29 August 1994
She was gone. The Weasley family sat around the table at the burrow silently with Sirius, Harry, and Luna. Searches had gone through the night into the afternoon as they scoured the woods and campgrounds for Hermione. Aurors were notified but with unidentifiable bodies and the escaped rioters, it left them with little resources to help with any search. Ministry officials tried to get Molly and Arthur to come and see if one of the remains was their daughter but they refused, the family clock let them know their daughter was still alive. Hermione's hand has been pointing to 'LOST' since the night of the World Cup. Harry begged Dobby to find her, hoping that he could just pop by her side but that wasn't how elf magic worked. It took Harry hours to get Dobby to stop hurting himself for not being able to find Master Harry's Myne. The floo lit up as Neville stepped into the burrow, Eloise following close behind.
"Did you find her?" Eloise ran forward, her face pale and her eyes red. She just came back from France with her family to a note from Neville letting her know Hermione was missing, kidnapped from the grounds after the World Cup. The frantic girl sent a message to Neville begging him to bring her to Hermione's home to see if there was anything she could do.
"No." Luna said bluntly, not even bothering to look up. The Weasleys looked up hopefully when they heard the floo but looked back to what they were doing when they saw Neville.
"Is there anything I can do?" Eloise asked frantically, wringing her hands as she advanced on the little blonde.
"Like what? Ignore her because she got credit for your conspiracy theories. Did she really not have any input? Was it really all your idea? Well, maybe if you-" Molly slapped her hand on the table, making them all jump and Ron shut his mouth quickly.
"That's enough." Molly whispered as she took a shaky breath, not having the energy to say more. Her eyes never left the clock on the wall.
"I'm sorry!" Eloise wailed. Neville patted her on the back, at a loss of how to comfort a crying girl.
"You should be!" Luna snapped. Her normally dreamy serene nature was gone, all that filled her was anger. Anger at Harry for running off, only to have Hermione chase him. Anger at her brothers for not being able to keep hold of Hermione. Anger at Eloise for ignoring their friend over something petty, if she had been there maybe Hermione wouldn't have been taken. Anger at herself for staying with her father to work on an article for the Quibbler instead of by her friends side.
"Luna!" Neville exclaimed, shocked that her blue eyes could shimmer with such fury.
"I'm sorry!" Eloise sobbed, falling back on Neville.
"Why did you even bring her here?" Luna snapped angrily as she got up from the table to advance on them. Ron rose to join her, happy to finally have somewhere to direct his anger besides himself. He couldn't hold onto his sister and now she was gone.
"Luna." Neville admonished in a stern voice, not finding any help from anyone else in the room. Harry looked at the clock, acting as though no one else was in the room. Sirius was asleep sitting up, deep heavy bags under his eyes. Fred and George were writing on a map with Bill and Charlie standing over them. Percy leaned on his mothers shoulder, rubbing his temple and Arthur sat silently clenching his fists.
"No, she wants to come here after ignoring Mina all summer! Acting like she's a concerned friend!" Luna snarled angrily, her blue eyes boring into Eloise accusingly.
"She just wanted to help." Neville said softly.
"Yeah, fat lot of help she is too! Blubbering all over the place like she bloody well cares!" Ron sneered as he advanced on his dorm mate. "Why did you bring that bint into my home, Nev?"
"I-" Neville opened his mouth to reply but the gasp from Harry and Molly cut him off. Molly was out the door before they could blink, Harry leading the rest of them after her. The hand with Hermione's picture was spinning wildly, stopping on HOME.
-0-
The first thing Hermione heard was the clink of glass bottles. A small moan escaped her as she tried to open her eyes but found them too heavy. Hermione was vaguely aware that she was on a very plush bed with warm blankets covering her, she could almost think she was home but flashes of men in dark robes infiltrated her hazy thoughts. She grimaced as she remembered the pain and the angry grey eyes, a small sob escaped her lips as she tried to open her dry eyes.
