Hello! Sorry about the cliffy, my evil was showing and thank you for you reviews/favs or alerts and thank you for reading! I hope to post soon and I forgot to ask for forgiveness when it comes to my grammar. I have a hard time with it. OXOX
Love,
ThexHallowsxGirl
Ch 8 Who are you!
"'Arry! I found some-tin!" Seamus yelled bursting open Harry's office door. A wide grin graced his face as he held out a stack of papers.
"Someone's been a busy bee down at Flourish and Blotts. I just got these here records of some behind the shelve dealings, is ya 'now what I mean." He plopped the stack down and sat across from Harry, propping his dragon hide boots on the desk. Harry thumbed threw the papers. His dark eyebrows disappeared into his messy locks. Illegal betting, cursed books, fraud books from authors who were no longer living; the only thing they didn't have was a fake money press.
"Me and Nev have been do'n a sting for a couple of months. Been thinking that maybe they were hold'n illegal betting on the hippogriff races and we busted 'hem today. It's the last page you wants to look at mate. They have been dealing in giving out cursed books. And guess who ordered one." Harry's eye widen as he surveyed the list.
"Nott?" Seamus grinned even wider.
"Nott. You see what book he picked too?"
"My book 'Wonders of the Mind'." Harry frown. This was differently good news but also disturbing at the same time. Nott had been missing since the last battle and have been eluding arrest no matter how many times he had been spotted. If Nott was the one who sent the book portkey then other Death Eaters were apart of it, but who?
"How did Nott get into Diagon Ally? We have Aurors crawling all over that place."
"They are being paid off." Harry jumped at Dean's voice. Neville and Ginny were by his side looking grim.
"The fuck they are!" Harry all but growled. It was despicable! Harry spent too many late nights' searching for the perfect Aurors; ones who wouldn't be lured by money, fame or the dark arts.
"Harry, no one can pick out perfect people. You know more then anyone that humans are crafty creatures." Ginny rubbed in between his shoulder blades. Harry knew no one was perfect but Merlin's beard! It was his job to find and employ the closest ones to perfection as possible.
"We were looking at some of the records from the patrol watches for Flourish and Blotts and we came across something unusual. There were different officer's named but they were all in the same penmanship. It was too easy to find out who was the writer. Ginny used Writemanits on it and we have Eric Kityon in custody." Mr. Kityon, too bad. Harry thought. Kityon was young but smart and egger to do the job. He was brilliant at puzzles, not as good as Hermione but he was close.
"Do you know who was paying him off?" He asked Neville.
"We don't have any proof but I'll but my money on Nott. I always thought he had some gallons tucked away somewhere."
"Harry?" Came an airy voice as Luna joined the small crowd of people.
"Wow, it looks like a party in here…should I leave I haven't got an invitation." She said seriously. Harry shook his head.
"No, no Luna this it's a party, it seems like everyone has found a clue on to what might have happen to Hermione." The blond nodded, her radish earring bounced with the movement.
"That's wonderful because I can share too." Everyone turned to stair at the former Ravenclaw, waiting for her news. Luna looked around Harry's office not bothering to continue.
"Your office is full of Cawlinfors, did you know that? You should get some honey and mint jam to spread behind your ears-"
"Er, Luna, you were going to share." Luna blinked slowly at Harry as if he was daft.
"I did just share." Harry reframed form beating his head into the desk. He loved Luna, she was bright and sweet but sometimes Harry wondered how she was able to put her clothes on right in the morning.
"Sweety, I think Harry was hoping for some info on the operation: Save Bookworm." Neville said wrapping his arms around his girlfriend.
"Oh! Bookworm…well my papa said that he went to Azkaban for in interview with one of the Forterys and when he was there…what is it?" That the mention of Forterys everyone had started to whisper 'What's a Fortery?' followed by 'Fuck if I know.'
"I'm going to regret asking this but Lulu, what is a Fortery?" Ginny asked. Luna looked as if Ginny had slapped her across the face.
"A Fortery is a small mouse like bird that lives in places that people go mad in. They use their beaks and tails to make it sound like water is dripping constantly. Really Ginny I would have thought that as a pureblood you would have know what they were." Ginny's face turned an ugly shade of purple and advanced at the blond but Dean caught her around the middle.
