A/N: I'm so so so sorry for taking so long to update. I had final exams, then I went to Mauritius on holiday (did wonders to thy brain!) and then I was grounded from using internet for 2 months! Actually I'm still halfway through that punishment but I thought u guys are worth sneaking a few undetected minutes on the net. Ah, also I would like to mention that naufdude (my crazy though awesome really gr8 friend) has finally been convinced to post her story here by the name "Forbidden Love". Check it out it's way more awesome than my story (if I say so myself) and thisrecurringdream wrote a cool poem on Hermione and Draco's wedding "Their Love is Magic". I liked that poem a lot…
Ok I know I write long A/N's and I ramble too much and…on with the story:
Chapter 7
This time, Tonks and Draco Apparated to the front of St. Mungo's instead of Flooing. Tonks thought it would be better, as Draco had still not snapped out of his drug-induced calmness, and he might accidentally on purpose decide to take a split second decision to go to Hawaii on holiday instead. Tonks purposefully strode towards the meeting point she and Shacklebot (pulled out of retirement) had set up. She kept a vigilant eye on Draco, but was suddenly distracted by a pair of overeager Aurors-in-Training. When she finally shook them off Draco was nowhere to be found! Tonks shook her head and let out an exasperated sigh. As if they didn't have enough to deal with!
She walked on; asking random passersby if they saw a platinum haired man anywhere. Almost everybody pointed to the left, and Tonks quickly took that route. She didn't have to search long to find a swaggering Draco; busy regaling two, young pretty nurses with stories from his adolescence years.
"And that, my ladies, is how I lost my virginity!" He finished triumphantly, oblivious of the glowering Tonks behind him. He gave the two nurses a charming smile, for which Mr. Draco Malfoy was famous for, reducing them into a fit of blushes and giggles. Tonks let out a growl and pulled Draco away.
"I take my eye of you one second! One second! I'm not your bloody mother Draco, so snap out of it!" She hissed in his ear.
"And thank Merlin for that Nymphadora. I hate to see what you would do to your children." He drawled, smirking when Tonks involuntarily winced at her name. He turned to the nurses. "She hates being called Nymphadora you know, absolutely abhors it! She insists on calling her with that Muggle name, To…on…" Draco never got to finish his sentence. Tonks had clamped her hands on Draco's arm firmly, and was dragging him furiously to the opposite way, to the meeting point. Draco tried to call after the nurses.
"Keep in touch! You know where to find me!" He shouted gaily, and the pretty girls blew him a few kisses, Satisfied, he turned to Tonks, who was making people jump out of her way in hurry from the look on her face.
"Why do you have to be such an uptight gloomy grump? I don't believe half the stories I've been told about you, though Ginny said you were a right laugh before."
Tonks stopped abruptly, and looked as if she'd been slapped.
"Before what? Ginny said before what?" She pushed him against the wall with a surprising strength. Draco only seemed mildly surprised at Tonks' change of mood.
"Before what??" She repeated gruffly. Draco shook away some dust that was coating Tonks' disheveled cloak.
"BEFORE WHAT FOR MERLIN'S SAKE?!!" Tonks yelled her patience at its end. "Before nothing. I don't know, Ginny never said anything. Before you had such bad fashion sense?" Draco ventured a guess, eyeing Tonks' shapeless colorless garb.
"Oh, Merlin, give me bloody patience!" Tonks was now unintentionally digging her nails into Draco's skin and was pulling him along at an alarming speed.
She looked around at the hospital rooms' numbers and stopped before room 204.
She opened the door to reveal the weirdest assortment of people you could find. An Auror pulled from retirement, a world famous ex-seeker, two twin self-made millionaires, a dragon trainer, and the Wizarding world's hero, the latter pacing the room furiously, and all of them standing in front a familiar male in nurse's garb who was seated in a chair in the middle of the room…
Tonks crossed the room in two strides, Draco strolling in behind her, a good-natured smile on his face. "Oi everyone! Long time no see!" No one smiled back. Draco took a step back, as the twins' faces were terrifyingly void of the usual impish smiles, and replaced with a murderous sneer that was directed at the male nurse. Draco suddenly remembered where he had seen him before! He was the nurse who directed Draco to Hermione's room the first time he came here! Why was he here, and why did every one look at him as if they would like nothing else than murder him?
