When Lucius returned home from his business trip to London he was surprised to find Severus at the Manor. His friend was sitting conversing with Narcissa in the front room. Draco and Hermione were also in the front room but they were too busy with each other to even notice Lucius had arrived home.
"Did everything go alright today?" Lucius asked as he greeted his wife.
"I think so." Narcissa replied. "I knew when the Order were here and Hermione spent most of the afternoon at the window. I have no idea whether or not they saw her though."
"They did." Severus said. "I was at headquarters when they returned and they mentioned seeing Hermione."
"At least I didn't spend the afternoon sitting at the window for nothing." Hermione said. Once Lucius had spoken both her and Draco had started paying attention to the conversation going on over the other side of the room.
"They were also bemoaning the security around the Manor." Severus said. "It sounded like they had pretty much decided they couldn't gain entry."
"At least they're not totally stupid and recognise a lost cause when they see one." Lucius sneered.
"And what happens if they now think I'm a lost cause?" Hermione asked. "What happens that now they know I'm in the Manor and they can't get to me?"
"I think I can help there." Severus said before Lucius had a chance to respond to Hermione's questions. "I also heard them mention something else, it was just an off the cuff remark but I actually think it could turn into a solid plan." Severus then explained what he had heard them say about Draco and the outline of his plan.
"No." Narcissa exclaimed, standing up and glaring at Severus. "I won't allow it."
"Do you think it would work?" Draco asked Severus, ignoring his mother's protests. "If they had me do you think they would bargain my life for Hermione's?"
"Draco, I won't allow this." Narcissa turned to her son. "It's too dangerous."
"It's my decision, Mother." Draco told Narcissa firmly. "If we decide this is a workable plan, I'll be more than happy to play my part."
"Narcissa, we're only talking at this stage." Severus said. "Until we discuss this in detail, I have no idea whether it will work. It's just an idea at the minute."
"An idea that has potential, though." Lucius said. Since Severus had first mentioned what he had heard at the Order headquarters Lucius had been thinking about what he was suggesting and he was beginning to think it would work.
"You would really allow your son to be kidnapped?" Narcissa turned on her husband, fuming that he was supporting Severus's ludicrous idea.
"That would be up to Draco." Lucius replied, seemingly unflustered by his wife's anger. "Nothing will even be happening until we've had a proper discussion."
"Then you can have the discussion without me, I want no part of this." Narcissa stormed, turning and rushing out of the front room.
"Cissa!" Lucius called after this wife and got up to go after her.
"I'll go, Lucius." Hermione stopped Lucius as she stood up and went after Narcissa.
Hermione took a guess that Narcissa would have gone to sit in the garden, it was where the older witch always went when she wanted to be alone. Sure enough Hermione found Narcissa sitting on a bench beside the rose garden. Hermione sat down beside Narcissa and waited for the woman who had brought her up to speak.
"Surely you can't like this idea." Narcissa finally said.
"I don't." Hermione admitted. The thought of letting Draco be taken was a horrid one but Hermione was trying to see the big picture. "But I can see how it could work. If the Order had Draco they would definitely seek a trade."
"What if they didn't, what if they killed him?" Narcissa whispered, barely able to speak her fears out loud.
"They won't do that." Hermione reassured Narcissa, hoping she was right. "Even the Order aren't stupid enough to kill someone before finding out if they could be of any use to them."
"They may not kill him but you can't tell me they won't use the opportunity to hurt him." Narcissa argued.
Hermione sighed, knowing Narcissa was right. If they did talk about the plan and decide it was a viable option there was a good chance Draco could be seriously hurt by the Order.
"See, we can't guarantee he'll be safe." Narcissa said, taking Hermione's silence as agreement.
"You're right, we can't." Hermione said. "But I honestly don't think they'll be too harsh on him. Don't forget we've got Severus on their side, he can remind them that I would be the one to suffer if any harm came to Draco."
"Have you noticed we're already talking as though the plan will go ahead?" Narcissa sighed.
"That's because we both know that unless a major flaw is found, the plan is the best we have of ending this war once and for all. A hostage exchange would be an ideal way of drawing the Order out." Hermione said. "That's why you need to come back inside. If the men are going to discuss it they need us to make sure it's all going to run smoothly, you know how Lucius and Draco tend to do things without completely thinking through the consequences."
"I suppose I should, but I still don't like it." Narcissa said. "It was bad enough letting you get involved with the Order but at least I knew they wouldn't hurt you as they thought you were on their side. It's going to be different with Draco, they know exactly whose side he's on."
"Draco will be fine." Hermione told Narcissa as she gave the witch a hug.
