Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, that honor is all J.K. Rowlings. Anything besides my original characters and the plot most likely belongs to someone or something else okay? If there are any problems with this story please address me and I will try to remedy it to the best of my ability.

WARNING: This is an AU fiction from HBP but it may contain some spoilers for HBP (I haven't decided yet but I'll warn you before I put something in there) so you have been warned I will retain some of HBP's happenings but others will be changed. If you feel this is wrong please tell me so that I can reconsider the context. For explanations please send me an email or review to ask me.

A/N: I'm soo sorry that it took me so long to update to those of you who liked my story I know it's a little slow but I'm trying here and I warned you. if you like it or hate or have any tips please please review so that I know if I should continue.

Last Chapter:

Harry came home and Hermione got a letter telling her that Draco and his team were attacked and are now missing.

Chapter 3: The Aftermath

Draco was gone.

Gone.

Missing.

Location unknown.

It took a while for it to really sink in. He couldn't believe it. ' Murphy's Law' he thought sardonically. He had been sitting there for the majority of the past few hours, getting up every now and then to look in on Hermione and his fiancée. Ron and Blaise had fallen asleep on the floor while ago.

(Flashback)

" Are you sure she'll be alright?" Blaise questioned while looking over Harry's shoulder at Hermione.

"Yes, Blaise now we need you and Ron to go home and rest up, we have a lot of things to figure out tomorrow," Harry said nudging Blaise toward the door, " Besides some of us need to rest tonight Merlin knows we're in for a long next couple of weeks."

"Harry I promised I'd take care of her isn't there something I can do?" Blaise asked almost pleading.

" Not tonight no, there isn't at least not until Hermione's coherent again." Harry sighed.

"Why hasn't she moved? I mean Draco is missing shouldn't she be bouncing off the walls, or something?" Blaise reasoned worriedly.

" She's in shock," Ron joined in on the conversation, " the same happened to mum after Percy." The boys nodded grimly, not wanting to get into that. It was a well know fact that Percy's betrayal of the light was still a sore subject.

"When will she come out of it?" Blaise asked.

" No way to tell, I don't really think it's hit her yet, but it will, Merlin help her when she does," Ron sighed, " It's best we get going Blaise, there's not much we can do here, at the least we can go do nothing at the apartment and stay out of the way."

Blaise sighed. " But I can't leave like this she needs us."

" Right now she needs rest, all this stress can't be good for the baby." Pansy said while coming out of Hermione's room and leaving the door slightly ajar. At the mention of the baby, everyone was reminded of the situation.

" So what do we do now?" Harry asked.

" Well, like I said Blaise and I should go home and maybe one of you should stay, she shouldn't be alone. Then in the morning we all come back a-"

"Draco!" They all heard Hermione wail, then burst into sobs. One look from Blaise said it all, they weren't going anywhere tonight.

(End Flashback)


And they hadn't. Pansy had gone to Hermione and there she stayed. Occasionally they would hear a sob or sniff but other than that there had been nothing. The boys had just about passed out on the floor with the exception of Harry. Harry sat in the armchair just staring into the flames of the fireplace without really seeing them. He had been in that position for a while now, thinking. ' I should have been there.' Harry lamented. ' I shouldn't have begged Drake to change locations with me, just so I could come home earlier. The Chosen One' Harry snorted. ' Couldn't even suck it up for two weeks without my fiancée. Damn it!' Harry pounded his fist into the armrest in frustration.

" Wha?" Ron sprang up from the floor with a wild expression brandishing a throw pillow as his wand. Harry rolled his eyes.

" Nothing Ron go back to sleep."

" Oh, Hey Harry what are you doing still up?" Ron asked finally braking free from his stupor.

" Nothing, couldn't sleep." Harry sighed turning from the fire.

" Do you wanna talk about it?"

" Not really."

" Come one Harry, you can tell me, I'm not Draco, but I have ears." Ron chided lightly, but after a sharp look from Harry he turned serious again. " But seriously now, I am here okay?" Harry nodded.

"How do you think Hermione will be tomorrow?" Harry wondered.

"Not sure," Ron sighed putting his head in his hands, " Hey harry?"

"Yeah?"

" What does The Assembly do now?" Ron wondered, " I mean when someone goes missing what do they do?"

"Honestly?" Ron nodded. "Honestly, I don't know, this hasn't really ever happened before. I'm thinking our team will probably be recalled in the morning." Harry answered.

"When, do you think?" Ron questioned.

" Again, I'm not so sure but I know that I'm going to head quarters in the morning," Harry spoke vehemently, " I can't just sit here and do nothing while Draco and the boys are out Merlin knows where!" He finished nearly shouting. Blaise stirred.

