Chapter 26: A Letter From An Owl

It was long after sunset. Dudley, Piers, and Malcolm had left hours ago. Dennis was sulking in his room about not being allowed to go on tonight's street patrol. Mr. Richards was still in front of the television, sitting on the edge of the couch, waiting for any new information. Ellie spent the entire evening in her room. She attempted to read a book, but gave up once she realized it had taken her a half hour to get through one page. The day's events were far too distracting to get anything done. Now Ellie was laying on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Her mind was racing with thoughts of the newscast, her time spent at Hogwarts and Harry. She thought a lot about Harry. She wondered if he had returned to Hogwarts safely, and if she'd ever see him again.

"Of course I'll see him again..." Ellie thought to herself, "...during the summer when he returns to the Dursley's house."

She missed him. She missed his smile, she missed his dark messy hair, and she especially missed getting lost in his deep green eyes.

BANG!

Ellie jolted upright, startled by what sounded like a firework going off.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The noise was coming from outside. Ellie glanced out her bedroom window, and saw several of her neighbors sitting outside with hunting riffles pointed towards the sky. A few more rounds went off.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Ellie searched through the night sky, trying to see what her neighbors were shooting at. Finally, she spotted a white bird in the distance. As the bird flew closer, Ellie was able to determine that it was in fact an owl. Suddenly Ellie realized that it wasn't just any owl, it was Harry's owl, Hedwig, and she was heading straight for Ellie's bedroom window.

Ellie quickly threw the window open, as Hedwig continued to dodge the bullets being aimed at her. The snowy owl landed safely on Ellie's bed, looking very tired and flustered.

Ellie took the letter that was attached to Hedwig's leg, and read it immediately.

Dear Ellie

I just wanted to let you know that I returned safely to Hogwarts. I also wanted to make sure that you're alright. Your father seemed to be really upset.

Dumbledore has complete confidence that your mother and the other captives are still alive. Even at this very moment every single Auror and member of the Order are searching for them. Unfortunately, it is still unknown what Voldemort's motives are for taking these muggles.

I'll send you another letter when I have more information.

Please send a reply with Hedwig so I know that you're alright.

Sincerely,

Harry

P.S. Don't lose hope!

After reading the letter Ellie felt relieved that Harry was safe. However, the letter didn't calm her fears about her mother's well being. Everyone seemed to think that her mother was still alive. But what if they were wrong? Ellie quickly pushed that thought aside, and pulled a piece of paper and pen out of her desk drawer.

Dear Harry

I'm doing fine, considering everything that has happened. I just can't shake the felling that I'm never going to see my mum again.

I apologize for my father's behavior. He's usually much more calm and pleasant to talk to. According to the muggle news, the entire world is in a panic, as I'm sure the magic world is too.

I don't think it's safe to send Hedwig anymore. Several of my neighbors have taken up owl hunting, and she barely made it to my house in one piece.

We'll need to find another way to communicate.

Sincerely,

Ellie

Ellie was reading over her letter, wondering if she needed to add anything else, when she heard the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs.

She quickly attached her letter to Hedwig's leg, and the owl immediately flew out of the room. After closing the window Ellie shoved Harry's letter under her pillow and sat down, opening her book just as someone knocked on her door.

"Come in!" Ellie said casually.

Mr. Richards stepped into the room, glancing around suspiciously.

"Mrs. Banks just called claiming that she saw an owl fly into your bedroom window."

"An owl?" Ellie said, giving her father a strange look.

"That's what she said." Mr. Richards continued to search the room, peering in the wardrobe.

"Dad, if an owl flew into my room I'd come running down the stairs screaming that there was an owl in my room. That didn't happen." Ellie maintained her serious manner.

Mr. Richard's eyes finally came to rest on his daughter.

"Well, just let me know if you see anything strange around the house."

Ellie nodded, and her father left the room, closing the door behind him.

Ellie had carefully locked the front door, just as her father had left it. She placed the spare key back under the rock, and was on her way. Dennis had gone to Malcolm's, where he would be spending the night. Mr. Richards had fallen asleep on the couch while watching the news. This gave Ellie the perfect opportunity to put her escape plan into action. She had even placed a few extra pillows under her covers to make it look like she was sleeping, just incase her father happen to check in on her.

It had only been two days since her mother went missing, but Ellie had grown too restless and impatient far too quickly. No new information had been released since Monday, and without having a way to contact Harry, Ellie was left in the dark.

By lunchtime Wednesday, Ellie had convinced herself that the magic world would have more information about her mother than the muggle news. Suddenly Ellie was obsessed with the idea of going back to Diagon Alley, and it was only a matter of hours until she secretively walked out the front door.

The fear of being attacked by wizards still lingered, but not enough to scare everyone away. The previous day Hundreds of thousands of Londoners went back to work despite all warnings from Scotland Yard and the Department of Defense. Apparently making money was more important than the threat of being killed by a wizard. Soon, public transit, banks and other businesses were opened to accommodate those who wished to work.

On the way to the tube station Ellie remained focused on the task before her. She didn't have any illusions of rescuing her mother, or even discovering where she was being held captive. All Ellie wanted was information, and that was all she was going to look for.