A Gift of Love

Chapter 2


Disclaimer: I do not own HP, I make no money from this work.

A/N: Many thanks go to my lovely helpers, my beta and Brit-picker: talesofsnape, and my alpha: morethansirius, their help and input were invaluable.


Early Oct. 2004

Hermione brought Orrie home from Ireland near the end of August, so she'd been her sole care-giver for over a month. It was a difficult period of adjustment for both of them. The little girl kept asking for her mummy, and she was very clingy with Hermione, which was perfectly understandable given the situation. Orrie had taken a shine to Pansy right away, and, although it had taken a while, she had finally warmed up to Harry, too. It helped Harry's cause that Orrie was fascinated by the baby, Rose. Thus far, though, she wanted nothing to do with any of the Weasleys, Neville, Luna or any of Hermione's other friends. Yet for some unknown reason, she adored Snape.

It was near the end of September when he had showed up at her house one day—Hermione didn't have an office, she worked from home—with a proposal for a new project. After the last fiasco, she'd sworn never, ever to work with Severus Snape again. However, it gave her a sense of satisfaction that he'd been the one to approach her this time. It was while she was considering his proposal that Orrie awoke from her nap. Hermione quickly excused herself.

"What in the name of Merlin is that noise?" he asked, following her uninvited. "Do you have a Kneazle in heat or something in here?"

Hermione turned with the little girl in her arms. She dearly wished she could have taken a picture of the gobsmacked look on Snape's face. "That's a child, Granger," he whispered, as if perhaps she weren't already aware of the fact.

With a smirk Hermione replied, "Very astute, Snape. Good to know you haven't lost any of your keen super-secret spy powers of observation. She's a girl child to be specific; her name is Orrie and she's a little over two years old, twenty-seven months to be exact."

His eyes took in the condition of the room. It was completely decked out in little girl paraphernalia, complete with a rainbow and butterflies painted on the wall at the head of the bed. Clearly this was no temporary situation. "Why do you have a child? Whose is she and why is she here?"

"She's mine. Come. I'll introduce you two and explain." She grabbed Orrie's security blanket—they went nowhere, without blinky—not even into the next room. It was time for Orrie to eat, so Hermione led the way into the kitchen. She placed her gently in her high chair and, to Orrie's delight, Hermione set down a sippy cup and sprinkled a few Cheerios on the tray.

"What are you doing? You'll spoil her dinner," declared Severus.

Hermione rolled her eyes, and commented, "Oh, and you are the baby expert, I suppose? It's just a few nibbles to keep her busy while I warm up our food. Consider it an appetizer, if it makes you feel better. Do you want to join us? Nothing fancy, just some leftovers, but there's plenty, if you're hungry."

Severus nodded distractedly and sat at the table. Forehead wrinkled and brows drawn into a frown, he stared at the little girl as if she were a mystery... something completely foreign. Hermione paused and came to sit at the table for a moment. "Severus, this is my daughter, Orrie. Her mother, Lisa Kelly, was my good friend. She was a Muggle-born witch, and also a close friend of my parents. I was named her guardian in the event of... Well, I'm sure you can figure it out." Severus gave a slight bob of his head and Hermione continued. "It was Lisa's wish that I formally adopt Orrie. So as soon as the paper-work clears, she will legally be my daughter."

Turning to the little girl, Hermione said, "Orrie, this is my friend—" Severus sputtered a bit at this comment.

"Severus," chided Hermione, warningly.

"Sev'wus?" asked Orrie.

Hermione was surprised, as the child rarely spoke in front of strangers. "Yes, sweetie, this is Severus Snape, but you should call him Mr. Snape."

"Nape?"

"That's right Mr. Snape."

Orrie looked right at Severus and batted her big blue eyes, giving him a slobbery grin while she pounded her tray and sang, "Nape, Nape, Napey, Nape! Sev'wus!"

With a huge grin Hermione had got up to finish warming the food and had commented, "Why Severus, I do believe she's flirting with you." And from that moment on, in Orrie's eyes, Severus Snape could do no wrong.


