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Chapter 4 - Questions

Harry sat at his desk looking through everything he had on the Lucius Malfoy case. Properties, business, associates, and anything else he could get his hands on. He wasn't having much luck. Nothing new was popping out at him and he was beginning to get frustrated. Hermione's life depended on him and he couldn't do anything about it. He started to recount what she had told him in her letter. Remember you may not have all the answers but you are smarter than you realize. Your heart and instincts are your best weapon and don't ever forget that. "Hermione where are you?" he asked himself out loud.

Another thing that was bothering him and certainly wasn't helping the situation, was Ron. He had lost his temper worse than any other time Harry had known him. True Harry had been shocked at the news but the rage that Ron showed was dangerous. And the fact the Draco Malfoy knew what had happened between Ron and Hermione ate away at him. Harry had never pushed Ron or Hermione to tell him the reason of their broken engagement. Harry took a moment to let his mind wonder back to the one and only time it was even remotely discussed, trying to see if he had missed anything.

*Flashback*

Harry walked into the Leaky Cauldron. He had received an urgent owl from Tom the barkeep asking for him to retrieve Ron. "Hello Tom," Harry said as he entered the pub. Tom looked up briefly and pointed "He's over there, 3rd stool from the end," Tom said as he brought his attention back to the customer in front of him. Harry walked around the bar and sat in the open seat next to Ron.

"Hey Ron," Harry greeted his best friend. Ron just looked at Harry for a moment.

"I am surprised you're speaking to me," Ron Said hiccupping. Harry raised his brow at the comment.

"Why is that?" Harry asked. Ron looked confused and took another shot of firewhiskey. Harry noticed that the bottle was nearly empty and wondered how full it was at the start of Ron's night.

"I would have thou…" Ron stopped mid sentence shaking his head, then continued "Did Hermione tell you what happened?" Ron asked his eyes out of focus.

"No not really, She said that you and her decided to end things but nothing else," Harry answered. Ron looked relieved and took another shot of firewhiskey.

"Look Harry, I *hiccup* did something I can never take back. She is never going to forgive me and I can't blame her. It's all my fault I was stupid," Ron's words were slurred. Harry watched him slowly lose the ability to hold his head up. Harry tried to move quick enough to catch him but he faded faster than Harry thought he would and his head slumped, hitting the counter top in front of him, completely passed out. Harry just shook his head and took his best friend to his place for the night.

*End Flashback*

Ron said nothing about it the next day and Ron and Hermione's friendship went back to how it was at Hogwarts, with a bit of strain. Harry had guessed they just weren't meant to be and left them to their own devices. He wondered if he should ask Ron what happened after this was over.

Harry having taken to much time, going down memory lane, went back to his task. Desperately wishing Hermione was with him. If the roles where reversed she would already have a hundred possible places by now. "I'll find you Hermione, I promise" Harry whispered to himself and dug in to his word again, determined to get his friend back.

Hermione's POV

Hermione stirred from her unconsciousness. The Curcio curse still was a hard curse for her to shake. Having it done to her at such a young age in one of the worse ways possible. She wasn't sure how long she had been out. She looked around the room trying to gage any source of time, unfortunately there wasn't one. She shifted so she could sit up, when suddenly her eyes went dark. Had she just gone blind? She heard someone chuckle somewhere off in the corner. Her senses were in overdrive having lost the use of one of them.

A voice began to speak. " I don't have a lot of time. I just wanted to stop by and see how she was doing," Hermione's insides twisted she knew that voice. "She is fine for now," Lucius answered the other person. "I have her in the drawing room as you requested." That is when she heard the door open and footsteps coming toward her. The steps echoed in her ear, tap, tap, tap… becoming louder as they came closer.

"Hello Hermione," the voice was right above her. "Hello Ronald!" she said through gritted teeth, suddenly able to see again. "I am flattered Mione, by your overwhelming joy at seeing me. I would have thought you would be running to my arms as your rescuer," Ron said with a very evil grin on his face. "I would, if you weren't working with Lucius" She snapped back.

Ron turned to Lucius "You have most certainly pissed the Mudblood off, good for you. By the way Lucius we may have a bit of a problem. It appears your son has been in a relationship with this thing for a while, he says he is in love with her." Hermione's heart started beating faster, how did he know that? Damnit Draco! How am I supposed to protect you now? she thought.

"Ha Malfoy, seriously Ron, where ever did you get that idea?" Hermione said grabbing his attention. Ron smirked and squatted down so he was face to face with her, looking her dead in the eyes. His eyes caught her attention. They where emotionless, as if he hadn't been happy in years. I mean everyone had a hard time after the war, but those eyes were not the Ronald Weasley eyes that she had grown up knowing, they were not her friends eyes.

"O Hermione, don't treat me as if I don't know what I am talking about. We aren't in school where you are teaching a pathetic loser how to float a feather. I know you two are an item because he told everyone in the Bloody office!" Ron was starting to lose his cool and yelled out the last few words. She had dumped him which he understood why, but to go for the enemy was unacceptable. Hermione just looked at him "Why are you doing this Ron?" she asked. "Because, you deserve it. You stopped me from having everything I wanted, now its time for me to return the favor."

Ron got up and turned back to Lucius. "I haven't found it yet but I'll get it soon enough. They are still putting things back together form our last encounter in the room. You'll need to do something about your son, with this new development, is your plan still workable?" Ron asked. Hermione saw Lucius nod. Ron was being very vague but she gathered a few pieces of information from the conversation.

"Excellent" Ron said looking at Hermione again. "I'll see you soon I imagine, or not," With that he waved his wand and Hermione fell into a heap on the floor. Ron looked at Lucius "Her memories are being erased, we can't have her remembering I was here," he said. Lucius laughed "I never thought I say this but I like you plan Weasley," And with that they both left the room.

Hermione groaned as she found herself waking up on the floor again. She was getting tired of all these blackout. She felt funny like her mind was playing tricks on her. She recalled feeling like this before, when she had come back from a mission in Moscow and Kingsley had erased some of her memories. They weren't obliviated, as that was imprecise magic and it could erase more than the intended memories. She started to panic, knowing that once the spell was done she would faint again as the mind would need time to recuperate. She quickly recounted everything she could. Lucius kidnapped her, someone she knew was helping him, they knew about Draco and he was in trouble too, Who was helping him? It was getting harder and harder to think. She had to do something now, she was starting to feel woozy, wondering what she was trying to do again. Right! Someone she knew was helping Lucius. She conjured all of her magic and her happy thoughts "Expecto Patronum!" A shadow of something formed almost misty like. Who should she send a message too, Harry, Harry would know what to do. Wait was he the person she was trying to warn about? It was getting harder to think, she needed to trust her instincts, Harry wouldn't have done this to her, making her decision she looked at the mist. "Tell Harry" she said whispering the rest of the message to the shape than she collapsed on the floor. Her mind shutting down and hoping that whatever she had just done would be enough.