Left Behind
Chapter Three
Draco found himself at a standstill with his six year old god daughter; she was currently having a staring contest with him and winning. He had taught her well over the years, as this had been a regular occurrence between the two of them. Hermione was cooking them up a nice breakfast while they leaned on the kitchen table, staring each other down. He could feel his eyes pricking and knew he wasn't going to last much longer. He'd never lost before though and it seemed a surreal moment to know that perhaps she was about surpass him. Just as he was about to blink she gave out a sigh and blinked her eyes rapidly.
"You always win," she whined, sticking her bottom lip out.
"It's because I have silver eyes," he replied, grinning.
"Is not," she exclaimed, shaking her head.
"Is too," he replied, nodding.
"Nu uh," she said, frowning.
"Ya huh," he told her, feeling only the slightest bit foolish for the childish banter.
"MUM!" she called out, crossing her arms and looking at him triumphantly. "Mum! Uncle Draco is lying!" she shouted.
"Tattle tail," Draco grumbled, silently smiling.
"About what now?" Hermione called back, clearly amused.
Draco snorted, rolling his eyes.
"He says he always wins because he has silver eyes," Maggie told her, sticking her tongue out at her godfather.
Chuckling, Hermione walked into the dining room, placing a plate down in front of both of them. "Draco, do you have any proof to back that up?" she asked, half-smiling.
"I haven't lost once," he told her, nodding shortly.
"And Maggie, do you have any proof that he isn't telling the truth?" she asked.
Clearly stumped, Maggie looked back and forth from her mother to her godfather. "What? Ugh! But- He's- That's not-" Shaking her head, she sent an annoyed glare at Draco before digging into breakfast.
"Maybe you can prove me wrong next time, Magpie," Draco told her, grinning.
"Right, well Molly just called. I told her you were bringing Maggie over so she didn't have to apparate out here," she informed him, sitting down with her own plate of fruit. "Try to be there soon though, because Luna is already on her way over with Jazzy."
"How fast do you expect us to eat? Luna lives like a two minute walk from Molly's," he reminded. "And what is wrong with the Floo system? Why haven't they connected it to this place yet?"
"I have no idea," Hermione replied, sighing. "I keep putting in applications and getting no word," she said, annoyed. "But apparating isn't going to hurt you. You've Side-Along apparated numerous times."
"I know, I'd just rather not take the chance with Magpie," he admitted, frowning
"It'll be fine," Hermione assured, spearing a piece of honeydew.
A half hour later, Draco found himself tapping his foot while he waited for Maggie to finish getting dressed. Hermione had left ten minutes prior, kissing Maggie goodbye and telling Draco to stay out of trouble. She promised to be back by dinner time and turned to half run her way out of the wards around her house so she could apparate to London. Finally, wearing an emerald green sun dress, Maggie emerged from her bedroom, holding a bag in her arms and looking mighty suspicious.
"What've you got?" Draco asked, trying his best to to look amused.
"Nothing," she told him, quickly, her eyes widening. "I'm just bringing this bag... for Jazzie... 'cause she likes it," she mumbled.
Snorting, Draco picked her up off the floor and stealthily stuck his hand inside the bag before she could stop him. His brow lifted and his mouth curled into a smirk. "Is that a broom I just found?" he asked. "It can't be the one I gave you for Christmas that your mum hid until you were at least ten, could it?"
Biting her lip, Maggie looked up, shaking her head. "No, it's... a different broom," she assured. "One mum didn't say I couldn't use."
Laughing, Draco rolled his eyes and pulled open the front door. "If you're going to fly, you had better make sure I'm around. Your mum would kill me if she found out I had let your go flying without supervision."
Nodding excitedly, Maggie grinned at him as he locked the front door and walked them a ways from the house to apparate them. In the blink of an eye, a pop could be heard, and they were standing just outside of the Burrow. Placing Maggie on the ground, Draco smiled as she ran off toward the house. The back door swung open, revealing a five year old Jasmine Weasley as she hurried to hug Maggie. Chuckling, Draco made his way around the two girls to walk into the Burrow, where he was almost immediately bowled over by Molly Weasley.