Dec. 2004

The week before Christmas Hermione took Orrie to Grimmauld Place for Harry and Pansy's annual holiday party. Since the couple had decidedly run with different crowds in their younger days, the guest list was a definite mix. In the six years since the war had ended a lot of things had changed and schoolyard rivalries had cooled. That wasn't to say that everything was all sunshine and light, and blood prejudices had disappeared in the bold new post war world, because in many cases things were slow to change, but changing they were, albeit gradually.

Orrie was getting better—more comfortable—around people, but was still shy in crowds like this, and she clung to the familiar. She preferred to hang on Hermione's hip and bury her face shyly in Hermione's shoulder when confronted with new people, but she did consent to stay with Pansy while Hermione slipped away to wrap a couple of last minute gifts.

Before Hermione got back, Pansy's baby, Rose, woke up and Pansy had to change her diaper and feed her a bottle. Settling Orrie on the couch with a picture book, she said, "Can you sit here and look at this book for a few minutes, lovey, while Aunt Pansy changes Rosie's diaper?"

Orrie nodded. Pansy gave the toddler a kiss on the forehead and smiled as she pointed across the room. "Good girl. I'll be right over there if you need me, okey dokey?"

"Otay, Aunt Panzee."

Pansy had no sooner walked across the room to get the baby out of her playpen than a new group of guests arrived. A tall handsome blond poked his head in the doorway and spotted Pansy fussing with the baby. He sat on the couch to wait for a chance to speak to his friend. Looking over, he was surprised to see the little girl, barely a toddler really, sitting at the other end, her entire face practically buried in a book.

"Well, hello there little princess, what's your name?" he asked with a smile.

The little one looked up from her book, and Draco swore the tot actually rolled her eyes at him. "My no pwincess," she declared.

"Hmmm... Not a princess. Well then, what's your name, sunshine?"

She shook her little head, her brows drawn down into a frown. "My no sunsine."

"All right, no, princess... no sunshine. What is your name then, little miss?"

The little girl carefully set her book aside and rolled over onto her tummy dangling her legs over the edge of the seat until her feet slid down to the floor. She then strolled over to stand directly in front of Draco, her head coming just above his knee. Studying him carefully for a bit, she finally decided to grace him with her name. "My is Oh-wee"

"Oh-wee?"

"NO!" she declared in disgust. "Oh-wee!"

"Ummm... Oh-Wheee?"

"No, no, no!" She stomped her little foot and looked furious. "Not, Oh-wee—Oh-wee!"

At Draco's questioning look, her little lip stuck out and quivered a bit. Draco gulped. He was in deep trouble now; he knew she was on the verge of tears. He hated dealing with any female's tears, even one as tiny as this.

"Draco, are you harassing my special friend?"

Orrie turned and squealed in delight. "Sev'wus, Sev'wus Nape!" She proceeded to jump up and down, holding her arms up, indicating she wanted him to pick her up. To Draco's great shock, Snape did exactly that.

The little girl threw her arms around Snape's neck, giving him a buss on the cheek. "Mewwy Chwissmas, Sev'wus!"

"Merry Christmas to you, too, Orrie," Snape replied, acting as if it was the most normal thing in the world to see a small child hanging on the Potions master's neck and giving him kisses. Turning to Draco, Snape introduced, "Orrie Granger, this is Draco Malfoy, he's a very good friend of your Aunt Pansy."

"Dwago?" she asked.

"Close enough, Miss Orrie," replied Draco with a smile. Then, as the little girl's last name sunk in, he turned to Snape. "Wait, did you say... Granger? That's not possible."

"Granger adopted Orrie," explained Severus quietly, standing close to his godson.

Orrie had been studying Draco from the safe vantage point of Snape's arms and apparently she'd decided that if her Sev'wus liked this person, then he was most likely a person worthy of being liked. Without a word of warning, she suddenly lunged out of Snape's grasp, nearly giving him a heart attack as she attached herself to Draco. Wrapping her little arms around Draco's neck, she kissed him noisily on the cheek. "Mewwy Chwissmas, Dwago Maffoy!"

Draco laughed, as he held the little girl close. "And Merry Christmas to you, sunshine."

She looked puzzled now, but not angry with him. "My no sunsine."

