It\'s So Difficult to be Mature

Chapter 3: The Rescue Too Easy

Ginny carefully walked down the stairs followed by Lisa who was carrying James. Ginny made her way into the livingroom and situated herself on the sofa.

"I’m sorry to have eavesdropped, but I couldn’t help but overhear. Hermione, Ron needs time to cool off. In the mean time, my husband is in a prison somewhere with Voldemort breathing down his neck. Do we have a solution?"

"We’re going to try a locating spell, Gin," Harry answered. "If that doesn’t work we’ll regroup and come up with another plan."

"Well, let’s start locating!"

They all trooped into the library, where Harry selected a large, leather-bound book off one of the shelves. It was green and the cover was frayed. The inscription was too worn to read, but Harry seemed confident about his choice.

"Here this is the one, location spells. We need something that belongs to Draco. Ginny, do you have anything?"

Ginny seemed reluctant to speak. "Well, I do, but you’re going to think this is silly..."

"Ginny," Harry said, exasperated, "we don’t exactly have time for this. Just give me whatever it is that you have."

Ginny reached around her neck and grabbed the chain that hung there. On the chain was a gold locket encrusted with diamonds and a good-sized ruby. She opened it and inside, instead of a picture, was a lock of silvery-blonde hair.

"Here," she said handing it to Harry, "and don’t say anything. It was a wedding gift from Draco. It’s a Malfoy family heirloom and it’s tradition for the locket to be passed down to the newest Malfoy bride."

"Um, don’t you think it’s a bit extravagant, Gin?" Hermione asked.

"No, I don’t. I happen to like it. Now, you have a lock of Draco’s hair, can we please start the spell?"

Harry pulled out a map of England. "Now if the spell works, then Draco will show up on this map– if he’s in England. So here we go."

Harry said a few poetic words in Latin and they waited with baited breath for a few heart-wrenching seconds. They let out a collective sigh when a small red dot labeled Draco Malfoy showed up on the map.

"Oh thank goodness," Ginny said ecstatically. "So? When can we go get him?"

"We?" Lisa repeated. "Ginny, you’re pregnant. Seven months, I’d say. You aren’t going anywhere."

"He’s my husband! I have a right to want to rescue my husband. Let’s go."

"You’re not going anywhere, Ginny. This is too dangerous for you," Lisa explained.

"I’ve been in danger before. I can handle myself," Ginny retorted.

"When you were in danger before, you weren’t seven months pregnant!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Seven and a half," Ginny grudgingly admitted.

"Exactly, you don’t want anything to happen to Draco’s baby, do you? Act sensibly, Ginny," Lisa said softly.

Ginny looked from Lisa, who’s face was set in her ‘stern nurse’ look, to Harry, who’s face was blank, no emotion at all, to Hermione, who’s face bore an expression of concern.

"Alright. Harry, you have to save him, you have to!" Ginny’s voice rose to a higher pitch.

"I will, Ginny. I promised." Harry looked from his wife to Hermione. "I’m going alone. It will be safer if there’s only one man."

"Harry, you can’t go alone. It’s too dangerous! This is Voldemort’s personal castle we’re discussing here!" Lisa exclaimed.

"Lisa, darling, I’m not planning to duel him this time. That can come later. This is purely a rescue mission. If I’m alone and I have my invisibility cloak, then it should be fairly simple."

"But, Harry–"

"But nothing, Hermione. Go home, check on your children, and talk to Ron. Lisa you have to stay here with Ginny and take care of the children. I’m going to take the map, my wand, and the cloak. I should be fine. Now, Lis, if you need to reach me, use the telekinesis spell. I happen to be highly sensitive to it so it shouldn’t be difficult to reach me."

Lisa looked upset and Hermione was bordering on mutinous. Of the group, only Ginny looked calm and Harry supposed she was thinking of her baby.

"You can not order me back to my house! You are not in charge of me, Harry Potter! I am not ready to talk to Ron."

"I am not trying to control you, Hermione. I know how much help you’ve been to me in the past, but this should be relatively simple and every one will be much safer if only one person goes."

"Why does the one person have to be you?" Hermione asked.

"Let’s not make this a big argument. This isn’t the time for it. Let’s just say that the one person will be me because I have the most experience with Voldemort."

That answer failed to pacify Hermione, who looked like she was about to dispute that argument. Before she could say anything, Harry spoke again.

"I shouldn’t be gone very long. I assume that I can’t Apparate there so I’ll need two broomsticks. Lisa, give me James and I’ll put him back to bed. Can you grab the Lightning Bolt and the Nimbus 3000 from the closet? Thanks."

