Chapter 24
Harry ran upstairs to find only Ginny sitting in a corner crying. "Where's Ron and the twins?" he questioned, running to her side. "What happened, Ginny?"
She choked back another sob and said sadly, "They found them...took them downstairs...said they'd be used as bait to lure you back...didn't know I was here...I..." she stopped talking and continued crying.
Harry was at a loss of what to do. He didn't want Ron or the twins to be hurt but he knew they had to leave the manor immediately. He took Ginny's hand and led her back to Hermione's room.
"Where are the others?" Draco asked.
"They've been captured. We have to leave now and come back for them," Harry informed them. "We'll come back with the whole Order."
Hermione was appalled. "Harry James Potter, how dare you! Ron's one of your best friends. Stop being so bloody selfish. We have to save him. Ginny, you go back to Hogwarts. This is no place for you. Shoo." Ginny was in no condition to argue and so she got on her broom and left. "Now, we need a strategy."
"I think it's safe to say we're going to be outnumbered," Draco stated.
"True," Hermione replied. "So that's why we need to be sneaky. It's not going to be a war. It's going to be a mission. We have four people to save: Ron, Fred, George, and my mum. I know that my mum is in her room and they're probably keeping the Weasley's in the dungeons. This means we're going to have to split up."
"Well wherever Voldemort is going to be, that's where we're going to have to send Scarhead," Draco announced. "Neither of us even have a chance at killing him so there's no way to defend ourselves."
"I'll save Hermione's mum," Harry said. "I'm sure that's where he'll be."
"Alright," Hermione agreed. "Here's the deal. You go by my mum's room. We need to make sure you don't go in until we've already got the Weasley's this way my dad's not aware of what's going on."
"Well how am I going to know when you've got them?"
"We're going to need a signal."
"But I won't be able to see you. We'll be on completely different floors." Both Harry and Hermione were stumped. They could think of no way to communicate once this plan was in action. Draco sighed and went to his room leaving behind a very confused Hermione.
When he returned, he had two tiny boxes in his hand. "It was going to be an engagement present," he confessed. He got down on one knee and took her hand in his. "This wasn't exactly the circumstances I would have liked to propose in but it'll have to do. Hermione, I love you. You truly saved my life this summer by being my friend and I'd be honored if you would be my wife."
She was nearly ready to faint, having not expected any of this. The ring in the box was just so gorgeous that she felt like crying. It was a gold band, simple yet beautiful, and it had one small square cut diamond right in the middle. "The ring reminded me of us. Simple and wonderful. I went for a square cut diamond because we're never able to cut corners. We always have to do things the hard way. But I want that. I want a hard life...with you. I want every day to be a challenge. I want to work for you and earn your love. Please say you'll be mine."
Harry almost laughed. He didn't know Malfoy had a single romantic bone in his entire body. And yet, here he was, down on one knee, saying all these sappy things that made Hermione cry.
"I have two conditions you have to abide by if you want me to say yes," she laughed. "Promise me you'll never touch our kids in a rough manner no matter how annoying or insolent they become. AND promise me that you'll love me forever."
He pretended to think on it and then replied, "The kid thing is no problem but I'm not so sure about the loving you forever part."
They both laughed and he slipped the ring on her finger. "I guess I have no choice but to agree to your commands," he smiled.
Harry coughed loudly to alert them of his presence. "I'm sorry to interrupt but we have a mission, remember?"
They both looked as though they had completely forgotten. "Oh right," Draco said. He took the other box and gave it to Harry. "I'm going to want this back, Potter."
"What does it do?"
"Well when a wizard gets engaged, he buys two rings. One for him and one for his fiancé. The rings are magical. They allow you to communicate with you partner. Since Hermione has the other ring, she'll be able to let you know when we've got the Weasley's. The ring will glow a bright gold. Think you can handle that?"
"Doesn't sound too hard," Harry replied, ignoring Draco's sarcasm. "So how do you think you'll be able to get to Ron? Won't they have them guarded?"
