Thanks for your reviews of the last chapter; as this is a crucial part of the story I really want to know what you guys think so they really are especially important to me at the moment. I have a few notes at the bottom but I will allow you the chance to read the chapter first.
Sadly, my ownership of HP is limited to seven books, six DVD's, a couple of posters and a couple of the games.
''Mum I got your patronus and shut up the shop for the day, what's going on?'' Ron spoke as soon as he apparated into the Borrow. His voice stricken with panic.
''Luna's gone'' Molly spoke quietly to Ron, she looked over her shoulder at George; who was sat on the sofa staring into nothingness, fighting the raging emotions that were threatening to reach the surface.
''What do you mean gone?''
Molly explained to Ron all about the note Luna had received and the events up until she had read the second note.
''Do you have any idea who could have written the notes?'' Ron kept stealing glances at George, and each time he wished he hadn't; he hadn't seen his brother so broken since Fred's funeral.
''We have no idea, Luna didn't either; the only person we could possibly think of was-''
''Rolf'' Ron finished, having thought the exact same name himself.
''As far as I know, people being held in custody by the Ministry do not have access to owls to send post, but even if Rolf did send the notes; he still wouldn't be able to get to Luna'' Molly walked into the kitchen and began to fill a glass of water. ''I need you to find Harry, and use your contacts at the Auror department to check on security surrounding Rolf and any other possible suspects that could possibly want to hurt Luna''
Molly gulped the glass of water down her throat in one go and wiped her mouth with her sleeve; her shaking hands had sent some water splashing over the rim of the glass. ''Take these; they might be able to help''
Molly passed Ron the two notes and he wasted no time in apparating away to find Harry. Molly slowly made her way back to George; who did nothing to acknowledge her presence. ''We'll find her George''
''She promised me that she would always be here when I needed her, and right now I need her more than ever; but she's nowhere to be found'' George's voice shook as he felt his fury, pain and self-pity consume him over and over again.
''Luna is not the type of girl who will break a promise George. She will do everything possible to get back to you''
''I just hope whoever has her will give her the chance to get back''
Luna's muscles and joints ached as the body binding curse that had been put on her wore off. As she awkwardly propped herself up on her elbows, she recognised her surroundings as what was left of the structure of her house. The broken furniture and rubble had disappeared and she was sat in the open space of what use to be her living room. ''Hello''
Her voice echoed around the room and no response came to her. As the early winter evening arrived, Luna could feel her skin tremble with both the cold temperature and her fear. She jumped at the sound of creaking floorboards and look nervously around for the source of the sound.
''George'' She whispered, hoping that her knight in shining armour was coming to her rescue.
Deciding to go on the offensive; Luna began to feel for her wand in her pockets, but it wasn't there.
''Looking for this'' Luna recoiled as a looming man entered from one of the other rooms. His tall frame was covered with a long coat that trailed on to the floor, his black hair was wild and deranged, and his skin was covered in scars and dirt. In his mud covered hands was Luna's wand.
''I recognise you'' Luna squinted to make out the man's face, not wanting to get any closer to him than necessary.
''Do you? Isn't that sweet'' His voice was deep and husky, but there was a sharpness to it that made him sound as though he had a sore throat. He gave a frustrated sigh as Luna continued to stare at him from her place on the floor. ''If you're ready to give up I'll introduce myself. You may recognise me from various Ministry wanted posters, my name is Rodolphus Lestrange''
Suddenly it was as if all the pieces had come together. ''It was you. You sent Rolf after me at the school. It was all you''
''Indeed it was Miss Lovegood; I went to a lot of trouble to get to you. It's a shame that my dear cousin will soon be rotting away in Azkaban; he served a good purpose, and he doesn't even know what he did''
''What do you mean?''
''My dear girl; Rolf would never have done those things without the help of the imperius curse that I put on him. It was perfect; I wanted to get to you, and he was on his way to the school where you would be;I saw an opportunity and took it''
''So it was all you. Rolf would never have done those things if you hadn't controlled him with the imperius curse''
''Of course not. Just like my sister-in-law Andromeda who went and fell in love with a muggle...'' Rodolphus looked as though he wanted to spit on something as he said the word 'muggle'. ''...Rolf and his mother didn't follow the beliefs of Salazar Slytherin as his father Anthony did''
''And now he may go to Azkaban because of you'' Luna snapped, feeling a whole world a pity and regret regarding Rolf Scamander.
''Oh no Luna, he'll go because of you...I wasn't the one that testified against him to the Ministry''
''But why?'' With the strength back in her limbs, Luna stood up and faced Rodolphus, rather than looking up at him. ''Why go through all that to get to me?''
''Because you helped take my sweet Bella away from me...'' Rodolphus' expression turned to stone and his voice could have dripped with venom it was so vicious. ''...and I will make everyone who helped destroy her pay''
''Bellatrix would have died anyway; as soon as the war ended she would have been handed over to the Ministry and she would have been kissed by a Dementor faster than you can say Wrackspurt'' Luna wouldn't give Rodolphus the satisfaction of seeing her afraid, and she spoke with confidence.
