By My Side

Chapter 17.

The harsh winter that had covered Hogwarts in snow slowly turned to spring. Flowers blossomed once again in the Greenhouses, the trees of the Forbidden Forest grew new leaves, making everywhere look green, and the fifth year students took their mock O.W.L. papers in early February.

Not everyone did well, but many had other things on their minds. Death Eater activity accelerated hard during the new year, and by the end of March, a total of 17 Muggles had been killed or injured because of secrets attacks.

It seemed obvious to everyone that something was brewing. The Daily Prophet either ignored the stories, or wrote about them just to dismiss them as propaganda - it seemed the Wizarding world still had it's head in the sand. In Hogwarts, however, things were different. Meeting were taking place constantly, members of the Order Of The Phoenix were being sent here, there and everywhere on undercover trips, and Sirius Black became an almost permanent resident at the school under the disguise as Professor Lupin's new pet.

Of course, all these changes meant that life became very different for the staff, but for the pupils, school work and education were still the order of the day. When the mediocre mock O.W.L results were published, Hermione Granger came down heavily on her boyfriend and her best friend.

"I hate to say I told you so," the bushy haired girl commented.

"No, you don't! you love to say 'I told you so'!"

"Ronald Weasley! maybe if you'd paid a little more attention to revision and less to Quidditch, then I wouldn't have to say anything at all!"

"Oh, put a sock in it, Hermione," Ron rolled his eyes, and just as his girlfriend went to retort, he shut her up with a deep kiss, which made the crowd around them whistle.

Harry and Eve shared a small smile.

"Do you think we should leave them alone?" Harry asked.

"Best had. When they start like this, they never stop."

"Good point."

Harry and Eve threaded their way through the busy common room and headed for the lake, their usual spot to talk over the day's events and sample the cool, April night air.

"You're pretty quiet tonight," Harry observed. "You're not worried about your results are you? because, there's ages until July, you can do loads of revision."

"No, no," Eve chuckled, "I didn't expect to do much better than I did, even my extra Charms classes don't seem to be paying off though."

"Well, you've had a lot on your mind," Harry said quietly.

They walked on in silence, both contemplating that statement.

Since January, Eve had thought about nothing but Draco. She still ached for him, still watched him across the Great Hall with sad eyes, and still tried to memorise the way his hair fell onto his eyes when he bent forward to scribble something down in Potions. She spent most of her day wondering what he was doing, who he was talking to, who he was confiding in. The thing that weighed most on her mind though, was how things were going with his father after all the Death Eater movements.

Draco would be 16 in a few days time, and Eve was desperate to know how he was coping. Was he lined up for initiation? was that what all these attacks were about? Death Eater recruitment? She would lie in bed at night some times and try to imagine him, looking so pale and small in a circle of older men with their hoods up, one figure standing out from the rest, blood-red eyes falling on the quivering figure, testing him with powerful curses, then branding him with that damning mark.

Yes, Eve often cried herself to sleep, whispering his name, wondering about the boy she still loved, wondering if anyone was protecting him, if anyone was giving him the love he deserved.

Yet all the time, she had a boy at her side who cared for her as though she were some precious gemstone. Harry Potter was kind, attentive, patient, loving - all the things that Eve could ever wish for. Only problem was.........he wasn't Draco.

They were still officially a couple, Eve and Harry, although they never did anything more than kiss, and that wasn't very often. Harry knew that she was still thinking about Draco, but he didn't know the extent of the problem. He figured he was just waiting for her, and that she needed time, afterall, she helped him with his problems, his increasingly frequent nightmares and the pains in his scar that kept coming and blinding him. She was a good girlfriend, he thought, even if they weren't as close as Ron and Hermione - maybe someday they would be.

"You know, I saw Malfoy at dinner," Harry said hesitantly. He wanted Eve to know that he understood what she was thinking about, and here, beside the lake, was where they discussed all their problems.

"Oh?" Eve tried to sound disinterested.

"Yeah, he was with - "

"Pansy. He always is."

"Are you still upset about him? because - "

"Please, Harry, can we talk about something else?"

Now the air was cut with tension, and Eve wished to be anywhere but there.

"Yeah, sure," Harry answered, trying to keep the disappointment out of his voice.

They were both silent as their eyes cast out in opposite directions across the lake.

*********

From January to April had been the hardest months of Draco's life. He was trying to juggle things with Pansy, his father, Blaise and his schoolwork, all at once.

Pansy was taking full advantage of their relationship now, and spent most nights sleeping in Draco's bed, while he lay awake trying to think of anything but the girl next to him. There were many times when she angered him, picked on him, or embarrassed him, but there was nothing he could do - he was not to upset her, and he knew from frequent contact with his father, that Lucius had his eye on everything that took place at Hogwarts, especially his behaviour.

Draco was also back to his school work, revising hard to get the grades he needed to please his father. Blaise would work with him sometimes, and that made it easier, because he could talk to her without her fawning on him like Pansy did. They didn't talk about Eve anymore, but Blaise knew that the girl was on Draco's mind every second of the day. She caught the sly glances at breakfast and the longing gazes on the walk down to Care Of Magical Creatures. However, if she tried to talk to him about it, he would clam up and make some excuse about having to be somewhere.

So, along with everything else, Draco had to put up with his broken heart and maudlin thoughts. The best way to transfer this into positive energy, he found, was to focus on Quidditch, and play meaner, dirtier and faster than everyone else. Most nights he could be found on the Quidditch pitch, taking the role as beater and smacking bludgers with all his might, pretending they were Potter's head.

He didn't see much of Harry and Eve's relationship, they seemed to keep it pretty low key. He had caught them kissing once, in the corridor outside the Charms classroom after lessons had finished, and because he was with Crabbe and Goyle, he felt strong enough to fire them with stinging comments. He'd called Potter a bastard or something, but as he rounded the corner, Harry had called after him with a comment which had stung more than a slight on his heritage ever could have. Harry had simply said, 'Jealousy will get you nowhere, Malfoy.'

It had crushed Draco, made him angrier than ever, and that night he had gotten into a huge fight with Goyle, who was always itching for a fight anyway. They had rolled on the floor and punched each other's stomachs with a soundtrack of the whole of Slytherin house cheering them on. The fight had only broke up when a seventh year prefect had come it, and even then she was reluctant. Draco left the wounds, left the blood drip down his face as he looked in the mirror, and thought it ironically apt that the red liquid fell from the cut above his eye, down his cheek like a tear track.

Anyway, he was sick of it all, and he couldn't stand to sit back and know that not only did Potter have his filthy Muggle-loving hands all over Eve, but it was him himself that had driven Eve away. He had let her walk away, and with hindsight he knew that if he had time all over again, he would do things differently.

They say that you don't know what you got until its gone, and Draco finally understood that.