"Did you catch him? Is that him?" Tonks asked Shacklebot. He nodded silently and Tonks' face quickly assumed the same expression everyone (but Draco) had on their face. Harry stopped pacing the room.
"Yes that's him. That's the rat that sold Hermione's blood for 200 galleons." He muttered viciously then continued pacing the room in silence. What little color the nurse's face had quickly drained away.
"I…I didn't…believe me…I would never…please! I wouldn't! I didn't know…If I did…I wouldn't…I wouldn't have dared! Honest! Please…you…you have to believe me!" The frightened man stammered.
Tonks looked at him in disgust. "Veratiserum?"
"Yes." Charlie answered this time.
"Had to force it down his disgusting throat though." Fred explained.
"It was absolutely enjoyable. Don't you think Fred?" George asked his brother.
"Wouldn't mind doing it again." Fred answered, a deadly edge to his voice.
"No wait, no need to do that just yet, its effects haven't gone yet." She turned to the nurse, who was now shaking like a leaf.
"Did you tell the Daily Prophet about Mrs. Granger's whereabouts?"
"I…I don't know any…er… Grangers, I only know the…the Mrs. Spinally…"
"Did you or did you not sell Hermione's secrets to the Daily Prophet for a sum of money?" Tonks rephrased the question.
"Yes." The nurse answered meekly.
"You knew about the Confidentiality Contract?"
"Yes…"
"Yet you breached it?"
"Yes…" The nurse's voice was getting smaller by the minute.
"Did you or did you not know the consequences of such an offense?"
"Err…sorry?" The poor man had a look of utter confusion as he tried to follow Tonks' question.
"Did you know what would happen when you breached such an important contract?"
"No…No I didn't! See that's what I've been trying to tell these gentlemen…I'm innocent, I swear!" His voice gave away his relief.
Various noises of disbelief were heard throughout the room. Tonks ignored them.
"Did the Daily Prophet come to you?"
"N…no I went to them." The pale faced nurse started getting worried again. This woman was asking worse questions than the other lot.
"On what basis did you go to them?"
"Pardon me?"
"Honestly how ever did you become a qualified nurse?" Tonks shook her head in frustration. First Draco, now this. Speaking of which, where was Draco? Tonks spun around wildly, forgetting about the idiot nurse for a minute. There was a sound of a toilet being flushed and then Draco stepped out of the hospital room's bathroom, to find everyone looking at him.
"What? Call of nature…you know." He explained, wiping his hands on the nurse's shirt. "There aren't any damn tissues anywhere. I couldn't even find a towel. You need to improve your service." He casually commented to the nurse. Everyone ignored him and turned to the nurse. Tonks continued her interrogation.
"Why did you go to the Daily Prophet? You must have known that some harm was bound to fall on Ms. Granger if we took all that trouble to keep everything confidential."
"I…I thought it was…err…because she…she was famous. You…you know, best friend of…of Harry Potter and all that." The nurse stammered his answer, anxiously looking at Harry. Though a low growl emitted from his throat, Harry acted like he heard nothing at all. Draco on the other hand, laughed like he had never heard anything funnier. The nurse forced a smile.
"I think a kip on the head would make him fine." George commented wryly, meaning Draco. "Nah, we should take him to a madhouse. I think that potion permanently affected his brain.
"Don't vorry, he'll haff the worst head pain ever. It is not an easy thing to overdose a Calming potion." A hawk-like figure emerged from the shadows, and the nurse gasped.
"Victor Krum? What are you doing here?" But it was Draco who talked.
"Enough of this small talk. Ve are vesting time. Shakleeboat, you can talk to this man later." Krum ignored Draco, which was what everyone was doing a lot of lately. Charlie stood up.
