There was a loud knock on the Potter's door at one in the morning and Harry was just stumbling down his dark steps shoving his head through the collar of his shirt. Why can't I ever get a peaceful night these days, he thought as he unlocked the wooden door and pulled it open revealing his very late, unwelcome visitor.
A young man stood on Harry's porch hunched over in the crisp night wind his light brown hair blowing into his hazel eyes. He looked up at the sound of the door opening and Harry could see that the man was truly sicken for coming by so late.
Harry sighed and pushed the screen door open for the man to step in. "What is the matter Cooper?"
"I'm terribly sorry for coming by like this sir and I wouldn't if it wasn't important and believe me I would never want to wake you or the misses at such a ungodly hour and…"
"Cooper it's okay, come have a seat and tell me what is going on," said Harry moving into the living room where he flicked his wand at the fireplace and igniting it.
Cooper sat uncomfortably at the edge of the couch watching as Harry sat his long body down into his armchair and rubbed his eyes. Of all the people to take on the Granger case why did it have to be Potter, yes they were good friends but the man had such a temper and Cooper wasn't so fond of it.
"I am so sorry for coming by like this Harry, believe me I would never do this in my life but…"
"Please Jonathan, it isn't that bad now just tell me what is it you have to tell me," said Harry calmly that only made Jonathan more uncomfortable.
"Earlier on today two Aurors were patrolling a muggle shopping centre in search of Granger, at three forty-five a young women was spotted fitting Granger's description," Cooper paused here to see Harry's reaction. Harry was looking Cooper died in the eye now wide awake and alert. Cooper gulped before jumping back in. "One of the Aurors called out to the women and upon doing so confirmed that she was indeed Granger, she wasn't alone though. A man was with her as well, he used some sort of sleeping charm on our male auror and escaped with Granger."
The messenger was now looking into his hands waiting for Harry's wrath to unleash itself upon him. But it never came, Jonathan was beginning to think he was already dead when he heard the ruffling of Harry's feet move along the rug.
"Is that all?"
Cooper looked up and found Harry twisting his wand in his fingers. "Y-yes."
Harry sighed and looked over to the man. "Thank you Jonathan for coming by and telling me this. But I would like the name of the Aurors that were at the shopping centre."
Cooper swallowed, his throat was dry now. "Sir I can't…."
"I promise not to say your name to either of them and if either try to harm you I will see to it they are suspended," said Harry.
Cooper nodded and looked at his feet. "Auror Cullingwell sir, Rebecca Cullingwell. Auror William Talon is at St. Mungo's they still can't seem to wake him."
"Rebecca," sighed Harry. "Cooper do you know if she is still at the Ministry."
"I believe so."
"Perfect, come I'll drive you home on my way," Harry turned from the fireplace and stalked over to the coat rack and slipped his leather jacket on. Cooper right behind him.
"What about the misses?"
Harry gave a crooked smile. "I'm hoping to be back before she wakes but if I'm not some heads will roll, preferably mine."
They left the house quietly, Harry locking the door behind him. They climbed into the car and drove off into the night. The streets were barely empty other then the last few late workers heading home. Cooper lived in a small apartment about five blocks from the ministry so Harry dropped him off in front of the door.
"Sir," said Cooper leaning into the car, Harry looked up at him. "I'm truly sorry for this predicament that has come upon you. Miss. Granger is a wonderful person and it is a shame that this is happening to her."
Harry smiled. "Thank you Cooper, I'll see you in the morn…actually in a few hours, get some sleep."
Cooper nodded and shut the door watching as Harry drove off down the street, Cooper looked up to the sky the cold air biting at his nose. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the cold air. "Merlin be with him he needs all the help he can get."
Harry parked his car behind the usual abandon building across from the telephone booth, which was actually the public entrance to the Ministry of Magic. He locked the doors before walking back onto the side walk and across the street to the phone booth. With no one around he quickly pushed the right buttons and was soon going down into the Ministry.
The doors opened to the lobby and Harry, ignoring the inspection counter walked down the hallway, past the golden statue and into an empty elevator that would take him to the right floor. The doors opened and he was once again going down a hallway, turning a corner he found himself on familiar territory.
Walking down the many office doors past the A's and B's Harry's heart was starting to pump blood franticly into his ears. His head was hammering now, the lighting was dim and Harry was unseen from the late workers. He came upon the C's in a short time and was making his was faster through them. The last office of the C's was Cullingwell's and Talon's shared office, the door was open and Harry peeked in to find Rebecca at her desk head resting on her arm. Her strawberry blond hair was in a mess from running her hands threw it so many times and her even breathing showed signs of tiring.
Harry stepped in quietly and shut the door behind him, he wasn't sure what he was doing, considering that he could loose his job for maybe causing harm to another Auror. He straightened his shoulders and cleared his mind, this was for Hermione though the girl that had been there for him so many times, it was now his time to make their times of being for each other even.
"Rebecca I would like a word," he said sternly and loud enough for her to hear.
The women sat up straight rubbing her eyes clear of sleep, then stuffing her papers into a pile. "Yes, of course I was just…"
Her eyes finally caught sit of Harry almost loosing her balance in her seat she immediately fixed her hair as much as she could and stood up. "Potter, I..I thought you went home."
"I was at home, but some information has come to my awakening and has sent me here," said Harry moving around the desk to stand in front of Rebecca.
"I…a….I'm not sure what you mean," she stuttered, how could he possibly know, know one knows.
"I'm sure you do Rebecca, it's of what happen early today around three forty-five,"
She was sweating now, a cold sweat trickling down her neck, there was no use in trying to play dumb if he already knew. "Sir I can explain."
