CHAPTER : 13

Dumbledore was barely listening to Mr Weasley, he was much too impatient to get his hands upon the deluminator. He waved off Arthur's concerns. "We shall soon sort all that out Arthur, now if you excuse me I must talk to Alastor," he said as he rushed to meet Moody who had followed Arthur into the house.

Dumbledore pulled Moody to the side and discreetly asked him for his deluminator. He did not want the fact that the deluminator was a tracking device to become common knowledge. Once he had it, he entered one of the side parlours which was thankfully empty and immediately triggered the deluminator.

He sighed in relief as a ball of light shimmered into existence. The deluminator would take a few seconds to get a fix on Harry's position. A few seconds...Just a few seconds...What was wrong with the bloody thing? Had Alastor somehow managed to damage it? He shook it forcefully and tried triggering it again but all that happened was that the ball of light flickered into existence again but still refused to give him a fix on Harry's location.

With a growing sense of dread and disbelief he took out his wand and cast a few diagnostic charms upon the device. His legs went weak with shock when they reported that the device was working perfectly. He had to put out a hand to steady himself.

What had happened? The deluminator should be able to give him an immediate fix on Harry's location. He had tested the charm work extensively. As long as Harry was within Britain the deluminator was capable of finding him. He sat down heavily and put his head in his hands. Was Harry dead? No, that could not be. With a sense of relief he remembered that the blood wards had still been standing around Privet Drive. That meant that Harry could not be dead.

What option did that leave? Could Harry be under a Fidelius Charm? No, that was highly unlikely. The Fidelius was still a rather obscure charm. What was the likelihood that Harry had found someone able to cast it? No, it was quite improbable that Harry was hidden under a Fidelius. So, what could have happened to Harry? The deluminator should be able to find Harry anywhere within Britain...within Britain...within...within...Oh dear God...No...No...This could not be happening.

Harry Potter was no longer anywhere within England, Scotland or Wales.

....

It was a highly annoyed Harry that Dobby had apparated into Diagon Alley a few hours earlier. It had taken them hours to find the Burrow, hours of popping all over the Devon countryside, only to eventually discover that the Burrow was locked up tight and abandoned.

"Typical, just typical," fumed Harry. "Every single bloody time I really need Ron, he's not there. Right from first year when he got himself knocked out by the chess pieces. Then in second year he's on the wrong side of the rock slide, and third year when he gets his leg broken and can't come with me to rescue Sirius and let's not even talk about last year. Every bloody single annoying time, without fail. Why on earth do I hang around with someone so totally useless?"

"Dobby does not know Harry Potter sir. Harry Potter is a great wiz..."

"Yeah, yeah," interrupted Harry. "Let's just get some money from Gringotts and get a room at the Leaky Cauldron. Probably not the safest place but we don't really have much of a choice at this point. Do you know if Gringotts will be open at this time?"

"Yes, Harry Potter, Gringotts is always open. Vampires also need to keep their gold in Gringotts."

"Okay, great," said Harry as he continued moving down the alley.

But at that precise moment a screech owl swooped down out of the sky. It soared across the street, dropped the large parchment envelope it was carrying in its beak at Harry's feet, turned gracefully, then zoomed off into the sky again.

Harry picked up the envelope and ripped it open, pulling out the letter inside.

Dear Mr Potter,

We have received intelligence that you performed the Patronus Charm at twenty-three minutes past nine this evening in a Muggle-inhabited area.

The seventy of this breach of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery has resulted in your expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Ministry representatives will be calling at your place of residence shortly to destroy your wand.

As you have already received an official warning for a previous offence under Section 13 of the International Confederation of Warlocks' Statute of Secrecy, we regret to inform you that your presence is required at a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic at 9 a.m. on the twelfth of August.

Hoping you are well,

Yours sincerely,

Mafalda Hopkirk

Improper Use of Magic Office

Ministry of Magic