Ron had never felt so out of place in his life. The forest of Albania was steeped in muddy rocks, wet leaves, and tall, venerable trees. The sogginess of the air had seeped its way through his coat and boots, and the cold wind blew harshly against his face. He knew having George with him would ease his nerves, but he would never tell this to his brother, much less would he admit how out of his depth he truly felt. Not only that, but it was imperative that he keep an eye on Teddy if only to avoid his mother's wrath.

Ron had been on many Auror missions, but none so strange and secretive as this one. Once they had arrived, Robards had described the places in the surrounding area that had been searched. This left the forest as the only unmarked territory. It was so vast that many bodies needed to search it at once to make sure no stone had been unturned.

That morning, which Ron knew was September first, the first day back at Hogwarts, he, George, and Teddy accompanied Robards and the senior Aurors at the headquarters of Harry's operation.

The abandoned warehouse had its windows boarded up to exclude any light, and the desks scattered around the open space were covered in pieces of parchment and potion kits. Ron felt a lump in his throat as he noticed Harry's abandoned traveling cloak on a small hook next to the wide doors.

Ron was stymied for a moment as Robards began to explain that everything had been left how they'd found it apart from Harry's wand. The familiar holly and phoenix feather wand was lying on top of a small travelling case above a cabinet. Ron's expression turned sour.

'But I thought Ginny saw Harry's Patronus?' Teddy questioned. 'How can he have conjured it without his wand?'

'We believe that Harry stole a wand to cast his Patronus,' Robards replied, 'one of his captors perhaps. But I can tell you all that what we are trying to do next is locate the other Aurors while the investigation into Harry's disappearance will be deemed secondary.'

'What? Why?' said George hotly.

'It was Harry's wishes from his message,' Ron said dully. 'You're right,' he nodded to Robards, 'we should do what he says.'

'Thank you, Mr. Weasley,' Robards said but Ron could tell by his strained expression that Robards had battled with what course of the investigation to take next. 'Now, if you'll follow me into the woods, I will show you what we believe happened next after the dark wizards showed up.'

Within the next twenty minutes, Robards had led them into a small clearing at what appeared to be the centre of the vast and overgrown forest.

'What is that?' Ron asked their leader.

He had spotted a small arrangement of red flags placed in a small circle in the ground.

'Here, I'll show you,' Robards inclined.

Ron and George, closely flanked by Teddy, followed him over to the strange circle of red flags. The ground that was encircled appeared to be burnt to a crisp. The scorch marks had burst across the ground making shapes like flowers imprinted into the earth.

'This is where we believe they captured one of the Aurors. We cannot determine who, but our best guess is that two of the Aurors ran and made it here before being captured or tortured.'

'How do you know that there were two of them?' George asked.

'If you follow me this way,' Robards inclined his head, 'there is another spot here.'

He let them a few paces around a large tree and an identical circle had been made with red flags surrounding scorched earth.

'These are the Aurors we are trying to locate,' Robards told them. 'We believe they may still have escaped as it appeared that the Dark Wizards behind this attack were only after Harry.'

'They could have been captured, though,' Teddy argued.

'Yes, but there are no markings in the earth that lead away from these spots to suggest that they were dragged away. Also, these spots made on the earth,' he bent low and traced his fingers against the soiled earth, 'they are not indicative of an Unforgivable Curse. These are marks left from stunning spells.'

'So, they got away?' George frowned.

'We believe so, but they may have been left confounded, Imperiused, or worse. That's the task I want the three of you to take on, to try and track them while the other Aurors and I continue the search for Harry.'

Just then, they were interrupted by the sound of quick footsteps heading in their direction. Ron turned immediately to find one of the younger Aurors, de Gracey, running to a standstill next to their group.

'Sir, Mr. Malfoy has arrived,' he said through quick and short breaths.

Ron couldn't believe what he was hearing, not only had Malfoy proved true to his word, but he arrived to help them.

They met a cold-faced Draco as they approached the open doorway of the abandoned warehouse.

'Oh,' he drawled with a wicked smile, 'I thought you might have found Potter already. Robards, I prefer to keep my hands from getting dirty.'

Robards shook Malfoy's hand, but Ron scrutinised him. 'Unfortunately,' Robards told him, 'It's not going to remain that simple.'

