Chapter Fifteen
Finding Joanne
Theo was slumped in a chair his chin on his chest snoring lightly while Draco slept on the couch his feet hanging off the arm. Hermione pulled the blanket tighter around him the phone between her shoulder and her ear.
"George," she hissed. "Have they found anything?"
"No, but how will I ever know if you don't stop calling me?"
She stomped to her and Draco's bedroom. "George Alfonso Weasley I swear, if you don't -"
"Don't call me by that horrid middle name, Hermione, you know very well that I hate it."
"Then find my daughter!"
"We're doing everything we can! Everyone's out looking for her, including Luna, that's what you told me. Once five hours have passed we'll contact the Ministry. How's your boyfriend's doing?"
She didn't bother correcting his term, her nerves were as frazzled as her old jeans. "They were out for hours. Theo had to quite literally drag Draco home. They're passed out now in the lounge." She groaned, "what am I going to do? I can't stay here and wait, I'm going insane."
"You've been on the brink of insanity for years, I don't think one night is going to push you over the edge."
"How would you feel if this was your child?"
"I don't know, Angelina and I aren't thinking of starting a family yet! I can try to sympathize."
"I need her back!"
"I understand that. We'll find her. Tell me again, what did Malfoy and Nott tell you?"
"That she was here the whole day. She hadn't gone anywhere, but when they checked in from the kitchen she was gone. The television was left on... It was like she disappeared out of thin air!"
"Look, take a breather. Get some sleep, you need it."
"No, I don't need sleep," she snapped but the phone was out of her hands. She spun on her heels and saw Draco with it to his ear.
"Thanks, Weasley, I'll take it from here." He pressed a button and pitched it to the floor where it slid and hit the wall with a thunk.
"Draco -" But once more she wasn't able to finish her sentence as he winded her with a hug.
"I don't know what I'll do..."
She buried her nose into his neck inhaling the dark musky scent of him. "Neither do I... We'll get her back. I know we will." She didn't know. She only hoped. What would they do if... No, she wouldn't think about it. Hermione didn't believe in jinxes, but if she was wrong...
The phone rang from it's corner of the room causing them to jump and race towards it. Draco with his longer legs made it first. His fingers fumbled for the green button, and when it was pressed he hastily said hello three times running a hand through his messy hair it resembled a blond version of Harry's.
"What? Really?" Relief washed through his features. Then anger. There was barely a transition. "Did it take you that long to notice she's been there the entire time? What were you thinking, Luna?!" He hung up, and the phone returned to it's place, but this time when he threw it, it shattered to pieces.
"Draco," she half-scolded, the other half she wasn't sure was relief or apprehension.
"Joanne's in Luna's garden. She's been there the whole time."
Fury set in Hermione. All that worrying was for nothing, she was safe. "Did Luna -"
"I don't know, I didn't talk with her long enough to find out."
Hermione went to the kitchen dialing the Weasley's to let t hem know. George picked up on the first ring.
"Hermione, I swear to Merlin I will call YOU!"
"Oh bugger off, George, we found her. She's at Luna's."
He heaved a sigh. "That's great. I'll send a Patronus to the others. Thanks, Hermione."
She hung up the phone and together they both marched out grabbing their jackets from the hook, and Hermione caught the door before Draco slammed it. Theo was still dozing and no matter how angry they were their friend at least should have his sleep.
They took Theo's fireplace, and appeared in a expansive lounge, numerous bugs Wizard and Muggle alike behind frames on the wall. There were husks, skeletons, and murals. It was only a place that could belong to Luna Lovegood.
A lanky man was relaxing on the sofa, raising his glass of what smelled to be brandy to them. Draco ignored him, and Hermione nodded in politeness as they rushed out the door that led to the garden.
With Lysander in her lap Joanne sat on the ground, her yellow dress splayed out around her. She scratched the pup's ears as he tried to lick her hand. She didn't look up, but they made their presence known by sitting in front of her.
Hermione spotted Luna in the background under a tree twirling her wand between her slender fingers. She winked at her, and Hermione felt her initial anger ebbing. Joanne was safe, that was the most important thing.
"How did you get here," Draco asked in a harsh voice.
"I took a cab," Joann responded in undertone.
He took a deep breath and Hermione could tell that he was about to yell. Quickly she held his arm holding him back giving him warning glances out of the corner of her eyes.
"Joanne," she said softly. "We were very worried about you. What you did was dangerous. I know you understand that, so why did you do it?"
"You left the party... I didn't see you this morning... I thought you left... I thought daddy was sparing my feelings when he said you'd be back..."
In understanding Draco sucked in a breath.
Hermione moved to sit closer to her new daughter. She picked up Joanne's right hand her ring glinting. "You see this, Joanne? This ring means that I won't leave you. And this ring," she wiggled her own left finger, "means that I won't leave your father. We're a family. We stick together."
"Oh... So you're not leaving? Ever?"
She smiled. "Never. Mothers..." She glanced at Luna. "They don't truly leave their daughters... You understand that, don't you? I won't disappear without reason."
