Disclaimer: I own nothing. All Harry Potter characters and related materials belong to J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers. I own only the plot.
Title: Little Children Rating: PG (for now)
Summary: Draco Malfoy, the boy who never grew up is getting a wake up call when his life is interrupted by a nine year old girl. The only way to keep her out of his life as much as possible? Hire a nanny to watch over her. But when Ginny weasley excepts the job, she doesn't realize that what she's taking on.
Author: Punk up the Volume
Little Children
Chapter One
Draco Malfoy was not a patient man. At twenty two, he had did not want to waste time waiting for people who couldn't seem to arrive on time. Checking is watch for the fourth time in the last five minutes, Draco let out a low groan and slumped down into his chair. This barrister that had called him the previous day, advising him to meet with him, should have been here by now. Draco could only assume that the barrister wanted to consult him about his father's will, and Draco had grudgingly agreed.
"Hello, Mr. Malfoy," Nigel Waters said in a cheery falsetto voice as he walked into his office. He gave Draco a smile. Draco merely checked his watch and grunted in response.
"Yes, well," Nigel went on, a bit flustered by Draco's bad mood. "I suppose that you know why I've asked you to meet with me. Recently, your father has...somewhat passed away, I'm sorry to say, and there is the small matter of his last will and testament to attend to."
"Really?" Draco asked curiously, sitting up. "How much did my father leave me. A sickle or two? Maybe even a galleon?"
Nigel let out a low laugh. "Oh, you'd be surprised by what he left you, Draco, my boy,". Opening up a manilla file folder, Nigel pulled out a piece of parchment paper with the name Lucius Malfoy etched across the top in shimmering gold lettering. Pulling a pair of reading glasses out of his desk and carefully adjusting them on the bridge of his nose and began reading:
"This is hereby to be declared as the last Will and Testament of Lucius Regulus Malfoy...."
Draco stared attentively at Nigel waiting for the good part. His part. Where it would tell him what measly scraps he had saved for his only son. Draco could anger rising through him as he remembered how six years ago, his father had simply abandoned his wife and son. They were disgraces to him.
His wife, Narcissa Black Malfoy was tired of her husband's ways. She wanted him to leave the Deatheaters. She hated the way Lucius thought. His ideas that they were superior above all other witches and wizards because they were rich. Because they were among the leagues of an evil man who caused only death and destruction. Sickened by his wife's change of heart, Lucius had left her, and the son who agreed with her and found himself a more suitable wife.
Pulling a stick of gum out of his pocket and putting it in his mouth, Draco chewed vehemently, cursing his dead father. Well, almost dead. At the moment, he was sitting in a cell in Azkaban, a mindless vessel whose soul had been taken by the Dementor's kiss. Draco almost smiled. His father was paying now. Paying for leaving him and his mother pennyless. Paying for making his mother work at a menial job until it killed her.
"...and to my worthless and traitorous son Draconis Lucius Malfoy..."
Draco smiled a geniune smile. Good old Pop.
"...I leave to my son my shame and horror to have a son who carries my name, who is scared to see what power truly is. I leave him the constant reminder that he betrayed not only me, but his family, the wealthy and prestegious line of Malfoy's that came before him. The reminder that I give you will haunt you for the rest of your life, or at least until she is eighteen."
"What?" Draco questioned his eyes growing wide at what is father had written.
"Yes, Draco, my son, as a reminder of your disloyalty, I am appointing you as legal guardian to my youngest heir, Nina Margaret Malfoy, age eight years."
As Draco froze, the gum he had been chewing slid down te back of his throat. Jolted from his inner thoughts, Draco grabbed his throat, coughing and gagging. In front of him, Nigel quickly jumped from his chair and ran to the otherside of his desk, whackng Draco on the back as hard as he could. The gum flew from Draco mouth, flying across the room and hitting the wall across from him.
As Draco gasped for air, still clutching his throat, Nigel nodded almost sadly as he sat back down in his chair. "Yes, Draco, I know, this is a lot to swallow. I mean, I cetainly wouldn't like it if someone suddenly dropped an eight year old in my lap!" Nigel let out a nervous laugh, watching Draco glare at him from across the desk.
