Disclaimer: If I owned Harry, I wouldn't be comparing home equity lines of credit…
Chapter 14 Summary: Harry has the idea that they may be able to track Hermione's DA coin through the use of the Locus Distinctus charm. The untimely arrival of Tonks at the DA meeting foils his plan to attempt a rescue of Hermione. Tonks takes the plan to Dumbledore and, with the help of the Order of the Phoenix, they are about to enter a small hut in the hopes of finding our lost heroine.
Chapter 15: Friends
But the room was silent, no bolts of red or green snapping at him through the dust, no Death Eaters. Worst of all, no Hermione.
Dumbledore muttered a Scourgify to sweep the dust from his sight and to determine what still might be found of help to them. Remus, who now stood in the empty doorway, called the all clear to the rest of the Order and went to stand beside Dumbledore.
"I fear we are too late, Remus," the great wizard said in a worried voice.
Spotting an iron hoop bolted to the wall, a restraint he was all to familiar with, Remus walked over and began clearing the loose debris from the dirt floor. Soon, a glint of gold told him that he had found the object that had brought them here. Holding the galleon up for Dumbledore to see, he told the heartbroken wizard, "But at least we know she was here, Albus. Harry's idea did work."
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It felt like a cave this time, the air cool upon her arms with a smell of the earth. Somewhere in the distance, she could hear the echo of water dripping into a pool.
This had been what, the seventh move now. Yes, of that she was sure. They had been moving her at random times since that day in Hogsmead and her analytical mind had committed to memory all the locations of imprisonment. Perpetually blindfolded, she had memorized everything that she could about their places of hiding. The sounds, smells, textures, all in the hope that they could somehow be of use to her.
But none of it had been of any help.
She attempted to settle herself into the most comfortable position she could. Not an easy thing when your feet and hands are shackled. 'All part of the torture I suppose,' she thought to herself.
So far, the Death Eaters had focused mainly on verbal and mental tactics rather than physical attacks. Not to say there hadn't been any though. Bellatrix has a mean right, she thought. But to her relief, their lord and master had decreed that there should be no permanent damage done to their prisoner. For the time being. However, that didn't keep Lestrange from using her favorite spell, Crucio, whenever she came to visit. Unfortunate in some manner, Hermione thought, that the Crucius doesn't leave permanent physical damage. She understood now how Neville's parents had lost their minds. The pain was beyond anything she had ever felt and, when Bellatrix was in a rather nasty mood, she saw how easy it would be to fall from that precipice of sanity.
"Mudblood! When's that filthy half blood boyfriend of yours going to get off his arse and come after you, eh? I'm tired of wait'n," her current overseer chided as he threw a mold covered piece of bread to her.
She had learned long ago not to answer. Any response only invited more verbal torment. 'At least I shouldn't get an infection. Doesn't penicillin come from mold? Merlin knows I've eaten enough of it,' she thought.
She let her mind wonder as she tried not to gag on the bread, 'Oh but Harry, he's right. Where are you? I don't know how long they'll let this go on. I'm positive the Order is out looking for me and I'm sure you and Ron are probably angry they won't let you look as well.'
As she began to drift off from exhaustion, her last thoughts were of brilliant green eyes, the ever-entangled black hair, and a mirthful lopsided grin. 'Please find me, Harry. Please?' she thought, as her mind stepped into the darkness of sleep.
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"What do you mean she wasn't there?" an incensed Harry screamed as he stood in the middle of the Headmaster's office.
The DA session had been left in the hands of Neville, since neither Harry nor Ron could focus on anything during the rescue attempt they felt they should be mounting was going on. "How could you lose her?"
Dumbledore held up his hands, "Calm yourself, Harry. It appeared as though she had not been there for some time. My belief is that they are moving her from place to place in an attempt to thwart our efforts. I'm sorry."
