Hermione wasn't missed by anyone for more than a day... They saw the note that she had left and just assumed that she would be back when she felt like it...that she had been out for a jog and either met someone or got otherwise distracted. They were sure that she just needed some time to herself. It never occurred to them that Hermione might have just kicked them all to the curb and moved on.
When she wasn't back twenty-four hours later, Molly expressed some concern as to what happened to her. After all, she was still a minor in the mundane world and was barely legal in the wizarding community as her 17th birthday had just happened a few weeks earlier. Oh damn, Molly thought, we didn't do anything to acknowledge Hermione's "coming of age"...not even a Happy Birthday...well she would make a birthday cake for her today and they could all celebrate her belated birthday!
When Hermione had still not returned by lunchtime, Molly raised a fuss...where could Hermione be? Dumbledore did his best to placate her saying that Hermione would be back sooner or later as where else would she have to go?
"What exactly do you mean by that, Headmaster?" demanded Professor Snape. "Doesn't she still have parents of her own? Has anyone checked to see if Hermione is with them or another relative?"
"Not exactly, dear boy. Hermione is now an orphan. News got to me late last night that her family home was razed to the ground...nothing left but ashes...and no signs of any Muggles at all, including either Hermione or her parents. It is even possible that she was in the home when it went up in flames but no one knows anything for sure. And it isn't like we can go around asking questions without questions being asked about us. That just can't happen. "Statute of Secrecy" and all that, you know," Dumbledore replied.
Sirius retorted, "The way you say that, Dumbledore, is like you don't care what actually happened to Hermione. You are expressing more care for the so-called "Statute of Secrecy" than for what happened to her! She is still just a kid, barely seventeen...and you don't care enough to find out what happened to Hermione and/or her parents."
Continuing, "She is just another chess piece to be discarded when no longer convenient and/or needed! Is that it? She isn't useful enough anymore? What happened to your so-called "duty of care"? After all she has done for the Order and our side, I find your behavior appalling!" raged Sirius.
"I never thought I would say this but I agree with the mutt," sniped Snape!
"Will wonders never cease!" Sirius growled at Snape and Snape smiled wickedly.
"Headmaster, you didn't think to tell us that until now, why?" Remus said concernedly.
"Yes, Headmaster, tell us! Didn't it occur to you that she may have died in the fire? Wouldn't you want to know "for sure"? And more importantly, if she and/or her parents are dead, who killed them and why?" snarled Snape.
"It doesn't matter...we don't need her," muttered Ronald Bilius Weasley (aka scumbag Weasel). "She's always holding Harry and me back from doing the things we need to do. If she is gone, we will be just fine."
Remus and Snape looked at each other...they knew better. The ONLY reason those two were still alive was because of all Hermione's efforts on their behalf...both academic and practical...even if that old fool (Dumbledore) in the corner didn't realize that. They NEEDED to know if Hermione had died in the fire and if so, by whose hands. But how to find out that information without having to disclose their own identities and their purpose for seeking it.
Arthur then came rushing into the kitchen. He was waving a copy of the Daily Prophet. After catching his breath, the words just rushed out of him. "A wand was found in Diagon Alley yesterday...a wand broken in half. They took it to Ollivanders and he was able to confirm that the wand matched the one he had sold her when she first learned she was a witch. Hermione! That was Hermione's wand. What has happened to her?" And then he collapsed into a chair in exhaustion and Molly bustled over to take care of him.
Remus and Snape again exchanged looks. This did not look good. Was Hermione dead or just captured? If she was captured, did they need to go and mount a rescue? And if she was dead, was it planned by the Death Eaters or did it happen by accident? Was this an isolated incident...just a coincidence?...not that Snape believed in those...or was someone picking off one-by-one the members of the Order and their associates? Was Grimmauld Place even safe anymore?