Night 4/ Day 5
Outside an old house
Easter Monday
9:45pm EST
The four of them crept up the tree line with Hermione walking backwards, wand out making sure no one was going to surprise them from behind. Harry had done a sweep with his wand but detected no magical shields outside the home. They needed to get closer to see if they could detect anything inside the two story house. If there were wands in there, and they had been used, they would know.
Cresting the hill, Harry was the first to see the gazebo. He elbowed Draco and pointed towards the run down building. They could barely see even with the minimal light from their wands. But, now that the house was in sight they all muttered "nox" and pitch black descended suddenly, except for a lone dim light in the window of this particular house.
"I'll go see if I can find that window to the bedroom, get a reading. Ginny, can you go to the front and tell me what you see there?"
"Okay." She set off slowly picking her way through the wet grass and sparse trees. This house would be perfect for hiding people. It was at the end of a road, the nearest house was at least 200 yards down the street and trees stood to one side and a row of hedges, leading up to the gazebo, on the right. Following the hedge line she made it to the front, seeing a light shining out the small window near the front door. Curtains were drawn but she could hear the very muffled sound of a television. She circled back around, feeling Draco fall in step behind her. Harry was walking around the gazebo and Hermione was carefully looking at the trees in the back.
"I found the window," Draco whispered. "It's too dark, I can't see anything, but I know she and Brian are in there. Harry said he got readings of two wands, Brian's signature being one."
"How do we do this? He's in there watching the television. Do we just knock on the door and hope he opens it, apparate in and take him by surprise?"
"I don't have any readings of anti-apparation wards. Probably because he's afraid that it would've given him away, especially if we found one in a Muggle neighborhood," Hermione stated, and she could barely make out three heads nodding in agreement.
"Well, I think we should apparate in, Hermione stupefies him, Ginny brings out the ropes," Draco broached. "Harry and I can then find the way downstairs. I have no idea what is down there and I don't want to apparate on top of our kids. Once Nott is secured, one of you send your Patronus to President Boyle who'll contact Dumbledore with our location. The Ministry can come and deal with him."
"Who'll apparate the kids to St. Mungo's?" Ginny asked thinking maybe she should.
No one said anything.
"I think maybe Ginny and I should. When you find them, guys, call us. One of us will come down and then both of you come up and keep an eye on Nott until the Ministry or whoever gets here. We'll take the kids since we have the clearance to bypass registration at St. Mungo's. If for some reason I don't think they are well enough to apparate we'll get that fireplace connected to the Floo Network and floo them," Hermione thought aloud.
"Sounds like a plan. Apparate into that front room. Stupefy, wrap him up; we'll find the door to the basement and find the kids, who are probably sleeping since the lights are off down there," Draco planned and on the count of three, holding hands they all disapparated from the backyard.
---
9:55pm EST
Nott's Living Room
Nott lept off the sofa after hearing a multitude of unmistakable apparating "pops".
"What the…," he began yelling, eyes going wide seeing four adults standing in his living room.
"Stupefy," Ginny said simply and he collapsed back onto the sofa before he could even glance around for his wand which was the cushion next to him. Ginny leaned over, grabbed it and threw it behind her, hearing it clatter to the floor.
Hermione wordlessly pointed her wand at him, muttered the anti-apparition charm and heard the guys walk back towards the kitchen. Ropes appeared on Nott's ankles and wrists then she pointed her wand at the door.
"Expecto Patronum," and out shot a deer (her patronus changing from an otter when she married Harry) which
took off through the door and disappeared down the lane, invisible to Muggles.
"Nice to see you again you arsehole. You took our kids…now the fun begins," Ginny said venom dripping from her words and Hermione pointed her wand at Nott's throat, watching him start to come around. Ginny slapped hers against her palm, taking every ounce of willpower she had not to "crucio" him right there, then turn and run after Draco and Harry. She heard them "alohamora" a door somewhere behind her…
"Steps down," Harry muttered, reaching for a light switch; on flicked the fake electric wall torches, only two. They walked silently to the bottom, lest there be someone else down there, but as they carefully slid the door open they were greeted by darkness and silence.
"Lumos," Draco muttered and his wand lit up a small hallway. Harry peeked in the door to his right, heart racing and saw a bathroom, relaying this to Draco.
