Stormy Weather

Dumbledore entered the Great Hall alone. The rest of the teaching staff was still out searching for any more signs, but he doubted they would find anything. Whoever had done this was too good. The students shifted about nervously as they watched him stand before them all. "I have an announcement,” he intoned. "Hogwarts will be having a few extra guests. Two of our students have vanished and we will need their help in locating them and those who took them. Until they are found, all extracurricular activities have been cancelled and I request that students please remain within the school."

He wasn't surprised by the murmurs that spread, and quickly overrode them. "If anyone here knows anything about the disappearance of Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy, I suggest that you see me as soon as you possibly can." He looked at the Gryffindor table, to where the seventh years were staring at him. "Ron Weasley, your parents wish to speak with you. You will find them in Professor McGonnagal's office."

Ron fidgeted a little as the Headmaster left. He couldn't imagine what his parents were doing here; he hadn't done anything wrong that he could think of.

"You might want to go now," Harry suggested quietly. Ron looked back at his friend.

"Did you know? About Hermione and Malfoy?" Harry nodded slightly in agreement.

"I saw their brooms fall, but McGonnagal told me not to tell." He looked a little disturbed over it. Ron wasn't too surprised; Harry still tended to take responsibility for things that weren't even remotely his fault.

Ginny poked her head around Harry. "Ron, you'd better go. You don't want to keep them waiting." Her brother nodded quickly and hurried out of the Great Hall. Ginny watched him go. "I wonder what he did this time."

"Who knows." Harry turned his attention back to his food, and did his best not to worry too much about Hermione and Draco. He knew they'd be found. They had to be.

Ron knocked on Professor McGonnagal's office door and waited nervously. He almost came out of his skin when he heard his mother's voice. "Get in here, Ronald!" Oh, no. She called me Ronald. I am so dead.

He opened the door carefully and looked inside. His parents were seated in McGonnagal's guest chairs, and both looked just the way they did when the twins got up to something. He gulped slightly, and was about to say hi when his mother snapped again. "What is this nonsense that you broke up with Hermione and didn't tell us?"

Was that was they were upset about? "Oh, hi, mom." He could handle this.

"Answer the question!" You know, it really was amazing just how much like a man-eating tiger she looked just then...

"Yeah, I broke up with her." Granted it probably wasn't one of the smartest decisions he'd ever made, but what was done was done.

His mother stared down at him, and for a heartbeat he felt as if he were five again. "Why didn't you tell us?" He hesitated for a moment, and her brow furrowed in anger. "Yes??"

"Honestly, mom, it's not your business." Ron told her, bracing himself for the storm. I love you, mom, but I'm a big boy now. I can't just keep wetting myself every time you frown at me.

Molly eyed him angrily. "Well, I guess inviting her over for the summer is out of the question now." He couldn't be sure if she were more upset over the breakup or the disturbance of her plans, and he didn't think it would be such a good idea to ask.

"I didn't know you were thinking about doing that." He murmured quietly, more than a little shocked himself. His mother glowered at him angrily, and he was almost certain he'd be getting a Howler or two out of this.

"If you had told us, we wouldn't have started to plan it!" The woman who had given birth to him practically shouted. His father leaned over, stepping into the silence that fell afterwards.

"We were so happy when you and Hermione started dating. She's always been like a daughter to us, and now we have to explain to her parents about her being kidnapped." Arthur had always liked talking to the Grangers, but having to deliver a message like this was not something he was looking forward to.

Ron's fists clenched just at the thought of her in danger. She can take care of herself. She's probably wiping the floor with them right now! Whoever they are. It's his fault, though. It's all because of him! "She wouldn't have been kidnapped if she hadn't started dating Malfoy!"

"Which is the real reason we're not too happy with you. We did not enjoy having to find out from Lucius that they were dating, and you had broken up!" Arthur was definitely more annoyed over who he had discovered the news from than the news itself!

His mother gave him another sharp look. "Just why did you break up with her?"

"I liked someone else." Ron thrust his jaw out stubbornly. He hoped his parents would get the idea that he didn't really want to say anything else on the matter, but either his body language went over their heads or they just didn't care. Knowing his luck, he was ready to believe the latter.

"Are you still with this girl?" Molly wanted to know. Ron shook his head, but kept all other details to himself. This was some part of his private life they really didn't need to know. "Was it worth it?"

He thought about that a moment before answering. "I wish I hadn't done it like that, but it wouldn't have lasted with Hermione anyway."

"Who did you see in your potion?" His mother looked slightly curious and he fidgeted slightly. This was going to sound silly.

"Hermione. She doesn't think that's who I saw, though." He thought back to the picture that she'd shown him. She doesn't have a sister, she told us that already. But who is that?

His mother nodded slightly. "I see. Once we get her back, things can finally be settled." She pointed him back towards the door. "Head back to whatever you were doing. We need to talk to her parents."

