Chapter Four: Meeting Him

Late Sunday night

As I lay in my bed trying to drift off to sleep, I couldn't get the image out of my head. The picture of the new Minister for Magic, Draco Malfoy. The man who I was now thinking was my father.

I don't know how I was really certain that he was the one I was looking for. It was like there was some kind of connection when I looked at his picture and that he was the missing piece of the puzzle. It's strange. But he certainly looks like me with his blonde hair, bluey grey eyes and pale skin, it's no coincidence. I'm sure he is my father.

Draco Malfoy, the Minister of Magic and father to Abigail Granger … I tried to image him playing Qudditch with me instead of soccer and reading stories to me as I tried to get to sleep. Seeing me off the train as I head off to Hogwarts for my first year …

I sat up in my bed suddenly as that thought crossed my head.

If he certainly was my father, I had to make him come into our little family and see me go off to Hogwarts. Hey, I don't want to be teased at Hogwarts for not knowing who the father is, I already get enough of that at the primary school. I don't want my Hogwarts experience to start off with being labelled a "bastard". That's what some of the kids call me in school and they learnt it off their parents. People are so rude sometimes.

I have to meet Draco Malfoy. I need to see for sure that he is my father and let him know that I actually exist (although it would be obvious with me standing right in front of him) and maybe he could get with Mum so my parents would be together. Hey … he is a bachelor. I know he and Mum would be perfect together.

But how would I meet him without Mum knowing? I couldn't go to her and say, "Hey I think that new Minister in the paper is my father. Do you think you could possibly take me to the Ministry and introduce him to me?" She would ground me for the rest of my life for asking that. But I know I have to meet him somehow without her knowing anything about it …

Then a light appeared in my head. A brilliant plan if I didsay so myself. It's foolproof and so simple when I think of it. If I do it well, I can easily pull it off.

I smiled to myself and lay back down pulling the covers over myself. Tomorrow will be the perfect day to do it.

I got up bright and early which was around 6:15am. Very early … but I needed the time.

I quickly got out of bed and had a shower and groomed myself for the day. I then bolted down my breakfast and quickly packed my lunchbox and schoolbag, leaving it by the door. After doing all that, I checked my watch. It was 6:45am. Perfect.

I quietly made my way over to Mum's room and opened the door. There she was, still sleeping in her bed. Usually she would be up by now, but for some reason she's been so tired and exhausted lately. I'm very worried about her.

I spotted her wand on a table next to her bed. I grabbed it and retreated from the room.

Once I was in the safety of my room, I got out an old spell book that belonged to Mum and opened it to the index. I then turned to where I would find what I was looking for.

"Here we go then," I muttered. I set the book on the bed and moved back a few feet, wand in hand.

After finishing what I was doing, I checked my watch to see it was 7:40am. Uh-oh, Mum might be up. She might notice her wand is missing and panic. She can't do without her wand, no witch or wizard can.

I returned to her room and placed the wand where I found it. She was still asleep though, I needn't have worried. Perhaps I should wake her. Not by me shaking her though, she doesn't like it.

I left her room, closing the door behind me and made my way out to the small lounge room/family room. I sat down on my red bean bag and flicked the TV over to 'The Simpsons' again. I turned the volume up a lot and as I did, Homer walked into a captus plant. I burst into a great fit of laughter which was sure to be heard by Mum if she woke up now. I listened carefully and I soon heard the water running. Mum was up.

I turned down the volume, thinking hard as the commercials came on. Why was Mum sleeping in? It's not like her and she's been doing it for awhile now. She doesn't seem to have a lot of energy as she used to have. Maybe she's getting old. I hope that's the case.

After Mum dropped me off at school, I headed straight to the classroom to put my bag away in the lockers. As I did, I pulled out a sealed bag. This will all going to be a part of my plan which would come into motion at the first opportunity I had. Putting the item in a concealed pocket of my dress, I headed outside to play with the other kids. I was going to act as normally as possible until it was time to carry out my deed.

I didn't have long to wait.

The bell rang as my group of 'friends' started playing skipping and it was with great reluctance we headed into the classroom to begin our boring routine of listening to a blind old bat all day long. When we were all seated, Miss Lewis (my teacher who's around eighty) took the roll and made sure we were all here. I answered when my name was called with a fake smile plastered on my face.

I hate this school.

She then set us with our work for the day, doing maths problems. I sat at a desk near the door with my head down and doing my work as quietly as I could, waiting for the perfect moment to come. About ten minutes into the lesson, there was a yell of shock and the class looked up to see a boy by the name of Fred Tyson covered in blood as his nose bled onto his work.

There was an instant uproar as kids panicked, not knowing what to do. Miss Lewis seemed to be in frenzy as if she too was wondering what to do. All the kids got out of their seats and crowded around Fred, checking he wasn't dying.

In all the commotion, nobody noticed me quietly leaving my seat and exiting the room.

I ran to the teachers' room hoping that I wasn't going to run into anyone and that the room would be empty when I reached it. As I turned into a hallway that was coloured yellow, I saw the red door that led to the teachers' room. I looked through the door window checking that there wasn't anyone inside before opening it.

I entered the room seeing that there was no one in there. Just my luck, it all seemed too good to be true. Taking advantage of my luck, I quickly closed the door behind me and hurried over to their fireplace. I drew out the sealed bag from my pocket and opened to reveal Floo Powder from home in it.

Since I had no clue where the Ministry of Magic was and how to get there, I was going to Diagon Ally and ask for directions to the Visitor's Entrance. I would go on from there.

