Death's Life Debt Keeperoliver Chapter 22
After going over what they found in the shop, it was established that three wizards or witches took Gabriel, with a fourth possible accomplice being the person behind the counter.
After a search of her apartment found nothing, they decided to call it a day. Harry contacted Mr. Delacour and was told he still hadn't heard from the Kidnappers.
Hermione was making herself sick, trying so hard to find a link to who was behind the act. It took the other three lovers to get her back to her old self.
Remus was still studying their findings, hoping to find something they all had missed. Fred and George felt like they were a waste being here, as they were no help what so ever. George was ready to head for his room for the night when he found a paper that fell off the table and landed under the couch. He would have missed it if it didn't flutter as he got up. He picked it up and put it on the table with the rest of the paper work. Remus ignored it, still deep in thought.
They all decided to turn in for the evening, as it was getting late. They were hoping a fresh and rested mind would help in their work.
The following morning, Harry got up and decided to cook breakfast for everyone. He cleaned the mess off the table, not wanting to soil the papers with any food. He was finishing the meal, when the others joined him at the table. They sat and filled their plates, and complimented Harry on the meal. Hermione finished and took her plate to the kitchen and returned to go through the papers once again.
This time she found something she had missed yesterday. Remus saw her look of wonder, and asked, "Did you find something Hermione?"
"I don't really know. I found something I missed last night, but, I don't know how I missed it. It may be important. Just have to wait and find out, I guess."
George looked over her shoulder, "Oh that, I know why you missed it Mione. It fell off the table and landed under the couch. I found it after getting up to go to bed. Sorry I didn't say anything about it. Too tired I guess."
Hermione hugged him and he blushed at the contact. "Thank you George. If you hadn't found it, we might never had a chance to find a lead. You see this may connect the cashier with the kidnappers. Maybe not as an accomplice though. There was a trace of magic behind the counter, and I don't know if it was from her, or from one of the kidnappers. I think we need to pay another visit to the shop. Or at least two of us should. I think the rest should see Mr. Delacour and try to find out where Gabriel has been in the last week or so. See if there has been a pattern she was making, that made it easy to follow her."
Harry thought that two were not enough, so he sent Fred, George, and Luna with Hermione, and he took Remus and Ginny with him.
Hermione and her team entered the shop, and asked some more questions concerning the missing cashier. The girl on duty was new, and was not able to answer many of the questions, so Hermione asked her about the store manager's location. She told her of a second and larger shop in a more exclusive part of town where the Manager/Owner maintained her office.
The team went to this second shop and asked for the manager, and were led to the back of the shop, and an office outside which they waited. It wasn't a long wait, as a worker left the office, and the manager asked the team to come in. "Ow may I elp you Meez..."
"Hermione Granger. Thank you for seeing us on short notice. We are here investigating the disappearance of Gabriel Delacour from your shop a few days ago. We are here representing her father Henri."
The manager nodded her acceptance of Hermione's explanation. "Ow eez it I can elp zen?"
"We hope you can provide some information on the cashier that was on duty at the time of the disappearance?"
"Ahh yes. Marie Langier. She as worked for me for 3 years. Veery good worker. Neveer missed a day, unteel now. You do not suspect her do you?"
"Right now, every one is a suspect. But your vouching for her does bring up something that we need to check on. I think more foul play is involved. Thank you for your assistance Madame."
The team left the shop, and returned to the site of the kidnapping. Hermione went to the area behind the counter, and started looking back there. The trace magic could still be detected, but it was too weak to tell what the spell was. With it being a muggle shop, the kidnappers were careful not to use strong magic. Hermione felt that the kidnappers had used a minor confundus on the cashier, to get her to leave the shop. She took the rest back to the rear of the shop and looked around. They were not having very much luck, until Luna found something interesting. A small hole that would not be noticed unless you were looking very close. Luna looked even closer, and saw where a small wire may have been used to unlock the window to allow the kidnappers entry. Her three companions pulled Luna into a hug which thrilled her. Luna loved attention. Hermione asked her why she thought this may be the entry point. Luna showed her where dust had been disturbed. Hermione had to look real close to see what Luna was talking about. It was no wonder it had been missed on previous insections both by them and the French authorities. The hole could have been mistaken for a gap in the putty work, it was so small. But as Luna said, More than enough to slip a wire in and work the locking mechanism.