As Lisa left to collect the brooms, Harry went upstairs to put his son to bed. Looking at his children sleeping peacefully, Harry swelled with pride and a new resolve. He would help Draco Malfoy for he was going to be a father too. He deserved to see his child.

Lily stirred in her sleep. As Harry looked down at his daughter, who looked so much like him, he thought about how lucky she was to be able to sleep peacefully. On stormy nights such as this, Harry was plagued by nightmares, remembrances of the horrible ordeal two years ago, more popularly termed ‘the Massacre’.

"Harry, hurry! Neville’s invited us to see his new place, and we still have pick up Ginny!"

"I can’t believe that the Ginny we know is the same Virginia Weasley who’s such a big shot at Gladrags Wizardwear," Harry said as he came down the stairs.

"Harry, I’m worried about leaving Lily with a sitter– especially with the attacks that have happening lately," Lisa said worriedly.

"Lisa, darling, if you’d rather stay here then by all means, stay. There are many protective charms placed over the house. Now, I’d better leave."

Looking back, Harry realized how lucky Lisa was that she didn’t go with him that night.

Harry shook himself from the memory and ran down the stairs. Lisa was holding two fine looking brooms, and Ginny was talking with Hermione, who was still disgruntled.

"Alright, I’m ready. I’ll see you later and I’ll bring Draco back here. Thank goodness the rain stopped." Harry kissed his wife and waved to Ginny and Hermione. Then he walked out the front door and mounted his Lightning Bolt. With another wave goodbye, Harry Potter flew off into the night

* * *

Draco’s head was hurting again. He had racked his brain, trying to come up with a solution to his current situation. Something Draco Malfoy had always prided himself on was his resourcefulness. It was a necessary tool if you were the son of a prominent Death Eater.

Draco strained his neck to look at his surroundings. Voldemort would be back soon, and he would want to know what Draco’s sacrifice was. The problem was, Draco didn’t have a sacrifice. He stretched his arm and grimaced. His whole body hurt, and he had pain in places he didn’t know he had.

A single tap on the door was all the warning he was allowed before Voldemort walked in. Draco felt an involuntary shudder run down his spine.

"Draco, have you thought of a proper sacrifice yet?"

"Um, no, I haven’t, Could I have a little longer? Or maybe forgo the sacrifice altogether? I really don’t have anything you’d want."

"I think you do, but I will give you more time. Remember, Draco, there are only two ways you can leave here– you join me or you leave here in pieces."

With that parting shot, Voldemort swept from the room. Draco thought that he had kept his cool, but he found that he was trembling instead. Carefully, Draco stood up and took a good look around what could only be called a cell. There was some fresh water in a pitcher in the corner and a single barred window. It was too high up to see out of, but it let in the occasional cool breeze. Aside from a few cobwebs and a three–legged stool, the room was sparse.

Draco, darling, can you hear me?

‘Ginny?’ he thought.

Thank goodness you’re still alive! Listen, Harry’s on his way to rescue you. We know where you are! Isn’t that wonderful?

‘Yes, wonderful.’

You don’t sound very happy. Is something wrong? You didn’t agree to his proposal, did you?

‘Of course not I can’t wait to see you darling. I’ve been so worried!’

I’ve been worried about you as well. I have to go now. I’ll see you soon, dearest.

Draco felt the pressure lift from his mind and he knew that his wife had left. Suddenly Draco realized how alone he was. Ginny had left him alone with his thoughts.

* * *

Harry stopped his flight in the middle of a densely wooded area. Voldemort’s citadel was just down the dirt path, he’d be there in no time. Harry stowed the brooms behind a tall pine tree and cast an Unnoticeable Charm so that no one would steal them. Then he set off down the path.

The nearer Harry got to the castle the closer his thoughts got to the Massacre. He couldn’t help but remember the fear that surrounded that day. They had been so happy, and so naive.

Harry, under the cover of his invisibility cloak, surveyed the fortress. He walked around to the back (quite a feat considering it’s size) and considered his options. He somehow had to get inside without tripping any alarms or bumping into anyone. The only solution was to go through the front gate. As soon as a Death Eater went through, Harry, under his cloak, would follow on his toes.

The first phase of the plan went smoothly. Harry followed a burly Death Eater right past the guard. He was inside, only he wasn’t sure where to go from there. He checked the map and the dot labeled Draco Malfoy winked up at him from the paper. Harry started down the hall, periodically checking for Death Eaters or any other horrible creatures. The Halls were clear, everything was silent.

