HARRY'S P.O.V.
Harry nervously paced Dumbledore's office. He didn't understand what could've happened. They had left Annika in her room safe and sound, the night before, but George went up there this morning to find that she wasn't there. What was worse, Fred was missing too. Harry tried so hard to contemplate the scenarios in which Fred would disappear at the same time as Annika, but they all kept coming back to the same thing. He prayed he was wrong.
George, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione were sitting in the office with him. Remus was there too, also pacing. Harry knew Remus felt like it was his fault and Harry wanted to tell him it wasn't, but the words wouldn't come. They sat or paced in silence, waiting for Dumbledore to return with news on whether or no other students were missing.
Nobody knew what to say or even what to think. They knew what the facts were but nobody was ready to admit it was true. Dumbledore the the silent tension when he came back a half hour later.
"The heads of house did a head count of all their students," Dumbledore began. "And it's as we feared, Mister Malfoy is missing as well."
The silence grew more painful for Harry.
"So, does that mean he has her?" Harry asked just to break it.
"Yes but I don't think he did it on his own." Dumbledore replied.
"Are you saying Fred was in on it?" Hermione inquired.
"Don't you even think that!" George yelled, looking ready to kill.
"Mr. Weasley, please calm down." Dumbledore said. "I am a firm believer in innocent until proven guilty but all the evidence does point in that direction."
"No! I don't believe it!" George yelled. "He would never betray his friends or family like that. And he would never betray me like that!"
"But George," Ginny said. "As much as I hate to say it, it does make sense."
"How?" George urged.
"I see why the wanted Annika but why would they want Fred. Besides, we were the only ones, other than Dumbledore, who knew where she was. He was the only one of us not in the common room before bed last night. And he was the last one to leave." Ginny explained.
"I still don't believe it." George said but Harry could see the discomfort on his face.
"Okay, that's enough." Dumbledore said sternly. "I have sent the Order to search known Death Eater hideouts. If they find both of them then good. But if Fred has switched sides then we'll deal with it then."
Everyone nodded.
"Now, I want all of you to go back to your common room." Dumbledore continued. "Relax, I promise everything will work out. And Remus, Molly and Arthur will be arriving shortly. I was hoping you would stay and provide them a little support, since you are going through the same thing."
"Of course." Remus responded.
Dumbledore then shooed the others out of his office. They walked in silence back to the Gryffindor common room. Harry was watching George. It was difficult to see a man who almost always smiled so sad. Harry could only imagine what he must be going through. Yes, Harry didn't know where his sister was or what was happening to her, but not only did George not nor where his brother was, he did not know if they were even on the same side anymore. He had to be going through hell. Harry wanted to comfort him but couldn't think of anything to say.
When they made it to the common room, Harry sat down on the couch and Ginny sat next to him, wrapping her arms around him. Ron and Hermione did the same thing on the other side of the couch. George sat in the armchair in front of the fire and stared into space.
"I really hope we're wrong." Hermione said trying to sound comforting. George didn't even acknowledge her.
They tried to get him to talk to them for a half hour but he wouldn't even move. Then there was a tapping on the window and George looked over to see an eagle owl sitting on the sill with a letter in his beak. George and the others ran to it as quickly as possible.
"That's Malfoy's owl!" Harry said after seeing it a little closer.
George opened the window, took the letter and shut the bird out. With a disgruntled hoot the owl flew away.
"Who's it for?" Harry asked.
"Potter and company." George read and handed the letter to Harry.
Harry ripped it opened and read it out loud.
Potter and friends (you know which ones I mean),
As you have most
likely discovered, I am once again in possession of one Annika
Miller. In fact, she's probably been here for at least twelve hours
by now. Thanks to the help of one Fred Weasley but you've probably
already figured that out. Anyway, back to business, even as you read
this letter, Annika has already lost her baby and her only means of
defense against us. If you want to make sure she doesn't lose her
life as wel, then you, the five of you (and you know which five l
mean) wil come, alone, to the first room at the top of the stairs, in
the Hog's Head, where Draco and Fred will be waiting for you, at
midnight. You will not tell anyone where you are going. And you will
not bring anyone else but yourselves. If you break any of these
rules, I will know and I will make Annika pay for it. Remember,
midnight in the Hog's Head. And don't be late. Annika's life depends
on your punctuality.
The Dark Lord
"Damn it!" Harry yelled, after he finished the letter.
He ripped up the letter and threw it in the fire. How could he have let this happen to her again? She was his little sister. He was supposed to protect her. He felt Ginny's arm around him again.
"It's not your fault." she said. "There was nothing you could do."
"But she's my sister." Harry protested.
"Yes, Harry. I know and Fred's my brother but we can't control fate. All we can do is try to fix what fate throws at us or deal with it." Ginny said wisely.
"I'm sorry about Fred." Harry sighed, not only talking to Ginny.
