Narcissa and I worked together tirelessly to find Draco.

We discussed everyone we could think of who may have had some kind of grudge against the Malfoy's.

But the fact that there had never been a ransom note, or any other motive we could think of, caused us to be completely flummoxed.

There was a whole room in Malfoy Manor that we had turned into the 'Find Draco' room; Narcissa had even created a little crèche in the corner for Teddy, complete with a nanny trained house-elf to keep an eye on him whilst we concentrated on our investigations.

Lucius, who had surprisingly been spared of any kind of sentence, roamed the halls silently like a ghoul on the haunt; day in, day out as I desperately tried to avoid him, still not feeling in the slightest bit comfortable in his presence.

Not that he noticed - it was as though he'd completely lost his mind.

"He hasn't uttered a single syllable since he was released without charge," Narcissa confessed to me. "He carries the guilt about Draco; he blames himself. We both do."

I clasped her hand in mine, letting her know I certainly didn't hold her in any way responsible.

She smiled gratefully back at me, her face tinged with sadness. We had become each other's main support systems and I quickly understood why Draco loved his mother so much; she was a kind, beautiful and strong woman - everything I aspired to be. She loved fiercely with all her heart and anyone who was lucky enough to be on the receiving end of her love would not be able to help themselves returning it with the same ardent ferocity.

When Teddy's first birthday came around, we tried our hardest to celebrate it without letting the pain of Draco's absence get to us.

It marked the eleventh month anniversary of his disappearance.

And it wasn't just his absence that hit everyone hard.

"The poor little mite," Gran wept when we sat around the table watching Teddy smear birthday cake all over his face. "Doesn't even know what's happened."

"He's got a lot of love though," Luna smiled sadly, "he's got all of us."

It was true, I thought, as I looked around the tightly packed table; Gran, Narcissa, Luna, Harry and Ginny - all there to make Teddy's first birthday as special as possible.

"Our Neve is doing a grand job though," Gran said, dabbing her hanky over her eyes. "Remus and Nymphadora would have been so proud."

I smiled a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes as Narcissa showed her agreement by placing an affectionate hand on my shoulder.

"I've spoken to Minerva," Harry coughed, frowning slightly as his eyes settled on this small exchange between Draco's mother and I. "She's informed me that everything's underway at Hogwarts in time for Memorial Day. I thought it would be nice to mention Teddy's first birthday in my speech."

"Oh, that would be lovely," Ginny gushed at once, beaming at Harry proudly. "I presume everyone will be there?" she added expectantly, looking around the table.

"I'm afraid my old aches and pains won't allow it," Gran sighed, her voice as croaky as Trevor's throat. "But I'll be thinking of you all on such a momentous day."

I swallowed, the idea of celebrating the one year anniversary hurting me beyond belief.

My heart ached so much as I thought about the missing white-blond haired Slytherin who should have been there, commiserating and celebrating with us.

I wondered where he was and what he was doing. I wondered if he missed me as much as I missed him and longed to hold, touch... kiss.

"We'll get him back," Narcissa whispered in my ear as though reading my thoughts. "I promise you."

*****

Draco clenched his fists at the sound of the clicking and sliding of bolts.

He refused to look up as the figure entered, and he flinched as the usual bowl and cup was placed down beside him. He caught a waft of familiar scent and he had to force himself not to heave.

The figure straightened up again, and Draco braced himself for the question; the question that was asked him every single time.

"Are you ready to do it yet?"

Draco, as usual, kept his mouth firmly shut.

"Memorial Day is getting closer. I really don't want to have to Obliviate your mind but I will if you don't agree to this, Draco."

Again, Draco said nothing.

"We can do this right now and you can be free, Draco. You will be able to walk out into the daylight and see your mother again in a matter of hours; minutes even. I won't begrudge you her; she misses you, Draco. She's a broken woman who needs her son back. This is what you are doing to her by choosing to stay down here."

Draco remained silent but his heart had begun to race. He hated it when this happened; when his mother was brought into it. It physically hurt him to know what his disappearance must be doing to her.

But he had to remain strong, for Neve. He wouldn't give up; he was determined to return to her.

So, he kept his lips firmly sealed.

The figure, knowing the drill by now, turned and left, leaving Draco back alone in the dark.

*****