Well, this is bad. Somehow I managed to lose my original copy of Custody's first chapter and even though I could have sworn that I had the second chapter started somewhere, I can't seem to find it. I went through my files with a fine-toothed comb and nothing. So frustrating! So I am really mad at myself and it was hard for me to start this because I knew the lost chapter was better but I hope you enjoy this anyway. And so I'm sorry for forgetting this for over four years.

And this chapter is short, in my opinion, but I wanted to cut it there.

-/-

"Excuse me?" Draco whispered and the ministry official immediately drew a parchment out of his robes and handed it to Draco. It said "Father: Draco Malfoy (unconfirmed)"

"According to mister Granger's birth record you are his father. Of course the ministry doesn't just take a birth record as a proof, especially since it's unconfirmed," mister Whalley said and this time drew a parchment out of his robes. "We performed a paternity spell on your son, mister Malfoy. It compared mister Granger's blood against your own. It came back positive."

During mister Whalley's speech Draco's eyes shifted towards the teen standing near the doorway. When he really studied the young man he could recognize his features. The hair was as blond as his own, the nose obviously belonged to Draco's grandfather and the hands were from Lucius himself. The eyes, which were glaring at him occasionally, were the same gray that Draco himself had inherited from his mother. The fair skin screamed Malfoy. Only thing that must have belonged to Granger's side was the light wave of his hair.

Draco didn't need a paternity spell to know that the brooding teen was his son. His whole family was crafted in his features. And the age did match the one passionate night he had with Granger.

The official had stopped talking and was handing the parchment to him to read. A quick glance informed that mister Whalley's story was indeed true. His blood sample found from his criminal records was used in a paternity spell to confirmed Granger's claim. The result was positive and would hold in court.

Draco's mind was racing, the revelation of being a father had turned his world upside down. His voice, however, didn't betray him. "I believe you, mister Whalley."

"Excellent!" The official drew another parchment from his robes. "This is a statement that you have understood the situation and will agree to care for your son until miss Granger is able to do so. It basically says that you agree to be the boy's guardian. You just need to sign it." The he patted his pockets. "It seems that I have misplaced my quill."

"No problem. Nippy." Draco's eyes didn't leave the parchment as the house elf appeared and gave a slight bow. "Bring a quill and ink."

"Yes, master, right away," Nippy said happily and disappeared with a pop only to appear two seconds later. He placed the required objects on the table between two wizards.

Draco quickly signed the parchment, eager to get the ministry's official out of his house. "Are we done here?"

"Almost." Mister Whalley waved his wand and a copy appeared on the table. "Here is your copy. If you have any questions concerning about the agreement, don't hesitate to owl. The Department of Magical Families cares for their clients."

Mister Whalley walked to Orion, took hold of his right arm and tapped his wand against his cuff. The cuff opened and mister Whalley quickly pocketed the item. "Was the front door…" he began and gave Draco a slightly embarrassed look.

"I'll show you out." Draco said and together they left the room.

Mister Whalley glanced at the boy before turning his attention to Draco. "I suggest you keep a close eye on him, mister Malfoy."

Draco opened the front door to the official. "Why?"

"He took his mother's accident pretty hard and is quite smart and hard headed. He managed to get away from our department twice before we cuffed him." Mister Whalley pushed his glasses up his nose and gave Draco a stern look. "He most likely will try to escape again, seeing that he was against coming here in the first place. And since you are now his guardian, if anything were happen to him…" The threat wasn't very subtle.

Draco called for every ounce of self-restraint he had in him not to hex the official. How did he dare to threaten a Malfoy. "Thank you for your concern."

"Good day."

-/-

Draco walked back to the sitting room deep in his thoughts. How on earth would he approach the situation? What would he say to the boy? He obviously hated Draco's guts and Draco had no idea why. What had Granger said to the boy about him?

The thoughts quickly vanished from his mind as he took in the sitting room. Empty. A new question filled his mind. Where was the boy?

Nippy was wiping the window clean of the nonexistent dirt. "Nippy, where is the boy?"

"He ask Nippy floo powder and flooed away, master." Nippy took a quick look at Draco's face and continued with a shaking voice, "Nippy did bad. Nippy wasn't supposed to."

"Where did he floo?" Draco didn't need a wailing house elf right now. He needed to find his son.

"Nippy will punish Nippy!" the elf cried and tugged his ears painfully.

"Nippy! Where did the boy go?!" Draco shouted and the elf went quiet. His master was mad. He demanded an answer.

"The burrow, master."