I own nothing... well nothing worth suing me over. All credit for recognizable characters and/ or locations goes to JK Rowling and her brilliant imagination : )

Hermione Granger was sitting in her apartment with two of her three best friends. Ginny and Harry had arrived already and they were just waiting for Ron and his girlfriend Susan. It was the usual Friday get together, and she was looking forward to it after a long week. Harry and Ginny were setting the table while Hermione finished making the salad for tonight's dinner. The knock on the door startled her.

"Why didn't they just apparate in?" She asked the room at large. "Harry will you let Ron and Susan in? I'm just about done here."

"Sure," Harry said. He was gone for several moments before he came back in with a grimace on his face. "Um, 'Mione? It wasn't Ron."

"Oh?" She finished what she was doing and reached in the cupboard over her head. "Who was it?" She turned then and nearly dropped the bowl in her hand. "Zabini? What are you doing here?"

"Don't worry Granger, I'm here on business. One of my clients left you a... an inheritance. If you could come to my office tomorrow morning we could get this cleared up." He handed her a business card and nodded to her. "It's a port key. When you are ready to come to the office, tap it twice and say Zabini Inc."

"An inheritance? Who?" She took the card he handed her and arched an eyebrow. Blaise Rockwell Zabini Esquire - Soliciter.

"I do apologize Ms Granger, but that will need to be discussed at my office. Tomorrow morning please." He nodded at her and left.

She looked at Harry and Ginny, eyebrows together in deep thought. "Well that was strange. Harry? Do we know anybody that's passed on recently?" He shook his head and she nodded. "That's what I thought. And to be honest, I don't think anybody I'd be on speaking terms with would use Zabini as their legal representation. He's a bit dubius isn't he? A bit like asking Mundungus to house sit..." Harry and Ginny laughed just as Ron and Susan popped in.

Ron took in the laughing faces and said, "what's the joke?"

Harry told him what had happened and he agreed that Zabini was shady. But then he was biased against all Slytherins. "So did he say what kind of inheritance?" Ron asked when Harry was done.

"No. In fact he was pretty evasive about the whole thing. I don't know Hermione. It could be a trap..." Ginny looked nervous.

"Well whatever it is, worrying about it tonight isn't going to affect what tomorrow brings so how about we forget about sneaky Slytherins and enjoy our evening." They all nodded their agreement and the night passed in a most pleasant fashion, but none of them forgot.

She woke early the next morning, as she usually did, but for some reason today felt different. It was Saturday, so she still had three hours before she had to be at work, and yet she was overcome by a sense of urgency. Then she remembered. She hurried through her morning routine, dressing in her work robes as she wasn't sure how long Zabini would keep her in his office.

Nervously she tapped the card as he'd instructed and felt the tug of a portkey. She opened her eyes to find herself in a plush reception room done in soft silver and emerald green. Plants decorated the corners and the furniture was upscale. She raised an eyebrow and turned to face the reception desk. A young woman with thick black hair done severely at the back of her head and dark brown eyes watched her curiously.

"Good morning, my name is Hermione Granger, Zabini asked me to meet him here today." She smiled tentatively and the dark haired witch smiled back.

"Which Zabini?" the woman asked.

"Um how many are there?" She was trying to remember his first name, but she didn't think she'd ever heard him referred to as anything other than Zabini.

"In the building or in general?" The other witch asked with a mischievous smirk. "In the building there are five."

"Oh..." Hermione looked around. "Oh wait. The card!" She pulled it out of the pocket she didn't remember putting it in, and quickly read it again. "Blaise Zabini." The receptionist grinned and tapped a portion of the wall.

Moments later Zabini walked into the room and smiled at her. "Granger, come on then. Dahlia, would you get Gretchen and ... well have Gretchen meet us in my office would you?" The girls eyes widened as she stared at Hermione and nodded.

"Of course Mr Zabini, I will send her in directly." Zabini nodded and gestured Hermione through lavish doors of dark grey marble shot with green.

