'I'm going to have Malfoy Manor destroyed!' Draco paused for a moment, 'And I was thinking of returning to my flat.'
'Say it one more time and you might convince me, you mean it.'
Draco sighed, he had tried for the last month to tell Ria his ... feelings, but he had not wanted to rush things. And with the death of his mother being so recent ... he wanted to make sure that his feelings were not mixed up - he wanted to start ... whatever it was they had with a clear head. He didn't want to have any regrets on either side.
'You're not helping Astoria.'
'Not my fault that you are unconvincing,' Astoria replied taking a sip out of her cup. They had met up for coffee, Draco had wanted to see how she was getting along after the fire. 'The only part that sounds at all convincing is having Malfoy Manor destroyed.'
'That because I can't stand being there.'
'Of course not, how could you after what -' Astoria trailed off, turning her head away. 'But you are only trying to fool yourself that you want to return to your flat.'
'It is probably why I haven't been able to -,' Draco stopped, 'this is what my mother wanted, she wanted for me to find someone after we fell apart. So why am I not -'
Well he knew why he wasn't grabbing it with both of his hands, he would land up on his back upon the floor again. Well he was pretty sure that would be where he would land up.
But he was emotionally attached to Harianna Potter ... and Teddy. Draco knew it, the Veela knew it, yet he was to damn scared it would all fall apart - too damn scared their killer would go for her.
'Because you're an idiot!' Astoria said calmly, 'you're trying to follow your head Draco - which is all well and good - but exactly how many times have you practised that shitty "I'm leaving" speech of yours?'
'Dunno,' Draco shrugged, 'A few times - all last night - I thought Harianna actually heard me at one point.'
'You're not going to like hearing this, because I'm going to repeat a bit of advise you once gave me,' Astoria said, settling down her cup, and squeezing his hand, 'follow your heart, Draco and do the right thing. Isn't that why you became an Auror in the first place? And why you never left? Because it was the right thing to do?'
Draco snorted, even times when he tried to be away from Ra, she still managed to be around.
'I have no doubt you'll catch your mother's killer-'
A beep sounded from Draco's watch. He was currently on leave, Bentley seemed to think that Draco needed time to get his head straight, so there was only one reason why he would be contacted.
'What is it Draco?'
Draco looked back at Astoria, he must have been frowning, the message had been indeed from Weasley though it had not contained what he thought it would.
'I have to go,' he said, 'Teddy's missing.'
'Of course, go, go. I'll settle this, go.'
'Thanks, I owe you Astoria.'
Draco would never forgive himself ... first his mother and now Teddy. He would not let the killer have Teddy. It was not happening. Draco checked his watch for the time before Disapparating, Teddy should have been collected from school an hour a go. Ria most likely would have headed home. Or at least that's where he hoped she'd be.
Draco wasn't wrong, Ria was pacing the length of the kitchen, Hermione greeted him with a timid smile, a pot of tea and several mugs had been placed on the kitchen table.
'DRACO!'
Ria sounded relieved to see someone else.
'What happened?'
'Teachers think - Teddy asked - oh,' she said, her hands framing her forehead.
Draco reached out and touched her shoulder, 'it's OK.' he faced Hermione, 'What happened?'
'Teachers think that Teddy left the school grounds early - about five or so minutes before they were due to finish. He asked to use the bathroom.'
'Weasley?'
'Which one?' Hermione said, hotly, 'There are several Weasleys looking for him right now!' she took a breath, 'Sorry, Ron's checking around the school - the security camera just showed he walked off on his own - nothing else. We checked Bill's, George's place and Percy's. They are out looking for him now.'
'Ginny?'
'Away,' Ria whispered, 'she's travelling for the Prophet at the moment.'
'Right, well if he went on his own and there was no evidence he was approached then something must have happened at school, right?'
Hermione seemed hesitant, 'we're not sure.'
'Where would he go? Did he have money to go anywhere?' Draco asked Ria.
She gave a thoughtful look, and pointed out the window to the far off distance, 'The graves ... his parents' graves. He could easily get on a bus - they're in the next village.'
