Lost And Found

LITTLE LIGHT, MORE DARKNESS

It had been a week since Draco was released from the St Mungo's Hospital.

Although out of danger, he still wasn't strong enough to function as his former self and hence, needed to have as much rest as possible. But, it is universally known that a young man at his prime is the worst possible patient to take care of and especially, when this young man feels the urge to protect his family from some unknown threat, he becomes totally impossible to handle.

So, needless to say, it was again another frustrating morning for Hermione. Draco was in a half sitting position on his bed and twi Malfoy siblings were sitting on his either side. Hermione chose to sit beside the window from where morning sunlight was streaming in and opened a huge ancient tome on obscure mind magics.

She was tired of taking care of her sulky husband, for whom she started to care more and more in a strange way. Maybe the way his slight pout and moody glare made her think of him like an adorable child was the reason behind this. Or maybe it was because of the way his otherwise dark face lits up at the slightest and most innocent touches from her.

And all these little moments of care and connection made her more frustrated when Draco's stubbornness came in the way of his recovery.

At the sound of the children's clapping and happy exclamation, Hermione lifted her face from the tome on her lap. Apparently, with a flick of his fingers, Draco procured a box full of chocolate frogs for Jean and Hugo.

She rolled her eyes. She mentally noted to mention to him later about the effects of chocolates on the children's teeth.

For now, she chose to focus on Draco and said, "How many times would I remind you that you are supposed to reserve your magical energy?!"

Draco smiled at her with mischief in his eyes, "You sound quite like Molly Weasley, you know."

Hermione opened her mouth to retort back. But before she could utter her sharp reply, Harry's face appeared in the fireplace.

"Hey, are you guys free?" He said.

"Not if you don't have anything important to share", said Draco.

He was slightly irritated by this sudden appearance of his wife's best friend, when he was just going to enter into a light bantering with her. He didn't want anyone to interrupt his time with Hermione, as he started to sense that something had been shifted inside her lately, something that made her care about him, something that made her blush more often around him, something that started to make her seem more his loving wife.

But Harry's words interrupted his thoughts again.

"Well, I have not one, but two important news to share."

"Then, by all means, be my guest", was Draco's sarcastic reply.

"Stop acting like an overgrown baby!" Hermione retorted.

Draco chose not to reply, but fold his hands in front of his chest defensively, which made him look more like an overgrown child.

Harry stepped into the room from the fireplace and shook off fine shoots from his jacket.

The children waved at him cheerfully.

"Uncle Harry! Do you want chocolate frogs?" offered Jean while savoring a big one herself.

"Uncle Harry! Will you teach me some new Quidditch moves?" Hugo chirped with enthusiasm.

Harry beamed at them. He smilingly declined Jean's offer and promised Hugo to teach him some other day.

Hermione said, "Hugo, Jean, darlings, look how sunny it is outside. Why don't you go to the garden and play with Dobby? We have some grown up things to discuss with uncle Harry. It's all boring, you know."