A/N - Next chapter is almost finished as well so shouldn't be too long for that one. There will definitely be one, maybe two chapters after that and then this story will be finished. Hope you enjoy and thanks for reading and reviewing.

Chapter 25

"I'm nervous," Hermione said and Adrian brushed a curl out of her face. They lay facing one another in his bed.

"I know, love," he said. "But I'm going to be careful."

"Still," she began but he put a finger to her lips to stop her.

"I'll be as safe as I can be. He won't know I'm there in advance and unless he's given the House Elves instructions to contact the DMLE if I step foot in the house, I'll be fine."

"What if he has told them that?" she said fearfully.

Adrian snorted. "There's no way he'd think I'd be stupid enough to come to the house since he filed charges."

Hermione looked at him pointedly and Adrian chuckled. "That's why this will work. He won't expect it. And once he finds out, he won't have time to call them without me knowing. I'll be fine."

She sighed and Adrian leaned forward and kissed her, trying to distract her to more pleasurable pursuits. She was going back to Sweden in the morning after all. And they had talked about his plan ad nauseum all weekend, Tracey, Daphne, and Anna all giving their opinions as well.

Tracey was all for it, not surprising as Adrian knew she just wanted she and Daphne to be able to move on with their lives. Anna was against it, worrying, as Hermione was, that he'd get caught. Daphne was a bit in the middle. Adrian knew she wanted the same thing Tracey did but she also worried that things wouldn't go to plan.

For his part, Adrian knew that there was a definite risk to what he was doing. It could all go to hell and he could very well end up being arrested. He only hoped that if the worst happened, he would be able to present his case to the Aurors that he was doing the best thing for Anna to keep her safe. Now that Lowe had been arrested and they had all the information Marcus' contact had collected, Adrian did have that on his side.

He wasn't going to say any of that to Hermione, however. She was worried enough as it was and voicing his own concerns wouldn't help anything. Right now, he just wanted to spend this last night with her and hope that his plan would work.

"I know you're trying to distract me," she said as he kissed her neck.

"Is it working?" he replied smiling up at her wickedly.

"No," she said, frown on her face.

"Then I suppose I'm not trying hard enough," he said reapplying himself to his task until she moaned. He grinned and continued, hoping that was the end of their discussion for the night.

Hermione lay on her side and stared at Adrian in the growing dawn. She'd allowed him to distract her last night, knowing that nothing she said was going to change his mind anyway. She'd slept fitfully afterward, waking multiple times and reaching out for him to be sure he was still there. Not that he was going anywhere yet. He wasn't planning to go to his family's manor until Wednesday when his father would be at the monthly meeting of some board he sat on and his mother would be at her weekly tea with her friends.

Still, she hadn't been able to stop herself, wondering if this would be the last time that they would have together. Would he end up in the Ministry holding cells on Wednesday and then eventually go to Azkaban? She shuddered at the thought.

She reached out and cupped his cheek in her hand. She didn't want to wake him but she felt the need to touch him again. He nuzzled into her hand and then blinked sleepily. When his eyes opened and he looked at her, he smiled lazily for a moment before his brow furrowed.

"What's wrong?" he rasped, voice thick with sleep. He reached up and brushed a tear from her cheek. She hadn't even realized she was crying.

"It's nothing," she said trying to smile at him.

He frowned then leaned forward and captured her lips with his. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her languidly. She wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him as he pulled her flush to his body.

"It's all right," he whispered when he broke the kiss. "Everything is going to be okay."

She tried to believe him, honestly, she did. But she'd heard the same words before and things had not been okay. They hadn't been okay at all.

"It's going to work," Adrian said. "He'll drop the kidnapping charges and we'll be able to leave here."

She nodded, still not trusting herself to speak and then he kissed her again. She poured everything she was feeling, everything she couldn't say aloud, into the kiss. Adrian seemed to be doing the same and when they parted again, she stared into his eyes, his boring back into hers.

"We'll be together," he promised and looked at her with such intensity that she discerned the meaning of what he didn't say.

Her breath hitched at the declaration and she kissed him, clutching him to her. "I love you."

"I love you too," he said, grasping one of her thighs and pulling it over his hip. He pulled her toward him again and then pushed himself inside her. They stared at one another as they both began to move, even as he kissed her again.

When they both fell over the edge a short time later, they stayed entwined as Hermione slowly fell back to sleep. And just before she drifted off she thought she heard him whisper 'Forever.'

