Chapter One: What Are We Going to Do?

"Harry, what are we going to do?" asked Ron Weasley, after he and Harry Potter had crashed into the solid wall that Fred and George Weasley had just easily passed through.

"Not so loud," answered Harry with a whisper. "Let's go back to your Dad's car and wait for him and your Mum."

"The car, that's it!" exclaimed Ron, leading the way as the two young wizards made their way back to his father's Ford Anglia. "We can fly the car to Hogwarts."

"Keep your voice down," said Harry with a whisper. "The Muggles might hear us. Besides, I don't think it's a good idea to start with."

"Sure it is," Ron excitedly whispered back. "We can fly the car to Hogwarts, and Dad and Mum can Apparate back to the Burrow."

"No, Ron, if somebody sees us the two of us and your Dad could get into a lot of trouble," Harry argued, as they approached the Weasleys' car. "I'll send a note to your Dad and Mum with Hedwig, and we can wait here for them."

"Come on, get in the car," begged Ron. "I'm sure it will be okay with Dad and Mum."

"No, Ron, I'm waiting right here for your Dad and Mum," argued Harry back. "Do you even know how to get to Hogwarts, in the first place?"

"I know it's somewhere up north," answered Ron.

"I thought so," remarked Harry, taking out a quill and a piece of parchment. "I'll write a note that we couldn't get through the barrier and that we're waiting by your dad's car."

"Okay," said Ron, opening the back door of the Weasleys' car and sitting on the seat. Taking his sandwiches from a pocket, he asked before taking a bite, "How long do you think we might have to wait?"

"There you two are," said Molly Weasley, approaching the Weasleys' car with her husband about twenty minutes late. "We were looking all around for you two when Hedwig flew up to Arthur with Harry's note. What do you mean by you couldn't get through the barrier?"

"Like Harry said in his note, Mum," answered Ron. "We were the last ones to get to the barrier, and we don't know why, but we couldn't get through. Instead, we crashed into a solid wall, and, let me tell you, Hedwig did not like that at all. Mind you, I really can't say that I blame her, but with her squawking about in her cage the Muggles were giving us funny looks, so we decided to come back and wait by the car."

"Well, boys, given the circumstances you made the right choice," said Arthur. "I'll drive over to the Ministry building, and we can use the floo network on my floor to call Albus and let him know of your predicament."

"It's a good thing you two are more responsible than Fred and George," commented Molly, as they made their way through London. "Those two would most likely have flown the car to Hogwarts and created all sorts of mayhem."

"Thanks Mrs. Weasley/Mum," answered Harry and Ron, casting nervous glances at each other that Arthur noticed as he drove through the streets of London.

1

"Albus Dumbledore, Hogwarts," said Arthur after kneeling and tossing floo powder into his office wing's fireplace.

"Yes, Arthur, how may I be of assistance?" asked Albus from his office at Hogwarts.

"Harry Potter and my son, Ron, missed the Hogwarts Express, because they say the barrier closed and would not let them pass," answered Arthur.

"I see," commented Albus. "I gather you, Molly, and the rest of your lot made it though without any difficulty."

"Yes, we did," said Arthur. "Harry and Ron were right behind Fred and George, and if what they've told us is true, and I believe it is, then something is definitely amiss."

"Yes, Arthur, I quite agree with you," said Albus. "The Hogwarts Express isn't due to pull into Hogsmeade Station for another six hours, so why don't you and Molly take the boys back home with you, and I'll arrange for them to floo from the Burrow directly to the Hogwarts hospital wing about ten minutes before the train arrives. We are having senior staff meeting in my office, and Poppy has expressed interest in examining your son and Mr. Potter when they get to Hogwarts."

"We'll take them home and make sure they both floo to the hospital wing," said Arthur.

"Thank-you Arthur," said Albus.

"Just my luck," grumbled Harry, as they made their way back to the Weasleys' car. "Fall term hasn't even started yet, and I already have to go see Madam Pomfrey."

"At least you've got company this time," added Ron. Furrowing his brow, he mused aloud, "I wonder why we couldn't get through the barrier?"

