The Search

"So, what are we going to do?" asked Kingsley Shacklebolt.

Harry staggered back into a chair. He felt numb.

"I didn't mean for any of this to happen," he said, staring downwards.

"Of course you didn't," said Remus, looking at Harry intently. "None of this is your fault, Harry."

Harry knew it wasn't just the present situation Remus was talking about, but it didn't make him feel any better. Anyone he dared to get close to – Sally, Sirius, even his parents – got hurt. Died. The prophecy was turning out to be more of a curse.

"What if this has nothing to do with Harry? What if it's just a coincidence?" suggested Tonks.

Dumbledore shook his head. "Personally," he said, "I don't believe in coincidences. Besides, there is too much proof pointing towards the fact that the girl has been taken by Voldemort."

People sitting around the room winced at the sound of the name.

"But why?" asked Mundungus Fletcher, frowning. "Why would he take a Muggle girl?"

"Does he need a reason?" spat Professor McGonagall. "I think that this just goes to show that Muggles are just as involved in this war as we are."

"Not to put too fine a point on it," said Severus Snape, entering the conversation for the first time, "but this is not a normal Muggle attack. Assuming Potter is to be believed," he looked sceptically at Harry, "the girl has been taken prisoner. If the Dark Lord didn't need her for a reason – a very specific reason, I might add – she would already be dead."

Not for the first time, Harry felt like punching Snape. He flexed his fingers, and then realised, alarmed, that he was imitating the gesture made by Voldemort in his dream. Tensing, he sat up rigidly and settled for glaring at the Potions master instead.

The conversation continued on this vein for some time. Although many people made suggestions as to a course of action, most were shouted down by the other members of the Order, if not ignored completely.

Finally Harry decided to speak.

"We need to go and get her," he said.

Everyone turned to look at him. Most had seemed to have forgotten he was in the room, and many were looking at him as though he was slightly deranged.

Unperturbed, Harry continued. "It may seem obvious, but no one has suggested it, and as some people have pointed out," he looked directly at Snape, "we may not have much time."

There was a murmur of discussion from the assembled people, but no one ventured forth a reply. Finally, Dumbledore spoke.

"Harry," he said, "we have no clear idea where she is being held, and any visible moves to rescue her may put her in even more danger."

Harry's eyes widened as he realised what was being said. They were actually contemplating leaving Sally where she was, even if it meant she would die…

Harry got to his feet. Remus made as if to stop him, but Harry pushed him away.

I'm not going to leave her there, he thought, even if it means I have to do this alone.

Harry sat down on his bed. It was useless. He had gone over the dream again and again, but had been unable to find any clues as to its location. If he was perfectly honest, he wasn't even sure which country it was in.

So much for playing the hero.

As he sat with his head in his hands, there was a tentative knock on his door, followed by Ron's voice calling his name.

Harry contemplated ignoring him, but he knew that Ron would just report back to Hermione, who would come to check on him herself, and probably come to some very perceptive conclusions.

Reluctantly, Harry walked to the door, opened it a crack and peered through. The red-head was standing outside, looking both worried and uncomfortable.

"Are you alright mate?" he said, "It's just we haven't seen you since breakfast. Hermione was worried, we both were."

Harry replied with a curt "I'm fine," and moved to shut the door again.

Ron put his hand out to prevent Harry from doing so. "Look Harry, you shouldn't just shut yourself away like this, we're here for you, and you shouldn't be on your own," he said, his voice full of concern.

Harry was surprised. Normally Ron left emotional things to Hermione, adding in the occasional emphatic nod when required.

Ron took advantage of Harry's momentary lapse of concentration, pushed the door open and stepped inside. Annoyed, Harry sat back down on his bed, leaving Ron standing in the middle of the room, wondering what to do next.

After a few minutes, Ron broke the silence. "So are you going to talk to me, or are you just going to glare at me?" he said.

Harry stood up, furious. "You want to talk?" he retorted "Alright! Sally has been kidnapped by Voldemort, we have no idea where she is, and there's a good chance she's going to die – just like Sirius did."