"Is it time?" He asked Tonks. Tonks checked the Muggle watch on her wrist. Krum was right. They were wasting a lot of time. She'll just have to interrogate the nurse at headquarters later. "No not yet." She answered. "We have to get rid of the vermin first." She took out a paper and jotted down a few words on it. Folding it into a paper plane, Tonks charmed it with a few choice words and sent it out of the room.
"They won't be long now." Tonks said to no one in particular, and sure enough, a few seconds later, two pops were heard. Two Aurors entered the room and silently took the nurse by each hand and carried him out of the room. The sounds of the nurse's pleading yells hung around the tense room and could be heard from the hall.
"I've seen this in a Muggle movie somewhere. Two silent men clad in black took a screaming prisoner to his death…" Draco muttered. The room's occupants looked at him in surprise. Draco Malfoy, fourth richest wizard, watched Muggle movies? Draco was too occupied to notice their surprised looks. Something was niggling at him in the back of his brain. He had an appointment…with somebody. But whom? And when? What time was it now anyway?
"What time is it anyway?" Draco asked out loud. Charlie was the one who answered him.
"Past midday." He answered, looking at the weird watch on his hand. Past noon?
Oh, right, the evidence team at eight! Draco had completely forgotten about that. Oh, well it's too late now. Better tell Tonks anyway.
"Err…Tonks?" Draco tried to catch the attention of the busy Auror, who was busy trying to talk to Krum about something.
"Tonks?" He tried again.
"What??" She snapped at Draco.
"I'm not telling you if you're acting so foul." He said airily.
"Draco, just get on with it, and stop acting like a ten-year-old!" Tonks nearly screamed.
Draco rolled his eyes at her. "Fine…no need too get all moody and angry for Merlin's sake. I just wanted to tell you that I ordered an investigation team at the crime scene at eight o'clock today, and I bloody forgot about that." Harry stopped pacing for a second.
"What crime scene?" He growled.
"Hermione's." Krum, Charlie, Fred and George all jumped at her name. Shacklebot frowned.
"What the hell for?!" Harry looked mutinous.
"To search for any leads. I didn't know it was Hermione at that time." Draco answered, in a tone that indicated that he thought Harry was an idiot.
"You brainless git! I didn't let them go for a reason! I could strangle you…" And Harry looked like he was thinking of doing just that.
All good humor in Draco disappeared. Mr. Malfoy did not like being called a git, not even under the influence of the potion he took.
"I didn't know it was Hermione at that moment, you numbskull. Since you didn't tell me. So I did what I had to do since I can't know what's going on in your twisted brain. I don't have to consult your royal highness on everything. And don't ever call me a git." He drawled, a cold calmness replacing his lighthearted tone. Iciness settled on the room, and Harry glared at Draco while the latter merely looked down his nose at Harry. Shacklebot moved in between them.
"Cut it out you two. Harry, this increased viciousness isn't helping. What happened is over, you can't change the past. And it's not your fault. Draco, grow up! Or in this case, please get out of this infuriating state you've over "calmed" yourself into…You can't keep on taking Calming Draughts for the rest of your life." Shacklebot stated in calm, but commanding manner. It had its effect on both men, as Harry started pacing the room again and Draco sat down. The rest of the group sighed; it was hard enough trying to pull of a deadly escape without a high Draco and a angst-filled Harry.
They all settled in silence again, constantly checking their watches. Draco began to get bored. Whatever they were doing was dull. Draco checked his watch too, just for the sake of it. They all seemed to be waiting for something, Draco thought. The part of his brain that was not numbed told him that they were waiting for the unfolding of a plan. His instincts, that could never be numbed, told him it was dangerous, and risky. A brilliant one too…He had overheard the twins whisper something about Luna being prepared…but for what? Draco's natural curiosity was beginning to overwhelm him. Tonks said that Luna, Ron, Bill and Mrs. Weasley were with Hermione. Fleur was somewhere else…Draco missed what Charlie was saying. What were Fleur and Krum doing here anyway? What could Luna have concocted? She might seem completely crazy but behind that lurked a brilliant genius that headed the Department of Mysteries, and actually solved a few of those mysteries. Draco was so caught up in his thoughts he didn't hear the conversation going on behind him…
"Are the decoys set up?" Tonks whispered to Shacklebot.
