2008

Draco Malfoy listened to the chiming of the alarm curiously for several minutes before he remembered that his wife was feeling crowded by the house today and had decided to work in the garden. Draco strolled into the parlor that his wife had converted into her personal study. Most of wall space was lined with books, except for one small shelf nearest Hermione's desk. On this shelf sat a variety of small knick knacks she had collected over the years. One or two were purely sentimental in nature but most were charmed with various spells.

Draco knew Hermione had health charms for their two children here but he also knew the way those charms sounded. Athena's was tickling ring that sounded rain on a wind chime and Harrison's was a slightly louder clanking sound. This alarm was like a gong, loud and reverberating through the house every time it sounded. Draco had never heard it before. He walked to Hermione's shelf and examined the different objects until his eyes landed on a small hand carved otter. The gong sound was coming from its mouth.

For a moment Draco only stared at it, his eyes wide. The gong sounded again setting off a flurry of motions from Draco he snatched the otter from her shelf and shouted for a house elf. He was already running out of the room when the elf appeared. He barely glanced at it but shouted behind him to tell his mother he and Hermione would be gone for at least a few days. Draco knew if Hermione had seen the way he addressed the creature he'd probably sleep in the guest room for a week but at the moment he didn't care.

The Otter in his hand released another gong and Draco increased his pace. Hermione had once told him that Harry had hand carved the otter for her as a Christmas Present as they hunted the Horcrux. He'd nicked himself with the knife and left a few drops of blood behind him. It was perfectly designed for tracking a wizard's magic and Hermione had cried with relief when she'd found it in a box when she moved into the manor. Harry had been missing just over a year then and she had frantically enchanted it. She'd watched it for days after waiting for it to alert her of Harry's magic but in all these years it had never made a sound.

Draco had honestly believed Harry dead or hidden behind some massively powerful wards. Something had changed apparently and Draco knew he had to move fast. The tracker would let them apparate to directly where the magic had been used but if Harry left they would have to wait until he used magic again. Draco was nearly breathless by the time he found his wife in the north garden. He realized as he came to a stop panting and clutching a stitch in his chest that he could have just apparated.

Hermione was seated at a small table reading a book propped up on her large distended abdomen. She looked up startled when Draco arrived. When she took in his flustered appearance her eyes narrowed in concern.

"Draco! What's happened are the chil-" Before she could finish the gong sounded again. She cut herself off mid sentence and jumped up with far more ease than a woman 7 months pregnant should have been able to handle. "Harry?" She whispered as if unsure she quite trusted her own senses. Draco nodded and held out the otter to her.

Hermione took it and caressed it gently as tears sprung to her eyes.

"We should hurry," Draco told her now that he'd caught his breath "I already sent word to mother that the children would need looking after for a few days."

Sam didn't know what to say. Not to his brother and not to Cas so instead he focused on Harry who was still watching the swirling ball of flame in his hand. Sam leaned forward and laid a chaste kiss on the corner of Harry's lips.

"Thank you Harry," He told him softly but Harry only grinned not taking his glassy eyes away from the flickering flame in his hand which so far had shown no sign of shrinking or burning out. Sam could tell that Dean was watching Harry with obvious concern along with a hint of distrust obviously not understanding what Harry had done for him. Not to mention the danger of someone as unstable as Harry playing with a handful of fire.

Before Sam could think of a way to convince Harry to put out the flame without upsetting him a loud bang echoed through the room and two people appeared. A tall blond man and a shorter heavily pregnant woman who was clutching his arm. The blond appeared so close to Harry the fire nearly brushed his face. As soon as the blond saw the flame he let out a yelp and promptly doused it with water pouring from his wand. Harry blinked in confusion looking at his damp hand before looking up at the blond. Suddenly he burst out laughing and leaned over to Sam.

"Sammy the dragon is afraid of fire!" he continued to laugh while the blond man and the pregnant woman stared at him in shock. The sound of a gun being cocked pulled Sam's eyes from the stranger to Dean who had his shotgun trained on the blond man.

"How about you step away from the kid and tell me who the hell you are." The blond turned to look at Dean and smirked in obvious amusement opening his mouth to respond. Before he could however the pregnant woman released a strangled sob and surged forward.

"Harry!" Sam moved quickly tugging Harry away from her and into his arms. He held Harry out of reach as he eyed the woman. He noted she didn't have her wand in hand but that didn't make him feel much better.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Sam demanded echoing his brother. The woman looked up at him blinking tears from her watery eyes.

"Why. . .You're Sam aren't you?" she asked.

It was Dean who replied. "He didn't ask what his name was lady, who the hell are you?"

The woman nodded.

"My name is Hermione Malfoy formerly Granger. I don't imagine Harry ever mentioned me but he told me all about you," She paused and touched the blond man's arm "Draco, my bag please."

The blond nodded and reached into his pocket and pulled out a beaded bag. The woman clicked it open and reached her hand inside. After a moment she retrieved a white envelope and held it out to Sam. Sam hesitated and Hermione explained.

"The last letter he sent me along with the picture he included." Sam reached out and accepted the letter. Hermione's name was scrawled across the front of the envelope in Harry's distinctive chicken scratch. With shaking hands Sam opened it and pulled out a folded sheet of note paper.

Hermione,

I know it's been too long since my last note and I'm afraid this one will be quite short as well. I couldn't let the day pass without at least sending you something. I meant to write this yesterday to be honest but found it all too fresh to think about. I miss you I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you to cry on. I've no doubt the memorial was especially awful. I'll say no more about that however and instead answer the questions you asked in your last letter.

