Disclaimer - I do not own Harry Potter and its characters in any way shape or form

(A/n)

My thanks to:

Skimbleshanks, The Railway Cat - I meant to put 10 not 20 my bad. I hope you like the little twist I decided to add onto the story.

Leena7

Chapter 4 - Disgusting Ironies

The pathways were really a beautiful sight after a rainfall. The bricks lain out years ago shined with a new string of passion. Hermione watched the trees and other cars pass slowly by as they drove down the streets. Beautiful statues carved by British artists lined several sidewalks adding to the splendor of the lands.

'This would be so much more beautiful if I wasn't being kidnapped.' Hermione thought to herself as she looked at her attackers.

'Their wizards,' she remembered the driver blasting her last bodyguard with an Oblivion spell destroying his mind. 'Powerful wizards, I bet someone wanting to be the next Voldemort is trying to kidnap me to get to Harry.'

She thought back on the days when she had been at war with Voldemorts death eaters and how Harry had braved all odds to finally kill the dark lord and rid the world of the evil. Dumbledore had been so proud his eyes glinting much more then usual. Even Severus Snape had to complement on Harry's skills. Professor Snape she had always had a soft spot for her old Potions teacher. But that was in the past now and much too old to think about she was on vacation, well sort of.

"Where are you taking me?" she questioned but got nothing but silence. 'If only I had learned to apparate.' She thought and began to watch the scenery again.

It seemed almost an eternity later when the car finally pulled to a stop and parked in front of an old rundown building. Harry looked at the address and then at the building.

"Let's go," he said coldly and got out of the car.

Hermione reluctantly got out of the car and began to walk on the slippery British pathways. She held the bottom of her silk black dress up so it wouldn't drag in the rain drenched ground. The got to the door and Ron hesitated.

"Open the door R-

Harry caught himself before he said the rest of Ron's name. "Open the door." He repeated.

"Should we?" Ron asked.

"No you shouldn't you shouldn't do it not at all just let me go and I'll be fine." Hermione jumped into the conversation.

"Kindly shut up thank you." Harry said and pulled the door open quickly.

They walked down the filth hallway water leaking from the roof and splashing down into rotten puddles on the floor. Stains lined the walls and chipped paint was there as well. It smelled of rotten wood and a stench of maggots hung stilly in the air. An elevator stood at the end of the hallway the got in and saw all the buttons had been smashed up leaving only one.

"They want us to go to that floor specifically." Ron said pressing the button. "I should have brought my pistol."

"I have my wand." Harry said easily. "We'll be fine."

The elevator slowly began to move up to the seventh floor. Slowly floor by floor it rose up then came to a short and sudden half. The rusty decaying doors slid open and two men stood wearing flashy suits looking rather nice.

"Right on time, please follow me." One of the said and began to lead the way. The other stood to watch the elevator.

He led them through a row of large concrete pillars several guards were all around the area. If something went wrong Harry's wand was all that they would have to defend themselves. Hermione had fear in her eyes she knew nobody in the room but felt safe with the two men for some reason. She brushed closer to Harry who looked down at her and smiled inwardly.

"Who are you taking me to?" she asked in a whisper.

"We don't know his name exactly just that he's very rich and powerful. He had to be to pay us for this job." Harry responded.

Hermione let out a short sob and began to try and act regular. They walked from one side of the room to the other a large brown desk several papers and pens were all around it. An owl sat oddly on a perch a foot from the desk. A large seat was turned away from them and a figure was looking out the window.

"Ah I see I picked wisely when I choose you two to bring me Ms. Granger." The figure said slyly.

"Just another job." Harry replied.

"And jobs require payment," the figure began. "Now it is time for your payment." He snapped his fingers and a man brought a large briefcase over to them.

Harry opened the briefcase showing stacks of money each bill was 100 and 100 only. He quickly closed it. "Nice doing business with you." Harry said and turned to leave.

"You're not going to count it?" the figure questioned.

"Should we have a reason to?" Ron asked quickly.

"I just thought you'd like to make sure I paid you your full amount. That's all."

"If we do not have our full amount we will find you and have a chat." Harry said.

"I doubt that." Was the cold reply from the figure. "I am a very hard man to find Mr. What is your name again?"

"I don't like to give names I prefer to keep it a secret." Harry responded.

"Ah I see you feel threatened by giving names. I understand but you are no threat to me. My name is Draco Malfoy."

The seat turned around and a blonde man was sitting there grinning wildly. His figures had changed very much he was more of a man now and looked like his father in some ways. Hermione nearly fainted.

"m-malfoy?" she gasped.

Harry and Ron shot each other desperate looks. Ron gave Harry a frightened look but then they remember that Draco didn't know it was them otherwise they would have been dead upon entering the building.

"Well it is nice to meet you Mr. Malfoy." Ron replied his muscles tensing up. He was trying not to do something incredibly stupid.

"Yes it is nice to meet you both as well. Goyle show them the way out.

The same man that led them to Malfoy led them back. Harry was surprised he didn't recognize Goyle he had lost some weight and shaved his head. He knew Crabe wasn't to far away. Harry and Ron entered the elevator and before it closed caught one last glimpse of Malfoy who wore a sadistic smile all over his face.

"Crabe, Goyle have your men begin taking my things and moving them to my home. Then call me I have a job for you two to do." Malfoy instructed.

"Why not just have those two do it boss?" Crabe asked walking up to the desk.

"Because fool those two won't be around to do anymore jobs." Malfoy said and began to laugh.