Hermione seemed to take her time thinking about this before responding. "Well I'm going to lure the guards away with a distraction and then Draco will help the boys escape."
"How are you going to lure them away?" Draco asked. "I hope you're not planning on seducing them. That wouldn't sound like a bright idea."
"Draco, I think you underestimate a woman's power to manipulate." They smiled and Harry couldn't help but think how cute they seemed together.
"Flirting at a time like this?" he joked. "What am I going to do with you two?"
"Can it, Potter," Draco replied. "Let's just get through this mission. Ready, Hermione?" She nodded her head and he took her hand to assuage her nerves. "Let's go then."
Hermione stopped before they left and kissed Harry's cheek. "Be careful. Don't be a hero or anything tonight. Just go and come back out. As soon as you get her, hop on a broom and leave. I'm not kidding Harry. Don't try to fight him if you can avoid it."
"You're wasting time, Hermione," Harry told her. "But thanks for the pep talk. I'll be sure to remember that." It wouldn't have seemed normal if she had not given him advice. After all, what use is it going into battle without the brains?
Hermione and Draco left quickly, making sure no one knew they were up. It was almost three a.m. and most of the guards they ran across were sleeping. Hermione only looked at them with scolding eyes. "If your boss knew you were sleeping on the job, what would he say?" she thought as she continued on.
Once they reached the dungeon doors, Hermione and Draco looked at each other. He could tell she was worried and she had every right to be. It was very risky to go against the Dark Lord, even if the whole Order had been there to back them up. But they were just two people and there were most likely about five or ten guards. He wondered briefly if Voldemort had even realized Harry's escape and as he was about to bring it up to Hermione, they heard voices coming and so they hid in the nearest closet.
"Voldemort said the kid went missing," one man said with a laugh. "Can't say I didn't see that coming. I mean, he DID ask the kids best friend to chain him up. She probably left the key right in his hand."
"The Dark Lord isn't stupid," the other said in his Lord's defense. "He knows what he's doing. It's probably all part of his master plan. You'll see."
"The guy can't even control his wife," the first replied. "Let alone his daughter. How are we supposed to believe he knows what he's doing if he can't even control two mere girls?" Hermione was about to give them a piece of her mind, not being able to accept that they would insult her like that, but Draco held her back.
"His daughter is really strong minded and you don't understand the circumstances," the other said. "It takes a long time to break such a strong witch. I'd like to see you try."
"Oh I'd break her all right," the first laughed. "I'd give it to her the same as Riley did. She'd be begging for me to stop and I'd just keep slamming into her tight..." He didn't get a chance to finish because Draco had already popped out of the closet and stupefied both guards.
"Pervert," he muttered before grabbing Hermione's hand and leading her down the dungeons. She stopped him and ran back towards the guards.
"We don't want anyone to see them and suspect," she told Draco as she carefully hid the men in the same closet they had been hiding. Then she placed invisibility charms on them so even if by chance someone opened the closet, they could not be seen. "Now we can go."
Creeping down, as quickly and quietly as they could, they reached the dungeons. They could hear the voices of the Weasley brothers and Draco almost laughed. "It doesn't sound like they're having too bad a time."
Hermione then listened to the conversation between Fred and George. "You know, I bet we could make a fortune off of this kind of stuff. We could sell little Death Eater toys - collect 'em all!"
"That'd be great, Fred. Smashing idea. I was also thinking we should make a toy that's like an apple and you give it to your teacher. Then when she bites into it, it turns her teeth purple!"
Ron gave out a loud sigh. "What in Merlin's name does that have to do with anything?"
"YOU THREE! SHUT UP!" One guard yelled. Hermione peeked over the wall they were hiding behind to see just three guards sitting in a corner.
"No, that can't be right," she whispered to herself.
"What do you mean?" Draco asked, not having chanced a look yet.
"There's only three guards," she informed him. "Doesn't that seem odd to you?"