I know I've stayed too long here, you don't have to tell me but I am being careful. I've been checking my foe glass daily and as fake Moody once said 'I don't have to worry until I see the whites of their eyes'. Perhaps they have stopped searching for me. The truth is I can't bear the thought of leaving. Even speaking of it now makes my stomach churn. I could never explain it to Sam in a way that would satisfy either of us. If I am forced of course I will go but until I have no other choice or Sam is threatened nothing can shake me from his side.

As to your other question about Draco Malfoy, I think you should consider it. I spent several dinners with his family after I testified at the trials and I think I got to know him rather well. The war changed all of us, some of course were not changed for the better, but I think that Draco was. I'll also tell you that he always asked after you and never once asked about Ron. I've been following his actions through the press and it all seems to me like the actions of a man trying to prove himself worthy. You must only trust your own judgment dear friend because it has forever proven better than my own but I think Draco may have carried this torch much longer than you imagine and I believe his intentions are pure. Give him a chance.

Also enclosed is a photo of Sam and I so you can stop your dreadful badgering. He's quite large and I know you shall tease me about it but he really is very sweet. I'll say no more because I refuse to become a blubbering school girl who talks about love and soulmates. Instead I'll say that I do believe I could spend the rest of my days next to him and never tire of his company.

I Love You Always

Harry Potter

May 3rd, 2001

Sam drew in a shaky breath before reaching into the envelope and pulling out the picture. It had been taken at the one and only party ever thrown in their apartment. Harry had discovered that a few of Sam's study partners were also staying at school over the holiday. Harry had declared it the Party Of MisFit Toys and invited them all. Harry and Sam were sitting on the couch together, Harry with a Santa hat perched crooked on his head and drink in hand. He was practically in Sam's lap and laughing. Sam swallowed several times before nodding and returning the letter to Hermione.

"Okay, so you're Harry's friend. How did you know to come here?" he asked trying to ignore how choked the letter and photo had left him.

"Harry used his magic. I've had a tracer on it for years but today for the first time it rang."

"That doesn't make sense," Dean spoke up "He was using his magic at the castle. Making those lights or whatever."

"Wards then," Draco spoke "Powerful ones if they were able to escape the blood trace. Where was he?"

"Potter Manor." Castiel informed them and Hermione's eyes narrowed.

"That doesn't make sense. Potter Manor is Harry's ancestral home. It shouldn't have been able to keep him captive. Harry what held you there?" she asked turning her attention to her friend. Harry grinned at her before returning his attention to Sam's fore arm where it was still wrapped around him. After a moment he looked back up and responded.

"Sam has 32 freckles on his arm." He informed them. Sam glanced at him in surprise before petting his hair gently and turning back to Hermione.

"Harry's not quite himself. We think it's from being alone for so long. He's had a couple. . I don't know flashes kind of where he's almost himself but then he lapses back." He shrugged helplessly. Hermione's eyes filled with tears as she sat down on the motel bed and reached out to Harry. Sam released him and Hermione took his hand and tugged him to her. Harry wrapped his arms around her but after a moment pulled back.

"You got fat." he said. Hermione laughed a watery laugh.

"I'm pregnant Harry." She told him and Harry's eyes got wide.

"But Hermione! What about school?"

"This doesn't make sense." Draco was frowning and staring at Harry as if he were a confusing puzzle.

"What doesn't?" Dean asked he'd lowered his gun by now but still held it in his right hand. So far he'd been watching their interaction without interfering but now he was wondering if these people would want to take Harry off their hands and more importantly if Sam would even let them.

"Potter has the strongest mind I've ever seen. I mean he could throw off the Imperius when he was fourteen. Solitude wouldn't break him."

"He was completely alone for seven years." Sam exclaimed but Draco shook his head.

"I'm not criticizing him, I'm saying something else must have caused this." Hermione's eyes went wide.

"Crucio?" She asked but Draco shook his head.

"No, Crucio causes the synapses to overload and burst. If he'd been crucio'd he'd be more like the Longbottoms, he'd have limited communication and motor skills. Harry's speaking fine, he's still using his magic. This is something else." Draco drew his wand with a flourish and began to rapidly cast spells. Sam tensed but Hermione obviously cared about Harry and Harry himself had said he thought Draco was good enough to date an obviously close friend. So Sam waited. His heart was beating wildly in his chest. If someone had done this to Harry, did that mean they could reverse it?

Author's notes: Sorry about the delay on this one. . .I went to the pool today and got the Sunburn of all Sunburns. I'm pretty much in agony. :( It's my own fault though because I considered and was offered sunscreen more than once and decided against it. I just keep telling myself I have it coming.

Anyway the last chapter didn't get many reviews which made me sad but I understand because you guys have been giving me tons of reviews. What's worse though is no one is even Reading my finally posted Adventurers In London competition piece. Which I worked really super hard on! It's about Lily and Severus as kids. . . USING MAGIC . . ...Having an ADVENTURE. Just saying. . . .You know if you like awesome things like magic and adventure maybe give it a gander yeah?

Also PLEASE REVIEW! I'm gonna try for another chapter before I go to bed tonight. I always write faster when I have reviews because I go check my email and go 'wow so many reviews better get writing' but If I don't have any I'm like 'maybe I'll just read this cnn article real quick then jump back' . . It's my process. ..