A/N: Hey everyone. Well I have started writing this at 10:18PM… so yeah and I am listening to the Backstreet Boys new song Incomplete on the net… and I wish they would release it in Australia! Anyway… to the poll…
In FIRST PLACE is a tie between: Hermione and Draco on 8.
In SECOND PLACE is Gavin on 5.
IN THIRD PLACE is Blaise on 2.
A BIG TIE on 1 is: Amy, Ginny and Tonks.
DISCLAIMER: You all should know.
Chapter Twelve: Hostage
Ginny hummed as she walked down the hallway to the lounge room. She started cleaning the coffee table, stacking the magazines and other bots and pieces when a cracked sounded in the kitchen. Ginny stood up and frowned. Blaise wouldn't be home yet, especially when he is investigating a murder. Her mother had gone home to bake her some choc-chip cookies, her brothers would busy and her father was at work no doubt. Her friends always knocked at the door before entering.
"Blaise is that you?" called Ginny uncertainly instinctively grabbing her wand off the coffee table and slowly walking to the door between the lounge room and the kitchen, "Blaise? Mum? Ron?"
Still no answer. Ginny placed her hand on the door, biting her lower lip. She didn't know if she should answer or apperate to her work and go get Blaise. But Blaise was busy and she didn't want him to worry about her, if it turned out to be nothing at all, but her imagination playing tricks on her.
With a deep breath Ginny pushed the door open a bit, only to hear a knock at her front door. Frowning she looked at the kitchen door and turned and walked to the front door. She peeped through the peephole to see her next-door neighbour.
Ginny opened the door and smiled, "Hello Mrs Westwood."
"Hello dear," smiled the elderly lady, "I was wondering. Have you seen my cat Snookums?"
"No sorry. I haven't gone outside at all this morning. But if you give me ten minutes I can come and help you."
"Oh you are so lovely dear," smiled the elderly lady.
"Would you like to come in and wait for a few minutes?"
Mrs Westwood nodded and Ginny helped her inside, shutting the front door. Chatting away Ginny led her to the lounge room and helped her sit down.
"Where is young Blaise?" asked Mrs Westwood.
"He got called into work," replied Ginny as she heard her bedroom door close, "At least I think he is. Just let me go check something and I'll be with you in a moment."
Mrs Westwood nodded smiling and Ginny walked across the lounge room and down the hallway to her and Blaise's bedroom door… it was closed and Ginny or Blaise NEVER closed the bedroom door.
"Blaise?" said Ginny knocking on the door, "Are you home?"
Ginny turned the doorknob and pushed the door open, only to be grabbed and smothered by a cold hand. Ginny screamed into the mouth terrified. She kicked the wall, making it shake slightly, oh how she hoped Mrs Westwood could hear what was going on and go for help.
"Hello Ginny," came a cold voice in her ear, "Remember me?"
Ginny knew that voice all right and it terrified her to bits.
"Now you are going to come along with me like a good pregnant mum… don't want to loose those twins inside of you now do we?"
Ginny nodded, than bit into Clarissa's hand, making her cry out in pain and yanked her hand away from Ginny's mouth allowing her to scream out.
"MRS WESTWOOD! GET BLAISE! HELP! GET BLAISE!"
Clarissa angrily silenced Ginny with that silencing charm, "Don't make me hurt you… you will help me lure Hermione to me. If you want to live, you will do as I tell you."
Ginny looked at Clarissa terrified for not only her life, but for her unborn babies life's.
!Z!
Hermione arrived back at the Aurour section and headed down the hall hurriedly. Just as she was turning left to head to her lab Harry appeared in front of her. Hermione looked away from him and focused on the wall to her right.
"Why didn't you say anything?" asked Harry, speaking calmly and civilly.
"I couldn't, okay? There is more to it than you know," stated Hermione looking at him.
"I am your bestfriend Hermione. I told you everything involving Voldemort."
"I know."
"Then tell me, why you didn't tell me, Blaise or your brother and sister-in-law about Clarissa."
