Miss me?

So sorry for the long update, this chapter was not very difficult to write, but my other story has been giving me difficulties so I'm sorry to say that this one got on hold so I could finish that chapter first.

However, I have included in the beginning something as a bit of a reward for everyone's patience. I wasn't going to do another present time chapter for another four chapters, but I decided to be nice and include it in this one!

On another note, there will be some errors in here since I am only human and in DESPERATE need of a nice BETA who will help me. So if there is anyone out there who would like to help me, PLEASE PM me!

So I'd like to end my little rant by saying that no matter what, I will be finishing this story. I hate it when stories I like are left unfinished so I would never do that to the readers who like this one.

Again, I sadly do not own any of this.

Chapter Eighteen

"Was that Draco Malfoy that I just saw you laughing with?"

Harry Potter sat at his kitchen table and nervously ran a hand through his disheveled hair. He had just watched his former childhood rival awkwardly exit the large kitchen and was now faced with his redheaded girlfriend who was now standing in the doorway to the kitchen with a look of pure confusion on her face.

He had owled her right after he owled Draco and told her that he was back from Egypt. He also told her that he would stop by the Burrow sometime that day around five, but it seemed that she took the initiative and came to Grimmauld Place instead.

"Yes." He answered softly.

Ginny moved to sit across from him at the table, the tapping of her ballet flats reverberating off of the walls as she slunk into the chair he had just been staring at. He watched as her dark blue eyes looked him over and caught the worry that washed over his face by his appearance. "Harry, I love you, but you look like death warmed over."

He chuckled humorlessly. "Thanks, Gin. Love you too."

"What's wrong? I haven't seen that look in your eyes in quite some time and you weren't very specific in your owl. Does it have something to do with Egypt? Is that why you're home early?" She asked reaching across the table to grab his hands reassuringly.

"No, it doesn't have anything to do with Egypt. I was called home for an entirely different reason." He replied cryptically his gaze lowering to their combined hands.

"And that reason is?"

"I cannot tell you. It's official Ministry business."

"Should I be worried?" She asked and he was thankful that she hadn't gotten angry about not telling her what the cause of his distress was. I don't think my sanity could take an angry Ginny Weasley.

He sighed. "No, the Wizarding World is safe. There has just been a minor incident at the Ministry that needs to stay quiet."

"Then why do you look so shaken?" She asked with a frown.

"I can't answer that, love." He replied giving her hands a squeeze.

"Does whatever has you worried have anything to do with why Malfoy was just here?" She asked suspiciously.

"Yes, he is involved so I can discuss it with him."

"Okay, discussing I can understand, but Harry if I didn't know any better I say that what I saw looked like two friends rather than enemies."

"We ended our childhood rivalry today for good. We are both going to try to be friends from now on and not just for Hermione's sake." He said with a small smile at the expression of shock she was now displaying.

"Well, I am happy that you two have finally come to an understanding. Merlin knows that Hermione will be thrilled when you tell her that. Speaking of Hermione, is she home? She hasn't answered my firecalls or owls for the past two days and I'm starting to worry." She asked and Harry held back a snort. Oh, if you only knew.

"I haven't seen her yet, but maybe she's at work." He said with a small shrug.

"Why would she be at work without Draco?" Ginny asked confusedly and Harry wanted to slap himself for being so stupid.

"You know Hermione, always working." He said with mock cheer and gave a nervous laugh, silently praying to whatever deity would listen that she didn't question him further on the subject of where Hermione was.

She cocked her head and narrowed her eyes at him. Shit! She knows something is amiss. "It's Sunday and after five, we both know she wouldn't go into work on a Sunday. And even if she did she would be back by now. So where is she?"

"Last time I checked, I am not Hermione's minder. I have been out of the country for the last two weeks so there's no telling where she is. I simply suggested work because it was the first thing that came to mind." He said calmly, keeping his face emotionless.

He saw that Ginny was going to press on further, but a silvery lynx patronus stopped her from saying anything else.

"Come to the Ministry, the Unspeakables are here and we need to talk." Kinglsley's voice commanded before the lynx disappeared from sight.

Harry rose from the table to walk around to where Ginny sat and leaned down to give her a kiss on the lips before speaking. "I'll come back as soon as I can, but this situation is my top priority right now. I love you."