"I know you're name's not sunshine. I like to call you that because you're bright and warm, and when you hug me it reminds me of the sunshine."

She shrugged and hugged him again, as she said with a shy smile, "Otay, Dwago."

Just then Hermione appeared. "Oh, sweet Morganna, don't tell me she's charmed another one."

"Another one, what?" asked Draco, as the tot continued to cling to him like a burr, running her hand over his hair as if she were petting a dog.

"She won't have anything to do with any of my friends, other than Harry, but she's cozying up to every Slytherin I know," explained Hermione, giving Snape a smirk. "She's collecting snakes like some little girls collect dollies."

Turning to her daughter, she held her arms out. "Come along, darling. Uncle Harry's getting ready to pass out gifts. Let's go see if there might be something special for you, shall we?"

"There you are, sunshine. Go to your mum," said Draco, handing her over.

As Hermione took her daughter from Draco's arms, something struck her as odd but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Just then Orrie hugged Hermione and kissed her cheek. "Mewwy Chwissmas, Mummy!"

Hermione gasped, "Oh, Orrie... What... What did you call me?"

"Mummy! My Mummy," she exclaimed, kissing her again.

"Orrie..." Hermione hugged her daughter tight, blinking back tears as she buried her face in her daughter's dark curls.

Just as Hermione drifted off with Orrie, Pansy arrived holding Rose in one arm and giving Draco a lop-sided hug with the other. "Oh, my, I think I might cry, myself," she said with a catch in her voice.

"About what?" asked Draco, looking puzzled.

"Orrie has been with Hermione since her mum Lisa died last summer, but up until now she's always called her Aunt Mynie. As far as I know, that's the very first time Orrie has ever called her Mummy."


Hermione was surprised, five days later, to answer her door and find both Severus and Draco there. She stepped back to usher them in, her brows drawn together in confusion. "Severus, I thought we'd agreed to take a break from the project until afters the holidays. Did I misunderstand?"

The project that Severus had recruited her for involved some research she had done a couple of years earlier relating to reversing long term memory damage from spells or curses. At the time, she had hoped that her work might lead to a breakthrough for Neville's parents. Although she had made some headway—it had improved Professor Lockhart considerably—the effect on the Longbottoms had been minimal at best. Severus' interest was in adapting the charm in relation to a house-elf for a private client of his. After some collaboration, he'd come up with an idea to create a special potion with both a relaxant and wit-sharpening properties to help prepare the patient prior to the application of the charm. Hermione was impressed and had high hopes for the procedure. However, the potion needed to 'cure' for several weeks; hence, their plan to wait until after the first of the year to continue.

"No, there was no misunderstanding. I am actually here on a personal errand." He looked nervous, embarrassed almost. But he hurried on to explain, "'Tis the holiday season, Hermione, and I have... That is to say... I thought perhaps..."

"Oh, for Merlin's sake. Spit it out, Severus. He's brought a gift for Orrie. But being the grumpy git he is, he has never played Father Christmas and got a child a gift willingly, so he doesn't know quite how to go about it. If you don't mind, Granger, I got her a little something myself since I was with him when he was shopping."

Hermione was both surprised and touched. "You've brought presents for Orrie? Both of you? That's so sweet."

Severus pulled the shrunken package from his pocket, enlarged it, and shoved it into Hermione's hands.

"But wouldn't you like to stay and have her open it? That's half the fun of bringing presents, seeing her reaction. She's napping right now, but she'll be up before long. I could make some tea."

"Thank you, we'd love some," answered Draco before Severus could object. He, too, removed a brightly wrapped gift, and enlarged it setting it on the end table where Hermione had set Severus' gift.

Hermione served tea and fresh homemade biscuits. It was a bit awkward at first, because although she had been working with Severus, socializing with him was a bit different. Even though they seemed to be getting on better than during the first project they'd shared, she wouldn't really consider them friends. Draco, at least, had no problem making small talk and revealed that Severus was spending Christmas at the Manor this year. She was secretly glad to hear it, being of the opinion that no one should be lonely on Christmas day, even if it did involve him spending time with a bastard like Lucius Malfoy. While Hermione's friendship with Pansy had forced her to get to know and accept Draco, her opinion of the elder Malfoy was still extremely low.

