Searching

AN: as I said I'll do at least a few more chapters, at least to do a quick wrap up, if no one wants me to continue... so here's chapter 2. 4,145 words... wow

Thank you to those who reviewed. Varan Nightshade,

Disclaimer: I own nothing.,. No one. I don't get paid to write this... bugger off.

Hermione POV

I wake up slowly in my bed, stretching as I roll to my back, looking up at the ceiling of my room at the dragon sanctuary, thinking about what I was supposed to be doing. Who I was supposed to be finding. Where in the bloody hell had Malfoy gone? What had he gotten himself into this time to make himself completely disappear for six whole months? I sigh and sit up, getting out of bed, gathering up the day's clothes and my toiletries and heading for the shower, letting the water fall over me for a few minutes before washing, rinsing and getting out. I dry myself quickly and dress in jeans and a long sleeve shirt, pulling on socks and boots as I head down to breakfast.

I smile and nod to Charlie and anyone else who greets me, sitting next to Charlie and filling a bowl with oatmeal and some fruit pieces, gladly taking a glass of juice, sipping it happily as I look around the café, seeing it in the early morning light instead of the stormy late night torch light.

"So what's on your plate this morning Charlie? Anything I can do before we go searching through the new arrivals?" I ask as I stir my oatmeal, letting the fruit soak.

"Not all that much really, just have to do my rounds to make sure nothings busted. You can go through the records of arrivals if you want. They should all be in order but it gets somewhat hectic here sometimes. Especially if we get a bunch of dragons all at once. They get lost in the shuffle and the files just get shoved into the cabinets when we realize they never got filed. The weathers not bad today so you can explore a bit if you want. I should be able to start helping you before lunch but if you want to have the morning to yourself I'm sure I can find something to do." Charlie says with a grin as he tucks into his Weasley sized breakfast. I chuckle and nod, eating slowly, thinking about my answer.

"After lunch might be best, that way we don't have to stop mid search. I'm sure I can find something to do between now and then. And that way you won't have to rush with your duties. Besides I'd like to look through the records, to see if anything jumps out at me. I guess I should tell you WHY I'm here huh?" I sigh as he looks over at me with a raised eyebrow, fork halfway to his mouth before he sets it and turns to me, waiting for me to continue. I take a deep breath and let it go, pouring myself some tea, stalling.

"I might as well tell you everything then. There seems to be some... mismanagement in the Ministry. Yeah, I know big surprise there. Anyway, several of the ex-Death Eaters that are on the watch list have gone missing, it's not all that big of an issue, I mean if there not causing problems why should they be worried. But about six months ago, Malfoy went missing, now I agree it's not much of a loss but he was doing well, he was working in his fathers place in the Ministry and in the Malfoy businesses. There was no reason for him to just pull up and run for it. I mean unless we really have missed something big but I find it hard to think we've missed something that big. After the whole bit about the Ministry refusing to acknowledge Voldemort coming back they are MUCH better about it." I take a few bites of my oatmeal, sorting through what I needed to tell Charlie before I speak again.

"I mean one or two I can see but I think some dozen or so wizards and witches have gone missing in the past year or so the same or similar way Malfoy went missing. We have tracked several of them to a shop in Knockturn Alley but I don't know if the owner is insane or actually did what she says she did. THAT is why I'm here and going to be looking through the new dragons. She claims to have transfigured them all into dragons, griffins and what not. I'm here to check to see if Malfoy is one of your dragons, if he is, we'll know to check the other creature sanctuaries and what not for the others. If he's not here, I get to move onto the next sanctuary until I've either found him or gone through all of them." I sigh and rub my eyes; I was both hoping and dreading him being here. I didn't want to have to go to each and every dragon sanctuary to find him but with how much we had hated each other I really didn't want to find him so soon.

"Draco Malfoy might be one of our dragons? I mean is that even possible in the long term? Wouldn't they revert back to human form after a while?" he asks, his breakfast forgotten.

"That's why I'm here... he should have been found or come back by now, but we can't find him anywhere in the wizarding world. I, for one, find it very hard to believe he would go muggle just to get out of a few fines and to get away from checking in with the Ministry once a month or week or whatever his probation said. I suppose the correct spell would cause long-term transfiguration, I mean it's possible. Merlin knows what spell she could have found in some long forgotten book." It was true, so many banned books held spells that we had no idea about and they were banned simply because a few wizards used the spells the wrong way. I shake my head and finish my breakfast and tea, sitting back watching Charlie as he goes back to his breakfast, thinking over what I told him.