"Are you sure?" Anna said, wringing her hands together as Adrian readied himself to leave.

Adrian placed his hands on her shoulders and squeezed. "It's going to work, Sprite."

His sister threw her arms around his middle, hugging him, not even reprimanding him for the nickname. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. "I'll be home by supper. Probably before."

She nodded against his chest but Adrian could feel the wetness on his robes. She was crying again. He hugged her tighter. When he stepped back from her, he smiled. She smiled tremulously back.

Adrian turned to Daphne. "Keep her safe."

"I will," Daphne promised knowing that Adrian meant more than just for that afternoon.

Tracey was friends with the secretary in the Auror office and would know if Adrian was brought in or the Aurors were called to the manor. They had all packed and were prepared to leave if Adrian was arrested. He wasn't sure what methods the Aurors would use to try to get information out of him but he wasn't going to risk Anna and Daphne being found. Tracey had gotten a room at a Muggle hotel on the outskirts of London. If the worst happened, Hermione would help them find somewhere else to hide.

But he wasn't going to think like that. His plan was going to work and he was going to convince his father. He had to.

Adrian landed in the back garden, a bit surprised that he was still allowed through the wards. It would have been too much work to exclude him, he supposed. He still had Pucey blood running through his veins regardless of being disowned. Pulling in a breath, Adrian made his way to the house and slipped inside.

"Master Adrian?"

Adrian swore under his breath. He knew that the House Elves would sense his arrival, but he had hoped he would have gotten to his father's study before they saw him. The House Elves were the only part of his plan Adrian wasn't confident about. He had no idea what his father had instructed them to do in case Adrian showed up.

"Hello, Tippy."

The little elf stood before him, wringing her hands. "Master Adrian should not be here."

"It's all right, I just need to speak with my father."

"Master will be calling the Aurors," Tippy said. She looked terrified.

"Did my father tell you to call the Aurors if you saw me?" Adrian asked.

Tippy shook her head. Adrian squatted down in front of her.

"I don't want my father to know that I'm here until he finds me in his study. Can you do that?"

"Tippy is supposed to be telling Master if she sees Master Adrian."

"But he doesn't want you to interrupt his meeting, does he?"

"No," the elf said shaking her head. The elves had been forbidden long ago from coming to his father during any of his business dealings unless it were an emergency. And Adrian doubted his father would have told them that Adrian's arrival was an emergency.

"What are your tasks for the day, Tippy?"

"Tippy is to be cleaning the family wing."

Knowing his father as he did, Adrian knew that the first stop after his meeting would be his study. If Tippy was in the family wing, Adrian's father would make it to his study before Tippy was able to tell him of Adrian's arrival. Tasks given to the elves took priority over everything else as well. His parents would expect the elves to check-in with them when they came home but it wasn't always immediate.

"See to your work then, Tippy."

The little elf hid a smile as she nodded and bowed before disappearing. Adrian continued on towards his father's study, hoping that his father made it home before his mother did. If she arrived first, well, things likely wouldn't end as he hoped.

Adrian didn't have to wait all that long before he heard the Floo behind him come to life. He had been unsure if his father would Floo or Apparate home from his meeting but the fact that he had Flooed only worked in Adrian's favor. In that case, he had come straight from the meeting and there was no chance he had already spoken to one of the House Elves.

His father stopped out and went straight the sideboard and poured himself a Firewhiskey, not noticing Adrian. Adrian sat quietly as his father took a sip of his drink then cast a silent Expelliarmus. His father whirled around as his wand left the inner pocket of his robes and soared toward Adrian. He caught it and tucked into his own pocket. His father could easily retrieve if he wished to but Adrian would have time to stun or bind him then.

Tippy popped into the room at that moment. "Master, Master Adrian is home."

"I can see that, Tippy," his father snapped. "Why did you not alert me when he arrived?"

Tippy's ears drooped. "Master is telling Tippy only to interrupt his meeting in an emergency. Tippy is not thinking Master Adrian coming home is an emergency. Master Adrian is not being hurt or ill."

Adrian stifled a grin at Tippy's acting skills. His father was clearly angry but had no real recourse as everything the elf had said was true.

"Get out," his father said to Tippy instead. The elf bowed and complied. His father turned to him. "I didn't think you'd be this stupid."

He turned toward the fireplace but Adrian had already disposed of the Floo powder. His father turned and glared at him. Adrian gripped his wand a bit tighter.

"Before you contact the Aurors, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."

"Would that be the location of my daughter?" his father asked.

