A/N: Here's the next chapter, just in time for Harry's birthday, but this won't exactly be happy for Harry or Ron. Hope you like it just the same.
Chapter Thirty Six
The Black Owl
Ron stirred his coffee in dejection. His day at work had barely begun but he was already so exhausted. It was the kind of emotional drain that twisted his nerves making him almost incapable of moving or thinking straight.
He shoved the documents in front of him away as if they were infectious. He was inspecting everything Tonks owned on her desk on Atalanta's orders but it didn't feel right.
He downed his coffee as if he was dying of thirst and summoned a kettle to have it refilled. The kettle stopped halfway in the air before it reached his cup. Ron wondered for a moment why before it drifted back into the tiny kitchen they had at headquarters. Ron cursed loudly at the unknown person who stole his coffee and stood up ready to give whoever that was a piece of his mind when he found Maddy directly in his path.
"Zat was your fourth cup, you 'ad enough coffee I zhink," she said.
"Leave me alone," Ron said irritably.
She didn't step aside. "Ronald, you 'ave to calm down."
"I'm calm as I can ever be!"
"You are not from where I can see. You are drunk with caffeine. You 'ave to stop. If you cannot 'andle today, ask for a leave."
"I can't do that right now when we're on the case. Just where the hell is Tonks anyway? Why isn't she here yet, she's supposed to report hours ago. She's making things worse for her by being away."
Maddy gave a tired sigh. "You are not the only one worried about her. Atalanta's already ordered Aurors to track her down."
"Like she was a criminal," Ron said sarcastically. "Bloody Chimaera. And she won't even let me join in looking for her. Lancry's out there, why not me?"
Maddy looked at him nervously. "You mean 'us,' do you not?" she said.
Ron snorted. "You don't have to worry about the git that's occupying my body, he's still here but I don't want him talking right now. And you can stop checking our magical signatures every half-hour. I know what you're trying to do."
Maddy flushed guiltily.
There was a sudden commotion from the entrance of the Headquarters and Maddy and Ron craned their necks to look. Ron could see his partner step up looking worn and heaving deep breaths.
"What happened de Lancre?" Atalanta asked as she came running out of her office.
"I was at her flat. She attacked us. I barely escaped. Dawlish and two others with me went down. I got Dawlish out and brought him to St. Mungo's, but the others…" he trailed off and sadly shook his head.
Ron's temper flared and he could feel Harry's rise just as fast. "You dare accuse Tonks?" Ron demanded of their partner.
De Lancre faced him with equal rage. "Yes. It is hard not to after she tried to shoot me with Unforgivable curses!"
"YOU said she shot at you! How would I know you're not lying?"
"Right now, you cannot. But you can ask Dawlish—if and when he gets out of ze coma! Think about that and those two dead Aurors next time you want to defend your dear friend! I warned you about her before and you did not listen to me!"
"You had no basis for it!"
"Here is my basis! If you do not believe me, go there and try to arrest her yourself if you dare!"
"Enough!" Atalanta shouted. "Weasley, hold your tongue and the same goes for you, de Lancre. I do not tolerate quarrels in my ranks. This is getting out of hand. Weasley, you're off the case, you're too close to Tonks. De Lancre, my office now for debriefing, then you can go to St. Mungo's if you need further treatment. Team 3, get ready for an assault, though I doubt you'll find Tonks at her flat anymore. The rest of you," she turned to the all the other Aurors. "Back to your jobs! Move!"
Ron and de Lancre wordlessly stomped away in opposite directions. Ron was too tired and too wrapped up in his own anger with the world to care that he and Harry were thrown out of the case. He walked out the door.
"Where are you going?" he heard Maddy ask from behind him.
He stopped walking to face her. "I don't know," Ron replied. "Home maybe, I haven't decided—"
"The Burrow," interrupted Harry. "I don't believe Tonks did it and I'm not going to stop figuring this out."
Ron was rather annoyed at the interruption, especially since he specifically asked Harry to shut up. But he realized Harry did have a point. As much as he was mad at him now, this was no time to their personal lives get in the way. They needed to prove Tonks innocent. He let Harry continue.
"We need to contact Remus. If anyone knows her, it's him. I just need to find out from Mrs. Weasley how to get in touch with him."
"Eez zhere anything I can do to 'elp?" asked Maddy.
"I know you're still on duty," said Harry. "But owl us if something comes up, alright?"
"Yes, will you be okay?"
"We're fine—and this is Ron talking," he assured her.
She nodded and went back to work. Ron headed to the nearest public Ministry flooing station. He was about to request to use the station from the witch in charge, when she beckoned to them urgently.
"Mr. Weasley, how fortunate you're here. I was trying to get you at the Headquarters but they said you already left. I was afraid I have to send roving memos around the Ministry just to find you. You have a message. A Miss Weasley is waiting for a reply. It sounded important." She handed him the jar of floo powder and let him access to the nearest fireplace.
"Ginny?" Ron called when the smoke finally cleared his vision and revealed his childhood home.
"Ron! Harry!" she cried as she crouched down into the grate. "Thank goodness you've replied."
"What is it?" asked Harry. Ron could sense his sister's panic.
"It's Hermione. Her parents are here. She came home to them a few hours ago. But several elves attacked their house and they took her!"
"WHAT!" Ron's felt his chest constrict all of a sudden. This can't be happening! Not after I—No! Not her too!
