Chapter 21

"Can you tell me again where you were when Draco disappeared," asked Sirius and Harry glared at him.

"I was dancing with Luna," he said. "I can't believe you, Sirius. My boyfriend's missing and you're treating me like a suspect!"

"Harry, you know I have to do this. It's my job."

Harry nodded. "I know. I'm sorry. I'm just…."

Sirius nodded too. "I know. I would be the same if I was in your position."

"I want to help," said Harry.

"No, Harry," said Sirius very seriously. "Leave this to the professionals. I don't want you to get yourself into more trouble then you're already in."

"Sirius, I need to do this. I need to find Draco."

"Forget it, Harry."

"Sirius!"

"No, Harry!" Sirius looked over at Harry with a more serious stare then Harry had ever seen on him. "As of tonight, you're on probation."

"What?!" said Harry in surprise.

"I can't have you screwing this up. Not now, Harry."

"Sirius, no!"

"Either give me your keys or spend the rest of the investigation in lock-up." Harry reluctantly relinquished his keys, glaring at Sirius as he did. "Now, I don't want you wondering off. I'll have Tonks drive your car back home. You can get a ride with Ron and Hermione."

"Whatever," said Harry and walked back toward his friends.

"Harry," called Sirius and Harry turned back to him. "I know you want to help but I'm not allowed to let you."

"I know but it's not your boyfriend who's been kidnapped," said Harry and went to Ron and Hermione. Both of the girls looked worried and the boys were trying to console them.

"What did Sirius say," asked Hermione the first to notice Harry's arrival. The rest looked up as Harry joined them.

"We're not allowed to join in the search," said Harry. Blaise growled and punched the wall next to him.

"Son of a bitch!" he yelled. When the other looked at him with a glare his face turned apologetic. "Riddle not Black."

"Was it Riddle who took Draco," asked Ginny. "And why? I mean, the bastard Lucius…."

"They capture Lucius, along with the Lestranges and five other family dealers," said Harry. All of them looked at him in surprised.

"When did this happen," asked Ron.

"A few days ago. Sirius wanted to wait till we got back to tell us."

"Oh, well that was nice of him," said Blaise. "Was that before or after the kidnapping?"

"Zabini…"

"Look, your godfather's a cool guy, but a little leeway would be nice."

"I agree," said Ron. "I'm sorry, Harry, but Sirius has really whacked timing."

"I know," said Harry. "He's even taken my keys. I can't go anywhere."

"Well, that just makes it harder," said Ginny. Everyone looked at her.

"To do what?" asked Hermione. "Look for Draco? Sirius told us…"

"That's just it. We're civilians. He can't order us to do anything. They only thing they can do is sleep or wait."

"I….I…I…," said Hermione flustered.

"Stay here if you want," said Harry to her. "I won't force you to help me. Ron, you'll have to take me home."

Ron nodded. "I'll drop you off then Hermione and come back," said Ron. "We can work something out to rescue Malfoy."

"I'll come!" Hermione blurted out and all four looked at her. "I'll help you find him."

"Hermione…" began Ron but Hermione shook her head.

"No, Ron, I don't like going against the law, but I don't like leaving a friend in danger even more."

"Thank you, Hermione," said Harry before Ron could argue. "It's great to have you along."

"What about the tracker on his watch?" asked Hermione.

"Found a mile away half an hour ago with the rest of his clothes," said Harry. "So either he's walking around naked which I highly doubt…"

"Or they switched his clothes," said Ron. Harry nodded.

"So then what do we do?" asked Blaise.

"Operation Rescue the Dragon," said Ginny enthusiastically and everyone smiled.

XXXXXXXXXX

Draco rattled the grate over the window and glared at it, plucking the plain white shirt he now wore. Thanks to Harry he was used to wearing clothes bought in department stores rather than expensive malls, but the shirt he wore now itched from cheap stitching and sweat. Draco wanted to change but he didn't find any clothes in the room where they threw him.

Draco tried to remember what happened. He remembered dancing with Ginny before going to the bathroom. He was washing up when strong arms grabbed him from behind. He had tried to fight them off but something was pressed against his nose and mouth. It smelled and made his dizzy. He passed out.

And he woke up lying on the bed in the room he was currently trying to get out of. His mind was thinking of each different way he could get out but the only door was locked, windows barred or blocked off. Harry had taught him how to pick locks but he couldn't find anything to pick it with.

Harry. He must be out of his mind going crazy right now. Harry was a great guy, but his patience was thin when he was stressed. But he also knew Harry was smart and would try everything to find Draco and that would be when Harry let his anger out.

Draco's chest hurt remembering Harry. He hadn't separated from Harry since his father put him under house arrest. He was supposed to be staying with Remus and Tonks but his cousin allowed him to stay with Harry sometimes. Draco had even driven to Harry's house after a nightmare his first night at Tonks' house. Draco loved Harry so much it hurt and he knew Harry felt the same. Harry wouldn't stop till he found Draco.

