A/N: :)
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Lucius poured himself tea. Narcissa hadn't gotten out of bed. Actually, she's been in bed for 48 hours straight. Its' been two days since Potter came and took their children, and they haven't heard any news. Lucius massaged his temples. He hasn't seen much of any one since that day. He woke up yesterday, expecting to see Logan run into his room, and jump on the bed, telling him about a dream he had involving an elephant in a tutu.
"Hey Mr. Malfoy." Blaise mumbled. His bubbly morning personality gone, if he wasn't naturally tan, then he probably would be pale now.
"Hello, Blaise." he and Blaise ate in silence until one by one, the kitchen filled up. Everyone was there, minus his mother. Draco blinked hard. He could practically feel the bags under his eyes. He didn't know why, but the fact that his brother wasn't here was causing him his sleep. Logan would always stumble into his room in the middle of the night, complaining that he couldn't sleep, and then Draco would allow him to sleep with him, and together they fell asleep in each others' arms.
"I can't believe this." Natasha said, putting her head in her hands. Imagine how the kids much feel…"
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"Listen Potter, and you listen good, if you don't take me to my mother this instant-" Harry covered Naomi mouth with his hand.
"No you listen, Malfoy, your old enough for me to charge with something, anything! So if you don't shut up-" Hermione gasped.
"Harry! She's just a kid. Where's your heart? Ugh, and Harry, we can't keep all of them in our office. It's too small, we could barely move around before. Let's just take them back home and investigate like we usually do." Hermione offered. Harry laughed.
"Hell no! It'll be like we're giving up. It's like we're letting them beat me-us! I can't let Malfoy win." Harry said defensively.
"Which one?" Naomi asked smartly, holding Sidney's hand while Logan was sitting on her lap. Viviana used her free hand to cover her mouth. She had just burped. And she only burped when she was hungry. And they all were. It wasn't as if Potter wasn't feeding them, it just wasn't enough. Isabella, Naomi and herself had to give part of their meals up to the little ones. They thought it was what their mother's would want them to do.
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"Do you think Harry is pushing this too far?" Ginny asked her bother while they waited on Harry and Hermione for they can go off to lunch. Ron snorted.
"Of course not! Those Malfoys deserve everything that's happening to them." he told her, but Ginny wasn't convinced.
"What about the Zabinis? And the Notts?" She asked.
"Well, th-that's just icing the cake isn't it?" Ron quipped as Harry and Hermione entered.
"What's icing on the cake?" Hermione asked brightly grabbing her jacket from the coat rake.
"The fake that we got the Zabini kids and the Mott kids too." Ron said, giddily. Harry laughed.
"That's no icing. That's just one damn stroke of luck." Ron laughed along with him, and exited after Harry. Hermione looked over at Ginny with a what-can-we-do expression.
Ginny sighed. "I don't know how Harry expects me to marry him after this." Hermione choked on air.
"Excuse me, but marriage?" Hermione laughed. At that exact moment, Harry and Ron walked about in, having heard Hermione's laughter and what she was laughing about.
"I don't see what's funny, Hermione. I'm expected to marry Ginny once we're both of age. Also, you and Ron are to be married next summer." Harry said matter-of-factly. Hermione gaped at him while Ginny cringed.
"What if I don't want to marry Ronald? Or if Ginny doesn't want to marry you!?" Hermione asked, angered.
"You have to do what is expected of you, Hermione." Harry replied simply.
"What is expected of me? Expected of me? Whatever, Potter." Hermione sneered, surprising everyone by using Harry's first name. "What's my 'or else'? I rather take that than marry Ronald."
"I'm afraid I don't understand… Granger." Harry said, his eye brows wrinkling in confusion. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"You know, I'd better marry Ron… or else." Hermione explained to him, putting emphasis on the or else.
"Now I'm afraid it's you who doesn't understand. There is no or else. Marrying Ron is your only option."
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"Vivi…" whined Leonardo. "It's too hot…" he swiped off the droplets of sweat collecting on his forehead and over his lip. Viviana closed her eyes and tried to imagine herself on the north pole, drink lemonade with Santa. Merlin, I'm going crazy.
"Tell me something I don't know, Leo." she said quietly. The five year thought for a second.
"Is that a trick question?" he asked, crossing his tiny arms across his chest. Isabella giggled. Soon that giggle turned into full out hoots of laughter. Gradually Viviana, Naomi, Sidney and Dino joined in on the laughter. Logan had fallen asleep, but he soon woke up, wearing the same confused expression as Leo and the twins.
