So I realize you must all completely loath me by this point, and believe me, I don't blame you, it's been far too long since I last updated. But you see, I just couldn't seem to get this chapter right. I couldn't figure out what was wrong for the longest time but I think I might have finally got it. So instead of making you all wait as I agonize over it for a few more days as I am inclined to do without really changing it anyway, I thought I would take my chances and post it. I do hope that you all forgive me my tardiness and that you enjoy this chapter. Let me know what you think. As always, Happy Reading, Noterwomann

Chapter Twenty: Jillian Oldham

It was almost comical, Jillian Oldham decided as she and her team moved down the hall. With the lateness of the hour the Ministry should have been nearly empty, but witches and wizards kept appearing from behind closed office doors, stopping their work long enough to watch their progression.

Jillian shook her head with disgust. These people were insane. Who would stay and work longer then they had to? Bunch of office crazed workaholics, she decided as she moved on.

They were getting close to the law offices now. The outer office was empty but she knew she had found her target when she spotted the soft light seeping from beneath the closed office door.

Jillian took her place at the front of her team. She leaned her back against the wall, pulled her wand and motioned the rest of her squad to do the same. Jillian closed her eyes, holding her wand close to her nose. A cool shiver of anticipation crept down her spine. She was going to enjoy this.

Giving the signal, she flung open the door and rushed into the small office.

Hermione jumped with surprise as the door banged heavily against the wall, knocking a frame off its peg. "Captain Oldham." The brunette looked up, mild surprise evident on her face. Her brown eyes scanned the room quickly taking in the team of Aurors and their wands steadily trained on her. She rose gracefully to her feet and extended her hand. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

Jillian stared at the extended hand until Hermione uncomfortably withdrew it. "I think we both know why I'm here."

Hermione scanned the room once more, her eyes wide. "I'm afraid I don't. Have I been assigned to one of your cases?" She asked hopefully, staring uneasily at the closest wand.

Jillian snorted. "Something like that." Though she lowered her wand the rest of her team stayed at attention. She took a moment to scan the office, noting the stack of papers and files on either side of her desk as well as the legal pad and open file in front of her. "Working late this evening?"

"Not so late."Hermione glanced at the clock she had personally mounted on the wall, her eyes widening and her mouth rounding in surprise. "Oh." She lowered her eyes to the open files. "I didn't realize so much time had passed. I'll have to floo Mrs Weasley in the morning to make my apologies." She flipped 

the cover of her current file closed. She chuckled humorlessly. "I suppose in this case it's a good thing I did miss. I'm sure I'm the last person the Weasleys want to see tonight."

"Why is that?"

Hermione looked up in surprise. "Are you unaware of what happened today? I lost the Weasleys there case. I doubt I'm their favorite person right now."

"Captain Potter said you instructed him to meet you at the Burrow with Captain Weasley."

Hermione's brow arched. "I'd hardly call it instructed. It was more a request."

"And why would you make such a request?"

Hermione's brow creased with apprehension. "What is this about?"

"Just answer the question Ms Granger."

Hermione deftly shook her head. "Not until you tell me why you're questioning me? What exactly have I done?"

"Why did you ask Harry Potter to keep Ronald Weasley occupied at the Burrow?"

Hermione stared at her, wide eyed, arms crossed over her chest.

"Ms Granger," Jillian growled with frustration, "Please don't make this any more difficult. You know why we're here. Tell us what you did with her."

Hermione continued to stare at her a moment before turning her head to gaze defiantly at the wall.

Jillian took a step forward. "You must know that remaining quiet isn't going to help your case."

Hermione shook with quiet laughter. "I've used that one enough times to know not to fall for it. I'm not an unreasonable person Captain Oldham. I'll gladly answer all the questions I can after you tell me what I'm being questioned for."

Jillian scowled at Hermione with distaste. For several minutes her internal debate was evident on her face. "The Blythe Baby," she finally said through gritted teeth. "She's missing."

Surprise flashed across Hermione's features for a moment before her mask of professionalism was back in place. "I can't say that I'm surprised. I knew something like this was going to happen if the Javeds gained custody."

