Boy - (A 'Blaire Zabini' sequel) || Draco Malfoy

5 - Lost and Found

"What do you mean you've lost him?!"

"I'm so sorry," Ron said, driving both hands through his hair in exasperation, "one minute he was there following me and the next... I've looked everywhere and asked around but... nothing."

Panic began to overwhelm me almost instantly. Jack would have come if he was called. Even though he tried to be brave, the tunnels still scared him.

"Ron, did you go anywhere near the Main Tunnel?" I asked, as I reached across for my torch, frustration eating at me that I no longer had the use of magic.

The Main Tunnel - the tunnel that took you Upstairs. It was the only tunnel that wasn't protected by enchantments, and was accessible to anyone who knew how to tame the wild branches of the ferocious Willow.

If Jack wandered up there he wouldn't be protected. The Dementors would sniff him out within seconds. Not even the tree would be able to stop a Dementor.

Ron paled and I felt my insides instantly turn to liquid as trembling words fell from his lips. "I thought he was behind me."

Without saying anything, I yanked the door open and flew out into the cold, dark tunnels; my breath held and heart beating into the silence.

I couldn't lose him, I just couldn't.

*****

One hour earlier

Ministry of Magic, Department of Magical Law Enforcement

"I understand that you are all busy seeing to much more important matters, but it has been over three months now and they just don't appear to be moving along."

The familiar voice coming from the open door of Diggory's office caused Draco to pause quite suddenly in his tracks.

He discretely peered inside, his eyes landing on an extremely irate looking Umbridge, the thin lipped smile that usually disguised her displeasure vanishing as Diggory gave a nonchalant shrug, his feet up on the desk and hands behind his head as he flashed his widest 'I don't give a fuck' smirk.

Draco had almost all but forgotten about their little excursion to Hogwarts earlier that year; the impending birth of his unborn child pushing everything else to the back of his mind, invading his life.

But now, standing there and being reminded of it, the memory of his Patronus's strange behaviour flashed in his mind. And the laughter; he heard it now just as clearly as he had heard it then. A child.

He stepped back out of sight and waited until Umbridge exited the office, for some reason finding his heart racing wildly as though adrenaline was being injected into his veins.

He followed her for a bit, waited until they had left the confines of the department and reached the lobby where it was unlikely he'd be overheard.

"Dorlores," he said, clearing his throat as soon as the door shut behind him; quiet enough not to alarm her but loud enough to grab her attention.

"Draco?" She said, wheeling around with a startled look upon her features. "Can I help you with something?"

"Actually," Draco muttered, drawing up to her side and swiftly ushering her towards the elevators. "It's me that's going to help you."

*****

Jack sucked in a deep shaky breath.

It was all his fault. He'd been cross.

So cross that he'd thrown Mr Dog away, and now he couldn't find him. He also couldn't find home.

Uncle Ron hadn't noticed him slip away; he'd been leading the way through the maze of tunnels talking about some adventure he and Auntie Hermy once went on with a boy named Harry.