THIS PLOT BUNNY HAS EATEN MY BRAIN AND I CAN'T STOP WRITING.
"Of course he couldn't have apparated." Ever logical, Hermione Weasley (nee Granger) shot down Harry's suggestion with a wave of her hand and a single sentence.
"Course he could've," her husband immediately argued. "Left Scorpius behind and come for him later."
"And risk his only son getting found? What if the disillusionment charm had worn off while he'd been gone, Ronald? Honestly."
The boy in question was curled up in Harry's lap, cheek resting against the fabric of the wizard's shirt. He was fast asleep, as far as they knew, and had been since Harry had brought him to the Weasley home. He hadn't wanted to make Hermione travel so late in the day and, well, this situation required more than a chat by floo.
Ron was shaking his head. "Oh, come off it. They wouldn't have gone into the alley Malfoy left the kid."
"How do you know? They obviously attacked without any provocation. He was reacting to the situation in the only way he knew how at the time. He went with instincts."
"Well, Malfoy's instincts are shite."
"Not everyone can be auror trained, Ronald!" Hermione frowned darkly. "And the fact that they dragged Malfoy back down the alley where he'd left his son is rather clear evidence that they would have gone into the alley if Malfoy had apparated. He clearly did the only thing he could think of at that moment. I think it was brave of him to stand up to them, even if he was outmatched."
"It was stupid."
"He was protecting his son!"
"Yeah? And now look at him."
"Let's." Hermione looked at Scorpius, nestled in Harry's embrace, and then back at Ron. "I don't think there's a safer place in this world for him, do you?"
"Oh, alright, yeah. Malfoy was right about sending him to Harry. Hooray for him. Now how do we go about finding him?"
Harry smiled. Ron hadn't even asked if they were going to; he just assumed it. And Hermione was nodding, looking at Harry expectantly. This was why Hermione and Ron had remained his friends for so long. They just... understood certain things.
Harry looked down at the child, sighing. "Since Shacklebolt was pretty firm about me taking two weeks, I can't just waltz into the Ministry and get the things I need. So, Hermione, do you think you can get into the records department? I need to know the location of former death eaters, particularly the ones Malfoy took part in having convicted." Harry may not have kept up with the Malfoy family, but it was fairly common knowledge that Draco had turned on them and given up any information he had on Death Eaters and their activities. Even his mother hadn't been so forthcoming, let alone his father.
"That won't be too difficult." She patted her rounded belly, smiling. "I'll tell them I'm dreadfully bored at home."
"Which she is," Ron pointed out and got an elbow in the gut. He laughed at her, tucking an arm around her waist. "How about I look into Narcissa and Lucius's disappearance, mate? There's bound to be something on how they died."
Harry felt the way the small body in his lap tensed and knew immediately that he wasn't asleep like they thought. Oops. "Um, yeah. Do that, Ron."
He looked meaningfully at the boy and Ron winced, getting the hint. Hermione sighed. "Oh, dear... He didn't know?"
"No." Harry jostled Scorpius gently. "Alright, Scorpius, we know you're awake."
He didn't waste time with the pretense of just waking up, instead looking directly up at Harry. "Daddy didn't say they died." He turned and looked at Ron, eyes wide and round. "How come they died?"
Hermione looked momentarily troubled and Ron looked absolutely astounded. "Bloody hell, he looks just like Malfoy, doesn't he?"
"I am a Malfoy," he said proudly.
"Acts just like him too..."
"Ron, be nice." Hermione shook her head. "Scorpius, we don't know what happened to your grandparents. But it's okay. We're focusing on finding your father and then he can explain it to you."
Scorpius turned in Harry's lap, his back resting snuggly against his stomach. He nodded emphatically. "I want daddy."
Harry sighed. "So you two know what to do. I guess... I'll do what I can while keeping an eye on Scorpius."
"Wait, you're taking care of him?"
"I can't ask Andromeda to. She has Teddy. And your mum's taking care if Bill and Fleur's two while they're in Romania, right? I don't want to add to her load."
Ron frowned. "Yeah... But what do you know about kids?"
"I know enough. Besides, it's only temporary. We'll be able to track Draco down soon." They had to.
"Right. I'll start searching as soon as I get in tomorrow."
Hermione started to rise, but sighed and held out a hand. Ron bit back the laugh because he'd learned over the past few months that laughing at Pregnant Hermione wasn't the wisest course of action. He rose and took her hands, helping her off the couch. She rested a hand on the small of her back, glaring at Ron as if she knew he thought this was funny. Knowing Hermione, of course, she probably did know. "Are you sure you can take care of him, Harry? Ron and I would be happy to."
"We would?"
She glared at him. "Of course we would."
Harry shook his head, rising. He brought Scorpius with him, the boy's small fingers curling into Harry's shirt. "I have the extra bed at my flat for when Teddy stays the night and I have the leave time. I'd rather you researched, Hermione, than took care of him. You're better with the people in the records department than I am. And see if you can't find out where they live."
"You can't be planning to go to their house, can you?" Ron looked incredulous. "They're probably waiting for just that. They'll think it's the only place Scorpius would think to go."
"I know, which is why I'd like to know where it is. I don't plan to take Scorpius there, but if someone's waiting for him, maybe I'll be able to catch them off guard. They wouldn't be expecting me to show."
"They wouldn't be expecting it because it's ridiculous." Hermione drew herself up to her full height, frowning. "You can't go to their flat alone, Harry."
He could do what he wanted and very nearly said so, but that would get him nowhere. As much as he loved his friends, he knew there were limits. "I won't, then. Just find the address. Ron and I can go."
"With back up," Hermione insisted. Harry and Ron exchanged looks, nodded.
"Right," Harry agreed, having no intention of getting anyone else involved in this. No matter how much Draco had actually helped put away Death Eaters, his name still had the stigma attached. He knew very well that there were still aurors and Ministry personnel who would see no reason to help a Malfoy.
He looked down at Scorpius, who was quietly tugging at Harry's shirt. When the boy looked up, that blinding hope was in his eyes again. Harry sighed. The sooner they found Draco, the better.