********

The months passed on, from early April, into May, where Eve celebrated her birthday in true Gryffindor style with a party in her father's office (all her favourite people were there, her dad, Sirius, Hermione, Ron, Harry, Fred, George, Lavender, Seamus, Dean and Neville,) yet the only one person that she truly wanted to see on her birthday, she didn't even catch a glimpse of.

June soon came, and in the first week, just as the sun was beginning to shine, and everyone was getting serious about the impending O.W.Ls, Harry had one of his worst nightmares yet.

He woke up screaming, clutching onto the bed, waking Ron, who dragged his curtains apart and ran to his best friend.

"Harry! Harry! wake up!" he shook him, and finally, Harry's eyes flickered open, and as he realised where he was, he fell forward into Ron's arms.

"Oh, God," he whispered, sounding terrified.

Seconds later, Seamus, Dean and Neville were all up, sitting on Harry's bed, talking to him in loud voices as though that would bring him back to normal, that would make everything alright.

Ron hushed them quiet and handed Harry a drink.

"What did you see, mate?"

"There were just.....shapes," Harry explained, his throat tight. His first thought was for Eve. "I think it had something to do with Eve."

"She was with you-know-who?" Dean frowned.

"No, not exactly, but I felt her presence," Harry finished the water and handed the cup back to Ron. "Could you go and find out if she's okay?"

"Er....yeah, alright," Ron answered, hesitant. He'd turned up at the girls dorms at this time of night not so long ago, and when he told her what he wanted, Hermione had kicked him in the shin. He hoped that she didn't jump to conclusions when she saw his face this time. "Won't be a minute."

So Ron hurried to the girls sleeping quarters, feet freezing without socks on the cold floor, and knocked for what seemed like hours before Eve answered, hair sticking up in spikes and rubbing her eyes.

"Oh, you want Hermione?" she yawned, when she saw who it was.

"No, not really, it was you," Ron whispered. Eve frowned. "Harry had this......this dream about you."

"Er.......I don't think I want to hear this, Ron!" Eve looked horrified.

"No, not like that. It was one of his nightmares."

"Is he okay?" Eve asked, un-hooking her dressing gown from behind the door and pushing Ron outside into the hallway.

"Just shaken up," Ron explained.

"I'll come with you," Eve said, indicating that Ron should lead them back to his room.

When they got there, Harry was still sitting up in bed, talking in clipped tones with his other dorm mates, trying to recall the important parts of the dream.

"Eve!" he called, relieved when he saw her. She smiled and went over to him, embracing him in a hug immediately. She sat down next to him on the bed and cradled him as he had done for her those many nights straight after her and Draco split up. "You're okay," Harry finally said, noticing that everyone else had discreetly gone back to bed to give them some privacy.

"I'm fine. What did you see?"

"It wasn't like the others," Harry frowned. "I couldn't see what was going on, but I could......well, feel things instead, if that makes any sense?"

Eve nodded. "Go on."

"I felt your presence, you were really upset, crying, angry, confused. I tried to reach out to help you but.....I couldn't. Everything was black."

"Did you feel like Voldemort was there?"

Harry nodded ominously. "There was someone else there too, but their spirit wasn't strong enough for me to tell who it was. It was someone familiar but.......argh, it's so frustrating!" Harry pulled at his hair in anger with himself.

"Hey, come on," Eve soothed, taking his hands in hers. "It's not your fault. We'll let Dumbledore know in the morning. You think you can get back to sleep?"

"I......I don't know, I feel all uptight now."

"Here," Eve whispered, leaning forward and kissing him gently on the lips. He looked so sweet, so lost and adorable without his glasses, like a little boy who needed protecting, and he'd been worried about her. She was un-nerved by what he had said, but she remembered all the time he'd made her feel so much better, and wanted to do the same for him.

It was Harry who deepened the kiss - he'd got more professional at it since the first time, and often took the lead these days, although his lips were still nothing like Draco's, Eve thought. They weren't as demanding, as wanting, they didn't make her feel like the most important thing in the world.

Eve let go of Harry's hands and he used it as an opportunity to pull her into his arms. She went willingly, probably still half asleep, only really aware that this boy needed her. They soon ended up lying next to each other on the bed, and Eve admitted to herself that she'd let things go too far. Sometimes she felt like she needed to be wanted, and more often than she cared to think about, she thought about Draco when she kissed Harry. Right now, in her sleepy state, it was Draco's hands she felt on her hips, and Draco's lips that were kissing hers so softly. She almost whispered his name, which was what made her sit up sharply. She crossed her legs and leaned on her knees.

"Sorry," she shook her head quickly, "I didn't mean to....."

"It's okay," Harry smiled, sitting up a little and taking her hand in his. They were both whispering, even though Neville's snores could be heard, once again filling the little Tower bedroom. "What are you sorry for?"

"I just.......well, I'm half asleep, you just had a nightmare and......"

"And what?" Harry teased, "you took advantage of me?"

Eve smiled, relaxing a little as he laid his head tiredly on her knee. She hesitated for a minute, hand above his hair, then slowly lowered her hand and pushed her fingers lightly through the thick, black, locks. Harry sighed with contentment, and Eve looked down at his face, eyes now closed. He looked so peaceful, such a change from the tense boy she had greeted when she walked in here, less than an hour before.

"That's nice," he whispered, and she couldn't help but feel this was wrong. She didn't want to lead him on, she didn't want to play games with him, but she couldn't bare to hurt him and loose him as a friend.

Suddenly, she felt like she should have been sorted into Slytherin.

"Harry," she whispered. His eyes flickered open, and when he saw the tender look on her face, he smiled.

"Hmmm?"

"You'd best get some sleep."

"Will you..........will you stay with me?"

The question was asked with such heart breaking innocence that Eve almost gasped. It was strange to be asked such a thing - she knew that if the same question had been put to her by Draco, it would have meant a completely different thing entirely. Harry wasn't trying to keep her here so that he could get more than just kisses out of her - he wanted her here because he cared about her and because he just wanted someone he could have close.

She couldn't bare say no and watch his heart break, so she nodded slowly and his face lit up. He pulled the covers back a little and she stood up.

With questions flooding her head, she slipped off her night-gown and caught Harry's eyes flick over her nightie. Well, maybe he did feel that way about her.......

She hopped into bed quickly and pulled the covers up close to her shoulders. Beneath the covers, Harry's arm slipped around her waist and he moved closer to her, but not so much that their bodies were touching. She could feel his feet against hers, but the rest of his body was backed away enough to leave her space.

As she shut her eyes, her mind screaming, What the hell are you doing?! get out of here, now! she felt him move beside her, and a light kiss was planted on her cheek.

"Night, Eve."

"Night," she said, trying to sound relaxed, although her voice was taught and her body stiff under his arm. She tried to breath deeply and slowly, thinking about other things, how it would be morning soon, how none of this mattered, how he needed this and as his girlfriend, she should be here to look after him. He wasn't making her do anything she didn't want to do, he wasn't forcing himself upon her, she didn't feel pressured in any way, sexually or otherwise, but.......yet she wasn't sure what she was doing here.