"You mean you were planning it?"

Hermione glared at the other woman. "No. I mean what else did you expect to happen when you handed her over to a pair of Death Eaters?"

"You think the Javeds are behind it?"

"Let's say I wouldn't put it past them."

"Unfortunately for your theory that seems highly unlikely as the Javeds were the ones who reported the child missing."

Hermione nodded appreciatively. "A smart move on their part. Throws suspicion of them."

"And onto you."

Hermione's eyes widened. "Me?" he voice was laced with a hint of amusement.

"You seem surprised."

"Shouldn't I?" Hermione asked. "How could you possibly think I would have anything to do with it?"

"You have motive and lack of alibi."

"Lack if alibi?" She asked incredulously. "I've been here all evening." She glanced at the stack of files to her right. "These files don't go through themselves."

"Why here so late?"

"I've gotten behind on my cases. I wanted to try and catch up a little before I had to focus on the retrial."

"Can anyone verify your story?"

"You can check with my assistant. I'm not sure when she left, but it's the best I can do."

"You're not sure when she left?"

"She's my assistant, not my child. She doesn't have to ask my permission to leave."

"Her name?" Jillian barked.

"Ramilda Vane."

"Johnson." Jillian snapped her fingers and a man standing near the door stepped forward. "See if you can locate Ms Vane. See what she has to say about Ms Granger's story. As for you," she returned her focus to Hermione. "I'll need you to hand over your wand for examination. You'll also have to come with us to the Aurors office for further questioning."

"A lack of alibi is hardly enough to accuse me with."

"I'm not accusing you of anything…yet. It just seems highly suspicious to me."

"What does?"

"Everything. From your relationship with the Weasleys to the fact that you're one of the only people involved in this case intelligent enough to actually pull it off."

"That's not very much to be bringing me in for."

"I don't need more than that."

"This is preposterous." Hermione threw up her hands.

"Maybe." She shrugged. "But I'll still need you to hand over your wand and come with me."

For a moment it seemed like Hermione would ignore Jillian and the rest of the Betas. She stared down at her unfinished paperwork with a thoughtful expression on her face. Breathing out through her nose she took up her wand from where she had left it on her desk, causing the Aurors to tighten their grip on their own wands in response. Shaking her head she turned it over so that she held it the wrong way. She held out the instrument and waited for one of the Betas to take it. She quickly stacked her files in a neat pile before coming around the side of her desk.

Jillian looked on in surprise as her team led Hermione quietly from her own office. From all that she had heard Hermione Granger had a wild temper, was quick to argue and was stubborn as all hell when she thought she was right. She had expected to spend the next half hour listening to Hermione list all the reasons she could not possibly be guilty.

Jillian shifted uneasily from one foot to the other as the last of her team left the office. She had to be up to something. Some plot she had concocted to get herself out of trouble. Jillian sneered. They were all alike. The three of them. Using their popularity to get away with murder, or in this case kidnapping. And the worst part was that the rest of the wizarding community was so infatuated with them that they would go ahead and let them get away with it.

Jillian squared her shoulders. Well not her. She was certain Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley had plotted together to kidnap the Blythe Baby. Now she just needed to prove it. A smile slipped across her lips. How she savored the idea of taking down one of the members of the Golden Trio. It didn't happen very often and never to Ms Hermione Granger. She relished the idea of being the first.

"Harry?" Ginny sat up the moment she heard the faint pop of appiration. "Harry?" She called again as she pulled open the door to the foyer. Ginny's shoulders sagged with momentary relief when she spotted the familiar outline of her husband in the darkened hallway.

"Gin." Harry turned at the sound of her voice. He quickly crossed the gap between them and took her in his arms, holding her tight, tucking his face into the curve of her shoulder. He breathed deep, inhaling the sweet floral scent that was distinctly her, letting the scent calm him.

Ginny wrapped her arms around Harry, hugging him back with all her might. Her eyes fell closed as Harry momentarily lifted her off the ground, drawing her nearer.