The headmaster looked into the eyes of the frustrated boy and added, "But know this Harry, we haven't stopped looking and we won't stop until she is found and returned safely back to us." Reaching into his robe he pulled out Hermione's galleon and handed it over to Harry. "Your idea of the Locus Distinctus charm was quite brilliant, I might add. We would not have found the location otherwise and I'm sure Miss Granger would be very proud of you, Harry. I know I am."
Slumping defeatedly in one of the large over-stuffed chairs, Harry stared down at his hands as they rubbed the dirt from off of the coin. "Yeah, but it was all for nothing. If she wasn't there… how are we going to find her Professor?" Harry rose again from the chair and walked over to the office window to stare at the cloud framed moon. "Maybe we need to give them what they want? Maybe it's time for me to face him."
"No, Harry! You mustn't believe that," Dumbledore interrupted. "Regrettably, the time will come when you must face him, but this isn't that time. You must have faith in Miss Granger's strength, Harry, as I'm sure she has faith in yours. We will find her."
"But while I wait, there are people out there dying or getting hurt, Professor! How can I just sit here and let that happen!" Harry stopped in front of the large, ancient desk, his rage boiling to the surface. "My best friend is out there, HAVING MERLIN KNOWS WHAT DONE TO HER AND YOU JUST WANT TO KEEP ME LOCKED UP! WHY? WHAT AM I DOING HERE?"
"Learning, Harry, learning. Tom spent many years traveling the world to gain the knowledge he has. You as well must acquire the knowledge it will take to defeat him," Dumbledore explained. "Everyday Harry, you are another day closer to finding that which will help you."
Becoming more frustrated and finding no solace in any of the answers he was being offered, Harry stormed from the office and, pausing in the doorway, gave one final retort. "Yeah, fine! I'll be sure to put everything I learn from the back corner of Snape's class to good use! Good night, Professor!" and slammed the door.
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With the failure of the Locus Distinctus charm, Harry and Ron found themselves falling deeper into the chasm of frustration and self-pity. Although their shared anger was primarily directed at those around them, their deep friendship wasn't always enough to keep them from lashing out at each other.
They had each found their own way of channeling the anger and frustration. Harry, in focusing his efforts into the DA and Snape's reinstated Occlumency lessons, had become a demanding taskmaster. Similarly, Ron had grown ever worse as the "Red Headed Troll" of the Quidditch Pitch. Neither one was very popular and the rest of the school was avoiding them like a rampaging Hippogriff. Only one "person" gave them no harbor, THRIBT.
"Listen you sarcastic little twit!" shouted Ron one day during the Care of Magical Creatures class. "I've half a mind to throttle that flea bitten neck of yours. Now, leave - us - ALONE!"
"Well, at least you've finally come to realize the fundamental issue here. You've only half a mind, you great, pompous, Horklump!" THRIBT retorted. "What on earth did I do to Hagrid that he condemns me to attempting to teach these wretched mistakes of nature," the Jarvey muttered as he scampered away.
"I swear to you, Harry. I'm going to hex that git into next week before this year is through," Ron growled, as Harry restrained him from going after the furry creature.
"Just ignore him, Ron! We don't need a detention from Hagrid! Let him go," Harry said as he maneuvered Ron away from the finished class and towards the castle. "Let's just go to the common room and try and get our work started before dinner, okay?"
"All right!" Ron shouted as he jerked himself free from Harry's grasp, "Just let go of my bloody robes. I can walk on my own without your help!"
There was a tense silence between them as they walked up the hill from Hagrid's hut. As they passed through the great doors on their way to Gryffindor tower, unbeknownst to them, they were being observed.
Hushed as church mice, two young girls were standing in the shadows of the stair landing. One girl was adorned with a top of fiery red hair, the other of golden corn silk. They looked to each other and shook their heads in annoyance.
"Those two are falling apart without Hermione here to watch over them," Ginny muttered to the girl whose nose was now firmly planted in an upside down copy of the Quibbler. Tugging on the Ravenclaw girl's sleeve in exasperation, "We need to do something, Luna. Any ideas?"
