Weathering the Storm
Draco Apparated into his old study at Malfoy Manor. He set down his case and called for a house elf. The elf was surprised to see its young master but followed his orders, taking the case to his old bedchamber, making sure the room was prepared for him for the night, and bringing him a bottle of fire whiskey. The blond wizard started a fire and closed it to the Floo Network before sitting down with his drink. He was not alone for long when Lucius kicked through the door.
"Why are you here?" Lucius shouted.
"My marriage is over. She loves another," Draco whispered in defeat.
"And where are my grandsons?" the older wizard demanded.
"With their mother. I will make arrangements with Ginevra tomorrow. We will share custody."
"We will not share anything with those people, especially Malfoy children. Now go back to Black Hall and stay with your wife until I can figure out a way for us to keep the children," Lucius demanded of his son. "If she asked you to leave talk your way back in."
Draco tried to collect himself. His father couldn't stand weakness. No Malfoy male should cry over the loss of a woman, but then his father didn't know loss. Narcissa had loved him with her entire being for as long as Draco could remember. She never disappointed him. His parents were lucky, they married for love, no matter what problems they encountered they had that. While he, he had married to produce heirs. Yes, he had fallen in love with his wife over three years ago but she never loved him back.
"No, Father. Ginevra didn't ask me to leave. I left because I'm weak! I can no longer give my heart and love to a witch who loves another." Draco downed his drink and poured himself another.
"The whore is sleeping with another!" Lucius chuckled, "The children will be ours!"
Draco rose from his chair. The young wizard noticed he was an inch or two taller than his father as they stood toe to toe. He stared into the older man's eyes as he spoke. His volume was low, his tone firm and demanding with each word radiating his anger. "You will never speak of Ginevra in such a way again. She is not having an affair. The children belong to her and myself. They will never be yours. I shouldn't have come here." He turned and headed for the door but found himself being collected into the loving arms of his mother. Relief washed through his body, she would make sure he saw some peace tonight. Narcissa lead him to a settee.
"Draco, what has happened?" she softly asked.
Lucius approached the pair. "He has left our grandsons with that Muggle loving…"
Narcissa lifted her head and sneered at Lucius. She raised her hand and pointed to the door. "Get out! You wally!"
"Narcissa!" he hissed back.
"Out I said! I mean it. Now, Lucius, or you will be sleeping in a guestroom for the next fortnight," the ill-tempered witch shouted.
Lucius scowled as he left the room making sure he firmly closed the door behind him.
"For Merlin's sake, go throw a wobbly somewhere else," she screamed at the closed door. Narcissa returned her attention to her son, who was resting his head on her shoulder. "What did you and Ginevra argue about?"
"She still has photos and letters from Potter."
Narcissa hugged him. "What reason did she give for having them?"
"She lied, said she didn't know where they came from. So, I left."
She pulled away from him and glared into his eyes. "Why did you not believe her?"
"They were in her bedchamber, Mother. How else would they have gotten there?"
"You didn't let her explain?" He shook his head. "Draco, Ginevra loves you. You must go back and listen to her. I mean really listen to her, young man!"
"I can't Mother it's too hard. She's..." he paused. "What if she is merely trying to make me her whipping boy?"
Narcissa collected her son in her arms again. "You listen to the stupid rants of your father and my sister too much. They talk as if they make all the decisions in their lives, but they do not." She smiled at Draco. "I am here with you, not him. I assure you that was not his decision."
"We've been married almost seven years. I know things have changed but it shouldn't be this hard," Draco stated.
"You didn't have a marriage, Draco. You had a business contract. Once in awhile you made sure your partner was happy and the business was running smoothly. A marriage is like the most delicate rose in a garden, it needs to be tended daily. With the right amount of love, tenderness, and caring it will become the most beautiful thing you've ever had."
She summoned an elf and had tea brought into the room. "We need to have a discussion. I should have done this before your wedding day, but back then your marriage was not based on love so I saw no point."
------******------
Simon walked into the sitting room with Blaise right behind him. Thuban and Serpens were coloring while Cam was still holding tissues over his nose. The house elves, Nan and Tipsy, were watching the children. Blaise rushed over to Cam. "Merlin, what happened to you?"
"Thuban hit me."
"Ruddy hel…" he stopped himself. "Goodness Thuban, why'd you do that?"
"He made Daddy leave and Mummy cry."
Serpens looked at his godfather. "Mummy's not crying now. She fell asleep."
