Blood of Enemies, Blood of Friends
Chapter 34 – Abduction
The students and faculty began leaving the stands. Wesley, Cat, Faith, and Robin invited Gunn and Fred to have a late lunch with them in the Great Hall. Buffy and Willow suggested to Charlie and Tonks that they take a walk around the grounds before returning to the castle. The Weasley twins, Angelina, and Oliver wanted to head to the Gryffindor changing room to see their old teammates. Xander and Anya volunteered to accompany them. As they walked across the pitch, they were joined by Draco, Hermione, and Andrew who wanted to congratulate their significant others. Angelina and the twins cast annoyed looks at Draco, who simply ignored them and walked behind the others.
The twins were the first to burst into the changing room. "Glad to see that you can still play without. . ." Fred stopped mid-sentence.
George smacked into the back of Fred. "What is your problem?" he asked, but his question was answered as he looked around the room. Five of the team members lay unconscious on the floor, along with two robed figures. "Death Eaters," whispered George.
The others pushed forward to see what had made the twins stop and stare. Time seemed to stop, until finally Hermione screamed and ran to Ron. She pointed her wand at him. "Enervate." Ron sat up groggily, and Hermione threw her arms around him. "I'm so glad that you're ok," she said.
Angelina awoke the other team members with the same spell that Hermione had used, as Draco pushed his way forward. "Where's Dawn?" he asked. He was beginning to feel the wave of panic that was washing over him. "Where's Dawn?" he asked again, practically screaming.
Draco's scream caused Hermione to pull her attention away from Ron and to look around. "Ron, where's Harry?" she asked, her voice shaky.
"Death Eaters. They took Harry and Dawn," replied Ron.
Xander ran out of the changing room. He looked across the quidditch pitch and saw Buffy walking with Charlie, Willow, and Tonks. "Buffy," Xander shouted loudly. She turned toward him. He was far enough away that she was only able to hear him because of her enhanced Slayer senses. "They got Dawn," he yelled. It took a moment for Xander's statement to register in Buffy's mind. She glanced at Willow, and then took off at a full run across the pitch. Willow, Tonks, and Charlie ran after her, having no idea of what had just happened.
Buffy burst into the changing room, Xander, Willow, Tonks, and Charlie behind her. "What happened?" she asked.
Shannon answered, "When we came back to the changing room, we were ambushed by ten Death Eaters. I took out one of them, and it looks like someone else got another. I don't know what happened after that. I got stunned from behind."
"Harry took out the other one," Ron informed Buffy. "Ever since those dementors showed up during a quidditch match third year, he always keeps his wand on him during a game. None of the rest of us was armed."
"Buffy, look at this," said Tonks. Upon entering the changing room, she had automatically followed auror procedure for the scene of a Death Eater attack. She had begun looking around the room and came across a piece of parchment beneath a large goblet, that was most definitely out of place.
Buffy took the parchment and goblet from Tonks and read. "This is bad," she said quietly to herself. Buffy turned to the others and immediately took charge. "We all need to meet in the Scooby common room. Xander, find Giles, Wesley, Cat, Faith, and Robin. They're probably all in the Great Hall. Charlie, can you go and find Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape. Anya, please take all of these students to our common room and stay with them." Everyone was staring at Buffy. "Well get going," she ordered. Everyone did as they were told, leaving Buffy, Willow, and Tonks alone in the changing room.
"What are we supposed to do with them?" asked Willow, indicating the two unconscious Death Eaters.
"I'll take care of them," said Tonks. "Buffy, when you arrive back at the castle can you please contact auror headquarters for me and tell them what is going on. Willow, do you mind staying here with me, while I wait for back up?"
Willow nodded. "Absolutely. You should not be here alone, just in case either comes to." Willow turned her attention to Buffy. "We will be up as soon as we can. You can let me know what is going on then." Buffy nodded to Willow, left the changing room, and took off running to the castle.
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Dawn felt cold and stiff as she swam back into consciousness. She realized immediately that she was not in her bed at Hogwarts. She began feeling around with her hands, but still had not opened her eyes. She was obviously lying on a hard stone floor. Memories of the Death Eater ambush came pouring into her mind, and she moaned quietly.
"Dawn? Dawn, is that you?" asked Harry, after hearing the moan from across the room.
Dawn sat up and opened her eyes. "Harry? Are you ok?"
"I'm fine. Where are we?" Harry asked.
Dawn looked around. She was in a small room. Three of the walls were rough stone, and the fourth consisted of metal bars. There were no windows on any of the stone walls. She pulled herself to her feet, still feeling stiff and cold, and walked over to the bars. She reached out to touch them and received a painful shock. "I think the bars are electric," Dawn called out.
"No, they're enchanted," replied Harry.
"Where are you Harry?" Dawn asked.
"I am in the cell across from yours," he replied. "The more important question is 'What does Voldemort want with us?'"