"Clarissa was living in disguise as either Carla or Lynette. Happy? Now you know why I didn't tell you and also, you do realize that Carla is due to marry our bestfriend's brother in mere bloody days. Right now Dumbledore is about to break this news to Percy, which is going to ruin whatever harmony this world had while I was good as dead. You see Harry the fact that the world is heading back to being chaotic is my entire fault. That was part of the reason why I kept my secret as long as I did. So you can go off and be pissed with me. That would be least of my worries at this moment."
"Hang on," said Harry stopping Hermione from pushing past him, "Are you saying that Carla is Clarissa and you didn't tell anyone because you found out somehow that she was living in disguise as either Carla or Lynette?"
"Yes," snapped Hermione annoyed.
Harry nodded, "So… what is going to happen now?"
"I'm going to speak with Albus about that tonight with Draco. We have decided, though to bring the Order back together to see Clarissa have her downfall."
"But your powers…"
"Are back and I am ready to seriously kick her arse once and for all," stated Hermione firmly, her arms crossed.
"But still Hermione… you could get put into another coma."
Hermione's eyes narrowed at Harry's doubtful face, "Look Harry, I may have been awake for less then a month, but that doesn't make me… incapable of defending myself, let alone duelling."
"I'm not saying you can't defend yourself Hermione. Clarissa is a powerful and dangerous witch."
"And do you think I don't bloody well know that already?" cried Hermione angrily, "Why don't you just give me the support that I gave you when you had to fight Voldemort… I'm sorry Lynette is dead, but there is nothing I can do to change that. So if you will excuse me… I can't be here anymore today. I need to see someone who I know will support me."
!Z!
Amy hurriedly signed out of work for the day and apperated instantly to her husbands work. She smiled politely at Bill and John, the shop assistants and ran down the hall to her husband's office. She sighed when she saw him filling out ingredient order forms. Gavin always got stressed out when putting his monthly orders in – he didn't want to break the budget, but Amy knew the business was worth more than 5 million galleons.
"Amy, sweetheart," said Gavin smiling at his wife, "What are you doing here?"
"Well… I wish I were here to just see you… but I'm here to tell you something rather important… about your sister," stated Amy as calmly as she could while taking a seat in front of Gavin's desk.
Gavin sighed and put his quill down and looked at his wife critically, "What has she done now Amy?"
"Don't talk to me like that, Gavin! Your sister knows that Clarissa is alive. Clarissa has killed two people already – Terri Peterson and Lynette – Harry's now dead girlfriend."
Gavin scoffed, "Amy I know you want Hermione o be under our constant surveillance, but this is going to far. Hermione wouldn't keep a secret like this from us."
"Harry told me, Gavin and so did Blaise."
Gavin stopped scoffing and sighed deeply, "You aren't lying then."
"No Gavin, I wish I were but I'm not… I want to know why she didn't say anything."
"That we will have to ask her. I'm going to see her tonight. Do you want to come?"
Amy nodded, "As much as I love Hermione like a sister, I want answers."
!Z!
Draco handed the waitress his money for his salad roll and walked out of the restaurant with his salad roll in his hand. The door closed behind him with a jingle of the bell and down he stepped into the busy Digion Alley.
"Draco."
Draco looked up from unwrapping his roll to see a very stressed out Hermione walking towards him, "Hey baby, what's wrong?"
"I need a hug."
Draco opened his arms and let Hermione walk towards him and wrap her arms around him. Draco's arms slipped around her snugly and he held her, saying nothing. Obviously things back at work had been rather hectic for her to come see him in need of a loving hug.
"Is everything okay at work?" asked Draco murmuring into her ear after a while, still hugging her.
"Harry and I had a heated discussion… and well he is doubting me defeating Clarissa," came her reply as she finally broke away from his hug, "I supported him against you-know-who, Draco, the least he could do is return that support. But no, Harry doesn't."
Draco was shocked, never before had Hermione spoke of her bestfriend's like the way she was now. Obviously stress and pressure does a lot to a person and with the murders seeming to be happening and the fact that Clarissa was back… Hermione was under pressure and stressed.
