Author's Notes
Do I detect a hint of interest
I am back from my vacation, which was not good.
Now here is more of the story
Chapter 5 Meetings and Investigating
Harry and Ginny were sitting in the living room of their house together. They were lying on the couch together, just snuggling. Both were fully enjoying each other's company.
"I'm really glad for you, Ginny" Harry said stroking her red hair. "I don't know what I would do if I lost you."
"Are you thinking about Hermione again?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah," Harry answered. "I really don't want to believe that she is dead. But I know that it is killing Ron trying to accept the fact that she isn't coming back. The other day when we were out, I was looking through all of the old newspapers and feeling so close. But I couldn't find anything. It was kind of strange."
"Well Hermione once told me this really odd Muggle phrase, 'sometimes the journey is more important than what you find at the end.'"
"Only Hermione would use something like that." Harry said. "I'm joining the hunt again now that the Ministry has reopened the case. I may be gone for days at a time."
"I'll miss you. But I know what you are doing and I am alright with that. You're an Auror that is who you are and what you are." Ginny said. She moved in a position to hug him. "Besides I would hit you with several curses if you didn't go."
"I knew there was a reason why I loved you." Harry said giving Ginny a kiss.
Ron was in his apartment packing a suitcase. He was going to the building where they found Hermione's wand. Remus had given him the location earlier and Tonks had said she was going to work it so he would be given full access.
He got everything in and ready to go. Before he left he picked up a picture he had of Hermione, Ginny, Harry and himself. It was taken on the last day they had all spent together at Hogwarts. It was supposed to be a serious picture. That had only lasted a moment.
Ron had Ginny in headlock giving her noggies. Hermione who had grown during sixth year was trying to make her self taller than Harry. Mostly by standing on her toes and pushing Harry's shoulders down. It was a very happy day for them.
Ron placed the picture in the left pocket of his shirt. He then took one look at his apartment before leaving. He Disapperated and Appartated to the Ministry of Magic. From there he would travel by Portkey.
Ron located the Auror offices and found Eliose Midgen, who worked in the office as an administrator. She said hello and gave Ron the portkey, letting him know that it would be activated in five minutes. Ron picked up the door knob and waited.
After five minutes Ron found himself inside of an old ruin house.
"You must be Mr. Weasley." One of the witches in the room said.
"Yeah, call me Ron." He answered.
"Juliet." The witch said shaking Ron's hand. "We had already begun searching for anything else. I am afraid that there is nothing unusual."
"Can you show me where the wand and the robes were found?" Ron asked.
"Yes, just follow me." Juliet said. She led Ron down some rickety stairs to the basement. "They were found underneath that couch." Juliet said pointing at one of the couches in the room.
Ron went over to the brown couch that had obviously seen better days. "What's all this twine around here?" Ron asked picking up some frayed pieces.
"We found that all through the building. It's not an uncommon thing to find in buildings like this." Juliet said.
"Thanks," Ron said looking around the room. "How much of this place has been moved around since the discovery?"
"We tried to keep everything in place." Juliet said. "I will be upstairs if you need anything."
Juliet left leaving Ron to look in the room alone. Ron looked over the couch again to see if he could see anything.
He then looked at the chair next to the couch. There was twine wrapped around the arms of the chair. Ron looked more closely at it. It was wrapped around and had a loop in it that was stretched out. Ron put his wrist inside of the loop. It was stretched out enough that he could put his hand in.
She was tied up here. Ron realized right then. Sitting in the chair images came to his mind. Hermione being scared, being dragged down the stairs. The twine being used to tie her up.
Ron stopped the images from continuing in his mind. She was kidnapped on purpose. Now it was just finding out who it had done it.
They had many enemies, mostly the supporters of Voldemort. They were captured, but there was always the fear that some of them got away.
The others should have already figured it out.
The first one that he thought about was Malfoy. Draco had renounced Voldemort during their seventh year. Harry and Ron never bought it. Hermione actually wanted to have him swallow some Veritisium.
He could not openly search him, but it would be a start. Now he would have to do it covertly. Harry would help with that, no question. He did want to see if more would be found here first.
