Tonks let out a deep breath. She had done this four times already today, and this clearly wasn't going to be one of the easy ones. Tonks couldn't really imagine Miranda Granger as the type of person who would willingly put her hands in another person's mouth. She seemed far too fussy.
"Mrs. Granger, I'm here because there is trouble brewing in the wizarding world, and you need to be aware of it. You see, a very Dark wizard has just returned…er, from hiding, and he represents a danger to muggleborns and their families…"
Miranda Granger sat patiently while Tonks explained the situation to her, her incredulity growing with each passing word. When Tonks was finally finished, an uncomfortable silence reigned.
"That is…" Miranda began, but then hesitated, trying to find the words.
"Let me see if I understand this correctly," she started again. "There is a dark wizard running amok in your world, and he hates people like Hermione. And you want us to abandon our lives, go into hiding, and wait until your, er, police catch him?"
"Well, Mrs. Granger," Tonks answered, "I'm afraid it's much more serious than that. This is no ordinary criminal; he is very powerful, and has vicious followers. They would happily torture you and your husband to death…or worse," she added in an undertone.
Miranda stared at Tonks intently for a few seconds, then shook her head. "Can you not do something that would prevent them from finding our home? You are asking us to completely uproot ourselves," she said indignantly.
"I'm sorry, ma'am," Tonks replied, trying to soothe her. "But there's no way to truly keep you safe without uprooting you. We can't place really powerful wards in a muggle neighborhood like this, and wards can be brought down anyway. We're doing the best we can do, but I must implore you to take this warning seriously. Your life may depend upon it."
Miranda Granger stared down Tonks for another few seconds, finally sighing in exasperation.
"I will need to speak to my husband about this, but I don't understand why Hermione has never mentioned this. Or why she has stopped writing. She hasn't written us in almost two weeks, and that is most unlike her. She knows that we expect her letters to be punctual."
"I see," Tonks replied, unsure whether she was being asked something.
"Miss…Tonks, did you say? Could you please relay a message to Hermione for me? I know that you can travel quickly, and I would deeply appreciate it if you asked her to contact us immediately. If all this is true, we need to speak with her urgently."
"I suppose I can do that, ma'am," Tonks replied. "She'll know within the hour that she should get in touch with you."
"Thank you very much," Miranda replied, rising from her seat. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to call my husband."
"My pleasure, Mrs. Granger…I'll see myself out. Have, er, a pleasant day."
Hogwarts, Gryffindor Boys' Dorm
"Well, ickle Ronniekins? What's going on? Out with it."
Ron was sitting uncomfortably on his four-poster while Fred and George stood on either side of him and Ginny stood at the foot of the bed. Since Harry's status as a missing person became public, the twins and Ginny had been pestering Ron for information. So far he had refused to divulge a word.
Ginny had even written to her mother to discover whether she knew the real story behind Harry's disappearance. But Molly Weasley had returned a terse letter insisting that Ginny notify the Headmaster immediately if Harry were to contact her somehow.
Ginny thought it unlikely, despite the fact that she and Harry had grown closer this year, but she did want someone to explain to her why Harry had suddenly left Hogwarts. She was worried that she may have done something to drive him off.
Ginny had visited Hermione's dorm room earlier in the day, when the elder girl finally returned from the hospital wing, but Hermione had appeared very sickly and refused to talk about Harry. She had wrapped herself in her bed covers and asked Ginny to leave her alone. Something related to Harry's disappearance was clearly bothering her.
Finally fed up with Ron's evasions, Fred and George had placed a powerful sticking charm on his bed sheets, and presently Ron's arse was stuck to them.
"Here's what we know, Ronnie dear," began George, casually tossing Ron's wand up in the air and catching it.
"Harry hasn't been seen in a week—," Fred continued.
"And one week ago you and Hermione ended up in the hospital wing," finished George. "Apparently he's missing, and not sick with some mysterious disease. You know something. Spill it, little brother, or we'll do worse than a sticking charm. Gin-Gin's itching to practice her bat bogey hex, I'm sure."
Ginny was silent, but she glared at Ron without blinking from the foot of the bed.
For the second time in a week Ron Weasley found himself being restrained and questioned, and he was growing heartily sick of the humiliation.
"I don't know where Harry is, you bloody wankers," Ron growled. "And I can't tell you what little I do know, because I swore an oath to the Headmaster. I can't say anything about why Harry left, so you better unstick me and give me my wand or you'll bloody well regret it."
"Ohhh," said Fred, "he's getting all shirty, George. He knows the Headmaster, don't ya know?"
"He is quite the mover and shaker, Fred—big time quidditch star and all that. Perhaps a shrinking charm on his head is in order?"
Their threats were interrupted by the entry of Seamus and Dean into the dorm room. They stopped and stared at the scene playing out before them.
"Oi, what's going on in here?" Seamus asked curiously.
"Ron won't tell us where Harry is," Ginny volunteered meekly, still glaring at Ron.
"Blimey," whispered Seamus, addressing himself to Ron. "Do you know where he went, Ron? Is it true he confessed to you? You know, about offing Cedric and all."
.....
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