"It will be okay, everything will be okay," Magdalene whispered.

"I think I just need to sit down for a moment." I wiped my fists over my eyes, and we sat at the table. I buried my head in my arms while Magdalene rubbed my back, quivering in between deep breaths. I kept twisting my grandpa's Montrose Magpies championship ring around my finger, and a flood of tears came streaming down my cheeks. Thoughts of my grandpa, Edna, and Bran made the pain much worse. Nothing felt real. I was numb.

"We'll find them, Rollie. I know it's hard, but they'll return," Magdalene said.

I lifted my head up and stared at Magdalene. She, too, had tears trickling down her face.

"I'm sorry," I said.

"What on earth for?"

"For making you cry. I don't want to bring you down."

"Oh, Rollie. You didn't make me cry. This whole situation is tragic. I just wish I could help in some way." She held my hand.

A light shined into my eye, like a reflection of the sun. I squinted and tried to find the source of the glare.

"Hey, what's that shining so bright?" Magdalene shielded her eyes with her hands.

It came from the silver jackalope. Upon closer inspection, I noticed it was a tear forming in its eye.

"It's Jolly?" I stood up and rushed over to the crate. The silver jackalope stood statuesque, and the tear fell, but it floated above the floor of the cage. A tiny glowing sphere.

"My goodness!" Magdalene said. She ran up behind me and handed me a jar. "I think this is what Hagrid meant when he gave this to you to collect any samples."

My jaw dropped, and I nodded. I took the jar and encapsulated the floating tear. It still shone brilliantly and seemed to embody every color of the rainbow in one glance. I pet Jolly's back.

"Whoa. I-I don't know what to say or what to do. This is groundbreaking!" I ogled at the teardrop in the jar, floating in the center, unphased even with a little shake.

"We should go tell Hagrid or Zita! I think Jolly is trying to help you in some way," Magdalene said.

"What do you mean?"

"Remember how you told me that Jolly healed you when you cut your hand, and after you were attacked by birds? Maybe since you're going through intense emotional turmoil, it's offering you something that might help."

"So what are you saying? Should I drink this, and it will make me feel better?"

Magdalene shrugged. "I have no idea. But I wouldn't drink it without telling someone about it first. Maybe Hagrid might know what to do?"

"That's a good idea."

"And perhaps we should wait until after the professors talk with everyone in the Great Hall? It's a mandatory breakfast, and Zita will announce Bran and Edna’s disappearance. But when Zita is done, we'll talk to her and Hagrid about this breakthrough."

"Okay. That's a good plan. I'm just worried I'm going to drop the glass jar on the ground, and it's going to shatter and ruin everything."

Magdalene held out her hand. "Allow me to carry it for you, so you don't have to worry about that. I will levitate the jar before it even hits the ground if anything happens."

"I trust you more than I do myself." I smiled at her, and she took the jar and stashed it in her robes.

"Let's go to the Great Hall."

***

As every student entered the Great Hall, Daphne rushed over to the Slytherin table, and all eyes fell on her.

"Leon, can I speak to you for a moment?" Daphne asked.

Leon was sitting with Johnny and Sable. Johnny and Sable stared at Daphne wide-eyed.

"Yes, of course," Leon said after a pause.

Johnny and Sable cracked up, and Johnny hollered, "So you've been snoopin' around with the Hufflepuff captain, aye? No wonder you've been so miserable."

"Piss off." Leon gave Johnny the finger, and everyone around gasped and broke out in whispers to each other.

Daphne and Leon walked outside the Great Hall. There was no one else around.

"I'm really sorry if I just embarrassed you in front of your friends." Daphne sighed.

"I don't give a rat's ass about them. They've been awfully cruel this year," Leon waved his hand dismissively. "And please don't take what they said to heart. They just think since I haven't been part of their pranks that I've been dating someone. Anyways, enough about me, is everything all right? Something weird is going on," Leon said.

Daphne explained to Leon how Rollie's grandpa disappeared along with Bran and Edna. She also included the information that was given by Oliver.

Leon frowned. "I'm so sorry to hear that. That's awfully frightening. I wish I could confirm the story about Bran and Edna being out on the castle grounds, but I've stopped doing my late-night smokes."

"I've been crying all morning. I've been looking everywhere for Bran and Edna since I woke up. I'm scared another person might disappear. So I was doing some thinking, and you're the only friend I can talk to about this."

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Leon felt his heart race, he wanted to smile, but he didn't. "What’s on your mind?"

"I was thinking about drinking the Felix Felicis. I could use a stroke of excellent luck right about now. I'm willing to try anything that might help find Rollie's grandfather, Bran, and Edna."

"I think that's a brilliant idea." Leon nodded.

"I'm going to drink half of it, and then I'm going to pocket the rest in case we need some more for any reason. But for now, I have to do it," Daphne pulled out a vial from her robes and held it up in front of her eyes. "Well, here goes nothing," Daphne opened the bottle and drank half of the potion. "Hm, that tasted better than I thought."

"How do you feel? Any different?" Leon asked.

"I don't know. It's rather disappointing Edna, Bran, and Logan are missing, but I feel kind of good. Do you know what I mean?" Daphne asked.