"I's gives Master Cam the pain relief potion from his bath, but Missus and Master not be allowing us's to use elf magic on the children. I's going for Missus Narcissa if you's not be coming soon," Tipsy told Blaise.
The black haired wizard examined Cam's nose. "Well, we need to get Cam's nose fixed and I can't perform a healing charm. Thuban, send Tipsy for your father. Elf, remind your master that his wards only allow his wife and/or himself to remove the children from the grounds."
"You heard him, Tipsy. Find my daddy and tell him Cam is hurt," Thuban ordered.
Tipsy bowed to her young master and disappeared.
"Thuban," Blaise growled. "If you ever punch one of your brothers again, I'll take my belt to your bottom."
A loud pop by the fireplace got everyone's attention. Draco, still teary-eyed, moved quickly to Cam. He looked at Thuban and hissed, "How long has it been bleeding?"
Thuban moved to the corner of the room, both of his hands covering his bottom. "I don't know. It stopped for a time, but then he sneezed."
"Where's your mother?" Draco spat.
Thuban collected his courage. "She cried herself to sleep over your leaving."
"You should take the boy to a Healer, Malfoy," Blaise advised.
"My mother will be here…"
Narcissa entered the room and scooped up Cam. She sat on the sofa, examined his nose, pulled out her wand and repaired it. It was straight again and had stopped bleeding but he was starting to get two black eyes. She hugged the little wizard and ran her wand over him. She turned to her son. "There's nothing I can do about the bruising but he's fine. His blood loss was minor. How did this happen?"
Cam looked at his brother. "Thuban hit me 'cause I'm an evil little wizard."
"Thuban!" she started to scold the older boy but was stopped by the child in her arms.
"I am evil. I'm the reason Daddy left," Cam cried. "I'm sorry, Daddy, you look as sad as Mummy."
"It's not your fault I left, Cam," Draco stated but was cut off by all three of his sons.
"It was too, his...my fault."
Thuban walked over to his father. "It's my fault too. I should have left the picture of Mummy with that man at Grimmauld Place," Thuban said.
Shock and disbelief washed over Draco's face and he practically fell on the settee. Thuban sat next to him; Serpens leaned against his legs and put his chin on his father's knees and Cam crawled away from Narcissa and climbed on the arm next to Draco.
"I brought the shoebox from Grimmauld Place. It had a picture of that Potter boy and Mummy when they were in school plus lots of letters."
"I didn't mean to make you and Mummy so sad," Cam cried into his father's shoulder. "I thought being nulled would make you both happy. Like Uncle Vincent and Aunt Padma."
"You're a git, Cam," Thuban hissed. "I took the picture and the letters so I could ask Mummy about them. Before I had a chance, I learned the man was Harriet and Sirius' daddy. I had them hidden in my dressing room. Mummy didn't know about them."
Cam wiped his face and spoke. "I put the letters and the picture in her room. I poured water on Leo so he'd cry and you would find everything. Then I sent Mummy upstairs."
Narcissa gasped. "Cygnus, why would you do such a thing?"
"Daddy and Mummy were rowing a lot. I thought if Daddy saw the picture and letters they'd get nulled and we'd all be happier like Greggy, Gary, Kenny, Vic, and Patty. They said they like being nulled."
Thuban sneered at his brother. "You did it because Greggy told you he gets more toys, more galleons, he does more things with his daddy and mummy, and he didn't get spankings anymore. You're selfish and you made my mummy cry."
"I didn't mean to make her cry," Cam sobbed. "Go tell Mummy you're going to stay at home, Daddy. She said she'd rather have you here and be rowing then not have you at all."
"Please Daddy. Mummy loves you. It's not her fault," Thuban said while giving his father a hug.
The blond wizard was lost in his thoughts. Merlin, he hoped his sons were telling the truth. Cam deserved a good throttling if it was, but that could wait for a later time. He looked at the boy. "You wanted your mother and I to get an annulment? You put those things in her room? And you made baby Leo cry?"
Cam sighed, "Yes, Daddy."
"Mother, please take the boys downstairs and get them some dinner. I believe they haven't eaten."
"I'm not hungry," Thuban moaned.
"I'll only eat if you promise to stay home!" Serpens stated and then tried to stare down his father.
"I promise to stay the night. Now go eat dinner," Draco ordered. "I need to talk to Uncle Blaise for a couple of minutes."
Thuban's eyes meet Draco's and the boy stared coldly into them. "Don't you dare make my mummy cry again."
