Chapter 10: A Double Act.

Draco Malfoy walked up and down his study, clearly very frustrated. Just over two weeks ago, the Quidditch Tournament had taken place and his nemesis had escaped just when he had him in his grasp. Now with the rewards he had offered, and of the thousands of volunteers, no one had returned with any sight of the requested people. Draco took a large gulp of the brandy sitting on his desk. He crossed his arms and looked past out the window. Giving the woods a cold glare. They were there, somewhere amongst those lush green trees. He knew it. But knowing Potter, he had probably had some spell of his cast over that area. 'Damn him!' Draco thought angrily. Potter always angered him, in every way. Draco turned and sat on his desk. On it lay an open diary. The Malfoy-Granger wedding was supposed to take place in two days. But with Hermione still missing, there would most definitely not be a wedding. Draco slammed his diary shut. Stupid betrothment. He hated the idea of having to marry that 'mudblood.' But it was his parents wishes and he needed to be married to fully own Malfoy Manor. 'I hate you Potter.'

"Master Malfoy! Mr Nott has arrived to speak with you!" said a voice in his room.

"Let him in," Draco replied.

The door opened and a short man with black robes entered. Draco turned to face the smaller man, who had a rat-like face and large grey eyes.

"Master Malfoy, I come bearing good news, I have found the hideout where the villagers stay at," he said in a low voice, which sounded unatural for such a small man. This immediately got Draco's attention.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positive master."

"How did you find it, when so many failed." Draco asked curiously. The smaller man sighed and then started to speak.

"As you may know, I am an animagi. I turn into a squirrel. When I searching for them, I heard the voices of the stupid Weasley twins. I followed the sound of their voices as a squirrel. They moved very fast but I followed them. I couldn't capture them as I was out-numbered. I followed them all day and they eventually led me to a place just about 100 miles north of here. They live a small enchanted village of Tir-nan-Og, owned by the faeries." He said.

"Very impressive Nott. However, I will only pay you until, we have them captured."

"Then I suggest that you send some of your men with me to capture them, tonight," Nott said. Draco smirked.

"Alright then. I will let you have 100 of my best men to capture them. Bring them straight back here," Draco informed him.

"Yes master," said Nott.

Later that evening, Harry started to get ready for his night robbery. Ron knocked at the door to his room and entered when Harry smiled up at him.

"You know, you go there every single night and never find that will. Maybe Malfoy doesn't keep it in the manor," Ron suggested.

"Oh, he keeps it there, he'd never want it out of his sight," Harry said.

"Well, how about your ol' bud Ron comes with you to find that will," Ron said. Harry shook his head.

"Sorry Ron. Can't risk you getting captured. Remember, there's 100 Galleons for anyone who finds you," Harry said, while sorting his things.

"And you remember there's 1000 Galleons on you captured!" Ron retorted at his good-naturedly.

"I know." Harry stated.

"Oh come on Harry! I'll search one wing, you can search another wing for the will!" Ron started to say.

"But…"

"No buts! I'm going to go help you!" Ron said, in a final tone. Harry sighed in defeat.

"Ok! But you take the invisibility cloak when you go!" Harry said.

"Fine with me. It's nice to know I'm so loved," Ron smirked and left. Harry just chuckled and continued to sort his things. He'd find Ron at around about midnight.

That night, Harry and Ron left on the Firebolt, heading for Malfoy Manor. They soared in into the twinkling sky, waving at the few villagers awake at that time. They flew in silence for a few good minutes, slowly reaching their destination.

Meanwhile, in Malfoy Manor, exactly 100 guards – which included Ministry Wizards and Witches – were walking quietly through the forest, following a tiny black robed figure. They walked quickly and quietly, as the retraced the path taken to the Faerie Village.

Harry and Ron landed in the shadows if the garden, and crept inside silently. They both walked under the invisibility cloak and rather awkwardly. They reached the main staircase and as usual, two guards were at the bottom of the staircase. Both Harry and Ron sent a stunning curse at them and made sure that they fell silently, by placing a silent charm on them. They raced up the stairs and Harry stepped out of the cloak.

"Meet me here in exactly an hour," he whispered to Ron.

"Ok." He replied.

