Broomsticks and The Wizards Gauntlet

Broomsticks and The Wizards Gauntlet

Chapter 16

Scorpius threw the door to the potion shop open.

“Did you see the fucking paper!?” Scorpius shouted at Luke. Luke continued brewing his potion, but looked up.

“I saw it. Dad’s in Azkaban.” Luke replied and Scorpius banged his fist on the table where Luke was sitting, nearly spilling over a rack of vials filled with different colored potions.

“Be bloody careful, Scorps!”

“Potions? I come here because I’m furious…I’m hurt and upset that my father is in Azkaban and you’re worried about fucking potions being spilled over?” Scorpius shouted at Luke and a customer that was browsing the shop left out the door in a hurry.

“Do you think you’re the only one here whose Dad is in Azkaban!? Do you!” Luke screamed back.

“We have to do something, Luke!”

“That’s what I’m doing. I’m separating these potions for Dad. It all ties to what’s happened. Dad seemed sure of it. So, I’m doing what he asked me to do! Now, I suggest you let me get back to my work.” Scorpius paced back and forth before lunging in Luke’s face again.

“What am I supposed to do? I want to help too!”

“I don’t know! I can barely think as it is. Do something you’re good at. Call a bloody press conference or something. I don’t know! But I’m not leaving this lab until I have the answer Dad was looking for. I don’t want Dad in that horrible prison either.” Luke nearly broke down at that, but he forced the tears back. Scorpius patted him on the shoulder.

“Come here.” Scorpius hugged Luke and Luke found himself hugging him back.

“I’m not a little kid anymore. You don’t have to hug me,” Luke said with a shaky voice.

“I know. Maybe I needed a hug.” Scorpius said comforting his little brother, who he could tell was coming undone underneath the cool facade. Luke would have never asked for a hug, which is why Scorpius gave him one. With Draco in prison, Scorpius suddenly felt that as the oldest Malfoy man, he had to protect his family. As he hugged Luke, it dawned on him just what he could do to help his father. He had many plans to attend to.

POP

Both boys turned to see Ginny Weasley and Narcissa Malfoy, standing in the Potions shop. Ginny ran to the window and pulled the blinds closed. She then turned the sign around to read ‘closed’.

“Good. I’m glad you’re both here. How are you two doing?” Narcissa kissed both boys on the heads and hugged her grandsons.

“You haven’t had any strange visits from any of Raspodin’s cronies, have you?” Ginny asked with a concerned expression. Both boys nodded their heads, no.

“I’ll be back Narcissa.” Ginny said before opening the door to the Potions Shop and running out the door.

“Where’s she going?” Luke asked.

“She’s gathering her children from Hogwarts. Rumors have circled around that you kids might be in danger. She wants to get Lily and James out of there, until Harry gets back. Oh, Drew Weasley too. Someone gave an anonymous list to Rita Skeeter at The Prophet. It had all of you kids’ names on them. She didn’t publish it, which is quite a surprise. She stopped in to see me at The Manor and handed it over to me.” Narcissa handed it over to Scorpius, who looked at it and then bolted form the store.

“No, you must come back!”

“I have to get Sapphire!” Scorpius yelled back.

.

.

Hermione said goodbye to Luna and the kids and told her not to tell Harry and Ron she had left until after she was already gone. She knew they would put up a fuss and she was going no matter what. She and Nathaniel apparrated to the Long Island shore, where they stood gazing out at the vast Atlantic.

“How long is this going to take?” Hermione asked with her hands on her hips.

“A few hours. I fly pretty fast. Hang onto my neck. I won’t let you fall. Hit me with an engorgement spell after I change. The bigger the better. I’ll need my strength.”

“Are you sure about this? It’s a long way back to England.”

“I flew from Africa once. I can do it. Besides, there are ships out there should I get tired and need a quick rest. You want to get back don’t you?” Nathaniel asked.

“Yes, very much so. I want to go straight to Azkaban. Are you afraid to fly there?”

“Because of the dementors you mean?”

“They are quite scary. Oh, I can’t imagine Draco being there with them!” Hermione moaned.

“I’m not afraid of the dementors. They may have reason to fear me though. My whole childhood was nothing but one bad memory. My little brother though…Hermione let’s go. I’ve been getting some bad vibes off Draco. I don’t want to scare you, but I was lying in bed last night and I could have sworn I heard him call out to me in his mind.” Hermione threw her arms around Draco’s brother and hugged him.

“I was wrong about you. I’m sorry for that. Okay, so do your stuff!”

