* Sorry having laptop melt-down problems. This chapter was twice as long but my computer ate the second half. Will re-write and post later... sigh...
Draco exited the potions lab, preparing to leave. He turned to Snape as he reached the leather couch.
"Have you seen Hermione Granger hanging around Hogwarts lately?"
If Snape seemed surprised by the question he didn't show it. "No I have not."
Draco frowned. "Hmm... her name was in quite a few of the curse books in the library, dating back to only a few months ago."
Snape raised a brow. "Perhaps we are not the only ones looking to help Potter."
"That's what I thought as- ow!" Draco clapped a hand over his wrist, face grimacing in pain.
"Draco?" Severus frowned in concern and moved closer to the boy.
Draco brought one hand to his stomach as he hunched over, looking as though he were going to be sick.
Severus noticed that the Grevillea bracelet had turned a deep shade of green.
"It's Harry," Draco managed to gasp, opening his eyes and looking to Snape. "Something's wrong."
The tall potions professor nodded in understanding and quickly lit a fire in the hearth. He snatched down the jar of floo powder and turned to Draco.
"Do you feel up to traveling?"
Draco nodded and straightened. "It's eased a bit now," he said breathlessly.
Severus noted the fear in those wide grey eyes. "Here," was all he said as he held out the jar.
Draco grabbed a handful of the soft powder and entered the fire.
"I'll follow shortly," Severus said.
Draco nodded and threw down the powder with an explosion of flames. "Godric's Hollow!"
Draco disappeared and closed his eyes as the swirling all around him intensified the nausea he was already feeling.
He stumbled out at the other end into one of the large deserted rooms at the old Hooting Owl pub in the centre of Godric's Hollow.
He swiftly moved aside, swallowing his motion sickness as he waited for Snape.
The fire rose and swirled as Severus suddenly appeared in their depths and gracefully stepped out.
"Are you alright?" he asked, noticing Draco's rather green complexion.
Draco nodded determinedly. "Let's go."
He left the empty room and walked as quickly as he could to the entrance doors. He pushed them open so hard that they banged on the brick walls outside.
He stepped out into the cold blustery day and looked around.
Nothing seemed amiss in the small town; the inhabitants merely going about their business, some laughing and talking as they made their way through the streets.
Severus stepped out behind him. "Would he be at home now?"
Draco glanced up at the clock behind them on the tavern's tall spire. "Yes, but only just. We should check the broom shop first."
The two wizards walked up the footpath, wands held at the ready under the thick folds of their cloaks.
They rounded the corner onto Hemlock Avenue and headed for the broom shop located halfway down the quiet alleyway.
Severus suddenly grasped the blond's elbow pointedly.
Draco turned away from the shop's darkened windows and followed the older man's gaze.
There was a small heap of black robes beside one of the large commercial bins.
"Harry..." Draco breathed, his heart racing.
He fairly flew down the road and dropped to his knees beside the body. He knew it wasn't Harry even before he lifted the corner of the robes.
Indiana's wide brown eyes stared back at him.
"Miss Grayson," Snape said, recognizing his ex-student as he came up behind Draco. "Is she dead?"
Draco shook his head. "No, just immobilized. Finite incantatem!"
Indiana's stiffened body relaxed and she immediately burst into tears.
Draco sighed impatiently, trying to bear in mind that the young witch hadn't had the exposure to dark magic that he'd had growing up.
"Indiana," he tried speaking over her sobbing. "I need you to calm down and tell me where Harry is."
Her sobbing merely intensified as she curled into the foetal position.
Draco looked to Snape for help, feeling desperate.
Snape leant down, picked Indiana up and set her down with her back up against the alley wall.
"P-professor Snape!" she choked in horror, looking up at the tall imposing man staring down at her.
The shock of it seemed to startle her out of her crying.
"Where is Harry Potter?" he asked her firmly.
Her face looked as though she were about to crumble again so Severus gave her a small shake.
"I will not ask again Miss Grayson."
This seemed to snap her out of her hysterics. She took a deep breath and exhaled shakily.
"They... they took him," she said, sounding small.
"Who?" Draco demanded sharply.
She shook her blond head. "I didn't recognize them. The guy who grabbed Harry seemed to know him. He was really big with ginger hair and-"
"Fuck!"
Snape and Indiana looked up as Draco swore. Snape released his hold on the girl and she rubbed her arms where he had been gripping her.
"It's that prick Thatcher from the Inn," Draco explained furiously. "We have to find him."
"I'm so sorry," Indiana whimpered, tears spilling over once more. "He was my responsibility and I couldn't..."
Draco tried to swallow down some of his panic. "It's alright, just tell us what happened," he said, turning to her.
She wrapped her arms around herself and looked away. "There were two of them, the red-haired guy and one other nasty looking fellow. I think they followed me up the main street, but they didn't approach until I was here in the alley."
She choked on her words for a moment then forced herself to continue.
"They asked if I was Harry's girlfriend, the one from the newspaper. I just laughed and said yes it was me but that we were just friends. They turned funny then and started asking me what I thought of his body and if I wanted to..." She paused and shook her head. "Anyway, I turned to go into the shop but one of them grabbed me and put a hand over my mouth."
