Author's Note: :::running footsteps were heard approaching my room then my bedroom door swung open and banged hard against the wall::: Ginny: Phoenix, I think you better hide from Ron because my brother just read what you wrote in the last chapter and he was freaking mad! He couldn't believe you will make him allies with Malfoy's father! :::I turned and frowned at the youngest Weasley sibling::: Oh shush, Gin. Everything will be explained. And you tell your brother not to plot his revenge yet until this whole fic is finished! Ginny: Why don't you tell him that yourself? :::shakes my head and shrugs::: I will, but then I have a fic to write so you just sit over there beside Draco :::glances over my shoulder and checked a somewhat subdued Draco lying peacefully on my bed then back at Ginny::: he's been fuming mad since what happened in the previous chapter :::Ginny raised an eyebrow and looked at Draco then back to me::: Ginny: he looks soooo out of it! Anyway, don't say I didn't warn you... :::walks over to where Draco is and asked him to move so she could sit::: Thanks for the warning, Gin, now let's get on with the fic...
Disclaimer: Alas, if I owned the rights to HP then I would be a rich gal now! *lol*
Summary: Draco & Hermione were suppose to start their 7th year at Hogwarts as a couple, but due to a misunderstanding the previous year that dream soon crumbled and now they are to start their 7th year picking up the pieces of their tattered lives...
Setting: 7th Year
~*~*~*~*~
XVI. Where's Hermione?
As three o'clock rolled by Draco and Harry made their way to the Three Broomstick to meet the others. Percy should be there already since he was such a stickler for time. Hermione and Ginny would soon follow them. Draco can't wait. In a few minutes he will sign his name on a piece of parchment alongside Hermione's sealing their vow of matrimony. He knew it wasn't a dream wedding they were having, but he made a promise to himself once everything has been cleared out he will give Hermione her dream wedding complete with all the trimmings and whatnot.
As they neared the Three Broomstick a sudden feeling of dread came over Draco. Could it be because Percy was standing outside the establishment, his eyes scanning the crowd, and a look of worry etched on his face? Or could it be because Ginny was standing beside her brother wearing the same look Percy was wearing? Either way he couldn't see any sign of Hermione anywhere. And what was Ginny doing at the Three Broomstick before them? According to their plan Harry and him would be the first to arrive and meet with Percy then she and Hermione would follow not the other way around!
Relief washed over the two Weasley siblings' faces when they saw Draco and Harry approaching. Ginny was the first one to approach them, the worry etched on her face Draco saw before they came near looked even more worse up close.
"Thank goodness you're both here!" were the first words that came out of Ginny Weasley's mouth.
Uh-oh. This can't be good. Draco instantly thought as he looked apprehensively at the youngest Weasley offspring.
"What's wrong, Gin?" Harry asked.
"It's Hermione."
"What about her?" Draco and Harry asked in unison, now they were also worried.
"She's--she's gone!"
"What?!" Draco couldn't believe what he just heard, "You mean she got cold feet?"
"No, no, no." Ginny firmly shook her mop of red hair. "I mean she disappeared. She didn't get cold feet. She just...vanished!" she was close to becoming hysterical, but Percy made sure his sister wouldn't lose it right there in public.
"Calm down, Ginny. Get a grip of yourself." Percy ordered sternly, his hand on his sister's shoulder.
"But I c-can't, Perce. I'm worried about Hermione. She said she was just going to the bookstore and find something to read before she completely freaks. I even watched her from the window and the restaurant we ate lunch at and saw her head towards the bookstore across." she explained.
"Did you check the bookstore?" Draco asked worriedly.
"Yes! I went in there numerous times after lunch but I couldn't find her. Finally after the fifth or sixth time I came back the store clerk finally asked me if I was looking for something or someone, so I told her that I was looking for Hermione. She said she hasn't seen Hermione come in at all to the bookstore. And that got me worried."
"But you said you saw her walking towards the bookstore, Gin." Harry pointed out.
"I did see her, but I didn't know if she...went...wait!" Ginny raised her hand as her eyes suddenly grew wide, remembering an instant when she looked back outside the restaurant window and saw Hermione talking to somebody. "I saw her talking to Ron. He was walking with her to the store."
"Ron?" Harry and Draco echoed in unison.
"Yes." Ginny nodded, "He looked like he was asking her something and I saw him point his head to the direction heading towards the residential part of Hogsmeade."
"What?" Draco's spine stiffened. Why in the world would Weasley lure Hermione towards the residential part of town where hardly anybody goes since there was nothing much...to...see..."Fuck." he hissed angrily, his fists clenched tightly.
Harry, Ginny and Percy all turned to him frowning.
"What?" Harry asked.
"Lucius." Draco replied, meeting Harry's gaze.
"He's got her." it wasn't a question that came out of Harry's mouth but merely a statement.
"Oh my God!" Ginny gasped and clasped her hands to her mouth to stop her from shrieking.
"We have to find my father." Draco insisted.
"But first we have to find Ron." Harry countered.
