Author's Note
In case anyone was confused as to why the family seemed so normal after a murderer is threatening their child, it's because they're doing their best to give her a normal childhood. If that means pretending that bad things aren't happening for a while then I'd imagine they would do it. And if dark is what you're looking for, suspense and dark are coming your way.
I'm terribly sorry for the late updates, I started school again in September and have been so busy, it's extremely hard to find time to write :(
Previously on Hideaway
"Daddy and mommy promise to never let anyone hurt you. Promise."
Ding dong, here I come to find you, hurry up and run, let's play a little game and have fun.
'I will find you' is what the bird traced with it's talons.
The skunk seemed almost feral as it approached a terrified Ara whose cries grew louder as it bared its teeth.
He whipped around to see Yaxley an ex-death eater standing there, his wand out raised to send another hex their way.
Harry paced his office anxiously as he digested their new findings. It had been 2 months since Draco and Hermione had gone on the run and Harry had been doing everything in his power to catch Lestrange. Several things had happened in the wizarding world. The first, being that Adelia George the Malfoy's maternity healer had gone missing. The connection to the Malfoy's was undoubtedly not a coincidence. But why Lestrange would take their healer was beyond his comprehension. To find health stats about Ara? But she was only months old, it didn't take a genius to sort that out. Terry Boot had been the one to report Adelia missing after 48 hours of no communication. She had apparently missed a date they arranged which Terry didn't fail to point out every time they discussed it.
The second, was that as predicted, London McCusker appeared miraculously. The same evening Adelia disappeared. There seemed to be a pattern to these disappearances, one woman returns and another leaves. Pedestrians claimed she was staggering drunkenly around Diagon Alley in the dead of night. After questioning her thoroughly, she explained in a heap of tears that her husband had had an affair. She had sobbed for two hours before she could continue with her story.
"I got wasted. I know, I shouldn't have but I was just so destroyed. I found a pub called Fang's Fun in Knockturn Alley where I knew no one would look for me and spent days drinking there. There was a time where I didn't even know my name." London had said.
Harry had a very uncomfortable feeling with all this. London had stated firmly that she had not been kidnapped and that she had simply been spending her days getting drunk. But when they did background checks at Fang's Fun, the owner claimed he'd never seen her before. So London had lied. When confronted about this she had begun sobbing even more. Her memories did not show proof of her at Fang's Fun. Instead, she was so drunk she didn't remember a thing since she ran to the bar. London did confess to messing around with some muggle drugs to make her high, which was not helpful for the case at all.
The third was that Harry had finally taken the case to the Wizengamot and convinced them to open an official ministry case. Since then, he had a selective team working on it. He had enlisted Terry Boot and Susan Bones from Hermione's team after consulting her about whom she trusted the most. The team on the 'Malfoy Mini' case had concluded that this was definitely all linked to Lestrange.
As Harry hurried off to a group meeting on the Malfoy Mini case he found that the small exclusive team had already assembled themselves around the massive table waiting for him to say something.
He motioned towards the large boards they'd used to map out the investigation. "What do we know so far?"
Percy Weasley raised his hand quickly, reminding him alarmingly of Hermione. He nodded for him to continue.
"Well, if we look closely at connections between the various disappearances, we can identify several things. One simple thing in common between them is that they're all woman. Valentina Simmons professor at Hogwarts, Thalia Gordon at the department of transportation, London McCusker of the Auror Department and Adelia George from St. Mungos. There is one individual being abducted from a different subdivision of the ministry meaning-"
"They have people on the inside." Harry finished feeling as if they'd come to that conclusion ages ago. "Terry Boot I want you to go and visit Ms. Simmons at Hogwarts. Susan you will oversee London as she continues work tomorrow. Percy keep a sharper eye on Thalia. I want more background checks and someone tailing them at all times. The rest of you are to search thoroughly and discreetly around the ministry for suspicious behaviour. We're going to catch these damn moles and give them hell."
As the Malfoy Mini team dispersed, Harry leaned back in his chair studying the board. If these victims had been kidnapped, but have no memory of being kidnapped despite the eyewitnesses there was some deep well planned shit here. But how was Lestrange controlling all of them when they had no memory of even meeting him? As soon as something odd happened within 10 metres of these three woman, Harry intended to have them in for interrogation quicker than Ron eating chicken.
There had been no further trace of Yaxley as they travelled from San Jose to Indonesia, Sydney Australia, Montreal Canada and finally Riviera Maya Mexico.
Ara seemed to be back to herself much to Draco and Hermione's relief. They had however received three more letters from the horrid song Hermione was tortured with and immediately moved on to another city.
There was one incident in Sydney that truly shook Draco and Hermione. They had been taking a leisurely stroll in one of their local street markets on their way back to their small rented townhouse. To get to the townhouse they passed a dark forest that they had avoided to the best of their abilities.
Hermione was cradling a snoozing Ara when they heard a twig snap loudly nearby. They both swiveled around, their eyes darting around, wands raised. No one seemed to be following them but Draco hadn't been able to shake the feeling that they were being watched.
As they neared their small townhouse, Draco nearly toppled face forward when his foot sunk into an uncovered storm drain on the ground. He had cursed loudly, Hermione nervously helping him up as she scanned the area carefully. They were unlocking their door when they heard the laugh. A cold, quiet laugh. It was so faint that he doubted if they'd heard it at all. But the chill that went down his spine was undeniable and Hermione had heard it too.
