Chapter 13: To Hogwarts…

Chapter 13: To Hogwarts…

"Argh! Stop it!" Azar yelled, covering her eyes with her hands, "I can't stand the mushiness!"

"You should have chosen a different carriage then," Ron said, grinning at Hermione.

Azar rolled her eyes. "I can't wait to get back to Harry. At least I'll be able to talk to someone then."

"Oh, you can talk to us, Azar," Hermione smiled, her arms draped around Ron, "but I can't promise we'll listen. Isn't that right, Ronnykins?"

That was too much for Azar. She leaned her forehead on the window, staring longingly at the passing scenery. "Let me ou-out," she moaned, "Mind if I get out and run?"

Realizing she wouldn't be getting an answer, Azar opened the door and hopped out. Ron stared after her, his mouth hanging.

"She actually got out…" he murmured.

"But I didn't," Hermione smiled, erasing from Ron's mind any thoughts of Azar's flight.

They didn't have much time alone, however, before Azar returned, leaping into the carriage.

"That stupid Hufflepuff Head Girl wouldn't let me run alongside the carriages," she groaned, "So I'm stuck with you guys. Hey, did either of you get an owl from Harry over the holidays?"

For the first time during the trip, Ron and Hermione broke eye contact.

"I didn't," Ron said, frowning slightly.

"My gosh, that completely slipped my mind," Hermione murmured, "I didn't get one, either. What do you think happened?"

"Maybe it slipped his mind," Ron said hopefully, though with little conviction.

Azar's eyes widened. "What if that fugitive godfather of his got caught? Have you guys read anything in the Daily Prophet like that?"

"No. My dad always cancels our subscription when we go on vacation."

"I canceled mine, too, for the cruise. Oh, I hope that hasn't happened. Harry spending holidays all alone was bad enough…"

An uneasy silence remained in the carriage until they reached Hogwarts. As soon as they had come to a stop, the three jumped out, looking around for Harry.

"He's not here to welcome us back…" Hermione murmured, her voice more anxious than ever.

"Maybe he's still asleep," Ron said, again with little conviction.

Azar sighed heavily. "Okay, it's going to be suppertime soon. Why don't you guys go to the Gryffindor tower for him and meet me in the Great Hall to eat? He-he should be there…"

Ron and Hermione looked a little perplexed at her last sentence, but hurried off. They entered the common room, finding a few people already making themselves at home again. They looked in every chair and couch, but Harry was nowhere to be found.

"If Sirius was captured," Ron gulped worriedly, "then Harry would most likely be in the dormitory… You stay here, Hermione… I'll- I'll find out."

Ron ran up the stairs with a sinking heart, fearing he'd find his friend desolate. He knocked on the door, but got no response.

"Harry?" he called quietly, opening the door.

Slowly walking over to the bed, Ron braced himself to be the stronghold. He stared at Harry's withdrawn bed curtains, hoping his friend's smiling face would appear from them.

"Are you all right, Harry?" he asked gently, "Why don't you come out, 'kay?"

Getting no response again, he gradually opened the curtains. After he had opened them enough to see in, he stopped, suddenly fearful. With a jolt, he tore the curtains open and stared blankly at the empty bed. Frantically, he searched everywhere in the dormitory, even under the beds, but all to no avail. Taking the stairs three-by-three, he rushed back down to a perplexed Hermione.

"He's gone," he managed to gasp out, "Harry's gone…"

Azar sat at her table nervously, hoping to see Harry come in laughing and smiling with Ron and Hermione. Most of the school was already there, eating their dinners peacefully, but Ron and Hermione were nowhere to be seen. She had saved three seats on the Gryffindor table, right behind where she sat.

Finally, she spotted Ron and Hermione walk through the door, their faces glum and Harry not there. They slowly made their way over, sitting at two of the seats Azar had saved. She had expected them to tell her right away what was going on, but instead they stared at their plates. Leaning over as far as she dared, Azar tapped Ron on the shoulder. When he turned around, his face was so lost that she wanted to burst into tears.

