Disclaimer; I own nothing.

A/N - I know this is kind of a shorter chapter but it was needed before the next one. I was suprised to see how many people guessed the mysterious man was Lucius. Well I won't tell you who he is, but go back and reread and you can find out who it ISNT...lol. Okay, enough teasing. On with the story. Happy reading and don't forget to review!

Strangers

Hermione was happily sitting at her desk later that afternoon when a young witch came in clutching a parchment.

"This just came for you Miss Granger."

"Thank you." Hermione replied taking the paper and unrolling it. Her eyes scanned the parchment and a lump formed in her throat.

"What could possibly be wrong?" she asked aloud.

"Everything alright?" the young witch asked.

"Yes. Just fine. Tell Healer trainee Whitney that I am going to have to go out for a moment. The kids are resting so she should have no problems."

The young girl nodded and ran off down the hall. Minutes later Healer in training Whitney Dobbs came strolling in.

"Listen, I have to run and check on one of our kids that was adopted. I'll be back in a short while." she told her as she grabbed her handbag. As quickly as possible she ran down the hallway towards the massive row of fireplaces. A handful of floo powder later she was stepping into the fireplace and swirling towards Malfoy Manor.

"DRACO?" she called out. "CLAIRE?"

"Right here." Draco called back running down the grand staircase. His face was flushed red.

"I got you note is everything alright?"

"I'm not sure. Let's sit." he said motioning to the ivory wing chair. Hermione took the chair studying his face intently.

"What happened?"

"Nothing really, but that man, the one from the train station was in the park we went to after King's cross. He tried to take Claire and buy her an ice cream."
"Oh gods…" Hermione said feeling sick. She had watched enough muggle TV to know that there were nasty men out there waiting to kidnap little girls.

"I was only 20 feet away at most. I ran up to her and grabbed her but he was gone. Claire said he told her his name was Fin."

"You have to watch her more closely." Hermione snapped. "People like that could grab her in an instant."

"I was watching her closely…he just kind of appeared. He must be a wizard." Draco said.

"Is she okay? I mean how did she react? She seemed scared of him at the station."

"He must have told her something because she didn't seem scared at the park."

"It's called grooming."

"What?"

"Grooming. He gets her to trust him before he snatches her up and disappears before you can blink an eye."

"Oh…well he did offer her ice cream. And you know how she likes that."

"I think we should talk to her. Let her know that if a stranger approaches that she should yell for you or me."

"Probably a good idea. She's up in her room playing with her new toy broom."

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing."

"It's something." he said watching her face as she climbed the steps.

"A toy broom Draco? She could fall and hurt herself."

"I had one when I was three. She's nearly twice that age. Do you want her to go to Hogwarts not knowing how to fly?"

"I didn't know how, and I still don't really." she snapped back.

"Trust me, she's fine." he said opening the door. Claire zoomed past their heads on her tiny broom before landing on the carpet and running up to Hermione.

"Hermione! Look at my new broom? Isn't it great? Draco bought it for me. He taught me how to fly the other day. I flew into the garden and over the lake."

"Slow down Claire." Hermione said kneeling down and talking to her face to face.

"Slow down? I'm standing still Hermione." Claire said looking at her in an odd way.

"I hear you went to the park today."

"Yep, I fed the ducks."

"Did a man talk to you?"

"Mmmhmmph." Claire replied looking at her toys strewn about the floor.

"Who was he?"

"I dunno."

"Did you know him?"

"He was from the train station. 'Member that man?"

"Yes."
"He came to talk to me."

"What did he say?"

"He said 'hi'." she answered innocently.

"And what else?" Draco asked taking the hint and kneeling next to Hermione.

"He asked what my name was."

"Did you tell him?"

"Yes."
"You shouldn't talk to strangers Claire." Draco told her.

"I didn't. His name is Fin."

"But you don't know him. You can't talk to people you don't know." Hermione said softly.

"I can't?"

"No, you can't." she repeated firmly.

"Oh."

"Did he say anything else?" Hermione asked placing her hand reassuringly on Claire's shoulder.

"He asked where my mommy and daddy were."

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him that they weren't there."
"Anything else?"

"Then he asked if I wanted some ice cream and I said yes."

"I want you to promise me that you will never talk to anyone without Draco or I ever again okay sweetheart?"

"Why?"

"Because some people are not as nice as they seem." Draco interjected.

"Why?"

"They just aren't. Is there anything else that he said to you? We need to tell the ministry about it so they can keep other little girls safe."

"He asked if I was happy. And then Draco ran up to us and he disappeared."

