She was still shaken up from her encounter with Draco and the information Harry had given her, Hermione found it hard to get back into her routine. She had wrote into the office saying that she would need time off cause of her injuries and they allowed it, though they sent her paper work by owl so she would fall behind. Lucas returned to school with his mouth shut, Hermione spoke to his teacher saying they had family problems that had to be dealt with. The teachers as well ignored their little absent and continued on.
She had been home for two weeks and was finishing up some paper work when Lucas came out, when he saw his mother working away he went and sat on the couch. Hermione looked over her shoulder at him and smiled, it was bedtime and he needed his story before he went to sleep. She finished her sentence and closed up the file and placed it on top of her pile of finished work. Getting up she walked over to Lucas.
"Ready for bed?" She asked. Lucas nodded and put his arms in the air for her to pick him up. She smiled and lifted him up into her arms. "You're getting heavy soon I won't be able to carry you anymore."
Lucas giggled as they went to his room, she laid him down gently on the bed and lifted his legs up so she could cover him. He got comfortable and Hermione laid next to him, reaching over she picked up the little book that was titled Green Eggs And Ham, Lucas' favorite.
"I am Sam, I am Sam, Sam I am,…."
As Hermione read and Lucas nuzzled closer enjoying Sam and his tormenting ways to get the man to eat the green eggs and ham, they were unaware of the many lurking shadows outside.
Four of them, Death Eaters, who stood in the shadows across the street they stood silently looking up at the third floor windows, they had been out there for hour and a half- and were beginning to get anxious. But they did not speak a word only wrapped their cloaks tighter around them, pulled their hoods down further and waited for the lights to go out.
On the roof of the apartment crunched a lone figure his own cloak tight around himself, he was watching the four Death Eaters on the ground as they stood almost unseen to anyone who passed but he saw them clearly as if they only stood two feet away from him. He was calm his breathing even, his fingers rolled a galleon in his fingers as he waited for the Death Easters to make a move.
Back in the bedroom Hermione finished the book and tucked Lucas in, kissing his sleeping forehead. She brushed his brown hair back and smiled, he was truly her pride and joy. She left his door open as went into the kitchen and living room to clean up, she turned off the lights and headed to her own room to change and get into bed. Pulling her blanket up over her she slowly drifted into sleep.
"The lights are out. Let's go," said one of the death eaters taking a step forward.
"No," said another grabbing his partner and pulling him back. "You idiot we have to wait until everyone is sleeping in the building."
"Do we really have to do this I mean there are innocent people in the building all we need is the boy,"
"Yes, we have to do this it's part of the plan remember. While taking the child we burn the place down which will prove the Dark Ones point on killing anyone who gets in his way."
The one who defended the sleeping people within the building sighed and looked at it, he wasn't really the killing type but he was raised on it so it left him no choice. And the fact that the Dark One had come up with new spells they were all charmed, that if one of them was to disobey or run they would drop dead in 10 seconds. So if he wanted to stay alive he had to kill.
On the roof the man continued to roll the galleon in his fingers, Come on, the lights are out what are you waiting for, he thought. A sound came from behind him and he turned around his wand in hand, but no one was there. He inched his way to the edge, looking down into the dark alley of the back of the apartment he saw a dark figure push aside a garbage can. Who the bloody hell is that.
"Stupid cans," whispered Draco to himself.
He had just arrived at the apartment and was trying to hurry at the same time be quiet. He found that highly impossible since the alley was jammed packed with boxes and garbage. He made his way to the back door, when he moved the last box out of his way a gigantic beast flew out and attacked his leg, digging its sharp long claws into his leg. Holding in his cry of pain, Draco kicked out his foot and sent the cat flying into the darkness.
"Stupid animal,"
Back across the street the Death Eaters finally knew that everyone was asleep, they slowly made their way toward the front door. They unlocked it and headed in.
"Lock all the doors and make sure they can't escape," Said one.
They did as they were told moving quietly, locking the doors. They then started burning paper and throwing it into a corner allowing the smoke to flow into the apartments. Soon the building was filled with thick smoke that would soon fill the lungs of the sleeping people and smother them in their sleep. Stepping onto the third floor the stood in front of apartment 310.
Back on the roof the figure was watching over the edge, he watched the Death Eaters walk into the building and then watched as smoke flowed out. Reaching into his cloak he removed a little fluffy owl and a piece of parchment quickly he wrote. Death Eaters at Flat 45 on Welsh street. Fire. Hurry! Rolling it up he tied it to the owl.
"Alright Wilber this is a big job now I need you to fly like a dragon is right behind you, got it?" The bird gave a whistle and the man smiled. "Good, to the ministry Auror department." He threw the bird into the air and the little fuzz ball was off. Looking back down at the smoke he stood, removing his cloak he let it drop at his feet. Stepping back he ready himself for a run, he charged the edge and leapt off the side. He twisted in the air so his back was toward the rushing ground, pointing his wand to the air an aqua light streamed out and hooked it's self to the roof. The rope gave tug and the man swung into a window and tumbled onto the floor. Brushing off the shards of glass he stood and found himself in a hallway, going over to the railing he spotted the Death Eaters standing in front of a door.
"Hey," he yelled. The Death Eaters looked up finding the stranger on the top floor, they looked at one another and shrugged.
"Goyle, Crabbe deal with him." The two did as they were told and bounded up the stairs, their wands out and ready to fight.
