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Chapter 2: Of Spellbooks and Badminton

Harry slept through the night without a dream or a nightmare. It was on these occasions that he had a tendency to sleep well into the afternoon. Not that anyone really cared about it as they all knew how much sleep he needed when he could get it.

Ginny Weasley had been exceptionally careful that afternoon, going as far as to have her mother put up a silencing charm around Harry and Ron’s room so that Harry wouldn’t hear the rest of the racket that came with the house and living with large groups of people at any given time. Ginny smiled at her handy work, standing outside his door. She and Harry were not going out, he had made sure she had known that one he came to live with her and the family at Grimmauld Place . She had been hurt, understandably so, but had so far gone without working on her desires. He had enough of that from his crazy fan girls and she would not stoop that low.

”Come on, Gin. We’re going to go outside while the rain has stopped.” Hermione’s voice suddenly snapped her out of her musings and she turned around to face the brown haired girl with a light smile. “Okay.” She said. It would be smart to take advantage of the sunlight. Hermione returned the smile, turning around to head off. She left Ginny at Harry’s door, thinking.

Ginny eyed his door for a minute longer. Knowing that he was in there, sleeping was…she didn’t know, really. Shaking her head, Ginny licked her lips and followed the sound of Hermione and Ron at the bottom of the stairs.

“What were you doing up there?” Ron asked suspiciously. Hermione looked rather guilty and Ginny sighed, figuring that she had told him what she had seen her doing. “I put a silencing charm on his door so that we wouldn’t disturb him. Thanks for telling him,” she added nastily as the three left through the back door. They had been strictly forbidden from going into the front yard as they could be seen but in the back they were invisible to anyone who looked their way. The back yard is where they spent as much time in the sun as they could practically muster without the interference of the rain. Sometimes even in the rain, if they got lucky.
“I’m sorry. He asked!”

Ginny shook her head, wondering why she hadn’t expected to be questioned before. “It’s alright.”

”I don’t see why you had to put up a silencing charm though. Harry’s a deep sleeper and we’re going to be outside.” Ron pointed out, eyeing his only sister for a moment.

“I didn’t know we were going outside and I thought it would be nice.” Ron and Hermione exchanged looks with one another as Ginny closed the door. It still smelled like rain outside and the ground was still damp but the sun was out and shining above. “I don’t see what the two are you are getting so worked up for.”

Hermione frowned. “It’s nothing, really. Come on; let’s play a game or something.” Ginny sighed and watched as Hermione walked towards the shed that Sirius had built with the help of Fred and George earlier that summer. They had stuffed it with different things, like muggle sports balls and different things that the kids could entertain themselves with. “Have either of you ever played badminton?”

Ten minutes later, Hermione had given the other two rackets and was demonstrating how you hit the birdie, to Ron’s highest amusement.

”Why in the world is it called a birdie?” he asked for the third time. Ginny’s lips twitched at Hermione’s exasperated expression, trying not to laugh. “I don’t know, Ronald. It just is.” She explained, tossing the birdie up into the air and whacking it with her racket. “See, that was an upper-hand serve. You toss it up and smack it.”

“Can you kill somebody with it?”

“No, Ron. I told you that.” Ginny grinned, shaking her head as she picked up the birdy Hermione had hit, tossing it into the air as she had instructed but missing completely. “Bloody hell…” she murmured, trying again. In a flash, the birdie had whacked Ron in the back of the head.
“Watch where you’re hitting the damn bird!”

”It’s called a birdie”

Hermione cleared her throat loudly, drawing the brother and sister’s attention back to her. “Can we play now?” She asked, her racket dangling at her side. If she was amused at the two then she did a good job of hiding it. Ron grumbled something, handing her the birdie before moving back to where he had been standing. “You and Ginny can play on one side, and I’ll be on the opposite. I’ll teach you how, along the way.”

The trio moved onto their respective sides and Hermione did as she said, teaching them how to play the game of badminton. Neither knew, on the other side of England , someone was plotting. A plot that would change their lives entirely.



&&&



Draco sighed as he watched the same children, and more he suspected, at play in the field. He had come back at the same time from the day before to watch again. He spotted Rayn easily in the group of kids. He couldn’t tell what they were playing but it involved running around and what looked like…a rubber chicken. He raised a brow before shaking his head.

Muggles were weird. It had only been a few months since he had started to get over his muggle and muggle-born prejudices but it had come surprisingly easy. They really were intelligent and what they could do without magic. It was amazing.

