By September the first, Hermione's disappearance, and subsequent letter, had not been reported in the Daily Prophet or any muggle newspapers. The Order felt publicizing the kidnapping of the famous Harry Potter's best friend was not likely to make anyone feel safer and might even put more pressure on Harry. Dumbledore also rejected Harry's idea of muggle papers running a 'face on the milk carton' campaign. Dumbledore pointed out that, as the Isle of Drear was Unplottable, muggles would not be able to help.
It was a quieter ride on the Hogwarts Express than usual. Although no one knew Hermione was gone, many students were worried Voldemort and his Death Eaters might try to attack the Hogwarts Express. Aurors patrolled the aisles, and many of the students kept their wands handy. In fact, the Aurors had had to set up a small hospital wing on one of the cars because every time the train so much as jolted, at least one student cursed a friend instinctively. The trolley lady had locked herself in one of the compartments and refused to come out after she opened the compartment door of a group of jumpy Hufflepuffs.
Harry and Ron remained in their compartment for the duration of the train ride. Harry stared dully out the window while Ron flipped halfheartedly through his Mad Muggle comic books. Suddenly screams broke out in the hall. The two boys snapped to attention, wands out. Ron moved behind the door quietly. Harry readied himself to look into the corridor, when their compartment door flew open, hitting Ron in the nose, and a tall Indian girl ran in. A long, dark braid hung down her back flaming merrily. Harry ducked as she turned, and her burning braid swung across the room.
"Sorry to burst in like that," she said lightly as she put out her hair. She undid her braid and checked her hair for smoldering embers. "Honestly, I sneezed while walking down the corridor, and a rabid group of Gryffindor fifth years all tumbled out to curse me." She looked up and seemed to take in the occupants of the compartment. "So, Potter, Weasley," she said grinning as she threw back her hair, revealing a Slytherin badge, "where's Hermione?"
Harry lunged, but Ron got there first with a quick, "Petrificus Totalus!" The girl fell with her smile still twisting her face. Ron kicked her quickly into the hall. The remainder of the ride was uneventful.
The girl still occupied Harry's thoughts as he sat ignoring the Sorting Hat's melancholy predictions and warnings. He had first hated her for rubbing his face in Hermione's kidnapping, but now he began to wonder if it was that simple. Dumbledore had hushed up Hermione's disappearance, and he, Harry had told no one of it so how had the Slytherin known? She had to be a Death Eater spy at Hogwarts, Harry decided. Indeed, it would seem they were needed as the Slytherin table had been decimated. Harry allowed himself a moment of pleasure when he saw Theodore Nott and Malfoy's two flunkies, Crabbe and Goyle, had gone. Malfoy himself and Pansy Parkinson remained, unfortunately. Many fewer first years were Sorted into Slytherin as well.
The room quieted when Dumbledore rose to his feet. He looked older and weaker than he ever had. Harry looked back at the Slytherin table. The Indian girl, it appeared, had unfortunately recovered, for she was talking animatedly with a dark haired Ravenclaw. Harry clenched his fists under the table. They finally fell silent when Dumbledore began to speak.
"I am glad to see you are all here and looking well. I appreciate the courage you have all shown in coming here to Hogwarts. I want to assure you that you will be safe here. A contingent of Aurors has been assigned as residents in the castle. Additionally, I am sorry to report I must suspend all Hogsmeade visits for the foreseeable future. I also have an announcement for what remains of Slytherin House. Because so many of you have not elected to return to Hogwarts, your house no longer comprises a full class. Slytherin will be attending classes and following the same schedules as Ravenclaw House."
The dark haired Ravenclaw girl was grinning at her Slytherin friend who looked angry. The rest of Ravenclaw House did not look nearly as pleased with Dumbledore's news. Luna Lovegood looked faintly surprised, Padma Patil appeared pensive, Cho Chang seemed furious, and farther down the table one red haired witch appeared amused. Dumbledore, however, had one bombshell left to drop.
"There is a more weighty matter at hand than the Slytherin House schedules, of course. I wish to take a moment to remember one student who has not returned to Hogwarts but not," he shot a stern look at the Slytherin table before completing his thought, "of her own free will." The girl from the train's nostrils flared, and the Ravenclaw behind her put a hand on her shoulder to restrain her.
