Alright so this is the first chapter of my second story posted. I also have recently posted Before The Worst and I am planning on posting a few more first chapters so if you guys are interested you can go to the poll I have on my profile (Which is officially up!) and you can vote for which ones you would like me to continue.

Also I do not own Harry Potter or their characters but you probably know that.

So enjoy!

She was working in her back room organizing the books ready to be put on the shelves when the chime of a bell rung through her little shop indicating someone had just walked in. No one should be here yet, she was sure the sign outside said closed. She didn't open for another hour. None the less she didn't mind. A customer was a customer.

"Coming!" She called as she quickly put down the book currently in her hand. She then turned and left her little back room to enter her actual shop. She looked around for the customer that walked in when she spotted a patch of blonde hair. Not just any blonde either, the same blonde hair that belonged to the man who made her life utter hell in Hogwarts.

"We're closed right now Malfoy." She sneered as the man stood on the welcome mat.

"Yet the door is open." He countered as he fiddled with a book on a near by shelf.

"Well not for you, what do you want Malfoy?" She asked as the man's eyes lifted from a book in his hand to meet hers.

"I have a proposition for you Granger." He smirked.

"Right Malfoy, what do you want?" She asked again crossing her arms. She looked the man across from her up and down. He hadn't changed much since they left Hogwarts three years ago. He still had that tall lean figure; same cloudy grey eyes, same smirk and stance, the only thing that had changed were his clothes. Instead of Hogwarts robes he now wore ordinary every day wizard robes and clothing.

"I need your… help." He said struggling to say the last word. Now what on earth was Draco Malfoy doing coming to her for help?

"With what?" Her tone none too pleased. Did he think she would honestly help him? But he didn't answer her question. Instead he stepped aside revealing a little girl with blonde hair in pig-tails and eyes that weren't really one color. She looked no more than four with short bangs, dressed in a little blue dress and white fancy sandals. At the sight of the little girl she felt her jaw drop.

"Malfoy… don't tell me she's y-" She tried to say but was cut off sharply by the Slytherin standing across from her.

"No Granger, she is not mine." He snarled as if the thought of having kids repulsed him.

"But she looks so much like you" She exclaimed before walking over and kneeling down so she was almost at the level of the little girl standing in front of her. She could see the girl had many of the traits Malfoy had. But she didn't have the straight hair he had. She had slight curls to her hair. She was in a light blue sun dress that was meant to look childish, though it was obvious it was very expensive. Definitely something not meant for playing in.

"That's cause we're related Granger. She's something like my mum's second niece, though I don't know how." He said thinking to himself for a moment.

"So why is she with you?" She enquired looking up at Malfoy.

"Well that's why I need your… assistance. Mum dumped this little thing on me this morning before I left. Apparently she's my aunt Andromeda's granddaughter and was left in her care after her parents were killed in the war."

"She isn't a thing Malfoy." She scolded the blonde man towering over her though her voice was soft as she sympathised for the young girl. "So how does her being left in your aunt's care relate to why your mum dropped her off with you this morning?"

"Mum said Aunt Andromeda needs a break after losing both her children and her children in law in the war. Mum has decided to take my aunt on some kind of sister vacation at one of our vacation homes but doesn't want to bring Aunt Andromeda's grandchildren along. So while potter's the godfather of Teddy and he's all looked after my Mum still needed to find someone to look after this one. Which is me." She wasn't sure if she had ever heard him speak so many words at one time. He didn't seem at all pleased about being responsible for the little girl for an unknown periold of time.

"She fed some 'it'll teach me responsibility to care for others rubbish' to my aunt to discard any concern and off they went this morning.

"That's a lovely tale Malfoy, but how does you little predicament involve me?" She asked.

"Because Granger! I can't look after a child!" He said as if it was extremely obvious. Did he expect her to willingly take care of the child for him?

"Well too bad Malfoy. Learn to." A glaring dislike firmly upon her features.

"Granger I'll pay you. I'll pay you to look after her." He said. Though he was attempting to bargain with her his voice showed no sway in emotion or desperation. It remained calm and controlled. The last part of his sentence caught her attention, 'look after her'; apparently he did think she would take care of the child for him.

"Firstly, Malfoy I'm not going to look after her because you flaunt your money around. Secondly Malfoy, if you're just going to pay someone to look after her then why did you come to me? And thirdly, even if I did help you, you would be paying me for helping you look after her. I'm not doing it for you." She'd only been in his presence for a matter of minutes and she could already feel her blood boiling.