Before long she heard Orrie stirring and went to get her. "There's a very special surprise for you in the living room, sweetie," Hermione said as she set her down at the bottom of the stairs.

Orrie rushed in and squealed in delight to find both Severus and Draco sitting on the couch. "Sev'wus! Dwago!" she shouted as she stopped in front of them. She was so excited she didn't know who to go to first. She happily patted them both on the knee, first one and then the other. Finally, unable to decide she wrapped her pudgy little arms, one around the calf of each, and hugged them tight. Then she scrambled up onto the couch to settle herself right in between them like a miniature queen holding court. Grinning maniacally at Hermione, she commanded, "Tea, pwease, Mummy."

With a flick and a swish, Hermione produced a little sippy cup shaped like a real tea cup. Pretending to fill it from the tea pot, she winked at Severus and mouthed, 'juice,' before handing it to Orrie along with a plate with two small biscuits on it. Orrie chattered on, telling them all about how Mummy had baked the biscuits and she had 'help-ted' with the sprinkles.

Hermione sat back and watched with amusement as a two and a half year old child somehow managed to wrap two fully grown wizards—and unbelievably, one of them Severus Snape—firmly around her little finger. She couldn't help but think that she was going to have her hands full by the time her little charmer got old enough to attract boys. Dear Merlin, she was going to have her work cut out for her. Taking mercy on their guests, she distracted Orrie by showing her the gifts and telling her she could open them.

Orrie chose Draco's present to open first and screeched her approval as she pulled out a bright yellow plush bear with a smiling sun emblem on its tummy.

"Funshine Bear!" shouted Hermione in surprise. At the puzzled looks from the two men she explained, "He's a Care Bear." Since they still looked confused she elaborated further. "They're Muggle toys. They started back in the eighties, in the States. My mum's old college friend sent me one, Friend Bear, before they ever got marketed here in England."

Orrie hugged her bear tightly and declared, "Maffoy."

"What?" asked Hermione, perplexed.

"Him's name Maffoy," stated Orrie.

"His, darling. His name is Malfoy," corrected Hermione. "But you don't ireally/i want to name your bear, Malfoy, do you?"

Orrie frowned at Hermione and holding the bear tightly she nodded. "Him's name... His name be's Maffoy Bear."

Hermione already knew her daughter well enough to interpret that expression and she opted not to object to the objectionable name. "All right then, sweetie. Why don't you open Severus' gift now?" She handed her the other present. Orrie delightedly tore off the paper to reveal a book of beautifully illustrated nursery rhymes.

"Stowies! Wead me stowies, Sev'wus," she demanded, shoving the book into his hands as she crawled up onto his lap with blinky and Malfoy bear.

"Orrie... ask nicely," admonished Hermione.

Orrie turned to Severus to bat her big silvery-blue eyes at him and beg sweetly, "Pwease, Sev'wus... Pwease."

Trying to hide a smirk, he agreed, "Very well, my dear. But just a few stories, as Draco and I must be on our way soon."

While Severus was reading to Orrie, Hermione and Draco poured another cup of tea and moved across the hall to sit at her dining room table. Watching her formidable former Potions Master reading stories to her little girl and looking as though it were the most natural thing in the world for him was a bit disconcerting. She stated as much to Draco and was surprised when he revealed that Severus had been a frequent visitor at the Manor when he was growing up and had often read him bedtime stories.

Hermione mused as she observed Severus and Orrie. She found it wasn't all that difficult to imagine him with a little blond haired boy on his lap in the place of her curly haired daughter. Suddenly she heard the words of the story he was reading and realized something. "That's a book of Muggle nursery rhymes."

"Well, duh, Granger. That's why I bought her a Muggle toy as well; it was a Muggle toy shop. Severus insisted. He said that since both you and her real mum were Muggle-borns, he wanted the gift to be a reflection of that, to honor Orrie's Muggle heritage. He said she should grow up learning about both worlds."

Hermione had to blink very fast and choke back a tiny sob at Draco's revelation. It was such a sweet thing that Severus had put such consideration into Orrie's gift.

