With Darkness There'll Be Light
Three - Wizards In Black
When Harry, Ron and Draco departed the Ministry of Magic they looked like Muggle movie stars going to save the world. Walking side by side, each of them wore long, black leather trench coats over gray turtlenecks with black leather trousers. They each, also, wore black belts which held a Wizard Wireless each (Harry's green, Ron's red and Draco's gray), a small notepad parchment and quills. Their wands were tucked safely in their trench coat pockets.
To the Muggle eye, the three looked much like three men with a mission. Which is exactly what they were. Except for the man part. The three wizards all held pained expressions and not even Ron and Draco spoke one ill word to the other. Normally, Draco and Ron were always exchanging snippy comments, but not today. They were all too caught up in their own thoughts; in their own grief for those who had been lost.
Draco's thoughts consisted of one thing and one thing only: Hermione. Why, he wasn't entirely sure. When he left Hogwarts those mere two years prior, he thought he'd never see her (or any Gryffindors) ever again. How ironic that he be working with three Gryffindors and a Hufflepuff. In actuality, Draco Malfoy hadn't seen a Slytherin for two years. So his wish backfired.
Not that he cared, because he really didn't. All he cared about at that moment was saving a girl he barely knew. A girl whom he'd partially hated during school. A girl he'd competed with but never competed for. Although, at this very moment he wondered why he'd never tried to woo her like so many other of his male classmates.
Hermione Granger, in her seventh year, had blossomed into what you might call a beautiful young woman. It wasn't even her looks that did it, though. It was her attitude. She'd always been beautiful in the minds of Harry, Ron and her parents, but not to herself. The beginning of her seventh year was the most special to her because she was finally happy with herself.
Boys came and went for her, but nothing life-altering and definitely no love. Hermione Granger had never been in love.
That, at least, Draco had in common with her. Because he'd never been in love either. He was never satisfied with casual encounters. Although, he had many of them. None he'd care to recount, however. They were all meaningless to him and he'd stopped now. He hadn't had a girlfriend (nor a casual encounter) for at least a year.
What he wanted more than anything in the world was just one person. A soul mate. Someone to love, someone to trust and someone to be loved by. Someone to say goodnight to. And for some odd reason, he wanted that person to be Hermione Granger. But why, he wasn't sure. And how, he was even less sure of. She would never go for it. She still hated him.
"I need an SLS on Hermione Granger, Seamus." Harry's voice interrupted Draco's thoughts. Draco looked to his left and saw that Harry was talking into his WW. Muggles would probably have thought Harry was simply on a mobile phone. Which is what they wanted. The three wizards just wanted to blend in and look like normal Muggles. Not wizards on a mission.
"SLS on Hermione Granger," came Seamus crackled voice, "Granger home in Muggle London, 9am. There have been no reports of a sighting of her since this morning when she called into work sick. Apparently, she was taking a 'mental health' day to spend with Ginny Weasley. Because Ginny had just graduated from a one year University stint…"
"Okay, what about an SLS on Ginny?" Harry asked.
"SLS is Subject Last Seen," said Draco to Ron.
"I know THAT!" Ron hissed at him. "I'm an Auror too! AND I was in the same class as you, might I add."
"Sure, you can add all you want," shrugged Draco.
"SSSHHHHHH," shushed Harry. The three stopped walking, Harry ducking into an alley so he could speak with Seamus privately.
"SLS on Ginny Weasley…leaving her house this morning around 10am."
"What are you and Justin doing?"
"Researching Death Eater SLS's," replied Seamus. "Already discounted four because they are out of the country. Apparently," he added as an afterthought. "although it might be false information."
"Who's the source?" Harry asked.
"Snape," responded Seamus, his voice sounder further away now. "Death Eater meeting was held last night."
"Okay, thanks, Seamus. Call with any updates."
"Check, mate."
"Chess," reminisced Ron with misty eyes. "how I miss it." Ron hadn't had time for chess for the last year or so. He'd been too busy dating (Ron enjoyed casual encounters) and working.
"He meant 'check' and then called Harry, 'mate'." Draco said.
"I know, Malfoy!" Ron yelled.
"It's Draco!" retorted Draco angrily, grinding his teeth menacingly.
"Shut up, you two! We have to concentrate. Oh I just had a thought. Ron, call Percy."
Ron took out his red WW and said, loudly and clearly, Percy's call number which was 000.
"Mister Weasley, Minister of Magic."
"It's me Ron…What did you want, Harry?"
"Ask him what Death Eaters are out of the country."
"Nott, Bulstrode, Feir and DeVil," replied Percy, sounding very tired. "Why?"
"Just making sure we don't check their underground lairs," said Harry, beginning to walk again. Draco and Ron followed. They were now deep into Muggle London, heading to the underground. "We're going to stop by the Weasleys to make sure they haven't heard from Ginny."
"Okay," said Percy, "Update from Finnigan in 20, he says."
"Check," replied Harry, "Thanks."
"Hey Captain?" Draco asked, running to catch up with Harry.
"You don't have to call me that, Draco," replied Harry, grinning slightly.
"Yes, well you ARE our Captain and superior."
"Jealousy doesn't suit you," interjected Ron helpfully. Draco scowled at him but didn't respond.
"And in any case, I'm not YOUR superior, I'm Seamus and Justin's and I am only the leader of this small group of Executive Aurors, not your master." Harry started down the steps to the underground, taking them two at a time, "I really wish we could Apparate."
"It's traceable," offered Ron, "We can't."
"I know," sighed Harry, "it's just easier. Anyway, what did you want Draco?"
"What's Plan B? If the Weasleys don't have any information."
"I don't know. WE go to all Death Eaters houses and torture Hermione information out of them."
Draco grinned evilly, "Sounds fun." Harry paid for them and they all boarded the train that headed to Ottery St. Catchpole.
"It's not really," said Ron, sighing. "We could get killed."
"Well, I'm willing to get killed if that means we can find her," said Draco, staring out the window.
"Is there something you're not telling us?" Harry wondered, bending closer to Draco so he could hear him.
"No, I just haven't seen her in a while and I would like to…preferably alive because she is the only person in this world who can trade insults with me better than Weasley. And she's also a lot better looking than Weasley which means the insult trading is more fun. You both are very fun when you're angry." Draco answered this very matter-of-factly, and Ron and Harry exchanged glances.
What Harry and Ron didn't know was that all that Draco said was actually the truth. He DID want to see Hermione again alive. He didn't know what it was, but he just REALLY needed to see her. It was as if his life depended on it.