PART II. GREECE
`You do realise if you're found responsible for the death of Hermione Granger you will go to Azkaban!'
`I am above Azkaban!'
~ The Hunt Is On! ~
Harry's legs quaked as the soles of his feet slammed to the floor. The dustpan he'd been holding remained in his hand. Had they made it? Were they in Greece?
`Where the bloody hell are we?' came Ron's voice, echoing Harry's thoughts. Where ever they were, they were no longer in Snape's broom cupboard - that was for sure!
`We did it!' whispered George excitedly, standing to Harry's left. `We're in the Hogwarts Hunter's tent!'
`We're WHAT!' said Ron, causing the twins to hush him brusquely. Ron lowered his voice. `You let us pop up in the middle of the Hogwarts Hunter's tent? Are you mental?'
`Where did you think we were going to "pop up"? The Drakon's a-hole?' Fred suggested.
The inside of the Hogwarts Hunters tent had been bewitched into a spacious living room, complete with working fireplace. They appeared to be alone; the only sounds being the crackling of burning wood, and the regular ticking of a grandfather clock. Harry brought his attention to a round timber table by the fireplace, encircled by three plush couches; it was on the tabletop that he saw a series of strewn maps, all showing various trails to Mount Olympus.
`What if we landed on a teacher?' Ron continued to complain.
`Do you see a teacher?' said George, waving a hand flagrantly around the room. `I don't see - '
`Ah…' said Harry, tapping George on the shoulder. On cue, a humming Professor Flipwick entered through the tent flap. He stopped and gasped when he saw -
`Students!' he screeched, his tiny eyes popping out of his head, which then darted to the dustpan in Harry's hand. `What are you doing with Professor Snape's Portkey? You - '
`Prosificus Totalis!' Fred pronounced, directing his wand.
Professor Flipwick's body stiffened like a statue and tipped to floor. It reminded Harry of his first year at Hogwarts, when Hermione had done the exact same spell on Neville.
`Professor!' cried Ron, running to Professor Flipwick's body. `We've struck a teacher…' he muttered woefully, `…we are sooo dead!'
`On the contrary! I feel very much alive,' said Fred, grinning.
Krum went to join Ron, staring down at Professor Flipwick.
`He is a very small for a man.'
`Yeah, thanks Krum, really helpful!'
Suddenly, outside the tent, a set of arguing voices were drawing closer...
`This is highly uncalled for, Lucius!' reprimanded the first voice. Harry recognised it immediately.
`It's Snape!' he whispered, panicked.
`Crap!' said Ron, even more panicked.
`Everybody, hide!' said George, already in search of a hiding place.
`Ron!' said Fred, going to stand beside him and Professor Flipwick. `Help me put the Professor into one of the cupboards…'
Ron gaped at him.
`You can't put a Professor in a cup - '
`They're coming in, quick!' hissed Harry.
They split apart. Harry and Krum dived behind a set of drapes, Fred and George levitated themselves to the ceiling and Ron, most reluctantly, was forced to accompany Professor Flipwick in a cupboard. Taking a risk, Harry edged a gap in his drapes, allowing himself a view of the living room…
`Mark my words, Severus,' drawled Lucius, as Harry saw him sweep into the vicinity - like he owned the place. `I do not know where the little Mudblood girl is.'
`I have a witness who says otherwise,' said Snape flatly, stalking after him. Lucius smirked.
`Really? And who may that be?'
`Percy Weasley,' Snape testified. `He claims to have seen you arrive with your son, Narcissa and a young girl.'
`Nonsense!'
`This isn't a game Lucius!'
`Oh but it is, Severus! It's the Annual Drakon Hunt, remember?'
Lucius turned his back on him, chuckling coldly. This only angered Snape further.
`You do realise if you're found responsible for the death of Hermione Granger you will go to Azkaban!'
`I am above Azkaban!' Lucius threw back, spinning around. `What happened to you Severus? You use to have such potential. Now look at you? Working for an old crackpot and worried about the whereabouts of Mudbloods.'
From outside the tent, a distant sound of a trumpet began to blare.