"Mistress must be still. Winky be taking good cares of Mistress while she sleep." A squeaky little voice on Hermione's side made her jump. Forcing her eyes opened she saw a house elf in a white pillow case, a large scorch mark on the front. The house elf, Winky, wasn't even looking at her but digging through a small bag mumbling to herself. "Mistress needs to drink this." Hermione could do nothing but comply as the elf lifted a phial to her lips and she felt instantly better as the potion slid down her throat.
"Winky?" Hermione slowly sat up, looking around. She was sitting on a fluffy purple cushion in the middle of the forest. The house elf was watching her nervously as she dug through her bag for another potion.
"Yes, Mistress?" Winky responded timidly.
"Why are you calling me Mistress?" Hermione asked in a hoarse voice. She rubbed her raw throat with a grimace, she guessed Winky healed her but she could still feel the bruises from being pushed around. Her hand spasmed violently as she gasped, forcing her fingers to clench and release with force.
"Winky be sorry for not asking Mistress permission. Winky be bonding so Winky could help Mistress get better." Winky said nervously.
"You bonded with me?" Hermione asked incredulously, Winky handed her a glass of water and the redhead drank it eagerly.
"Yes, Mistress. Old Master Barty be freeing Winky for having a wand but Winky a good elf and never steal a wand." Winky looked up at the girl, imploring her to believe her with her big blue eyes.
"Can elves use wands?" Hermione wondered aloud before she greedily drank down a second glass of water.
"Oh no, Mistress. Elf magic not be working with wands but Master Barty mad that Winky-" the house elf squeaked in fear and started shaking. Winky looked up at her mistress with large wet eyes, begging her not to make her continue.
"Hey, it's okay, Winky. I believe you." Hermione smiled shyly at the little elf. "You can call me Hermione. How did you find me?"
"Winky could hear Mistress Her-Hermione crying for help. Winky be wanting to bring Mistress to St. Mungos but Winky not be knowing who hurt Mistress. Winky had potions to help Mistress so Winky use elf magic to bond and protect." Winky said with a proud smile.
"Thank you Winky." Hermione said sleepily as she took the pain potion from the elf. "How long have I been asleep?"
"Almost 2 days, Mistress." Winky said sadly. Hermione's eyes widened in alarm.
"I have to go home, Winky! Mum must be out of her mind!" Hermione gasped, her pale face losing all color at the thought of her mother panicking for two days.
"Winky can, Mistress!" Winky started shoving empty potion phials in her little bag before grabbing Hermione's hand.
"Why did you wait to bring me home, Winky?" Hermione asked curiously as she watched the elf.
"Winky not be knowing who hurt Mistress. Winky be waiting to talk to Mistress before moving from safe place." Winky said firmly before snapping her fingers and they were gone. Hermione fell to her knees as they landed right beside the quidditch pitch at the Burrow. She let out a hiss of pain as the muscles in her arm spasmed and convulsed painfully.
"Ahh! Bollocks!" Hermione hissed as she cradled her arm to her chest, clenching her fist tightly.
"Come, Mistress, you's be needing to rest." Winky said sternly as she helped the petite redhead to her feet.
"Thank you, Winky. You're the best." Hermione hissed through gritted teeth, her leg twitched, almost making her collapse again.
"Hermione!" Molly's welcome voice screeched from across the lawn.
"Mum!" Hermione cried out weakly, looking up she saw Molly sprinting towards her, followed closely by Harry, her brothers and Luna catching up fast.
"Oh, my baby! Where were you?" Molly cried as she wrapped Hermione into a tight hug, making Hermione cry out in pain.
"Mistress Hermione's mum should be being careful with Mistress!" Winky cried as she pried Molly off Hermione.
"What?" Molly gaped at the little elf who was not even paying attention to her but scrounging in her little bag and pulling out potion phials.
"Myne!" Harry whispered softly as he gently pulled her into a hug, he buried his face into her hair. "Where have you been?"
"They hurt me..Winky helped me." Hermione gasped in pain as Harry's arms unconsciously tightened around her, Winky pushed the boy away and stepped between Hermione and her approaching brothers.
