Missing

When Rose made it back to her office, she started searching through her mountain of paperwork. Nothing. Nothing in the drawers either. She had already searched at home, so he hadn't sent a message there. Though their owl hadn't been home on Monday or Tuesday morning. Now she was starting to feel paranoid.

Just then, she heard voices down the hall. Not really knowing why, she ducked under her desk. She didn't want to have to explain to anyone else why she was here so late. 

She heard two wizards from Magical Maintenance walk by, probably on their way to tidy up one of the interrogation rooms.

She was about to get up from under the desk when the top of her head brushed against a piece of parchment stuck to the bottom of the desk plate. She lit her wand and recognised Scorpius' handwriting. Her heart rose, then fell deep down as she read what the message said. She ran out to find Uncle Harry.

Harry didn't like this situation. James had told him what he had overheard, and though he hadn't been as dismissing as Albus had apparently been, he had a hard time believing it. It was very similar to the setup they had given Rose and Al for their exam. And Dawson was one of his most trusted and experienced Aurors. But who else would be able to get Scorpius to agree to stage an open arrest like that, and then later remove all traces of it? Unless it hadn't been staged. But Scorpius would have put up more of a fight if he was not in on it, wouldn't he? 

Rose came running into the office with a note in her hand. By the look on her face, it was not good news. He took the note she offered. 

"Okay, if you actually have to find this note, maybe I am not so paranoid for nothing. Either way, as I said in the other notes I left, Dawson needed help with me getting close to a new prisoner in Azkaban. I don't know how long it will be, but probably a week at the least. Harry should have the details."

Azkaban? What new development was this?

"I have no knowledge about this," Harry said. "And I've checked, and there have been no arrests recorded at all in the last month, certainly no one sent to Azkaban."

"We need to find Dawson," Rose said with determination. "Have James told you what he overheard?"

"Yes. I dismissed it, but now I'm not so sure anymore. Let's go get James and bring him back home. I don't want him to stumble upon the same thing Scorpius may have found."

***

James was worried. What could have happened to Scorpius? He needed to confirm it, to know for sure that it was he who had been taken in such a manner. But why would anyone do that? This was all too complicated for him. 

He went into the bar once again. It was unusual for him to be here twice in one day, but it couldn't be helped. He saw a hooded man noticing him as he walked in, but he ignored him, as you did when encountering new people here. Ignore everyone you didn't want to talk to. He went over to the counter and sat down. The barman recognised him and gave him his usual. Mead, ugh. How had he ever drunk this voluntarily? He took a sip and gave a sort of smile to the barman. 

"I owe you an apology. I didn't know about the incident a few days ago. Typical. My one friend in this whole mess had to go and get himself arrested."

"You call him a friend?" asked a voice from behind him. It was the hooded figure. James didn't like the way he looked at him. 

"He doesn't sound like a good friend to have, if the charges against him are true." The man continued.

"Yes." James replied. "Or at least an acquaintance. He's helped me out a few times. I doubt I'll be able to return the favour though. Not if he was arrested in the way people here claim. I didn't really know much about him. Just goes to show that not everybody is who you think they are."

"No, I don't think you will be able to help him," the man said. 

***

"Your brother, sir? You're too late. He left about an hour or so ago."

"Left with whom?"

"He met this hooded man, and they had a short conversation. Then it was like Potter got a jolt through him, and he followed after the man. I assumed he found who he was looking for."

Albus paled. James wouldn't have left with just anyone. And a hooded man? Could that be the same man he had overheard talking to Sam Crickey? He feared his brother's cover was blown, just like Scorpius' most likely were. Had he actually been right? Had Albus dismissing his brothers' concerns led to him being kidnapped now?

"Thank you for the information. It seems it is this man that I must find then. Here, this round is on me," he said politely as he left a Galleon on the table. Cheers from the table followed him out into the street.