Chapter Nineteen.
Disappearing Act.

Harry arrived outside the common room leaving Hermione along the way as she headed to Ancient Runes. As he climbed through the portrait he looked around for Ron, ready to talk to him about what was bothering him. But he didn't see him in there. He waited for what felt like hours even getting the mirror to try to contact Ron, but Ron did not turn up. He was starting to get worried but was sure Ron had a good excuse for not meeting him in the common room. Five minutes after the bell had rang, Hermione appeared through the portrait hole and when she saw Harry was alone her face fell. She walked over and sat down next to him.

"Ron hasn't turned up..." Harry said wondering exactly where Ron could be.

"Maybe he went to the hospital wing?" Hermione suggested.

"Could have." Harry replied.

"Or the dormitory."

"I've already checked there." Harry informed her looking worried.

"Use the mirror Harry!" Hermione said her face now lighting up. Even though he had tried this already Harry reached into his pocket, pulled out the mirror and said Ron's name. Nothing appeared. Harry called Ron's name for a few minutes but then lost hope when nothing appeared. Harry could tell Hermione was getting uneasier by the second. As Harry went to put the mirror back into his pocket Hermione tore it from his hands. Harry frowned at her and she looked at him apologetically.

"Well, he'll be back later I wouldn't worry about it Hermione." Harry said, sure that Ron would be back anytime soon explaining where he had been.

"Yes I suppose your right." Hermione smiled slightly but still didn't look convinced.

"But…maybe we should go look for him. See if Mcgonagall knows where he is, chance's are she does." Harry said reassuringly. Harry and Hermione checked everywhere they could think of, the library, the hospital wing, Hagrid's hut; they searched the grounds at least twice but no Ron. They returned to the common room that afternoon exhausted and worried, until Hermione gasped and gripped Harry's arm a little too tightly with excitement on her face.

"Harry, I don't know why we didn't do it in the first place, the marauders map!" She exclaimed. Harry grinned and sprinted up the stairs grabbing the map and running back down.

"I solemnly swear I'm up to no good." Harry muttered pointing his wand at the map and watching the writing appear. Hermione leaned over it watching. He opened the map and they examined it carefully looking for Ron for a long time starting to get agitated that they couldn't find him.

"We must have missed him, he has to be here somewhere." Harry cried in frustration.

"Harry, we must have looked over that map a dozen times. He's not here." Hermione said quietly.

"The map's not showing him then, I dunno where else could he be? He wouldn't just go off somewhere without telling us." Harry said folding up the map.

"The map shows everyone, we learned that in our third year remember." Hermione said.

"Well…if he isn't in the grounds then what about the car?" Harry said trying to think clearly. He knew there had to be a simple explanation for Ron's sudden disappearance. Ron had been acting strangely before he left, but he was fine walking out from history of magic. What could have happened in that short amount of time? Harry wondered to himself.

"Yes the car, let's go." Hermione said grabbing Harry's arm and climbing out through the portrait. But the car was still in the forest where they had left it. Harry and Hermione were starting to get seriously worried and Harry knew Hermione was right when she said the last option was to ask Mcgonagall. They walked to the great hall where everyone was eating lunch hoping to find Mcgonagall in there. Luckily they found her eating. Harry and Hermione rushed over to where she was sitting. She looked up at them with a slight frown.

"Professor can we talk to you for a minute." Hermione asked. Mcgonagall looked from Harry to Hermione with a curious expression and ushered them out of the great hall into a nearby classroom. She stared at the both of them for a minute before she spoke.

"What is it?"

"Er...it's just, do you happen to know where Ron is?" Harry said knowing straightaway from her expression that she had no idea what he was talking about.

"As far as I know Mr Weasley is inside this castle like all students should be." Harry and Hermione exchanged nervous glances.

"He's not here, well at least we don't think he is." Hermione said weakly, Harry noticed she suddenly looked very pale.

" What do you mean he's not here?" Mcgonagall said quickly, her stern expression now looking worried.

"Well… he was acting strangely earlier and then he just walked off, we haven't seen him since." Harry told her not meeting her eyes.

"You say he was acting strangely. How exactly?" Mcgonagall shot another question at them.

"We were talking about something pretty important, and he just didn't seem to be listening. It was like he was trying to get rid of us as quickly as possible…and then he forgot we had a free period next and that Hermione had Ancient Runes but that's probably just him forgetting…" Harry trailed off as he saw the look on Mcgonagall's face and then heard a gasp from Hermione who looked horrified.

"You think he was under the imperius curse." Hermione said so quietly she was almost whispering. Harry opened his mouth in shock; he couldn't believe it hadn't even occurred to him. He felt a lump in his throat and had the most horrific thought in his head. What if Voldemort's taken Ron? He pulled himself out of it and told himself everything was going to be fine, and Him, Ron and Hermione would be laughing about this by the evening.

