Chapter 23 - Caught in the Act
The weekend fallowing their informative DADA lesson, Harry made arrangements with Remus to meet in his room in order to work with the ideal lesson plans for the DA. Harry quickly learned that he had a lot of work to do. After about an hour of talking over different lesson ideas, the two wizards decided to take a break.
"Remus?" Harry asked, just remembering a question he'd been meaning to ask.
Remus arched an eyebrow as he went about preparing tea for the two, "Hmm?"
"Has anyone heard from or seen Tonks?" He asked.
A heavy sigh escaped his professor, "No. She's been missing for over a week and we've not heard word."
"Do you think they took her?"
"I really don't know. My best guess is that they did. But I think if they took her it was on accident."
"What do you mean?"
Remus sat two mugs of tea down on the desk and reclaimed his seat, "They have no reason to take Tonks. She's an Auror, they may as well simply kill her."
"So, what do you think happened?" Harry asked, slightly confused.
"Well, Tonks is a Metamophagus." Remus said, at Harry's increased confusion he continued. "My theory as to what happened is that they were there looking to capture some one else and Tonks purposely transformed herself to look like their 'prey' and instead of taking the person they were sent to get, they took Tonks."
Harry frowned slightly, "But who was it they were sent to get?"
Remus shrugged and leaned back in his chair, "My guess is some one who is close enough to you, and the rest of the Order, to be used against us. Some one who they think can be easily bended to their will. Some one with the knowledge as to how to affect you the most. And most obviously, a female student."
"A female student because 1) it's Tonks and 2) they came from the train," Harry finished. He frowned slightly as he went down the list of people it could have been. "The only girl I can think of that could really be used against me is Hermione."
Remus nodded, "And that doesn't make sense because Bellatrix attacked Hermione, if Voldemort planned to use their captured person against us, he'd want the person alive."
"But if you think about it, she fits the categories you just listed. She's close to me and several Order members, she's muggle born so they would obviously think less of her. Hermione knows exactly what to do to get to me, and she's quite obviously a female student." Harry said.
The older wizard frowned in thought, "Perhaps Voldemort only told specific Death Eaters who he wanted. Bellatrix may not have known that Hermione was suppose to be taken."
"Now that part doesn't make sense," Harry said. "Bellatrix and her husband are said to be Voldemort's top supporters."
"Ah, but that doesn't mean he'd give them every assignment he has. That would give them the idea that he likes them," Remus said.
"But for an important assignment, he'd give it to one of the Death Eaters that he trusted most," Harry argued.
"Which wouldn't necessarily be the LeStranges. It very well could be..." Remus dropped off as his face paled.
"Lucius Malfoy," Harry said, eyes wide.
Both wizards fell silent, each caught up in their own thoughts. Harry remembered seeing the two Malfoys dueling, but when he came back Lucius was unconscious. Or was he? How could Harry be certain that it was Lucius that lay unconscious on the train floor? With a sigh and a frown, he removed his glasses and placed them on the desk. He rubbed his hands over his face and through his messy hair. He slipped his glasses back on and glanced at Remus, "So what do we do?"
Remus arched an eyebrow, "We do nothing. I have told the Order my theory and they will do what is necessary to find Tonks. We wouldn't want a repeat of June, now would we?" As soon as he said the words he knew he shouldn't have.
Harry clenched his jaw and got to his feet. "If we're done here, Professor," he made the last word a bit more pronounced, clearly saying he wasn't impressed in the least. "I should be getting back to the common room."
"Harry," Remus said in a half-warning half-exasperated tone.
"I'll inform Ron and Hermione of our lesson plans," Harry continued. Without giving Remus a chance to say another word, he turned on his heel and exited the office. He picked up his pace and hurried down the corridor, though he had no intention of returning to the common room, and he certainly had no intention of sharing that conversation with Ron and Hermione. No, the only person he had any intentions to speak to at the moment was a certain blonde Slytherin.
He quickly made his way up a few sets of stairs where he knew Draco liked to begin his Prefect rounds. He over heard two voices coming his direction and slipped into an unused classroom. Pulling his wand from his pocket as he closed the door all but just a crack, he watched as a black head of hair and a familiar white blonde head passed by. Sticking the tip of his wand through the space between the door and the frame he whispered something and watched as a pale blue beam darted out and hit Draco on the back.
The blonde wizard glanced casually over his shoulder, icy eyes landing on Harry. He gave an almost invisible nod then turned to his companion. "Hey Go on ahead, Blaise. I've got to go take care of something, I'll catch you later." The dark haired boy nodded and continued down the corridor. As soon as he'd turned the corner Draco slipped into the classroom where Harry hid. "What's up?"
Harry latched the door and leaned back against it. He took a deep breath and told Draco about the conversation that he and Remus had had. Draco listened closely and looked thoughtful. "So what is it you are wanting to do?"