"Oh dear me," she exclaimed, hugging him tightly. "Why, I haven't seen you in far too long, Draco," she told him, shaking her head. Pulling back, she placed a hand on her cheek and smiled at him adoringly. "You're even more handsome than the last time I saw you," she told him, fawning. "Come now, there's lots of breakfast on the table, plenty for you to eat."
He considered telling her that he'd already eaten at Hermione's, but thought better of it. The moment he told her that he had eaten, she would get on him about how he looked thin and needed to eat more. He wasn't really thin, he just had a lean body. But it was only intelligent never to fight with Molly Weasley, especially when it came to her feeding a person. So he pulled up a chair beside Luna, who was absently picking at a blueberry muffin and reading The Quibbler, upside down.
"Hey Loon," he greeted, easily. There was a light slap over the head from Molly, reminding him not to use the nickname that could come off sounding rude. Rolling his eyes, Draco shrugged. "So Molly, how've things been 'round here?"
"Busy," she told him, nodding. "Arthur was promoted," she exclaimed, happily. "And Ron is off for another game. I haven't stopped worrying; Fred and George told me this next team is supposed to be really brutal."
"Really?" Draco asked, frowning. "I think they may have been pulling your leg. In fact, their next team is supposed to be an easy win for the Cannons," he assured.
"Oh those two," she grumbled, shaking her head. "They're always trying to frazzle my nerves."
"Well, now that they have families of their own, and know that their wives aren't about to let them pull pranks on them, you're really their only target," Draco reminded, sighing.
"That reminds me," Molly said, nodding. "When are you going to settle down and have a baby for me to fawn over?"
Usually, this would be the moment where Draco would groan and tell her that he was too young to become attached and raise a family, however with recent events that had changed. "Actually," he said, smiling slightly. "I've been thinking lately, and though I'm not seeing anyone exclusively, I have decided that maybe settling down wouldn't be so bad."
Shrieking excitedly, Molly practically leapt from her chair, telling him how excited she was that he was finally going to find a nice girl and have children. An hour later, she was still going on about how great it was going to be and what girls she knew he would get along with famously. He managed to pry himself away from her however, when Luna started a conversation about how she and Ron might be thinking of having another child soon. Making his way to the backyard, he found Jazzie and Maggie playing a game of tag between the two of them.
As soon as they saw him, they both charged at him with their arms out. "You're it! You're it!" they both shouted, patting his legs.
Grinning, he chased after them, lifting them up in the air and twirling them around as they giggled excitedly. "Who's it?" he asked, laughing. "Who's it?"
"We are!" they yelled, gleefully. "We are!"
Tickling them as they hung over his shoulders, he laughed along with them. Finally putting them down on the ground, he grinned at their flushed, giggling faces. Maggie begged to bring out her broom and Draco relented, telling her to go get it. Jazzie was far too young to go flying, but Luna said she could if she was on Draco's broom with him. He hadn't brought his, so he borrowed one from the closet in the Burrow. Maggie had a natural talent for flying, which really wasn't all that surprising, given her dad. She wasn't scared at all, unlike her mother; but she did have a tendency of going far too fast and scaring her mum every time. Which is why Hermione confiscated her broom until she was ten; then she'd have a year of practice before she left for Hogwarts.
It was hours before they finally came down from flying, when Draco had to practically drag his goddaughter away from the calming skies. She had been doing flips and hazardous spins, which would likely give Hermione a heart attack the second she found out, let alone saw it. By the time they landed however, Maggie was looking tuckered out. They walked into the Burrow, where they sat down for a nice lunch before scampering off to the living room to play Exploding Snap, while Luna watched.
"You know Draco," Molly told him, handing him a fourth sandwich. "There's a really nice girl who just moved in down the street," she informed him, winking suggestively. "Beautiful too."
