The five friends were starting to really worry now, the three girls had been gone for weeks and the third task was drawing ever-nearer. None of them were themselves anymore and even Hermione couldn't find the answer. Lucas had become subdued, Lebron had lost his snarkiness, Eloise had become shier than ever, James was no longer loud and boisterous and Evan was never happy; the friends were nearing depression. The air tasted of salty tears and regret. Nobody knew what to do.
"Herbology," Evan said dully. The others nodded blankly and the five friends made their way to the greenhouses. They worked like ghosts, their faces were blank and they'd speak to no one. The bell rang and the friends gave in their pots of bubotuber pus to Professor Sprout.
"Wait here a minute," the teacher said to them when they did. They nodded emptily and stood, waiting.The teacher came back and took them to a room where Dumbledore, McGonagall and Flitwick stood looking grave.
"We have received intelligence about your friends," Dumbledore said. The five friends showed small signs of life. Their heads perked up and their eyes glistened with unshed tears. "We don't know how to get there, protective wards have been set up but we got a patronus from Ella. It was simple and had only four words but it was enough. Look, I'll summon it."
"We're alive. Little Hangleton," it said in Ella's voice. The friends broke into grins. It didn't mean much but they were alive. Their friends were alive!
"Now, we need you to become yourselves again," Sprout said. "We're doing our best to find them but for now you've got to live. You know how upset they'll be if you leave yourselves behind."
The friends nodded. They swallowed the lumps in their throats and walked out.

AUTHOR'S NOTE- SORRY FOR THE SHORT CHAPTER!