Authors Note: I swear I didn't forget about this story! Just slow on the way I want to have the story continue to be laid out, along with life interfering. Enjoy!
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Chapter 27
I stood there, forgetting to breathe as I stared at the Patronus. My heart in my throat; just seeing his Stag Patronus leaping towards me. Forgetting the fact that Draco was currently shouting at me, not even knowing how long it was before Draco finally glanced at what held my attention as the Patronus finally began to speak in an eerie version of Harry's voice.
"It was a set up! I don't have time to explain! The Auror's have split up- I need to find Blaise!"
A choked filled sob stuck in my throat and the emotions coming out of Harry's voice from the message. A moment later the Stag faded from sight and I dropped to the floor. I felt a tug on my arms, as someone was trying to pull me up.
"Eva! Snap out of it!" Blurry eyes, I looked up. Finally focusing back to the present as I felt myself get hoisted up. "We need to get the hospital!"
"Blaise." I whispered, allowing Draco to drag me to the floo before reality came crashing back. "Harry!"
Quickly I shut my eyes, focusing on the message to send Harry releasing it I opened my eyes as my Patronus of an Osprey appeared and flew off in a vanish. Not a moment too soon as I was then pulled into the floo before I stumbled out, blinking by the brightness of lights. Glancing around I found we were in one of the floors in St. Mungo's, with medi witches and wizards zooming about getting to their destination. My thoughts were disrupted as I felt a tug on my hand, focusing me back onto Draco's tense face.
"We need to find out where Blaise is." Draco remarked as he began to stalk towards the nurse's station as I trailed on behind him, "I was notified that Blaise Zabini was brought here."
The young witch nodded, moving through parchment before answering, "He's down the hall and take a right, in room 430." Draco nodded before jogging down the hall.
Once we arrived at the door the nurse let us in, and we found Blaise resting. I stifled a gasp as I took in his appearance, one eye was puff and swollen, his lips were busted, purple coloration surrounded the area.
"What happened?" Draco asked in concern.
I noted that his left hand was in a cast and an empty bottle of Skele-grow was on the table next to him, indicating that he received a harsh treatment. Blaise nodded his head in my direction before settling on Draco.
"I had gone out to grab a bite for lunch in Diagon Ally when I was jumped from an alleyway that I was passing by." Blaise began pausing for a moment as he thought about what exactly he remembered. "Cloaked figures, instantly triggered that they were Death Eaters but I realized quickly that they weren't. They had on a plain, black boned masks, with black gloves so the only thing of color you could see was their eyes."
My quick quill was moving quickly across the parchment taking in everything that Blaise was telling us. We could get the memory from him if needed but I wanted us to have the account written in case we would need to refer to it. He continued explaining that there was one hooded figure who seemed to oversee the rest, and they had altered their voices when they spoke. Their message was simple after they had casted an Immobulus charm on him. 'This is your final warning. Continue and the consequences are dire.' Draco and I shared a glance, who were these people?
A moment later the door to Blaise's room busted open, Draco and I both raising our wants in a defensive stance before we finally got a look at the intruder. Harry.
"Harry!" I exclaimed my wand instantly lowering as I ran to him, pulling him into a hug asking him if he was okay.
"I'm fine Eva. Truly." Harry answered, stepping back to nod towards Draco in greeting for turning to Blaise, "Are you okay? I am sorry we didn't figure it out sooner. What were you doing out of the office?"
"I'll live. How would you have known that they were going to set you up?" Blaise answered, trying to stifle a groan as he adjusted himself on the bed, "I was thinking about my protesting stomach. I was starving, I didn't think anything would happen out in public."
Harry rolled his eyes choosing not to lecture him about not listening to his request to stay at the Company. Instead, he wanted to know the story on what happened. Halfway through a Medi-witch came in to check on Blaise before stating he would again stay the night once more for observation. Once she left, we all looked at Harry.
"Well now it's your turn." Draco remarked, eyebrows quirked expectantly.
"We first sent out plain clothes Auror's to survey the area. Everything had gone to plan, and nothing seemed to be alerted to our presence. I even stayed behind to be extra precaution. When we were given the green light to raid the home, that's when everything felt off."
Harry began weaving the tale on how when they apparated into the house and onto the grounds his hair stood up, not even a bird or an insect buzzed in that moment. The second passed and flash went out, temporally blinding those on the lawn to which they were then landed in a smoke haze. Harry stated that he immediately sent an alert out to the Aurors Department and upon surveying the house, traps were set up to startle, confuse and temporarily freeze intruders. Once they were disabled Harry stated they found a note floating for them and a new Auror apparated informing Harry that Blaise had let the Company grounds.
"Damn." Blaise remarked.
"What did the note say?" Draco asked leaning forward, eyes narrowed hoping to find a clue.
Harry paused for a moment, glancing about the room before casting a silencing charm on the room and a temporary lock on the door. "The note was scribbled on a piece of parchment stating, 'To seek your Prize the clock begins. When the hand is on Ten and Three on tomorrows eve is all you have to pass this Test. Can you see the Path of Shade in order stop the Grim from staking his Claim? In a Cabinet just for One, in a room full of Grim's own relics for those in Black in for a bit of fun.'
"What the hell?"
"You have to be joking?"
I mulled over what the parchment said, before glancing up at Harry. "It's a puzzle."