With Luna's help, Hermione felt they has solved how they got in, confunded the cashier, and kidnapped Gabriel. It wasn't much, but,it was a start, and it did clear the cashier.
DLD-}
Harry, Remus and Ginny were talking with Mr. Delacour when he received a call. He hit a button, and the conversation was heard by the three along with himself. It was the kidnappers
"Minister, if you wish to see you daughter again, alive, you will do exactly as we tell you. We want 10 million Franks in precious stones delivered to the Arc D' Triumph at six PM tomorrow evening. To be delivered by yourself, and nobody else. If we see any one with you that looks suspicious, your daughter will die. Do not take this threat lightly." and the conversation ended.
Henri put the phone back on the cradle, and held his hands to his head. He would do as they asked. Or so he thought.
Remus had a huge smile on his face, which Harry saw, and felt he knew what he was thinking. TONKS.
Ginny was thinking the same thing. Remus told the Minister their plan, and felt for the first time since the whole thing started a ray of hope.
Harry used the galleon Hermione created to contact her team and bring them to the Delacour home. Three minutes later they arrived, and explained their plan. Fred said, "I have a better idea."
He went into detail about his plan, and Hermione had her doubts. Both Fred and George worked on her to get her to see the brilliance of it, and finally got her to agree.
Remus and Harry thought about it, and thought it would work. Luna using her power of perception, knew it would work. This made Hermione's doubts vanish completely. She had learned to never go against Luna's perception. She was that gifted.
Fred and George worked all night on their plan, and then rested until four PM where they got up to put the plan into action. At six PM the Minister put the briefcase into the trash can designated by the kidnappers, and left. He made sure the briefcase had a charm put on it so that only the correct spell put on it by the kidnappers could find it.
The briefcase was picked up later that evening.
Henri returned to his home after delivering the ransom, hoping all would work out.
It was a long evening for the group, as they sat and waited. They took turns monitoring the device, so that every one could be fresh when the time came.
The kidnappers did not even try to open the case when they returned to their flat. They set it down and ate a meal, bringing a meal to the Minister's daughter. Once again, Gabriel refused to eat, and they were forced to feed her by hand. They did not want to bring the force of the Aurors on them for mistreating their captive. They had every intention of releasing her as promised. Gabriel had been blindfolded since her capture, and the kidnappers used electronic devices to change their voices.
The next morning at around ten AM, the device went off. The galleon Hermione made alerted the team to take action. They apparated to the site where it was activated. The kidnappers were also alerted, and went to the windows to defend them selves. They didn't know how they were found, but they were ready for the attack. One of them went to the bedroom where Gabriel was being held, and screamed when Gabriel was not not there. The three then went to defend them selves, but their magic was was stopped by a force stronger than they ever encountered. Not a spell had been cast in their direction, and yet they were losing. They could not leave their flat, the floo had been closed off, and anti apparition spells were in place, as well as anti port key spells. When one of them turned to grab the suitcase, he was shocked to see it missing as well.
The situation was a stand-off, as the people surrounding the flat did not use a spell against them. They in turn could not use magic either, as it was stopped before hitting anyone or anything. A shield was protecting the people outside. Then they saw the numbers outside growing. It was becoming hopeless for them to resist.
For thirty six hours they held out, hoping to find some way to escape. But food ran out, and the water had been turned off, The tank in the toilet had provided what little water they had for the day and a half. Finally the three kidnappers had to give up. They threw their wands into the front of the flat, and walked out with their hands clasped behind their heads. Even if they were hiding something behind their back they would never have the chance to use it, as they were petrified the moment they stepped out the door. No chances were taken.
Harry and his team left the kidnappers in the care of the French Aurors, and returned to the Delacour home, where they found Gabriel in a hug with her father, and a shocked and worried looking Fred sitting on the couch. The minute he saw Harry he jumped up and went to him, "You could have at least warned me Harry."
Harry looked confused, "About what?"
"Veela."
"What about them?
"I saved her life Harry?"
And a right good job it was too, Fred."
"Harry, I SAVED HER LIFE."
"I think we've established that already Fred."
"DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!"
"No, not really, except she is now here with her father safe and sound. What are you so hot about?"
"What happened when you saved Hermione, Ginny, Luna, and Susan?"
"OH SHIT NO. It couldn't be. Could it?"
"It can, and it is."
Remus listened to the talk, and then broke out laughing. He couldn't help it. He laughed so hard he had to sit to gain control. Fred looked over at him. "What would you be doing, if it had been Tonks who saved her MOONY?"