Ron wasted no time getting out of there, taking deep breaths as he did. Well, it could be worse. At least I wasn't grounded.

"Oh, and Ronald."

He turned to see his parents in the doorway. His mother spoke again. "When you get home after school this year...you're grounded for a month."

Narcissa shook her head lightly over the state of Draco's room. His robes lay spread over the chairs, beds, and desk; his books were piled in stacks everywhere, along with various potion ingredients and rolls of parchment. It was a typical seventeen-year-old boy's room.

She could see the disapproving look in Lucius' eyes as he checked out his son's quarters as well. Without a word, she started to pick things up, putting them away neatly. She noticed her husband picking up the journal that he had given Draco for his fourteenth birthday and looked into it. "Something there?"

Lucius handed it over to her, and she took a look. Emblazoned on the pages were some pictures of a slightly familiar person. "This must be Hermione. She's blossomed some since we last saw her in Diagon Alley."

"I believe it is her." His distaste was quite evident in his voice. She shook her head; he was as stubborn as the hills sometimes. Not that she really minded. It had its moments.

She glanced at the pictures again and smiled. "Our son has improved on his artistic skills." He got that from her. Draco probably wasn't aware of it, but she had done several of the paintings in Hogwarts during her own student days. I wonder if he ever took Magical Paintwork...I don't think so...Lucius wouldn't let him even if he'd asked.

Narcissa looked around the room again, then saw a picture on his desk. She glanced from it to the journal in her hands, and nodded. "Yes, this is her." The picture had Hermione on a broomstick, waving at someone out of the camera range. Her image flew in and out quite gracefully, with a look of amazing happiness shining across her face.

"Unfortunately." Lucius murmured. Narcissa shook her head.

"You aren't going to change his mind on her, if she is the one that he truly saw in his potion."

Lucius snorted. "I don't recall that meaning I have to like it."

"Your parents grew to like me." Narcissa reminded him. "Perhaps you'll do the same for her?" The look he directed at her clearly said he considered that as likely as Voldemort arising from the dead once more and declaring he was going to marry a Muggle and take up raising daisies. "Lucius, you've kept this shell around your heart for far too long. If you don't do something, you just might lose our son. He's outlived any of the other children we've tried to have. He's a fighter, and he will return to us alive."

"We'll see." Lucius didn't sound quite hopeful, but she ignored that. She was not going to let doubt creep into her heart at all concerning Draco's safe return.

"Excuse me." They both turned towards the door to see Professor Snape standing there. "Professor Dumbledore requests one of Draco's spare robes, so that Hagrid's beast has a better chance to track him down."

Narissa picked up one of the robes and handed it over quickly. Snape nodded slightly, then swept away, his cloak billowing around him in its usual fashion. The slender witch looked at her husband. "We'll get a room in Hogsmeade, so we can be closer to Hogwarts when Draco is found." She'd learned long ago the best way to deal with Lucius was not to ask him questions but to tell him what they were going to do. It hadn't kept him away from the Death Eaters or some of the things he insisted on Draco learning, but at least it was working now. With Draco's journal in hand, she swept out the door.

Molly Weasley had never had the interest in Muggle things that her husband had, so she wasn't entirely certain what all of these things that she was seeing as she hurried through the hospital corridors did. All she knew was they were how Muggles dealt with sickness and injury. It smells so strange here. I wish Arthur hadn't gotten distracted by those thermo-whatevers...

She found the door she was looking for and looked inside. Emma Granger lay on the bed, her eyes half-closed at first, but as Molly tapped lightly, she looked up with a brighter smile. "Molly! Hello!"

"Hello, Emma. How are you feeling?" The witch came closer, feeling a bit odd in her Muggle clothes, but that really didn't matter. The person laying here was what mattered.

"A lot better. Where's your husband?" Emma glanced around for Arthur carefully. The Weasleys and the Grangers had gotten to know each other a little better over the years, and Mr. Granger was no longer as shocked by Arthur's constant question asking about the fascinating things of the Muggle world.

Molly rolled her eyes slightly. "Shiny things caught his attention. I think they were called ther-mom-...something. I don't really understand what they're supposed to do, but he was just fascinated."

"I'm not surprised." Mr. Granger stepped from behind her. "He'd stopped asking me about the tools I use so he must have gotten involved with something else."

The witch nodded, then took a quick look around to make certain that no one was able to hear them. "I didn't just come for a visit." They both looked at her with concern in their eyes, so much like Hermione's. "Did you know that Hermione has been seeing Draco Malfoy?"

Emma frowned as she thought. "She mentioned something about seeing someone other than Ron, which was a little surprising. But she never mentioned his name." Malfoy. Why does that name sound familiar? I know I've seen it somewhere or heard it. Maybe she mentioned it some other time.

