Chapter 22
"There's just one problem, Harry," said Ron catching up to him and Ann.
"Not now, Ron," said Harry.
"Stop being pig-headed," said Hermione, matching Ron's stride. "You can't just rush into this without having some kind of a plan."
Harry stopped and turned. "Do you have something in mind?"
Ron and Hermione looked at each other and shrugged. "This is your adventure," said Ron.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Don't come if that's how you feel," he said turning and continuing his walk.
"Well, not that anyone cares about my opinion," injected Ann. "But I do have some idea of what to do."
The three friends turned to face Ann. "What," prompted Harry?
"Well," began Ann, a little nervous now that everyone was staring at her. "The first thing we should do is fly to Malfoy Manor."
"What good will that do?" Asked Ron.
"I don't know where my father is. I think Malfoy might."
"You think," questioned Hermione.
"Yes," snapped Ann. "It's our only lead right now."
"I have a question," began Ron. "Does anyone know how to get to Malfoy Manor?"
Everyone shrugged, except Hermione. "I may know a way," said Hermione. "It just depends how we get there."
"By broom," supplied Ann.
Hermione paled. "I don't think… that is, maybe we shouldn't…," Hermione paused.
"What's the matter," asked Ann in amusement.
"Hermione's not much for flying," supplied Harry.
Hermione set her jaw. "I'll be fine," she said catching the smirk on Ann's face.
"We don't have enough brooms to get there," said Ron.
"We'll double up, then," said Harry.
"That'll slow us down," protested Ann.
"No, it won't," insisted Harry. "I've got the fastest broom. Hermione can ride with me. It won't slow us down."
Hermione nodded her approval. "I can charm the brooms to take us to Malfoy Manor."
"Let's do that, then," agreed Ann quickly.
"Ok," said Ron. "But what do we do when we get to Malfoy Manor?"
"I have that all worked out," said Ann. "Once we get near Malfoy Manor, I'll go in alone and get Draco to tell me where they're keeping my father. Then we'll go get him."
"Oh this is just ridiculous," said Hermione in exasperation. "This is not a plan. You have no idea if Malfoy knows where he is. And even if he does I can think of a million things that can and will go wrong if we try to do this."
"Well what do you suggest then," shouted Ann.
"I don't know, anything but this," Hermione shouted back.
"All right, ok, enough," said Harry tiredly. "This isn't helping. We can't just stand here and do nothing."
Hermione and Ron stood with their arms crossed over their chests.
"Stay if you want," said Harry. "I'm not asking you to come. Come on, Ann." Ann and Harry turned and continued to leave.
Ron sighed and extended his hand to Hermione. She took it reluctantly and the two followed Harry and Ann out. They reached the bottom floor without being intercepted by anyone and walked over to a deserted side of the castle.
Harry held out his wand hand and shouted, "Accio, Firebolt." Within seconds his Firebolt was zooming towards them. Ron and Ann held out their wand hands and called for their own brooms.
Harry, Ron, and Ann mounted their brooms and looked at Hermione. Reluctantly she stepped behind Harry and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Ready," he asked.
She nodded slowly and he kicked off the ground. Even with the extra weight, the Firebolt soared quickly into the air. Hermione tightened her grip around Harry and rested her head between his shoulder blades. "This is worse than being on that Hippogriff," she muttered.
"What," asked Harry loudly?
"Nothing," Hermione shouted back. "Never mind." She pulled out her wand and muttered a charm on the broom. Instantly the broom jerked to the left.
"Whoa," yelled Harry. "What'd you do?"
"I charmed the broom to take us to Malfoy Manor," replied Hermione. "Just hang on."
The broom sped forward and Ron and Ann immediately fell behind Harry and Hermione matching their height and speed.
After about an hour and a half of soaring above the clouds, Harry's broom dipped lower and when the clouds broke they could see a large house set in the middle of a wide expanse of land.
"That must be it," said Hermione pulling out her wand and removing the charm from the broom. "We don't want to get too close," she explained.
Harry pulled the broom still and hovered, waiting for Ann and Ron to catch up.
Ann and Ron pulled up next to Harry and immediately everyone looked to Ann. "Ok," she said. "I'll go down. As soon as I find out where he is, I'll come back." She glanced at Harry.
"Be careful," he said softly.
"I will. If anything happens…," she trailed off.
"If you get into trouble down there, send us a warning," he said.