After that they'd quickly entered the townhouse, locking it with care. Now they were residing in a small beachfront house by the ocean. Everything had been perfectly normal, no strange laughs from the forest since Sydney. Normal. Things were normal. And since when was normal ever normal?
Draco woke with a start his hair matted with sweat, his hands clammy as he glanced around anxiously. There was an odd scraping sound against the beachouse rousing Draco from his restless sleep. Hermione was so exhausted lately, he hadn't bothered to wake her up to switch shifts at 3am.
He rose from his armchair by the coffee table, inching towards the window. He peeked out and felt his blood turn cold when he saw a tall shadow slinking around the side of the protection borders around the area. The shadow suddenly began running and before he knew what he was doing, he was out the door and following the shadow.
Draco chased the shadow against his better judgement outside of the protection borders and aimed hex after hex at the figure. What if he never got another shot at catching him? Finally, the figure turned around slowly a good few feet away from Draco.
A dark billowing black cloak clad the figure, his face hidden by a mask with intricate dark designs. Draco's wand hand never wavered as he inched closer to get a better shot.
"Stop," the figure breathed, his voice unrecognizable. "Don't move and don't waste your energy Draco. I've come to make a deal."
Draco was taken aback at the sudden statement his eyes narrowing in skepticism. "Like I would want to make a deal with the likes of you." Draco spat. "How did you find us?"
"Ah, see with a tone like that you'll never get results boy. Now are you going to shut up so I can offer my deal?" the cloaked man asked his voice dripping with annoyance.
"I don't want anything you have to offer." Draco said forcing himself to keep his face devoid of any emotion. It was almost excruciatingly difficult not to turn around and check if Hermione and Ara were alright. But that would surely give away their location. Not that this man hadn't been able to find them simply enough.
The man chuckled and cocked his head to the side. "Trust me, you'll want to hear me out. What if I told you I would provide you a way to protect your mudblood wife and child?"
Draco almost laughed and snarled at the same time. Lestrange or whichever henchman this was had good intentions? "Don't call my wife that. And I'd say that was a load of bullshit."
The man's smile spread gracefully across his features as his face contorted into a look of malice. "I do not lie. All you need to do is complete a few small things for me."
Draco felt his interest piqued despite knowing that this very well wouldn't end well. "And what would that include?" he asked glaring at the man.
"Tell me why you love this mudblood?" the man said eyeing him with disdain. "And I want an honest answer."
Draco raised his eyebrow feeling a million questions cloud his mind. Why would this person even care? What was in it for him? "And how does this protect my family?" Draco asked.
"I will leave you all to live tonight." the man replied grinning cruelly at Draco.
"You don't know where they are." Draco said feeling himself becoming more uncomfortable and uneasy by the minute.
"Oh but don't I? I found you in Taiga Woods I know you purchased a ticket at the nearest airport there. I know you went to Spain then San Fran where you bumped into Yaxley who is very rather upset that you knocked him out. Then Indonesia, Sydney, Montreal. And I found you tonight didn't I?" the man smirked.
If Draco was uncomfortable before he was regretting this even more by the minute. "What do you want?" he asked in defeat.
He'd told Hermione once that he would make a deal with the devil to get her back and she had been furious after he risked dozens of others to save her. The same need to protect her and Ara now was coming into effect, the very reason he still stood there with a complete stranger.
"Answer the question. Why do you love the mudblood. I want the truth and a detailed answer not some sappy one liner." the man said gleefully crossing his arms.
Draco sighed still not believing this is what the man wanted and why. "I love Hermione because she makes me a better person. When I was lost and when I had no purpose to life, she gave me that. She showed me the good in myself when all I could see was a beast. She forgave me and believed in me. No one had ever done that for me before. Hermione was the light to my darkness, the hope to my disbelief and the courage to my cowardice. She challenges me when I'm wrong and she is beautiful. In every way imaginable. She's intelligent, sassy, sarcastic strong and kind. She saw the good in me when I saw nothing. She's my best friend, my love, my lover and I'm afraid we won't have enough time for me to correctly express my love for her." Draco said his voice trailing to a cold tone once he realized he was rambling.
The man looked to be deep in thought as he listened carefully to every word. Once Draco finished he smiled mockingly again as he wiped fake tears away. "How romantic." he said clapping his hands together.
"Now leave and stay the hell away from us." Draco scowled aiming another hex which the other man deflected with a lazy flick.
"I said you needed to complete a few small things for me." the man said as if he were a misbehaving child being punished. Draco felt the strong urge to march over and smack him...hard.
"What the hell do you want?" Draco growled sneering at the man.
"Meet me at the local bar tomorrow night. Come alone and keep this to yourself."
Another thing the Malfoy Mini team had been keeping a close eye on was the Azkaban Control Centre. It was essential to figure out who had released the dementors. It was their only lead to discovering what Lestrange's plan behind all this was.
Harry watched as Terry Boot rushed around organizing the various tailings for the three victims. He really was the most dedicated among them and inwardly applauded Hermione on her choice of recommendation.
But he felt a pang of pity as he watched Terry listen with rapt attention as Percy began engaging him in a very questionable argument. Hermione had informed Harry of Terry's horrible after war experience. His entire family was dead. His mother, father, both sets of grandparents, 2 sisters and single brother. All his extended family was already dead before the war and he was all alone. After burying his family he had gone missing for a year. Many believed he was in deep grief but they discovered he had been tortured by Rookwood in his old pureblood family manor. The same death eater who nearly killed Hermione years ago.
