Five months went by before reports of Harry and Hermione's whereabouts began to pour in. Several reports placed them in American while others placed them in a variety of other outrageous locations.
Dumbledore started the search two weeks after Harry and Hermione's sudden departure. He never really believed that Harry would made good on his threats of leaving the wizarding world. The elderly wizard never realized the seriousness of the situation until several Professors, Snape excluded, began to inquire about the two head students and their whereabouts. Only then did the headmaster accept the truth. The two surviving members of the golden trio were gone.
Severus Snape strides up the hallway. His cloak bellowing out behind making him look like a oversized bat. He was on his way to speak with the headmaster. He had some disturbing news about the missing children. A frown is etched on his usually sneering face. He stops at the statue of the sneering griffin and sighs. "Canary Creams" He says with disgust. The headmaster sure had a odd variety of words that he used for passwords. He watches as the griffin jumps aside to reveal the carefully hidden stairs. He begins his journey up them only stopping long enough to push the office door open with out knocking. "Headmaster, I must speak with you immediately." He says quickly before surveying the room only to find himself not alone. Minerva McGonagall was sitting stiffly in one of the office chairs looking tired and worn. "Sorry for the interruption" He says on a later note and hovers by the door waiting for the other professor to get done with whatever she was doing.
Albus Dumbledore looks from his Transfiguration Professor to his Potions Master. "No need to lurk in the shadows, Severus. Minerva was just telling me about Gryffindor seventh years. It seems that they have lost the will to learn. Their grades have dropped down to some of the lowest that Hogwarts has ever seen. Have your noticed a decline in their conduct?" He looks at the black haired man over top of his half moon spectacles.
Professor Snape steps away from the door with a scowl. "I have noticed a change in their behaviors but it is not only isolated to the seventh years. I have seen a decline in work ethic in the sixth year Gryffindors which I am assuming is do to the fact that Ms. Weasley and most of her year were friends with Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger. Which I also assume is the reason behind the seventh year Gryffindors lack of enthusiasm for their classes. But within my class it's only a slight change in their normal behavior. Their health also is in question."
Professor Dumbledore raises a brow. "Very deductive, Severus. I have spoken with most of the Gryffindor students but they refuse to tell me of their troubles. I have tried everything. I have spoken to them in large groups without advanced warning and I have tried individual meetings but both cases get me nothing but silence. But why do you say their health is in question?"
Snape frowns. "I don't just mean physical health, headmaster. I also mean emotional health. Let me give you an example. Last weeks quidditch match was Slytherin verse Gryffindor. My student's played normally while the Gryffindors did nothing to try and win the game. They flew around on their brooms like a bunch of first years. I must also say that they are looking paler than my Slytherins. They have black circles under their eyes which makes them look horrid. They don't talk to anyone from the other houses and only a handful show up at any of the meals." He says calmly.
Dumbledore sighs and sits back on his chair. "They are taking this harder than I expected. None of the Order members have been able to locate the two missing Gryffindors and god knows that they are trying their hardest. I received an owl yesterday from Lily and James Potter. They are coming here in a couple of weeks to pick up their daughter. They asked me not to tell Harry of their arrival. Which won't be a problem since he isn't here." He frowns.
The potion master straightens up. "That is the reason that I have come to speak with you headmaster. Minerva can stay since this will concern her also. I have recently attended a meeting after Voldemort summoned me. I have found out something very disturbing. He has called off all planned attacks on Potter's life. He even went as far to threaten death to anyone who touches the boy. But that's not the half of it. He extended the threat to include Ms. Granger. He apparently knows where they are and what they are doing."
Minerva cringes and frowns at the mention of Voldemorts name. "Why would he just suddenly call off all attacks on Potter and Granger. It don't make sense. And how could he know where they are if we don't?"
Dumbledore holds up his hands to silence the two from starting an argument. "It appears that Lord Voldemort has something planned for out missing students. It's out job to find them before he can act it out."
Snape clicks his tongue in annoyance. "Where is the littlest Potter at this moment?" He asks coldly.
The headmaster frowns. "Emma is with Professor Sprout who is currently teaching a batch of second years. The child enjoys being around the students and they don't seem to mind her presence during class."
Snape lets out a small snort. "Maybe now you see that not every cloud has a silver lining. Lily and James" He spits the last name out with venom. "are not the perfect people that you thought they were. What they did is inexcusable and possible irreversible. I may dislike the boy but I would never wish anything of this nature on anyone except maybe my worse enemy." He narrows his eyes and storms out of the room. Not giving the other two occupants a chance to respond to his comment.
Dumbledore shakes his head and turns his attention back to McGonagall. "Severus better be careful or people might actually think he is human. I need you to send owls out to our Order members. I want you to get Remus Lupin here while I try to figure out a way of helping our seventh year Gryffindors to regain their will to learn."
Minerva gives a curt nod and stands, excusing herself. She then in turns head for the owlery and sends out several of the school owls. She eyes the snowy white owl in the corner. It was Harry's owl, Hedwig. Her eyes narrow moment as she looks the bird over, carefully. She was dirty which could just mean that she was out hunting but the dirt looked more like dried green goo. She shakes her head and returns to her chamber to plan the next days lesson. She sighs when she realizes that it was her day to watch Emma. She disliked the child for one simple reason. It was because of her that two of her Gryffindors had left.