Chapter 15

Susan stood in front of the group with tears in her eyes. She was gripping the chair in front of her so hard her knuckles were white. Ron and Neville both stared at the table with a mix of fury and distraught written on their faces. Hermione had her hands in her face not able to look at anyone. The others were all in a shocked silence.

Tracey was the first to speak, "Will Harry step down?"

No one answered her for a few moments, but then Susan spoke, "I don't know. If it were random people I think it's possible, but this is personal, and as a general policy we don't negotiate with terrorists. I can assure you this though...If Harry finds this person there won't be any taking him in alive...I could feel his fury. I had never felt Harry's anger so vividly before."

Neville spoke quietly, "I have. When Sirius died. It was so powerful I felt like I was choking on it, and that was before he really came into his abilities."

Ron nodded, "When he found out about Collin he was angrier than I had ever seen him. I'd seen him defeated, mad, depressed, and moody, but never had I seen him so furious. I pity this person if Harry gets his hands on him."

"If I don't get to him first." Neville spat angrily.

Daphne recoiled at the bite in the man's tone. This was the Gryffindor that dark wizards feared after the war. The man who stood by Harry Potter's side, and laid waste to what was left of the Death Eaters' forces. Daphne then asked, "What happens next?"

Hermione answered that through a choked voice, "We bury Seamus. Harry will pay his respects to his family personally since he was a friend. The rest of us will go to the family as well tomorrow to do the same. As for when Harry is done with Seamus' family I would guess he goes to speak with Kingsley to see what the Minister wants to do. Being as noble as he is, I am certain he will at least offer his resignation, and see what Kingsley wants to do about the lethal force initiative."

Hannah spoke next, "Is it really worth keeping the lethal force initiative around anyways? We have been speaking for the last month that the Death Eater movement might finally be over. Maybe it is time to let that one go for the sake of the people."

Ron disagreed, "It's not really about giving into that particular demand though. If we give this lunatic one thing, what's to stop him from sending us another body and demanding something else?"

It was hard to refute that, but Daphne was thinking of something else, "The message he left for Harry about killing a loved one. Any ideas who that could be?"

Susan shrugged, "I don't mean to be abrasive, but Harry has killed many in his path of the war, and more in fallout in these supposed peacetimes. It could be a lot of angry relatives."

Tracey however broke her silence, "Did he kill Theo? Does Tiberius Nott actually fall into the possible suspect list still?"

That was a good question Daphne thought, and by the look on the others' faces they were considering it. Most were looking at Ron and Hermione to answer even Susan and Neville. Hermione bit her lip wiping at her eyes, "I don't know. He wasn't in the room of requirements skirmish, and if he did it would've been in the heat of battle on the grounds. There is no way anyone would've been able to link him to that."

Ron shook his head, "I think Kingsley actually took down Nott Sr in the astronomy tower in the early hours of the fighting, but I would have to ask him or dad. They were holding that area with Dean…"

The name of Seamus Finnegans best friend seemed to echo through the room. Neville immediately stood to his feet, "Ron we should go deliver the news to him. No one else should break that to Dean. We owe it to him."

Ron looked uncomfortable, "Shouldn't we wait for Harry?"

Neville shook his head, "This could be a special edition Daily Prophet in a matter of hours. Will someone stick around to tell Harry that's where we went?"

Hannah took the man's hand and promised she would as the two took deep breaths. Ron kissed Hermione on the cheek, while Neville did the same for Hannah as they departed the room.

A silence overtook the women in the room for a bit, before Daphne asked, "What should we do after work tonight? Come back here?"

Susan confirmed her thoughts right away, "It would be the safest thing to do. This killer has made his abilities to get at any of us clear. I think it would be best to continue returning to Potter Manor for the time being. We will catch this man, and bring him down. Then we will pump him with so much veritaserum that he will sing the secrets of how he got through all our wards. Not to mention the enchantments at the Ministry."

Hannah shook her head, "This is insane. Seamus could be an ass, but he still fought with us in the war. Other than being a womanizer the man was just as much a quintessential Gryffindor as the others. Not to mention that he was on the special auror team. He was no slouch in magical combat, and whoever did this-"

"Didn't necessarily try to take him in a straight fight." Daphne interrupted.

Hannah flinched at Daphne's voice, but Tracey agreed, "Even seeing only a little of what Finnegan could do I have to agree with Daphne. This had to have been a stealthy attack or the amount of noise he could've caused in the process of his capture would've been enough to get local law enforcement's attention. Susan didn't you say you guys went by his house too?"