"When was the last time you checked on Si and Bryony?" He drew back enough that he could look down at her. His eyes darted to the stairs and back. "Are they all right?"

"They're fine." Ginny placed a hand on his cheek, trying to draw his face back to her. "I looked in on them half an hour ago."

Harry's jaw stiffened beneath her fingertips. His eyes clouded with uncertainty as he pulled away from her. He released her long enough to take her hand then pulled her insistently behind him as he climbed the stairs.

"Harry," Ginny tried to tug her hand free. "Harry, you're scaring me."

"I just need to see them." He stopped in front of the door to the nursery. His hand hesitated on the handle a moment, terrified to open the door. Shoulders tense he eased it open and moved inside. He moved quietly across the darkened nursery and stopped at the side of the cot. He stared at Bryony for several silent moments, letting the sight of her help calm his frayed nerves. Reaching down, he gently ran a finger against the smooth curve of her cheek, stopping long enough to cup her face tenderly before slowly drawing away, careful not to make a noise.

Ginny waited for the nursery door to close. "They haven't found her then?" She asked.

Harry shook his head. "Not a trace."

"How is that even possible?" She asked as she followed Harry down the hall to Si's room. "How do you lose a baby?"

"She isn't lost, Gin." Harry opened the door. "She was taken." He said in a hushed voice. "Which is even worse."

The last of his anxiety left his body when he found his son fast asleep, one fist curled tight around his blanket, the other with the thumb stuck out near his mouth, still damp from being sucked. Harry crept forward until he was standing over Si's crib. Smiling tenderly he reached down and ran his fingers gently through his son's tuft of soft black hair.

He closed his eyes on a sigh as Ginny slipped her arms around his waist from behind. He settled his hands over hers to hold her in place, reluctant to let her go. She pressed a kiss to his shoulder blade. "They're fine, Harry." She whispered, as much for her own benefit as his. Her fingers gripped tight at his chest. "We won't let anything happen to them."

Harry shook his head as he slowly backed out of the room, forcing Ginny with him. "I'm sorry Gin." He said when the door was closed. "I knew you were all here, and that you were fine. But I…I just needed to make certain. I had to know."

Ginny turned Harry in her arms and eased his head down until his face was close enough she could look him directly in the eyes. She ran her fingers soothingly through his hair. "It's all right, Harry." She pressed a kiss to his lips. "We're all here. We're all safe. Everything is going to be all right."

Harry shook his head. "How could this happen?" He pulled her closer until her bones ached. "I don't understand. What kind of person would kidnap a child? There's no trace of her Gin. It's like she vanished into thin air."

"This is the wizarding world." She said logically.

"Yes, but all magic leaves a trace. If the kidnapper used magic we should be able to track them. And from the report the Javeds gave she was definitely taken by a wizard."

Ginny stared absently over Harry's shoulder, a deep frown on her face. "Harry? You don't think the Javeds…" She couldn't bear to finish the thought.

"No." Harry shook his head confidently. "They wouldn't have worked so hard to get her if they only meant to get rid of her."

"But what if that was the plan all along?" she persisted.

"I doubt it."

"But you don't know."

Harry sighed heavily. "To be honest Gin, I don't know anything anymore. Oldham's not letting me anywhere near this case. All I keep hearing is I'm too close. I'm too close. What the hell does that even mean? Who cares how close I am to the case if I find Blake and bring her back?"

"I don't know." Ginny frowned. "If they won't let you near the case, why were you at the Ministry for so long?"

Harry ran his fingers through the long strands of Ginny's hair. "I was waiting for them to release Ron and Hermione."

"They cleared them?"

"Not exactly."

Ginny arched a brow. "What do you mean, not exactly?"

"From what I could gather Ron and Hermione are still their top suspects. They had to release Ron because they didn't have enough evidence to hold him but they're keeping Hermione for more questioning."

Ginny huffed indignantly. "This is ridiculous." She turned and marched away, not bothering to see if Harry followed. "How they can suspect either Ron or Hermione…it's just absurd. Ron was with us all evening, when would he have had the chance? And Hermione…" Ginny rolled her eyes. "It would almost be laughable if they didn't already have her locked up."

