Chapter 17

"Good morning Draco," Nash called as Draco hopped out of his car. Slamming the door shut, he slapped his hands together ready to get the day started. Draco sighed. The job site looked like it always did, organized chaos. The ground was dug up and there were pipes for drainage everywhere. "I'm glad you're here," the older wizard said coming up to him. "I'd like to start early before anyone else shows up. We've got a small magical problem and no time to call in the authorities."

"Aiowa?" Draco asked referring to a small magical creature native to New Zealand that was known for digging long tunnels. They resembled skinks, only with blue eyes, brass claws and two tails. The authorities would spend the whole day clearing up the mess, which is why most New Zealand magic folk took care of their own problems.

"The site is littered with them. We need to round them up and move them someplace else. I'd rather not have my people falling into any holes." Nash explained, taking his wand from inside his jacket pocket.

"True," Draco replied doing the same. He'd started carrying his wand to work after he found out Nash was a wizard. He felt safer having it on him. They had the Aiowa removed before the crew arrived. Once the equipment was unloaded, they began to lay pipes. Everything had to be done before the ground became too hard to dig. Although the Aiowa had alleviated some of the work, they still needed to hurry. Winters there were cold and rainy, much as they had been in England, making it difficult to work.

At lunchtime, Draco gave Nash a lift home. The project was only twelve minutes away from their houses, so they decided it'd be nice to eat with their families. They would've carpooled that morning if Nash hadn't needed to run by the office first. That was fine with Draco; it gave him an extra hour of sleep.

"I bought the lass a book on the history o' Hogwarts yesterday while I was in Aukland with the girls." Heather informed Draco as they ate. "I thought Cassie might like it 'cause it's where ya went ta school." She smiled over at her goddaughter. "She's been readin' it all mornin'."

"Have you?" Draco asked glancing over at Cassie as he tore off a piece of his toast. Soup and toast, a nice warm meal on a chilly day,he thought taking a bite.

"It's a bit dull," she admitted reaching for her milk. "But did you really go there Daddy?"
"Yes I did. That's where I learned about curses." Draco told her. Cassie took a few swallows of milk before speaking again.

"As long as Albus Dumbledore is there, it's tha safest place in England if yer ever there," Heather commented, stirring milk into her tea.

"It's a castle right?" She asked. Draco and Heather nodded. "Is that bigger than our house?"

"Yes." Draco replied.

"Bigger than Lisa's house?" Again they nodded. "That's big," Cassie said in awe. She stared at her soup trying to imagine what Hogwarts looked like. The book said it was a castle with towers and a lake. Gran had told her a castle was like a house where many people lived. So was it more like an apartment building they'd lived in? It was taller and bigger than her house.

"Cassie, you need ta finish yer lunch," Heather said gently. "Yer father has ta go back ta work soon." Quickly Cassie began eating, not wanting to waste any time with Draco. Maybe he'd tell her more about Hogwarts, without all the boring stuff. The book had too many big words for her to understand. As Draco got ready to leave after lunch, she asked if he'd tell her stories of when he went there. Smiling, he told Cassie yes before ruffling her hair. She and Heather followed him to the driveway where they said their farewells. Jogging across the street, Nash joined them with Trina close behind. He hopped in and waited as Draco finished saying good-bye.

"Remember you promised," Cassie said as Draco hugged her. He nodded then climbed into the car and drove off.

Work dragged on for two hours after they returned. Draco began thinking fate was against them finishing. Nothing seemed to be going right. Part of it was the time of year; the other was that the Muggles he was working with were slow. Not that they were always like that, but this particular group made Draco want to pull out his hair. Once or twice he wished he could set their pants on fire, maybe that would make them work faster!

"Honestly," Draco hissed under his breath. "It's like they're all asleep today!"

"I don't know, but I have to agree with you. It's a bit unusual for them," Nash whispered to him. "It's like they're purposely being slow. Look at how they're moving," he muttered, watching one young man bend down to pick up a fallen tool. "You know, we were the only two that left for lunch. They ordered a pizza. You don't suppose that there was something in that, do you?" Draco shook his head.

"It doesn't look like food poisoning or they'd be running to the toilet. There's something about it, something familiar."