Harry went from room to room, peeking in the tiny window on the door. His heart went out to some of the people he saw in those rooms, but he couldn’t help them right then. If he could, Harry resolved to come back and help them.

Finally Harry reached the right cell. He was too busy trying to unlock the door to notice the conspicuous absence of activity. When Harry looked though the window and saw Draco Malfoy lying on the ground, a flood of memories rushed back to his mind.

Harry shook himself from the reverie and set about trying to solve the problem that lay ahead. Draco was locked in a cell right in front of Harry, but how to get him out? Carefully, Harry tapped on the door. Draco lifted his head and looked straight at Harry, but showed no signs of recognition. Harry quickly remembered that he was wearing the invisibility cloak, and whipped it off.

Draco now saw Harry Potter standing outside his cell, but it wasn’t gratitude that showed up on his face. Ignoring that, Harry set to work on the lock. He went with the most basic of spells first.

"Alohomora!" Harry cried and to his surprise the door swung open.

Harry rushed into the prison and grabbed Draco’s arm. "Come on, Draco. We have to get out of here!"

"Potter, something isn’t right. Where are the alarms? Where are the guards? This is too easy," Draco commented.

"Never mind that now, Malfoy. If it’s easy to get you out of here, then I’m thankful. Let’s go, and try not to make noise."

"Who put you in charge, Potter? Who do you think you are, McGyver?"

"Very funny, Malfoy. I didn’t know you watched Muggle television."

"Are we going or not?"

Harry through the invisibility cloak over them both and they snuck out of the room. It seemed that Draco Malfoy hadn’t changed much since their Hogwarts days. Harry didn’t feel very comfortable squashed next to Draco underneath the cloak, but he suppressed evil thoughts of leaving Draco behind. Harry had vowed years ago, if he could stop it no one would ever die in his presence again.

"Harry, hurry, his pulse is slowing!"

"Ginny," Harry said between gritted teeth, "I am driving as fast as I can. Unlike your father’s, this car doesn’t fly."

"I just thought of something. Ron was going to the party tonight and he can Apparate. What if he just Apparated to Neville’s and was killed! What will we tell Hermione?"

"Ginny, I think you’re overreacting. Ron is a very intelligent wizard. I’m sure he’s capable of taking care of himself, and he may not have even been there."

They continued driving at a blazing pace. Darkness had fallen and it was snowing again before they reached a city. Harry drove instantly to the nearest hospital with Ginny fretting the whole time. They got Mr. Lazarus checked in and to a room, then proceeded to get help for the town of True Destiny.

Harry Apparated to the Ministry of Magic and reported in. The Ministry had become much less skeptical about issues concerning the Dark Arts since Minister Percy Weasley had come into office. When Harry arrived the entire Ministry was abuzz, they had just received word about the attack and sent their best Aurors to investigate.

By the time they reached True Destiny all of the Death Eaters had disappeared and the Aurors were left to count the dead. There was one more to add to the list that night. Mr. Lazarus died in the hospital a few hours later of ‘unknown causes’. Ginny had been by his side and later she told Harry that his last words were, "I suppose that this was my true destiny after all.’

Harry grabbed Draco and steered him out of the castle. They made it out of the fortress with no problems and proceeded down the path. Once they made it to where Harry had placed the brooms, they each grabbed one and took off into the night in complete silence.

Harry let out a sigh of relief when they reached his home. Dismounting from his Lightning Bolt, he opened the front door and walked into the living room. Asleep on the sofa were Hermione and Ginny, and Lisa was sitting in another chair reading a magazine, reading glasses perched on the end of her nose.

"Harry! Oh, Harry, darling, you’re alright! I was worried. And you found Draco!" Lisa flung herself at her husband and kissed him fiercely. Her loud welcome woke Ginny and Hermione, and the former rubbed her eyes to make sure that she was really seeing her husband.

"Draco? Oh, Draco, are you alright? I was so worried about you, and I missed you so much!" Ginny kissed her husband, who seemed incapable of speech.

Once everyone was comfortable and situated, Harry described the adventure.

"That’s it? It was that easy?" Lisa asked skeptically.

"I told Potter something was wrong. It was too easy," Draco said, giving his wife’s hand a squeeze.

Suddenly Lisa sniffed the air.

"What’s wrong, Lis?" Hermione asked.

Lisa’s face got cold. "Harry, grab the children. We’re in danger and we all have to leave right now!"