Narcissa gathered the boys and rushed them out of the room before Draco could reply. Under normal circumstances she would have let her son discipline Thuban for speaking to him in such a tone. Right now she wanted to get her grandsons out of the way, so Draco could focus on Ginevra.
Once the group was gone, Draco turned to Blaise. "Ginny put them up to this?"
Blaise shook his head. "You arse! Ginbug's too distraught to think up that detailed of a scheme. I don't know what to do with you, Malfoy. You're determined to throw happiness away."
"Happiness! That's laughable Zabini. I wouldn't call what I've been going through the last three days happiness."
"Oh, let me cry for you, Malfoy. Let's see, you have four healthy sons and a woman, you forced into marriage almost seven years ago, willing to give you chance after chance to have a happy marriage. I'd hate to have your life."
"How would you feel if you came home two days in a row and Pansy wasn't home and you didn't know where she was?"
"It happens all the time, mate. We try to remember to owl or leave notes for each other but sometimes it doesn't happen. Hell! I don't know where she is right now, and I could really use her help." He paused and stared at his friend. "Don't go thinking it's different between you and Ginny because you're married, it isn't."
"I can't handle not knowing where she is," Draco confessed.
"Does she know where you are all the time?" Blaise asked.
"No."
"Well, if she can live with it, so can you."
"This is so hard, Blaise. Loving the boys is so easy, they return it without question. But with Gin, what if she doesn't really love me?"
"She loves you. Merlin only knows why, because you're a self-centered controlling insecure prat."
Draco smiled at his friend for a moment. "I don't think I can go through this again if it doesn't work, Blaise."
"Damn it Draco, suck it up and see."
------******------
After a lovely dinner, Bella and Rodolphus guided their guests into a formal parlor for after dinner drinks. Araminta Meliflua had attended the dinner alone but Owen Carrows had brought his wife, Diana. The settees and chairs in the room were arranged to face each other. Carrows and his wife sat on one settee, Araminta picked a chair and Bella and Rodolphus sat on the remaining settee. An older house elf served wine to the witches and fire whiskeys to the wizards.
"Why could Narcissa not attend, Bella?" Araminta asked.
"She needed to help Draco with the children again. Ginevra is very unstable," Bellatrix stated.
Owen looked at her in disbelieve. "She was stable at her hearing."
"Ginevra appears to be steady most of the time but any little problem can set her off. She had been arguing with Draco for the last days over the littlest things. Poor boy, he's trying so hard to keep his marriage together, but you know how pureblooded witches can be when they believe they have power," Bellatrix said.
"Like that Brown girl. Really, she only wanted the children for the galleons. She's already let Adrian Pucey in her knickers," Diana Carrows exclaimed with distain. The witches gasped and the wizards were taken aback.
"Diana!" her husband scolded.
"I'm sorry, Owen, but sometimes cruel things have to be said. I, for one, am thankful you and the other members of the Wizengamot took action. Fine wizarding families can't be taken advantage of anymore. The Brown girl wasn't letting Mary see the boys unless she gave her money," Diana finished.
"We shouldn't have repelled the law. That act is causing problems," Araminta said.
"I disagree Araminta. Many of the wizards wanted out of their marriages. The law was put into place to increase the number of pureblooded wizards and that had been accomplished. Most had stopped having children three years ago. Draco's newest son surely would have been the last one born. Now, our pureblooded sons are free to marry the witches of their choice. Likely that will lead to more pureblooded children, Brown will be willing to have two or three of Pucey's children now," Owen said.
"I'll never agree to allowing divorce in our world," Araminta stated firmly.
"That's why this idea was so brilliant," Rodolphus stated. "We didn't make divorce legal. The law states that we are righting a wrong. Araminta, you had to know this would happen. No, aristocratic pureblooded wizard would want to stay married to a witch not of his class."
"It appears your nephew would!" Araminta spat.
Rodolphus chuckled, "Malfoys like to marry spirited witches. They can't help themselves. Ginevra is not the low class girl she once was."
"She is not of his class. Draco can do much better. He is staying with her for the sake of his sons. He believes they need her. I don't see why. Narcissa is more of a mother to Thuban and Serpens. And I have always looked after Cygnus. I was the one who taught Cygnus to control his magic. His powers are very strong," Bellatrix stated.
"Cygnus will be a very powerful wizard. He was only sixteen months, I believe, when I saw him use magic to spill pumpkin juice on another child from across the room," Owen said. "If Ginny and Draco divorce, he would have to be placed with the most powerful parent."