Ron after all did know a bit about covert operations. He had gone with Harry to Auror training. Ron had never finished the last year of the training. That was the time that Hermione had disappeared. He could no longer concentrate on the lessons and had dropped out. He instead got a job at the Ministry, thanks to his father, who after all was the Minister of Magic.
Juliet appeared after a few minutes with two bottles of butterbeer. "I thought you might be thirsty." She said passing him one of the bottles.
"Thanks," Ron said taking the bottle. "Anything else been found?"
"Only what looked like potion ingredients. Nothing conclusive. It could have been left behind from when You-Know-Who was in power." Juliet said.
"There is a way to test the ages of some potion ingredients." Ron said. "I remember from sixth year."
"I didn't think that you would listen to Snape." Juliet said.
"He wasn't the one I listened to." Ron stated. "Did anyone look at these, around the chair?"
"Yes, we already figured something happened in here." Juliet said.
"What were the potion ingredients that you found?" Ron asked. "I want to see if we can find out how old they are."
"A couple of wizards are already on it." Juliet said. "You should go home and wait. This really isn't your area."
"It's my area because she is involved." Ron flatly stated.
"All I'm saying is that I don't want you to get your hopes up. I know who much it hurts to lose someone that you really loved." Juliet said.
"Who did you lose?" Ron asked suddenly interested in the very pretty witch.
"My sister, she was my best friend." Juliet said. "She was pretty powerful, really brave too. She would never back down from a punch. Some deatheaters had tried to persuade her to join them. That was the thing about her, if her mind was set no changing it."
"Alicia Spinnet." Ron asked.
"Yeah, she was my sister"
"I didn't know she had a sister." Ron said.
"I was in Hufflepuff, a year ahead of her." Juliet said. "I was excited when she made Gryffindor, the Quidditch team, I thought I would die when I found out what happened."
"I'm sorry. I was at the funeral. I didn't see you." Ron said.
"I tried to stay hidden. I couldn't bear it." Juliet said.
Ron and Juliet sat talking for a little while longer.
Right then one of the wizards came downstairs. "We just finished. Those ingredients were quite a few years old. Some of them spoiled."
"What could they have been used for?" Ron asked.
"They were all common ingredients." The wizard answered. "Here is a list. Tonks said to give you everything."
"Thanks," Ron said looking over the list. His face fell as he read, they were indeed common ingredients.
He could not believe how little of a lead that he got. He was so close, knowing that she was in this ruin for sometime.
Ron's thoughts were interrupted by some yelling upstairs. Both Juliet and Ron ran upstairs to see what was going on.
"I can't let you in. I did not receive authorization." One of the wizards was saying.
"You will let me in. I've faced worse than you."
"Harry, let him in!" Ron said. "Thanks for coming."
"Hey, I had to." Harry said. "What have you all found out?"
"That she was held here. That some potions were made here." Ron stated.
Harry nodded knowing what Ron had meant. "I thought I should see how you were holding up. I'm following another lead I found yesterday. I will be back in an hour. Will you be alright?"
"Sure," Ron said. "There is someone that I want you to meet. Harry this is Juliet Spinnet. Alicia's sister."
Harry looked at Juliet oddly. "I'm sorry. I don't remember her mentioning you."
"I would say the same about you, but she would not stop blabbing about you. Especially after you one won the cup."
"Yeah" Harry said shaking her hand. "I better get going. A young woman was found with no identification, she's at a local hospital."
"See you then." Ron said. "I'm just going to hang around here."
Harry Disapperated and Apperated to the hospital. Harry went right to the Admissions desk to talk with the nurse. "I'm looking for a girl that was admitted here last night. No identification on her."
"Are you an Investigator?"
"No. A friend of mine went missing. I'm trying to follow all the leads I can."
"You must be a loyal friend then." The nurse said. "I can't let you in to see her. If you have a picture. . ."
Harry took out one the photographs that he had of Hermione. He had put a spell on it so that it would stay still.
The nurse took the picture and looked at. "I'm afraid the girl that was brought in does not look at all like her."
"Are you sure?" Harry asked.
"I saw her myself. She was a blond."
"Thank-you." Harry said feeling disappointed.
