Chapter 23: Mortal Peril

Ron's heart beat frantically in his chest. The words, 'Have to get to Hermione. Have to get to Hermione. Have to get to Hermione!' echoing hysterically in his brain. He climbed the stairs, taking them three at a time until he reached the landing he remembered he room was on. He rushed down the short hall and burst through the double doors without knocking, forcing them open with such power that the heavy wood crashed against the wall, gouging a hole and leaving chips in the paint.

"Ron." Hermia gasped as she spun around, recognizing the man who had haunted her constantly the past three days. "What are you doing here?"

"There's no time to explain." He rushed forward. "Grab the girls. We have to go."

"Ron what…"

"Don't argue with me, Hermione." Ron strode determinedly towards one of the cribs reaching to take a baby in his arms. Hermione stopped him by bodily placing herself between him and their daughters.

"What do you think you are doing?" She cried with indignation. "You can't just barge in here and demand…"

"Hermione," Ron reached out and grasped her shoulders the same way he had Ginny's moments ago. "He's coming." Fear laced his voice, his fingers bit painfully into her arms. "We have to go now." Ron emphasized. "Before he gets here."

Hermia tried to shrug off his powerful grasp. "Who's coming? What are you talking about?"

"Draco Malfoy."

Hermia physically blanched. "That's impossible. No one can break out of Azkaban Prison."

Ron rolled his eyes in aggravation. "There's not time to explain right now. We have to get the girls and leave before he gets here."

"No." Hermia stepped back out of his reach in disbelief. "You can not break out of Azkaban Prison. I read it in a book."

"Bloody Hell Hermione," Ron shouted. "There's not time to argue with you right now. I have to get you back to the Burrow."

Ginny's words fresh in her mind, Hermia snorted and spun away. "If you think you can frighten me into going back with you…"

"I don't have time for this." Ron growled, interrupting her as he pushed past her to get to his daughter's crib.

Hermia shouted with indignation, surprised that Ron would push her aside like that. She rushed up behind him shouting heatedly at his back, pounding on his broad shoulders with her fists as she tried to pull him away from her daughters but was interrupted by a loud crack in the hall. Hermia froze at the still unfamiliar sound.

Instantly Ron spun around and pulled his wand from his pocket, shoving Hermia behind him as he did. He barley had it free when it was wrenched suddenly from his grasp. Ron snatched at it frantically as it soared away but it eluded him, slipping through his fingers. He watched with horror as it flew into the open, bony palm of Draco Malfoy who stood arrogantly in the doorframe.

With an evil sneer on his face, the gaunt young man with white blond hair stepped into Hermione's bedroom, a wand that Ron recognized as Harry's in his hand. "Ahh, what a familiar sight. What did you do to anger the Mudblood this time Weasel?"

Panic flared behind Ron's blue eyes. "How did you get here, Malfoy? What did you do to Harry?"

Draco rolled his eyes dramatically. "It's not Harry you should be worried about right now." The pale man swaggered arrogantly into the room. "No. I would be more concerned about yourself and this quaint little family you have." Acting on instinct Ron and Hermia took a step back, putting themselves more securely between the blond haired criminal and the two toddlers.

Draco's lips spread into a wicked smile. "I wish I could see Potter's face when he finds you two here, dead. Or, better yet, when he realizes it was his own wand that was used to kill his two best friends." Draco laughed insanely. "I think the torment of it will be worse for Potter than if I actually killed him myself."

Draco's pale eyes wandered up and down Hermia's slight frame making her cringe. She felt defiled and dirty under his gaze. "What do you think, Mudblood?" He tilted his white blond head to the side to better look at her. "Do you think he'll kill himself when he finds out it was his own wand that did you in?"

Hermia whimpered and bit back the sob of fright that threatened to spill forth. "What did you do to Harry?" She asked surprising herself with her boldness. Instinctually she knew that she had to keep Draco talking. Ron was wandless and she didn't know how to use her own. She could try slipping it to Ron unnoticed, but was sure that Draco would catch her instantly. He was watching her far too closely. Her safest option was trying to stall Draco long enough for someone to come to their rescue.

Draco's laughter was cold and lifeless. "Wouldn't you like to know? Let's just say your friend…underestimated me." An evil smile spread across his gaunt features. "It's something I fear he will regret for the rest of his life."

"But how?" Hermia asked again.

"No more questions!" Draco snapped, jabbing his wand at Hermia, causing Ron's heart to stop a moment in fright. "If I hear another peep out of you…" His threat hung unfinished but obvious in the air.

"Don't be a fool, Draco." Ron said taking a hesitant step forward, drawing the Death Eaters focus away from Hermia and toward himself. "There are already people looking for you. We heard the announcement on the wireless. This will only add to your sentence."

"You're the fool, Weasel if you think I give damn what you have to say. Now shut that hole in your face."

Not wanting to press Draco further Ron clamped his lips tight together.

"That's better." Draco stepped farther in the room, keeping his wand pointed directly at Ron and Hermia. Meandering arrogantly around the perimeter of the room, Draco took in the color scheme with a sneer. "Even with no memory you're still a bloody Gryffindor. It's enough to make any real wizard sick."