Naomi was the first one to stop laughing. "This is ridiculous! Do they know who I am? Who my father is!?" The auror in charge of watching them finally looked up from his Prophet.
"Of course we know who you and your father are. That's why you're here." he smirked and went on reading his paper.
"Oi, weirdo." When Vivi didn't look over, Naomi rolled her eyes. "Viviana."
"What?" she hissed back her. She didn't like being called a weirdo.
"Read his mind, or body, or whatever that is you do." Naomi whispered making sure the auror didn't hear her.
"First of all, I can't just read his mind; it takes a lot of concentration. And I am not a weirdo. I'll have you know, that mind readers and manipulators run in my family. They skip every other generation and I was lucky to-" Naomi cut her off.
"I know, I know! Just do it!" It was Viviana's turn to roll her eyes. If only Naomi knew how hard it was. Not to mention she hadn't gone over her studies since summer started. Oh, Mum was going to kill her if she knew that she wasn't practicing her mind reading…
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Hermione walked up the familiar stone path. She had slipped away from lunch with Harry and Ron claiming it was a family emergency. It wasn't exactly a lie. There was a family emergency, it just happened not to be her family. Hermione couldn't help but to pity the Malfoy, Zabini and Notts. She had never seen a more sadden group people in her life. Harry was wrong, the Malfoys were good parents.
Hermione took a deep breath and knocked on the old wooden door. The closed her eyes and recited the words in her head. Good day, Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy. I know the lost of your children-
"What could you possibly want. What else could you possibly take away from us, Granger." Draco Malfoy hissed at her. She hadn't thought to think if any one besides Lucius or Narcissa opened the door.
"I- er, I want to speak with your parents. I want to help-" she started of confidently, but Draco cut her off with his answer.
"No." he said shortly and slammed the door in her face. Stunned, Hermione froze for what seemed like an eternity. She slowly turned around and walked back down the stone path. She was nearly at apparating range when she heard a voice call her back.
"Granger!" Lucius shouted, using his hand to shield his eyes from the harsh sun. "You said you can h-help us?" Hermione eyes widened and she sprinted back up to the front door. She was out of breath by the time she reached the oldest Malfoy.
"Yeah, yeah. I have a plan. And it's not only me. Ginny, she wants to help too. We're, Ginny and I, we're sorry." Hermione said breathlessly. She had never been so nervous in her life. The fact that it was partly her fault that their kids were taken, made her feel immensely guilty. She hadn't been sleeping well for the past two days, and she's pretty sure it was because of the guilt.
"Come in…er, Ms. Granger." Hermione smiled nervously, and resisted the extreme urge to bow to the older man. She had no idea why, but the power that just radiated of this man… scared her a bit. Just a bit.
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"I hope Hermione's aunt is alright. She's missing some wonderful pie." Ron stated before stuffing a spoonful of pecan in his food hole.
"Merlin, Ronald. Have you got any table manners?" Ginny said, disgusted, before excusing herself to the bathroom, leaving Ron to mumble about her grammar and commoners.
Once safely inside the girls' room, Ginny pulled out a compact mirror out of her hand bag. After checking herself out and smiling, smiled called out Hermione's name. The mirror fizzed before showing Hermione's worried face.
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"Father, she could be a spy for Potter. We can't trust her-" Draco started before Lucius cut him off.
"First of all, Draco, its' rude to talk of someone when they are right in the room. And secondly, who else can we trust? It isn't even about trust anymore, who else is willing to help us, Draco? Lucius massaged the bridge of his nose. When he looked up, the Granger girl was talking into a small compact mirror. "I don't mean to offend you, but what in Merlin's are you doing?" Hermione smiled at Lucius' nice play. He really wanted his children back.
"Oh I'm just talking to Ginny." she held up the mirror for everyone can see the youngest Weasley's face. "And she has a plan. Unfortunately, I can't stay for much longer. But I promise I'll be back tomorrow." As Hermione stood up, Narcissa, Natasha and Jackie bombarded her with messages for their children. When Hermione reached the door, Draco stopped.
"Listen Granger, you better get my siblings back. And the others. Because mark my words, if you don't, I'll make you beg for death. And I will, don't doubt me. If you put my family in any more heartbreak, or if this is just part of Potter's wicked plan, I'll make you wish you've never been born." With that Draco turned on his heal, not so much to give effect to his speech, but for Hermione wouldn't see the small tired running down his cheek.
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A/N: I hope you guys liked it. =/