Hello friends (: Here we go, chapter 3 of The Hostage situation! We have about one or two chapters left! Enjoy xx
"It makes sense," Pansy nodded. "It would explain why she hasn't used her wand yet."
"But why would a muggle or a squib be a part of a Wizarding crime?" Ron asked, "Especially one at this big a scale."
"Gorton Bonavier", E.J said. They looked at him. "He left the Wizarding world and swapped to the muggle world for two years, right?" The nodded. "He must have met the lady there and formed an alliance with her. And now they're back along with Gorton's cousin for this crime."
"Sounds correct." Ron said. "How can we pull an ID of her though?"
"I can hack the Interpol and FBI files," E.J said. "But I can't guarantee that I won't be caught."
"Do it." Ron said.
"I have a friend in the FBI- I can get her to search the lady for me and send me files", E.J said, hitting key after key rapidly.
"Bonavier just went through a door behind the desks. I can see him in the next room messing with some wires but I can't tell what he's doing," Pansy said, leaning forward to peer into the screen. Just then, the the screen blanked out. "What in hell?!" She cried, changing the screen. "All except one camera in the lobby just died. They killed the feed."
"Keep your eye on the only feed left then. We have to figure out a way to get the hostages out and we have to do it in the next twenty minutes." Ron said. Just then, the door opened and an auror poked his head into the van.
"Weasley, the boy Alex is calling one of you." He said. Ron stood up and exited the van and headed to the young muggle translator.
"What's going on?" He asked.
"I think one of them are sending another signal through morse code again", Alex replied, taking down the code on a piece of paper. "She's flashing numbers but she's not mentioning where the pattern starts so the numbers are kind of jumbled."
"Have you got it though?" Ron asked.
"Yeah, 942180," Alex said, ripping off the parchment and handing it to him.
"Keep watching and send her a signal saying you received her message", Ron said, returning to the van.
He placed the paper in between E.J and Pansy and sat down. "Who sent us this?"
"Hermione's playing with a ring again so Im guessing it's her", Pansy said. "And Bonavier has still not come out of the room."
"Okay- these are the numbers Hermione flashed us- we need to figure out what it is." Ron said, staring at the digits.
"It has six digits so it could be a date," Pansy suggested. "But why would she give us a date? None of the digits show a date that's anywhere recent except 21st august 1994 but the zero wouldn't work then. Nothing else seems to make sense."
"Maybe it's some kind of code for the bank- Gringotts usually has six digit codes," E.J said.
"Why would Hermione send us a code?"
"Could it be to shut something of the bank's down? The vaults maybe?" Pansy said. "To protect the remaining money?"
Ron's eyebrows came together. "Speaking of which- these guys only took the money that were there at the desks. They didn't even bother to ask any of the staff to open up the vaults for them."
"Unless this isn't a robbery", Pansy said slowly. They looked at her. "I don't think the main purpose of this crime was a robbery. I think it's much more than that- more than just money and a few dead hostages. They have something bigger planned. And we bloody well need to figure out what that is before it's too late."
"Where did you get it?" Draco hissed, absolutely shocked. "I thought they expelliarmused our wands."
"They did." Hermione said, biting back a smile. "When I went in to bring down the magic proof blinds, I picked up a wand from this hidden compartment that only a few of us know about. Jasper saw me and I obliviated him there and brought it out with me."
"Genius." Draco said. "Why did you give it to me?"
"I know you lied about not knowing the counter curse," She said and his eyes widened in shock. "Can you do wordless magic?" He nodded. "Heal Harry without letting anyone know. You're right beside him. Shift up a bit and do it." He did as she said and Hermione went on to flashing a signal on to the pillar outside. They needed a distraction and she knew how they could get one. So long as Ron and Pansy understood what she was saying.
Just then, Jasper took his wand out and began shooting spells at the cameras, killing their feeds. He disappeared through the doors around the lobby and returned a little while later, nodding to the lady. Only one camera remained- the main one with a view to the entire lobby. Hermione continued flashing the signal, not bothering to give the signal to show where she was starting the pattern- there wasn't any time. If "phase two" was going to happen soon, they had to work quickly.
Draco moved back beside Hermione. "I healed the cuts and he's stopped bleeding but I left a few thin slits open so that he doesn't stop bleeding completely. He can't look healed or else they'll get suspicious. He won't bleed out though, we'll get him out before that."
"Ive been thinking", She said. "This is a robbery right? Why didn't they ask us for the vaults' contents? There has to be something else."
"You're right- I don't think it's just a robbery. They planned it in such detail and these guys are professionals- they wouldn't make such a big mistake like not including an escape route. This is only part of their plan. There's something bigger. And I have a feeling it's their phase two."