"Mistress needs rest! No more hugging Mistress!" Winky said sternly before handing Hermione a phial. Bill stepped forward and gently lifted Hermione off the ground to bring her inside. "You be careful! No pulling Mistress Hermione's hair!" The elf stuck close by, berating Bill as he carried his little sister up to her room. Neville and Eloise stood to the side, watching on anxiously.
"Isn't that the elf that stole your wand?" Ron whispered to Harry as they followed along.
-0-
Molly and Winky seemed to strike up a strange comradery over the care of Hermione. Molly called Healer Stroud to come check Hermione over and almost collapsed at the healers diagnosis. Hermione suffered at least 3 powerful crucios as well as a few other recently healed physical injuries, they could not determine how long she was under the powerful curse but were thankful she didn't lose her mind. The healer patted Winky on the head, congratulating her on a fine job of nursing Hermione back to health. The house elf scoffed at the healer, as if she would do anything less. It was when Aurors Dawlish and Shacklebot came for Hermione statement that Winky lost her nut.
"You's not be bothering Mistress! Mistress be needing rest!" The elf cried as Dawlish tried to push his way into the house without an invite. Most of the Weasleys were taking a long overdue kip after the healer assured them Hermione would be fine. Harry was sleeping on the couch and was the first to hear a scuffle at the door.
"Move, elf! This is official ministry business." Dawlish snapped, pushing the elf out his way. Shacklebot let out a long suffering sigh and followed his partner of 6 months. He was growing used to the auror's blunt and sometimes rude power plays where he bullied civilians into doing things his way.
"No! Mistress just takes a calming draught!" Winky wailed and tried to stop the auror.
"What's going on?" Harry stopped the aurors before they could reach the stairs.
"Mr. Potter, we need to take a statement on where Miss. Weasley has been." Shacklebot cut Dawlish off before he could say anything.
"Well, Hermione's asleep. She was tortured and the healer said she shouldn't be under any stress." Harry said firmly, looking towards the stairs, hoping Arthur or Molly would come down soon. Sirius already went back to the hospital and Bill and Charlie went to the ministry to arrange port keys.
"Well, that's too bad. We've wasted man power at the DMLE looking for a little girl who ran off to have a little fun after the match. Don't worry we'll get the truth out of her." Dawlish sneered and tried to push past Harry.
"I don't think you heard me, she was tortured. The HEALER says she shouldn't be disturbed." Harry refused to budge, glaring at the auror.
"I'm sorry-" Kingsley tried to step in to diffuse the situation but Dawlish spoke over him.
"I'm sure that's what she told you. However, I'm sure, like most teenage girls, she just didn't want to get into trouble with her parents. So, she concocted some kidnapping plot. She probably found some older foreign boy, worried about her parents reactions." Dawlish growled harshly, once again, trying to push his way toward the stairs.
"You is not be disturbing Mistress!" Winky wailed, throwing her hand out in front of her. Dawlish was lifted from the ground and thrown across the room, crashing into an old shelf that was full of family knick knacks. Dawlish stayed there a moment, catching his breath amongst all the broken glass pieces and shattered family photos. Heavy footfall was heard above them as Dawlish picked himself up.
"How dare you! Punish yourself, elf!" Dawlish glared angrily as the little elf shook. Dobby popped right in front of Harry as the auror pushed past his partner towards the teenage boy.
"No!" Hermione cried as she rushed down the stairs towards Winky, who was beating her head against the banister. Her legs protested the movement but she barreled down the stairs to pull the hysterical elf into her arms. "Winky you are not to hurt yourself, no matter who orders it."
"Miss. Weasley, I presume?" Dawlish looked away from Harry and fixed her with a cold stare.
"What is going on down here?" Molly shouted from the top of the stairs, her sons filing down behind her, hastily pulling on their clothes.
"I'm very sorry, Mrs. Weasley. We were sent to get a statement from your daughter." Shacklebot shoved Dawlish behind him and silenced him with a glare.
