Chapter 5 - The Traitor

Everyone slowly returned having done what they could. Neville and Luna reported nothing out of the ordinary. They actually had to take down the wards to get in. This left Harry wondering how Lucius had gotten into the flat in the first place.

Pansy after conferring with Kingsley and Percy had a long list of names. He couldn't help but think it would have given Hermione a run for her money. Having over a hundred names on the parchment. Pansy had also narrowed it down to about 20 people that had also outwardly threatened Hermione.

Draco, Blaise, and Ron had a few possible locations. Draco having a few more that they didn't since he knew more places and acquaintances that his father might be hiding as a last resort.

Finally Harry turned to Ginny. She had Engorioed the letter to about 100 times its normal size, looking at every word and reading it over and over trying to find something to help. Harry sat next to her placing a kiss atop her head. "How are you doing?" he asked, knowing that she was stressed.

Ginny looked at Harry and sighed. "I wish I could find something, anything to help find her. Its been nearly 24 hours now. What is happening to her?" Ginny whispers the last part almost crying. Harry pulls her close, "I don't know Gin, We will find her I promise." Harry glanced at Draco and he pointed to his wrist and nodded. Harry let out a breath knowing she was still alive made him feel slightly better.

Draco came over and looked at the Letter. Rereading it, he thought he saw something and examined it. He knew deep down that this wasn't truly a goodbye letter. She would have said I love you to him if she thought she wouldn't make it. Whether anyone else knew or not she wouldn't have not said it, he was sure of that. Which actually made him feel better. He knew he would be more worried if she thought she was not going to come out of this. He knew she was counting on them, on him, to save her. Draco reread the words written to him again knowing she was telling him something, she had to be telling him something he thought. I will never, ever admit this aloud but you were right Silver, Green, Gold, Red, Blue, and Yellow Can mix in unity. Keep teaching everyone that your past doesn't define you, but your actions shape your being. Then it hit him, she had told him this exact same thing before. He read it again Keep teaching everyone that your past doesn't define you, but your actions shape your being. Remembering when she had told him this.

*Flashback*

Draco entered the flat after a horrible day. His father had gotten away again and Ron had made some remark that he must have been working with him. He was ready to throw in the towel. Why did he bother to try if no one believed him? He sighed as he poured himself a glass of firewiskey.

The floo activated and Hermione stepped out of the fireplace. "Hey you," she stopped mid sentence seeing him sitting there looking in a foul mood. "Are you alright?" she asked putting her things down and sitting next to him.

Draco just looked at her and shook his head. "No not really, we were so close this time and he got away again" he growled. Hermione nodded "You'll get him, between you and Harry I am sure he won't be out there much longer," she finished looking at him. "That isn't the only thing wrong is it?" she asked.

Draco sighed, she could read him like a book. He smiled at his own thought, of course she could. She lived to read. "Yeah, Weasley made a comment about me being on my fathers side. I know I shouldn't let it bother me. But what else do I need to do to show people that I am not my father. Why bother if they don't believe me" Hermione looked at him, brown eyes meeting stormy grey ones. "Not everyone feels that way. I don't, I haven't in a long time. Don't let other people make you feel less than you are. Keep teaching everyone that your past doesn't define you, but your actions shape your being. You are a wonderful man, Draco Malfoy, I don't want you to forget that. Do you think I would be here right now if I didn't believe that to be true?" She paused for a moment and took a breath. "I love you Draco, don't you dare think of yourself as anything less than the person you are, because if you do than you think less of me." she smiled. It was the first time she had told him she loved him.

Draco looked stunned, this was the first time he had heard those words and wanted to say them back and mean it. He leaned in and kissed her. When he did he felt a spark that he hadn't felt before and he didn't ever want it to end. Reluctantly he pulled away from her leaning his head against hers. "I love you too Hermione" he whispers to her, never having been this nervous to say anything before, not even when talking to the Dark Lord. She smiles at him leaning in to kiss him again, making him forget about everything that had happened that day.

*End Flashback*

He hadn't realized he had spoken out loud until Harry grabbed his attention.

"What was that Malfoy?" Harry asked. "She has said this to me before, so I think this sentence is to get my attention." Draco Replied. "You were right?" Draco spoke again reading the letter in a questioning tone, than he exclaimed, "Potter the R in the word right is smaller than the rest of the letters!"

Ron's head along with the rest of the team sprung up to look at what Draco had noticed.

