CHAPTER 2: WHEN YOU WERE SLEEPING

"Tell me again, Dennis! What happened to Ron?" - Harry apparated from the smoke, gasping and rushing to the Auror office.

"Mr. Potter! How fortunate! We're at lost now. Please! Only you can save Mr. Weasley, please!" - Dennis grabbed Harry by the hand with a miserable face. He was panicked. The rookie gasped then said in one breath - "This afternoon we set plan to hunt down Hunter with Moreno's tip on his whereabouts and physical appearance. So Mr. Weasley decided to turn himself into a bait under the Quidditch player's cover, while other aurors also disguised themselves as normal customers at The Mermaid bar. We waited for almost the whole evening but still couldn't find anyone resemble the the suspect at all."

"Physical identity as in Moreno's description?" - Harry frowned and interrupted.

"Yes. Someone who should be around 4.11ft tall but we were sure no one there looked like that." - Dennis clarified - "Then Mr. Weasley went to the toilet while we sat outside and continued observing."

"Hold on! From where you were sitting, were you able to see who walked in and out of the toilet?"

"There was a guy went right after Mr. Weasley but that man was quite tall, must have been over 6.3 ft or so and he didn't look suspicious at all." - The young auror confirmed - "The strange thing came after that as fifteen minutes passed by but Mr. Weasley hadn't come out yet. Since we were concerned something might have happened, we decided to break in and ... were surprised to see that he was nowhere inside. There were a few broken items and a strange blood stain on the floor. We have performed the "Sanguision" spell and the test result confirmed that wasn't Mr. Weasley's blood."

"Could the other guy be the perpetrator?"

"We don't know but now that you said so ... that guy didn't...didn't come out either. So both he and Weasley disappear? " - Dennis patted his forehead, recalled the event.

"We can't rule out that possibility, can we? Do you remember his face or appearance? Maybe we could sketch him out."

"I- I ... uh ... am not really sure since he was wearing a hat and a scarf that covered half of his face."

"For Merlin's sake..." - Harry exclaimed angrily - "It's summer out there, and last night the temperature even went up to 32 degrees Celsius; yet you told me a man covered himself in a bundle of clothes like that inside a bar was perfectly normal? Frankly, I was surprised you didn't even think of casting an anti-disapparition spell there. The perpetrator must have escaped that way."

"Well uh ... " - Dennis scratched his head, embarrassed and not knowing how to explain for the team's mistake. So he decided to ignore Harry's comment and continued - "But ... if that was the case, then it was likely that he assaulted Mr. Weasley and got hurt during the fight with an auror. So that explains the blood stain on the floor... it must be his. But still I can't understand why he did that, it wasn't as if he got a grudge for Mr. Weasley..."

"What if that guy were Hunter? " - Harry raised an eyebrow - "I had warned Ron before that all of this could have been a trap. What if this Hunter guy wanted a new achievement? A new victim as an auror? You guys were so focused in looking for a dwarf and let down your guard with a big guy."

"So ... " - Dennis faltered - "What do you think we should do now?"

"I think he'd chosen a wrong victim. And Ron would have resisted, putting up quite a fight to the extent of injuring Hunter. To an arrogant person who had blatantly challenging the whole Auror Department, this was a thing he would not forgive easily. He might keep Ron alive for a while before doing all sorts of worst to him. It's only a time matter now. We need to find out the identity of Hunter and where he is now as soon as possible." - Harry scratched his head nervously - "I need your team to split up. One group will return to the crime scene and find more clues, check with the employees and customers to see if anyone recognizes him or remembers anything special, also get a Permission to do an Urgent Inspection of Apparition traces. Another group will contact Gringotts and check into Moreno's account and transactions. I don't believe he didn't get paid for all this works. The last group will investigate on how many people got hold of the information that Ron is the person in charge of this investigation case. Since Ron had just been promoted and assigned the case, I don't rule out the possibility that Hunter was one in your circles of family and friends, people who had worked with Ron. As for me, I will personally handle Moreno."

"Roger, Mr. Potter!" - The team answered in unison.

-o-

While other aurors went into different directions, trying to fulfil their duties, Harry thought of a way to find out more clues from Moreno. In order to do this, he had no other way but to ask for his other best friend's help right in the night.