"Down here." Draco took the hall in six long strides and tried the door, it was locked but a simple "alohamora" brought the almost inaudible click of something being unlocked. Harry glanced at Draco both of them clearly on edge and Draco opened the door slowly, illuminating the room with his wand…as he opened the door wider he and Harry stood at the doorway looking in. Their wands lit up a bed with two figures under the covers, backs to the door. They heard someone mumble something, causing Draco to stiffen and Harry knew he recognized the voice as Marissa's. Walking over they found them asleep, facing away from the door, Marissa's arm flung over Brian's waist, her breathing deep and even.
Draco fell to his knees, feeling Harry's hand on his shoulder for a moment. A few deep breaths later he brought
himself under control feeling Harry crouch down next to him.
"Ready to wake them?" he asked softly and Draco nodded, seeing Harry move to the other side of the bed and hearing him sit on the edge of the bed.
"Hey, son, wake up…its dad," Draco heard him say his voice thick with unreleased emotion.
"Turn out the light," Brian mumbled, rolling over clearly still asleep. Harry made a sound between a laugh and a sob.
"Marissa," Draco said softly watching her roll over to her other side, now facing him, mumbling like Brian.
"S'off," she mumbled thickly almost seeming to have a conversation with Brian in their sleep.
"I really want to just shake the hell out of them wake them up, but maybe we should let the girls come down and check them out," Draco whispered as he reached out and let his palm rest against Marissa's cool cheek, feeling her smile a bit under his hand, then he dropped it, seeing how hallow her cheeks were.
Harry cleared his throat and mumbled he'd go get them, and he walked out of the room his footsteps fading away down the hall and up the stairs.
----
9:57pm EST; 2:57am GMT
Spare Bedroom
Marissa was dreaming she was on a boat, gently rocking back and forth. A light was moving around blinding her and she brought up her hands, trying to block out the light.
She turned to Brian in her dream, telling him to turn off the light, but he said he didn't have one and had no idea where it was coming from. She turned around in the boat trying to move away from it, but it seemed to follow her movements. Brian put a hand to her cheek, telling her if she kept her eyes closed, the light wouldn't bother her as much. So she did, and soon the light seemed to fade away, letting her sit in the boat in peace.
-----
9:59pm EST
Spare Bedroom
Ginny and Hermione came rushing in, wands lit since they couldn't find a switch for any lights.
"He kept them in the dark? No lights? Damn him," Ginny cursed, falling to her knees next to Draco who squeezed her arm then, with difficulty in leaving Marissa as he had just found her, turned and went up to deal with Nott and the Ministry who would arrive in the next few minutes.
"Marissa?" Ginny reached over and smoothed back her hair, watching her move her head a bit and smile.
"Tired…lemme sleep," she murmured and Ginny blinked back tears. Hermione rested a hand on Brian's shoulder and glanced at Ginny across the bed, both of them seeing his arm find Marissa's waist and settle down upon it.
"They've lost weight and have all the symptoms of …," Hermione started, her Healing mode kicking in, but not disguising her voice which cracked.
"I know…drugged with a sleeping potion…probably to keep them subdued when he dragged them to Ireland tomorrow. But I think they'll be ok if we apparate them into the children's ward," Ginny finished softly.
"Why don't I go ahead and get two beds ready because if we apparate them laying down they'll end up on the floor at St. Mungo's… if we don't get a room ready. Then I'll come back here and direct us back to the hospital?"
"Thanks Hermione. I know you don't want to leave him neither do I…," Ginny said gratefully.
"I know…I'll be right back," Hermione extinguished her wand and pocketed it, disapparating with a soft POP.
Ginny got a full minute to observe the two sleeping teens, her heart soaring, tears running down her cheeks, but she didn't make a sound. She didn't even hear Draco come up behind her and place a hand on her shoulder.
"The Ministry's here up with Nott. Harry's giving them the run-down and contacted President Boyle from Salem I. Where's Hermione?" Draco noticed she wasn't in the room and nodded when Ginny told him their plan.
"We're done. We found them," Ginny choked out, brushing tears off her cheeks then falling into Draco's arms, forcing him to sit down on the floor, brushing their school bags. He grabbed the cloak and pulled revealing them and he gave a small smile.