"Now that you mention it. It's almost as if they're under some sort of..." Nash commented.

"Spell," Draco finished, his heart suddenly racing. "Nash, I need to check on Cassie. Now."

"Use my cell phone to call." Nash reached for the phone clipped to his belt when it burst to life. Pressing the receiving button, Nash put it to his ear. Draco could hear Trina's panicked voice and his heart stopped. He knew it was about Cassie, he just knew it.

Nash's face paled, then he shoved the cell phone into Draco's hands. The look of sheer terror was all the young father needed.

"They took her! These people in white masks! They grabbed her right out of your yard! Heather was talking to me and we saw them, but couldn't react." Trina's scared, anxious voice resounded in his head.

"Trina, when did this happen?" He asked, trying desperately to keep his voice steady.

"Just a few minutes ago. I'm sure they were Death Eaters. They hit Heather with a curse, but I managed to counter act it. Oh Draco, I'm sorry I couldn't stop them." She sounded like she was about to cry.

"Pack a sandwich, get a thermos, I'm on my way home," Draco said as calmly as he could. People in white masks who could use magic, they were Death Eaters without a doubt. Lucius had finally found them! Cold dread slithered through Draco's veins. He felt sick to his stomach; he'd feared this day for over five years. Oh Merlin, protect her!

"You're on holiday immediately. Go home. Don't worry about Heather. Trina, Lisa and I will take care of her. Go." Nash said sternly taking the phone back. "Find Cassie before Lucius does anything to harm her."

"If he does," Draco growled, anger replacing fear. "I will kill him."

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Draco drove home like a man possessed. His daughter had been taken and he was damn sure he knew by whom. Screeching around a corner, he saw a police car flip on its lights. I don't need you now,Draco snarled pulling his wand out and muttering a quick spell to lock up the car's brakes. He'd be long gone before the officer could move again.

He pulled into the driveway, leapt out of the car and stormed towards the house. Trina was in the kitchen crying while Heather was stoically packing. Sara and Zephyr, their eagle owl, were perched on chairs watching. The second owl had been a Christmas gift from the Fa'avah's last year. Sara had been offended, but grudgingly got along with the larger bird.

Upon seeing him, Trina began to apologize, but Draco cut her off.

"They're Death Eaters, there wasn't much you could have done. But Cassie's not dead?"

"They took her alive," Heather stated, shoving a sandwich in a bag for him. "I have yer broom ready. The Aukland Portkey's guards are down. I just talked ta the administrator. They took them out 'fore haulin' the lass through. There are Aurors there an' they're tryin' ta figure out where they went."

"They're going to London," Draco growled, searching for paper and a pen. "I'm taking Zephyr with me. I'll take the portkey to London then fly to Hogwarts from there. Hopefully Dumbledore will see me. He's the only one I know that may have the power to go against Lucius." He muttered, scrawling a message that Zephyr would carry once they reached London. The bird would go ahead while he talked to the Aurors. Hopefully Dumbledore would be willing to listen to a Slytherin.

"He'll see ya lad." Heather assured. "He's still the Headmaster and he's still against Voldemort." She snatched the message from Draco and scrawled her signature across the bottom next to his. "Trust me." Somehow Draco didn't feel confident.

Hurrying upstairs, he packed a few necessities for both himself and Cassie. He would find her, he would find her alive and then he'd kill his father. Lucius would never have a chance to do this again. Once more downstairs, he grabbed his broom and whistled for Zephyr. The owl hopped off his perch and flapped over to Draco's outstretched arm.

"Remember ta talk ta the Aurors here an' there," Heather told him. "You'll need their help."

"I'd rather deal with the Kiwi Aurors," he grumbled. She gave him a sympathetic look. Trina smiled weakly then took something from around her neck. Walking over she tied the leather cord around his.

"It's a talisman my grandmother made for me when I was young. She was paranoid something bad would happen." Trina explained touching the carved jade face. "It has a powerful curse in it. I want you to have it, to protect you and Cassie."

"Trina, I can't..." he began, but she shook her head.

"Please." Draco nodded once, accepting the gift. Saying one last farewell, he Apparated to the Aukland Portkey.