Do I detect a hint of interest
I am back from my vacation, which was not good.
Now here is more of the story
Chapter 5 Meetings and Investigating
Harry and Ginny were sitting in the living room of their house together. They were lying on the couch together, just snuggling. Both were fully enjoying each other's company.
"I'm really glad for you, Ginny" Harry said stroking her red hair. "I don't know what I would do if I lost you."
"Are you thinking about Hermione again?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah," Harry answered. "I really don't want to believe that she is dead. But I know that it is killing Ron trying to accept the fact that she isn't coming back. The other day when we were out, I was looking through all of the old newspapers and feeling so close. But I couldn't find anything. It was kind of strange."
"Well Hermione once told me this really odd Muggle phrase, 'sometimes the journey is more important than what you find at the end.'"
"Only Hermione would use something like that." Harry said. "I'm joining the hunt again now that the Ministry has reopened the case. I may be gone for days at a time."
"I'll miss you. But I know what you are doing and I am alright with that. You're an Auror that is who you are and what you are." Ginny said. She moved in a position to hug him. "Besides I would hit you with several curses if you didn't go."
"I knew there was a reason why I loved you." Harry said giving Ginny a kiss.
Ron was in his apartment packing a suitcase. He was going to the building where they found Hermione's wand. Remus had given him the location earlier and Tonks had said she was going to work it so he would be given full access.
He got everything in and ready to go. Before he left he picked up a picture he had of Hermione, Ginny, Harry and himself. It was taken on the last day they had all spent together at Hogwarts. It was supposed to be a serious picture. That had only lasted a moment.
Ron had Ginny in headlock giving her noggies. Hermione who had grown during sixth year was trying to make her self taller than Harry. Mostly by standing on her toes and pushing Harry's shoulders down. It was a very happy day for them.
Ron placed the picture in the left pocket of his shirt. He then took one look at his apartment before leaving. He Disapperated and Appartated to the Ministry of Magic. From there he would travel by Portkey.
Ron located the Auror offices and found Eliose Midgen, who worked in the office as an administrator. She said hello and gave Ron the portkey, letting him know that it would be activated in five minutes. Ron picked up the door knob and waited.
After five minutes Ron found himself inside of an old ruin house.
"You must be Mr. Weasley." One of the witches in the room said.
"Yeah, call me Ron." He answered.
"Juliet." The witch said shaking Ron's hand. "We had already begun searching for anything else. I am afraid that there is nothing unusual."
"Can you show me where the wand and the robes were found?" Ron asked.
"Yes, just follow me." Juliet said. She led Ron down some rickety stairs to the basement. "They were found underneath that couch." Juliet said pointing at one of the couches in the room.
Ron went over to the brown couch that had obviously seen better days. "What's all this twine around here?" Ron asked picking up some frayed pieces.
"We found that all through the building. It's not an uncommon thing to find in buildings like this." Juliet said.
"Thanks," Ron said looking around the room. "How much of this place has been moved around since the discovery?"
"We tried to keep everything in place." Juliet said. "I will be upstairs if you need anything."
Juliet left leaving Ron to look in the room alone. Ron looked over the couch again to see if he could see anything.
He then looked at the chair next to the couch. There was twine wrapped around the arms of the chair. Ron looked more closely at it. It was wrapped around and had a loop in it that was stretched out. Ron put his wrist inside of the loop. It was stretched out enough that he could put his hand in.
She was tied up here. Ron realized right then. Sitting in the chair images came to his mind. Hermione being scared, being dragged down the stairs. The twine being used to tie her up.
Ron stopped the images from continuing in his mind. She was kidnapped on purpose. Now it was just finding out who it had done it.
They had many enemies, mostly the supporters of Voldemort. They were captured, but there was always the fear that some of them got away.
The others should have already figured it out.
The first one that he thought about was Malfoy. Draco had renounced Voldemort during their seventh year. Harry and Ron never bought it. Hermione actually wanted to have him swallow some Veritisium.
He could not openly search him, but it would be a start. Now he would have to do it covertly. Harry would help with that, no question. He did want to see if more would be found here first.
