It's Easter break and all so expect more updates. I promise to pick up the slack. Hopefully I can give you all a better story. Keep on reading and reviewing! :D
Chapter 8: Poller Mystery
"Are you sure it is going to work?" asked the taller of the two men, his eyes doubting but hopeful.
"Of course. It has to work. This boy is the one who started it all anyway." The smaller man and pointed at a petrified Albus. "He is our last hope, David."
David, the taller one, nodded. "I should gather the necessary things needed for the blood draining ritual."
As soon as David left, Barry, the smaller one, drew out his wand and cast another Petrificus Totalus at Albus just to keep the boy at bay. He called for his other disciples and ordered them to stay guard and remain alert. Now that they have the Potter boy, they must do whatever it takes to try the ritual once again. But before that they need two more people to help them realize it – Harry potter and Ron Weasley.
He was sure of it, that Harry Potter, being the hero-man that he is, would come to rescue his only son, and that Ron Weasley would always be there for him. Never mind the other one-third of the trio, they'll just have to find a way to make her useful.
"Barry… Barry!" Another member of the S.S.S. came in running and panicked.
"What?"
"We have spotted people outside the base. We suspect them to be aurors."
"And? We do what we always do. Fight them, stun them, and bring them here."
"But sir… our magic has disappeared… again."
Barry remained standing for a while, thinking if a plan. "We have no choice then… use the muggle weapons to stop them. But remember, try not wasting too much of their blood."
The other man nodded and left the room.
"Why is he acting as if nothing is wrong?" Ron asked Hermione.
"I don't know. He insists on getting on with the campaign - even if the campaign is temporarily on-hold. He's acting as if everything is normal. I can't even make him to search for Albus!" she shouted.
"Did they… Did the Aurors found him yet?"
Hermione shook her head.
"What the hell is wrong with Potter!" Draco bellowed as he saw Hermione and Ron talking. "He's acting all weird! It's as if nothing is wrong!"
"We don't know, either Malfoy." Ron answered. "I can't even talk to him alone."
"We're worried about him, Draco. Can you try talking to him?"
"I've tried. He just won't let me. Last night, I stood waiting outside his house for hours! And his floo's shut down! Why is he like this?"
"I wish I knew. This is not how he normally behaves when he has a problem…"
"Act normal…" Ron cut in. Hermione and Draco looked at him. "Harry's coming."
"Hey mates, what are you all talking about?" Harry approached them and smiled. A smile that has been plastered on his face since Albus went missing. A smile so fake and empty.
"Mate, we're worried about you." Ron said first.
"Harry, talk to us?" Hermione said and touched Harry's arms.
"I'm fine. Listen, about the campaign. I'm thinking of changing my platform. I'm a bit worried about the house-elf part, seems too radical for me to campaign for their liberation…"
Slap.
"Honestly Potter, if you're going to live in denial, I do not want to be part of this campaign anymore. Get your shit together you daft politician! Your son's gone missing and here you are pretending nothing's happened!" Draco said.
Harry stared at him for a moment and drew out his wand, pointing it at Draco's chest. "You do not tell me what to prioritize Malfoy. I know what I'm doing."
"Harry please…" Hermione whispered "let us help you."
"I don't need your help. I'm fine! Get off my case!" Harry raised both his hands and started to walk away. Ron drew out his wand and hit Harry with a stunner.
Draco and Hermione looked at him in surprise. Ron just shrugged. "He needs intervention, alright?" Now let's move him."
Harry woke up in his bed, Draco seated on his side.
"Where the fuck is Ron?"
"They went home."
"Get out of my house."
"No."
"No?"
"No. I'm staying until you are sensible again."
Harry pushed his blanket down and stood up. "Then I'm leaving."
Draco drew out his wand and pointed it at Harry. "No. You'll stay her and rest and think of ways to rescue your son."
"He's not entirely my son, is he?"
