Draco was worried.

After Aurora had stormed out on him, he tried to find her, wanting to apologise about his stupid half-breed comment. He didn't care that she was half Veela - of course he didn't.

To him she was perfect.

But he couldn't find her anywhere to tell her this.

"She az not bin 'ere sinz before suppa." The blonde chick had said when he had knocked desperately on the door of the Beauxbatons carriage later that night.

This threw Draco. Dinner was hours ago now. And she had not turned up to that. He couldn't work out where she could be.

As much as he really didn't want to, he decided to try and locate Cedric. It might just be that she had hidden herself away in the Hufflepuff common room with her brother.

So, he headed off in the direction of the kitchens where he knew the Hufflepuff common room lay. He didn't have to wait long for a Hufflepuff to emerge from a stack of barrels in the shadowy stone recess.

The first year Hufflepuff boy looked alarmed at being pounced on by a fourth year Slytherin.

"Get me Cedric Diggory!" Draco demanded, giving his best authoritative voice. "Tell him it's about his sister."

The boy didn't argue, but instead, nervously tapped the barrel he had just emerged from and disappeared back inside.

Not even a minute later, Cedric appeared, stony faced, stepping out from the barrels into the corridor.

"Malfoy? What is it it?" He spat with an air of irritation and urgency. "What's this about my sister?"

"She's not with you?!" Draco asked, his stomach knotting uncomfortably. It was just five minutes until curfew and he was out of ideas as to where she could be.

Cedric frowned, balling his fists as he took a menacing step towards him. "Malfoy, what have you done? If you've upset her in any way, I swear to merlin-"

"I just want to know where she is!" Draco implored, taking a step back. Although he wasn't scared of Diggory, he was a good foot taller than Draco and therefore didn't fancy his chances much if it came down to a Muggle duel. "I haven't seen her since before dinner and I... I'm worried."

As Cedric's face filled with one of startling confusion, Draco realised he was giving away the fact that he and Aurora had been meeting up. Something that he knew she didn't want her brother to find out about.

But right now, all that mattered was finding her and making sure that she was all right.

"Did you upset her?" Cedric seethed, shooting an arm out and grabbing a fistful of Draco's shirt. "Tell me!"

"And just what in merlins beard is the meaning off this?!"

Professor McGonagall was striding briskly down the corridor, her face looking thunderous. "I will not tolerate fighting in the corridors!"

Cedric reluctantly released his hold, snarling at Draco as he did so. "He's been upsetting my sister and now she's nowhere to be seen."

"Aurora?" McGonagall's tone completely changed, and Draco noticed a strange look flicker across her features. "I'm sure there is nothing to worry about. Now hurry up and get to your beds. Especially you, Mr Diggory, you have a big day tomorrow! Second task!"

"But-"

"NOW! You wouldn't want me to put you in detention!" McGonagall barked in Cedric's face.

"Yes, miss," Cedric sighed, turning around and disappearing back through the barrels. But not before shooting one last glare towards Draco.

"Now, Draco," McGonagall said, turning her attention on him, "I will not hear of you upsetting our guests. Especially ones that are related to our school champions!"

"But miss, I cant find her! Her friend said she wasn't in the Beauxbatons carriage!"

"Has it occurred to you, Draco, that her friend was just protecting her from the very person who had just upset her?!"

Oh. Draco hadn't thought of that. And come to think of it, that Delacour girl hadn't looked that worried.

But it was still with an uneasy feeling that he crawled into bed that night.

...

To Draco's dismay, she still hadn't turned up in the Great Hall for breakfast the next morning.

He sat and waited anxiously, feeling for sure she wouldn't miss wishing her brother good luck for the task.

"Huh," Blaise drawled, frowning over at the Gryffindor table. "I wonder what has happened to the golden trio? There's been no sign of either one of them this morning."

"Hmmm," Draco shrugged, looking back over to Cedric who looked rather green. He really couldn't give a flying fuck why the golden trio deemed themselves too important for breakfast. Not when he had Aurora to worry about.

"Don't worry, man," Blaise said, noticing his friend's disquiet. "I'm sure she's just down at the lake, wanting to get the best spot possible to see Diggory do his thing."

But as the whole school approached the spectator stands that had been temporarily situated above the lake, Draco could see they were stood empty.

All the champions bar Potter were standing on the waters edge in their swimwear. Come to think of it, Draco did find it odd that there was no sign of the golden trio, either.

"I think I might know where your bird has gone," Blaise said, chuckling as he pointed to a huge board which contained information about the second task.

Draco read it squinting. "I don't understand, it's just some poxy rhyme. What has this mumbo jumbo got to do with Aurora?"

"'We've taken what you'll sorely miss,'? Come on, man. I thought you were smart!"

And, looking at Cedric, who was doing a series of warm ups in his tight yellow swimming trunks, it suddenly dawned upon Draco what was going on.

"They've put her in the fucking lake?!"