Ron after all did know a bit about covert operations. He had gone with Harry to Auror training. Ron had never finished the last year of the training. That was the time that Hermione had disappeared. He could no longer concentrate on the lessons and had dropped out. He instead got a job at the Ministry, thanks to his father, who after all was the Minister of Magic.
Juliet appeared after a few minutes with two bottles of butterbeer. "I thought you might be thirsty." She said passing him one of the bottles.
"Thanks," Ron said taking the bottle. "Anything else been found?"
"Only what looked like potion ingredients. Nothing conclusive. It could have been left behind from when You-Know-Who was in power." Juliet said.
"There is a way to test the ages of some potion ingredients." Ron said. "I remember from sixth year."
"I didn't think that you would listen to Snape." Juliet said.
"He wasn't the one I listened to." Ron stated. "Did anyone look at these, around the chair?"
"Yes, we already figured something happened in here." Juliet said.
"What were the potion ingredients that you found?" Ron asked. "I want to see if we can find out how old they are."
"A couple of wizards are already on it." Juliet said. "You should go home and wait. This really isn't your area."
"It's my area because she is involved." Ron flatly stated.
"All I'm saying is that I don't want you to get your hopes up. I know who much it hurts to lose someone that you really loved." Juliet said.
"Who did you lose?" Ron asked suddenly interested in the very pretty witch.
"My sister, she was my best friend." Juliet said. "She was pretty powerful, really brave too. She would never back down from a punch. Some deatheaters had tried to persuade her to join them. That was the thing about her, if her mind was set no changing it."
"Alicia Spinnet." Ron asked.
"Yeah, she was my sister"
"I didn't know she had a sister." Ron said.
"I was in Hufflepuff, a year ahead of her." Juliet said. "I was excited when she made Gryffindor, the Quidditch team, I thought I would die when I found out what happened."
"I'm sorry. I was at the funeral. I didn't see you." Ron said.
"I tried to stay hidden. I couldn't bear it." Juliet said.
Ron and Juliet sat talking for a little while longer.
Right then one of the wizards came downstairs. "We just finished. Those ingredients were quite a few years old. Some of them spoiled."
"What could they have been used for?" Ron asked.
"They were all common ingredients." The wizard answered. "Here is a list. Tonks said to give you everything."
"Thanks," Ron said looking over the list. His face fell as he read, they were indeed common ingredients.
He could not believe how little of a lead that he got. He was so close, knowing that she was in this ruin for sometime.
Ron's thoughts were interrupted by some yelling upstairs. Both Juliet and Ron ran upstairs to see what was going on.
"I can't let you in. I did not receive authorization." One of the wizards was saying.
"You will let me in. I've faced worse than you."
"Harry, let him in!" Ron said. "Thanks for coming."
"Hey, I had to." Harry said. "What have you all found out?"
"That she was held here. That some potions were made here." Ron stated.
Harry nodded knowing what Ron had meant. "I thought I should see how you were holding up. I'm following another lead I found yesterday. I will be back in an hour. Will you be alright?"
"Sure," Ron said. "There is someone that I want you to meet. Harry this is Juliet Spinnet. Alicia's sister."
Harry looked at Juliet oddly. "I'm sorry. I don't remember her mentioning you."
"I would say the same about you, but she would not stop blabbing about you. Especially after you one won the cup."
"Yeah" Harry said shaking her hand. "I better get going. A young woman was found with no identification, she's at a local hospital."
"See you then." Ron said. "I'm just going to hang around here."
Harry Disapperated and Apperated to the hospital. Harry went right to the Admissions desk to talk with the nurse. "I'm looking for a girl that was admitted here last night. No identification on her."
"Are you an Investigator?"
"No. A friend of mine went missing. I'm trying to follow all the leads I can."
"You must be a loyal friend then." The nurse said. "I can't let you in to see her. If you have a picture. . ."
Harry took out one the photographs that he had of Hermione. He had put a spell on it so that it would stay still.
The nurse took the picture and looked at. "I'm afraid the girl that was brought in does not look at all like her."
"Are you sure?" Harry asked.
"I saw her myself. She was a blond."
"Thank-you." Harry said feeling disappointed.