Tea with his mother the night before had gone surprisingly well and he had found out that she knew more about him that he had let on. Thankfully, Lucius had left the house for the rest of the night so they had been undisturbed. His mother hadn’t been the affectionate type since he had been a small toddler but speaking to her, away from his fathers watchful eyes, had changed his thoughts about the woman completely. He loved her, always would, and that love had only grown stronger during their tea meeting.

Somehow, Narcissa had found out about his muggle children watching and the park. She hadn’t told him how she had known and he hadn’t pressed her for unneeded details. She had said that she had been proud of him that he was getting over those morals, especially since she could not herself. She had grown up with them all her life and despite trying hard too over the last few months, it was hard to grow out of. Draco had understood, just thankful that he could get over it himself.

Their conversation had gone through everything he had been thinking about. The war, the children, Voldemort and his dad’s new plans on what he was going to have to do. Unsurprisingly Narcissa hadn’t had a clue on what Voldemort might make him do and he didn’t fault her for this. He merely nodded his head and changed to another topic.

He turned his gaze to the group of adults sitting on the benches on the far side of the field. “Sir Draco!” He looked up. Rayn, holding the rubber chicken was running towards him with a group of children running after her. It appeared that they were trying to tag her. She didn’t stop when she got to him, turning around quickly and hiding behind his legs. “Don’t let them get me!” she squealed, pressing her face into the back of his thighs, like it would make her invisible.

The children reached around his legs and Draco found himself chuckling at the irony of the situation. “No! No! Don’t let them, Sir Draco!” He bent down suddenly, lifting Rayn up and off the ground so that the rubber chicken couldn’t be pulled out of her hands. She giggled, holding the chicken to her chest with one hand, the other arm wrapped around his shoulders tightly.

”Rayn!” A voice suddenly froze the children in their attempts to grab at her legs which were wrapped tightly around his middle. “What are you doing to this young gentleman?”

Rayn lifted her head weakly and looked at the woman in front of her and Draco. Draco could tell that she was her mother. Her mothers hair was tied back in a ponytail and she could not have been any older then twenty four. “Sir Draco!” Rayn announced and understanding flashed on the woman’s face.

”So you’re ‘Sir Draco’?” And her exasperated expression changed to a loving, smiling one. “Rayn has talked of nothing but you since yesterday.” Draco blinked and she continued. “My name is Iris. It’s nice to meet you…Sir Draco.” She offered her hand to him and he shifted Rayn to one side so he could shake Iris’ hand.

”It’s a pleasure to meet you,” He said, bowing his head at her. Normally he would have kissed her hand but holding Rayn disabled him from doing so. He smiled his most charming smile that would make any teenaged girl faint and nodded. Iris returned the simple gesture, looking at the children. “Rayn, hunny, give them the rubber chicken back.”

”Mummmmy…” she whined, pouting. Her mother reached out her hand and Rayn reluctantly dropped the rubber chicken into her mom’s hand, who in turn passed it to the children. “I wanna play with Sir Chicken…”

Draco set Rayn back down onto the solid ground and she plopped down onto the grass, whining still. “I’m sorry about her.” Iris apologized.

Draco shook his head. “Don’t worry about it.” He said as he moved to squat down by her. “Come on. Smile.”

If any of his school mates had seen this, they would have been completely bewildered. Draco was socializing with Muggles and was smiling? Draco Malfoy smiled? Draco was stunned at himself even. He had never felt so at ease with Muggles but Rayn and Iris…well, they seemed to be just like him in an odd sort of way. He didn’t know how he was going to explain this to his father if Lucius ever found out, which he was sure that he would if his mother had caught on, and made a mental note to start thinking of an explanation.

Rayn blinked up at him before nodding lightly. She smiled, wrapping her arms around his arm, clinging to him. Iris watched with gentle affection and she could not deny that it caused her gut to clench seeing her look so happy, even if it was with a strange boy. Granted, when Rayn had been dropped off by her friends’ mother, running inside to announce that she had met a boy named Sir Draco, she had been unnerved that her daughter had been talking to strangers but now that she had met him her opinion was beginning to change. He was polite and he obviously enjoyed playing with Rayn.