`Ah, do you hear that?' said Lucius, a finger to his ear. `The Hunters Congregation is about to start. If you'd excuse me, I must return to my tent…'
`I know you're responsible for Hermione Granger's disappearance, Lucius,' said Snape, not permitting him to leave just yet. Lucius stared Snape threateningly in the eye.
`Prove it.'
To Lucius' amusement, Snape didn't say anything.
`Yes,' he chuckled, `that's what I thought.'
Harry watched Lucius walk out. A minute or so later, Snape did the same. After making sure the coast was clear, the five boys came out of hiding: Harry and Krum emerged from the drapes, Ron crawled from his cupboard, and the twins levitated to the ground. There was a mournful silence between them. Ron was the first to speak.
`The death of Hermione Granger?' he said quietly, repeating the very words that had chilled Harry's blood.
For a moment, Harry just stood there, transfixed. Then, with a strong note of resolve, he said `that's it. Lucius must have Hermione. We need to get out of here now!'
~ What Percy Saw ~
Harry and the others left the Hogwarts Hunters tent and outside into a clear, crisp day. They were right in the hub of the Annual Drakon Hunt. Much like the Quidditch Cup last year, rows of tents spread in every direction across the grassy plain, representing hunters from all over Europe. Wizards and witches were emerging from their tents and clustering together in large groups, heading towards the beckoning call of the trumpet.
`Here, Harry,' said Fred, passing Harry a red hooded cloak. `We found these in the Hogwarts tent. Thought they might help to make us blend into the crowd, `case someone recognises us.'
George donned his cloak and struck a pose. `How do I look?'
`Like a hooded git,' Ron assessed.
In step with the crowd, the five of them stayed close, blending in as best they could, though it didn't require much of an effort. The wizards and witches around them were far too preoccupied with talk of treasure and dragon-fighting tactics to question their presence. Harry though, was particularly weary of staying unnoticed. The last thing they needed was someone recognising the The-Boy-Who-Lived and raising a scandal.
`Where are we going?' Harry whispered to George, keeping his head low.
`Hunters Congregation,' he whispered back. `There's always one on the morning before the hunting.'
`So?' said Harry, who couldn't care less about some Hunters Congregation. `What does that have to do with anything? Shouldn't we be trying to find the Malfoy's tent? Hermione's in danger!'
`Remember what Snape said though? About Percy seeing Lucius arrive here with a young girl?'
`Indeed!' said Fred. `Good ol' Percy the prude might be useful for something. For once.'
Ron suddenly approached Harry.
`Are you thinking what I'm thinking?'
`About George being a hooded git?'
`No, I mean about Snape! Why would he care less if Hermione was missing?'
`I don't know,' said Harry, who hadn't thought about this. `Maybe he doesn't want Lucius to go to Azkaban?'
`Yeah, maybe,' Ron speculated, and added with a grin, `they're probably having a secret affair or something.'
Moving with the crowd, Harry soon saw a towering, circular stadium become visible up ahead. It was far before it's time, and made entirely of stone.
`That's the Amphitheatre,' said Fred, as though reading Harry's mind. `It was built by ancient Greek wizards. No Muggle has ever been able to see it of course; it's covered in Muggle-Repelling Charms…over here, this way!'
They were now proceeding through the main entrance of the Amphitheatre, Fred leading the way. As they entered, Harry quickly took it all in: the space around him was outstandingly large; like being inside a giant, multi-layered stone bowl. Tall banners showing the moving head of a growling, purple dragon with yellow eyes and sharp fangs were frequently hung on stone pillars. So that's the Drakon Harry thought with foreboding, preferring not to look for too long.
The seats were quickly being filled. The place was packed; there must have been over thirty thousand witches and wizards. Harry wondered how they were ever going to find Percy. Ron had an ingenious solution.
`Look for Fudge. Percy will be with Fudge!'
`Yeah,' agreed Fred. `Following him around like a lost puppy no doubt. Come on then, Fudge would be with the VIP's, down the bottom.'
Harry noticed a selection of VIP boxes encircling the base of Amphitheatre, which had been organised as the stage. Drawing closer down the steps, Harry could just make out a blatant head of red hair, sitting next to none other then Cornelius Fudge himself.
`There!' Harry pointed sharply. `That has to be him. Come on, let's go!'