"Yeah, we sure did. We'll contact everyone when we get back to the hospital," Draco kissed her, tasting her salty tears.
"He used a sleeping potion on them, probably in the water they had before bed," Ginny swiped at the tears, hearing Draco curse under his breath as he hugged her tightly.
Hermione apparated back in saying two beds were set up and she made the decision to set them up in the same room, divided by a curtain. They had been together for four nights and she realized that separating them might not be the best idea at the moment.
Harry came walking in holding two wands. He tossed Marissa's to Draco who pocketed it, then waved Brian's over the sleeping forms.
"Sticking charm is off though you wouldn't be able to tell," he cocked his head, now seeing Brian's arm draped over Marissa's middle.
"Ready?" Hermione asked eager to get out of there and rested her hand on Brian's shoulder.
"Ready," Ginny took Marissa's hand which flinched slightly then relaxed.
And seconds later the four of them disapparated from Nott's spare bedroom, leaving him upstairs with Ministry officials, an American representative and a severely broken nose matching a broken rib.
----
St. Mungo's Hospital
Children's Ward
11:15pm EST; 4:15am GMT
"Azkaban is too good for Nott," Ginny said watching a vile of replenishing potion and sleeping draught neutralizing potion drip into the children's arms. Both of them pale, thinner with their cheekbones a bit more prominent than when they left. They now lay in bed, both on their backs, clad in gowns, lights turned down a bit but neither one was waking up. Both had mumbled a few times as they were being poked and prodded but pure exhaustion combined with the potion had overcome them.
"Agreed," Hermione said and looked up as their two very tired looking husbands walked in, saying they sent word out via Owl. By the time everyone woke up they'd know Marissa and Brian were safe.
"I have to tell you Hermione," Draco walked over to where she was finishing up washing her hands. "I'd recognize that broken nose anywhere," he actually squeezed her shoulder quickly, the most praise anyone outside the family was likely to receive. Hermione smiled at him then turned to Harry.
"Brilliant," Harry shook his head oddly pleased Hermione hauled off and hit Nott.
"He'll be hurting around his ribs tomorrow too," Hermione shot Ginny a significant look and received a slight shrug in response. She felt Draco touch the back of her neck, acknowledging that he knew she hauled off and kicked him, but didn't say a word.
Glancing over at Brian, Draco felt a new admiration for him. He had never felt any more or less for him than his numerous nieces and nephews the Weasley clan had, but this boy seemed to have taken it upon himself to protect Marissa just from the way his arm had been securely situated over her hip. Finding them fully clothed had eased his mind a bit but he honestly believed that these two supported each other and Draco couldn't wait to hear their story.
"I think we should all try and get some sleep," Ginny yawned and pushed herself up out of her chair.
"You want us to take first shift here?" Harry asked, knowing he could sleep anywhere.
"We'll do it," Hermione answered for both of them. "You guys go home, get a few hours then come back. We aren't going anywhere," Hermione slipped her arms around Harry's waist and hugged him hard.
"Let us know if anything changes," he said kissing the side of her head.
"We will," Ginny answered, receiving a quick kiss from Draco who still didn't like a lot of public displays of affection.
"I'll be back," Draco let his hand rest on Ginny's cheek and she nodded, then watched him walk over and press his lips to Marissa's head.
After another round of hugs, Draco and Harry walked out, both pausing to look back then disappeared out the doors. Hermione and Ginny stretched out on the sofas next to their children's beds and within minutes were asleep.
----
St. Mungo's Hospital
6:00am GMT
Marissa knew something was different before she opened her eyes.
The bed was softer, her clothes were different…but something else was missing.
Reaching out a hand she searched, her hand hitting an invisible barrier.
Her muddled mind was having problems making the ends connect.
Brian wasn't there, but there wasn't supposed to be a wall there either (she had been hitting the invisible charm that was placed around the bed to keep her from falling out), where was he?
She tried to call for him but she couldn't form the words…everything felt heavy and it was so hard to stay awake, so she drifted off back to sleep trying to form his name on her lips once more before she succumbed to the pleasant darkness.
----
Ginny shot up off the sofa, hearing Marissa moving and mumbling. Hermione heard it too and cracked open an eye.
"Everything alright over there?" her friend called from across the room.
