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Beta: Roman's Sundial

Chapter Fifty-Six: The Riddle Estate

Draco Malfoy – Present Day

January 22, 2001

"I will ask you again, Mr. Malfoy, and this time, I require a yes or a no only," Dolores Umbridge said to him. Draco Malfoy was at his hearing, but unlike his usual review hearings with Potter, Yaxley, and Shacklebolt, this hearing was being conducted by Dolores Umbridge. It turned out that apparently, Umbridge's new role allowed her to conduct any hearing she wanted, provided that there was proof of some sort of legal misconduct. There wasn't, of course, but with his mother's plan to sabotage Hermione, it gave Umbridge all the leverage she needed to interfere. "Were you engaged to Hermione Granger?"

"Yes," Draco answered, not looking at his mother. He did, however, make eye contact with Harry, and they shared a very discrete nod.

"I believe your work here is done, Dolores," said Harry, standing up and attempting to take back his hearing. "Since there is no misconduct as you claimed there was, this review hearing now falls into the hands of the Dobwig Association."

"I am not done!" yelled Umbridge, trembling with rage.

"I think you are," responded Harry coldly.

"Minister!" she screeched.

"Dolores, please complete your questioning if you are not done," responded Kingsley. "Then, please allow Harry to finish his hearing."

Standing up tall and puffing out her chest in victory, Umbridge turned back to Draco. "When did you complete your Ritual Knot with Ms. Granger?" she asked him.

Draco caught sight of his mother from the corner of his eye. He knew, this time, that he could not lie. "I didn't," he said sadly.

"You didn't? So you lied?" she said, grinning mischievously.

"You do not require a Ritual Knot to be engaged, Dolores," said Harry. "My fiancé and I do not have one, either."

"Ah, but to complete this document," she said, holding up the parchment that had released Draco from Azkaban, "a Ritual Knot is in fact, required."

"Dolores, what are you saying?" asked Yaxley.

"I am saying that Ms. Granger was dishonest when completing this document, and her actions have very dire consequences!"

"Very well," said Harry, standing once more and taking charge of the room. "You do as you see fit, then, given the evidence. I will now conduct my review hearing of Mr. Malfoy; you may see yourself out." Angry, but satisfied nonetheless, Umbridge left the room, and Harry continued on with Draco's hearing. It wasn't a very long one, and Harry had released Draco of all conditions set upon him. Harry walked out of the courtroom with Draco right behind him, anxiously waiting to hear what was going to happen to Hermione.

"Potter, there you are," said Umbridge, as if she hadn't known that Harry was in the courtroom. "We have successfully laid charges on Ms. Granger," she said proudly. "Where is she?"

"No idea," responded Harry.

"I do not have time for foolish games, Potter! We all know your connection to the girl, where is she?"

"Hermione is my friend, but I do not track her location," said Harry. "I was in the courtroom, with you, Dolores; I do not know where she is."

"It is your duty to bring criminals in, Potter!" she yelled.

"And you have the support of my department," said Harry. "I shall let you know if I come across her." Draco watched Harry walk off and just as he considered going after him, he heard his mother call him.

"Draco, come." He followed his mother to a more private location. "Why did you do that?" she asked him sternly.

Draco shrugged. "I wanted to alleviate whatever I could off of her name."

"And if the Greengrass' find out? Did you consider that?"

"I'll deny it," he told her.

"You are such a foolish boy, Draco. Do not forget who you are."

"I have not forgotten," he told his mother, but in a respectful tone.

"Good; now do not let me find you anywhere near Ms. Granger or her friends, either."

"When do I meet her?" Draco asked, referring to his one-day wife.

"At your Ritual Knot Ceremony," she told him.

"But how-"

"Leave that to me," she said, as she walked away and headed towards the exit. Draco thought silently for a while. It was not possible to have his Ritual Knot without his father present, as long as his father was alive. He considered all the ways that his mother could have his father released, until he realized that wasn't her plan at all. Draco swore loudly. He didn't think his mother was capable of doing what he thought she was doing, but there really was no other alternative. Panicking, he rushed out of the Ministry and headed towards the house of someone he hadn't spoken to in a very long time.

Remus Lupin – Present Day

January 21, 2001

Remus allowed Indira to use side-along apparition to take them to their destination, but upon arriving, Remus knew exactly where she was taking him. Frowning, Remus looked at Indira and asked what he needed to know.

"How do you know of this place?"

