Disclaimer: The end of the last chapter got cut off, I've since fixed it.
Oops!
Hermione awoke late that afternoon and just lay in bed for a moment, enjoying the feel of Harry's warmth on her back.
"Good morning," Hermione said in content.
"Morning Hermione," Luna replied. "Though I suppose we should say afternoon considering the time."
"Luna?" Hermione asked in shock. "Where's Harry?"
"I don't know," Luna replied. "He wasn't here when I came in this morning."
"Ok," Hermione said nervously. "Don't panic. I'm sure Harry's safe."
"Uh huh," Luna agreed.
"But that doesn't mean we shouldn't go look for him," Hermione continued. "I'll check the shop downstairs, the Leaky Cauldron and the Bank. You floo McGonagall, the Weasleys, and anyone else you can think of."
"Ok Hermione."
Hermione quickly dressed and left the apartment at a dead run. "Katie," Hermione yelled as she ran into the twin's shop. "You haven't seen Harry have you?"
"No why?" The other girl asked.
"Because he didn't come home last night," Hermione replied. "I'm sure it's nothing but . . ."
"But I'll have George call his brother and Angelina," Katie said calmly. "Don't worry Hermione, he'll be home before you know it."
"Thanks Katie."
"Where were you going to go after this?"
"I was gonna check Gringotts and the Leaky Cauldron," Hermione replied. "After that, I wasn't sure."
"Ok," Katie agreed. "You do that and head home, I'll orginise the rest of the shop keepers. Just relax, like I said he'll be home before you know it."
"Bye Katie," Hermione rushed out the door and towards Gringotts.
"George," Katie called out. "George I need you."
"What is it dear?" George appeared from the back room with his wand in his hand. "Trouble?"
"Harry didn't come home last night," Katie replied. "Call your brother, I'm gonna check the shops to see if anyone's seen him."
"Right," George agreed.
IIIIIIIIII
"This really really sucks," Harry grumbled as he entered hour eighteen of the stake out. "Ready to concede that I win the bet so we can all go home?"
"Still got half the day left," the Auror said quickly. "They said they'd rob it today and they've got till midnight to do it."
"And I still say this was a waste of time," Harry yawned. "They're not going to show up."
"When you're an experienced Auror, you can make those types of judgement. Until then, I suggest you stick to wards."
"If you say so," Harry sighed. Maybe this hadn't been such a good idea after all.
IIIIIIIIII
"I'm afraid we haven't seen Mr. Potter," the head security goblin replied to the agitated Hermione. "But we shall keep our eyes open for him."
"Thanks," Hermione said. "Now if you'll excuse me . . ."
"Of course," the goblin agreed. "Good bye Mrs. Potter."
"Bye," Hermione called out over her shoulder. She ran down Diagon alley and burst into the Leaky Cauldron.
Every eye in the place turned to look at the frantic girl, including those belonging to Auror Tonks. "What's wrong Hermione?"
"Harry didn't come home last night," Hermione sobbed.
"Ok." Gone was the mischievous young woman as she allowed her Auror side to take over. "What happened?"
"I woke up a few minutes ago and Harry wasn't there," Hermione babbled. "Luna says that she didn't see him when she came in this morning either."
"When was the last time you saw him?"
"Yesterday afternoon," Hermione replied. "He left a note saying that he was gonna come back late and I fell asleep before he came back."
"Have you reported it to Magical Law Enforcement yet?"
"No," Hermione said. "I was hoping . . ."
"It's ok," Tonks said gently. "Ok, here's what we're going to do. We're going to ask Tom if he's seen Harry and then we're going to go home to wait."
"But . . ."
"Let me take care of the rest ok?" Tonks suggested. "I'm the professional here, remember?"
"Ok Tonks," Hermione agreed.
"Well Tom?" Tonks turned to the old innkeeper.
"Sorry," Tom said with a downcast look. "Last time I saw Mr. Potter was a few days ago when he came in with the missus."
"Come on Hermione." Tonks put a supporting arm around the girl's shoulders. "Let's get you home."
Hermione lasted until they crossed the threshold of the apartment she shared with Harry when a single look at Luna's worried face caused her to burst into tears.
"Hold her," Tonks ordered as she passed the trembling girl to her friend.
"Ok," Luna agreed. "Come over here Hermione."
