Disclaimer: As usual, all I own is this fanfic and OCs Kassidy and Kassandra. The OC Xander Scamander belongs to 5UP3RN0V42015. Everything else belongs to J.K. Rowling, no copyright intended!
Chapter 10: Is Insistence The Key?
A few more days had past. Harry and company (minus Antonio) went back to Place Cachee and over to Cosme Acajor's wand shop. Gabby needed to pick up her custom made wand. Meanwhile Molly, Ron and Ginny walked up to the front entrance of Beauxbatons and over to Madame Maxime's office in an attempt to get Ron transferred before the school year began and to get Ginny registered for the next year. Albus initially wanted to bring Harry back as soon as he spotted him, but then figured that waiting a few days would've had everything cooled down. Once he felt certain of it, he gave Molly the word so she could side apparate herself, Ron and Ginny to outside the wards surrounding Beauxbatons. Once they made it to the door leading to Madame Maxime's office, Molly knocked on the door.
"Come in!" called the headmistress from the other side.
So the three Weasleys walked in and as soon as that happened, they received a nasty glare from Madame Maxime. Molly was acting all overconfident as they approached the desk, while Ron and Ginny put on false friendly smiles.
"What are you three doing here?" asked Madame Maxime coldly.
"A couple things," said Molly. "To get Ron transferred over here before this school year starts and to register Ginny for the 1992-1993 school year."
"Not in your lives," snarled the Beauxbatons headmistress. "We teachers and staff here know why you're here, now I suggest you three leave campus before you make this worse!"
"But my Harry will be starting here this year," said Ginny, giving Madame Maxime puppy dog eyes. "He needs me and I need him!"
"That look won't work with me," stated the headmistress, giving Ginny an exasperated look. Then she turned her attention back to Molly. "Amelia sent me a letter to be suspicious of you three and Albus Dumbly-dore!"
She showed the letter to the three Weasleys to prove it. This didn't change their minds and Molly also tried the same tactic as Ginny did a minute ago.
"Harry also needs me to be his best mate," said Ron with desperation in his voice. "You gotta have me transferred here!"
"Now listen here, biggie," snapped Molly, pointing a finger in Madame Maxime's face. "Ron is supposed to be best friends with Harry, while Harry is supposed to be Ginny's boyfriend, so they can eventually marry. I don't appreciate you trying to interfere with that and Albus wouldn't like it if his plans are ruined. Now I insist that you allow Ron to attend this school and for Ginny to do the same next year right now, unless you want me to call for some aurors to have you hauled into a ministry holding cell!"
Molly realized too late that threatening a giant was a grave error. The nine-foot giantess stood up and onto her full height and flashed the three Weasleys a paralyzing glare. This made Molly (who was only 5'3") cower in utter fear, but Madame Maxime felt zero sympathy. Ron and Ginny were also utterly terrified when they were facing the headmistress' wrath.
"Your requests have been rejected and will continue if it keeps up," shouted Madame Maxime. "These children are permanently banned from ever attending this school, now out you go!"
"Maybe we can work something out!" said Molly, still terrified.
"Yes, perhaps something can work out!" said Madame Maxime slyly. "Head down to the Great Hall and I'll meet you down there. Then we can talk this over."
"We'll do it!" said Molly, Ron and Ginny ecstatically.
So they turned around and left the headmistress' office. Molly, Ron and Ginny had no idea that Madame Maxime was playing a trick on them. As soon as the three Weasleys were out of the office, the headmistress alerted the other teachers and staff of what was going on. This was working out in her favour because the three Weasleys had no idea where in the school the Great Hall was located. Anytime Molly asked for directions to the Great Hall, the teachers and staff would just simply point them in the right direction. Once the three Weasleys made it to the Great Hall, the doors closed. This made Molly, Ron and Ginny look all around the Great Hall, trying to find whoever closed the doors. Then Madame Maxime and several of the teachers and staff cancelled the disillusionment charms they placed on themselves after walking in. When the three Weasleys saw for themselves, they gulped again when they caught the nasty glare they received from the headmistress.
