A/n- well I couldn't update! FF was being mean L and wouldn't let me! Anyways I put up this chapter for this week. Next Friday the new one will be up! I know it hasn't been awhile since I updated and I suggest to all my lovely readers that you go back to make sure you remember what's going on. Please also read over chapter 16 and 21. If you don't remember those chapters chances are that some parts of the chapter won't make sense. Thanks! Enjoy!
*****
"Moody is such a fraud," Ginny said after Harry and Ron told her about their experience during Divination.
"Yes she is," chimed in Draco.
Neville just nodded. The five wizards were all in the library talking.
"Well I went to visit Dumbledore," Ginny said.
"So why was Hagrid fired?" Draco asked her.
"Oh, come on Draco. I'm sure you know perfectly well why he was fired," Ginny stated.
All eyes turned to Draco.
"That was months ago…," Draco said shocked.
"So, you and your friends… along with powerful dad tried to get him fired?" Harry said summing up the facts.
"As I said before Potter that was a long time ago."
"You knew Hermione liked him, Draco," Ginny said.
"Yeah! You shouldn't have done it. For Mione!" Neville added.
"It was months ago. Before I liked her…okay?"
"Well, Draco they seem to be using that as an excuse," Ginny said. "Dumbledore said Hagrid was fired from many complaints from the Lucious family."
"He told father that would be confidential information," Draco mumbled.
"Well, Draco I would be mad at you but, Hagrid wasn't fired. So it wasn't because of that," Harry replied.
"Yes," Ron explained filling in Draco, "During Divination's we learned this spell that could tell if someone is lying. We asked if Hagrid was fired. It said no."
"Harry and I, also later on asked if Hagrid was taking a break because he was asked by Dumbledore to," Ron said.
"And we found out from the spell that he is taking a break because he was asked to," Harry concluded.
"So, Moody needed a job, they asked Hagrid to take a break so there would be a job opening, and Moody took it? Basically, Moody isn't here for a job. Dumbledore wants him here," Ginny said.
"And your proof for that statement is?" Draco asked.
"Why would he lie about everything Draco? Why would Dumbledore ask Hagrid to leave for him?" Ginny said.
"I get the point. No need to go on," Draco said sounding rather annoyed.
"I got it!" Neville yelled. "Okay, Moody just arrived after your meeting with Dumbledore right?"
"Yes," the wizards answered in unison.
"Well, we know Dumbledore is lying about the whole Hermione missing thing, right?" Neville said.
"Yes Logbottom we know this already," Draco replied.
"Well put the pieces together guys! Dumbledore knew that we wouldn't believe his story. He knew we would figure out what was going on. Well maybe not me, but Harry and Ron are known to figure these things out! So Moody is spying on us. To update Dumbledore on what we have figured out."
"Neville you definitely deserve more credit," Ron said.
"You're a genius!" Harry added.
"So Moody is here now?" Ginny said lowering her voice.
"Moody come out. We know you're here," Harry said looking all around.
"He isn't going to coming out and admit we are right!" Draco said.
"Well let's find out if he is here by using that spell we learned," Ron said.
"Who ever would have guessed Professor Trelawney would be useful for something?" Ginny asked.
Harry and Ron linked arms and stated: Is Moody present here like Ginny said?" In a few moments they let go of each other hands.
"He isn't here now," Harry said.
"So he doesn't know we are onto him," Ron said.
"We better be careful before we talk from now on. Make sure he isn't spying," Neville replied.
"Look it's really late. We can't be tired. We wouldn't want anyone to get the oppression we were up late," Ginny said.
"True, but before we go I just want to know why Moody isn't here now? If he is spying on us," Draco said.
"He fell asleep?" Ron suggested.
Ron and Harry once again, used the lying spell and found out that investigator Moody isn't perfect. He had fallen asleep hours ago.
*****
Draco had trouble falling asleep that night. Whenever he tried to shut his eyes all he saw was Hermione suffering. Plus it was all because of his father and Lord Voldemort. Draco couldn't bare the pain anymore. He wished with all his heart he could have taken her place. But, Draco you can't. A tear fell from his eyes down his flushed cheeks and with that Draco finally fell asleep.
Draco awoke the next morning to the usual shouts from his fellow house. Normally, Draco never took the time to listen to what they were talking about. This particular day he did however. After all, normally, he didn't have anything to hide. Draco couldn't make out much of anything of what they were saying so he finally just gave up and got out of his bed. In a short five minutes he had thrown on his robes and got ready for the day ahead of him.