Tonks marched through the room and threw a handful of floo into the fireplace. "Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Director's Office. This is an emergency, Tonks, Nymphadora five five one two by four."
"What is it?" Amelia's face appeared in the flames.
"Harry Potter is missing," Tonks said. "Hermione says that he didn't come home last night and she's frantic."
"You're with Mrs. Potter right now?"
"I am," Tonks agreed.
"Stay with her," Amelia ordered. "If this was an attack then she could be next."
"Yes Director."
"I'll see what I can shake up here," Amelia said. "Let's hope to god nothing happened to him."
"Yeah," Tonks agreed.
"Were you able to get any more information?"
"She says that he left a note saying that he was going to come home late," Tonks began. "And that she fell asleep before he could return. Ms. Lovegood came in some time this morning and did not see Mr. Potter."
"I see, leave the link open and do what you can to comfort Mrs. Potter."
"Yes boss," Tonks agreed.
"I'll be back as soon as I learn something."
Tonks stood up and walked over to the couch to find Hermione sobbing into Luna's shoulder. "I'm sure everything will turn out alright," Tonks tried to console the girl. "Everything will be just fine."
"It's never fine with Harry," Hermione said tearfully. "If it isn't giant snakes then it's another attempt on his life. Where were the Aurors? Why couldn't they have done something?"
"Just relax." Tonks tried again. "There's no sense panicking until we know there's something wrong."
IIIIIIIIII
Amelia stuck her head out the door into the bullpen. "GET ME SHACKLEBOLT NOW," she yelled. Immediately several Aurors jumped and rushed to carry out her command. "Moody, get in here."
"Right," Moody agreed. "What is it?" He asked after the door to her office was closed.
"Mr. Potter did not get home last night," she explained. "Mrs. Potter is frantic and I'm worried that he might have gotten ambushed on his way home from the stake out."
"Damn," Moody growled.
"Yeah," Amelia agreed. "I want you to turn over every stone and do whatever you have to, so long as you find him."
"Sure the Minister," Moody cut off. "Never mind, he'll sign off on anything we do."
"Fred is a good friend of Harry's," Amelia agreed. "This is the absolute . . ." She was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"You called for me chief?" Kingsley asked.
"What time did your stake out end last night?" Amelia demanded.
"End?" Kingsley asked in surprise. "It hasn't, I was just about to go take my second shift."
"What time did Harry go home then," Amelia asked with a sinking feeling.
"Uh . . ."
"Go find out," Amelia growled. "NOW."
"Yes chief," Kingsley said nervously.
"Looks like Potter might not have been grabbed after all," Moody observed.
"Mrs. Potter is not going to be amused by this," Amelia sighed. "How could they have done something so stupid?"
"Practice?" Moody suggested. Amelia shot him a glare which he responded to with a smile.
"Potter is still there," Kingsley said breathlessly as he returned. "I've . . ."
"Send him home now," Amelia said with a look of rage. "What were you thinking?"
"No one knew he'd been there that long," Kingsley protested. "Each shift thought he had arrived just before they got there."
"And no one wanted to be without Potter if the Fox and the Hound showed up," Moody finished with a nod.
"And I've already told them chief, he should be on his way right now."
"Wait at your desk until I call you back," Amelia said coldly. "I'm going to go speak with Mrs. Potter to tell her the good news."
"Yes chief."
Amelia got up from her desk and stepped into the open floo connection to Harry's apartment . . . and right into the wand of Auror Tonks.
"Sorry boss," Tonks said with a blush. "I thought you'd call first and when I heard someone coming in . . ."
"Perfectly alright," Amelia assured the other woman. "Mrs. Potter, your husband is fine."
"He is?" Hermione asked in a small voice.
"I'm afraid that several of my junior Aurors had the bad judgement to keep him with them all night, he should be returning soon. You have my sincerest apologies for what happened."
Hermione closed her eyes and took several breaths. "Ok . . . thank you Director Bones."
"Come along Auror Tonks," Amelia said firmly. "I have some people I need to speak with after I hear your report."
"Yes boss."
The two girls watched the Aurors leave and Luna turned to Hermione with a smile. "I knew everything would be fine."
"Yes Luna," Hermione agreed.
"And if we hurry, we can have you ready for your dinner before Harry gets home."
"I forgot all about that," Hermione admitted. "Come on Luna."
"I don't know many cosmetic charms," Luna said as she followed Hermione into the bedroom. "But I think I know enough."
