Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter (he's not my type) not Hermione (she is) or any of the other characters, hmmm. They all belong to J.K. Rowling. (Lucky lady)
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Dinner was over, when Neville tugged Harry's arm making him look up with surprise. He hadn't even noticed Neville getting up from his seat, due to his discussion with some of the players on the Quidditch team on who would be announced Captain, as Oliver Wood finished his studies the previous year.
"Harry, Professor Dumbledore wants to see you in his office now, you too, Ron!" Neville said with urgency, his face slightly crumpled with anxiety. He was upset over the news about Hermione as where most students. Neville however had a soft spot for her even though she had turned him down for the Yule Ball the previous year.
Harry and Ron quickly looked at each other for a moment before dashing from the dinning hall.
"Harry, wait up!" panted Ron. Ron had not done a single bit of exercise the entire summer and after eating as much as he had he could not keep up with Harry. Harry slowed down.
"Come on Ron, I am sure it's about Hermione!" he said impatiently. They arrived at the gargoyle and Harry swore under his breath. He did not know what the Headmaster's password was. They were usually muggle sweets names, and the only reason that Harry knew any was from watching his cousin Dudley plough through them constantly. Harry was never given money to buy any of his own. He went through various names and eventually he guessed it.
"Mars bars!" he shouted in frustration. The gargoyle glared at him and moved aside. Harry shrugged at Ron, who had no idea what a mars bar was, as the both hurried up the stairs. They both entered Dumbledore's office, Ron puffing away, startling the Professor who was petting, Fawkes, his phoenix. Dumbledore looked up somewhat surprised as though he hadn't been expecting them to arrive so soon.
"I take it that Neville informed you of my message," he said acknowledging their presence. He was obviously distressed by Hermione's absence but despite this remained composed as ever.
Harry and Ron nodded together as they sat down to hear what the old professor had to say.
"As I announced earlier, Hermione has not returned to Hogwart's," he paused for a moment of thought, and then continued.
"Mr. and Mrs. Granger came to see me the day after everyone left for the holidays upset and very afraid. Apparently Mrs. Granger had discovered Hermione's diary and after reading the events of your fourth year and partially of the third, she feared for Hermione's safety and it became of great concern to them. Naturally I assured them that she was safe for the most part, in the muggle world and at Hogwarts. Since then I have not heard from them or Hermione, for that matter. I would like to know if you two know anything, anything at all?" Dumbledore asked questioningly, his eyes searching their faces carefully.
"Professor, Ron and I haven't heard from her the entire summer," admitted Harry sadly.
"You, you don't think that her parents might have put her into a muggle school?" asked Ron tentatively.
"That has crossed my mind, Mr. Weasley but I have ruled that out. As bright as Hermione is she would have trouble adjusting. This is of great concern to me, as you might realize," said Dumbledore just as Professor McGonagall entered his office.
"Professor, I thought you might like to see this!" she said flustered unlike her usual composed self, merely glancing at Harry and Ron but avoiding eye contact.
She handed Dumbledore the Daily Prophet and he read it in silence.
"Harry and Ron, would you please excuse us?" Dumbledore looked over the top of the paper as he said it. Harry could see that whatever he had just read had upset him a great deal more.
The two boys hurriedly left the office leaving McGonagall and Dumbledore watching closely after them.
"We need to get a copy of that newspaper!" was the first thing Harry said once out in the passage. Ron nodded in agreement. They raced down to the library only to find that there was none left. Harry noticed Ginny was sitting over at one of the tables quietly reading a book.
"GINNY!" yelled Ron. Ginny looked up startled from her book.
"Mr. Weasley, 20 points from Gryffindor for shouting like that!"
Ron and Harry turned to find Professor Snape standing behind him, arms folded across his chest. He glared them, his eyes narrowed in suspicion, looking from one boy to the other in the usual manner before returning to the shelves of books where he was hidden from sight.
"Why is it that he is always around when something is happening?' asked Ron angrily his head indicating towards the direction Snape had disappeared to. It was the first evening and he had already lost house points.
Harry shrugged and they hurried over to Ginny who now was patiently waiting for them.
"Hi Harry, Ron!" Her tone changed as she said her brother's name. He was constantly losing points for Gryffindor with that big mouth of his. This annoyed her as she worked hard for her points.