Susan seemed to think about this, but confirmed it, "That's right. No signs of a struggle."

Hermione pinched the bridge of her nose, "Another sign that our wards aren't working. Seamus comes into his home thinking he is safe, and is likely taken out from behind. This is very bad."

Susan however disagreed, "Seamus did not come to me about his wards. I am sure they were powerful, but there were definitely no detection charms that would go to other people or something like we put for all of us. He was private, and he had a lot of...different visitors. He had it that way for a reason. I don't believe it is a coincidence this person went after Seamus first. He was likely one of the easiest targets that would get Harry's attention."

"Maybe Harry is right then. It may not be some magical artifact passing people through wards, it could be blood magic. Seamus goes out a lot, and that accident could've happened anywhere. Also if Tibierus Nott is really behind this then he could've nicked Harry yesterday afternoon. This could just be a very elaborate well executed plan to keep us off his real trail." Daphne said in deep thought.

A long moment of silence passed before Tracey asked, "The only question left is who's next then?"

The question hung in the air for several moments, but no one answered.

Scene Break

It was hard to focus on work the next evening. Daphne found herself glancing at the front page article of the Daily Prophet more often than she would like to admit. It was a gruesome, but not entirely inaccurate piece, but having known the man in passing the young healer still found it distasteful. Many people across the country who had known this young auror, would be devastated by the news, and Daphne found it untactful that the Prophet hadn't even waited a day. The only bright side to the rush article was that clearly the writers at the prophet didn't take into account how such a thing could've happened. They didn't speculate where the man might have been taken from, because if they had the country would likely be in a panic realizing they may not be safe behind their wards.

The evening stretched on, and it was mostly quiet until around 2am. Tracey and Daphne were speaking quietly about possible funeral arrangements that would follow in the wake of Seamus' death. It was a hollow topic, and Tracey herself was immensely shaken up, "I just don't understand how this could have happened. You saw his fight with Harry without a wand, and he has been in a constant state of fighting for the last six years if you count our seventh year at Hogwarts. Sneaking up on someone like that could not have been simple."

"Maybe they didn't sneak up on him. He could've been poisoned, or drugged." Daphne said ominously.

Tracey shivered, "Susan said that the man on the tape claimed to have given him a chance. What do you think that means?"

"It is unlikely but possible that this man fought with him in some way. I am sure if that is the case the fight was anything but fair. Or it could've been a trivia challenge for all we know. There is so much we don't know at this point." Daphne said looking disturbed as she glanced towards the window.

Both girls were exhausted from the lack of sleep from the night before. Daphne knew she couldn't have looked much better than Tracey. The bags under her eyes were so heavy she knew it must've been visible. Had there been another healer on duty that evening she would have certainly considered calling in, but with Millicents mom filling in on the day shift again it just wasn't an option. That meant the only way the two young ladies were staying awake was by keeping conversation, regardless of the fact that they wished to speak of anything but the death of the auror.

"I just can't believe that this monster thinks this is some type of game. Every time he has addressed someone he says he wants to play. What kind of person does something sick like that?"

Before Daphne could answer her rhetoric the chime of the elevator broke her thoughts. Both girls' eyes shot to the doors wands already in hand half expecting the head healer to be checking on them, but instead a smaller statured pale skinned man stepped out holding his side with one hand. His cloak was darker in color and his hairline was receding far enough that Daphne guessed the man was likely in his fifties of sixties. Tracey frowned standing up, "Good evening sir, something we can help you with?"

The man stared at Tracey for a long moment. Much longer than what would've been polite, so Daphne stood, and when the man's eyes shifted to her they seemed to change interest, "Yes…" Daphne felt alarms going off in her head, but simply asked, "Sir are you okay?"

The man showed no emotion, and his long silences made Daphne's stomach turn, but finally he found his words, "A spell rebounded on me earlier. My head doesn't seem to want to stay on tonight."

Daphne and Tracey exchanged looks. The first odd thing about the encounter was that he came in holding his side as if that were his injury. His words about his head not being on right also seemed off. The man was obviously foreign by the accent that he spoke with. His clothes did not speak of rich or poor as they were very generic cosmetically. Trying to remain professional neither said a word to the other while Tracey took a clipboard, and stepped from behind the desk, "Well follow me sir we will get you looked at, and checked in."

The man slowly followed Tracey as she made her way down the hallway, and Daphne kept an eye on the pair as they were about to enter an unoccupied room. Just as the man was about to enter he locked eyes with the young healer, and gave her a wicked smirk that sent a chill down her back.