Yet he was still the most dedicated, polite, professional and responsible amongst them all.
Blaise Zabini, Draco's best friend suddenly came barreling into the room. He caught sight of Harry and raced towards him. "Potter I was tailing Valentina Simmons when she received an owl this morning. I didn't see anything written but I saw who it was written from. Krum! It's Viktor Krum! She disappeared presumably off to meet him. I would've followed her but damn Potter, something's happened."
The entire room had their eyes and ears on Blaise as he continued his report.
"Spit it out Blaise!" Harry exclaimed.
"A student has been taken hostage in the Astronomy tower!"
Hermione watched as Draco turned his cheek so she kissed it instead of his lips. It was the third time he'd done that, much to her confusion. He passed it off as nothing while she felt as if the stress and horror of the situation they were in was finally getting to him.
He was avoiding her gaze that afternoon, actually ever since she'd woken up this morning. He was already up and was staring absentmindedly at the ocean as it's waves crashed against the shore.
She'd even tried to seduce him for a beach romp but to her absolute shock, he montone reminded her that it was time to feed Ara. It was unheard of that Draco Malfoy passed up sex. Something was definitely very wrong.
After dinner, when she suggested they tuck Ara in early for some alone time his eyes darted to the clock on the mantel before standing up suddenly.
"I just remembered we have a low stock of groceries. I'll run to town and grab some." he said quickly grabbing the keys and heading for the door.
She followed him grabbing his arm before he left. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine Mya, I won't be long." he assured not meeting her eyes. She didn't let go.
"I'll come with you-"
"No!" Draco said sharply. "Someone should stay and watch Ara. I promise I'll be fine." he said and without another word or a single glance, he strode outside and into the night.
Hermione being Hermione went from thinking this was odd to suspicious. Was he having an affair? Did he meet a hot Mexican he was blowing her off for? She shook her head, after everything they'd been through the one thing that was always certain through troubles and the depths of despair was them. So why the hell was he acting so strange?
With his best interests in mind, she grabbed Ara and walked out the door. She could faintly see Draco reaching the beginning of the town. She hurried her pace to follow him making sure to keep a good distance.
After 10 minutes, he walked into a bar called Signora Anna causing Hermione to raise her eyebrows as she peeked into the bar. She was searching for him when there was a tap on her shoulder. She turned around and there was an old lady hunched over. Her skin was so wrinkled and her hunch was akin to a camel's hump. Her face was weathered and haggard, her clothes ragged and worn out. Exhausted was one word to describe the woman as she slowly pulled something out. Hermione prepared herself to draw her wand but instead she pulled out a tattered old picture.
She pointed at it wordlessly and looked at Hermione with desperation. Hermione looked at the picture which was of a little chubby boy with bright blue eyes smiling joyfully at the camera.
"Er...perdido?" she struggling to remember the Spanish lessons she'd taken before Hogwarts. The woman smiled weakly at her attempt and nodded.
"No," she said wishing she could be of more help. The woman grasped her hand and began leading her towards the alley beside the bar when Draco emerged and his eyes widened when he saw Hermione and Ara there.
"What are you doing?" he said yelling with frustration as he marched over and punched the old woman hard in the face. Hermione screamed stared wide eyed at Draco. He ignored her stutters and moved to show Hermione the old lady's arm. The dark mark was engraved into her old wrinkled skin hardly noticeable due to the wrinkles making it appear like an old tattoo, but it was there. Draco obliviated her and dumped her in the alley beside the bar. She shook her head sadly and grasped Draco's hand as they headed home.
"It's sick to think that the Dark Lord had followers all the way here." Hermione said as she returned from the nursery. She sat down beside Draco who was sipping his tea on the couch.
"So did you decide to stop by the bar on the way to the grocers for a quickie?" Hermione said taking on a falsely pleasant tone. Draco's head whipped to face her and in an instant his eyes became stormy grey.
"How dare you!" Draco exclaimed his face full of rage but his eyes full of hurt.
"You told me we were low on groceries and you would get to town and grab some. I wasn't aware that they sold legumes and bread at bars now." Hermione said defiantly crossing her arms and glaring back. "You lied to me."
Draco looked away shamefully casting his gaze to his lukewarm tea. "I was going to go to the grocers after grabbing a quick drink."
"Don't you dare lie to me Draco Lucius Malfoy. You know we have firewhiskey in your bag because you drank some two days ago. So what was the need to go and visit a bar?" Hermione retorted watching as he stirred his cup slowly.
"I just...I just wanted to okay?" Draco said tilting his head back to look at the ceiling. Hermione stood up and glared at him her hands on her hips.
"We've always been honest to each other. And you and I both know you lied so stop making excuses for yourself and damnit look at me Draco!" Hermione exploded casting a silencing charm on the room.
Draco finally turned to meet her honey brown eyes. "I'm sorry Hermione. I really am." he said before dumping his tea in a potted plant and retreating outside. "I'll take first watch." he called and then he was out the door.
She stormed after him wrenching the door open. "I'll take first watch you go get some sleep so your not so pissy tomorrow."
He turned to glare at her and stood to meet her. "No I've got this, just-just go."
