Chapter 7

Malfoy Manor

Everything was going swimmingly. Everyone was enjoying their time getting to know the new comers.

Penny was over chatting happily with Harry. Hermione almost pitied him. It was interesting that she hadn't noticed it was him who picked them up from the airport – she had blamed it on the jet leg. There was dough that he had even gotten a full sentence in the conversation. At some points Hermione swore she saw Penny taking down notes when Harry did get a chance to speak.

Lucius sat – somewhat grumpily – next to Hermione's mother who would shoot daggers at him every now and again as she talked to Ron and Lavender.

Narcissa was talking to George and Angelina – something about expanding his shop. After Fred's death George had closed it down for a while till he began dating Angelina. After that George began to live again – everyone noticed the change in him. Something Hermione had explained to Spencer.

Teddy and his friends were currently attempting the muggle sport of volley ball. Hermione had known some of the rules – enough for a fair game to be played, anyway. Victoire however was sitting on the sidelines cheering them on.

Most of the younger kids were playing in the pool at this point while even some of the adults joined – mostly Blaise – it seemed that no matter the age Blaise Zabini was still a child at heart. He was currently blindfolded and playing Marco Polo. He called out Marco and as he got closer to Baylee – Nott's daughter – she squealed as she attempted to swim away. Laughing as he tagged her.

His wife Pansy smiled happily as she, Hermione, Luna, Elle, and Ginny sat by the side of the pool chatting.

''So I was in Spain for a while,'' Elle said as she caught up with Penny who was sitting in one of the pool chairs, ''and I met this guy who played professional hand ball.''

Penny laughed. ''Really, handball?''

She nodded. ''Yeah, and the sad thing is, I never heard of the game before and he got me tickets.''

''Did you go?'' Ginny asked, she had seen a few games while she and harry were in Spain and stumbled into a match. It didn't take much to know that it had some similar aspects to Quidditch. There were several ways to get it to the goal and team work was needed. Plus there were only 7 people per team playing at one time.

''I did, and you're looking at a new fan of the sport.''

Ginny smiled happy. Hermione shook her head; she heard of the sport from Ginny and once again was just bored by it.

''Oh great, another spot that I have no intentions of learning about.'' Ginny and Harry had been watching a game one time while she and Draco were over. Draco had also taken a liking to it, enough so to learn of it but that's where it ended – claiming that Quidditch was better.

They discussed other topics. What was going on back in America, some other places Elle had visited and such.

The men – Draco, Theo, Hotchner, Rossi, Morgan, and Reid – more or less had broken off to discuss mostly sports. Save for Blaise whom was currently in the pool. None of the wizarding sports were the topic since the muggles had no clue what they were anyway, but football, soccer – what they referred to as football here – baseball, things that would be mostly America.

Sometimes work was brought up. Almost instantly, those from the wizarding world – more of the pure blood background – were keen on finding out more about what the team did for the FBI. They never really looked into the government system in America and it was interesting to hear about some of the things they did that normally they would use magic for as Aurors.

It was just a fun day for them all, the atmosphere was great as people made new friends. Making the group of friends of Hermione and Draco grow.

…~~~…

''Shh,'' A woman stood over a child. ''I don't want to hurt you.'' She said softly, though it did little to help the scared child. A second year this time, a girl by the name Amanda, a muggle born.

This time had to be perfect. As far as anyone was concerned this child just ran away, she would make sure of that.

Currently the poor girl was frozen in her place sitting on her bed.

The woman looked around, looking that the writing style of the child.

''Please, just leave.'' Amanda said with fear in her young voice. ''I won't tell anyone.''

She was shuffling through some papers, taking out her wand once more and copied a note using the images of the writing.

I'm sorry mum and dad. Don't come looking for me, you won't find me.

She placed it on the child's desk before turning back to Amanda.

''Just stay quiet. I'll make sure nothing bad happens to you.'' She said before knocking her unconscious with a spell.

…~~~…

With the picnic over leaving Hermione, Draco, their American guests – including Elle – Blaise and Pansy awake and in the pool.

The current time at this point was 10 pm and the children had already gone to bed or so their parents thought. Marilyn, Rose, Scorpius, and Jack were currently camped out on Scorpius bedroom floor. Rose and Marilyn were across from Jack and Scorpius, silently they were plotting something.

Teddy was staying at Arches house for the weekend, he had begged and Hermione made him ask Draco because of being grounded. It surprised them both that he allowed it.