"Potter…"
"No really." Harry sat down. "I really don't know how Ginny did it. But technically he's not my son. He was made out of some freaky obscure magic. How it is possible, I don't even know. Maybe this is the universe's way of making things right, you know?"
"Potter, are you even hearing what you're saying?"
"I don't even know anymore… The people I love… they're always taken away from me…" Harry sobbed and broke down. Draco immediately embraced and comforted him.
"We're going to find him. We're going to help. Me and Hermione and Weasley. We're going to get your son."
Harry nodded. Somehow, he believed that everything will be fine.
"Weasley."
"Ma… Malfoy?"
"What do you want? Are you with Harry?"
"I'm with Harry. Hes'… well, he's not okay to say the least."
Ron cringed. "What do want?"
"I need your help. We're going to rescue your nephew."
London is beautiful at night. The lights below seem to mimic the stars from above. The streets are busy with various activities and the noises that you cannot differentiate man from machine. It is also the perfect hideaway for a secret society. The city is inconspicuous and crowded – not the typical hideaway – which makes it all the more an ideal place to be a home base. Draco and Ron apparated to a dark alley and from there made their way in front of a muggle liquor shop.
The Green Fairy Liquor shop is your usual liquor shop – cement walls painted in subdued red, glass doors, a sign above it and a huge display window with their latest wines and other alcoholic beverages. The only thing unusual with it is the presence of four guards standing in front. One would think that they are guarding something. True enough, the four guards – three men and a woman, were hiding their guns underneath their coats, ready to shoot if a threat is perceived.
"Weasley, are you sure this is the right place?" Draco asked.
Ron glared at him. "Yes. I am risking my job here stealing the coordinates of this location from the Auror office. Do you see those guards?"
"I am not blind."
"Honestly Malfoy, if you'd stop being a prick we might actually succeed. I was an Auror and I know what I'm doing so stop with the condescending tone. Yeah?"
"Fine, Auror Weasley. So what's the plan? Do we stun them or what?"
"Well, for starters if they see they will shoot us. Do you see the bulge underneath their coats?" Draco nodded. "They're guns, and if we got shot we might die. Our wands are of no use to those."
"Good thing we can go near without being seen," Draco said and pulled out Harry's Invisibility Cloak from his satchel.
Ron grinned genuinely. "You know Malfoy, you're not so bad after all."
Draco smirked and said, "I wish I could say the same, Weasley."
Draco and Ron tried to squeeze themselves to fit in the cloak but to no avail. Both men are too tall to fit in the cloak. So after much deliberation, or rather, bickering, they both agreed that Ron would be the one to use the cloak and stun the four guards. When this was done the duo entered the liquor shop and found it disappointingly empty. Draco was ready to punch Ron in the face out of frustration but luckily Ron stumbled upon the cash register and when he accidentally moved it, a wall opened up behind him.
Ron came in first and went down the stairs. The basement was huge; it is as if a whole new city is underneath the little liquor shop. But the more fascinating thing is that the basement was magical. The moment Ron and Draco stepped on the floor the torches lit up.
"Wait a minute, I know this place." Draco said, deep into thinking. "This is the ancestral home of the Pollers. You know them, don't you Weasley?"
Ron's brows furrowed. "Yeah. I mean I'm pureblood too you know. But didn't their line end already?"
"That's what I've heard too. Mother said the Mrs. Poller was unable to produce an heir for their family. Shame really. I wonder whatever happened to their money?"
"Probably died with them?"
"Hmmm. I doubt that. Anyway, let's go look for Albus now. We should probably be together."
"Scared, Malfoy?"
"You wish, Weasley."
Albus was sweating when he woke up. Where was he? And why… why is he tied to a… a table? The room was dark and smelled like moss. Albus tried screaming for help but no sound came out of him. Where's his Daddy and what is he doing in this foul, scary place?
He heard the door creaked and it opened, revealing a tall man. "Awake at last. My dear one, just so you wait. Sooner or later we will have you offered to the earth to give us magic. Let's just wait for you father and uncle." David sinister laugh filled the room, and Albus shook in fear.