"Shouldn't that be something you look at in all cases, Owen?" Bellatrix interjected. "I mean it's happened before, a witch or a wizard losing their magical abilities. If that occurs, shouldn't the child or children be placed with someone else?"
"Pureblooded children must be raised by parents with their magical abilities intact," Araminta stated.
The two Wizengamot members started to discuss the topic. Rodolphus whispered in Bellatrix's ear. "I see what you are up to now, dearest. Mess with Ginevra's magic all you want but Cissy and Lucius will…"
"I will not need to do a thing to Draco," she whispered to him before turning and smiling as Araminta and Owen went on with their discussion.
------******------
Ginny smiled in her sleep enjoying her dream forgetting the event of the evening.
Ginny's dream
Draco held her close with his arm around her waist as they watched the Hogwarts Express make its way to platform 9 ¾. Her husband was holding the hand of a six-year-old red haired boy with gray eyes. Right before the train stopped he called to a blond nine-year-old boy, "Serpens get over here, please. I don't want to lose you in the crowd of students."
The little wizard bounced over to his parents and smiled. "I bet Cam will still be wearing his Hogwarts uniform and not Muggle clothes like you told him."
Draco beamed. "If he is, he will merely need to remove the robe. I'd planned on transfiguring his cloak into a Muggle jacket anyway."
It seemed like most of the students had greeted their parents before Ginny saw the golden blond hair of eleven year old, Cam. His blue eyes sparkled at the sight of his family. The collar of his white shirt was crisp and freshly pressed like his father's always were, but the silver in his Slytherin tie did nothing for his eyes. She knew Cam would be in his school uniform when they collected him for the Christmas holidays. He was extremely proud to have been placed in his father's school house. The boy didn't have on his robe and over his arm was a Muggle winter jacket, which was a lovely blue color matching his eyes.
Ginny sighed, "He's grown."
"I would hope so, Ginny," Draco chuckled before she elbowed him.
Cam hugged his mother. "Merlin, I've missed you, Mum."
"I've missed you too, Cammy," Ginny cried as his kissed his cheek.
The boy broke free of his mother and shook his father's hand. "I've missed you too, Dad." He turned to his brothers. "I hope you two kept an eye on my chambers like I asked."
"Only Mum and the elves went in there," Serpens said.
"I had Simon polish up your broom, Cam," Leo informed him. "I can't wait for us all to go flying again."
"Come alone boys, we need to get to platform two and collect Thuban," Draco said while moving his family along. They walked out the entry arch and into the Muggle area of King's Cross. It wasn't long before they reached platform two. The train had already arrived and only a few people remained on it.
"Oh, Draco! We should have slit up," Ginny sighed. "Poor Thuban, no one was here to meet him. What must he think of us?"
He hugged his wife. "I'm sure he thinks his train was early."
She turned and sobbed into her husband's shoulder. "What type of mother am I?"
"A pretty amazing one in my opinion!" Thuban said as he walked from behind a pillar.
Ginny broke away from her husband and hugged her eldest child. "I'm so sorry, Thuban. We should have been here."
"It's okay, Mum. My train was early." Thuban looked at his brothers and father. "Where is everyone else?"
"They're at the Manor," Draco replied.
"Let's get going then. I want to see them."
Before long the car pulled up outside the Manor. Thuban jumped out and ran inside. The rest of the family followed him at a slower pace. He was still standing in the foyer when they entered the house. A strawberry blond boy quickly came down the stairs and happily jumped on to Thuban.
The four-year-old screamed. "Thuban's here! Thuban's here! Thuban, I got a broom for my birthday. Daddy said that we could all go flying tomorrow. Did you remember to bring your broom? I've missed you. Serpens and Leo are so bossy when we're gone."
"I missed you too, squirt. Yes, I brought my broom. Where's everyone else?"
The four year old took Thuban's hand. "Come on, I'll show you." They walked up the stairs with the rest of the family following.
A two-year pd red-haired boy came out of the room and whispered. "Kiet sheeping." But when he spotted his oldest brother he screamed. "It Ban, it Ban." He pulled at Thuban's trouser leg. "UP! BAN!"
Thuban picked up the little wizard and gave him a horsy back ride into the room the boy had just come from. The nursery, which had been decorated in a Quidditch theme when he left for school, was now pink with a princess theme. Three different jewel filled tiaras sat on the fireplace mantle. The dressing room door was open and it was loaded with beautiful little dresses, robes, and cloaks.