She nodded. "I love you too, but don't think you've gotten out of telling me what's going on." She replied sternly.

He chuckled. "Wouldn't dream of it."

Draco walked down the winding hallways at the Ministry of Magic with his head held high. He was in a bit of a mood now that he knew that there was something that his father was hiding from him, but needed to keep his emotions in check for the meeting with the Unspeakables.

However, his mind was reaming with questions. Did he know that this was going to happen? Is that why he turned so pale when I was telling them about the incident? Does he know where Hermione is? Maybe he does and that is why he is so sure she'll come back. Oh, stop it! You're getting your hopes up for nothing! For all you know he could tell you that he simply knew the men who attacked us or some shit like that.

He shook his head violently to rid himself of the questions as he turned the corner to see Harry still clad in his comfortable wear, his legs crossed and was casually reading a magazine. He almost snorted at the sight in front of him but decided against it.

"It feels like ages since I've seen you, Potter." He said dramatically as he plopped down into the chair next to him and heard him chuckle.

"I missed you too, Draco." He said patting his leg mockingly and set down the magazine.

"Why the bloody hell are we in the waiting area if the Unspeakables are suppose to be here to talk to us?" Draco asked angrily, glaring at the curtain-closed window across from him.

He felt Harry shrug. "Haven't the foggiest. When I arrived, he told me to wait out here and patronus you."

"This is worse than St. Mungos. You wait in a tiny little office for a mediwitch to call your name and then when they do you're taken back to a smaller room only to wait again for the healer who was supposedly ready for you in the first place!" He growled and crossed his arms angrily as Harry laughed beside him.

"You really are a riot when you're all worked up. Just calm down and I'm sure they'll be out soon." The boy who lived said with an amused grin and Draco rolled his eyes.

"How long have you been waiting?"

"About ten minutes." Harry answered rubbing the back of his neck.

Draco sighed. "Splendid. The last time Kingsley made me wait, I was sitting with nothing to do for thirty minutes."

"Why don't you read a magazine or count the floor tiles to keep your mind busy while we wait." Harry suggested as if he were speaking to a small child.

He gave him a look that asked 'seriously?' before his gaze fell onto Harry's choice of shoes and a wide grin slowly appeared on his face. "Why, in the name of Merlin, are you wearing flip flops?"

Harry groaned and tried to hide his feet from view. "They were the only shoes by the fireplace."

"That doesn't help your case one bit. Why do you even own them in the first place?" He asked staring at the other man's feet that were hidden under the chair, knowing that it was making him uncomfortable. If I'm going to wait, I'm going to have a little fun doing it. Even if it is at Po…Harry's expense.

Harry sighed. "Ginny bought them for me a long time ago and I use them as house slippers when the weather is hot."

Draco snickered. "So your girlfriend has a foot fetish, eh?"

"NO!" He shouted in response as Draco roared with laughter.

"Relax, Harry. I'm just taking the mickey out of you. Isn't that what friends are for?" He asked with a smirk.

But before Harry could answer the door opened and Kingsley stepped out to address the both of them. "Draco, Harry, please come inside."

They both rose from their seats and walked over to the large office to find that the Unspeakables were nowhere to be found. Draco turned his gaze to Kingsley's walking form. "Where are the Unspeakables?"

Kingsley sighed and rubbed his forehead as he sat down behind his desk. "Both of you please sit and I will explain." He said grimly and ushered to the two chairs in front of him.

Draco felt his heart stop as he heard the dark tone of voice that the man was now currently using and all of his worst fears surfaced at the front of his brain as he took a seat next to Harry in one of the chairs provided. Please don't let him say that she's gone forever.

"The reason the Unspeakables are not here are because they have made a severe error and are in the process of going over every item in their sector making sure that everything is in order. They are also not here because the two of you would probably yell at them and I have done enough yelling for the three of us, trust me on that." He said taking his small blue hat off of his head and placed it on the desk in front of them.

"Sir, what did they do?" Draco asked with morbid curiosity.

"Do you know what the case held that Hermione crashed into?" Kingsley asked the both of them.

Harry nodded. "Time-turners, but what does that have to do with Hermione? All of the time-turners were found and weren't working since they were down there in that sector."

"Apparently not. The Unspeakables took inventory and found that one of the time-turners is missing." The Minister of Magic replied wiping a hand across his face wearily.