He thought and then responded, "Yeah, that is weird. Can't be right. Are you sure you're not missing anyone? Check again."
"No, Draco, I'm sure. It must be a trap. What do you think we should do?"
"I think we need to distract the three that are there," he decided. "Distract them first then I'll go in. I'll handle the next batch and then we'll see where to go from there."
"Draco, you know I don't play things by ear. We need a clear plan. First I'll distract these three. I petrify them while you attempt to save the guys. If you're attacked, let them begin to lead you away while I go and get them. Then, the four of us will come for you."
"That's not a good plan, Granger," he laughed. "But I like it. Alright, so how do you plan on distracting them?"
"What if I told them that I found Harry and need them to come and contain him?"
"Sounds good. What if they don't go?'
"Then I'll kill them."
Harry sat in her room waiting for the sign. He looked at Draco's ring and smiled. He was so happy that his best friend had finally found someone so perfect for her. It was like everything was finally falling into place. Now it would all be up to him.
He would finally face Voldemort, after making sure Helen was all right of course. Even though Hermione had strongly suggested that he didn't fight Voldemort, he knew this was it. Sleep deprived and hungry, Harry was going to face his worst enemy.
Did they truly think he was stupid? Did they honestly believe he couldn't figure everything out? Everything was happening just as he had planned. Hermione had rescued Potter only to have the Weasley's captured. Then the Weasley girl, falling perfectly into his plan, had given them the ammunition to actually attempt a real rescue mission.
Yes, they would all be captured and killed and his final victory over Potter would be glorious.
The guards had of course followed Hermione at the chance to be the one to catch the famous Harry Potter. Their Lord would be so happy.
Of course, when they were stupefied and locked inside the same closet ones she had just taken care of with Draco, Hermione figured he'd probably be really mad. Why should she worry though? They were just Death Eaters.
Draco ran to where the Weasley's were and began unlocking their chains. He got Fred and George out. As he was unlocking Ron's, Hermione came back. "Quickly," she said. "Two Death Eaters saw me and I think they've alerted a lot more. I sent the message to Harry so we have to go."
They ran up the stairs and out of the dungeons only to find Harry, Helen, and Voldemort blocking their way.
They all backed down into the dungeon with fear, standing in the center of the room. "I caught Mr. Potter here trying to help 'save' your mum. How foolish he is," Voldemort said. "Then again, here you are Hermione, trying to save these muggle loving fools."
"I'M a muggle loving fool," Hermione said. "It doesn't make a difference to me."
"You are quite humorous, my daughter, but I think it's time this ends. LUCIUS!" Draco's father ran down to the dungeons immediately.
"What is happening, my Lord?" he questioned. "Draco, what have you done now?"
"I was just doing what was in my heart," he responded. "Nothing wrong with that, now is there?"
"You will apologize to the Dark Lord AT ONCE!"
"Or what, father? Are you going to beat me again? I'm sure the Dark Lord will handle your job much better than you ever did. I don't need to be beaten, though. I'm very thick-headed. Nothing ever gets through to me."
"Don't antagonize them, Draco," Hermione whispered. "I know you've never really been in this situation before where we're greatly outnumbered and all, but let me assure you, it's very dangerous."
Draco only scoffed. "I'm sure."
"Lucius, I was you to tell your son what happened to your wife this afternoon," Voldemort hissed. "Tell him what happened after she tried to go to the Order for help. After she tried to give them information in order to SPARE her own life, what did they do to her?"
Tears actually threatened to spill out of Lucius but he kept his façade of pride. "They killed her son. Your mother died today."
"See? You can't switch now. They wouldn't trust you."
Hermione took Draco in an embrace as he kept whispering to himself, "This CAN'T be true. This CAN'T be true." He fell to his knees and Hermione went with him, resting his head on her shoulder and clinging to her for dear life.
And the war had truly started, Hermione thought with sadness.
A/N... Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