"No." Hermione said eyeing him with anger. "I will not go Malfoy because you're lying to me and you still won't tell me why. Just let me take the first fricking shift and go to bed."
"No Hermione you go. I'm not tired and I can't sleep. I'll take first watch." he said with finality as if the conversation was closed for discussion.
"Well if you can't sleep you should go try because you clearly need it. Now move Malfoy and let me take first watch." Hermione snapped sitting down next to him on the porch deck.
Draco sighed checking his watch before turning to look at her. "I'm sorry I lied Mya, I am so sorry. I just…"
Hermione shook her head. "I understand that this is hard and probably not what you signed up for but...the only way we can make it, is together. Because I would be nothing without you, I need you. I don't understand why you're lying and why you won't tell me and we'll never make it if we keep secrets and lies."
"Hermione don't ever say that. Or think that." Draco said his breathing becoming laboured. "I didn't 'sign' up for this. Becoming your friend was a choice but falling in love with you...was not in my control. I need you more than you'll ever know. I know I'm lying but I just...can't." Draco said his jaw clenching as he stared at the night sky.
"Why?" Hermione said loudly. "Why can't you tell me?"
"Just go to bed it's nothing you need to worry about." Draco said not looking at her. Muttering, Hermione stood and angrily stormed back into the house. Draco sighed and checked the watch before standing and exiting the border to meet the man in the dark cloak.
Harry had ordered Ron to lead the search to find Krum and Simmons. He and Blaise alongside a huge auror force including the swat team made their way quickly to Hogwarts.
The halls were eerily quiet as they entered the headmistresses' office. Harry watched as Professor McGonagall screamed in distraught as she waved her arms in huge gestures to poor Sprout and Slughorn.
"Professor I need you to tell me what's going on." Harry said making his presence known. The three professors turned in his direction, their anxiousness apparent.
"Second year, Hailey Stockworth has been taken hostage in the Astronomy tower by several death eaters." Sprout explained for McGonagall who looked as if she were about to run around the room screaming bloody murder.
"The swat team has already assembled themselves and aurors are guarding the rest of the students in the Great Hall. We'll get her out Professor." Harry said firmly before leading the way.
His unstated promise hung in the air as he lead the way to the bottom of the Astronomy Tower. He had the gut feeling that this had everything to do with Valentina Simmons which meant that since she was missing right now and because she had association with Lestrange whether she knew it or not, this had Lestrange written all over it.
Harry had felt the constant need to remind himself that the women returned from Lestrange's clutches were victims not the ones to be suspected. However, Lestrange had created even more to be suspicious about by having kidnapped them. Whatever he had done, it was obvious that the women were somehow under his control, forced to do his bidding.
Blaise was instructed to lead a search of the entire school looking for any straggling death eaters.
It was a depressing thought that after over 10 years of battling Voldemort and his followers, he was still doing it. They were still a step behind, still living in fear, still being threatened and still running. Running from the problems of darkness that never did seem over even when it was supposed to be.
Harry prepared himself as the aurors waited for him to broadcast his proposition to the death eaters in the Astronomy Tower.
"Death eaters! Auror Potter is speaking and I would like to propose a deal. Release the student who is innocent from the tower in an hour and our forces will retreat. We will meet again at sundown and have a civil meeting. There is no need to draw wands and for more lives to be lost. You have 30 minutes to accept our terms before we are forced to take unnecessary actions." Harry finished his voice hiding how worried he truly was.
The minutes ticked by as the aurors waited anxiously for any sign of the death eaters. The school was silent in fear for Hailey Stockworth's life. When the 30 minute mark hit, Harry gave a curt nod for their forces to begin heading up. As soon as one of their men stepped on the first step to the staircase upstairs, there was the loudest, shrillest cry as the world seemed to rattle in front of them. Harry yelled for them to retreat but it was too late. There was a massive explosion as the bricks came tumbling down around them. Fire came alive in the pillars of what was left of the tower. Smoke filled the air as all the aurors were blasted back and knocked into various walls, the Astronomy Tower crumbling before their blurred vision.
Harry felt his skull crack painfully as his head rammed against a coat of arms. Aurors were shouting as their partners lay limp, the sound of the explosion ringing in their ears. Harry opened his eyes painfully, looking at nothing. Nothing was left of the tower. Everything had been blown up by the explosion, the only reminder that there was a tower was the girl's body splattered sickeningly on the last standing pillar.
After Mexico, they made their way to Norway the tension between the couple evident to all. Hermione was furious and seething with anger after Draco continued to blow off her attempts at seeking the truth. Draco was too ashamed and worried to pay much mind, not that the lying didn't bother him. Draco knew the stakes were high taking a chance by trusting this cloaked man but what he had offered Draco was a deal he had to take. A chance to save his family? At the price of his conscience? Well he hardly ever had one in the first place, so to do these tasks for the sake of protecting his family was hardly even something to consider.
Draco had met the man again the night Hermione stormed off. He had requested that Draco go into the jungles of Mexico and find a rare type of bark for him. He had said it was guarded by Gryphons who lived in the jungle at the tallest tree. Draco was to cut down a branch and return it to him.
Draco was wary when he entered the jungle at 12 at night, following the man's map to find the damn tree. It had taken him an hour and a half to locate the tree, 15 minutes to battle the gryphons before successfully cutting off a branch and racing back out of the jungle where the man stood patiently.
