Chapter Twenty One
Heavy Headlines

Left to his own devices, Ron Weasley found himself with very little to occupy his time. Having been abandoned by his supposed best friends, he found his life dreadfully unexciting. Over time, he had come to accept Harry leaving with George, but it still stung that he hadn't been invited. He had his good days and his bad days.

On one of his exceptionally bad days, Ron had found himself cornered by Rita Skeeter. Without Hermione to keep her reined in, her outlandish stories were back in multitudes. The papers were riddled with her outrageous articles, though now people tended to regard her with more skepticism. Her days of unquestioning public response were over. There was doubt, there was ridicule. And she hated it. So, when she had stumbled across a brooding member of the Golden Trio, she thought her prayers had been answered.

The three saviors of the wizarding world had become recluses. Hermione Granger hadn't been seen since the final battle. Harry Potter only ventured into public view when absolutely necessary, claiming to be taking a few months to relax. Ron Weasley, the member that drew the least attention by no fault of his own, was seen only slightly more frequently than Harry. And other than the first few initial interviews done directly following the war, no reporter had managed to coax a word from any of the three.

Needless to say, Rita Skeeter had been, at best, hoping for a few words from Ron to pique interest in her writing again. What she had received was the biggest headline since the death of Voldemort.

War Heroine Hermione Granger Missing Since Final Battle

The select few who had known that she had run off merely rolled their eyes at the claim. The rest of wizarding England, however, went into a tizzy. The poster child for Muggleborns, arguably the group of magical people the war had affected the greatest, was gone without a trace. Many cried out that it was the work of Death Eaters, a last attempt at enforcing their beliefs. But there was nothing to go on either way.

The public tried to look again to Harry Potter for answers, sure that he must know the whereabouts of his friend. But the Boy-Who-Lived was not in the country to be questioned. Panic arose until a statement was made by Arthur Weasley saying that he and his son, George Weasley of Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes relocated in attempt to come to terms with everything that had happened. He added to the statement, of course made with a trusted reporter, that Hermione had left the family a note saying she just needed time to adjust. The masses let out a sigh of relief that Harry was fine and that Hermione might be okay.

Unfortunately, Ron had let slip that his brother and Harry had ended up in Australia. What had started out as a search for the Boy-Who-Lived had turned out much more lucrative results than an exclusive with the media shy boy wizard. The photographer Rita had sent had returned with a picture of a rather forgettable building with a wildly landscaped front yard. She had been about to hex the useless witch until she pointed out the pair of people headed up the stone path.

At first, Rita thought it was just a silly couple, the girl thrown up over the boy's shoulder. But upon closer inspection, she recognized the bushy brown curls that haunted her dreams. Such a dreadful girl, in her opinion. And the boy would have been recognizable even without his face turned back to glance at the girl over his shoulder. Draco Malfoy's platinum blonde hair was a dead giveaway. The next morning's Daily Prophet sent the wizarding public into a frenzied outrage.

Hermione Granger Kidnapped by Death Eater Draco Malfoy

With Ginny in America at a Quidditch training camp, there were no Weasleys' in England that knew the true nature of Hermione and Draco's relationship. As such, there was nobody to refute this claim. Rita suddenly found herself more sought after than ever before.

Ron had found a new outlet for his bitterness. Draco Malfoy. He felt relieved when he realized that Hermione hadn't left him by choice. Malfoy kidnapping her was much easier to swallow than thinking she ran off on her own free will. He knew she'd never leave him that way. He felt important having Aurors consult with him. He was suddenly the most interesting member of the Golden Trio simply because he was the only one available.

He wasn't terribly concerned with Hermione's well-being. Obviously, he cared that she was okay, but he doubted that she was an easy person to keep imprisoned. She could definitely take care of herself. And while he knew Malfoy to be a Death Eater, he knew he wasn't as cruel as his family had been. All the same, Ron wanted her home, and he wanted her home now.

It was about two months after declaring Draco Malfoy her kidnapper that the Aurors finally tracked them down.

"Arrested?" Harry repeated in disbelief. "What?"

George nodded grimly. "Hermione said they woke up to Aurors everywhere and then they took Malfoy back with them by portkey. Didn't even give them a chance to explain."

Cassie felt ill. She had only just gotten her brother back. And he was already gone and thinking she hated him. She had never felt so low.

Harry rubbed his temple, head ache returning rapidly. "On what charges?"

George rattled them off with ease. "Being a known and active Death Eater, fleeing the country, use of Unforgivables, supplying the Death Eaters entrance to Hogwarts, the murder of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, and the kidnapping of Hermione Granger."

Cassie wanted to cry. Again. Despite being reassured by the two boys in front of her that her brother wasn't bad, accusations that serious made doubts creep in. Harry, on the other hand was outraged. "He didn't kill Dumbledore! Snape did. And only on his orders. I told the Ministry that! And kidnapping Hermione? Are they kidding?"