"What is it? What happened?" she whispered, "Where's Harry?"

"He's not there."

Azar tumbled noisily to the ground, coming clear out of her seat. Ignoring the stares she got, she quickly squeezed in between Ron and Hermione.

"What do you mean 'He's not there'?"

"He's not in the Gryffindor tower," Hermione answered, "We searched everywhere, in all the dormitories and bathrooms, but he wasn't there. We were hoping that he'd be in here when we arrived but…"

They were interrupted when Neville Longbottom sat down across from them, trying unsuccessfully to look casual. Whispering eagerly, he said, "I know it's not really any of my business, and you'll probably tell me off for asking, but I just have to know. Do you know where Harry is hiding?"

All three of them gave him a blank stare.

"Hiding?"

"Yeah, from the Ministry."

"Why would Harry hide from the Ministry?" Hermione questioned.

Neville's eyes widened until they seemed to take up half of his face. "You mean, you don't know?"

"No, we don't. What's going on, Neville?" Azar asked sharply.

"The night we left Hogwarts, the Ministry got a warrant for Harry's arrest. They gave him twenty-four hours to come forward and then they came to Hogwarts. They searched the whole entire school and couldn't find him. Dumbledore told them he hadn't seen Harry all day and had no idea where he could be. They've had Aurors and such searching everywhere for him, but he must be hidden pretty well."

"But why in the world would the Ministry want to arrest Harry?" Hermione asked, furrowing her brow.

"The house of those muggles Harry lives with was set on fire and apparently they think Harry did it. Not only that, but they say he's in league with You-Know-Who."

"That's absurd!" Ron yelled, "Harry would never join You-Know-Who!"

"Of course not," Neville said, "Nearly everyone in the wizarding world knows that, except the Ministry."

"Well I'm glad no one's falling for that tripe," Ron huffed.

"Hey guys, meet me in the library after you've eaten," Azar whispered to Ron and Hermione, her voice strangely hollow, "We've got to do something."

With that, she left the table, all the food on her plate untouched.

"Well, Dumbledore's not talking," Ron said, flopping in a chair next to Hermione and Azar in the library, "I told him that I wasn't going to leave his office until he told me where Harry was, and just spent the last hour looking at him from across the desk."

"Why won't he tell us?" Azar said, running her hands through her hair, "We're Harry's friends. Who else has more right to know where he is?"

"Dumbledore normally tells the truth. Maybe he doesn't know where Harry is. Maybe Harry did run off on his own," Hermione said slightly frowning, "In any case, there's only one thing we can do. We have to go find him."

"Are you crazy?!" Ron exclaimed, causing Madam Pince to come over and give them a glare. In a quieter voice, Ron continued. "We have no idea where to even start looking! And even if we did, what if the Ministry followed us and arrested Harry when we found him? Is that what friends are for?"

"Okay, Mr. Worry-Weasley, what do you suggest we do?!" Hermione hissed.

"Just wait. Harry will come back soon. I mean, how long can the Ministry keep that warrant out for him? Or, if you insist on looking for him, why don't we wait for at least some rumors in the Prophet so we'll at least know where to start."

"We can't just wait, Ron! What if Harry needs us?"

Azar looked up, gaping. "What is going on with you guys? It's like you've switched personalities or something."

That silenced Ron and Hermione a moment, both of them deep in thought.

"If only there was a way that we could know he isn't in the school," Ron muttered softly, "That'd be a start, at least."

Hermione's eyes widened to the size of sand dollars and a smile slowly spread onto her face.

"Now that's something we can do. Stay here. I'll be right back."

She quickly stood and rushed out of the room, leaving Ron and Azar staring perplexedly. It seemed like only a matter of minutes before she was back, beaming widely.

"This will answer one of our questions," she said, catching her breath

Hermione brandished a well-worn and recognizable sheet of blank paper from her robe pocket, her smile widening more and more.

"Where did you get that, Hermione?" Ron whispered in amazement.