"No."

"Then we have nothing to discuss. Return my wand immediately."

"What I want to discuss concerns Anna," Adrian said. His father could simply summon another of the elves and have them bring him more Floo powder or have them contact the DMLE themselves. Adrian had to keep that from happening.

He stood from his father's chair and walked around the desk. He kept his wand arm hanging at his side but made sure that his father saw that Adrian had his wand in his hand.

His father sneered at him. "I can easily summon my wand, you know."

"I'm aware. But I'm also faster than you. I could have you in a body bind rather quickly."

His father snorted derisively.

"I don't want to do that. I just want to sit and discuss this like adults."

"The way you stole my daughter away? Do you think that was acting like an adult?"

"Yes, actually. I was getting her out of a horrible contract with a monster. Which you're well aware of by now. I was keeping her safe."

His father glared at him. "I kept her safe."

"Didn't look like it from my point of view. Hers either, for that matter. She was terrified of Lowe. And for good reason as both know. She asked me for help."

His father stared at him for a few moments and then sat down in his chair, taking another swig of his Firewhiskey. "Fine, let's discuss how you're going to tell me where she is so I don't turn you over to the Aurors."

"That's not what I want to talk about." Adrian reached into his robes and pulled out the copy of the study Hermione had given him. He also had a copy of her and Anders' first study on premature births. He planned to give his father that one as well but not until he'd read the other one.

"What is this?" his father asked when Adrian dropped the sheaf of parchment on the desk.

"This is what Anna has been up to since she's been with me."

His father's brow furrowed as he picked up the study. He read the title and then looked to the authors. His eyes widened when he saw Anna's name. Hermione's and Anders' were blacked out with the Muggle pen she'd showed Adrian.

His father glanced through the pages briefly, not really reading anything and then looked at Adrian with a sneer. "You expect me to believe that Anna has been involved in a research study?"

"Yes," Adrian said simply.

His father tossed the parchment back towards Adrian with a derisive snort. "I have no idea what you hope to accomplish with such a farce but it doesn't matter. Once the Aurors arrest you, I will be petitioning the Wizengamot to allow the use of Veritaserum when they question you. Which, I can assure you, will be granted. It is only a matter of time before my daughter is back where she belongs and you are sent to Azkaban."

Adrian had expected as much but his father hadn't summoned a House Elf yet. Adrian suspected that his father hoped that he would simply tell him where Anna was so he did not have to go through the humiliation of having his own son arrested.

"And I can assure you, Father, that even if you do that, I won't be able to tell you where she is."

His father's eyes narrowed.

"If I'm arrested, she runs and I don't know where. They can question me all they like but I'll still have no idea."

"Someone is helping her."

Adrian shrugged. "Anna's much smarter than you give her credit for. Despite her issues with her magic."

His father stared at him for a few moments and Adrian could see the anger building in the man's eyes. He ignored it and continued.

"You're aware that Anna has always been particularly talented in Potions. You even agreed to let her continue her studies after her O.W.L.S. But you have no idea just how talented she is." He leaned forward and tapped a finger on the parchment. "The potion used in this study would still be struggling to exist if it hadn't been for Anna. She was the one that found the initial potion that was modified to do what the researchers want it to. And she was the one that came up with the final ingredient that made the difference between success and failure. All on her own."

"Anna is sixteen years old."

"Yes, and she hasn't had any formal training past O.W.L. level. Everything else she knows is because of all the reading she's done on her own, plus the natural intuitiveness she seems to have for the subject. Are you honestly going to sit here and tell me that you're going to deprive the Wizarding world of that kind of talent so you can marry her off to some old lecher? That all she's good for is to become the perfect Pureblood wife and throw parties and sit on charity boards?"

"No, I'm telling you that I don't believe a word of this story and that this," his father picked up the parchment and waved it at Adrian, "is obviously some sad ploy to get me to drop the charges against you."

Adrian sighed. "Do you know why Anna's magic is the way that it is?"

His father's mouth tightened. Adrian continued when he didn't respond. "It's because she was born early." He pulled the other study out of his robe pocket. Hermione and Anders' names had been blacked out of this one as well. "This is a recent study that was published a few months ago. It explains how the magical core forms as the baby grows in the womb. When born early, the core hasn't fully developed which affects the strength of the child's magic. The earlier the baby is born the weaker the magic."

This study his father read more in depth. Adrian knew he was still skimming it but he gave it more than a cursory glance.