"I know how you feel." Molly would never forget hearing it from Lucius Malfoy. Arthur was still getting over that. Her friends were still waiting to find out what was going on, though. "Hermione and Draco have been kidnapped. The entire staff of Hogwarts is searching for them, but the Headmaster wanted you to be told."

Emma Granger looked at her, then quickly started attempting to get out of bed. Her husband hurried over to stop her, with Molly helping him. "You need to stay here!" The witch told her firmly. Emma shook her head.

"My daughter needs me!"

Molly knew exactly how she felt. "I know, Emma. I'd be feeling the same way if it were one of my children. But there's nothing you can do right now. She doesn't need you to get hurt by rushing off like this."

"Will you let me know when they're found?" Emma asked with a sigh, leaning her head back on the pillows. Molly nodded at once, and Emma looked towards her husband. "Why is this happening?"

"I don't know." Mr. Granger patted her hand gently, doing his best to keep her comforted. Everyone looked up as the door swung open, and Arthur Weasley came in. Molly tilted her head slightly at him.

"Had enough fun?" She wanted to know. He nodded quickly as he looked at Mrs. Granger.

"How are you holding up?"

She looked at him with a nearly amused gleam to her eyes. "I want to help Hermione! My daughter's in trouble and I can't do anything about it!"

"You can." Arthur reminded her. "By getting stronger. She's going to need you when we get her back." Emma looked as if she might pout if she were thirty years younger, but that was well. He looked at his own wife. "I'm going to go back and help in the search. I don't like the Malfoys, but Hermione is family. I'll owl when we find her." His eyes flicked from her to the Granger, and she picked up on what he wanted at once.

"I'll be here." Maybe she could finally figure out just what the Muggles used all these weird things for. Maybe it'll help me understand Arthur. I love him, but he can be so strange...and so strong when he has to be. She had never been prouder of him than she was right now.

Once Arthur was gone, the three of them who were left behind fell into their own quiet thoughts. Emma thought of all the strange and wonderful things her daughter had told her about the world of wizarding. Surely they'd be able to find her and this Draco. "Please...let my little girl be all right..." That was the only wish in her heart.

Hermione collapsed onto the floor, wearing something that had been a semi-decent outfit an unknown amount of time earlier. She shivered, more from the whip wounds and worse that were all over her than from the temperature. Tears squeezed out of her eyes as she tried to get up, then slid back down to the stone floor. It took her a few moments to realize the pained and muffled squall she heard came from her own throat.

Arms came around her, and she leaned a little more into the body behind them. Draco did what he could to soothe her until the pain eased and her muscles stopped shaking. "I...heard something..." she whispered softly. "They thought I was unconscious...whoever is in charge...he used to work for your father...they're doing this to get back at your family...they said...that you were next...you've got to get out of here!"

He shook his head firmly. "Not without you." Nothing had changed his mind from before. He was not leaving without her.

"It's your only chance!" Hermione tried to get it through to him, but he wasn't going to listen to her this time. She took several deep breaths and closed her eyes. "I noticed something...the wands...our wands....are on a shelf outside the door..." Her eyes rolled up in the back of her head and she slipped down into unconsciousness.

Draco carefully eased her onto the floor and turned to the door. This is going to have to be quick. Good thing I am. He walked over carefully, noticing that there was no lock there. No spell, either. Idiots. They're going to deserve anything they get. He could see the shelf across the corridor, with several convenient gaps in the wall he could use for grips, and he was also almost certain he could see his own wand there. Ebony, dragon heartstring, seven and a half inches. It had been part of him since he had bought it from Ollivander and he wasn't going to let these idiots keep it from him.

He closed his eyes for a moment, calling on something inside, and where he had stood, there was suddenly a white ferret. He scuttled out of the room and up the wall, his toes gripping into the gaps quickly and easily. He considered what to do as he stared at the shelf. I can't pick them up like this, I'm too small...but... He carefully knocked them both to the floor, then ran back down and nudged the wands into the cell.

Hermione's eyes fluttered just as he rolled them in there, getting hers in front of her, then shifted back to his human form. "D...Draco?"

I wonder if I should have told her I'm an Animagus? He pushed the thought out of his mind and tried to help her up. "Ready to get out of here? We have our wands now. Nothing can stop us." She nodded slightly and did her best to lever herself up for a moment before sliding back down.

"I'm going to slow you down..." He tried not to notice the blood smell growing stronger as he held onto her. He'd been too busy in his ferret form to really think about it, and now he still had too much to do. Only one thing I can do.

He picked up his wand and thought for a moment. Yes, that was the right spell. He murmured the word carefully. "Dormio!!" Draco grinned in pride as Hermione slumped into a deep sleep in his arms. And Flitwick said I still needed to work on the Sleeping Charm.

