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Chapter Five: The Search Is On
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"I swear, I just put him down there a few minutes ago," Harry muttered as he scratched his head. He gently rocked Lily in his arms as he began to survey the room. Where could have little Leander gone?
"Are you sure? Maybe you put him in the wrong crib or something," Hermione replied as she started to look around the room.
When there was no sign of the infant, panic began to set in. Harry quickly handed Lily to Hermione, turning tables upside down. He must've pushed the couch around several times before he finally gave up. He looked in the kitchen, the bedrooms, and the other cribs. At one point he even started to speak to the other babies. It was pointless and it only seemed to make him look silly.
"Any luck," Harry asked Hermione a while later. Lily had no fallen asleep in her arms. She shook her head. "Draco's going to hex me. I just know it."
"Don't worry, he's—"
"Oh, no! NO! No!" Harry began to shout. He grabbed at his hair, his facial expression that of both agony and shock. "I can't believe it! I can't believe this!"
Hermione frowned with confusion. Even though Harry seemed to be in quite a lot of despair, she couldn't help but think he looked rather cute. She followed his gaze and let out a sigh.
"Well it's no wonder we can't find him in here… He's probably gone off out that door."
"Which you left open!"
"I did not!" Hermione said haughtily. "It was already open when I came in, mind you."
"Oh, sure it was."
Just as they were about to get into a heated argument, Ron, Luna and Ginny waltzed in, all looking exhausted. They stopped in the middle of the doorway, staring at the two before them. They tilted their head to the side, watching intently.
"Well, maybe if you'd learn to close the door when you—"
"I told you! I didn't—"
"Oh please, just because—"
"Ahem." Ron stepped in between them quickly. "Question; what is happening?"
Harry nervously looked at Ginny; afraid she'd attack him if he told the truth. He bit at his lip, stepping in front of Leander's crib to cover his tracks. Unfortunately, Luna had gone over to pick up Aric, noticing the empty crib next to it, she blurted out,
"Oh, where's Leander?"
Harry was pushed aside as Ginny rushed over to the crib. She stared at him, long and hard, waiting for an explanation. He smiled back nervously, shifting uncomfortably in his spot.
"Um, heh, heh, you see Ginny… I um…"
"He's with Draco. They went out for a walk," Hermione cut in, unable to withstand seeing Harry squirm.
"Oh, okay." Ginny replied. "Well, I'm going to go lay down for a bit. Do try to be quiet. Practice was horrible."
As soon as she was out of sight, Harry pulled Ron, Luna and Hermione aside. He explained to them the situation, Ron smacking him and Luna gasping with horror. They tried to figure out whom to blame, but decided to split up and look for Leander before Ginny and Draco caught on.
"So if you see him and he asks how Leander is doing, just say he's with Ginny, alright?" Harry asked for confirmation. The three nodded. "Okay, good. If you find him, just pick him up and run back here." Again, they nodded in understanding. They split up quickly, roaming the school.
Ron muttered angrily under his breath as he and Luna searched near the Great Hall. Luna seemed not to hear him, lost in a song she was humming to herself. Ron frowned with irritation. Why did he have to partners with her anyway? She was insane! Well, as far as he was concerned. Not only that, but it was scary how she often looked at him with this odd glint in her eye. Whenever she looked at him like that, he was instantly reminded of a crazed lunatic, or a fat kid eyeing a nice large slice of chocolate cake. He licked his lips.
Mmm, chocolate cake.
"What are you muttering about? It's really quite annoying you know," Luna's voice broke through his thoughts.
"Annoying? Annoying?" Ron raised his voice. "You think I'm annoying?! Well what about you? Humming some ridiculously pointless tune!"
"It's not pointless! It's that new song by—"
"I don't care. Don't tell me to shut up if you can't shut up."
"I didn't tell you to shut up—"
"Weasley, Lovegood," said Professor McGonagall as she approached them. "How is your little project coming along?"
The two students gulped. "Well, quite well," they replied in unison.
"We're learning quite a—Leander!" Luna shouted and then caught herself. "I mean, I mean we're learning a lot professor."
