Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.

A/N: Sorry for the little mix-up in chapter 15, or 16, or whatever it was that had the duplicate. I was trying to correct my spelling mistakes, and I guess I ended up putting the same chapter in twice. My bad! Thanks for being tolerant, though. The funny thing is, I wouldn't have noticed anything wrong if one of my beautiful reviewers hadn't let me know. Thanks for being so alert and observant! LOL!

Hey, guess what! This is the second to last chapter! The next one is the last one! Okay, I'll let you in on a little secret (looks around to see if anyone's listening) I'm thinking of writing an Epilogue for this baby. Because the ending I've got for this story kind of leaves a lot hanging. Okay, not a lot, but it's not a very good ending, in my opinion. So I think I'm gonna write an Epilogue. What do you guys think? So this story might actually have two more chapters after this one, I'm not completely sure yet.

Enjoy this one, though!


Chapter 19: Missing

Harry's heart plummeted. "What about him?" he asked.

"He's…well…we can't find him," Hermione stammered, her eyes filling with tears. Draco wrapped his arms around her and continued.

"We got word from one of the lower level Death Eaters," he said. "Okay, actually, it was more of a vague hint, but it was from Blaise Zabini, who informed us tonight that he was on our side. He says that he was involved in the capture."

"Is that why he was called away?" Harry cut in. Draco nodded.

"Wait a minute," Ron said. Draco rolled his eyes.

"Here we go again," the blonde muttered. Ron glared at him.

"If Zabini is on our side, why did he help capture Remus?" Ron asked, choosing not to respond to Draco.

"Dunno," Harry said. "Draco?" he asked, turning to the blonde.

"I've got him right outside the door. I can bring him in, if you want," Draco said.

Harry spoke up as he saw the headmaster hesitate. "Sir, I was there when he explained his loyalties. I can't really vouch for him, but I do trust him."

"Alright," Dumbledore agreed, though some people still looked hesitant. "Bring him in."

The doors opened and Blaise walked in, looking around nervously. Every person in the room had their wands out, knowing full well that Blaise was—or had been—a Death Eater. Blaise approached Dumbledore and stood there rather awkwardly.

"Mr. Zabini, you have something to share?" Dumbledore asked. Blaise nodded.

"Well, I was called by the Dark Lord only a few moments before Harry destroyed him. We had already had a plan set up to kidnap the werewolf, we were only putting it into action." He looked apologetically at Harry. "Honestly, I had not idea why he was so important. We were simply told that he played a major role in the war and he would be the easiest to retrieve. That's why I didn't tell you when we were speaking," Blaise told Harry and Ron.

"So you knew why you were being called?" Harry asked, growing angrier by the minute.

"Yes, but Pansy didn't. She's not too high up on the loyalty list, really. The Dark Lord didn't trust her too much. So I had to play dumb when mine burned and hers didn't. But she ruined it when she yelled for the world to hear that we were on the Light side. When I was on my way to the meeting place, I was ambushed and attacked for being a traitor. Fortunately for me, Wormtail has horrible aim."

"Wormtail?" Harry said sharply.

"Yeah." Blaise lifted the sleeve of his robes to reveal a nasty cut on his left upper arm. "He was trying to cut out my heart with Diffindo, but he missed. He pouted and started shaking his wand, as if his wand had something against him, and I took the advantage and killed him."

"He's dead?" Harry said, dismayed. "I wanted a go at him." Ron chuckled slightly.

"So you didn't actually kidnap Remus?" Hermione asked. Blaise shook his head.

"So you don't know where he's being held?" Draco continued.

"Not precisely where he's at, but I have a pretty good idea of where he could be."

"Do you really?" Hermione asked earnestly. Blaise nodded. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

"Whoa, hang on, 'Mione," Draco said. "We can't just barge in…wherever 'in' is. We need a plan."

"I'll take you there," Blaise offered. "I know the HQ like the back of my hand." HE held up his hand for emphasis.

"What's that?" Hermione asked, pointing to what looked like a large black grease stain across the back of his hand. Blaise studied it closely.

"No idea," he said seriously. Draco rolled his eyes.

"Well, I'm convinced," he said sarcastically.

"About what?" Ron asked stupidly. Draco gave him a look.

"Why do I get the feeling that I'm surrounded by idiots?" Harry asked no one in particular. Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak when—yet again—the doors opened and Luna walked in. she spotted Harry and flew into his arms.

"Harry!" she squealed, hugging him tightly.

"Luna!" he squealed back, in perfect imitation of the blonde girl. She glared at him.

"I'm so happy for you," she said excitedly.

"Yeah, I'd e happy for me too, if Remus wasn't missing," Harry said sullenly.

"Remus is missing?" Luna gasped. Harry nodded. "Where is he?"

"Well, gee, Luna, I don't know," Draco said sarcastically. "Maybe that's why he's missing?"

"Shut up," Luna snapped.

The door burst open—yet again—and Snape tumbled in, in a most un-Snape-like fashion. He was out of breath and his normally pale face was flushed, as if he'd just run a great distance.

"Sir," he panted at Dumbledore. "Sir, we've found him."

"You found him?" Harry cried excitedly. Snape nodded, trying to catch his breath.

"Well, my work here is done," Blaise said, beginning to edge his way out of the room.

"Freeze," Draco said, grabbing his arm. "You're still a Death Eater."

"Aw, crap," Blaise sighed. "Thought I'd get out of that one."

"Is Remus alright?" Harry asked Snape.

"He's fine," Snape said, his sneer beginning to return. "He's up in the Hospital Wing. Poppy insisted on checking him over. I don't believe he was gone long enough for any serious damage to have occurred. He wants to see Potter, of all people."

Harry shot Snape the dirtiest glare he could muster before hurrying out of the room, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Draco, Luna, and Dumbledore on his heels.


A/N: Okay, so, like, everyone in that chapter was OOC somewhat, which kind of sucked, because that's not how I wanted it to turn out. But my fingers have minds of their own, and they just kept typing, I had no control. I hope you liked this chapter, but I won't blame you if you burn my house down with all the flames you send me. Okay, I would mind if you burnt my house down, but I won't mind if you flame me. I'll just have a big bonfire, do some tribal dances, stuff like that. But stay with me, I'll have the next chapter up soon, and that one will be better, I promise. Review!