They've been missing for three weeks now. They know who took them. He's putting in overtime, trying to find them. His children, taken by his ex wife. If he had never been with Lavender, this wouldn't be happening. He and Hermione wouldn't be miserable, wouldn't be missing their children. But he wouldn't have Annica and Andrew either. He lets out a shout of frustration, and then a soft sob. It's his fault, it's all his fault. If he had never told Lavender the truth that night, he would still be with her, and Hermione could be with someone else. Someone without the kind of history he had. Someone without the crazy ex wife. Maybe Viktor Krum.
She wouldn't be feeling this kind of misery, and his children would be safe. He remembers when he was with Lavender, when they were the only thing that got him through it. They were the only source of happiness in his life at that point, and now that they're gone, and the woman he loves is so upset, he doesn't know what to do. There have been no new leads. No one's seen Lavender recently. Her parents don't know where she is, she has no siblings or other relatives she would contact. She might not even be in the country. It's taken too long. Far, far too long.
"Weasley! We've got a lead!"
He jumps up, knocking over the picture of his family in the process. "What is it?" He asks, praying to whatever higher power there is that this lead will be a good one. "A muggle's seen her, coming in an out of an abandoned house. He called the hotline thing, said that he thought she was just a homeless beggar in need of a place to stay. No word about the children." But even without word about his children, it's the best news he's heard in a long time.
"Where is it, and who's going with me?" He says, and the man begins listing the aurors who'll be accompanying him. He nods. "And my wife?" He asks, suddenly fearing for her safety. "We've got an auror there with her. She's safe." Ron nods, pulling on his coat as his children's faces rush through his mind. They're so close, he can feel it. This is it.
Ginny's not pleased that he's here, but he's one of the best aurors there is, and Ron's his best friend. He's not just going to let him do this alone. If it was his children who were missing, Ron would do the same for him. These are his nieces and nephew that they're going to be saving. They had just talked to the muggle who had called it in. He said the woman had started coming and going about a month ago, that he had thought she was a homeless beggar, as the abandoned house was often a safe house for them. But they had already known all of that.
The house was right across the street from the muggle man's. The porch was crumbling, and windows were cracked. It was snowing, and Harry knew that if the children were in there, they were probably cold. He wondered about their well being. He was close to them, he always had been. When he and Ginny had been having their problems, he had spent nearly everyday at Ron's, playing with Annica and Andrew, and holding Rose, who had only been about six months old at the time. He looks at Ron, and at the other auror who's come with them. Nodding, Ron unlocks the door with his wand. He doesn't close it, not wanting to make too much noise. Above them, Harry can hear laughter. Hysteric, feminine laughter.
He can hear a cry as well, though it fades quickly. Ron's face is pale, and Harry knows at once that they've found him. A brief moment's relief, and then it's gone. What about Lavender? They don't know if she's dangerous, if she's waiting for them. Someone is still laughing upstairs, probably Lavender. If it is, she's not sane. That laughter isn't the laughter of a sane person. He wonders, could she have hurt them?
Harry turns to the other auror. "You stay here, by the door." He says. Then he looks to Ron. "I'm going after Lavender. You find the kids." Harry nods, and they set off to search the house.