Chapter 13 More Searching
Harry apparated a few feet from Ron's house. He knew that the wards would be higher right now. Harry approached the house slowly.
There was a bush near the house that at first stayed still, but moved slightly.
"Hello Percy." Harry said to the bush.
"Hi Harry." Percy said removing the spell.
"Who's idea?"
"Mine." Percy said.
"It works." Harry said. He hid the snicker.
"She's inside."
Harry headed into the house and left Percy outside to keep watch. If someone was unfamiliar with the house Percy's plan would work. Harry thought as he opened the door.
"Honey," Ginny said hugging him as he came in.
"What happened?" Harry asked her after she had stepped away.
"I don't know. She hasn't woken up yet from Ron's charm. Healer Michaels came and examined her. He said to just wait until she woke. Penny, Caroline, and I have been rotating out watching her."
"Good." Harry said. He reached up and lifted Ginny's chin. "How are you doing?" He said gently
"I'm fine, really." Ginny smiled. "We both are. He knows you're here. I can feel him moving around he's so excited." Ginny was holding her belly.
Harry leaned down and put his face next to her stomach. "Hello baby." He said. "Daddy's going to be home for a while."
Harry then looked up at Ginny. "How's Ron?"
"Really upset." Ginny answered. "He hasn't even gone into their bedroom. He just hangs around outside the door."
Harry nodded. He headed up the stairs and turned towards the master bedroom. Ron was crotched outside the door.
Harry lowered himself to Ron's level.
"We were happy." Ron said. "I don't understand."
"Tell me what happened." Harry said trying to look Ron in the eye.
"About a week ago she woke up in the middle of the night. She was scared. I asked her what was wrong. She said she had a dream that she was Sara again."
Harry did not know what to say.
"Neither of us has mentioned that name since she came back. Even when we told Eric what happened we still did not use the name. I know you told him more than we did, but it was probably easier coming from you. You are his favorite uncle."
Ron was steering off course, Harry realized. He needed to get him back on.
"What happened after the dream?"
"Hermione had a strange feeling, something that she could not shake off. It was really disturbing her. She said she wanted to go back."
"Back, you don't mean to that village?"
"Yes," Ron answered. "We went back to the library. I meant that bobbie that found her, saw the Muggle police file on her. Then we went to that house."
Harry's mouth opened, but no words came out. He could not believe that they would go back to that house. The Ministry had taken steps so the house would appear to be haunted.
"What then," Harry still could not believe it.
"Nothing, she didn't want to say anything to anyone until she was sure what she was feeling. I tried to get her to at least tell you, but she wouldn't have it."
Harry put a hand on Ron's shoulder. "But what happened for her to think she was Sara?"
"We came home and she was feeling really guilty about me missing so much work and how she should have spent that time looking for Malfoy." Ron finally looked up. His eye had been healed almost all the way. Ginny was probably responsible for that.
"She fell asleep in her office and I up her in bed. I wasn't gone long, just getting some things for Ginny. When I came home she started asking me where Eric was and accusing me of doing something to him. Then she hit me."
"Ron, I'm sorry." Harry said. "I'm going to go in there and see her, alright."
"What ever you think will help. . ."
"We won't lose her again." Harry said going inside.
Harry stepped into the room and saw Hermione asleep on the bed. In a chair by the bed was Caroline reading a book.
"Hi Harry," she whispered. "I'm glad you were able to come."
"How's she been?" Harry asked.
"She seems peaceful, but the way Ron was when I showed up, I hate to ask what she will be like when she wakes up."
Harry nodded and stepped over to Hermione. He took her hand and closed his mind. He would look into hers. Harry tried not to invade. He saw Hermione's memories. Harry wasn't entirely sure what he would look for. There was some reason why she had to be turning into Sara again.
After a moment he released his hold and let her continue to sleep.
"I think its best just to let her sleep. We will try to figure it out when she wakes up."
"We'll keep the same rotation." Caroline said.
"I think that will work. I need to go find some things out. I won't be gone long."
Harry stepped back outside. Ron appeared to have gone downstairs.
The first place he wanted to go was the café and see if he could find some kind of traces of the Malfoy.
Ginny came up the steps just then. "Are you going already?"
"I'm afraid so. Where's Ron?"
"Penny and I made some lunch for him. It's my turn right now to watch Hermione. What have you found out?"
Out of all the things in the world that had ever had power over Harry, Ginny was the strongest.
"Don't tell any of them, but Malfoy was seen in the village."
"I won't Ginny said. Now go catch the son of a manticore."
Harry kissed her and headed out the door.
Ginny stepped inside and took Caroline's place. She picked up the book and started reading and just waited.
