Bit of a time jump to start this chapter (but just know that our lovely couple is well established at this point). Hope you're enjoying it thus far! Thank you once again to Mcal. I cannot adequately heap praise on her for all she does as part of the fandom. She is a gem!

I, of course, do not own any rights to the Harry Potter franchise.

Chapter 7

"Hermione, where did you put my risotto spoon?" The rattle of silverware punctuated Draco's question as he riffled through drawer after drawer for that special wooden utensil. He knew the dish would not taste the same if he used just any spoon

Hermione entered the kitchen and with a quick flick of her wrist had the spoon in hand. She sauntered up to Draco with a little smirk. "Almost as if I found it by magic," She teased him twirling the spoon in her fingers, but as he reached out for it she pulled it away and ducked past him.

"You want to play, do you?" Her answer a mischievous smile, he took a slow step toward her.

She tried to bolt past him, but he flinched and faked and soon had her cornered. Those chocolate eyes smiled up at him, as he caged her in, his palms flat on the bench top behind her and their chests pressed together. "Give me my spoon you cheeky witch."

"I'll trade you for it."

"Bargaining with a Slytherin - and a Malfoy no less - such a brash Gryffindor you are."

"That may be true, but I'm prepared to fight for what I want."

His voice took on a husky tone. "And just what is it you want?"

The glee emanated from her at their little game. "You tell me what you have to offer."

Draco leaned in, pressing himself closer and whispered in her ear, "I have nothing to offer, but a mere kiss." He was sure to brush his lips ever so gently against the shell of her ear, he felt her go almost electric with anticipation.

When he pulled back, her eyes were wide and dilated, but instead of answering with a counter she pushed forward and captured his lips with hers. Draco gave in to the kiss, basking in the exquisite pressure of lips and tongues.

He reached down and lifted her onto the bench top and ran his hands along her denim clad thighs; her right hand toyed with the hair at his nape, while the left one rested in her lap, still gripping the spoon.

Feeling the smooth grain of his prized kitchen utensil, Draco doubled down on his end of the bargain. Her grasp loosened and he held his prize in his hand.

Pulling back from their kiss, he took in her face. Her smile beamed, her eyes lit from within, and her cheeks rosy. He paced a quick smacking kiss on her lips and stepped away. He glanced over his shoulder once he reached the stovetop and saw her eyes wide with playful indignation. Holding up the spoon and giving it a little shake. "I think you got the better end of the bargain, my darling. I expect recompense later."

Hermione slid off the counter with a giggle and made her way to him. Wrapping her arms around him she watched as he melted the butter and began to saute the vegetables, she kissed him quickly in the middle of his back as he worked and pulled away. "Do I have time to run to the market?"

"What else could you possibly need from the market?

"Oh, just a few things, I'll be back before anyone gets here." She kissed him on the cheek and grabbing her handbag and her wand scurried out the door.

"I love you, be safe," he yelled after her.

"I love you too. I will be." He heard her answer as the door closed.

Draco set back to minding his risotto, the grains of rice plumping with each addition of hot broth and the dish coming together with a perfect creamy texture. Placing a temperature control charm over the dish he checked the bread in the oven and sent the dishes and cutlery levitating to the dining table.

As he was preparing to charm a bottle of white to the optimal serving temperature, the floo sounded and ejected an unruly configuration of black hair, shortly followed by two redheads.

"Malfoy, nice place you have here."

Harry Potter, of all people, made himself right at home as he approached the sideboard to pour a finger of firewhisky for both he and Weasley. He may no longer be Weaslebee, but he would never be Ron.

"This is good stuff, Malfoy," Weasley proclaimed as he poured another glass of expensive whisky, having finished the other in a single gulp.

"Slow down you big oaf, good whisky is meant to be savored." Ginny Weasley elbowed her brother in the ribs causing him to almost fumble his glass. Draco could only watch as Hermione's friends took over his sitting room, and with a resigned sigh he resumed his final meal preparations.

As Draco set the table with a wand wave, the floo sounded several more times and soon his and Hermione's flat was filled with his friends and hers. A mix of former Slytherins and Gryffindors with a Ravenclaw thrown in the mix for good measure.

Finally joining the group Draco greeted everyone and was pouring himself a firewhisky when Luna approached him. "Hermione's gone." She said it in that abstracted tone she seemed to use for everything, as if even simple declarative sentences required deep introspection.