Eve lay awake for nearly two hours, and when she was sure that Harry was asleep, she crept away like a thief, hating herself for what she had become.

********

The next morning, Eve was so busy thinking about her dire situation with Harry as she walked to breakfast on her own, that she didn't even see the person approaching her in the corridor. In fact, she was about to walk past him.

"Eve?"

"Huh? oh...Dad!" Eve laughed. "Sorry, I was a million miles away!"

"Hmmm, and you look like you've got a million problems, too," Remus said with a worried tone and he hugged his daughter tight. "Everything alright with Harry?"

It was a question that he'd taken to asking every time he saw her, and Eve had begun to wonder what his hidden words were behind the message - she suspected it had something to do with sex, as Remus kept to start off serious conversations about men and women and their relationships together before Eve bolted out of the door with something else that she conveniently had to do.

"Yeah, fine," she smiled. It was always her answer, and he always nodded in response. She wondered what he would do if she ever said, 'No, not really. I'm still in love with Draco Malfoy, whom I was seeing a few months back, the love of my life.'

"So what's wrong then?"

"Just busy, O.W.Ls and everything."

"Ah, of course!" Remus said wisely, putting his arm around his daughter's shoulders as they began walking along the corridor that wasn't yet crowded with the morning rush. "You do know that whatever you get, as long as you've done your best, I'll be happy with."

"I know, dad," Eve relaxed, glad to be in her dad's company, where she always felt safe. It was strange, even though Harry was the only one who knew about Draco, it was still Remus that Eve went to when she was feeling bad. He was still her only real lifeline in the bleak sea of her emotions, no matter how hard Harry tried.

"Actually, I'm glad I bumped into you....."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, I've.......well, Dumbledore wants me and Snuffles to go on a little job."

"What? oh no, dad!" Eve cried, turning to her dad and pulling on the arm of his sleeve. "You can't leave now! I need you!"

"I know, honey," he explained, "but Albus needs us, it's a pretty big job, but it shouldn't take too long, two days at the most."

"Where?" Eve demanded. They had stopped walking and were facing each other now. Suddenly, the huge walls of the corridor seemed more daunting and oppressive than before.

"I can't tell you that, it's secret."

"Dad! you know I won't tell anyone! please? I at least need to know where you're going to be! what if something happens?"

"Nothing will happen!" Remus soothed. "It's all routine, Albus has everything planned out, and besides, Snuffles will be with me."

"You still didn't answer my question," Eve huffed.

"Evelyn, please, don't make me feel bad. You know that I'm not at liberty to say," Remus explained, feeling simply awful for keeping her in the dark.

"Oh, but I don't want to you go!" Eve whined, putting her arms around him again, hugging him tight.

"I promise you, just two days, that's all."

"When do you leave?" Eve asked, screwing her eyes tight shut, pressing closer to her dad's chest so that she could hear the rumble of his voice as he spoke. She used to do it as a little girl, and it always used to calm her.

"Later today, which was why I wanted to catch you before class. I didn't want to have to interrupt any of your lessons."

"Lessons? you mean you'll be gone by the time my lessons are done?"

"Yeah, we need to leave at around dinner."

"Oh dad, please?" she begged.

"Eve, I'm sorry," Remus said gently, smoothing her hair. "I've got to help out the Headmaster, the situation is very dire at the moment."

"I know," Eve grumbled, pulling away from his embrace but still holding his hand, playing with his fingers like a little girl, "Harry had a nightmare last night."

"Has he spoken to Dumbledore?" Remus asked, concerned.

"Ron told me that he went early this morning, which is where I was going, to see if he was back."

"Well, he'll look after you while I'm gone, I'm sure," Remus smiled. "Actually, I've been meaning to speak to you about - "

"It's okay dad, I'll make sure he looks after me," Eve flustered, leaning up and kissing her father on the cheek. "I promise I'll be good."

"Hmmm," Remus eyed her warily, "but will Harry be just as good?"

"Yes, dad," Eve blushed, "no need to worry, there."

"Right well," Remus straightened his robes for something to do, "I'd best be off to lessons then. I'll see you in two days time, I'll come straight to Gryffindor Tower when I get back."

"But dad, isn't it pretty close to the full moon?"

"Yes, but I'll be back in time, and I have enough of Severus' potion to last me the next few days, so there's no need to worry."

"Okay, I'll miss you," Eve gave her father once last hug, and he gave her kiss on the cheek.

"I'll miss you too, take care, okay?"

"And you. Oh, and tell Snuffles to look after you, on warning from me."

"I will," Remus laughed. "See you, sweetheart!"

"Bye, dad!" Eve called, feeling sick as she watched him hurry off down the corridor and disappear up a flight of stairs. It was bad enough being without him at the best of times, but when she needed someone to talk to so much, it was hell.

She sighed miserably, and proceeded on to the Great Hall, hoping to find Harry there.

*********

Draco woke up to find Pansy's arm lying across his naked stomach. He tried to remove it, but she grunted in her sleep and clung on tighter. He sighed.

He felt terrible that morning - he'd been up most of the night revising, then Pansy had come in, smelling of Butterbooze, slightly tipsy, and demanded that he 'shag her silly'. It wasn't the most pleasant way to spend the night, and it certainly wasn't the best way to find yourself in the morning.

However, Lucius had been paying closer attention to him since his birthday, informing him of all the latest updates with 'My Lord', though he was thankfully ignoring the topic of early initiation, so Draco assumed he'd avoided that nightmare for the time being. Apparently, the Death Eaters were busy with a plan right now, but Lucius didn't want to go into details just yet, and the whole thing bored Draco senseless anyway, so it was the last thing on his mind. His main concern was to keep Pansy happy so that she didn't cause him any trouble, and to keep his head down.

As much as he was missing Eve like a heartbeat, he was finally returned to his former glory of unofficial leader of the fifth year Slytherins. Even Goyle was bowing to him once again, through much complicated hexing and a stupid little warning from Pansy. Draco felt powerful now that he had respect back, but the power didn't measure anything like the way Eve's affection did. He'd swap it all tomorrow to have her back, and he knew that without thinking twice. He'd planned it all his head, how it would happen. He'd be sitting at breakfast one morning, calmly eating his porridge, then he'd suddenly look up and meet her eyes across the room. She'd smile, and he would too, before nodding at the door. At first, she'd look wary, but she'd follow him, and when he got her alone, he'd tell her everything - how much he missed her, how much he wanted her, thought about her, imagined that she was Pansy and groaned her name into his pillow when he was alone at night in the dorm, remembering their first time during that Quidditch match. She'd tell him that she felt the same, that she missed him too, and still loved him as much as he loved her, even after these long months, then they'd lie down somewhere and he'd show her just how much he'd missed her. He'd be gentle, not like he was with Pansy. He'd touch her carefully, like she was glass, thanking God that he'd got her back, and by this time, everyone else in the world would have dissolved around them.

