Chapter 3

"Draco?" Hermione asked. "Are you okay?"

Draco looked from Gwen to Hermione, then back to Gwen. Gwen's goofy grin had been replaced with a frown that looked exactly like her mother's.

"I, uh," Draco said, trying to make sense of the situation. How had this happened? Why had this happened? What time was it? Draco glanced over at the clock, his eyes nearly popping out of his head. His meeting was in five minutes. He scrambled out of bed, then tore out of the room.

"Where are you going?" Hermione called after him.

"To figure out what the hell is going on," he muttered to himself. He pulled on some shoes and a heavy winter coat, then apparated to The Malfoy Stock lobby. Many people gave him strange looks as he walked to the lift. Must be my clothing, Draco reasoned. I am supposed to be wearing a suit. I guess pyjamas don't have the same effect. When he reached his office, Draco was surprised to find that Pansy's desk was being occupied by a young man he did not recognise.

When Draco approached him, the man looked up at him, and gave a really board sigh. "Can I help you?" he droned.

"Maybe I could be the one helping you," Draco replied crossly. "What are you doing here?"

"I hate to brake it to you, sir, but this is my job," the man replied.

"No, I believe you are mistaken," Draco retaliated. "This is the work place of a Mrs Zabinni. Now if you'll excuse me, I would like to enter my office."

As soon as Draco started to make his way to the door, the man stood up and blocked his path.

"I don't know what you think you're saying," he said, glaring at Draco. "But there is no one working here with the name Zabinni."

"As funny as you may think this is," Draco growled. "I'm not laughing. So drop the act and let me through. My notes for the meeting are in there, and I'm already late as it is."

"You're office?" the man asked, laughing. "If you think you look anything like Mr McLaggen, then you are sorely mistaken. Go bug someone else before I have to call security."

"What are you talking about?" Draco demanded. "It says Malfoy right there." He vigorously pointed at golden name plate that was hanging on the door.

"Mate, I think you should learn how to read," the man said, pulling out his wand. Draco was too dumbstruck to notice, though. He gawked at the name carved into the gold plate, reading it over and over in his mind. Cormac McLaggen. How the bloody hell did McLaggen, of all people, come by his father's company? Draco didn't hear the footsteps coming down the hall until he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Draco? What are you doing here?" a familiar voice asked. Draco whirled around and saw the Boy With the Famous Tattoo.

"What do you want, Potter?" Draco spat.

Harry ran a nervous hand through his messy black hair and turned to address the other man. "Collin, sorry for your trouble. I'll just be taking him home now."

Before Draco could react, Harry placed a hand on his shoulder and apparated them out of the building. When they landed, Draco tore away from him and attempted to straighten his grey shirt.

"It would be best if you didn't touch me again," Draco growled. "Otherwise, I'll be forced to hex your jewels off."

"Woah, mate," Harry held his hands up. "What's got you in this mood?"

"This mood?" Draco yelled. "I am late for the meeting of my life because of some bloody pricks who don't know who the hell I am!" He pointed an angry finger at Harry. "I haven't got any time for your dragon crap right now, Potter."

"Draco," Harry said, trying to reason with the blond one.

"Stop calling me that!" Draco demanded. "I don't call you Harry, so do me the decency of,"

"Daddy?" a soft voice asked.

Draco turned and saw Gwen, her hair redone into two braids, and a small pair of glasses perched upon her nose.

"Hey, Gwen!" Harry greeted.

"Uncle Harry!" Gwen replied, with the same level of enthusiasm. She ran up to him and jumped into his awaiting arms. "You're here early!"

Uncle Harry? Draco seethed. First Hermione, now Harry. All he needed was that red haired prat to show up, and his life would contain so much crap, it could pass for a toilet.

"Yes, bug, I am. Your dad needed a lift home."

Gwen laughed. "He was really crazy this morning. He left before presents!" Her eyes widened, and she became very serious.

Harry gasped. "Before presents? But he never misses presents!" Harry gave Draco a look at that, making Draco feel guilty in the pit of his stomach.

"That's what I told Mummy, so she said that I was to do my hair while she went looking for Daddy," Gwen then wriggled out of Harry's arms and ran to Draco. "Why did you leave, Daddy?" she asked.

Draco sighed, and knelt next to his daughter. Daughter, that's going to get some getting used to. Draco laughed internally. "I had to go out for some business, sweet," Draco forced a smile, hoping to win the little girl over, but instead of embracing him like she had Harry, she backed away.

"What have you done with my dad?" she demanded, tears brimming in her eyes.

"Gwen," Harry said. "That's Draco. He is your dad."

Gwen shook her head, fiercely. "My dad wouldn't make Mummy cry, then not bring home flowers."

With that Gwen fled the room, tears streaming down her face.

Harry turned to Draco, his arms crossed.

"What?" Draco demanded.

"You know, she's right. You aren't acting like yourself, Draco. What's gotten into you?" They heard the door open and Hermione walked into the room, her face hardening when she saw Draco. "You have some explaining to do. I'll see you later, Hermione." Then Harry spun on his heel, and disappeared from the spot he had previously occupied.

Draco looked at Hermione, and she placed her hands on her hips.

"Well?" she demanded.

"Well, what?" Draco asked softly.

Hermione threw her hands in the air in irritation. "If you don't know what you've done wrong, you can spend sometime by yourself to think things over." She left the room in a flurry of crimson robes. "Gwen," he heard her call. "Let's get ready to go to Lilly's."

Draco was left alone in a kitchen he did not recognise, and a terrible feeling in his gut.

"What's up, Drake?" a voice asked.

Draco went rigid. He turned and saw a certain dark-skinned wizard running his dirty fingers along the counter top. "What the bloody hell is going on here?" Draco demanded.

"Look, man," Note said, raising his hands in defence. "I told you that you would be taking a trip soon. You just didn't take me seriously."

"What is this? Some kind of hoax? Is this all some warped Christmas present from Blaise? It's not funny, you bloody prick!" Draco shouted to the ceiling.

Note looked up to the spot on the ceiling receiving Draco's rage, then back to the blonde man. "It's not a trick, Drake," he said, reaching over to pat him on the back.

"Stop calling me that," Draco snapped, shoving Note's hand away. "My name is not Drake, and you did something. You cast some sort of spell, or slipped me a potion to induce hallucinations. This is insane, you are insane, and I am tired of your crap. I tried to be nice, I did what I could to stop you from killing that shop keeper, and this is what I get in return. You better make this right, or I will do everything in my power to destroy you."

Note shook his head and walked over to the fruit basket on the counter. He pocketed an apple and looked at the silver eyes, filled with a need to blame some one. "Sorry, Drake. The fine print says no refunds. There is no going back, so you have to ride this out. Besides, you don't have a big company behind you anymore, so what could you possibly do to me? This is for your own good."

Draco lunged at Note, but the man disapperated the second after Draco moved, leaving him alone in the kitchen, cursing at the top of his lungs.