She looked up to see Draco studying her as she watched Severus and Orrie together. He looked uncomfortable for a moment but then he cleared his throat and spoke softly. "Granger, look, I've never really come out and said this, but I know I said and did some pretty cruel things when we were younger. I've learned a lot since then. After the war I learned that the things I thought I knew about Muggles and Muggle borns were all a pile of shite. I know how wrong I was, but I've never actually apologized to you for my actions... So... Well, I guess I'm just trying to say... I'm sorry."

Hermione looked at him closely and finally decided that he was sincere. "Thanks, Draco. I do appreciate you telling me that. I guess we all had ideas that were off back then. Like the belief that all Sytherins were evil, and that all purebloods were bigoted pricks. I know now those things are far from the truth. So I accept your apology, and I'm sorry as well for some things I said and did when we were growing up. If we'd all been a little more open minded things might have been different. I might have made friends with Pansy much earlier, or got to know you better back then. I just hope it will be a better world for Orrie to grow up in."

Just then Orrie dashed into the dining room, jumping up and down at Draco's feet, begging to be lifted up. "Fanks for Maffoy Bear, Dwago," she lisped as she kissed his cheek.

"You're most welcome, sunshine," Draco replied giving her a quick hug as he brushed a kiss across her cheek. "Severus and I have to go now, Orrie. You have a happy Christmas, okay?"

Orrie turned in his arms and Draco went to pass her back to Hermione. In the split second before Hermione reached out to take her, both their faces were framed together in her field of vision. Hermione froze, and time seemed to stop. The uneasy feeling that she'd had at the Potter's party when she saw Draco and Orrie together hit her full force and she knew instantly what had bothered her so much; they had the exact same eyes. Hermione had always known that Orrie strongly resembled Lisa: she had her mum's dark curly hair, and her cupids bow mouth, and that cute little button nose. But those gorgeous silvery grey-blue eyes were not Lisa's eyes at all. Lisa's eyes had been hazel. So Hermione had always assumed that Orrie had her father's eyes. And seeing Draco and Orrie together she could now see that the shape of her face and that pointy little chin weren't Lisa's either. Oh, dear gods and little fishes! Was it possible? Was Draco Malfoy Orrie's father?

Hermione swayed and might have actually stumbled if Severus hadn't grabbed her arm to support her. "Are you all right?" he asked, concern in his voice.

"Umm... yes. I think I must have just stood up too fast. I'll be fine. Thank you, Severus." Holding out her arms, she gathered Orrie close and hugged her tightly for a moment before the little girl squirmed in protest.

"Mummy, you's squeezin' me too much."

"Sorry, sweetie. Tell Severus and Draco goodbye now." As Orrie complied, Hermione added, "Thank you again for bringing her gifts. It was very kind of you. Happy Christmas to you both."

After the two left, Orrie ran off to play with Malfoy Bear while Hermione leaned heavily against the door. Her mind was whirling like a cyclone. Could no one else see the resemblance? Was she imagining it? Was it possible that Draco had somehow been with Lisa? She was older by what—about eight years? Draco would have been twenty-one, Lisa twenty-nine—so it wasn't totally outside the realm of possibility. Maybe she was delusional. No one else, neither Harry nor Pansy nor Snape had commented on the resemblance. Surely Pansy would have noticed, wouldn't she? She and Draco were best friends, their relationship very similar to Hermione and Harry's. Hermione took several deep breaths to calm herself down and then decided to push the issue to the back of her mind. Even if it were true, Draco obviously had no idea. She had promised herself that she would make Orrie's first holiday season with her special, so she would concentrate on that for now and try to hold on to her sanity.


December, 31, 2004

Lucius stood by himself in a dimly lit corner of the room, sipping a glass of Ogdens finest and wondering when was the earliest he could make his polite excuses to his hosts and slip away. He was here under duress; Draco and Severus had practically ordered him at wandpoint to get out of the Manor for the night and attend the New Years Eve party hosted by the Parkinsons. The truth of the matter was Lucius had turned into a bit of a recluse after the war. That was another difference of opinion that he'd had with Narcissa; she wanted to re-establish their place in wizarding society and Lucius just didn't give a flying fuck about any of it. He was content to spend his days managing the Malfoy investments, lazing about his library at the Manor, wandering about the estate, and sharing the occasional evening out with Severus or Draco.