IIIIIIIIII
"Not much to tell," Tonks said after they got back to Madame Bones's office. "I met Hermione at the Cauldron and got her statement. Then I called you and told you everything I knew."
"Good work Auror Tonks," Amelia sighed. "What do you see happening as a result of this?"
"Um . . . well, Hermione was planning a special night with Harry yesterday."
"How special?"
"Spent half the day making dinner with her mother's help," Tonks said nervously. "And Luna tells me they spent a few hours shopping for . . . um . . . underthings the other day. She put the food under a stasis charm but . . ."
"But we still ruined her special day," Amelia said with a frown. "Tell Shacklebolt to get in here."
"Yes boss," Tonks agreed.
"And keep yourself available," Amelia called after the fleeing Auror. "I may wish to see you again later."
"You wanted to speak with me chief?" Shacklebolt asked as he stepped into her office.
"Sit down," Amelia ordered. "Do you have any idea how much trouble those idiots of yours caused?"
"And for nothing," Kingsly said in disgust. "Read this."
You really thought we'd give you a warning? We're quite disappointed that you have such a low opinion of us.
The Fox and the Hound.
PS – We signed twenty Galleons out of petty cash to pay for the food.
IIIIIIIIII
Harry stepped into his apartment and stopped to stare at the girl in front of him. "You look good," he said with a tired smile. "What's the occasion?"
"Your birthday," Hermione replied. "I'd planned to do this yesterday."
"Sorry I'm not better dressed."
"That's ok," Hermione said. "It was supposed to be a surprise anyway. I didn't expect you to come in your best." She ushered him over to the table and took her place across from him. "I made it myself," she said nervously. "With mum's help."
"It looks delicious," he said with a smile. Inwardly he was forcing himself to remain calm, Hermione had never been the best cook in the world.
"How is it?" She asked hopefully as he put the first bite in his mouth.
"Good," he said in pleased surprise.
"I worked really hard on it," she said as she poured him a glass of wine. "And mum says that this will go well with our meal." She felt an odd mixture of pleasure and contentment as she watched him eat and wondered if he felt the same way after he'd made her a meal. "You really like it?"
"I really do," he assured her.
"It was fun to make . . . do you think I could help you cook?"
"Sure," he agreed. "If you like."
"But not breakfast," she said with a smile. "Or I'll never get any hot water."
"I don't shower that long do I?"
"Longer," she giggled. They finished their meal and she led him to the bedroom. "Just wait here," she said nervously. "I'll be right back."
Hermione walked into the bathroom and splashed a bit of cold water into her face. "This is it," she said to her reflection. She carefully changed into one of the silk teddies she'd purchased on her trip with Luna and took a breath to steady her nerves.
Hermione opened the door carefully and walked into the bedroom to find Harry sleeping with a look of contentment on his face.
"I guess you did have a hard day," she said to her sleeping friend. "But I really wish you could have stayed awake for a little while longer. Mum tells me that it's more usual for the guy to fall asleep after not before," she added with an impish smile. She vanished his clothes and dressed in her normal sleeping clothes before tucking him in and taking her place at his side. "Goodnight Harry." She gave him a tender kiss on the cheek. "I love you." With that, she closed her eyes, cuddled up to him, and let the sound of his breathing lull her to sleep.
AN: The ongoing list of people that contributed to this fic without whom, it would not have been nearly as good . . . one might go so far as to say it would be quite bad: nonjon, Ed Becerra, ausfinbar, David Wangen, neil.reynolds, dogbertcarroll, hattenjc, the caitiff, AlanP, Lone Wolf, meteoricshipyards, Shawn Pickett, Morris Rague, luinlothana, Treck, Drake, David Brown, Moshehim, Arthur Hansen, Marneus Calgar, Goblin214, Chris LeBron, khadon99, Shawn Pickett, tekobaka, Freddie, Musings of Apathy, Brian Arcis, Fenris, Pelel, and everyone else on my yahoo group. They gave me scenes, ideas, and all sorts of other things. Tell me if I missed you so I can add to this list. Another thanks goes to meteoricshipyards who wrote the majority of the continuing adventures of the tentacle monster as well as several others. Anything I wrote on that sub plot was fairly minor so kudos. And still another goes to neil.reynolds who wrote a large number of scenes. Yet another goes to The Resident who was good enough to do a bit of editing and caught several of my mistakes.