"Did you really think I'd let you three off the hook?!" asked Madame Maxime with a sneer. "Now, I suggest you three leave campus immediately before I call the auras!"
She pointed to the doors behind her with her thumb. So Molly, Ron and Ginny had little choice but to leave. Nevertheless, they knew Dumbledore still had some other plans just in case some of the other ones failed. Once they were outside the wards of Beauxbatons, Molly and her two youngest children walked over to where Dumbledore was hiding.
"It didn't work, did it?" asked the Hogwarts headmaster once he caught the looks of despair on their faces.
"No, it didn't," said Molly. "What will we do now?"
"I've got someone wandering around in Place Cachee," stated Dumbledore. "He assured me that he would bring Harry over to your house once he's found."
"So there is hope, yet!" said Ginny ecstatically.
"Yes," stated Dumbledore. Then he turned his attention back to Molly. "So why don't you three go back home and wait for Harry to arrive there."
"Will do." said Molly obediently.
So she side apparated Ron, Ginny and herself back to outside the wards of the Burrow. Meanwhile, Harry and company were just leaving Cosme Acajor's, with Gabby admiring her wand. Harry, Gabby and Fleur decided to go to K. Rammelle's Enchantee to look at all the different kind of sweets they had, while the adults went over to the Griffon Buveur. Kassidy and Kassandra happened to be at K. Rammelle's too, surprising Harry, Gabby and Fleur. Kassidy mentioned that she and Kassandra had been accompanying their mother in the shopping district. What Harry, Gabby and Fleur didn't know was that a wizard with long, greasy black hair, a hooked nose and black eyes was secretly following them into the sweet shop (though, he was pretending to be a normal customer). The man grinned smugly as he watched Harry and his friends walk upstairs to the second floor. Once the five had their backs turned, the man seized his chance by stealthily walking up behind Harry and putting a hand over his mouth.
"HE…" Harry attempted to scream out, but the man behind him was too quick.
"You're coming with me, you brat!" growled the man.
"LET HARRY GO!" Gabby shouted at the man.
He ignored Gabby as he tried dragging Harry (who was putting up a fight) with him. Gabby's shouting inevitably attracted attention (since there were some other customers on the second floor). Gabby, Fleur, Kassidy and Kassandra drew their wands out and pointed them at the man (who was still trying to drag Harry away with him). The man was shocked to see the four girls before him pointing their wands at him, allowing Harry the chance to escape by biting the man's right hand.
"Yeow!" said the man as he started wincing in pain (shaking his bitten hand in the process).
"Ha!" said Harry triumphantly.
This was short lived because the man was able to recover in time. He sent a tripping spell at Harry, stunning him in the process. The girls tried coming to Harry's rescue, but the man was too quick and he put a chloroform rag over Harry's face. This knocked Harry out cold, much to the girls' shock (especially Gabby). Once the man grabbed ahold of the out-cold Harry, he vanished before the girls' very eyes. Gabby felt tears welling up in her eyes as she watched Harry being taken away before her. Fleur knew Gabby was on the verge of becoming heartbroken to have seen that her betrothed had been kidnapped, so she tried to comfort her sister as much as she could.
"Where did that ma-an take Harry?" sobbed Gabby heavily into Fleur's shoulders.
"I wish I knew," said Fleur downheartedly. "That man never indicated where he was taking Harry! But we'll get Harry back, don't you worry, Gabby!"
"I ju-ust don't w-w-w-wanna thi-ink of the what the worst wo-ould or co-ould b-beeeeee!" Gabby continued sobbing.
Kassandra took over comforting Gabby once they were downstairs, while Fleur and Kassidy approached the check-out counter to tell the manager what all happened. The girls were relieved to find out that there were witnesses who also saw Harry kidnapped, but Gabby was still distraught. At that moment, Sirius, Remus, Apolline and Karen had left Griffon Buveur to meet up with Harry, Gabby, Fleur, Kassidy and Kassandra. The adults developed worried looks on their faces when they saw the girls walking out of the sweet shop equally worried (with Gabby still distraught).