"Very nice Zabini." He nodded politely and led her to a comfortable looking chair beside a large cherry wood desk. The desk was neat and organized and she found herself impressed by the whole set up. "So, how about we do this so I can get to work?" She wasn't trying to be rude but was sure it came across that way when she saw his eyebrow dart nearly to his hairline.

"I do understand Ms Granger. So let 's begin shall we? Draco Malfoy has been a client of mine since I joined the firm..."

"Big surprise..." she muttered.

"Yes. Well he and his wife have gone missing and as he named you the child's godmother and legal guardian..."

"Wait! What? I have better things to do with my time than be the butt of your joke Zabini." Her voice was cold but her intestines were twisting. Much as she hoped this was a joke, the look on his face told her otherwise.

"Trust me Granger, I am no happier about handing over my best friends son to you than you are about receiving him. However, wizarding law is absolute. Unless you are unfit to care for said child, you are his legal parent until such time as his blood parents are located." At that moment the door opened and she turned instinctively.

Standing in the door was a woman near Hermione's own age with soft brown hair and cold blue eyes. "Ah Gretchen." Zabini greeted the woman and waved her forward. It was only then that Hermione noticed the bundle in her arms. Zabini held out his arms and the woman gave him the child.

He in turn passed the boy to her. She looked down at him and was surprised to feel a flutter in her chest. He was so sweet, so innocent looking with his wispy blond hair and pale skin. "Oh he's beautiful..." she sighed. She looked up at Zabini with a soft smile and said, "What's his name?"

"Scorpius," Zabini said softly. "Here, this is for you." He handed her a letter, then took it back and broke the seal before handing it to her again. She cuddled the child closely to her chest and read the parchment he'd given her.

Granger,

I know you have to be shocked by this, but before you say no, let me explain. I do not want my son to grow up the way I did. I want him to have a chance to grow and be himself without the rules that were enforced upon me. To do this it is necessary to remove him from so called pure blood society. I believe you are the only person capable of breaking hundreds of years of rules and teaching him to be a wizard you can be proud of. It is my hope that he will break the Malfoy tradition and be placed somewhere other than Slytherin. Blaise has further details if you accept my request. Thank you for taking the time to consider this. I know that you are a good person and would not hold the sins of the father against an innocent child.

Draco Abraxas Malfoy

She stared at Zabini in shock. "Did you read this?" He shook his head and she frowned. "Hm. He said you have something else for me?"

He nodded and with a deep sigh handed her a large parcel. "I need you to sign this," she took the parchment and read it over. Basically all it said was that he'd informed her of the law and that she agreed to raise the child. She looked down at the sweet child in her arms and signed the document quickly, after of course looking for any hidden writing. He rolled his eyes while she did that, but once her signature was on the paper he handed her the parcel.

"In here are the keys to the Malfoy vault so that you may access the funds necessary to provide for the child. There is a request that you move your work schedule to part time so that Scorpius has you around, but that is not a requirement. Whether you choose to change your work schedule, or leave your job altogether is your choice, regardless of your decision a generous monthly stipend will be provided to cover living expenses and any other needs. Also in the package you will find portkeys to all of the Malfoy residences, though money has been set aside if you wish to purchase a house for you and the child instead of residing in one of the family homes. Anything else you need to know should be addressed in the package. If you need me for any reason, please don't hesitate to contact me." It was clearly a dismissal and Hermione rose quickly, still focused on the child in her arms.

"Thank you Zabini... I'll be in touch." She returned to the reception room and froze. She was completely clueless when it came to parenting. Could she apparate an infant? Or floo with one? She turned to the receptionist who clearly read her dismay.

"It's safe to apparate," the witch said softly with a gentle smile.

Hermione smiled back in relief. "Thank you. Dahlia?" The girl nodded and Hermione smiled again. "Where is the apparation point?" The girl laughed and pointed towards a door Hermione hadn't noticed before. "Thank you again." Dahlia nodded and waved her off.

When Hermione reached the apparation room she froze. Where to go? Well she supposed her parents house would be best. They would be the easiest to explain it too, not having known of the feud between this sweet child's father and his godmother. Godmother, Merlin how strange was that?