she spoke.
'Hermione!' I must've looked frantic, because I'm feeling rather hysterical right now. Dorea led me to a chair, before calling Charlus and James: she returned a moment later, and knelt in front of me. 'Hermione, what's the matter?' I found myself speechless, meaning there was silence until Charlus entered the living room.
'What is it, love?' Dorea glanced towards her husband.
'It's Hermione; she just arrived through the fireplace. She's rather distraught.' Charlus wondered over to stand beside Dorea.
'Is she hurt?' Dorea's eyes ran over me.
'I don't think so... Hermione, tell us what's happened.' I attempted to respond this time, but just gasped. There was a moment of silence, before James walked into the living room; he froze when he saw me.
'Hermione!' I glanced towards James, and attempted to speak.
'I... I... I heard from Sirius! He's... He's runaway from home!' I pulled Sirius's letter out of my pocket. Charlus took the letter, reading it once, before reading it out loud to Dorea and James. I watched James's face fall, whilst Dorea summoned a calming draught for me. I drank the calming draught, as Dorea tucked my hair behind my ears and spoke.
'Shhh, sweetie, it's okay. We will find Sirius... Does Albus know you're here?' I nodded.
'I, I sent him a letter.' Dorea smiled.
Dorea and Charlus have gone out to search for Sirius, leaving me and James at the manor. Dorea told Dumbledore that I'd be spending the night at Potter Manor. I'm currently sat watching James pacing back and forth in the living room. The calming draught Dorea gave me was pretty strong, meaning I am now feeling completely mellow and a little out of it. I just listened as James ranted.
'I can't believe him! Why would he pull a stunt like this?!... and without telling me! I mean we're practically brothers! You'd think he'd tell me!' James then summoned his two-way mirror, which he proceeded to yell into. 'SIRIUS! ANSWER ME!' I became a little emotional as James shouted, meaning I snapped at him.
'James! Stop it!' James froze: he frowned, as he noticed that I'd gotten upset.
'Awww Mynee...' The next second, I was hugging James. 'Shhh. Mynee, it's all right.' I sniffled.
'Sorry, I snapped.' James chuckled.
'No I probably deserved it. Sorry for yelling.' I rested my head on James's shoulder. There was silence for a moment, before I spoke again.
'Where'd you think he'd go?' James sighed.
'Merlin knows, this is Padfoot we're talking about; he's not exactly predictable. I'll help search tomorrow, and check the Shrieking Shack.' I nodded.
'Thanks for staying with me. Do you think he's got his two-way mirror with him?' James smirked.
'Definitely, he wouldn't leave home without it... and I know he's heard me, he's just obviously not in the mood to respond.' I stared towards James's two-way mirror for a moment, before speaking.
'Can I have a go?' James seemed stunned for a moment, before scrambling to his feet. He scooped the two-way mirror up off the coffee table, and handed it to me. I gazed into the two-way mirror, which at present just seemed like a normal mirror.
'Siri...' The atmosphere was tense as James and I waited for any sort of response; and I was just about to give up, when the view in the mirror changed. Sirius. He was there for a split second, before disappearing without a word. I spoke. 'Please, Siri, come to the Potters'.' I then put the two-way mirror down and rested my head against James's shoulder, which was where I fell to sleep that evening.
I'd returned to Hogwarts, but there's still no sign of Sirius. It's been three days now: the searching is driving James insane; he's been out aimlessly searching on his broomstick everyday from sunrise to sunset. I could tell that James is getting worried. Dorea and Charlus have taken a more logical approach to searching, but so far they've not found any leads. I have spent most of the three days doped up on calming draught, because at the moment I'm hysterical without it. I'm currently sat in the common room, staring into the fireplace. I'm not sure what time it was when the portrait swung open, and Dumbledore entered the common room.
'Miss. Granger...' I turned to face the headmaster, and found Dorea standing beside him. Dorea smiled.
'We've found him, hun.' I became completely speechless; I couldn't describe how relieved I was to hear those words. Dorea came over to hug me, whilst Dumbledore spoke.
'Mrs. Potter, has invited you to spend the remainder of the summer with them at Potter Manor.' I glanced towards Dumbledore, who continued speaking. 'I suspect you're already packed.' I'd been hoping Dorea would invite me to Potter Manor, so I've had my trunk pack since the night Sirius disappeared. I nodded, in response to the headmaster, who smiled. 'Very well... in that case, Miss. Granger, I will see you in September, I hope the remainder of your summer is pleasant.' Dumbledore exited the common room after this, whilst I turned my attention to Dorea.
'Is Sirius all right?' Dorea smiled reassuringly.
'I'm sure he'll be just fine... though, he's refusing to talk about what happened.' I knew Sirius didn't like talking about why he'd run away from home: Professor Lupin had mentioned this fact in 1995, when Sirius refused to tell Harry. I guess I would have to wait and see if he'd open up to me.
A/N: We're back, yay! Hope you've all enjoyed this chapter.
