"Malfoy, you should go home and get some sleep."
Draco glared over at Harry. "Absolutely not. I'm not sleeping until we find her. You should go home and get some sleep. You look like shit."
"You look like shit, and that's saying something. As to your suggestion, not a bloody chance in hell."
Across the room, Ron snorted. "We all look like shit. And the first person who tells me to sleep will be feeling the full force of the Bat-Bogey hex. You don't want that, trust me. Gin taught me her technique."
Draco made a sound of amusement. "I'm sceptical that such a low-grade hex could be anything more than embarrassing and uncomfortable."
"Trust me, Malfoy," Harry said. "You do not want to catch Ginny's Bat-Bogey hex, and if she's taught Ron her secret, I'd take him seriously."
Hermione had been missing for more than sixteen hours. Despite everyone's efforts, they hadn't been able to find any helpful clues as to who had snatched her, or where she might be. The most they had been able to discern from the Auror-level detection spells Harry and Ron cast was that she'd departed from an apparition point near the Ministry, and landed on the street outside Grimmauld place. A spell had been cast there — similar to a Stupefy, but it appeared to have been modified.
After that, the person or persons had vanished, presumably with Hermione in tow. Not even the strongest tracking charms had been able to detect any identifiable spells or magical signatures. Whoever it was had gone to the trouble of concealing their movements.
Everyone involved in the initial search was currently crammed into one of the Ministry's meeting rooms, hiding from the press and waiting for Minister Shacklebolt to arrive. As morning had dawned with no results, they were forced to declare Hermione officially missing. That day's session had been cancelled, and Hermione's colleagues summoned.
Despite all intentions, the existence of the potion and everything Draco and Hermione had learned was finally going to have to come out. With Hermione having vanished and most likely in danger, the situation had become far bigger than what could be handled quietly. Everyone in the room was aware that heads might roll, and as a worst case scenario, some of them might end up before the Wizengamot themselves, charged with an array of crimes.
The only people who didn't know about the potion or the full scale of what Mercer was involved in were Hermione's colleagues, and they were impatiently waiting for an explanation. Draco, Ron, Harry and the Slytherins had agreed it was better they wait until Kingsley arrived, so they wouldn't have to tell the story more than once.
A commotion outside in the corridor had everyone sitting up, alert and on edge. The door opened and most of the DA swarmed in, shouting and clamouring. Their presence made the already cramped conditions even more dire, and Draco began to think it might be wise to cast an extension charm on the room. If many more bodies filled the limited space, someone was apt to be crushed.
At the front of the group was Seamus, looking furious. "Hermione's been missing since last night and we had to hear it on the bloody wireless?" he said.
Equally incensed and right behind Seamus was Lavender. She spotted Ron and shoved her way through the bodies with barely an apology to anyone. She stopped directly in front of him, glaring fiercely.
"Er… morning, love," Ron said nervously.
"Ronald Weasley!" she said, jabbing him in the chest with a finger. "How could you not call me right away when you found out Hermione was missing?"
"Well, I…" Ron stammered. With people pressed in behind him, he couldn't retreat.
Draco was bemused at her reaction. She seemed to genuinely care about Hermione — a far cry from what she'd thought of her at Hogwarts. He leaned over to Harry.
"I thought Brown and Hermione were rivals?" he said quietly. "Do they get along now?"
"Oh, yeah," Harry replied. "After Hermione and Ron split up, he ended up getting back together with Lavender. Hermione didn't mind and Lavender was just happy to get a second chance with Ron. It was still a bit tense at first between them, but they sorted themselves out and now they're friends."
Another sound at the door prevented Draco from replying. Shacklebolt had arrived at last, with someone behind him that Draco couldn't quite see. Neither man was able to enter comfortably, due to the number of people already in the room.
"I don't suppose I can convince any of you to leave?" Shacklebolt said. He looked incredibly annoyed, but at the same time, resigned — clearly, he already knew what the answer to his question would be.
A volley of heads shook in unison, accompanied by several people saying, "not a bloody chance!"
Shacklebolt sighed and removed his wand from his sleeve. He moved it in a complicated pattern while muttering an incantation. The room expanded significantly, allowing everyone to spread out. Additional chairs were conjured, and the table widened. He entered the room at last, and Draco saw that the person behind him was Robards. The grizzled head Auror wore a thunderous expression.
After the occupants all had a seat and were settled, Shacklebolt turned a roving eye on them all, his gaze lingering on Draco and the twins.
"Explain," was all he said.
Draco exchanged a glance with Fred and George, then the others in the room. This was going to be an interesting, and potentially damning, discussion.
"It all starts with a potion. A wondrous, amazing potion," George began.
"Invented by us, of course," added Fred. "And we needed some people to help us test the prototype."
"I see," Shacklebolt said evenly. "And who were your testers?"
Draco lifted a hand. "That would be myself and Hermione. Perhaps we could have some refreshments for the room, Minister? It's a long story."