“Sir Draco can play?” Rayn asked, looking at her mother with that same smile. Iris shook her head slowly. “No, honey. I’m sure Draco has other things to-”

“I’d love too.” The words flew out of his mouth before he realized what he had said. “Err…I mean,” Rayn’s shriek of happiness echoed throughout the field. Grabbing Draco and Iris’ hands, she tugged. “Play, play. Lets play!” Iris watched Draco as he stood up. When he turned to her, questioningly, she shook her head. “Thank you.”

“What did I do?” Rayn was completely oblivious to her elders, still tugging on their hands.

“Rayn, hunny go get your bag, won’t you?” Iris evaded his question even after she had scampered off to get the mysterious bag. “Nothing, really.” Iris finally answered. “It’s been awhile since she had anyone willingly play with her. She’s a bit of a loner, sometimes.”

“That doesn’t make sense.” He had seen her playing with the children even before he had known who Rayn was. She had seemed to get along well with the other children from afar. Had he missed something?

“I know. She is singled out. They play with her because she submits so easily.” Iris began her explanation. “She does things without being asked twice. It is a good thing and a bad, I guess.” She said lightly. A feeling of uneasiness settled between the two. “I can’t say anything to the kids either. They’re her only ‘friends’ and she needs them more then I’d like to believe.”

There was something so familiar about this situation. Something he couldn’t quite place but knew somewhere in the back of his head that understood. “She loves being out here and that makes me happy so I haven’t said anything.” A part of him wanted to lash out at Iris but another (the sane, sensible one) could understand why she couldn’t do it. It would mean possibly taking away Rayn’s friends and having her drift further. “She doesn’t deserve that.” He finally said.

“I know.”

“Mummy! I got the bag.” Rayn chirped, skipping back to her two elders, the bag swinging in her hand at her side. “Can we play go fish?”

“We’re going fishing?”

“No silly! Cards.” She said simply, as if it was the answer to every question on earth. Rayn plopped down on the damp ground and opened the bag. She pulled a deck of cards out of the bag, waving them around in front of her so that her mother and Draco could see. “Can we?”

“I can teach you if you’ve never played before.” Iris said as she also sat down. Draco wasn’t able to refuse, even despite the fact that he found this whole idea quite strange. “Alright. Why not?” He did not miss the hidden smile on Iris’ face as she passed him a small stack of the muggle cards.



&&&



Narcissa was sitting in the large family room, the Daily Prophet in her hands. Dinner had been small that day, with only her and Draco attending. Not that it was very large in the first place. Lucius had left earlier that afternoon for a ‘meeting’ and he hadn’t returned for dinner. She sighed, flicking through the pages idly. There was nothing interesting these days. A lot of baloney on Voldemort and possible sightings. She knew for a fact that all of these ‘sightings’ were false.

“Narcissa, I need to speak to you.” Narcissa looked up from the Prophet to see her husband standing in front of the door. “It is about our son.”

Lucius was never a man to waste time especially when he was under a strict command. “My Lord has given me his order for Draco.” He began, gaze never leaving Narcissa. Narcissa didn’t blink or move. “I know about the girl, Narcissa. Why are you blocking me from your mind?” She couldn’t move now, even if she wanted too. If Lucius knew about the child then he had told the Dark Lord. “Lucius…”

“He is to kill her.”

“Lucius!”

Lucius’ gaze narrowed. “He will kill her and her filthy parents in the name of the Dark Lord.” He said, so softly that Narcissa had to strain to hear what he was saying. “He will make me proud and he will do it happily.”

“Muggle or not she is a little girl!” It was a rare thing to see Narcissa speak out against her husband but Draco had told her more about the child and about what he had been doing that day at the park before Lucius had gotten home from his meeting. Draco had even spoken kindly about her muggle mother.

“He cannot be associating with filth. How dare you speak against me. Your husband. He will kill her with a smile on his face and I will be the one with him to make sure of it.” There was a flash of movement and Narcissa looked around Lucius to see what it was. She saw a rag pass by and sighed. A house elf, probably. “Is that understood, Narcissa?” he asked. Lucius was glaring but it wasn’t at her. He was looking up at the mirror above the family room’s fireplace.

She nodded her head even though she did not. Narcissa knew better then to argue with Lucius. He was already at his breaking point and she didn’t want to be the one to bring him to explosion. “I understand.”

