A/N: Hi everyone! Marry Christmas! Hope you had a good time with your family and friends.
Chapter XXXI
Three days later, I was sipping some tea in the living room, when Potter came looking like someone had just died. The place was almost empty. Fleur, Bill and their kid had gone home, Ginny was training for her first game, Mr. Weasley was off to work and Molly told me in the morning that she had to do some grocery shopping. Potter and Weasley had gone to the Aurors even before I woke up, and after some argument with Hermione, she managed to disappear into the house in a fury, because I didn't let her go alone to get a book she was waiting for two months. So after I managed to get Potter's kid to sleep, witch toke me almost an hour, I was just enjoying the peace when The Chosen One decided to come barging into the place.
-Malfoy, where's Hermione?
-Somewhere upstairs. She's mad at me because I didn't let her go alone to Flourish and Blotts. I would have gone with her, but you let your brat here, and no one's home aside from us, and it's really bothersome to have to carry a kid around.
His face got pale, and a worried frown appeared.
-Are you really sure she's here?
That got me confused. Why was he so worried?
-Of course Potter, I've been in this couch the whole morning with the kid, if she wanted to use the fireplace or get outside I would've noticed.
He almost didn't hear the last part that I said before darting upstairs yelling for her. And as I had expected, but hoped wouldn't happen, Teddy woke up screaming bloody murder. I sighed and got up to look at the crying child, but before I could get to the stairs, Potter appeared at the end of them, holding a sobbing kid, and looking like Voldemort just appeared out of thin air.
-She's not here.
-What do you mean she's not here? She has to be. Hermione! Hermione get here right now! Granger, you don't want to make me go there and get you, trust me. I know you want the stupid book, I told you we're going to get it later.
-Stop yelling Malfoy! I told you she's not here.
Potter was trying to make the boy stop crying, but he was so frantic that it only made things worse. My ears couldn't have it any longer, so I grabbed Teddy, walked with him to the kitchen, and reached to the cookie jar to get one for him. The second he got the thing the screaming stopped.
That's when I looked back at Potter. He was at the fireplace, speaking with someone. I couldn't really make out who it was, because the moment I entered the living room he got up and the flames had gone.
-I know she's not supposed to go on alone, and I don't like it that she did it any more than you, but she can take care of herself Potter. She must have gone when I put Teddy to sleep. It's not even been half an hour yet, she must be getting back at any time now.
-You don't get it Malfoy, she's in danger.
-I know she is, and she will have to hear me for a good hour when she comes back.
He gave a frustrated sigh, and reached to get the kid. His face was serious now, and that got me worried.
-What are you not telling me Potter?
He looked at the door, as if expecting someone to get there that moment.
-Potter?
-You have to stay calm Malfoy. If you do something stupid right now we may have some serious consequences.
-What. Happened. Potter.
He glanced back at me, and I could see that he was more than worried, he was scared. It's not every day you see the savior of the wizarding world scared, and I tensed at the multiple ideas that surged in my mind that could have happened to make him look like that.
-I was looking for some traces of Yaxley with the other Aurors. We got informed that he was witnessed yesterday. When we got into the location it was empty. But some time later, after looking up the place Ron found it on one of the tables. First I thought they were playing with us, but now it could be a real possibility.
He fished something out of his robes, and gave me a piece of parchment. When I looked at what it said my heart stopped.
Potter,
Hope you find it soon because I may have something really
important for you, that may not survive to the end of the day.
The cup next to this is a portkey.
If you want to see her alive again I suggest you leave the Auror's behind.
Before I could get a chance to say anything, Weasley and Ginny came barging into the door, both with looks of despair. Potter promptly gave the kid to Gin, and turned to address Weasley.
-From your faces I take it you didn't found her.
Weasley was turning a shade redder.
-According to the people in Flourish and Blotts she didn't even got there. They must have found her before, but I can't figure out how they managed to capture her at the street without anyone seeing. If I know Hermione, she would have fought until the end.
That's when it clicked. Why have I not thought it sooner?
-That's because she wasn't going there in the first place. She wanted to see her parents. I assume she got into her place there, and just wanted to see how they were. Three days ago was their anniversary, and she was really shaken. The book was just a cover for letting her go alone. I believe she thought that we wouldn't mind if she was to go alone to a place so crowded.
I could see Potter's eyes widening, and Weasley was so surprised his mouth was hanging open a little.
-Of course, I forgot about the anniversary. Ron, tell the others to change location, I know where she is. Get prepared if anything goes wrong.
That's when Ginny put a hand on his arm and forced him to look at her. She had one of those furious looks on her face, that I came to recognize as something to get away from.
-Harry, you're not thinking of going there alone, are you?
Before he could answer, and knowing the self sacrificing "I'm the hero" person he is, it would probably be a speech about how he couldn't let anyone get in danger, and how it had to be him, I got an idea.
-Of course he isn't.
He looked at me with a raised brown.
-I'm not?
Weasley snorted and started to go outside.
-Why Malfoy, are you suggesting you're going too? I didn't know the ferret had any drop of courage in him.
Ginny blasted him off, and turned to me with expecting eyes. I could see she would agree to anything that didn't put Potter in the front line of danger. It's not like I blame her, she just loves him. And even if before I wouldn't have understood, now it seemed normal to me how these people wanted to do anything in their powers to keep the loved ones safe. I'm definitely going soft here.
-What is it Draco?
Turning back to Potter, I looked him in the eyes.
-I sort of have an idea. Hermione told me some stories of how people managed to keep you alive the last two years, and one of them may just be what we need.
-I'm listening.