Where Have You Gone, My Scabbers?

The massive search expanded from Hagrid to Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw. Quite a few Little Snakes even joined in.

"Apparition Trail—" The older students' spell had no effect. It seemed they could only expand the search area.

They searched from the cabin all the way to Black Lake. Beyond that lay the fog magic wards.

No matter how poor his eyesight or unsteady his legs were, he shouldn't have wandered in there.

Draco, who had appeared at some point, smacked his lips and sauntered around Ron with a face full of gloating.

"Weasley, don't tell me your precious little darling has already been eaten by something~"

He made a vicious swallowing gesture. "Like this—nothing left, not even the bones~"

Ron instantly exploded, swinging his fist at Draco's smug face.

Luckily, Harry stopped him in time. Otherwise, Draco, who had provoked everyone's ire, definitely would not have walked out of the Forbidden Forest on his own two feet.

"Heh, take your time looking."

If he had not run off in a flash, Vincent's slap would not have been slow to arrive.

They had searched the castle, the Quidditch pitch, and the greenhouses. By then, it was time for dinner.

The search results were heartbreaking. They had not even found a single hair from Scabbers.

"Scabbers, my poor Scabbers..." Ron collapsed in front of the dining table, groaning hoarsely without strength.

Lavender, seated several chairs away, kept glancing over with a look of deep sympathy.

After the students had each taken turns comforting Ron, she stood up and handed him a light blue handkerchief.

"Scabbers must still be alive. Maybe he just got lost. He'll come back soon."

"Thanks." Ron took the handkerchief and wiped away his tears and snot. When he looked up and saw Lavender, he froze for a moment.