The young Malfoy considered just what to do next. He didn't have a lot of time; their 'hosts' would be back any time now. I think I'm going to have to transfigure her into something and carry her out like that. I hope that's not going to hurt her too much.

He raised his wand once more, trying to make up his mind. Then, all thoughts of what to make her into vanished as agony ripped through his mind and body. It took him a few heartbeats to be coherent enough to recognize it: the Cruciatus Curse. As he flailed and screamed, he managed to catch sight of one of their captors, standing in the door and pointing a wand at him.

As the spell was cut off, Draco collapsed into a heap, sweat-streaked and exhausted. The other wizard snorted with disgust, then grabbed the younger man by one arm and threw him back on the bed. Another wave of his wand sealed Draco's wrists to the headboard, pinning him there easily. Draco saw the same thing being done to Hermione, a soft whimper sliding from between her lips as her injuries were stressed even more.

"What a stupid little boy. Tomorrow," their captor sneered at them. "Tomorrow, you can kiss your girlfriend good-bye...forever! Crucio!"

An agonizing scream ripped out of Draco, his muscles tightening as the spell shattered into him. All thoughts of dignity and not showing weakness in front of his captors vanished in the everlasting avalanche of pain. Somewhere from the other side of the torment, he thought he heard a familiar voice, then suddenly...

Silence.

He'd stopped screaming. Blessed, unbelievable silence...and an end to the pain.

Draco slowly opened his eyes to see two figures he'd never thought he would see together: or be so glad to see at all. Hagrid glowered at the one who had been his captor and was now leaning against the far wall, half-dazed and with a broken wand beside him. Professor Snape gave a quick sharp jerk to his own wand, and the restraints on Draco faded away.

They found us... Draco had never truly been grateful to anyone in his life that he could remember, except for a fleeting heartbeat towards McGonnagal when she'd interrupted the false Mad Eye Moody as he'd been banging Draco against the walls and floor. At least not until now. He quickly tucked the gratitude where he wouldn't have to look at it anymore and tried to figure out what to do next.

Snape obviously already knew as he freed Hermione, then removed his cape and wrapped it around her carefully. "Grab those two, Hagrid, and put them on the beds. Mr. Malfoy, can you stand?"

"I think so," Draco carefully got to his feet, doing his best not to fall. "How is Hermione?"

Hagrid glanced from her to him, confusion in his beetle-black eyes. "She looks all right." Draco was fairly certain Hagrid hadn't been caught up on what was going on with the two of them, and at that moment, he couldn't be bothered to clarify things.

"I cast the Sleeping Charm on her," Draco informed the two elder wizards. "She's in a lot of pain."

"Well, Professor Snape'll fix 'er up!" Hagrid told him cheerily as the younger man picked up their two wands. Snape glanced at the injured witch, his shoulders moving slightly in what might've been a shrug.

"After we get back to Hogwarts. For now, it will be best if she remains that way...and quieter for us all." A flick of his wand and a couple of muttered charms later, and the two men who had been the cause of all their trouble were tied to the beds Draco and Hermione had been on. "We aren't that far from Hogwarts grounds. The Headmaster and the Ministry of Magic will be informed as to where they are, and I sincerely doubt they'll be able to get past the wards I'm going to set up, even if they were able to get out of this room."

Draco glared at them for a moment, then nodded. "Let's get out of here." He heard a faint mumble coming from Hermione's direction and frowned. "What's she saying?"

"She said that she loves ya...can't ya hear?" Hagrid asked, picking the sleeping woman up carefully. Draco refused to react in any way; letting her see the slightly softer side of him was one thing. But this was his Head of House, and a half-giant. That was something else entirely.

He quickly hurried out of the room, finding his way outside as swiftly as he could. Fang was waiting outside, a bag around his neck that had what looked to be one of his robes peeking out of it, shrunken somewhat. That must be how they found us. He glanced back at the other two briefly. There were certain courtesies that had to be observed. "I'm glad that you found us."

Snape nodded briefly. "It appears as if we were just in time. The quickest way back to Hogwarts is through the Forbidden Forest." He indicated the spreading greenery in front of them with a slight jerk of his head. "Let's go."

"Fang!" Hagrid called to his creature. "You go on ahead and let Dumbledore know that we're on our way back with them." The boarhound barked, then raced off on the trail ahead of them. Draco watched him go with something almost like relief.

He might be a coward, but he still found us. Maybe I won't turn him into a slug this year.

He kept quiet as they hurried along the pathway, shooting occasional looks at Hermione as she slept in Hagrid's arms. She was going to sacrifice her own life so I would get out. Why? That doesn't make any sense. If that was what it was to be a Gryffindor, he was ten times as glad he was a Slytherin.

Those thoughts, and more like them, kept him occupied until they'd left the Forest behind, and rising above them was the impressive expanse of Hogwarts. They were home.