"Harry, calm down we don't want to wake Mione" Ron stated calmly. Harry relaxed.

"Yeah, I know I'm sorry, it's just how could this happen I mean he was fine, they were all set, I just heard from him 2 days ago." Harry leaned back. " It was supposed to be me."

"You? What do you mean?" Ron asked confused.

" I was going to America." Ron's eyebrows rose. " I was supposed to go and stay for six weeks, but since it was just a wrap up mission and was the longest of the two I asked Draco to switch me so I could get back sooner." Harry admitted.

"And you feel guilty?"

" Well yeah I mean, he would be here if I hadn't of asked him to switch, he would be here celebrating the fact that he's going to be a father." Harry explained.

" Harry, honestly it wasn't your fault. If it weren't Draco it would have been you and we'd still be in the same place. No one thinks it's your fault that Draco went to America, now if you don't stop blaming me I'm going to be forced to pull the ' fate works in ways we cannot comprehend' card and you and I both know that card needs a rest." Ron laughed.

"Alright, I guess." Harry agreed, still not quite convinced but he wasn't going to tell Ron that.

"Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"How did we get this way?" Ron wondered, looking up at his rumpled friend.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, how did we drift?" Harry face screwed up in confusion. "I mean us, the golden trio, I know it's selfish but shouldn't we be in there with Mione? Comforting her? I mean we're still the best of friends but didn't we used to be closer? How did Mione end up with Draco? A Malfoy of all people, it's so twisted it makes sense!" Ron finished his voice high.

"Ron, what is this really about? DO you still love Hermione, is that it? I thought you guys decided you were better off friends, like family?" Harry questioned trying to calm Ron.

"No, its not that, I don't like her like that, haven't for a long time. It's just that we've all gone our separate way you know? How did we get this way? We have different people now? You're great friends with Draco, engaged to Pansy. Hermione's great friends with Pansy and she's going to give birth to Draco's child. One of my best friends is Blaise Zabini!" His exclamation woke Blaise.

"Hey mate, what are you on about? Blaise asked groggily.

"Sorry, it was nothing," Blaise looked at him unbelieving. " Well I was just explaining to Harry how we're all different, our lives are different and I got a little excited is all."

"Yeah well, I got what you meant Ron, and I guess well I don't know. I don't even know when we all became this way, but the point of this whole mood is the fact that one of my best friends is missing, and another of my friends is hurting because of that and she's going to keep hurting unless I right the wrong I've caused." Harry explained in a voice choked with guilt.

"What's your fault? Draco? Harry no one could have known that would happen and I refuse to allow you to keep this silly little notion in your head." Blaise chastised.

Let me have my guilt, I know when I'm at fault. Harry thought. " Yeah, I guess you're right, it isn't my fault. It's just that I'm so worried and I feel so useless." Harry said half-heartedly. " Let's just go to bed and see about the morning alright?" yawned Harry.

"Alright Harry whatever you say." Ron replied settling in on the floor looking at his friend skeptically.

" G'night Harry" said Blaise already half-asleep.

"Night boys." Said Harry in feigned sleepiness.

Staring at the pale yellow ceiling, Pansy shook her head at the dream she had last night. Wait, yellow ceiling? Pansy did a double take then yesterday's events came crashing onto her. So it wasn't a dream. Pansy realized sadly. She took a look at the 24-year-old woman at her side and sighed with sympathy. She got up and walked to the door. With one last look at Hermione she stepped into the hall making sure to close the door quietly. Walking to the living room she noticed the boys beginning to stir.

" Morning Pans," Blaise yawned, " How is she?"

" She's still asleep poor thing, I had to provide her with a dreamless sleep potion just so she could rest, horrid nightmares," Pansy spoke quietly so not to wake Hermione. " Merlin only knows what she'll be like when she wakes."

"Well all we can do is be here for her when she does come around." Ron reminded groggily.

"How late did Harry get to sleep? I know this must be horrible for him." Pansy asked.

" Well he did go to sleep late, he must be exhausted, hasn't moved a bit since he laid down." tutted Blaise.

" Well are you sure he's alright?" Pansy questioned suddenly worried.

" I'm sure he's fine Pansy just a little tired is all." Ron told her, but at her look of apprehension he relented, " alright I'll check him but I assure you, harry is fi-"

" What? What is it? Is he okay?" Pansy rose to a panic. Running over to the sofa she saw what gave Ron pause. Pillows. Just pillows, no glasses, no note, and most importantly, no Harry. All three shared a look and realized at once the same thing.

Like Draco, Harry was gone.

A/N: I know this one was real short and I'm sooo sorry. If you like it review, if you don't review. If you don't like where this is going please tell me.