The phone rang just then, putting an end to their conversation. Bonavier exited the room on the side and headed straight for the phone, picking it up.
"I was waiting for a call. I was hoping you'd have more Aurors to be honest on this case. We can make an easy escape thanks to the small number." He said, nonchalantly.
"What the hell," Ginny muttered.
"By the way- we're ready for phase two. But I don't feel like leaving these hostages behind, you know." Bonavier said. "So-" He aimed his wand at a man a few places to Draco's right and the next second, the man dropped dead. "Might as well finish them off. But phase two will take a few long minutes so I think we'll take a few down every minute." Bonavier strode forward till he was in front of Hermione. He pointed his wand at her and smirked. "And I think the next in line is my favorite fiery Hermione." Hermione noticed Draco shrugging his arm in attempt to bring out the wand and she caught his arm before he could, silently telling him not to.
Bonavier laughed. "You better hope that I change my mind in the next", He looked at his watch, "58 seconds."
"Figure out what the numbers are," Ron said, hitting the mute button on the phone so that Bonavier couldn't hear them. "That's our priority right now. Hermione wouldn't give it to us for no reason."
"Okay, bank employees each have a set of codes but only a few trusted employees have extra codes that set off all kinds of alarms." E.J said, peering into his screen. "Turns out-" he hit a key "-Hermione is one of those trusted employees and her codes are all six digits."
"It has to be her code then- what are the different alarms she's in charge of?" Ron asked.
"She's got security measures- that is, things like the windows shattering to allow air in case of any kind of suffocation and-"
"E.J, important things!" Pansy interrupted him. "We have 56 seconds. We have to try out the numbers assuming it's a code. Let's move on to the order of the numbers."
"Can't we just experiment?" Ron asked.
"There's not enough time. Just think! It's Hermione- Ron, you know her the best. What order could it be?" Pansy asked, turning to the red head.
"The first thing I can think of is dates. Then there's book serial numbers but she reads too many- she wouldn't put her code as one. Well, she could but- dammit! Okay, think. It could be dates, it could be serial numbers- it could be phone numbers!"
"Phone numbers aren't six digits," E.J shook his head. "Okay! Ive got five possible codes here that could be it- they've given me the first digit. One starts with 4 , second starts with 2, third starts with 1, fourth with 0, and fifth with 9.
"30 seconds", Pansy said.
"So 942180. Possible codes are 42180, 218094, 180942, 094218 and the original." E.J said.
"It's a date she's given us. She wouldn't give us anything difficult. So 218094, 180942 or 094218."
"22 seconds." E.J said.
"It's 180942," Pansy said. "80 and 42 can't be months."
"Unless she gave the years first."
Ron swore loudly.
"No, no- it's 180942!" Pansy exclaimed, her eyes widening in recognition. "18th September '42 is Merlin's birthday or something to do with him- Im sure of it!"
"12 seconds." E.J said.
Ron sat down once again and began typing furiously. A passcode bar appeared.
"9 seconds."
"1-8-0-9-4-2," Ron said, typing it in.
"5 seconds!" Pansy whispered, barely breathing.
Ron hit enter and they waited.
"3 seconds." And waited. And then-
"Oh my god!" Pansy cried, her eyes wide and her hand flying to her mouth.
"It was nice knowing you, love," Bonavier said, his wand in focused directly at Hermione's heart. "4-3-2-1-" He opened his mouth to say the killing curse but was cut off as a loud ringing sound filled the lobby and in the next second, the entire area filled up with clouds of thick smoke.
"Get everyone out!" Hermione cried, jumping to her feet. She threw open the door and began ushering the hostages out, forcefully grabbing and shoving some outside. Ten. Nine. Eight- she counted as they ran out- Seven, Six, Five-
The smoke suddenly began clearing up. Rapidly.
Hermione grabbed Ginny while Draco grabbed Blaise and they shoved them outside the door. Draco bent down to get Harry but his eyes widened as he realized his fallen body was no longer there. Someone must have already taken him through.
"Hermione, we need to get out!" Draco said, grabbing her hand. As they were about to push the doors open, the large glass doors slammed back into place. Tightening his grip on her hand, they tried opening the doors but it wouldnt budge.
"Nicely played," The lady's voice cut through the air. They turned towards her as she walked towards them, something in between a sneer and a smirk on her face. "But looks like you were left behind."
Draco moved to take the wand out but Hermione grabbed his arm with her free hand, not allowing him to do so. "It's three against one." She simply said. The lady raised one perfect eyebrow.
"Well it's three against two wandless but whatever." She shrugged but Draco got the message. It was Bonavier and Jasper- who were standing behind the lady- against Draco and wands and a revolver against one wand. It was too risky.