"What happened?" asked Apolline with concern in her voice.
"Harry had been kidnapped!" said Fleur with worrisome in her voice.
"What did the kidnapper look like?" asked Remus.
"He had long, greasy black hair," stated Fleur, trying to keep calm. "A hooked nose and black eyes. He was also wearing black robes!"
"That had to have been Snivellus!" Sirius deduced with pure anger in his voice.
"Snivellus?!" said Apolline, confused.
"Severus Snape," stated Sirius. "The current potions teacher at Hogwarts. Dumbledore had to have spoken up for him because Snivellus never had to stand trial, in spite of having been a death eater in the past. And yet, the ole coot didn't speak up in my defence even though I was never a death eater. He basically allowed me to receive the kangaroo court treatment!"
"But there were some witnesses who saw that Snape guy kidnapping Harry," Kassidy revealed. "They were telling the manager at the sweet shop what all happened."
"Antonio and Kurt must be notified of this as soon as possible," said Karen. "That way we can get missing posters of Harry and wanted posters of this Snape guy."
Apolline nodded her head in agreement (as did Remus and Sirius). Remus sent a patronus over to Antonio to alert him on what all happened. Apolline was trying to get her youngest daughter calmed down, with mixed results (Gabby was still just that upset). So they all headed over to Delacour Manor, not wanting to any unwanted attention.
Meanwhile, Harry was just starting to come to. He opened his eyes a little bit and saw that he wasn't in K. Rammelle's Enchantee (or any shop in Place Cachee). It looked like he was in a small living room, which was confirmed his eyes were fully open. Harry sat up and saw that he had been laying on a couch while he was still out-cold. As he darted his eyes around the living room, Harry saw that there was no doorway between the kitchen and living room.
'Where am I?' thought Harry desperately. 'This house…'
Harry was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard some footsteps making their way into the living room. He smoothly turned his attention to the direction where the feet were. Harry saw that they belonged to three redheads and one of them was a woman in a housedress (who Harry figured was the mother, since the other two redheads must be the children). They stopped by the couch Harry was laying on to check on him, or so it seemed.
"Hello, Harry dear, I'm Molly Weasley," the woman introduced herself, smiling at him. "I've heard about your little mishap, so I thought that looking after you until further notice wouldn't hurt."
"I'm Ron Weasley," said the boy with excitement. "I can't wait to be best mates with you!"
"I'm Ginny Weasley," said the girl, who sounded and looked to be over the moon. "And I can't wait to be yours for eternity!"
'Wh-What is going on here?" asked Harry sternly. "How did I get here?"
"Well, you were the victim of kidnapping, dear," said Molly, using a cover story. "So Albus took the pleasure to send someone out to fetch you and bring you here. Once he gets the time, he'll help escort you back to your family."
"But he'll find himself in a trap if he did that," stated Harry. "The french ministry will…"
"No no, I wasn't referring to those kidnappers," said Molly. "Your relatives in Surrey."
"They're aren't family to me," stated Harry. "So how would sending me back there be necessary?"
"Sorry, dear," said Molly, sounding anything but. "Privileged information. Why don't you take some time to get to know Ron and Ginny before lunch."
Harry didn't know how to respond to that. But then he figured playing along with it would help throw them off track. So Ron and Ginny showed Harry the way to their orchard. There they came across two more redheads (who appeared to be twins) flying on broomsticks.
"Fred! George!" shouted Ron and Ginny in unison. "Come meet our new friend, Harry Potter!"
This definitely got the twins attention, since they immediately flew down to the ground. Believing this to be another trap, Harry got all tense and wanted so badly to run off. But the problem was, his body didn't seem to want to cooperate with him.