Leo walked over to Thuban as the two-year-old slide off of his back. "You should see her room at Black Hall. This is nothing."
Ginny watched as Thuban approached Narcissa, who was holding a bundle of pink. His grandmother placed the small baby into the steady arms of her eldest grandchild. Being the oldest of seven, Thuban knew how to hold a baby. Ginny and Draco were standing next to him as Thuban slightly moved the blanket so he could get a good look at his baby sister. Her blonde hair was so light it could barely be seen. She moved and opened her eyes, they were blue like his grandmother.
Ginny looked on as the eyes of her eldest and youngest locked as they meet for the first time. Thuban cooed at the baby. "Hello, Vela. I'm Thuban, your big brother." The baby stretched and put her thumb into her mouth. "Merlin, you're cute."
"She's loud too," Serpens informed his brother. "She cries louder than any of them did." He pointed to the three younger boys in the room. Vela decided at that moment her thumb was no longer any good and started to fuss for her mother. Soon she was crying loudly.
Ginny stirred and opened her eyes. That crying sounded so real, she thought. Vela sounded like Leo. Another cry came from the next room, she sprung to her feet. It was Leo crying. She ran to the nursery still not thinking straight and puzzled to why she was in Draco's room. It all came back to her as she stood in the doorway watching Draco change their son.
"I found the passageway Cam used. I sealed it in three different places," Blaise said as he walked into the nursery. His eyes meet Ginny's and he smiled brightly at her. "Hello, Ginbug. It's great to see you, love." He walked over, kissed her cheek, and whispered into her ear. "He's ready to listen, now. Do you want to talk to him?" She nodded. Blaise addressed Draco, who still hadn't turned around to look at his wife. "Do you want me to take Leo downstairs?"
"No, he was wet. He's back to sleep already."
"Right then, I'll be downstairs." Blaise walked out of the room.
"My room, Draco," Ginny whispered as she walked next door. Draco followed her and cast locking charms and sound proofing charms. She turned and their eyes meet for the first time. Her eyes were tearing and hurt filled but they quickly turn to anger. She flew across the room and attacked his chest with her fists. "How could you, Draco? How could you?"
He let her pound until she lost her strength. Once she tired, he pulled her into a hug and kissed her forehead. "I'm so sorry, Ginny. Merlin, please forgive. Please give me another chance."
"I thought you'd changed, Draco, but you're still the same hurtful arse you were at Hogwarts," she wept into his chest.
"Merlin Ginny, I'm not. I was so hurt when I read the letter and then saw the photo, I couldn't think straight." He released his hold on her but then took hold of her hands and, stepping back, he lifted her chin with their interlocked hands. "I've never been in love with a woman before. I don't know how to act. Maybe that's why I behaved like a child and threw a fit." He lovingly wiped a tear from her cheek. "Mother and Blaise gave me an earful about my poor behavior. If I had a timeturner, I'd go back and change this evening." He kissed the back of each of her hands. "I love you."
"So your mother and Blaise talked you into coming back?"
"No, they merely helped me see my errors. I decided to come back on my own."
"Draco, did you come back for me or for your sons?" Ginny whispered.
"I come back for you, my love, although the boys are an added bonus." He smiled at her then stared at her sincerely. "Ginny, please trust me, when I tell you this. In the beginning, our marriage was based only on the children. My feelings changed the year before Serpens was born. I've grown more and more in love with you over the last years and I finally had the courage to say and show it. Now, I promise to give you my love unconditionally. I promise to trust you and do my best not to be the selfish, possessive, controlling, insecure, and insensitive prat that I've been in the past. Merlin Ginny, I need you. Forgive me?"
"I don't know where the photo and letters came from, Draco."
He looked at her worriedly. "Thuban brought them for Grimmauld Place and Cam put them in your room." She stared at him questioningly. "I should have listened and believed you, Ginny. I'm sorry. Forgive me?"
Her mind was flooded was a number of thoughts. Would he be here if he hadn't learned the truth about the letters? Could she really trust him? Could she live without him? Did she want to live without him? Would he be able to keep his promises? Did he want her or their sons? Why in Merlin's name did she love him so much that she dreamed of a future life with him? He had been an arse tonight, that was for sure. She decided to let him back in her life, but not before he sweated a little more.
She untwined her fingers from his and walked into their sitting room making sure to sit in a small chair. Draco followed her and watched as she gazed into the fire. Ten minutes had passed with neither speaking, so he knelt in front of her. He looked at her with his best puppy dog eyes and pleaded. "Please Ginny. Forgive me. Trust me."