"That's exactly what I think Miss Granger. Now I'm going to notify everyone in the order. An extremely thorough search of the grounds and forest will take place." Mcgonagall said as she hastily walked out of the classroom not looking back. Harry and Hermione walked slowly back to the common room not really saying anything. Harry felt extremely guilty that they had just let Ron walk off when something was obviously wrong and had a feeling Hermione felt the same. They sat in the common room for a while waiting to hear from Mcgonagall both feeling awful. If Voldemort had taken Ron, it was because of him and it would be his fault if anything happened to him. Hermione was sat staring at the mirror as if waiting for Ron's face to appear and Harry was staring miserably into the fire occasionally checking the marauders map. He saw various members of the order were still all over the castle, which meant they'd had no luck.

"Why didn't we realise something was wrong?" Hermione suddenly said loudly making Harry jump.

"It's going to be ok Hermione." Harry told her.

"You know you don't think that Harry so stop saying it." Hermione snapped, Harry saw there were now tears forming in her eyes. Harry walked over to her and took her hand and pulled her up, now resting his arm on her shoulder.

"I'm not going to let anything happen to Ron, it will be ok." Harry said firmly. Hermione hugged him with her head buried in the front of his robes. Just at that moment the portrait swung open and Ginny came through it smiling but as she saw Harry and Hermione her expression changed.

"What's happened?" She asked immediately looking alarmed.

"You haven't by any chance seen Ron?" Harry asked her as Hermione pulled away from him and wiped her eyes.

"No, why what's he done? Hermione if he's upset you I'll hex him right now."

"No, Ginny…he's sort of missing." Harry said and he went on to explain everything that had happened. Ginny reacted just as Hermione and Harry had done. The next moment, Harry saw Lupin come into the common room looking worn out.

"Harry, the order want you and Hermione in Mcgonagall's office right away. Molly and Arthur are here." he looked at Ginny. "Perhaps you'd better come too." Harry, Hermione and Ginny all followed Lupin down towards Mcgonagall's office.

"Why do they want us?" Harry asked.

"They just want to ask you questions as you were the last people to see Ron." Lupin replied kindly. When the four of them arrived in Mcgonagall's office Mrs Weasley was there and she hugged each of them looking distraught. Mr Weasley remained calm but looked very troubled.

"I've told you for the sixth time I didn't see anyone around." Harry said now frustrated after the order had interrogated him and Hermione for every little detail of what happened when they last saw Ron. They had repeatedly asked the same questions for almost an hour.

"What are you doing to find him?" Ginny demanded.

"Well, we don't have any idea what happened or where he is so all we can do is look, im afraid." Mcgonagall said sympathetically to Ginny.

"Can me and Harry go now?" Hermione said she also looked irritated. Mcgonagall nodded and Hermione grabbed Harry's hand and practically dragged him out of the office.

"Hermione what…"

"We've got to contact Snape. He will know if Voldemort's got Ron." Hermione hissed. "He can help us."

"Yes but how are we going to find him?" Harry said feeling like Hermione was losing it.

"We'll go to Grimmauld Place and ask a certain blonde haired ferret." Hermione said simply. "Let's go." And she began running out of the castle towards the forest with Harry sprinting behind her in the dark. Harry flew the car outside the grounds, aware that this was dangerous for him and Hermione to be doing this, but the thought that Ron might be out there somewhere waiting for them to save him made him more determined. He couldn't see why Voldemort wouldn't just kill Ron as soon as he got him though and tried his hardest not to think about it.

"Malfoy?" Harry called as he opened the door to Grimmauld Place holding it open for Hermione. "Malfoy." Harry shouted even louder as he saw the light was on in the kitchen. He got out his wand and walked through to the kitchen seeing Malfoy sat down at the table looking bored.

"What do you want Potter, come to check I'm still here in this hole." Malfoy sneered.

"How can we contact Snape?" Harry demanded ignoring Malfoy.

"Why?"

"Because we urgently need to speak with him." Hermione said with a pleading look in her eyes.

"Don't talk to me, mudblood." Malfoy spat. Harry lunged himself at Malfoy taking him by surprise now with his hands around Malfoy's throat, his wand pointed at his temple.

"Don't call her that Malfoy. Now how do we talk to Snape? I've nearly killed you once I can do it again." Harry said threateningly tightening his hands around Malfoy's throat, he looked terrified.

"Harry, no! What are you doing?" Hermione cried.

"I don't know how to contact him ok, he comes to me. I haven't seen him in weeks." Malfoy stammered. Harry gripped Malfoy's throat even tighter now and Malfoy was starting to choke.

"You're lying." Harry yelled.

"Harry I think he's telling the truth." Hermione said. Harry let Malfoy go and sat down into a chair. Malfoy was rubbing his throat looking at Harry like he was crazy. Harry put his head in his hands and wondered hopelessly if they were going to find Ron.