"Did the woman say what he looked like? Give you anything to go off? I know she sounds like a nutter but you have to admit stranger things have happened in our lifetime." I chuckle, he was right, stranger things had happened in my short lifetime that were much odder then this.

"Not that I remember but going from what transfiguration spells I do know he's most likely pale scaled, with a nasty attitude and possible a dark splotch on his left forearm... or whatever the equivalent is on a dragon. To change his form into a dragon would be hard enough but to change his coloring and attitude would take so much energy I don't see why she would do it." he nods at my answer, digging out a slip of parchment and writing a few notes before handing it to me.

"That should help you find the correct files; they should all be labeled with the color of the dragon and temperament. It's supposed to be standard procedure but... with all the changes I have no doubt a few files have slipped through. But the file system should be able to pull the files you need... you might just have to think of a creative way of saying it. How about I take you there before I head out? Sound good?" I nod and get up with him, following him out of the cafeteria and out to the offices. I sigh when we reach the file room, they really were behind, piles of unsorted folders littered the floor. I turn and glare at a grinning Charlie, who kisses my head and points me to the desk to the side of the room with already steaming teapot waiting for me, before heading off to do his morning rounds. I sigh and shake my head, cleaning off the desk, sending the files out to sort themselves before sitting and holding my head in annoyance.

I mean I KNEW the sanctuaries were hurting but I never thought it would be this bad. I'd make mention of it when I went home to London. After this case was over maybe I'd ask for a transfer. This really wasn't what I wanted to do. I didn't enjoy traveling around the world to work. Travel was for vacations and relaxation... not work. My break up with Ron had shown me just how much I had been ignoring the rest of my life because of work, now I was striving to better myself... I just wish he had said something before and not waited until we had grown so apart... but maybe it was for the best. We really weren't a good match. I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose and pour myself a cuppa, taking out the note Charlie wrote for me, sipping as I entered the search parameters into the 'search function' of the sanctuary, a old elf that looked more like a wrinkled pile of fabric then a being. I smile sadly at him as he grumbles and snaps his fingers, disappearing with a tired crack.

I thank him as he appears back at the desk with a pile of folders, setting them on the desk, wondering off until he was needed again. I sip my tea as I sort through the files, making a few piles. One was definitely not Draco, one was possible and one was incorrectly labeled files. I rub my eyes and dig in my bag, takeing out the file folder of other missing people, calling over the elf.

"Would you mind horrible if you went looking for some other files for me?" I ask him softly.

"No misses, Grendel is the file searcher, he likes his work he do. Just tell Grendel what you is lookings for and he will find he will. Does misses need a snacks as well? Misses is to thin, misses needs to eat more to be stronger, take care of dragones. It hard work it is." I smile and pat his head gently; writing out what the other people might look like as dragons and when they would have arrived.

"Just these for now... maybe some toast and jam to go with my tea. What time is it anyway?" he digs in his 'shirt' for his watch before looking over the note.

"Its being nine in the morning misses; lunch is around midday if that is what yous worrying about. Grendel already says misses doesn't need to worry, misses needs to eat more. Grendel will find these files and then get misses her toast and jam and maybe some other foods for misses." I roll my eyes and nod; I had long ago learned not to argue with house elves when they thought you needed to eat more. They usually were right anyway. He grins and pops out, coming back with my files then popping back out for my mid morning snack. I sort through the files as I wait for him, glancing up at his pop, chuckling at the tray he's carrying. I had only seen more food at the Weasley's when they were all there. I shake my head and fill the small plate, picking at it as I work.

I finish the files and pick them up, slipping them into my bag as I grab a handful of cheese cubes and some crackers, filling a travel mug full of tea before I make my way outside, pulling my coat collar up against the cool breeze. I smile as I walk around the buildings and smaller pens, eating my cheese and crackers, enjoying the crisp fall day. I make my way back to the cafeteria around noon, sitting at the table and filling my plate. In all honesty, Grendel was probably right. I did need to eat more, gain some weight. I smile at Charlie as he dusts himself off, sitting beside me with a groan.

"Sometimes I think I'm getting to old for this. You find anything useful in the file room?" he asks as he loads up his plate and digs in. I smile and nod, sipping my pumpkin juice.