This is it, Draco thought to himself morosely, this is my father's final revenge. Tossing his stupid little brat at me.
"There's got to be...someone else who can take her." Draco pleaded, practically on is hands and knees begging.
"I'm afraid not, Draco." the Nigel replied. "With her father and mother...incarcerated, you're her only living relative, and your father's will clearly stipulates that the child shall go to you."
"No!" Draco declared, standing up from his chair and slamming his fists down on the stunned man's desk. "No! I will not be some little brat's nanny! I simply won't take her. My living conditions are unsuitable for a child of eight, plus, I barely make enough money for myself let alone a child!"
Draco quickly walked to the doors and pulled them open when Nigel spoke again. "Oh, but money won't be a problem. There has been a large sum of money set aside for any needs the child may have in your care, along with a generous stipend for you."
Draco stopped in midstep, listening now. He turned around with a curious look on his face. "I'll be getting paid to watch the little bastard-I mean adorable, little child?" Draco could already see the money in his now empty bank account.
"Yes," Nigel replied, happy to have Draco interestred. "2,000 galleons a month for the child, and 1,000 for yourself for as long as she is in your care."
All kinds of thoughts raced trough Draco's mind as he sat back down. "So where is Nina now?"
"In the custody of the ministry. You will be able to meet her and pick her up today if you'd like."
"Oh, yeah, sure," Draco responded. "But the money, when do I get it?"
"It will be tansfered into your Gringott's account on the first of every month."
Draco smiled for the first time in days. "Excellent. I'd love to meet the little...darling."
"Wonderful."
Wonderful indeed, Draco thought to himself, wondering just what he was getting himself into.
"You smell like cabbage."
Oh dear God, Draco thought to himself, looking down at the small blonde haired girl standing before him. She was small and pale, just like Draco, with the same striking gray eyes, obviously inherited by their father. She wrinkled her nose as she looked Draco over, analyzing him. She held a ragged old doll in her arms. It's eyes were falling off and a leg was missing.
"They tell me you're my brother." eight year old Nina Malfoy commented casually, sitting back down at the small child sized table and picking up a red crayon. She waited for Draco's reply as she carefuly colored inside the lines of her coloring book.
"Half brother." Draco corrected.
A ministry official stood in the corner, watching the two of them. She looked at Draco and motioned for him to go on and say something more.
"Say, shouldn't you be scribbling outside the lines, and such. You're what, five?"
"Eight." the girl replied sharply. "Nine in six months and twenty seven days. Besides, neatness is a sign of efficiency. Daddy always said."
Draco laughed. "Let me tell you something about Daddy..." Draco trailed off, watching the ministry worker in the corner eye him carefully. watch yourself, Draco warned himself, if you want that money you're going to have to pretend that you like the little brat.
"So, you're a girl, huh?" Draco asked, making conversation nervously. "How's that working out for you?"
"Alright then," the ministry official ointerupted walking towards Draco. She gave him a smile and motioned towards the door. "You'll just need to fill out some paperwork and then you'll be free to go."
The woman giuided Draco out to a receptionist desk where another woman handed him a clipboard filled with sheets of paper. "Fill out Form 3 first and put that on first, then we need your signature of 4C, 1B, and 8H..."
Draco nodded trying to remember all the directions. "And her list of allergies on on form 3D."
"Allergies?" Draco questioned.
"Yes, she has a weak immune system, a birth defect, and so she quite suseptable to disease. But don't you worry about that. I'm sure she'll be fine. Anyway, just fill these out and you'll be free to go."
Draco nodded as the receptionist waved him off. He took a seat in a hospital like plastic seat bolted to the ground and began is work on the forms.
The phone rang in Ginny Weasley's ear as she waited, the head resting next to her cihin. "C'mon, mum, pick up," Ginny whispered like a mantra. "Pick up, pick up" The pone rang once more before someone came on the other line.
"HELLO? HELLO? IS SOMEONE THERE?" Mrs. Weasley shouted. Ginny grimaced and held the phone in the air, still able to hear her mother's shouting voice.