"Done. Everyone is in position." He answered back. She saw her checking on Draco. "Why won't you tell him??"
"He's not in his right state of mind. Besides we have enough on our hands with Harry, imagine what Draco would do if he knew!" Tonks hissed. "He still loves her…what he's doing to himself proves it…" She continued softly.
Shacklebot looked at her silently and saw the pain in her eyes. He could never understand what she was going through, but he could imagine. Tonks saw the pity in his face and turned away, embarrassed that she forgot herself for a moment. She checked her watch and jumped.
"It's time!" She said curtly, causing the rest to jump up, and Harry to stop pacing. Draco looked on happily. Ah, finally! This is what they're all waiting for…
Harry sighed and looked at Tonks. "It's the only way Harry." Was the answer he received. He nodded grimly to Krum, who left the hospital room silently. Fred and George went and waited by the door. Suddenly frantic screams were being heard! Draco was puzzled. It sounded like Krum was torturing somebody! But it seemed to be the signal the twins were waiting for, as they left the room carrying black briefcases in their hands Draco hadn't noticed before. A few moments later, the hall they were in went dark! Tonks took Draco's hand and pulled him to the door. Draco stumbled in the darkness and cursed out loud.
"Bloody hell! Where did all the bloody lights go?!" He cursed, as he fell headlong to the floor. Tonks smiled to herself. The potion seemed to be wearing off…
They went like that for ages, or it seemed like that to Draco anyway. Tonks seemed to see in the dark, while Draco felt like he was covered in bruises, and his head started throbbing painfully. He seriously needed a Calming Draught, and he tried to convey that to Tonks very noisily.
"ARE YOU A BRAINLESS IDIOT? I SAID I NEED IT NOW! NOT LATER, I NEED A CALMING DRAUGHT NOW! OR I WILL HEX YOU TO OBLIVION!" He stated, very, very loudly.
"Silencio." Tonks watched in amusement as Draco protested silently. She suddenly stopped at a door. "Get in." This was the critical part of the whole plan. If this didn't go right, then…Tonks didn't even want to think about it. She quickly closed the door after her, and waiting there were Luna, Harry and Ron, with a sleeping Hermione floating on a bed next to them! Draco stopped trying to scream himself hoarse, the signs of utter confusion dawning on his face. "He…what…How did Harry…" But of course all that the others saw was Draco's mouth trying to shape silent words.
"Oh, dear I forgot! I believe I'll have to un-silence him so he can take us to Malfoy Manor, don't I?" Tonks took out her wand and quietly preformed the counter-jinx. Ron grinned a crooked smile. "I take it that whatever he took is wearing off?" He asked. Tonks nodded.
"What a pity! I could've taken it with him, the bloody bastard." He commented dryly. His usually robust face was so pale that his freckles stood out. On the other hand Luna will always stay the same Luna. She turned to an incredulous Draco and surveyed him with dreamy eyes.
"I hope the Crimp horned Snargles haven't nested in your brain! They can be very hard to get rid of, you know." She mentioned in a faraway voice. Draco was going to ask her what exactly is a Crimp horned Snargle when she continued. "You get an infection when you read a lot of those explicitly detailed cheesy romance books and get dirty thoughts afterward. The Snargles grow on these thoughts." She wagged a disapproving finger at Draco, who was looking aghast. Tonks saw that the thought of Draco reading a romance book was amusing.
"I'd love to hear more about your theory luv, but we need to move. Bill's signal will come any moment now…" Ron looked around.