Pushing past an enthusiastic group of wizards trying to sell Drakon souvenirs, Harry and the others quickly made their way down the stairs and towards the stage. On arrival, they sneaked, one by one, to the space behind the box where Percy was located. All Fred and George had to do was seize him at the precise moment…
`Tell me, Percy, is your family attending the Hunt this year?' they heard Fudge say.
`Not all of them, Mr. Fudge,' said Percy's voice, pompous as ever. `Only my father and eldest brother, Charlie. He's working as a Guardian this year. My younger brothers Fred, George and Ron are at school as we speak. The best place for them in my opinion. Trouble makers those three.'
`Indeed. Pardon me, Percy, I'll be back in a moment…' Fudge stood out of his seat.
`Anything I can help you with, Mr Fudge?' Percy groveled, also standing.
`No. I'm going to the lavatory, Percy.'
`Oh...right. Good timing sir!'
Once Fudge left, Fred and George had their chance.
`AAHH!' Percy yelped in fright, feeling a show of hands suddenly pull him backwards. He landed on the ground behind him with a `thump'. Dazed for a second, and lying on his back, he eventually looked up to see -
`FRED! GEORGE! RON! HARRY! Viktor Krum…? WHAT IN THE NAME OF - '
`That's enough from you dear brother!' sneered Fred, pointing his wand at Percy's head.
`Quite enough!' said George, also pointing his wand. `Yell like that again and we'll turn you into Fudge's toilet seat!'
`How dare you!' said Percy, sounding most harassed. `The nerve! This is an outrage of the highest order! I don't know how you've gotten away with this, but I can assure you - '
`Shut up!' said Fred and George in unison.
Percy closed his mouth, eyeing their wands with grave caution. Harry, thinking of Hermione, was anxious to move things along.
`Percy, did you see Lucius Malfoy arrive here with a young girl?'
`What?' said Percy, his eyes shooting to Harry. `Are you talking about Narcissa? Because she's hardly a young - '
`No, a girl!' Harry stressed. `Like our age?'
Percy looked him over, suspicious.
`How do you know I saw that?'
`We're asking the questions around here!' said Ron, getting in on the act. `Did you see Lucius with a young girl or not?
`Yes yes! I saw Lucius with a young girl! And may I kindly remind you all that skipping school is an offense of the highest - '
`Please, Percy,' Harry implored him. `This could be a matter of life and death. Was the girl you saw with Lucius Hermione Granger?'
`Hermione Granger? I don't know, it was late at night and frightfully dark! Can I please get up off the ground now…'
`Not yet!' said Fred, driving the tip of his wand into Percy's nose. `Is there anything else you can tell us about the night Lucius came?'
`I…well, no!' he said, going cross-eyed. `I mean, at the time I swore I saw Lucius towing the arm of what looked to be a young girl into his tent. I informed Mr Fudge on the matter, and a few other officials from the Ministry, but nobody seemed to think it important…what is this all about? You're hurting my nose!'
Fred removed his wand from Percy's nose, and turned to Harry. `I think this is all the help we're going to get. You, Ron and Krum go find the Malfoy's tent. We'll keep an eye on Percy the prude.'
Harry, Ron and Krum all nodded. Before they departed, George ushered Harry to the side. `Here, take these with you,' he said, promptly handing Harry a book and a cloth-covered bottle from his backpack. `It's that book, A Wizards and Witches Guide to Love Made Easy. I read up on the counter-potion for the Aphora Bewitching Potion before we left. I can't remember everything it said, but you'll need this,' he indicated to the bottle. `It's a sample of Malfoy's potion. He'd hidden it with the book.'
`How did you…?' said Harry, astounded. This was an impressive amount of information to take in.
`Never mind that now,' said George hastily. `Listen, I put some dragon's blood in Malfoy's potion, too. The instructions said the potion needed to be mixed with an anti-love ingredient. Hopefully when you find Hermione, you'll be able to cure her.'
`Careful, George,' said Harry teasingly. `You'll turn into a Potions scholar if you're not careful.'
`Oh, stop!' said George, pretending to blush. `Now get of here! Go save the girl.'
`Harry, come on! What's the hold up?' Ron whined, waiting impatiently.
Taking what George had given him and cramming into his backpack, Harry united with Ron and Krum and ascended stairs of the Amphitheatre.
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