The man smiled wickedly at Draco and snatched the branch greedily. "Very good my boy. Only a few more tasks and your safety is guaranteed."
"You mean my family's safety." Draco corrected eyeing him skeptically.
The man had waved him off before grinning once more and disapparating. The other tasks Draco found himself in were simple ones of retrieving water from a lake, the feather of a rare bird and leaves of a certain tree.
Now they found themselves renting a small old flat in Norway, where the concierge had a permanent smile on her face, making Draco want to slap her hard.
She gave Hermione the key and pointed them to the elevator. Hermione juggled Ara in her arms as she snoozed, taking the key and leading them to the elevator.
"Have a safe ride up." the concierge grinned.
Draco eyed her with annoyance grabbing their bags before joining Hermione in the cramped elevator. Hermione avoided his eye as she closed the elevator doors and pressed the 7th floor.
The awkwardness in the elevator was becoming extremely uncomfortable for Draco. He had never been uncomfortable around Hermione before. Just as he was about to apologize again, the elevator jerked to a stop.
Hermione used both arms to protect Ara, dropping the key. Draco felt his body go still as the lights began to flicker. Hermione's breathing quickened as her eyes darted around. She pressed the help button but the line was dead.
Draco dropped their bags and reached up to open the air duct. The elevator was creaking loudly now causing Ara to jolt awake and cry. Hermione began calling for help but the only response was the elevator's squealing.
Draco pounded his fist against the air duct, feeling panic spread when it wouldn't budge. Hermione tried disapparating them but there seemed to be an anti-apparition spell on the elevator. Draco began shoving the duct with all his might as the elevator jerked sharply to one side. Ara cried as Hermione used her body to shield her taking the blow herself. Draco knocked his shoulder painfully against the doors as Hermione was flung against the panel of buttons.
They seemed to be dangling now by whatever thread was holding the elevator. Draco motioned for her to stay as still as possible while he continued to yank and beat the duct. There was a sudden ripping sound. Like metal grinding against metal being torn and shred apart. Hermione's face was white with fear as her eyes locked with Draco's. He carefully folded himself around her pressing her head against his chest and they stood as still as possible. The tearing sound stopped and suddenly the elevator doors opened with a frightening bang. Hermione screamed and Draco squeezed her tighter before everything went black.
Hogwarts was in chaos when they discovered one of their own had been blown up. The wizarding world was in chaos when they discovered one of their own had been blown up. The aurors scoured the place looking for the intruders but there was no one. According to Terry who had bravely stepped forward to inspect the smithereens, noted that there was a wizarding bomb placed on the first step up that was triggered when they had begun to head upwards.
Harry felt faint, very very faint. They had just blown up a second year student.
It looked as if the death eaters were never even in Hogwarts for long. They had simply taken the girl up and made it out to be a hostage situation but they were long gone. And instead gave the impression they were there, but why?
The only logical thing Harry could think of was to divert their attention. But from what? He felt such a fool to have been played to believe that they were in a hostage situation when there was some other shit going on. If he had caught the plan earlier, they probably still would have accidently blown up the tower.
While Terry and Susan investigated the scene, aurors were rushing around searching the castle and clearing the scene. McGonagall and Harry agreed it was best to send the students home for an early Easter holiday.
They were already on the train home, their luggage to be sent afterwards. Harry felt a weight lifted as he watched the train depart this scene of destruction. There was a sudden chilling voice being projected, speaking sinisterly to the aurors.
"How does it feel to be murderers? To be fools? To be so ignorant that you failed to notice a trap and murder the oh so innocent Hailey Stockworth? To know that because of you and your stupidity, your hands are bloody, you have stained your clean white conscience and you are responsible for the most horrible explosion at Hogwarts?" Lestrange chuckled over the speaker. "How does it feel to be the one to pull the trigger? You fucking idiots are too ignorant for your own good. Thank you mighty ministry for helping us get what we needed. Until next time."
And then the speakers went dead. Harry screamed in rage blasting a tree to bits. How could he have been so careless? Terry Boot approached him tentatively a look of deepest sorrow in his eyes.
"Look Harry I know what you're thinking but you can't let Lestrange get in your head. All the signs pointed to a hostage situation, what else were we supposed to believe? And even if we somehow managed to figure it out, we still would have accidently set off the bomb. I found it tucked under the stair case. The weight of the auror's foot set it off. The hostage situation was a lie but the bomb was inevitable." Terry said not unkindly. Harry sat in silence before turning to smile weakly at Terry.
"We were ignorant. We didn't consider the traps. And now...we murdered a girl. Because we were stupid and foolish. You're a good man Terry. But this was...unfortunate and unnecessary." Harry said his shoulders sagging. He knew that sometimes the aftermath of these tragedies were ten times worse. There would be questions and panic. Hysteria and confusion. Anger and accusation. The press, the parents, the society. Then the guilt.
Harry walked back to the fallen tower and found half Hailey's head laying with whatever other parts they had found. He kneeled over and stared apologetically at her face. "I'm so sorry, Hailey." he said his voice cracking. He closed her eyes as he observed her destroyed frail body. Half her head was here, part of her spine, her shin, her chest shredded into thin pieces, her hip in jagged pieces and her hand punctured in almost every part.
Cruel. This death was too cruel for such an innocent girl it made Harry angry to think about it. A heartless murder and he would have to live with knowing that he had a part in it. Even if it was something as simple as nodding to the auror who stepped on the trigger.