"Why is it taking so long? Something must have happened." Harry predicted grimly, his wand the one holding up Hermione's floating hospital bed. The bed was encased in a halo of light, no, more like a bubble, Draco noted. He went to touch the bubble, when all four people screamed "NO!" Draco recoiled, surprised at their sudden alarm. They were so engrossed at checking the bubble for faults that they didn't notice a werewolf Patronus enter the room. Draco went to it and petted it. "Someone sent a Patronus." He mentioned to the others. Tonks straightened up. "Hurry, hurry that's the signal! We have no time!" She motioned to the others to gather in a circle. "Draco, I want you to let us through the Malfoy Manor protection spells. This is important. It is crucial that you recite the master incantation out loud! Do understand me?"
Draco nodded. This was easy as he's known how to perform that spell ever since Malfoy Manor passed into his ownership three years ago. Ever master of the Manor knew how to.
Harry was muttering under his breath. He was tracing a circle with his wand around the circled group with Hermione in the middle, leaving a circle of shimmering light. Now it was Luna's turn. She had an ancient book with her, and she read aloud a spell. She took out a knife and cut the tip of her finger. A drop of blood came out and fell on the circle. Now they were incased in a halo of light that Draco recognized as the same one that was protecting Hermione. Luna continued on murmuring. This was ancient magic. Draco could feel its power now as it came to life. But why were they using ancient magic when they could have just flooed her out of here? Something didn't make sense, and Draco's head was threatening to split open as the reality of what had happened the past few days and what they were doing now sunk into him again tenfold as worse as before…
"Now Draco. Say it now!" Tonks whispered. Harry had joined the circle now. Draco clutched his aching head and tried to focus.
Open, noble house of Malfoy for your Master, and let all those worthy of me to pass.
Nothing happened.
Go. I, Malfoy heir, order you to let my guests to pass.
What was wrong? Draco tried again and again in all the versions he could think of. Nothing happened! The halo of light around Hermione was getting weaker and the sound of footsteps was getting closer to the room. Everyone's face was screwed in concentration. I can't let them down. I can't let Hermione down…
Draco tried again and again, but with no avail. Images of a dead Hermione loomed in his mind. He couldn't concentrate any more. In a fit of frustration he yelled out it out loud. "I order you to open now!" Suddenly the halo of light began to tremble and a power surged through Draco. He opened his eyes to see and a flash happened that blinded him, and the whole world went black….
A/N: yawn I better go to sleep. Xavier's screaming at me to take a break and I just misspelled a few major words (gulp). Even the wizard guy, the Microsoft office assistant's gone to sleep! Which indicates I must go to sleep, or I'll start speaking gibberish (aye nauf??) I hope you liked this chapter (I thought it wasn't that good, my chapters are getting worse by the minute. Actually I think it's quite terrible, especially the last part. I'm sorry I left you with a cliffhanger. You will find out how our heroes escaped , and why they had to do it this way soon. ). I also want to thank Mawii for checking out all my spelling (writing while sleep-deprived almost always ensures a loss of a few important brain cells). And everyone out there who reviewed:
rebelwilla, kitsune tails, silidons, tractorgirl13, thisrecurringdream, min, lily1121, lulu, aya, maria, mawii, Nauf (or naufdude. don't forget 2 read her fanfic!), inlovewtihbubblegum, Amaterasu Kinesi(who gave me an uplifting review.thnx!),pstibbons,dracoisthesexiestmanalive,and grace. i hope i haven't 4gotten anyone...
Or put me in their favorites and their alerts:
Jeje, lily1121,inlovewithbubblegum, naufdude, MotorMouthMili, Amaterasu Kinesi,dracoisthesexiestmanalive,PenguinGoddess,silidons,elvinstar1180,obsgirl24,patinou80,pstibbons,rebelwilla,this-recurring-dream,x0xSlytherin Ice Princessx0x. It means a lot 2 me!
Or just took the time to check out the story! Please R&R I could use a little feedback… (pwease?) and again, I'm sooo sorry 4 taking this long to update.
Ps: happy birthday Mawii!