"And before you try to point fingers, there are a variety of reasons why a baby is born prematurely and it's rarely the mother's fault. In Anna's case, there was nothing Mother could have done differently to prevent it."

"Once this study was published, the authors decided to look at trying to prevent premature births as well as a possible way to develop the magical core in those that had already been born."

His father looked up at this. And while his face betrayed nothing, Adrian could see the glint of hope in his eyes.

"In the end, they decided to focus on the former as the latter seems an almost insurmountable task. That's not to say that they won't be able to do it someday but for now, prevention seems more likely. And Anna was the one that helped them with that."

"And how could she possibly have gotten connected with these researchers?" his father asked.

"That doesn't matter right now, only that she did."

"Oh, I think it matters very much. It means there are at least two other people that know where she is."

"Not necessarily," Adrian said. In fact, only one of them knew where she was.

His father stared at him for a moment, tapping his finger against his desk. "And what would John Ashcroft at St. Mungo's say if I called him and asked what project Hermione Granger was currently working on?"

"I have no idea," Adrian said keeping his composure. "As I haven't spoken to Hermione Granger in quite some time." It had only been three days but to him that was quite some time.

"I do not believe you, Adrian. Nor do I believe this ridiculous story about Anna's supposed involvement. Now, we have had our 'talk' and-"

Before his father could finish his sentence, Adrian's mother burst into the study.

"Where is she?" she demanded, wand drawn and pointed at Adrian. "Where is my daughter?"

"She's fine, Mother," Adrian said. "She's safe."

"You will tell me where she is this instant!" his mother shrieked. Adrian had never seen her so crazed. She was normally so controlled and calm, the epitome of the perfect Pureblood woman, but her eyes were wild and her hand was shaking as she held her wand. The look on her face was nothing Adrian had ever seen in his life, not even when Anna was so sick with Dragon Pox.

"Adeline," his father said. "Calm yourself."

His mother's wand shifted to his father as she turned her attention to him. "This is your fault! If you had not betrothed her to that monstrous fiend, if you hadn't agreed to move up the wedding, if you had just let her be, none of this would have happened! I told you she was too young, too innocent, but you ignored me as usual. It is always what you want, Aldon, what we must do for appearances. Don't I know that all too well. And now our daughter is gone!"

She turned her attention back to Adrian. "I want to know immediately, Adrian."

"Mother," Adrian said calmly, holding his hands up to show he wasn't a threat. He didn't want to pull his wand on his mother. "Anna is fine, I swear it. She misses you and she wants to come home but she also wants to be able to live her life how she wants to. She doesn't want to get married, at least not yet. And she definitely doesn't want to marry someone that she doesn't love."

"You've been filling her head with that ridiculous tripe, I see," his father said derisively.

His mother's wand swung back around to her husband. "You will be quiet, Aldon."

Adrian saw the anger on his father's face at his mother's order. He opened his mouth to say something but his mother silenced him. His father's face turned nearly purple with anger. His mother flicked her wand again and his father went rigid in his chair as binds flew out of his mother's wand and held him tightly. Adrian gaped in astonishment.

"You will tell me where she is," his mother said, wand once more trained on her son. "You can see what I'm capable of. You will tell me immediately."

"All right," Adrian said. He had no intention of telling her but after his mother's speech to his father, perhaps she wasn't as on his father's side as Adrian had always thought. Maybe, if he could get her to calm down long enough to read it, he could show her the study and convince her that Anna deserved more. Between the two of them, he had thought his father might be the more agreeable, giving into Anna as he often did. But it appeared that his mother had likely been playing a role her entire life. And not one that she necessarily agreed with.

Hermione kept glancing at the clock, unable to concentrate. She knew that Adrian would be leaving to confront his father soon. She also knew that about a million things could go wrong but Adrian had brushed them all aside every time she'd tried to bring them up. She was not at all confident that his plan would go as he expected. It was possible that she had seen him for the last time outside of a courtroom or the Ministry.

The thought ran round and round her mind. She felt as if she needed to do something, although what, she had no idea. If things didn't go to plan, she wouldn't even know right away. Her mobile was in her hotel room and it would take far too long for an owl to get to her. Hermione knew that she was supposed to wait for a message from Anna or Tracey but she didn't think she could stand to wait that long.

"Anders?" she said and the man looked up from the list he was going through. They had started the process for human trials of the potion and Anders was looking through the volunteers.

"Yes?"

"I need, that is, would you mind horribly if I left for the day? I just, my mind is elsewhere and I need to check on something before I go mad."

