Chapter One
Author's Note:
Hey, guys, this is my sequel to The Secret. If you haven't already read it, I encourage you to check it out! Anyways, thanks to everyone for reading and even more thanks to those that leave reviews!
I do not own Harry Potter! All the characters and places are property of Miss J.K. Rowling!
~Wolfshine
The twinkle of stars in the purple sky above aided Luna Lovegood as she made her way to the lake during the early morning hours. She was aware of the fact that it was against the rules to leave the castle so early in the morning, but she had an urge to check the lake for possible water fairies. She knew from experience that the morning provided her with a better cloak for catching them off guard than did her mid-day travels.
The blonde hummed to herself as she skipped through the field of grass. The sun was just beginning to make an appearance on the horizon line, and Luna had the thought to move faster if she were to catch her opportunity. As she crossed the field of grass, she noticed a shape huddled in the shadows. Instantly, she pulled her wand from her robes as she glanced right and left, feeling the nervousness rise like bile in her throat.
Something wasn't right.
"Hello?" she called out, taking a cautious step forward.
The shape offered her no response.
With a heavy gulp, she pushed away her reservations and approached it. Her eerie scream rang out through the still morning air.
"How could this happen, Minerva?" Kingsley Shacklebot, demanded as he pounded his fists on McGonagall's desk. "How could a witch be murdered on Hogwarts grounds without anyone taking notice?"
McGonagall flinched at the rage in his eyes. She was distraught over the death of the female Weasley, but she knew he was right. Her goal was to keep her students safe, and she had failed. All that could run through her mind were the various warnings the girl had tried to give her, but she had not accepted them.
Hadn't Ginny been sure that Hermione was the one in danger? It didn't add up.
"I've had the school checked from top to bottom. There's no Death Eaters on grounds."
"It's obvious they have escaped then. What of the Malfoy boy?"
"He is nowhere to be found," McGonagall said. "Along with Miss Granger."
"Hermione has gone missing as well?" he asked, his wide eyes staring in disbelief at McGonagall.
She wasn't used to feeling ashamed, but under Kingsley's knowing stare she did. "We're not sure what's happened."
"Well, it's something you need to figure out!" Kingsley barked. "Not only have we lost two Order members today, we are now missing the only link to the Malfoy bloodline. They could be planning an attack on Hogwarts, and now we won't have an idea."
"They may turn up, I have people searching," McGonagall said tersely. "From the looks of it, Hermione has run away on her own."
"On the same night as the death of her friend? Seems unlikely," Kingsley said, pacing a few steps away.
"She packed a bag. Didn't leave anything behind she'd consider to be important. If she had been kidnapped, why would it be so neat?"
"To throw off our suspicions, perhaps?"
"You think Draco is behind this?"
"It's the only thing about this situation that makes sense. Seems to me he kidnapped Hermione and killed Ginny who must've overseen it."
McGonagall hunched over her desk, putting her forehead in her hand. Kingsley raised an eyebrow at her.
"I could've stopped this," she groaned, "both girls tried to tell me something was wrong, but I was so intent on keeping Draco in our sights that I never considered the possibility of him harming them. What would he want with Hermione?"
"I can think of many things a Death Eater could want with such a strong member of the Order," Kingsley retorted. "She's most likely being tortured for information or worse."
"She won't say a word about Harry and Ron's location," McGonagall assured him.
"That will most likely be her downfall."
McGonagall was silent as she once again looked down at her desk. She didn't want to believe his words to be the truth. Hermione was a strong girl, the smartest young witch she had ever encountered. She wanted to believe that if something were to happen to her, she would be strong enough to fight her way out.
"I don't think you should be kept in charge of this school," Kingsley said.
"Then who, dare I ask?"
Kingsley shook his head. "That's the issue. I can't think of anyone else willing. At least not anyone on our side. If we were to switch the Head of the school out now, there would be no way to do it without drawing some kind of suspicion."
"News of this can't leak, not yet. It would only distract Harry and Ron before they've really had a chance to begin."
"We can't have that," Kingsley agreed, holding a hand to his jaw as he contemplated the situation before him carefully.
"Will you be certain it's not leaked in the Daily Prophet?" McGonagall asked.
Kingsley nodded. "As long as I can be certain that you will attend to Miss Weasley's affairs. Let the family know, but be sure to keep this whole thing under wraps until the right moment. For all we know, this is a trap laid out by the Death Eaters in the hopes that Harry and Ron will be lured out of where they are."
"What about Miss Lovegood? She's positively distraught. I'm sure the news has leaked around the school by now."
