A/N: Hello to all! So sorry to end on that note last week. Some of you have little faith in me…would I put the love of Ron's life in danger? Ok, so you guys know me! Of course I would! Read on to find out where Ron's beloved is…
"Hermione," Ron gasped again. It didn't seem as though he could quite draw breath. Ginny moved to put her arm around her brother's waist and to lead him to the kitchen table. After sitting him down, Harry snapped out of observation mode as panic began to set in. The fire remained a warm, orange glow. No sign of green. The warmth of the fire made Harry realize how cold he felt.
"Did anyone see her step into the fire?" Harry asked, trying to remain practical. He needed to find out who saw her last and what she had said when she stepped into the fire.
"We all did," Lupin said, his voice calm and soothing.
"Ron sent her in before him," Ginny said in a trembling, but loud voice.
"Right," Harry said, setting up the facts, "And when she stepped in, what did she say?"
"She said, 'The Burrow', clear as day," Mrs. Weasley said, wringing her hands.
By this time, in the confusion of everyone's arrival and in the few moments it had taken them to realize Hermione was gone; it had been a good ten minutes.
"She could be anywhere," Ron whispered, looking sick. He looked into oblivion, not focusing on anything in particular.
"We'll find her," Harry assured his friend.
"Of course we will, Ron," Lupin said, "Molly, Arthur has a contact in the Floo Network, doesn't he?"
When Mrs. Weasley nodded, Lupin continued, "Then you should go there. See if this friend will chart the Floo Network. They won't be able to tell where Hermione left from as it's been placed under the Fidelius Charm. But they can track her destination. Go now."
Mrs. Weasley moved to the fire when Harry spoke, "Perhaps you should Apparate, Mrs. Weasley."
She nodded and moved into the yard. Harry watched until she disappeared from view.
"In the meantime, I will go back to Headquarters, just in case she accidentally turned up there. Tonks, will you stay here with this lot? And when Minerva comes, inform her of the situation."
Tonks nodded as well, and placing a small kiss on Lupin's cheek, she said, "Good luck."
"Be careful, Moony," Harry added.
Lupin merely smiled, "I assure you, Harry, it will be quite alright."
Lupin also disappeared into the yard, leaving Ron slumped at the table in a trance, Ginny fighting tears in Harry's arms, and Tonks sitting next to Ron with a comforting arm around his shoulders. Harry wondered if Ron even knew that he was surrounded by people who were as worried about Hermione as he was. Harry looked down at the small redhead in his arms and knew that if it had been Ginny, he would be in the same state as Ron: shock.
Seconds passed in eternities until, finally, ten minutes later—had it really only been ten minutes?—Lupin returned. They all looked up hopefully as he walked into the kitchen, but he only shook his head sadly. Ron's head fell back onto the table, and then, just as suddenly jumped up. Ginny pulled away from Harry in shock.
"Ron, what-"
"No!" Ron shouted, color returning in full to his face, "Why are we just sitting here? I need, we need to find her! A load of good we're doing! I've lost a good half an hour moping. I'm not gonna take this lying down!"
Ginny moved to her brother, but Harry put a restraining hand on her shoulder. Now was not the time, his eyes told her as she looked back at him.
"Ron, I think we should wait. If your mum comes back with a definite location and we've already gone, we'll have wasted time."
"Harry's got the measure of it, Ron," Tonks assured the shaking, red-faced teenager.
"I don't care!" Ron exclaimed, "I have to find her! I can't lose her!"
"Ron, we know," Harry said, "We're all worried."
"Please, Harry! If this were Ginny, you'd have already been out the door! And I would have gone with you because she's my sister! I'd think you'd back me up here. For Hermione's sake."
He was right, but Harry was too angry with his comments to see that.
"You think I'm not worried about her, Ron? She's like a sister to me. I don't know what I'd do if we lost her! But right now, the best thing to do is wait!"
"I can't just wait! I almost lost her earlier this year. I can't stand by again while she needs me."
"Ron, you don't know that she's in trouble. Maybe she just went through the wrong grate," Harry said.
"I know, Harry. She would've been back by now. She's in trouble."
And to Harry's horror and dismay, Ron crumpled to the floor. Ginny ran and caught him, but no sooner had she taken her brother in her arms, did he pull away, and forced himself to his feet.
"I can't lose her. I won't."
He headed for the door, but Lupin called him back, "Ron, don't do this."
"Stay here, Ron," Ginny implored.
Ron ignored her and Lupin and looked straight at Harry. Harry met the blazing glare and gave an almost imperceptible nod. If it were him, he thought, finding truth in Ron's earlier accusation, he would have already left.
"I'll go with you, then," Harry said.
"What?" Ginny and Tonks shrieked.
"Harry, really, don't do this," Lupin said, looking distraught.