Some of the tension in her husbands face wore away in front of her eyes. “Good. We will forget that this ever happened.” Narcissa nodded and Lucius strode out of the room, his robes billowing out around his legs. She set the Prophet down in her lap and sighed. She knew her son better then anyone believed. Draco would not be able to kill this girl in cold blood. He had spoken so highly of her and her mother that evening. It had been so nice to see her son smiling again and now this had to happen.

There had to be a way out of this. One that would save her son and that muggle family. “Tripsy!” Narcissa yelled.

POP.

A young house elf appeared at her side in an instant. Large, watery blue eyes stared up at her. The house elf was wearing a relatively new rag although it was already stained, dirty, ripped and smelled like mold. It was dreadful. Narcissa scrunched up her nose against the smell. “Bring me my Transfiguration spell books, please.” Tripsy’s already large eyes widened. “Yes! Yes, of course, mistress. Tripsy will bring them all!” With another pop, the elf was gone.

“I just hope that I still have that book.” She thought aloud.



&&&



Ginny and Ron had finally gotten a hang of hitting the birdie. Their aim was notorious but at least they were hitting it, was Hermione’s way of thinking. The birdie came towards her and lifting the racket, she whacked it back to Ron. They had been playing all day, taking breaks in between when they couldn’t breathe anymore because they were laughing so hard. Harry had even came in and played before they had went in for lunch.

“Oi!” Ron smacked it back, missing horribly. “You missed!” His elder brother George chortled from the side lines. George and Fred had taken to commentary and they did it surprisingly well, making sure to constantly bash their little brother whenever it was possible. Fred and George exchanged grins. “And Harry Potter takes the birdie! It’s a hard shot…with a slight breeze!” Harry looked at them, licking the tip of his finger and lifting it into the air to entertain the twins further. “He tests the wind! George, mate, he seems in good spirits. I think he knows just what he’s going to do, don’t you?”

”I couldn’t agree more, Fred. Harry winds up and YES! He hit the birdie! It goes sailing over the net and Ickle-Ronnie-Kins has just managed to hit it in the air! Oh but it just misses the net! What do you think about that hit, Fred?”

”It was not a bad hit but George; I think his teammate is getting a bit frustrated over there!”

”Oh yes. Ginny! I wonder what she has to say about her brother’s inability to keep the birdie in the air.”

”I don’t know, Fred! We might have to stop her at the end of this match and get an interview!”

”Yes! We just might.”

Ginny laughed, shaking her head at her brothers. If anything could be said about them it was that they never failed to fully amuse a crowd. She lifted her racket at them threateningly. “I’m not giving either of you an interview!”

“Well, Fred. That’s upsetting.”

”Sure is, George.”

“Oh shut up.” Ginny rolled her eyes, trying to stifle her giggles. Even Ron was laughing by now, even though most of their jokes were directed on him and his superb badminton skills.

“She’s got quite the mouth on her, she does! Reminds you of someone, doesn’t it?” The twins exchanged secretive grins.

“Yes she certainly does.”

“And who might that be?” Hermione asked, grabbing the birdie but hesitating at hitting it over as all attention had been drawn to the identical faces a few feet away. “I don’t think that information is necessary, Hermione. You’ll live just fine without knowing.”

“Fred is right.” George chimed in, clapping his brother on the shoulder. Hermione shook her head, hitting the birdie to Ginny and Ron and the game began again under her serve.



&&&



“C’mon, let’s go in. Its getting dark,” Ginny announced an hour later when the sun started to set behind the trees in the back of the Black house. The group was getting exhausted after playing all day and they didn’t need to be told twice. “Maybe we could make a bomb-fire tonight. Wouldn’t that be nice, Harry?” she asked, jogging up to him with a smile.


Harry glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. He didn’t know how to handle Ginny sometimes and now was one of those times. He shrugged lightly, looking forward again. “I heard it was supposed to rain again tonight.” He did not miss the put-out look on her freckled face.

“What is it with the rain lately anyway?” Ron muttered. He had made it known numerous times over that he was getting sick of the rain. It was astonishing that they had went all day without a single shower.

“I don’t know. I liked the rain at the beginning of the summer but now it’s just a burden.” Hermione shrugged. Ginny sighed, falling behind a bit. She didn’t like being humiliated in front of her friends like that, by Harry especially. Not that he had said anything offensive but…it still struck a nail inside of her. She sighed. The group of five walked into the house, all chattering amongst themselves except for Ginny. They stopped when they heard Molly speaking in the closed doors of the dining room.