It discomforted Cassie immensely that Harry was only contradicting two of Draco's charges. They had said that while he wasn't the Death Eater he could have been, he still was one. Overwhelmed by all the new information that today had brought, Cassie figured she'd understand everything in due time. She resolved to be patient, though it was already proving difficult.

George didn't know how to respond to Harry. Instead, he suggested, "Maybe you should come back with me. Hermione's back at her flat in a right state. She's beside herself."

Harry looked to Cassie for permission only to find her already nodding at the ginger. Without thinking, George grabbed each of their free hands and apparated them to Hermione's flat. When they popped into existence on her front yard, Cassie crumpled to the ground. Harry scolded George as he reached down to check on the poor girl.

She groaned, blinking her eyes open. "God, that was awful! What the hell, George?"

The lanky ginger's cheeks flushed crimson as he shrugged sheepishly. "I forgot."

A loud crash from inside the house drew all of their attention. Harry pulled Cassie to her feet and the three ran to the door. Harry kicked it in and they rushed inside.

Not one to know girls' reactions to their boyfriends being arrested, Harry supposed that Hermione would be a weeping mess. However, he was sure she'd hex him if he ever admitted that. Because what they faced was most absolutely not a weepy Hermione.

"Where have they taken him?" Hermione raged, her voice cracking in the middle of her sentence. A petrified Auror who looked to have barely a year or two on the witch cowered beneath her ferocious gaze. She held his wand in her hand, her own pointed threateningly at him. "Tell me right now, or so help me I'll-"

"Hermione?" Harry blurted out before thinking. She whirled on him expecting another intruder, wand trained at his face. Her taught shoulders relaxed minutely when she registered that it was only Harry. "Oh, Harry. Hi."

He cautiously advanced toward her, careful not to turn her wrath on him. He pitied the Auror at the end of her wand. "Mione, what are you doing?"

"They sent this useless excuse for an Auror to 'collect me'. As if I'm some kind of prize," she snapped irritably, annoyed at having been treated as such, "Well, no one's taking me anywhere. Not until they tell me precisely where they've taken Draco. They think he bloody kidnapped me!"

"I know, George told me. But I don't think terrorizing this bloke is going to help get him back," Harry reasoned, slowly raising his hand to her wand. But he needn't have. She dropped her hand and tossed the Auror his wand. He was afraid to pick it up. Harry couldn't blame him. Hermione was a force to be reckon with if she felt she had been scorned.

Hermione collapsed onto the couch she and Draco had been asleep on just an hour before. "I'm so stupid," she exclaimed depreciatively. "How could I ever have thought we'd be free to go? To just live?"

She curled up against George when he sank onto the red cushion beside her. With an arm draped over her shoulders, he held her close. "You guys just got caught up by the fact that you both survived the war," he suggested with a shrug. She sighed and looked to Harry. Her words were desperate. "I have to go back! I have to explain everything. They can't send him to Azkaban, Harry, they can't."

"Hermione," he said softly, "You told me yourself that you can't tell anyone. What exactly do you expect to do?"

Weeping mess Hermione was threatening to emerge as she whimpered, "I-I don't know. Merlin, Harry, what am I going to do?"

The Boy-Who-Lived had seen his dearest friends broken and defeated and tortured enough for one life time. Consequences be damned, he would bring Malfoy back to Hermione if it killed him. He threw a glance over his shoulder to the Auror who was righting himself. He was fairly certain he recognized the new recruit. He was from the most recent graduated class of Aurors that had come along when the Head Auror had offered him a position straight after the war. To say the least, he had not expected Harry to shut him down so resolutely.

"Heavensby, right?" Harry questioned. His blue eyes widened measurably, but he nodded in affirmation. Turning back to Hermione, he said, "We're going to have Heavensby here give us the portkey meant to take you back. We'll go straight to Kingsley and settle this."

"Really, sir, I have orders-" Heavensby tried to sound confident, but the waver in his voice gave him away. Harry silenced him with a sharp glare and held out a hand for the portkey. It was a Tower of London key chain. Hermione was shaking her head when he returned with the item. "Harry, I can't ask you to do this. You and George have a life here. I can't take you away from that. Not for something that's likely to end in disaster."

"You're family, Hermione. We do anything for family," George assured her, pulling her to her feet. Hermione eyed them both carefully. "You're sure you want to be involved in my mess?"

"I've always dragged you into mine," Harry laughed, "It seems only right to return the favor."

George offered her a tight smile. "Becs might kill me, but I'm a part of this, too."

With the boys decidedly going back to their home country with her, Cassie felt out of place suddenly. These people had had a whole life together before they met her. She could only wish that she had been able to be a part of it. And it seemed even now that she was, she was still on the outside. Hermione caught her eye before she could look away. Her cheeks flushed under her calculating gaze. Draco's girlfriend seemed sweet enough, but she had just witnessed her spectacular rage.

