"She's gone."

Hermione stood, shell-shocked. They were so close, had been so close to getting her child back. The thought they would be too late never even crossed her mind. She didn't breathe, didn't blink, and didn't dare move.

Her unmoving form caught Draco's attention. He looked at her, unsure of what to do. She wasn't moving, wasn't showing any sign of life. Yet her mind was going at a million miles an hour.

Like Hermione, Draco had never even considered thinking about what would happen if they did not manage to catch Astoria and get Hugo back. Now though, the different possibilities for what could be happening to the child were racing around his head. And no doubt the same thing was racing through Hermione's head too.

Unsure of what to do, Draco began to look around. The room was alright, but he couldn't help wondering how often she stayed at her own place – it hardly looked lived in. The only person effects in the room were two photos. The first was of Astoria and her sister, Daphne, at one of Astoria's weddings. The other was slightly creased, as if it had been carried around a lot. In it, a smiling blond boy, no more than a year old, smiled and waved from his father's arms. He found himself smiling at the second photo.

"Draco?" A soft sad voice broke the silence in the room. He turned.

"Can we go?" Her voice was saturated with tears but her face showed no sign of a river of tears.

He nodded and walked over to her. As he did, he glanced toward an opened door. He detoured from his path and headed to the other room. On the floor, partially hidden by a large white chair was a small lump of fabric. Summoning it, he looked down to his hand, to the small blue jersey in his hand. A soft hand on his shoulder reminded him of what he had been doing before getting distracted. He took the fragile woman behind him in his arms.

At least we know Hugo was there. His last thought before apparating away rang through his mind as the room faded away.

Hermione remained completely wrapped in herself as she allowed Draco to lead her back to his house. She was in shock and she knew it. But she made no efforts to change that.

They were not quite at the door when it burst open and Rose was running over. She attempted to go to her mother, but Hermione was too deep in her shock. She barely noticed her daughter; her fear for her youngest child was too great.

Instead, Rose turned to Draco, allowing him to pick her up. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he carried her in. All Draco could think of was locating Hugo and Astoria. Or even just Hugo. He could live with that.

"Rose, I need you to be strong for your mother, okay?" He asked her softly, whispering into her ear.

"Are you going to find Hugo?" She looked up at him, and he was rather relieved to see she wasn't crying. Mind you, Hermione wasn't either. And in her case it wasn't a good thing.

"Yes, but I need you to look after Hermione so I can. I need you to be strong."

Rose nodded in agreement as she was put on the ground. "I'll do my best, Daddy."

He knelt down, loving hearing her say that. He kissed her head softly, looking into the chocolate eyes she shared with her mother. "That is all I want."

Draco stepped into the kitchen to inform his mother about Hermione after watching Rose skip up the stairs to follow her own mother but he was stopped by his young son first.

Draco got down to his eye level, grey eyes looking into their mirror image. "Scorpius, promise me something."

"What, Dad?"

"Never run away. And never go to Astoria of all people for help."

Scorpius looked a little confused. "Why would I run away? I have everything I need here. You, Rosie, Mummy...Hermione I mean, and Cissa."

Draco smiled at his son. "Mummy?" He couldn't help asking.

Scorpius looked down at his feet. "Astoria is only my mother. Not my Mummy."

Draco nodded at his statement, wondering if the two oldest children had been discussing names. He stood up, turning to leave.

"Dad, Hugo didn't try and run to his father did he?"

Draco spun on his heel, looking down at his child once more. "Do you think he would try?"

Shrugging his little shoulders, Scorpius replied, "Well, he did say you would never be his daddy. He doesn't know what he is missing."

"No he doesn't." Draco murmured as he ruffled his son's hair. He hadn't even thought about Ron. The thought hadn't crossed his mind, mostly because Astoria wasn't known to be helpful. More of a hindrance.

"Draco, you need help." Narcissa stated as soon as he appeared at the door.

"Excuse me?" I don't need help, I'm perfectly fine. If anyone needs help its Hermione, I'm handling this fine...

"I think you need someone to help you locate Hugo."

"Oh..." He realised what she had meant. Then a thought occurred to him.

"Call Harry Potter."

"WHAT?" That was not the thought that had come to him.

"He is Hermione's friend, is he not?" Narcissa had thought her plan through. Some people might be a bit reluctant to talk to and help Draco. But if Harry Potter was the one to do the talking...

"I don't want to." Draco folded his arms, instantly reminding his mother of a sulky child. She really wished she could go back in time and be more responsible in the upbringing of her son.

"Call him or I will." She threatened with ice in her voice.

Draco took a moment to consider her threat, and whether she really would go through with it. He concluded that she would, so he walked out of the room slamming the door behind him. Narcissa just laughed; sometimes he really was a sulky child.

Draco knelt in front of the fire, really wishing he didn't have to. His eyes darted up the wall and he calmed himself, taking a deep breath.

"Malfoy?" The voice registered shock as the other person recognised him.

"Yes. Is Potter...err, your husband there?" He stumbled over his words, forgetting that in the Potter household they would all have the same last name. And Draco refused to call him Harry. Sure, they were civil to each other, but Draco did not want to get to first name basis.

"Malfoy?" A different voice spoke this time.

Draco couldn't help rolling his eyes. "I think we established that."

"What do you want?" Harry refused to believe Malfoy of all people would call him purely for social reasons.

Draco paused, the words on the tip of his tongue. I need your help. But they wouldn't come. Instead he cleared his throat. "Can I come through?"

Sitting on a chair in the Potter's living room had to be the most awkward thing Draco had done all week. Hell, all year.

Harry sat opposite him, wondering what Draco wanted. And why he was there and not Hermione.

Draco talked softly, explaining all about Hugo, the suspicions, the Astoria hunting, Hermione. And the failure. Across from him, Harry was alternating between shock and anger. Surprisingly, none of the anger was aimed toward Draco. Astoria and Hugo however, that was a different story.

"So let me get this straight, you want my help?"

"Of course he does Harry. Some people would be more willing to help and talk to you, rather than him. No offense Draco, it's hard to trust you." Ginny spoke from the other side of the room where she stood, holding a small child in her arms. Draco estimated the little girl to be around a year old.

He smirked and then shrugged. "Yes that is one part, and well, Hugo doesn't like me. He thinks I'm trying to replace their father."

"Are you?" Ginny asked sharply.

"No." Not intentionally anyway.

"I'll help."

"Thank you." Draco said quietly. Ginny stared at him, open mouthed. When he looked at her she shut it. Honestly, she is acting like she has never heard me use my manners...She probably hasn't...

"Do you have any idea where to go first?"

"I was thinking of checking back at Astoria's first, then going to her sisters to see if she had gone there. My son seemed to think Hugo would try to run away and go back to his father."

Harry nodded in agreement. "Sounds good, though you will have to take me to the first two places."

Draco reluctantly agreed, having forgotten that Harry wouldn't know where Astoria or her sister lived.

"Draco...Can I go visit Hermione? She might need a friend." Ginny asked softly, as if she was afraid he would reject her idea.

He managed a smile at her. "That would be great."

"The kids..." Harry mumbled under his breath.

"Oh, I'll take them with me." Ginny chirped and then looked warily at Draco. At his nod she carried on. "Rose might like to see her cousins, and this will give them a chance to meet your son."

Harry looked a bit green at the idea of his children getting along with a Malfoy, but he didn't voice anything aloud. Instead, he settled for standing up, "Shall we go then?"

Draco tried not to grimace as Harry gripped his arm. The room before them began to disappear as Ginny began rounding up her children. A trip to see Hermione was definitely in store; after all, they were best friends.