Traitor, traitor.

Chapter 17 ~ Investigation.

Harry's POV ~

He needed to actually do some sort of investigating while he was here. Ironically he wasn't here to do his assigned work, but to work on his very own missing persons case. He could almost guarantee it was some sort of illegal thing to work on a case he was so closely involved in but he wouldn't trust anyone else with this sort of thing. Let alone on someone so clearly, incredibly important.

A thought suddenly invaded his head. If Draco had any patients they would surely know what time he left, if he had actually left. Suddenly he felt ridiculous. What if Draco had just got caught up next door and he had completely overreacted and Draco would just think he was stupid.

He couldn't wait anymore so he stood up and found his cloak. He should probably put it back on as he had a niggling feeling that he wouldn't be back in this office for a little while and he would need something to keep him warm. The ministry was freezing and the only reason his own office wasn't is because of how he had put a warming spell on the room. He was generally a cold-blooded person.

Picking his cloak up he made his way out of the office and saying a very small prayer (He didn't believe in such things but it was worth a try,) Opened the door to the medical bay, half expecting Draco to be in there laughing with one of this patients and looking up at Harry and saying he was sorry that he hadn't arrived home and how was Teddy? Was he feeling better? So sorry dear but I was needed here, this patient was in critical condition and he needed immediate help or he would have died for damn sure.]

Instead, Harry walked in on a cold and empty room. Almost empty. There was a woman packing up her things and making her bed. She looked up smiling but it soon faltered when it saw Harry. "Mr Potter! I'm so sorry I thought you were Healer Malfoy. He left yesterday evening and then didn't come back in today I was worried about him, to be honest with you. Is he okay?"

Harry stared at the woman in shock. She had just answered all of his questions in one not even planned out sentence. Harry took a deep breath. "Actually that's what I came here to ask about. Healer Malfoy never returned home last night. Are you telling me he left promptly and at the normal time?" The woman nodded but looked extremely worried. "Well, yes. He told me to stay here for the night, I got hit with a stunner you see. He didn't want me to go home alone and possibly collapse or something. He's a great man Healer Malfoy. Do you think he'll be okay?"

Harry nodded sagely, trying to disguise his panic. "Oh yes, I'm sure he's fine. He probably just got caught up in something. Why don't you take the day off? I'm sure you could use it."The witch broke into a grin. "Oh! Thank you so, so much! It's my daughter's birthday as well. Oh, thank you a million." The woman grinned and waved, already halfway out the door. Harry waved back and smiled. At least he had made somebody happy that day.

He sighed then, alone in the medical room. What did he do now? Hermione! She knew absolutely everything about everyone and exactly what happened at all times within these walls. She definitely knew Harry had been taking way too many days off lately though nothing had been said to him as of yet. It was only a matter of time though.

And so he walked to Hermione's office, still being looked at strangely. It was now starting to slowly annoy him. He walked like a man sentenced to his death, or a child sent to the headmaster's office. Or just a naughty child knowing that his mother was about to give him a royal telling off. The last one was clearly the most relevant and definitely the closest to the truth he was going to get.

So, sighing and resigned to his fate he knocked on Hermione's office door. "Enter." Said a weary voice. Clearly, he was not the only one who was having a tough couple of days. He put on a smile and went in. Her eyes lit up when she saw who it was, but she also looked slightly worried. "Harry! I'm so happy to see you! How are you feeling? Are you okay after that article? Rita Skeeter is such a vindictive little cow. I think I may have to remind her of our little agreement from the Triwizard Tournament, don't you? Yes. Yes. Anyway come and sit down Harry. Tea? Or pumpkin biscuits?"

Harry sat down and gave her a look. He raised one eyebrow. "What article?" Hermione faltered and spilt a drop of tea. "You- you don't know?" She looked at him as if she was expecting him to yell 'PRANK' Obviously he didn't and she sat down in her chair looking stunned.

"Well, obviously I don't what's happened?" Hermione shook her head slowly. "Have you not been getting the daily prophet lately?" Harry laughed mirthlessly. "Well, obviously not. All they ever do is slander me and makeup rumours. Honestly, it's more of a gossip rag than anything else at this bloody point." 

He waved a hand dismissively and Hermione looked at him, mouth open. Then she mutely handed him that day's prophet.

The headline read: THE SAVIOUR AND THE DEATH EATER. 

He stared at it then pulled it towards him and read the article in horror.

                                                      THE SAVIOUR AND THE DEATH EATER

This very week a very interesting sighting was made by a passerby of Potter Manor. We all know the savage attack on Malfoy Manor left the last remaining Malfoy without a home but none of us expected our golden boy saviour to take in the ex-death eater. 

A source, who wishes to remain anonymous, has revealed to the prophet that when she went round to check on how Mr Potter was holding up recently she discovered Mr Malfoy living in the house! He then proceeded to violently attack her when she went near to the saviour. She fled from the house in fear and had to go to St. Mungos to get a calming drought.

Mr Malfoy who reportedly attacked her has not been available for comment. Neither was Mr Potter but many people close to these two have revealed Mr Potter recently gave Mr Malfoy a job in his department at the ministry, which has been known to have a no-tolerance policy with Death eaters. Has Harry Potter gone soft or is there something more going on behind the scenes?

What is happening with the saviour? Has he been bewitched? Is he being threatened with death to harbour the dangerous criminal? Find out soon exclusively in the prophet.

Rita Skeeter.

Harry suddenly snort laughed. "What a load of bull shit." Hermione smiled at him tiredly. "I know right? Obviously, we're anti-death eaters but Draco was never really a death eater, he was forced into it."

He smiled and then suddenly remembered. "You can talk to Rita but honestly we have a more pressing matter on our hands at the moment." Hermione looked at him curiously. "Why what's happened?"

"Draco's missing."

Word Count: 1224