VI.
Mrs. Macmillan had been preparing dinner for herself and her husband – Ernie was still at school and Erin was at a slumber party – when she heard the telephone – or fellytone, or whatever the stupid thing's called – they only had it installed so the Muggles wouldn't ask questions – ring out in the hall. Wondering who in the world would call them – they didn't give their number to anybody – she picked up the receiver. Unsure about what to do, she did what Ernie had told them to do in his letters that touched on Muggle Studies – put the phone to her ear and said tentatively, "Hello?"
"Hello, Mrs. Macmillan, this is Mrs. Stirman, Jamie's mom? I was just wondering how Jamie was doing…he said that he and a few friends were going over to your house."
"Um…Erin said that she was going to your house," Mrs. Macmillan said blankly. "They're not here."
"What? But if they're not here and they're not at your house, where could they be?" said Mrs. Stirman, hysterical.
"I'll come over to your place. I'll be there in, say, five minutes. Just hold yourself together until then, all right?"
"Ok," sobbed Mrs. Stirman. "Just hurry…"
Mrs. Macmillan turned off the stove, wrote a quick note to her husband, and with a small 'pop' disappeared from her kitchen.
A moment later she reappeared outside the Stirman's house. She walked up to the door, and thinking it would be rude not to, knocked. Immediately it opened and in front of her stood the puffy-eyed Mrs. Stirman. Apparently she had been waiting for her.
"Oh, thank goodness! Come in! I've been beside myself with worry! I don't know where Jamie is!" she led her through the house into the living room, which had a large window showing an extensive view of Little Hangleton. Mrs. Macmillan glanced at it, and then focused her attention on Mrs. Stirman, who was now tearfully sitting in a chair.
"Mrs. Stirman…" Mrs. MacMillan began, but Mrs. Stirman stopped her.
"Call me Vanessa," she said firmly. "and what may I call you?"
"You call me Maira," she said. "Ok, Vanessa, I'm sure we can find them. When did he leave?"
"A little more than three hours ago. Is that when Erin left?"
"Yeah. So he said that he was going to my house? Ernie's still at school, why would he go there?"
"I dunno, I think his friends Brett and Patrick suggested throwing a party or something, and Erin heard, so maybe she offered to host it or something…?"
"So why would Erin claim she was going to your house? I'm going to have a little chat with her when she gets home…she's not supposed to be out after dark, and she never told me about having Ernie's friends over…" said Maira, confused.
"I dunno; let's go see Patrick's and Brett's parents first, then if they're not there, we'll go to the police," Vanessa said.
"I'll go, you're in a right state," said Maira.
"Oh, are you sure? I can go…"
"No, I'll go, you lie down and don't worry. We'll find them." In truth, Maira wanted to go by herself so she could Apparate around town; with Vanessa she would have to walk or drive; she didn't enjoy walking and she had honestly no clue whatsoever how to drive a car.
As soon as she was out onto the street, Maira Disapparated from the front of Vanessa's house to Patrick's house. No lights were on inside and when she rang the doorbell, nobody answered. Worried, she Apparated to Brett's house. A single light was on in the downstairs window. Maira rang the doorbell, hoping that Erin would be there.
Brett's father answered the door. "Excuse me," said Maira, "I was just wondering if Erin, Jamie, and Patrick are over here. Jamie said he was going to my house, Erin said she was at his house, and Patrick isn't home."
"Brett said he was going to Jamie's place. He left about three hours…" but he stopped dead when a piercing scream shattered the night air. "What the hell was that?" he asked loudly, as the screams did not cease for a good ten seconds.
"No clue. So nobody's here?"
"Nope, just me."
"Ok," she said dejectedly. "I just want to know where my daughter is…"
"Don't we all; tell you what, I'll call you if I learn anything. What's your number?"
Maira was confused. She didn't know what he was talking about. Finally, she said, "Do you know Vanessa Stirman's number? She's bawling about Jamie, so I'll be there. That's where you'll be able to call me."
"Ok. I hope our kids turn up…"
"Yeah, me too. Thanks for the help," With that they said good-bye, and Maira walked down the front walk.
As soon as he closed the door she Apparated back to Vanessa's house dejectedly. She found Vanessa where she had left her – slumped and crying in the armchair. "Did you find them?" Vanessa asked, knowing the answer.
"No, Brett's dad said that Brett was supposed to be here, and nobody was at Patrick's at all."
Vanessa sobbed even harder. "Oh, what if he gets mugged…or kidnapped…or killed…or hurt…or…"
"Pull yourself together, Jamie's not stupid," said Maira impatiently. "He won't get himself into trouble…they're probably coming home right now, or having fun, just like all teenagers do."