Druce woke to a sharp finger poking into his side. He thought for a moment that it was Capper the house elf, but his supposition proved incorrect. He turned over and came face to face with a very frazzled Mercy Potter. She had ribbons of tears running down her face and her hair was disheveled. Her watery eyes gazed back at his for a moment before she spoke. "Druce, I-I" she managed before she collapsed against his chest.

"Shh, shh, what's wrong?" That was a stupid question. He knew very well what was wrong. "Why are you here?"

"I-I had to get away," she sobbed. His pajamas were quickly getting soaked. "Will you take me away Druce?" she looked up at him so innocently that be couldn't speak.

"What?" She couldn't really be serious.

"I've run away and-and, Druce just hold me," she sunk deeper into his shirt. He wondered for a moment if she had punctured his skin as it felt like blood was blossoming against her face. He wrapped his arms more strongly around her shoulders. He ran a finger up and down her spine soothingly.

"Was it your dad?" He felt Mercy nod fervently.

"He-he said I wasn't to see you again. He said such horrible things and I just couldn't stand it. You will take me away won't you?" He had to dwell on this for a moment. Had he been his usual sensible self he would have told her to go home and talk it out with her parents but he didn't feel very sensible at the moment. Mr. Potter and affronted him deeply. By the looks of it he had also severely stung his love and that was simply not acceptable. No, he didn't owe Mr. Potter the luxury of his support. He would take Mercy away and Mr. Potter could suffer.

"Of course I will. We'll just pack up here and stop into Gringott's before the sun rises," Druce said, his voice strong and resolute. After a second of thought, however, another came to the surface. "What'll we do about Hogwarts though?" he asked doubtfully.

"We'll go of course! That will give us the whole summer together before I even have to think about my family!" He was surprised by her words. Mercy had always loved her family. In fact, he had had to comfort her many times in their third year as she was suffering from severe home sickness. Mr. Potter must have really hurt her.

Her mood did seem significantly brighter. The two packed his thinks quickly. His trunk was one that his father had passed down to him. It was embossed with the Malfoy seal, one of the few Malfoy relics that had survived the raids. It wasn't that he particularly liked his father. Draco hadn't been around enough for him to like or dislike him. He was Druce's father though.

Mercy turned as he changed into a t-shirt and khakis. After putting a weightless charm on his trunk, they both apparated to Diagon Alley. It didn't take long for them to get money from the Malfoy vault. Draco had never let Druce want for any material assets. Mercy would have gotten some gold from her vault as well except she didn't have the key and her father had probably already blocked it. It didn't much matter as Druce had more money in his separate vault than they could use in a lifetime.

"Where should we go?" Druce asked as they stepped back into the street. Diagon Alley was an odd place in the gray early morning. It looked even more ancient than it really was, like a foggy memory.

"Italy," Mercy answered. He smiled. As long as he had known Mercy she had always wanted to go to Italy but, as a Quidditch World Cup had not yet been played there, the Potters hadn't been. "And shouldn't we go the muggle way?" she added as they walked hand-in-hand down the cobblestone street. Druce nodded. "I guess we'll have to go back and change the money then?" Druce shook his head with a bemused smile on his face.

"My mum taught me this," he pulled out his wand and a handful of galleons. "Muto pounds" he murmured and with a swish of his wand the round, gold coins changed to small bits of paper with the queen's face smiling up at them. Druce grinned at the surprised look on her face. "It comes in quite handy when we visit my mum's family in France." Druce looked down at his watch and began walking again. "We better hurry. Your dad can mobilize faster than anyone I've ever seen." Mercy nodded and with a wave of her wand, their trunks turned into suitcases (she was good shots at Transfiguration, better than Druce). She took off her cloak and folded it under arm, turning it into a purple jumper. They walked through the Leaky Cauldron and into Muggle London.

It was very early morning by then, only 5:30. The two run-aways ambled down the quiet streets. It was odd seeing things so early. Mercy didn't even think she'd been outside before 10:00 her whole life. Druce seemed to know what he was doing though as they ended up in front of Charing Cross Station. Druce bought tickets and they waited as their train wasn't due to leave for another hour and half.