"I was wondering if it had anything to do with that House-elf that said he didn't want me to go back to Hogwarts," said Harry.

"What House-elf was that?" asked Arthur.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Weasley, but I thought you knew I got the warning about the underage use of magic because this House-elf calling himself Dobby set off a hovering charm on my aunt's pudding," answered Harry.

"I was not aware of that," said Arthur. "Could you tell us more about this House-elf?"

"Yeah, on my birthday, this House-elf named Dobby popped into my room and warned not to go back to Hogwarts this year because somebody was going to do something horrible at school this year," said Harry. "He told me he was stopping me from getting letters and such from my friends, too."

"This is serious," said Arthur. "When we get home, I'll have to floo Albus again and let him know about it.

1

"Okay, Harry, you go first, and Ron, you can go second," said Arthur later that afternoon. "Your things are already in your dorm room, and Albus said he'll be waiting for you in the hospital wing with Poppy."

"Hogwarts hospital wing," said Harry after taking some floo powder and stepping into the flames with Ron following about ten seconds later

"Good afternoon, Mr. Weasley," said Albus, smiling at Ron as the young wizard stepped out of the hospital wing fireplace.

"Where's Harry?" asked Ron, looking around for his best friend. "He flooed here just ahead of me."

"Are you sure, Mr. Weasley, because Mr. Potter did not come out of this fireplace?" asked Albus.

"Yeah, I'm sure," answered the confused Ron. "Floo call Dad and he'll tell you the same thing."

"Arthur Weasley, the Burrow," said Albus after kneeling and throwing floo powder into the fireplace.

"Is there something wrong, Albus?" asked Arthur, as his head appeared in the flames.

"Your son arrived here safely, but Harry Potter did not," answered the wizened Headmaster. "Could you and Molly please floo here and help us search for young Mr. Potter?"

"We'll be right there, Albus," replied Arthur, as he pulled his head from the fire.

"Albus, I was observing students as they entered the castle, and Miss Granger vanished right before my eyes," said a silver Cheshire cat, appearing in front of the aged wizard as Arthur stepped out of the fireplace

"Professor Dumbledore, I was takin the firs years 'cross the lake win two lil girls, one wit red hair n the other wit blonde hair up n diss'peared wi ner a trace," said a silver dragon, appearing in front of Albus seconds later, as Molly Weasley stepped from the fireplace.

"Oh no, Ginny's a first year girl with red hair," gasped Molly.

"Minerva, two first year girls have disappeared from the boats bringing the first years to the castle," said Albus after conjuring a silver Phoenix Patronus. "Meet Hagrid at the boat dock, and ask him to bring any students riding with the missing girls to the staff room. I am dispatching Filius and Pamona to watch over the remaining first years while we investigate what has happened."

"Albus, what in Merlin's name is going on, today?" asked the very upset Molly. "First, Harry and Ron can't get through the barrier at Kings' Cross, and now we learn Harry, Hermione, and two girls, one of which might be Ginny, have disappeared."

"Molly, we'll do everything in our power to find out why these things are happening," answered Albus. "Let's all, including young Mr. Weasley make our way to the staff room where we'll try to sort things out."

"Albus, do you have any idea what has happened?" asked Minerva McGonagall, arriving at the staff room the same time, as did the lot from the hospital wing.

"Other than four of my students have vanished, no I do not," answered Albus.

"I had a similar encounter during my Holidays With Hags and learned Hags will quite often kidnap young wizards and witches," commented Gilderoy Lockhart.

"We have just begun our investigation, so let's please hold our comments until we have investigated this matter more completely," said Albus, cutting off Lockhart in mid rant. Seeing Hagrid enter with a rather short boy with mousy brown hair, he asked, "Young man, please tell us your name and the names of your boat companions for the journey across the lake?"

"My name is Colin Creevey, sir," answered the boy. "I think the redhead said her name was Jenny, and I remember the blonde haired girl's name was Goodlove or something like that."

"Thank-you Mr. Creevey, you've been a great help to us," said Albus. "Hagrid, please take Mr. Creevey back to join the rest of his classmates and return here as soon as possible. Minerva, please contact Xenophilius Lovegood and have him meet us here as soon as possible. While we wait for Minerva and Hagrid to return, is there anything anyone can add to what we already know?"

