A/N - Even though I'm still working on part 3 of The Dark Lady, I've wrote over 30 chapters, so I've decided to publish this part more often. I will now be publishing on every weekday and I estimate it will take about 3 weeks to finish publishing.
Monday morning found four Slytherins gathered around Draco's still made bed. The previous night when the boys had gone to bed the blond still hadn't come back to the dorm room, but they hadn't been overly worried. It wasn't the first time Draco hadn't returned to the dorm until after curfew, but this was the first time he'd failed to return all night.
"Where do you think he is?" Goyle asked.
"Maybe he's still practising his Quidditch skills." Crabbe suggested with a laugh.
"More likely he's with Hermione practicing other skills." Blaise responded.
"But it's not like him to stay out all night." Goyle argued.
"Yeah, but before we would have questioned him on who he was with. Now we all know who The Dark Lady is and that he'll be with her." Blaise responded.
"But how would Hermione explain staying out all night?" Theo questioned. "Someone would notice if she was missing all night and I really don't think she would risk anyone asking questions about her whereabouts, she's too careful for that."
"You're right." Blaise nodded thoughtfully. "So if Draco hasn't been with Hermione, where is he?"
"Maybe he had an accident in the Quidditch changing rooms." Crabbe said. "We should go and check."
The boys all agreed, each of them feeling guilty that they hadn't responded sooner to Draco being missing. If he was lying somewhere hurt, they would all feel really bad for not being better friends to him.
Forgoing breakfast the four Slytherins headed down to the Quidditch pitch and the nearby changing rooms. Inside the changing rooms they found no sign of Draco. His uniform was hanging in its normal place, his broom was in its usual place and a check on the equipment revealed the snitch had been returned.
"Well he's not in here." Blaise announced, emerging from the empty shower blocks.
"We can keep an eye out for him as we head back to the castle." Theo said. "We have to get to Herbology, so hopefully he'll show up there."
As they headed to the greenhouses around the back of the castle the friends kept an eye out for any sign of their friend. Draco was nowhere to be seen however and he didn't even turn up for Herbology. When Professor Sprout inquired about Draco's absence, Blaise quickly said he wasn't feeling well.
"Why did you say that?" Theo hissed to his friend.
"Because I don't want to get Draco into trouble." Blaise replied in a whisper, ensuring no-one nearby could hear them. "I think we need to speak to Hermione and see if she's seen Draco. I don't want to go around saying he's missing if he's either with her or doing something for her."
"I never thought of that." Theo mused. "He could be off doing something as a Death Eater."
"Exactly. Until we've spoken to The Dark Lady, we need to cover for him." Blaise said.
The covering for Draco continued in History of Magic when he still didn't show up for the second class of the day. Sitting in the back of the room the four friends discussed what to do about Draco and came up with a plan for break time. While Crabbe and Goyle would head down to the dungeons to see if there was any trace of Draco retuning to the dorms, Theo and Blaise would try and talk to Hermione.
At break time the foursome split into the pairs and set about trying to find Draco. With Crabbe and Goyle searching the dungeons for clues, Blaise and Theo set off in search of Hermione. After nearly five minutes the pair spotted Hermione walking through the courtyard. Unfortunately she was in between Potter and Weasley and the trio seemed deep in conversation.
"Any ideas on how we approach her?" Theo asked.
"Do you have any scrap bits of parchment on you?" Blaise asked, rummaging in his bag for a quill.
Theo fished about in his bag and found some parchment. Handing it to Blaise, his friend quickly scribbled a note on the parchment and hid it in his hand. Realising what Blaise had in mind Theo grinned, he just hoped it worked and no-one spotted what they were doing.
"Are you ready?" Blaise asked, knowing Theo understood what he was planning.
"Let's go." Theo nodded determinedly.
Together the two Slytherins set off across the courtyard, angling themselves to walk straight into the three Gryffindors. A few minutes later the two Slytherins barged into the Gryffindors, expertly manoeuvring themselves between Hermione and her friends. As they did so Blaise slipped the note into Hermione's pocket and managed to give her a pointed look.
"Watch where you're going, you bloody gits." Ron yelled, pushing Theo away from him.
"You should watch where you're walking." Blaise sneered. "You're getting in our way."
"We were here first." Harry countered. "You barged into us."
"What can we say, we didn't notice you there." Theo grinned. "We don't pay attention to insignificant rubbish like you three."
Before the Gryffindors had a chance to respond, Blaise and Theo sauntered off. As they left they heard Hermione stopping her friends from chasing after them and prolonging their disagreement. Once they were out of the courtyard Blaise led them towards the nearby classroom that he had asked Hermione to meet them in.
"Did she get the note?" Theo asked, perching on a desk.