"So your pop went to Azkaban." Dean made a motion with hi chin to continue.
"Well yes and he was passing by the cell Malfoy was in and he said that he stopped and really looked at Lucius and saw it wasn't him. Well it was also thanks to the Lookertics." A throbbing headache made its presence at the left side of Harry's head. There were way to many of Luna's creature in this visit.
"Your trying to tell me that Malfoy isn't rotting in Azlaban as we speak. What your saying is that somehow Malfoy escaped prison once again, right from under our noise. And you know this because of these Looker-tic-tac thingys."
"Lookertics." Luna corrected Harry. "Yes, I was hopping we could go to Azkaban and check to see if they were right, something's they can get very drunk and tell you the wrong information or only what you want to hear." Harry moved stiffly from his desk and pulled on his Aurors jacket.
"You're going to go?" Dean crossed his arms and shook i=his head in disbelief.
"Yes, in fact I am. Luna I'm not going to lie, I don't understand half of what you tell me but I believe you and your father." She smiled brightly at him.
"Great, I'll get the floo powered."
"Lulu, we're all going to the floo room. You don't need to bring us some."
"That is more covenant." She said in amazement, clear blue eyes widening with wonder.
"Come on you lot, off to Azkaban!"
Xxxx
Harry was going to throttle every last one of the guards stationed in the god for saken place called Azkaban. Some how Malfoy wasn't Malfoy at all. In other words Luna and her father was right.
Harry and co arrived at Azkaban only to find that they weren't allowed in for some watered down shitty reason. So after make arguing Harry had to resort to threatening to fire call Kingsely for them to let him in. Harry briskly walked through the winding hallways and bared walls to the more confined section of the prison. A guard scanned his wand to conform it was truly Harry Potter, and then proceeded to let him in to the Death Eater section. Malfoy senor wasn't the most heavily guarded Death Eater since at the last battle he didn't fight and instead searched for his family so his cell was fairly easy to get to. The heavily guarded ones had tests and challenges one would have to get through to get to the cell. A bit like in his first year regarding the Sorcerer's Stone.
Harry peered into the cell. Mr. Malfoy didn't even turn to look at him. The once blond locks of hair were now graying and dirty. His simple grey jumper and trousers made him look so common, nothing like the proud, pompous man he was.
"Mr. Malfoy." Harry called to the sticky shinny man. He didn't seem to hear him, content in his daydreaming.
"Mr. Malfoy, I need to speak to you." Harry Tried again with the same response. Harry turned to the guard posted outside the cell.
"How often does he not respond?" The balding man snorted.
"Hell if I know. I don't chat up shit like him."
"Well does he have any response, at all? Dos he eat, sleep?" The man looked annoyed with all the questions and pinned Harry with a glare.
"Mr. Potter, cant you play hero somewhere else?" Harry gritted his teeth. Some of the Ministry believed that Harry had only gotten the Head Aurors job because of his name and the fact that he killed Voldemort. Because you know that was just a fucking picnic to do.
"No Mister?"
"Hash."
"Mr. Hash I have to play fucking hero here. Open the door I have to speak with Mr. Malfoy." The guard crossed his arms and stood in front of Harry, trying to use his height to intimidate him.
"You can do your busyness right where you are Mr. Potter." Harry stepped closer, digging his wand into the man stomach.
"I'm going to ask you nicely one more time to let me in. My friend is missing along with Mr. Malfoy's son and his father, who's sitting right behind you, might know a thing or two. So Mr. Hash. Open. The. Blasted. Door." When the guard didn't move Harry let out a sigh.
"Fine. Stupefy!" Hash went down with a bang, the picture of confusion frozen on his stubbled face. Harry searched threw Hash's pockets until he found the enchanted key that opened the cell. With a flick of his wand, Malfoy was bounded still unmoving.
"Mr. Malfoy if you do not answer me I will use force." When Harry touched Malfoy's shoulder his face started to melt. The flesh twisted in rivulets revealing an unfamiliar face.
Harry blew opened the guards break room door open carrying the fake Malfoy. When he had the chance he was going to send the biggest basket of Sugar Quills, Liquorish Wands and Peppermint Toads to Luna and her father.