"She's my friend, Moony. I have to go. If my mum were ever in trouble, you'd have followed my dad after her, wouldn't you?"
Lupin sighed, "I would have gone to the ends of the earth for Lily."
Harry shrugged away the strange tone in Lupin's voice, too concerned with whether or not that was acquiesce to let him go.
"But I cannot let you go, Harry."
With that, he pulled his wand, "Don't make me use this, Harry. Please. It's not safe for you to be wandering aimlessly. You have no idea where you're going."
Harry and Ron dug their wands out as well. Ginny and Tonks were shouting in the background, but the roaring anger Harry heard in his ears blocked it out, but when he heard the cool and crisp tones of McGonagall ringing out from the doorway.
"What on earth is going on? Potter, Weasley, why have you turned your wands on Remus?"
When no one spoke or moved, McGonagall sighed and moved into the room, "Honestly, what is going on? Miss Weasley, Miss Granger, I would have thought you'd discourage…"
She had just realized that Hermione was gone, "Where is Miss Granger? And Molly?"
Suddenly it dawned on her, "Ahh, I see. Potter, Weasley, if you attempt to leave this house you will not only have to go through Remus, but me as well. Now, kindly put your wands away and explain what's going on!"
Harry and Ron stowed their wands, glaring at Lupin, who put his away as well. The three sat down at the table, both avoiding Ginny's furious gaze, and not speaking.
"Will someone explain this to me, then?" McGonagall said.
"I will, Professor," Ginny said, "You see, we were leaving Headquarters. Harry left first—Floo Powder, you know—then Hermione, then Ron, then me, Mum, Professor Lupin, then Tonks. We all got back all right. Except for Hermione. So, Mum went to the Floo Network Office because Dad has a contact there. Professor Lupin thought that maybe they could track where she went. Then Professor Lupin went back to Headquarters to check and make sure she hadn't somehow shown up there. And now we're waiting for Mum to get back."
"I see," McGonagall said thoughtfully, "And she clearly said, 'The Burrow'?"
Harry saw her starting to follow the same path that he had, and he said, "We've been through it all, Professor."
"I am sure you have, Potter, but if you don't mind me saying, there may have been something you missed. You are, after all, quite emotional."
Harry took the rebuke in silence. It would do no good to argue.
"Well, I believe I am correct in assuming that you will not want to pursue Mundungus Fletcher just yet, then?"
Harry looked incredulously at her. Of course they didn't! His best friend was missing!
"For the record, we have him located. He's living under a bridge outside of London. I'm sure he'll still be there when Miss Granger returns."
Harry noticed that she had said, 'when' not 'if.' For some reason, this gave him hope at the same time that it annoyed him that she was attempting to speak of the mission when Hermione was yet to be found.
Harry wondered what Ron was thinking. He could all but feel the waves of frustration peeling off the angry teen next to him. And he couldn't blame him in the least. In the silence that fell over the kitchen, Harry chanced a glance at Ginny. When he met her gaze, she shook her head and rolled her eyes, but reached for his hand. At least he'd been forgiven there. Furtively looking at Lupin, he could not tell if his former teacher and friend was upset with him or not.
Feeling a bit gloomier, if possible, Harry turned back and met Ginny's eyes.
"Apologize, then," she mouthed at him jerking her head towards Lupin.
Harry nodded, and just as he opened his mouth to ask if he could have a word with Lupin, McGonagall suddenly stood up.
"Ah, good. Molly's returned."
Harry turned around and saw that not only had Mrs. Weasley returned, but Mr. Weasley and Bill followed in her wake. Harry did not know whether this indicated good news or bad. He heard Ron gulp beside him, and he laid a reassuring hand on his best friend's shoulder. It would be ok. It had to be ok.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Bill entered the kitchen to be bombarded by questions.
"Did you find her?"
"Where is she?"
"Why are Dad and Bill here?"
"Is she all right?"
"Can we go after her?"
"Why did you take so long?"
"Please, tell me she's all right!"
This last, frantic request from Ron quieted the interrogation.
"We don't know, Ron," Mrs. Weasley said in an even voice that betrayed the fear that had wringing her hands.
"Why are all of you here?" Ginny asked again.
"We're all concerned about Hermione, Ginny," Bill said as if this should have just been common knowledge.
"Why don't you know if she's ok? Where is she?" Ron questioned angrily.
"She's…well, it would seem that she was somehow intercepted at a grate right before ours. In a place called Spinner's End. That means, Minerva…" Mrs. Weasley broke off, and Harry grew even more concerned at the pallor of McGonagall's face.
"What's 'Spinner's End'?" Ron demanded.
Only one word left McGonagall's lips, "Severus."
A/N: I am cruel. I know. I'm sorry. I'm leaving it there for now. I love you all. Please review!