"Missing your boyfriend?" Draco turned to find Tom Riddle, still handsome when even reaching fifty, standing in the open doorway. Two guards stood at the door, cutting off Draco's escape. "Don't. You'll never see him again."

"You don't know Harry, Riddle," said Draco in what the hoped was defiant. "He's going to find me, put you in jail and I'll be standing there in court laughing the whole time."

Riddle studied Draco before smiling. "You're pretty confident, for a hostage," he said. "Thinking your Harry will rescue you?"

"He is!"

"We'll see, after I get what I want and after your father gets out of jail. You don't have to worry about putting on a brave face, or much of anything for that matter."

Draco looked at Riddle in surprised. "Father's in jail?"

"Oh, you mean Harry didn't tell you? That's funny, considering how close you both are."

Draco glared at him. "What do you want?"

"Something your boyfriend has," said Riddle. "Something I need to stay in business, and your boyfriend needs to keep his friends alive."

"What are you going to do to Harry?" asked Draco in fear.

"Let's just say I hate leaving unfinished business. I suggest you get comfortable. You're going to be here for a while. Call MacNair if you need anything. He'll be right outside the door."

"What are you going to do to Harry?!" yelled Draco running to Riddle to force the answer out of him but both of Riddle's bodyguards threw him off easily. Draco landed hard on the floor and he groaned when a shock of pain ran up his spine.

"Don't worry. His body will be able to be identified by his loved ones when I'm done. They may bury him next to his parents, if he's lucky."

With an enraged scream Draco launched himself at Riddle, but the guards closed the door before he could reach the war lard. Draco slammed into the door, cracking is head against it, but he didn't let that stop him. He beat the door with his fists till they were bloody.

"You leave him alone! Do you hear me?! You leave him alone! RIDDLE!"

XXXXXXX

"All right, where do we start?" asked Blaise as they sat in various places in Harry's room. "How are we going to find Draco?"

"We have to know where he is first," said Hermione.

"But without his watch we've got all of New York to work with," said Ginny.

"Or out of New York," said Ron. "Sorry, Harry."

Harry didn't answer. He was sitting at his desk with his arms propped on it and his head in his hands thoughtfully. He was still trying to calm down from Draco getting taken even after only a few hours. Draco wouldn't have gone with his capture willingly, and the bracelet still in Harry's hand suggested a struggle. His clothe being found a mile away said his kidnappers forced Draco to change clothes in case he was being tracked. Riddle wasn't stupid.

"Harry!"

Harry jumped and looked at Ron. "What?"

"I asked what are we going to do? How are we going to get Malfoy back?"

"First we need to find out where Draco is," said Harry.

"So how do we find him," asked Blaise. Thunderstruck by ACDC filled the room and everyone looked at Harry's phone on his desk.

"That's Draco's ring tone," he said and picked it up. "Draco?"

"Unfortunately your boyfriend can't come to the phone right now. He's a little tied up."

Harry's heart stopped when he heard the older voice instead of Draco's. His grip tightened on the phone so hard he thought he heard the plastic crack.

"Who is this?" he asked in a tight voice. Aware that the others were listening he turned from them for some sort of privacy. "What do you want?"

"You know who I am. And what I want is what your father stole from me. A book. Give it to me and you'll get pretty boy back."

"A ransom? Are you serious?!"

"Let's call it a trade. And yes, I'm very serious."

"Where's Draco? I want to know he's okay."

"I figured you'd want that. That's why I had young Mr. Malfoy brought in to listen, I can also send you a video if you want."

"If it's anything later then a second ago you're a dead man," said Harry angrily.

"What's wrong, Potter?" asked Blaise but Harry held his hand up for silence.

"Here he is," said Riddle and Harry got an incoming audio video. It showed Draco held between two men and glaring at the man holding the phone. "Smile, Draco. Your boyfriend's watching."

"Harry!" yelled Draco over the video. "Don't do anything he says! Don't…."

"Don't worry, Draco!" said Harry desperately. "I'm coming! I'm coming."

"And end scene," said Riddle turning the video off.

"If you hurt him in any way I swear to God…"

"Two hours. The book for Draco. Central Park."

And the line died. Harry closed his phone and turned to his friends. He was never more determined in his life.

"We've got to help him," he said walking out of the room.

"What did he want," asked Ginny as the others followed him.

"Something my dad had," said Harry opening the Library. "In here is every one of my father's personal effects. If Riddle wanted something it would be in here."

"What was it?" asked Ron.

"A book," said Harry and pointed at the bookshelf. "Every book my dad owned is over there. "

And they looked, taking every book from the shelf, flipped through its pages and put it back. After going through half the books the group was getting tired.

"We're not going to find it," said Ron.

"Put that stubborn streak of yours to use," said Ginny.

"But it could be anywhere. There are a million books here. It could be any one of them. We'll need more than two hours.