He looked at George knowing this was probably hardest on him but noticed George was staring intently at his palm.
"What is it?" Ron asked before Harry could.
"The ring I gace Annika." George replied. "Why would the send it back?"
"Maybe to prove they had her." Harry said. He could careless about the meaning behind the Dark Lord's madness, he just wanted to get Annika back.
"No, it something else." George said still not taking his eyes off of the ring.
"How can you tell?" Ginny asked.
"Because, if Voldemort said he had her then we would have no reason not to believe it. We knew he was after her." Hermione explained. "You don't think it's some kind of spying device, do you?" She posed the question to George.
"Knowing Fred, probably." George answered. "But I don't know. Who knows what he was doing without my knowledge. Just to be safe."
He threw the ring in the fire and the watched it melt.
"Okay, so what do we do, now?" Harry asked.
"Exactly what Voldemort said." Hermione stated. "With our own style. We go, alone, without telling anyone but we go prepared."
"How it's gonna be us against who knows how many Death Eaters!" Harry said.
"Yes, but Harry, you forgot we still have half of the Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, right here." Hermione indicated George.
"Yeah, but they have the other half." George said miserably.
"Look, George," Ginny rose, her cheeks shining red with anger. "I know you're upset about this. Ron and I are too but we have a life to save. I thought you loved Annika."
"I do." George said getting just as angry. "But I can't fight my own brother. I just can't."
"If we do this right, you won't have to." Hermione stated. "Now, George you have to look past this for a few hours so we can get her back. After that, you can wallow. Now, go upstairs, and get everything you have from the shop and bring it here."
George glared daggers at Hermione before going to his room and coming back with a box. They spent the rest of the day planning Annika's rescue.
NARRATOR
Little did they know, Fred and Draco were in the Hog's Head watching their every move and making a plan that would screw there's over. Yes, the ring was sent to spy on them, but Fred knew that they'd catch on so he planted a few cameras in the common room, just in case.
HARRY'S P.O.V.
At eleven o'clock, Ginny, Ron, George, Harry, and Hermione began their journey to Hogwarts. Since they couldn't all fit under the Invisbility Cloak, Harry was in the lead with the Marauder's Map, keeping an eye out for any teachers or prefects. They made it to the grounds a half hour later. They had to keep looking over their shoulders to make sure no one saw them. Ten minutes later, they arrived, safely, in Hogsmeade. They all had their wands drawn and lit and were more alert than unsually, every sense in overdrive. Just in case Fred and Draco decided to surprise them. Fifteen minutes later, they entered the Hog's Head.
There was an eerie silence about the dark room on the main floor. Harry, instinctively, reached for Ginny's hand. He noticed Ron do the same a second later. They made their way up the stairs as quietly as possible, still as alert as ever.
Once they reached the top, Harry slowly opened the first door on the left and peered inside. There was a bed. A dresser and a vanity with a mirror. There was also an armchair and a desk with a chair. There was also a wardorbe in the corner. Once Harry was convinced they weren't in immediate danger he nodded the others in.
"Look around." he told them. "Be careful. They could be anywhere."
The five spread out. Harry went to the wardrobe. He opened it and began to slowly go through the old clothes that were in there. Harry didn't understand what clothes were doing in the wardrobe of a vacant, rentable room. Before he had time to ponder this any further, he heard a familiar whimper of pain and spun around immediately. He froze when he met the sight in front of him.
Malfoy was standing behind Hermione with his hand around her waist and his wand pointed at her chest. Fred was next to him, holding Ginny by her hair and pointing his wand at her chest.
"Now, boys, I know you don't want us to have to hurt them. We don't want to have to hurt them either. At least not yet." Fred said.
"So, if you do exactly what we say, we won't have to." Malfoy finished. "Now, come to the center of the room."
Harry, Ron, and George obeyed.
"Now, drop your wands and empty your pockets." Malfoy said.
The boys did it immediately. Harry didn't like making himself completely defensless in front of those two but he didn't want wither of the girls hurt. He noticed once he finished that Malfoy and Fred were plunging their hands into every pocket in the girls' outfits and pulling everything out. He noticed with disgust that Malfoy had even plunged his hand down Hermione shirt and was making sure she didn't put anything in her bra. Malfoy took his time doing this, Harry notcied. Harry also noticed Ron resisting the urge to punch Malfoy.
"Don't." Harry whispered. "It's what he wants."
It killed Harry to stand there and not do anything but there wasn't anything they could do, if they wanted the girls to live. Finally, Malfoy was satisfied and withdrew his hand.
"That better be all of it." Fred said. "If it isn't, they'll be in trouble. Now, if you want your friends back, you'll apparate to Riddle Manor. I'll go first, then you follow, Draco, when they've gone."
"Right." Draco answered.
With a tiny pop, Fred and Ginny were gone. Harry, George, and Ron looked at eachother, none of them knew what to do. They simply turned on the spot and with three pops they were gone.