She pushed open the door to their bedroom and stormed angrily inside, pulling her robes off without bothering to undo the clasps. She threw the garment at the hamper uncaring that it landed on the ground just short of its mark. Ginny turned and paced, hands planted firm on her hips. "Where is Ron anyway? He shouldn't be alone right now." She caught Harry's eye. "How is he?"

"Devastated." Harry acknowledged.

"Then why didn't you bring him home?" She growled with frustration.

"I tried," Harry said picking up her robe and tossing it in the hamper. "Honest I did. He refused to come. He said he needed to be alone, but…"

Ginny frowned considerately. "Maybe you should go and stay with him."

Harry shook his head again. "I offered." He sank onto the foot of their bed. "He told me not to be stupid and to go home and spend time with my wife and children."

"You shouldn't have let him go alone."

"He would have hexed me if I had tried and follow. He was serious about me coming home to be with Si and Bryony." He rubbed wearily at his face. "I suppose that's why I'm so on edge. He's got me thinking they're going to disappear any minute just like Blake."

Ginny froze, sudden terror contorting her face. "Do you really think someone is after Si and Bryony?" She took an unconscious step towards the door.

"I didn't say that." Harry rushed to his feet and grabbed her before she made it to the door. "No one's getting to them, Gin. I promise." He pulled her into his arms once again and crushed her painfully to his chest. "No one is taking my family away from me again."

Ginny closed her eyes and pressed her face into his shoulder. "Harry, someone already has."

"Are we going to sit here and stare at each other again all afternoon?"

"That depends on you." Jillian tapped her nails against the ancient table top. "Are you going to cooperate this afternoon?"

"I have been cooperative." Hermione said exasperatedly. "I just can't give you the answers you want."

Jillian Oldham leaned back in her seat and watched Hermione intently. She was a stubborn witch, she had to give her that. They had kept her in isolation for the past three days, interrogated her heavily using all their most productive tactics but she still hadn't changed her story.

But despite her story that she was in the Ministry all evening, something, sadly, her wand analysis only helped confirm, all other evidence they managed to gather pointed at Hermione Granger as the most likely perpetrator of the Blythe Baby kidnapping. Firstly, she was on first name bases with Ronald Weasley and the rest of his family. Of course she would be considering they had been best friends for 

most of her wizarding life. Secondly, she had close connections to the case Thirdly, she had made certain Ronald Weasley had a concrete alibi for the time of the kidnapping. Fourthly, and most condemningly, she had a firm knowledge of Auror law and protocol, which she undoubtedly used to her benefit not to get caught. It was almost ironic that that which made her appear the most guilty was what kept her free of a conviction. There was simply not enough evidence to condemn her. All they really had was a week alibi that could have easily been orchestrated.

But despite the lack of evidence there was something in Jillian's gut that was telling her Hermione Granger was the mastermind behind the child's disappearance, and she wasn't going to stop until she proved it.

"Are we through?"

Jillian observed Hermione objectively. To the untrained eye Hermione Granger made every appearance of being innocent. Calm and collected, very polite. But Jillian, who had quite a bit of experience questioning suspects, thought she was just a little too calm and collected for a person being investigated not to mention the answers she gave came just a little too readily for someone who hadn't prepared them before hand.

"No." Jillian leaned forward, crossing her arms on the table top. "You're going to sit there until we get answers out of you."

Hermione looked coldly at the other woman. She shifted in her seat, crossing one leg defiantly over the other. "Then I recon we should both get comfortable."

Jillian perfected a similar pose to Hermione's. "I recon we should."

The two women locked gazes at the same time as their wills. Both were determined to stare the other one down, neither willing to break. The seconds ticked by on the lone clock adhered to the wall, blaringly loud in the otherwise silent room.

After several minutes had gone by with the deafening silence Hermione finally looked away and stared unseeingly at the wall. Feeling satisfaction that she hadn't been the first to break, Jillian uncrossed her leg and sat up in her chair, conjuring a pot of tea. "You must really care for him." She observed as she poured herself a cup, adding two lumps of sugar.

