Authors note: Thanks to pureangel86 for one of my ideas. Can't say which 'cause it'll spoil it, but they know what I mean!
As they ran along the corridors heading for the stairs to get outside a sudden thought occurred to Harry. The note had ended 'if you ever want to see your lover again' but Dumbledore hadn't mentioned it. Maybe he was trying to be tactful.
They reached the great oak front doors, which Dumbledore opened with a quick flick of his wand. They ran down the stone steps and across the lawn. Before they reached the forest however Dumbledore paused, causing Harry and Hermione to almost collide with him.
"Harry, Miss Granger, I want you to stay close when we enter the forest. Whoever has taken Mr. Weasley obviously means to hurt one or both of you." Dumbledore said quietly. Harry and Hermione nodded.
"Harry, are you ok?" Hermione whispered as they walked carefully through the trees.
"My best friend's just been taken captive and I have no idea where he is. I'm fantastic," Harry replied little more harshly than he'd intended. "Sorry."
"Don't be," Hermione put a hand on his shoulder. "But it effects me too."
Harry nodded. The continued through the trees, pulling braches out of their way as they went.
"Sir, do you have any idea where in the forest the captor might have meant?" Asked Hermione after a while.
"I have a hunch Miss Granger," Dumbledore paused and looked back at them. "If you do not wish to continue searching you can go back."
"No, its not that," Hermione said blushing. "I just wondered if we were heading towards anything in particular, because… we're kinda walking towards the centaurs clearing."
Hermione was right. They were going to walk straight into it.
"They shall not harm you while I am here Miss Granger," Dumbledore assured her.
They knew instantly that someone had been in the clearing. They'd left a message in the air, golden words, scrawled the way Tom Riddle had in the chamber of secrets.
Thought your little quest would end here did you? Well it's not that easy I'm afraid. I want to see you suffer Potter, so you'll have to search a bit longer. Your lover is fine, for now, a battered a bruised here and there, but nothing you can't fix. However if you don't find me before lunch, you won't be finding your boyfriend at all. Now for your next clue, well that would make things a little too easy wouldn't it? Peeves might delight in telling you something. If you can find him. You have until lunch Potter, I'll be waiting.
Harry stared.
"I swear I'm going to kill him when I find him." Harry said through clenched teeth.
"Peeves or Malfoy?" Hermione whispered.
"Both." Harry turned, knowing Peeves would be in the castle. "C'mon, we've got to start searching. We've only got a few hours!"
As they made their way back to the castle it started to grow dark, huge black clouds floating over Hogwarts. The rain came splattering down just as they reached the oak doors.
"We'll find him, I promise," Hermione said taking Harry's hand. Harry couldn't bear how nice Hermione was being. It made things seem worse. Harry knew it was his fault Ron was missing. It was always his fault. He was to blame for the brain incident, it was his fault Voldemort had nearly got hold of them, and it was because of him that Ron was now being tortured by his captor.
"Don't blame yourself Harry," Dumbledore said quietly, turning back to the pair. Harry was astounded. Dumbledore always knew what he was thinking. Then again Dumbledore was a very profound Legilmens.
"So, where do we start?" Asked Hermione, squeezing Harry's hand reassuringly.
"I suspect the Bloody Baron will know of Peeves' whereabouts and the Bloody Baron himself will be down in the dungeons." Dumbledore said calmly. "Follow me."
So they set off for the dungeons. Harry was starting to tire of Malfoy's games; he just wanted his friend back. Malfoy had made his point, now he was just rubbing it in.
Dumbledore located the Bloody Baron and they found that Peeves was currently placing stink bombs above the classroom doors on the third floor. Once they'd found Peeves however, they had the slight problem of making him talk.
"Hello, Professedly head!" Peeves shouted as though he though Dumbledore was deaf. "Nice weather we're having!"
"Peeves, do you happen to know where Mr. Weasley is being held against his will?" Dumbledore asked calmly.
Peeves seemed to consider this immensely.
"NOPE!" He shouted, giggling gleefully.
"Peeves, if you do not tell me what you know I will be forced to bring the Bloody Baron up here to deal with you." Dumbledore said quietly.
Peeves considered.
"Might know he's up in the astronomy tower…" Peeves flew off before he could be interrogated anymore.
Harry's heart sank. The astronomy tower; possibly the most dangerous place for Ron to be.
They raced up there, since there was only forty-five minutes until lunch. The deadline. The door was locked, as they'd expected and Hermione stepped forward.
"Alohomora!" The door flew open.
"Ron!" Both Harry and Hermione ran forward seeing their friend, bound, gagged and blindfolded on the floor. The rain was hammering down by now; a rumble of thunder from some way off could be heard. Harry and Hermione didn't reach Ron though. As a very bright flash of lightning struck a few miles from the castle, another person stood in front of them.
Dumbledore stood behind them looking straight at the boy blocking their path to Ron.
"Seems Mr. Malfoy is not to blame for this kidnap." Dumbledore said calmly as another rumble of thunder sounded.