Draco couldn't help but laugh. "That's what you've said about the last fifteen girls you've suggested," he told her, shaking his head. "I'd much rather meet her on my own than be set up. Trust me, Molly, I'll find a girl for you to approve of."
Luna walked in then, cutting Molly off before she could reply. "Maggie fell asleep on the couch," she told him, sliding into a chair.
"You might want to move her upstairs dear," Molly warned him, frowning. "Fred and George are dropping by soon, said they have some news for us."
"Sure," Draco said, nodding. "I'll put her in Ron's old room," he informed them.
Walking into the living room, he slipped the small girl into his arms, brushing her dark hair off her face. With her eyes closed, Draco could forget for a moment that it was Potter's kid. He didn't have anything against Boy Wonder, except that he had completely abandoned Hermione during a time she needed him most. Though he wouldn't trade the time he had spent helping her with Maggie for anything, he knew that his little goddaughter deserved better than an uncle who traveled the world. She needed a father that was going to be there all the time; a permanent fixture in her life. He couldn't help but feel a surge of anger for the boy who had disappeared for his own selfish reasons.
As Draco passed the front door, making his way toward the stairs, he heard a knock. Finding it odd that the person didn't just Floo in, he decided to answer it himself. Adjusting Maggie so she was held up against his chest by only one arm, he opened the door quickly and then put his other arm back in place to keep her from falling. What he was met with nearly knocked the air right out of his chest. "What are you doing here?" he asked, trying to restrain his anger.
Clearing his throat, the man in front of him looked around rather awkwardly. "Er... Is Mrs. Weasley here?" he asked, biting his lip briefly.
Glancing down at the girl in his arms, Draco then glared at the uncomfortable boy in front of him. "Molly," he called out, careful not to wake Maggie up. "You are never going to believe who's at the door," he told her, frowning. "I hardly can," he said, more to himself than her.
Hurrying out of the kitchen, Molly stared at Draco, confused, before directing her gaze to the door. "Oh my lord," she gasped, lifting a hand to her chest. Tears filled her eyes as she shook her head. "It can't be," she said, shaking her head. "It just can't be."
Smiling nervously, Harry Potter stepped through the door and nodded silently to the ginger haired woman who though of him as another son.
Half running to him, Molly wrapped her arms around him, cradling his head. "You've come back," she exclaimed tearfully.
Shifting Maggie in his arms, Draco watched as Molly held an awkward Harry, who slowly seemed to fall back into the old ways as he hugged her back.
Luna had walked out to stand beside Draco, staring at Harry with mild interest. "I didn't think you'd show up so quickly," she admitted.
Draco turned to her sharply. "You knew he was coming?" he asked, slightly annoyed.
"Dobby came by last night," she explained, nodding. "Told me Harry was looking to drop in for a visit."
"Right," Draco said, glaring at the boy who was now standing beside Molly Weasley. "A visit. Well Potter, I'm so glad you could grace the rest of us with your ever so welcomed presence," he spat. "If you'll excuse me, my goddaughter would probably prefer to be sleeping in a bed right now." With one last piecing glare at the boy who had abandoned the girl in his arms, even if it was unknowingly, Draco stalked toward the stairs and hurried up them.
"What was that?" he heard Potter ask, confused.
"Oh Harry," Molly said, sadly. "You've missed so much!"
Shaking his head, Draco made his way into Ron's old room and placed Maggie down gently in the bed, tucking the blanket around her. Kneeling down beside her, he kissed her forehead and sighed. Seeing Harry actually scared him; he wanted Maggie to know her dad, he really did. He was just scared that if she did, he might pull another vanishing act on her and Hermione and he was sure that his best friend couldn't go through that again. There were a few underlying feelings of jealousy too; he couldn't help but feel special for being the most important guy in Maggie's life. But he understood that she needed a dad and he couldn't be that for her; he only hoped that Potter figured out what it was he was doing, and quick.