Meanwhile at the Potter's

Ever since Remus's coming, Harry had been pacing the living room. Of course the first idea that popped into his head was the Malfoys. He had yet to pluck up enough courage to fire them however. "Harry, this is ridiculous," Remus said for the fiftieth time. "Your daughter's life is in danger and you're holding fast to a child hood grudge." Harry knew he was right. Remus was seldom wrong and knew the scar-clad hero better than anyone. Harry nodded resolutely and walked over to the fire.

In his defense, he and Remus had had to discuss a couple of things. Though Harry was very much "in the loop", he'd been preoccupied for a week or so (the twins were a little under the weather). Remus had had to fill him in on the recent developments. A man calling himself The Imperial Lord was gathering supporters. Remus seemed to believe he was part of the old circle of Death Eaters that had remained free. They then had to explain everything to Ginny.

"But how can we be sure that Druce is working for the dark side?" she asked stubbornly.

"That's not the point Ginny," Remus explained tiredly. "It isn't that we suspect Mr. Malfoy," he sent a meaningful look in Harry's direction. "It's just that, being away from the protection all of us could provide her, Mercy is in danger of being caught by wizards much better at curse throwing than she." Ginny nodded, real fear coming into her eyes.

"Malfoy Manor," Harry stated loudly and clearly after throwing floo powder into the fire. His head swam for a minute before he caught sight of what he could only guess was the Drawing Room. He spotted of a house elf dusting a book shelf. "Oi, is Draco Malfoy here?" The House Elf jumped severely and turned to face Harry.

"No Sir, Master Malfoy is not in. He left yesterday."

"Perhaps Melisande Malfoy then?" Harry felt a bit awkward spouting demands at the poor elf but he was in a hurry. The House Elf nodded.

"Mistress is here but she is still sleeping sir. I would be ha-"

"It is very urgent. Please fetch her," Harry interrupted. At least he wouldn't have to speak with Draco as he had feared. He was tired and worried. How could Mercy have run away? Of course he had been fairly harsh and she hadn't the foggiest idea of what evil works were happening under the seemingly smooth surface of the magical community but…. Harry's thoughts trailed off. The House Elf, clearly sensing Harry meant business scurried off to find her Mistress.

Harry needed only to wait a couple of minutes before a very pretty woman walked into the room. She was wearing a long, green night gown and her dark hair fell down her back in a long braid. "What iz ze meaning of zis?" she asked. Her eyes were flashing, clearly angry at being summoned from sleep so early in the morning. "And it iz you? I did not think zat you would haf ze gall to face me after what you did to Druce!" Harry winced under her glare.

"I wouldn't have woken you so early if it wasn't under the gravest of circumstances Mrs. Malfoy. It's just that, well, Mercy has run away and I was wondering if Druce would know anything about it," Harry said all of this with a very pained expression on his face. He wasn't proud of being so mean to the boy for heaven's sake. Melisande's face softened slightly, clearly sympathizing with Harry's predicament.

"I will check Druce's room," she murmured. He could hear her feet pattering up the stairs and heard a door open. Then, to his disappointment, he heard a gasp. Melisande rushed down the stairs, a very panicked look on her face. "'E iz gone! All of his thing, gone! 'E must haf run away as well!" Harry's eyes closed. It was as he had feared.

"Thank you for your help. I will make sure to contact you if I can dredge up anything." Before Mrs. Malfoy could say more he pulled his head from the fire. "She and Druce are both gone. I can only think that they are together," he murmured, rubbing his eyes.

"Did you expect otherwise?" Remus asked. Harry shook his head, of course this was what he had thought. Damn Remus for pointing out the obvious! It was more that he had hoped otherwise.

Charing Cross

Mercy and Druce boarded their train. It would take them across the Chunnel to Paris where they would catch another train to Rome. The train was definitely not up to Hogwarts Express standards but neither cared. They were doing something daring for once. Both, being Prefects (and Head Boy and Girl though they didn't know it) had always meticulously followed the rules.

