Dedicated to emeraldthebookworm for her great feedback xx
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Amateur. He was just an amateur. He had wanted to take a nap, but he had slept through the night, without waking up even once.
''Shit!'' He was furious against himself.
He entered his bathroom naked, and took a long steamed hot shower. When he washed himself, he felt something weird on his left shoulder.
Probably just a cut from the ministry's attack.
But when he got out, he couldn't resist to check in the mirror what it was. He brushed his fingers against his skin, to feel it has soft as ever.
To his surprise, the pattern he had seen on the book was writing, now in black ink, in his skin.
Note to self, go to St Mungos for that when I find Granger. This can wait.
Then, he sent a note to his office to say he wasn't showing up today and started to read the report Zabini had sent him last night.
Damn, Granger didn't have any social life whatsoever. None, niet, nada, rien du tout.
When she'd see Potter and Weasley, it was at work. Once a month she would dine with the Weasleys and Potters, most times on Sundays. Once in a while she'd go shopping with Weaslette. That was all. No wonder why the bookworm got promoted so fast.
''What did you do Granger, what did you do ?'' He whispered to himself his eyes reading the words on the roll of parchment and furiously rolling down the report.
He read the times she effectuated a move, the things she's bought, the books - way too many books - she'd read, the places she'd been to and the people she'd seen.
A name popped on the list - a name he thought he'd never hear about ever throughout this entire case.
Wednesday 08, 16h - Teddy Lupin, Malfoy Manor.
The young boy was a reminder of that part of his family who had made the good choices. His aunt Andromeda, unlike him, had had enough strength to choose love over power and hate. She had chosen the ray of light in the darkness. After the war, when his father was sent to Azkaban, Lupin had started to see Draco's mother more often. It was Harry's decision. He wanted the young Lupin to know his family, as he, Harry Potter, didn't have the occasion to. Malfoy himself had to babysit him quite a few times. Teddy was incredibly cheerful; he was like a breeze in the heat of the sun so Malfoy never minded. He would never admit it to Potter, but he quite liked the kid. Draco wouldn't mind paying him a visit. It had been a long time since they saw each other, anyway.
Then, a thought dawned on him.
''No... no, Granger, not what - but where. ''
Granger had known they were coming to get her all that time.
He couldn't help but be slightly impress by everything the Gryffindor had planned for him, forever the Hogwarts ferret, to find her. Potter or Weasley could never be assigned to her case, due to the relation they were sharing. They would have been biased on everything. Hermione Granger had placed the hints precisely for him to find them out, she had built a trail in hope he would find them and understand them. She knew he was going to do anything to find her. He had to, she was a war hero, friend of Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley, plus a auror. If the Daily Prophet was to find out, the ministery was screwed.
She didn't even seemed surprise of his unexpected intrusion in her memories. She had waited for him.
''Thank Merlin, you made it,'' she had whispered when he had appeared in her memories.
For how long as she known she would be kidnapped?
Furthermore - why didn't she tell anybody?
XX
Knock knock.
''Mother,'' he greeted with a smirk. ''Long time no see.''
The door pushed open to reveal Mrs Malfoy, as well dressed as ever. When Lucius had been sent to prison, she had thrown away all of her dark robes and cloak. She had bought designed robes from a very popular, both in the muggle and magical world, designer. Something like Versace or Chanel, he never really remembered. She smiled and glowed, the glow of freedom. The dark pink robes were making her look more alive than ever.
''Draco! What a pleasure! '' She hugged him as a salutation. ''I never get to see you now that you are required for all the cases,'' Mrs Malfoy openly complained about the lack of time her son had.
He shrugged the glitter of sadness he caught in her eyes. ''What do you want, mother, I am literally bounded to the ministry, plus a wizard's got to work to make an honest living. Though I'd be glad to chat and catch up with you, I am here to see Teddy. He is with you, isn't he?''
''Indeed, my darling. I suggested the Potter to keep him here, at the Manor, until Ginny gives birth. They needed a break. ''
He nodded in comprehension. He was so busy being an auror, he often tended to forget Potter was waiting for his first kid.
''May I see him?''
As an answer, she took the direction of the dining room, in which Teddy Lupin was sitting at the table like he was the owner of the manor.