“Oh, Severus. We weren’t expecting you. I’m sorry I have nothing to offer you.”

Ron furrowed his brows, blinking as he heard his potions professors’ name. He mouthed ‘Snape?’ and Harry shrugged. “My visit wasn’t planned.” Yup. That voice belonged without a doubt to their least favorite professor. “Is Lupin or Arthur here?”

“No…they’re out right now.”

Snape said something then, that they couldn’t hear and then their was the sound of a door closing.
“What in the-” Molly came scuttling into the front hall, where the gang was standing. “Oh! Hello. Done with your game, are you?”

“Yeah. What did Snape want?”

“Professor Snape, Ronald.” Molly corrected. “Nothing. He wanted to speak with Remus or you’re father. Now busy yourselves upstairs when I cook something to eat.” Ginny and George turned on the heels of their feet, following their mother into the kitchen.

“…What do you think that was about?” Harry asked once they were gone. He looked at Ron and Hermione; his two friends looked just as puzzled as he did. “I…don’t know, Harry.” Hermione was the one who answered, leading them up the stairs.

“Mum was acting weird, though.” Ron commented lightly, frowning.

“Hell…everything is a bit off lately.”

“I’m going to go read. Lupin gave me another couple of books that seem fascinating.” Hermione had been doing research for the Order by reading up in old history books and other various books that gave off any information about the first war with Voldemort. Hermione had made it her mission to find any piece of information that she possibly could in order to help the Order since they were still too young to join it formally.

“Alright. Don’t stay up too late.” Ron advised, giving Hermione a brief hug that was soon followed by one from Harry as they exchanged good nights. Hermione smiled, advising him that she wouldn’t before she disappeared behind the door of the bedroom she was currently sharing with Ginny. “Good night!” she called over her shoulder as the door closed behind her.

Chapter 4: "I'd Say You Were Worried About Him."

Draco walked quickly down the cobble stoned path. His boots thumping in sync beneath him. He was carrying a small bag in his hands. He knew Rayn would be there and if he could get lucky, Iris would be as well. He wanted to meet up with the both of them again before tomorrow. It was a part of his perfect plan that he had spent all night planning. In order to go through with it, he had to know where they lived. It wasn’t raining but Draco could feel it in the air. A storm would be coming; he just hoped it wouldn’t ruin his plans.

“Over here, Sir Draco!”

He looked over. Beneath a large, flowering tree Ray sat it her mothers lap, doodling on a sheet of paper. Iris smiled warmly and he was amazed at how welcoming she was with him. “Hello, dear.” She ushered for him to sit down. “No thank you.” Rayn blinked, looking up at him immediately. “Sir Draco is not staying?”

"Not at the park. I have another idea, though. I’d love to take you and your Mother out for ice cream before it gets too dark.” He winked at the young girl. “I know a nice place and it isn’t all that far away from here.”

"ICE CREAM!”

"Oh, no…I just couldn’t let you do that.” Iris said, shaking her head slowly.

"I want too. I can drive you home afterwards if it’s not too late.” Thankfully they had a Muggle car incase of emergencies. His mother had purchased it not that long ago and this was not the first time that it had come in handy. He smiled his most charming smile, hoping to win her over. It worked.

Iris caved. “Yes. Alright then.” Rayn squealed with glee, hoping out of her mother’s lap.

“My car isn’t parked that far from here.” He said, helping them gather their belongings together. He then lifted Rayn into his arms, smirking.

"Can I get a sundae, Sir Draco?” Rayn asked.

"Anything as long as your Mother agrees. I’m buying.”

"Yay!”

He led Iris and Rayn out of the park and to the black car that was parked in front of their trail. “Here we go.” He opened the doors for the two, strapping in Rayn before seating himself in the front.

"How far is it?” Rayn asked. “Five minutes, maybe less.” She chirped at his answer, contenting herself with gazing out the window of the small car.

&&&

When Harry returned that afternoon he immediately went to Hermione to tell her what had happened at the joke shop earlier that morning. Ron had gone grocery shopping with Mrs. Weasley and he hadn’t come home by the time Harry got there. “So, he was buying shield and defense items?” Harry nodded. “It was probably just for himself, Harry. You know how Malfoy is.” Hermione reasoned, tossing a ball to him for him to catch. He did, absently tossing it back to her.