"Let's just say I 'Filch'ed it last year," she grinned.

Ron gaped, then shook his head, looking at Azar. "You're right. We have switched personalities."

"What is it?" Azar asked, turning the paper over.

"It's a map. Or at least it is sometimes. You have to tell it something."

"Why didn't you ever give it back to Harry?" Ron asked, still staring.

She bit her lip, thinking. "Well, he always used it to break the rules and…"

Ron smiled, hugging her. "Our Hermione's back!"

"Oh, get off, Ron," she teased, shoving him aside, "What's the password or phrase or whatever that gets this thing to work?"

"Something about being up to no good…"

Hermione put her wand on the parchment saying, "I am up to no good."

It did nothing. "No, that's not it," Ron mused, "There's more to it… I am completely and utterly up to no good."

The parchment did nothing once more.

"Um… I am up to no good and no good to up?" Hermione tried again, unsuccessfully. Azar snorted, trying to hold back a laugh.

"Hey, we're trying," Ron scolded, "May I be hit by lighting if I am not up to no good."

The parchment finally did something this time. Words began to appear on it.

"Mr. Moony advises the novice practical jokers to try something a bit more in their league, or at least get the advice of an expert."

"Oh, here we go," Ron laughed, watching for the next comment.

"Mr. Prongs wishes to say something, but can't stop laughing."

"They weren't that bad of guesses, were they?" Hermione whined.

"Mr. Padfoot has just one comment. You can do better than THAT!"

"He's got a point," Azar grinned.

"Mr. Womtail would like to say, in closing, that he enjoyed the laugh and looks forward to a few more tries!"

"Ah, stupid map," Ron huffed, "Can't you just show yourself?"

Azar picked the parchment up, staring at it pensively. She brought out her want and placed it on the paper, saying, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good!"

The remarks of Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs started moving around, lengthening and twisting until the three friends found themselves looking at the whole of Hogwarts.

"How did you know?!" Ron exclaimed, taking it from Azar.

"I…it just came to me, I guess," Azar shrugged, "Besides, after all the guesses you guys made, there wasn't much left to try."

"Do you see Harry anywhere, Ron?" Hermione asked excitedly.

"N-no… But I can't be sure. It's a lot of map to look at."

The two girls leaned over, studying the map over his back. They looked up and down all the corridors, searching every room with their eyes. Not once did a dot labeled 'Harry Potter' come into view.

Hermione sighed, sitting down on her chair. "Well, I guess he's not in the school then."

"But where could he have gone?" Ron questioned.

"The library's closing for the night, you three! Get back to your towers!" Madam Pince squalled, appearing around a corner.

They trudged out of the library, feeling that it had all just been a waste of time. They gave glum goodbyes as Azar headed for her tower. Ron and Hermione were silent up to the common room, each lost in their own thoughts and worries. They kissed each other goodnight and then headed for their own dormitories.

When Ron got up there, the other three boys were already asleep. He sat on his bed, taking off his shoes, but his eyes couldn't help but wander to the empty bed beside him. He ran his hands through his hair. Hunching down, Ron leaned his chin lightly on his thumbs and his mouth on his fingers. He stared intensely at the bed, as if hoping that he might will Harry into being there.

With a sigh, the boy stood up, looked at the ceiling and then turned back to Harry's empty bed. He felt tears come to his eyes, but tried to hold them back.

"Why'd you go, Harry?" he asked the bed quietly, "You were innocent, weren't you? They can't convict the innocent…"

His mind reminded him of Sirius Black, as though it was determined to take Harry's place in the discussion.

"You could have at least thought of us! We have a right to know!" Ron ranted, feeling anger swell in him, "What kind of friend are you to just go off like that?"

Restlessly, Ron pulled his hand once more through his hair.

