A/N: you are all so great for reviewing! even though Tiffany-45 or hikaru havent reviewed yet, i know they will, but i couldnt keep juanli waiting now could i?

Juanli: thanks so much! reading your reviews is never a waste of time but i am glad you like my story! for being the only reviewer so far, lets see...i have already done a happy dance...i have already done a song...or was that for my other story? it will be here on the next one, promise!

Chapter 7: The Locater

"DNA you mean?" probed Arthur Weasley, Ron's father, "Yes, yes fascinating. Muggles use it when they have something of someone's—a hat or scarf for example—then they trace it back to the person so...so they can return their lost item."

"Oh," replied Ron, "Would it work for a piece of hair?"

"Well...whose hair is it?"

Ron gave one of those 'duh' looks to his dad. "If I knew, I wouldn't want it traced," he noted obviously.

"Oh! Right, of course," beamed Arthur. "Well I suppose it would work but we'd need a muggle and I don't know anyone in that area...but Grant Plywood has been working on something similar; he says it can trace something back to any with, wizard, goblin, merfolk or muggle."

"Good," said Ron, this man will pay for what he did to Hermione...when I find him...ugh! I am not connected to the victim in any way. I'm only doing my job.

"Well lets go," urged his father, and with no further ado, Arthur disapparated.

Ron rolled his eyes. He followed his father, still chiding to himself that he was only doing his job. He found himself in a small cluttered room in the Ministry. His father was already chatting away deeply with Grant Plywood. They stopped as soon as he appeared.

"...and he doesn't even know?"

"So?" Ron asked, assuming they were talking about the hair he had found and the whereabouts of its owner.

"Yes, right, I guarantee that my contraption will work," proclaimed Grant. He sounded similar to the peddlers on the street trying to sell various stolen items. "I normally charge eight sickles for use but seeing as you're an official Ministry Auror, I'll let you use it for four."

Arthur cast a warning glance at Grant.

"Oh fine...its free," Grant amended, "just don't let anybody know or they'll be mooching off me for freebies all the time!"

Ron thanked Grant and followed him to a storage closet. Well I guess you've got to start somewhere, thought Ron, trying to be optimistic.

Grant took him to the corner where a dark machine stood that looked very similar to a large tea kettle. He pointed to the large hole at the top. "Just stick the hairs in here, tap this knob with your wand while saying, 'Locate' then back up it has a tendency to...right...anyway a name and address will pop out here," he finished indicating a small slot below the knob. "Good luck!" And with that, he left. (He seemed to be in a hurry to get out.)

Ron hesitated but stuck the hairs into the hole on top of the contraption. As instructed he stuck his wand to the knob.

"Locate," he said. He scrambled out of the room tripping over his father as they dashed out of the cramped closet. They stopped to watch from the protection of the door.

Nothing happened.

"I should have known he was a pho º" he was cut off by the sound of sparks flying out through the hole in which he inserted the hairs. The contraption began to sputter and vibrate wildly. It moved dangerously close to Ron and his father through its movements then finally stopped with a BOOM!

Ron poked his head through the door and approached the machine cautiously. He picked up the card which had appeared in the slot. It read:

Dear User,

I can't believe you have bestowed upon me such a trivial task. I was exceedingly disheartened to learn that I had not been consulted in finding any sort of dark wizard and now, after five years I have been asked to perform this mindless task. My first reaction was to ignore it. Then I became angry (I'm sorry for my little outburst.) However I was needed, therefore I ask that you think of me next time you need locating.

Sincerely Yours,
The Locater
P.S. By the way, here is the name and address:

Ricky Hill
49536 Chestnut