"If I can, I will." She took a deep breath. "Well, here goes." Before anyone could say anything else, Ann began descending to the house. They watched her silently as she landed in front of the house and then walked boldly to the front door and knocked. The all held their breath when the door opened and Ann disappeared into it.
"Great," muttered Ron under his breath.
"She'll be ok," Harry said more to reassure himself than the others.
"Listen up you two," said Hermione from behind Harry. "I think we've been foolish enough now. When Ann comes back, if she comes back…"
"She will," interrupted Harry angrily.
"Fine. When she comes back, we need to go for help. We can't possibly try to rescue Snape by ourselves. We're going to need help or we'll just get us all killed."
"Ann will never go for that," said Harry.
"We won't give her a choice," said Hermione. "If we all decide to go for help, then she won't have a choice. But the only way that will work is if we all agree."
"Agreed," said Ron quickly.
"Harry," prompted Hermione.
"Fine," he said reluctantly. "Once we find out where they're keeping Snape, we'll go for help."
"Good," breathed Hermione in relief.
"Now all we have to do is wait," said Ron quietly.
They hovered for what felt like hours, but was really only about thirty minutes. Occasionally, they circled around the house, careful to keep out of sight.
"This is taking too long," said Harry in frustration. "She should have been out by now."
"She's fine," assured Hermione. "I'm sure of it."
"How can you be sure," asked Harry worriedly.
"Because Ann is one of the most resourceful people I've ever met. She can handle herself."
"I suppose," conceded Harry.
"Let's give her a few more minutes," suggested Hermione. "Besides, you of all people can hardly just go into Malfoy Manor. It isn't safe."
They waited as the minutes passed until Harry couldn't take it anymore. "That's it. I'm going down there."
"No, wait," shouted Ron as Harry began to descend. He pulled his broom in front of Harry's forcing him to stop short. Hermione gasped and tightened her hold around Harry. "You can't just charge down there."
"Something's wrong," countered Harry. "She's been in there too long."
"I don't care," said Ron. "You're not going down there."
Harry jerked his broom to the side. "Yes I am."
Ron moved his broom to block Harry again.
"Get out of the way," warned Harry.
"Stop it, both of you," shouted Hermione. The boys glared at each other.
"Ron, Harry's right. We can't just leave her down there."
"But Hermione," protested Ron.
"Ron, it's been nearly an hour."
Ron looked doubtful. "Still."
"Come on," said Harry maneuvering his broom around Ron and continuing his descent. Ron had no choice but to follow as closely as possible. They set down by the side of the house and began circling it quietly.
"We've got to figure out a way to get in there," whispered Harry.
"Preferably, without getting caught," added Ron. "Too bad we didn't bring the invisibility cloak."
Harry and Hermione shot him a dirty look and Harry opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by a scream that ripped through the air.
Harry's eyes shot wide open. "Ann," he said hoarsely and took off for the front of the house.
"Harry, wait," called out Ron and Hermione taking off after him. He was about to round the corner to the front of the house when Ron grabbed the back of his cloak.
"Get off," shouted Harry.
"We should get help," said Ron.
"There's no time," said Harry.
There was another scream and Harry broke free of Ron's grip. Hermione and Ron raced after him.
"Harry, not through the front door," said Hermione. She motioned toward a side window. "This way." She and the boys stood below the window and Hermione pulled out her wand. "Aloha Mora," she said.
They heard the click and Hermione turned back to the boys. "Help me up," she said.
"No way," said Ron. "You're not going in first."
"I'll go," said Harry quickly. "Just give me a boost." Ron and Hermione got on either side of Harry and lifted him. He grasped the window ledge and pulled himself up. After he had gotten in the house, he popped his head out the window and extended his arms. Ron lifted Hermione easily and Harry helped pull her in. Then they both leaned over and pulled Ron up, somewhat awkwardly.
Once inside, no one really knew where to go. "Maybe we should split up," whispered Harry.
"No," said Ron and Hermione together. "We should stay together," insisted Hermione. "Let's just start on this floor and work our way downstairs."
They made their way slowly down the hall pausing only long enough to check each room they passed.
"She's not up here," said Harry. "Maybe we should go down to the first floor."
Hermione and Ron nodded in agreement and followed him down the large staircase leading to the first floor where they ran into the last person they expected.
"Well, well, well. Welcome to Malfoy Manor Mr. Potter."