PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW OR I WILL WITHOLD FURTHUR CHAPTERS! "James," Holly gasped as she heard a whisper and another eerie greenish glow appeared in front of them; she grabbed hold of Isabella tightly and pulled her close to her body as James suddenly came forward into her view. He was squirming against something and as she realised he was stumbling in their direction she noticed an arm across his neck, an arm that was holding a lit wand aloft. James' other arm was twisted behind his back and as they both stepped out of the shadows Holly saw that a huge and burly man had James completely trapped and defenceless. "Oh," she shrieked as her daughter clung to her leg.
"Get her out of here," James shouted; then he gagged as the man holding him squeezed his throat tightly, "n…now!"
"James," she repeated.
"Now now now, James," the gruff sounding man said menacingly, "there is no way out for any of you! And I must say my master will be pleased when I tell him we have three defenceless Potters now; Beerney will work much faster if he knows we have his most talented senior auror as well as his precious wife and daughter. And if he won't bow to our demands we shall at least have our pick of who to kill and show him that we mean business."
"H-o-l-l-y," James croaked again staring desperately at his wife and willing her with his mind to take their daughter away from the danger.
"Save your strength Potter," the man spat, "I told you there is no way out now."
Holly stared at her husband who's eyes were straining and she slowly removed the tarnished silver delumintor from her pocket. She watched him make an almost imperceptible nod with his head and with tears in her eyes she made sure Isabella was as close as possible and then she clicked the top and watched as small bubbles of blue light emerged from the end. As they travelled into her body she saw a confused expression cross the other man's face and noticed a hint of relief in her husband's eyes, his wife and daughter were going to be safe. She tried to mouth 'I love you,' to him but she was gone before she could and seconds later as she landed on the front steps of Grimmauld Place with her daughter in her arms she collapsed in sobs which started to wrack her body.
Isabella jumped to her feet immediately and began hammering on the door to her grandparent's house; a moment later the door was opened by her grandmother who screamed when she saw them and held her arms out to the child who jumped into them. "Oh Isabella," she cried stroking her as tears began to fall freely down both their faces. Behind her Harry also heaved a sigh of relief but then both of them froze as they stared at the weeping heap on the steps before them.
"Holly?" Harry said softly as he passed his wife and reached down to help her up, "What's the matter? Where's James?"
As she hobbled to her feet and leaned against her father in law for support the distraught woman turned to look at them both and uttered, "They…they got him," and then burst into fresh sobs. Ginny let out a guttural moan and placed Isabella onto her feet ushering her into the house quickly and closing the door behind Harry and Holly when they had entered the narrow hallway. "We split up to find her and when I had Isabella I went back to find James but…but they had caught him and he…he…he told me to get her out. Ginny I left him there," she wept, "I left him alone and defenceless."
They had reached the kitchen table by then and she collapsed onto a chair pulling her daughter into her arms and burying her face in her hair as Harry approached her and whispered, "What do you mean defenceless?"
Taking the wand from her daughter's hands she held it out to James' parents who gasped as they recognised it. "It was on the floor and Isabella picked it up; then he told me…he told me to…go," she sobbed, "oh Merlin, why did I leave him?" she asked.
"Because he told you to Holly," Harry said sternly holding himself together and stroking his wife's arm, "you were protecting your daughter and it is what James wanted."
"We have to go back," she implored lifting her head swiftly and letting Isabella go. "Harry we have to go back and find him. Now!" she screamed jumping to her feet and grabbing his arm. "I can take you there; we can find him; we can save him…we have to save him," she said wiping her eyes of tears and looking determinedly at her father in law. Behind him Ginny was trying to hold herself together too in the wake of the news that her son had been caught. It was her biggest fear and it had come true; but she also knew that neither Holly, James nor Isabella were at fault; he had done the noble and heroic thing and made them leave. "Ginny take Isabella to the Burrow, please," she implored, "I have to go back."
She nodded her head and took Isabella's hand heading straight for the fireplace and Holly ran swiftly back along the corridor to the front door with Harry close on her heels. Once outside she took his hand and concentrated hard as she turned on the spot and side along apparated them both back to the large imposing mansion she had just left. It was evidently protected from apparition as they landed near the top of the hill where the building appeared as a ruin to them both. "Holly what is this?" Harry asked looking at the crumbling haphazard structure.
"It's an illusion," she explained starting to run down the hill. "It must have enchantments because you can only see it when you get…closer," she finished as they crossed the invisible boundary and the impressive house appeared in its entirety. "Down here," she continued as Harry paused to take in the change and she tugged his arm to keep him moving in the direction of the cellar cover they had used to enter the building. She lifted the hatch with ease and began to climb inside running down the steps, ignoring the ache in her ankle and holding her wand ahead of her, already lit in anticipation of the darkness. Harry was close behind and lit his own wand as he disappeared down the dark staircase. "It was here," she whispered stopping at the place where she had seen James's wand on the floor. "He must be behind one of these doors," she continued lifting her wand to show her companion what he was searching.