Shacklebolt considered for a moment, then nodded. He summoned an elf and made the request, then turned back to Draco expectantly.
Draco took a deep breath and began.
They entered the Ministry atrium and were immediately descended on by a flock of hungry vultures — that is to say, the press.
"Is it true Hermione Granger has been snatched by a new wave of Death Eaters?"
"Has there been a ransom demand?"
"Is she dead or alive?"
"Sources say Hermione Granger is leading the Death Eaters. Care to comment on that?"
The rest of the sizable group had, up until that point, been doing their best to ignore the shouted questions. At that last one, however, they halted almost as one and turned back towards the caller. Draco was not in the least surprised to see it was Rita Skeeter, her bright red lips curved upwards in a smirk.
Her jibe had the desired effect of getting everyone's attention. All around her, the other journalists began to whisper among themselves, as did the members of the public who were there to witness the spectacle.
"What did you say?" Draco hissed.
He knew he shouldn't be responding, shouldn't be giving her the reaction she clearly wanted, but he couldn't help it. The very fact that Skeeter would make such a suggestion was as offensive as it was completely ludicrous.
"Why, didn't you know, Mr Malfoy?" Skeeter said, batting her eyelashes at him innocently. "I have it on good authority that she's been secretly working alongside the Death Eaters all along. In fact, it's speculated that she is the mastermind behind the attack on those poor, unfortunate muggleborn families."
She paused briefly, clearly enjoying the shock and outrage that must have showed on his face, then adjusted her glasses and added, "How are you feeling right now, knowing this about your lover? Betrayed? Horrified? Or perhaps… proud? You were a baby Death Eater yourself, after all."
Something inside Draco snapped. His hand went to his wand. He was going to curse this evil hag so hard she would spend the rest of her miserable days in St. Mungos — that is, if she lived. He was dimly aware the crowd around him was drawing back, that people were uttering gasps and small screams as they retreated. More clearly, he revelled in the way Skeeter's expression morphed from cruel triumph to shock and terror. The way her eyes widened, her mouth dropping open and complexion turning pale.
Before he could utter a spell, however, he found himself disarmed. He spun fiercely, looking for the culprit, and saw Harry holding his wand.
"Give it back, Potter!"
Harry shook his head. "Sorry, mate. Can't have you cursing the most infamous journalist in Wizarding Britain in front of so many witnesses. I'd have to arrest you."
"Thank you… thank you, my dear Mr Potter," Skeeter stammered. She lifted a hand to her forehead and staggered dramatically. "I was sure I was about to be murdered in a dreadfully violent fashion."
"Don't thank me. Don't even speak to me, you abominable woman," Harry snapped. "You're lucky I don't arrest you for that blatant display of defamation."
Pansy pushed her way past Draco, Millie at her heels, and stalked towards Skeeter. "Draco may be without his wand, but we aren't," she said. Looking over her shoulder at Harry, she added, "You can't disarm us all, Potter. We outnumber you significantly."
The Slytherins stepped forward to join her, their expressions grim.
"This.. this is uncalled for," Skeeter said. "It's unsportsmanlike, all of you ganging up on me like this. It's cowardly. But then again—" She sniffed and made a show of trying to be brave. "It's just like a Slytherin to behave in such a manner."
"What a load of shit."
Everyone, spectators and participants alike, turned to see who had spoken. Draco recognised that this was turning into quite a scene, one which had the potential to turn ugly very soon. Part of him didn't care. Part of him wanted to fight.
To his surprise, it was Lavender who stepped forward.
"The snakes are defending Hermione because you're trying to spread rumours about her. Again. Didn't you get your fill during the Triwizard tournament, when you were writing all that crap accusing her of two-timing Harry with Viktor Krum? They're defending her because she's been defending them, even when most of the wizarding community doesn't think they deserve it. She fights for the underdog and the trodden on. She always has."
Lavender kept moving until she was face-to-face with Skeeter. She raised a hand and jabbed the other woman sharply in the chest, with much more force than she had Ron earlier. Skeeter winced and tried to step back, but she was hemmed in by the people behind her.
"Hermione would never join any Death Eater groups, not that there's any evidence to show they're actually back. And she would never attack other muggleborns. I can't believe you would say something so disgusting. It's low even for you." She leaned forward so she could whisper in Skeeter's ear. The atrium was so quiet that her voice carried.
"You're lucky it was Hermione that caught you spying in your beetle form. If it had been me, I wouldn't have stuck you in a jar. I'd have crushed you under my heel."
Skeeter went pale again. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish. She looked around, searching for support, but it seemed support was in short supply. Finally, she seemed to notice Robards.
"Arrest her! Arrest this awful girl, Auror Robards! She threatened to crush me! You heard her!" she said. Her voice was high-pitched and slightly desperate, quite unlike her usual honey-sweet tones.
