Draco 9 August 2017

"Do you know who we are?" I bellow after entering the meeting hall of the 'New Dark Lord'. At least this is what this moron is calling himself. "We sat at the table of the One True Dark Lord. The one that understood the need for pureblood supremacy and the disposal of all mudbloods." Remind me to have my wife spank me after saying this. "We are the last of the great families of purebloods, those that are worthy to be in His presence."

"You are nothing. You have no authority here. You have proven yourselves traitors to the cause."

"Does this look like the sign of a traitor to you?" I show him my Dark Mark. "From what I have heard, you can't even conjure an honest example of one. I grew up in the house of the great Salazar Slytherin and am descendant from the great houses of Malfoy and Black. Our family lines have been pure for centuries. Your families haven't even had adequate training in the Dark Arts. Yes we have heard of your inadequacies, it has been a laugh in the noblest homes in Britain."

If my wife hears me, even though she is at the other end of this hall, she'd be totally offended. But I hope Potter and Nott can convince her that I am only acting to try and have her safe.

"Then why, is the mudblood slag of such importance to your Ministry?" I hear this evil arse wipe snigger.

"Because the Dark Lord lost. At the hands of a half blood. A half blood that is on his way here currently to claim her back. She is important to him. We are now all in hiding worse than when the Dark Lord was sleeping. It is only a matter of survival for us who truly believe."

Yeah if she hears this, it means divorce.

"So can you teach us, teach us the ways of the dark arts?"

Theo chimes in stoically, "When do you want to start?"

"Immediately, and as payment, you can take the half blood."

I glare, "I want the mudblood, we have a - history - shall we say. It was my aunt that carved her up. It falls on me to break her."

"No she is mine. I want to have some fun with the slag."

My stomach turns. That's Hermione he's talking about. That's my wife! But I have to remain calm.

I cackle, like my aunt used to. "If you keep her, it will only mean a battle with Harry Potter, the Chosen One, the Boy Who Lived, the pain in my arse. One without the adequate training, you will lose. Voldemort fell to him at 17 while holding the most powerful wand in existence - the Elder Wand, how much of a chance do you really believe you have?"

"I have my ways. Now take the wretched half blood out of my sight and be gone."

I look over at Theo who just turns to leave, stopping at the two women cowering in the corner. Hopefully the auror boy did his duty and dropped off Hermione's chance to get out of here, the anklet. And hopefully she understands the significance.

Theo does what we rehearse regularly in our abduction prevention classes. I hoped it would never have had to be used, but now I am glad he insisted that we practice it over and over. Trini doesn't leave, which isn't a good sign, but I already knew that.

When we get to the safety of our suites, "WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS THAT MORON TALKING ABOUT! I am so so pissed. If he lays a hand on her."

"Trini has lots of training, Draco. She'll be fine."

"Mr Nott, sir, I don't believe he's talking about Trini" the young auror stated.

"Thank you Tony. Do you two want a drink? I think it might be the only thing that could calm my nerves right now." I pour a double firewhiskey for myself while my comrades decline. "When did Potter say he was getting here?"

I get a glare from one of my oldest friends, he knows there is something, hell he probably always knew he just wants confirmation. "Draco, how important is Granger."

"Think the utmost importance Theo."

"Above Astoria?"

"Scorpius level."

"Oh hell mate. Why didn't you tell me going into this. You finally admitted you've fallen for her. I can't tell you how relieved that you are no longer the stupid prat you've been for so long."

I look at him, "Wait WHAT!? What are you talking about?"

"Mate, I've known you since we were 11. You had it bad for her then. Then third year when she knock you out, first that was bloody funny, you kept calling her name for a week in your sleep. Fourth year"

"NO NEED TO GO ON! I get the point. Yes, she is Scorpius level."

"Sirs, what is Scorpius level?"

I look at the young auror, "It's the highest level we have. They are immediate family or loved ones. Scorpius is my son. Astoria is the next level, after my ex wife. Trini is Astoria level."