The two were out of sight now, and Daphne fought the instinct to run down the hall after her friend. Fought the instinct to jump in the Floo Network down the hall, and call for the aurors. She thought she might have just been paranoid after everything that had been going on, but the look the man had given her made every hair on the back of her neck stand. With no further thoughts passing through her mind she began quickly walking down the hall to go ahead and start her evaluation of the man, and more importantly to keep an eye on Tracey.

When she pushed her way through the door her blood ran cold. They were gone. There was no one there. The room was completely empty save for a tape on the undisturbed hospital bed. Her heart was racing, but she jumped to the tape, fumbling it in her hands trying to hear her message.

"Hello Healer Greengrass. We meet again. You may have noticed, but your friend, Ms. Davis is no longer with you, and she may never be with you again if you do not follow the rules to the coming game. I have taken Ms. Davis to a location where she will have a chance to play her own game for the right to see tomorrow. It will test her very will to live, and if she is successful I swear to you that you will see your friend again." Daphne felt angry hot tears spilling down her face as the sinister voice spoke, "Both of you are guilty of your own crimes. Betraying the cause of your magical ancestors in the dying moments of the last war, and striking your own down has gone unpunished long enough. It may not yet be time for your game Healer Greengrass, but I assure you the day is coming. Until then you must notify the aurors of your missing person, and I shall do the rest. We will be in touch. Let the games begin."

When the voice stopped the recorder fell out of her hand. She wanted to sob. She wanted to curl up into a ball, and pray for her friend. She wanted to go find her friend, and help her. But the only thing she could bring herself to do was play the game. She stumbled out of the room, and began running as fast as her legs would carry her to the Floo Network at the end of the hall. It was the only security feature set up for staff on this level, and she begged her own mind that she was in some type of dream. Praying that nothing horrible had happened to her best friend.

She reached for the jar that had the floo powder, hands shaking, and tossed it into the fireplace calling for the Aurors office. A young woman came in from the otherside saying, "Auror department, how may I assist you?"

Daphne choked out, "A man entered the spell damage ward at Saint Mungos, and took my friend. I am the healer on duty, and she was the receptionist. She went to check him in, and they vanished."

Daphne could tell the woman was frowning, "Please calm down healer. Have you checked the entire area? The bathrooms? The empty rooms?"

The young healer wanted to scream at the dispatch woman, "Yes I checked everywhere. Please I am friends with Harry Potter. Tell him that Tracey Davis has been taken, and that another tape has been found."

The woman's countenance changed at the name of her boss, and again at the mention of a tape, "I understand ma'am tell me your name, and I will get you help immediately."

"Daphne Greengrass. Please, I don't know how much time we have." She begged.

The auror disappeared out of the fire, and Daphne's next call was downstairs to tell them there had been an abduction. Before she knew it Smethwyck was coming through the elevator looking very disturbed. He came over to the young healer placing a hand on her shoulder asking her if she was okay. She couldn't even get the words out as she embraced the man just needing to hold onto someone before her legs gave out.

Thankfully it didn't take long for the aurors to arrive, and with them was none other than Harry Potter. When he entered Daphne shot towards him and embraced him sobbing, "He took her Harry. He left me a message, and said that she had to play a game for her right to survive."

Harry took the hug, and clearly tried to absorb the words she was saying. He forced the separation between them, looking her in the eyes, "We are here to help Daphne, and I am going to find Tracey I promise, but I need you to tell me everything. Don't leave anything out. From the time the man exited the elevator to the time I walked in the door. Susan is leading a team out in the field checking every Death Eater safe house, and sympathizer we can think of. Kingsley gave the no knock warrant a few hours ago for Tiberius Nott, and we are going to find him, and Tracey."

Daphne choked her way through the story of the strange plain man entering the spell damage ward in his dark robes. She explained the uneasy presence the two girls felt as they followed normal procedure and attempted to get him checked into a room, and then she played him the tape that she had found.

When he was caught up Harry's eyes were hard, "I have to ask if you have received any other instructions from this man. Maybe even something he specifically asked you not to share with anyone."

Daphne shook her head, but Harry grabbed her by both arms, "Daphne please if there is anything else we have hours to find Tracey, and I don't know enough about these games that are being played, but if Seamus is any indicator then its not exactly a game of chess they are playing. Now please, is there anything else you can think of or need to tell me? The voice said that you were meeting again. What could he mean by that? Do you have any idea who could be doing this?"