"Yes, Mum, it's Ginny," she spoke into the phone, "You don't need to speak so loud, I can hear you just fine."
"Oh, yes, of course," Mrs. Weasley laughed, her voice back to it's regular tone. "You're father just installed the mellytone-"
"Telephone, Mum." Ginny corrected, sighing.
"Oh, right, of course dear, telephone. Anyway, we're all still adjusting. Oh, Ginny, how are you doing out in the muggle world? Are you alright? I've read about these awful fuggings-"
"You mean muggings, Mum?"
"Yes, well, are you safe? Are you still at the University?"
"Yeah, Mum," Ginny lied. "But actually, I thought I'd come home for the summer holidays. Is that alright? You'll have room, won't you?"
"Yes, yes, of course we will, for you Ginny, dear!" her mother exclaimed. "When are you coming?"
"Is tommorrow alright?"
"Yes, tomorrow is perfect! Ron and Hermione are dropping off the boys and Harry and Cho are by for a visit with their kids."
"That's great, Mum, I'll see you tomorrow." Ginny said, smiling, almost crying at the tought of being home again.
"I'll see you then, love. Bye Ginny!"
Ginny hung the telephone with a sigh. Stepping out of the phone booth into the bright summer air of downtown London Ginny practically felt like singing. Of course, she did feel bad, lying to her parents. She hadn't been at the University for a year now, ever since she had run out of money. She didn't want to disappoint her parents. She was the first ever of their family to wander into the Muggle world, magic free. And more so, she didn't want to prove Ron right. Ron who had told her that she would never make it.
"And he was right," Ginny said aloud to herself. She was a failure. She had been waiting tables in a dingy London pub for the last year and a half, trying to make ends meet. But now she had been fired from her job and evicted from her flat. It was time to give up and go home.
Ginny sighed, lost in her sad reverie. At least she was going home. That's all she wanted. to go home.
A/N: Well, that's the end of the first chapter. Please be kind and review, tell me what you think. I don't know much about British law, all I know is that lawyers are referred to as Barristers, so sorry if I seem a little unrealistic on that aspect. Thanks and remember to review!
Title: Little Children Rating: PG (for now)
Summary: Draco Malfoy, the boy who never grew up is getting a wake up call when his life is interrupted by a nine year old girl. The only way to keep her out of his life as much as possible? Hire a nanny to watch over her. But when Ginny weasley excepts the job, she doesn't realize that what she's taking on.
Author: Punk up the Volume
Little Children
Chapter One
Draco Malfoy was not a patient man. At twenty two, he had did not want to waste time waiting for people who couldn't seem to arrive on time. Checking is watch for the fourth time in the last five minutes, Draco let out a low groan and slumped down into his chair. This barrister that had called him the previous day, advising him to meet with him, should have been here by now. Draco could only assume that the barrister wanted to consult him about his father's will, and Draco had grudgingly agreed.
"Hello, Mr. Malfoy," Nigel Waters said in a cheery falsetto voice as he walked into his office. He gave Draco a smile. Draco merely checked his watch and grunted in response.
"Yes, well," Nigel went on, a bit flustered by Draco's bad mood. "I suppose that you know why I've asked you to meet with me. Recently, your father has...somewhat passed away, I'm sorry to say, and there is the small matter of his last will and testament to attend to."
"Really?" Draco asked curiously, sitting up. "How much did my father leave me. A sickle or two? Maybe even a galleon?"
Nigel let out a low laugh. "Oh, you'd be surprised by what he left you, Draco, my boy,". Opening up a manilla file folder, Nigel pulled out a piece of parchment paper with the name Lucius Malfoy etched across the top in shimmering gold lettering. Pulling a pair of reading glasses out of his desk and carefully adjusting them on the bridge of his nose and began reading:
"This is hereby to be declared as the last Will and Testament of Lucius Regulus Malfoy...."
Draco stared attentively at Nigel waiting for the good part. His part. Where it would tell him what measly scraps he had saved for his only son. Draco could anger rising through him as he remembered how six years ago, his father had simply abandoned his wife and son. They were disgraces to him.