Dumbledore continued, ignoring the murmurs from Slytherin. "There is an empty seat at the Gryffindor table today. Hermione Granger will not be attending Hogwarts this year because she was kidnapped by Lord Voldemort."
The Great Hall drew in its breath. Harry realized Headmaster Dumbledore had not told the teachers in advance of his announcement. The shock of many of the students was nothing to the turmoil taking place at the teacher's table. Professor McGonagall turned to Professor Dumbledore, cutting off his remarks, as she appeared to be questioning him angrily while rubbing at her overly bright eyes. Professor Flitwick had fallen off his chair with a loud cry. Harry even thought he saw Professor Snape looking momentarily saddened, though not surprised. The expression faded from his face quickly however, and Harry could not be sure he hadn't imagined it.
He was distracted from the teachers by the spectacle at his own table. Many of the students were turning towards him with expectant looks. He was almost glad when Neville drew attention away from him by breaking into a fit of sobbing. His head was pillowed in his arms while his shoulders shook helplessly. Harry looked up again when he heard laughter. At the Slytherin table Pansy Parkinson was pointing at Neville and laughing. The Slytherin from the train walked over and slapped her calmly. She returned to her seat and began speaking again to her Ravenclaw friend. She turned and shot Harry a murderous look.
The greatest student reaction did not come from the Gryffindor or Slytherin table, however. Over at Ravenclaw, many students were unashamedly weeping. As Harry scanned the length of the Ravenclaw table he saw Cho Chang had a small tight smile on her lips.
Dumbledore had to struggle to regain control of the hall. "Therefore, Pavarti Patil will be the Gryffindor prefect in Hermione's stead." She rose to her feet.
"Headmaster, what happens if Hermione comes back?"
Professor Dumbledore paused for a long moment. "We will deal with the matter if it comes up."
The Slytherin girl rose as well and said deliberately, "I believe I misheard you. If, Professor Dumbledore? Don't you mean when Hermione returns? Surely efforts are being made to locate and help her, or has she been abandoned to her fate?"
Harry could rein in his temper no longer. He shot to his feet, wand out. As he stood, he noticed a reddish blur to his left. Ron had beaten him to it. "Shut up! It's none of your business! Sit down or I swear I'll hex you so badly they'll send you up to the Hospital Wing in a matchbox!"
The Slytherin girl's eyes widened in surprise and she whipped out her wand. The Ravenclaw behind her stood as well, face deadly serious.
"That is quite enough!" Professor McGonagall had risen to her feet. "All four of you sit down at once. There will be no dueling on school grounds. I am particularly disappointed in you, Ms. Brenner."
The Ravenclaw hung her head, and the two girls subsided. Harry sat as well. Ron sat only after food appeared on his plate. The remainder of the dinner passed in silence. Harry was glad when the word was given to leave for the common rooms.
The common room was hardly the boisterous place it usually was. Not even the first years dared to make a sound. Gryffindors seemed wary of disturbing Harry or Ron. No doubt they remembered Harry's fifth year rages. A few first years were clustered around Ginny who was telling them who Hermione was. Two first year boys were trying to play Exploding Snap quietly in a corner. Finding this impossible, they retreated upstairs. Two girls by the drafty portrait hole were reading quietly. They still wore their outdoor cloaks and hoods. Dean Thomas walked over to Ginny to put his arm around her. Ron broke off staring moodily at the fire to glare at Dean who wisely hurried upstairs.
The common room emptied fairly quickly after that. Harry was dismayed to find Ron's temper was far more volatile without Hermione's influence. He had snapped angrily at Pavarti when she had asked if Hermione had left any notes on the prefect patrol rotas.
Soon Harry and Ron were sitting alone by the fire. The two girls by the door had put away their books and were headed to bed. They crossed in front of Harry and Ron as they headed to the boys' staircase. No sooner had Harry noticed this incongruity then the girls wheeled about and fired off a trio of spells in quick succession.
"Expelliarmus! Silencio! Petrificus totalus!"
The two boys fell stiff on the floor, mouths open in shock. The girls hurriedly cast off their heavy cloaks. Harry would have gasped had he not been restrained, for before him stood the Slytherin and Ravenclaw girls from dinner with their wands trained on his and Ron's hearts.