Making his way back down, Draco found Fred and George had arrived and were currently telling Potter all about their booming business, which had taken up residence all over the Wizarding world. They had certainly been doing good for themselves, except for one small problem a few years back when one of their stores had been accidentally blown up and they hadn't had the resources to rebuild it. Draco had lent a friendly hand then, giving them the money to create their store, which further placed him in high regard with the Weasley family.
Ever since the war he had a high standing with them; after saving both Molly and Ginny, they were incredibly grateful. He assured them, more times than he could count, that they really didn't have to pay him back in any way. Instead of giving him some kind of monetary reward or a life debt to one day save him back, they had welcomed him into their family. Being as he had been thrown out of his own, quite harshly, he was quite receptive to the hospitality they had shown. He and Ron ended up hitting it off very well and were close enough to be considered best friends, though Ron often said that he still considered Harry to be his best mate. Ginny was rather hesitant to trust him, though she thanked him profusely for saving her life. She had moved out years ago, moving in with her current fiance Neville Longbottom. Draco found her to be like a little sister, likely because of Ron. He enjoyed a few good natured jabs about her fiance and the happenings of Ginny's life. They were close, though it had taken some time for it to get there.
Arthur had known about his involvement with being a spy for the Order, so he had already had a chance to get to know him and enjoyed his company. Draco enjoyed Arthur's rants about Muggle artifacts and whenever he was moved to another country, he was sure to pick up another contraption for the nice man. Draco found the three eldest Weasley's weren't around much, but that didn't stop him from having a rather rocky relationship with Percy Weasley, who he found to be unbearably annoying. Bill was quite the opposite though and Draco found he quite enjoyed talking to him about many world wide things. Charlie wasn't too bad either, though Draco had to admit he saw him the second least over the years. All in all though, he was quite close with most of the Weasley's, which was a very important part of his life.
Sliding on to the couch, he half listened as George and Fred went on about their business ventures, glancing at Molly to see her watching Harry tearfully. Luna was braiding Jazzy's red hair, while absently humming, "Weasley is our King," to herself. Draco eyed the clock, noting that Hermione was bound to be showing up within a few hours.
"Draco," Fred called out, cheerfully. "Brother, I had no idea you were here!" he exclaimed. "George, did you know that Draco had returned from France?" he asked.
"I had no idea," George replied. "Now that we know he is though, Fred, what do you suppose he's brought us?" he asked, excitedly.
"It must be something good," his brother replied, nodding.
"Better than those jawbreakers that turn into black licorice spiders filled with jelly? D'you remember how scared Ron was when the spider began runnin' round his mouth?" he asked, grinning.
"That was quite a sight," Fred agreed, smirking.
"Well, what is it then?"" George asked, his brows perking.
Draco shook his head, sighing. "Fraid I left my bags at Hermione's," he told them, shrugging. "I'll bring your gifts 'round your houses tomorrow though," he assured.
Frowning, the twins seemed to sag with a moment of disappointment. As quickly as it happened though, they were just as soon back to being happy. "So tell us Harry, where were you then?" Fred asked, excitedly.
"Yes, the whole Wizarding world wants to know," George agreed, nodding. "Where has our savior hidden himself all this time?"
"No, let me guess," Fred said, nodding. "You took to visiting every nude beach you could find," he suggested.
Molly scoffed in the background, opening her mouth to retort, but George jumped in with another possibility. "You moved into the woods, where you built your own house out of trees and lived off the land!"
Draco couldn't help but snort at that one, rolling his eyes at the absurdity.
Before either of them could say anymore, Harry held up his hands. "I was just staying in a normal home; away from the media. That's it," he told them, nodding.
"Right, it must've been so bloody terrible for you," Draco commented, not the least bit sympathetic. "A life of fame and glory for saving the world, must've just irked you to no end. Everybody was in love with you, you were dating an incredible girl, you had the best friends you could ask for. Bloody hell, why didn't you leave earlier?" he half-shouted, angrily.