Draco was beyond confused. "Are you implying that she's gone back in time? Because the last thing I read about time-turners were that they could only go back in time for like a day or two. So shouldn't she be back by now if that were the case?"

"The one that is missing was crafted by Nicholas Flamel and made to go back further in time than any other time piece in history. So there is no telling how far back in time she may be." Kinglsey answered.

"Then why in Merlin's name was it just sitting in a glass case in Sector G!? Can you imagine if those idiots who wanted it now had their hands on it" Harry asked angrily from beside him.

"It was in that sector because Dumbledore had it taken from him by the Ministry before the first fall of Voldemort. He claimed it had stopped working, so the Unspeakables back then thought nothing of it and stuck it in Sector G without testing it first. Then when I came into power, I told them that they needed to recheck everything, but it appears they didn't." Kingsley said bitterly.

Draco was now gripping the arms of his chair so hard that his knuckles threatened to bleed. He could not believe that this wouldn't have happened if two morons had just taken the time to see if the time-turners checked out as being broken. "They should be sacked immediately."

"I agree, but that simply can't be done without raising suspicion. So they are being docked a months pay and will now be under stricter rules." Kingsley said with a scowl.

He was about to reply how idiotic that was, but Harry started to speak. "So she's gone back in time for sure? She's not in an alternate universe or floating in space somewhere?" He asked anxiously.

"Yes, she's just gone back in time."

"Will she come back?"

"She is able to come back, but will she? I have no idea." The darker skinned wizard said frankly.

Harry continued to question Kingsley, but Draco had tuned them both out as he sat quietly. His gaze was fixed on the floor as his mind was going wild with thoughts. She's gone back in time, but might not come back? I don't know if that's better or worse than not knowing where she is at all. Merlin, I hope she finds a way to come back. I wonder if…

His thought process came to a heart-wrenching stop when he felt the ruby encrusted ring on his middle finger begin to burn.

1962

Hermione and Abraxas walked away from the beach with smiles on their faces; Abraxas' arm was wrapped around Hermione's waist, and Hermione's head rested on his shoulder. Both were silent as they moved at a slow pace down the sidewalk. They simply enjoyed the happiness they felt by being in each other's company. Neither of them noticing the storm clouds that were forming on the horizon.

The first place they came across as they entered the small town was a tourist shop. Abraxas dragged her inside where they proceeded to act like children. He made her try on all kinds of ridiculous hats paired with equally ridiculous sunglasses. His deep laughter filled the small shop at the funny faces she made at him.

In return, she made him try on a grass skirt with matching coconut bra and laughed just as loud when he tried to hula. She grabbed the nearest camera and started snapping pictures and squealed when he tried to snatch it away from her.

After they paid for the camera, they continued down the sidewalk with Hermione still giggling at Abraxas' previous behavior.

"I'm going to destroy that camera." Abraxas murmured into her ear.

"Is that a threat, Mr. Malfoy?" She asked cheekily and snapped another picture of him.

He growled as he tried to blink away the flash. "It's a promise, Poppet."

As they continued to walk down the sidewalk past the unfamiliar shops, Abraxas kissed the top of her head. "Are you hungry?"

His question made her stomach clench in pain, she hadn't eaten anything all day and was now beginning to feel the affects. "I am."

"Me too." He said as a restaurant came into view just up the street. There were tables outside with umbrellas overhead. They heard cheerful music mixed with boisterous voices, as they grew closer to the large restaurant. "I haven't been here in quite awhile. The food is wonderful and the people are friendly."

She nodded. "Friendly, eh? So if I tell them it's your birthday will they sing to you and give us free cake?"

"It's not my birthday, so don't even think about it." Abraxas threatened, fighting the urge to laugh at her suggestion.

"Too late." She said snaking her arm around his waist. "Let's go, birthday boy."

They arrived at the restaurant hand-in-hand. The head server greeted them cheerily. After they greeted him back and told him they needed a table for two, he spotted the camera that Abraxas had been trying to sneak out of Hermione's purse without her knowledge. "Are you two here on vacation?"

Abraxas inwardly groaned at being caught as Hermione cocked her head in confusion and then lowered her gaze to see where he was looking. She saw Abraxas' free hand around the camera and then looked up to see him giving her a guilty smile. She gave him a smirk in return. You asked for it.

