Lost and Found

Draco entered the flat from the balcony. He took off the soaking wet invisibility cloak, then his normal cloak and tossed them both over a chair. As he walked away to find some parchment he could hear the water dripping from them onto the hardwood floor and was glad he was not going to be around in the morning to hear Hermione complain about that.

Draco sat down at the table after locating ink, a quill and parchment and scratched out a letter to Bones. He rolled it, sealed it and then got up and walked into Harry's room. He approached Hedwig carefully, as the last time he had gone near her, she'd not been pleased.

"I need you to deliver a letter," Draco said slowly to the owl.

Hedwig hooted disapprovingly and tried to peck Draco's hand with her beak.

Draco pulled his hand away in time and said, "If you deliver this letter, I'll leave and I won't be living her anymore."

Hedwig seemed to understand Draco's words and allowed him to attach the letter to her leg. She flew out the window just as Draco heard Harry return.

Harry walked into his bedroom. "You can not sleep in my bed," Harry said blankly as he leaned his broomstick against the wall. "Where's Hedwig?"

"I borrowed her to send an owl to Bones."

"Why? What have you done? Did you leave the flat? If you did anything to Ginny Weasley -"Harry moved in front of Draco, his tone accusatory.

Draco rolled his eyes dramatically. "Ginny Weasley is a fool of a girl. I'm trying to save her life."

Harry eyed Draco suspiciously. "Why does her life need saving?"

"Well, ignoring the fact that's she a Weasley and therefore -"

"Draco! I am not in the mood foryour sarcasm tonight. Just tell me what is going on."

Draco pouted slightly, but continued, "She's trying to play my father. Only I very seriously doubt he's in the least bit fooled."

Harry sighed heavily and began to rub his temples. He sunk slowly down on the bed. "Why, Ginny, why?"

"Can I explain now about the fact she's a Weasley and they really can not be expected -" Draco stopped when Harry shot him a dangerous glare.

"Okay, let's formulate a plan," Harry said, standing, coming to life again. He went to the wall and knocked on it. "Hermione, come over, it's work related."

"I already have a plan," Draco said. "Wow, that was fast," he added quickly as Hermione rushed into the room. "I bet she wouldn't have come that fast if you had called her for sex."

Harry shot Draco another glare, but Draco only shrugged.

"What's going on?" Hermione asked, still pulling on her robe. Her eyes were red and puffy and her hair was a mess.

"Apparently Ginny Weasley is trying to play Lucius Malfoy," Harry told Hermione.

"Play him for what?" Hermione asked.

"I'm not sure myself," Draco said. "She wants revenge, but I don't believe she's thought it through well enough to have an actual plan in place. I imagine she just wants him to think she's willing to give him information, so he'll trust her and eventually the situation will present itself for her to take her final revenge."

"Her final revenge?" Hermione asked Draco sceptically. "Are you telling me that Ginny Weasley wants to kill Lucius Malfoy?"

"Yes. And I hardly think that puts her in a group by herself, but some of us are just more sane and patient about it," Draco said in a voice that sent chills up Hermione's spine.

Hermione turned away from Draco and looked at Harry. "Ginny wouldn't do anything like that, Harry. You know that."

Harry looked over Hermione's shoulder at Draco. "What makesyou think Ginny is trying to play your father?"

"I talked to her tonight. I went to the Burrow to put a memory charm on her," Draco held up his hand at Hermione as she spun around to face him again, ready to flay him alive. "I didn't put the memory charm on her. She told me she already has a meeting set with my father. I would assume she's supposed to give him information about my location."

"I can't believe you were going to put a memory charm on her! When Bones finds out about this, Draco Malfoy, you're going to be -" Hermione shouted at Draco.

"Okay, Hermione, we can talk about that later, right now what matters is Ginny," Harry interrupted.

Hermione quieted, but she continued to glare angrily at Draco.

"I've already taken care of everything," Draco answered. He looked Hermione in the eyes. "I sent an owl to Bones resigning as an Auror already."

Hermione's mouth fell open. "You did?" she asked in a disbelieving voice.

Draco nodded. "I'm going home."

"What?" Harry asked.