Seeing his expression she believed he had been punished enough. "I forgive you, Draco, but if you want me to trust you, show me you trust me." She paused. "Tell me everything about the night Harry died. What part did you have in it?"
There was a knock on the door and it opened. Thuban walked in wearing pajamas and with his old teddy bear under his arm. "There's a boggart in my room."
Draco collected the little boy in his arms and placed him on his hip. "Uncle Blaise is still downstairs, mate. Have him help you. Mummy and I are still busy."
"It's a really big and nasty boggart, Daddy. I think it will take you, Mummy, and Uncle Blaise to get it."
Ginny walked over to the two wizards and kissed the boy's cheek. "I'm up for a boggart hunt. I believe your daddy needs some time to think before he answers my last question."
He repositioned Thuban so he could whisper to Ginny. "I'll tell you anything you want to know about my past." He kissed her cheek.
"No, Daddy. Not there. Her lips! Kiss her on the lips," Thuban said.
Draco smirked at her and she nodded. He slowly started to kiss his wife. The little wizard squirmed free of his father and headed downstairs in search of his godfather. Hopefully, his parents would be done kissing by the time they returned.
------******------
Lucius sat in the corner of the old pub nursing his fire whiskey. It wasn't long before Mihailov joined him.
"Hello, Mr. Malfoy. So did you vant me to start tracking your daughter-in-law again?"
"No, Mihailov. There is no need for that. My plan is simple enough. I want you to locate a wizard how looks like this." Lucius handed him a picture of Harry Potter. "That's her type."
"And vhat is this vizard to do?"
"Slowly seduce her, of course. I need pictures of her infidelity. It may take some time. I will arrange a number of business trips for Draco in the next three months, giving her many opportunities."
"How often to you vish me to report the progress to you?"
"I'll meet you here in a fortnight. Now go I wish to drink in peace."
------******------
The cries of a very hungry Leo woke Draco from his sleep. It was a good thing he thought. He had fallen asleep on the bed in his work clothes. The hunt for Thuban's boggart was long and to his, Blaise and Ginny's surprise there had actually been one. Ginny had showered and gotten ready for bed while Draco had a drink with Blaise to thank him before showing him out. With his wife asleep when he returned, Draco collapsed on the bed.
He rolled out of bed walking to the cradle that held his youngest son. Still mostly asleep, he hadn't seen that the room had a fourth occupant. Ginny opened her eyes and watched Draco as he first changed the baby. A noise from the opposite corner of the room got her attention and she looked. A pair of blue eyes gazed at her. The piercing eyes where tearful and tired. The little wizard they belonged to sat in the chair curled in a ball.
"Cammy, what's wrong? Why are you in the chair?"
Draco turned with the baby in his arms and looked around the room before his eyes settled on Cam. Who was shocked when he first meet his father's eyes but Draco's look softened and the boy sighed. "I can't sleep until I know. I didn't want to wake you."
Leo started crying again, so Ginny sat up in the bed and started to feed the baby. She patted the spot next to her. "Come here, next to Mummy, baby."
The little wizard quickly jumped onto the bed avoiding his father so he couldn't overturn Ginny's request. He snuggled up to her. Draco looked at them and decided it would be best to let Ginny have a moment or two with Cam. "I'm going to get on my night clothes." She nodded and he went into his chambers.
"Are you happy again, Mummy?" Cam whispered. "Thuban helped me get Daddy back. I'm so sorry!" He began to cry.
"Hush now, Cam," she kissed his tears away. "I'm happy again and so is your daddy."
Draco walked back into the room. "You're staying right, Daddy?"
"Yes."
Cam stretched and yawned. "Good," he said lightly before kissing his baby brother's cheek. "I'm sorry for spilling water on you, Leo. I love you." He kissed Ginny's cheek too. "I love you, Mummy."
She kissed the boy back. "I love you too, Cammy."
The little wizard crawled over to his father and raised his arms so Draco would lift him up. Once he was on his father's hip, he kissed his cheek. "I can sleep now, Daddy. Will you please tuck me back in?"
So this is real love, Draco thought. He was still furious with the little wizard in his arms. This boy's actions had caused him more pain tonight tham Draco would have even imagined. He hadn't punished Cam yet, fearing he'd end up beating the child. But at this moment Draco found it easy to push his anger aside and give his son the comfort he needed. Cam's little bottom would be reddened tomorrow but tonight he would be tucked back into his bed with a kiss and an "I love you."