He frowned. "Is everything all right?"

"I'm not sure but I'm going to find out."

"Of course, Hermione. Please, do what you must."

"I'm so sorry. I know you need my help with all of this and-"

He held up a hand to stop her. "If your mind is not on the work, it is better if you take care of whatever it is first."

Her cheeks colored. "I'm sorry."

"Do not apologize. We all have these days." He smiled at her. "I hope that everything turns out all right."

"Me too. Thank you."

Anders waved her off, returning to the list. Hermione grabbed her things and left the lab to Disapparate to the Swedish Ministry. She was eternally grateful that she had the standing Portkey waiting for her.

Hermione reappeared in Adrian's bedroom with a pop. As she hurried toward the door, it was flung open, Daphne standing with her wand in Hermione's face.

"Hermione?" she said in confusion.

"Daphne. I'm sorry to just show up like this but I couldn't concentrate at work, I was so worried."

Daphne gave her a commiserating smile. "Anna has been pacing since he left."

Hermione followed the other woman into the living room. Anna was, in fact, pacing back and forth in front of the sofa.

"Hermione?" the younger woman said in surprise.

Hermione gave her a sheepish smile. "Couldn't concentrate at work."

Anna nodded in understanding.

"How long has he been gone?" Hermione asked as she took a seat on the couch.

"Less than an hour," Anna said. She sighed. "I should have gone with him."

"No, you should not have," Daphne said. "Do you really think your father would have let you leave the house again?"

"But I could help Adrian explain. Try to make my father understand."

"When was the last time your father listened to you?" Daphne countered.

"He listens to me," Anna said.

"About something like this?"

Anna didn't respond.

"I know how you feel," Hermione said to Anna.

Daphne stared at Hermione incredulously. "Wasn't the whole point of that Muggle quill to keep your name out of it?"

"Yes, but do you honestly think that Mr. Pucey won't at least suspect that I'm part of it once Adrian explains? He knows we were involved even if he isn't sure we're together now. And I'm sure he knows where I work. It's not like it's a secret. It wouldn't be hard for him to put two and two together."

Anna looked at Hermione. "We should go."

"No, absolutely not," Daphne said.

"Daphne's right, Anna," Hermione said. "But I can go."

"No!" Daphne said. "Do you want to end up in Azkaban? Because I guarantee you that Aldon Pucey will not let you go unpunished once he finds out you knew where Anna was all along."

"I could help," Hermione said. "Help him understand just how great Anna's contribution was to the potion."

"If you're going, I'm coming with you," Anna said.

"Have you two gone completely round the twist?" Daphne asked incredulously. "Adrian would flay me alive if he knew I let you go to the house."

"You can't exactly stop me," Hermione said.

"Or me," Anna said.

Daphne pulled in a breath and muttered something Hermione couldn't completely make out. Then she looked at both Hermione and Anna. "Look, you two, I understand why you want to do this. Honestly, I do. I won't lie and say that I ever thought this plan was a good idea. But it's not going to help Adrian if he has to worry about what's going to happen to the two of you."

She focused on Anna. "If you go back to that house, you won't leave. You know you won't. Your father will watch you like a hawk and betroth you to someone else as soon as possible. And there is no way he would ever let Adrian back in that house, even if he doesn't have him arrested which is unlikely. So don't count on Adrian being able to help you again."

Daphne turned to Hermione. "And you? Even if Aldon doesn't manage to get you sent to Azkaban, he'll ruin you. You'll lose your job at St. Mungo's and you won't find another one. Not in Britain anyway. And don't think he doesn't have pull on the continent either. How do you think Adrian is going to feel if that happens after everything he did to try to conceal your involvement?"

Hermione knew Daphne was right. About everything. But that didn't make it any easier to wait. She sighed. "I hate this."

"Join the club," Daphne said. She looked at Anna.

"I know," Anna said with a scowl. "Don't ask me to tell you you're right because I'm not going to."

Daphne smirked and Hermione laughed lightly. She sometimes forgot that Anna was still a teenager and sometimes acted like one.

"We're all anxious," Daphne said. "But it hasn't even been an hour. We have no idea how long Adrian had to wait until his father got home."

Hermione reluctantly nodded and they settled in to wait.

"Mother," Adrian said. "There's something you need to see."

"The only thing I need to see is Anna back in this house where she belongs."

"Please believe me when I tell you that she's safe and no harm is going to come to her."

