CHAPTER 4

"WHAT?" Molly Weasley shrieked once Severus had said his first sentence after arriving at Headquarters.

"He's gone." Severus repeated irritably. "The muggles said he was out back doing his chores, when I went to get him, he was gone."

At that moment, Albus Dumbledore's head appeared in the fireplace. "How did it go Severus?" he asked.

Severus suppressed the annoyed tone that had been in his voice earlier. "It didn't go at all, Headmaster."

Albus raised an eyebrow, "How so?"

Severus sat down in an armchair, aware that every single person at Grimmauld Place save Lupin was in the room. "I apperated to the muggles' house, and went to get Pott- Harry," he hated saying the brat's first name, but Dumbledore frowned whenever Severus called him 'boy' or 'Potter'. "Vernon Dursley told me he was out in the back yard, trimming the bushes. I went to get him, but he was gone. I checked his room," Severus didn't mention how poor in quality it was, "but nothing was there; his trunk, his owl, his clothes, everything was gone."

He took a breath, and went on. "Mundungus had seen Harry, weeding the front yard, and painting the house earlier, but everything else was as it should have been. I checked for Harry all over the neighborhood, he was not there. Upon returning to the house, I noticed Potter's- Harry's, window open, and a dirt footprint on the small platform below. Two more footprints were in the dirt below that. It would seem Potter ran away when he heard me coming."

Severus doubted the frown Dumbledore wore now was from his saying 'Potter'. "Did Arbella see anything?" the Headmaster asked. Severus shook his head, "Only when Potter jogged around the neighborhood in the afternoons."

Albus sighed, "Very well. At least we know he left of his own accord. Molly, would you see if Remus knows anything about Harry, where he might have gone?" She nodded, doubting the drunken werewolf was in any mood- or condition- to talk. He'd been in a right state since Sirius died.

"Thank you Molly," Dumbledore said, "I believe it is time to setup a search for Harry. Usual guard groups, if you please. Do try to stay safe, and bring Harry back."

Troublesome brat of a Gryffindor, Severus thought to himself with a scowl.


Coming Up:

Harry's school-related rebellion

The Exploration of Black Manor

The Riddle of the Chimera

Then:

The Four Founders Return


(A/N: My apologies for this being so short, of course, the others will belonger.)