The night was warm and the cool water was a welcome to the most of them.

Hotchner could see Blaise out the corner of his eye swimming under the water headed toward his wife – whom was currently talking to Hermione – and before she was aware, he had grabbed her leg and pulled her under causing her to shriek.

''Does he always do that?'' Morgan asked as they all watched as Pansy splashed him with the water.

Draco nodded. ''Oh yeah – always have – even when we were younger.''

''One of the perks of growing up together?'' Rossi asked.

Draco nodded. ''Yeah, then again by the time we are older we can't stand to be around each other.''

That earned some laughs from the others.

They stayed awake till about midnight – deciding then that sleep was indeed needed.

…~~~…

Kingsley was pacing in his office. He had been there since he had left the Malfoy's. There was just something off about these cases. He looked at the list of kids who had been taken.

There was Sarah Hunter a half-blood 3rd year. Her records showed that she was on her way to being head girl and a natural Ravenclaw if her scores were something to go by. They were almost as high as Hermione's had been in that year, but she had yet to suppress her.

Then there was Amelia Williams. A 2nd year Hufflepuff who had joined her houses Quidditch team as a beater – a position she was good at. While her written work was not the greatest, her wand work in Charms was spectacular from what Flitwick had told them.

Then there was the last known victim. A Gryffindor named Peter Cooper – the oldest so far of all the kids taken. A 4nd year, he appeared to favor potions over everything else. It was possible that he could have been the next potions professor – possibly as great as the late Severus Snape.

The thing that was so confusing was that none of these kids had much in similar, other than attending Hogwarts. They didn't even share similar friend groups. No evidence was ever left at their homes. But they would just disappear from their rooms at night. As if they had just vanished in thin air.

The most confusing part of all of this was that the school year had only been over for almost 6 days and it had seemed that the kidnappers were taking one child per day. This pattern had stopped and this was worrisome. It could be a sign something had gone wrong with their plans.

The last known kidnapping was 2 days pervious. None of the children have turned up dead as of yet – which everyone was thankful for.

He had a need to contact more people but this was extremely delicate. If this was not kept silent then it was possible a mass panic would erupt among the community. Parents possibly would not allow their children to attend the wizarding schools, something that had happened when He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named first returned.

Things had really only started to calm down since Voldemort as the damages done had only just been completely fixed; buildings back in their places, Hogwarts back to its former glory, and sadly most of the missing found – some were better than others.

There was a knock on the door.

''Minister, Unspeakable Johan has asked for your audience.''

Kingsley nodded with a wave of his hand – causing the filled to disappear from view. It wasn't getting him anywhere anyway.

A man with long, uncared for gray hair, and grey eyes – those of one not being able to see – entered the room. The hood of his cloak covered most of his face.

They shook hands quickly before getting to business.

''What's happened?''

''Another child has been taken.'' He said in his rough voice.

Kingsley placed his head in his hands. ''The same?''

''No, quiet different, they left a note this time, however the child showed no signs of problems or feeling the need to run away.''

Kingsley could curse. He knew it wasn't over but now another child has been taken.

''How do you know this is the same as the others?''

''Are you doubting me Minister?'' He asked bitterly.

''Of course not,'' Just it was a bit hopeful that it wasn't related. ''It's just that there has been no activity from this group for several days.''

''It just means they know they messed up, their trying to cover their tracks.''

Kingsley was now being to get annoyed. It was already difficult enough to catch these people and now 'their coving their tracks'. It's only getting worse.

''She's a muggle born, named Amanda Colin, her parents had some difficulty getting into contact with us. You really should make it much easier to contact muggles.''

Kingsley nodded. ''Are her parents here now?'' The unspeakable nodded. ''I will need to talk to them.''

This was going to be a long summer and it had only just begun.

…~~~…

''What did you see Rose?'' Marilyn asked as she sat with her pillow hugged to her chest.

Scorpius and Jack sat side by side as across from Marilyn. All three of them sat with an excitement and nervousness to them as they waited for Rose to say something.

''I told you, you would get to see what happens.'' Scorpius said as he nudged Jack.

Rose sent his a glare from her spot before turning back to Marilyn. ''Something big is going to happen,'' She said with a frown. ''But it's not clear enough to see what it is…'' the irritation in her voice was clear.

''Something big as in good or something bad?'' Jack asked still confused as to how this worked.

Rose shrugged. ''I don't think it's a good thing.'' She said sadly, ''But I think it has something to do with daddy going to the ministry the other night.'' She tugged at her blond hair – something she did when she was irritated.