"No, it's his birthday and we thought we would celebrate." She said plucking the camera out of his other hand and snapping a picture of him. His face was a mix between amusement and annoyance.

The server gave him a loud congratulations and clapped wishing him a very happy birthday. He then escorted them to a table for two and happily set down menus for the both of them.

"Thanks." Abraxas said. He was inwardly screaming at Hermione for telling the man that it was his birthday, but now that they were seated he felt safe from the staff making a big fuss.

He was wrong.

The head server stood on the nearest empty table and called for the rest of the people dining attention and announced his birthday in an excited manner to everyone. There was a loud round of applause and a lot of whistling from the other diners. Abraxas tried to keep a straight face but couldn't help it when he heard Hermione giggling like a lunatic next to him. He managed to smile and look around at everyone, nodding and mouthing 'thank you.'

Abraxas turned his gaze to his witch, who was holding his hand on the table and smiling at him in a smug manner. Her golden eyes were glittering with mischief as she snickered at his embarrassment. He gave her a playful glare. "Do you enjoy making a fool out of me? Is if fun for you?" He asked levelly.

Hermione shot him an innocent look that was still full of humor before leaning in to whisper in his ear. "You brought this all on yourself. I was perfectly content not saying anything about your birthday, but then you had to go and try to take my camera out of my bag. So yes, it is fun for me." She said then giving him a kiss on the cheek before moving back to her seat.

Abraxas couldn't help but laugh at her antics.

A few minutes later, another server appeared to take their drink orders as they still skimmed the menu for something to eat. The selection was very wide and Hermione really had no clue of what she wanted to eat. Since she was starving, everything she read sounded aesthetically pleasing.

After much deliberation, Hermione and Abraxas ordered their meals. They each enjoyed their respective dishes and picked off of each other's plates as dinner progressed. Hermione asked more about Abraxas' trip and in return he asked her more about her family back home.

"So what would you be doing right now if you were back home?" He asked curiously.

It took her a moment to answer. "Since it's Sunday, I would probably be having dinner with Draco and his parents. It has become a tradition of ours as of late."

"So you get along with his parents okay?" He asked reaching across the table to push a stray lock of hair out of her eyes.

She blushed at the gesture. "Yes, but not at first. However, they grew to like me. His mother always contacts me to try to get me to go shopping with her or to go have tea with her. I help his father sometimes with the family business and he helps me with my investments."

"He lets you help with the family business?" He asked in shock, not even his own father let him help with their family business. He always told him that he had to wait until he was actually working for the company.

"It's just sort of a should I or shouldn't I type of deal." She said with a small shrug, wondering why he looked so surprised.

"Ah, I see. So am I ever going to meet any of your friends?" He asked kindly.

"Maybe." She lied, inwardly cringing.

He nodded, not knowing why she looked so pained and quickly changed the subject. "Speaking of meeting people, my parents would like to have dinner with you sometime and I promised I would ask if you would be amendable to meeting them."

"Of course, I'd love to meet them." Hermione answered with a nervous smile.

"Wonderful." He answered with a bright smile that made her swoon before he leaned over to give her a kiss in thanks.

It surprised the both of them when a chef came out with two pieces of red velvet cake and began singing 'happy birthday'. Of course the rest of the restaurant joined in much to Abraxas' chagrin. Hermione could not contain her laughter as they finished singing and cheered loudly as he started to thank them all and shook the chef's hand.

Hermione reached forward and forked a piece of Abraxas' cake. She gave him a goofy grin as she swallowed and he simply chuckled and kissed her temple in response. He was embarrassed, but couldn't for the life of him be mad at her. She had made his belated birthday ridiculously happy and she hadn't even done anything really.

The most delightful moment of the evening was after they had finished their two slices of birthday cake. The lights in the restaurant were dimmed, setting a more intimate feel to their environment. Abraxas' arm was around Hermione's shoulders and she was resting against him in a familiar gesture. They would talk occasionally or would simply sit in silence merely appreciating the comfort they found in one another.

Hermione watched in confusion as a space was cleared in the back of the large restaurant as some musicians and a conductor set up in the newly opened area. Abraxas pulled Hermione up and they walked together, along with other couples, to the large space for dancing. She felt a sense of déjà vu wash over her as he wrapped his arm around her waist to bring her resting closely against her body. She then brought a hand to his shoulder, taking the time to stroke his neck with one of her fingers. This time he put their joined hands against his steady beating heart as they swayed to the music.