Hermione spared her only a moment's glance. "I must really care about who?"

"Ronald Weasley." Jillian tapped her spoon gently against the rim of her cup. "You're risking an awful lot to help him." She took a sip.

Hermione rolled her eyes before she refocused on the wall. "You should really get your facts straight, Captain Oldham."

"How do you mean?"

Hermione looked over at her, annoyance written clearly on her face. "If you had done your research you would know that Captain Weasley and I had a falling out and haven't been on speaking terms in over five years. Under those circumstances do you really think I would risk my honor or my reputation for him?"

"Stranger things have been known to happen."

"Not with me. I wouldn't risk everything, all that I've worked so hard for, for him. Especially not after the way he's treated me."

"So why did you help him? Why did you agree to take his case?"

"I've already told you." She huffed with frustration. "I took his case as a favor. Because once upon a time we used to be friends. Because his mother asked me. And do you know how he repaid me?" She leaned forward. "By blaming me for what happened. He all but said I didn't do my job right. I did my job perfectly. It's not my fault Ceemist decided the way he did." Hermione sat back in her seat, arms crossed defiantly over her chest once again. "Just see if I ever help him again." She grumbled. "My fault in deed. I'd like to see him do better."

"You didn't like losing, did you?" Jillian asked.

"Not so much as I disliked the idea of facing Molly Weasley again. She expected me to get her granddaughter back and I failed her." Hermione lowered her chin. "She's doesn't do well with disappointment."

"Are you trying to tell me that you took Captain Weasleys case because his mother wanted you to?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "It had a profound influence."

"And why was that?"

"Because," she sighed, "as much as it would pain my parents to hear this, Molly Weasley has been more of a mother to me since I started Hogwarts then my own mother was. It's not easy being a Muggleborn witch. My parents couldn't understand what I was going through. They couldn't be there for me the way I needed them to be. Mrs Weasley was always there for me when I needed her. I would do anything I can to repay her kindness."

"Including kidnapping a little girl?"

Hermione gritted her teeth. "I've already told you, kidnapping isn't my style. Applying to the court, rearguing my case. That's how I intended on getting Molly Weasley her granddaughter back."

"Your sentiment is sweet." Jillian pushed her chair back. "But this is getting us nowhere."

"Finally we agree on something." Hermione straightened in her seat. "When are you letting me out of here?"

"When you turn over that child, maybe we can discuss whether or not I'll let you out."

Hermione slammed her hands down on the table. "You can't do this. You have no legal right to keep holding me. My wand was clean. You can't prove I wasn't at the Ministry and where would I have stashed her? There wouldn't have been time."

"Ms Granger, when are you going to learn? The people around here, we are the law. You'll get out when I say you will."

"But there are laws, regulations that were established after the fall of Voldemort to prevent things like this happening again. You can't just…"

"You're not in any position to tell me what I can and cannot do."

"When I get out of here…"

"Don't delude yourself, Ms Granger. Once we get the information we need it'll be a long time before you step outside prison walls again."

Hermione narrowed her eyes at Jillian until they were tiny slits filled with anger and hate. "When I am released, I'll have your job."

"Is that a threat?"

"No. As cliché as it sounds, it's a promise. I didn't work as hard as I did, suffered like I have, or fought as long as I did to change our world so that people like you can abuse their power. When the Ministry hears how you've been treating me…"

"And it's all about you isn't it?" Jillian leaned her hands on the table. "The famous Golden Trio gets whatever they want. You think you deserve it. You think that we owe you everything for saving us. Power, position, promotions. You're all the same. You all think it's your due. Even if there was someone there first. Someone who had more right to it. Someone who could have done it better. Well, not this time. You had no right to take that child. And I for one will make sure that you don't use your celebrity status to get away with it."