"She ran to the market last minute. I'm sure she'll be along any time now."

Luna made a small considering noise and walked away, her brow scrunched in thought.

Draco watched her return to Theo's side as he took the first sip of his drink.

"Where is Hermione?" This time it was Potter.

"She went to the market."

"How long ago?" His voice adopting the authoritative timbre of an Auror beginning an interrogation.

Looking at his watch, Draco became suddenly aware that Hermione had gone to the market over an hour ago; and with the market being only a block away Draco became… worried.

Without a word, he pushed past Potter and tore out the front door of the flat. He vaguely heard someone calling him, but he would not be stopped.

Hoping she was distracted by a conversation with the grocer, Draco rushed to the market. Once inside he traversed the store, scanning every aisle at least twice. By this time Potter was by his side, silently looking for the same tell tale mane of chestnut curls.

Draco's breathing began to speed up. His chest became tight. Absently he registered the feel of someone's hand on his shoulder. Potter. "Take a deep breath, Malfoy." Draco tried to drag air into his lungs. "I'm sure we just missed each other. Let's head back to the flat, I'm sure she's there by now."

Draco wanted desperately to believe him; he clung to every hope that when they opened the door she would be ensconced by their friends, a smile on her face, and a glass of wine in her hand.

His hope died the moment the door swung inward. Luna's usually serene expression was replaced with one of worry, and that was how he knew something was very, very wrong. "I'm going back out to search for her." His feet had not even passed the threshold.

There was commotion and voices and questions coming from behind him, but it was all a dull static as he reached the street once again. Before he made three steps he found his feet stuck to the sidewalk.

As he struggled to be released from the sticking spell, Potter came to stand in front of him and grabbed him by both his shoulders, shaking him lightly. Draco shot him a tense glare but Potter had his attention.

"Malfoy… Draco, you can't just rush off. If something has happened to her, we need to involve the authorities."

Draco drew in a shaky breath and nodded as he watched Potter's stag Patronus burst forth from his wand; then into the night carrying a message for Auror backup.

By the time the Patronus was dispatched, the other visitors to their flat had congregated around Draco on the sidewalk. Potter, in full Auror mode now, directed everyone into groups of two to search the surrounding area. The groups broke away, Hermione's name floating on the evening air as they called for her. "Let's get a move on, Malfoy," Potter called as he turned and tore down the sidewalk.

"Potter!" He kept walking. "Potter!" Draco shouted louder. Finally, he turned to see Draco standing in the same spot, gesturing toward his feet, still held fast by the spell. With sheepish cringe and an absent wave of his wand the spell was lifted and Draco joined the search party.

Returning to the grocer first, Draco inquired if she had in fact made it to the store. The cashier confirmed that Hermione had made a purchase of fruit, but he couldn't remember what time.

Back on the sidewalk they were joined by a small contingent of Aurors. Potter took lead in relaying what information they had while Draco sunk deeper into the pits of his mind, consumed with fear for the woman he loved.

"Look a feather." Luna's dreamy voice was back and her eyes wide with… something Draco couldn't place, as she followed a single white feather into a dark alleyway. Theo followed behind her, a glint of panic in his eyes as she disappeared into the shadows.

Feeling helpless and restless, Draco wandered toward the alley. The soft glow of Luna's wand cast long shadows along the surrounding buildings and surrounded her in a mystic aura as she bent over to look at something on the ground. Theo reached her side and as he drew closer their faces were illuminated in the wand light as they examined what was scattered on the ground.

Luna reached down, retrieving one of the items, holding it up to inspect it closer. "Why would someone throw out such lovely fruit?"

A sharp gasp escaped Draco as he saw the characteristic blush on the skin of the orange-a blood orange. When he looked down he saw the carnage of a shopping bag filled with more fruit and just off to the side was Hermione's handbag.

The following moments would be blurry in Draco's memory. Theo's distant voice as he called for the Aurors. Blaise dragging him out of the alley. The question in Luna's eyes as she carefully examined the white feather that led her into the alley.

But Draco would never forget the feeling of hopelessness that accompanied him that night as he was forced into bed by Ginny Weasley and his mother.

His eyes traced the stitching on the duvet aimlessly, the calming draught forced down his throat in full effect, as only the moonlight fell on Hermione's side of the bed.

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