"If you went and got yourself killed, Harry Potter, I'll…I'll…"

Unable to think of anything to say and fearful at the very thought of Harry being gone forever, Ron sat roughly on Harry's bed, burying his face in his hands. Silent tears coursed down his cheeks, each one a hope that Harry would be there in the morning and everything would be all right…

As Azar lay on her bed, she couldn't help but think of when she was six and sent to her room without dinner because her parents thought she had squirted all of their toothpaste on the bathroom mirror. She had strongly suspected that her cousin, who was sleeping over, had done it, but couldn't convince her parents.

She felt now as she had then; sad, angry, and empty. But this was worse. Having Harry disappear was the most hurtful punishment she could imagine, and she had done nothing to deserve it. An empty heart was worse than an empty stomach, by far.

Trying to hold back her tears, she closed her eyes, praying sleep would bring some sanctuary. But sleep wouldn't come. Her pillow was soon damp with her salty tears, flowing on their own accord. She held back the sound of her sobs, but couldn't stop her shoulders from shaking.

Through her cry, one thought remained. It gave her the worse pain, but also the only joy, and she could actually smile with it. Hoping that he might hear it, she couldn't help but whisper it aloud.

"I love you, Harry legs."

Hermione sat on her bed, hugging her knees tight to her chest and staring at her bare feet. She wasn't even sure how she felt. Hollow was the best way to describe; yet it didn't do the emptiness justice. Many thoughts flew through her mind, the first about Ron and how he was handling it. This she quickly pushed aside, realizing that Harry needed help first.

"Harry would never intentionally go into danger alone…" she mused to Crookshanks.

She almost laughed out loud, realizing that she was talking about the same Harry Potter who had gone alone after the Philosopher's (a/n: Sorcerer's) Stone and into the Chamber of Secrets. However, she quickly sobered up, the thoughts bringing an unexpected pain.

"What if he didn't go willingly?" she suddenly wondered, "What if he was kidnapped right under Dumbledore's nose? What if…?"

She couldn't bring herself to say more about if out loud, but it had already entered her mind. Voldemort had managed to kidnap Harry twice before, so who knew if he had done it again.

Suddenly, an idea struck Hermione. If Ron wasn't willing to go find Harry, she'd just have to do it herself. A few minutes later, a hawk soared out of one of the Gryffindor tower windows. If someone had happened to glance out his window and see it soar off, he probably would have stared in wonder, for never in Earth's existence had a creature flown with such purpose.

~*~*~

A/N: Another chapter has come and gone…^-^

I'm sorry I didn't show Harry in school. You all seem so eager to see it.

Well, thanks for all the reviews!!! You guys are too cool!

Abbey: Thanks! But you'll find out next chapter.

Princess: Next chapter, for sure. ^-^

Sweets: Hehe, not a bad idea!

Lady Grizabella: ^-^ Don't even mention Draco! What I have in store for him…*g* I gotta stop before I give it away!

Daydreamer: Ah, he just needed to be w/ muggles who aren't out for his blood. ^-^

Naralina: You're one to talk about suspense being bad! And about the dream, not much to that, actually. It would have been a really sweet, romantic dream if Football hadn't jumped up on Harry (Azar pushing Harry off), sat on the poor boy (the water pushing on Harry), and decided to give his face a good washing (the feeling of drowning.) ^-^

*LiLy*: Thanks! ^-^ Glare at me all you want, it's not gonna do any good. *g*

Jewels: Yeah, Fudge is stupid. But he'll get his. (dang, I let it slip!)

Jeanne: It will be interesting, as soon as I find out how Irish schools work. I never thought I'd be doing research for a fanfic. lol

Jona: Thanks! And shouldn't you be writing? Hmmm? ^-^

Art goddess: Thanks! *g* Yep, they would.

Lukie Robinson: You got it! ^-^ Thanks!

Potter fan: Of course I know that neither Harry nor Eric would make reference to G.W. Bush, but they aren't telling the story. It doesn't matter that they would have no idea who he is, but I do and thus use the reference to accurately describe Eric's feelings. Since we do live in 2001, it makes perfect sense. Hehe…sorry, I got a bit carried away.

Well, thank you all! Please tell me what you think of this chapter, too!!!

Be excellent to each other!

-Ady