Hey everyone! Sorry for not updating in awhile, but I don't have much computer access at home. Just a warning-with Christmas holidays coming up, it will be awhile before too many more updates, though expect another in a day or two. I will try to update at least once, though, I promise. It is guarenteed, however, that I will be writing away while I'm at home.

Here's a shameless plug for myself- read my other story, I'm not a Child. It should be updated soon, too.

Here's a plug for someone else- my friend Crystal Miller has a story started on FictionPress. Sorry, it's not HP, but I thought I'd give her a plug.

Here's a big thanks to my beta, Fervesco. You're a life-saver!! Thanks for giving me several wonderful descriptive phrases, and glad you liked it. Keep up the good work!

By the way, I own nothing. JKR has that pleasure, I'm just borrowing the basics. Hope you don't mind, please don't sue me!

Ch. 4-Of Bedknobs and Broomsticks

The current occupants of the Headmaster's office were fast being pushed towards wailing, gnashing of teeth and pulling of hair. *If the students could see us now* Severus thought with suitable sarcasm.

The four Heads of Houses had not left the office except to use the toilet. Sprout's flyaway hair was worse than ever and her eyes were puffy and re-rimmed from crying. Flitwick had lost his bounce; he stared drearily out of one of the many windows. But worse than both of them were McGonagall and Severus as it was a favored student each worried over. The lines on Minerva's face were deeper than ever and there were bags under her eyes. Her face was gaunt with worry and wisps of hair strayed out of her normally perfect bun. Severus's hair was greasier than ever and the normally imperturbable man had become jumpy. The pair had spent hours waiting vigilantly for news, resting from their pacing of Dumbledore's office in what quickly became uncomfortable upholstered chairs.

Only Dumbledore outwardly appeared to be his usual self. Well, as usual as he could be without his customary twinkle. He had busied himself with checking in with both the Ministry and the Order's headquarters, which had become quite an ordeal, as each appearance and departure from Hogwarts required him to walk outside the gates before Apparating.

It was Minerva who broke the latest silence that had fallen over the group. "Why isn't she out yet? It's been over 24 hours!"

"We must be calm, Minerva, and as much as I hate to say it, optimistic," Severus said, flopping with uncharacteristic gracelessness into a different chair than he had previously occupied.

"You don't look that calm yourself," she snapped.

"My godson might be dead, and I am going to have to act as if I don't care, or if he is alive, I will have to pretend to try to kill him, so forgive me if my composure has slipped a notch," Severus snarled.

Minerva bristled and was about to reply when Dumbledore intervened. "It will do no good to fight amongst ourselves. I suggest a change in scenery; let us go wait in Miss Granger's house."

"What about Draco?" Severus demanded.

"There is nothing else we can do right now, Severus. We have a dozen agents keeping an eye out for him. As with Miss Granger, all we can do is wait. And perhaps our patience will pay off; she may know the whereabouts of Mr. Malfoy as well."

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Hermione and Draco awoke to find out that sometime during the night . . . or had it been morning? . . . they had snuggled up against each other. *More than snuggled* Hermione admitted to herself.

One of her legs was slung over his hip, and her other was between his legs. Their arms were around each other, holding one another close. Her head lay on his chest. *This should scare me* she thought *Instead, I feel as if I've come home.*

"You awake?" Draco asked.

She could feel the vibration of his voice run through her body. "Yes."

*Well, she doesn't sound upset* Draco thought with relief. It felt so . . . right to wake like this, to have her in his arms, but he wasn't going to dwell on that just yet. "What's the plan for today? Are we going out?"

"I think we have to go outside, make sure the rest of the house is still there and contact Dumbledore, though he probably already knows."

"Do we have to? Can't we stay in here, together, for a while longer and pretend that nothing happened except us meeting each other in a mall?" His voice was surprisingly wistful.

She burrowed her head deeper into his chest and whispered, "I wish." There was a hint of tears in her voice.

"If wishes were broomsticks . . ."

Hermione pulled back and said, "I know. Then beggars would ride."

"I was going to say 'And all Weasley's would ride Firebolts.'"

"You!" she laughed and gently slapped his arm. Both were still sore. His comment, however, did lighten up their mood. She rolled away from him and was going to get up when she discovered her leg was still trapped between his. She tugged on it and he tightened his grip, smiling mischievously at her. "Let go!" she said, pulling harder.

When he refused, a bout of wrestling ensued. In no time Draco had her pinned to the bed. Both were breathless with laughter and a foreign emotion. *She's beautiful* he thought. He leaned down and gave her a very chaste kiss, then immediately rolled away and got off the bed.

"Ha, I get the bathroom first!" he said with a light-heartedness that he didn't feel. Something had happened when he had kissed her; his heart had stopped for a moment, and it scared him.

She lay there with a smile on her face until he exited the bathroom. "You don't play fair," she informed him as she grabbed the bedknob to pull herself up.

"I know." He had a shadow of his old smug smile on his face.

She grabbed a clean set of clothes and locked herself in the restroom for about ten minutes. Though she looked exhausted, and her make-up did nothing to hide this, she none-the-less still looked beautiful. He gave a low whistle and she blushed a little.

Walking resolutely over to her night stand, she grabbed her wand from it. Draco picked up the wand she had given him to use. Out of curiosity, she asked, "How does it work for you?"

"Pretty well, considering it's not one that chose me. Mine did work easier, though."

She nodded and smiled at him "Ready to go out into the real world once more?"

"Ready when you are, beautiful." She looked at him askance but said nothing.

Hermione stood several feet away from the door and flourished her wand, muttering under her breath. Draco could feel some of the wards come down but not all. "Just a precaution," she said, looking back at him.

She went to open the door but Draco put his hand on his arm to stop her. Despite everything he had been raised to believe about Muggles and 'Mudbloods,' he was still a gentleman who could not let a lady head out into danger. "Let me go first," he requested. She stepped back and gestured at him to precede her.
He cautiously turned the knob and eased the door silently open. Both had their wands at ready. As they peeked cautiously around the doorjamb, they heard a small thump, like a chair being hastily put back down on all four legs. Whirling in the direction it had come from, they froze in shock.

In the middle of her upstairs hallway were five chairs, which contained Headmaster Dumbledore and the four Heads of Houses, all of whom were looking at her and Draco with open mouths and surprise etched on their tired faces.

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