'Then let me help to make things simple,' Malfoy crossed his arms. 'If we are to find any of the missing Aurors, then we must team up with the Albanian Ministry of Magic and try to decipher any emergency calls that seem unusual.'

'What does that mean? Unusual?'

'My apologies, Weasley,' said Malfoy, 'I forgot of the company I'm currently keeping; I shall spell it out for you as if I am addressing a child. We need to investigate any strange emergency calls to the local authorities. The Albanian Ministry will have a catalogue of muggle emergencies that would have been noticed by the local Aurors. That is what we should be investigating. Got it, Weasley?'

Draco scoffed slightly and then turned his attention to Robards.

'I have it on good authority from Theodore Nott that his distant cousin who works at the Albanian Ministry is well equipped to help us with this detail.'

Robards smiled in an impressed air. 'Thank you, Mr. Malfoy, your help is much appreciated.' He shook Draco's hand, but Ron could not help but roll his eyes.

Robards began to congratulate Draco on this seemingly master plan. They had agreed to accompany Malfoy on his investigation before Ron could question it. With that matter settled Ron suddenly wondered how he would find spending time with Malfoy and what kind of other tricks Malfoy had up his sleeve.

But Ron had to be careful, after all, he knew more than Malfoy about all this, but he couldn't play his hand just yet.

'Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on the slimy git,' George said quietly to Ron.

Ron sniggered.

'Before we go, can I have a quick word, sir,' he said to Robards.

'Of course,' Robards said and held his hand intending for Ron to step to the side of their group.

'Come on, Malfoy, we'll show you the warehouse,' George said with a vaguely arrogant air, one which Ron knew Draco would appreciate.

'Brilliant,' said Draco, dripping with sarcasm.

Now Ron was alone with Robards it was time to address the Hippogriff in the room.

'We can't trust this Theodore Nott, you know,' Ron told him.

'I know Nott's name has been attached to several cases over the years, but don't forget, Mr. Weasley, that Nott has never been arrested and never been caught doing anything wrong. Mr. Malfoy assured me that all Nott wants is the time-turner returned to him. If he keeps up his end of the deal, then so will we.'

'But doesn't it seem mental to team up with someone like Nott, or even Malfoy for that matter? I don't like these tactics.'

Robards frowned and looked deathly at Ron for a moment.

'What are you thinking?' asked Ron.

Robards crossed his arms. 'I was thinking that if Potter were in this position, that's exactly what he would do.'

Ron frowned but he couldn't find any fault in this statement.

Ron was ashamed to admit that he had been considering leaving the Auror business for several years and this was owing to Harry's natural talent for it, whereas Ron always felt on the backfoot. But Ron had kept this to himself even though he remembered the day that Harry had proved his true colours. The memory was as clear as though it had just happened.

On a Wednesday in April, five years earlier, he and Harry had completed a mission and were currently waiting to interrogate their prisoner at the Ministry. On their familiar table in the canteen, Ron had sprawled his tray in front of him while Harry picked at his sandwich.

'Did hear what Robards said about Dolohov?' Ron asked Harry as he tucked into his boiled potatoes drizzled in a generous helping of butter.

'Being released? Yeah.'

But Harry's tone was dull, and Ron could tell that a million things were running through Harry's mind at this moment.

'Weird, isn't it? To think about how much he did under Voldemort's rule,' Ron carried on.

He'd always known how to get Harry to talk about things and how to get him to open up, but he also knew better than anyone that Harry had a limit.

Harry simply nodded. He finished the last bite of his sandwich and then pulled the beige folder in front of him containing the notes they had on Blackwell. He was not a well-known dark wizard but his name had soon become well known around the Auror offices.

'So, do you think he's going to say who he was working with?' Ron asked.

Harry's eyes scanned the page in from of him and before looking up at Ron, he tapped his glasses further up his nose.

'Probably not,' Harry decided, 'but we might be able to determine some suspects.'

Blackwell had been caught after several witnesses stated that they had seen him hanging around Knockturn Alley. He had been selling illegal items that had been tampered with, most of them purporting some dark magic or alchemy.

'Come on, it's nearly time,' Harry beckoned and rose from the seat at their table.

Ron finished his last spoonful of pea soup, swallowed it uncomfortably, and followed Harry out of the canteen.

'Do you ever think we work too much?' Ron smirked as they made their way to the Atrium.

'Yeah, it's all Ginny says anymore. Maybe we should take more days off,' Harry smiled.