"That's pretty obvious," stated Dawn. It struck Harry that she sounded a lot like Hermione. "They want our blood for the second part of the prophecy."
"So why not just take it instead of kidnapping us?" asked Harry.
"Because they need Buffy's and Giles' blood too. They must be using us to draw them away from Hogwarts." Dawn thought back to the many times that the big bad used her to get to her sister.
"The little mudblood is quite smart," said a voice from the corridor separating the cells. Harry and Dawn approached the bars of their cells to see the owner of the voice. Standing there in all of his glory was Lucius Malfoy. Dawn had never seen him before, but knew instantly that this was Draco's father. They shared many of the same features, though Draco's looked somehow softer.
Lucius Malfoy continued speaking. "You will stay here until you are needed in two days time." He specifically looked at Dawn. "Don't try anything stupid, and you may just make it out of here alive." Malfoy turned his attention to Harry. "Or then again maybe not." Malfoy departed.
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Buffy entered the Scooby common room to find it filled with people. Giles and Wesley were pacing the room. Cat, Faith, Robin, Gunn, and Fred were sitting at a table. Xander, Anya, Fred, Angelina, George, Oliver, and Charlie were sitting on the sofas, and Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape were sitting in two overstuffed chairs. Shannon, Andrew, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Draco had taken places on the floor. Ron had been the last person stunned and so knew the entire story of what had happened. As such, the remaining members of the Gryffindor quidditch team had returned to Gryffindor tower.
Buffy took a seat next to Charlie, as Professor Dumbledore indicated for Ron to tell everyone what had happened. Ron stood before the group and began to speak. "Well, um, the team returned to the changing room to change back into our school robes. We were, um, all talking really loud about the match. Dennis and Ginny were the first people to walk into the changing room, and they were instantly stunned by the Death Eaters that were there. I think there were about ten of them or so. They were hurling stunning spells, but nothing too dangerous, which was kind of weird. I guess they need to make sure that Harry and Dawn were alive for that prophecy thing. Shannon managed to hit a few of them and knock one unconscious, but another Death Eater cursed her from behind. Harry was the only one who had his wand at hand. Most of us don't carry our wands during a game. Anyway, Harry managed to stun another Death Eater, but then he too was hit from behind. It only took them a few minutes to stun all of us. I guess after we were all out cold was when they took Harry and Dawn." Ron had said all of this very quickly, not even pausing to take a breath.
"Thank you, Mr. Weasley," said Dumbledore. "I fear that young Mr. Weasley is correct in his assessment. We are only two days away from the second phase of the prophecy. However, that is also good news. It means that Mr. Potter and Miss Summers must be kept alive. The difficulty will come in finding where they are being hidden."
When Dumbledore paused, Buffy interjected. "Actually, Voldemort is planning on bringing us right to them." Everyone in the room turned to look at her, as she continued. "Tonks found a letter and a portkey that the Death Eaters left for us." Buffy read the letter aloud to the group.
We are willing to trade the lives of the The Child With No Mother and The Child Saved by a Mother's Love for the blood of The Slayer that Escaped Death and Her True Watcher. The goblet is a portkey that is set to activate on January 31 at 11:30pm. It is only able to transport two people. Any tricks will result in immediate death of the two people in our possession.
"So it looks like Giles and I are going to travel via portkey in two days," commented Buffy.
"I don't like this," said Wesley.
Xander shot Wesley a nasty look. "We are not going to leave Dawn and Harry, no matter what we have to give in return. I would have thought that after the exchange we made with the mayor for Willow, you would understand that we don't turn our backs on our friends."
"I meant that I don't like having to follow their rules," Wesley replied tensely. "I cannot think of a reason that they would not kill Buffy, Giles, Harry, and Dawn after the commingling of their blood."
"Wesley has a very good point," said Cat. "My father and his followers are not exactly what you would call honorable."
"Well then apparently you guys are going to need backup," said Faith.
"But if the portkey can only transport two people, and we don't know where we are going, how do we get backup there?" asked Hermione.
"We need to figure out where that portkey will take us," said Buffy. "Is there anyway to do that?"
"Only the creator will know where it is set to go," explained Professor McGonagall.
"If only we could get some inside information," commented Faith, causing an idea to form in Draco's mind.
The group had two days before the portkey would activate. They dispersed. As everyone was leaving, Draco pulled Giles aside. "I have an idea," Draco whispered to his DADA professor, "but we are going to need Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, and Ron Weasley to make it work."
Buffy wandered off with Charlie. When they were out of earshot from the others, she spoke. "Here I thought that we could have a nice date. Sorry that things didn't work out."
"It isn't your fault," Charlie assured her. "In dark times like this, these kind of things happen. Right now the important thing is to figure out how to get your sister and Harry back without jeopardizing anyone else's safety in the process." Buffy smiled up at him, and he continued speaking. "You're the expert at this kind of thing, which means you are the one who needs to go in and save the day, but know that if I can do anything to help, all you have to do is ask."