Nathaniel turned himself into a raven right before Hermione’s very eyes. She hit him with the spell to make him larger and then climbed on the frightening birds back. His wings flapped hard in the ocean breeze. Hermione had a fist full of black feathers in her hands as she held on for dear life. Miles and miles, as far as the eye could see, of ocean, stretched out before them.

.

.

Lucius cleared his throat and leaned against the counter of the Intercontinental Wizard, a very posh hotel in Paris. Lucius had found out a number of interesting things about Raspodin. Such as he liked to go by the name Rasputin, the famed Russian holy healer. He claimed that his father was the illegitimate grandson of the deceased Rasputin. He also had quite a many kinks in the bedroom. It seemed that he had both male and female escorts while staying in Paris. The more Lucius learned about this supposedly clean and conservative wizard, the more he knew that Draco was right in sending him on this caper. He had tried sweet talking the receptionist at Ancient’s Potions headquarters, and while it had taken him many days of courting the young witch, with many boring strolls through the park and many boring conversations from the very likeable and boring witch, Lucius’s efforts had finally paid off. While Jean Paul’s former receptionist didn’t know who the silent partner of Ancient Apothecary was, she did say that the silent partner frequently sent his mistress to headquarters, to pick up and drop off important correspondences between Jean Paul and the silent partner. Lucius thanked her and then never contacted her again. No sass whatsoever. Lucius was used to Narcissa, with her spunky wit and dry humor, and he missed her tremendously. Therefore, Lucius tracked the mysterious witch down and found her at one of the posh hotels in the city.

“May I help you?”

“Mon Cheri, I seem to have forgotten my friend’s room number. She had invited me up for tea and for the life of me; I cannot remember the room number. Can you please help me?” The front desk clerk smiled and batted her eyelashes at Lucius. Even in his distinguished years, Lucius was quite attractive to the eye. He could easily meet and date a witch half his age should he wish to. The clerk gave him the room number and then Lucius asked if he could have a room on the same floor as his “friend”. Later he would arrange an accidental meeting, when room service accidentally (on purpose) sent him a bottle of elf made wine of an exquisite vintage. Lucius would find himself sharing a glass of wine with the sultry, olive skinned mistress of …well that’s what he was going to find out.

.

.

Luke had complained that he couldn’t leave the lab, but Narcissa assured him that he could work in Draco’s old potions lab in the basement of The Manor. Luke gathered his vials and apparrated with the others to The Manor. He was surprised to see Damien Stratton sitting in the living room with the rest of the children and Ginny and Narcissa.

“What’s he doing here?” Luke whispered to Lily, who was sitting next to him on the sofa.

“He and Drew got back together. He wanted to come, so Mum let him.” Luke looked at Drew and Drew nodded to Luke. No, she had not told Damien about the baby yet.

“So, the benefit I’m having for the squibs will now also be for freeing my Dad. I’m going to get the crowd fired up. Should get a lot of press too. Persephone is going to help me handle the preparations.”

“I think that’s a little dangerous Scorpius,” Narcissa said.

“I’m doing it Grandmother and nobody is stopping me.” Narcissa smiled out of the corner of her mouth. She knew Scorpius was just like Draco and that you couldn’t tell him what to do, so she bit back her concerns and patted his leg.

“You’re a good boy. You too Luke.”

“Thanks, but I really need to get back to work. I’ll be downstairs should anyone need me.” Lily got up and followed him. Ginny raised an eyebrow at Narcissa at seeing her daughter follow the younger Malfoy down the stairs. She knew she would have something to gossip about with Hermione when she got back.

“Does anyone want to play a game with me?” Young James said and Scorpius and Persephone looked at him oddly, before leaving the room. The two teens worked into the night at the kitchen table, going over every detail of the concert/rally Scorpius was going to perform at on behalf of his father and his father’s campaign.

.

.

Hermione woke up with the coast in sight. It was night now and Nathaniel was squawking loudly. Hermione roused and sat up. Two wizards on brooms were flying next to them and then Hermione felt the jolt as one of the men pounded into the side of Nathaniel. The bird fell off to the side, for a moment, before diving down towards the water. Hermione could see the reflection of the moon on the water and she knew they were getting close. She gripped onto the birds neck and screamed out.

