Chapter Six: The Preparations
Albus entered the living room. After casting a silencing charm over the room he began. "The young Malfoy has told us where the prisoners are, the dungeons of Malfoy Manor."
Arthur spoke up. "That doesn't make sense, keeping prisoners in your own home. He's lying."
Tonks shook her head. "Actually, it makes perfect sense. Malfoy Manor is extremely well protected. Lucius is no fool. It would take us days to figure out a way to breach the security. My mother told me that he set the wards so that people can Apparate in or out of the wards, but when they do they are splinched, unless they've used a particular password spell prior. She said that he tried out the wards on Draco several years back. He was in St. Mungos for most of that summer recovering."
"He splinched his own son, just to test his wards?" Arthur shook his head. "Do you expect us to believe that?"
"It's true," said Kingsley. "I was filling in at the Improper Use of Magic Office two summers ago and was assisting with the case. The child was splinched rather horribly. His mother claimed it was an accident and managed to get it swept under the rug. The considerable Malfoy influence and galleons were the only things that kept Draco from having his wand snapped."
Albus sighed. "Well, we need to discuss where we go from here. Storming in with our wands blazing may not be the most prudent course of action."
"Dumbledore?" Tonks spoke up. "I know something about the Malfoys. The weakest link is Narcissa. She treats her child like gold and would do anything for him. Lucius, on the other hand, will likely kill him on sight when he finds out what's happened."
"We must do something!" Molly stood and began to pace again. "My baby boy is with that evil man. If he'd splinch his own son, what will he do to my Ron?"
Albus looked to Tonks. The rest of the Order then moved their eyes to her as well.
Tonks swallowed hard. Well I guess I'll just go for it! "This is what I think we should do…"
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Narcissa bit her lip as she scanned the Evening Prophet. Lucius would be down from his shower in a moment and she must have this out of sight by then. She couldn't take her eyes from the young boy in the photo, Ron Weasley. He was smiling and wearing his school robes, absently twirling his wand. She scanned the headline again.
Horrible Hogwarts Happenings: Boy Disappears Without a Trace.
She closed her eyes and flipped the paper over, no longer able to bear the child's smiling face. She then saw an accompanying piece with a photo of an obviously distraught Molly Weasley, sobbing and blowing her nose into a handkerchief. The headline read:
A Mother's Plea for the Safe Return of Her Son
Cringing, Narcissa folded the paper. Hearing her husband on the stairs, she quickly hid the paper beneath the napkin in her lap. She picked up her teacup, trying to hide the sudden trembling in her hand.
Lucius bent to kiss his wife's cheek. "I'm so sorry to have to skip dinner, my dear. You understand what responsibilities I have."
"Of course, dear. Will you be gone long?"
"I hope not to be. I'd like to get back before too long, although I need to pick up some items in Knockturn Alley after the meeting." He bent close to his wife and tipped her chin up with his forefinger. "I don't have to tell you not to let anyone in, do I?" The underlying tone of the words put a chill in the air.
Fear gripped her heart, squeezing it painfully. "Of…Of course not dear. I won't let anyone in."
He smiled and kissed her cheek again. "Just see that you don't." He made his way to the doorway. "I would hate to have to punish you again," he added over his shoulder as he left.
Narcissa's hand was now shaking so hard she had to put the cup down, to keep from sloshing her tea onto the table. What am I going to do? I can't let him kill people in my own home! That poor boy! What if that was my Draco? She buried her face in her hands. Her mind was awhirl; going in so many different directions that she could not focus. She heard someone enter the room. "I wish to be left alone." She did not hear the house-elf retreat. Lowering her hands she repeated, "I said, I wish to be…" Before her stood Lucius' former house-elf, Dobby, looking very uncomfortable. In his hand was a letter with the Hogwarts crest on the seal.
Dobby stepped forward and handed Narcissa the letter. "Dobby is to stay for a reply."
