"You need to come immediately, Zabini and Longbottom were just arrested." Draco's head shot up as the tabby cat Patronus jumped onto his desk and gave it's message in Minerva McGonagall's clipped Scots brogue. He didn't question how Minerva had learned the information before his own network of information gatherers managed it; that old woman was a wily one and had learned at Dumbledore's knee for decades. What was of more concern was how she knew he would be concerned and what exactly the circumstances of the arrest were. He arrived with a pop outside the Hogwarts gates in less than three minutes, his traveling cloak swirling around him in a manner that was eerily reminiscent of his godfather.
The gates swung open as he approached and instead of taking the time to walk across the rambling grounds he stretched out his hand and a broom expanded back to normal size as he reversed the shrinking charm on it. He was at the main doors in under a minute, and striding up to the gargoyle blocking the stairway to the headmistress office seconds later. The gargoyle also sprung back, revealing the staircase, and he was riding it upwards when he saw a wave of brown curls hurtling in through the front door.
Minerva barely waited for the two of them to enter the room before a tea service appeared and a house elf began to pour out. Minerva was rattled enough that she did not even make a pretense of refusing to add a tipple to her drink and poured in a healthy shot of the very fine whiskey Draco had begun to have delivered to her monthly. The small bottle trembled in her hand, and she cleared her throat, setting it back down with a thunk.
"Minerva, what's happened?" The question was sharper than he had intended, but seeing the normally unflappable witch so upset sent a sharp pike of dread through him. His instincts were screaming that he needed to take sudden, violent action, but he wasn't sure against whom or the reason.
The older witch took a deep breath and shook her head.
"They were here for tea; it was a regular visit just to catch up. Tea had only just been served when a squad of Aurors came in and Stunned them, cast Incarcerous and began to levitate them away. I demanded to know what charges were being brought against them, and by whose authority. They said it was abetting sedition and harboring traitors to wizarding Britain. When I protested the lunacy of those charges they threatened to take me in for 'harboring' wanted criminals. It's like living through the Blitz, police in the streets being allowed to do as they like. You must get them out of there; I'm worried that if they are left there something terrible will happen to them."
"Sweet Nimue's knickers." Draco scowled and pinched the bridge of his nose, blowing out a long breath. What the hell had Kingsley been thinking, trying to make a sedition case against Blaise and Longbottom, of all people? He had to know he would need something absolutely ironclad to pin to them, which meant one of two things. Either Blaise had been sloppy and holding things back from him, or they'd made something up to pin on them. Thankfully Britain did not have the same laws about treason that the States did these days, the government was still required to enumerate the charges, allow a solicitor to represent the accused and procede with the question of bail. That was good.
"Draco?" Hermione's voice was quiet, but it brought him out of his reverie.
"Minerva, how long ago was this?" The older witch glanced at the clock on the mantle above the fireplace.
"Less than fifteen minutes." He nodded sharply.
"I require the use of your Floo, if you please?" She nodded, and he grabbed a pinch of powder.
"Anthony Goldstein, exchequer." He spoke the address of Goldstein's private Floo, the one only he and possibly five other high priority clients knew that would open onto the solicitors private office regardless of who else was there. As luck would have it Goldstein was alone in the office when he stuck his head through the flames.
"Malfoy? What is it?" There were no pleasantries, the solicitor knew that anyone contacting him via that Floo address had no time for niceties.
"I need you at the Ministry, Magical Law Enforcement ten minutes ago. Blaise and Longbottom have been arrested, they're calling it treason."
"Treason? Is it valid?"
"No." Goldstein nodded.
"I'm on it."
"Tony… Longbottom cannot go to Azkaban, under any circumstances. He's fragile." The attorney's mouth tightened but he nodded.
"I'll do what I can. You're meeting me?"
"I'm at Hogwarts, Hermione and I will Floo in and meet you." Goldstein nodded and cut the connection. As he drew his head out of the flame and reached for another fistful of powder he saw Hermione take something small and golden from McGonagalls hand with a nod. Smirking, he nodded toward her hand.
"Give Minerva back the Time Turner, love, you don't need it." Hermione flushed to the roots of her hair and Minerva raised an eyebrow.
"Mister Malfoy, if there is anything I can…" Draco held up a hand, his expression gentling.
"Minerva, what you heard, when I told Goldstein ten minutes ago, that's precisely what I meant." He let the words sit out there until both witches caught on. Minerva looked beyond shock, but Hermione simply grinned.
"No wonder. Oh love, that's cheating, how marvelous!" He nodded to her and gripped the Headmistress hand firmly.
"I will not let anything happen to them, either of them," he said, looking straight into her eyes. She looked surprised for a moment, then relaxed with a small, rather quizzical smile.
"My dear boy, you are rather more like your godfather than you know. Only he and Albus had the talent to convince me that they could actually pull off the fool stunts and impossible missions they took on. Go on, both of you, and send word when you can." Hermione embraced the old woman fiercely before following Draco into the Floo.