"But why would we be looking for my brother?" Percy questioned.
Harry looked up at the elder Weasley sibling. He knew Percy would have a hard time believing what he was going to say, but there was no way he could butter up the truth--or at least that was what he thought of right now.
"We think Ron's working for Lucius, Perce."
"What?!" Percy looked downright appalled, disbelief crossing his face as he looked back and forth from Harry to Draco then back to Harry again, "You can't be serious, Harry!" he was in denial, and Harry nor Draco couldn't blame him. They couldn't believe it either when the thought first entered their minds, but it all adds up.
Ron suddenly hooking up with Pansy. Ron has been distancing himself from them lately. Ron often disappearing in the middle of the night the come back half an hour to an hour later. In a nutshell Ron Weasley had been acting quite peculiar lately that it was hard not to point fingers at him.
"I'm sorry, Perce. I didn't want to believe it at first, but after what Ginny said...it has to be Ron."
"Well, well, well. I didn't know I'm very popular amongst you people." came Ron's sneering remark when he approached the small group gathered in front of the Three Broomsticks.
Draco saw red--figuratively speaking not just literally because of Ron's hair--when he faced Ron. Quick as a panther Draco grabbed Ron by the collar of his robe and hauled him close.
"Where's Hermione?" he hissed angrily.
"What are you talking about, Malfoy? Why are you asking me? You're always with her!"
"Today she wasn't with me, and the last person seen talking to her was you."
Ron grabbed Draco's hands and tried to pry his collar free, but Draco's grip on his robe was getting tighter and tighter as Ron prolonged his confession.
"Are you accusing me of having something to do with your girlfriend's disappearance?"
"Yes. Now either you speak or I beat the shit out of you." he threatened.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Nobody's going to do any dung beating around here." Percy stepped up and pried his brother and Draco away. "Now, let's discuss this in a more civilized way, shall we?"
~*~
Percy made sure he was standing between Draco and Ron inside the Shrieking Shack. Harry picked the lock--something he learned from Fred and George--and let them all in. They attracted too much attention as it was when Draco grabbed Ron by the collar outside the Three Broomsticks, they didn't want to garner any more unwanted attention from curious spectators.
"Now Weasley, talk." Draco demanded.
"Talk about what?" Ron asked innocently.
"You have something to do with Hermione's disappearance and don't lie. So speak!"
Ron knew it would be pointless to stay innocent, so he gave in--but not too much.
"So I was the last person seen talking to her. Big deal." he gave a careless shrug, "Is it a crime to talk to your best friend?"
"Yes when that said best friend turns up missing." Draco snarled.
Ron raised an eyebrow, "Yeah. Whatever."
Draco's hold on his temper snapped. His fist came flying towards Ron, his knuckles connected with the smirking redhead's jaw. Even Percy was caught unaware by Draco's movement. He just stood where he was and watched his brother receive the surprise blow from Draco.
Percy, Ginny, and Harry watched as the redheaded boy staggered backwards, looking a tad bit too dazed from the blow he just received from Draco. Draco took advantage of the situation and hauled the dazed Ron by the collar of his robe once again, pushing his back against the wall, his steel gray eyes piercing right through the redhead's skull.
"Now, either you open that big, fat mouth of yours and tell me where you took Hermione, or you become very well acquainted once again with my fist."
"Who says I know where that damn Mudblood went?!" Ron sneered angrily.
A chorus of surprised gasped echoed inside the suddenly still and quiet shack. Did Ron just call Hermione that dreaded name? Ginny and Percy exchanged surprised looks while Harry stared at his best friend in disbelief and in anger. How dare he refer to Hermione like that? And since when did Ron started using insults at Hermione? No matter how angry he was with her, he never stooped as low as calling Hermione names!
"What did you just call her?" Draco's voice suddenly dropped to a very alarming calmness similar to that tone his father often used. "What-did-you-just-call-Hermione?"
"Mudblood!" Ron yelled, but to everyone's astonishment his voice became more high-pitched and so unlike the voice of Ron. Heck, it wasn't even a guys' voice that came out of his mouth when he spoke.
~*~*~*~*~
to be continued...
A/N: Okay, I'm sorry but as usual I have to make this chapter short and leave you yet another cliffhanger. I can't seem to continue writing this chapter without making it look so dragged-out. Don't worry, I'm working on the next chapter and will be working on it right away so you won't have to wait too long. Hopefully by tonight or tomorrow afternoon I'll have it posted right up. As always, read & review, thanks!
Draco: :::got up from my bed and walks over to me, tapping me on the shoulder::: Hey, I think one of your readers wants a special mention here in your author's notes
PhoenixRae: :::frowns and looks over my shoulder at him::: What are you talking about?
Draco: :::sighs and rolls his eyes skyward::: Haven't you been reading your reviews lately, woman?
PhoenixRae: Yes, I have and don't you be using that tone of voice with me, Draco Malfoy!
Draco: Yeah, yeah, whatever. Anyway, I think Hannah4Daniel wants to be mentioned in your author's notes
PhoenixRae: :::raises an eyebrow::: wanna give a shout out to Hannah4Daniel then, hm?"
