Restless

It had been a long time since Draco left to go to Westerson, and Hermione couldn't help but wonder what was taking him so long to come back. It must have been showing on her face because she could feel Harry and Ron staring at her. After an hour passed, she stood up and her friends stared at her again.

"I'm going to go... talk to Oscar about the paperwork from yesterday," she told them, making it up on the spot. She was definitely going to go to Westerson but not to discuss any paperwork.

"Alright, then," Ron replied, raising his eyebrows at Harry.

Bringing her work bag with her, not planning on coming back, she set off down the hall. Having met Oscar Westerson several times, she recognised his balding head from afar.

"Oscar! Hi! It's Hermione Granger," she greeted, tapping him on the shoulder. When he turned around she gasped. The little hair he did have was all ruffled up; his shirt was wrinkled and there was a tear in it. "Goodness!" She exclaimed. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I don't mean to be rude," she added in a hurry. "Are you alright?"

The man smiled a little and threw his hand out to say it wasn't a big deal. "Can you believe the Animagus did this?" He chuckled and pulled at his shirt to examine the tear.

She put her hand over her mouth. "So that was an Animagus, then!"

Oscar chuckled. "Oh, yes, it was. No normal house cat could have done this damage." He gestured around him.

Hermione looked around, not seeing what he meant. "Um..."

"Oh, I mean downstairs. It was like a tornado ripped through the entire floor." Westerson made a tornado gesture with his hand.

"Did you catch it?" She asked him eagerly. "Do you know if it's Esther Zabini?"

He hesitated. "Well, we don't officially know since we weren't able to capture it. However, we have discussed it, and we are quite sure it is her."

Hermione's mind was racing.

"So, what can I help you with?" Oscar asked with a small smile, wiping his forearm across his sweaty forehead.

"Do you know where Malfoy went?" She asked, cutting to the chase.

"Well, he went home," Westerson told her, looking perplexed at the question. "He said he wasn't feeling well."

"Do you have his address?" She asked anxiously. She knew he lived somewhere new but wasn't sure where it was. She didn't even know where his previous place was. The only Malfoy residence she knew of was Malfoy Manor, and she hoped she wouldn't have to go there.

Oscar was obviously puzzled. "Yes, I do have it," he answered, pulling out a sheet of paper from his briefcase. "Here it is."

Hermione looked at the paper, then at him. "Is this his current address?"

"Why wouldn't it be?" Westerson asked, then paused. "Wait, is something going on? Did something happen to Malfoy?"

She didn't want to tell him anything about Astoria because she felt it wasn't her news to tell. "Not really. Thanks for the address!"

The man scratched his head, looking worn out and confused.