''I got away, and she could have too'' He walked straight up to Luna and looked down his nose at her. ''I was there at Hogwarts when my wife was taken from me by that Weasley woman; a fat hideous old witch who wasn't worthy of her magic killed my beautiful Bella''
''Never compare Molly Weasley to your evil wife'' Luna screamed, her temper rising. The back of Rodolphus' hand met her cheek, and his eyes seemed to darken.
''You may not have been the one to end her life...'' He pulled her forwards by the collar of her coat and brought her face close to his; as he grinded his teeth, Luna could smell his stale breath and she attempted to get as far from him as she could possibly do so while he held her coat. ''...but you are important to the Weasley's, and if I am right; to Harry Potter and that mudblood Hermione Granger as well. I saw the younger Weasley girl and Granger fighting Bella with you at Hogwarts, and the old Weasley woman was the one that finally took her from me. Bella wanted to kill you while you were in Lucius' cellar, but she never had the chance. When I kill you; it will hurt all those who hurt my sweet Bella, and it will finish the job she never had the chance to end herself''
With one final sinister look. Rodolphus' fist hit Luna's jaw and she was sent sprawling backwards on to the ground.
''After the war ended the Ministry made the names of the unforgivable curses taboo; they've caught many Death Eaters that way'' Arthur explained. After finding Harry and Ron in the Auror office he had given his assistance to the pair, and the three were now back at the Burrow reporting what they had found. ''Death Eaters aren't exactly cautious; if someone's in their way then they'll give them a nice blast of whatever curse first comes to mind''
''But don't they know that they're taboo?'' Molly asked her husband.
''Only members of the Ministry are aware of that; it would be pretty pointless if the Death Eaters found out''
''How will this help Luna?'' George snapped.
''The Ministry believes that Rolf was working for or with one of his relatives''
''One of the ones who are Death Eaters'' George looked at his father for confirmation. Arthur nodded.
''And if a Death Eater has Luna, they are more than likely to use one of the curses'' George's expression made Arthur regret saying what he had just said. ''As soon as they do; the Ministry will know where they are and Luna will be found''
''And what if the one curse they use of her is the one that she can't be saved from'' George said with a dark look.
''Death Eaters are cruel'' Harry stated. ''whoever it is wont want to just kill her; they'll want to hurt her first''
''Has anyone ever gotten away when they've used one of the curses?'' Ron asked from his seat beside George on the sofa.
''Only a few. All have been ones using the imperius curse; mainly because they've been able to apparate themselves away before the Ministry arrives, and their only witnesses have been under their control''
Arthur finished his round of explanation as Percy and Lee apparated into the middle of the room. Percy collapsed back into one of the chairs. ''We've searched all of Diagon Alley and even took a trip to Hogsmeade and she's nowhere to be found''
''I think we're all pretty certain Luna didn't just nip off to the shops Perce'' Ron commented with a small smile to his big brother.
''I swear after all this, if she walks through that front door with a Zonko's bag in her hands I'll have a bloody stroke'' George joked half-heartedly; his smile still carried a great amount of sadness.
''So all we can do now is wait'' Ron sighed.
''There isn't much else we can do son'' Arthur said sadly.
''I think we should still look for her. The places we may go to may seem obvious but that may be why whoever has taken her took her there; no one ever looks for the obvious'' George looked around his family for agreement.
''It isn't going to do any harm'' Arthur nodded. ''Molly if you and Ginny stay here in case she comes home, then me and the boys can go out and look for her''
Molly nodded as Ron snickered. ''I'm sure Ginny's going to love coming home from a day out with Hermione to find out that Luna's missing and she's got the job of being stuck waiting at home''
Arthur ignored Ron's comment. ''If anyone finds her or anything that could help find her; use your patronus. The Ministry will inform me if anything happens and I will pass that message on to you.''
The group nodded. ''Harry and Ron; you boys go together. Lee and Percy will you do the same''
As George held his wand and quickly shrugged on his coat Arthur grabbed his shoulder. ''And I am going with you''
''Dad wont it be faster if we go individually'' George sighed.
''Maybe; but your emotions are not going to put you in the best frame of judgement when looking for Luna, and I am not going to risk letting you do something foolish'' George reluctantly nodded at his father.
''I hope we'll be back soon Molly'' Arthur gave Molly a kiss on the cheek before he and George disappeared. Molly sat down and began what she knew would be one of the longest waits of her lifetime, completely unaware of how close Luna really was to home.
Next chapter; The terror really begins for Luna, but will Rodolphus make the mistake of using one of the unforgivable curses on her.
Warning: This AN is a bit of a rant so please forgive me. To begin with I hope that I haven't confused anyone to hard with this chapter as I am pretty worried about that. I would just like to make it clear that it is the use of the actual curses like 'imperio' that has been made taboo by the Ministry; like 'Voldemort' was in the Deathly Hallows, and that I did imply that Rodolphus is one of those who got away after using the imperius curse on Rolf. I also want to point out two mistakes on my behalf. Firstly; I incorrectly spelt Rodolphus in previous chapters as Rudolphus, and I would also like to thank Jenny325 who reminded me that Ted Tonks died in the DH, and I included him in chapter five. I clearly need to re-read the Deathly Hallows sometime soon, and I just thought I would openly admit my mistakes.
Alright I'm done now, hopefully you'll still want review after reading all that waffle by me at the end.