"That doesn't explain why you are trying to force your way up the stairs." Molly hissed as she stepped in front of Hermione who was hugging Winky.
"We need her statement. We've more important things to do than waste our time on petulant teenagers afraid of getting in trouble with their parents for running off and shagging a boy." Dawlish snapped angrily, Shacklebot turned to stare at his partner incredulously. Dawlish was rude, abrasive, and a bully but he never saw him act this way.
"So, the fact that my boys saw when she was grabbed by one of those death eaters means nothing?" Molly shrieked, advancing on the auror. "The healer confirms that she was hit with at least 3 powerful crucios!"
"I have more experience with this kin-" Dawlish glared back at the woman and started to yell in her face when Shacklebot elbowed him hard in the side.
"I'm very sorry for the intrusion, I'm afraid my partner and I haven't gotten much sleep. Amelia wants the report as soon as possible, you understand?" Shacklebot smiled sheepishly, Molly's glare only intensified.
"John! Kingsley! What are you doing here?" Arthur snapped angrily as he came down the stairs with Ron trailing after him.
"As I was just telling your wife, we need your daughter's statement." Shacklebot said patiently, glaring at his partner to stay quiet.
"Does it have to be tonight? I can take her in the morning, the healer says she shouldn't be under anymore stress." Arthur looked worriedly down at his daughter who looked to be fighting the potion effects and forcing herself to stay awake in the elf's arms.
"I'm afraid so." Dawlish spoke over Shacklebot once again. "I'm not sure what she told you but we need to get it in record as soon as possible." He stepped forward, reaching out to grab the groggy witch's arm when he found his path blocked by Harry Potter and three teenage gingers. "Kings, why don't you take the family...and friend into the kitchen while I have a chat with Miss. Weasley?"
"No, John. I'll be staying with my daughter." Arthur said firmly, he had known John for years, he was known to bully witnesses into making statements.
"Sorry, Arthur but to make sure she doesn't feel pressured...we should do this alone." Dawlish smiled encouragingly at Arthur, making him feel even more uncomfortable. Arthur looked down at his daughter who was shaken and drowsy, hiding behind her brothers and Harry and made up his mind.
"No, that's not going to happen." Arthur shook his head and crossed his arms.
"But-" Dawlish growled, glaring at the Head of Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office menacingly but was cut off.
"No! You heard my husband! Get out of my house! I'll be filing a complaint with Amelia Bones in the morning!" Molly shrieked, losing her patience.
"Now, Mrs. Weasl-" Dawlish squared his shoulders to tell this housewife she couldn't tell him, a ministry official, what to do.
"Did you not hear me? GET OUT!" Molly screeched in his face, the next thing Dawlish knew, he was outside the Weasley wards with Shacklebot groaning beside him.
"Wanna clue me in on what the fuck that was about?" Shacklebot demanded. Dawlish groaned, thinking about the meeting he would need to attend tonight made him feel slightly sick. He was paid for that interview, to not deliver was not an option.
-0-
Dawlish stepped through the floo into an opulent sitting room. The furnishings were obviously antique and everything matched perfectly, making the visitor feeling welcome yet unworthy at the same time. No one could ever say that Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy née Black couldn't coordinate a room. Taking a deep breath, the decorated auror looked around with trepidation. Sitting in a wing back chair, staring at him pensively was Lucius Malfoy. The regal man, didn't even need to speak and he could command the room as he lifted a delicate eyebrow in question. Dawlish coughed nervously as he moved forward.
"Please, sit. I know how hard it is to work for the ministry at the moment." Lucius smiled politely, his grey eyes like steel as he watched his every movement.
"Thank you, Lucius. I trust you are well?" Dawlish drawled as he sat and immediately poured himself a drink. Lucius chuckled, the wry smile on his face did not reach his eyes and sounded hollow.
"No, I am not. Did you speak to the little blood traitor?" Lucius took a long drink from his snifter.
