In the hallway, Draco sat on the floor with his back against the wall, his hands shaking, and his eyes glued to the floor. Harry walked toward him and stopped directly in front of him. Harry held out his hand. Draco reached and took it and Harry helped Draco to his feet.
"The portkey is set to return us in 5 minutes," Harry told him, watching him carefully. "We need to go."
"You're not going to make me stay here?" Draco said, looking at him in surprise. "I just tried to kill my father."
"Like I said to Lucius, I didn't see anything," Harry replied. "I certainly wasn't watching and listening the entire time."
"You knew he would talk to me," Draco answered bitterly, realizing Harry had set the entire scene. "That's why you brought me along. Look what good it did."
"Malfoy, are you serious?" Harry asked, incredulously. "I never thought I'd see the day where I had to say anything like this but you were a tremendous help. We know who has Hermione, we know who is involved, we know why and we know that the answer to where, is in those letters. We know that because of your conversation with your father."
Draco didn't respond and Harry shook his head. "We need to go," Harry told him. "Come on."
The two men walked quickly to the area where the portkey was waiting. They took hold of the hufflepuff tie and found themselves back at the Ministry a minute later. They walked in silence back to the Auror's office. Ron jumped out of his chair the minute they walked in the door. Draco moved into the room and sat next to his mother. She took his hand in hers and squeezed, wondering what had happened to make her son so upset.
"We know who has Hermione," Harry announced.
Ron's jaw dropped. "What? We just figured it out two minutes ago," he replied. "How do you already knew?"
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"I mean, Lorinda, Hermione's intern got in touch with us when David, the other intern didn't show up to work," Ron told him. "She was worried something had happened to him as well. Rankin and Kramer went over there and found him dead."
"What does this have to do with anything?" Harry wanted to know. "He isn't the one who has Hermione."
"Ah but he is," Ron replied. "Turns out, David has been dead for nearly 6 months. We found him in his bed under a statis charm. We also found a cauldron, mixing supplies, and all the ingredients for making a polyjuice potion. Someone has been impersonating David and we're figuring, that's who has Hermione."
"Marcus Flint has Hermione," Harry said. "And must be who's been impersonating David. Lucius let it slip to Malfoy while they were talking."
The room began to buzz with excitement.
"Well, let's go get the fucker!" Seamus shouted.
"We follow protocol to a T on this," Harry commanded, giving Seamus a stern look. "You know what to do. I also want his face everywhere. Get the Prophet, Witch Weekly, put Seamus on a broomstick and have him shout it for all I care, we find him, we find Hermione."
The aurors jumped to attention, scrambling in different directions, each trying to do what they'd been assigned to do. When they'd all left the room, Harry stood at the front of the room speaking quietly to Ron. Narcissa leaned toward Draco and spoke. "Do you want to talk about what happened with your father?"
Draco stared down at his hands, clenching the one that his mother wasn't holding. "No," he replied tightly. "I don't."
"Perhaps after this settles we could go somewhere," Narcissa said, attempting to lighten the mood. "It's been a while since we've been to Paris. Perhaps Hermione can come with us. A vacation, just the three of us. That could be nice."
"What did you just say?" Draco asked, his head snapping up to look at his mother.
"I said it could be nice," Narcissa answered, a concerned look on her face. "Is it too soon?"
"No, no, before that," Draco said, rising from his chair. "A vacation, a summer vacation."
"Well it's fall, nearly winter dear but certainly," Narcissa began to say.
"That's it," Draco whispered, staring at his mother with wide eyes. He whirled around, the sudden movement causing both Harry and Ron to look at him.
"I know where she is," Draco said loudly. "I know where to find Hermione."
"Where?" Harry asked.
"How would you know?" Ron asked simultaneously.
"Something my father said," Draco replied. "He told me Flint was taking a summer vacation."
"It's October," Ron pointed out. "Clearly your father has lost his mind a bit."
"No, no, listen to me," Draco said. "When we were little, during the summer, I would spend a great deal of time at the Flint Mansion while Flint Sr., my father, and some others would meet. His father's favorite game for us to play was to send us on a "vacation". He'd lock us in a cell in the basement and leave us there for hours. It was a game to him."
"You never told me that," Narcissa said stunned, the attention of the three men turning to her. "Draco, why didn't you tell me?"
"Father said not to tell you," Draco replied with a shrug. "And it really wasn't that bad."
Narcissa looked horrified but Harry cut in before she could say anything else. "So what are you saying?"
"Flint Mansion," Draco told him. "It's probably abandoned right? Marcus Flint was presumed dead, his parents were killed during the war, it's the perfect place to hide."
"In plain sight," Harry murmured.
"How do we know this isn't a trap?" Ron asked, staring at Draco suspiciously. "How do we know that seeing your father didn't return you to your old ways?"
"You're a bloody idiot," was Draco's reply to Ron. He then looked to Harry. "Are you going to get your whole team or am I going by myself?"
"Ron, get everyone ready," Harry ordered. "I want the a full team, fully geared up, standing in front of me in 15 minutes."
Ron looked like he was going to argue but Harry stopped him. "If he's wrong, I'll kill him myself," Harry said, not looking at Draco. "If he's right, we get Hermione back."
Satisfied that Draco risked harm, Ron left the room quickly, shouting at Auror's the minute he left the room.
"I need to get ready," Harry said to Draco and Narcissa. "You'll wait here."
"Like hell, Potter," Draco snapped. "I'm coming with you."
"I figured you'd say that," Harry replied. "I'm assuming you're coming as well Mrs. Malfoy?"
"She's staying," Draco said sternly.
"Are you speaking for me, Draco?" Narcissa asked sharply.
"Mother," Draco replied, exasperated. "It's not safe."
Narcissa merely gave Draco a look.
"So everyone is going," Harry cut in, breaking the tension. "You'll need to get suited up. This way."
Harry led the Malfoys from the room and down the hall. There were two large black bags sitting in front of two smaller doors.
"Right side is yours, Mrs. Malfoy, left side is yours, Malfoy," Harry said. "15 minutes."
Harry left the two Malfoys and went to change into his own clothing.
"We could never do normal mother-son bonding, could we?" Narcissa asked with a smile.
"Mother, did you just make a joke?" Draco replied with a laugh.
"Certainly not," Narcissa told him. "I was being perfectly serious."
With a laugh and a shake of his head, Draco grabbed the black bag and headed into the room on the left and Narcissa did the same on the right.
Draco just hoped they weren't too late.
A/N: Rescue tiiiiiiime!
Also, these will probably be the only chapters I can post today, I'm sorry! If I have a break at all, I'll try to put up another.