Marilyn threw her arm over Rose's shoulders. ''don't worry! You'll make the best Unspeakable ever!''

Scorpius laughed, ''Sure she will be, if she can ever get the visions clear.''

Rose punched her brother in the arm, causing Marilyn to laugh.

''What's an Unspeakable?'' Jack asked suddenly, gaining their attention.

''I always forget you're a muggle,'' Scorpius said. He was about to continue until Rose stopped him.

''He's not a muggle you nitwit,'' Rose said in her know-it-all-tone. ''He's muggle born like mum is.''

Marilyn rolled her eyes as the two siblings' glared daggers at one another. ''An Unspeakable is someone that…actually, no one knows what exactly they do.''

''that's right,'' Rose said turning back to the conversation at hand. ''Mum told me once that their not allowed to talk about their jobs at the ministry.''

''Then how can you become an Unspeakable if you don't know what they do?'' Jack questioned.

Rose shrugged again. ''Anyone that has ever been an Unspeakable has been extremely smart and some experienced visions of the future – though it's not very common.''

''Which is why Rose here is so strange.'' Marilyn laughed. ''All that's really known is that they work in the department of Mysteries and make sure that no one touches the prophecies.''

''Your all very strange.'' Jack said.

Suddenly the twins began laughing.

''We could say the same thing about you! We are not as strange as Bellatrix LeStrange! '' Rose said between laughs. This caused the others in the room to laugh along. The name had been somewhat of a joke for the twins. They knew she had been a terrible person but it doesn't mean that her name wasn't perfect for these moments to joke.

When they finally calmed down from their laughing fits they heard footsteps.

''Quick! Someone's coming!'' Scorpius said in a quiet whisper.

They all ducked into their makeshift beds, pulling their pillows closer to their faces. They had just managed to get settled and look like they had been asleep when the door opened for Hermione and Pansy to check on their kids.

Pansy smiled as she looked at the four kids lying on the floor 'sleeping'. ''They are asleep.'' Hermione raised a brow at her but didn't say anything and closed the door once more.

As they headed back to the living room Hermione broke the silence between them. ''Well, unless they can fall asleep just seconds before the door opened then they were not asleep.'' It was now Pansy's turn to raise a brow.

''How on earth could you tell that, they looked fast asleep to me.''

Hermione smiled. 'Rose and Scorpius were practically cuddling with how close they were.'' She laughed. ''Besides I heard them laughing. Chances are, they were up talking when they heard us coming to check on them.''

''You are like an owl you know that?'' Pansy said jokingly.

''And you are like a turtle?''

''Are you saying I'm slow?'' Pansy asked; acting like it was an insult. ''You know we have crafty children don't we?''

Hermione nodded. ''Especially when the three of them are together; poor Jack is just getting pulled into their plots.''

…~~~…

THE NEXT MORNING

Derek Morgan was never much of a morning person.

So when he woke up that morning it had been a surprise that no one elsewas up yet. He had decided that he would get an early breakfast then wonder around the place a bit to see where it took him.

Being a logical person that he was he went to the kitchen so he could fix something himself. Derek didn't want to be a bother and it was strange having a bunch of people cook for him.

With a yawn he pushed open the door to the kitchen with the thoughts of an omelet for breakfast that morning.

He stopped in he tracks just as he passed though the threshold.

He had been expecting to see some of the cooks and maids just about to start cooking some brunch – or was it closer to lunch? – And with some hope he could convince them to let him cook something himself.

That was not the case what so ever. Well not completely.

There were 'people' around about to start cooking. But none that he had ever seen!

He slowly turned around and walked out before allowing the door to close and reentered the room.

All eyes were on him by this point. Those usually big eyes that he was never going to be able forget.

Derek blinked a few times – perhaps he was just…seeing things? But these short, pointy eared, beings – that probably as tall as his knee – didn't disappear.

''Addie, go get Mistress Malfoy.'' One said to the other as he was about to leave the room again.

''I must be dreaming.'' He said and pinched his arm. Feeling the pain realization crossed his mind. ''It's not a dream.'' He walked back into the small dining room they had been using.

Derek Morgan was never one to believe in…creatures?...monsters?...things he never thought existed and didn't expect to have a name? But this was completely uncalled for. He didn't make it far before he fainted.

...~~~...

So sorry this took so long to get posted. I didn't mean for time to escape me like it did.