Buffy was surprised. She had realized that Charlie was content with himself, when they had first met, but she did not realize that he would be willing to defer to her in a time like this. She had secretly worried that he would feel the need to play the hero, like all the other men in her life had tried. Yet here he was, offering help yet deferring to her expertise.
Buffy threw her arms around Charlie and kissed him. "Could you just stay with me tonight?" she asked. Charlie began to blush, and Buffy realized that she had not worded her request in the best way. "I mean," she corrected, "could you stay at Hogwarts tonight?"
"Of course," replied Charlie. "My mum would kill me if I left before Harry returned safely." Charlie had been taken aback by what he had thought was Buffy's forwardness, but now he felt a bit disappointed that she had not meant what she first said. 'Now's not the right time anyway,' he thought. 'After Harry and Dawn are back safe at Hogwarts, Buffy and I will have plenty of time to get closer.'
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Several hours had past. Dawn and Harry talked continuously about unimportant things. Their conversation was the only thing keeping the two of them calm. They fell silent as they heard someone enter the corridor between their cells from a door several meters away. A blonde woman walked toward their cells, carrying two trays of food. She gave Harry his dinner first, and then turned toward the cell where Dawn was being held.
After handing the tray to Dawn, the woman spoke very softly. "I got permission to give you some dinner. This will help you keep up your strength. You need to remain calm. There is no way to escape from these cells. However, when the time is right, I will make sure that you escape safely."
"Who are you?" asked Dawn, though she had a pretty good idea.
"My name is Narcissa. We have some mutual friends." Narcissa gave Dawn a genuine smile. "I had hoped to eventually meet you under more pleasant circumstances." Dawn smiled back at Draco's mother. Narcissa continued speaking. "Someday, I hope that you and I will have the opportunity to get to know one another. I hear that my son is quite taken with you."
Narcissa departed. Dawn sat down to eat the food that she had been brought. "What are you doing?" questioned Harry in an accusing voice.
"I'm eating," replied Dawn.
"Don't. It could be poisoned," replied Harry from his cell.
"They can't poison us. They still need our living blood. Dead blood doesn't work the same," Dawn assured him.
"That doesn't mean that it doesn't contain a sleeping potion or something."
"Look, Harry. I'm hungry." 'And, I trust Narcissa,' Dawn thought. "If I am still alive and well in an hour or so, then you will know that it is safe to eat your dinner too." Dawn ate everything on the tray. After an hour passed and Dawn was still alive and well, Harry decided that he too was hungry and that it seemed safe enough to eat.
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Draco was the last to arrive in Dumbledore's office that night. McGonagall, Snape, Buffy, Giles, and Ron were seated in front around the office, and Dumbledore sat behind his desk. "Mr. Malfoy, it has come to my attention that you have a plan, which may help us to rescue Mr. Potter and Miss Summers," said Dumbledore.
"Yes, I do. I am sure that my father is actively involved in the kidnapping, and it is highly likely that my mother knows exactly what is going on," replied Draco.
Ron interrupted Draco. "We all know that your parents are Death Eaters, Malfoy. How is that supposed to help us?"
"My mother has been providing information about Death Eater activities to us," said Draco. Everyone nodded with the exception of Ron, who looked thoroughly confused. Draco ignored Ron and continued. "As I said, I am sure she knows what is happening. However, she cannot possibly be in the position to get us the information."
"And you have a way to contact her?" asked Dumbledore.
"Not exactly. I am quite sure that my father first reads any owls I send her. However, I think there is a way to get her here."
"And how do you propose to compel Narcissa to come to Hogwarts?" asked Snape.
"Well, professors, I am sure that there are certain infractions which would require a parent to come to the school." Dumbledore smiled and nodded for Draco to continue. "If Weasley, I mean Ron, and I were to stage a very large, very public fight, you would have to write to our parents and request that they come here for a meeting."
"I like it," said Buffy.
"I am not pleased with the idea of condoning students fighting," said McGonagall, "but I have to admit that Mr. Malfoy's plan is rather ingenious."
"Of course it is," snarled Snape. "It is that kind of cunning that landed Mr. Malfoy in Slytherin."
Dumbledore silenced the professors with a wave of his hand. He turned to Ron. "Mr. Weasley, your participation is very important to this plan. Are you willing to do this?"
"Let me get this straight. I get to hit Malfoy and that helps Harry and Dawn. I'm totally willing," said Ron grinning broadly.
"Good," said Dumbledore. "I must insist to all of you that this plan does not leave this room. Mr. Weasley, this also means that you are not allowed to share it with Miss Granger or Miss Crawford. We do not want to put Mrs. Malfoy's life at risk." Ron begrudgingly agreed. "So then, I propose that this plan gets put into effect at breakfast tomorrow in the Great Hall."