"And look at the A in the word answers, its the same way." Suddenly Draco was going over her letter with a fine tooth comb circling all of the words that had small letters in them. Ron was getting a little nervous, could she have actually put a message in her letter. Draco wrote the words that had the small letters on a different board.

my, answers, Luna, friends, or, you, may, adventures, no, origins, right

"What the bloody hell does that mean?" Ron asked, very confused. Everyone was trying to figure it out. They moved the words into different phrases and changed the words around. But nothing was making sense. Ron started to relax thinking that there was nothing in the letter and it was all a coincidence that the letters were smaller. Than Pansy spoke, "Draco, can you write the words one on top of another, from the first one you found to the last one?" Draco nodded and did as she requested. He wasn't sure where she was going with this, but he was willing to try anything right now. He knew there was a message and he was determined to figure it out.

my

answers

Luna

friends

or

you

may

adventures

no

origins

right

Neville seemed to have noticed the same thing that Pansy had and took the pen from Draco. He then wrote the first letter of each word down. M...A...L...F...O...Y... M...A...N...O...R. Everyone Froze, Draco's eyes opened in surprise Malfoy Manor? She was in his ancestral home? The place where is was branded by is wicked aunt? That can't be right, that place was one of nightmares, especially for her.

Ron's jaw dropped and he couldn't help but think Hermione was too smart for her own good. He needed to come up with a plan before any of the others found out he was involved. He was about to get up from his chair when Harry spoke, smiling for the first time since the kidnaping. "Nice Job, Ok we need to make a plan…" as Harry started to speak a mist like figure entered the room. It wasn't clear but it had enough features to be recognized as a small animal, Harry thought this Patronus looked extremely weak. A familiar voice rang from the shape, "Traitor among you." Then it vanished.

The room went quite for a moment. Draco's heart sank, was that Hermione? She sounded so tired. He glanced at the bracelet again for what must have been the 394th time and saw it was still red. "Was that Hermione's voice?" Luna asked as everyone started looking around the room.

"I think so?" Neville answered.

Draco started using an advanced form of legilimency, scanning the room. Draco and Harry had become closer while working together. They had learned this advanced technique along with Hermione. Harry was able to learn very quickly with a trainer that wasn't Snape. Usually out of the 3 of them at least two were chosen to do the more expert missions. This training came in handy allowing them to communicate without words. The entire team was trained to do legilimency but not to the extent of communication and as the lead aurors they used it to their advantage.

"Potter?" Harry heard Draco's voice in his head

"Malfoy, I have a few questions?" Harry replied

"As do I, but first, When did I first try to get you in trouble?"

" You challenged to a wizard's duel first year and told Flitch I would be out of bed. When I was at Malfoy Manor how did I steal your wand?"

"You didn't steal it, I let you take it so you could escape. Okay at least we know we haven't been imperiused, but can we be sure neither of us is a traitor?"

"Good point, but do you truly believe I am the traitor?"

"No, Hermione's voice sounded almost confused and that makes me wonder, Do you think I am the traitor?"

"No, So as much as a mistake as this could be, let's say neither of us is the traitor."

"Agreed, by the way, I have been scanning the room and everyone is confused and worried. No one is giving anything away."

"I have been getting the same readings, okay time for some hard ball."

"Hardball?."

"Muggle saying."

"Ok Team." Harry said aloud. "I know that Hermione's message has come as a bit of a shock to everyone, but we need to remain in this room until we get this figured out." A murmur of agreement was heard throughout the room.

"So, how do we figure out who the traitor is?" Pansy asked. "Or if there is even one?" Blaise commented, looking offended like he was being accused.

"I'd be willing to take Veritaserum, it should clear up the matter quickly so we can continue to try and find Hermione." Draco said.

"That would be the fastest way to figure this out, as much as I hate the idea that someone in this room can't be trusted, this is the best course of action. I will have Kingsley bring the Veritaserum" Harry said as he sent his patronus out of the room.

Everyone stared around the room as they waited for Kingsley. Ron was beyond nervous, He didn't know what to do and feared that he was going to get caught. Then he remembered that everyone in the room knew legilimency so he quickly blocked his mind. This was something everyone was taught in Auror training so if they were ever captured they could keep the secrets from the enemy. Everyone knew that Harry, Malfoy, and Hermione had done advance training on the subject and he was not willing to let a wandering mind be his demise.