Harry stopped. This was the first time that he had actually mentioned Sirius' death out loud. It made it seem more real, more final. Crumpling onto the bed, he burst into racking sobs.

Ron stood still, horrified. Slowly he moved towards Harry and sat down on the bed next to him. Putting his arm around Harry, he patted him awkwardly.

There was a sharp intake of breath. Looking up, Ron could see that Hermione was standing in the doorway. "Oh, Harry," she said, rushing over and enveloping Harry in a hug.

They stayed like that for some time, allowing Harry to at last cry all his unshed tears.

Much later, once Harry had calmed down and eaten some chocolate, the three decided to visit Dumbledore and check if the Order had come to a solution.

Harry entered the office, with Ron and Hermione following close behind. The headmaster was sitting behind his desk, and Harry was shocked to see the same weariness in the old man's eyes that he had detected during the summer.

"Harry," Dumbledore said, looking up. "We have contacted the Muggle government. The girl's parents are on their way."

Harry had vague memories of Sally's parents, who he had met briefly. They had been perfectly nice. Neil and Susan. A normal middle class family on a normal middle class street. Until Harry had arrived and ruined everything.

Harry didn't want to see them again.

"So what do we do now?" he asked.

"We wait," replied Dumbledore simply.

Harry stood outside Dumbledore's office, while Dumbledore explained the situation to Sally's parents. He could hear Sally's father's voice rising in agitation, demanding explanations and answers.

Suddenly the door flew open, and Neil marched out, followed by Dumbledore. Harry walked into the office and saw Susan staring out of the window, silent tears coursing down her cheeks. She turned to him and then back to the window, not saying a word.

Harry felt that he should apologise in some way, but he wasn't sure what to say.

As he turned to leave, however, Susan said his name quietly.

Harry turned back, surprised.

Although she still wasn't looking at him, Susan kept talking.

"People warned me," she sighed. "Letting my daughter run around with a boy like you was insane, they said. No good would come of it, they said. I wasn't convinced. Besides, I knew that Sally would defend you to the hilt if I dared mention anything. She's loyal like that.

I met you; you seemed like a perfectly nice boy, if a bit quiet. Petunia told me that you were practically a crazed lunatic. I ignored her. I've never liked that woman – too nosy, too much time on her hands. I knew my Sal well enough to let her do what she liked. Just goes to show, doesn't it?"

Susan turned to face Harry.

"They tell me about the potential danger caused by a sixteen-year-old boy, but no-one tells me that a megalomaniac can abduct my daughter in the middle of the night while she's sleeping! People forget to mention that an incredibly powerful wizard is trying to take over the world, because they're too busy checking what their neighbours are doing! Do you think I would have let my little girl out of the house if I knew what was going on?"

Susan wiped her eyes on her sleeve. "I'm sorry," she said, "you didn't want to hear all that."

Harry was gobsmacked. She was apologising to him?

"Don't you blame me?" he asked.

Susan shook her head. "Of course I don't! From what your headmaster has told us, I gather that you've suffered just as much as we have."

She reached out and put her hand on Harry's shoulder.

"Don't you blame yourself either," she said. "That won't do anyone any good, especially Sally."

At three o' clock in the morning, Harry still hadn't got to sleep. A subconscious fear of another nightmare kept waking him. As he lay staring at the dark ceiling, there was a hammering on his door.

Harry crawled out of bed and opened the door, blinking.

Standing outside was Professor McGonagall, looking frantic.

"They've found her," she gasped. "She's in the hospital wing. She's here."

A/N: A long chapter this time! Thank you all my lovely reviewers (goes to show what a little pleading can do!) Just one reply:

ILoveOrli-27 – I don't know, I think it would be in Hermione's nature to be quite jealous. If Harry was going out with Sally, she would more understand, but as Ron is clearly Harry's best friend out of the two, if he had another female best friend it might leave Hermione feeling quite redundant. Good comment though.