Chapter Twenty-Five

Diana Mackenzie

Ron watched Hermione in her blue dress robes as she stood near the punch bowl sipping at her drink. She looked just as lovely today as she was when he first saw her in a formal dress at the Yule Ball on their fourth year. How he had wanted to ask her to dance then. But he was sure she would never have said yes. She was having far too much fun dancing with Viktor Bloody Krum. But now he'll show her he, Ronald Weasley, can dance with her just as good as that Bulgarian prat.

He strode up to her and she met his gaze. Her eyes flickered in excitement—a clear invitation that she was eager to dance with him even if he had yet to ask her. He stood just a foot away from her, but somehow he couldn't say a word.

"Ronald," she whispered in a somewhat odd voice.

"Ronald!" she repeated more urgently. The image of Hermione started to dissipate. Ron groaned with disappointment, but then a clearer picture began to form in front of him. But she didn't have the trademark bushy brown hair and her face seemed different.

"I am sorry, but you 'ave to wake up."

Why did Hermione have a French accent? Ron shook his head to clear it and found Maddy in front of him. He found himself sitting up on the couch in the Auror's lounge and he remembered why.

"You got the file?" he asked in a muffled voice. He stretched his arms. He could catch up with more sleep later when he got home.

"Yes," she handed him a folder. "But you can read eet later. Just give eet back to me tomorrow. Orion also came to ask for ze same file. I let 'im look at eet. Eez zat okay?"

"Sure, sure" he replied sleepily. "Damn prat beat me to it but I'm checking just the same."

"You better get refreshed now. Orion said 'e wantz an early start on your roundz."

"Hang Lancry," grumbled Ron. "He can wait. We don't report in another eight hours."

"Ronald, eet eez past noon."

"WHAT!"

Ron was immediately up. He checked his watch and it was twenty minutes to one. No time to even stop by at the Manor.

"Why didn't you wake me?"

"I am sorry, Ronald. You look tired and I thought you needed ze rest."

He shook his head. "Never mind."

"An owl came for you 'ours ago." She pointed to the parchment lying next to him on the couch. "Ze owl was waiting for a response but I did not want to wake you, so I wrote a reply zhat you were resting."

Ron eyed the parchment and saw his name written in Hermione's script. "Oh great, Hermione's probably worried about us, Harry. Harry?"

There was no response. Harry was still unconscious.

"Thanks, Maddy. Really appreciate it," he replied without looking at her. He quickly ran to the corridor near the lift where the nearest fireplaces for flooing were located. There was still enough time to at least floo her. He tore open her letter and paused a bit to read it:

Ron and Harry,

I know you're busy but I'm worried about you. Please take care. Dolohov's still dangerous and I don't care if he doesn't have any magic. Muggles too don't have magic but they have ways that can still hurt other people.

I'm at your house and I'm very comfortable. I know you put up wards but I added a few just in case. Molly's also reinforced some of the wards at the Burrow. Don't worry about me. I'll wait until you get back. There's so much I want to tell you about what I've learned. I'm sure you'll find them very interesting.

Love from,

Hermione

Ron flushed at her words for a minute before reaching for the Ministry in-house floo jar and tossing a handful of powder into the fireplace. He called out Potter Manor followed by Hermione's name then stuck his head in.

When the green smoke began to clear he found Hermione sitting comfortably at their couch reading. She looked up excitedly at him.

"Ron? Harry?" he said.

"It's just Ron. Harry's still out. Sorry, we fell asleep and now I don't have time to get back. I need to report in a few minutes."

Hermione looked disappointed but Ron had the feeling she was eyeing him suspiciously. "I know. I got an owl from that—that girl who said you were resting."

"Yeah, Maddy didn't wake me. Sorry, but I really wanted to come home. Can you wait?"

"Of course, Ron. But I don't have much time. I have to portkey to Delhi tomorrow morning. I've already covered the traveling and I only need to finish my final papers. If I finish it quickly then I can end the program earlier and come home. When can you get back?"

Ron sighed. "In about twelve hours at the least, it could be more. Really sorry I was hoping to get to talk to you before you go again. I'll find a way somehow to get back in time to see you."

"Thanks Ron. There's something I really want to tell you…" She gave him a shy smile, and Ron knew there was a telling "without Harry around" at the end of that statement.