Hermione's eyes grew wide with understanding. "This isn't about the baby is it?" she moved forward to the edge of her seat. She stared with disbelief at the Beta Captain. "This is about revenge. What happened?" She watched Jillian's chin stiffen. "You said Harry, Ron and me take what we don't deserve. Power and promotions? Is that what happened? Were you passed over for a promotion by Harry or Ron? You were." Hermione realized when a vain appeared at the Beta Captain's temple and her jaw began to twitch. "You think that because they're Harry Potter and Ron Weasley they were unduly promoted?"

"I'm not the one under question, Ms Granger."

"Who's job did you want? Harry's or Ron's?"

"Ms Granger," The vein throbbed worse than ever.

Hermione ignored the warning. "Since you're the Beta captain I'll assume it was Ron's job you wanted. That makes sense. It explains why you're trying so hard to pin me and Ron to the crime."

"Not everything is about you." The woman shouted.

"I never said it was." She shot back. "You did."

Jillian Oldham pinned a fierce grimace on her lips. "You know what? Idon't have to stay here and listen to this nonsense. Unlike some people, Iget to go home at the end of the day."

With that the Beta Captain banished the tea she had hardly touched and strode briskly towards the door.

"Did you ever consider," Hermione said when the other woman reached for her wand, "that perhaps Ronald Weasley got the position because he was better qualified?"

"Better qualified?" Jillian spun around. "I'd been doing this job for over twenty-six years when they passed me over. That job was promised to me until he came along and stole it. And please don't deceive yourself into thinking he makes a better Captain then me. I never would have botched that Blythe case the way he did. My team would have done everything possible to bring them in alive."

"Maybe. And how many Aurors do you think would have lost their life in the process? The truth of the matter is you don't have what it takes. I've done my research too you know. The Alphas are the best of the best. They handle the most volatile cases and for that reason need to be more aggressive. And, according to the Alpha team and the rest of your superiors, Ron is the best Captain that squad has ever had. So maybe you need to stop deceiving yourself and open your eyes."

Jillian glared at Hermione with the upmost contempt. She tapped her wand angrily against the door and it sprung open. "Johnson." She waited for the younger Auror to appear at her side. "We're done. Escort Ms Granger back to her cell." The young Auror watched as his commanding officer strode briskly down the hall and disappeared around a corner. Shaking his head he turned back to the room and found Hermione still sitting in her seat, one leg folded over the other and arms crossed over her chest defiantly.

"Ms Granger." She looked up at the sound of her name. "If you'll come with me."

Hermione sunk lower in her seat, the lines in her face etching into a deeper scowl. "And if I refuse?"

Johnson shook his head. "You don't want to do that."

"No?" She glanced at him briefly before returning her focus to the wall. "Well I think I want to sit here until you let me go."

"I'm sorry Ms Granger, I can't do that." Red hot color flared in Hermione's cheeks. "Only the Captain can give that order."

Hermione turned in her seat to stare at the Auror. "Without something more incriminating then motive you can't keep me here. It's the law."

"Until the Captain gives the okay, my hands are tied."

Hermione rose slowly to her feet, the sparkle of fury in her eyes enough to make the man step back in alarm. "You Gabriel Johnson, are holding me here illegally. I know my rights. I know everything there is to know about British Wizarding Law. Which means when I finally get out of here you and the rest of your team will have to answer to me, and I'll make sure you lose your job."

"I'm not frightened of you, Ms Granger."

"Yes you are." The barest hint of a smile flitted across her lips. "I've always been told I'm scary when I set my mind to something."

"Hmmm." She couldn't tell if he was agreeing or disagreeing with her. "We'll see. Now, are you going to come with me nicely or are you going to fight me again?"

She tilted her head considerately to the side for a moment. She nodded. "I'll play nice." She glared at the hand reaching for her arm. "As long as you keep your hands off me." She wrenched her arm out of his reach.

Gabriel took a step back from her with his hands raised, fingers spread close to his face in a look of surrender. "Not a finger." He promised. "Unless you cause me trouble." He amended.

Hermione nodded. "Fair enough."

"Ron, would you knock that off." Harry looked down at his folded hands. "You're making me nervous."