The hours passed in a blur as Harry instructed the aurors and professors to check the castle for missing important items. Lestrange had thanked them for helping them get what they needed. When they were strategizing for the hostage situation, the death eaters must have had the easiest time fetching whatever they needed. How they got in, was another matter entirely.
After hours of searching, nothing of extreme significance was gone. The aurors were working on cleaning up the tower which was almost back in place but would never look the same to Harry. The war broke the tower the first time, the dragons nearly killed Draco and Hermione broke the tower the second time, and the tragic explosion destroyed it the third time. Would there be a fourth? And a fifth?
Late that night, Harry sat in the empty Gryffindor commons and stared blankly at the fire. The door opened and he turned to see Ginny barreling inside. He stood immediately when he saw tears were tracking down her face.
"What's happened?" he said dreading whatever her answer would be. These things never seemed to end did they?
Ginny sobbed and covered her mouth with her hand as she hugged Harry hard. "It's mum. She found a package at her door gifting her a gold snake necklace from Charlie. She tried it on and it began to choke her. The charmed snake necklace wrapped itself around her neck and began to strangle her." Ginny paused to heave deep breaths. "James, God bless our little Jamsie, was clever enough to run and floo George." Ginny cried.
Harry felt his face go white as he held Ginny tightly. "Is she alright?" he croaked.
Ginny nodded against his chest. "She's at St. Mungos. Charlie was a wreck when he heard. He'd never sent her that necklace...Harry...you know it's the second time-"
"The second time someone's tried to kill Mrs. Weasley."
Hermione felt the impact with the wall blur her vision as she struggled to hold a wailing Ara. Draco's arms were strong as they wrapped around her. His heartbeat was going a mile a minute as he held her close against his chest. In that moment, she wasn't fuming with anger towards him, she just wanted to kiss him and hold him and run far away from this.
They opened their eyes to stare through the smoke and dust. The elevator doors were open and there were people standing there, three tall burly figures. Draco drew his wand, Hermione following suit, using her body to shield Ara as best as she could.
The three men stepped through the smoke and approached them stalkingly. She nearly screamed when Viktor Krum stepped out of the smoke followed by two other goons she didn't recognize. How the hell did they find them again?
He smiled snidely at the small family his eyes lingering over Hermione causing Draco to growl with anger. His eyes snapped to him and if possible, his smile became even more malicious.
"I alvays vaited for this day to come." Viktor snarked. "The day where the famous Drako Malfoy and his little whore and their fucking child were at my mercy."
"You stay the hell away." Draco said his eyes becoming that stormy grey they always did when he was angry. Hermione felt a chill run up her spine as Viktor threw his head back and laughed taking a step in their direction.
Draco was quick to poise himself in front of Hermione and Ara coming chest to chest with Viktor. She watched frightened as the men stared each other down. Then Draco suddenly swung out with his fist and right hooked Viktor painfully in the jaw. Viktor yelped and fell back swearing as he cradled his face.
"I've been waiting to do that again since you laid a hand on my wife." Draco snarled kicking him sharply in the ribs. One of the other men body checked Draco to the ground and they began dueling in the cramped space, the missed spells ricocheting off everywhere. Hermione used her other wand to bind Viktor before dueling the third man who gave a grunt of glee when he watched her stumble as she dodged his spell. Ara was screaming in fright now as Hermione darted around the small elevator dodging Draco and the other man's spells as well as her opponents. To avoid being struck by Draco's opponent's killing curse, she stumbled towards Viktor who grabbed her ankle sending her crashing to the floor.
"For fuck's sake!" Viktor cried motioning for the third goon to untie him. The man obliged allowing Viktor to snatch his wand and stride towards Hermione and Ara. She sent a stunning spell that he blocked easily before he was towering over her. She felt her broken ankle throb with pain and her hip did too where she landed sharply to prevent Ara from hitting the ground. The third man disarmed her and began wrestling her for the baby. No fucking way he was touching her baby.
She clawed at his beady eyes and aimed kicks but he was too strong and began to pry her fingers off of Ara after aiming a few cutting spells at her, leaving her bleeding in several spots. Viktor did the final deed by grabbing her hips and yanking her away from Ara and against him. She cried in anguish as the third man spat at Ara's tiny face and held her roughly by the shoulders.
"I will fucking kill you! I will fucking destroy you! I will rip your balls off and burn them! You fucking bastard!" Hermione screamed as Viktor kept a firm grip on her binding her with a flick of his wand. Draco was cursing loudly too as the second man punched him hard in the nose breaking his cartilage before binding him tightly.
Viktor seemed pleased despite his broken jaw and moved towards Draco who lay bleeding on the elevator floor. Viktor crouched so he was eye level with Draco before slapping him hard across the face. Hermione screamed and screamed for him to stop, to have mercy to have her instead.
At that, Viktor turned around to grin cockily at her. "Don't you worry my pretty, I'll definitely have you later."
"You fucking asshole! Don't you dare lay a hand on her! I swear I will fucking kill you! You son of a bitch!" Draco roared fighting his restraints. Viktor laughed with joy as he stood and smiled at Hermione. He then turned back to wink at Draco.
"How does it feel to know I have everything that was yours? I have your daughter, I have your wife. Who I will fuck so loud I will make sure you can hear from your cell. I will make her lick my cock and I will stick it where you used to stick yours. I will fuck her everywhere and make her love it. And I will make sure you know I'm fucking her." Viktor gloated watching with amusement as Draco yelled curses of various obscenities and jerked around threatening to skin Viktor.
