I get a good couple hours of work done before I feel the need to eat. Draco is asleep in his corner, curled up like a cat, and I doubt he'll wake before my return. It would be safe to leave him on his own for a few minutes, as long as he doesn't wake, as long as no one comes in…
But what if he does awake? He'd panic and probably destroy my office, maybe even escape.
I tell myself quickly and sharply to stop worrying, but that didn't stop me from locking the door on my way out.
For all the time in which I am parted from him, my mind cannot focus on any one thing. I pick at my food and swirl the murky dregs of tea around the bottom of my cup.
Every single movement that I make has a restless sense of unease to it and I am sure that I am going quite mad. What if…? What if…?' I cannot stop the blasted questions and each one just irritates and worries me further.
My appetite lost, I slam my cutlery down upon the shiny plastic table top, push my chair back with unnecessary force and stride out, my pace quickening with every step I take.
Approaching my office, I know at once that something has done drastically wrong. The door which I had so meticulously locked, was now ajar and I could hear the sound of someone inside.
My heart racing and my forehead sweating, I lunge for the door, almost falling over in my haste.
The cleaning woman- unperturbed by my sudden intrusion- looks around jovially from her task of emptying the waste paper bin and smiles at me. She looks stupid and fat and where the hell is my boy?!
"Where is he?" I demand loudly. "The boy that was here, what have you done with him?"
The lip-stick smeared smile disappears and the stupid woman regards me warily. "The little lad in the corner?" she clarifies. "He didn't look so well, Mr Malfoy, so I sent him off to the loo. I didn't know you had kids, sir. I'd take him off to St Mungo's if I was you, though. He didn't half look poorly…"
Every word that insufferable woman spoke grated my nerves.
"Where is he?" I snap again, louder this time and- thankfully- she shuts up.
"On his way back here, I shouldn't imagine. He went off over ten minutes ago. Right glad he was to be let out too. I don't suppose you meant to let the poor little mite in."
She is patronising me, I realise furiously. And she is not giving me the information I want.
"You'll be out of a job for this!" I promise before turning and almost running. I do not know where I am running to, though. He could be anywhere. How dare he run away from me! How dare he be so ungrateful as to disobey me like this!
I stop everyone I come across and demand to know whether they have seen a little boy come this way. The majority look at me as though I am mad and my wand-hand twitches with the desire to hurt, even (in some cases) kill. Luckily, though, not everyone is incompetent and a few point me in a vague direction.
I should not have goaded him earlier, I realise as I continue to search frantically. I should not have even suggested the possibility. Draco had always been curious and, despite having punished him severely for it several times, he usually indulged it.
But I will find him, I am sure of that. There's only so far he can run before I catch up.
A/N: Please excuse the rather large gap between updates :P It is nice to know that people are still interested though, so thankyou very much :D
