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For leaving me such wonderful and encouraging comments !

All the feedback means a lot to me as a writer coz let's face it; it's the readers that make the writer!

And as usual, I'm going to go all excited about this story touching 600+ reviews! I am thrilled! Thank you all so very much!

Now although this story is coming to an end, I'll try my level best to make it worth your time! (Translates into lotsa dramione fluff!) Review and let me know what type of rating you are comfortable with.

Coz I've only ever done a "T". And I'm kind of word shy when it comes to "M". But I shall take into consideration what you guys want and also my literary limitations and dish something out for you!

Ok back to the chapter then!

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CHAPTER 48.

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"This is preposterous!" Ginny whined. "Where could she have gone? We've contacted almost every wizarding hospital by floo and the ministry says they've not had any requests for international travel. Where is she?"

Harry rubbed his eyes through his glasses tiredly, a habit he had acquired since his childhood days even before Hermione had magically repaired his glasses. "Short of searching for her by foot everywhere, we've done everything possible. She's not been to any of the places we imagined she would go to. And I think Malfoy has almost resorted to look for her manually, showing her photographs to random muggles."

"She hasn't touched any of her money. Her banks guarantee that. She must have had spare galleons for that." Katherine offered.

There was silence. Their conversations were usually punctuated by deafening silence which seemed to be better than words of dismay.

"Lunch is ready everyone. Let's eat something and then perhaps we will be better suited to deal with this." Ginny said as she placed the oven tray on Hermione's little dining table. Removing her mitts, she went over to where Harry was sitting, glasses still lopsided, with a faraway look in his eyes.

She re-adjusted his glasses so that they were aligned perfectly and cupped his face gently and kissed him soundly. At first he just stayed still but Ginny didn't relent. She bit his lower lip ever so slightly knowing fully well that he found that irresistible.

Harry growled ferally deep in his throat and snaked his hand into her hair and pulled his pregnant wife flush against him into his lap. Pleased at finally getting a response, Ginny smiled against his mouth and her pace slowed to that of completion. As she kissed him chastely on the lips for one last time, his eyes searched hers pleadingly and she gave him a wan smile. He shut his eyes again and leaned his forehead against hers.

"Ahem." Katherine cleared her throat, her face reddening rather funnily.

Ginny turned towards the other witch in the kitchen and laughed at her embarrassment.

"I thought I should remind you that the food's getting cold." Katherine said rather awkwardly.

"And here I thought it was hot enough." Ginny smirked and winked at the younger witch, which caused her to blush even more.

Harry smiled at his wife. Even in times as such, she was able to keep herself strong for everyone. For himself, for Malfoy. He didn't know how or when it had happened but Malfoy had started relying on Ginny's approval and truly considered her a friend.

And Ginny felt something protective towards him too. And if Malfoy was good enough for Ginny to be cheering him up then Malfoy was good enough for him. He was willing to bypass all the animosity held between them. Two of the most important women in his life swore by Malfoy, surely he could too.

It wasn't like Ginny was taking Hermione's departure easily. She may have seemed strong but the rather abrupt runaway act had left her worried and upset. She had just gotten her best friend back after years, only for her to be gone again. She wouldn't ever say it because she wanted to be strong for Harry and Draco but there were times when she wanted to sulk and cry and be unresponsive and just lay like that all day, waiting for Hermione to miraculously realise her folly and turn up.

But no. Harry and Draco seemed to be doing enough of that already. So she had to be strong. She had to make sure they ate and keep their spirits high. Boys were rather extreme that way. Either they showed a great deal of emotion or they shut off completely. Happiness would border on euphoria and sadness would reach depression. She had to keep going and restore the normalcy as much as she could. Her tantrums and breakdowns could wait until they found Hermione. Oh how she would yell at her once they found her! Hermione Granger would hope she had remained hidden! That witch was going to get an earful!

But until then, she was busy making sure that they boys didn't run out of options to look into and that they ate on time. As a Weasley, she knew the immense importance of a full stomach and she wasn't going to let Harry and Draco go about hungry.