Draco sighed and answered Harry as if he was speaking to a three year old. "If I return home, my father will have no need to contact Ginny Weasley."

"He might anyway," Harry said quietly.

"That's where you come in. You can talk sense into Ginny Weasley. And I'll be able to better know what my father is up to. If I see or hear anything that leads me to believe Ginny is in danger, I'll let you know."

"You don't have to resign. You don't have to go home. Hermione and I will talk to Ginny. She'll listen to us -"

Draco shook his head at Harry. "No, Harry. I'm going home. I have to. I'll never be free otherwise."

"How will you be free in Malfoy Manor, Draco?" Harry countered. "Will you become a Death Eater? How is that freedom?"

"Let me worry about that, Harry."

"No," Harry exclaimed. "You're not leaving tonight. We'll talk to Bones about it in the morning and then -"

"Stop it, Harry!" Hermione interrupted forcefully.

"What?" Harry asked,a clearly befuddled expression on his face as he turned to Hermione.

"Don't you dare spend one second worried about him," she spat out, waving a hand in Draco's direction. "This has all only been a game to him. He never wanted to be an Auror or to stop Voldemort. He's just a bored rich boy and we've been his amusement for the last month!"

"Hermione!" Harry said in a reproachful tone. "How can you say that? I've been out in the field with Draco. It has not been all fun and games. He's worked hard. Who knows what the Death Eaters will do to him when they find him."

"Welcome him home since they're his bloody parents, I'd imagine!"

"You are a cold bitch," Draco said flatly to Hermione.

She spun around and slapped Draco across the cheek.

"Hermione!" Harry yelled, moving to grab her arm.

Draco only smiled serenely at the irate witch. "I did not say that was a bad thing. I happen to admire that about you, Granger." He rubbed his cheek. "I have never been slapped so many times in one night without at least one sexual act being involved."

"Okay," Harry said in his most reasonable tone. "Let's just all go to bed," noticing Draco's arched brow, he added, "separately and talk about this in the office tomorrow...later today."

"No, I'm leaving tonight."

Harry sighed. "Draco -"

Draco held up his hand to silence Harry and turned to Hermione. "May we have a moment alone?Then, I promise, I'll leave and you can go back to your frigid lifestyle in peace."

Hermione huffed at Draco, but turned to Harry and said, "I'll be in my room, Harry. After he's gone, I want to talk to you." With that said, she turned and walked out of the room.

Draco closed the door after her. "Harry, you have to let me do this," he said earnestly. "If I'm on the inside, I'll be able to tell you where Voldemort is. We can plan an attack. Bones will agree with me. I can contact you through the mirror we use when we're working. It's untraceable."

Harry nodded at Draco. "We can talk about it with Bones tomorrow. You don't need to leave tonight."

"Yes, I do need to leave tonight. I can't just show up at home -I'm going to send my father an owl asking him to meet me. Today is Thursday. My father is supposed to meet Ginny on Saturday, that doesn't leave us a lot of time to play with. If Bones wants to take my returning home through the proper channels, you'll be attending Ginny's funeral before we ever have clearance for me to pack one pair of shoes. Since when did you start playing by the rules, Potter?"

Harry sighed heavily. "I have a bad feeling about this, Draco."

Draco put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "Just promise you'll come when I call you."

Harry nodded. "I will."

Draco smiled. "I think Hermione is going to miss me. I hope she can deal with my absence without too many tears."

Harry shook his head and chuckled. "She's...she's very strong-minded, Hermione is."

"Yes, she's a clever witch. The two of you should..."

"What?"

"You already know, Harry," Draco said with a small grin. He gazed at Harry for a long moment and then leaned forward and softlykissed Harry's scar. "I'll be in touch," he said and then turned and swept out of the room.

Harry stood silently and absently stroked his forehead. After a minute, he followed Draco out of the room and saw him Disapparate from the balcony. Harry went to Hermione's door and knocked.

"Come in."

Harry opened the door. "He's gone, Hermione. I think you're wrong about Malfoy. He's risked his life over the last month just as much as we have."