Kingsley arrived with the Veritaserum, and Ron started to panic. Than it hit him, The drinker is only forced to answer the question directed to them truthfully, but anything said after the initial question has been answered could be a lie. So he just needed his lies to be convincing he thought. As long as the questions weren't too specific then he would be able to pull this off. Everyone was asked the same question "Do you know where Hermione is?" Luna, Neville, Pansy, Blaise, Draco, Ginny, and Harry all answered "No". Even the Minister took some to prove a point. Everyone was now staring at Ron. He gulped and took a sip.

"Do you know where Hermione is?" Kingsley asked Ron.

"Yes." he answered. Everyone continued to stare at Him. He knew what he needed to do. Turning to Harry, Ron said "She told us Mate, in the letter. I don't know why but I really believe that is where she is. So much that the Veritaserum is making me say yes. Do I know for sure she is there? No. But if I know Hermione she is smart enough to get us the message so I really believe that is where she is."

Harry was eyeing Ron when he heard Draco. "Potter, Weasley is using occlumency, everyone else is wondering what the heck is going on. Try another question."

"Okay Ron, let me ask you another question just to be sure... Sorry Mate. Have you seen Hermione since her kidnapping?" Harry asked.

"Yes." Ron answered again. This time Harry raised a brow at him. What the hell was going on? He knew where she was and had seen her? Harry heard muttering around the room. He was watching Ron, when he opened up his wallet. He took A photo of Hermione, Harry and Himself out and handed it to Harry, "I have been looking at this since she was kidnapped, I have been worried about my friend." Draco attempted not to snort, he was not falling for his lies.

Harry heard Draco again. "Potter, he is trying to play you. We should let him think he has tricked us and come up with a plan on how to deal with him. He is the only one lying to cover his answers. I know he is your best mate but I really think it is him. Would you or anyone else ever think Weasley would or could do this? Please Harry, believe me."

Hearing Draco call him Harry shocked him a bit. Draco rarely called anyone by their first name. He knew Draco was right because he felt the same way. Harry was very upset when he spoke. "Ok, I get it, I miss her too." Harry turned to the rest of the team. "Maybe Hermione was wrong, tricked, or maybe the abductor made her send the Patronus to get us off guard. Her voice sounded off, Whatever the case may be, I do not think we have a traitor here. With that being said everyone take a break for let's say an hour while I pull the blueprints of the Manor." Harry finished. With a nod everyone left the room.

Not five minutes later everyone except Ron had returned with Draco. "Take a seat," Harry said. Everyone did and looked at him curiously.

"What is going on Harry?" Neville asked.

"Hermione was right about the traitor." Harry said.

"When is she not right?" Ginny asked. A small laugh went around the room.

"Ron is the traitor?" Luna asked, bringing everyone back to the issue at hand.

"Yes, I didn't want him to know that I figured it out, so I let him think I believed him. This is not easy for me so I need your help. We need to come up with a plan, any ideas?" Harry asked

"I think I have one, but you will not like it, Potter" Zabini said.

"I am not going to like any ideas involving Ron, Blaise, so what is it?" Harry answered.

"We need to catch him off guard. I never figured him to be very smart but he was able to kidnap Hermione. And is working with Lucius who is dangerous in his own right. He confirmed that she is in Malfoy Manor but we don't know what he has done to her or the Manor itself. I think we should let him lead us to her so he doesn't get suspicious and stun him once he is distracted" Blaise said.

"We have to be extra careful with letting him do that, who knows if he has placed traps for us. He may want to play the hero to try and win her back. I don't think he ever truly let her go." Pansy said and everyone nodded in agreement.

"Alright, I will go and get the maps," Draco said a bit of a bite to his voice. He was not happy about the possibility that Weasley would do this to try and get Hermione back. Could this truly be the reason he helped his father?

"Harry, Ron has always been the strategist because of how well he can see the whole board, just like in chess. We should have him do his normal planning process or he will wonder why we didn't involve him and he might become suspicious." Ginny said.

"Good Idea, Gin." Pansy acknowledged.

"Alright, So we will act like nothing's wrong and take him into custody when it is safe to do so. Now that we have a plan let's go and take a break. It's been a long few hours, and it sounds like it is only going to get longer" Harry said. Everyone nodded and left the room. Harry stood looking at the letter for a moment. I am sorry Hermione, he thought. "I will get you back safe, don't give up on me. I can't believe Ron has done this" He whispered and let a single tear fall rolling down his cheek. This was the first time he had a moment to be scared, worried, angry, and every other emotion that you could think of. He took this moment to release them all since no one was around. He turned from the letter and walked out of the room, dreading what was to come.