Pansy pulled him from his daydream.

"Malfoy? your eyes have glazed over - are you dead?"

"No, sadly," Draco drawled.

"Hmm, well, turn over, You're taking up too much of the bed."

Just as he was about to say 'Well it is my bloody bed!' in a sharp voice, he caught himself, and turned over obediently.

"Hmmm, that's better," Pansy announced, sprawling out beside him, almost edging him off the bed. He tried to count to ten, asking himself that eternal question, over and over as he did every single day - 'Why did I choose this? why did I choose this?'

*********

"There you are!" Eve smiled, calling to Harry when she saw him at the end of the long Gryffindor table, breakfast laid out in front of him, but nothing much eaten. He looked up and smiled back, with a faint, tired look. He was the only one in the Great Hall.

"Hey."

He looked so pathetic that she kissed him, full on the lips, and he pulled her down into his lap.

"What did the Headmaster say?"

"He can't tell me anything," Harry said with a note of defeat, "apparently there's something happening at the moment, a movement or something."

"My dad's been called away - and Snuffles."

"When? this morning?" Harry frowned.

"Yeah, I just said goodbye to my dad now, they're leaving at dinner."

"Where for? Dumbledore didn't say anything to me."

"Dad wouldn't say. I think he's trying to keep me in the dark about something, which means it's probably more dangerous than usual. He only ever keeps things from me when he knows I'll worry."

"Well, I don't like it," Harry said candidly, a far-away look in his eye.

"You think it has something to do with your dream?"

"Most probably," Harry said in a brighter tone, snapping out of his mood. "Anyway, how come you weren't there when I woke up this morning?" he playfully tickled her stomach. She smiled.

"I figured that if Ron or the others caught me leaving in the morning, then we'd never hear the end of it," she lied.

"Hmmm, I guess you're right, but I missed you."

"Well, you were sleeping like a baby when I left you, so I figured you'd be okay," Eve explained, feeling tense again.

"I was much better after you came to see me - thanks."

"Hey, no need to thank me," Eve grinned, straightening his tie and pulling his collar down properly. He tried to look down to watch her doing it but he lowered his chin and she had to push it back up gently. They shared a laugh, then Harry locked her eyes with that intense green stare of his.

"I.........I enjoyed our kiss last night, on the bed," he sounded nervous, like he was unsure about saying the wrong thing.

"Me too," Eve smiled.

"I thought that maybe........well, you know, what with this thing about Malfoy - I thought you weren't over him, and that........well, maybe that's why you were hesitating."

"Hesitating?" Eve tried to sound like she didn't have a clue what he was going on about.

"Yeah, you know, kissing.......and stuff," Harry blushed, "anyway, last night - you were different."

"I'm sorry if I've been cold with you," she said genuinely, "sometimes I just can't help how I act and - "

Harry put his finger to her lips. "Shush, it's okay, you don't need to explain yourself. Just come here."

With that, he brought her mouth close to his for a kiss. In a strange way, it felt like a kiss that shouldn't be shared in somewhere like the Great Hall - the kiss was wanting and heavy, strong overtones that Eve wasn't sure felt quite right. She tried to end it gently, then pulled away and ruffled Harry's hair playfully.

"I see you've forgotten your dream, Mr Potter," she teased.

"Hmmm, well, I was thinking of a different dream altogether, actually," Harry replied shyly, jade eyes searching her's with a look of hope.

Eve blushed, even though she wasn't sure why.

"I'd....I'd better get a seat of my own," she grinned, slipping off his knee then seating herself next to him. They shared a knowing smile, then started breakfast just as the rest of the school started to arrive.

********

It was around seven o'clock the following evening, and Eve and Hermione were walking back from the library, arms filled with books, chatting happily about the upcoming Quidditch match.

"Oh, I swear, Ron has a one track mind these days!"

"Oh yeah?" Eve laughed suggestively. Hermione coloured up when she realised what she'd said.

"I didn't mean like that!" she said coyly. There was a little silence, then she said, "Although......"

"Although what?" Eve prompted, eyes wide.

"Well, he does get quite......excitable sometimes."

"Oh yeah? how?"

Both girls laughed to each other, then they stopped walking and Hermione leant forward to whisper something in Eve's ear.

"He didn't?" Eve grinned, practically screaming in the empty corridor.

"He sure did," Hermione answered with a cheeky look. They both started walking again.

"And what did you do?"

"Well.....I let him," Hermione said proudly, then the both dissolved into a fit of giggles. They were laughing so hard that when Harry and Ron came racing down the corridor towards them, they almost didn't hear.

"Eve," Harry panted, taking the books from her arms immediately. "You've got to go to the Headmaster's office, straight away."

"What? why?" Eve frowned, shocked by the sudden change of atmosphere.

"I don't know, McGonagall wouldn't tell us, but it seems urgent."

"Oh no!" Eve cried, "dad!" she looked to Hermione for re-assurance.

"Go on, run!" Hermione said, eyes blazing with sudden worry.

Eve didn't hesitate, she took off at a pace and ran through the corridors until she arrived at the stone gargoyle outside Dumbledore's office. Thankfully, Professor McGonagall was waiting there for her, so she didn't have to spend time guessing passwords or anything.

"Miss Lupin!" Minerva said with relief, worry and tension etched onto her old features.

"What's wrong, Professor? is it my dad?"

"No time for chat dear, best get up to the headmaster - come on, chop chop," Minerva pushed Eve forward to the opening in the stone figure and Eve climbed the darken staircase quickly. She didn't bother to knock on Dumbledore's office door.

The sight that met her eyes was ominous. Professor Dumbledore was sat behind his desk, a deep frown creasing his features, his fingers playing tensely with an old Muggle pencil. In the chair opposite him sat a worn and tired looking Sirius Black.

"Uncle Sirius!" Eve cried upon seeing the man she had shared the summer with. He stood up immediately and caught her when she ran into him. He held her tight, and waited for the barrage of questions. "Where's my dad? is he okay? what's wrong?"

"Miss Lupin," Dumbledore said softly, and Eve turned to face him. He looked so much older than she had ever seen him. "Would you please take a seat?"

Eve didn't care about sitting down, it was the last thing on her mind - all she cared about was her dad, but she thought from the look on the headmaster's face, that unless she did as he asked, she'd never get any answers.

She sat obediently in the chair that Sirius had been occupying, and he took the other free one beside it. His shoulder length black hair was a mess, and he looked tired, as though he hadn't slept in days. Upon closer inspection, she also noticed that he had a large gash on his neck. It was a shockingly different sight than the man she had spent the summer with - she was used to seeing Sirius joking about with her father, and she was reminded in a fleeting second, of the time that the two men had play fought in the kitchen of their old cottage over an apple. Remus had held it away from his childhood friend, who had laughed and grappled for it until they were chasing each other stupidly around the kitchen table. Eve had been watching through the crack in the open door, and the men hadn't known she was there. The episode stuck in Eve's mind so much because she had never seen her father look so youthful as he had that night - youthful and happy and strong. He'd held Sirius off for a long time, until the equally playful, happy man had cornered him beside the tall kitchen bureau, and Eve hadn't been able to see whether Sirius finally got the apple because the door wasn't open enough, and the angle wasn't right, so she'd gone back out into the garden to finish her dinner.