"I've always found that a weekend trip looking for Rock Elves in the Bavarian Alps very relaxing. Maybe they could try…" the misty eyed blond had started to say, but she was cut off.
"Luna! Work with me here," Ginny said, irritation edging into her voice. "We can't send them to the Alps to look for… rocks!"
"Rock Elves, Ginny." Luna said patiently. They're about the size of…"
"Never mind! I meant, what can we do here at Hogwarts?"
"Well, we could ask them to the Halloween Ball I suppose." Luna mused. "I don't think Hermione would be too upset. It would only be so they won't kill each other," Luna answered from behind her father's newspaper.
"I…hmm," Ginny pondered. "You might have something there, Luna," A plan started to percolate in her mind. "It could be just the thing to distract them from each other for a bit. I could ask Harry and you could ask Ron. I happen to know that he doesn't have a date."
Confused, Luna finally looked up from her paper, "Of course he doesn't, Ginny. How could he? Hermione hasn't been here to ask him, now has she?"
"What? Who are you talking about, Luna?" the thoroughly bewildered red head asked.
"Why Harry, of course. How could Hermione ask Harry to the ball when she hasn't been here for weeks?" Luna grimaced for a moment and buried her face back in the Quibbler. "The poor girl, how ever will she catch up with the mountain of homework she's missed. I do wish she would come back from where ever it is she has gone."
Ginny was shocked. "Luna? You do know that Hermione was kidnapped by Death Eaters… don't you?"
"Of course, Ginny. Do you think I live in a cave?" the always out-of-phase girl huffed as started to walk away.
Running after her, Ginny grabbed the girl's robe, 'Luna, where are you going?"
"To ask Ron to the ball. Isn't that what you wanted?" Reaching over, Luna clasped the hand of her now dumbfounded friend and pulled her along, "We really should do it before they get to the portrait hole, don't you think?"
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Harry was standing before the mirror, attempting to knot the tie to his dress robes when he turned and asked, "Remind me again Ron, why are we doing this?"
"Because my sister and Luna have some daft idea that this is meant to cheer us up," Ron tried to explain as he pulled on his dress shirt. "I suppose it won't hurt us, Harry." Ron let out a heavy sigh, "Loony Luna! How in Merlin's name…"
"I just wish they hadn't, Ron. It… it just doesn't seem right somehow. Without Hermione I mean."
"Yeah, mate. I know what you mean," Ron said as he came over and looked in the mirror with Harry. "Has Lupin told you anything lately? He seemed to think they might be onto their trail."
"They found nothing. He did say that he thought they had only missed them by a few hours. A few hours!" Harry spat as he tore the tie he was struggling with from his collar and threw it across the room. "If I could only get out of here…"
Ron put his hands on Harry's shoulders and told him, "Calm down, Harry. You remember what happened the last time you tried to sneak out."
"Yeah, leave it to Dumbledore to have a ward for keeping people in or out! Having it send me directly into his office was a rather low shot," Harry grimaced. "I thought no one could apparate at Hogwarts!"
"He's Dumbledore," said Ron as he knotted the offending tie around Harry's neck. "Come on, mate. Let's go find Ginny and Luna."
Resigned to their fate, the two slowly made their way down to the common room. Not finding Ginny waiting for them, they decided that they must be early and started a game of wizards chess to pass the time.
After what seemed to be only a few moments, Ron ungraciously dumped Harry from his reverie. "That's the third game I've won in under ten moves, Harry. You're thinking about Hermione, aren't you?"
"I can't help it, Ron," Harry said as he rose from his chair, "I'm sorry, I should never have agreed to do this."
"Do what?" a concerned voice said from the stairway.
Harry turned to see Ginny, standing on the bottom stair, a stunning beauty in a long emerald green evening gown. "I'm sorry, Ginny. I… I just don't know if I can do this."
