AN: I originally said I would post a chapter a day until July 31st and I got way behind but fear not, lovely readers, because this will still be completely uploaded by July 31st.
Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns Harry Potter. I just have fun with the characters she created.
Previously:
Draco awoke the next morning to awful crick in his neck and the smell of coffee. Hearing voices down the hall, Draco followed the soft chatter to the kitchen. Muttering a good morning, he gladly accepted the steaming mug Blaise passed him. Once the caffeine had restarted his basic functions, Draco announced, "I am going to find someone to love."
Blaise whispered in Luna's ear, "Well this ought to be entertaining."
Luna sent an elbow into Blaise's side, instantly shutting the man up. She asked Draco in a very calm, slightly amused voice, "How are you going to find someone to love, Draco?"
Draco leaned forward against the counter in anticipation. He had come up with a plan last night, "I am going to make the first person who asks me for help love me!"
Blaise snorted, "That has to be the stupidest idea I have ever heard. What if a man asks you for help?"
"Clarification; I will get the first woman to ask me for help to fall in love with me."
"You can't make someone love you, Draco. It doesn't work that way. You'll fail," his friend finished bluntly.
"Shut up Zabini, Malfoys don't fail. I bet I can have the first witch to ask me for help in love with me by the time your spawn is born," Draco responded in his typical, over-confident drawl.
Blaise just shook his head while Luna chirped up, "I'll take that bet, Malfoy, but I am going to change it around a bit. If you are in love with the witch you choose by the end of the three months, I'll let you be our baby's godfather. If you fail to fall in love, Harry Potter gets the honour."
Blaise looked at his wife incredulously, "Luna Zabini, what in Merlin's name do you think you are doing?"
"I'm making a bet, love. So Draco, what do you say?"
Draco pondered the bet. Could he really fall in love with someone and prove it in three months? Why the hell not?
"Luna, I accept your offer," Draco said, shaking her hand and strolling out of the room.
As soon as his best friend was gone, Blaise turned to his wife incredulously. "What were you thinking?"
"I was thinking that Hermione Granger just came through the floo chasing her son. In about two seconds she is going to ask our dearest Draco to grab Declan for her."
"Asking for Draco's help. Oh my dear wife, you should have been in Slytherin."
"Maybe, but then the nargles would have eaten me alive."
The happy couple was interrupted by a shout from the foyer, "BLOODY HELL. ZABINI SAY GOODBYE TO YOUR WIFE BECAUSE SHE IS DEAD!"
Blaise looked down at his smirking wife, "Spot on Luna, spot on."
Five minutes earlier…
Draco strode toward the floo in the Zabini Manor with a new mission. The first woman to ask for his help would be the woman he was going to make fall in love with him. Reaching the floo, he was about to grab a handful of floo powder when a small body flew into him, knocking him back onto his arse. Groaning, Draco looked up to see the small form of Declan Granger, grinning up at him.
"Sorry Mr. Draco but I gotsa go find Uncle Blaise," Declan said, before taking off down the hallway.
The harried form of Hermione Granger came through the floo next. As soon as she burst through she called out, "Malfoy, can you please catch my son for me?"
Draco didn't even think about what he was doing but soon found himself running after the small boy. Having longer legs, Draco quickly overtook Declan and scooped him up into his arms.
"Ah, Mr. Draco! Why'd you catch me?" Declan huffed at the older man.
Draco grinned down at the young boy, saying, "Because your mother asked me to help catch you."
As soon as the words were out of Draco's mouth, he realized what he had just done. He stormed back to Hermione, set Declan down at her feet. Hermione quickly latched a hand onto her son's shoulder to stop him from running again.
"Thanks for that Malfoy," She said, straightening Declan's messy curls.
When Draco didn't say anything in return, she looked up at him. His face was a mask of disgust; loathing covered every inch of it. Not knowing how to respond to such a look, Hermione asked the most basic of questions, "Are you okay?'
Draco once again ignored her, turning instead to storm down the hallway in search of the Slytherin in disguise, also known as Luna Zabini.
"BLOODY HELL! ZABINI HIDE YOUR WIFE BECAUSE I AM GOING TO KILL HER!" Draco shouted as he continued to storm through the Manor towards kitchen.
Hermione decided to follow him, knowing he would lead her to Luna and Blaise. Apparently, Luna had done something that upset the bipolar ferret in a matter of two seconds. Declan was happily holding his mothers hand, listening to Draco yell at his Aunt Luna.
"Mommy!" Declan said, scandalized, "Mr. Draco said a bad word!"
Hermione let out a chuckle as the pair walked into the kitchen. Blaise sent them an amused wave with his arm wrapped around a smirking Luna. Draco stood there looking like an idiot, waving his hands all around in the air, and opening and closing his mouth.
