WHAT DADDY DIDN'T TELL ME
"What did you learn at kindergarten today?"
Caellum stopped attacking his ice cream long enough to mumble, "Lotsa things, Gwanma."
Narcissa smiled fondly at her grandson. "What sort of things?" They were walking back home after his first day from the Muggle kindergarten his mother had enrolled him in. Narcissa volunteered to pick him up every day, despite not being happy at Hermione's choice of school for Caellum. He had been regaling her with stories of the other children and teachers he had encountered. Narcissa had decided to pursue a more academic line of questioning.He screwed up his face and thought. "We must wash our hands before meals."
"Why must we? Did they teach you why?"
The blond curls bounced enthusiastically. "Yes, Gwanma... it's so we don't eat our own snot."
"...Er..." Narcissa's eyes went wide in an effort not to laugh."It's so that we don't have germs and eat them, darling. Do you know what germs are?"
"Yes..."
After a pause without further response from Caellum, Narcissa prompted, "And germs are..."
"People who live in Germany."
She bit her lips. Hard. "No. Darling, germs are bad things that make us ill. We wash our hands so these bad things don't go inside our body."
"I knew that." They walked in silence for a distance while Narcissa waited for him to finish his ice cream. They both knew that any evidence of secret sugary treats were to be disposed of before they reached home.
After they had dealt with all incriminating evidence, they resumed their leisurely walk. "What else did you learn in school today?"
His eyes went round as he remembered something shocking. "Gwanma! I learnt something awful!"
"Something awful? Are you sure?" She knew the Muggle kindergarten was a bad idea!
He looked up at her with the most serious expression she had ever seen him wear. "Yes, Gwanma...it made me sad."
Her heart lurched; Hermione was going to hear no end about this! She knelt down to look at him. "What is it, my sweet? What did they say?"
His lower lips trembled slightly. Narcissa felt icy hands gripping her chest. "Is it so bad? Can't you tell Grandma about it?" Her blue eyes roamed the little face she loved so much. She would hex anyone who had hurt him! She would wring their necks! How dare they upset her grandson?!
"No, Gwanma..."
"Did someone say something bad to you?"
"No..." His lower lip pouted tremblingly.
"Did they do something bad?"
"No..." A tear trailed down his chubby cheeks.
She was terrified now. Trying to calm herself, she gripped both his arms gently. "Darling, what happened?"
"If I tell you, do you pwomise to ask Daddy? I'm too sad to ask him myself..."
"Daddy? What does Daddy have to do with it, sweetcakes? Did Daddy make someone angry at school?" Merlin knew her son did not a tactful bone in his body; it was a miracle Hermione had ever fallen in love with her prat of an offspring.
But Caellum was shaking his head. "Daddy didn't do anything at school... He... he..."
"Yes, darling? Tell me what happened, you know Grandma will do anything for you."
"You will ask Daddy then? Pwomise?"
"Yes, my precious, I promise to ask Daddy..." she was almost faint with worry.
Her grandson launched himself into her arms and let out a huge wail. "Gwanma, did you know that LMNOP is not one alfwabet? They are different alfwabets! Daddy never told me! He never told me!"