"So you'll do it?" She could see by the amused expression on his pale features that he thought he'd already won.

"No." Any amusing expressions fell from his features with her words as she stood up crossing her arms in some attempt at intimidation.

"Why not?" Frustration began creeping into his tone. He should have known it wasn't that easy. She knew he wanted to know why she couldn't just give in and fall to his feet like the countless number of other women that would do it. You could tell he wasn't used to not getting things his way.

"Why don't you have someone else help you out? I'm sure many girls would want the chance to spend some time with you." A smirk worthy of a Slytherin plastered itself on her face when she saw him shiver with something that was clearly not delight.

"If it were that simple Granger do you think I'd be standing here in your little shop. I need someone who will actually help me and as you are the only girl on this planet that for some reason denies that you find me attractive it's your help I need." Somehow despite his words his tone didn't waver to sound as if he was begging at all.

"Malfoy I am not denying any attraction for you because there is none!" She said taking a step closer hoping to prove a point as she gave him a glare that could send just about anyone running to the nearest hill. Though Malfoy wasn't anyone as he wore his own glare that should have sent her cowering in fear. Standing this close to him she noticed he was still much taller than her, at least half a foot as the top of her head would probably barely reach his chin.

"Granger, you have to help me since you won't be fawning over me at each waking moment. Any other girl would cling to me. And then I'd still have to look after her. Completely useless." He continued to speak with distaste towards the little girl beside him.

"I thought you liked that Malfoy; girls around every corner swooning for you." She mocked.

"No it's creepy Granger. It reminds me to much of Pansy and the younger Greengrass girl." He stated as another shiver as he thought of their time spent back at Hogwarts.

"All the more reason not to help you." She stated "I've got my own life Malfoy and my own problems. Surely you can handle a little girl on your own for a while."

"You will help me Granger." He spoke with a face that meant he was no longer anything less than serious.

"No I will not! You can't slide through life having everything done for you. It isn't that easy Malfoy. That's why your mum gave you this child, to teach you to do things yourself. You haven't changed at all have you?" She was furious. He came into her store and tried to tell her what to do, to tell her she would help him after everything he'd done to her.

"Oh get over yourself Granger." He said. "You think you're so smart just because you were the brightest witch of our age and part of the golden trio. You think you can just read people right away don't you? Well for your information the war that happened three years ago did change me Granger. Otherwise I wouldn't be here asking for your help, offering you money that you could definitely use. In case you didn't notice Granger I really don't give a damn about the past. So grow up and move on." His voice rose with each word of the last sentence. She could almost swear she saw smoke coming out of his ears. But she wasn't pleased with the current situation either.

"Asking me? You're asking me?" She shrieked. "Well I'm sorry things aren't going your bloody way Malfoy, I'm sorry I didn't realise you were asking me. Last time I checked you told me I would help you. Well it isn't working Malfoy. So if you'll excuse me now, I have to go complete some paperwork or something." Completely fuming with rage she turned to leave and get back to work.

"You'll do it Granger. You'll help me look after this child because you can't leave in good conscience knowing I am fully responsible for a child you know I care next to nothing about." He said in a flat voice. She would have continued walking, but the last sentence stopped her mid-step. He was right. Hook, line and sinker. He knew exactly how to manipulate her; though she guessed it wasn't hard to manipulate someone with a kind heart and an unforgiving conscience. If she left now, ignoring the well being of a child because of their history she wouldn't be able to sleep at night. And he knew it.

Technically he had come for help with the benefit of the child somewhere in his mind which showed a little change on Malfoy's part as well. Either that or to get out of something he didn't want to do, but his actions would benefit the little girl. Still he had also told her what to do, again. arguing with herself wasn't accomplishing anything at this point. Her mind was already made up, and it probably had been since Malfoy told her he was responsible for a little girl.

She took a breath hoping what she was about to do would be a huge mistake and turned back around to face them. But she didn't look at him since she could just picture that same smirk on his face. Instead she walked slowly towards the little girl who had remained silent the whole time and knelt once more in front of her before she asked after a deep sigh "And what is your name sweet heart?"

The little girl moved slightly towards Malfoy clutching his pant leg as if for protection before she gave a shy smile. "Capella."

So that's the first chapter of Capella. (I still dislike first chapters) The Poll is officially up so feel free to go over and see what other's I'm debating about continueing. If you did I'd be really greatful.

Thanks for reading, I'll try to update the next submission of first chapters tomorrow however I am going on vacation on tuesday till Sunday so we'll see.

So please review or visit the poll. Or both ;)

Thanks again

-Dini