Kingsley waved a dismissive hand. "There's nothing you can do about that. As far as I'm concerned, it's not a threat."
"Unless one of them decides to tell Harry and Ron."
"Merlin, Minerva, do I have to do your entire job for you?" Kingsley asked, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Leave them under the impression that they have already been told."
McGonagall dipped her head feeling suddenly sick to her stomach. "Of course."
Harry and Ron dashed through the trees, both of them carrying the weight of Ginny's words. The parchment had been carefully folded and tucked away into Ron's pocket before their frantic movement. They could hear a sudden rustle from nearby, and both boys stopped as if they had hit a brick wall.
"We're not alone, mate," Ron said.
Harry and Ron drew their wands at the same time, standing back to back as their peered warily through the thickest parts of the foliage. Their hearts were pounding heart, and their breath came out in a rapid puffs in the air. The cold air stung their lungs, but they had little time to focus on that as more rustling sounds joined in with the first.
"Duck!" Harry yowled as a spell was cast through the trees.
The boys instantly sprung apart, ducking and diving as they casted spells into the trees around them. Through a gap in the trees, Harry caught the image of a Death Eater mask and knew they were in trouble.
"Death Eaters!" he called to Ron. "I don't know how many of them."
"Right," Ron said, reflecting a curse.
The boys began to run once again, casting curses behind them to protect themselves from the onslaught of their attackers.
"Where should we go?" Ron asked desperately, blocking an avada curse that reflected back to its user.
"Anywhere but here," Harry said quickly.
"Where's the Portkey?" Ron demanded.
"Up ahead!" Harry said.
The sounds of rustling and curses being sent through the woods seemed as deafening as the blood pounded in his ears as his head began to spin. Harry suddenly felt as if the world was spinning as they reached the Portkey and quickly apparated from the scene. On the other end of the Portkey, the boys collapsed to the ground, panting for breath and glad to have made it from the scene of the battle unscathed.
"Death Eaters," Ron scoffed. "How did they find us?"
Harry shook his head. "I don't know. It's possible they knew we would be heading back to Hogwarts."
"But how?" Ron asked.
"That much, I don't know," he admitted. "We can't go back."
Ron looked at him through wide eyes. "What about 'Mione Harry? She's in trouble, possibly more than we are!"
"I know that. We will go back, just not yet. We have to lay low for a while. Wait until the smoke has cleared from today, then try to go back. We don't want to give them an opening to get inside Hogwarts. I'm sure she'll be able to fend for herself in the meantime. She's strong, stronger than us, remember?" Harry said with a short laugh.
Ron swallowed heavily, balling his hands into fists. If there was one thing he wanted to do, it was to go to Hogwarts, find Hermione and hug her so tight it would be hard for either of them to breathe. The thought that something terrible could've happened to her made his stomach hurt, and deathly thoughts of Malfoy ran through his mind.
"Right," he managed finally, not pouring any of his thoughts out into the cold morning air.
"It's been two days," Lucius said as soon as Draco stepped into the kitchen.
Draco glanced up at him unamused. "And?"
"Have you given any thought as to when you'll bring her?" he asked.
Draco clicked his tongue. "Nope, I'm doing my own thing first."
"You're foolish," Lucius warned.
"Is that your opinion or your belief?" Draco asked dismissively as he poured himself a glass of pumpkin juice.
"My belief. The Dark Lord does not tolerate childishness," Lucius said. "I demand you to take her to him, now!"
"And that's supposed to get me to listen?" Draco asked.
"This is a dangerous game you're playing."
"Maybe, but I can't exactly haul Granger off to see him in the state she's in."
"Why not?" Lucius asked, folding his arms over his chest.
"Have you gone daft, Father? You think I pulled her out of that highly guarded school with no one any the wiser? I had to kill someone –the Weasley girl. Granger's hysterical. If I take her to the Dark Lord now, she'll be killed for sure, and I almost guarantee he will leave the encounter very unsatisfied."
Lucius frowned at his son. "What concern is that to you?"
"Did you not pay attention to our previous talks? I plan to marry her."
Lucius shook his head. "You're a petulant little boy, you know that? The Parkinsons have all but given us their daughter to be your bride, and instead you choose a girl that wants nothing to do with you."
Draco smiled. "I'm not even gonna point out the irony here."
"She's only gonna get worse, the longer she's here," Lucius said.
"Is that your experience?" Draco asked.
Lucius pushed his lips tightly together. "If you must know, yes it is. The more she grows to despise you, the harder she'll push back."
"Granger's not Mother. We'll see how she handles her new life."
A/N:
As of 1/25/2016, this chapter has been rewritten!
~Wolfshine