"Yeah, she knew what I was doing." Blaise responded. "I just hope she can get away from the dense duo."
"Of course she can, she can run rings around the pair of them." Theo snorted.
A couple of minutes later Theo was proved right as the door opened and Hermione slunk into the room. Quickly locking the door and silencing the room, Hermione turned to glare at the duo.
"What the hell was that?" She hissed. "I thought I made it clear that you don't acknowledge who I am in school."
"Sorry, but Draco's missing." Blaise said quickly, hoping the mention of Draco would calm Hermione's temper.
"What do you mean missing?" Hermione frowned.
"He didn't come back to the dorm last night and we haven't seen him all morning." Theo explained. "We were wondering if he was doing something for you."
"No, I didn't see him yesterday." Hermione shook her head as dread started to creep up on her. "Have you told anyone he's missing?"
"Not yet." Blaise answered. "We wanted to check with you before saying anything. We didn't want to mention anything in case he was either with you or doing something for you."
"You need to tell someone." Hermione said. "I have a bad feeling about this, he wouldn't just disappear."
"Do you think his disappearance has anything to do with Marcus going missing?" Blaise asked.
"I hope not." Hermione sighed. After a bit of discussion she and Lucius had decided the most likely answer to Marcus's disappearance was that the Order had him, or possibly someone who opposed the Death Eaters, but it was all just guess work, they had no actual proof of anything.
"Crabbe and Goyle are double checking the dorm, but if they don't find anything we'll go and tell Snape." Theo said.
"Good, make sure he takes this seriously." Hermione replied. "I want Draco found, and I want him found quickly."
Nodding Blaise and Theo rushed out of the classroom and headed for the front hallway where they had arranged to meet Crabbe and Goyle. When Crabbe and Goyle arrived they shook their heads in disappointment and announced there was no sign of Draco in the dungeons. He definitely hadn't been back there since that morning and it didn't look as though he had visited during the night and taken anything.
"We're going to Snape." Blaise announced. "This is getting serious."
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After the bombshell dropped on her by Blaise and Theo, Hermione took a few minutes to try and compose herself. The awful feeling that Draco was in serious trouble was starting to consume her and she had to fight hard to control her fear. As much as she tried to tell herself there was a simple explanation and once Snape knew of the situation Draco would be found, Hermione still didn't quite believe it. For Draco to just vanish like he had, something had to have happened to him.
Just to be sure Draco wasn't around the school somewhere, Hermione took a deep breath and summoned him via his mark. She waited until the bell to end break sounded, before accepting that he wasn't coming. Even if he'd been over the other side of the school, he would have arrived before the bell sounded.
Reluctantly dragging herself out of the classroom, Hermione headed to her next class. The class before lunch was Ancient Runes and it was a class that Draco and Blaise were normally in. As she expected neither of the Slytherins showed up and Hermione spent the entire lesson worrying over what was happening with Snape. She just hoped the Potions Professor was taking Draco's disappearance seriously and was starting a search for him. Hopefully Blaise not attending class meant he was with Snape, getting the search underway.
By the time she headed down to the Great Hall for lunch, Hermione was desperate for news. As she entered the room she was contemplating trying to catch one of Draco's friends to find out what was happening. That plan soon stalled however when Hermione entered the room to find most of the Professors gathered at the front of the room and no food on the tables.
"What the hell?" Ron's voice sounded from behind Hermione. "Where's lunch?"
"I don't know." Hermione muttered, more concerned with the gathered Professors at the front of the room. Turning her attention towards the Slytherin table she found the seventh years huddle together, all looking worried.
"Everyone take a seat, now." McGonagall ordered loudly.
The students who hadn't yet taken a seat settled down at the four house tables. As the last few students trickled into the room, Hermione looked around and found that the rest of the staff had also gathered in the Hall.
"What do you think's going on?" Harry whispered.
"I don't know, but it better be bloody quick. I'm hungry." Ron grumbled.
"Now everyone is gathered, I have an important announcement to make." McGonagall said, quieting the Hall and getting everyone's attention. "Draco Malfoy is missing, he hasn't been seen since yesterday evening. Classes are cancelled for the rest of the day and after lunch everyone is to return to their common rooms while a search gets underway."
"We want to help." Blaise called.
McGonagall turned to Kingsley and Snape and the three had a quick conversation before the Headmistress turned back to address the Great Hall. "Seventh years will help with the search." She announced. "For now I want you all to get a bit of something to eat, before we begin."
"Why do we have to help with the search?" Ron muttered as the food appeared on the table.
"I know, it's so unfair." Harry grumbled. "What's it got to do with us if Malfoy has gone wandering off?"