"Hot enough to sizzle." Matt said as he came over and hugged Katherine from behind and kissed her ear.

Katherine swatted his arm at his attempt to recreate the previous scene and Matt pouted.

Ginny laughed again although it didn't reach her eyes. "Where's Draco?" She asked, scanning the room.

"He said he needed some air." Matt replied as he stole a fresh piece of bread from the tray. "Took off with his broom."

Ginny sighed. "I think we've exhausted all our options." She said grudgingly.

"I've sent out her photos to all my Quidditch pals all over the world. In case they happen to notice her." Matt offered.

"It's no use." Harry said ultimately. "We couldn't find her until she wrote to us. She's a damn good recluse. We won't find her till she wants us to find her."

"But we have to try. You never know! Look how Draco found her!" Katherine said vehemently.

"I know sweetie, I know." Ginny calmed the younger witch. "But that was completely a stroke of luck. Or even destiny if one may say so. But miracles like that don't happen all the time."

"But we can't just give up." Katherine repeated. "We have to keep looking."

"Of course we won't give up. We never really gave up all the while before we found her either." Ginny said. "Our search had dwindled a bit, but we never gave up. We always kept our eyes and ears open in the hope of catching some clue."

"I think Draco may have to take another bludger to the head for Hermione to come out of her bill." Matt joked.

"Matt!" Katherine admonished him.

Ginny laughed. "No it's true. Draco would be ready to do that in a heartbeat if it meant meeting Hermione."

"You know," Matt continued as he buttered his bread and took a bite, "I had known of Hermione long before I even met her."

Ginny swallowed her pumpkin juice and asked, "Draco spoke about her?"

"All the bloody time." Matt said shaking his head. "I mean, he never spoke about her directly as a topic. No. Draco isn't the one to have heart to hearts. But in conversations Hermione would come up often. Besides, he used to spend hours every other day writing lengthy letters to her. Once, I heard a girl slam his room door and retreat in fury after a date he had had with her."

Ginny raised her eyebrows curiously.

"Draco was too disoriented and I was only entering our apartment from a night out. After much prodding he told me, and I'm sure he told me this only because he was drunk, that he umm... He called out Hermione's name instead of um... He didn't remember that girls name even later." Matt said, snickering.

Katherine narrowed her eyes at Matt and looked at him warningly. He just shrugged. Ginny's eyes were wide and Harry looked slightly uncomfortable.

Taking Katherine's hand in his gently, matt started rubbing his thumb over her thumb. This seemed to calm her down a bit. "What I'm trying to say is, Draco has always loved Hermione. It's always Hermione this and Hermione that. And Draco is a private person. He doesn't share much. In over 2 years of us being together in the same team, I can say for sure that Draco is my best mate and vice versa but never has he told me about Hermione on his own. But the glimpses I got from time to time were enough for me to know that no girl he dated would be the one for him as long as this Hermione would be in the picture."

Harry just stared at Matt. He was thinking about what had just been said. It was true that Hermione had loved Draco even before she had started loving Ron. And from what Ginny had said, Draco had loved Hermione ever since Hogwarts. What the bloody hell had been the problem?

They were friends, agreed. But Harry and Malfoy were enemies. Harry could imagine Hermione being upset over that, but that wouldn't be a cause to stop oneself from loving the person you loved.

What had stopped Draco from telling her? Why was Hermione doubtful of Draco's feelings for her?

Hell, even he could say, with a blindfold on that Malfoy loved Hermione like a madman; and he could be rather thick at times.

Harry didn't care what he had to do, but he would try his level best to find Hermione. And when he did, the first thing he'd tell her was about Malfoy's feelings. He didn't care that it wasn't his place to say. Malfoy had failed to say so last time and this time he wasn't taking any chances.

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okay.. so I know this was truly a filler of sorts.. but frankly i wanted to show all sides of the story.. and i would have added more, included draco also but i'm in the midst of a family wedding.. and i've taken some self time off to write.. the chaos and family overload is driving me crazy !

Soon, we shall arrive at the end.. draco will meet hermione!