"I did, thought you likely need to do a total over haul in there. I mean there's piles of unfiled folders Charlie. I know you guys are busy but that seems a little stupid. I'm sure there's a better way of filing things anyway. Is the elf always so... caring?" I ask as we eat, Charlie chuckles and nods.

"Yeah... he is... specially is he thinks he can care for you a little. I'm guessing he tried to feed you?" he asks, eyeing my half-empty plate. I sigh and nod, adding a few more things to the plate.

"Yes, and he probably IS right. I just never have eaten much... and watching your youngest brother shovel food into his mouth for seven years didn't exactly make me want to eat more you know?" I smile and set the folders next to him, nodding to them as I take a few bites before I answer.

"Those are the ones I want to check, they each arrived around the time a person went missing. True I am here to find Draco but if I can find others... it's not a wasted trip. Are there any precautions I should take before we head out?" I ask, letting him look over the files, nodding as he chewed.

"Not that I can think of, but some of them are cranky around new people so let me take the lead alright? Do you have any idea how they will come out after we take the transfiguration spell off them? Should we... take clothes or a healer maybe?"

"It likely wouldn't be a horrid idea to take both clothing, or at least robes and blankets, and to have a healer on call close by. I don't know how they will come out but if they have any injuries on them now I'm not sure if they would translate to the human form... or how it would translate. I mean would a paper cut on a dragon turn into a gaping wound on a human or something? There's just so much we don't know right now." Charlie nods and heads over to another table, checking with the healers to see who's on call this afternoon, asking for a volunteer or two just in case they are needed. He smiles and comes back to sit, eating a few bites before speaking.

"We're getting the new healers today; need to work on their nerves around the dragons. The head healer thought it might be good for them to come along with us since the most we should get is minimal injuries, dust in our eyes, some singed hair maybe. Hopefully we won't get much worse then that. Most of the dragons are ok with us around them. How many humans are we looking for anyway?" he asks as he eats. I set the short pile of folders beside his plate with a small smile, sipping my juice.

"A handful of files caught my attention... but honestly upwards of a dozen or so humans are missing and MIGHT be in animal sanctuaries around the world. I just don't know how it got this bad. Like I said earlier, one or two missing death eaters or just people in general I can see, slipped through the cracks, just can't find them, might have found them but aren't sure yet but... dozens? How does that happen?" I ask with a huff. I truly didn't understand how this many people just disappeared.

"With all the new regulations and new Ministry workers I can understand how things got messed up, lack of communication or miscommunication, memos that got ignored because someone doesn't like their new boss or because they didn't think it was 'their job' to worry about it. I do agree with you thought, it should have been caught before possibly dozens of people, people who were supposed to do weekly check ins with caseworkers or something. It's unfathomable that there is still that much... lack of responsibility in the Ministry." He pats my shoulder and eats, emptying his place a time or two before grabbing a few cookies and a piece of fruit, turning to me with a grin.

"Shall we head out? See if we can find your charges?" I snort and grab some cookies and fruit, nodding as I slip the files into my bag and head out with him and the new healers, I grin as we all pile into a few buggies and head out into the pens.

"I was wondering how we were going to get around. I mean this place must be huge." He chuckles and nods, steering the buggy carefully.

"It's a relatively new addition, with so many more dragons it saves on walking and time between stops. So where to first? There should be a Pen Number on each dragon file." I look through the files, taking one out.

"Let's start with this one, Pen Number 1502. Dull gray dragon, nervous temperament, transferred from an unknown sanctuary about two months ago. It lines up with one of my MIA files." I say as I sit back, looking around as the buggy powers down the roadway.

oOo

Draco POV

How the hell did I end up in the Romanian Dragon Reserve... excuse me Sanctuary, like it actually mattered what it was called, for this long? The last thing I remembered before all of this was that crazy old hag laughing as she pointed her wand at me and then nothing. After I woke up I was in a cage in a forest somewhere in England. At least I was pretty sure it was England. Every time I was moved I was put to sleep so I wouldn't fight so much. I grumble and stretch as the sun wakes me up, another day stuck in dragon form, another day of punishment I wasn't entirely sure I deserved. It wasn't a bad life in all honesty, sit and sun your self, get fed and checked on... but I was so bored. There was nothing I could do, I couldn't go flying, or running, or reading... I was stuck in a pen board out of my skull.