"No, frankly, I don't." Leon frowned. "There's nothing to feel good about."

"It's all right, don't be so glum, I think things are going to—" Daphne smirked and twirled away from Leon while saying, "turn around!"

***

Walking through the corridor with Magdalene by my side, I saw Daphne perform a dance-like spin away from Leon.

"Daphne? Are you alright?" I asked, then I glared at Leon. "Did you do something to her?"

Leon shook his head.

"Hey, Rollie, don't worry about me. I'm feeling pretty good right now!" Daphne beamed.

I couldn't understand what was happening, I pulled out my wand, but I kept it pointed at the ground.

Daphne pulled out a vial of a liquid from her robes. She explained how she made the Felix Felicis potion, and then Magdalene had to explain to me what the concoction was.

"Daphne, I can't believe you whipped that up." Magdalene gazed at her like a celebrity.

"I'm a bit stunned myself!" Daphne beamed. "I drank about half. I'm desperate to find our friends, so I thought we could use a stroke of luck."

My jaw dropped. "We might be off to a good start then. Magdalene, show Daphne what we collected. The silver jackalope shed a tear. I don't know what it means, but we put it in a jar. I was planning on bringing it to Hagrid and Zita once this announcement was over."

"Yes, yes, yes, this all sounds well and good. Let's go inside the Great Hall then, shall we?" Daphne skipped to the entrance, but I jumped in front of the doors.

"Daphne, I'm happy that you're happy, but you should really dial it down a little bit. Everyone is in a somber mood," I said.

"Thanks for looking out for me, but I'll be just fine!" Daphne said.

The three of us followed her into the Great Hall, and we split up to sit with our respective houses. All of the professors were in the middle of intense, quiet conversations. I sat next to Daphne towards the end of our table. There was a low rumble of whispers among the houses. Plates filled with eggs, pancakes, potatoes, and beans appeared in front of us. My depression ruined my appetite, and Daphne didn't eat either, but she was too busy scribbling on a piece of parchment.

"What are you doing?" I whispered to her.

"I'm writing this equation seen with certain potions. If I combine these elements, I could..." Daphne mumbled something to herself, and I let her be.

Zita clinked her chalice with a piece of floating silverware. "Attention everyone, as you might be aware, two students have gone missing from Hogwarts. Rest assured, the professors are working diligently to find them. But if anyone has any information that might help locate Bran and Edna Lyptus, please tell the head of your house. Or have a prefect relay a message. Please do not panic or be afraid. You're safe inside this castle. It's believed that Bran and Edna may have gone into the Forbidden Forest. Continue to avoid the Forbidden Forest at all costs. Again, if there are any questions or concerns, direct them to the head of your house, and we will keep striving to save our students. You may continue your meals, thank you."

Chatter broke out amongst the other tables, but Hufflepuff was silent. Everyone next to me poked at their meal. Daphne continued working on her parchment, but I couldn't read what she was writing.

"I can't believe this is happening," Clark said. "Bran and Edna are both such good kids who are always on their best behavior. Why would they go into the Forbidden Forest like that? Do all of you think they actually went there?"

The way Clark brought it up made me second guess Oliver's story. But the professors seemed to believe it too. I stood up to fetch Magdalene and go to the professors table, but I stopped when Daphne shouted, "Yes, yes, yes! I think that's it!"

"Huh?" I blurted, everyone around us scowled at her.

Daphne hopped up and beckoned for me as she ran towards Hagrid. I jogged to catch up with her. "What's going on?"

"Rollie, an idea just struck me. Let's take Jolly for a walk! I figured we could coordinate that with Hagrid and Zita's permission." Daphne smiled.

"What on Earth talking about?" I blinked. "Take the silver jackalope for a walk? Where would we even go? I think we have bigger things to worry about right now."

"I think you should pick it up because it seems to like you, right? And then I want to see what happens when we approach the Forbidden Forest with it."

"Uh, okay? If you think that will do anything."

Daphne nodded. She turned to the Slytherin table and waved Leon to come over. I did the same thing to Magdalene. Both of them shrugged at their peers and joined us. I explained to them how Daphne had a plan, and we were going to try it together.

Agatha Hart from the Ravenclaw table approached us while pushing her thick-framed glasses up her nose. "I see a collective of the most tolerable personalities in all of Hogwarts. I thought I'd inquire what this meeting was about. The four of you are all friends?"

We nodded.

"I appreciate you breaking the barriers of the houses. Do you have room for one more?"

"I think so," Daphne said.

"At least let me tag along. I love a good mystery. It's a dream of mine to be a part of a squadron that solves a nail-biter. Also, I do care about the well-being of Bran and Edna, assuming you're on the lookout for them?"

"Indeed," Daphne said.

"Cool. You lead then, Poisonwood. Or is it Rollie taking the lead? Forgive me. Trying to understand the group dynamic here. By the way, Rollie, I thought of a nickname for you that I'm rather proud of. You should be called the Huffle-punk. Like that one?"

If I was in a better mood, I'd probably laugh, but all of us stared at her tight-lipped.

"Let's talk to Hagrid and Zita." Daphne strolled to their table, and the rest of us followed her.