"Sirs, Mr Potter should be here in about 30 minutes. What are we going to tell him?"

"That we saw Hermione," Theo began, "and she is unharmed for now. Trini is with her, and we have an in. This one, Draco, what's your take?"

"I'll sit down with Potter one on one about that. Sorry mate, it's a close knit secret right now."

"So close that you gave her a broom to get out? And what was on the charm Draco? You can't tell me it was a Gryffindor lion."

"It wasn't Theo, but only Blaise and a select few know. Period. Drop it. Before I drop you."

"Well." He smirked at me, "You finally shagged her."

I lost it. I decked him. And he just laughed at me.

"Wow, didn't think she was that good." He sees the murderous look in my eyes and starts retreating, "Mate, I jest. I know your feelings for her. I'm just glad Weasel is out of the way and you and Astoria figured out how un-right you two were. Go marry her. You have the blessing of everyone who had to deal with you whiny love sick puppy dog-ness for seven plus years through school."

Part of me feels bad for this kid auror. Having to witness this, without much warning. But he has a role to play, one to show the Ministry that we are not going to turn on them.

"Theo, what do you think about pulling a Snape?"

His dark eyes get a mischievous gleam to them, "keep going."

"Well, maybe have someone infiltrate this organization - that is if it survives the week. Keep tabs on what is going on down here. Maybe have them be a Malfoy Industries employee but in reality have him or her report to the Ministry and Potter. We don't need this moron getting real boots on the ground."

"Draco, mate, I like it. Maybe young Tony here would be up for the task? I can send him to our security training in a month, and then tutor him on everything else he will need to know. Everything our fathers taught us."

"Let's run it by Potter. I think I can influence Shacklebolt or the next Minister to agree to it. That is, if she doesn't kill me for what I said back there."

"Sirs, she couldn't hear you. Or at least understand you. I put up a barrier so they heard us yelling but couldn't make out what was said."

"Tony, you are my favorite person in the Ministry. Thank you!" I exclaim. Probably with more vigor than I should have. "Let me check in at the home front and make sure everything is still calm there. Theo, have you seen Blaise's baby girl yet?"

"Pansy finally had her? And no one told me?"

"Mate you get to be the easy godfather, you got the boys. I got all his blasted girls." I show him the pictures on my phone. Then I look at the texts. The one unanswered one from my wife.

'Baby, please be safe,' I silently pray, 'I love you. I need you. I can't live without you.'

I'm on my second double firewhiskey when the knock comes in from Potter.

"Bout bloody time." I grumble as he and his team come in.

Potter sits and looks at me intently staring at my drink. "So what were you able to extract?"

"Draco called him a moron for all intents and purposes," Theo chuckles. "He has not much in the way of foot soldiers, something that…"

"Voldemort" both Potter and I say.

Theo continued, "Well he had a lot of them. This guy seems to think his inner circle - well actually it didn't make much sense. There were Muggles in with the inner circle. Something…"

"VOLDEMORT" we both say louder this time. I am massaging my temples trying to understand this moron's mania and reasoning.

"Would never have considered. The big problem is one is a high ranking advisor to the President here."

"Draco," Potter looked at me directly, "should we talk in private?"

"No. She's unharmed, but I don't know for how long. He reminds me of aunt Bella. That level of deranged, where it is only the lust for pain and power that drives him. Common sense eludes him, like Theo said the whole Muggles in the inner circle doesn't coincide with a true pureblood mania. You need to get her out soon Potter. She's the one he wants. There's something more to this, but I can't put my finger on it."

"Potter we tried to get her out, but he only offered up Trini. She's staying to see what she can learn and try and keep Granger safe." Theo concluded honestly. And painfully for me.

"Here's what we have on our side," Potter began, "Shacklebolt and his equal are meeting with the President first thing tomorrow. Before this advisor can come in. I will be in it too and we will convince him that his advisor is working against him. Once he comes in, we will detain and question him, Muggle way.
Then it is a matter of extraction. Draco does she have the anklet?"