"You know where we are?" Indira asked him. Remus nodded but said nothing. "I've done some research," she said, as they walked side by side. "I'm sure Harry knows much more than I do, but Minerva helped me go through some books Albus had left behind before he died, and often times he would write in the margins."

"He wrote about this place in a book?"

"Not exactly," she said. "But there was a map of Little Hangleton in a muggle book that he had, and he had written the words Riddle and Gaunt. It wasn't hard to figure out what Albus had meant, and pretty soon it led me to this place." She pointed towards an Estate that was covered in ivy and looked to be abandoned.

"Have you been here before?" Remus asked her.

"No. Apparently, some rich bloke owns the Estate but nobody has ever seen him visit. The Gaunt property can be seen from the building, though, and I thought we would be able to peer into Daniel's home and try and figure out what he's hiding without him knowing."

"We would be trespassing on the Estate, though," Remus said to her.

"Nobody has been here for years, Remus! Besides, it's a muggle property, so we don't need to worry about any traps."

Remus sighed, but knew he had to follow Indira's plan, otherwise he would give away some very secret information. "Alright, but I'll lead," was all he said to her.

"How did you know where we are, anyway?" she asked him, as they approached the Estate.

"I've been here once," he said, pulling out his wand.

"Why?" asked Indira, following Remus slowly towards the entrance.

"I knew of a girl who was born here."

"Really?" asked Indira, now pulling out her wand. "As far as I've heard, nobody has lived here since the Riddles were murdered back in 1943."

"Well, she doesn't live here anymore," replied Remus, pushing open the unlocked front door. "But I was under the assumption that her father still did," he whispered.

"Who?" Indira asked. But before Remus could reply, another voice spoke.

"You are trespassing." The voice was familiar, and although Remus could not see where the man was as the Estate was incredibly dark, he knew who was speaking.

"As are you, Ralph."

"Are you sure about that?" asked Ralph Daniels, as he appeared suddenly, under a candle light at the top of a large staircase in front of them. "You may wish to check your records again."

"You own this Estate and the Gaunt property?" Indira questioned him.

Ralph shrugged. "I am a very lucky man. Now, I suggest you both leave, before I contact the muggle authorities and say that you've broken into my Estate."

"The muggle authorities?" Indira laughed.

"It would be a good laugh for me as well," he responded. "Now, leave!"

His tone was very authoritative, and slightly scary, and although Indira made to leave, Remus did not budge. "Where is he?" Remus asked.

"I do not know who you are talking about," responded Ralph, looking Remus dead in the eyes.

Remus stared back, the wolf deep inside him fueling his rage, and slowly made his way to raise his wand, when Indira placed an arm on him. "Remus, let's go," she whispered, not taking her eyes off of Ralph. Defeated, Remus left the Estate with Indira, but made a note to himself to return on his own soon. "Who were you asking about?" Indira asked him, once they were well away from the Estate.

"The girl's father," he said, still fingering his wand on the inside of his robes.

"You knew this girl well?" she asked him, clearly picking up on his mood.

"No," he answered truthfully. "But her family is quite important to me," he responded, partially truthful. He heard Indira preparing to ask another question, but he stopped walking and turned to face her. "Look, I really cannot discuss what I know about those people," he said to her. "It's, uh, not my secret to tell."

Indira nodded. "I understand," she said, "and I won't ask any questions, but could you at least tell me her name?"

"Why?"

"Because this Estate and Ralph are being investigated. At least like this I can ensure to keep her, whoever she is, out of the investigation."

Remus turned towards the apparition spot, but just before he made his way back to Headquarters, he quietly said, "Daisy."

Harry Potter – Present Day

January 21, 2001

"Hermione!" Harry called out, as he made his way to the room at Grimmauld Place where Hermione usually slept. "Hermione!" he said again, when he found her sitting on the bed reading a book. "Grab your things, quickly!"

"Why? What's wrong?"

Harry didn't respond, but instead used magic to pack Hermione's things up quickly, and headed out of her room. "Follow me," he said to her. He didn't have to lead her very far, and within moments, they were in Harry's room of the house, on the top floor in the master bedroom.

Hermione followed him inside, where he then shut the door behind her and locked it. "What's going on?" she asked him.

"You're staying in here for now," he said to her, taking a seat on the bed.

"Why?"

"Because Umbridge is out to get you, as we expected," he told her.

"Okay, and what does that have to do with my room?" she asked in response, also taking a seat on the bed.