Dumbledore's soft, wise voice, roused her from her memories.

"I'm afraid there is some bad news, Eve."

"Bad - bad news?" she stuttered, watching the colour drain from Sirius's eyes as he clutched her hand tightly.

"Your father has gone missing."

"Missing?" Eve almost screamed, "but....but, he said it was safe! how could you?" she turned accusingly to Sirius.

"Eve, I - " Sirius began, but Dumbledore held up his hand.

"This has nothing to do with Sirius, Eve, he wasn't even present at the time. Your father and he split up on their journey, to pursue separate tasks, and it was during this time that......"

"You lost him," Eve ended bitterly, and Dumbledore looked defeated at the words. He didn't have much to say - she was right.

"We have tried many methods of location," Dumbledore went on to explain, but Eve was only half listening. She couldn't stop re-playing the imagine of her father walking away from her only yesterday morning, hurrying down the corridor and up the flight of steps. That was the final time, she thought, the final time I'll ever see him. "There are many spells we have tried, yet it appears some dark magic has been used, leading us to the conclusion that he must be in the hands of Voldemort's followers."

"But......but.....he can't be!" Eve shook her head, then started to cry, and when Sirius went to comfort her, she pushed him away angrily and cried on her own, thinking over in her head, dad, dad, dad.

There was a sad silence while Eve cried, but eventually, Sirius spoke up.

"We're going to get him back, Eve."

"How? how can you?" Eve sobbed, "you don't even know where he is!"

"But we know he's alive!" Sirius said hopefully. "We have body heat charms on him, and we know that he's okay."

"I.....I don't understand," Eve choked, and both occupants of the room listened patiently as she tried to catch her breath from crying, "I didn't think that Voldemort took hostages!"

"He doesn't, not usually. This is a strange move on his part, and completely unexpected. However, Eve, you must have faith that everything will be sorted out. We suspect that The Dark Lord wishes us to 'bargain' with him, which we will do immediately. Undue worry on your part is simply not necessary," Dumbledore explained.

"Undue?" Eve cried in disbelief, and Sirius put his hand on her arm to calm her.

"Eve, please, calm down, remember who you're talking to, okay?"

He sounded so much like her father in that moment, that Eve's chest tightened and it made her realise just what was happening - he was gone! just like Draco! Voldemort was dragging all her people away from her!

"No, no! not my dad!" Eve sobbed again, and this time she let Sirius take her into his arms and rock her slowly, saying soothing words when he sounded just as worried, just as distraught, himself.

"We must think positively," the headmaster said in a voice that was grave. "Even as we speak, there are Aurors out looking for your father."

"When....when did it happen? what time? where was he?" suddenly, the small details seemed important.

"We were investigating an attack on the South Coast," Sirius spoke in a serious, calm tone "we stumbled upon a group of about twenty Death Eaters near an all wizard village. We suspected they were out to do some serious damage so we decided to split up, take ten men each. We were out numbered, I got injured and managed to scramble away. When I went back to look for your father, he was gone. I searched the area for hours but I couldn't find him. We always agreed to apparate straight back to Hogwarts if we got in trouble or split up, so I did that, expecting him to be here but...... he wasn't."

Sirius sounded so upset that Eve found it difficult to be angry with him - she reminded herself that this was his childhood friend. She was finding it difficult to breathe, like she had to get out, had to get some fresh air. She wanted desperately to be out, walking in the grounds.

"I - I have to go," she said, shaking herself free.

"I'll come with you," Sirius offered, but Eve put her hand up to stop him.

"No, I want to be alone. Thank you," with that, she walked steadily to Dumbledore's door and as soon as she was alone, she ran. She ran frantically down the steps, out into the corridor and past a group of bewildered first years, down to the lower levels of the castle and eventually out into the fresh air. She chest felt tight and her vision was blurred from unshed tears but she kept running, and when she finally had no breath left, she slowed her run to a walk and continued on to the edge of the forbidden forest, where she immersed herself in the trees and tried to breath steadily.

Her breath stung in her throat with every inhale and she may have been sobbing, she wasn't sure. She hadn't noticed the worried faces she had passed on the way down here, she didn't realise that it was finally dark now, that all the fires were lit inside the school and cast flickering orange glows on all the windows. She didn't feel the damp chill of the evening air because she felt like she couldn't feel anything at all. He wasn't here, he wasn't coming back and she felt like she was being punished.

I never told him, was all she could think, I never told him about Draco. I never told my father about the love of my life and now he's gone, I'll never get to tell him, he'll never know. She sobbed more, leaning heavily against an old tree, the rough bark leaving muddy marks on her robes, but she didn't care. She didn't want to go back into the castle, it was like she didn't want to speak to anyone if she couldn't speak to her dad. She'd stay here, in the forest until he came and found her.

A light June rain started to fall, first covering the ground and making Eve's shoes muddy, and eventually began to wet through her robes. It didn't stop her crying, didn't stop her choking on her own sobs. She would hear herself say, "Dad!" in the middle of a cry, just like she used to when she was little and she was lost or alone. He always used to run to her and hold her tight, then maybe bounce her little form on his knee to stop her crying, to amuse her, and it would always work, but now her cries her lost to the air, empty and pathetic. Almost as soon as she spoke his name, the memory was gone, and she felt so bad, so terrible that she hadn't told him, that he gone from her life without knowing her. The possibility of him ever returning was gone from her mind. She felt like he was dead, like she had lost all grip, and she sank to the muddy ground, crumpled in a heap where the Autumn leaves would soon fall.

No time seemed to have passed, but when Harry appeared in front of her, looking stricken and drenched with the rain, his hair plastered to his face, she barely recognised who he was, it was so long she had been on her own.

"I've found her!" she heard him call off into the distance before he bent down in front of her and held her hand. "Eve?" he whispered.

"Draco?" she murmured, but couldn't focus on his face, so she didn't watch the bottom fall out of his world, didn't see the pain etched into his features momentarily.

"No, it's me, Harry," his voice sounded croaky, not like her dad's, but she went to him when he tried to lift her up anyway, she felt too weak to stand. "You've been out here for hours!" he informed her, and when she went to slip to the floor with exhaustion, he picked her up in his strong arms and she felt sick. She wanted her dad.

"Where's my dad?" she demanded, incoherently.

"We've got to get back to the castle Eve, don't try to talk, you're too weak."