The man at the top of the stairs only folded his arms over his chest and smirked. "I hope you're ready for a beating cause I am sure as hell am going to give you one." And with that he whipped out his hands, his left hand holding his wand while the other held a whip that was coiled. Crabbe and Goyle froze for a second and looked at one another.
"Well come on," said the man as he flicked his wrist and letting the whip uncoil with a snap.
Draco who had just entered the boiler room, noticed the smoke seeping into the room, he panicked and removed his wand. Pointing it at the door he blasted it off it's hinges, a cloud of smoke filled the room instantly. Holding his cloak over his mouth he ran out of the room and up the stairs, turning left he spotted flashes of light. Cussing to himself he ran up the stairs and right into two Death Eaters, stepping back the they looked at each other.
"Draco is that you?" one asked. "We thought you were dead."
"Well you thought wrong Nott," said Draco flicking his wand at the man and sending him flying into the opposite wall. The other Death Eater stumbled for his wand trying to point it at Draco but wasn't fast enough. A red light blasted from his wand at the man and he flew into his partner stunned.
He turned to the door finding that it was still locked, just when he was about to unlock it a figure jumped down beside him. With great reflexes he grabbed the man and pushed him into the wall, his wand at his throat. Draco looking closely found that it was not a Death Eater he was about to stun but an old friend.
"Blaise?"
"Long time no see huh Draco. Could of sworn you were dead though," said Blaise Zabini. "Could you remove your wand please it's starting to hurt."
Slowly, Draco pulled his wand away but kept it out. "What are you doing here?"
"There's no time to explain. I only stunned the two ogres upstairs I'm sure they'll be coming out of it soon. We have to hurry and get Granger and the kid out of here."
Turning around Blaise kicked in the door, and headed down the hall. Draco looked at the stunned Death Eaters and saw that they were starting to awake. Not wasting anytime he ran after Blaise.
"You get the kid, I'll get Granger," he said turning left into Hermione's room. Running the bed he pulled the blankets off and grabbed Hermione. She awoke as soon as she felt the hands on her arms. Looking up at the familiar face, fear swept over her.
"What are you doing here?"
"No time, we have to leave now!" Picking Hermione up, ignoring her yells of dismay he walked out of the room. And found that Blaise was carrying a sleeping Lucas.
"Sleeping charm, he shouldn't be awake for this," said Blaise looking at Hermione. "Hey Granger, bet you never thought you'd see us saving you huh?"
"Saving me? What the bloody hell are you on about?" she yelled thrashing her legs around. Draco having difficulty holding her, let her fall to the floor with a thud.
"Look Hermione we don't have time for this," started Draco.
"You're right, cause I'm stopping you." The three looked at the door and found the four Death Eaters standing in the door way. Hermione got to her feet and was pushed back by Draco, he glanced at Blaise who nodded. Passing Lucas to Hermione, Blaise pulled out his wand.
"Sorry we can't stay and play, but maybe some other time," said Blaise pulling out a handful of small potion bottles. He threw them over at the death eaters just as they were about to
take a step forward. Before they hit they ground Blaise turned to Hermione and grabbed Lucas and then apperated. Before Draco could follow the Death Eater in the lead shot a spell at him the grazed his arm, ignoring the pain Draco wrapped his good arm around Hermione's waist and Apperating.
When they left, the small potion bottles hit the ground and erupted into a thick green smoke. Trying not to breath in the nasty smoke the Death Eaters stumbled out of the apartment building and collapsed on the side-walk. Coughing continuously they didn't notice the three other dark figures standing in front of them.
"Get them up and out of here before the ministry shows up," said one watching in disgust. Picking up the four choking Death Eaters the group apperated leaving the burning building without a sign that they had been there.
Shortly after the ministry arrived and went to work, luckily the fires had not reached into the apartments and burned anyone, but there was a lot of lung damage from the smoke. They laid the muggles out on the side walk, and had a few healers go over them. The aurors searched the apartment for any Death Eaters finding none they returned outside.
Pulling up in his car, Harry jumped out and walked up to the Head Auror. The man only shook his head and pointed to the muggles on the side-walk. Harry ran over to them looking them all over but found no sign of Hermione or Lucas. He grabbed a junior Auror and pushed him into the wall.
"Where's the Junior Aurors I had posted around the building?"
"Sir, the--they were fou--found a block away de--dead in an alley," he stuttered.
"What were they doing a block away? Never mind was anyone found in apartment 310?"
"Sir, I wasn't allowed in the building, who ever is out here is all that we found."
Anger and fear washed over Harry as he pushed the man aside and walked into the building ignoring the men who tried to stop him. He went up the stairs and stormed right into Hermione's apartment. He searched the whole apartment for any sign of them, finding none he walked into the living room and stood there looking at it. Where are they?
"Mr. Potter?" Harry looked up and saw the Head Auror. "I'm terribly sorry but they aren't here. There is no sign of them and without the Junior Aurors that were here we won't be able to find them. I'm sorry."
His heart started to pump with rage as his blood heated up with in his every limb. With a yell of anger he lifted the coffee table and flung it at the wall, where it snapped in half and left a huge hole in the wall.
"Search this damn apartment up and down, under everything. I want who ever was in here found and brought to me, I'll deal with them personally. I want Hermione and Lucas found immediately if I don't have any information by the end of this week I'm removing someone's head with my bare hands." With that speech he left the building, got in his car and drove off into the night.