"I'd like to talk to you too," said Ron. He realized this was a perfect opportunity to just say it. He may never have one again. "Hermione, I know this isn't the best time, but I really—"

"Ronald!"

Hermione's cringing expression mirrored Ron's own disappointment.

"Ronald, there eez someone at 'eadquarters asking for you."

"Look, I have to go, Hermione. Talk to you later?"

Hermione nodded sadly.

"Oy," Ron gave her a grin. "I still owe you a dance."

Hermione's face brightened. "Looking forward to it, Ron."

Ron took one last look at her then pulled his head away. The flames extinguished behind him and he turned to face Maddy.

"I am sorry, but there eez someone looking for you."

"Alright."

He stood to go but Maddy placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him.

"Oh, before you go," she began rather shyly. "I 'ave tickets to a Quidditch match on Thursday. Eet eez not ze Canons, just ze Tornados versus Puddlemere. If you don't 'ave to go on ze job, you want to go with me?"

Ron smiled. He might as well give Harry an additional push. He was sure Harry would enjoy a Quidditch match. And maybe Ron could find a way to tire himself out that day so he'd be unconscious and Harry can be alone with Maddy.

And when he's tired afterwards and unconscious, maybe I'll sneak in a floo alone with Hermione, he thought.

"Love to," he said.

"Good. I will see you."

"Yeah, Maddy, see you." He headed to headquarters.

"Ron?"

"Harry," he acknowledged. "How long were you awake?"

"Just now, what did I miss?" He glanced down. "Why didn't you let us shower and what are we doing in the corridor?"

"We fell asleep at the Auror lounge and now it's almost time to report."

"You didn't get us back to the Manor."

"No, sorry. Don't have time. We have to go back on duty. "

Harry groaned. "Can we at least send an owl to Hermione so she won't worry."

"Just flooed her, she's okay. She'll wait."

"Oh, alright."

"Somebody wants us at headquarters, I don't know who."

They entered headquarters and came face to face with a woman in bright purple robes with jeweled glasses and perfectly manicured red fingernails. Instinctively they both scowled.

"Ronald Weasley, might I have a word?" she said.

"What are you doing here, Rita?" asked Harry irritably.

"Now, now, is that how you greet an old friend?" she said in her usual haughty tone.

"Old friend?" Ron asked. "I don't recall us even talking to each other before."

"But we do have common friends Ron—may I call you Ron? I am sure Harry dear would have loved for us to chums, as well as his ex-girlfriend Granger."

"Don't presume to know what Harry wants," replied Harry.

"And Hermione was never his girlfriend!" Ron added.

Rita Skeeter didn't appear fazed. "But that doesn't prevent us to be on good terms, doesn't it? I've heard you're part of the team investigating the Dolohov escape. Tell me, what's going on so far? I am sure the Auror force would love to clear its name of being careless. Would you like to make a statement to clarify that?"

"Sorry, Rita. Got nothing to tell you," said Ron, dismissively. "You can just wait for the official Auror bulletin when it comes out."

"Well then," Rita gave a fake sighed. "I suppose the headline tomorrow will have to read: 'Aurors cover up suspicious Dolohov escape.'"

"Why that—"

"Ron, calm down. She's just trying to rile us up into talking and you know we're not supposed to, especially to Rita. She'll twist everything to sell a story."

Ron took a deep breath and bit his tongue just in case.

"Come now, Ron. I am only concerned about the greater public safety and awareness. Isn't that what you Aurors are also striving for?"

"Indeed we are, Miss Skeeter." Ron and Harry turned to see who spoke. It was their partner looking as calm and collected as ever.

"And you are?" Rita said with obvious interest.

"Orion Pierre de Lancre," he offered a hand for her to shake. "I am Ronald Weasley's partner. How can I help you, Rita—may I call you zhat?"

"Of course, Mister de Lan—"

"Oh, pleeze call me Orion," he said emphasizing his French accent. "We believe we should alwayz 'ave good terms with ze Press, do you not think so, partner?" He gave Harry and Ron a wink, they could do nothing but gave a curt nod.

"Now Rita, when you like a statement, you just come to me. We 'ave ze finest Aurors working on this case round the clock. Ze public has no reason to be worried. Dolohov does not 'ave any powers, so ze Auror force would like to issue just a precautionary measure for all families to lock zheir doors with magic and to set up wards. We will be patrolling zhe streets at night just to be sure everything eez safe. And we will get him soon." He flashed her his signature smile. Ron's jaw almost dropped when he saw Rita blush.

