Chapter Five: The Explanation

Hermione led them to a long empty hallway. Ordering them to stand against the opposite wall, she began to pace in front of an empty space on the wall. Under her breath she muttered something about a place to sit and have a private conversation. After she had walked in front of it three times, two large, double doors appeared.

"Go on in."

Aingel stepped in and stopped with shock. Inside of the disappearing room, were couches, overstuffed pillows, and a one armed recliner. In the corners, there were some bean bags and pillows were scattered all over the floor. Alex walked in front of Aingel and plopped down on it.

"What is this room?"

Hermione answered Alex, "This is the Room of Requirement. Whenever you need a special room or something, you come here and walk in front of that wall three times thinking solely of what you need. Those doors will appear and inside is what you need."

"Well...I may as well start explaining."

Hermione sat down on the one chair and Aingel joined Alex on his couch. She leaned against him for support and took several breaths. After sitting in silence for a few moments to get her thoughts in order, she began to speak.

"When I was younger, I was raised as a proper young rich child, with few real friends. One day though, our neighbors tried to murder us because they were jealous of our money and other stupid things. Having money isn't what it is chalked up to be. Anyways, since our friends had turned on us we quickly fled to Japan where we could live in peace and not worry about being murdered."

"My father began to rise in power in the Ministry, till this year he was chosen to be the honored Ambassador. We were afraid to move back to England because we might be assassinated. The President of Japan promised us that we would be well protected. My parents would have bodyguards, tons of them, and since I would be here at Hogwarts, it was decided that I wouldn't need anymore protection. My younger sister, Katie, would have the Fidelius Charm put on her so that only my mom, dad, three bodyguards, and I know where she is. We visit her regularly though."

"Wow...this is my last question I promise, who tried to kill your family?"

Aingel looked surprised, "Why, you know his son; it was Luscious Malfoy."

Harry sighed; Ron was late, very late. Ron was known to be one or two minutes late, but never fifteen minutes. Harry got out the Marauder's Map and whispered, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

The map's flowing lines appeared and Harry immediately began to search for Ron, just as he thought, Ron was gone. Once he was absolutely positive, he franticly searched for Aingel and Hermione. When he found them, there was a dot next to Aingel's saying 'Alexandru'. He sighed as he realized that they were in the Room of Requirement three halls away, and one to three floors up. With the two words "Mischief Managed" Harry was off and the map cleared. Harry ran through stair cases and secret passage ways that he learned in his six years here. Instead of taking him fifteen minutes like it usually did, he made there in ten.

He came to an abrupt stop outside two large double doors. Banging them open, three startled faces looked up at him. Gasping for breath Harry got out, "Ron...Ron's been kidnapped."

Ron moaned and opened his eyes to a very bright light. He muttered a curse mixed with some ows and tried to turn over. Sharp pain brought his mind back quicker then anything else could. His hands and feet where in freezing cold metal cuffs connected to the floor. His wrists had already begun to chaff.

Since there was a little slack left for him, Ron began to push himself up into a sitting position. As he surveyed his surroundings, the door opened. When he saw who was standing there, his jaw dropped and anger sizzled. Luscious Malfoy was standing in the doorway and smirking at him.