Draco: :::smiles sheepishly::: Can I?
PhoenixRae: Why don't you do the author's note for this one then?
Draco: :::pumps his arm on his side and jumps for joy::: Wicked! Anyway, here goes...
nessa-girl: I can't really tell you that much about Ron & Pansy plotting together to get Hermione since Phoenix never divulged that much info with me, but from what she's been hinting at I'm guessing there's more to Ron and Pansy's hooking up than what she told us
caroline: :::Draco pouts and ponders on your question::: In order to answer that, you have to read our first story--mine and Hermione's--called A Different You, A Different Me, that explains some of the plots in this fic and...well, that's the beginning of our journey--mine and Hermione's :::winks:::
song*breeze: Aaahh...Becki...finally Phoenix and I saw your name in the reviews--not that we don't appreciate ciza's reviews, but we were wondering what has happened to you, and looks like you had quite a lot of time in your hands yesterday! :::laughs::: BTW, Phoenix says sorry for making you crash down from that nice pink fluffy mood after reading the previous chapter, :::leans in closer and drops his voice to a whisper::: I think she's evil incarnate for making you and I suffer the way she does with how she's writing this story...ouch! :::I hit Draco at the back of the head after hearing what he just said::: PhoenixRae: Uh, Malfoy? Next time you whisper make sure that the next door neighbour won't hear it! :::Draco glares at me and like a child stuck his tongue out and proceeded to read the rest of the reviewer's notes:::
Loki: I totally agree! Bad, bad Phoenix! Anyway, who else would be my one and only Hermione's knight in shining armour but yours truly, right? :::pauses and thinks for a bit, his forehead creased into a deep frown::: Now the only question is how will I do that...oh well, let's leave that to the hands of Phoenix...
Draco's one and only: :::Draco pouts::: You're not surprised?! Spoil sport! :::laughs and winks at you::: Nah, it was kinda obvious that Ron would be the culprit, but I think Phoenix is toying with our minds once again so just keep on reading to find out the truth...
Queen Li: I wanted to kill Weasley too, but Phoenix is keeping me locked up in her room and away from the picketing Weasley, Potter & Parkinson!
Candycane: :::smirks::: Yeah, Weasley's a nice guy all right. I wouldn't mind liking him as a friend the way I ended up liking Potter, but sometimes that git's too thick in the head and too blinded by his jealousy that he just annoys me! Anyway, yeah, he's the culprit, and I am going to beat the pulp out of that prat!
CrystallineLily: The only real choices for informers are Weasley and Parkinson for some obvious reasons, but nevertheless, just keep on reading because like you, I want to know what Phoenix has in mind for the next few chapters
Dizzy2381: :::grins::: I wanna know if Hermione and I ended up tying the knot too or not :::glares over at me::: Did we or didn't we, oh High and Almighty author? :::sits back with my lips shut tightly, shaking my head from side to side::: Well, guess Phoenix won't talk so we'll find out together what really happens between Hermione and me, alright?
Hannah4Daniel: Hullo! :::waves at you with a big smile plastered on his face::: Wow girl! I think you're mentioned quite a lot here today, aren't you a special lady now? hehehehe, well, just keep on reading
Slytherin's Angel: :::laughs hysterically::: I didn't even think about what his mother would think or say...hmm...I wonder if he'll receive another howler from Molly Weasley and be embarrassed in front of the entire school....
Lani B: :::blushes deeply::: Phoenix made you fall in love with me??? Awww...I think I'm speechless! But I'm sorry girl, the heart of this lad has been claimed by someone already...and you guessed it right, Hermione... :::sits back and stares off into space looking a bit dazed and off to la la land, I just sat there with my arms crossed and rolled my eyes skyward at Malfoy's silliness:::
Tempest Child: This better have a good ending or Phoenix will answer to me! :::raises his fist in the air warningly at me:::
cocoa318: Merlin's teeth I do not want to die! Nor would I want Hermione to die either in this story! Now Phoenix better make sure that nobody will die--well, concerning the main characters anyway...
dazed*kitten: Whoa girl! Relax! Here's the next chapter already...and don't worry, I'll be bugging Phoenix on a daily basis to update as often as she possibly can :::winks:::
Quistis88: Now why didn't you expect the stupid prat to be Weasel?! :::shakes his blond head:::
super rookie: Now, now girl, calm down and don't be killing the author! If you do then how will we know what will happen next?! :::glances worriedly over his shoulder at me then back at the monitor::: Soon enough you'll have the answers you're looking for so relax!
tom felton's babe: Hermione pregnant with my child... :::sits back and mused over the idea then he looked at me::: Hey! Get her pregnant, why don't ya?! Seems like you're getting quite a few request for her to get knocked up!
A/N2: :::pushes Draco away and took a seat in front of my computer::: Well, there you have it folks, Draco's personal messages/replies to your review postings...and what more can I say but review and hope you enjoyed this chapter???