"The word of the day is Sectumsempra- isn't it?" Bonavier asked, stepping forward. Hermione held tightly to Draco's hand and arm, swallowing hard. She felt him tense beside her as well.
"Step forward," He said, calling them towards him with his hand. They moved forward hesitantly.
"Great." Bonavier said. "Wand please, Des." He held his hand out to the lady.
Des. Hermione and Draco both thought- was that her name?"
The lady- Des- passed him her wand and bent down and pulled out her revolver from her boot. It only confirmed their suspicions of her being a muggle or a squib.
"Now- I never asked you your name- tell me what it is," He asked Draco.
"Malfoy."
Bonavier slapped his forehead with his palm. "Of course! Blonde hair- blue eyes. You had to be a Malfoy. Right then, Malfoy, take this." He held out Des' wand to him. "Don't try anything funny," Bonavier warned him. "Des here has her gun trained on you and she'll have a bullet through your brain before you can say Stupefy. Now point your wand at your girlfriend."
Draco's mouth fell open and he turned to Hermione, whose eyes were wide.
"Blaise!" Pansy cried as Ron yelled his sister's name. The Aurors were gathering the hostages and instantly apparating them out of the area and to the Ministry and 's. Pansy flung her arms around Blaise's neck and hugged him tightly as Ginny did the same to Ron.
"Thank god you're okay." Ron said. He split apart from her and looked towards the building. He froze as he saw the building doors slam shut. "Where's Hermione?"
"Where's Draco?" Pansy asked, looking at Blise.
"They were right behind us," Ginny said, locking eyes with Blaise. "They pushed us out and- and-" She looked to the building doors. "Oh Merlin, no... Please, no!"
"Where's Harry?" Pansy asked, turning to Ginny.
"I- I don't know," Ginny shook her head. "I think Draco was going to bring him out and-"
The Minister walked up to them. "Where is Potter?"
"He didn't reach any of the Aurors?" Blaise asked. The Minister shook his head.
"And Draco or Hermione?" Ginny asked.
"Not them either." The Minister said. Ron and Pansy took one look at each other and sprinted to the van, throwing the doors open and seeing the expression on E.J's face, they went to look at the screens.
Ginny choked back a sob and covered her face with her hands as tears flowed down her cheeks. Blaise put his arms around her and pulled her close and she collapsed into his embrace, crying.
"This isn't fair. They pushed us out and then they- Blaise, what if they-"
"Don't say it," Blaise shook his head and held her tightly, resting his cheek against the top of her head. "Don't say it, Ginny. We'll get them out. Have some faith. Ron and Pansy will figure something out."
"Do it", Bonavier said.
Except for the time he had raised his wand to kill Dumbledore, Draco's wand hand had not once ever shaken. This time, though, as he raised his wand to point it at Hermione, his hand shook madly.
Bonavier came to stand beside Draco and pointed his own wand at the blonde. "Now I'm going to have my wand on you and you're going to have yours on Hermione here. You try anything funny, Des will kill you and I will kill Hermione. How tragic." He spat. "Now we're going to have a little fun. "The man smirked. "Like I said, the word of the day is Sectumsempra. On the count of three- one of us are going to say it. Either you say it and it hits Hermione or I say it and it hits you."
"That's sick!" Draco growled, his hand shaking more thane ever.
"Which part of today hasn't been?" Bonavier asked. "Now are you ready?"
Hermione locked eyes with Draco and stepped closer to him. She placed one hand over his wand hand, steadying it and slipped her other hand over the one to his side, intertwining their fingers. "Do it, Draco." She whispered. Her eyes filled up with tears but she didn't shake one bit. "Say it." She didn't even sound sarcastic. And then Draco realized- it was because she wasn't. She meant it. She wanted him to hit her with the spell. He was torn. His breathing grew erratic as he tried to make sense of the situation. It didn't make any.
"Three." Bonavier said, starting his countdown. Hermione tightened her fingers around both his hands.
"Do it." She repeated, her voice cracking.
"Two."
"I'm sorry." Draco choked out. Hermione nodded, giving him a small smile.
"One."
A pause and then- "Sectumsempra!"
Andddd what do you think? :D I loved writing the last bit. Draco and Hermione never fail to melt my heart when put in the same story as a couple. And if they're not put as a couple, I'm not reading the story. HEH. Anywayyyy review review review please you guys :) It would be much appreciated so please do!
And thank you all so so much for reviewing! Thanks to those who gave in suggestions (unless that was Bloodlust :S So busy now days, can't keep track! Ive actually already finished all these stories so I just post them in but you guys are brilliant all the same!)
Love always,
FeltonLewis xx