"Is it just me or do all your surprises seem to end up with us dancing?" Hermione murmured and smiled widely when she felt him chuckle. She moved her hand so she could rest her head on his shoulder, facing his neck and closed her eyes.

They slowly danced close together as the orchestral music continued to play. Both were too lost in their own happiness to notice the other people dancing around them.

As the song ended, she thought she heard Abraxas say her name. So she lifted her head off of his shoulder a bit so she could look at him. "Abraxas?"

"Poppet." He replied, caressing his nose along hers sensually. "Thank you."

But before she could ask for what, his lips were on hers. He kissed her passionately, his arm tightening around her as he lowered her dramatically into a dip. They were both smiling into the kiss, but it did nothing to keep them from ravishing one another. Neither paid much attention to the applause and whistles they were receiving.

Not long after, Hermione and Abraxas were walking away from the restaurant on the sidewalk trail that they had walked on earlier that day by the sea. The sun was long gone and the crescent moon and stars were dancing on the ocean waves. Again, neither noticed how half of the sky was now blanketed by storm clouds and only paid attention to the beautiful half that was enhancing the sea's beauty.

Abraxas pulled Hermione to him by their joined hands and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Did you enjoy yourself?" He asked teasingly.

"Yes, though I hope you weren't too embarrassed." She replied with a soft smile.

He laughed as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and felt her small arm come around his waist. "Not embarrassed at all, my dear Poppet. Besides, it did get us some free cake." He said cheekily as they began to walk again.

"Of course your answer involves the free cake." She replied with a chuckle and a playfully rolled her eyes.

But before he could make a witty remark, catcalls and clapping caused them both to rip out of each other's arms and look towards the sketchy pub they had just passed. Two men around their age dressed in all black attire were leaning against the brick wall smoking. They seemed to be drunk and were currently looking them over.

Hermione instantly pulled her wand out, ready for whatever might happen. She did not recognize the two men from anywhere, but with the way that Abraxas had gone rigid and his face morphed into what was now one of stone cold fury, she knew that he must know them from somewhere. Her gaze suddenly fell to their rolled up sleeves and had to keep herself from gasping out loud. The sight of the dark mark burned her eyes and she clenched her wand a little tighter.

Abraxas saw out of the corner of his eye when she pulled out her wand. He let his own hand slip into his pocket to clasp his own, not knowing what Mulciber or Avery would do to them. He slowly wrapped an arm around her waist and pressed her closer to his chest; ready to do whatever he had to in order to protect her. I can't lose her. I love her.

The thought came out of nowhere and surprised him, but he pushed it away. He couldn't take the time he wanted to examine and analyze it right then since their situation was less than favorable. The two men started to speak after taking another drag of their cigarettes.

"Well, if it isn't Abraxas Malfoy!"

"And he's got himself a lady!"

"I'm actually surprised it isn't that Hawthorne boy. I figured they had been in the closet for years."

"Speaking of Hawthorne, you wouldn't happen to know where he lives would ya? Our leader would be mighty pleased if we could deliver him alive and willing; if you know what I mean."

"Hermione, run to the apparition point and I will meet you at home." Hermione looked up at Abraxas with an incredulous expression when he all but hissed at her under his breath. She knew these two were not much of a threat and she could easily take them both down. She didn't want to run away like a scared little girl, she wanted to fight. But before she could contest his command, he turned his head slightly so that she could see his face. His jaw was clenched tightly and his mercury colored eyes were hard with anger. "Go, now!"

Her whole body was begging to stay and fight, but her natural instincts told her to run like the wind. She knew he would be fine and that the two inebriated wizards did not stand a chance against him. There was a loud clash of thunder that made her jump slightly before she did as she was asked and began to run towards the apparition point.

Hermione could hear her heart pounding in her chest as she ran the distance to her destination. She felt the wind pick up, which was thankfully in her favor, as she flew down the sidewalk along the ocean. The thunder became louder and more frequent with every step she took.

Was it worth the wait? Fear not readers, I will not leave this at a cliffhanger for very long and will probably have the next chapter up by next week! Please Review!