I sigh and make my way over to my feed trough and nose at my breakfast, at least they had stopped feeding me only raw meat. I liked meat, really, I did but I was still human wasn't I? I needed other stuff to eat besides just meat, right? I stretch my wings and dig in, chomping at the vegetation and fruits, nudging the meats off to the sides to eat last. There was nothing better in the morning then some toast and jam but since I couldn't get toast and jam I made do with fruit and veg. At least it wasn't cooked gruel or something, blah.

I move back to my bed to sun myself after I finish all my breakfast, crunching the bones as I settle down for a boring, most likely uneventful morning. If someone didn't come and find me, I was going to go mad and attack someone. At least then I'd have something to do. I yawn and curl up in the morning sun, going back to sleep until lunch... or someone woke me up. Maybe I'd eat someone today... that might be fun... yeah... maybe.

I'm woken up several hours later by some, quite possible well meaning, moron of a dragon wrangler. I glare at him and turn my head away, trying to go back to sleep. Why couldn't I just sleep? What possible purpose could he have to wake me up? What was he, my mother? No... Mother was back in England... alone... at least that's where she was when I was transfigured into this monstrosity. I huff a sigh as he pokes at me again, did he WANT to be eaten? I grumble and turn on him, growling and advancing on him. I was not in the mood to be poked and prodded for no sodding good reason. A single wizard didn't wrangle a dragon on orders, it was just stupid. I could eat him... I wanted to eat him... Idiot!

I growled at the wizard trying to wrangle me for Merlin knows what reason, I looked like a dragon so why not act like one as well? I was annoyed, half asleep and pissed off. I had been stuck in this bloody form for SIX bloody months and I was fed up with all of it. That crazy bitch said I'd be found in a short time. If I ever got my claws on her... crap... hands... not claws. Well claws would work but I needed to find a way back to human form. I wanted to go home, see my friends; I wanted to get on with my life. Why had this happened to me? I had already been punished for my acts before and during the war hadn't I? I spent my time on probation to get out of going to Azkaban; I didn't need to be punished any more did I? I wasn't a bad guy really, ok yes, I had followed the Dark Lord, and I did my time for that. But what I did was to protect myself and my family... not because I agreed with his ideals.

I grumble and twist away from the idiot, flipping him out of my pen with a flick of my tail as I turn and settle; digging into my feed trough, ripping apart the raw meat much more violently then was needed. When I got back to human form, I might have to become a vegetarian for a bit, raw meat was an acquired taste that I just hadn't quite gotten used to. I finish my meal and settle in the sun, glaring out at the road between the pens, happy to see the idiot was just sitting there trying to collect his thoughts and probably trying to come up with a good excuse as to why he was trying to work with me along.

I was bored, so very bored. I sniff, lifting my head and looking around. Someone I knew was here... someone besides that foolish red head named Charlie Weasley. I get up and make my way to the front of my pen, sniffing, trying to place the smell. Parchment, dust, old books... there was only one person I knew who smelled like that. Well two, but I doubted Theo was allowed out of England yet as he was in the same boat I was in, probation until they were sure he wasn't like our parents had been. Why would she be here? Last thing I knew she was working for the Ministry as some sort of lawmaker or something. Maybe she had gotten bored with the Ministry, father had always complained about it... and it couldn't have gotten any better with all the new laws and regulations they were putting out.

I understood the need for the new rules, the new way of doing things but... clean up your own house before you try to tell others how to clean up theirs. Maybe she had become a dragon worker... no that didn't fit... she wasn't an out of doors type of person. Not the kind that became animal sanctuary workers anyway. it was possible, I guess, that she was here to find me... oh wouldn't that be wonderful?

I grin as I spot her and the Weasley coming down the road in one of the buggies, checking Pen Numbers as they go. My father would ask the Dementor's for a kiss if he knew Hermione Granger, Mudblood wonder, was the one who could get me out of this. I on the other hand would gladly sell my soul if I could just get back to human form. I didn't even care if I had to feel eternal gratitude and make a public thank you to her. I just wanted to be human again. I smirk and settle as they stop in front of my pen. This was too good to be true. Oh please let her be able to turn me human again... I might just kiss her if she could do it.

AN: ok.. so that's chapter 2, thoughts? Comments? Come on people... I can't make it better if no one tells me what's wrong.