"I want to go after her. If she impersonated Hermione, then it was my fault she was taken." Harry said.
"Right, and you come to me because...?" Draco said.
"I don't want a repeat of last June," Harry replied. "I don't want to drag Ron and Hermione into this."
"I see, so I'm expendable?" Draco asked, eyebrow arched.
"No, you just know how to defend yourself better and you have better knowledge about what we might encounter," Harry said simply.
The blonde wizard looked mildly pleased for a brief moment before coming back onto the topic. "Alright, tell me your plan. I'm in."
~*~
Nine o'clock that evening found the two wizards in the Room of Requirements. Harry had brought along his Invisibility Cloak as well as the Marauder's Map. "You know where we're going right?" Harry asked again, for the tenth time.
Draco rolled his eyes, "Yes, Harry, now come on, we've got to get going."
Harry nodded and the two boys turned toward the door. Once the door was opened, he nearly dropped everything he'd been carrying. Standing right in front of him were Ron, Hermione and Ginny, the three he'd not wanted involved. He exchanged looks with Draco who gave a nervous laugh, "Ron...Hermione...Ginny...what-what are you doing here?"
Hermione had crossed her arms across her chest and Ron looked furious. Ginny, on the other hand, couldn't seem to decide whether to be hurt or angry. "I suppose we should ask you the same thing, huh?" Hermione glared.
Harry sighed, "Well seeing as the three of you are here, I'm assuming you already know."
"We went to catch you in Remus's office after your 'lessons planning', but you were gone," Ron said. "He told us about how you walked out on him. He assumed you would look for Draco, and warned us to keep an eye out."
"Unfortunately for you," Ginny cut in. "Crookshanks heard you. He alerted us and we fallowed you here, plotting to take off again for who knows what reason."
Harry tried to respond once more but was cut off again. "I don't know what's worse, Harry," Hermione snapped. "The fact that you tried to keep us in the dark. Or the fact that you won't listen to Remus."
He had finally had enough, "Do you have any clue as to where I'm planning on going? Or for what reason?" Three heads shook in the negative. "We're going to Malfoy Manor."
Hermione tried to cut in but Draco took over, "Tonks is missing Hermione. She took your image and was captured by my father. He though she was you. We're going to get her out of there, because who knows what they've done to her by now."
"We're coming with you," Hermione said.
"No!" came Draco and Harry's protest. Harry glanced at Draco and continued. "No, Hermione. None of you are coming this time, I'm not having a repeat of last June."
Hermione glared, "I think that you'll need us more than you'd like to believe. There is no way that just two of you are going to be able to get to Tonks let alone get her back out with out help."
"Actually, Hermione, the fewer the better on this trip," Draco said. "You don't know how many traps my father has laid about the Manor. We have to be in and out with in a half an hour, and I'm sorry but I'm not going to be able to take care of all of you."
"We can take care of our selves Malfoy," Ron growled.
"Not this time, Ron," Harry said. "Listen guys, Draco and I are going, we are the only one's going on this trip. Two will go in, three will come out."
"You are not pushing us away Harry!" Hermione glared.
"I'm not, Hermione. I am making absolutely sure that no one gets hurt. You are the brightest witch of our year, but you have little idea what to expect. Draco does," Harry said sternly.
"Then Draco can just show us the plans to the Manor so we know where to be careful," said Ginny, who had been silent up until now.
"Sorry, we don't have time." Draco said, pushing past the group, Harry right behind him.
As they walked down the corridor Harry turned to his friends, "Don't think to fallow us, I'll know," he said, holding up the Marauder's Map.
Hermione scowled and crossed her arms back across her chest.
"What do we do?" Ginny asked quietly.
It was Ron that answered, "We fallow them."
"But the map...?" Hermione said.
"I don't give a damn, Hermione." Ron said.
"Well I do, Come on, we need to go talk with Remus and Sirius," Ginny said.
The two red heads made their way toward the DADA offices, leaving Hermione to fall slightly behind. The young witch glanced down the corridor in the way Harry and Draco had just disappeared. With a heavy sigh she said, "Be careful, Harry. Please be careful."
~*~
Harry and Draco had made it off the school grounds and, somehow, made it to the Manor. They sat crouched behind a bush, both scanning the area. Draco had mapped out the grounds and told Harry where the traps where. The only thing now, was to get in there.
Author's Note: I know this was a bit of a cliffhanger, but what fun would it be if you got it all at once? Sorry, actually I need a bit more time to think how to work the rescue mission. I love writing the chapters where some one gets into an argument, but this next chapter is going to be a bit difficult. It may take a while, but I promise it will be worth the wait! Anyway, tell me what you think of this chapter in a nice long review!
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