Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, except the one I created myself. All others belong to J. K. Rowling and Warner Brothers. I have only borrowed them for my amusement and hopefully yours as well.

Chapter 49

Severus was in class, teaching the fourth years a Wit-Sharpening Potion when he suddenly jumped to his feet.

"I must leave. You will continue reading until the end of class. Miss Wormwood, you are in charge." He left the room so quickly that none of the students were really sure what happened.

He ran to Dumbledore's office as fast as his legs would carry him.

"No. This can't be true. It can't be, dear Merlin, NO!" he muttered as he ran. Arriving at the gargoyle he shouted 'Peppermint Patty' and bolted up the moving staircase.

He burst into the office and cried, "Albus, it's Jolicia. Something has happened. Something is wrong – I can't feel her anymore!"

"Calm down, Severus. Tell me what happened."

He paced back and forth and answered, "I was in the middle of a class when all of a sudden it happened. Our connection has been severed. I am no longer aware of her. Albus, what if…if she's…" he choked on the words, unable to voice them.

"She's not here at school?" asked Albus, trying not to show his own fear.

"No, she and Harry went into Hogsmeade for the afternoon. I asked her not to go, but she wouldn't listen." Severus ran his fingers through his hair, trying to think straight. He felt as if he was going mad.

"Come, my son. You and I will go into Hogsmeade and see if we can find out anything," said Albus. "Go to your quarters and fetch a picture of Jo."

Severus ran all the way home and took one of their wedding pictures out of its frame and stuffed it in his pocket. It was a picture of Jo with Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco. It was one of Jo's favorites and it occupied a special place on her desk. He quickly caught up to the Headmaster and each man silently hurried down the path to the village.

They entered all of the shops and showed around the picture. Some remembered seeing the pair; others did not. The serving wizard at Madam Puddifoot's confirmed that they had indeed been there that afternoon.

"They had tea and were here for about an hour, I would say," he replied.

They continued on, stopping at Gladrags Wizardwear. Severus showed the picture to the witch behind the counter and asked, "Have you seen this woman and that boy today? The woman is very pregnant."

She replied, "Oh my yes! They were here earlier today. Such a lovely girl! She bought two of these." She held out a little pair of pajamas, just the same as Jo had bought. Severus tried to swallow the lump in his throat.

The woman continued, "I heard her say to the young man that she was tired and that she wanted to head back to Hogwarts. Is something wrong? Nothing has happened to her, has it?"

"That is what we are trying to determine," said Albus. "Thank you for your help."

They stopped many people in the street on the outside chance that they might have seen Jo and Harry, grasping desperately for clues. Their search had been fruitless. So far, they had determined that the pair had indeed been in Hogsmeade but that was all. They had disappeared without a trace somewhere between the town and the school.

Albus asked, "You are still unaware of her?"

Severus nodded solemnly, "There has been no change."

"We'll return to my office and decide what the next step should be. Don't worry, we'll find them."

"Wait, Albus! What's that?" said Severus.

A brightly colored object caught his eye. He crouched down to see what it was. There were two paper bags lying in the grass by the side of the path. Severus picked up the first – it was from Honeyduke's. Peering inside he found an assortment of sweets. He gasped when he picked up the second bag, his hands beginning to tremble. Embossed in gold letters on the front of it was the name 'Gladrags Wizardwear'. He glanced up at Albus as if seeking permission to open it. Albus put his hand on Severus' shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

Opening the bag gingerly he whispered, "Oh Merlin! Albus, look."

He showed the old man its contents – Quidditch pajamas, just like the shop witch had shown them. These had been Harry and Jolicia's purchases.

Severus straightened himself up and clutching the last thing Jo had touched tightly to his chest said, "They have been kidnapped. That can be the only explanation, Albus. They have been captured by Voldemort." Albus shook his head in agreement; sadly, there was indeed no other explanation.