The Spring of the Satyr

Lucius stopped his frantic pacing to stare worriedly out the second-story window at the quickly darkening sky. She’d never been this late! Images of her, lying injured on the path, crumpled at the bottom of a castle staircase, dead at the hands of a faceless enemy flew in cycles through his mind. He strode to the table and dashed off a note, pleading with her to wait if he wasn’t there when she arrived. Grabbing his cloak, he hurried from the room and down the stairs. He ignored the curious faces he passed as he stormed from the Inn and headed down the path to Hogwarts.

Fighting the urge to run all the way to the castle, Lucius kept his steps slow and even, searching the area around the trail for any sign of her. Passing a group of girls on their way into Hogsmeade, Lucius stopped and asked them if they’d seen her. One of the girls said she’d seen Hermione leaving the castle hours ago, but not since. Panic gripping him, Lucius began to run.

At the castle gates, Lucius gasped for breath and peered through the locked iron bars as if he could will her to come to him with his frantic gaze alone. The girl he’d spoken to had said she’d left the castle! Maybe he’d just passed her in town! Wanting to pull his hair out in frustration, Lucius turned and ran back the way he’d come.

Now in full darkness, Lucius lit the end of his wand and shouted her name with every few steps. Oh, the pain and fear were agonizing! He entered the Inn at a run and raced back up the stairs to his room. Deep, aching sobs threatened to burst from his chest as he found it empty and the note undisturbed where he’d left it. Taking quick, uneven breaths he went back downstairs and approached the barkeep.

The old man looked up at the elegantly dressed wizard before him in alarm. This gentleman was clearly insane! He reminded the barkeep of a wounded horse he’d seen once, slathering and wild with suffering and madness. The old man uneasily picked up his wand from beneath the desk and aimed it through the wood at the wizard before him. “Yes?”

Lucius described Hermione to the man, who swore he’d not seen anyone like that tonight. The old wizard sighed in relief as the gentleman groaned in desperation and ran back out the door. He met the eyes of one of his regulars and shrugged his shoulders.

**

“And why, Mr. Malfoy, are YOU so concerned with Miss Granger’s whereabouts?” Minerva McGonagal asked suspiciously.

Lucius looked at the headmistress in desperation, unsure of what to say. “Isn’t it enough to say that I’m worried about the girl?!” He shouted. He saw her indignant expression and wanted to shake the frowning old woman. He took a breath, mind working frantically. “Hermione has become very close to my son since the start of the year. For his sake I am asking you to search the castle!”

Minerva raised a prehensile eyebrow in skepticism. Years of flimsy student excuses had lent her a keen sense of lie detection. She knew the man before her wasn’t being completely honest,,, but the sheer despair he exuded in palpable waves was all too real. She agreed to search the castle. “But you stay here Mr. Malfoy.” She ordered. “I don’t want you upsetting the students.”

As the minutes passed, Lucius paced the Headmistress’ office in mounting despair. It had been a little over an hour and a half, but to him it felt like an eternity. He gave a start as the door opened and McGonagall came hurriedly into the room, an anxious expression on her wrinkled face. She met Lucius’ frantic stare and shook her head. “The staff have thoroughly searched the castle as well as the grounds Mr. Malfoy. She isn’t here. I’ve contacted Miss Granger’s parents in case she went home, but they haven’t seen her.” A knock sounded on the door and McGonagall called for entry. Horace Slughorn stood there in an emerald green satin robe, Draco close behind him.

Draco looked at his father in mock surprise. “Father?” He asked innocently. “What are you doing here?”

McGonagall turned to Draco, her face stern. “Draco, Hermione Granger cannot be located. It’s been reported that you may know where she is.” She looked at him expectantly.

“Granger?” Draco asked, refusing to look at his father, who was desperately trying to read his expression. “I haven’t seen her since Charms this afternoon.” He let his face fall into a mournful expression of worry. “You don’t think something’s happened to her do you?” He let himself glance at his father. “And WHY have you come here father?”

As the eyes of the room turned to face the older man, Draco gave an involuntary smirk. Let’s see him get himself out of this one! He thought smugly.