"Okay sweetie. Why don't you play with your broom now while Hermione and I go downstairs and talk."

She nodded and went back to her broom, climbing on and hovering a foot or so above the pink carpet. Hermione and Draco left the room and closed the door behind them.

"It's just odd…" Hermione said thoughtfully.

"It is. Why would he ask her all those questions? And ask if she was happy?" Draco said as they climbed back down the stairs.

"It all comes down to trust. But I think that the ministry needs to know about it. I will owl them right away. In the meantime keep her here for a few days maybe. If that man was following you two then maybe he will give up after not seeing you out with her."

"Alright. I'm sure we can find plenty to do around here. Thanks Hermione."
"You are welcome." she replied.

"I have never been so scared in all my life. You just can't imagine." he said in a low voice.

"I know, but she's alright now. I have to get back to work okay? I'll be back later." she said kissing him quickly on his cheek before heading for the fireplace.

"Till later then." he smiled as she disappeared.

For the next six days Draco kept Claire at home. She whined about not being able to go out to dinner, and shopping, or to the park but Draco kept her busy playing. He hung the swing from the big oak tree just as his mother always wanted. He liked to think she was looking down on them and smiling, for he imagined that she would have loved Claire like her own grandchild. Just as he loved her as his own child. Hermione brought Sophie over to play twice, therefore keeping her promise to Claire. Before Draco knew it, it was the night before the final adoption proceeding. Hermione arranged for others to work for her that Wednesday, and was spending the night at the manor the night before.

Hermione was cleaning up the dinner dishes when Draco came up behind her and grabbed her around the waist.

"You don't have to do that. Evy will do it."

"That's okay. I don't mind. She can have the night off."

Draco lifted his eyebrow at her.

"Don't look at me like that. You know how I feel about house elves." she smiled as he pulled her close and kissed her deeply.

"I love that about you. How deeply you care about everyone, and everything." Draco whispered when he pulled his lips from hers.

Hermione blushed and looked down at the floor.

"Well someone has to care…might as well be me right?" she joked.

"I'm so glad you are going with me tomorrow. I am so nervous."

"Why? You have nothing to be nervous about. This is just paperwork and signatures. You are already Claire's father, you don't need anyone to tell you that." she said soothingly to him, pulling his head down on her shoulder.

"I know. I just want everything to go perfectly. Did you put the dress in my room?"

"Yes."

"Did the ring arrive? Is it engraved? Is the birthstone right?"

"Everything is fine Draco. You are more nervous than a bride on her wedding day." she laughed.

"Very funny." he said stepping away from her and grabbing a towel to dry the dishes for her.

"This is nice."

"What?"

"This." she said. "Us, Claire. I don't think I ever pictured doing anything quite so domestic in my life."

Draco laughed at her.

"I don't think I did either. I think I imagined myself as some sort of gigolo."

"Really?" she asked quite amused. "Different woman every night sort of thing?"

"Something like that." he said smiling.

"And now?
"Now I can't imagine life without Claire…" he paused "or you."

"Stop…" she joked.

"Alright I will…I will never tell you how much I care about you ever again." he said jokingly as he pretended to walk away.

"Come on now…" she said following him out into the hallway.

"No, no…I cannot." he said feigning hurt. "It's obvious that you do not return my love."

Hermione laughed.

"You know I do."

"Then say it…or I shall be gone forever." he tried to say with a straight face.

She couldn't help but giggle again. He reminded her or a heroine in a cheesy romance novel.

"Say what?"

"You know what."

"That I like you?"

Draco put his hand to his heart.

"No, no…"

"Draco stop you know how I feel."

"I thought I did."

"It hasn't changed."

"Then say it." he said, no longer jesting.

"Draco…" she said blushing.

He was looking at her intently. His grey eyes unblinking.

"Why can't you say it?"

"I have."

"Yes, half heartedly, and only when I pressured you."

"It didn't mean any less." she said softly.

"You didn't answer me. Why can't you just tell me how you feel? Without joking, without sarcasm." he said firmly.

"I don't know why. It just seems like the words don't want to come out of my mouth."

"Or you don't want them to…" he said somewhat angrily.

"I do want them to!" she said in her own defense. "I want to be in love, and live happily ever after…but it seems too much to hope for. It's like I'm waiting for something to happen to ruin it."

He walked towards her and wrapped his arms around her, embracing her tightly.

"Nothing is going to ruin it. The gods would not let us find each other after all this time only to muck it up."

"Draco?" she asked laying her head on his shoulder.

"Yes?"

"I love you."