“Nathaniel pull up, the water!” The wizards were hard on their tail and one of them miscalculated and hit the ocean. Suddenly, they were being lifted with the wind and then Hermione saw something dangling from the talons of the bird. The man was screaming as Nathaniel plummeted again, dragging the man through the cold waters before letting him go. Hermione could see a yacht down below in the waters and they were pointing to the men in the water. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief that the men were gone but weren’t dead. She worried how far Nathaniel would go. He had saved her once before, and even though he was clearly in the right for saving her life from Charles Stratton, she knew Nathaniel wasn’t playing, when he defended himself or his loved ones. He would use a killing curse if provoked.

The air grew cold and the sky turned black. Hermione could see something in the distance. Then she saw it, the cryptic black cloaked figure of the dementor. Then another was around them as Nathaniel flew closer to Azkaban. Suddenly the cloaked dementors all flew away when Nathaniel shrieked and Hermione wondered why, but she figured she didn’t really want to know. Like Nathaniel said, he had a pretty awful upbringing and she really didn’t know how he did some of the things that he did. Like tapping into Draco’s emotions or mind or whatever he did. It scared her quite frankly, even though she did believe he had Draco’s best interests at heart. He landed on the cold, dead rock and Hermione dismounted. He wasted no time in shedding his birdlike persona.

Hermione convinced the auror on duty, to let her in to see Draco. Since she was one of the lawyers on the official Ministry list, she was allowed entrance. Nathaniel, however, was not allowed. He stood with Hermione looking down the cold dark tunnel that led to the cells of Azkaban. Nathaniel held his palms at his temples and concentrated hard and without warning, three dementors, that were hovering in the corridor, with their wicked empty stares, disappeared with a shrill ear piercing screech. Hermione nervously walked down the corridor, turning back to look at Nathaniel every so often. He nodded encouragement her telling her that Draco needed her more than anybody else right now and that she could do it.

She had been here before with Ginny before, and she kept telling herself that it wasn’t any different. She had made it out alive the first time and she would make it out now. The prisoners were all behind bars…along with Draco…Draco was in here. She still couldn’t believe it. How could he survive in a place like this? She shuddered to think about it. She passed many cells with snarling hissing criminals inside them. One was foaming at the mouth and laughing wickedly. She hid her eyes and pressed on.

“Draco?” Hermione called out, hoping her husband would answer her.

“Over ‘ere lady.”

“Draco?” Hermione said again and when she heard the voice, again she turned to the darkly lit cell.

“He ‘aint dong so good lady.” The bearded wizard that was standing at the bars now, his gritty and jagged fingernails reaching out for her, pointed to the back of the cold dank cell.

“I’ll get him. My name is Roman. Take care of yer husband I will. Rasputin is da reason I’m in here ya see. The guards thinks I don’t know vhat’s going on, but I do. Get out of here any time I want, I can… You’re a pretty lady. I had a wife once ya know.”

“Please sir, do you where I can find Draco?”

Hermione stepped back form the bars when the man let out a deep cough. Then she saw his blond hair through the bars. Perhaps this wizard wasn’t lying.

“Draco! Dragon, its me, your Sweetpea. Draco, please! I can’t be here long!” Hermione gazed at the grungy wizard, with pleading eyes. He lowered his eyes and smiled.

“Get him for ya I will.” Hermione smiled at the prisoner and suddenly Draco was being thrust against the bars. Hermione shot her arms through the rusty metal bars and wrapped them around Draco.

“Draco? Merlin, what have they done to you!” He looked worse then she had ever seen him before. His skin was pale and dried blood covered his forehead. His clothes were torn and dirty. Hermione stroked his face with her fingers and suddenly Draco came out of his daze and screamed out. Hermione shook in surprise. His cries were bone chilling.

“Touch him and he’ll come around. He can’t hear ye. It takes a bit in the beginning.” Hermione pressed her lips against Draco’s. He moaned slightly and Hermione slipped her hands into his shirt and let them roam his chest.

“I love you Dragon. I love you so much. I’m here babe. It’s okay. I’m here.” It was awkward with the bars between them, but Hermione did her best to touch and hold Draco, wanting to give him as much physical contact as she could. She kissed his cheeks and his chin and his nose and every part of his body she could get her hands or mouth on. He was standing on his own now and Hermione pressed her body up against the bars. Their bodies touched between the bars and then Draco’s arms shot through the bars and wrapped themselves around Hermione.

“Hermione? Jessie… safe?”

“Yes, yes you saved us all Draco! They made it to America. They are fine, just fine. I’m more worried about you sweetness. I’m going to do everything I can to get you out of here.”