Narcissa hugged Hermione for a few minutes before she stood up and they made their way back into the house. When they arrived back in the front room Lucius, Severus and Draco were all sitting together eagerly discussing the plan. The talk stopped when Narcissa entered the room and the three men all turned their attention towards the witch.
"First of all, I want to say that I don't agree with this idea. But if it's one you're serious about then I'm willing to discuss it." Narcissa announced as she and Hermione sat down. "Although I expect everything to be thoroughly thought through before we even consider putting it into motion."
"Thank you for at least agreeing to discuss it Narcissa." Severus said to the witch. He'd actually felt pretty bad that his idea could have potentially caused problems with the family.
"We've been talking about the plan and we think we have nearly everything sorted." Lucius said. "Why don't we discuss it properly over dinner?"
Narcissa sat quietly in her chair as she watched Lucius pace the floor in front of the fire. Severus was sitting in the chair next to Narcissa while Hermione and Draco were curled up together on the sofa. They were currently awaiting Voldemort's arrival as Lucius had called for him after they had discussed Severus's plan over dinner. Narcissa still didn't like the idea but she had to admit they had covered every angle and it would be an excellent way to get to the Order.
When the fire lit up and Lucius stepped away from the flames Narcissa wasn't the slightest bit surprised to see her sister emerge from the fireplace closely followed by Voldemort. Bellatrix was Voldemort's most trusted Death Eater so it was perfectly natural for her to accompany him to the meeting.
"Lucius, you said you had a plan." Voldemort said, getting straight to the point.
"Well it was Severus's idea but we've all discussed it and think it could be pretty successful." Lucius said as Voldemort and Bella made themselves comfortable.
"I'm intrigued." Voldemort said. "Tell me the plan."
"We arrange for the Order to capture Draco." Severus explained. "Once they have him they'll use him as a bargaining tool to get Hermione back."
"When it comes to the exchange we'll finally have the opportunity to get the Order where we want them, there's no way they'll risk meeting us without everyone present." Lucius said, wanting to make sure Voldemort knew the overall point if their plan.
"Would you be up for this?" Voldemort asked, turning to Draco.
"Yes, we've discussed it and I'm perfectly prepared to let them get their hands on me." Draco replied. The idea of actually being captured by the enemy was terrifying but the fact that it could end the war was enough incentive to take the minimal risk involved in being captured.
"How would it work, though?" Bellatrix asked. "How would they get hold of Draco?"
"Once we've sorted things out I go back to the Order and tell them that Draco has been initiated into the Death Eaters and is preparing to lead his first raid." Severus explained. "If no-one bites, I can manipulate things so they decide to try and capture Draco."
"Once they have Draco how are we sure they'll want to do an exchange?" Voldemort asked. "I don't want to send him into a situation where he could be stuck as a prisoner for months."
"They won't do that." Severus shook his head. "Besides I'll be there to make sure they decide an exchange is the best option."
"How do we guarantee the entire Order will show up at the exchange?" Voldemort questioned. "We don't want to go through all this to only get part of the Order."
"Obviously we can't guarantee everyone will be at the exchange but it is a pretty sure bet." Severus said. "Again I can manipulate them and make sure they know we're coming in force and they'll follow suit and do the same thing."
Voldemort sat in silence for nearly a minute before he spoke again. "I think this can work, obviously we'll need to sort out what will happen at the exchange. We need to have the upper hand, we need to let them think everything is running smoothly."
"I know some of the plan needs finalising but I think if we work on it we could have it ready to be started at the weekend." Lucius said.
"The weekend?" Voldemort questioned. "That's ambitious Lucius, it's Wednesday today."
"I know, but Severus can visit the Order tomorrow and tell them Draco will be leading a raid on Saturday." Lucius said.
"How do you feel about moving so soon, Draco?" Voldemort asked, once again turning back to the blond Slytherin.
"The sooner the better." Draco replied. "The quicker we get this plan started the quicker we can win this war."
"Well I must say I'm very impressed with your dedication to the cause, Draco." Voldemort smirked at the blond. "Now, I think we have some planning to do."
For the next couple of hours the group discussed every angle of the plan, from Draco's initial capture right up until the exchange. Everything was immaculately planned and it was Severus's job to make sure the Order reacted the way Voldemort wanted them to.
Once the plans were in place the group scattered for the night. Voldemort and Bella disappeared to wherever they went while Severus went home, the following morning he would visit the Order and set their plan into motion. Narcissa was still unsure of the plan so Lucius was still trying to convince her it was safe for Draco as the couple headed for bed.
Draco and Hermione also headed for bed and like every night since they had gotten together Hermione ended up in Draco's bed with him. Draco had initially tried to talk to Hermione about the plan but the brunette witch had said she didn't want to talk, instead they had made love before falling asleep wrapped in each other's arms.