His wife, Narcissa Black Malfoy was tired of her husband's ways. She wanted him to leave the Deatheaters. She hated the way Lucius thought. His ideas that they were superior above all other witches and wizards because they were rich. Because they were among the leagues of an evil man who caused only death and destruction. Sickened by his wife's change of heart, Lucius had left her, and the son who agreed with her and found himself a more suitable wife.
Pulling a stick of gum out of his pocket and putting it in his mouth, Draco chewed vehemently, cursing his dead father. Well, almost dead. At the moment, he was sitting in a cell in Azkaban, a mindless vessel whose soul had been taken by the Dementor's kiss. Draco almost smiled. His father was paying now. Paying for leaving him and his mother pennyless. Paying for making his mother work at a menial job until it killed her.
"...and to my worthless and traitorous son Draconis Lucius Malfoy..."
Draco smiled a geniune smile. Good old Pop.
"...I leave to my son my shame and horror to have a son who carries my name, who is scared to see what power truly is. I leave him the constant reminder that he betrayed not only me, but his family, the wealthy and prestegious line of Malfoy's that came before him. The reminder that I give you will haunt you for the rest of your life, or at least until she is eighteen."
"What?" Draco questioned his eyes growing wide at what is father had written.
"Yes, Draco, my son, as a reminder of your disloyalty, I am appointing you as legal guardian to my youngest heir, Nina Margaret Malfoy, age eight years."
As Draco froze, the gum he had been chewing slid down te back of his throat. Jolted from his inner thoughts, Draco grabbed his throat, coughing and gagging. In front of him, Nigel quickly jumped from his chair and ran to the otherside of his desk, whackng Draco on the back as hard as he could. The gum flew from Draco mouth, flying across the room and hitting the wall across from him.
As Draco gasped for air, still clutching his throat, Nigel nodded almost sadly as he sat back down in his chair. "Yes, Draco, I know, this is a lot to swallow. I mean, I cetainly wouldn't like it if someone suddenly dropped an eight year old in my lap!" Nigel let out a nervous laugh, watching Draco glare at him from across the desk.
This is it, Draco thought to himself morosely, this is my father's final revenge. Tossing his stupid little brat at me.
"There's got to be...someone else who can take her." Draco pleaded, practically on is hands and knees begging.
"I'm afraid not, Draco." the Nigel replied. "With her father and mother...incarcerated, you're her only living relative, and your father's will clearly stipulates that the child shall go to you."
"No!" Draco declared, standing up from his chair and slamming his fists down on the stunned man's desk. "No! I will not be some little brat's nanny! I simply won't take her. My living conditions are unsuitable for a child of eight, plus, I barely make enough money for myself let alone a child!"
Draco quickly walked to the doors and pulled them open when Nigel spoke again. "Oh, but money won't be a problem. There has been a large sum of money set aside for any needs the child may have in your care, along with a generous stipend for you."
Draco stopped in midstep, listening now. He turned around with a curious look on his face. "I'll be getting paid to watch the little bastard-I mean adorable, little child?" Draco could already see the money in his now empty bank account.
"Yes," Nigel replied, happy to have Draco interestred. "2,000 galleons a month for the child, and 1,000 for yourself for as long as she is in your care."
All kinds of thoughts raced trough Draco's mind as he sat back down. "So where is Nina now?"
"In the custody of the ministry. You will be able to meet her and pick her up today if you'd like."
"Oh, yeah, sure," Draco responded. "But the money, when do I get it?"
"It will be tansfered into your Gringott's account on the first of every month."
Draco smiled for the first time in days. "Excellent. I'd love to meet the little...darling."
"Wonderful."
Wonderful indeed, Draco thought to himself, wondering just what he was getting himself into.
"You smell like cabbage."
Oh dear God, Draco thought to himself, looking down at the small blonde haired girl standing before him. She was small and pale, just like Draco, with the same striking gray eyes, obviously inherited by their father. She wrinkled her nose as she looked Draco over, analyzing him. She held a ragged old doll in her arms. It's eyes were falling off and a leg was missing.