"Her parents couldn't do anything," said Ginny who was already on the verge of tears. "They said she tried fighting them off, but they were too powerful. Her parents didn't know what to do. It was a good thing their house is still connected to our exclusive floo. That's how they got here."
Ginny drew back a bit and Ron could see Mrs. Granger crying in Mrs. Weasley's arms in the background.
Ron's mind seemed a blur and it seemed like such a struggle just to remain standing. He couldn't stand this alone.
"Harry, where do you think—"
"I don't know," he hesitated. "Wait… if they were Black elves then that means—Owww!"
Both Harry and Ron winced at something that pecked at their arm which was outside the fire. There was a second peck, then a third. From beyond the fire, they could hear the witch in charge of the flooing station shriek:
"Get off you stupid bird! Can't you see he's busy talking to someone? Your letter can wait! Owww!"
There was a sound of scuffle and finally Ron felt the witch's urgent touch on their arm.
"I'm sorry to interrupt Mr. Weasley, but this bird is—Owww!—it won't stop pecking. If you don't mind cutting your conversation short—Owww! Get off! Get off!"
Ron was extremely annoyed and would have shouted at the witch but he figured she wouldn't hear him over her own screams and the racket she made fighting off the owl.
"Ginny, give a minute, I need to deal with something."
Ron withdrew their head from the flames and looked to the poor witch that had scratches up her arms and face. The owl was dark as night and immediately stopped its assault when it saw Ron give it attention. It held out its leg in a smug manner. Ron untied the small piece of parchment from its leg and the moment it was loose, the owl flew off.
"Blasted bird!" Ron cursed. "What could be so important…" He opened the letter and what he read instantly altered his opinion. Written on blood red ink was the short message:
Potter and Weasley,
If you wish to see Hermione Granger alive again, come to Black Castle alone.
The Black Heir
Ron felt their heart race faster than a speeding a bludger.
"She's got her, she's got her Harry."
"Who's she? You can't think that Tonks would do that."
"I don't know!" said Ron miserably. "She knows about you sharing my body and it's also addressed to you not just me. We have to go there and if it is Tonks… I'd hate to think about it but we have to get Hermione somehow."
They looked up from the letter just as they sighted de Lancre approach.
"Weasley, we need to talk," he began but he was interrupted by Ginny's head appearing in the fire.
"Ron! Ron! Are you still there?" she cried desperately. "What can we do? What do we do about Hermione?"
De Lancre suddenly looked from Ginny to Ron and Harry with a worried expression. "What happened to Hermione?"
"None of your business, Lancry!" Ron said savagely.
"She is my friend too and I want to know. Tell me, what is wrong with her?"
Ron continued to glare wordlessly at his partner. De Lancre searched their face and fell on the parchment Ron and Harry were holding. He snatched it before Ron or Harry could react. They tried to retrieve it but it was too late. De Lancre had already seen the message.
"Where did you get zhis?" he asked apprehensively.
"An owl delivered it," admitted Ron. "It took off before I could do anything."
"She is missing?"
"Kidnapped by house elves."
"Then let us go to this Black Castle now!"
Ron and Harry glared at him. "It says to come alone."
"Are you an idiot!" cried de Lancre incredulously. "Zat is the first thing we do not do at an assault! I will call for a full assault team."
"If we come in there like an army they could kill her!"
"Weasley, you are not thinking straight. Look, I will ask for back-up but they can follow discreetly. We go ahead."
"It says just me," complained Harry.
"I will come with you. It will not be so noticeable if it is just us two in front."
"Forget it!"
"I am your partner, Weasley. Whether you like it or not, I am coming with you! Hermione is my friend and I do not want her hurt. Let me come or I will hex you!"
"I'd like to see you try," challenged Ron as he drew his wand.
"Ron please!" begged Ginny from the fire. He had forgotten she was there. "Hermione's in danger and you're wasting time!"
"Listen to your sister, Weasley. It will be no good to Hermione if you are captured as well. You need me."
Harry and Ron both fumed but resigned to the fact that de Lancre was right again.
"Let me inform Headquarters," said de Lancre. "But just so you will not leave until I get back—" Without warning he cast a spell on Harry's and Ron's feet so they were glued to the floor.
"LANCRY!" they both screamed. They tried to undo the hex but it wouldn't come off.
"Just wait for me there!" shouted their partner before heading off to Headquarters.
"He's right you know," said Ginny from the fire.
"Fine! Side with him!" roared Ron.
"Ginny, just tell your Mum and Hermione's parents we're going for her at Black Castle. Someone sent me a message telling us to come there alone," said Harry. "And could you contact Mickey?"
"Mickey?" asked Ron. "What do we need Mickey for?"
"Just an idea," replied Harry. "We could use an elf back-up since we're dealing with elves again. It could be good to inform Dobby too. Send them over to Black Castle, but please tell them to be on their guard and to come by stealth if they can."
"Of course," said Ginny worriedly. "Ron, Harry, please be careful."
"We will," replied Harry.
The fire died just as de Lancre came running back. He undid the spell on their feet.
"Let us go, Weasley."
"Aren't we going to wait for back-up?"
"They are right behind me, but we have to go. How do we get there?"
"We can floo," said Harry. "I'll go first."
"Alright." He held the jar of floo powder at Harry and Ron.
Harry got a handful and stepped into the grate. "Black Castle!" they both shouted. Ron felt the usual spinning while the Ministry grate disappeared out of his sight. He waited in anticipation and wondered what he would find at the other side.