Uncomfortable Truths

Chapter Ninety-Six - Recovery

* There are trigger warning for this chapter, nothing too vile, but look out for yourself *

Draco watched as the auror, whose name he didn't bother to learn, took away the squirrels and the hare; or those bastards known as Kimberly Rosier, Fenton Carrow, and Anton Yaxley. Apparently, the option to trade prisoners has been taken away from them. The ministry could not allow its citizens to have prisoners or to be prisoners.

It could have worked. Ellis did seem interested in getting his people back. Luckily Pansy and Ronald haven't returned with Colette. Hopefully he can trade Ellis's bride-to-be for Harry. It doesn't seem like they know Kenneth is there, which could be good or bad. Kreacher told them they're locked in a room. There's no way Kenneth won't be discovered. He knows Harry would die before allowing them to hurt the boy, but Harry can't die. He can't.

"What's the plan?" Greg paces.

"The first part of my plan is to ask certain people to leave." Draco crosses his arms, "I no longer wish to have the ministry fool in my quarters. Follow your partner in returning to the ministry with what was the best option we had. Without something to trade, you've hindered our ability to get Potter and Kenneth back. Our ministry is actively working to aid the kidnappers."

"Won't that make an interesting story for the Prophet?" Ernie growls.

"We can't allow Death Eaters to hold prisoners." Dawlish scoffs, "You may have fooled Harry Potter, but the Malfoys, the Notts, and the Goyles are well known Death Eaters..."

"Your ministry freed Lucius and Theodore Nott, Sr." Ernie snaps, "Aren't you supposed to tow the ministry agenda?"

"Their freedom has no relevance on their status as Death Eaters." He sneers at Draco, "Even this one is known for taking the mark. You think we'd let you keep innocent citizens? For all we know, you're planning on killing them."

"They're the ones planning on killing my children." Draco yells, "And while they have my husband and my child, you dance around the red tape our ministry is wrapping this situation in. We both know that the British ministry and the African ministry have bad relations. Do you think this is going to happen quickly? Do you think the African ministry is going to do anything more than placate that idiot Shacklebolt? He might be a better Minister of Magic than we've had in a long while but he's still a useless prick."

"The DMLE hasn't involved the Minister in this."

"Oh... of course not." Draco throws his arms up, "It's just Harry fucking Potter they have. Just him and his only heir. Why involve someone who might able to do something to prevent an entire fucking house from being wiped out. Oh yes, that's fine. Very sensible... Granger!"

"Draco?" Hermione returns with a pale Kyle.

"Do something." He demands, "You're Hermione Granger. You're Harry's best friend. You're part of the Golden Trio. You're a fucking war hero... do something!" He cracks, tears trailing down his face, "Excuse me." He leaves for his room.

"Aunt Hermione?" Kyle grabs her hand, "Can you do something?"

"I will most certainly try." She straightens her shoulders, "Professor, may I use your floo?" She asks McGonagall, "I need to go to the ministry."

"Now look here." Dawlish snaps.

"Are you going to stop a free citizen from visiting the ministry?" Ernie crosses his arms, "Are you honestly going to forbade someone like Hermione Granger her rights to approach our government or our law enforcement? Do you have the authority to strip her of her rights as a citizen?"