A Malfoy Marriage

18: Missing

** Anastasia **
"Come again?" He asked, menacingly.

"Whore." I repeated, a little louder than the first time.

One of the arms that was under my thighs, holding me up, came up over my shoulders and he pulled me into his chest. "He'll apologize, or he'll pay."

I pulled away as far back as I could so I could look him in the eye. "Don't start any problems Draco," and when he tried to interrupt me, I hushed him and continued, "as much as his statement irks me, I don't want any confrontations at work."

He sighed, and mumbled, "yeah, alright."

I kissed his cheek as he let me down onto the ground slowly, and we watched some TV before going to bed.

****
On Sunday we visited my childhood home to have dinner with all four of our parents.

Narcissa, my mother, and I discussed color schemes for the imminent Christmas ball.

Lucius, my father, and Draco discussed the Falmouth Falons game from Friday night.

As much as we wanted to announce the newfound understanding in our marriage, we had decided at our lunch date that we'd slowly assimilate people to our real relationship.

The first step of this was sitting as close as we possible could in the upholstered claw foot chairs, and clasping each other's hands in between courses.

Lucius and Narcissa had gone back home but Draco and I stayed for a few extra minutes, and as my parents and us were walking to the floo room my mother placed her hand in the crook of my arm and said, "I see you and Draco are getting on much better."

I nodded absently, not wanting to explain anything to her, and then I kissed both my mother and father goodbye, before walking into the floo.

****
The following day at work Draco and I walked into the DMLE holding hands and even took lunch together in my office.

Most people didn't bat an eye which was reassuring.

Harry even told me he was glad I seemed happy when he we had a meeting around noon to prepare to present the new information.

The only bad reception we had gotten was from David who made snide remarks disguised as questions throughout the entirety of the auror team's time in the conference room.

After the meeting Harry and I discussed who would be put on a investigating the origin of the post card, and we decided that, seeing as the holidays were approaching, it made the most sense to put the three American aurors on this specific aspect of the case because they would have more free time.

We'd split the case into three parts: Selwyn family history, figuring out the language of the note, and investing the empty estate.

Since Harry had to leave early for a check up for the baby, I was left to give the aurors their assignments.

The first two went by easy enough, Kowalski and Picquery were both good-natured, driven wizards from respectful families.

The last was David which made the situation significantly more difficult.

Draco glanced up at me from his desk, that was right next to David's in the auror bullpen, as I walked up to David's desk.

I sat down at the seat across from him, and said, "you have a new assignment," as I placed the file on top of his desk.

He didn't even glance up at me as he said, "I don't take assignments from you. Harry is the head auror, making him my boss."

I crossed my hands on top of the table and irately said, "frankly speaking, it would do you well to be respectful Mr. Williams because as Harry's boss I am also your boss, a fact I know you're well aware of."

This time he did look up and it was with a cruel smirk, and with a glance towards Draco he whispered deviously,"'Mr. Williams,' eh, that isn't what you were calling me back in your fifth year when you snuck me into the prefects bathroom."

Before I could even react Draco stood up furiously and walked the few feet to stand behind me. "Look here Williams, my wife has been nothing but respectful to you, but you've used crude, disrespectful language for the past two days. I'd stop and listen to what she has to say before you see the end of my wand."

David still looked cocky. "Empty threats don't look good Malfoy, you and I both know how you attacking a muggleborn would look."

I cut in angrily and said, "that's enough! Look, you can stay in your place, or I can write to Mr. Graves back in the States and you can go back to your clerical work in New York." When he nodded reluctantly I explained his new assignment to him and left him to do his work.

It just so happened that it was half five and time for us all to leave.

I extended the courtesy of letting David know that he could leave as well and start tomorrow, but he just grumbled about having to finish something up.

****
Draco and I had just gotten into bed, and were talking about clothing choices for the upcoming Christmas ball when a pale blue wispy version of a Husky floated into our bedroom.

It was a patronus. When it started speaking it was obvious that it was Kowalski's. "Sorry to bother you Mr. Potter and Mrs. Malfoy, but it's an emergency, could you please meet me at the ministry."

He must have sent his patronus to Harry too.

As I started pulling the duvet back Draco groaned, "do you really have to go, can't Potter just take care of it."

"Well Kowalski asked both of us to come," I said pulling on a long coat on over my slip rather than getting fully dressed.

"What if it's a trap, I mean someone could've been pretending to be Kowalski."

"In that case, I was an auror and Harry will be there so I'll be fine, but if that is your worry feel free to tag along." I said smirking at his dramatics.

What I didn't expect was for him to actually get out of bed and quickly pull on a coat over his night pants and t-shirt.

"You know when I said you were free to come along, I didn't realize you were actually going to do it." I said slipping on my heels, while he finished lacing up his shoes.

He reached out and held my hand as he said, "yeah well I meant what I said about the situation being dangerous, and I happen to care quite a bit about you, so this is the only possible decision."

As we stepped out of one floo, into the atrium of the Ministry of Magic, Harry stepped out of the one next to us.

We were all met with Kowalski pacing around impatiently.

As soon as he saw us he came up to us and said, "David is missing."

****