"Ronald and I would love to chat more, Rita. But we are on duty and we 'ave to be on our way to ensure ze streets are safe for ze wizarding population." He placed a comforting hand on hers and gently led her to the door. "Do come visit again soon. We always appreciate our friends from ze esteemed Press."

"Why, yes, of course. Thank you, Orion. I am sure the readers of the Prophet will be assured that you are taking this seriously," Rita replied before she took her leave.

De Lancre turned to Harry and Ron with a condescending look. "Weasley, you must learn how to butter people up. Rashness to the Press can give us Aurors a bad name and we would not want to pull down everyone's reputation, do we not?"

Ron felt like screaming. Neither he nor Harry could come up with a come back for that.

"ATTENTION ALL AURORS!" Chief Atalanta's voice could be heard through a sonorous charm broadcast all over the Ministry. "PLEASE REPORT TO MAIN CONFERENCE ROOM RIGHT NOW!"

Ron and Harry stashed Mackenzie's folder at their desk then ran to the assigned meeting place. They found Chief Atalanta up front with Moody. Sitting next to him was a worried-looking Professor McGonagall. In seconds, the entire room was filled with Aurors.

Chief Atalanta gave a weary sigh. "We have a bigger problem on our hands. Professor McGonagall?"

Professor McGonagall stood and held up a muggle newspaper. Ron noticed it was the same one J.D. was reading this morning. She pointed to the small article at the bottom of the front page.

"These five children that disappeared," McGonagall began. "They're all muggle-born witches and wizards. They were supposed to start Hogwarts this coming term. We sent them letters two days ago, but apparently the letters never reached them. This morning, Professor Dumbledore read the paper that reported them missing, all in one night."

The room began to erupt in worried murmurs and several Aurors began shouting questions. Chief Atalanta held up a hand for silence.

"We cannot be sure if this is related in any way to the Dolohov case," said Chief Atalanta. "But if it is, this could be disastrous. We have to give out a warning bulletin for the public. I want a clean sweep until we find those children and I want their families guarded tight. You're all dismissed. Your team leaders will brief you on your stations."

"Blimey, it gets worse, doesn't it?" said Ron. "If it's Dolohov, he's working fast."

"Well it could be Malfoy and another Death Eater army. I hope we get to those children soon before… Merlin, they're children! If he tortures them…"

"Harry, don't…" Ron felt old memories of the war coming back and he was sure Harry was feeling much, much worse. Was it too much to ask for a little peace? It's been barely two years.

Moody set them to do the investigative rounds immediately. There were little clues to find. The children disappeared out of thin air yesterday afternoon to the bafflement of their worried parents. One was just playing alone in the backyard. Another one simply didn't come home from a friend's house just across the street. Still another one disappeared from his own living room while his mother was in the kitchen making a snack. Dumbledore had always placed wards around the houses of muggle-born children as soon as they showed magical powers. It was a mystery then how any one could have apparated in and taken the children away by force without triggering an alarm at Hogwarts and alerting the parents. The only conclusion after hours of making checks with every possible angle they were assigned to cover was that whoever was behind the disappearances had used some magic that bypassed the wards to abduct the children.

By midnight Moody dismissed them to rest until the next day. Ron was eager to go home, but Harry had reminded him there was still Mackenzie's file they needed to go through.

"Let's take it home, Harry, please. I'm really tired. And we need a shower. It's been two days straight and we have to see Hermione."

"Alright."

They apparated back to the Manor and found Hermione asleep on the couch, a thick book propped on her chest and several rolls of parchment spread over their coffee table.

"You think we ought to wake her?" asked Harry.

Ron shook their head. "No, let's let her sleep. We can work here." He removed the book and gently placed it on the table. He glanced swiftly at the stack of parchment. He recognized the words of the spell Hermione taught them to transfer Harry to another body in one of the papers that appeared to be a letter addressed to OPD. Ron figured it was probably a subject or a teacher.

They had a quick shower then returned to the living room. Ron sat on the floor, grateful at least that he could watch Hermione, even if she was asleep.

Harry opened the folder and sorted through them.

"Tonks is right," said Harry. "Mackenzie's clean. This woman's downright perfect. Never even had a tardy day in her life."