At this, the ground seemed to rumble, then there were voices and Eve screwed her eyes shut tight. She didn't want to see anyone, she wanted her dad - why couldn't they leave her alone?

"Where was she?" a voice asked.

"Under the tree, she's soaked through and she's not making any sense," the closer voice said. A dog barked and Eve tried to struggle in the arms holding her.

"Let me go! she pleaded weakly, her voice barely a scratch. "I'm fine, get off me!"

"We'd best get her inside!" an older voice commanded, and suddenly they were moving. She refused to open her eyes, she wanted to stay outside in the rain, her exhausted, muddled brain telling her that if she stayed outside, she could watch for her dad coming home.

That evening, Eve passed back and forth into conciousness. She was infront of a fire when her eyes finally opened and managed to focus. Her head was pounding and she had a terrible taste in her mouth. There were three people around her, two were curled up on the sofa, in each other's arms, whom her tired mind recognised as Ron and Hermione, but on the floor at her feet, wrapped in a blanket just as she was, was Harry.

He was reading, his eyes were open, but Eve didn't dare move, she knew that he would turn to her then, and she couldn't bare to speak to him. She only wanted her father, and as her sinking feeling came back - dad is gone, she felt trapped again, like she had to leave.

Eve moved to get up but her legs felt weak, and her movement startled Harry, who turned to her with such a caring, innocent look, that she wanted to cry again, she wanted to go and hide behind her dad and have him sort it all out, but.... he's not here anymore.

"Eve! you're awake!" Harry smiled warmly.

"I've....I've got to go," Eve explained, shrugging his touch off when he tried to take her shoulder and push her back down onto the sofa.

"You're too weak," Harry explained. "Madame Pomfrey said you have exhaustion brought on by your shock. You need to stay where you are, Eve. What do you need? water? food?"

"No, no," Eve shook her head, "you don't understand - I need to talk to my dad!"

"Eve, you can't, please sit down," Harry struggled with her, and soon Ron woke.

"I have to see my dad!" Eve protested, feeling delirious.

"Shall I get McGonagall?" Ron asked Harry in a tone which offended Eve greatly.

"I'm not mad!" she shouted, "get off me, leave me alone!"

"Eve, come on, calm down," Harry soothed, trying every way he could to get her to co-operate, but it wasn't until Hermione sat up and took over that Eve fell silent.

"Here, Harry, let me. How about you and Ron go upstairs and get some sleep. Me and Eve will stay down here, we were going to have a chat anyway."

Eve had shut her eyes in protest like an infant, so didn't see Hermione's warning glare to Harry, who still protested feebly, despite 'the look.'

"But she needs me....." he trailed off absently.

"It's fine, Harry, she doesn't need anyone looking after her. You need sleep, no go on, get to bed!"

Hermione's tone reminded Eve of her Gran, and she began to cry silently again. Everyone is gone. First Gran, then Draco, now dad.....

"I'll see you in the morning, Eve," Harry whispered, but Eve didn't reply, and only when she heard footsteps dying away, did she open her eyes.

Hermione was sat facing her, looking for the world like a mother, a concerned but 'no nonsense' look on her pretty features.

"Thanks," Eve muttered, feeling a tear make its lonely track down her cheek.

"Its alright," Hermione replied, "but Harry just wanted to help."

"I want my dad!" Eve protested, and Hermione's sharp look seemed to soften.

"I know, but he's not here, right now."

"It's his full moon soon," Eve observed, "he'll get ill. I need to look after him, Hermione."

"I understand," Hermione nodded, and Eve was suddenly grateful that she hadn't come over to comfort her with a hug or a hand-link like others had. She needed to be away from everyone else. She didn't want anyone touching her, only her dad. "We need to just rely on Dumbledore," Hermione added very softly, like she was afraid of what Eve would say to this.

"I'm.....I'm scared," Eve admitted, looking to the floor.

"I know," Hermione said sadly, then a silence fell.

It was dark outside, but the fire was burning bright and Eve checked the clock to find that it was 4:30 in the morning.

"It's late," Eve said automatically, "we need to get to bed."

"You're excused from lessons tomorrow....." Hermione explained.

Eve wanted to say that it didn't matter, she would go anyway, but her words felt useless, like they died on the air each time she spoke and no one listened anyway. She felt strange, like her head wasn't working properly, and the tugging pain in her chest made her feel heavy and sick and like she was going to burst out crying any moment.

"You want to go to bed?" Hermione eventually asked, and Eve nodded. The bushy-haired girl helped Eve up the stairs, and into bed, where Eve fell straight to sleep. Hermione watched her for a moment, scared that her friend would stop breathing or something. Eve seemed destroyed about something, like she had been eaten away by some external force, and Hermione didn't like it. She shut the hangings on Eve's bed and went to her own, careful not to wake anyone.

******

The next morning, Eve woke with a killer headache. Her chest still felt tight, and she had to sit up to cough, long, rasping coughs. Her throat hurt and her nose tickled. It was a cold, probably from the raining fiasco yesterday that her brain was slowly remembering, and she suddenly felt compelled to get up, go to Madame Pomfrey and get something to make her better.

She needed to be better if she was going to find her dad.

Eve swung her legs over the side of the bed and realised she was wearing her nightie, which she didn't remember changing into. Tentatively, she rose to her feet and shuffled to the curtain, where she heard whispered voices.

"She was in some kind of delirium, Professor McGonagall said that she'd seen that kind of thing before, after a big shock. Madame Pomfrey said that we were to keep an eye on her, she might try something silly......."

"I'm awake," Eve announced, and Hermione and Lavender spun round to look at her, both wearing guilty expressions.

Eve felt embarrassed, shamed, like she'd done something wrong, something personal, and everyone had seen her. So now she was on suicide watch? how pathetic, she thought.

"I think I have a cold, I need something from the nurse."

"I'll get it," Lavender said in a fake chirpy tone. She was already dressed, and so bustled away, out of the door as fast as she could to escape the taught atmosphere.

"Feeling better after a sleep?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah," Eve nodded, still uncomfortable. "I just......well, I just want to get back to normal - as normal as I can be."

"But - "

"I have things to do, I can't be lying about in bed," Eve said with strength in her voice. Hermione soon shut up. "As soon as I get this potion for my cold, I'll be as right as rain. I was confused yesterday, I was upset and - "

"You don't have to explain yourself," Hermione smiled warmly. The look un-nerved Eve so she began fidgeting with things, tidying her clothes and making her bed.

"I'm fine now, I just need to get on with things. I want to help them find my dad, I'm sure they could use an extra pair of hands."

"But......well, you're needed here!" Hermione tried to explain, and Eve felt trapped, like some kind of mad patient, like she was being handled with cotton wool gloves, kept safe. She didn't want to be, she'd always been so independent - it suddenly seemed now as though it was only her father and Draco that understood this.

"I'll speak to Dumbledore," Eve went on, sure of what she wanted to say, "I might be able to join one of the searches or something. I'll feel useless otherwise."