“Hold me. Please. I want to feel your hands allover me. It’s so cold in here. Couldn’t remember you. Touch me.” Hermione couldn’t remember a time that Draco needed her more then he did now. Damn these bars, she thought to herself. She opened her cloak and moved Draco’s hands to her breasts, slipping his hands under her dress so he could touch her skin. He sighed and banged his head against the bars. Hermione kissed his lips and slid her tongue into his mouth. He kissed her weakly as if his very essence was draining form him and Hermione intensified the kiss, forcing her tongue into his mouth and sucking at his lips. She wanted him to feel her, HER-- not the dementors. She moved his hand up her leg and under her dress and then Draco’s fingers were inside her and Draco began to come alive again. Hermione kissed his mouth, breathing life back into him. He held her tightly around the waist with one arm, while the other roamed her body, touching every delicious curve and penetrating her over and over again. She slipped her hands down his pants and stroked him. He needed pleasure because the dementors had sucked the life out of him and she was going to put it back the way it once was.

“Draco I love you.”

I love you too Sweetpea. Oh baby. I want to come home with you and the kids. I don’t want to be here. Just hold me.” She found herself finally looking at her Draco. He touched her loose curls, running his fingers through her hair. He had always been a tactile person, but this Draco needed her so much and Hermione couldn’t ever remembering loving her husband more then she did at that moment. They touched and kissed and held each other through the bars of the cell, hugging each other tightly.

“I promise you, I’ll get you out.”

Draco’s head was in a fog. He could not; think of anything but Hermione. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he felt his sweet wife in his arms again. He would not forget this. He didn’t care what they did to him, he would not forget her this time. He would be strong for her, because he knew that while he was the one behind bars, she too was also in jail as long as he was in the cold unforgiving place.

“I don’t want you seeing me in here like this. You shouldn’t have to see this. How will you love me after seeing me like this?”

“Draco you stupid git. I love you more now then I’ve ever loved you. I love you Dragon. You’re my heart.” She took her hand and held it to her heart and Draco bent and kissed the soft skin over her breast. Hermione brushed his wounded forehead with her lips his and then his face, again and again. She wasn’t going to leave until they physically threw her out. Every minute spent with Draco, was one less minute he had to spend alone. It was at that moment, that she really knew the depth of her love for this man. If she could have, she would have crawled through the bars and stayed with him. If she could, she would have taken his place and spared him the pain and misery. It hurt her that much to leave him in such a dreadful place as Azkaban. How had Lucius withstood this place? How had Narcissa? Narcissa would become her pillar of strength in the days that followed, but for this moment, she had her Draco in her arms and she wouldn’t let go and neither would he.

The air grew cold again and Hermione pressed her lips against Draco’s before two dementors grabbed his arms and yanked him backwards, his cries echoing in Hermione’s ears.

.

Hermione stumbled out of the dark corridor feeling traumatized at seeing thiose voicious beasts laying their cold dead fingers on his pristine and perfect angelic body. She wanted to throw up, she felt so sick inside. When she saw Nathaniel standing rigidly and like a rock, she launched herself into his arms.

“Nathaniel, that was, that was, Draco!” Hermione could barely speak.

“I know. I know. He’s okay though. I can feel him even now. He’s okay. Being with you helped him more than anything could. He’s going to be alright Hermione. We will come back tomorrow.”

“Nathaniel, his face was so cold and so pale,” Hermione, sobbed now that she was away from Draco.

“I know Hermione. But tomorrow, you will come back and you will get him out of that cell and into a private room where we can visit. I can help my brother Hermione. Just as you did, I can help him block this place out. I know how to do it and he needs me to show him.” Hermione nodded as if unconvinced.

“Who is the best counselor at the Ministry? Who has convicted the darkest wizards? Who takes on the cases that nobody wants to touch, because they are too hard? Who Hermione? Who? Stop crying and answer me!” Nathaniel said firmly.

“Me! Me! I am the best damn lawyer there is!” Hermione shouted back, her tears slowing.

“That’s right! And what are you going to do tomorrow?”

“I’m going to the Ministry and getting Draco’s sentence overturned. And if they won’t…well then I will bring this place down on any code violation I can. We will visit Draco in a private room, away from the Dementors, because he is my husband.”

“He’s your client Hermione. This is important.”

“Yes, he’s my client! He’s my client!”

“And you are going to defend him, just as you would any of your clients. Because you are the best. Remember?”

“Yes, I am the best! They fucked with the wrong witch!”

Review!?

I hope their aren't a bunch of mistakes, but I have no confidence in my editing skills right now. Alas, I am finally tired. lol