"So you're saying... Ron was kidnapped by a serial killer and is now in danger?" - She asked.

Harry nodded, ending his story. The young girl slumped into her chair, tears started to swell in her bewildered eyes.

"Hermione ... I'm sorry!" - Harry put a hand on her shoulder - "I know you're worried for Ron and trust me, the feeling isn't pleasant for me either. But ... this is a critical time, Hermione. Each second counts and I really need you to calm down, help me to help Ron."

"Wh-what do you mean?" - She looked up at him with a confused look hidden deep in her cinnamon eyes.

"Help me to check whether Moreno has used the 'anti-truth serum' or not? The thing you told me before that is still in development." - He lowered his voice firmly, his palm gently wiped a drop of tear in the corner of her eye .

Hermione sat still for a moment before a glimpse of light flashed through her eyes. She looked up at him - "Harry! Don't tell me that you're suspecting the perpetrator is one of my colleagues."

"We will soon confirm whether it's right or wrong. The important thing is...could you do it? Could you help us?"

"I think I can do it. So far, that serum is still in development so I can't check for its traces. But I can check whether a person had consumed Veritaserum before. If Ron did give Moreno the truth serum, its traces must still be in his body for 24 hours. But if the result is negative then it means that he... "

" ... had previously consumed the anti-truth serum that it nullified the effect of Veritaserum!" - Harry added, flashed a bright smile at her - "Only you could think of such method. Let's go to the Auror Department now." - He held out his hand, took her hand then the two disapparated.

-o-

Moreno 's test results didn't turn out surprisingly to Harry. It was confirmed that the guy had consumed the anti-truth serum prior to the interrogation. There were only five members of the R&D team who could have accessed to this information and taken the sample. One of them, Joseph Parker, matched the described height of the suspect which was 6.3ft, and knew that Ron was working on this case through Hermione. Other aurors also sent owl back and confirmed that Moreno's bank account at Gringotts received a large sum of gold from an anonymous foreign account which was tracked back through many steps and revealed to be that of Parker's. Finally, apparition traces from The Mermaid bar indicated that the arrival destination was the house address of the suspect.

It did not take much time for Harry to immediately set up a rescue plan and even though Hermione asked to go along, he had to turn down her request.

"I promised to bring your husband back, safe and sound. OK?"

"But Harry..." - She whispered holding his sleeves with worried eyes .

"Sorry, but you can't go with us! Just leave the rescue to us Aurors, Hermione." - Harry shook his head and gently pull her hand off his sleeves. Not that he didn't trust her, but this was Auror's work, and most importantly, having Hermione on this mission would only distract him to no end with her safety - "Besides, I've never broken any promise, right? I'll definitely bring Ron back even if it costs my own life..." - He put a hand on her shoulder, pulling her closer reassuring -" ... Does that sound good to you?"

Somewhere on his shoulder, Harry felt her shaking her head, and before he could question further, Hermione gave him the answer.

"Come back safe and sound. Both Ron and ... you." - She whispered, squeezing her arms around his back.

"I promise I'll be careful." - He said softly, then waved her goodbye and departed to the site with his colleagues.

-o-

The Auror team, under Harry's lead quickly arrived at the site where they suspect Hunter was holding the hostage. It was old apartment complex in the suburb of London. That area was particularly empty with only few people living, an ideal place to detain people illegally or perform immoral acts. Harry commanded the team to evacuate residents in the complex and encircled the surrounding areas .

"Mr. Potter! There's a group of strangers at around 320 ft away. Their walking postures are staggered and clothes stained with blood, suspected to be a drunk and fight case." - Peter, another auror informed Harry of his observation through a binoculars.

"Well! At that distance, they couldn't interfere with our operation anyway." - Harry commented and ordered the team to move forward; not knowing this was a decision that he would regret many years later.

After surrounding Parker's flat, Auror team gave an oral warning and requested Hunter to surrender. However they did not get any response from him. Immediately, Harry ordered to break down the door and barged in. He found Ron tied up to a wooden chair, his clothes stained with blood, a clear evidence of him beaten badly by the perpetrator. Standing next to him was a tall blond who pointed his wand to the redhead.