"Hello Harry," said the twins in what seemed be twin talk. "We're Fred and George! Our parents often mistake us for the other one, so we nicknamed ourselves Gred and Forge!"
"Um, hi." said Harry, not knowing how to respond properly.
"Mum wants us all to take turns keeping Harry company," said Ron. "He gets separation anxiety real easily."
Harry gave Ron a confused look, wondering what all he was trying to do. The twins seemed to be seeing through the ruse, or at least that was what it looked like to Harry. If that was the case, then Ron and Ginny appeared to be oblivious to the whole thing.
"So we'll give you two a chance," said Ginny. "But no tricks or you'll spook him."
Fred and George nodded their heads in understanding, then Ron and Ginny walked back inside to see how much longer it would be until lunch would be ready. Once it was just them, Fred and George approached Harry and gave him friendly smiles.
"We may be pranksters, Harry…" said Fred (or George).
"But we would actually like to be friends…" said George (or Fred).
"With you! The Boy-Who-Lived and the real you…" said Fred (or George).
"Are two different people, something our dad…" said George (or Fred).
"Taught us, but Ronald, Ginevra and our mum deliberately ignore that." Fred and George finished their twin talk.
Harry smiled when he saw that the twins had some potential to be his friend. After all, Harry knew that genuine friends were more important than having too many with some who may be trying to trick him in secret. Then either Fred or George pulled something out of their pocket and handed it to Harry, which happened to be his wand, much to Harry's relief.
"Where did you find this?" asked Harry.
"Somewhere over by the front door…" said Fred (or George).
"We figured it must've fallen out…" said George (or Fred).
"When Snape brought you here…" said Fred (or George).
"Or when Ickle Ronnykins and/or Ickle Ginnykins…" said George (or Fred).
"Were helping mum with moving you onto the couch…" said Fred (or George).
"And they attempted to throw you off track…" said George (or Fred).
"By trying to hide your wand from you." the twins finished their twin talk.
"I see," said Harry in understanding. Then he spotted Ron and Ginny over by the front door, making him suspicious. "Are they looking for my wand so they can give it to your mother?"
"I don't know, Harry…" said Fred (or George).
"But we have a way of eavesdropping in on them." said George (or Fred).
The twins pulled out something that looked like someone's ears attached to strings. This baffled Harry because the ears looked pretty realistic. The twins explained to Harry that they were extendable ears, one of their inventions. They even explained the purpose of the ears was to eavesdrop in on a conversation. So Harry, Fred and George stealthily found a hiding spot near the front door to listen in on Ron and Ginny (since the ears wouldn't work, at least all that well at further distances).
"What happened to Harry's wand?" Ginny's voice was heard through the extendable ears. "I know I left it right here! If I gave it back to him personally, I figured he'd be happy that I did something nice for him."
"I have no idea where it went," said Ron. "Nobody besides ourselves and mum was supposed to know of this. We'd better find it, or else Harry will get to it and leave England again."
"Right!" said Ginny in agreement.
Once she and Ron went back inside to inform their mother, Harry and the twins started sneaking away back to the orchard. Then the twins asked Harry to follow them, with Harry nodding his head in agreement.
"We know a family who will help you, Harry," said the twins, responding in their twin talk. "They don't live too far from us, even within walking distance as long as we don't follow roads."
Harry nodded his head in agreement again as he and the twins began walking through some trees. The three were giggling some at the thought of Ron and Ginny finding them gone. Harry saw where the twins had been leading him. There was a black, cylindrical building that sort of resembled a watchtower seen around castles out in the distance.
'That must be an office building of some sort,' thought Harry. 'If that's what it is, I wonder which kind!'
But Harry had no idea that it was actually someone's home. Either way, Harry figured that the more help he received, the better the chance he had of returning to Delacour Manor. While he wasn't close to her, Harry knew that Gabby was worried sick for him by now (since she enjoyed his company). If Harry wanted to reunite with Gabby, he needed to ask for some assistance from somebody willing to help him out.
To be continued!