Chapter 4: Ron's Turn

"Harry?"

"Hi, Ron."

Ron Weasley nearly let the cell phone slip down, and giggled nervously.

"Harry, Ginny's disappeared."

"Disappeared?"

"I haven't seen her since yesterday."

"Come on, Ron, she's no baby anymore. She'll be with her boyfriend."

"She always informs me when she leaves for long."

"Please, Ron, calm down. You're not her mother. Believe me, there's no problem with her. She'll be right back."

Rno did not seem convinced, but he nodded again, though his friend could not see it, and then thanked Harry.

"Alright, alright. I'll wait an hour."

"Wait until this evening, Ron."

"But… O.K. Thanks, Harry."

"You're welcome. See you this afternoon."

"Bye."

Ron hung up, but he wasn't at ease at all. His sister always told him when she went away, but this time… it was so weird. He was actually her brother, and had always complained about their mother's hyper-protectiveness, and now he was himself worried about Ginny.

***

For the first time, Voldemort's didn't have to make up a story to drive Ron to Whitechapel. He went there himself, wanting to meet Harry, Hermione and Morgan in a pub over there. Ginny would have been invited too if she had answered to Ron's phone calls. But her cell phone was switched off, and that was beginning worrying the friends.

His father had influenced him with his love for the Muggles – now Ron almost preferred walking by foot to the places instead of using floo powder. This is why this sunny day of autumn; he had taken the subway to go to Whitechapel. He had been pushed, knocked over and jolted, but he was glad he had done it. It felt good to act without magic for half an hour.

He smiled charmingly to a beautiful Muggle who passed his way, who, instead of being delighted a man as good-looking as Ron had noticed her, pulled a face and laughed. But even that did not drive away Ron's excellent mood.

- Hey, Weasel!

A voice he recognized made him shoot around angrily. He stared at the man who had interpellated him, making himself believe he was not who he thought he was.

- Malfoy? It was like he had spit the name.

- As charming as always, weasel.

- What do you want? And… oh god.

Suddenly coming back to reality, Ron drew his wand and tried to throw a spell, but he stopped himself at the last moment, realizing about two dozens of Muggles could see him. Besides, a fight between the two wizards could harm them.

But obviously, Draco did not have this scruple. Without hesitating, he drew his wand as well and threw a spell at Ron who made him feel paralyzed. He could not move an inch unless Draco seized him and vanished with him.

***

Hermione sipped her cappuccino and yawned, terribly bored. There was no one else except her in the office, because she was late and all the others had gone to work, so no one could admire her new clothes. She was dressed in the most elegant black ensemble, with a red shirt whose décolleté offered a plunging view on her tanned skin. She had straightened her hair and put on make-up, and now she sat there at work, her legs crossed because she was afraid the skirt was too short, nipping her coffee.

"Good morning, Mrs. Potter."

She turned around, almost spilling the hot coffee over her pretty clothes.

"Oh, hello, Mildred. I didn't hear you come."

Mildred smiled stupidly, and sat down in front of her desk.

"What's up today, Mrs. Potter?"

"I don't know. I've just arrived."

"Really? It's eight o' clock." Mildred said glancing at her watch innocently, as if she would not be reproaching anything but just recording her boss' delay.

Hermione nodded, trying not to blush.

"I had something urgent to do." She replied, thinking how silly this sounded. Then again, Mildred was brainless too, so she probably wouldn't notice it.

Hermione switched her crystal ball on and watched it absentmindedly.

"Mildred?" she asked, feeling anything would be alright to distract her from her boring work.

"Yes, Mrs. Potter?"

"You've never told me anything about your life, though you know everything about mine."

If Hermione was expecting that Mildred would tell her now, she didn't.

"That's true, Mrs. Potter."

"Have you got any children?"

"No, Mrs. Potter."

"Are you married?"

"No, Mrs. Potter."

Hermione felt she was losing patience, wanting to strangle her assistant.

"So what if you told me?"

"I'm single, and my parents live in Manchester. There's not much more to say."

"Oh."

"As you say, Mrs. Potter."

Even the talkative Mildred had nothing to tell her today. Hermione began thinking, in order to amuse herself, that her new clothes were cursed.

"What do you think of my ensemble, Mildred?" she asked, blaming herself for having such a superficial conversation with her.

"It's beautiful, Mrs. Potter. And by the way, I saw this adorable light pink skirt yesterday evening, and…"

That's it, Hermione thought. No one's gonna stop her now. She's switched on. Why, everything's better than just watching the crystal ball.

"Hermione!"

The young woman shot around and glanced surprised at the crystal ball, where her husband's face had suddenly appeared.

"What is it, Harry?"

"You… you've gotta see this… I mean, come to Whitechapel. It's awful."

"But what has happened?" she asked nervously.

"Malfoy… he's been there."

Malfoy. Draco. Hermione swallowed, not knowing what to say. Fortunately, Harry did not notice her confusion and disappeared as quickly as he had come.

Why should I care? Hermione thought. The only problem in this affair are the wizards and muggles which Draco… no, Malfoy, can hurt. I don't give a damn on this jerk. Bastard. Handsome bastard.

***

Ginny shook her red mane while she bit her lips nervously. What the hell did all this mean? Where was she? Why was she there?

"Hello? Is there someone out here?" she asked for the hundredth time this day. "Hello! Does anybody hear me?"

But only the silence answered her question.

"Ever heard about women's rights?" she screamed into the darkness.

She didn't know how long she had been in that chamber, only that it was dark, cold and small. And there was no exit but an iron door which was closed from outside, Ginny had tied opening it, without success.

She let herself fall on the hard floor again, on the verge of the tears.

"Malfoy! Malfoy!" she yelled. "You'll pay for that."

"Will I?"

She shot around terrified. The voice had come from behind her, yet she had felt nobody approaching. In the darkness, she could perceive only the shine of Malfoy's steel gray eyes.

"Set me free!" she screamed, raising her wand in order to hurt him, but he disarmed her as easily as if she would be a beginner who's just arrived at Hogwarts.

"Calm down, Weasel, or you'll hurt your brother." Malfoy's calm and cold voice came from the shadows.

"What?"

Ginny heard a thumb as if something heavy would have been thrown on the ground.

"Have a good day, Weasels." Malfoy said, and then he was gone.

Ginny knelt down beside her brother, and shook him.

"Ron? Ron! Are you O.K.?"

First, nothing happened, and then she heard a groan.

"Ginny?"

Ginny couldn't see him, but she knew he was staring around him with disbelief.

"What's happened? Where are we?"

She sighed heavily.

"If only I knew it."

***

Hermione looked silently at her assistant.

"Are you sure of it?"

"Yes, Mrs. Potter. Mr. and Miss Weasley have not appeared today."

"Oh Merlin."

"You say it, Mrs. Potter."

"I must call my husband."

"Certainly, Mrs. Potter."

Hermione rushed towards her cell phone and nervously composed Harry's number. She waited impatiently until he hung up:

"Harry?"

"Hi, darling."

Hermione had no time to feel uncomfortable about this nickname, she only replied:

"Ron and Ginny have disappeared."

Harry first couldn't answer.

"What?"

"They've disappeared."

"Oh my god."

"What now?"

Harry was obviously trying to calm himself down, because he needed a few seconds to answer.

"Let's go back home, and wait calmly."

"But Harry, we've got to do something!"

"There's nothing we can do. We should wait."

Hermione was about to burst into anger, when she remembered herself that her husband was like he was, different from her. He would never react as furiously, as passionately as she.

"Alright, Harry. Let's wait."

N.B.: ok, I know this chapter sucks, but I wasn't inspired. If you'd review, it'd be better!