That was true. But it didn’t explain why he had bought two of everything. He voiced this to Hermione who shook her head. “No. Its not suspicious behavior at all. He probably just wanted the added protection. If I didn’t know better, I would say you were worried about him, Harry.” She watched him carefully, gagging his reaction. He dropped the ball that he normally would have caught without a thought about it.

”What!”

”Harry…it was just a joke! I know you don’t care about him. You’ve only told me and everyone else about five hundred times the last few years.”

”It wasn’t funny.”

She sighed. Really, he was getting to be as thick as Ron. “I’m sorry.” Hermione rolled her eyes, picking up the ball from the ground. “Look, I think you worry yourself too much about stupid things. Let Malfoy deal with his problems and you can deal with your own.” She touched his arm comfortingly. “I don’t think it’s suspicious. I bet if you spoke to Fred and George they’d tell you that Malfoy isn’t the first one to walk out of their shop with two of everything. You can never be too careful in times of war, Harry.” Well, he could understand that but it was Malfoy and Malfoy was not a normal person.

“Please don’t stress yourself out about this.” Hermione said worryingly. “If you stress then Ginny will as well and we really don’t need that added tension.”

”Why would Ginny stress out because I’m stressing out about Malfoy?” Harry asked, taking the ball from Hermione and observing it. She sighed. He really was thick.

“Just pretend I didn’t say that.” She muttered, making it easier for the both of them.

”Okay.” Harry said, tossing her the ball. “So…How has you’re research been?”

”It’s been okay.” Hermione shrugged. “I haven’t found anything really valuable yet. Just bits and pieces of information. Professor Lupin is going to be bringing me more books from Hogwarts later this week. I’m looking forward to reading in some more. I like being able to help, even a little bit.”

Harry nodded. He could relate to that, even if he hadn’t been able to do much help for the war. He sighed. “You’re doing a lot for the Order. I’m sure they appreciate it.” He watched as Hermione’s cheeks colored.

“Oh, I do hope so! It takes up a lot of my time but I like it.” Harry shook his head. Count on Hermione to be happily willing to give up her summertime to read old history books.

“As long as you enjoy doing it, I don’t see any problem in it.” He said. Hermione nodded. “That’s what I like to think.” She replied, throwing the ball back at him.


&&&


Draco returned to the picnic table with Rayn’s sundae and two cones for Iris and himself. He passed them around before sitting down across from the ginger haired child. “Enjoy.”

”Thank you sir Draco!” Rayn giggled, spooning herself some of the ice cream. Draco watched her eat in silence. She really is a beautiful girl. She’ll be a charmer once she gets older. He shook his head, licking his ice cream thoughtfully. He took to watching the other visitors like a hawk. He didn’t want anyone that would know him to see him and he wasn’t taking the chance at being followed.

He made light conversation when it was needed but mostly kept to his thoughts. Iris really loves her. I wonder if that’s what Mother used to look like when she watched over me. It was both comforting and distressing to think about. He shook his head again, ridding himself of memories of his childhood. It wasn’t in his best interest to think about that now. However, he was dragged back into the conversation when Iris suggested taking a few pictures. “I’d like to get one of you and Rayn, if you don’t mind.”

“No, of course not.” He shrugged. Rayn giggled, rushing around the side of the table to join him. “Hunny, wait a moment, you’ve got ice cream all over your face.”

“No!! Ice cream picture!”

“A what?”

“I think she wants to take a picture with her all messy…” Draco’s voice trailed off, eyeing the little girl oddly for a moment but all she could do was beam at them.

“Alright…” Iris didn’t seem to like this idea very much. “We can do that.” Rayn climbed into Draco’s lap then, ice cream smeared flatteringly around her face. Iris pulled a small camera out of her purse. “Smile,”

Before the light flashed, Rayn leaned in and pressed her ice cream covered lips to his cheek. The light flashed right at that moment. Draco blinked and Rayn giggled. The ice cream had been transferred onto his cheek. He bit his lip as he watched the picture come out of the bottom of the camera. “Do you…Would you mind if I kept that one?”

Iris looked up from the developing photo. “No, of course not…could I take another one then?” He nodded, cleaning off his cheek and Rayn’s face before they posed for another, more serious photograph. She let them see the picture before putting it into her purse, along with the small camera. She then handed him his, smiling gently. “Thank you.” She said.

Draco nodded. It was getting dark by the time they were done eating and had thrown their napkins away and Draco decided that they’d better be on their way back. “Aw! Sir Draco stays!” she whined, hugging him tightly. “No. I can’t tonight. One day maybe.”