"Terribly sorry, Ms. Skeeter. I didn't hear it. Too far away. But maybe someone closer to you in the crowd heard and is willing to corroborate your claim?"
Skeeter turned to appeal to the people around her — at least, the ones who didn't include anyone from Draco's group. They all refused to meet her eyes; or shook their heads in negation.
"Well, come on! One of you must have heard her. Step forward and support me!"
Silence continued.
Harry moved over to Draco and handed him back his wand, then looked over at Skeeter. "It looks like no one else heard Lavender say anything about crushing you. Perhaps you were mistaken, Ms Skeeter? It does seem to be a common occurrence with you — being mistaken." His steely gaze was unwavering, and Draco took a moment to appreciate Harry's quiet authority, his ability to command without having to raise his voice or appear threatening.
He'll make one hell of a Head Auror one day, if he stays with the DMLE.
Skeeter looked like she wanted to deny it. Now that the danger had passed, her fear had begun to dissipate, to be replaced by humiliation and anger. She warred with herself briefly, before letting out a growl and turning on her heel. She pushed her way through the crowd and was gone.
"Well, that was interesting," Harry said with a wry smile. He turned to the remaining journalists. "I suggest you don't repeat any of Ms Skeeter's claims. I can assure you, they are completely untrue."
"Is this your official statement, Mr Potter?" one of them asked, sensing an opportunity. He stopped forward with a quill and parchment in hand.
Harry sighed and looked over at Robards, who gave a small nod. Next, he turned to Draco and the others with his brows raised in a silent question.
"You always did like the spotlight, Potter," Draco teased. "It's only fitting that you act as our official spokesman."
"Twat," Harry said with a small smile. He turned back to the eagerly waiting journalists.
"Some time last night, between five thirty and six pm, Hermione Granger went missing. Preliminary investigations indicate she was kidnapped by persons unknown. They have not made themselves known to us and we do not know what their demands, if any, are. We have our best people on the case, and we are confident we'll find her soon, alive and safe."
The journalists' quills scribbled madly as they recorded his words. Harry stood up straighter and adjusted his robes. "I have time for only a few questions, and then we need to get back to the case."
He was instantly bombarded, but took it all with aplomb, offering short, sharp answers that gave nothing away. After several minutes, he called an end to the impromptu conference.
Instantly, as if out of nowhere, several Aurors appeared and began dispersing the crowd of journalists and onlookers. In minutes, the atrium was virtually empty.
Draco, Harry, Ron, the twins and all the others huddled together while Robards watched from close by. He had been accompanied the whole time by Shacklebolt, who hadn't said a word nor drawn attention to himself throughout the whole confrontation. He'd only watched, so silently that one could be forgiven for not having noticed the Minister at all.
"What next?" Draco asked quietly.
"Unfortunately, now that this is an official investigation, there can't be any more of this taking matters into your own hands," Harry said. "I'm sorry, but I'll need to ask all of you to refrain from trying to involve yourselves."
Draco started to object, and he wasn't the only one. Harry held up a hand. "I know you don't like it. And although I completely understand, I really must insist. The last thing we need is for someone to do something that jeopardises the investigation. It could put Hermione at greater risk."
The memory of invading Mercer's mind flitted through Draco's head. "What if we happen to hear something while going about our legal and legitimate business?" he said.
Harry gave him a hard, knowing look. "If you happen to have the amazing good luck to hear something while going about your legal business, then you immediately report it to me, Ron, Auror Robards or the Minister. Do not follow it up on your own. Understood?" His expression said he saw right through Draco's bullshit, and was warning him subtly not to go rogue.
"What about Mercer?" Draco whispered, glancing over towards Robards and Shacklebolt. "You're going to arrest him, right?"
"Not yet." Harry shook his head. "As much as I'd like to go out and grab him right now, we need to conduct proper interviews with everyone involved. You may be asked to provide memories to go with your statements. I would suggest you all stay close by."
Shacklebolt broke away from Robards to approach the group. "You will all be exhausted. There is nothing more any of you can do right now, so I suggest everyone gets some proper sleep. That goes for you too, Mr Potter and Mr Weasley. The DMLE can cope without you for a few hours. Isn't that right, Robards?"
"That's right, Minister."
"Go home. You will be notified if anything changes."
Shacklebolt's tone left no room for disagreement. Slowly and silently, the group shuffled towards the Floos. In ones and twos, they stepped through the green flames, calling out their destinations.
Draco was one of the last to leave. He turned to Harry and Ron, the only other people left in the atrium.
"We have to find her," he said. He hated the naked desperation in his voice, but couldn't help it. He was desperate.
"We will, mate," Harry said.
Ron put his hand on Draco's shoulder. "If it's any consolation, whoever's got her, she'll be giving them hell."
It wasn't any consolation, but Draco appreciated the gesture nonetheless. "Thanks."
He stepped through the flames, calling out his flat. He was bone-tired. And yet, he was certain he would not be able to sleep a wink.