"Marissa's talking in her sleep again. I think I heard her say "Brian"," Ginny replied groggily and she walked over seeing Marissa turn her head from side to side as if trying to shake off something.
"Here," Hermione stood up and with a flick of her wand, slid Brian's bed over to Marissa's, taking down the barrier between them.
"What're you doing?" Ginny asked curiously and in the middle of a yawn.
"She's been in the same bed with him for what? Four nights? She's looking for him…let them wake up here together, it'll be less of a shock." Hermione checked the potion and saw that there was another hour to go until the full amount would be in their systems, they should be waking up any moment and she couldn't wait to see their faces.
"Good idea," Ginny watched as Brian rolled over onto his side, somehow knowing Marissa was there. She saw him reach over and put his arm over her again.
"Merlin…it's like automatic for him," Ginny mumbled, not quite sure what to make of this. Hermione watched her son sleep, the color returning to his face…she could only nod feeling a sense of pride for how he seemed to protect Marissa…not that she couldn't stand on her own two feet and take care of herself, but just looking at Marissa, you could tell she looked so much more fragile and thinner than the last time she had seen her, weeks before.
Suddenly Brian jerked and Ginny saw his eyes fly open; then his arm flew up and covered his eyes, his hoarse voice saying something like "turn them off". Hermione took down the charm from around the bed and sat on the edge.
"Brian, it's mum," she reached up and gently took her sons hands, which were now covering his eyes as Ginny doused the lights another notch, making it very dim.
Brian opened his eyes, feeling someone holding both hands and he blinked; confusion all over his face. For a moment he was completely quiet, letting his eyes wander over his mother's face then at the potion bottles above him. Turning his head he saw Marissa curled up on her side under the white hospital sheets and blanket then he looked back at his mother, seeing her eyes bright with tears and a smile on her face so happy he knew this wasn't a dream.
"How're you mum?" he asked, feeling groggy then suddenly found himself with a face full of her hair, her arms wrapped around his shoulders and neck.
"How am I? You sweet boy, you aren't supposed to be asking ME that…how are you? How are you feeling? That's much more important." She pulled away and kissed him on his cheeks, feeling the scratchy facial hair under her lips.
"Are we really…where are we?" he asked weakly raising a hand to his mother's shoulder then dropping it.
"Yes, you're really out of Nott's hellhole and you are both here at St. Mungo's. It's six in the morning on Tuesday," Hermione told him resting her hand on his cheek, feeling Ginny come up behind her and laying a hand on Brian's shoulder.
"Oh," was all he said for the moment, his eyes meeting Ginny's. "Marissa okay?" he asked her and received a nod, then closed his eyes as she leaned over, kissed his forehead and murmured a thank you just loud enough for him to hear.
"I feel so tired and weak," Brian said turning his head and letting his gaze rest on Marissa's
sleeping form. "Did Nott slip something into the water? How stupid of us too…."
"Brian! You have no right to say "stupid" with everything the two of you have been through. He just did it to keep you sedated enough to apparate or floo you into Ireland, thinking that Draco would just hand over Amy," Hermione scolded him and a ghost of a smile flitted across his face, thinking about how nice it was to hear his mother get a bit miffed at him.
"How is Amy?" he asked and again felt his mother's vice like grip around his shoulders. He brought a hand to her back and patted her awkwardly.
"She's a bit embarrassed, upset, scared…everything….thanks for asking…and when Marissa wakes up we'll tell you how we found you two." Hermione pulled back wiping tears away and Brian closed his eyes, mostly so he didn't have to see his mother cry.
"I'm still tired," he shifted back onto his side. "Where's dad?"
"Sleeping, but he'll be here soon." Hermione ran a hand through her son's thick wavy hair and he fell back into a light sleep, making a conscious effort to keep his arm from going around Marissa's waist.
`Best not to do that right now,' he thought sleepily then let the wave of sleepiness take over, feeling his mother's reassuring hand pushing back his hair.
----
St. Mungo's
7:15am
Draco and Harry walked into their children's room with the weight of the world now off their shoulders. They had gotten a few solid hours of sleep and were looking forward to seeing their children up and talking.