Indiana sobbed and closed her eyes, remembering.
"They dragged me down the alley behind the bin and pushed me up against the wall. They held a wand to my throat and demanded to know where Harry was. I didn't want to tell them, but then they said they were going to use cruciatus on me!"
She turned wide watery eyes to Draco. "I was so scared and I just wanted to get away...so I told them. I'm sorry!"
Draco closed his eyes bracingly. "Then what?"
"They started asking me some more questions but then Harry finally came outside looking for me. He must have heard me talking to them because he turned and started walking towards us. I called to him, told him to stop... but it was too late. He didn't hear the big fellow come up behind him..."
Indiana dissolved into quiet sobs again.
"So they petrified you and apparated away with Harry?" Draco asked, eyes still closed, a pained expression on his face.
She nodded and wiped at her red eyes.
"You may go home now Miss Grayson," Snape instructed, glancing at the busy main street. "You should be safe. You are not what they're after."
She nodded and glanced at Draco before hurriedly scurrying out of the alley.
"Where do we start?" Draco asked, opening his eyes and looking to Severus, his hand tightening around his wand.
Severus eyed Draco's furious expression calmly. "Let us return to Potter's flat and discuss it there," he suggested smoothly.
Draco gave a curt nod and placed a hand on Snape's cloak sleeve before apparating the two of them to Harry's flat.
"How could I be so stupid!" Draco exclaimed angrily as he stormed into the lounge. "How could I let Harry go out when his fucking picture was in the bloody newspaper broadcasting to the whole world where he was?"
Snape glanced around the small flat, looking for anything amiss. He finally turned to his godson. "Draco, Voldemort has been dead for quite some time now, you do not have the same natural reaction to possible threats as before."
Draco ran a hand through his silvery blond hair, trying not to picture what could be happening to Harry right at that moment.
"I believe we have more pressing issues at the moment than regret," Snape spoke quietly.
Draco exhaled and turned towards him. "You're right. So... how do we find him? Is there a way to track him through the bracelet?"
Snape frowned. "Possibly, but it would take a bit of research..."
"Shit!"
Snape sighed at Draco's sudden outburst. "Mr Malfoy, this sort of erratic behaviour is not help-"
"The bracelet," Draco tried to explain in a rush. "If we're apart for too long Harry feels pain, actual physical pain."
Snape's lips thinned. "How long?"
"It seems to set in after about eight hours."
"And how long has it been?"
Draco glanced at the clock. "Seven."
Snape opened his mouth then closed it again, reconsidering. He began to pace the room. "Foolish boys..." he muttered under his breath, expression stormy.
Draco knew what the potions professor was thinking but it was too late for those sorts of thoughts. What was done was done, now they just needed to find Harry.
"Do you think he would take Harry to his home?" Draco asked, trying to work out where to begin their search.
Snape continued to pace the floor. "Doubtful, unless he lives somewhere quite secluded."
Draco remembered something. "He's married. He was wearing a wedding ring at the inn. I don't think he'd take Harry to his home then."
Snape's eyes narrowed. "That will make our search exceedingly difficult. We do not even know if they're still in the same country."
Draco turned to the window, his heart aching as he caught sight of Harry's Braille books on the coffee table.
"Indiana said that there were two of them," he said. "Thatcher and some other fellow. I don't suppose it would be Benton?"
Snape frowned thoughtfully then shook his head. "I do not think he would be involved in a kidnapping, especially taking someone as high profile as Potter. He has nothing to gain from it. He may have some idea of where this Thatcher lives though."
Draco nodded. "Alright, it's a start."
ooooooooo
Harry woke with a start. The events of the last hour came rushing back; Indy's scream and Thatcher grabbing him from behind, the putrid smell of him and that gravelly voice whispering in his ear...
A feeling of absolute vulnerability washed over him as he lay there, reminding him of when Voldemort had first stolen his sight. He tried to move his arms but they were tied tightly to the hard bed beneath his back. He also suddenly realized in horror that he was naked.
He tried not to think about what may have happened to him in his unconscious state.
He shifted his body slightly, trying to feel for any injuries. He felt his blood boil as the thought dawned on him that Thatcher probably hadn't touched him yet because he hadn't been awake to feel the pain. The man never could get off unless there was some element of torture involved.
Harry closed his eyes and tried to calm his rapid breathing; panicking wouldn't do him any good. He tried to focus instead on sounds and smells; trying to get a sense of where he was. As his pulse began to slow, returning to a more normal rate, he could just make out the sound of traffic somewhere outside the room.
"Okay," he spoke aloud to himself reassuringly. "I'm somewhere in the muggle world. Sounds like a city, possibly London."
Just as he was trying to identify the strange musty smell hanging about the room, there was the sound of a door opening.
Harry kept his eyes clamped shut and maintained his even breathing, even though his heart was thudding painfully fast.
Heavy footsteps made their way towards him and he only just resisted the urge to not twist away from the approaching figure.
"I know you're awake Harry Potter."