"You wouldn't be saying that if it was anyone else that was missing. If it was a missing Gryffindor you two would be the first to demand action." Hermione retorted, trying to keep her temper under control. She could feel her anger and worry building and she knew it wouldn't take much for her to explode and lose her cool.
"I suppose." Harry mumbled as he began to eat.
Hermione picked at her food and after what seemed like an eternity the dishes were cleared and McGonagall started dishing out orders. Most of the Professors had already headed out to search for Draco, but a few remained behind to sort the students out. The prefects from fifth and sixth year were told to ensure everyone went back to their common rooms and stay there until further notice. Once only the seventh years were left, McGonagall split them into small groups and handed them an area to search.
"I want everyone back in the Great Hall at four o'clock." McGonagall announced. "If you find something on your search send your Patronus to a Professor. Don't worry about getting it to speak, just send it and we'll come running."
Hermione, Harry, Ron and Lavender had been put in a group together and once they were free to go they headed outside. The group had been tasked with searching the area around Hagrid's hut and the first few inches of the Forbidden Forest.
"Do you think they've got people in the forest?" Lavender asked, peering into the dark shadows as they scoured the area in front of the trees.
"I would think so." Hermione answered. "McGonagall will want to have the entire grounds searched before calling in back-up."
"Back-up?" Harry questioned. "Who's she going to call?"
"First of all I would think she would contact Malfoy's parents. In fact I'm surprised they haven't already been informed." Hermione said, although she was guessing McGonagall wanted to ensure Draco really was missing before worrying Lucius and Narcissa. "Then I would guess the Aurors would come into play."
"The Aurors?" Ron queried. "Is there any need for Aurors?"
"Of course there is." Lavender told her boyfriend. "Malfoy's gone missing, of course the Aurors need to investigate. He could be the victim of foul play."
"Or someone could have just given him what he deserves." Harry retorted.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Hermione asked, glaring at Harry.
"I just mean, he's a nasty bully and maybe someone gave him a taste of his own medicine." Harry shrugged.
"Yeah, with a bit of luck he's suffering somewhere." Ron remarked.
Hermione glared at the duo before turning and storming off in the opposite direction. If she stayed around Harry and Ron much longer she would completely lose it and attack them.
"What's up with her?" Ron asked, watching Hermione as she stalked over to Hagrid's hut and started prowling around his garden.
"Maybe she's just as disgusted with you two as I am." Lavender replied sharply. "Honestly, sometimes the pair of you are just horrible. I know you don't like Malfoy, but he's missing and could be hurt. Try showing a bit of compassion for a fellow human being."
Leaving a stunned Harry and Ron behind her, Lavender went storming over to where Hermione was. Ignoring the boys for the rest of the afternoon Hermione and Lavender continued their search. By the time they returned to the Great Hall they hadn't found anything and it soon became clear no-one else had been any more successful either.
"Thank you all for your help." McGonagall said to the students as they regrouped in the Great Hall. "If you'll head back to your common rooms, dinner will be served there. I don't want anyone leaving their respective common room until a Professor comes to get you."
"You're not giving up, are you?" Pansy cried, trying not to sob. It was clear from her appearance that she had been crying for some time.
"No, we're not giving up." McGonagall reassured Pansy. "It's just time to expand the search. Mr Nott, Mr Zabini, if you two go with Professor Snape you can run over exactly what you know."
As Snape passed with Blaise and Theo, Hermione was pleased when she heard they were going to contact Lucius. Hopefully she could talk to him soon, but his presence would hopefully wield some results in the search. One thing Hermione was certain of was that Lucius would quickly make Draco's disappearance official and the Aurors would be crawling all over the school very soon.
Hermione reluctantly left the Great Hall with the other students and headed back to Gryffindor Tower. The confinement to Gryffindor Tower wasn't ideal, but Hermione knew she would have to deal with it for now. Luckily once they entered the common room everyone was sitting gossiping about Draco's disappearance and Hermione was able to slip up to the dorm, claiming she had a headache.
Alone in the dorm Hermione pulled the curtains around her bed, before placing a protective bubble around the bed that prevented anyone from bothering her and hid any noise she might make. Trying to concentrate on memories of Draco, Hermione set about trying to locate her lover. Within a few minutes she knew she wouldn't be able to locate him, she was just too anxious and couldn't concentrate.
Lying back on the bed, Hermione shut her eyes as tears started to squeeze out. Within minutes she was crying profusely as she let her worry about Draco out. Anything could be happening to him, and at the minute Hermione was powerless to help him. As her tears finally started to subside, Hermione tried to locate him again, but yet again she wasn't calm enough to be able to concentrate fully.
"I will do this." Hermione vowed out loud. "I will find you, Draco."