The both travelled in opposite directions. Ron walked up winding corridors that led to many different rooms. This Manor was like a miniature Hogwarts. He walked to a door on his right and opened it slowly and quietly. Inside was a room with jars of different things floating in different liquids. It reminded him terribly of the restricted Potions cupboard, which he and Harry had raided once in their 6th year. He looked behind the jars and opened a cabinet full of different documents. Harry stayed in the shadows and headed up a ladder, which led to the attic of this huge manor. He opened the latch and could smell a deep musty smell there. He cringed at the smell and stepped into the room, which was full of dust. He muttered 'Lumos' and the tip of his wand lit up. Different boxes lined the room. Harry opened one of them, which had baby clothes in them, he searched through them but didn't find any parchment. He searched through the other boxes, hoping to find it.

The different witches and wizards were a silent as they could be. They kept a firm eye on the little wizard and for any danger. They stepped over roots o trees, ducked under branches, leaped over little streams and swung on the branches to get on the other side of the wood. They heard the woodland animals around them, and felt the eyes of the animals on them. Watching them curiously. It was clear night and the stars and the moon could be seen. The wind didn't blow and the rustle of leaves sounded unaturally loud. The little wizard stopped and signalled all the others to stop. He raised his wand and casted a silencing charm. All sound around them had been eliminated. He then walked around a large piece of shrubbery and was followed by the others.

"Go to each house and capture anybody inside," he mouthed at them, seeing as he wouldn't be heard. They all nodded in acknowledgement. One of them headed for a treetop and saw the night guard fast asleep – Neville Longbottom. The wizard bound him with rope as his eye snapped open in shock of being captured. The wizard looked over the edge and saw that different wizards and witches dragging out the people, who looked extremely angry at being awoken at such an hour. They had tried to shout but no sound emitted from their mouths. Some had drawn out their wands and were prepared to duel. Disarming spells were thrown at them and they were tied up. Everyone was dragged out of their homes. Nott noticed Hermione being dragged out, and she was protesting and being very difficult. He placed a sleeping spell on her. The Weasley's fought as they say her fall and being tied. Six wizards were dragging Sirius Black out of his tree house home. He put up a large fight and escaped. He lifted the silencing charm.

"WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON?!" he yelled in rage and ran away from the different wizards and witches firing curses at him. He saw the different villagers trying to get rid of the gag covering their mouths. The children were crying in fear. He looked up at the sky. It was a crescent moon. If it had been full, Moony would have helped him to keep away the intruders. He saw Remus being dragged. He swore loudly and tried to disarm the other wizards. Sirius looked menacing. His long hair had been let loose of it's ponytail and was wild looking. His face contorted in anger and he looked ready to kill. Different wizards and witches started to ambush him. He looked around, finding no way of escape. He couldn't turn into his animagi form. Otherwise that would be another charge against him. One witch jumped onto him from behind and another threw a disarming spell at him. Some other wizards pinned him down and conjured manacles for him to wear. They gagged him and placed sleeping spell on him, like they did on Hermione. The Weasley twins were fighting the guards trying to put gags on them. They bit anyone who came near their mouths. Oliver Wood kicked at anyone who passed by. The Children wailed loudly, as their parents tried to protect them and comfort them. Eventually, everyone was tied and gagged.

"Well done everyone." Sneered Nott.

Harry had opened nearly every box in the attic, and with no such luck had he found the will. He placed the lid on the last one, disappointment flooding him. He coughed a little and dust flew everywhere. Harry looked at his watch and saw he had five minutes to meet Ron at the main staircase. He walked silently down the ladder and lined himself with the wall. Blending in with the shadows. He slid with his back against the wall, staying in the narrow path of the shadows. He turned the knob of a door and headed down that corridor to the main staircase.

Ron had been searching through that potions room all night. He then tried a room, which had been full of wizarding instruments. He searched for any parchment, any envelop, any scrap pieces of paper. He searched through every little storage room he could find at that corridor. He found nothing. 'Dammit! If I were a snobby git, where would I hide something REALLY important?' Ron though, still wearing the invisibility cloak. He glanced at his watch and saw that it was time to go to the staircase to meet Harry. He slipped the cloak tighter around himself and walked down the corridor wit light steps. Trying not to make any floorboards creak. He opened a door silently and faced the main corridor. He walked down it silently, seriously hoping that Harry had found the will. He saw Harry sitting on the top stair, hidden in the shadows. He tapped him and he jumped a little. He slid under the cloak with Ron.