"Brilliant too," replied Ron as he ran through her bio prior to Auror Academy: Hogwarts Prefect, Head Girl, Outstanding at all O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s. "She could be Hermione in the 1970s."

"According to this, she was originally placed at ARD. She's been there until after the war when she was transferred to Moody's team."

"Why would Atalanta do that?" asked Ron.

"Pretty obvious. A lot of Aurors had died, remember? They needed people to fill in on the Investigative Divisions. The Ministry's priority is on hunting down former Death Eaters, so they had to transfer their manpower from research to the frontlines. But it doesn't look like she's happy there."

"Why?"

Harry held up several memos. "Look at these. She's been begging to be transferred back to ARD for months now. But every time her request is denied because they don't have enough Investigative Aurors. Well, not until our batch gets full Auror status. But from the looks of things she may never get back there. Until Dolohov is captured and those kids are safe, they'll need as many Aurors up front as they can spare."

"Well I agree with Chief," said Ron. "What could possibly be more important than finding escaped Death Eaters." He flipped through her bio at the section of specialized area of research. "Alternative Magical Defense Development," he read aloud. "What does that mean?"

"It's research on new spells for magical defense," came the murmured response.

Ron found a sleepy eyed Hermione sluggishly sitting up.

"What time is it?" she asked mid-yawn. "When did you get back?"

"About half an hour ago," replied Harry. "We're just doing a bit of homework."

Hermione looked surprised. "Who are you what did you do to my best friends?"

Harry and Ron snorted. "It's still us and yes we are working at home. Had to, but we still think it sucks."

Hermione gave a mock sigh of relief. "That's my Ron. Is Harry awake?"

"Yes, I'm here, Hermione. And you'll be glad to know we do our homework without needing to be lectured. There's no one around to copy notes from anymore."

"Glad to hear that. Now what are you working on?" She plopped herself on the floor next to them.

"Just checking on someone as part of the investigation," said Ron.

"Diana Mackenzie?"

"Yes, she is part of our team, but she disappeared with Dolohov yesterday morning," explained Harry. "Do you know her?"

"Yes, well not personally, but I've read some of her work on the elves."

Ron snorted. "Wait? Are you saying she's also interested in house elves? It's official Harry, Mackenzie is an older version of Hermione, down to the elf fanaticism."

"The term 'house elf' is derogatory Ron. And yes, she is interested in elves and has done some studies on them. She's probably the only contemporary researcher on the subject. But frankly, I don't agree on her narrow views that the poor creatures should be fully exploited, even if it is for benefit of new knowledge. I'm rather appalled that she actually tried to experiment on some of her own elves."

"She has her own elves?" asked Harry.

"She mentions in her articles that she has."

Ron quickly flipped though the bio again. "Aha! She's a pureblood. What are the odds that she's in league with Malfoy and she's a muggle hater who kidnapped those children?"

"Children? What children?" Hermione asked.

"You won't like this Hermione," said Harry. They explained to her all the details from Dolohov's escape to the mysterious disappearance of the muggle-borns.

"Right now, we're stumped," explained Harry. "Merlin knows how those children disappeared. McGonagall says Dumbledore's always placed wards. It triggers an alarm at Hogwarts every time those kids come in close contact with a non-authorized witch or wizard until they get their official invite to school. Their homes are not connected to the floo network, we've checked that and the wards could detect any movement by portkey."

Hermione's face scrunched in that familiar way when she was thinking. Mickey appeared just then and offered them a tray of tea and biscuits. Hermione stared at her for a minute then watched until she disappeared again into thin air.

"No!" she gasped.

"Hermione," said Ron. "Mickey is perfectly fine, if you want to give her extra wages—"

Hermione shook her head. "No, it's not that. Don't you see? That was how those children disappeared so easily. They didn't even need access to a floo or a portkey. Someone ordered elves to take them!"

A/N: Thanks so much for all my reviewers. Reading your comments just inspires me to write more and give extra care on the details that you love.

To Peridoth-Plath, I really like writing Orion's character. I wanted a rival for Ron and Harry that can really put them off big time. Malfoy's too much of a push over now for them so I introduced a better one.

I have great respect for Hermione. She has her own personality and she has her own role to fulfill here.

And yes, I got John Dee from the name of the Elizabethan scientist. He had delved into the magical arts with another fellow named Edward Kelley (in this story he is Tonks' partner). There are other names here that I got from actual historical figures, but I will reveal them later.