"Ah, no. Unfortunately, my partner bungled it all up. I'll fix it tomorrow." Dawlish shifted nervously in his seat, not meeting the man's gaze.
"It was meant to be done days ago. The little chit can't possibly be allowed to tell what happened." Lucius said slowly through gritted teeth.
"I understand that, Lucius. I've already spread it around a bit that she's promiscuous. No one will take her seriously even if she does talk." Dawlish said confidently, which only made the blonde scowl.
"If only Cornelius had not suddenly grown a spine, I could have had this business dealt with. Instead I am left to rely on...you." Lucius sighed as he refilled his glass. "I should have just killed the little bitch and been done with it."
"Why didn't you? It would have been easier to cover." Dawlish asked curiously as he drained his snifter.
"My...associates panicked when they saw our masters mark in the sky. The wards fell as soon as Yaxley left." Lucius spat angrily. "Not to mention, I need something she has. If she's dead I can't possibly get it back."
"What does she have? I could easily arrange a raid on the Weasley home." Dawlish shrugged nonchalantly, watching the blonde from the corner of his eye.
"If she had it, I would know. The little bitch did something with it! I knew she would be powerful but that was an item enchanted by our lord with dark magic! I felt drawn to the compulsion charms on it, how a 12 year old girl could possibly..." Lucius shook his head angrily, leaning back into the chair with his eyes closed. "Just make sure she says nothing about what happened that night."
"She did see a healer..." Dawlish swallowed noisily as Lucius's eyes snapped open to stare incredulously at him.
"And you didn't think to mention that sooner?" Lucius hissed, glaring at the auror.
"She's not been to St. Mungos, otherwise I could have gotten her there. Medi-witches love a bloke in uniform." Dawlish chuckled, trying to ease the tension.
"You're right I should have killed her. Just do what I pay you to do" Lucius waved a hand, effectively dismissing him. Dawlish didn't need any further encouragement as he practically leapt into the fireplace. Draco Malfoy moved away from the door silently, absorbing the conversation he just listened to, trying to make sense of it. "Come in, Draco."
"Yes, Father." Draco stepped into the room confidently, his cheeks only slightly pink from being caught.
"How did you manage to get into Slytherin, you have no cunning or guile?" Lucius frowned at his heir in disappointment. "So, you heard our conversation on the Weasley chit, I presume?"
"Yes, Father." Draco said stiffly, stopping himself from fidgeting as he sat gracefully on the sofa closest to the blonde man.
"What do you think, Draco?" Lucius smiled cruelly at the teenager, watching him closely.
"I admit..I'm confused Father. I was under the impression you wanted to turn Miss. Weasley's allegiance. Show her the meaning of being a proper witch." Draco said hesitantly. Lucius smirked and he took a long drink.
"You thought I wanted you to woo her?" Lucius asked with a hollow chuckle. He thought back the conversation he had with his heir almost two years ago. Panicked by not receiving any reports on the Weasley girl turning dark, he looked to his son to keep an eye on his classmate. He should have known he would think it was an opportunity to break away from his betrothal with Pansy Parkinson, he never was inclined to remain in the girls company long.
"I'm so-" Draco started to apologize but immediately shut his mouth when his father slammed his snifter down on the table. The Malfoy heir closed his eyes and drew a deep breath, fortifying himself.
"Malfoys do NOT apologize, Draco." Lucius said sternly. "No, I did not wish you to woo the chit. I wanted you to watch her...I placed a piece of very dark magic with her. It should have tainted her then had her father disgraced at the ministry. Something happened to disrupt my plans. Now, I need that diary back..."
"You want me-" Draco started eagerly but was silenced by the sharp look his father sent him.
"I do not want you to associate with such filth. While her blood may be pure, the girl spits on everything we believe in. Associating with half-bloods, mudbloods, and other vermin." Lucius sneered at his son's stoic face, noticing the tinge of pink that was spreading up from his neck. "You will stay far away from that girl while I deal with the problem."
"Yes, Father." Draco nodded gracefully, letting the silence fall between them.