It was then that Ron saw the small infant crawling away behind Professor McGonagall. He'd never seen a baby move so fast. He had to get to him. He gestured for Luna to cause a distraction. He began to dance, slowly swaying from side to side, moving from foot to foot. He tried to look as uncomfortable as ever.
"Nn…" he said. "Nn…"
"Mr.Weasley?" McGonagall frowned with curiosity.
"Nn.." Ron continued to do his little hop dance. "Nn..Hmm."
"So, Professor, how long do we have to keep up with this… Project?" Luna asked with a grin. McGonagall frowned at her.
"For as long as you can hold out, or until I've decided—"
"Hehehe," Ron began to giggle, dancing slightly faster. He froze. His eyes widened. He took off. He had to get to Leander before he got too far. "I-I um- I have to- PEE!!"
and he shot off like a bullet, chasing after the small child. Before McGonagall could turn around, Luna threw herself at her professor, holding on tightly.
"Miss Lovegood!" McGonagall yelped out in surprise.
"I love you," Luna said in a singsong voice. She began to pull them to a room. "Uhm, Professor, I uh… I want to… Show you something! Yes… Show you… Do come along." And she dragged a confused McGonagall away.
"Drat! Come back here you little bugger," a frustrated Ron muttered as he chased after a fast paced crawling Leander. "Come on, come to Uncle Ronald. I've got candy! Come on!" he dug into his pocket and pulled out some sweets. "See! See look I've got—Hey, I've got candy!—No, this isn't the right---Oh no. NOOOO!!!" Ron sobbed. Leander was gone.
on the other end of the school, Harry and Hermione worked hard, searching every room they could find. They had no luck finding him either. Deciding they'd searched practically all the rooms, they tried to find Ron and Luna. They came just in time to see an infuriated, scared looking McGonagall emerging from a classroom, a red faced Luna close behind.
"Where's Ron," Hermione asked once the professor had gone. "And why is she so… Mad?"
"I… Nothing. Never mind her. Ron's—Ron!"
the red haired Weasley boy was sitting in the middle of the corridor munching on candy. He seemed to indulging himself yet looking miserable as well. Harry ran up to him, confused.
"What in bloody blazes are you doing?" he asked.
"I had 'im Harry. I had him! I was so close but the little tyke got away from me!" Ron sobbed pathetically. "You know, for a little baby, he sure can move fast."
"So… you're here eating… Candy?" Hermione asked as she and Luna approached them.
"I got hungry?"
"RON!"
"You're hopeless. Come on then, he's probably still around here somewhere. Where was he headed?" Harry asked.
"Over there."
A heavy silence fell upon the group as they looked at the direction in which Ron was pointing. Harry shook his head.
"Bloody hell…"
"We're in trouble now."
"We're going to be expelled, just because you forgot to close the stupid door!"
"Don't blame me! I didn't—"
"look! Look there he is!" Luna exclaimed as she pointed to the small gurgling baby-sitting outside the doors to the potions classroom. If Snape saw them, they were completely doomed.
"Oh, no, no Leander, don't go in there." Hermione muttered.
Leander got on all fours and the four of them found themselves leaning forward, shaking their heads.
"No, no, that's a bad baby! Bad!" Ron hissed. "Don't you dare!"
Leander crawled a little bit forward.
"No, no. Come here baby, we have candy, come along," Luna grabbed the last piece of candy from Ron, holding it out to the infant.
He crawled forward a little more.
"You get back here this instant mister!" Hermione said sternly.
But it was too late. Leander had crawled into the potions room, the doors coming to close behind him.
Author's Note: Omg! OMG! Can you believe I updated? Lol. It's been SO long since I last updated this! I've been wanting to for a while but I finally got around to it. I figured... I should update it. Who knows, I might even finish this. Heee heee. I'm so sorry for those who've been reading and reviewing and waiting for updates. Life just got in the way, ya know? But I'm back! I'm back baby and I'm going to kick some arse. Hehe. Anyway, please, please leave me a review. I love them. They're the only reason I write on these things! I'd really, love it and appreciate it. Sorry for the delay!! Don't forget to review!!
Thanks a bunches.
Lovez ya all.
MarauderWormatil89