Insomnia

Mothers of the Disappeared

Midnight, our sons and daughters

Were cut down and taken from us

Hear their heartbeat

We hear their heartbeat

In the wind we hear their laughter

In the rain we see their tears

Hear their heartbeat

We hear their heartbeat

Night hangs like a prisoner

Stretched over black and blue

Hear their heartbeat

We hear their heartbeat

In the trees our sons stand naked

Through the walls our daughters cry

See their tears in the rainfall

May 28th, Four years ago.

Hermione clutched her coat around herself and ran up the huge stone steps of the beautiful white Georgian building that was home to the Ministry of Magic.

Opening the door, she briefly waved to the witch at the reception desk and hurried up the curved staircase towards the Aurors' Department, just in time for the daily briefing.

As soon as the glass doors slid open, she could tell that something was horribly wrong. Instead of the usual sight of wizards and witches drinking coffee and swapping banter with Sirius as he read out the days' assignments, he and everyone else Hermione had ever seen in the Department were sitting, stunned, listening to Remus read out something from an official-looking piece of parchment.

"...took control of the German Ministry of Magic at seven o'clock this morning. Intelligence indicates that Muggle-born wizards and witches all over Germany are disappearing. We think they may be detaining them somewhere in Berlin. Greta Freiinger, leader of the German branch of the Order of the Phoenix, has requested we send troops in immediately..."

Hermione scanned the room until she found the familiar blaze of red hair, hurried over to where Ron was sitting and tapped him on the shoulder.

"My God, Ron, what's going on? I arrived late..."

Ron looked up at her dully. "The Death Eaters took Germany last night."

Hermione sat down, feeling like she'd been punched in the stomach. Overcome by the shock, she could barely register what Remus was saying.

"... all units must report to their leader for assignments directly after this brief."

Remus sighed and folded the parchment, putting it in the pocket of his robes before looking up at the gobsmacked room.

" This is it, friends. Dumbledore has ordered that we deploy units within the day. Go to your team leaders for briefing."

Hermione raised her hand, and Remus nodded at her.

"Sir, how did this happen? All the intelligence reports said they were planning something in Norway. Germany seemed fine."

"That's correct, Granger. It appears that our spies in Germany were under the Imperius curse. The Death Eaters have claimed control of the Magical

Government and under the leadership of Voldemort, are capturing Muggle born wizards. We're not sure how they got in, or what they're planning, but we have to work fast. We're Apparating there today." He looked over at Sirius, who stood up and began to speak.

"We're looking to move out at around three o'clock this afternoon. We will review your assignments with you until twelve, at which time you will all be given an hour to go home, pack whatever you need and explain this to your families. At one o'clock you will return here so that we can issue you with everything you need." He suddenly looked very old and tired. "I'm sorry that we have to rush this. We never thought it would come to this." Sirius straightened up and the aura of weakness left him. "Now report to your team leaders immediately."

Ron gave off a little strangled noise of pain, and Hermione realised that she'd been clutching his hand the whole time, and that it was starting to turn blue. She let go, and looked up at him in dread.

"I can't believe it. This can't be real." Ron took her in his arms and held her close, whispering soothing words of comfort and stroking her hair.

"Shh. It's okay. We're Britain's finest, we'll go, we'll fight, and we'll win. France, Austria and Switzerland are sending in Aurors, too. You know we can do this."

Hermione nodded, and pulled away, looking for the rest of Dragon team. She saw Harry, Amy, Liam and Draco in the corner talking to Sirius.

"Come on," she said to Ron, "We'd best get over there." Hand in hand, they hurried over. Sirius nodded at them when they arrived.

"Right, that's everyone here except for Clementine. Has anyone seen her?"

Amy nodded. "Yes. She's throwing up in the bathroom. I think she's in shock."

Sirius sighed. "Poor girl. Could one of you go and get her? We don't have much time."

Amy turned to go, but the unfortunate Clementine had just emerged from the bathroom and was making her way over to them, still looking a bit pale.

She looked at Sirius nervously. "Sorry, Sir."

The team leader smiled at her. "Don't worry. I feel like throwing up too." Then he got down to business. "Dragon team, you not being sent to Berlin. Instead, you, and eight other teams will be sent to small towns and villages in Germany. You will be given lists of the local magical population, both Muggle- and Wizard-born. Your job is to stop them from disappearing, and to evacuate them to Britain. We are setting up refugee facilities outside Yorkshire."

"We will split into pairs. We have been Paired as follows: Walkins and myself," -Amy nodded - "Marks and O'Neil;" - Clementine and Liam glanced at each other - "Granger and Malfoy, and Potter and Weasley. Are there any questions?"

Ron's hand shot up. "Sirius, why haven't I been Paired with Hermione?" He wasn't looking happy.

Sirius explained it patiently, just as he had explained it to Ron many times before. "The Pairer takes each person's individual skills and weaknesses into account, and Pairs them with the person they will work best with. Besides, you know it's Ministry policy not to Pair people in a relationship. If something happened to one of you in the field, there's no way of telling how the other one would react."

Ron glared at Sirius in frustrated anger. "You mean, if one of us dies, don't you?"

Sirius stared back at him. "Ron, I have no control over the Pairer. Or over Ministry policy. We have a job to do. Just be thankful that you're all going to be in the same place."

Slightly appeased by this, Ron nodded his assent. Hermione squeezed his hand, and looked at him curiously.

"What was that about? We've been Paired with other people before." He frowned and ushered her away from the others to talk to her.

"I don't want you Paired with Malfoy."

"Why not?" Hermione smiled. "Would you like to be with him?"

Ron glared at her and she bit her lip. He seemed very agitated.

"Then what's wrong?"

"Come on, Hermione! He's the son of one of the biggest Death Eaters ever! You could get killed!"

This time it was Hermione's turn to glare.

"Don't be stupid, Ron. He's one of us. He trained alongside us for three years. He's a member of the Order of the Phoenix. Dumbledore trusts him. Harry trusts him. Sirius trusts him. I trust him. And you have to, too."

Ron looked at her with what seemed very much like a pout, and Hermione understood.

"Ron, I know that you and he didn't exactly see eye-to-eye at school. But now's not the time. People are relying on us to help them."

The pout diminished a little, and Hermione could tell she was winning.

"Come on, think of all those people. I'm Muggle-born, imagine what you'd feel like if I disappeared."

There. That struck a nerve. Ron nodded in defeat.

"Okay. I'll be good. But if he looks for one moment like he's going to hurt you, I'll..."

Hermione gave him The Look, and he meekly followed her back to Sirius and the others.