Harry sighed. "Kingsley."

"Kingsley?"

"Umbridge has released your name to all departments, and all are expected to turn you in if they find you."

"And?"

"And Kingsley approached me and told me that if he finds you at Headquarters, he will be forced to take you in, as it his duty as Minister of Magic."

"Nobody can find me here!" Hermione said exasperated. "Grimmauld Place is unplottable and impossible to enter unless you're a member!"

"But Kinglsey is a member."

"He would do that?" Hermione asked quietly.

"He takes his position as Minister too seriously," said Harry, angry that they haven't chucked Kingsley out of the Order yet. "I should just have his privileges in the Order revoked and-"

"No, Harry," Hermione said, cutting him off. "It's better to be on the Ministry's good side, remember? I'll find somewhere to go, I'll just need to gather some things."

"You will be staying in this room, Hermione, and I better not find out that you tried to leave."

"How can I stay here? Kingsley is in this house all the time!"

"Not in my room he isn't. Nobody has access to this room except for Ginny and I."

"I don't put snooping past him, Harry."

"Neither do I, but he physically cannot get in this room."

"You've charmed it, haven't you?"

Harry smiled. "Nobody can come in here unless brought in by me or Ginny. I know it isn't ideal, but you'll be safe here for now."

"What about you and Ginny?"

"We have my flat; besides, there's much more privacy there."

Hermione threw a pillow at him. "Seriously though, Harry, I don't want to be a burden."

"You aren't; you'll sleep in here, the bathroom is through there," he said, pointing to the on-suite, "and, uh, Kreacher is going to bring you meals."

"Kreacher?"

"Kreacher!" Harry called out.

"Master called," said an old greying elf, after a tiny pop was heard in the room.

"I need you to bring Hermione three meals everyday in here, and whatever else she needs," Harry told him.

"Kreacher is to serve the mudblood?" Kreacher asked, looking at Harry with a shocked expression.

"You are to only call her Hermione and nothing else, understood?"

"Kreacher lives to serve the most ancient and noble house of Black," he said, turning away.

"And nobody is to know that she is here," Harry added.

"Yes, Master," he said, and with another tiny pop, he was gone.

"I don't know about this, Harry," Hermione said.

"It's done, Hermione, this is what it is for right now." When Hermione didn't say anything, Harry said what he assumed was on her mind. "He's clear of all charges."

Hermione smiled. "Thank you, Harry. Did he bring me a note by chance?"

Harry shook his head. "Sorry," he added.

"I'm sure he will as soon as he can."

"Do you need anything else?" Harry asked her.

"No," she said, opening her bag and pulling out a book.

"This is only temporary, Hermione; we will fix this."

"I know," she said, smiling. "In the meantime, however, I could always use some spare time to catch up on some reading."

Remus Lupin – The Past

June 27, 1997

Remus quietly entered the dark and gloomy Estate through the front door which he knew to always be unlocked. He hadn't visited for quite some time, but he had expected to find a much cleaner and livelier place. He was startled when he heard a voice behind him.

"What are you doing here, Remus?"

"John," Remus replied, lowering his wand.

"You shouldn't be here," John said, turning away.

"I had to come," Remus answered honestly. "Albus said that Harry had told him that he was here."

"He was," responded John. "But he never saw me or Daisy."

"Where is Daisy?"

"Safe," replied John. "And that's all you need to know, Remus; she isn't your problem."

"And where were you while he was here?"

"The Gaunt property," he said.

"And now you're back?"

John shrugged. "Beats staying at that old Gaunt place."

"Someone owns this Estate, John; you really shouldn't be here."

"I know someone owns it, Remus; I'm the one who sold it to him, wasn't I?"

"I can find you somewhere safe…"

"I don't need your help!" yelled John. "We made our deal, there is nothing else I need of you! You need to go!"

"You know that I'm a Wizard, John, you know I can help…"

"Help? HELP? You people are the reason that I had to make that deal with you in the first place! Get out of here, Remus; our business is done and I never want to see you again!"

Author's Notes: Okay, so! Yes, John is a new character. He won't be a major one and we won't see much of him in the present (maybe one or two scenes at the most) but he is important for past scenes, and has to do with that secret that Remus and Sirius kept from Harry. I will let your minds wander about who Daisy is and where she is. Any thoughts on who Draco is off to meet? I'm curious to hear your guesses!

Keep reviewing and see you at the next chapter!