Hermione, who was sitting cross-legged on the side of her bed, patted the space beside her and Harry came and sat down next to her. "I hope you're right, Harry," she said quietly. "I don't want to talk about Malfoy though," she paused for a moment, fidgeting with the buttons on her flannel pyjama top. "I was thinking while you were gone...about what I said earlier and...I'm sorry, Harry. I'm frustrated about the case and Malfoy just annoys me so much. I know I shouldn't have let him get to me that way. And, well, Harry, I'm...I'm just sorry I yelled at you."

Hermione looked down at her hands and chewed on her bottom lip as Harry shook his head. "You don't have to apologise, Hermione," Harry said, his hand reaching up to brush her hair out of her face.

Hermione looked up at Harry. "And I was also thinking that I'd like to go to Ron's Quidditch game on Saturday, Harry. Because, I've been acting like a child and..." Hermione's voice cracked a bit and she took a deep breath, struggling to hold back tears. "And I'm happy for him. I really am."

Tears began streaming down Hermione's cheeks and small sobs wracked her body as Harry wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. She sobbed into his chest for a few minutes before gaining control over her tears enough to start speaking between the sobs. "I feel so guilty...I didn't treat him well...I just stopped...I didn't know what to say to him...I wanted to tell him, but...it was so hard...because I knew it wasn't working, but I didn't know how to end it and I knew, Harry. I knew."

"What did you know?" Harry asked gently, caressing Hermione's back and rocking her gently in his arms.

Hermione sniffed loudly and lifted her head to look into Harry's eyes. "I knew I loved you, Harry. I am so in love with you, Harry. So in love..."

Harry's eyes widened and his mouth opened and closed several times as he tried to form a coherent thought. "I, uh..."

"I'm sorry, Harry!" Hermione wailed as she was overtaken by tears again and she buried her face in his chest again.

Harry patted Hermione's back. "Shhh...I'm sorry, Hermione. I'm sorry."

Hermione sniffed back her tears and lifted her face. "Why are you sorry?"

Harry combed his fingers through Hermione's hair and took a deep breath. "Because I love you too, Hermione and I'm such a bloody coward, I never said anything. I was scared that you didn't love me...I was scared that you might love me and then what would happen? I was scared that loving you would put you at risk. I was scared...."

"That you might lose me as a friend?"

Harry nodded. "Yes."

Hermione laughed through tears. "We're both such bloody fools, aren't we?"

"Are we?" Harry asked. "What if we -"

Hermione shook her head. "No, Harry. No what-if's or maybe's or taking back what has been spoken. I realized something tonight while I was sobbing into my pillow. I realized if we're too scared to live our lives the way we want...if we put everything on hold...then Voldemort has already won and we might as well stand outside the Ministry of Magic holding a white flag. I love you, Harry Potter."

Harry grinned. "And I love you, Hermione Granger, and I won't ever let anyone take that away from us."

"Then it's a date?"

"What's a date?" Harry asked, a befuddled expression on his face.

"The Quidditch game on Saturday?"

"Yes, it's a date," Harry said with a grin. He leaned toward Hermione, tilting his head slightly and brushed his lips against hers.

Hermione returned the kiss which gradually grew in intensity until Harry pulled back.

"I guess we should go to sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a long day -- explaining to Bones how and why we let Draco walk away."

Hermione nodded. "Yes, you're right. Um, you could stay here, if you wanted," Hermione said, sounding slightly nervous. "I mean, just sleep here. Nothing else."

Harry chuckled. "Yes, I suppose we should probably have a date first."

"I'd like it if you'd just stay with me," Hermione said.

Harry nodded and began undressing as Hermione turned off the lights. Crookshanks came and brushed against Harry's legs. Hermione crawled under the covers.

When Harry has undressed to his boxers, he slid into bed next to Hermione and took her into his arms and kissed her again. "This feels so right, Hermione."

"It does," Hermione agreed as she snuggled next to Harry, her hand caressing his chest.

They kissed again and Harry's hand slid over Hermione's curves. The kissing became more fervent and Harry found himself unbuttoning Hermione's pyjama top. When her top fell open, Harry hesitated. "Do you want to stop?" he asked.

"No," Hermione answered without hesitation, taking Harry's hand and guiding it up her body to her bare breasts.

Harry moaned. "We haven't had a date yet..."