"Be careful with their brat Eiker. We need her so don't rough her up too much. Folstad grab Malfoy and I'll get the lady." Viktor said all too gleefully. "Oh and before I forget." he moved to take some sort of powder from his robes moving towards Ara. Ignoring Hermione and Draco's pleas he blew some in her face, rendering her unconscious. Hermione's heart wept for her daughter who was in the hands of their enemies and watched with despair as he blew some in Draco's face, the last thing she saw was his eyes shutting right before hers did too.
"I'm getting worried." Harry said pacing back and forth in his office. Kingsley sat across from him and listened patiently. "I haven't heard from Draco or Hermione in almost a week. They usually let me know almost immediately the time and place when I ask. They haven't contacted me back and I have a horrid feeling Kingsley."
"Things turn up Harry. They may be in a position that's totally normal and that's why they can't contact you." Kingsley assured. "Now we were discussing Molly's recovery?"
"Right. Mrs. Weasley was saved by healers in St. Mungos. The necklace is being studied by Hermione's investigation team and we are trying to break down why they would target her for the second time. Lestrange wants Mrs. Weasley dead. Our conclusion is that he wants to avenge Bellatrix's death. But wouldn't finishing it off personally be the most effective way to do that? But he's avoiding meeting her to finish it. He's trying to kill her discreetly. But why? Well we have her under top notch protection and she goes nowhere alone. We know the motive but why would he go to such creative lengths to kill her?" Harry said his mind whirring.
"That's one of our problems on the long list. Adelia George. The Malfoy's maternity healer. The next woman to disappear. But why would he want to take her? There must be a reason as to why she has gone missing." Kingsley said thinking hard.
"Adelia had access to the Malfoy family. She had contact with Ara directly. Do you reckon it's possible she was doing things for him before she went missing?" Harry asked his head linking several things. "Do you think Lestrange forced her to do things to Ara since she had direct contact with the baby even before she went missing? Hermione mentioned last time we met how they bumped into Yaxley in San Francisco and how they had a scare in Sydney...bloody hell...they keep being able to find them...Kingsley damn damn damn! What if Adelia put some sort of locator or tracking spell on Ara? That's how they keep finding them! I've got to warn them before it's too late." Harry said rushing back to his office, knocking into the secretary and several photographers waiting for Kingsley.
He sent a patronus claiming utmost urgency off to find Draco wherever he was. Harry felt a wretched feeling in the pit of his stomach. He hadn't heard from them in a week and what if, Adelia did put some sort of tracking spell on Ara? That would be handing themselves over to Lestrange without even knowing it! He hoped to Merlin that for once they were a step ahead of the game and that it wasn't too late.
There was a knock on the door causing Harry to jump and he swivelled around to see Terry standing awkwardly at the door.
"Erm...you wanted me to give you a report on Valentina Simmons and Viktor Krum?" he said eyeing the disastrous room. Harry motioned for him to come inside which he did after taking a step around a massive stack of papers.
"We tried tracing Valentina but she disappeared right before the explosion. Madame Rosmerta is an eye witness who claims to have seen her floo from the Three Broomsticks to where she doesn't know. Krum was actually a professor at Durmstrang and he seems to have gone missing according to Karkaroff." Terry said seeming just as upset himself at their lack of progress. "We know he contacted her and now they're both off the grid."
"Great so we have no leads!" Harry exclaimed sighing and flopping down onto his chair. "I want more search parties to go looking for them. Viktor Krum and Valentina Simmons are now wanted from the British Ministry of Magic."
Draco felt groggy and his body ached everywhere. His head pounded and his body wailed for relief of the pain. But as soon as his eyes opened, a different kind of pain started. Ara was nowhere to be seen and Hermione was still unconscious next to him. Both their wrists were shackled above their heads and their ankles below them. They were prisoners side by side in wherever this hellhole was and their daughter was in the hands of Krum. Draco seethed with anger and wanted to beat himself for not getting them the hell out of there when the concierge gave those nasty smiles.
He was so stupid and he was so thoughtless completing errand after errand for the cloaked man when he should have been honest with Mya. He hung his head in shame as he thought about how badly he screwed this up. Now they were condemned to a fate surely worse than death and that was watching Lestrange have his way with Ara.
Hermione began to stir next to him and she gave a whimper as she opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. When her eyes landed on him, they welled up with tears and he felt his heart shatter.
"Hermione I'm so sorry I'm so fucking sorry." Draco whispered his throat dry. He then told her everything, from his encounter with the cloaked man that first night to meeting him at the pub and all his tasks he did. "I thought I was helping, I thought I was doing what I had to do to protect us. I was so desperate I was so stupid…" Draco trailed off his voice cracking. "I'm so sorry."
"Draco…" Hermione said a tear trailing down her beautiful face. "I understand your temptation but how could you be so senseless? When does Lestrange do anything out of the kindness of his heart? When does he ever hold out on his side of the bargain? This cloaked man was probably him or one of his goons and you were just their pawn. You were played. But I would have done the same thing you did. If thinking I was given the chance to protect you and Ara...I would do it in a heartbeat." Hermione sighed.