"I understand... I'm sorry, mum."
She brushed her baby-soft hair back tucking it behind her ear. "As long as you've learned your lesson -"
"But you're grounded," Draco added quickly, his jaw still set tight, glaring every few seconds over their heads at Luna.
Hermione nodded in agreement and Joanne groaned. She and Draco shared looks of relief. It was hard to be angry in that moment. Their daughter was safe. Everything else was trivial.
Then over his shoulder she caught four figures coming in through the wrought iron gate. Four people with red hair. She jumped up, and Draco spun around. Joanne leaned over to see.
"Who are they," she asked curiously.
Hermione stroked her hair. "They're my family."
She stared at her, taking special notice to her frizzy mane. "But mum, you don't have ginger hair."
"No, consider them... An adopted family."
Her eyes lit up. "Like you adopting me?"
"Exactly."
The puppy leapt out of her lap as she stood next to her looking on with more interest.
Mr., and Mrs. Weasley with George and Ginny came up, all haggard appearing likethey'd ran across town, which they might as well done.
"Oh, you found her," Mrs. Weasley exclaimed peering down at the small blond girl. "You must be Joanne. I'm Molly. This is my husband Arthur, and our children George and Ginny."
"Nice to meet you."
"Well aren't you a doll."
Hermione noticed that Draco took five steps back from them, blending himself in with the background of the field. Before he could further alienate himself she snatched his hand bringing him beside her. "You remember Draco Malfoy, right?" She hoped against hope that they would be okay. Bill was, but he wasn't a spokesperson.
Mrs. Weasley pursed her lips and nodded, Mr. Weasley his jaw set shook his hand with more force than necessary. "Hello, Draco."
Draco took a deep breath. "I'm sorry... About what happened -"
"Protocol," Mr. Weasley interrupted, clearly not wanting to have that conversation.
"No excuse, sir. I am very sorry."
Out of nowhere, in the blink of an eye, Mrs. Weasley wrapped her arms around him. Draco was winded. "It's okay, dear. They're at peace now."
"What are they talking about, mum," Joanne asked softly.
Hermione who was now strictly going by a no-lying policy told the truth. "When you're older... I'll tell you about it."
Joanne huffed, but didn't ask anything further.
Then, George laughed glancing briefly at Hermione. "Hey, Joanne, have you ever seen a dungbomb?"
She furrowed her brows, and Hermione stepped in front of her while Ginny giggled. "George Weasley, don't you dare show her those! You know what happened to Seamus! He lost -"
"Oh lighten up, I don't have them with me."
"I have an idea," Mrs. Weasley announced finally letting go of Draco who looked thoroughly at ease since he was free from her embrace. "We should all go home, I'll cook dinner, and we can get to know our granddaughter."
"That's a great idea. Draco, get her set up in the cab. I'd like to speak to Luna."
"All right then, budge up, Joanne," he said taking her hand. She could tell that he wasn't comfortable with the thought of being at the Burrow, but he went anyways. That meant more than anything he had done for her.
Hermione left to the tree Luna was sitting under as Joanne once more tried to convince her father that they needed a pet. Specifically Lysander. What Joanne didn't know is that Lysander was going to be her gift when she started her Muggle schooling that year. Only... She hadn't told Draco of that plan, not like he would protest. Draco was a dog person, and she clearly saw him stroke the puppy on his head before taking their daughters hand and leaving with the Weasley's.
Hermione knelt next to Luna who stopped twirling her wand sticking it behind her ear. She looked calmly to Hermione, her face expressionless.
"Thanks for looking after Joanne."
"You're not mad that I didn't owl?"
"Next time - if there is one - would you?"
She smiled wistfully. "Sure, that's no problem."
Hermione glimpsed to her soon-to-be-husband and her soon-to-be-daughter leaving the garden and smiled. She had to be certain... "I'm marrying Draco."
"I knew you would. It was only a matter of time."
"If you want to be in Joanne's life, you can be."
She cocked her head slightly. "I am in her life... As an aunt."
"Don't you ever wish for more?"
"What can I wish for," she asked idly, "I have everything I want. She's your daughter. I wouldn't want anyone else for her." She ran her fingers over her arm. "Be happy, Hermione. It's your turn."
Hermione huffed. Luna made it sound so easy. Just be happy... Was it that easy? Why couldn't it be? She had everything she wanted. Her life was complete. Almost.
"Harry and Ron would want this for you."
"Sometimes I have my doubts."
"I think they knew..."
Hermione raised a questioning brow at her. "How do you figure?"
"Draco was obvious with his feelings towards you, wasn't he? At the celebratory dinner he held your hand for forty-three seconds when re-introducing himself."
"Specific," she chuckled. "How do you know that?"
"Ron counted. He sent a disgusted letter to complain to me, but... Did they ever discourage you? Tried to stop him?"
She thought about that... Draco rarely came up, unless they were complaining about his skill as an Auror, and that was mostly Ron. "No..."
Luna grinned, and went back to twirling her wand purple sparks flying at the end. "There you have it."