"We've had plenty of dates, Harry, we just didn't call them dates," Hermione answered, her hands exploring Harry's chest.

"That works for me," Harry answered.

Hermione grinned as she pulled Harry toward her and their lips met again.

~*~

Draco stood at the edge of the Forbidden Forest and pulled out a tin from his inner robe pocket. He opened the tin and took out a clove cigarette, he twirled it for a moment with his fingers, by the time he slid it into his a mouth a minute later, then end was freely burning. He inhaled deeply and exhaled a puff of smoke along with a satisfied moan.

"That's a nasty habit, Mr. Malfoy."

Draco smiled as he continued to puff on the cigarette. He turned toward the cloaked figure standing in the shadows. "One of my many vices. I picked up this one from a Muggle girl. Oxford student studying...I can't remember what she was studying, but she had quite a talented mouth."

"I do hope you didn't call me to this meeting to discuss your romantic conquests," was the caustic reply.

"I know such things don't interest you, Professor Snape. I've had to accelerate our plans. I'm going to return to Malfoy Manor tomorrow."

"You can't do that. It's too early."

Draco didn't answer immediately; instead he continued to enjoy his cigarette as Professor Snape simmered. Finally Draco drawled, "I have to. Ginny Weasley is apparently a bit of a Seer. She found out I was staying with Potter and Granger and that I was working for the Ministry of Magic. My father nosed around her and she apparently became nearly orgasmic at the thought of being able to destroy him. She's out of her league and he'll get the information out of her."

"Can she not be taken care of?"

Draco shrugged. "I was going to put a memory charm on her, but since she's already talked to my Father and arranged another meeting with him it's too late. If you mean why didn't I kill her -- I do think that would be a bit suspicious and I'm risking enough already."

Snape considered this information for a moment. "Why not let your father get the information out of her? It's not what we had planned, but the result would be the same. You would go back to Malfoy Manor and be taken back into the fold. And your father would take care of Ginny Weasley for us."

Draco shook his head, tapping his cigarette ashes onto the forest ground. "No, it's better for me to return myself to the fold. If my father thinks I only came back because he found me, his trust will be harder to come by. He must believe that I've decided of my own free will to become a Death Eater."

"True," Snape said. "But will Ginny Weasley be a problem after you've returned to Malfoy Manor? How do you know she is a Seer? Do you know what she saw?"

"She saw me standing over Harry Potter's body. His presumably very dead body."

Snape smiled evilly. "What a very nice vision."

Draco chuckled darkly. "Perhaps so, but Harry's death is not part of our deal."

Snape shrugged. "I don't plan on killing him, Draco, but if he should happen to die in the battle with the Dark Lord, then he has done what he was born to do, has he not? The death of one wizard in trade for the death of the Dark Lord is a small price to pay. Once the Dark Lord is gone, we'll be free."

"I'll only be free if my father is dead too."

"You can easily make that happen in the cross-fire. Does Harry Potter trust you enough now to come when you call him?"

Draco nodded and smirked. "Yes, he'll come to save me from initiation into the Death Eaters. By the way, that burning hex you threw at me was quite painful."

Snape arched a brow. "Sorry, Draco. I had to make it believable, didn't I? Are the disappearances keeping Granger occupied as we had planned?"

Draco snapped open his tin of cigarettes and pulled out another cigarette. He lit it magically on its way to his mouth and didn't pull out the stub of his first cigarette until he had inhaled from the new one. He dropped the cigarette butt on the ground and stepped on it with his heel to make sure it was out. "Yes, she's at a loss about them. We don't have to worry about her, she's extremely distracted trying to find a connection between the missing Muggles," Draco laughed. "Which, of course, she'll never find, since we just pulled random names out of a cauldron."

"Good. Go ahead with the plan then."

Draco nodded and Snape turned and swept away, heading back to Hogwarts castle. Draco took off in the other direction, heading off the school grounds. He gave an involuntary shiver as he passed through the edge of the Forbidden Forest. He inhaled from his cigarette and exhaled slowly. There were so many game pieces in play...would he be able to line them up for the final move? Draco shook his head and inhaled and exhaled again. And, he asked himself, will I be able to sacrifice the pieces I need to for the final victory?

End Chapter 6