They hurried together along the corridor listening carefully and being ever watchful for someone finding them; Holly had the deluminator held tightly in her hand and was intending to click it as soon as she had hold of her husband. They checked door after door, all of which were unlocked and empty, and she was feeling frustrated as they reached the last one at the opposite end of the corridor from where she had found Isabella. When Harry opened it and found yet another empty room she visibly deflated and had to lean against the wall to keep from collapsing again. "There were some stairs leading up to the house back there," Harry whispered determined not to lose hope for his own piece of mind and he tugged on Holly's hand as he set off back along the corridor.
Halfway along the passage Holly slid on something slippery and would have fallen if Harry's instincts had not made him grab hold of her; steadying her back on her feet he dropped down to see what had made her fall and lifted up in his hands the invisibility cloak she had dropped when they had found James' wand. "Quick let's get under here," Harry said holding it out for her and then he slid beneath it standing close to the worried girl who was eager to keep moving. They climbed the stairs slowly and at the top listened at the door for a few moments before opening it.
On the other side of it was a once lavish kitchen which had not been used properly for a long time; a couple of broken dishes were laid on a wooden table in the centre and a pile of dirty cups and plates were piled high in the stone sink. They glanced around quickly and then edged their way to a door on the opposite wall. Once more Harry listened carefully before opening and moving into a long landing which had seven other doors along it spaced equidistant from each other like the cellar had had. Including the doorway they were stood in there were four on either side of an impressive staircase leading up to the first floor .
Moving stealthily from room to room they checked them all; first downstairs and then up staying hidden beneath the invisibility cloak at all times. They found a back staircase leading up to a variety of attic rooms but within minutes of searching these they could draw no other conclusion and with a heavy heart Holly dropped onto one of the carpeted marble steps in the main hallway. "They've gone," she whimpered as Harry sat beside her and placed a consoling arm on her shoulder.
"They knew you would come back Holly and have had to move on," he said softly. "But that does not mean we give up hope," he continued stoically saying it as much for himself as for her. "Even without his wand James is a very competent auror and will not give up without a fight." They sat for a few moments longer on the steps, Holly with her head in her hands and Harry stroking her back, but eventually he whispered, "We should go back to the Burrow and decide what to do next." Holly nodded her head in understanding and allowed her father in law to lead her out of the abandoned house and beyond the wards until the building became a desolate wreck once more; then they turned on the spot together apparating straight to the garden of the Burrow.
"Mummy," Ellie squealed as she saw her Mother and grandfather approaching the house from the kitchen window; bounding from her seat where she had been playing with Millie and a couple of well used rag dolls, she headed to the back door and attached herself to her mother's leg as she entered. Arthur was curled up asleep on a huge cushion before the fire with Roberto but Daniel and Isabella were nowhere to be seen.
Lifting her youngest daughter up into her arms she glanced at Ginny and Molly who were sat by the fire looking frantic with worry and shook her head slowly as Harry walked over to his wife and explained, "They had abandoned the place, understandably." Both of their heads fell simultaneously; but determined not to give up he continued in a stern voice, "But I said this to Holly and I will say it to you, James is an able and competent auror with or without his wand and they will still be keeping him alive until they have what they want."
"Where are the other two?" Holly gasped.
"Sitting in the other room," Molly said softly in reply, "Daniel wouldn't leave her side when she got here." She smiled and with a solemn nod Holly trudged in the direction of the Weasley's family living room. When she entered she saw Isabella sat on a window seat staring out at the trees which surrounded most of the house; Daniel was laid across it with his head on her lap and he was sleeping soundly.
"Mum," she gasped as she saw her and Daniel stirred at the sound of her voice. Holly walked over to the seat and squeezed herself in between her eldest children hugging them both as Daniel sat up. "Where's…where's dad?" she asked quietly looking frantically at her brother but all Holly could do was shake her head and hold back her sobs.
Unbeknown to Holly her husband's parents had followed her into the room and Ginny spoke for her, "We haven't found him yet Sweetheart; but we will; don't you worry. And Daddy is a strong wizard who will do everything he can to come back to us; I promise," she finished taking a seat next to Daniel, who turned to hug her, and looking sympathetically at her daughter in law. She was experiencing pain and anguish just like her but was putting on a brave face for the children just like she knew Holly was doing.
"It's my fault isn't it?" Isabella murmured dropping her head and releasing her hold on her mother.
"What?" Holly gasped turning to face her daughter who looked back up with doleful eyes.