"Harry?" called Hermione holding up two books. "Why does your dad have two copies of the same book?"

"What do you mean?" asked Harry walking over to her.

"Your dad has two copies of Lonesome Dove," said Hermione. "They were placed on different sides of the shelf but they both had the same title."

Harry took the books from her and looked at them. Both said Lonesome Dove, but one was with a cover and the other without. Handing her the one without the cover he removed the cover of the second book. There was no title. Opening the book he found a row of numbers.

"It's a ledger," he said. "That's what Riddle was after all these years, an account book of his illegal operations! And it was here all along for seventeen years."

"Great," said Ron. "So what do we do now?"

Harry tapped the book on the palm of his hand and smiled.

"Something Draco would be proud of.

XXXXXXXXXX

Draco grunted as he was pushed into the dark colored van and a blindfold was covered his eyes, tied tight to stop him from wiggling it off. They drove for a long time and Draco tried to count how far to the next turn and if they crossed any railroads but he lost track. When they finally stopped and dragged Draco out it felt like hours had passed by. They pulled off the blindfold and pushed him forward. And Draco got a good look at his surroundings.

They were in Central park, by the Balto statue. Standing in front of the statue was a figure in dark clothes. When the figure turned he saw that it was Harry, still in his tuxedo minus the tie and a few buttons had been undone. Draco tried to run to him but MacNair and Greyback stopped him.

"Say anything and I'll rip your ears out with my teeth," growled Greyback in his ear and Draco nearly gagged at his rotten breathe.

"Tom Riddle," said Harry in a low voice.

"Harry Potter," said Riddle in a taunting voice. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

"Can't say I say the same," said Harry and he turned to Draco. "How you doing?"

Greyback squeezed his shoulder, hard. He could talk, but briefly. "You idiot, I told you not to come," he said. He meant it to be in anger, but it came out more of a relief.

"Yeah, well, you know me. Never listen.

"Obviously."

"Okay," said Riddle clapping his hands sharply. "Love the chat, but I have business to attend to. The book."

Draco saw Harry reach inside his jacket pocket and pull out a plain brown book.

"You know the government have more then enough information arrest you on drug and illegal gambling, but they can't prove it," said Harry. "But if they had this book, it'll prove without a doubt about you and of your foreign arms deals. This here will really give you the chair."

"Which is why I would very much like to have it back," said Riddle sharply.

"The book, now."

"Draco first, then the book."

Draco hissed. Harry was playing a dangerous game with a very dangerous person. Was this idiot trying to get himself killed?

"Harry, don't!" Draco tried to run to him but MacNair and Greyback grabbed him. "Don't give him it! Forget about me and give it to Black!"

"Hush Draco, I know what I'm doing." Harry sent Draco a look that took Draco aback. It was a look of complete trust and love, something Draco never had. Harry wanted Draco to trust him. Draco already did but on a level Harry was asking. Draco held himself back.

"Yes, Draco, hush," said Riddle tauntingly. "He knows what he's doing."

"Have one of your mean bring Draco forward and I'll hand him the book," said Harry.

"Sounds reasonable. MacNair."

MacNair grabbed Draco roughly by the arm and shoved Draco forward, even though Draco was walking forward anyway. He needed to get to Harry and warn him. Harry met them halfway and gave MacNair the book. When MacNair turned back Harry swept Draco in his arms and Draco returned the embrace, crushing Harry to him.

"You big heroic idiot," said Draco in a low voice. "He's going to kill you."

"I love you," said Harry and he let Draco go before the other could protest. He placed himself in front of Draco. "You have your book back. Now go."

"Now, there's where we hit a snag," said Riddle. "See, I still need Draco for something, and you and I have unfinished business."

The shot happened so fast no one could react. Harry gasped and fell hard to the ground, blood quickly soaking the front of his shirt. Draco stood there in shock for a moment before something snapped inside of him. Harry had been shot. Harry had been shot!

"Harry!" he yelled and went to his boyfriend's side. He rolled Harry on his back and paled at the amount of blood he lost. "Harry, no. Wake up! Wake up!" He shook Harry hard but Harry didn't move. He pounded Harry's chest. "Wake up! Wake up, damn you, you great idiot! Wake up!" He still didn't move. A tear rolled down his face and fell on the blood stained shirt. Draco didn't even realize he started crying. He turned to Riddle with torn savage eyes. "You killed him. YOU KILLED HIM, YOU SON OF A BITCH!"

With a roar he launched himself at Riddle, intent on getting as much pain out of the man as he could but MacNair clubbed him over the head before he got near Riddle. Draco fell to the ground with a gasp of pain.

"Now why should that surprised you?" said Riddle handing the gun to Greyback. "I said I would. Leave him there. Let Black weep over his dead godson's body. We're done here."

"No!" yelled Draco as MacNair dragged him away. "No, I'm not leaving him! Harry! Wake up! HARRY!"

TBC