"Draco," Molly scolded, though it didn't hold much conviction.
"What is your problem Malfoy?" Harry asked, his eyes thinning. "What do you care that I left? How does it bother you in the least?" he wondered, crossing his arms.
"You're right, Potter," Draco said, standing up from the couch. "It has absolutely nothing to do with me." Shaking his head, he turned to look at Molly. "I think I'm going to take Maggie home. If Hermione comes here first, tell her where we are, please," he asked.
"Oh no," Molly said, standing from her seat. "Draco, don't go," she told him, shaking her head.
Crossing the room, Draco hurried upstairs to get the little girl who was still napping soundly. Waking her up, he explained to her that they were going to be leaving early. Nodding tiredly, she stood up and took his hand. Since she was half asleep, he hefted her up on his side and walked downstairs. Molly was standing by the door, wringing her hands worriedly. Maggie had buried her head in Draco's neck, half asleep. Her arm was wrapped around his shoulder, her fingers absently playing with his hair like she had done when she was just a baby.
"I'm sorry Molly," he told her, shaking his head. "But I really can't stand him, and I'm not sure Hermione would be okay with this," he told her, pointedly.
"I," Molly sighed, defeatedly. "I understand," she told him, nodding.
"Why wouldn't she?" Harry asked, apparently overhearing.
"Didn't anyone tell you that eavesdropping is rude?" Draco snapped.
Maggie lifted her head then, tired but worried. "What's wrong?" she asked, staring at her godfather. "Uncle Draco, why are you angry?"
"Nothing sweetie," he said, running his hand over her hair. "Just go back to sleep," he told her, directing her head back down to his shoulder.
Snorting, Harry shook his head.
"What?" Draco asked, annoyed, glaring at the boy across from him.
"I just never imagined you would be good with kids," he admitted, half-smirking.
"Draco practically raised Maggie as his own daughter," Luna broke in, walking over to stand across from Molly, who was trapped between the two boys. "He was there through those classes, with the breathing." She frowned, looking over at Draco. "What were those called again?"
"Lamaze," he supplied.
"Right, those classes," she told Harry, nodding. "He was there to help Maggie's mum through all of it. Morning sickness, food cravings, mood swings, and he managed through when she gave birth too." Frowning again, she tipped her head. "Unlike Ron, who passed out," she admitted, sighing. "He did the same when I gave birth to Jasmine too," she admitted, shaking her head. "They reenervated him though and all was good," she said, cheerily.
"So you were a regular stand in dad," Harry commented, looking slightly amused. "Never thought you the type."
There was an obvious strain on the room then, with everybody falling silent.
"Yeah, well Maggie's dad wasn't exactly the greatest guy," Draco retorted, becoming angry.
"Draco," Molly said, shaking her head sadly.
"No," he said, glaring straight at Harry. "He left Maggie's mum when she was only a month pregnant," he explained, nodding. "Real selfish git," he told him, grimacing. "Always thinking of himself, never about anyone else. Had a gorgeous, intelligent girlfriend, but he only cared about his own bloody problems," he spat, shaking his head.
"Draco," Luna interrupted, biting her lip. "Com'on now."
Shaking his head, he ignored her. "So while he was off, enjoying his little vacation from the real world, I was the one helping her through it all," he said, stepping forward. "I was the one she called when she was upset. I was the one who held her hair back every single morning. And I was the one who rubbed her feet because she wasn't used to the extra weight," he told him, visibly shaking from rage. "That woman has done nothing but raise the most incredible daughter alive, and y- he couldn't spare a god damn moment to write one fucking letter to her!" he shouted, shaking his head.
Maggie began crying then, her arms tightening around Draco's neck.
Immediately, Draco grimaced, rubbing her back. "I'm sorry baby," he whispered, running his hand over her hair. "Shh," he murmured, rocking her.
"Why didn't he want me?" she asked, hiccuping.