"Look don't worry. I support you to my death and I am not doubting you one bit," said Draco cupping her chin with his free hand before leaning down and kissing her gently.
!Z!
Percy sat in silence. Dumbledore had just finished informing him of everything and at the moment Percy didn't know what to do. Should he believe the man? Or call him a raving lunatic and not believe him? His mother and father were just as stunned as he was. Both had taken to Carla happily and were looking forward to the wedding… well that obviously wasn't happening now.
Finally Percy sighed and looked up to the eyes of his former Head Master, "Why should I believe you?"
"I am not saying should you believe me… it's whether you believe Hermione," replied Dumbledore calmly, "Do you think Hermione would say this under false facts?"
"I don't think she would," said Mr Weasley softly, "That young lady is like a daughter to me and I feel she would protect us with all of her heart and soul."
"I agree… but it is just a shock," spoke up Mrs Weasley, "She lived in our home, ate our food… she never came across as the type to harm any body… let alone be Clarissa."
"Why didn't Hermione tell us this sooner?" shouted Percy standing up, knocking the chair over behind him, "I loved Carla! I was going to be married to her – forever!"
"Hermione had her reasons, Percy – that you must believe if nothing else," said Dumbledore in his ever-calm voice, "She would've acted if she had known exactly whom Clarissa was living as. She couldn't accuse and be wrong, could she?"
"I suppose," sighed Percy, though he was trying to still look dignified.
Mr Weasley sighed, "Where do we go from here Albus?"
"I am having a meeting with Hermione and Draco tonight, though both Hermione and I have agreed to bring back the Order… I dare say we will go from there," replied Dumbledore.
"We can't go back home," said Mrs Weasley suddenly looking frantic, "Clarissa will be there!"
!Z!
Ginny's heart was pounding a mile a minute. She didn't know where she was, but she did know the place was dark and had a musty smell to it Cobwebs were sticking to the back of her dressing gown, which was against a wooden wall. Tears were threatening to fall down her dirty cheeks and her head throbbed from when Clarissa had smacked her head against the wall upon arrival.
Suddenly the creaking of floor boards were heard, then the rooms door opening with a creak. A bright light protruding from Clarissa's wand suddenly blinded Ginny. Obviously she wasn't strong enough for wandless magic.
"Hermione knew about you, didn't she?" asked Ginny coldly.
"Of course she did," smirked Clarissa pacing across the rickety wooden floor, making the old floor boards creak, "But her courage and care for all you pathetic people made her keep her mouth shut… well, didn't she turn out to look like the stupid one? Two dead and I'm willing to add you to that list if you dare do anything stupid. But… if I kill you, I'll be killing your babies won't I?"
"What do you want me for? What use am I to you?"
"Well you are Ellawise's bestfriend, aren't you? Naturally she will blame herself and come after me."
"Hermione isn't that stupid! She'll bring an army of wizards and witches with her."
Clarissa laughed coldly, "No she won't. Do you think she will want to be the blame for other people's deaths?"
Ginny glared at Clarissa, but remained silent.
She watched as Clarissa walked to the window and pulled the curtain back and smirked, before turning back to Ginny.
"Your brother will be so devastated when he learns that his future wife was in deed the creation of Hell and pure evil."
"What do you mean?"
"Now I know the density of the Weasley's runs in the family," snapped Clarissa annoyed, glaring at Ginny, "I was CARLA! I lived in disguise to get to all of you… and you all fell for it. Except Ellawise, she knew something was up from the start."
"I told you Hermione wasn't stupid."
Clarissa pointed her wand at Ginny's heart, "Another snide comment like that and Mummy and babies die. Don't test me, I have no mercy towards others."
!Z!
"Mr Zabini there is a lady by the name of Elizabeth Westwood here to see you," said the receptionist at the entrance of the Aurour section as she poked her head into Harry, Ron's and Blaise's office, "She says it's urgent."