"Hi Ginny, we were wondering if you got your copy of today's daily prophet?" Harry asked politely. Ginny's eyes widened at the request.
"No, it was taken before I got to look at it and Snape has just taken all the libraries copies too," she said in a whisper glancing around to see if Snape was listening. But he was nowhere to be found.
"Why, is something happening?" She had learned from past experiences that her brother and Harry were always up to something, especially when wanted to talk to her.
'Not that they ever tell me anything' she thought bitterly.
"Thanks Ginny, but we were just looking for a story about Quidditch!" Ron lied. Harry hit him in his side with his elbow.
"Ow!" yelped Ron who then turned his attention to Ginny again.
"Ginny why are you alone in the library on the first night?" asked Ron uninterestedly.
"Just reading something," Ginny replied turning pink.
"Come on Ron, we have a lot to do!" said Harry sensing Ginny's embarrassment.
"Thanks Ginny!" he added.
Ron was still rubbing the spot where Harry had hit him as they headed to the common room.
"Ron it wasn't that hard?" Harry said rolling his eyes.
Ron hadn't even noticed what he was doing. He was thinking about how to get a copy of the newspaper and why Snape had taken them all away.
"Huh?" he responded. Harry just chuckled. It was the first time since they had heard about Hermione that he had done so.
It was Ron's turn to elbow Harry when he saw Draco Malfoy leaning against wall of the passage. Harry looked up and saw Malfoy, his hand slipped quickly to wand just in case.
"Well, if it isn't Potter and Weasley, not looking too upset that there mudblood friend is gone," Malfoy sneered, running his hand through his sleek blond hair.
"What do you know about it, Malfoy!"? Harry demanded, his hand tightening around his wand.
Ron moved around to other side of him to make sure Malfoy did not escape.
"Only that Hogwarts has one less Gryffindor!" came the sarcastic reply.
"Why I ought to…!"Ron was about to pull out his wand but Harry stopped him. He shook his head. Malfoy grinned as Harry stepped aside to let him pass.
"Realized you couldn't handle me with out your filthy friend, well that's to bad," he spat as he walked away. Ron watched him till he was out of sight.
"What did you do that for, Harry?" Ron moaned disappointedly. He was looking forward to putting a spell on Malfoy that Fred and George had taught him.
"We have to owl your mom and ask her for their copy of the paper," explained Harry as they reached the common room. Most of the Gryffindor's were sitting around catching up with their friends. Neville raced past them both and through the portrait. A couple students waved Harry and Ron over but both shook their heads and raced up stairs. Ron scribbled a note, and tied it to pig's leg.
"We need your mom to get this urgently," said Harry. " And I think I better write to Sirius too, come to think about it," he added.
Pig hooted happily as he flew around the room.
"Get going will you," Ron snapped at the little owl as it flew out the window.
Harry quickly wrote to Sirius telling him that he was fine but worried about Hermione's sudden disappearance.
He sent Hedwig with it, knowing that she was eager for a good flight since been caged most of the summer.
"I hope Pig hurries with that letter," Harry said thoughtfully watching Hedwig fly out into the night.
"Mom will probably only send it tomorrow morning," mumbled Ron as he yawned.
Harry nodded. He hoped that she still had it. He knew if they did not get it from Mrs. Weasley that they would have to owl the newspaper offices, which would delay them even more.
They went downstairs and played a game of chess, listening to everyone trying to offer an opinion on what had happened to Hermione. Harry had heard enough by the time Ron beat him and excused himself, saying he was going to bed. Ron chose to catch up a bit more with everyone but mostly to hang around Lavender who seemed to have blossomed over the summer.
Harry climbed the stairs slowly, deep in thought. He had such a bad feeling about the entire matter. Was Hermione in danger? He was not sure but his instincts told him that whatever that newspaper said it had something with her disappearance. Harry sighed deeply, wondering how things were going to turn out. He already missed her terribly but the notion of never seeing her again left him numb inside. First his parents, then Cedric and countless people who have fought against the Voldemort. He could not stand losing someone close to him again, especially because he was Harry Potter, the boy who lived.
Meanwhile on the other side of the castle
"This is terrible, Albus!" McGonagall cried.
Dumbledore put his arm around her to comfort the crying Professor.
"There, there Minerva, we must not assume the worst. I will go see the Ministry of Magic first thing in the morning!" he said softly although in his heart he felt the worst was still to come.