"Fine," Hermione relented. Both boys sighed, content to have settled the matter without further argument. "But only if Cassie comes, too." The boys tried to protest, and Cassie gaped at her in awe, but Hermione wouldn't budge. "It's only right. She actually is family to one of those involved. I say if she wants to come, she should. That is, Cassie, if you feel safe returning."

"You want me to come?" the young blonde asked in shock. Hermione nodded vigorously. A tentative smile made its way onto her face. "Hell yes, I'll go."

"She's gonna kill me. I'm dead. That's it, my life, it's over," George grumbled as the odd quartet made their way through the dark. "She'll find that shark and she'll-"

"George!" Harry barked gruffly, "Shut it, would you!"

"Easy enough for you to say, boy wonder, with your girly friend right beside you! Mine's thousands of miles away plotting my untimely demise as we speak!" George cried irritably. Hermione patted his back sympathetically. "They'll probably give mine the Kiss if we don't get a move on so will the both of you shut it?"

They sheepishly mumbled their apologies and carried on.

They were navigating the darkened streets of Diagon Alley, heading to Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes. Everyone save Cassie, who knew no one in the country, promptly agreed it was the safest spot to spend the night. Grimmauld place still gave Harry the willies and the Burrow was out of the question. It was far too late at night to unload both Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy's long lost sister on the rest of the Weasley's.

Once inside, Harry and Hermione rushed to liven up the flat above the shop. No one had lived there since, well…

George took his time in the shop below. It had been far too long since he had stood in the masterpiece that he and Fred had built. He hadn't realized how much he had missed it. Cassie approached him cautiously with questioning eyes. In that moment, George remembered what it was to be one of the Weasley twins, inspiring wonder and awe with laughs along the way as he demonstrated his products to a wide eyed Cassie.

Hermione and Harry found the two in stitches on the floor covered in pink sparkles and confetti. Where Hermione might have rolled her eyes before, she could only smile. To see George so alive again was a wonder in itself.

Once they all regained control of their maturity, they settled in to discuss their plan of attack.

"Hermione, I know you just want to burst into the Ministry and inform them that they're all lousy fools, but I think we all agree that's more my style," Harry guessed. Hermione crossed her arms in a huff. He wasn't wrong. "But you've been gone for over a year. And everyone thinks you were kidnapped. You can't just barge in. We have to do this rationally."

"Merlin's beard," George laughed, "Did I miss the world ending? Harry and Mione fancy Malfoys, Harry's the one reminding Mione to be rational, and I'm agreeing?"

"Tell me, please, what do you want from me?" Draco demanded impatiently. He shook his shackled hands at the Aurors sitting across from him. They shared a smug smirk, a facial expression that irked him immensely. That was his thing. He did not appreciate it being used against him. Only Hermione could get away with that. Thinking of her only heightened his anger.

The Auror to the right, Hastings, was long in the face and large in the ears with a snaggle tooth smile that would have made Hermione's parents weep. His partner, Jameson, a lean dirty blonde with ice blue eyes was looking down at Draco over his unusually long nose.

"Justice," Jameson answered curtly. Draco rolled his eyes to the heavens and gestured for some elaboration. "I don't know why you need me to explain this to you, little Malfoy. You're a Death Eater, are you not? That right there is enough to seal you a fate in Azkaban."

Fear finally sank its jagged clutches into Draco's heart. Of course, his face betrayed nothing of his concern. "That's actually a rather grey topic, I'm afraid," he admitted, cursing that blasted old man for making him take an Unbreakable Vow. How was he supposed to prove his innocence if neither he nor Hermione could explain what had happened?

Hastings snorted most unattractively. "Grey area? I'd say it's rather clear cut. Murder, torture, kidnapping? Hermione Granger may never be the same after her imprisonment for all we know."

Frustration boiling over, Draco slammed his shackled hands down on the table and the two men jumped. "I did not kidnap Hermione Granger! If you believe nothing else, believe that!"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, Death Eater," Hastings dismissed causually. Draco's anger soared to new heights, but he knew unleashing it on the two imbecile Aurors would only hurt him. He sighed in temporary defeat and hung his head in his hands as the door fell shut. When he looked up again, he was alone in the cell. A weak stream of light trickled into the small room, illuminating the narrow cot beside him, the bars of the cell shutting him in. He felt the chill seep into his very bones, and teh proud boy shrank into himself.

A ghostly black figure drifted past the door, its faceless hooded head seeming to turn to take him in. Fists clenched in terror, Draco squeezed his eyes shut as if not seeing the dementor meant it wasn't there. He saw Hermione's beautiful, loving face in his mind's eye and he willed himself to hold onto her.

"Please come get me, love," he pleaded in a desperate whisper in the grim little cell in Azkaban that was to be his new home should the Ministry succeed.

A/N: Fear not! Everyone will be reunited in the next chapter, the Weasleys, Hermione and Draco (though their troubles won't be over), etc. I promise a happy ending, if that's something you're worried about. But a lot more needs to happen before we get to the 'And they lived happily ever after'. Hope you liked it! Thank you for sticking with me!