Hermione sat quietly, thinking hard. She had been locked in this dark, damp dungeon for what seemed like hours. Her hands and feet chained to the wall like a helpless damsel in distress. Which was exactly what she was, well maybe not so much the damsel in distress, but she was definitely helpless. All she could do was wish and pray that something-anything would save her.
Remy twirled her wand and circled the table. "Ok so the first part of the plan is complete. Now all we have to do is set the trap for the boy. We know he'll come."
"How is he going to know to come here?" Lilac asked the question they had all been wondering. How would he know that Hermione was locked up here?
Remy smiled, "Have you all forgotten Draco was once a Death Eater?" The smile broke and was replaced with a look of bitterness. "Well he would have been if he hadn't been so utterly stupid."
"I still don't see how that going to help him?" Violet always needed things spelled out for her.
Oliver groaned, "He'd have to be real thick not to think of chasing Death Eaters to the DEH. We've always met here and we know its safe against unwanted visitors so this is logically the place that we'd take our prisoners." Chris hadn't said a word the entire meeting his head had been else where. He could go against the Dark Lord and try to free Hermione himself or he could go against the Dark Lord and try to free Hermione with help. Either way he was dead.
"Chris why don't you go deactivate the protection seals on the house." Chris jumped at the excuse to leave the room and readily agreed. So as not to look suspicious he did his job. The Death Eater House, or DEH for short, was now an open target just as the Dark Lord had wanted. In a split second he made a life altering decision and ran for it. He ran until he was off Death Eater ground and then appaparated to the hotel in which Hermione and Draco had been staying. There was still a chance he could help.
"This is ridiculous!" Screeched Ginny. "Hermione is out there somewhere cold and alone and probably wondering if she's going to live. And you three are arguing over who gets to lead the project?"
Ron looked at his baby sister as if she were daft, "Don't you agree Harry should lead us? He saved your life remember?"
"Of course I remember."
Draco looked at her in disbelief, "Do you seriously think that a common boy should lead you, when I have experience in this matter and I know exactly where they are keeping her."
"One, Harry is not a common boy; and two, you know where she is?"
"Of course he does how more obvious can we make it?" Ginny shrieked and jumped about a foot in the air, Draco pulled out his wand which Ginny had brought him, and Harry and Ron just stared at the boy now standing behind them.
"Why are you here?" Draco asked fiercely.
"Calm down Draco, gosh." Ginny laughed.
"You don't understand you stupid Weasel, this" Draco jabbed his wand at Chris, "is a Death Eater." At these words Ginny, Ron, and Harry all pulled out their wands as well. "He helped kidnap Hermione; he made her trust him so that their plan could be fulfilled."
"Look, I never wanted this to happen. I really like Hermione and I don't want to see anything bad happen to her. I'm here to help." Chris looked so sincere that Ginny dropped her wand. "If I could I would go back and change things. I never would have agreed to this if I had known how wonderful Hermione was going to be."
"I think he's telling the truth." Ginny walked over to Chris's side, "He wants to help let's let him."
"How do you know this isn't a part of their plan, Ginny?" Harry looked at her, his eyes begging her to rejoin him and stay safe. He still and probably always would love her. After everything that had happened he still wanted her by his side, but he could never stand to watch her hurt. That's why he gave her up in the first place.
Ginny looked at Harry the way he had just been looking at her, "I just do."
Harry lowered his wand and joined Ginny. "You've got to be kidding me." Ron said with in an exasperated tone. "He's a DEATH EATER. He did his to Hermione."
"What will it take to prove to you that I want to help?" Chris said pleadingly. A light bulb turned on in Draco's head.
"I know."
Heather hummed as she walked up to the door of Draco and Hermione's suite. Opening the door she said, "Okay now I know that you said it was really important that you get home but I-" She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw three strangers in the room and Draco no where to be seen. "I'm sorry I must have gotten the wrong room. Or do you know where Draco is?"
Harry, Ron, and Ginny all looked at each other. Obviously this girl was a muggle friend of Draco's but what should they do. Tell her she's in the wrong room? Say Draco's out? Heather caught the glances at the three shot each other and knew something was up. "Well I'm definitely in the right room. So tell me where Draco is? And who are you?"
"I'm Ginny Weasley; this is my brother Ron and our friend Harry Potter." Ginny walked toward the girl cautiously. "Who might you be?"
"Heather, I'm a friend of Draco's. I was just going to take him out to the opening of the new club down town." Heather indicated that that was the reason for the fishnets, hot pink top, and barely there mini skirt. At that moment there were two pops and Draco and Chris appeared. Heather screamed and shook her head.
"Heather!" Draco's eyes widened and he hastily set the glass of goop he was holding down. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to see you."
"Well I'm kinda busy, so come back tomorrow."
"No." She looked curiously at the goop. It was a strange brownish yellow color. "What's this?"
"Um." Well here goes nothing, Draco thought. "It's a potion." Everyone turned to look at Draco. All had a look of utter shock except Heather who was still looking at the potion.
"Is that like a type of drink?"
"No. It's like a magical potion."
Heather laughed but upon facing the serious faces she stopped. "Wait-you're serious?" They all nodded. "Oh now you're going to tell me that you're all witches and warlocks are you."
"Wizards." Chris corrected her.
Heather stared in disbelief, "You can't possibly expect me to believe you."
"Heather we need to talk." Draco sat her down and told the quickest version of what had happened. He talked about Voldemort and Harry, and Hogwarts and magic and all kinds of things.
"So let me get this straight," Heather started after Draco had finished. "Magic is real," He nodded. "You're all witches and wizards." They all nodded. "Some big evil bloke is out to get you," she pointed to Harry. "And Hermione has been taken hostage." Again they all nodded.
She stood up and headed for the door."Are you all on crack? Are you high or something? There is no such thing as magic! This is crazy. I don't know where Hermione is but I bet she isn't in any real danger. Why on earth would you make something like this up?" Heather questioned.
"We're not making it up. It's all true." Draco wanted more than anything for her to believe them.
"If what you say is true then where are your wands?" They all pulled them out shocking Heather into momentary silence. "Well do something with them." Each performed a wonderful trick no ordinary magician could do. "Okay I'm not saying I completely believe you but that was pretty amazing. If you say Hermione's in trouble then she must be and I'll do what ever I can to help her."