&&&


Iris watched as Draco lifted her daughter up and carried her to the car. They’re quite the pair to watch. She gently touched the small picture that was in her purse as she followed Draco to his car. Draco was good for Rayn and he had become her first real crush. At home, Rayn barely spoke of anything else. She’d never seen her daughter so happy before. She climbed into the car, listening to Rayn humming in the backseat. She had never had a father figure in her life. Iris had dated here and there but none had become fatherly to Rayn. Her real dad had disappeared one day, unexplainably and had not come back or gotten into contact. That had been a few months before Rayn’s birth. Somehow, in a matter of days Draco had become that and more.

“Where do you live from here?”

“The first right up this street.” Iris said, pointing to the cobble-stoned street that was coming into view. “Then take another right down this road and you’ll literally be right in front of our house. 7th Peach Tree Road, where do you live, Draco?”

“Just a little ways away,” Draco answered lightly.

“I see.” Iris looked out the window. Through the rearview mirror she could see Rayn. Her daughter was asleep with her head against the window, hair splayed out behind her head. She smiled, looking up.

“This house,” She said, pointing up ahead as he turned the second right. In front of the car was a small but nicely landscaped two story house. Draco pulled into the driveway, parking.

“I’ll carry her in, if you’d like.” He stepped out and was immediately attacked by the strong smell of flowers. It reminded him of the Malfoy gardens that Narcissa was so proud of.

“Alright. I’ll get the door for you.”

He un-strapped Rayn carefully, trying not to wake her up. He lifted her out of the seat, following Iris inside of their home. “Her room is the second on the right, second floor.” Perfect. He thought. Climbing up the stairs in the living room, Draco held Rayn to him. She stirred a little in his arms, her face pressed into the crook of his neck so he could feel her light breathing tickling the small hairs on the back of his neck. She felt so light asleep, feather-light even. He couldn’t help but like the feel of it. He felt like he was protecting her and that was enough for him. He managed to get the door to her bedroom opened, slowly lowering her into her flower-decorated bed. Pulling the covers over her form, he left the room.

“Thank you for your help.”

“Don’t mention it. I covered her up for you.”

“Would you like a cuppa tea before you go on your way?” Iris asked him, looking up from the small kitchen table. He shook his head lightly. “No, thank you. I couldn’t possibly and I should be going. Tell Rayn I’ll see her later, please?”

“I will, have a good night Draco.” He smiled. “You too Iris.” She sighed, left watching as he drove out of her driveway.


&&&


Draco sighed, staring lifelessly forward. He had one more stop to make before he returned home for the night. He knew for a fact that Severus would be at home. He rarely left his home during the summer holidays unless he was needed by Voldemort or at Hogwarts. Draco would have known of both and he hadn’t had any word that he was to be expected else ware. He pulled the car into an evacuated parking lot, climbing out quickly. He had to make his trip fast before Narcissa got worried.

He looked around to make sure no Muggles were walking around before he apparated with a pop loud enough to echo through the silence. In an instant Draco found himself standing in front of an old, dirty looking home with dead grass and weeds littering the front yard. Scoffing, he hurried to the front door, knocking three times in a swift manner. Snape was expecting him to come that day and it seemed he was waiting by the door. As soon as Draco pulled his hand away from the door, it opened.

Severus Snape loomed over him, looking down at Draco over his abnormally large, hooked nose. Draco looked right back at him, walking into the foyer when Snape moved out of his way. “Hello Professor.”

“Draco. Come in.” He locked the door behind him, moving past Draco and leading him into the sitting room. “What was this important business that you had to tell me?” Draco sighed. He should have known Snape would jump right into business. He sat down, wringing his fingers together.

“Have you heard of the Dark Lord’s mission for me?”

“I have.” Severus said, watching Draco calmly. His emotions were masked as he had perfected them to be but Draco was as open as an open book.

“I can’t do it, Professor. This family…that I’m supposed to kill, mean a bit too much to me. I don’t know how it happened or why it happened but I can’t kill them or let them be killed, do you understand?” If anything Snape must. He didn’t look to see if Snape did or not, he continued with his story. “I’m…planning on making it look like I killed them. I’m sending the girl’s mother away with a port-key that my mother gave to me when I was younger. It goes to the cabin we have in Ireland and I’m taking the girl with me. I’d take her mother too but it’s far too risky to do both.” Snape continued to watch him, a single brow raised as he listened. “I plan on going back for the mother and having her moved somewhere else, somewhere where Voldemort couldn’t reach her but it was the best thing I could come up with in three days.”