Narcissa stared, first at the letter and then at Dobby. Finally she broke the seal with one finely manicured nail. Opening it she gasped and covered her mouth. This can't be happening! She read the simple missive:
Narcissa Malfoy:
Draco has been discovered as a spy infiltrating the school in the form of Professor Snape. He has confessed to his part in the kidnapping of Professor Snape as well as of Ron Weasley. If you wish to have your son back I suggest you agree to a trade, Draco for the two prisoners. It would not be wise to involve your husband. Send your response via Dobby.
The headmaster's elegant scrawl closed the correspondence.
Narcissa sat back in her seat and closed her eyes. Dobby waited patiently. Narcissa sat up again. "Minky!" The house-elf popped in. "The time has come."
Narcissa had known that a day would come where escape from her husband was not only desired but also essential. When Draco was splinched she had carried out her dream of creating a hideaway. She had created a small set of rooms underground in a secret location. Her fortress was as impenetrable as Malfoy Manor and Lucius knew not a thing of it. She and Minky were the only living souls who knew.
Narcissa scribbled a hasty reply to Dumbledore. After Dobby popped out, Narcissa went to her rooms to pack as Minky gathered whatever provisions she thought they might need. Neither knew how long they would be hiding out.
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Molly paced back and forth, whirling at any sound. "What was that? Was it Dobby?"
"Calm yourself, dear." Arthur tried to get his wife to sit beside him on the couch but she shot up again as the sound of breaking china came from the kitchen. As Tonks came from there profusely apologizing, the portrait of Mrs. Black began shouting epithets. Moody crossed to the portrait and began to argue with it vehemently.
Dobby softly popped into the room in the midst of the chaos. Albus was seated in an armchair rubbing his temples. Dobby went to him and pulled on the sleeve of his robe.
Albus felt the tug and saw Dobby there. "Everyone, please be silent." He opened the reply and scanned the contents.
Molly and Arthur looked to him expectantly. He smiled. "She has agreed. We just need to set the plan into motion. Molly, Arthur, you will come with Remus, Draco and me to Hogwarts. Tonks, you will be the liaison for the Order. I will notify you as things develop and others may contact you for information." He got up and went into the kitchen where Remus sat with Draco.
Remus looked up. "Has she agreed, then?"
Albus nodded. "We'll need to go to Hogwarts for now, until we can decide the particulars." He came to stand beside Draco. Looking into the boy's gray eyes he gave him a sad smile. "I'm going to need you to hold still, child. I need to erase your memories of all that you have seen and heard from the time we left Hogwarts tonight." Draco mutely nodded and closed his eyes. Albus placed his wand between the boy's eyes and obliviated his memory. He then added a sleeping charm, causing the boy to slump forward against the cords which held him. "Remus, unbind him and let's go. He'll be your responsibility until the exchange takes place."
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Ron heard the door to the cell creak open and stumbled to his feet, surprised to find that his leg no longer hurt. Ron stood in front of Snape's body, ready to fight if need be. He knew he was no match for a wand but growing up with as many brothers as he had, he was quite used to being prepared for a physical confrontation at any time. He would not allow Snape to be taken again.
Minky's large head peeked around the cell door, her eyes huge. She then slunk inside, followed by Narcissa. Mrs. Malfoy knelt beside Severus, gently touching his forehead. "He's burning up, Minky. Can you help him?"
Minky approached Severus and held her hands several inches above his body. She slowly ran her hands up and down over his entire frame. "Minky can help but not completely. Minky can mend the ribs and heal the mouth. Minky has basic fever-reducing potions, but not one to regrow professor's teeth…" Narcissa winced. "…or the ear drops needed to stop professor's infection."
Narcissa sighed, nervously biting her fingernail. "Can you keep the fever down until we can make the exchange?"
Minky nodded, her hands hovering above Severus' head. "Yes, but Minky cannot save professor's hearing. Master must have used the ear splitting curse."
"He's deaf?" asked Ron, looking down at his teacher, mouth agape.