''Granny can we continue to play Prince and Princess now?'' The high-pitched voice asked in an impatient tone.
''Not now Teddy, look, cousin Draco is here! He wants to speak with you, my love.'' She said in a soothed voice.
''Does he have an appointment ?'' Responded the kid.
Draco's brow raised in surprise. He didn't know if it was from the pink haired boy, hair that matches his own mother's robes, or if he was surprised because of the boy's tone.
''I'm sorry Mister Lupin, I believe I forgot to make an appointment. Though I assure you my case is important enough to the matter of your kingdom. '' Draco answered kneeling in front of the kid and embracing him.
''Fair enough, fellow Slytherin. Let's go to my office.'' Teddy answered with a smirk. For an instant, Draco was worried he'd already influenced the kid with his bad habits. Teddy turned to Mrs Malfoy who was watching them with great attention. ''Granny, Draco and I will be in the kitchen if you need to speak to me. '' He looked quite satisfied with his tone and impeccable manners, and so Narcissa only smiled to them, taking a book which was on the table.
''So what is it your need cousin?'' Asked the young Lupin. ''Water?'' he offered gently handing a glass to Draco, than he sat on the counter watching him sipping his drink. ''Sometimes I pretend I'm older and that it's firewhisky.''
''Thank you, '' he finished his glass not knowing what to respond to the last comment. ''You see Teddy, these past few days I have been working on an incredibly though case. And someone's been kidnap - ''
''Aunt Hermione, cousin. I know.'' His eyes were glowing with tears. ''Granny didn't wanted me to find out, but it was on the Daily Prophet and I had a house elf read it to me.''
Damn, that kid was bright. Maybe Hermione had started to influence him as well.
''I'm sorry, Teddy. I'm doing everything I can to find her. I heard she paid you visit recently, that's why I'm here. Did she say anything weird - I mean, weirder than usual?''
Teddy seemed stressed. He looked at the door between the kitchen and the dining room. Draco followed his sight. They could see Narcissa's head surpassing the sofa's back. Obviously, she was too busy reading to hear anything that was said between the two cousins. Then Teddy stepped down the counter and verified there was no elf in the room.
He finally turned to a curious Draco.
''Follow me,'' he whispered. He started to run silently in the corridors of the Malfoy Manor. Draco couldn't help but realise that if they had been a happy family, and that if he would have had a brother, the feeling would have been similar to this instant he was sharing with Teddy.
According to the path they were taking, they were running in direction of the second's floor library. They entered the room silently. Again, Teddy checked they were lonely. He took the time to look under the chairs and sofas and to look behind the curtain. As the minutes passed by, Draco's curiosity was dangerously increasing, it was comparable to a fire eating him up.
I bet that's how Granger felt when she needed information. Maybe that's why she used to sneak out at night to the restricted section in the library.
Chasing the thought, he closed the door behind him, he waited patiently for the kid to reveal his secret.
Teddy walked to the shelves of the library. He tiptoed until he reached a book on the third shelf and pushed it. The book vanished to reveal a hole, in which Teddy's tiny hand caught on something Malfoy couldn't identify.
The yound boy kept his back turned for a minute, just holding the packaged in his hands. He turned to Draco with a serious face. It scared Draco, because it reminded him of the face he'd wear everyday of his childhood.
Remus's son walked to his cousin, his gaze never leaving was he was holding.
''Aunt Hermione came four days ago, Draco. She gave me this, it's for you. She said she didn't know when you would need it, but that you would eventually. ''
He took the package without glancing at his cousin.
''Take care of it, it's old and very useful.
PS; Don't tell Harry. Please?
- HG.''
He could almost see her big brown eyes looking at him, in hope he will not reveal he was in possession of whatever that was. He ripped the brown paper recovering the package apart. He was expecting another book, or the map he had to look up for. But no, it was nothing like that.
His brows knitted as he touched the soft fabric. He could see his hands through it. What a wicked witch she was, even handling him the tool he needed to investigate her own kidnapping.
Draco Malfoy was holding one of the Deathly Hallows, more precisely the invisible cape.
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Hey guys, I know this was short. But in order to make the story last, I cut day 3 into two parts. Tell me what you think! Comment, vote!