New story time! Yay!

This is a story about an arranged marriage between Evangeline Lily Prince Selwyn and Draco Malfoy.

Disclaimer: JKR owns all HP.

~Prologue~

If you were to look at Number 23, Spinner's End, on the morning after Halloween in 1981, you would find that the room was dark and had the absence of the usual fire. A man of twenty-one years would be on the chair, just staring into the empty grate, not really seeing anything.

This man's name is Severus Snape, and he plays a large role in this story that I have come to tell you today.

Severus was in great pain and his heart felt as though it was ripped out from his chest, leaving a gaping hole. The love of his life was gone, torn away from life so cruelly that he knew she had to have felt something. She gave up everything for that child of James Potter, the sole reason that Lily was no longer speaking to him. Not that she would ever…

Severus forced himself not to dwell on that fact, for he had spent the entire night crying his eyes out. Tissues, like little balls of white snow, littered the ground before him, having missed the small rubbish bin on the opposite end of the couch. The young man closed his black eyes and willed himself to tune out the rest of the world.

The early morning sun did it's best to worm it's way through the thick black curtains that hung on the windows, and succeeded slightly for a small ray of light made its way, shining on the floor. Severus looked down at the light with disgust and moved up to close the curtains even more tightly. It didn't seem right for the sun to be shining on a day like this. There should be no light whenever Lily is gone.

Severus was getting ready to yank the curtain closed whenever he spotted a cloaked figure hurrying up to his door. He frowned as the person rang the doorbell.

He yanked open the door to see his fellow Slytherin and widow, Emilia Prince. Severus raised an eyebrow.

"Emilia, what a surprise," he said and she half-smiled. He noticed she was clutching a bundle of blankets to her chest.

"May I come in?" she asked, her dark eyes full of worry.

Severus nodded, letting the younger woman in. He was reminded immensely of Lily by Emilia. The heart of gold, kind attitude, it was no wonder that Larson Selwyn had married her.

Emilia sat down on his couch and Severus went to the kitchen to fetch a cup of tea. When he returned, Emilia was shushing the bundle of blankets and rocking it back and forth. Her face had worry lines creasing it and dark circles were beneath her eyes. Even with the tired look upon her face, she was still beautiful.

"To what do I owe the pleasure, Emilia?" Severus asked, setting down the steaming cup.

"I have to go," she said, her dark eyes filling with tears.

"Go?" Severus asked. "Where may I ask are you going?"

"Away," she murmured, "Far, far away. My own child is in danger because of me and I cannot bear it if she were to be killed. Severus, please, I beg of you to help me."

"What is it that you require?" Severus asked, an eyebrow raised.

"I need you to look after her." Emilia pleaded.

Severus froze. Take a child and raise her? Why would he be fit for such a thing? Severus knew he wasn't anyone to be looking after children.

"Why me and not Narcissa? She has just had a child, I know she would be willing to take care of someone who is pureblooded as well."

"But they are betrothed to one another." Emilia murmured, "Draco is to marry my child when they turn seventeen. And they are to have children a month after."

"Seems as though you have this child's life planned out," Severus said coolly, "Why must you ask me to look after her?"

"Because, with the fall of the Dark Lord, I am wanted dead," Emilia half cried, "I cannot bear to have her raised by a non-relative or by her future mother-in-law! Please, Severus, I beg of you to take care of her."

Severus sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Where are you going?"

"I am going to face the charges that are against me," she said with a locked jaw, "I must do this for her. Severus, you must take care of her."

Severus glanced at the baby in the woman's arm. She peeked out from behind the blankets and cooed at him. Large dark eyes sparkled from beneath a fringe of curly dark hair.

"Please," Emilia said in a broken whisper.

"All right," Severus sighed.

"Thank you, Severus," Emilia said, "Thank you."

*suspense...sorta*

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XO, Dreamer