"Sir, when Fred, George, and I went to Harry's aunt's house to get him, he told us this House-elf cast the hovering charm that got him into trouble with the Ministry, and that the House-elf gave him a warning not to come back to Hogwarts this year," answered Ron.

"Do you know this House-elf's name and why he gave your friend such a warning?" asked Albus.

"I forget what Harry said the House-elf's name was, but I do remember Harry saying the House-elf warned him not to come back to Hogwarts this year because somebody was going to do something really bad at schools this year," answered Ron. "Fred and George were with me when we went to go get Harry, so maybe they remember what the House-elf's name was."

"Severus, please go to the Great Hall and ask the Weasley twins to join us in the staff room," said Albus.

"As you wish, Headmaster," said Snape, exiting the staff room with his long black robes billowing behind him.

"Ah, young Misters' Weasley, your brother tells me you accompanied him when he retrieved Harry Potter from his aunt's home," said the aged wizard. As Fred and George scowled at Ron, he asked, "Would either of you remember the name of the House-elf Mr. Potter said visited him on his birthday?"

"I think Harry said the House-elf's name was Dobby," answered Fred.

"He told us the House-elf warned him not to come back to Hogwarts this year, to boot," added George. "Does this have anything to do with Ron and Harry not riding the /Express and Hermione Granger up and disappearing into thin air?"

"That is one thing we are trying to determine," answered Albus. "For some reason unknown, when your brother flooed into the hospital wing a short time ago Mr. Potter did not arrive in the hospital wing. Additionally, your sister and the Lovegood girl apparently disappeared in the same manner as Miss Granger."

"Blimey," said George. "That's a lot to be getting on with on the first day of school."

"I quite agree, Mr. Weasley," said Albus. "Is there anything else the three Weasley brothers remember about Mr. Potter or his encounter with this House-elf?" asked Albus.

"Other than we were right behind Fred and George at Kings' Cross, and after they passed through the barrier, Harry and I crashed into a solid wall at the very same place," answered Ron. "That, plus the first time Harry ever used the floo network a few weeks ago he ended up in Knockturn Alley instead of Diagon Alley like he was supposed to. You don't suppose Harry might have come out of another fireplace in the castle, do you?"

"Knowing a dunderhead like Potter, that's possible," said Snape with a smirk.

"Snape, how do you explain the barrier at Kings' Cross and Ginny, Hermione, and Luna all disappearing?" asked Molly, glaring at the potions' master.

"As the only other floo connections in the castle are in my office and the House common room, I suggest we begin our search for Mr. Potter in them,"" said Albus, "Minerva and Hagrid, do either of know the time the three young ladies disappeared?"

"I saw Miss Granger disappear as she entered the Great Hall approximately twenty minutes ago," said Minerva.

"Tha's bout the time the two lil girls in the boat wit the Creevey la' diss'peared as they were passin un'er the lake entrance to the castle," answered Hagrid.

"That would make their disappearances about the same time as Mr. Potter attempted to floo to the hospital wing," said Albus. Looking at his watch, he added, "So we do not upset the rest of the students, I think it best we continue with the Sorting Ceremony and the feast while Arthur, Molly, the Weasley brothers and Hagrid search for our missing students.."

"We'll check out Gryffindor Tower," said George.

"You have the map with you?" asked Fred, as he and George made their way toward Gryffindor Tower.

"No, but I heard the Head boy tell Percy the password, so I thought we could stop by our dorm and get it," said George.

"Good idea," answered Fred.

"I hid it in on of Lockhart's worthless books," said George, opening his truck. Taking out the Marauders' Map, he tapped it with his wand, saying, "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good."

"Hey, look, all four of our missing students are in a room off that corridor running between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw Towers," said Fred.

"We've been down that corridor loads of times, but I've never seen a door even once," added George.

"Sounds like we have a mystery to solve, my esteemed partner in crime," commented Fred.

"Too right you are, Gred," said George. "Now, how do we go about finding them without letting on we have this wonderful map.

"That Forge is the mystery of which I was speaking," responded Fred.