He finally got around to saying something five minutes later.
"Blaise, I am going to borrow your wife for just minute."
Blaise laughed, replying, "Just remember she's pregnant and you can't hex her!"
Luna sent an airy smile back at Blaise, "Don't worry honey he won't hurt me. The baby is feeling magical today and might hex Draco's hair blue again if he puts a hand on me."
Draco significantly paled, "I thought we weren't going to talk about that anymore, Lunes!"
Hermione decided to put in her two cents, "Blaise, please tell me. I love hearing about Malfoy's misfortunes"
"Alright 'Mione, Declan. Pull up a chair and I'll tell you the wondrous tale about how Mr. Grumpy Pants over there had his hair hexed blue by baby Zabini. Nothing could change it back. Not even glamour charms worked."
Draco grabbed Luna, by her arm and pulled her out into the hallway. Once they were out of hearing distance, he threw up a silencing spell just to be safe and started to yell, "Seriously Luna? How could you set me up like that? Granger and me are mortal enemies. I thought you might have wanted me to be your baby's godfather but this bet is impossible. I'm calling it off."
"Oh grow up you big baby," Luna shot back, jerking her arm out of his. "You need to realize that some blond bimbo is not going to make you happy. Yes, I set you up. I knew Hermione was coming over this morning. But Draco, she needs a man like you in her life. Hermione Granger has had the hardest time since she got pregnant. And no matter what your opinion is, you would be good for each other."
"Are you seriously trying to tell me that life hasn't been all smiles for the glorious know it all?" Draco asked, choosing to ignore the part about him and Granger being good for each other.
"That is exactly what I am telling you, Draco. When she told the Weaselys she was pregnant and it wasn't Ron's baby, they disowned her. The only one she still keeps in contact with is Ginny and that's only because she is married to Harry. The Ministry wouldn't even give her a job because she was a single mom. You know who Declan's father is?" Luna asked.
"Yeah, Pucey."
"Well he is always lurking in the shadows. Have you heard that he is marrying Lavender Brown?"
"Yes, I got an invitation in the mail."
"Well, she hates Hermione with a passion and would do anything in her power to make take away Hermione's happiness," Luna said, giving him a knowing look.
"Including, taking away her son?" Draco asked incredulously.
Luna sighed and moved to sit down on a bench in the hall. Patting the spot next to her, she continued, "Lavender is vindictive skank and would do anything to hurt Hermione. Blaise is looking into ways for Hermione to keep Adrian away from Declan but so far he hasn't come up with anything that combats Pureblood Right."
"Wow, I didn't know you all were such buddies," Draco snarked back.
Luna stood up, incredibly angry, "Draco Malfoy, you utter ass. Here I am giving you an opportunity to do some good for one of my closest friends and you are making fun of us."
Taking a deep breath to clam herself down, she continued, "Draco, all I need you to do is get close to Hermione and Declan. Maybe that would scare Adrian away for good. Blaise and I haven't let Hermione in on how big this problem is. It would kill her to lose her son, literally kill her."
Now it was Draco's turn to sigh, "Alright Luna. I'll give it some thought."
Luna sent him a smile and looped her arm through his to walk back to the kitchen. Once inside, Blaise immediately reached for his wife and glared at his best friend, "You didn't hurt her, did you?"
Draco rolled his eyes, "No, Blaise."
"Good."
Hermione was watching the discussion with interest. When the men stopped talking, she said, "Blaise, are you still going to watch Declan for me today? I really need to be going."
"Sure thing, Hermione. He'll be nice and safe with me. Now you head into work and I'll meet you at the normal spot for lunch," Blaise said, shooing her out the door.
Hermione leaned down to give Declan a quick kiss on the cheek, which he promptly rubbed off, "Be good for Uncle Blaise and I'll see you for lunch."
Waving one last time at the boys, Hermione flooed to the bookshop. As soon as she was out of sight, Luna exclaimed, "Blaise! I have that appointment for the baby today. I can't believe you forgot."
Confused, Blaise looked down at his wife, "What are you talking about Luna?"
The little blond glared up at her husband.
"I told you last week that we had to reschedule the appointment. But you go watch Declan and I'll have this baby by myself!" Luna shouted the last part and stormed out of the room, leaving one stunned man and two snickering fools.
"Bloody hell, mate. I hope you make it to the actual birth," Draco laughed at his best friend.
"Draco, I need to ask you a serious favor," Blaise replied, the fact that he was begging was very evident in his voice.
"Whatever you need, Blaisey Boy."
"I need you to watch Declan today. His bag is by the floo," Blaise said as he walked out of the room in search of his wife.
"OI! WHAT?" Draco yelled after his friend's retreating back.
Blaise didn't come back.