The blonde girl's eyes were filled with fear, and she tried to search for answers to the man's questions, but nothing came to mind. She shook her head, and Harry nodded, "Grab your things we need to get you out of here, and take you into protective custody. Our abductor made it clear that he wants you in these games, and we have to make sure you are not too easy of a target. Are there any healers that can take your place tonight?"

That next question was really aimed over her shoulder, and Hippocrates Smethwyck answered, "Healer Bulstrode is coming in, and I can hold things down until she arrives."

Harry nodded at the man, "I will have a team of unspeakables coming through here shortly. They are going to try and figure out how whoever did this passed through the anti apparition and anti portkey wards. Please help them in any way you can. I believe we are on the clock, and we have to move quickly if we are going to save Ms. Davis' life."

The healer in charge promised his cooperation, and Harry gave the man a nod, placed a hand on Daphne's back, and gently pushed her towards the elevator. When they entered they were alone, and he immediately began talking, "I need to take you somewhere safe. Potter Manor is undefended with everyone out looking for Tracey. It needs to be somewhere that enough people will be around to keep you safe."

Daphne thought for a moment as the elevator approached the bottom, "Malfoy Manor. Draco, my sister, and Narcissa Malfoy, will all be there, and they have quite a few elves around the place. My mother lives alone, and all my other friends will be out searching for Tracey, and I think I should be too."

Harry shook his head, "It could be a part of the trap. Whoever is doing this may be counting on you going out to look for her. We need you out of the way so we can focus our numbers looking for Tracey. Trust me this is our best shot. We can judge my actions tomorrow with hindsight, but right now this is the play and we have to see how it goes. As for taking you to Malfoy Manor...I wish there were a better option, but even I have to admit that Malfoy is competent with a wand, and the house would be difficult to navigate even if someone knew you were there."

The elevator door opened, and Harry wrapped a hand through her elbow, and walked her through the lobby quickly, and as they were about to walk out a shrewd female voice came from behind, "Unhand her!"

Daphne whirled around to see Gretchen Bullstrode storming towards them wand in hand. Harry stepped protectively in front of Daphne, "Ma'am drop your wand."

The woman came within ten feet of Harry before he waved his hand through the air, easily disarming the witch before him, but as soon as he did the woman screeched, "How dare you! You cannot take this young woman! Her family is on the Wizengamot and will ruin you for laying a hand on her Potter. I demand you release her at once."

Harry crossed his arms with a look of fury, "You forget Madame Bulstrode that my family also holds a seat on the Wizengamot, so if you address me it will be as Lord Potter. Now as I am acting in my duties as Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement I am taking this woman into protective custody as there has been a threat on her life."

The woman recoiled as if she had been slapped, "A threat on her life?"

Daphne stepped forward to stand face to face with the woman who had taken her through the apprenticeship program, "Tracey was taken. They left a message for me saying that I would basically be next. Lord Potter is taking me to my family."

She could visibly see Harry tense next to her at the offered information, but he said nothing as Healer Bulstrode looked from one to the other, "This doesn't seem right. You're a-"

"A what ma'am? A pureblood? You think that just because her family history is etched into the foundation of this country it protects her from the hands of another murdering lunatic? Ask the pureblood Death Eaters in Azkaban how well that worked for them." The silence that followed was palpable, and Harry was clearly fuming mad, "Now Madame we will be leaving, and if you get in my way again I will have you arrested for tampering with a witness in protective custody, something I assure you the Minister and the Wizengamot will convict you of."

With that Harry put an arm on Daphne's and took her over to the disapparation point, "Can you take us through the wards?"

Daphne shook her head, "No we will have to apparate to the front gates."

The man nodded as he tightened the grip on her arm, and the two disappeared.

(A/N) Tracey has been taken! DUN DUN DUN. Draco and Harry reunite in the next chapter, and we will learn the true fate of Seamus, and possibly even Tracey next week. This story's momentum is starting to slow down quite a bit, so possibly in the coming weeks we will go to every other week on our updates. I just finished up Chapter 24, but I am not turning out chapters as quickly as I'd like as interest begins to drop.

I have a new story out today called The Cost of Freedom, and updates will be super slow for that one as it's more of a side project behind Rise of House Neptune, and of course this story is my priority.

The story is going to be a PercyXCalypso story in the Avengers Universe. It's going to take place after the events of The Lost Hero, but Percy will not have participated in the Giants War, so if you like Percy Jackson give that a try.

As for the future of The Survivors. I am coming to a close of what may be considered Part 1. I am currently debating whether I want to break it into a second story, or make this one super long story, so please leave me your thoughts and suggestions on that.

Cheers, and see you all next Wednesday.