Chapter 22-No need for all this
Ron awoke with a dry mouth and a foul stench permeating his senses. Someone had shoved a foul smelling gag in his mouth and if he wasn't careful he would puke and choke on it. As his eyes adjusted to his surroundings he began to make out a few details. He appeared to be in some kind of warehouse but he had no real notion of where he was. Sadly he had a very clear idea of why he was here even if he didn't know where here was. He knew his life was in danger. He knew he had been disarmed but he wondered if his wandless magic was good enough for him to apparate. Doubtful, he had to concede. He had been splinched before he didn't want to risk it again. He knew if he didn't get out of there quickly at best he could expect a good beating at worst, he would never see his children again and his last words to Hermione…please don't let that be the last thing I ever to say to her, he silently intoned. There had to be a way. Perhaps he could cause a distraction, set fire to something? No, he reevaluated that option; they would likely leave him to burn. Perhaps he could free his hands? He still carried a protean charm in his left jacket pocket, if he could reach it could he summon help?
Harry paced the floor in the drawing room of Malfoy Manor;
"And you have no idea where he might have gone?"
"No!" Draco replied for them both pointedly.
"You were the last people to see him,"
"What are you suggesting?" Draco demanded to know his ire rising.
"Harry you can't think…" Hermione began to intercede,
"You have just been through an acrimonious custody battle with your ex-husband, your lover is a former Death Eater it would be remiss of me to ignore these factors and believe you're beyond suspicion."
"You can't… you've known me since I was eleven years old you can't imagine…he's the father of my children…"
"I couldn't imagine you betraying Ron with Malfoy yet here we are."
Draco bristled with anger at this,
"This is my home Potter," he reminded the dark haired man, "I don't care for what you are insinuating and might I remind you that we alerted you to Weasley's disappearance."
Harry looked at the blond unimpressed as if he would not put anything beyond him.
"Harry James Potter," Hermione rounded on the Auror her hair virtually crackling with magic, "I don't care if you disapprove of my relationship with Draco you will see past it because Ron had many more dangerous enemies than me or Draco and whilst you let your prejudice cloud your judgement Ron's life could be in danger."
Harry didn't deny it. He didn't look the least bit chastened by his assumptions.
"So you say he stormed out of Zabini's offices at what time?"
Hermione tuned out as Draco repeated what he had already told Harry twice. There had to be something she could do, something Ron could do. Nervously she reached for her beaded bag searching for anything that might help. Something warm brushed her fingers. Hermione withdrew the coin she had spelled with the protean charm.
One word appeared; 'warehouse' it wasn't much but it was a start.
"Harry" Hermione held out the charm urgently.
Harry had quickly galvanized the Auror's department into action. It would take considerable man power to search all the warehouses in London; Draco had offered to help much to Harry's surprise. They even called in a few favours with the muggle police force but as the night wore on and they came no closer to finding Ron a pail of dread descended upon Hermione.
The next day with no sign of her ex-husband the media shit storm began. Accusations flew; Molly Weasley's exclusive interview with 'The Prophet' cast suspicion on Hermione and Draco in much the same way as Harry had done. Draco returned home briefly to shower, change and eat something but then he left again clearly invested in finding Ron even if it was only to clear their name.
Rose, Hugo and Scorpius played quietly as if instinctively they knew that the adults would not appreciate any boisterous behavior. Hermione watch Scorpius as he watched Rose his face alight with fascination. It was a moment's distraction Hermione smiled wryly to herself wondering if one day the boy would fall in love with Rose. She could well imagine he might, she had no idea what that might mean but that was for the future now she just prayed that they would find Ron alive.
Draco was about ready to throw the towel in. He had search this warehouse from floor to ceiling. There was nothing here! He had been awake for almost 24 hours and he was tired and footsore. He was rapidly coming to the conclusion that whoever had Weasley really didn't want him found. He sigh and began to turn to apparate away but he arrested his motion when he heard a muffled moan. Draco looked behind him again. As he turned quickly he noted a slight ripple in the air. It was a sure sign of enchantment. Muggle repelling wards and notice me not charms he would guess. Someone had wanted to hide something.
It did not take Draco long to make his way through the enchantments and as they fell they revealed what he had half expected. Weasley, a bloody mess, tied to an upright, his head fallen forward as if he were barely conscious. Draco needed help and fast but he couldn't send up an alert it might draw too much attention. The wrong attention!
As Draco contemplated raising the alarm his reverie was broken by the sound of a door sliding open. Draco realised too late that there was nowhere for him to hide.
Draco quickly calculated his options realising that he needed to attempt a spell that he had never been able to master.
He took a deep breath centring his thoughts and thinking of Hermione:
"Expecto Patronum," he whispered, a silver light emerging from his wand in the form of a shimmering dragon. "Get Potter," he whisper, "bring help."
He barely managed the spell before the intruders were upon them.
"Now what have we here?" a familiar voice asked.
Nott, Draco realised, perhaps he could reason with him, buy some time?
"Theo," Draco acknowledge, "I'm sure there is no need for all this I'm sure we can reach some arrangement."
Nott gave him a rictus grin.
"I don't need your money, Draco, there is nothing you could offer me that would rob me of the pleasure I will take ending you."
Author's note
Sorry for the delay up dating this, hope you are still enjoying it and please review.