"Eve, I don't think that's such a good - "

But Lavender opened the door and stopped Hermione from going further into the hole she was digging herself. Lavender was a good distraction for Eve to drink her potion and escape to the bathroom, away from Hermione's carefully watchful eye.

Feeling suffocated, she eventually managed to persuade Hermione that she wanted to go to breakfast, and indeed, lessons after that. Hermione gave in, and Eve then had to explain herself to a frantically worried Harry and a pensive looking Ron.

"I was just upset yesterday, I'm fine, I promise."

"You should rest!" Harry urged. "I'll stay with you if you like, so you're not alone."

"I'm not a baby," Eve told him, trying to keep her temper calm, "I took some medicine for my cold and I feel fine now. I'm just hungry, so please, can we go now?"

Three sceptical faces stared at her, and Eve felt as though if she didn't get away soon, she would go mad. "I'm not requesting your permission," she warned, and it seemed to snap them out of it, so they went to breakfast.

If Eve had hoped to get away from worried glances, then it soon became apparent that the Great Hall was probably not the best place to go. As soon as the four Gryffindors walked through the door, all heads turned in their direction. The usual noisy chatter of breakfast was absent - clearly everyone had heard the news that their Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher had gone missing, there were probably about a dozen roumers flying already, Eve pondered. She felt the weight of everyone's stares as she went quietly to her seat and sat down, Harry constantly at her side, but not touching her for fear of reprimand.

Ginny Weasley broke the silence.

"Morning Eve," she said with alarming rationality. Eve smiled at her.

"Morning, Ginny."

Things had been frosty between the pair since Eve and Harry had announced their relationship, and Eve figured that if this was Ginny trying to show she didn't care about Remus's disappearance, then Eve was glad, glad that at least one thing had not changed.

People went back to their food, the low rumble of strained conversations started up again, the loud clinks of knifes and forks on plates once again resounding throughout the room. Eve ate in peace, with her eyes down. Hardly anyone at the Gryffindor table was talking, and whenever Eve looked up, people regarded her like a fragile piece of glass, smiling gently and trying to act like nothing was wrong.

Eve flushed up, feeling suddenly embarrassed that everyone must know the story of how she disappeared herself, only to be recovered from the woods by her heroic boyfriend, Harry Potter, probably carried into the school in his strong, Seekers arms and laid down in front of the fire to be healed.

She felt like some little kid, what must people be thinking of me? she wondered, dipping her head in shame.

Since January, she had spent most breakfast times trying to keep her eyes from straying to the Slytherin table, and she was partly relieved with herself when she found herself doing it once more. She just wanted things back to normal, she wanted to feel herself again, and so she felt safe and comfortable when she realised she was thinking about Draco, wondering if he was watching her. She didn't strain to keep her eyes away that morning though, and when she looked up, she found him staring at her. He had pity in his eyes, but a trace of something else also, something she had not seen much of this morning - normality.

Draco smiled and nodded his head, clear for all to see, and he gazed at her with a solid glare that, if it could speak, would have said, 'he's not gone forever.'

Eve smiled back, feeling a rush of emotion. She felt for the thousandth time in her life, that she should be on the opposite side of the room, at the Slytherin table, where maybe people wouldn't treat her like glass. It was strange to meet Draco's eyes after so many months of avoiding them, but then again it was the most natural thing to do. For the first time that day, she felt at ease.

When finally looked away, she found that Harry was staring at her. He looked hurt, but when he caught her eye, he smiled weakly and went back to his food.

God dad, please come back, she thought, I need to talk to you, I need you to tell me what to do, I feel so.......fake.

*******

Draco was kissing Pansy in the dungeon corridor when he heard about Remus's capture, not long after Eve found out herself. Millicent had thundered down the walkway, laughing like a hyena, and when Pansy had pulled away from Draco's lips long enough, she enquired as to what all the joviality was about.

"The werewolf has gone missing, apparently he was taking a break for a few days down in England when he just.....poof! disappeared, into thin air. I think it sounds hysterical - maybe he met a nice wolf--lady or something. Anyway, good riddance I say."

"At least I don't have to rush that stupid antidote essay," Pansy rolled her eyes and pulled Draco back towards her, but he shrugged her off and turned to Millicent.

"Where did you hear that?"

"I dunno, some fourth year was saying," Millicent shrugged and went to walk away, but Draco grabbed her by the back of her robes and slammed her large body into the stone wall.

"Who was it?"

"I don't know!" she shouted, and Pansy pulled Draco away.

"Calm down, Drakey!" she purred, "it's only Lupin, no great loss. Why are you so bothered?"

He couldn't answer, of course, he just looked dangerously at her, then glanced at Millicent, who was clearly shaken from her shove against the wall.

"Can I....can I go now, Malfoy?" Millicent asked. Draco nodded angrily, and she scampered away, much less triumphant than she had been when she appeared.

"Anyway, where were we?" Pansy giggled, forgetting Draco's anger and running her hand sensually down Draco's chest, giving his loose Slytherin tie a tug to pull him forward.

Draco satisfied her with a few kisses, then pulled away and suggested they go for a walk. Pansy was intrigued, and followed him, but soon got bored of the way he wished to linger by the library and by the main doors, and she made her excuses and went back to the Slytherin common room. Draco was trying to find someone who had the story about Eve's father, or at least eavesdrop on a conversation regarding the subject, but he could find nothing, and his anger just increased from wandering around with frustrated ministrations. In fact, Draco was about to go back to his common room, his mind full of concern for Eve, when he heard a commotion by the main doors, and he crept slowly to a vantage point to watch as Granger hurried through the doors, followed by Weasley, a large black dog, then McGonagall and eventually, Harry Potter carrying a prone but struggling form in his arms. It didn't take Draco long to realise it was Eve.

Draco wanted to run down there, he wanted to find out what was going on, he wanted to hold Eve close to him and then stay with her through what he knew was bound to be a difficult night. He heard snippets of conversation between McGonagall and Granger. The transfiguration teacher seemed to think that Eve was in some kind of shock, certainly emotionally exhausted. The way they were talking about Eve, like she was a china doll, saying she should be watched, kept an eye on, Draco wanted to get angry and fight Eve's case for her. He knew that she was strong, strong enough to deal with whatever was thrown at her.

When all of the Gryffindor mob had dissipated, Draco stood where he was for a time, worrying about Eve, wondering how they were treating her, wondering where the hell Remus could be.

Draco had eventually gone to bed, but he hadn't slept much - he'd had many fitful dreams and spent hours lying awake, thinking about Eve, wondering why, at this time, she had to go through this alone, why he couldn't be with her, and chiding himself for making the decisions he'd made in his life.

That was why he was early for breakfast - he couldn't sleep, and he didn't want to miss Eve, in case she came down early. He wondered if she knew about the subdued silence that had descended over the school (minus the Slytherins), wondered if she knew that Dumbledore and McGongall kept giving each other furtive, sombre glances, wondered if she knew the reception she was going to get when she came in.