But still he'd come tonight to appease his son. Draco had invited the lovely French beauty, Miss Gabriel Delacour, younger sister to Fleur, the one time Tri-Wizard Champion. Severus had arrived with not one but two lovely Brazilian witches, cousins, one of whom Severus had brought for Lucius. Since he'd politely declined, however, Severus simply kept them both. Lucius smiled to himself at the thought of the new Severus. He was certainly making up for lost time by taking advantage of his new image as, the dark, sexy, war-hero. He'd turned into the quintessential playwizard. He never lacked for female companionship these days, and thus far showed no inclination to settle down with just one witch. Lucius couldn't help but wonder, though, if is old friend were truly happy or merely going through the motions with his long string of meaningless attachments.

There had been an uncomfortable incident earlier in the evening with Edward Nott. The man, who was clearly deeply in his cups, had started spouting off about the advice Lucius had given him on the night of the Dark Lord's return and how it had saved his life. He was sloppy, maudlin, and loud. With a nod to each other, Lucius and Severus each took an arm and escorted him from the room before he could cause even more of a scene. Knowing that he would be unsafe to Apparate in his condition, Lucius stayed with him in the garden, talking seriously in low tones, while Severus went to get Edward's son to come and escort him home. It had been a most awkward situation with Nott blathering on about the the night of the Dark Lord's return while in the midst of a social event hosted by the Mother-in-law of Harry Potter.

And thus the evening ended with more of a whimper than a bang as far a Lucius was concerned. He located the Parkinsons, thanked them for their hospitality, and beat a hasty retreat long before the festive crowd was ringing in the New Year. He even managed to avoid Draco, who most likely would have tried to make him stay on and socialize until the end of the evening.

Lucius was content to return to the Manor and carry out his original plan, which was to prop his feet up before the fire, as he nursed a rather nice single malt, and wallowed in a bit of self pity. Nott's outburst at the party had brought to mind memories of that fateful night. He'd managed to get himself and his family through the war by taking his own advise: stay on the fringes, do as little as possible, make up useless tasks to look involved while letting others do the Dark Lord's dirty work. He couldn't help but wonder though, if fate wasn't paying him back now for all of those times he'd stood by and done nothing as he'd watched innocents tortured and worse. People like Elise's family, the Lovegood girl and Olivander, Potter's friend Granger, and so many countless others.


"Hey, Draco, I've been looking for your dad. I wanted to thank him for stepping in earlier to stop Theo's dad from making a big scene. Do you know where he's got to?" asked Pansy, her eyes searching the perimeter of the room for another shock of platinum blond.

"No I don't. I've been looking for him myself, but I suspect that he may have already left. He really didn't want to come tonight in the first place, Severus and I sort of coerced him, and having Nott bring up those stories about the night you-know-who returned only made things worse," replied Draco with a grimace.

"Well, I really appreciated his and Snape's quick actions. I was afraid for a moment Harry and Ron were going to step in and that would have been more than awkward. In a mixed crowd like this, bringing up the night of you-know-who's return is not really the thing to do. If you know what I mean?"

"Yeah, I do," replied Draco. "Hey, speaking of the Golden Trio, where's their third? I thought you said Granger was coming tonight. I haven't seen her anywhere."

"She was going to, but she owled me earlier to say that Orrie's coming down with the sniffles and she decided to stay home with her."

"What? Sunshine's ill? Has Granger called a Healer? We keep Healer Mumford on retainer, I could send her over if Granger needs her." Draco said, with a look of concern on his face. "Or Severus could send pediatric dose of Pepper-up Potion if she needs it."

"Draco, for Merlin's sake! It's just the sniffles, and Hermione is certainly capable of brewing anything Orrie needs in the proper dosage. Potions is one of her specialties, after all."

"You're right, of course. I'm just overreacting, I'm sure. She's such a cute little nipper." Draco paused for a moment before continuing. "It's really something for Granger to take on that kind of responsibility. I'd hate to be caught saying anything nice about a Gryff; and if you tell anyone else, I'll deny it, but I admire her for adopting Orrie."