He continued meandering arrogantly until he was between the parents and their children. Draco looked down at the girls and his lip curled at the corner. The two toddlers looked up at him and huge tears formed in their bright blue eyes. As if they could sense the evil pouring off him their faces screwed up and fat tears of terror rolled down their cheeks. They pulled them selves upright at the side of the crib and reached for their parents, crying out desperately for them.

Ron's heart cinched at the fear he saw on his daughters' faces. He took a step toward them when he saw Draco's wand swing in his direction, halting him immediately. He was no good to any of them if he was dead.

"They're precious." Draco drawled sarcastically over the loud wails. Hermia cringed and latched on to Ron's arm pulling him back to her side, not knowing what else to do. Her other hand rose instinctually to grip the crystal still dangling from her neck, seeking the comforting affect it always had on her. Sadly this time it didn't come.

Draco snorted with disgust. "Well, there's no doubt they're Weaselys." he spat. "Disgusting red hair. Freckled skin. Vacant expressions." He cocked his head to the side as he stared at them thoughtfully. "But surprisingly no second hand clothes." Draco's eyes gleamed maliciously as he turned them on Ron. "Looks like even without a memory Granger has done a better job providing for them then you ever could."

Ron's hands fisted at his side, angry color rose on his face.

"It's rather pathetic." Draco continued, "At the age of one they have already worn better clothes then have ever touched your pathetic body."

Draco turned his focus back on the crying children, the wand still pointing steadily at Ron and Hermia. "Perhaps I should get rid of them first." Draco mused to himself. "Stop them from their bloody crying."

"No!" Hermia lurched toward them, tears of hysterical fright in their eyes. Ron caught her around the middle and held her back.

"Leave them alone, Draco." Ron snarled as he fought to hold back the struggling Hermia, his chest aching with fear. "They have nothing to do with this."

Draco turned back to Ron and Hermia. "True. But I fear I'll have to kill them as well. Can't give Potter anything to live for now can I?" He explained, maliciousness tainting his voice. "I am evil, aren't I?" The pale man swaggered forward a few steps. "Now the question is…should I kill them first, adding to your torment by making you watch helplessly as they die, or… should I be sentimental and finish this like I started?"

"Draco please?" Hermia pleaded with him as tears ran pitifully down her cheeks. "Please leave my daughters alone. They're only little girls." Sensing their mother's fear Hero and Helena wailed louder, reaching more desperately for their parents.

"Well, since you asked politely," his features softened, "no." His face snapped back to the look of disgust that always marred it. "However, I do promise to wait until I know that you're really truly dead before I dispose of them." His eyes narrowed with hatred and resentment. "I don't want to find out in two years that you amazingly survived again."

Hermia nearly collapsed with despair in Ron's arms, her fingers dug painfully into Ron's forearm. He didn't move, not even to flinch at her biting nails. "Ron, do something." She pleaded.

Draco snickered at her hushed words. "Yes wWeasel, do something." He mocked gleefully. "Prove to the Mudblood that you really are a man." Ron's hands fisted so tight that his knuckles turned white, but he remained still, his eyes blazing with hatred and the promise of revenge.

"No?" Draco asked when Ron remained still. "Well, there you are Granger." Draco shook his head like he pitied her. "It appears Weasley here isn't a man after all. He's just a boy who happened to knock up a girl."

"Sod off, Malfoy." Hermia snarled, regain her defiance. "Ron is more of a man then you will ever be."

Draco's ignored her outburst, continuing to stroke his chin methodically. The only indication that he had heard her was the arching of an angry eyebrow for a split second before he pushed her words from his mind.

"I've decided to kill the Mudblood first so that you," he indicated Ron by nodding his head, "can watch her die as you would have, if you hadn't been stupid enough to jump in front of her." Draco lifted his wand and pointed it straight at Hermione's chest. "Shall we see if you'll do it again?"

Ron stiffened beside her. His head came up defiantly and he squared his shoulders ready for battle. He pushed Hermia behind his back and clamped on to her wrist to hold her there. "Give it your best shot, Ferret Face." He snarled with a vengeance.

Draco's brow arched. "With pleasure, Weasel King."

Hermia watched with terror filled eyes as Draco Malfoy aimed his wand at Ron's heart. She cringed when she saw the same hate filled gleam that had filled his grey, lifeless eyes the day Voldemort died staring back at them.

Her mouth fell open, the wail of the children ceased, and time seemed to still as images of that day flashed through her brain. A green jet of light, Ron crumpling lifelessly to the ground. The unbelievable anguish that welled inside her when she realized he was dead. A mad dash through a battle field. Tumbling to the ground in a dirty alley. Draco standing over her, his wand trained on her heart. Her breath caught in her chest. Her heart clenched painfully in her throat. She couldn't do it. She couldn't watch him die. Not again. She couldn't bare it again.