They settled themselves in the First Class car and settled back for a comfortable journey. Truthfully, Mercy was surprised her father hadn't come barging into the terminal. It was the sort of thing one expected of Harry Potter who was always there to save the day. It wasn't that Mercy hated her father, it had just finally happened that there was a true difference of opinions. She wasn't under his wing anymore, he wasn't her hero anymore.

After securing their bags in the over head compartment, Druce settled next to Mercy and laced his finger with hers. She sighed contentedly and leaned on his shoulder. She marveled at how things had changed in the past year. Before, she never would have been able to keep a secret from her father. He had been able to read her like a book and she had secretly enjoyed it. It was nice having someone know her so well, or at least it had been nice. Then Druce happened and it seemed her subconscious knew that he was something to keep buried a little further, a buried treasure if you will.

She had known Harry wouldn't fall head-over-heals for Druce. He was a Malfoy and, well, a boy. She hadn't, however, expected him to act so viciously toward him. That, she supposed, was why she didn't feel much sadness at leaving him. He didn't seem to be "Dad" anymore; this Harry was foreign and untamed. His reaction had startled her as she had assumed he would see the love she had and at least try to be happy for her.

The trip took about four hours. By that time Mercy's stomach was grumbling angrily. She realized that she hadn't had anything to eat since Dinner two days previously. "Hungry?" Druce asked with an amused smile on his face and a twinkle in his eyes. She nodded. "Let's get something to eat then." The two retreated to a shadowy corner of the train station and Druce pulled out a bit of money. He pointed his wand at it and muttered "Muto euros."

Cash in hand, Mercy and Druce walked into a restaurant. It seemed years ago that they had sat in a restaurant together, dressed in right-off-the-shelf-finery. Druce ordered a baguette and some tea while Mercy ordered the entire left side of the menu (of course promising Druce she'd pay him back as soon as she could get back into her account). Druce didn't think he'd ever get used to her mammoth appetite.

By the time their train to Rome pulled up to the platform it was around 1:30. 'Harry was probably right worried by then' Mercy mused. They boarded the train and settled into their seats, slightly beat from all of their activity. The train was over-heated and the woman in the seat in front of them was heavily perfumed. Both were reminded heavily of Professor Trelawney's attic room.

Mercy fell asleep almost instantly, right after the train began to move. Druce allowed her to rest on his shoulder though it was causing a fair amount of pain on his end. He had to wonder why Mr. Potter was so averse to him. He didn't think he was so terribly un-likeable. He had tried to polite and he loved Mercy. To him, it seemed a bit more than "normal" fatherly overprotection. Did Harry Potter really hate his father that much?

Ministry of Magic

Harry was arguing heatedly with the receptionist at the Office for Missing Children desk. "But she's still a child, still a student at Hogwarts!"

"Mr. Potter, your daughter is of age. She is no longer considered a child by law. If she wishes to up and leave she is fully able to do so by law. I know you're worried but this is not the office for you." She looked pointedly across the hall at the Aurors office. Harry had always hated receptionists as they always pretended they knew more than they really did. There were especially annoying at the Ministry of Magic.

"But, well, forgive me but they might not be inclined to go on a rescue mission just to get a runaway daughter!"

"I am truly sorry Mr. Potter but I cannot help you. Kindly leave this office and allow me to move on to someone who has a right to be here." She was starting to get waspish which Harry really hated. Grudgingly, Harry exited the office, his shoulders slumped.

"Anything?" Ginny asked anxiously. Harry shook his head glumly.

"Nothing, they can't help because Mercy's of age."

"Well we should file a missing person's report."

"I know but that will take too long. Each minute Mercy's out there….." Harry trailed off, unable to find the right words to articulate his fears to his wife. Ginny bit her lip. Harry sounded worried and with due reason.

"I think I'm just going to have to do this on my own." Ginny nodded, it didn't surprise her. Harry usually ended up doing things on his own.

A/N- This isn't where I envisioned ending the chapter. I have the next "Act" fully planned. It just seemed that ten pages was suitable, anymore and you could get bored. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. What I really fear is that you have gotten tired of my little fic and abandoned it, something for which I wouldn't blame you. Please show me you're still there and REVIEW! Thank you in advance.