Narcissa's eyes narrowed. "He's alive, boy, as are you." She turned her attention to Minky. "Take the boy. I'll be along in a moment."
Ron backed away as the elf approached him. "Take me…where?"
"You're acting foolish, child. Would you rather leave with us or stay with my husband?"
Ron stood still as Minky's arms draped his waist in preparation for Apparating.
"WAIT!" Narcissa approached and quickly performed the password charm. "We can't turn the boy over in pieces, Minky!"
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Remus puttered around in the kitchenette of the one-room flat created inside the Room of Requirement. He had finished his tea and was rinsing the dishes when he heard a soft groan coming from the couch where he had placed Draco. He had considered tying the boy again once they arrived but thought better of it. Remus approached the sleeping Slytherin. Draco began to mutter in his sleep, in the throes of a nightmare.
"Father…no…please…it hurts…please stop…please don't hurt me…"
Remus gently nudged the boy's shoulder. "Wake up, Draco. You're having a bad dream."
Draco shot up from the couch, "NO! Stop!" His gray eyes scanned the room. "Where am I? How did I get here?" Draco looked at his hands—his hands! What's going on? I'm Draco again! How? Thinking fast he sat on the couch, placing his hand over his eyes. "I'm so dizzy. What's going on? I…I…must've been under the Imperious Curse. I hope I didn't do anything awful."
Remus smiled. Whenever a Malfoy was caught with his hand in the cookie jar the Imperious Curse was invariably to blame.
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Severus moaned as Minky placed her hands against his side, deftly healing his broken ribs. Any human witch or wizard would've coveted her skill as a Healer. She had a wide range of experience dealing with injuries since her mistress had married a man who was nothing more than a monster. She was rarely called upon to heal prisoners but had healed Mistress and the young Master on a regular basis. Her skillful fingers now cupped Severus' jaw as she sent her magical healing energies into him.
Severus could feel a slight itching and tightening in his cheeks and felt the pain there slowly recede. Sadly it only brought the pain in his ears to the forefront. He unconsciously lifted his hands to touch his ears and felt hands pulling his own down and away. Opening his eyes he saw Narcissa, smiling sadly and shaking her head. He turned his head to speak but the movement caused a wave of dizziness to wash over him. He was spiraling down and away, falling, even though there was nowhere to go. He moaned again and vaguely wondered why he couldn't hear himself. Bile rose in his throat and Minky quickly placed her hands to his stomach, squelching the nausea.
"It's okay, Severus."
The Potions Master couldn't understand why he couldn't hear Narcissa. He could see that her lips were moving. "What?" he managed to rasp.
Narcissa conjured a small blackboard and tapped it with her wand. As she spoke her words appeared on the board. "I said, it's okay, Severus. Just relax. You and Ron are fine."
Ron? I have to tell her about Ron. He tried to speak again. "V…V…Sp…Sp…" The effort proved to be too much and he fell back into the black abyss.
"What was he trying to say?" asked Ron from the nearby bunk. He sat eating an apple from the provisions that had been brought. His freshly scrubbed face was pinkish and shiny, the cuts now being merely red marks as the healing salve did its work.
"I don't know. Get some sleep now, child." She watched Ron lay back. He was asleep almost instantly. She stretched her back and yawned.
"Mistress should get rest, too. Minky will keep watch."
As the humans slept the house-elf finished the preparations for the exchange. The time was quickly approaching. Minky awakened her Mistress and went to Ron. He lay on his side, sleeping soundly. Her eyes were drawn to his calf, where the material strained against a lump of some kind. She peered at the lump, poking it with her finger. She gasped as the lump moved. "Mistress! Mistress!"
Narcissa came over. "What's wrong? You can't wake him up?"
"No, Mistress. His leg! His leg!"
Narcissa glanced at Ron's calf and put a hand over her mouth. A look of steely determination came over her features. "We can't do anything about it now. They'll have to fix him up at Hogwarts. Wake him."
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