Chapter 38

Disclaimer: Every character, place, or strange term you recognize was created and is owned by JKR, not me. I have only this little plot bunny.

A/N: Sorry if the suspense is killing you. I originally had this classified as romance/suspense, but there was no suspense and a TONS of angst, so I reclassified it. Now it is indeed living up to its suspense classification. The next few chapters will be pretty suspenseful, but eventually this story will die down into sappy romance.

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Ron had never felt so relieved in his life. The attack on the Burrow hadn't just been for him or Harry. They had come after Bill on purpose. If only he completely understood what it was…

George must have been reading his thoughts. "I'm still confused, Hermione."

She sighed. "I need Fred to tell how he escaped."

"I told you. My captor was this old man. I never caught his name. I have a sneaking suspicion he was polyjuiced, though. Anyway, he caught pneumonia, so I was able to snatch the key and sneak out."

"No, I meant that you need to tell me where you were."

"Well, I already knew I was in France. I figured out I was in Paris when I saw all the American muggles. I asked one where I was. I believe he thought I was drunk. 'They start early here, don't they?' he asked his wife.

"I wandered down streets, not really caring where I went until I was away. Then I saw that tower thing Dad likes to talk about. You know 'all wire and seventeen stories too! Marvelous!' I knew this was a big city and that Dad had been to the French ministry here. So I tried to find it."

"Good luck with that," Ron muttered.

"Yeah, I noticed. Then I caught sight of Hermione. I thought I was dreaming or hallucinating. It couldn't be her. Not here, of all places. But it was you Hermione. Only you would have that hair."

"Hey," Ron interjected. "I happen to like that hair."

"Overshare, mate," George grumbled.

Hermione sighed. "That's no help."

"Sorry! I was more worried about getting away than remembering exactly where I had been held, Hermione. Sorry."

At that moment, a tawny owl knocked at the window. George opened the window and examined the letter. "It's for you, Hermione."

"How did he know to come here?"

She took the letter and paid the owl, then sent him on his way. "It's from Sadat, my boss." She read on. "Oh no! The contact is dead!"

"Contact?" George asked.

"The man that gave me the artifact. He's dead. They found his body in Cairo. I have to go identify it." She paused. "In fact, turns out he wasn't the true contact or the artifact the actual one I was supposed to pick up. Hmm…"

"I'm going with you," Ron demanded.

"Fine. Fred, you might as well come. George, owl Lupin and Tonks and ask them to keep the girls just a little longer."

"Yeah, and take care of Dad and Ginny. Ginny has an appointment tomorrow, so you need to take her at nine," Ron added.

"Don't I get to go?" He made big puppy eyes at Hermione.

"Honestly, George, don't even bother. Someone has to stay here. Besides, that particular trick only works with Ron."

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Sadat was pacing his office, belying its rather large size, when the three arrived.

"Hermione! Thank goodness! Wait—who are you two? Weasleys?"

Hermione nodded. "Sadat, may I introduce Ron and Fred Weasley."

"Nice to meet you. I've heard quite a bit about you two."

"I brought Fred along because he was involved with the artifact. Now what did you tell me about it?"

Sadat frowned. "The person you contacted has turned up dead. He wasn't the one you were supposed to meet. You see, Roger Davies was going to meet you, but Elliot Brown stepped up at the last minute."

"Brown?" Ron asked. "As in Lavender Brown?" He was rewarded with a smack on the arm from Hermione. "Hey!"

"Don't-mention-her," she hissed.

"Yes," Sadat answered, ignoring Hermione's outburst. "Elliot was her elder brother." He paused. "He was Ravenclaw, same year as Bill."

"So you think he took the assignment when he found out I was the one coming to pick up the artifact?" Hermione asked.

"Most likely. Something is wrong with this whole artifact business, Hermione. We have to figure out what exactly it is."

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A little under an hour later Hermione, Ron, Fred, and Sadat stood at the crime scene.

"Torture," Fred cringed. "I guess they wanted information."

"But did he give it to them?" Ron asked. "Death Eaters are nasty creatures. They'll kill you whether you tell or not."

"I hope he didn't. Oh Ron, do you think the girls are in danger?" She was beginning to get hysterical.

"Mione, they'll be fine. Lupin and Tonks know what they're doing. Besides, it looks like these Death Eaters are pretty far behind."

"Yeah. Like three months," Fred sighed.

"How long did they crucio him?" Hermione asked.

Sadat shrugged. "It's hard to tell. A long time, though, by the looks of it." He turned to Ron. "Could you generate a list of any unaccounted for Death Eaters?"

He nodded. "I believe so. I'll have to clear it with the British Ministry first."

Hermione sighed. "We all might as well go."

"Why?" Fred asked. "I haven't been here in ages. I'd like to see the sights."

Hermione and Ron gaped at him.

"Sorry! I haven't gotten out much."

Hermione shook her head. "Sorry. Still…" She clucked her tongue. "You and I need to go to the ministry for an important reason."

"And what is that?" Ron inquired.

"We need to talk to Lavender."

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A/N: This chapter was really hard to write. Next chapter will branch off to show what's happening with the Lupins. Two adults to four children equals chaos. Then I'll pick back up with the suspense. I PROMISE this story is coming to an end. PROMISE!

Oh, and shame on all of you. No one knew that the line from the movie The Princess Bride was "Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me summarize." This line is spoken by Inigo Montoya (played by Mandy Patinkin) to Westley (Carey Elwes). Yes, I am obsessed with that movie. : D

Thanks to my beta jwoods471, whom I almost forgot to mention. I think I would be either betaless or smacked upside the head if I forgot to mention her. Oops.