"How'd it go?" he asked Harry.

"Not too good. I wish I knew where it was!" Harry whispered angrily.

"I'm sorry Harry. I didn't find it. For a stupid git, Malfoy sure knows where to hide things," Ron stated.

"Yeah," Harry sighed. " Come on, let's go before the sun rises too high," Harry told him.

"Alright."

Harry and Ron, opened the door to the garden and Harry picked up his Firebolt that he had left on the back porch. He mounted, as did Ron shortly afterwards. They covered the invisibility cloak over themselves and Harry set off towards the dawning sky. It was cold this morning and unusually quiet. No birds sang, no animals could be seen scurrying about and even the sound of the streams sounded mute. Harry and Ron landed a little way off the village. They took off the cloak, as the woods were thick in these part. They walked passed the shrubbery and nearly passed out at the state of the village. Their mouths hung open in shock, as did their eyes.

"Wha…What…happ…ened?" Ron managed to stutter. Harry didn't answer.

The village was in ruins. The glass windows had been open. The curtains flew about. Different objects had been smashed and some of the houses had been burnt, as was seen by the black scorch marks. The inside of a nearby house had clearly seen that it had been ransacked. All the houses were empty and no one was around to tell them what had happened that night. Clouds loomed overhead and the distant rumble of thunder could be heard in the distance. And the first droplets of rain fell onto the Earth, over the ruined village and over the two young men. It started to come down heavily, and Harry felt his clothes stick to him, and his unruly hair, being pasted to his face. Ron walked further into the ruined Tir-nan-Og, picking up a teddy bear that he had given to his youngest niece, Meredith. It was ripped and its stuffing was coming out underneath one of its arms. Harry walked up beside him. Different belongings could be seen strewn all over the place. Harry walked over to where he and Sirius had stayed. He walked up the wooden bridge and saw a note stuck on the door with a dagger.

Harry Potter,

This is what happens when you cross the path of Draco Malfoy. Hand yourself over, and all these villagers will be set free.

There was no signature on it. Harry tore the note off the door and held it in shaky hands. He went back down the bridge and showed it to Ron, who paled when he read it. He looked at Harry's face, seeing what he was going to do.

"No Harry." He said.

"I have to Ron." Harry replied sadly.

"Harry, I'm just as upset about this capture, but you have never just surrendered!" Ron tried to reason.

"There's a first time for everything," Harry muttered.

"There is…giving up is never an option!" Ron had started to shout.

"It is now. I'll give up my freedom to see them free."

"Harry! Didn't you listen to us! We NEVER want to see you locked away in the clutches of Draco Malfoy! We'd never forgive you if you did that!" Ron shouted.

"Yes you would. This is the only way." Harry said. Ron had just about enough and punched Harry hard in the face. Harry fell backwards clutching his face.

"Listen to yourself! I thought I'd never see the day Harry Potter would give up! You're the strongest person I know Harry. You've faced Voldemort too many times and survived when he's tried to kill you! You saved the school, the muggle-borns, and this whole damn world from Voldemort! And now…you're giving up to a stupid git! You're not under an Imperious Curse! That's for sure, you can fight them! Don't be such a wimpy loser! Fight back!" Ron yelled at him, his face going red from slight anger. Harry looked up at him in slight shock, and rubbing the spot Ron had punched him. He then got up and stared at Ron hard.

"Ron…thanks." Harry said, still rubbing the spot but smiling. Ron smiled a little.

"No problem. If you ever need another one, you know who to call," Ron grinned. Harry chuckled.

"Yeah. Hey…you just called Voldemort…Voldemort," Harry noted.

"Yeah, now don't ever make me have to say that again!" Ron said sweatdropping. Harry laughed.

"Ok. Now, all we need is a plan," Harry said calming down.

"How about, sneak in, free villagers, give Malfoy a good kick up his ass and then celebrate back home," Ron suggested.

"I like it."