'Yeah, that's not a bad idea,' Ron huffed, he could feel his heavy lunch jumping around in his stomach.

They reached the elevator and ascended the large building. The drumming of the elevator echoed around them as Harry turned to Ron.

'I can't help but think that we need new interrogative tactics,' he said.

'What do you mean?' Ron asked.

'We need to start playing them at their own game, using more persuasive strategies.'

As they wandered down the corridor to the interrogation room, Ron noticed Harry's stern expression, it always made him smirk. Harry meant business and he wasn't going to leave until he had all the answers he needed. That's why Ron had eaten a big lunch. Working with Harry for so long, he had learned how many hours Harry liked to put in.

Robards escorted the pair of them to the room where he gave them a stiff nod and held the door open for them.

Blackwell was slumped in his chair on one side of a large black table. He had shoulder-length black hair and thick arms that were rested on the table, his wrists were covered by the orange haze of a restraining curse.

'Blackwell,' Harry inclined as he closed the door behind them. 'This is Auror Weasley, and I am Auror -'

Blackwell had started to laugh. 'You don't think I don't know who you are.'

His voice was rough, and his eyes were dark, almost black in colour, but he looked younger than Ron had anticipated. When they had arrested him in Knockturn Alley he had been wearing a long-hooded cloak and a white mask.

'Alright then,' Harry huffed as he and Ron sat down in the vacant chairs on the other side of the table. 'I'll cut to the chase, what were you doing in Knockturn Alley?'

'Passing through,' Blackwell seethed. He did not sit up but continued to slump in his chair, his eyes fixated on Harry.

'Really?' Harry questioned. 'And how do you explain the fact that we found some dark artifacts in your possession?'

'I collect em'.'

'Collect them then sell them, is that right?' Ron asked.

Blackwell met Ron's eyes, but Ron didn't stare him down, nor did he look away.

'You've caught me, alright, but what I want to know is what are you are you charging me with?'

'I don't care what you want, we will do this my way,' Harry said.

Ron turned his head slightly to gauge Harry's expression. His brow was furrowed, throwing his old lightning scar into the white light from the lamp above their heads.

'I want you to tell me who you are working with. Who is giving you this stock to sell?'

Blackwell shrugged. 'Working on my own.'

'I don't believe you,' Harry said, his voice toneless. 'Some of the items we found are imports. Are you saying that they made their way to England on their own accord?'

'Yeah, sure, why not?'

'You know if you do give us a name, your sentence won't be as long as it currently is.'

Ron looked at his hands, uncomfortable suddenly with Harry's tactics. Ron never liked it when Harry lied to people, even if they were criminals. Ron had grown up with the knowledge that lying is a terrible thing, and yet, Harry seemed to lie so easily in situations like this one.

'And how long is it?' Blackwell asked.

'You're looking at a two-year sentence. But if you give us a name, we can lessen that,' Harry said with ease.

'Nott. Theodore Nott.'

'That was easy,' Harry said as an aside to Ron.

'And what was his role?' Ron asked, trying to keep his face from showing any recognition of the name.

'He has contacts, and he let me in on his business, showed me the ropes, that kind of thing.'

Harry leaned across the table on his forearms. 'And why would you willingly give us that information? Have you fallen out with him? Has he done something wrong?'

Blackwell smirked, but it was a wicked smile.

'Because you'll never catch him. As soon as you think you are close to catching him, you'll find that time isn't on your side,' he shrugged.

Harry sat back; Ron watched him but couldn't gauge the thoughts behind his expression.

'Thank you for your cooperation, Blackwell, Auror Robards will be in to escort you to Azkaban.'

For the first time since they'd entered the room, Blackwell sat up.

'That's it? That's all I get. Five minutes is all the famous Harry Potter can give me?'

'All I wanted to know was who you were working with, and you gave me that information most willingly.'

Harry stood up, and Ron followed suit, but Blackwell's look of confusion continued.

'But don't you want to know about my other contact, he has a name you know well,' Blackwell uttered. 'I can't tell you that one, though, that information is too valuable.'

Harry lifted his eyebrows. 'You're bluffing.'

'Nope,' Blackwell shook his head. 'And he is the one with all the information, he's got quite a bit of a cult following, and knows a lot about the people he needs to keep an eye on.'

'Oh really,' Harry said with a bored voice. 'Any information you might be willing to share with the group?' Harry crossed his arms over his chest.

