What's the Plan?
5 January 2000
“I understand your frustration and concern Ms. Granger, truly, but there is simply not enough evidence to warrant any further investigation of The Manor. The inhabitants have been securely under house arrest for almost a year and a half with no signs of the use of Dark Magic. They have complied with every ounce of security the Wizengamot has impressed upon them and never failed a veritaserum test. I do not know what else you would have me do! By all accounts, the Malfoys have nothing to do with these disappearances, including that of Mr. Potter,” the portly Scottish man exclaimed, exasperated with the petite, but fierce, witch before him. They’ve had this conversation many times over the past year.
On the 5th of every month, right after the inter-department hearing on all open investigations, one Hermione Granger never failed to request further investigation on the Malfoy Manor. As the Junior Head Reporter for the Aurors, she felt it necessary to search the Manor herself for any suspicious activity. Now that Harry Potter, her best friend, was missing following the investigation of the area around Malfoy Manor, she had become relentless. Oh, she was as sharp as they come! If anyone could snuff out the mystery that points to the infamous manor, she would be the one! However, now, more than ever, her work was needed elsewhere. It was simply too risky and too weak of an appeal to get her cleared to investigate the place when so many have done so before her.
The bushy haired witch tossed her locks over her shoulders. “Mr. Andrews, Sir, I know there is a connection. I’d bet my magic on it! I only need an opening.” She leaned down to press her palms on his desk, allowing him a peek down her shirt. “Surly a man of your many connections can find a way to sneak me in there,” she breathed, in an excellent attempt at seduction.
Shaking his head, the Junior Head Auror leaned back in his chair, clasping his hands atop his large belly. “Your request has been noted, Ms. Granger. I will inform your supervisor if by some slip of accidental magic you’ve been approved,” he said, using the same form of dismissal as he always did.
Straightening and huffing a fallen hair out of her face, she turned on her heel to leave. “Thanks for nothing, Jack,” she grumbled.
“Anything for the brains of the Golden Trio,” he called after her as she let his office door shut sharply behind her.
She grumbled to herself as she stalked back to her office on the other side of the department. A red head of hair popped up over a cubical as she walked by and followed her into her office. She slumped into her chair behind her book and parchment strewn desk.
“That bad, eh?” asked her best friend of many years. “They still won’t let you into the ferret cave?”
Hermione sighed and lazily waved her hand clearing the books off her guest chair. Ron took the invitation to plop down and fold his hands over his knees.
“Ferrets live underground, Ronald, not in a cave. And no; it went about the same as all the other months I've been asking.” Hermione picked up her hours old tea cup and sniffed it. She chanced a sip and shuddered as the cold liquid slid down her throat.
“What a wanker, that old Andrews. Did you try shoving your tits in his face? He seems the type to go for that.”
A blush crept across her cheeks as she replied, “believe me, I’ve tried every legal avenue of concing that man. He’s not budging. Maybe you can talk some sense into him!”
“I would love to pay a visit to the slimy git, Malfoy. I have some pent up aggression and his face is just so punchable… but you know Lav is due soon. She’d have a fit if I went out on a mission especially with Harry missing. I’m stuck with desk duty,” he snarled the last two words as if they offended him and he leaned back into the chair.
“I still can’t believe your mother hasn’t trotted you two down the aisle yet. The scandal of a bastard child!” Hermione placed a hand over her chest in faux horror.
He snorted, “It’s not for a lack of trying on her part! She even got as far as taking Lav dress shopping before Lav put her foot down. We are waiting until after the baby is born. Even Mum knows better than to push a pregnant woman too far,” he shuddered at the thought of his inflated girlfriend at home being angry.
Hermione smiled to herself. As mad as she was in Hogwarts when Lavender and Ron had been together, the two did a lot of growing up in the past year and a half. They’ve been good for eachother in a way that Hermione and Ron never were as a short-lived couple.
“Do you really think he is missing?” Ron broke her out of her thoughts. She shook her head, letting out an exhale.
“We know exactly where he is. No one wants to admit it though. No one wants anything to do with that god-forsaken place, not even to retrieve The Chosen One,” she paused to think. “What I don’t understand is why he hasn’t come back.” Ron waited for her to continue, learning long ago it was best not to interrupt her thinking.
“It’s not like they could do anything to him. There’s so much magic restriction and regulation on that place, not to mention their wands get checked every month for any dark spells. I just don’t understand why Harry never checked in. Is he stuck somehow? That doesn’t make any sense. We would have been alerted if there was any harm to his person…” Hermione pulled at the cracked faux leather of her well loved office chair as she mumbled her thoughts out loud.
Ron took his chance to add, “He was sent for reconnaissance in the area. Maybe he never made it to The Manor. Maybe he’s stuck in the woods and something happened to his wand. That would explain why he hasn’t checked-in.”
Hermione scrunched her nose, dismissing the idea. “Don’t you lot have an emergency portkey on hand for occasions such as that?”
Ron just shrugged, accepting her point. He glanced around her small office. “Well, your noble and rule-following plan has clearly been shite.” She scoffed. “We both know there’s really only one way to find all the answers.” He paused and eyed the witch before him. “How much personal time off do you have stored up?”
Hermione snapped her eyes to meet his. “I know that look. What’s your plan?”