Not a problem! You've given me some things to think about. And while I don't really mind having a plot that uses some plot devices transparently (hey, I've written Veela fic and divorce lawyer fic!), I like to make the plot more organic to the characters' psychology when I can. In this case, that's even more necessary than usual. It's already busy; I can't afford unnecessary plot strands.

I don't think the Head Auror can be evil; I'll be writing a few scenes from her viewpoint, and that would kind of show up. :) But desperate, yes. She's going to be hounded by a public certain that the Aurors- who've worked very well in the past few years, partially thanks to people like Harry and Draco- should be able to solve the kidnapping case now, plus some individuals who are specifically fixated on Harry himself being able to solve the case. (Nothing about the way the wizarding public treat Harry has ever been sane). Plus she'll have pressure from her superiors, her own sense of duty wearing her down, and her frustration that Harry is focusing on his own personal problems rather than the case at exactly the wrong moment damnit. The mistake with the bond spell and her insistence on it over all Harry and Draco's protests will speak well to her being at her utter wits' end; it's the kind of thing she'll be horrified about later but thinks is a good idea at the time, in the way you do when you're sleep-deprived.

Thanks for the critique!