Harry stepped into the café under a cloaked spell. He took a seat and waited for a bit. Slowly he opened his mind, wanting to sense the presence of Malfoy. It would help him follow the trail.
The Café was Muggle in nature so he ordered a normal Whiskey. These poor Muggles didn't know what they were missing Harry thought after a sip. He preferred the Fire Whiskey.
After a while Harry stepped out and tried to look around. He had already exhausted all of his training that covered tracking. All proposed motives had been protected.
But he could not explain what happened to Hermione. There was no explanation and she was well protected. But they had gotten to her once.
For some reason, Harry's mind had turned to the prophecy. In the prophecy a group of three had been mentioned. He knew it was them. Harry knew they had to stick together through Voldemort and their own lives.
There was a local underground hotel that was under investigation by the Ministry. Just misdemeanor charges, nothing worth a serious investigation. It was worth a try. He would just look for illegal potion recipes and just take a room for the day.
Harry entered the hotel and asked for a room. He paid for one of the rooms and headed inside. He looked around the basic area. It was completely inside a building that had once been office space.
After finding his room Harry dropped off his cloak, for the appearance that he was planning on staying a while. He then began to wonder around the hotel.
Harry knew that once he got out of here he would need a hot bath.
Inside one of the rooms, Harry felt a familiar presence. He opened the door with his wand and entered.
"Crabbe, long time, no see." Harry said holding the wand at Crabbe. Harry knew he had been released from Azkaban on a working parole. He could have been sent back if found to be doing any illegal activities in the area. Crabbe was not too thick to misunderstand that.
"Potter," he said nervously.
"I'm tracking your former master." Harry said. "Seen him around?"
"No," Crabbe said.
"You're lying." Harry said.
"I couldn't lie to an Auror." Crabbe said getting off the bed.
"Stay put." Harry said. "Tell me where you last saw or heard from your master."
"He told me to wait." Crabbe squealed. "He did not tell me anything about what he had planned. Just to wait. He threatened to kill me if I didn't follow."
Harry slightly lowered his wand. "You made a smart decision five years ago. Accepting the working parole. You have a chance now to make another wise decision. Tell me everything you know about Malfoy and I will be sure to put a note in your parole file for cooperation."
Crabbe seemed to consider this. Thinking still appeared not to be his strong suit.
Harry waited patiently for an answer.
"I told you everything I know. Just to wait here for his plans to go into action. He didn't say what they were."
This was just too easy. Crabbe was willing to give him all of the details.
"Care out the plans. Say nothing about seeing me." Harry had already read his mind. Crabbe truly was in the dark about Malfoy's plans.
"Alright, the note though." Crabbe said.
"Are you trying to negotiate with me?" Harry threatened. "You are in no position to negotiate."
"I want your word that you will give it. Every one knows that you follow your word."
"You have it." Harry said. What got Harry was the fact he saw a strange thing on Crabbe's finger. If he didn't know better he would have said that was a wedding ring. Harrry wasn't sure he wanted the answer to that. The image was disturbing enough.
"He should be here soon." Crabbe said. "I'll do what I can."
Harry walked out of the office. That had to of been one of the weirdest experiences in her life. How could any marry Crabbe. But then Snape had a wife in secret for all the years he was at Hogwarts.
Stranger things had happened, right? None came to mind.
Harry stayed out of sight waiting for a sign of Malfoy to appear. He thought about getting a drink at the bar, but decided not to. He wasn't sure if he could trust anything from this establishment, if it could be called that.
Luck seemed to be on his side. Harry watched a figure walk into the room. He hung outside the door waiting for a moment. He then apparated into the room shooting stunning spells. The only one left in the room was Crabbe.
Harry immediately went to his side. He was hit by a pretty good spell. Harry wasn't sure which one.
"Knew you were here." Crabbe said. "Called me a traitor and left."
"You're not." Harry said. "What did he hit you with?"
"Adava Kadabra" Crabbe slurred.
Harry immediately made a portkey to Saint Mungos. They would take care of him there.
Afterwards he disapparated immediately to his office. The first person he ran into was the one he wanted to see, Tonks.
"Malfoy was at the underground hotel." Harry immediately said.
"What." Tonks said.
"He got away. He knew I was there." Harry said. "I don't know how."
"I'll have the area under surveillance."
"No need I don't think he's coming back."
"What else happened?" Tonks said raising her eyebrow.
"He seems more powerful than what he should be." Harry said. "He knew I was there and he tried to kill Crabbe."
"Crabbe? From your class?" Tonks asked in surprise.
"Almost killed him." Harry said. "I had him working for me."
"I see." Tonks said. "I will get the word to the Aurors. Try to pick up on his trail."
"I wish I could. There was nothing left." Harry said.
"Just get home to Ginny then for a while. Clear your head."