Pansy shrugged. "It's lucky for Orrie that she has Hermione. From what I've been told, Lisa had no other family, they died during the war. Even if she had, they'd have been Muggles, and she wanted Orrie to grow up in a Magical household. Lisa, was a good friend of Hermione's, although none of us here had ever met her. She lived very near to Hermione's parents. But I knew about her being Orrie's godmother. Hermione was always showing us pictures of her and such. She was very proud of her.

"Orrie is such an odd name for a little girl. Don't you think so? Is it of Muggle origin?" asked Draco, curiously.

"It's a nickname, actually. Her full name is such a mouthful, it's no wonder they decided to shorten it from Oreliandra Michellinda," explained Pansy with a chuckle. "I'd never heard the name Oreliandra myself, the closest was your grandmother Malfoy's name, Orelia. I remember her from coming to the Manor as a toddler to play with you. She was such a scary witch."

"Yes, she was," agreed Draco. He had a strange look on his face as he added, "That's really odd though. Although everyone called her Orelia, her given name was Oreliandra. Isn't that a strange coincidence?"

Pansy's eyes got huge as she recalled what Hermione had told her about Orrie's real name. She gulped before trying to speak. "Yes... I... I guess it really is. Ummm... " Pansy paused before she recovered and continued more smoothly. "Perhaps Lisa read the name somewhere when she was younger, in the society pages perhaps, and just really liked it. You know how young girls are; I myself have always imagined Rose for a little girl's name. Maybe Lisa simply fell in love with the name Oreliandra."

As Draco nodded, Pansy quickly made her excuses that she needed to go rescue Harry from her Uncle Alvie, before he talked Harry's ear off. She wondered as she walked away if she should pop over to Hermione's right away, but decided that it would do no harm to wait until the next day.


Hermione had just put Orrie down for her nap and sat down to have a cup of tea when the Floo flared to life and Hermione bid Pansy to come through. Hermione summoned an extra cup and poured her friend some tea. Hermione could sense that something was wrong. They sat in silence for a couple of minutes then both tried to talk at the same time.

"Pans..."

"Hermione..."

Both stopped and looked at the other before giggling. "You go first Pansy, you're the guest."

"Well, this is a bit awkward, Hermione. I don't know quite how to tell you this," began Pansy, "it's about Orrie. I was talking to Draco at the party last night and—"

"Oh, good Godric," Hermione interrupted her, looking relieved. "You've figured it out."

Pansy's brow furrowed. "Figured what out?"

"About Orrie's connection to Malfoy," responded Hermione.

Pansy's mouth fell open in shock. "You mean you knew?"

Hermione shook her head. "Not for sure, but I suspected. My first inkling was at your holiday party. When Draco was holding Orrie something struck me as odd, but I couldn't quite figure it out. Then when he and Severus stopped by last week, it hit me like a pile of bricks. The resemblance is unmistakable, but I couldn't believe no one else had noticed. So, I tried to convince myself I was imagining it. But now you've seen it too—"

"Hermione, wait... I'm confused. What are you talking about?"

"Orrie's resemblance to Draco. They have the exact same eyes and when you look closer—the shape of her face and her chin—they're Draco's. I don't know how he and Lisa could have got together, but I'm almost sure that Draco is Orrie's father."

Pansy slumped in her chair and buried her face in her hands, shaking her head.

"Pansy, what is it?" asked Hermione, grabbing Pansy's wrist to pull her hand away. "What?"

"You're right about the resemblance. I honestly never noticed, but now that you've pointed it out, it's quite obvious. But, sweetie, those aren't strictly Draco's features. The eyes, the chin, the shape of her face, that haughty little glare she can give you when... Hermione, they're Malfoy traits."

Hermione stared blankly for about five seconds before the light bulb went off, then all the color drained from her face. "Lucius!"

Pansy nodded grimly.

"How do you know this? How can you be sure it isn't Draco?"

Pansy quickly explained about her conversation with Draco. "Hermione, I'm sorry I never made the connection. Draco's grandmother was always called Orelia, but when we were talking he confirmed that her first name was actually Oreliandra. I remembered a long time ago you told me Lisa said that she had named Orrie after both of her grandmothers and your mother. Michelle and Linda for her mother and your mum, and obviously Oreliandra for the father's mother. If Draco were her dad, Orrie's name would be Narcissa."

