Chapter 2: Missing Member
Tonks had a deep look of worry combined with extreme anger on her face, and her normally bubblegum-pink hair was an uncharacteristic black. In her hand was a crumpled copy of the Evening Prophet. At her side Kingsley looked just as worried, but not nearly as mad.
All conversation seemed to stop as they looked over at the two, and by their expressions everyone could tell the news they brought wasn't good. Harry only glanced quickly at Ron and Hermione before jumping to his feet and ran over to Tonks. She smiled sadly, worry showing more in her eyes.
"Wotcer Harry."
"What happened? Why did you leave? What did the Ministry want?" Harry asked without introduction.
She exchanged a glance with Kingsley, and before she could answer Lupin strode up to them.
"Is he alright?" he asked quickly.
Alright? Who is Lupin talking about? Harry thought.
"Who? Is who alright?" Ron asked, as he came up behind Harry along with Hermione.
Tonks sighed softly and shrugged to Lupin.
"We don't know, there was no body. Right now they say kidnapping, they think he's alive but they're just saying that. There's no proof either way. No one knows for sure."
This was met with a slight wave of relief through the Order members, but Harry was still lost.
"What's going on?" he asked shaprly.
Mrs. Weasley, in her wedding best, looked ready to protest, but Tonks cut her off.
"It's in the papers Molly. They'll find out, they may as well find out from us."
"Why won't you tell me what's going on?"
Tonks sighed sadly. "It's Moody." Harry tried to interrupt her but she didn't let him. "Read the paper first. It basically true, I want a break from talking about it."
Hermione had just paid the owl that had brought her copy, and Harry turned and really ripped it trying to take it from her hands. On the front page was the article they were looking for. Harry quickly read through it.
Evening
Prophet
Death Eaters Strike Again
Tonight, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and his followers struck again, this time going after retired Auror, Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody. Thankfully he is still believed to be alive, but kidnapped and in the custody of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and his Death Eaters. "The Dark Mark was discovered over his house by a Ministry official who went there to check on him after he did not arrive at an appointment," said one Ministry official. "There were signs of an intense struggle, but there was no body found, so we have every reason to believe he has been kidnapped. We think You-Know-Who may have been there as well."
The reason for this attack is not yet known to the Ministry, but several theories have already started circulating. The first theory, revenge. In his prime the retired Auror sent many Death Eaters to Azkaban, many of whom have now escaped. Revenge may also be the answer as to why he was kidnapped, rather than just killed. "Sadly," the same Ministry official said, "it is entirely possible that there are so many of them that want revenge, that they kidnapped him so they could all get their shot at it, before likely finishing him off."
Another reason for kidnap, rather than murder is the theory that Moody has some type of information. Moody had been close friends with the late Albus Dumbeldore, and is rumored to be a part of the resistance group started by the late Hogwarts Headmaster. This raises the question, is it possible that Moody knows something He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named wants to know as well? The Ministry says its entirely possible. "We're not ruling anything out, it may even be a combination of the two. We don't know, we are working as hard as possible to bring him home alive, and in decent shape. We already have people on it, but right now we have no leads as to where he is. The only thing we have to go on is that it looked like his house had been ransacked. We are still working to find out where You-know-who had him taken."
In a time when murders have become a common place, the question of is he even alive has been aroused, but the Ministry stresses that it is still a rescue mission at this time. "We still think he's alive…we hope he's still alive."
Some people are actually laying the blame with the Ministry, saying that they ignored a change to stop the attack. "It wouldn't surprise me," said a source that preferred to remain anonymous, "if they didn't pay attention to signs of a struggle, thinking it was just Mad-Eye being Mad-Eye. They're still convinced that Mad-Eye's too paranoid to pick up on a real attack. You think they'd figure out he's still able to pick out the real thing three years ago. They didn't pay any attention to that either and he ended up locked in a trunk for nine months with a maniac walking around Hogwarts impersonating him. He is paranoid, but still, you'd think in these times that they would take any threat seriously. It wouldn't surprise me at all. If this is how the Ministry treats the best Auror they've ever had…I just pray they find him alive, for his sake."
At this time no other details surrounding the case are being released to the public. The Ministry has stressed that they do not believe the public to be in any more danger than before. And have said that it was likely that they subdued Moody and then left immediately after that, and that they do not think that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named of any of his followers are still in the area.
If anyone has any information that may be connected to this case they are asked to contact the Ministry of Magic immediately.