"How can you say that if you're not with her?" his mother demanded. His father was still bound and silenced.

"Because she's with people I trust and they would never let anything happen to her." Adrian glanced at his father from the corner of his eye and if it were possible the man had turned even redder than he had been. "If you're not careful, Father, you're going to send yourself straight to St. Mungo's." His mother didn't even look her husband's way.

"But please let me show you what Anna has been up to since she's been with me," Adrian said.

"What are you talking about?" his mother asked in confusion.

"You're aware that Anna has a talent for Potions."

"Her tutor has said that it is the one subject she does adequately in."

"She's far more than adequate, Mother," Adrian said. "She's brilliant."

"I will admit that she gets high marks in Potions, legitimate ones, but brilliant?"

Adrian was a bit surprised that his mother didn't seem to know. Even his father had some idea of Anna's talent, albeit not a complete one. But perhaps she didn't. She had told Adrian that she didn't think it necessary that Anna continue on with her instruction after her O.W.L.S. after all.

"Didn't you wonder why Father was allowing her to continue with Potions after her exams?"

"He was simply indulging her in one of her whims as usual." His mother waved a hand as if it were of no consequence.

"Mother, she's a prodigy."

His mother stared at him, frown on her face. "That's ridiculous. She can barely cast an adequate levitation charm. And you are hardly an expert on Potions prodigies."

"I may not be but they are." He nodded his head toward the study sitting on his father's desk. He didn't want to startle his mother into casting a hex at him for moving to grab the parchment himself.

His mother moved to the desk and picked up the copy of the study. Her brow furrowed as she began to read through it. After a few moments, she turned back to Adrian.

"I don't know how your sister's name got onto what appears to be some kind of research study but I do not have time for this." She glanced at the clock on the mantel above the fireplace. "The Aurors will be here soon. Perhaps they will have more luck in convincing you to tell me where my daughter is."

"You called the Aurors?" Adrian said indignantly.

"Pippen should be doing so about now. I told him to give me a bit of time first. I had hoped that you would simply tell me and we wouldn't have to go through all of this. As it is, I suppose there is no other way to get her back."

Adrian stared at his mother. He didn't have much time left to convince her then. And even though his father was bound and silenced he could still hear their conversation. If he could make her see, make at least one of them see before the Aurors got here, then maybe there was still a chance.

Hermione, Anna, and Daphne were all sitting in silence in the cottage when Tracey burst through the front door. All three immediately jumped up and stared at her in horror. This could only mean one thing.

"The Puceys contacted the Aurors and asked them to come," Tracey said, a bit out of breath. She looked startled when she caught sight of Hermione but didn't comment on it.

"No!" Anna shouted. "They can't!"

"We have to go," Tracey said. "Get your things."

Anna turned to Hermione. "We have to help him!"

Hermione caught Daphne's gaze and the blonde shook her head slightly. Hermione looked back at Anna. "Adrian wants you safe."

"But Hermione!" Anna begged.

"Please, Anna," Hermione said quietly. Anna's shoulders drooped and she trudged off towards her room. Once she was gone, Hermione turned to Daphne. "I need to know how to get there."

Daphne sighed and glanced at Tracey.

"I'll go get your bags," Tracey said leaving the other two women alone in the living room.

"I know the address," Daphne said. "And I can pull a memory of what it looks like if you know Legilimency."

Hermione cursed herself in her head for not studying Legilimency further. "Not really, no." She could Apparate with the physical address alone but it was more difficult to get to the proper place that way. She vaguely thought of going to Marcus and having him take her but she knew he wouldn't just leave her at the gates. He'd insist on going in with her and she wasn't going to involve anyone else.

"Determination it is then," Daphne said.

Hermione gave a half-smile at the reference to their Apparition training at Hogwarts as Daphne gave er the address.

"Hermione," Daphne hesitated. "Are you sure you want to do this? You'll probably be arrested right along with him."

"I'm sure," Hermione said. "And if I do, well, let's just hope that being part of the Golden Trio helps me out one more time."

"Hermione?" Anna said from the doorway of her bedroom.

"Yes?"

"Will you, can you-" Anna burst into tears.

Hermione immediately went to her and pulled Anna into her arms. "I'll do everything I can."

Anna nodded and Hermione stepped back. "Stay safe. I'll get word to you as soon as I know anything."

She looked to Tracey and Daphne and smiled then started to turn to Apparate.

"Anna!" Daphne shrieked just as Hermione felt someone grab her shirt and then they were gone.