On his way to the Great Hall for breakfast he felt all eyes on him, following his every move. Great Draco now you're paranoid. Draco watched as two little Slytherins pointed at him and started to whisper among themselves. It appeared, to Draco as if they were reading something. They must be reading about me. I am very talented. It's about time that Daily Prophet put something in there about me! Draco decided to approach the boys. Maybe they want an autograph. Besides, I want to read about my life story. The two boys looked frightened of the pale haired kid in front of them. Immediately, they dropped the paper and ran off, leaving the paper on the floor for a very confused Draco to pick up. Why do I get the feeling that this article isn't about my life story?
Draco read the headline of the article which read:
Lucuis Malfoy Wanted
How far this man went to escape prison.
They found out about what he did and now his father was wanted. Just to make sure he didn't misunderstand the headline Draco read it over. Then, he read the article. It read:
We have just gotten a report saying that Lucuis Malfoy has escaped from the prison of Azkaban. The dementors are currently looking for him and there is a large amount of gallons as a reward for any information that can help us crack the case. A man to drunk a potion so he would look like Mr. Malfoy and the man acted like him too. That left the real Lucuis to escape. We aren't sure how he escaped yet but he is a dangerous wizard and a death-eater. The man who drunk the potion was found dead this morning.
Draco's head was spinning. All this information hit him at once and all of a sudden many things made sense. Draco dropped the paper and rushed over to Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Neville. The whole table stared at him. Not only because they found out that his father was a death eater, but also because he was a Slytherin and didn't belong at that table.
"Er…Potty…Weasel…," How do I draw less attention to myself and get them away? "Er… Professor Snape wants you."
The four wizards caught on rather quickly.
"All four of us Malfoy? Ginny asked.
"That's what I meant Weasel so watch it," Draco said. Draco walked out of the Great Hall, ignoring all the whispering about him.
A few minutes later Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Neville followed. They quickly spotted Draco in the library.
"I needed to talk with you all now," Draco said.
"Good job drawing attention to us by the way," Ron added.
"It's urgent okay!" Draco said.
"Scream a little louder Draco I don't think the whole room heard you yet," Ron said.
"Ron come on! I'm sure this is about…somehow… Hermione," Harry replied.
"It is! I also figured that Moody is at the staff table so he can't spy on us."
"Good idea actually," Ginny replied.
"Well…," Ron said impatiently.
"Give him a chance to talk Ron," Harry said.
"Well first of all read this," Draco said throwing them the article.
"We already did Draco. Sorry about …," Ginny started but was quickly interrupted by Draco.
"Well the night before Hermione went missing; my father paid me a brief visit. He explained to me about this man, who was pretending to be him so he could escape from Azkaban. He told me how the man drunk a potion to look like him and how the dementors were looking for him and not my father. I asked him how he could trust him. He got mad and put me under the Cruciatus Curse. Then he said something to me, something which I just remembered when I read the article. He knew about me and Hermione. He also told me that it must stop. He said if Voldemort found out about it, he would be ruined.
He also said that if it continues he will… kill her."
All four wizards opened there mouths about to say something but Draco quickly said, "Please, let me continue."
The four wizards nodded.
"My father obviously knew about me and… Hermione. He was the one who hired that Robert guy to try and get her alone somewhere. Just so then he could grab her… to well you know…. But, my father failed. He didn't manage to get Hermione or even lay a finger on her. The trip ended. Then, he visited me saying if I didn't stop liking her…he… would kill her. I bet you he took her from Hogwarts, now. My father can not bare to not get things the way he wants them. Also, there is another thing he can't bare- his reputation to be ruined. My father took Hermione. But, he did it so she would be gone. So I couldn't like her anymore. He hoped I would forget and move on. He also didn't want … his master… you know who… to find out I loved her. Basically, it would ruin his reputation. I don't think my father killed her. He just wanted to threaten me. He just wanted her gone so Voldemort wouldn't find out about Hermione and I. Yet…somehow he did find out. And to punish my father he probably made it so the potion wore off the man pretending to be him in Azkaban. So my father would be wanted. It's his punishment. Voldemort also killed the other man. Now, the danger is that if Voldemort finds Hermione, he will kill her. Not only because I liked her but because of the whole thing Neville told us. So now we must find her before Voldemort does."
A/n- Wow! Pretty long huh? Also a lot of information was revealed. The pieces are slowly fitting in to the puzzle. Please review! I want to know what you thought about the chapter! Thanks!