There were blondes everywhere. To Ernie, when Hannah was in the room, it was like in one of those cheesy Muggle movies they watched together, it was just her and everyone else was duller, like they weren't even there, but now everywhere he looked there was another blonde girl, making him think that perhaps that flash of light coloured hair that he saw might be her.

He was thankful that for whatever reason Hestia wouldn't let Miles say that Hannah was gone. It was easier if he didn't hear it, somehow it wouldn't be real.

"MACMILLAN!" Ernie looked up as the Minister hissed his name again.

"Yes, sir?"

Dominic shot him a scathing look. "You and Stebbins are to search the premises on the north and East sides, Hestia and I will take the south and West sides." Dominic didn't want to take her outside with him, but there was little choice. He knew that Hannah would not have ventured outside on her own without him or Ernie with her so soon after Hestia, and so the ballroom was no longer safe. He could, however, not let her leave his side, and he knew that he could protect her better than anyone. "Do not overlook anything, do not leave any doors closed, you are to look everywhere for her, do you understand?"

Ernie nodded, looking away from Dominic's intense gaze. The man didn't even have to say anything this time, to make accusations, because Ernie felt the weight of his own conscience weighing heavily on him. What good was the fact that he was an Auror, that he was in the Order, if when it came right down to it, his choice of careers didn't allow him to protect the ones that he loved? He loved Hannah with all that he had, and the thought of what she might be going through right now because of his own inattentiveness made his blood run cold. He looked briefly at Hestia, and felt just as she looked, as though Hannah's disappearance had taken all of the blood, all of the happiness, all of the good things from him far more effectively than any Dementor.