Draco shook his head sadly. "I fucked up. I'm sorry we're here and I'm sorry I wasn't there for you like I should've been before. I was so distracted chasing a false fantasy I forgot the real one I had right in front of me." he said finally looking up at her.
She cried even harder and tried to reach for him but her bonds constricted her from moving closer to him. He ached to reach out and touch her, kiss her. She then wept when she felt the absence of Ara and he felt like crying too. Where was she? Was Krum torturing her? Did Lestrange get her? What were they doing to her? Was she alive?
"We'll make a plan and we'll get out of this, we have to." Draco said forcefully. "We promised remember? We would do whatever it took to keep her safe."
Hermione nodded her eyes red but strong as she met his steely grey ones. "We'll make a plan, we'll get her out. Even if we stay." she said taking a deep breath.
"I love you Hermione. I love you so much." Draco murmured feeling the cold metal of his chains shredding against his skin. Holding him away from her, away from Ara.
"I love you too Draco." Hermione whispered trying to look strong as she too felt the aftermath of the battle begin to take it's toll on her body. Her ankle was swollen and she was bleeding from the several places that they had hit her with a cutting curse. How Draco wanted to rip their heads off and punch in their faces.
A sudden whooshing sound came into the cell and they saw Harry's patronus come swooping in raising their spirits. "Where are you? Are you alright? We need to talk, it's important."
It disappeared along with their hope leaving nothing but silver smoke in it's wake. The door of the cell swung open with a loud clang, and in strode Viktor Krum. He didn't bother to try and hide his swagger as he strut towards the chained couple smiling with utmost joy when he saw they were awake.
"Good sleep? Your daughter is in...questionable hands so you have nothing to fear. You two on the other hand, are under my supervision." Viktor said his eyes lingering on Hermione's chest. Jealousy and possessiveness flared in Draco's test causing him to growl with anger and spit at Krum's feet.
Krum turned his head and studied him mildly. He then stalked towards him and grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled so he was face to face with him. Draco's restraints began to cut off circulation to his wrists but he refused to give any indication that he was in pain.
"You thought you were the best Malfoy. You always thought you had it all. Even when we visited Hogwarts for the Triwizard Tournament, you were an ungrateful brat who seemed to attract all the girls. You had your papa's money to keep that smirk on your face and a strong pureblood name under your feet. You took Her-my-ninee from me and you thought you had all the fucking things in the world. You thought. Now I have your child. I have your life in my hands. I will have all the pleasures and joys you had. And I have your wife to do as I please." Krum said his voice starting out soft and menacing but ended yelling.
Draco saw Hermione wince with each realization Krum made clear to them. He refused to break eye contact however with Krum and continued to meet his beady cold eyes head on.
Viktor then smiled sweetly at Draco and Hermione before taking a step back and aiming his wand at Draco. Hermione began shaking her head madly and pleading with Krum.
"Please, please Viktor if you ever loved me don't do this. It doesn't have to be this way. Don't hurt him please Viktor." Hermione said trying to reason with him. But he would not hear any of it.
"Don't worry your pretty little head Her-my-ninee, I won't kill him for a while. I need entertainment too you know. Besides, I would be a fool to let Malfoy die the easy way. No, no. His death will be painful, long, bloody and messy I can promise you that my darling." Krum said almost kindly to Hermione. It made Draco sick.
Krum then turned back to Draco and aimed his wand again. "Crucio!" he cried sending a jet of light flying towards him. Intense pain stabbed him from all sides of his body, causing him to shake and convulse with agony. He kept his lips firmly sealed refusing to give Krum the satisfaction of hearing him scream. He had been under the Cruciatus curse before from Voldemort, his father and Bellatrix's hand and was accustomed to the pain. He learned never to make a sound or there was surely more to come.
Krum never grew tired as he threw curse after curse setting Draco's body aflame with a burning sensation that made him want to beg for mercy. The pain was gripping his insides pulling and stabbing, making him wish for death.
The night was long but it passed in a hazy blur for Draco. He could distinctly hear
Hermione screaming for him in the background and yelling for Viktor to stop but Viktor had no mercy. He had even struck her hard across the face when her screaming became to irritating for him.
Krum had a determination set in his eyes as he sent consecutive curses towards Draco who was beginning to feel his body sag with exhaustion. Excruciating pain shot up his bones rattling his body and sent electrocuting shock reverberating everywhere.
Finally, it seemed to stop. He didn't have the energy or will to open his eyes and allowed himself to heave breaths as he hung in front of Krum.
He heard the door open and another set of footprints walk in. He thought he heard Hermione gasp and Viktor greet their newest addition. He and the new addition chatted quietly for a moment conversing about Merlin knows what. All he wanted to do was sleep and fall into the dark abyss of peace.
"Draco...Draco listen to me, don't close your eyes. Don't sleep it's best to stay awake. Just hold on Draco I'll find a way to make him stop. Don't you dare shut your eyes Draco Malfoy. Just hold on." Hermione whispered her voice straining to not cry.
He willed himself to do as she said but he was so tired and everything ached. He began to peel his eyes open, struggling to maintain consciousness when he heard the second voice. A very familiar voice that still managed to boil his blood even now when all he wanted was to close his damn eyes.
He didn't and instead opened them slightly and there standing beside Viktor Krum was Valentina Simmons.
Author's Note
Once again I apologize for the late updates but I started school last month and I'm afraid I'm terribly busy.
But I'd love to hear what you think of this latest intense chapter!