"Explain, so you do know what I'm talking about?" Harry raised an eyebrow stepping closer to the shaking women.
Rebecca gulped, but nodded her head. "You know I was going to say something.."
"No you weren't, you were afraid weren't you, that if you told me that you let Hermione get away I would be upset."
She nodded again. "Sir it was a mistake and I take full responsibility."
"Good, now tell me who it was that was with her," he was towering over her now his green eyes flaring with desire to know Hermione's abductor.
"I don't know," whispered Rebecca.
"Rebecca, I'm a very impatient person at this moment and I don't want to play this game so please at least explain what he looked like," his blood was boiling, he didn't want to be hurtful or rough with the women but her fear of his temper was making him very upset.
"I…He was wearing a black leather jacket and sunglass, he was in all black, there wasn't much to see," she stumbled around for the right words but none were what Harry wanted to hear.
With speed from his Seeker years he grabbed Rebecca's wrist and twisted up toward her face. She whimpered and sank a bit against the wall at her back, she closed her eyes from Harry's as he leaned forward and spoke roughly.
"Fine, what was the color of his hair then, his height tell me something you do know."
She winced in pain as tendons in her wrist twisted in complaint. "Blond, white almost."
Harry dropped her wrist and stepped back. "Next time you tell me right away what you know and we'll never have to meet like this again."
He turned on his heels and left Rebecca in her office sobbing quietly not of the pain in her wrist but of her foolishness. Harry left the ministry still unnoticed from anyone. He stepped back into the phone booth and returned to the main streets, he crossed to his car and left for home in a streak of silver.
About a mile from home he started to think of all the blond men he could possibly think of but in the midst of his fury he found he troubling to think. He pulled up to the house, no lights were on which was a good sign. He walked into his home and locked the door, removing his shoes, and jacket he went back up to his room. He slipped out of his shirt then climbed in next to his slumbering wife wrapping a protective arm around her slim waist. Ginny sighed and rolled over snuggling closer into Harry's chest. He breathed her lovely scent and was soon forgetting is trip and drifting off to sleep.
The next morning Harry's head felt heavy with sleep, his late night awakening didn't do him any good. Rolling onto his back he looked out his window finding the sky the light grayish blue of early morning. Rubbing his eyes he sighed tiredly, he was just arguing with himself if he should get up and get ready or to try to sleep in when a tired arm wrapped around his waist.
"Why are you awake?"
Harry turned his head and looked at Ginny, her eyes were still shut but a smile was on her tender lips. "I don't know."
"Well go back to sleep," mumbled Ginny.
Harry chuckled. "Wish I could."
"Any chance you can stay home today?"
Harry leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Sorry love, but I wouldn't have an excuse."
"Yes you would,"
"And what would that be?"
"Your loving wife."
Harry laughed. " You want me to stay home that bad?"
Ginny adjusted herself onto Harry's chest slipping her legs between his, playing with his toes as she lazily kissed his neck and jaw bone. "Harry you've been working yourself to death, and we haven't spent a lot of time together. So yes I want you to stay home."
He wrapped his strong arms around Ginny's waist hugging her close as he kissed her forehead again. As he thought of the pros and cons of staying home, Rebecca's words. Blond, white almost. That's when it hit him, the most knowable platinum haired people he knew he had grown up with, almost. How could he be so daft as to forget that smirking, slithering snake of a boy.
"Malfoy," he hissed as his grip tightened on Ginny.
Ginny looked up into Harry's unfocused eyes and frowned. "What's wrong?"
He sat up gently and Ginny to sit behind him moving her hands on his back. "Jonathan Cooper came by last night to tell me that Rebecca Cullingwell saw Hermione yesterday at a shopping centre with a man."
"Did they get him? Is Hermione safe?"
Harry shook his head. "The man used some kind of sleeping charm on Rebecca's partner, I went to the office to find Rebecca and she told me that the man had blond hair almost white."
Ginny looked over his shoulder into his face and found he was serious on what he was thinking and she could tell what he was thinking. "Harry he's been missing since sixth year after what happened, because of what he didn't do I'm sure his father or Voldemort killed him. It's not possible."
It wasn't a shock to hear her say Voldemort's name since the night of his death people don't fear him as much as they did. "Ginny I understand what you're saying but it couldn't of been Lucius the man is in hiding just like Voldemort having the Death Eaters do his work."
"Yes but Draco couldn't possibly be alive and even if he is he wouldn't be shopping with Hermione he hates her," said Ginny now getting off the bed and slipping into her house robe.
"I'm not saying you're wrong Ginny but it's all I have, for all we know Draco could be working for his father undercover hidden away in some dark forest," said Harry standing up.
Ginny looked at shaking her head. "You're going to work aren't you?"
"I have to Ginny, I might have something," he said getting up and grabbing his towel before he left the room Ginny took his wrist, he turned to her looking into her hurt eyes.
"Harry I love you and I want you to know that no matter how much you work I'll be here and I want you to come back home safe," she said slipping her arms under his and up around his shoulders.
Harry reached down and raised her chin up and leaned down to gently kiss her. "I love you too Ginny and I wish I didn't have to go in but this could save Hermione and Lucas."
She nodded and he smiled before heading off to the shower, today was going to be good. Of course being home with his wife would be better but he was getting closer to finding Hermione which was good. What he needed though was to do a full on Malfoy Family research, he had to do this right or there might not be another chance. He was ready for the day and he wasn't going to let anyone get past him.