Blaise lowered his quill from writing the murder report, "Tell her I will be with her in a few minutes please, Sandra."
Sandra nodded, smiled at Ron and left.
"Who is Elizabeth Westwood?" asked Ron glancing at Harry who had been sitting quietly at his desk, starring at a photo since he arrived back from the hospital.
"The elderly lady next door. She's a lovely lady," said Blaise standing up, "Probably lost her cat, Snookums again."
Ron chuckled and Blaise left the office. He walked down the corridor whistling a tune him and Ginny had been singing two days ago while eating dinner. He smiled when he saw Mrs Westwood, but the smile slipped from his face when he saw how utterly distressed she looked.
His pace quickened to a jog as he ran to her.
"Mrs Westwood," said Blaise worriedly, "What is wrong?"
"I went to your house and Ginny let me in. She was going to help me search for Snookums. She went to her room after hearing a noise and I stayed in the living room… then I heard screaming, terrible screaming. Ginny screamed for me to get you. Someone has taken her!"
"Did you see who it was?" asked Blaise, trying to remain calm like he was trained to do.
"I stood up and looked down the hallway… I saw blonde hair and red clothes."
"Okay. Mrs Westwood, I am going to get Sandra to take you too a room and she is going to get you a drink to help calm you down. Now don't worry about Ginny, I am going to find her."
Mrs Westwood nodded and Blaise signalled for Sandra to do her duty. Sandra, a women with brown curly hair and bright blue eyes, hurried over to Mrs Westwood and spoke with her calmly and friendly.
Once gone, and the room empty, Blaise grabbed the nearest piece of furniture, an innocent chair, and threw it at the wall with all his strength.
The chair collided with the wall, splitting the wooden wall, leaving a gaping whole. People rushed out of their office at the noise, wands ready to attack some evil person, but all they saw was Blaise breathing very deeply, his fists clenched tightly.
Ron and Harry pushed through the crowd and made there way to Blaise, confused.
"Blaise," cried Harry, finally speaking, "What's going on?"
"Yeah, I thought you were only going to rescue a cat," added Ron, frowning like Harry in confusion.
"So did I," spoke Blaise in a eerie calm voice, "Ginny's been taken."
"What? Who by?"
"Fucking, Clarissa." Blaise calmly told them both what Mrs Westwood had told him and by the end Harry and Ron were ready to go after her.
"We don't know where she is!" cried Ron angrily.
"What on earth is going on here?" came Tonks angry and annoyed voice making the crowd break up and head back to their offices.
"Tonks we know who has done the murders. And now the culprit has taken Ginny hostage," said Harry, sick of nothing being done about Clarissa.
"Well it's about time. Who is it?"
"Clarissa."
"Very funny Harry. Clarissa was killed in the battle four years ago."
"We are serious!" cried Ron, "She didn't die. Hermione saw her disappear before she fell into the coma… and now she is back to finish Hermione off once and for all."
Tonks sighed, "How come I wasn't told of this sooner?"
"Look there is no time to go the whole story for the hundredth time! Ginny is in danger – for all I know she could be dead! Can we please focus on that, instead of telling you why no one said anything?"
Ron nodded, "We need to find Hermione."
A/N: Okay… so it has taken me a wile to write this. I wrote the beginning… three days ago… the middle two days ago and the rest tonight. Well… yeah.
See this is my MUST WATCH TV shows:
Monday: Desperate Housewives and Dead Like Me.
Tuesday: The OC and CSI: NY
Wednesday: WWE Raw – during the afternoon.
Thursday: Lost.
Friday: WWE Smackdown – in the afternoon as well.
Thanks for the reviews: VBspikergirl9, RoleModelGirlie, 6TEEN fan for life, I wish your heart was mine, HarryGinny13, VMARS, NicksterPotter, mickey823, Emma-Lizzy-Black, GoldenGirl313, SLytHeRiNcHiCk 101 and Blueslusher48.
All the reviews rocked and now I'd bets get onto updating EVERLASTING LOVE!
Bye for now!
Love yas!
Love Coz!