"Yes Mr Potter I made sure she has it." Tony said.

"Good. What else do we need to know?"

"She hasn't eaten in probably a couple days I guess. Nor rested from what I can tell." I advise. "I know what Trini looks like sleep deprived and food deprived. I say about 2 days without a good meal or sleep."

Now I am feeling guilty for going back to London and not following her here.

Potter reads this. "Not your fault Draco." Oh ouch that sounded painful for him to say. "She came here because she's fought this before. Even I tried to convince her out of it. But she pressed on. She's strong and can manage."

"With a male version of aunt Bella? Potter - Harry - you were there. You, me we're some of the few around that know what she went through? Add what a man can do to a woman… that's what it sounded like he wanted to do. He called her a slag!"

"Draco, don't. Don't let your emotions get in the way. She's also the brightest witch of our age. Don't ever forget that. She'll find a way to save herself and Trini." He turned to the rest of his team, "Extraction plan. Now!"

For the next couple of hours, until the sun rose, we gave detailed descriptions of where they were being held, what the room looked like, what charms were on them (a couple of nasty ones to keep them tied and under control), and other details.

"Theo, what about our idea?" I weakly say. It's been a long night and I wished I could curl up with my wife right now.

"After we get the two of them out." That is why I hired Theo for this job. No matter how fu'd up things get, he still keeps everything in perspective. He reaches in his bag and pulls out a small vial of a potion. "Drink and then lay down. You look like hell and I need you on your game Draco. Do it for her."

I nod and wander off into one of the bedrooms, uncork the bottle, and chug. When I wake up, this moronic manic will not know what hit him.

I dream of her. I have nightmares of what she went through and what she's possibly going through. I want just to hold her again. Tell her she's safe. Tell her that she's going home. Kiss away any tear. Undo any hurt.

It was some of the worst sleep in years.

But I know I needed it. And I need to eat.

And she needs to sleep. In the kneeling position she was in, there is no way she could sleep.

And she needs to eat. With her hands tied behind her like they were, I know she wasn't eating.

I won't eat until she does. No I need to, so that I can battle anything before me.

Fine, when she gets out, she is having the best meals for a week. At home. In bed. With me next to her.

I toss and turn for an additional 30 or so minutes, trying to calm myself from the nightmares and thoughts rushing through my head. The woman I love, have always loved, is in danger. Again. And again she volunteered for it.

I'm going to call her Danger Granger from here out.

But until I can, I have to figure a way to get her out or at least to get them to trust me enough to have some communication with her and get her and Trini their wands.

So I will rely on my godfather's own spell and use it against the Muggle in the inner circle. I need to channel Bellatrix's insanity, but will I be able to come back if I do? Oh bloody hell.

"Harry!" I call when I finally drag myself up and make myself presentable. "News?"

"The muggle is in their interrogation. It's just a wait and see."

"I have an idea, not a great idea, but an idea nonetheless."

"Talk Malfoy."

"Release him. Release him to his master. We both know that is the first place he'll go. Put a trace on him - like you do underage wizards. Follow the bastard. I'll conduct our first 'study' using Snape's own spell. That nasty thing you did to me sixth year in the loo. And I'll do it to the aid, showing how weak Muggles are and how undeniably strong we are. That way I get into their circle, Muggle can go limping away - presumably into the aurors who can counter it, and I might at least have access to them."

"Not a bad plan, but what if you only get access to Trini?"

"I can pass information - maybe food and water too - on at least. It wouldn't be the first time Trini was used as an owl."

"Do it. Let me know how she is. Ginny's beside herself and her brothers are ready to come out."

"What about the ex husband or should I say 'dead' husband of hers?"

"Still no word. If he's living a Muggle life, he won't be paying attention. If he's just in hiding, and he sees it, it might draw him out."

"I absolutely know what will draw him out…" I thought out loud.

"We won't even think about that right now." He thought about something deep, it showed in his eyes. "Right now we need to get her back to her husband. Then we'll celebrate and deal with the fallout."

