Chapter 18 It's in the Blood
"Yes," Harry groaned, "It's me."
"Harry, where are we?" Hermione began, but Harry cut her off.
"You have to find a way to get out of here. Now! I know what she is planning. She can't do it without you and she knows. She knows about the magic gene. You need to get out of here and hide so they can't find you."
"Harry, I'm chained to this table the same as you," Hermione responded flatly.
"I'm not chained," Harry responded, so quietly Hermione wasn't sure if she heard him correctly.
"I don't know what she's done, but I can't move. I can't even breathe without pain. It's like I'm burning alive from the inside out. Just like my scar. Do you remember when it would hurt?"
"Of course."
"It's like that but instead of just my head, it's everywhere."
"I'm sorry, Harry."
"What? Why?"
"It's just… I thought we were done. I thought at the time if we defeated Voldemort then we could live the rest of our lives in peace. I just want peace, Harry."
"I know. I do, too."
"And Harry, I'm such an idiot! I was so sure I was meeting you that I didn't tell anyone where I was going or what I was doing. Why didn't I contact Ron or Ginny? How could I have been so stupid?"
"Hey, she caught me as we were leaving Hogwarts. I should have been more alert." Harry paused. "How's Ginny?"
"She's devastated, but she's been incredible. She's been searching for you, nonstop. Ginny's found quite a bit of information and is our best hope of being discovered. She has to deal with the reporters that have surrounded your house, which is a pain, but she took the kids to the Burrow to keep them away from the children."
"Reporters?"
"Your disappearance has been big news. Ginny tried to keep it out of the papers, but once it was leaked that you were missing…" Hermione trailed off.
"I miss her," Harry responded. "I miss the kids. I want to get out of here. I want to get away from Delphini. She's the daughter of Voldemort and Bellatrix, you know."
"No! How can that be? Well, that explains her hair color. Who raised her?"
"No idea. But whoever it was, kept her identity under lock and key. She's tired of hiding and she wants her family back."
"How?"
"She's been working as your receptionist. She wears a wig while she's working. She forgot to take it off once on one of her visits. She's been watching you and your work. She knows about the discovery. Plus, she has the resurrection stone. I've seen Voldemort with her."
He moaned as he reached for Hermione's hand. He gave it a reassuring squeeze. "I'm going to tell you Delphini's plans and we need to come up with a plan of our own to get out of here."