Blackwell smirked again and his look made Ron's blood turn cold.

'I did hear this one piece of information, you might find it interesting,' he breathed.

Ron could hear his heartbeat, but Harry maintained his cool posture.

'I heard your eldest is at Hogwarts, you've got two little ones at home. Mum tucks them in and you get home late.'

Harry's hand had flown to his cloak pocket and retrieved his wand at remarkable speed. 'How dare you!'

'Your wife wears a lovely light blue nightdress to bed.'

Harry had rushed across the space, grabbed Blackwell by the throat, and pulled him to his feet. He held him against the wall with his forearm pressed on his chest. But Blackwell was cackling. Ron was trying his best to pull Harry away, but he wasn't as strong, and Harry was spitting abuse at the prisoner.

Before Harry could use his wand, which was pointed directly at Blackwell's face, the door burst open and Robards, flanked by two other Aurors, rushed into the room.

'What in Merlin's name do you think you're doing?' Robards screamed.

They hurried over to Harry and pulled him away, Ron stumbled back and watched as Harry's fist met Blackwell's face. It was a well-placed punch that left Blackwell scrambling on the floor.

'Potter!' Robards screamed.

The other Aurors grabbed at Blackwell and pulled him to his feet while Harry was restrained against the wall by Robards. Ron's hand reached his forehead looking at the scene around him.

As Blackwell was taken away and Robards overheard exactly what he'd said to Harry to earn the punch to the jaw, Ron contemplated the extent to which dark wizards would go to get the upper hand on the ones who were after them.

Harry had been suspended for the next two weeks in order to recuperate from the ordeal and new wards had been placed over his house. Now the wards surrounding Harry's house were three waves deep, and Ron vowed to quit his role if he ever needed three veils of warding in order to protect his family.

Days had passed with no news on the mission, despite the fact that Ginny had asked to be kept updated, she knew it would be difficult to stay in contact. But the silence was sickening, she found herself distracted from completing articles for work or menial tasks at home while she wondered what was happening. In tandem with this, she would constantly be engaged in conversations on the subject with Hermione who had chosen to stay with her while Ron was away. And with the kids back at Hogwarts, it was all they could do to ignore the quietness.

'I really would have thought they'd have sent us some words by now,' commented Hermione, sitting at the Burrow's kitchen.

'Let's not expect the worst, maybe we aren't hearing the news because there isn't any news,' placated Mrs. Weasley.

But Ginny knew that there was no reason to panic, after all, she had been through this too many times over the years; to get worried every time no news reached them.

But several weeks had passed without news, and it was the last day of September when, while sitting around Ginny's kitchen, a curious owl arrived with a letter.

Ginny's heart began to leap, and her stomach felt suddenly empty. Hermione took the small note and unfurled it between her shaking hands. The air was palpably still as Hermione read the note aloud.

We'll be arriving at St. Mungos tomorrow afternoon by portkey. We have found two of the Aurors, but they need urgent care.

Draco Malfoy.

'Why would Malfoy of all people write to us?' Ginny questioned.

Her eyes scanned the cursive words on the page over and over, but what she really wanted was for it to say something about Harry. She swallowed back the tears that were forcing themselves to the surface.

'That is a very good question,' Mrs. Weasley said, her face had grown pale.

'Well,' Hermione started, a small smile lit her face as though she were trying to stay calm. 'Let's look at the positives, if these Aurors have any knowledge of what's happened to Harry, then it will only bring us a step closer.'

But Hermione had done it, by saying his name, the tears burst from Ginny's eyes, and she began to stifle her burning throat.

'Gin, are you alright?' she heard her mother's calming voice.

Ginny lifted her head to her, she wasn't okay, and she hadn't been okay for a very long time. She let her head fall into her hands and before she knew it, Hermione was by her side holding onto her arm and rubbing gently while her mother's arms ran around her neck, holding on for dear life.

'I know it's not the news you were hoping for but remember this is going to be a long process.'

Ginny knew Hermione's words were true and she believed them, but there was part of her that couldn't hold out hope anymore.

She lifted her head slowly and found them both still clinging to her. Her mother's hand wiped away her tears as Ginny took a deep breath.

'It's just getting harder each day to convince myself that Harry is going to be okay,' she told them earnestly.

Hermione nodded softly in understanding. 'We know,' she told her.