The Missing Boy'
By Mali Caren
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I wouldn't be posting on Fan fiction if I did…/sobs/ Dammit!
Summary: Harry Potter went missing on Halloween; he hasn't been seen for a whole year. Countless articles have proclaimed him dead or as good as. But is he really?
-oOo-
Prologue
/Articles over a year/
Boy-Who-Lived Missing!
Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, is missing. At the beginning of his fifth year, he disappeared on Halloween night. Albus Dumbledore himself leads the search for the fifteen-year-old boy. He has given no reasons, but we at the Daily Prophet have been able to get a first hand comment from the walking legend. "He is one of my students. I would do the same for any of them," he said as he departed from Hogwarts in a rush after refusing to say any more.
We are led to believe that Harry Potter is in fact in the hands of You-Know-Who and his Death Eaters, but this has not been agreed with or denied. I believe I speak for everyone when I say, "Wherever you are Harry Potter, come back to us safely."
Breaking new development on the Boy-Who-Went-Missing!
It is now three days since the Boy-Who-Lived disappeared. Fifteen-year-old Harry Potter, who had just started his fifth year, is indeed being held hostage by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!
Earlier today Albus Dumbledore received an anonymous owl containing information about the boy. You-Know-Who's ransom is not yet known, but is there even a ransom?
Five weeks since Harry Potter went missing!
It has now been five weeks since Harry Potter, better known as the 'Boy-Who-Lived', went missing; hopes are hanging low on finding the boy alive. Wizards double his age have only lasted minutes in Harry's position. What can we expect from a fifteen-year-old boy?
Loving words on Harry Potter's behalf!
"On hearing about your last article on Harry, I want to say he is an outstanding student, and has better chances than any other Wizard who has been faced with his challenge, the one of staying alive."
"I taught him during his third year and in that year, only thirteen years old, he managed to produce a full Patronus. Most adult wizards struggle to create the most meagre of Patronuses. But Harry learned how to generate a Corporeal Patronus in record time! He will make it through this, and all of his friends will be waiting for him!" said a distraught reader whose name we cannot specify.
We at the Daily Prophet also received a howler on the issue.
"How dare you! Harry Potter is one of the most able Wizards in Hogwarts School! No! THE WHOLE WIZARDING WORLD! Who cares about age? He has had more experience than most adult AURORS! And here at Hogwarts we are not giving up hope! Harry will return to us!"
We received countless others, but did not have enough room on this page to put them in.
THREE MONTHS NO WORD!
It has now been a whole three months since the Boy-Who-Lived was kidnapped. Many have given up hope to find the boy alive or otherwise, but others are still writing to us saying the opposite. Albus Dumbledore still has the search effort going strong, and says he will not stop until Harry Potter is found.
Five months gone
Five months have passed, and the chances of finding the Boy-Who-Lived are little to nothing. Will report any change.
Memorial for Harry Potter
On the 31st of July, the Boy-Who-Lived's birthday, a memorial is going to be held at Godric's Hollow. Though no evidence has been found to state otherwise, we believe the boy is dead.
SEARCH CALLED OFF!
The search for the Boy-Who-Lived has been called off. It has been 11 months since his disappearance, almost a year, and still no evidence that the boy is alive has been found. Albus Dumbledore reluctantly agreed with others and called off the massive search, though not before giving a statement.
"Harry Potter is out there, and one day we will find him." Tears shone in the ancient man's eyes.
"And one day we will lay him to rest," he said solemnly.
One Year Anniversary Of Harry Potter's Disappearance tonight!
Tonight is Halloween once again. It is now one full year since Harry Potter was proclaimed missing. Everyone's hearts will be bleeding tonight for the brave boy, and for what he must have gone through on this very night a year ago. The Ministry has proclaimed that a minute's silence should be held in the Boy-Who-Went-Missing's memory.
/End Articles/
Hermione sobbed as she placed the last article in her scrapbook, her hands shaking slightly. Ron sat behind her, staring at the open book without seeing it.
"That's it then," he finally said, as Hermione stuck the paper into the book.
Without bothering to turn to him, she asked, "What's it then?" in a low mournful voice.
Ron sat up and quickly wiped something from his eye. "He's gone."
He's gone. The two words echoed around in her head. Tears sprang to her eyes and cascaded down her pale cheeks. How can two words cause so much grief?
"I didn't mean that, 'Mione!" Ron said quickly as he grabbed her hand.
With the other she ran her fingers through her hair. "Yes, you did," she said softly, more tears coming to join the others.
Ron hung his head. "It's just been so long…how could he still be-" His voice hitched, and he quickly shook his head. "Never mind," he choked out, and Hermione squeezed his hand, knowing how he felt.
She sucked in a long rattling breath before she got to her feet. "Come on. The feast should ready by now," she said, and Ron nodded.
"Yeah," he agreed, as he got to his feet as well. Slowly the two friends walked to the Great Hall. When Hermione opened the huge double doors, her hands flew to her mouth, and more tears escaped her eyes.
"Oh!"
"What is it?" Ron asked from behind her. Hermione stepped to the side, and Ron saw that the huge Hogwarts banners that hung from the ceiling were all black.
"Come on, 'Mione," Ron said in a soft whisper, as he grabbed her shoulder gently and pushed her inside. Everyone in the hall turned as one to see them enter: Harry Potter's two best friends.
Sitting down in silence (apart from Hermione's sobs), the two began to eat. (Well, Ron did; Hermione couldn't look at her food.) When Professor Dumbledore rose to his feet, the little noise being made around the room hushed. The twinkle in his blue eyes was long gone.
"Good evening, students. I believe you have all noticed the change in decorations?" he said, as he gestured up at the ceiling.
"And I believe you all know why it has been made so?" At his words Hermione burst into another batch of tears.
"Well, Miss Granger does. Tonight is a sorrowful night for Hogwarts. One of us who should be sitting in our ranks is not, and many believe never will again." Hermione's howls were the only sound apart from Dumbledore's sombre voice and the growl of thunder in the sky outside.
"It may be true; it may be a lie. But one thing is still the same: he is not here. And so, before we finish our lovely meal, would you all please bow your heads and give a minute's silence for the memory of Harry Potter."
Around the room no one spoke. Tears streamed down most faces, but not a sound was uttered. Lightning flashed overhead as if in tribute, and a moment later thunder boomed … or was it the doors outside opening? Hermione had her hands pressed tightly over her mouth, trying to stifle her sobs, as liquid ran over her fingers and down her hands. Suddenly the doors to the Great Hall sprang open as lightning once again flashed.
Hermione's gaze shot around, like everyone else's in the hall. Silhouetted against the stark white was a man- or a tall boy? He wore a robe that was tattered and clung to his almost skeletal frame. The light from the lightning died slowly to reveal the boy in the doorway in full. His greasy black hair, matted from rain, clung to his scalp in dark tendrils. His skin was white and stretched over his bones, scarred and bleeding in places. His eyes were shadowed and sunken, and the tiny red mark on his brow was standing out, angry and sore.
"HARRY!" Hermione screamed, and as if on cue, the boy began to stumble forward. After only a few steps, he fell limply to the stone floor.
Harry Potter had returned.
-oOo-
(edited 13-May-2006 - td4)