In an outright scary semblance of her mother, Ginny placed her hands on her hips and looked Harry and Ron straight in the eye. "Oh no you don't!" Ginny said sternly. "You two agreed to take Luna and I to the ball, and by Merlin, you will!"
But seeing the flash of pain that spread to Harry's face and the dire look of warning she was getting from Ron, Ginny quickly realized this wasn't a simple case of cold feet. Running across the room, she quickly put Harry in her best Hermione bear hug.
"I'm so sorry, Harry," she whispered through the tears she was leaking onto his chest. "If you don't want to go, I…I understand."
Harry never was any good around crying girls. Cho, Hermione, now Ginny. "It's ok, Ginny," he said as he searched for what to do with his hands, "I… I just miss Hermione. She should be here for this."
Ginny stepped back and put her arms around them both, "You're right, Harry. But even so, you should be able to relax a little. Both of you are so tense all the time people are scared to talk to you, even me sometimes."
"Really?" ask Ron. "So that's why no one has been arguing with me during Quidditch practice? I guess I hadn't realized."
"Me either," Harry stated flatly. "Hermione has been on my mind a lot. I'm sorry Ginny if I've done anything to offend you. I didn't mean to."
"You haven't," Ginny answered with conviction as she hooked both their arms in hers and walked them to the portrait hole. "Now, let's get Luna and go to the ball and have a bit of fun."
As the group stepped from the stairs onto the landing of Ravenclaw tower, Ron did a double take when he realized it was Luna who was waiting for them beside the entrance. Luna was dressed in a royal blue evening dress with brightly lit fairies dangling from her ears. On anyone other than Luna, this may have appeared strange, but on her, it was quite stunning. The affect it had on Ron was quite obvious as well as he stammered out a greeting, "I ahh… err… eep!"
Grinning ear-to-ear, Ginny came to her brother's rescue, "Ron, if by any chance you can re-connect you brain, why don't you take Luna's arm and we can leave for the Great Hall."
Without removing his eyes from the flaxen haired beauty, Ron managed a short "I… err-ok."
Proceeding down the stairs with the legions of other couples attending the ball, Harry eventually broke the ice. "Luna, how did you manage to get the fairies to… ah… stay? A sticking charm?"
"Heaven's no! I simply asked them." Luna answered, slightly surprised. Leaning forward so they could see, she illuminated them. "See, there are little swings for them to sit on. I just asked them if they wouldn't mind accompanying me for the evening."
"Ahh yes, I see," Harry said, although he really didn't.
Luna then looked up at Ron with dreamy eyes and squeezed his arm, "You look quite dashing tonight, Ronald. I do like your robes."
"Ahh… right. Thanks, Luny. I…I mean Luna! Sorry."
"Oh, it's quite alright, Ronald. I know everyone calls me that. I don't mind - too much."
Ron was saved from further embarrassment by their arrival at the Great Hall. The foursome stepped through the entrance and marveled at the litany of decorations. The four great tables had been moved to the circumference of the room to make room for a dance floor. Elaborate treats filled every table, while pumpkins of every shape, size, and decoration floated throughout the room. Every remaining inch was filled with colored corn and gourds, straw bales, and ghosts aplenty.
Spying Dobby serving pumpkin juice in the corner, Harry started to ask if anyone would care for a glass when he clutched his forehead and groaned in pain.
"Harry! What's the matter?" Ginny cried out.
Nearly pulling off Luna's arm when he dove to catch his collapsing friend, Ron pulled him away from the door and into a cloak closet.
"Harry! Is it V…Vol… You-know-who?" Ron asked in near panic.
Through clenched teeth, Harry managed to hiss out an answer. "Yeah! And he's really happy about something!"
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A/N: I'll be on travel for work over the next ~2 weeks, working late into the night. I will try my best to still post next weekend, but I can't make any promises. I apologize in advance if I don't make it.