'I'll check it out.'
'I should go with you.'
'Stay here,' Draco said, rubbing her shoulders. And though she tensed, he gathered it was not from his actions to reassure her.
'I need to do something,' her voice was weak, breaking with the emotions she was clearly feeling.
'You are,' Draco said, 'someone needs to be here in case he returns. I'll check it out. I'll bring him home, I promise you Ria. I'll bring him home.'
Draco wasted no time, he knew no words were needed to be exchanged to Hermione to say put - to remain with Ria. Having no clear destination did not help him, the next village was not much to go on, he nearly splinched himself upon landing at the outskirts, as he only had a rough idea of where he was going. Draco transfigured his clothes having no idea if the village was Muggle or not. The church was not heard to find, he should see the bell-tower in the distance.
He must have looked so odd running like a lunatic, but Draco did not care what he looked to the people he rushed past. He sprinted ... grateful that at least his job had kept him in shape ... he sprinted like his life depended on it. He skidded to avoid hitting the stone wall that surrounded the headstones of the graveyard - running alongside it until he halted ... stumbling as he reached the gap in the wall in which held an iron gate. He heard it clatter behind - as he pushed it open quite forcefully, and began to scan the gaps in the headstones.
'TEDDY!'
There was no reply - Draco was frantic - he had to be here ... he just had to be. Draco ran the length of the headstones, then down alongside them. It was quiet ... Draco was not going to give up ... he ran to the very back of the graveyard ... scanning , searching - grave after grave, something blue caught his eye and he backtracked -
Curled up into a tight ball, pressed against a headstone was the unmistakable blue-hair of Teddy Lupin.
Teddy looked up, tears streaming down his eyes. 'Go away!'
'I'm afraid I can't do that, you've had us all quite worried.'
'Don't care!'
'Yes you do,' Draco said, crouching beside him, 'care to tell me what happened? - why you're here?'
'No I don't -' Teddy turned his head. 'I hate you - I'm not telling you a thing.'
Draco was baffled, he was not sure what he had done - then a thought occurred to him. 'You thought I was going to leave you - didn't you?'
Teddy sniffled, but said nothing.
'You overheard me - saying I wanted to go back to my flat - last night.' Draco still got no reply. So he sat down on the grass and waited.
'Everyone I love goes away - my parents - Ria said that they died fighting for my future ... but I don't understand - why would they do that? Why leave me with Gran? And then Gran -' Teddy stopped, 'Ria - she's been good to me - it - she wasn't always like how she is. She's cool now. She lets me actually do stuff - not that she didn't before - but she was always around - she said she was doing it for them - that she was protecting me for them.' he paused, 'I wish they never joined in - I wish they were here - but they all go away eventually - everyone I love. And now you - I thought you liked us - who will I have when Ria goes -'
Draco looked up at the clear sky. 'I only wanted - I felt like I had taken up enough of your godmothers time and space. I no longer wanted to intrude - invade on your space.'
'That's stupid.' Teddy said.
'I know,' Draco sighed, 'Adults can also do and think silly things sometimes - we don't always know best - we only try to do our best - to do what is right.'
'Ria says, the hardest thing to do sometimes is the right thing. Says people get hurt from it.'
'Your godmother is a very smart woman.'
Teddy sniffled, 'It's not going to stop me from being grounded though.'
Draco laughed, 'No it's not.' and he turned to face the small boy. 'I'd like to stay if that's OK with you.'
'You won't leave?'
'I might need to collect some stuff - sort out what I want from my place and the Manor. So I won't be around for a few days but I won't leave.'
'You promise?'
'I promise.'
'Then - I guess you can stay.' there was another pause. 'Draco, can you be grounded too. It will be more fun if I have someone to join me.'
'Sure - we'll think of something on the way back, speaking of which I should contact Ria - let her know I found you.' Draco said, 'And I think you should tell your godmother about how your feeling -'
'But I don't want to upset her - she -' Teddy said looking distraught.
'Talk to her - it will make you feel better - trust me.'
