Draco stood suddenly, grabbing a cloak he walked out into the cold, the wolves curiously on his heels. His mind was spinning, "Harry Evans, he had lied as he had, taking his mothers maiden name… did Harry know? Did he know he was truly a Malfoy? He couldn't have, he would have said something, and the Harry he knew was brash and full of courage.

His feet led him to the stables; it would be the first place he would go upon returning. The disturbance must have been large and more then one moving in a team otherwise he would have stayed.

And why dragon's diamond? Why did he give him…? Draco's thoughts stopped as he examined it closely, tears threatening to leak, this ring was meant to be the Princess's it was his engagement ring, meant for Draconis and given to Draco…

Ron and Harry rode swiftly, up a rocky path that overlooked the disturbed area. Tying the horse's ways back then crept silently up the cliff side.

Two royal guards both bearing the crest of Malfoy were riding into the forest. One was extremely bulk and the other, the one that looked to be in charge had hair as deeply ink as his, and robes to match. Harry placed a finger to his lips and motioned for Ron to fall back.

They crept back to the horses only to find another bulk man standing near them.

"Damn," Harry cursed as a horn sounded. The bulk man was calling his companions.

Leaping out of the bushes, sword drawn Harry quickly knocked the other man out with Ron's help, and they rode as fast as the horse could carry them… little did they know they were seen.

Pushing the horses through the brisk air, they detoured around the forest for hours hoping to loose them. And finally after the sun had been set for a few hours they returned.

Hermione was worried; Draco went into the barn hours ago. Slipping a warm cloak around her shoulders she walked over. The barn was warm, filled with sweet smelling hay.

"Draco," she called out to the near emptiness of the barn.

"G-go away," sniffled Draco from the hay loft above.

"Draco sweetie, what's wrong?" asked Hermione climbing the stairs to see Draco curled into the hay, a wolf on either side of their Lupa.

"Everything and nothing," came Draco's confusingly simple reply.

"What do you mean?" questioned Hermione sitting on a bale of hay.

Draco glared but it had no affect, being puffy eyed "I'm pregnant, not married, I love Harry and I'm scared," replied Draco "I don't know what to do…" all the while thinking 'or what to say to him… I can't just come out and say by the way I'm your princess.'

"You love Harry right?" asked Hermione and Draco nodded "and you love your baby?" once again a nod. "And Ron and I will do everything to help you raise him or her. And Lunte and Storm, they'll never leave their mother. We love you Draco, regardless of anything."

"How can you say that? You don't even know me," snapped Draco.

"I know what I've seen of you," smiled Hermione writing off the snap as another mood swing.

"But you don't know anything about my passed," replied Draco dejectedly.

"Then tell me some stories," replied Hermione, "were in the barn, and the boys won't be back till supper. We've all the time in the world."

Draco looked up at her, he was happy to have a friend like her, "but I don't know what to talk about?"

"Something happy about your childhood," replied Hermione.

"Alright, I was about six and my father took me down to the paddock, where the horses were. He told me to pick out a young horse, even though it was white, like everything else I owned she was fast and beautiful… I always love riding her…"

The stories just poured out of Draco like water from a spout, he was carful to discredit things that made him seem too royal, and Hermione traded some experiences of her own. It felt nice to talk and to have someone listen, and Hermione was wonderful for it.

Long after dark Hermione tried to coax Draco inside the cottage saying he would be more comfortable there but Draco refused to move. He needed to talk to Harry about the ring, and something else was nagging him, someone was out there looking for him. There was just no way in the sixth depths of hell his father wouldn't send his guards.

Praying it wasn't Severus, the best tracker in the kingdom; he could hunt shadows and catch them. There was nothing that man couldn't do if he truly wanted too…

Meanwhile in Malfoy castle

The kings had just gotten out of conference, and it had been decided that war would be with held until mid spring or summer. James was tied up on his fronts to the northern borders. That part was true at leased, but Lucius' troops were also held at the South. The advisors had done just that and advised their kings to hold off on the campaigning till the troops could have time to train serfs and return home from the fronts.

With war now held off until June, perhaps July. It gave James more hope that his son would be found. It was suspicious that the young princess popped up out of thin air, but they had their half of the contract where as the prince was still missing.

A day later carriages were packed, the Potter royals were to return to prepare for war and if Godric's luck was upon them they would have their prince back and save many lives. But for now thoughts were turned to destruction.

Lilly sat in the carriage, she hadn't seen Severus for well over a month, something wasn't right and it started with the princess.

Her husband would just agree and blame it on the scheming Malfoy's, but Lilly planned to look into it behind his back. Where was Severus? And why was the princess unseen and unheard for so long?

Lucius and Narcissa watched them go. The king paced back and forth as his queen watched on, the sly smirk clearly evident on her beautifully pale features.

"So hasty with orders for war Lucius," she chided softly "I'm glad you saw reason beloved husband."

Lucius nodded "I'm just glad that brothel idiot came though, he does look much like Draconis doesn't he?"

"Yes," replied Narcissa sadly "I fear for him Lucius, what if he's out there cold and hungry?"

"Then he should find a guard and be brought back home," replied Lucius coldly "he has his sapphire dragons pendant. They'll surely believe that."

"I know dear, but I can not help but wonder what was going through his head when he left," Narcissa was close to tears again, "and Severus has still not found him."

"Hush my beloved, Severus will find him," replied Lucius "and now that they." He pointed towards the window "are gone, we'll thicken the guards."

"And what will we tell them?" asked Narcissa.

"That there is an imposter about, and I want him to be brought before me unharmed for proper punishment," replied Lucius "and I'll stress the unharmed," he laughed coldly thinking of different threats he could use on his men. Not that they would ever deceive him.

A midnight black carriage raced through the night, the horses were tireless racing as though the hounds of hell were snapping at their legs, and a grey haired spiny man drove it. His black cloak tied tightly around him, his face mousey and determined. His master was a vengeful man and ordered his carriage as soon as word reached the eaves of his allotted land.

This man was a fearful sight, all powerful and cruel, the men and woman on his vast amount of land were among the best trained, hardened warriors with no mercy in their hearts and loyalty to only two men, the king himself and the high Lord Voldemort.

The lord knew the king was declaring war on the Potter royals for breaking the treaty, and he came to offer his support. But like everything else this man offered to the kingdom and its king, it came at a price and this time the price was the princess.

The forest

Severus and his two men followed the tracks long into the night, he knew the fatigue they were feeling and decided to rest near a hedge the men must have ridden through in an attempt to confuse them.

"Sir the tracks end here," replied Vince indicating the bare hoof-less ground.

Severus cuffed him, "don't you realize I knew that! They must be wizards."

The two men nodded wearily as they crawled into their tents, intent on getting a few hours sleep. Only Severus stayed awake, not only was it his turn to take watch but something told him he was close. He would find his Princess and dearly loved godson soon.

Harry and Ron raced through the hedge, towards the barn. Harry prayed the lightly falling snow would cover their tracks before dawn. Only a fool would track in an unfamiliar forest at night. Hermione was there to greet them, and both men took note of the look of worry on her graceful features.

"Mione, where's Draco?" asked Harry and Hermione pointed towards the barn.

"He refuses to come out, but he's okay, Storm and Lunte are with him," replied Hermione as Harry took the reins of both horses and walked up to the barn, curious to what his beloved was thinking about now.