"They tell me you're my brother." eight year old Nina Malfoy commented casually, sitting back down at the small child sized table and picking up a red crayon. She waited for Draco's reply as she carefuly colored inside the lines of her coloring book.
"Half brother." Draco corrected.
A ministry official stood in the corner, watching the two of them. She looked at Draco and motioned for him to go on and say something more.
"Say, shouldn't you be scribbling outside the lines, and such. You're what, five?"
"Eight." the girl replied sharply. "Nine in six months and twenty seven days. Besides, neatness is a sign of efficiency. Daddy always said."
Draco laughed. "Let me tell you something about Daddy..." Draco trailed off, watching the ministry worker in the corner eye him carefully. watch yourself, Draco warned himself, if you want that money you're going to have to pretend that you like the little brat.
"So, you're a girl, huh?" Draco asked, making conversation nervously. "How's that working out for you?"
"Alright then," the ministry official ointerupted walking towards Draco. She gave him a smile and motioned towards the door. "You'll just need to fill out some paperwork and then you'll be free to go."
The woman giuided Draco out to a receptionist desk where another woman handed him a clipboard filled with sheets of paper. "Fill out Form 3 first and put that on first, then we need your signature of 4C, 1B, and 8H..."
Draco nodded trying to remember all the directions. "And her list of allergies on on form 3D."
"Allergies?" Draco questioned.
"Yes, she has a weak immune system, a birth defect, and so she quite suseptable to disease. But don't you worry about that. I'm sure she'll be fine. Anyway, just fill these out and you'll be free to go."
Draco nodded as the receptionist waved him off. He took a seat in a hospital like plastic seat bolted to the ground and began is work on the forms.
The phone rang in Ginny Weasley's ear as she waited, the head resting next to her cihin. "C'mon, mum, pick up," Ginny whispered like a mantra. "Pick up, pick up" The pone rang once more before someone came on the other line.
"HELLO? HELLO? IS SOMEONE THERE?" Mrs. Weasley shouted. Ginny grimaced and held the phone in the air, still able to hear her mother's shouting voice.
"Yes, Mum, it's Ginny," she spoke into the phone, "You don't need to speak so loud, I can hear you just fine."
"Oh, yes, of course," Mrs. Weasley laughed, her voice back to it's regular tone. "You're father just installed the mellytone-"
"Telephone, Mum." Ginny corrected, sighing.
"Oh, right, of course dear, telephone. Anyway, we're all still adjusting. Oh, Ginny, how are you doing out in the muggle world? Are you alright? I've read about these awful fuggings-"
"You mean muggings, Mum?"
"Yes, well, are you safe? Are you still at the University?"
"Yeah, Mum," Ginny lied. "But actually, I thought I'd come home for the summer holidays. Is that alright? You'll have room, won't you?"
"Yes, yes, of course we will, for you Ginny, dear!" her mother exclaimed. "When are you coming?"
"Is tommorrow alright?"
"Yes, tomorrow is perfect! Ron and Hermione are dropping off the boys and Harry and Cho are by for a visit with their kids."
"That's great, Mum, I'll see you tomorrow." Ginny said, smiling, almost crying at the tought of being home again.
"I'll see you then, love. Bye Ginny!"
Ginny hung the telephone with a sigh. Stepping out of the phone booth into the bright summer air of downtown London Ginny practically felt like singing. Of course, she did feel bad, lying to her parents. She hadn't been at the University for a year now, ever since she had run out of money. She didn't want to disappoint her parents. She was the first ever of their family to wander into the Muggle world, magic free. And more so, she didn't want to prove Ron right. Ron who had told her that she would never make it.
"And he was right," Ginny said aloud to herself. She was a failure. She had been waiting tables in a dingy London pub for the last year and a half, trying to make ends meet. But now she had been fired from her job and evicted from her flat. It was time to give up and go home.
Ginny sighed, lost in her sad reverie. At least she was going home. That's all she wanted. to go home.
A/N: Well, that's the end of the first chapter. Please be kind and review, tell me what you think. I don't know much about British law, all I know is that lawyers are referred to as Barristers, so sorry if I seem a little unrealistic on that aspect. Thanks and remember to review!