Harry thought quickly, trying to place the voice. It wasn't Thatcher, but the man did sound faintly familiar.
"We can play this game if you wish Potter."
Harry didn't like the calm cool way in which he spoke. It reminded him strongly of Lucius Malfoy or even Voldemort himself.
He refused to open his eyes. He didn't want to expose his greatest weakness.
A cold finger stroked down his left cheek and he couldn't stop the slight wince from flickering across his face.
He could hear the resulting smile that his reaction had caused. "Ah Mr Potter... surely you can withstand more than that without reacting? Shall we find out?"
Harry couldn't help swallowing, his previously even breathing speeding up at the smooth words of promised pain.
"Crucio!"
Harry screamed, his eyes opening wide, staring unseeing at the ceiling above, his body contorted awkwardly in the strong restraints as he tried to escape the fiery pain.
Harry collapsed back against the surface of the bed as the spell was suddenly lifted. Sweat beaded on his brow as he panted helplessly, the pain still rippling through his body as it slowly faded.
"You are deliciously innocent and so beautiful..." the voice murmured almost lovingly."I can see why my brother is so enamoured with you. You scream beautifully."
Harry felt his stomach twist in revulsion. What the hell did these two sick brothers want with him?
He thought of Draco then for the first time. Hoping the blond was already looking for him. His heart ached at the thought of the Slytherin, they were supposed to be having their first official date tonight...
Harry hissed as his bracelet gave a nasty twinge. He fisted his left hand, his wrist prickling painfully.
There was the sudden sound of indrawn breath. "What have we here Potter? I thought my stupid brother was mistaken, but... apparently not."
Harry felt fingers brushing his Grevillea bracelet, exploring it tentatively.
"Who is your partner Potter? Surely Malfoy's son would not... or perhaps he would. My foolish brother seemed to think that Draco Malfoy had a hand in removing you from Benton's Inn. Would that assumption be correct Mr Potter?"
"Like I would tell you," Harry retorted with more bravado than he actually felt. "I don't even know who you are."
"My apologies Mr Potter," the voice answered condescendingly. "My name is Lachlan Tarrant."
Harry frowned. The name wasn't familiar.
"My brother's name is just an alias Mr Potter," Lachlan continued, misinterupting Harry's silence. "He did not feel comfortable in being associated with me with the war not being long past."
"Why is that?" Harry couldn't help asking. He tried to keep the man talking, anything to save him from another bout of Cruciatus.
"You wouldn't remember I suppose, you were a bit distracted when last we met, but I was in the Dark Lord's inner circle," he explained with pride.
Harry forced a smile. "Fat lot of good that did you since he's dead, and now because of him you have to remain in hiding for the rest of your life."
Harry felt a whoosh of air as Lachlan suddenly leaned over him.
"Watch your tongue boy," he spoke dangerously. "I know it was you who killed him. Your precious Order members may have been able to keep that particular piece of information quiet to keep you protected from any remaining followers, but I was there Potter, I know what you did."
Harry's eyes widened. "What do you mean you were there? I was alone with Voldemort."
"For a little while, yes, but I believe I may have been the first to see those captivating green eyes when they could not see me in return," this was whispered directly into his ear, the chilling voice causing shivers to run up Harry's spine.
"Why didn't you just kill me then?" Harry demanded angrily, trying to pull away. He hated that this foul man had seen him at his weakest moment.
Lachlan pulled back, chuckling softly. "You are a brave boy aren't you? My brother spoke of you as quite a malleable surrendering thing..."
Harry fisted his hands and jerked away angrily, trying to ignore the painful twinging in his wrist.
Lachlan laughed some more. "Malfoy must have his hands full with you Mr Potter. He is a lucky man though..."
The man let his sentence hang, reminding Harry that he was lying there in the nude. His cheeks flushed hotly as he squirmed under the obvious scrutiny.
He listened to the soft rustle of fabric as Lachlan leaned back over him. Harry jumped, startled, as those cold fingers touched his bracelet once more.
"Quite a dangerous piece of jewellery Potter," he murmured. "One only has to remove it and your life would be ended..."
Harry quickly thought back to what Draco had told him about the Agreement.
"It's too bad then that only I am able to do that," he replied evenly.
"Ever heard of the Imperius curse my dear boy?" Lachlan asked sweetly.
Harry couldn't remember if Draco had mentioned that particular scenario or not so he remained silent.
Fingers traced a line up his arm and then down his chest. Harry tensed as Lachlan's hand neared his groin.
The cruel man laughed softly. "Do not worry yourself Mr Potter, I do not have the same 'inclinations' as my brother. However lovely you look, I am not interested in your body."
Harry was starting to feel frustrated, he had no idea what this man wanted from him. He didn't want him sexually nor did it seem did he want him dead.
"Why have you brought me here?" he demanded sharply, trying to twist his lower body away from the foreign hand resting on his hip.
Lachlan turned and walked back towards the door. "I have plans for you yet Potter," he answered mildly. "In the mean time I'll let my brother have his fun."
Harry's heart clenched in fear.
"Good day Mr Potter."
With that the door opened and closed with a soft click and Harry was left in silence.