"You're right... of course... you're right, Pansy. Oh, my dear goddess. How is this possible? Lucius?"

The two sat in complete silence for a minute before Hermione muttered, "Lucius. I just can't believe it. The bastard probably forced himself on her."

Pansy snorted and looked at her friend in disbelief. "Hermione, be realistic. Look, he may be a lot of things, but Lucius is no rapist. Lisa obviously cared for him, or she wouldn't have given Orrie his mother's name. A woman who was raped would certainly not name her child with a family name of her rapist."

"You're right again. I'm just not thinking straight. Still, the thought of Lucius being Orrie's father is just too horrifying to consider."

Pansy shook her head slightly and looked at her friend sadly. "He's not that bad, Hermione."

"Not that bad?" asked Hermione in disbelief.

"I grew up knowing a different Lucius Malfoy than the man you recall. A man who loved his son and would do whatever was necessary to keep his family safe. Consider that sometimes people do things they don't want to do to protect what's important to them. Think about what kind of extremes you would go to to keep Orrie safe, it puts it all in a new perspective. I know I would do just about anything for Rose and Harry. A lot of purebloods were in that position when Voldemort returned. I know you don't like Lucius, and perhaps with good reason—"

"Perhaps? Perhaps? Do you think maybe so," Hermione demanded angrily. "Pansy, the man stood by as I was tortured by his sister-in-law on the floor of his drawing room. And do you know what his main concern was after she'd Crucio'd me so long that I'd pissed myself and puked all over? When she decided to have a go at me with her dagger? I can still hear his words in my head. 'Bella please. That's a very expensive carpet, the house elves will be hard pressed to get the stench of urine and vomit out and now you want to add blood to the mix? Have a little consideration, won't you?' That is the Lucius Malfoy that I recall, Pansy. A man who was more concerned about his fucking carpet than a young girl's life."

With a sob Hermione crossed her arms on the table and laid her head down. After a moment Pansy reached over to stroke her hair. "Oh, Hermione. I'm so sorry, love. I had no idea," she whispered, tears in her voice. "Harry doesn't like to talk about those times. I'd heard rumors that you had been tortured, but honestly, love... I really had no idea."

Hermione laid quietly for several minutes as Pansy continued to stroke her hair and back. "Harry and Ron were locked up downstairs. I never told them the details, I never told anyone." Hermione sat up and wiped her face with a napkin, then blew her nose on it. She turned to her friend. "I'm sorry for going off on you, Pansy. Like Harry, I really try not to think about those times, but talking about Lucius brought it all back to me."

Pansy reached out and squeezed her hand. After a moment she asked, "Hermione, please don't think I'm being nosy, or flippant, but what happened then?" Hermione looked at her blankly. "After Lucius said those things, what did Bella do then? Did she use the knife? Did she keep cursing you?"

Hermione frowned. "No. She stopped."

Pansy gave Hermione a look as she shrugged her shoulders and her eyebrows at the same time.

"Wait," responded Hermione in disbelief. "You don't honestly expect me to believe that Lucius said that stuff intentionally, to get her to stop. You're mad, Parkinson."

"Maybe, maybe not. But I don't think she would have stopped if he'd said something like—'Bella, dear, please stop torturing Miss Granger on my drawing room floor, and put away that dagger while you're at it.'" Hermione snorted at Pansy's pitch perfect imitation of Lucius. "It's something to think about, love."

Hermione just shook her head. "I repeat... you're mad. Not just mad... barking mad."

After a moment, Hermione commented, "You know something though, Pansy? I think the fact that it's Lucius and not Draco that's Orrie's dad is a good thing for me. Draco actually cares for Orrie, and if he were her dad, he'd try to take her away from me. But Lucius is never in a million years going to publicly claim a halfblood child, therefore, I have nothing to worry about."


Two days later Hermione answered a knock on her front door. Expecting it to be Severus, she opened the door without even checking.

Lucius Malfoy pushed past her to enter her cottage. "Miss Granger, I believe you have my daughter."

TBC