Ron, who had been pacing the length of the room for the past fifteen minutes without fail, came to an immediate halt. He whirled around to face Harry, his eyes huge. "I thought you said there was nothing to worry about."

"I did say there was nothing to worry about. So why are you so nervous?"

"Oh, I don't know," Ron said snidely. "What could I possibly have to be nervous about? Blake? Hermione? My sanity?"

"Ron," Harry sighed. "I swear, everything is going to be fine."

Ron glared at his best friend. "You can keep telling me that, but it's not going to make me feel any better." He turned and started pacing again, back and forth between one wall and the other. Felling the stress starting to gather behind his eyes, he pinched the bridge of his nose in an attempt to relieve the headache he could feel forming. "Is this my fault, Harry?"

Harry sat up. "Is what you're fault?"

"This." He nodded at the room around them. "Hermione? Blake? All of it?"

"Don't be stupid." Harry bowed his head, removed his glasses and rubbed at his eyes.

"Do you think I was asking for too much?"

"What do you mean?" He slipped his glasses back on before returning his focus to the redhead.

Ron turned about, "I was this close, Harry." He held up his thumb and forefinger, a small space between them. "This close to having it all. The job I always wanted, the little girl I adored, the love of my life. Now look at me. I've lost it all. I asked for too much."

"Firstly," Harry pushed to his feet and crossed the few steps that separated them, "You have lost neither your job nor Hermione. You're just temporarily separated from her. Two, Blake might be missing but that doesn't mean you've lost her completely. And three, there is no such thing as asking for too much. You deserve all of it. You've worked hard for it. Now," he placed his hands firmly on Ron's shoulders. "I need you to relax and stay calm. We're going to see Hermione in a few minutes and then maybe we'll be able to get to the bottom of this."

Ron stared silently at Harry for several minutes. "How do you think she's doing?" he finally asked, breaking the silence.

"It's only been a few days. I'm certain she's fine."

"Harry," his eyes glanced quickly toward the door. "Do you think she did it?" he asked low enough so that only his friend and not anyone who might be listening could hear.

"I have to be honest, I don't think it sounds like something Hermione would do." Ron's shoulders sagged. "Are you actually disappointed?"

Ron shrugged one shoulder. "No. I don't know. It's just…well, at least if it was Hermione I would know Blake is safe."

Harry forced his lips into a sad sort of half smile. "One can always hope."

The door to the waiting room opened then, cutting the conversation short. Harry instantly recognized the man as Gabriel Johnson, Jillian Oldham's second in command. He had been badgering the man the past three days for information, getting very little for all his efforts.

Gabriel folded his hands behind his back before he caught Harry's eye. "Captain Potter, if you'll come with me. Not you Captain Weasley." He held up a hand when Ron made to follow. "Only Captain Potter."

"Excuse me?"

The young Auror frowned apologetically. "Ms Granger said she would only see Captain Potter."

Ron looked stunned. "Did you tell her Ronald Weasley was here to see her?"

"Yes sir," Johnson nodded. "As I said, she said she would only see Captain Potter."

Ron's mouth gapped open stupidly giving him the almost comical appearance of a fish. "You must be mistaken." He said briskly, striding towards the door. "Hermione wouldn't refuse to see me."

Johnson put up a hand to stop him when he got too close. "I'm sorry Captain Weasley, but you'll have to wait here." It took all his strength to hold Ron back. "Ms Granger specifically said that she does not wish to see you."

Ron finally stopped fighting and fell back a step. "But…"

"Captain Potter," Johnson held open the door. "If you'll come with me."

Ron looked stupidly at Harry who shrugged ruefully back. "I'll ask." He promised just before the door closed.

Ron stared momentarily blind at the closed door. His heart had dropped into the very pit of his stomach and the sensation was making it impossible to breath. He stumbled across the room to the chair Harry had occupied earlier. The moment his weight was settled, he leaned forward so his head was practically between his knees.

Hermione refused to see him? He took several deep breaths as the last glimmer of hope he had snapped out of existence leaving behind a shell shocked body.