AN: Still don't own any of the characters.
...
Dread was beginning to settle in Hermione's stomach as she tried to run down the halls without causing a disruption. It may have been late, but it was not past curfew yet and several children still wandered through the halls.
"Miss Granger," said one girl suddenly, "where are you going?" Hermione stopped and looked at the small girl named Hilda. She had a thick head of blonde ringlets that flopped out in every direction.
"Hilda," Hermione said surprised by the young witch, "you startled me. I was just...I wanted to talk to Professor Malfoy."
"Professor Malfoy isn't here," the big-eyed girl said twisting a piece of her unruly hair.
"He isn't?" She paused, "Do you know where he is?"
"No," Hilda said, "but he's been gone all day." Hermione silently cursed herself for not going to dinner. If she went then would have known sooner that Draco wasn't there. "Are you okay, Miss Granger?" asked the girl, interrupting Hermione's thoughts.
"Yes, yes, I'm alright," she paused. "You should really get to your room, Hilda, curfew is in quarter hour."
"Yes, ma'am," she said skipping off.
...
"Headmistress," Hermione said walking into Minerva's quarters.
"Miss Granger," McGonagall looked surprised. "What on Earth are you doing here? It will be past curfew in nearly ten minutes."
"Yes, ma'am, I know but this is really important," she breathed out heavily. "Where has Dra-Professor Malfoy gone? We...I was supposed to meet up with him on Sunday, but he owled me."
"Yes, well, he has a bit of...family buisness to take care of," Minerva said with an obvious attempt to avoid the question.
"That is what he told me as well but..." Hermione stepped closer to her former professor. "Please, Minerva," she said quietly, "I need to know what's going on."
"Hermione, I'm afraid that he asked me not to tell you," she said quietly looking to her hands. "Mr. Malfoy is not a very open wizard, I don't know what is going on...and I know that he doesn't want you to get mixed up in it."
"Please," she said now begging more than asking, "he's the closest thing I've had to a friend at this school for a very long time. Whatever is wrong, I can help...or at least try." The headmistress looked at the witch before her. She suddenly realized that the girl may have changed a bit physically but she was still the same girl. Hermione was still determined, cleaver and protective. Minerva knew that there would be no stopping her if she wanted to find Draco.
"He went back to the Malfoy Manor," she said quietly knowing what the old manor meant to Hermione. "I don't know why he left, but he left fast. Something was...wrong, Miss Granger. When he came to me he wasn't his normal self." She paused once again and examined her fingers. "I cannot tell you what going to that manor would entail. I know I can't stop you, Hermione, but I can warn you. Mr. Malfoy is not the kind of man you are accustomed to dealing with."
Something in the last sentance made Hermione flinch. "I know exactly what kind of man Draco is," she stated bluntly. "I'm not afraid of him, I never had been. Of course he is not like Ron or Harry, but he's not cruel, he is not what everyone makes him out to be."
"So you're going?"
"I don't see how anyone can stop me, Headmistress."
"I wish you luck, Hermione. If anyone can help him it is you."
"Thank you," she said leaving, "Minerva."
...
Sorry I promise the next chapter will have more Dramione. But warning! It has to get worse before it gets better. Be prepared for some darkness! Draco has been hiding quite a bit since the war! Please R & R