Sighing, Draco's anger completely dissipated. Kneeling down, Draco placed her on the floor, cupping her face and looking straight into her green eyes. "What did I tell you about your daddy, Magpie?" he asked.
"Y-You said he loved me," she told him, inhaling sharply. "That he didn't know it, but he did 'cause nobody could have me for a daughter and not love me," she said, tears slipping down her cheeks. "But I don't think he does, Uncle Draco," she told him, shaking her head. "Because he's not here! He's away, he's still on vacation. Mummy told me so!"
"I know, sweetie," Draco told her, rubbing her tears away gently. "But maybe your daddy isn't so far away after all," he suggested, feeling slightly worried when she brightened up.
"Will you find my daddy?" she asked, smiling. "Will you bring him back from his vacation?" she wondered, hopefully.
Wincing, Draco looked up at Molly, who was crying while shaking her head. "I-"
"Molly? Draco?" a female voice called out. "I was finished early, I thought I'd..." Hermione walked through the front door, coming around to find Maggie wiping away her tears and smiling at her godfather. "Maggie, darling, what's wrong?" she asked, kneeling down beside her best friend, not noticing the raven haired boy across from them.
"Mummy," Maggie exclaimed, hurrying over to her. "Uncle Draco is going to find daddy for me," she told her, hugging her tightly.
"He what?" Hermione asked, her eyes widening. She turned to her best friend, who was grimacing.
Draco shook his head at her, before tipping it over to the shocked boy standing across from them. He watched as her face widened with both fear and shock. Turning, he stared at Potter, who looked like he had just been hit with the Cruciatius curse.
"Yeah," Maggie continued, nodding happily. "It's okay, right? I can see him if uncle Draco finds him, right?" she wondered. Finding that her mum wasn't responding, but instead staring at someone behind her, she stopped talking. Slowly, Maggie turned around, looking over at the stranger in the room, with mild interest. "Who are you?" she asked, tipping her head.
"I'm Harry," he replied, his tone detached, as if he was deep in thought.
"That's my daddy's name," she told him, walking forward innocently. Holding up her hand, she smiled at him. "My name is Magnolia Potter," she introduced herself. Wrinkling her nose, she frowned. "I like Maggie better. Uncle Ron calls me Mags though and uncle Draco calls me Magpie," she informed him, nodding. "Mummy calls me Maggie, but when she's mad or telling me to do something she calls me Magnolia," she continued. Inhaling deeply, she looked around at everyone. "Are you going to shake my hand?" she wondered, her hand still held out.
Harry seemed to be choking on words, but he held out a quivering hand, taking hers in it gently. Slowly, he fell to his knees in front of her, still grasping her small palm in his. "What's your name again?" he asked, whispering.
"Maggie Potter," she told him, whispering to match his tone.
Letting out a shuddering breath, Potter closed his eyes before covering them with his other hand.
"Are you okay, Harry?" she asked, worried. Her little hand reached out, covering the one over his eyes. "Don't cry," she told him. "Mummy, Harry is crying," she told her, frantically. "What should I do?" she asked. "Oh! Oh, I know!" she told him, hopping slightly. "Whenever uncle Draco wants to cheer me up, he takes me flying," she exclaimed. Tugging on his hand, she pulled it from his face, revealing his wet and red eyes. "Do you want to, Harry? Do you want to go flying with me?" she asked, excitedly.
Draco felt a tug at his heart; knowing Hermione must be upset, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. His best friend shook sadly beside him before resting her head on his shoulder, burying her eyes in his shirt. She'd let out a sobbing noise whenever her daughter said anything to the man she didn't realize was her father. Draco watched intently as Harry stared into his own eyes inside his little girl. He felt a brief stab of regret for saying what he had earlier, but it was quickly forgotten. He sat in anticipation, hoping that his little goddaughter would get her wish; to meet her dad, to fly with him, and hopefully to have him around for a long time. It was all up to Harry now.
To Be Continued...