Hermione's POV

Hermione was awoken by a sharp pain and realized she was being kicked in the ribs. "You... stupid... Mud...blood..., you... think... you're... so... smart..." Ron Yelled, kicking her with each word. Hermione looked up at him. "Stop it! Why are you doing this?" She screamed. He stopped and looked at her with cold eyes. Now remembering he had erased some of her memory, he asked "What do you remember?" Hermione had never seen Ron like this, nothing there, there was no emotion in his eyes or voice. It was almost like he had no feelings whatsoever. For the first time in her life she was actually scared of Ronald Weasley and desperately wished she had her wand.

"I asked you, what do you remember?" Ron said again with his voice as cold as ice. She needed to stall, to figure this out. She decided to tell him what she remembered so that way she could process what was going on aloud herself. "I was taken for my home by Lucius Malfoy, He had me write a letter to say my goodbyes, I think something has happened to my memories. They are fuzzy almost as if they aren't real, and then the next thing I know you are kicking me." She finished

Ron stared at her. He had forgotten just how smart she actually was. He knew she was smart but to realize someone had messed with her memory slightly impressed him. "Very good, you know we found the hidden message in your letter. And we are working on a plan to come and save you" He grinned.

Hermione became worried, she had seen that face before. When he would interrogate a caught Death Eater with unspeakable means. "Now that was clever, your boyfriend spent hours looking at the damn message sure there was something there. I thought he had gone completely mad. But no he found it, Malfoy Manor in black and white. So now that you have the team working on a rescue mission, what am I going to do about that? I could kill you, Move you, put traps around so that they could die trying to get to you, very tempting that one. I wonder if I could trick lover boy?, or maybe I will just do something a bit more drastic? Hmmm… What do you think Hermione?" Ron asked.

Hermione's mind was racing. She would be lying if she said she wasn't afraid of dying, but being Harry Potter's best friend and an auror the possibility of dying came with the territory. She had worked almost her entire life staying alive and keeping the others alive as well. But she wasn't worth dying for, she hoped Ron wouldn't kill anyone while they tried to find her. Moving her could be an option but then she would never be found and they, Harry, Draco, and the others would never stop looking for her. A loss cause that would drive them insane. And she didn't want to know what drastic measures Ron would take to keep her quiet. So she really only had one option. "Kill me" She said aloud, thinking that at least they would find her and be able to move on. Ron shook his head. "Really, that would be too easy and not nearly as satisfying. Seeing Harry and your dear ferret standing by, not able to do anything to help you. No, I think I like this plan better." With that she was hit by a nonverbal spell.

She felt herself laying on the floor. She was unable to move but her body wasn't stiff so she hadn't been stupefied. She was able to hear what was going on around her but she wasn't able to open her eyes. She didn't know what Ron had hit her with but she really didn't like it.

"Aw Lucius, come and see what your wonderful spell did to the brains of the golden trio." She heard Ron say. Then she heard footsteps and she assumed they were Lucius'. "I must return, it is almost time but before I go. I just want to make sure that she can hear everything and yet do nothing about it?" Ron said with a bit of giddiness in his voice. "According to legend that is correct," Lucius answered. "Perfect, Have you figured out how you are going to get your son? It is truly a shame that we can't kill him, it would make things easier. But when are prophecies ever easy?" Ron asked. "Yes, I have a plan for my son and we are ready to retrieve the Prophecy. Today should be as good a time as any. Once they retrieve Miss Granger then their defenses will be distracted." Lucius stated. "I Agree." She heard Ron say. Then he heard him step closer to her. " O and Hermione, no more funny business or I will make your life and everyone you care about, lives a living nightmare and you will be able to do nothing to stop me." He said laughing as he exited the room. Lucius must have gone as well because she heard no other sounds in the room.

Hermione's mind was still racing and now went into overdrive. A Prophecy? An unknown spell? Argh she thought to herself. She couldn't move and didn't know what was going on. And then it hit her, Ron had prevented her from doing what she did best, solve problems, this was torture. She would figure out how to break this spell and when she did the next thing she was going to break would be his neck.