Remus paled at this. Not because of Tonks, as her and he were safe, being married. But what about Harry and his ladies, and anyone else in the group. There needed to be a talk with all the members of the company soon. In the mean time, what to do about Fred?
He was thinking on that, when the head of the French Auror division arrived to take statements from the group, and Gabriel.
Fred told them of his plan, "My brother and I have been working on a potion that enabled the person who took it to transform to an insect, and would remain that way, until the antidote was taken. I transformed into a tiny ant, with a magically spelled galleon hidden in the briefcase. once the briefcase was opened, I activated the charmed galleon, and the rest of my team responded to the call. I then used another potion, and transformed into a mouse and found Miss Delacour. Once I found her I used the antidote and turned back into myself and then, using a levitating charm, brought the briefcase to me and left the flat with Miss Delacour and left the field set up by my team and brought her back here."
They then asked Gabriel if she had ben abused or they used her in any way that she did not want to be used, and she shook her head no. "I was not not mis-treated in any way nor threatened. I was blindfolded the whole time, and never knew who the kidnappers were. However, I felt that if my hero had not been there to rescue me, they would have used me for their escape, and had their way with me, before they killed me for the attempt to save me. I owe this man my life."
Then Harry had to ask, "Gabriel, I saved you during my fourth year, and we didn't bond. Why is this different?"
"Oh Harry, I was never in any danger back then. Dumbledore made sure that no harm would come to any of us that were used for the tournament. So you see, you did not really save me. I kissed you because you made the attempt. This time, I was sure that they would have killed me if Fred had not saved me. I am sorry if you are not pleased with me Fred, but a Veela life debt means bonded for life, or death to the Veela. Possibly even her savior."
Fred blanched at this. He either accepted the bond, or Gabriel and maybe even him would die. How the hell was he going to explain this to Angelina? No, how was Harry going to explain this. It was him that pulled him and George into working for the company. He hoped Angie would not rip his Thingie off and give it to Luna for a souvenir. Bronze plated and everything.
Hermione told the Aurors how the kidnapping took place, and they were amazed that they missed the hole in the window. Hermione placated them when she said, "You were not the only ones to miss it. I missed it also. If not for this brilliant young lady here, we would have missed again." Hermione was expecting Luna to react to her praise, but she didn't. Not then anyway.
The Aurors finished up their work, and Left after bidding their Minister a good day. Once they were gone, Luna floored Hermione when she leaped into her arms kissing her. Hermione didn't even try to fight it. She was enjoying it too much. They didn't care what the others thought about the display. If they would have looked up, they would have seen everyone leave the room to give them a private moment.
It would take longer than a moment, and when they were done, they joined Daphne and Susan in a mind link. All four could now communicate with each other. Daphne and Susan were soon brought up to date on what transpired. They were shocked by Fred and Gabriel being bonded. They felt the same way Remus did, and something would have to be done if they were to continue with the investigations, to protect the other members.
Daphne felt she had to tell Angelina what happened, to keep her from killing Fred. What surprised her was Angelina accepted this with a smile, and a thank you. What the hell was going on here with bonds, and acceptance, and smiles. Things were becoming weirder and weirder since the demise of He Who Knew Not. What was in the mind of Fred's girlfriend?
Harry and his his team finally made it back to Hogwarts, and the comfort of their shared area. Minerva had congratulated them on another excellent job, and Kingsley was informed as well, and sent his blessings.
Harry and his ladies never made it to bed that night, as they all fell asleep on the couch discussing how to get around the bond issue.
The next morning Harry was greeted by a knock on the door, and was surprised to find both Fred and Remus standing there, Fred had a huge grin in his face, and Remus was smiling as well. Fred was lucky. Angelina had accepted Fred and Gabriel's bond, and asked Fred if that changed his thoughts about her. When Fred said no, Angie tackled him to the ground and kissed him like never before. Fred now had two ladies to love him, and George was pissed. He always thought him and Fred would share equally, but Fred was not having anything of it. He would have to find his own second girl.
Remus thought it might be a good idea to have a talk with the DA, and the other members of the company, to warn them of what happened to Fred, and what could happen to them.
It had been set up for later that day. Remus was looking forward to it, as he felt it would drop membership of the company. At least he hoped it would. He did not like the idea of forcing people into a relationship because of work.