We work on the details of the plan, we have the layout of the main hall, but there were two or three side rooms that needed exploring prior to a full extraction of Trini and Hermione. I hope to have the instruction in one of them.

Potter goes to put the trace on the Muggle and release him.

I was right, he ran straight for his master.

The plan is in play.

I manage to convince the 'New Dark Lord' - can't he come up with an original name at least? - that it would be better served in small groups and that the ones closest to him should learn first. That way they can always carry down the knowledge and keep the lesser members of his circle in line.

Reminds me all too well of the Cruciatus curse and how it was used on us. And Hermione. And me.

My goal is to be on the left side of this butt wipe by the end of the week. And have some time to torture his prisoners, for 'fun' of course. When in reality, I will be using the time to extract and send information, food and water, and hopefully even kiss my wife. But there is a time table that needs to be adhered to, and I claim it is because I have a business to run.

"Tell me Malfoy, how did you grow your business into such an empire in such a bleak time for the ones that follow the old ways?" The NDL - sorry moron, I'm not going to call you the 'New Dark Lord' - asks me on a walk to see the prisoners.

"Ah that is something I have to keep tight from the Ministry. They are always watching me. How do you think I knew 'Golden Boy Potter' was on his way? I have people strategically placed in positions in the Ministry, feeding me information. I have used Dark Magic during contract negotiations, even with our Ministry. The Imperio curse can be quite useful." I nod. He nods back.

One of my goals this trip, other than to get food and water to the ladies, is to get this person's true name and/or if he had any formal schooling anywhere.

"In school, eons ago, we had a mandatory class. 'Defense Against the Dark Arts'. Most of the time it was laughable. One year our professor couldn't even control Cornish Pixies. Annoying little creatures, but there is nothing dark about them. When the teachers don't really know what the Dark Arts are, how are they to teach defensive measures. I knew more about the Dark Arts by the time I was eight than these teachers did. Truly laughable." I start using one of my rarer talents, legilimency, to probe his mind and see where it takes me. "Did you have any formal training, if you could call it that, like this?"

"No, everything is handed down from father to son. Daughters are not allowed to learn the arts."

"Really," I'm genuinely shocked. "So even basic house chores must be done Muggle style."

"Women are not looked upon as having the same rights Draco as they are in your country. Here they keep house, but many of us have Muggles do the work, and have the children. They actually have a pretty easy life taking care of their wizard's every need."

Personally that's barbaric, I would prefer to take care of my wife's needs, but that isn't the role I am playing today. "Many of the homes in Britain have house elves, that do the mundane work. But even my mother, a pureblood herself, she liked to do some things - like bake. But I would be fearful of anything she baked Muggle style." And we both laugh at that.

"So was there no male heir on your mother's side?"

"No those males died. My mother had two cousins that were the last of the Blacks. Now it is her and her disowned sister. And of course me and my son."

"Why was her sister disowned?"

"She married a Muggle. Not a Muggle-born, a Muggle. A truly disgraceful act."

"I see. So the Malfoy line continues. You have a son."

"Yes he is 11."

"Pureblood?"

I look at him questioning, "Of course." Moron.

"Good. I would like to meet him."

"One day…" from never.

"So this is the room you will be teaching in." He had directed me to a door on the right of where his 'throne' sat. Nothing extraordinary: 4 stone walls, stone floor, but there is more light in here.

"Ah this will work." I look around closer to see where the light is coming from. Muggle lights. Huh. "Who will be using as examples, my liege?" Time to suck up.

"The President's aid, like you suggested. Running to his boss, how weak."

"Exactly."

His dark eyes, they look nearly pitch black, turn on me, "And are you wanting to practice on the prisoners also?"

"Ah you haven't heard about the monies being collected for the mudblood, have you? The wizard community in Britain loves her and is throwing money into an account to rescue her. Throw a number out for ransom and it would be yours. And you probably don't have to release her even."

"I like how you think Draco. I like it very much."

Good, because this is eating me alive.