Squib On The Run (sequel to Squib In The basement)

12. Missing

Once Draco had left, Cassiopeia immediately headed to Privet Drive, to tell Harry that she had some idea of who had sent Dobby. She couldn't give him all the details, as that would put Draco in danger, but just enough to hopefully put his mind at ease.
However, when she snuck into the Dursley's garden she saw that the bars on Harry's window were missing. And when she climbed up the ladder, she found his bedroom empty.
This didn't worry Cassiopeia at first, but after watching the Dursley's house all day she started to get anxious, as Harry still hadn't turned up.
She continued watching the house for several days, but Harry never returned.

Unsure of what else to do, Cassiopeia headed home and sent a letter to Narcissa, begging for her cousin to come as soon as possible.
She was pacing up and down in the living when Narcissa arrived.
"Alright, what is so urgent that I had to drop everything and come here?" Questioned Narcissa.
"It's Harry, he's disappeared" revealed Cassiopeia.
"What do you mean, disappeared?" Frowned Narcissa.
"I mean he's not at the Dursleys, and I have no idea where he's gone".

"Just because he wasn't there when you went to visit him, it doesn't mean that he isn't there now. He might have just been out of the house for the day" Narcissa said calmly.
"I watched the house for days, and the Dursleys came and went frequently, but Harry never returned home with them. Not only that, but the bars on his bedroom window are missing, and there was damage to the side of the building, almost as if the bars had been removed using some force" informed Cassiopeia.
"He has bars on his window?" Questioned Narcissa.
"Yes, Vernon put them there to stop Harry from leaving the house. He was grounded, so I can't see the Dursleys letting him out for an hour, let alone several days" replied Cassiopeia.

"Well, there is no need to panic. I'm sure wherever he is, he is safe" reassured Narcissa.
"You don't know that. Anything could have happened to him. What if he used underage magic to escape from the Dursleys, and now he's on the run from the Ministry?" Asked Cassiopeia.
"He can't have been expelled for using magic, because Lucius would have heard from his contacts at the Ministry" replied Narcissa.
"Are you sure?"
"Trust me, if Harry had been expelled, Lucius would be celebrating. Just like he did when the boy recieved that first Ministry warning the other day. So, I'm sure that Harry didn't use magic to break out".

"But if he didn't use magic to escape, then where is he? What's happened to him?" Quizzed Cassiopeia.
"I can get Lucius to make some enquiries at the Ministry for you, if you like?" Suggested Narcissa.
"No, I don't want Lucius to get suspicious. He knows you wouldn't ask after Harry because you care about him. No offence. So, Lucius would assume you were doing it for someone else, and I don't want him realising that you and I are in contact with each other. Besides, I don't want the Ministry learning that Harry isn't at home, because I don't want them sticking their noses in and making things worse" admitted Cassiopeia.

"If you don't want me to make enquiries at the Ministry, then I can't help you" sighed Narcissa.
"I just need you to visit some of your friends and listen in on their conversations to see if any of them have any idea where Harry has gone" instructed Cassiopeia.
"I will listen out for any news about him, I promise. But I'm not about to go around eavesdropping on my friends. Besides, you're his godmother, you know him better than most, so don't you have any idea where he could have gone?" Asked Narcissa.
"I've already checked all the places that we used to meet up, and I've not been able to find him".

"What about his friends? Could he have gone to visit one of them?" Questioned Narcissa.
"He doesn't have any Muggle money, so I can't see how he would get to his friends homes, especially without using magic" answered Cassiopeia.
"Well, one sure way of figuring out where Harry has gone, is to ask his guardians where he is" replied Narcissa.
"The Dursleys aren't likely to answer any of my questions"
"I wasn't planning on just asking them nicely for his location"
"We can't use magic in Privet Drive, because it will get blamed on Harry, as the Ministry know he's the only person with magic in that area"
"You could always torture them yourself, using Muggle techniques".

"No... Look, I know that the Dursleys are awful people, because they have treated Harry terribly his entire life, but I don't want to torture them. As someone who has been tortured, I know what it's like, and I could never do that to someone else. Besides, I don't want the Muggle police getting involved. I'm already on the run from the Ministry, and I don't want to add Muggle law enforcement, to the list of people I have to avoid" admitted Cassiopeia.
"I know you don't want to be like your mother. But there is a big difference between hurting an innocent child, who has done no wrong, and hurting people who deserve it, to gain important information" Narcissa said softly.

"I said no!" Shouted Cassiopeia.
Narcissa looked away awkwardly, making Cassiopeia feel bad for raising her voice.
"Sorry Cissy, I shouldn't have shouted. It's not your fault that I'm angry and stressed. Not knowing where Harry is, is worrying me. But right now, I don't want to stoop as low as my mother. I don't want to torture the Dursleys, even if they deserve it. At least not yet... Let's wait a little longer first. For all we know Harry might turn up tomorrow. Or you might hear where he is, in a day or so. Which is why I don't want to rush into anything just yet. I want to wait a few days, and if Harry still hasn't returned, then I will do whatever is necessary to make the Dursleys talk" continued Cassiopeia.
"Sounds like we have a plan then" replied Narcissa.
"Yes. We do" agreed Cassiopeia.