"Ron!" - Harry shouted out, not hiding his relief having found his friend and vice versa, Ron raised his head at him, his eyelids blinked three times. The action took place fairly quickly so no one noticed but Harry. If any, that was a secret code of the trio when encountered a dangerous situation, which meant 'cooperate with me'. Even though Harry wasn't sure what Ron would do next, he believed his friend had found a way out and that left him with the responsibility to distract Parker.

So Harry glared up and pointed his wand at the blond guy, grumbling- "Jonathan Parker! You're surrounded! Put down your wand, hands up and surrender!"

"Well well well… you found me out faster than I thought. Fine to me, I'd have more audiences for my execution show." - Parker said in a high pitched voice, threw away his corrective glasses and revealed his hungry bloodthirsty eyes.

"Don't do anything reckless! Calm down and let the hostage go. If you have any demand, just say it!"

When Harry was buying time, Ron continued to use his pocket knife and with hands still tied tightly backward, he managed to cut the rope. When the rope was loosened, Ron suddenly stood up and knocked Hunter's hand out. Grasping the opportunity, auror team fired Petrificus Totalus, a body bind curse, at him in unison. Unfortunately, Parker was faster, he dodged aside and threw a round metal thing at the aurors which exploded the minute it touched the ground. Soon, thick smoke filled the room and no one could see anything. Harry lowered his voice, asking his teammate to be cautious.

"Smoke bomb. Damn it! Block the main door! Be careful and wait until the smoke is cleared out! No drastic action until we could confirm Parker's status!"

"He's just somewhere around this thick smoke. Leave it to me!" - Ron volunteered, determined not leaving Hunter any chance to escape .

"Don't! It's dangero-"

Harry had barely finished when Ron disappeared into the thick layers of smoke. Within a few seconds later, he had already heard the sound of spells and jinxes echoing somewhere from a room inside. As the smoke got thinner, Harry and the team stormed to where they had heard the sound coming. They caught a glimpse of Parker jumping out the window and found Ron lying motionless on the floor, red blood streaming out from his abdomen.

"Mr. Weasley ... " - Dennis and the guys couldn't say anything as the shocking scene was revealed in front of their eyes. Harry, in the meantime, felt like his breath was brutally sucked out. His face was as pale as that of a deadman.

"R ... " - Harry stammered, slowly stepping through the glass debris fallen off from the window and suddenly collapsed to his feet, right at the pool of blood - "No-no ... don't ... Ron... you can't..." - He pressed his hands tightly on the wound at Ron's abdomen, trying to keep the blood from oozing out. He tried to shout at Ron. He tried so hard. He did. But even when his throat was sore from all the shouting, Ron wouldn't wake up and still lay motionless on the floor. Harry felt hope was slowly slipped out of his hands with each passing minute.

-o-

For the next few days, Harry felt as if he was reliving the nightmare of that time when Hogwarts was swept over by Voldemort. It was the feeling of having to face fathers, mothers, siblings and even lovers of those who had fallen; the speechless feeling when tears rolled down his cheeks; the guilty feeling being one of those who survived while others couldn't; and finally the feeling of borrowed happiness traded by flesh and blood of others.

Five years had passed since then, the wound that once closed now was re-opened again.

It was the Weasleys. They were at the St. Mungo hospital. From a hidden corner of the hallway in front of Ron's ward, Harry could hear Mrs. Weasley heart-broken sob and saw Mr. Weasley's silent tears as he cried for his youngest son. Other Weasley's siblings came in and out of Ron's ward, their faces was painted with a mixture of pain and nervousness as their brother was in coma. They blamed together, cried together, then together they turned to find someone to take responsibility for all of this. Even though Hunter was the first name mentioned, Harry Potter name wasn't left out of their talk and was soon deemed to be the one responsible for the failed mission.

Harry knew they were right. They were definitely right.

Not knowing how to face them, Harry quietly walked away from the ward. He tried to avoid all of Ron's family whenever possible and only visit his friend every right when the moon had risen high. And even then, all he could do was to stand quietly in front of the glass wall looking into Ron's lifeless body. He didn't dare to step in ... because he couldn't...didn't allow himself to face Ron. He was scared…

"Harry?"