Snape raised a hand to stop him. “Where do you plan on bringing the girl, Draco?” He asked his voice so soft that he had to strain to hear what he had to say. Draco bit his lip, obviously uncomfortable with this question. Snape didn’t move his gaze from Draco’s eyes, observing.

“That’s what I came here to talk to you. I know…I know you work for the Order too.” Snape took a breath in then. “You know where their hideout is. Rayn would be safe there.”

Snape rubbed his forehead. He highly doubted that the Order would appreciate it if he dropped a young girl on them out of the blue but Draco was right in his assumption. For now it was probably the safest place for Rayn to be. “Please Professor. It’s the only place I can think of for Rayn.”

“The Order won’t be happy with this. I have no time between now and tomorrow to inform them, do you realize that? We will be showing up in the midst of the night, throwing a girl into their hands.”

“We?” Draco asked.

“Do you possibly think you will find their headquarters without my knowledge, Draco? You highly disregard their powers.” Snape stood up, walking towards the kitchen. What was going on in the boy’s head? This certainly wasn’t that Draco he had known. Even so, he didn’t know whether or not Draco’s plan would work in the first place. “Tell me you’re plan.”

Draco suddenly grinned. “I’m going to go to their home a few hours before I’m supposed to go and kill them. I’m going to explain what’s going on and why I need them to go. Hopefully they won’t question me too much. I’ll give Iris the port-key from my mother and send her off to our cabin. I’ll take Rayn and hide her out of sight until I’m done. I don’t know where yet. I’ll transfigure two ordinary objects into Rayn and Iris. There is a spell that my mother showed me that will make two inanimate objects look and act real.” He explained quietly, brows furrowed together. “I can control them on my own whim. They will do whatever I command them too if the spell works like the book said…then I will go back home to my father and go to the scene with him. I will kill the transfigured Rayn and Iris…tell my father I’m going to mother, who’s scheduled to be out of the house if I can, grab Rayn and bring her to the Order before the sunrises.” Saying it aloud made everything seem even more impossible to do.

Snape listened, his back still turned to Draco. It was risky and Snape knew what could happen. Draco would be killed in an instant if something went wrong. “Do you know how risky a situation this is?”

“I do but I can’t kill Rayn or Iris.” He sighed. “I’ve thought about it and…I’d rather risk my life then have them die just because they happened to make friends with the wrong sort.” Draco explained, standing up to follow Snape into the other room. “You do understand, right?”

Truly Snape did not. However he was trying to make himself understand in hopes of helping his godson figure out a less risky plan but at this rate there was little else they could do except to wait and see what would happen tomorrow night. Snape just hoped that it would work in the young Malfoy’s favor.

“I think it’s stupid of you.” Snape concluded, turning to Draco with a flourish. “This is exactly something that Harry Potter and his friends would pull. However, I can see that you cannot be forced to see differently and I will help to a certain extent. I will bring the girl to the Order with you and you will more then likely be forced to stay there a few extra days so that they can question you. Be warned of what you say while with them. They will be suspicious of your actions, Draco.” He said calmly, looking at the clock on his wall. “Do you want me to take Rayn after you get her out of the house?”

Draco looked up at him. “Yes. Hide her here until I can take her to the Order’s hideout with you. I will probably put a spell on her to make her sleep so she doesn’t have to live this out.” He said lightly, looking worn and exhausted.

Snape disappeared into the kitchen again and Draco could hear him rummaging around in one of the cabinets. “Go home and take one of these,” He lifted a small vial for Draco to see. “Dreamless Sleep Potion,” he explained. “Take it, sleep well and get ready to act.” Draco took the vial from him with a nod of thanks. “I will get in contact with you by the afternoon.”

“Thank you, Professor.” Draco turned then, stuffing the vial into his pocket and headed for the door.

“And Draco?” He looked over his shoulder at the older man.

“Yes?” He asked.

“Be carefully.” Draco smiled a little then, unlocking the door and walking out into the night.

Snape massaged his temples when the door closed again. He has no idea what he is getting himself into. He thought, turning with a flourish and striding down the back hall.

Am I allowed to comment about the story here?

Awww. Is it over?