"It's my fault that Daddy is…is… If I hadn't gone with that man at the gate then you wouldn't have had to come and find me and…and Dad would be… here with us," she sobbed. "I know I shouldn't have opened the gate but he said he could help me stop being angry and…and so I…I…"
She burst into tears and Holly wrenched her into her arms rocking her gently and crooning, "None of this is your fault Honey, none of it. If anyone is to blame it is me." Harry and Ginny both looked at her curiously as she went on with wide eyes, "If I hadn't said what I said; If I hadn't made him want to leave then…then you wouldn't have been angry at all and…and we'd all still be together. Ginny this is all because of me and…and I didn't mean it. I was confused and…and it was strange and…what did I do?" She looked imploringly at both Harry and Ginny as tears started to fall down her face again and the latter reached out to comfort her gently shooing Daniel and Isabella out of their way.
"Holly," she crooned, "this is not your fault either; it is no body's fault. These evil wizards they…they find a way," she continued looking up at her husband who completely understood what she was saying. "Even if you and James had still been…together, they would have found another way. Who ever came for her took a chance and it worked; but if Isabella had not gone with him they would have found another way to take her. Trust me; I know," she concluded rocking the distraught woman again while the two sobbing children clung to their grandfather. They both wept for a while; two anguished women desperately afraid for their loved one but eventually the younger of the two lifted her head and looked up at Harry.
"What do we do now?" she asked solemnly.
"We have to go back to Beerney," he returned and she nodded her head even though she knew he was going to be angry and would still refuse to bow down to the threats of these terrorist wizards.
They were spared the journey however when they walked back into the kitchen and saw the flames in the fireplace turn green. Ron and Hermione had turned up while they were in the living room after Lily had visited everyone to fill them in on what had happened and they turned to see who was going to follow them out of the grate expecting it to be their niece. As all sets of eyes stared at the emerald flames the image of Terence Beerney appeared looking sternly at them all as he stepped out into the cosy kitchen. "We have received another owl," he said in a controlled voice but they could all see his was angry and trying to contain it because this was Harry Potter's family and because he knew they were all suffering terribly.
"They have informed us that you found them and have released Isabella for yourselves," he began staring at Holly with a severe expression, "however they also say that they now have James as a hostage instead; is this true Harry?" he asked turning his gaze.
"Yes," Harry replied holding his own and standing up to the man who was evidently angry that they had taken the matter into their own hands.
"Mrs Potter, you did not follow the best course of action," Terence said turning to look at her once more.
"But it was the only course of action James would have taken Terence," Harry cut in sternly stepping to Holly's side, "and the only one I took, once." he glanced at his wife as he said this remembering his own auror days when he had broken the rules and searched for Ginny himself. "Did you really expect them to sit back and wait for protocol?"
"Yes," Beerney growled but seeing the angry look cross Harry's face he continued, "but I can understand why you did what you did. However, it would have been better if you had come to us when you knew where your daughter was and allowed us to organise a team who would have got her out without another hostage being taken to replace her."
"It would have been better if you had agreed to their demands and tracked Nott and Malfoy so the auror department could have captured them again when Isabella was free," she replied angrily. Holly Potter was not about to be lectured to like a naughty school girl and made to feel guilty for rescuing her nine year old daughter from the terrible ordeal.
"Well," Beerney coughed; he realised he was outnumbered in his opinions. The Weasleys and Potters had always protected their own and were all notorious for going against the ministry when they wanted to; however he had hoped that James would have seen sense this time and allowed them to follow the correct procedures.
"What did the letter say?" Harry asked in the politest voice he could muster.
"Exactly the same as the first one; but they are not going to allow us anymore time which means we are going to work around the clock to find and rescue one of our own," he replied. "If you want to help us you are welcome to join us at the ministry as we search relevant houses we have collected together; but if you are not prepared to follow our procedures then I suggest you stay here." He directed the statement at Harry before turning to Holly and adding, "For your safety Mrs Potter, we suggest you stay here, or at home and let us do out job."
"Then we all stay here," Harry said in a heavy voice making Beerney turn back to him. The ministry had let Harry down once before and he had hoped that it would never happen again; but he was more determined than ever to take the search into his own hands and stood by his daughter in law's side proudly.
"Very well," the head auror said quietly, "we will contact you when we have found our auror; until then I would appreciate it if you let us do our job." With a haughty huff he walked back over to the fireplace stopping only to nod his head respectfully at Ginny and her mother before he jumped back into the flames and whirled out of sight leaving a room full of gobsmacked people in his wake.
"Can you believe the cheek of…?" Harry said angrily when he had disappeared. "How can he seriously expect us to sit back and wait? How can he have expected you and James to have done the same? He does not understand what it is like to have someone so dear taken from you. And if he thinks I am going to stand back and let him take the longest route to find my son then…then…" he fumed unable to finish what he wanted to say because he was so angry.
"But…what can we do now without his help? There is no owl to track this time and James could be anywhere," Holly sobbed. "How can we find him?"
"I know a way," Hermione coughed from her place at the kitchen table and all eyes turned to look at her as she stared knowingly at Ginny and Ron, the only other two people in the room who might know what she was thinking.