A door slammed below, and reality came rushing back in on her.. "No!" Hermione screamed, as Ron lunged forward, hands extended towards Draco. Nate's voice called for Hermia from the bottom of the stairs, the two babies screamed in anguished terror. Eyes watering with tears, Hermione's hand swept inside her pocket in search of her wand. Draco moved his own dramatically as he began the incantation to the killing curse. Panic sheathed her heart. Not waiting a moment longer she brandished her wand. Draco saw what she was about and turned his attention on her. Suddenly there was a loud, jarring crash followed by the sound of a body falling limply to the ground.


A heavy silence hung over the Burrow like a thick blanket. When Ginny stumbled into the cluttered kitchen moments after watching Ron bound up Hermione's steps she had had no idea the magnitude of what was going on. Almost instantly she had been swept into her sobbing mothers powerful arms. She winced with pained surprise as her the arms tightened, making her feel like her bones would break under the pressure. Over her mothers shoulders she saw that all the members of her family, save for Ron, were gathered in the kitchen and were smiling at her with relief though she could still see the concern in their eyes.

"Mum," Ginny had finally managed to pull away, rubbing painfully at her ribs. "What's going on? Why is everyone here?"

Molly opened her mouth to speak but burst into fresh tears before she could mutter a word. At her outburst Arthur stepped forward and wrapped his arm around his daughter's shoulder and pulled her away from the group while Bill and Charlie rushed forward to wrap their mother in a comforting hug.

"Dad, what's going on?" Ginny asked again, more adamantly this time, when they came to a stop in the corner.

Arthur lowered his head. "Gin, I don't know how to tell you this." She instantly felt dread settle on her heart. "Draco Malfoy has escaped."

"What?" she burst out cutting off her father. She shook her ginger head fiercely. "That's not possible. He was a high security prisoner."

Arthur placed a calming hand on her shoulder but she shook it off, taking a step away. "I know that, Ginevra." Arthur followed her steps. "We don't know how he did it. We just know that he did. We received word over the wireless not ten minutes ago."

Ginny's eyes welled with tears. Turning away from her father she looked over the anxious occupants of the room and noticed for the first time that a certain raven haired person was missing. "Dad, where's Harry?"

Arthur rubbed awkwardly at the back of his neck. "Draco had a court hearing today to re-sentence him with charges for his crime against Hermione."

"Dad." Ginny stopped her father's nervous rambling with the touch of her hand on his cheek. "Where's Harry?"

Arthur sighed heavily. "Harry was supervising Draco's transportation when he escaped."

Tears welled in her soft brown eyes as horrible images of death and carnage raced through her brain. Her panic rose. She had seen first hand in her sixth year what Draco Malfoy was capable of doing. He wouldn't think twice about taking Harry away from her. "What happened to him?"

"He's fine Gin." Arthur assured her. "Draco knocked him out for a short time, but he's not dead. He sent us an owl shortly after Ron left, warning us."

Ginny took several calming breaths before speaking again. "What's going on now?"

"Harry's leading a search for him as we speak." Arthur looked away from his daughters penetrating eyes. "We have reason to believe that he will be going after Hermione and your brother." Ginny's heart picked up a beat in fear for her brother and friend.

"That's why Ron was frantic to find Hermione." She muttered with understanding.

Arthur's head snapped up. "You saw Ron?"

Ginny nodded. "He arrived at Hermione's as I was leaving."

Arthur put his hands firmly on Ginny's shoulders. "What's her address dear?"

"Arthur." Molly's voice called out, stopping Ginny before she spoke. They both turned and saw that she was pointing at the fireplace which had suddenly begun to glow a gentle purple. Arthur swore under his breath. "What does that mean?" Molly asked with wide eyes.

Arthur's eyes drifted close and his head hung with despair. "That means we have no way of getting to them. The floo network has been shut down."

Molly's mouth fell open. "Shut down? Why?"

"I'm certain so that Draco Malfoy can't use it to go after anyone. If he can't floo and he doesn't have a wand it will be much faster to track him down and apprehend him."

"What about Ron and Hermione?" Ginny asked, fear clogging her throat and arresting the hearts of everyone else in the room.

Arthur looked pleadingly into Ginny's eyes. "Do you remember her address?"

Ginny's chin quivered as she fought back her tears. She shook her head. "I told the floo to take me to Hermione's house and it did." Arthur hung his head. "What are we going to do?"

Ginny winced when her father's hands feel limply from her shoulder. "Nothing. Until the Floo Network is reopened there is nothing we can do…but wait."

"Can't we apparate?"

"Not without a clear destination. And as you're the only one whose been there you are the only one who knows where it is and there is no way I am letting you out of this house alone."

Crossing her arms angrily Ginny looked away from her father and her eyes landed on an object in the far side of the room. Following her fixed gaze, Arthur turned his head towards the far wall of the kitchen and stopped on the Weasley clock standing in the corner. The clocks face had grown more cluttered over the years with every new addition to the family. Twelve hands now rested over the word home while another hung over the word away. Just as the room sighed collectively the hand jerked and spun around frantically. They watched with wide eyes as it continued to spin until it jerked to a sudden stop. Molly let out a terrified scream and collapsed in her sons' arms. Ron's hand had just settled over mortal peril.