"Care to tell me where the fuck your head is?" Demanded Harry, dumping phony Malfoy on the tiled floor. Mr. Tux was a tired looking old geezer. Tuff of hair puffed around his pink, balding head like clouds. Dull brown eyes flicked up from behind a wizard magazine advertizing ten different ways to spell away dust.
"My head, Mr. Potter is right here behind this her mag. Who do you have there?" He gestured to the man Harry was holding.
"That is my question to you. This man was impersonating Mr. Malfoy and I want to know how you and your blood team didn't fucking see an imposter." Mr. Tux looked perplexed before turning back to his magazine.
"Got an proof that he was an imposter?" Harry gapped at the tubby man.
"Any proof! I saw it with my own eyes! He's wearing Malfoy's uniform, it even has the name stitched into the sleeve."
"Well maybe if some one was doing their job Mr. Malfoy would have been in his cell." Gawking at the man sitting calming in front of him, Harry gritted out.
"Are you saying that this is my fault?" Tux's made a non -committed sound.
"Mr. Tux I hate to inform you but this is your job. You see I catch them and bag them and you play babysitter."
"You could be doing more…Boy Wonder." That was crossing the line. Raw unchained magic whipped around the room.
"I have been working nonstop for the past three, no, I have been saving your ass for 20 years and you want me to do your job? With out this 'Boy Wonder' you would have been dead. You're the head of your department so it's up to you to get off your arse and check to see if your 'guest' are who their cards say they are. " He said with a hiss. Tux gulped and wilted under the heated glare from the dark haired wizard. He pulled on his collar and shuffled his feet.
"That's not what I was saying…"
"Then what! No. Don't answer that. I want to see all the records showing who Mr. Malfoy had to visit him. Oh and Mister Tux." The older wizard stilled at the cold tone Harry used.
"Y…yes?"
"I have a feeling your going to have a lot of time on your hands in the future."
Xxxx
Sweet solid ground! Hermione would have kissed the earth if she weren't so focused on breathing. She was thankful for all the swimming lessons her mother had dragged her to. They had just slammed the door shut on the water monster in time. Hermione heard it thud and scratch against the wood. Its hungry growls could still be heard from the small flowerbed they had collapsed on. She rolled her head to the side searching for Draco. His labored breathe puffed out of his mouth. The cuts on his arm had started to ooze again. The water must have canceled the healing spells she used on him. Thick wetness told her that her leg was bleeding also.
"Caribbean." Announced Draco. "After all this the Caribbean." Amazingly Hermione had enough energy to laugh. The blond smacked her arm.
"Don't laugh at my vacation dreams."
"Sorry…It's just…really? You're planning your vacation now?" She said through chuckles.
"I think it's a perfect time. We had just eluded death for the umpteenth time in how many days? I want to have something to look forward too to get through this shit." For some reason that sent a pang in her heart. She mentally slapped herself. Silly girl, you have no claim on him, why would you think he meant what he said when he kissed your arm?
"That is of course if you would like to go some where tropical." Hermione started at that. Her belly swopped with joy, he did remember. Hermione knew that her relationship with Draco was going fast but maybe she needed to have a wild and crazy love affair. She was always too proper and collected.
"Yes, I love the tropics." Draco's face morphed into a silly grin.
"I just thought of a better thought."
"What?"
"You in a bikini." Hermione laughed again, rolling over on the dry, brown grass. "Your unbelievable!"
"You'll be saying that once I get you in bed." Draco wagged his light brows at her. She lunged at him, burying her fingers into his knotted hair.
"No!" He cried twisting his head out of her grasping hands. "You'll mess my hair up!"
"I hate to break it to you but it's beyond repair." He gasped, running his own fingers through the muddy, wet locks.
"Don't worry you still look sexy, even if you're all mucky." Immediately he stopped fussing with his hair. A Cheshire cat smile grew on his face.
"I knew you thought I was sexy." He got to his feet and offered a hand to help her up. She took it and lifted herself up to press against his chest. Hermione could hear Draco catch his breath when her breast pushed on his stomach. Tilting her head she whispered in his ear.
"Lets go hot shot, sooner we get out of here the sooner you can see my lack of bikini."
"Wh…what?" He shakily asked.
"I hate tan lines…I like an all over tan." With that she smacked his butt and proceeded to walk away from a sputtering Draco.