When they walked in they found that Hermione was reading a magazine and Ginny was still napping on the sofa. Marissa
had yet to wake up as she was lighter weight wise than Brian and the sleeping potion would take longer to wear off.
Brian was drifting in and out but when he heard the door open he opened his eyes to see his father walking towards
him.
"Brian," Harry said, walking over and clapping his son on the shoulder.
"Hey dad," Brian said sleepily. Hermione threw the magazine down on the small table and stood up, wrapping her arms around Harry and leaned into him, both of them looking down at Brian.
"I guess you guys got our notes," Brian stated sitting up a bit further in bed as he saw a Healer come in with a tray of food. She set it down on a small table and wheeled it over to Brian, situating it over his lap.
"We did, both of them. Well, Ron actually got the second one, but both were instrumental in us finding out where you two were," Harry said watching Ginny wake up and sit up on sofa. Draco took a seat next to Marissa and was just looking at her, willing her to wake up.
"She'll be awake soon. She's been moving around a lot," Ginny walked over and set a hand on his shoulder.
"I know…everyone is outside wanting to come in and see them," Draco said glancing towards the door. He had come over with his mother, Devon and the triplets. Hermione's parents were outside with her daughters and soon all the Weasley aunt and uncles, along with Molly and Arthur would be arriving.
"I'll go out and update them, talk to my parents and such," Hermione said, turning to Brian she kissed his forehead, squeezed Harry once more then walked out to the waiting room.
Marissa shifted in bed and Brian turned, glancing at her as he ate a piece of waffle. She was on her side facing away from him and Draco watched her slowly open her eyes, quite the opposite way of waking up than how Brian came around.
"Hey," Draco whispered meeting her bleary eyes. She stared at him for a minute and he could see she was genuinely confused about where she was and if she was dreaming. Reaching out he placed his hand on her cheek and tilted her face up a bit more.
"You're safe now," he told her and she gave a little nod then closed her eyes for a few seconds.
"Where's Brian?" she asked groggily.
"Right here," Brian said nudging her leg with his foot. She shifted in the bed, her gaze settling on her mother for a minute who was sitting by her feet.
"What? Mum?" Marissa tried to sit up but was still too weak. She could feel a sense of panic not knowing where she was and couldn't tell if she was dreaming or not.
`And why am I so weak? I feel like I just had the flu,' her brain started thinking of a thousand reasons why she felt so horrible and she started to feel scared and unsure of where she was.
"You're at St. Mungo's, Marissa," Ginny rubbed her hand up and down her daughter's leg.
"Marissa," Brian said quietly and she turned her head to him glancing at the fork with a piece of waffle on the end.
"Our parents found us, we're back in England," he said calmly looking at her the whole time.
But Draco could sense way more beyond those few, pat words just by the intense look in Brian's gaze. Marissa seemed suddenly more calm and aware as she turned back to her mother.
"I'm sorry," she whispered and suddenly saw Ginny leap up and felt her mother's arms wrap around her.
"Don't say that…none of this is your fault sweetheart," Ginny chided fiercely, kissing Marissa's cheek then pulling away. "How do you feel?"
Marissa thought for a moment, knowing this question had so many other questions behind it. They wanted to know if Nott did anything, if Brian did or tried anything…she wasn't sure she could handle it all and looked to her dad for help. Reaching for her dad's hand she found it resting next to her hip and she squeezed it.
"I'm fine, just tired," Marissa said quietly and she locked eyes with her father who wrapped her slender hand in both of his and squeezed just as hard.
`Nott?' was the first thought she received from her father and it took her a minute to realize he hadn't said it aloud. She could hear her mother saying she was going out to talk to her parents, to tell them Marissa was awake and she shook her head slightly.
`Nothing…just a few choice words that's all,' Marissa said silently back to him, struggling to stay focused. She felt him poke around in her head gently and find the comment Nott had made to Marissa about being the child of a Malfoy and Weasley and being pretty. Closing her eyes she made a mental apology that she was tired and drifted off, hearing Brian's fork clatter on his plate every know and then and listening to him and Harry talk about what had been going on at home since they had been missing.
`Just another hour of sleep is all I need,' Marissa thought to herself. `Then send in the welcome wagon.'
And with that thought she fell back into a dreamless sleep, her hand firmly holding her father's who didn't make any attempt to let it go.
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