A familiar voice suddenly rang out behind him and immediately Harry turned to walk away, as fast as possible, knowing he could not face that person right now.

"Where are you going?" - She stepped forward, grasping his sleeve. Harry paused for several seconds then brushed her hands down, withdrew a few steps.

"Hermione...I..."

"Don't Harry!"

"It was my fault!"

"It wasn't your fault!"

"Why not? I couldn't save him. I knew that was a trap, yet I let him walk right in. I promised to bring him back here, safe and sound. I was careless. I'm useless. I... " - Harry buried his face in his hands, his voice was hoarse.

"Shhh!" - She lowered her voice - "You might wake the whole hospital, Harry! And honestly, Harry ... I don't blame you for what happened because I know if anything, you'd rather be the one lying in there were you, not Ron. It was...merely an accident. Not anyone's fault. Please, Harry... It's about time you get over that hero complex thing and quit taking responsibility for the whole world! "

"But they... and even Gin-"

"They are too hurt to think rationally, Harry. Give them some time."

She replied softly, then grabbed Harry by the hand and pulled him down sitting next to her on the bench opposite the ward. This time, he didn't object.

"Hero complex?" - He let out a soft laugh - "Is that how you've seen me all this time?"

"It wasn't meant as a joke!" - She punched his chest lightly then laughed as he winced and faked a pain - "You're an idiot, Harry!"

He sighed, agreed with her then silently turned his eyes back to the ward.

-o-

A week went by in heavy atmosphere as Ron still hadn't regained consciousness and there was no progress in the arrest of Parker. Every morning Harry would stay at Auror Department searching crazilly for Hunter's whereabouts, and every night he would rush into the hospital to visit Ron. Pressure from family, friends and society were like waves crashing continuously at him, leaving him almost no time to breathe, let alone sleeping. The only peaceful moment that Harry found was when he leaned on hospital cold wall at night and that someone appeared, pressed into his hand a cup of hot coffee. She was always like this, remained calm even in the most chaotic time. Who ever said she didn't worry definitely didn't understand her at all. She worried more than anyone else, but was forced to be stronger than anyone else. While the Weasley family gathered together, comforting each other, blaming or crying in pain together, Hermione chose to sit silently beside him, stayed up through the harsh night with him. There was only a small a gap between where they were sitting. An ineffable gap that had always existed between Harry and Hermione, scarving into their relationship since the day she decided to marry Ron. A seemed-to-be meaningless gap but would never fade into oblivion. A gap that was enough to keep them calm, enough for them to feel each other's presence without any spoken word. Image and sound had never existed in the feelings between Harry and Hermione. More than anyone else, they knew the other was equally hurt and worried and the only thing they could do for one another, help each other was to be strong, to have faith and believe that Ron would soon wake up. Hope.

Three weeks after Ron's admission to the hospital, things seemed to get better. The healer said if the recovery process kept improving, he might soon regain consciousness.

"We don't need two people staying here today. You should go home and rest, Hermione. You have dark circles around your eyes." - Harry gently told his brown hair friend.

"Is it alright to leave Ron alone here …? " - Hermione worried.

"I'm staying here, Hermione. If anything happens, I'd call the Healer right away, I promise. By the way, I heard your parents have been staying at the Burrows for a few days, haven't they? So make sure you stop by there and check on Molly, Ginny isn't that thoughtful."

"Uhm... my parents are also worried about Ron and the Weasley family so they decided to visit the Burrows." - Hermione sighed, rubbing her red eyes.

Harry's heart lost a beat, aching at her weariness. He then gently squeezed his hands on her shoulder and ordered with his low voice, almost as a whisper - "Go home and get a good sleep Hermione. Leave the rest to me!"

"Then...let me know if anything happens, okay? I'll check on the family at home and will come back here as soon as possible."

Harry nodded. As long as she agreed to rest, he wouldn't object anything at all.

-o-

After Hermione had come home, Harry wandered out to the hospital yard, deep in thought of what had happened, was happening, would happen with all the lurking threats out there. Where was the end?

To be continued ...