He prayed she'd be alright, tried to send her strength in his mind because she'd probably need it, feeling the heavy atmosphere hanging over everyone in the Great Hall.

When the doors finally opened and the Gryffindors entered, Draco watched with bated breath, the way that everyone turned to stare. He wanted to make them stop, he could see the effect it was having on Eve, but the thing that angered him most was Potter, walking carefully beside her like a wet weekend. If it were him, he'd be trying to cheer her up, he'd be walking tall and proud, trying to restore some normality back into her mind.

Draco felt desperate that he was separated from her by two long tables, but in reality of course, the were separated by oceans these days. They were as far apart as two people could possibly be, and right now, just when she needed him, he couldn't bridge the gap. He felt useless, which made him angry, and he snapped at everyone all day, his mind never leaving her side.

If only there was something I could do! he kept thinking.

Then, at around 6:30 that evening, his prayers were answered.

******

"Ooh, Draco, it's your eagle-owl!" Pansy shrieked, running to the hovering bird as they walked through the archways which separated the grounds from the school. "Who's it from?" she asked when the envelope was in Draco's hands. He thought it was a stupid question - the eagle-owl was a family bird, so who else, apart from his family, would be using it? He rolled his eyes to himself and smiled sweetly at her,

"It's from father, I think."

"Oooh, open it, what's he got to say?" Pansy went to snatch the note, but Draco was quick and managed to get it away from her grasp.

"I'll read it later," he said in his best mock-casual voice, and stuffed the letter into his pocket, far away from her prying hands.

The letter burned a hole until he was alone in his room, later that evening, when everyone else had gone to bed. He sat down in his pyjama pants, on top of the quilt as it was far too hot, and pulled out the parchment with his family crest on.

Dear Draco,

How are things with you? I trust that everything is satisfactory at Hogwarts. I have much news for you, there have been many developments back at the Manor. We have a 'guest' staying, one whom no doubt you know quite well. Indeed, there has been a triumph in proceedings of our cause, and things look soon to swing in our favour.

I would invite you home to celebrate, but alas, my hands are full at the moment, all my attentions are devoted to our 'visitor', who is having a most pleasant stay in the dungeons of our home as we speak. I do hope you don't miss your Professor for Defence too much, it was such a shame when I heard about his disappearance - I wonder where he could be?

Things are looking up Draco, the time for striking with full force is near and it appears in the near future that power will soon be shifted in the correct direction.

Say hello to Miss Parkinson for me,

your father, Lucius Malfoy.

Draco had to read the letter twice over before he could comprehend what he had just read. His father had Professor Lupin?! of course, they weren't Lucius' exact words, but the sub-text called for that assumption. Draco knew that back in the times of Voldemort's previous power, many people had been imprisoned in the extensive dungeons that the Manor contained, often, his father had told him, the people taken were tortured for information and then killed, or else were used in experiments of new spells and potions. Indeed, it was commonplace that Malfoy Manor was used as a store for prisoners of war and Muggles used as bait.

Draco got a chilling feeling down his spine as he realised that that was where Remus was - in his home. There had been word of some kind of hostage situation about to take place, but Draco hadn't listened greatly to the details - he had no idea it was going to be someone so much in the spotlight. The capture was practically under Dumbledore's nose, and it suddenly became clear to Draco that everything fit into place.

You-Know-Who wanted someone to use as bait, a leading member of the opposition to use and bargain over.

Why? Draco thought with desperation. Why Eve's father? why the most special person in the world to her? Of all the people they could take.....They just don't realise that by taking that one person, maybe killing him, they would be breaking up a family, a tight family, made up of only two, but closer than anything they could ever imagine. It's not right, they can't take him from her......I won't let them.

A plan began to form in Draco's head, he knew what he had to do, he only really had one option. He couldn't keep quiet about this, and no one had to know. He would tell Eve what he knew, and together, they would get her father back. He couldn't do it alone, it was too risky, but the question was - would she agree?

******

After a long day, Eve climbed into bed. She hadn't seen anyone all night, preferring to be left alone behind the hangings of her bed. She had been trying to devise a plan to find her father, but she kept meeting frustrating dead ends. She knew she had to do something, she couldn't just sit around and let Voldemort win, but she needed a clue, she needed some help from somewhere. She thought about telling Harry, but she couldn't bare to speak to him, she couldn't bare to see the weight of pity in his eyes, it made her feel trapped and suffocated, so she had to stay alone, going round and round in circles in her head.

She finally fell to sleep, but had a strange dream. She was pregnant, almost ready to give birth, and she was screaming in pain. It seemed she was loosing the baby, and no one could save her, but she couldn't tell anyone her secret, she couldn't let the nurses touch her because it was Draco's baby and she was scared that they would find out and brand her a Slytherin. She wanted so badly to tell her father, but every time she went to speak to him in her dream, he vanished, and she was crying.

The dream was disturbing, and she was glad when she was finally awoken by an angry tapping noise on the high window near her bed. At first, she thought she was still dreaming when she saw a owl hovering by the pain of glass, and she put her hand to her stomach, but it was still flat. Ignoring the moment's sadness this discovery caused, she crept to the window and unlatched it. The dull grey owl dropped a letter into her hands and flew away immediately. She watched it go and listened for sounds that the other girls were awake, but there was no noise so she returned to bed and stared worriedly at the folded piece of parchment that bore only her name.

She didn't want to open it - she would know that handwriting anywhere, it was Draco, and her mind reeled, fresh from her dream, about what he could possibly want from her. She hoped it wasn't more pity, she couldn't stand that from him too. Half of her hoped that he would be offering help to find her dad, but she seriously doubted it, it had been six months almost since they had split, he was probably immersed in Pansy and their relationship, and all the walls that Eve had built up for herself, for her own defences, came crumbling down as she realised that he must still care, to acknowledge this, he must still care.

Unfolding the parchment clumsily but with eager hands, tears came to her eyes and she pushed them away when she realised it was only a few lines. Her heart flopped, and she scolded herself, What had you imagined? an essay? a long declaration of love and hope?

Steeling herself for the worst, Eve began to read.....

Dear Eve,

I know I'm probably the last person you want to speak to right now, but I want to help you. I have a plan to get your dad back, I know where he is.

Meet me? tomorrow evening, behind the greenhouses at 8:00pm, it should be dark by then.

love,

Draco

x

Eve almost cried at the word 'love' and heart flipped into her mouth when she saw the kiss, but her eyes flickered back up to the words 'I know where he is.'

Lucius must have him, he must have told Draco, she thought.

Her mind was reeling, it had all happened to fast. She could help her dad! she finally knew where he must be, it all made sense, some how.

But then she was left with the question :

Do I trust Draco? Is this some kind of trick?

She didn't get to sleep for hours, pondering those thoughts.