Chapter Text
Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling.
Warning: Abuse of children is discussed, I hope sensitively, including emotional and sexual abuse.
Chapter 1: A Message from the Train
Harry Potter closed his eyes, shutting out the pile of reports on his desk. He loved his job as head of the Auror division at the Ministry of Magic, but he hated the paperwork. When he returned his attention to the report in his hands and read the same line three times, he decided it was time for a break.
Harry stood, retrieved his teacup, and headed for the lounge. On the way, he stopped at the cubicle of his best friend, Ron Weasley, but Ron was not there. Terry Boot was, though, leaning against Ron's desk and flipping through one of his files.
"What are you working on today, Terry?" Harry asked.
"The break-in at that muggle jeweler's on Oxford Street. The muggle police are stymied, but Ron mentioned this morning he might have some ideas. Where is he, anyway?"
Harry shrugged. "He was working on that adultery/homicide case yesterday, but I haven't seen him today."
"Nasty piece of work, that. Be glad you didn't see the body; I woke my wife with nightmares for three days after."
Harry frowned. "Do you want to see someone at St Mungo's about it?"
"Nah, I'm all right now. If you see Ron, could you tell him I need to speak with him?"
"Will do."
Harry turned and continued to the lounge. He was dropping a cube of sugar in his cup of Earl Grey tea when he heard an upset "Harry!" from the corridor.
He looked up, surprised to see his brother-in-law frantically waving a piece of parchment. "Bill? What's wrong?"
"It's a message from Victoire. She sent it as the Hogwarts Express was crossing into England. Anyway, read it."
"Why?"
"Just ... it's about Albus."
Harry snatched the parchment, suddenly desperately worried for his youngest son. Victoire's handwriting was hasty, but legible.
Pere,
Please pass this on to Uncle Harry. I am sitting with Albus now and trying to keep him calm, but he is very upset. He was supposed to sit with his friend on the train, but he never appeared. I searched the entire train with him, but we cannot find his friend. That is all Albus will let me write. James was taunting him mercilessly until Albus retaliated, giving James a bloody nose. James deserved it.
Love, Victoire.
Harry looked up and Bill asked, "What do you think?"
"You're sure this is from Victoire?"
"It's her handwriting and the pink-tinged parchment she prefers when writing letters and ..." Bill ran a hand through his hair. "How much have James and Albus told you about each other?"
"Almost nothing."
"From my son's letters, I gather that they don't interact at all. Albus sticks mostly to his Slytherin friends and James to his Gryffindor ones. I won't envy you this summer."
"Do you have any idea who Albus' friend might be or why Victoire did not mention this friend's name?"
Bill shrugged. "Not really. The only time I recall hearing about any of Albus' friends was when my son mentioned him hanging out with Scorpius Malfoy. I only remember that because I thought it odd."
Harry frowned and looked down at the parchment again. "I wish I knew. If Malfoy's son has gone missing, he will need to be notified immediately. No matter who the parents are, they need to know."
"I don't know what to tell you, mate."
"I'll manage." Harry returned the parchment to Bill and they parted ways. Back in his office, Harry contacted every auror who planned to pick up children at King's Cross Station that evening and informed them to be on the lookout for any signs or news of missing children.
~O~
15 June 2018
I'm scared, Scorpius. I've searched all over the train for you and my cousin Victoire even offered to help. She's the one with the pretty hair in Ravenclaw. My brother is a jerk - when he heard you were missing, he said, "Good riddance, one less death eater spawn." I punched him for it and Victoire told him off for prejudice, but he keeps coming back to taunt me anyway.
I miss you. I'm sitting in a cabin with both of our trunks and I promise I'll keep yours safe. Either I'll take it home or I'll give it to your dad. I keep playing with my coin, turning it over and over in my hands and hoping it will feel warm, but it never does. Victoire wants to know what's so special about it, but I won't tell her. That's our secret.
I'm so worried. I promise I'll keep looking for you until I find you and I promise I will make my dad help too. I'm sure he'll set some aurors on it right away. We'll bring you home soon, Scorpius. I know we will.
Your best friend, Albus
Author's Note: I stole the basic idea for this story from a short story my brother wrote in secondary school before Harry Potter was ever published. Chapters will all follow this format.