I tossed the powder into the fireplace and green flames came to life, rising higher above my head.

"Diagon Ally!" I cried as I stepped into the fireplace.

I knew it had worked because immediately as I stepped into the fireplace, the room before me spun round and out of sight as I started spinning rapidly. I felt very dizzy as I saw various fireplaces whiz past me and wanted more than anything for this to stop. Finally I felt myself slowing down and I fell out of the fireplace.

I stood up; brushing the soot off my nice blue dress I had picked out for today (it was mufti day at school) and took some time fixing my hair. When I was finally done fixing myself, I looked around to find I had entered a pub. A brick wall stood a short distance away from the fireplace I had just fell out of and looked very old and worn out. That told me I had landed in the right place. Now I just had to ask for directions.

I walked into the main part of the pub to see if there was anybody I could ask. The room was crowded and quite noisy. I froze, wondering who should I ask and whether I could trust that what they were saying was true. I spotted the barman who was cleaning some glasses. He looked trustworthy, I could ask him. I made my way over to the bar and sat down on a stool.

"Excuse me, sir?" I asked, raising my voice over the noise a little and banging on the bell which appeared next to me.

He stopped cleaning the glass and turned round at the sound of my voice. His eyes widened as he saw me sitting alone and made his way over to me. "Why hello, miss, I didn't expect to see a kid like yourself in a bar. Where are your parents?"

"At work," I answered confidently. "My mum is a very busy woman."

"Well shouldn't you be at home or something? You shouldn't be on your own in the middle of London."

"I know that, but I'm taking a risk," I said, leaning on the wood. "What's your name?"

"Tom," he answered, taken aback.

"That's a nice name. My name is Abigail." I held out my hand for him to shake. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir." If Mum didn't teach me anything better it was to be as polite as you can to people you just met. And I wanted to be as nice to this Tom as possible so he would help me.

"It's nice to meet you too, Abigail," Tom replied, taking my hand. "Now, what brings you to The Leaking Cauldron?"

"Well," I said as casually as I could. "I need to get to the Ministry of Magic, but the only problem is I don't know where it is. I thought I might find someone here who would direct me."

"The Ministry of Magic?" he repeated as if he didn't hear what I said. "You want to get to the Ministry of Magic?" I nodded. "And how do you suppose you were going to get there?"

"I thought I would walk," I said simply.

He raised his eyebrows, but didn't ask. "Well you're not far from the Ministry actually. You just walk outside and go left and keep walking for about an hour. Eventually, you'll come across a rather damaged red phone box and that's where the visitor's entrance is. You then dial 62442 and go from there."

"So I just follow the footpath until I come across the phone box?" I asked as I wrote down the number.

"Yep, just follow the footpath and it'll lead you right there."

"Ok. Thank you, sir."

I waved goodbye and left the pub. I then turned left and followed the path. It was a rather long path and people were bustling around me, not taking a second glance at a small girl as they went on with their day. Just when I thought my legs were about to die, I saw a red phone box come into view. I sighed in relief and hurried towards it and locking myself inside.

"Ok then, he said the number was 62442," I muttered as I twirled the dial around. "Ah good, it worked!" I suddenly jumped as a cool female voice sounded throughout the telephone box. I looked around, but no one was next to me.

"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business."

Oh, I get it now, I thought, realising this sounded exactly like someone talking at a subway station or a shop. What was I suppose to say my business was? I had to think quickly.

"Um … Abigail, major appointment," I replied, not sure whether to speak in the receiver or speak normally.

"Thank you," the female voice spoke again. "Visitor, please take the badge and attach it to the front of your robes."

Or in my case my dress. The badge came zooming out of a chute where unused coins would be returned and I pinned it on my dress.

"Visitor to the Ministry, you are required to submit to a search and present your wand for registration at the security desk, which is located at the front of the Atrium."

I froze, wondering what I was supposed to do now. I didn't have a wand and what where they going to say when they see a ten year old walking in the Ministry of Magic alone. They're bound to know who my mother is and they would somehow contact her. I would be in big trouble now.

The floor beneath me shuddered and started sinking slowly into the ground. I watch helplessly as the street rose higher above me as I sunk lower into the ground. My conscience was sinking lower and lower with every inch the box dropped. There no way I could back out now. Blackness closed in over my head and I knew I was doomed. After what seemed like forever, the box hit the bottom and the cold female spoke again.

"The Ministry of Magic wishes you a pleasant day."

Why thank you, I thought glumly as I opened the box and stepped out to face my doom. My eyes widened at the sight before me.

The hall in front of me was a very long and grand hall with a polished, dark wood floor. I looked up at the ceiling to see gleaming golden symbols on a peacock blue ceiling that moved and changed. The walls on both sides had fireplaces inserted into the shiny wood and wizards and witches were emerging from them at least once every few seconds.

I should have gotten here that way, I thought glumly as I got over my astonishment of the hall before me. This is amazing; I've never seen anything like it.

As I walked down the hall, I past a large fountain with golden statues posing in a group consisting of a wizard, a witch, something that looked like an elf, one of those creatures who work at the bank in Diagon Ally which was a goblin and a strange animal that looked half horse and half human. I admired the fountain for a minute before looking for some way to some stairs or elevators.

I saw a desk near the end of the hall with the sign saying Security and a long queue stretching towards the fountain underneath the sign. I quietly slipped past the queue and through the gates that were past the desk. It was a miracle that no one looked twice at me.

I then entered the smaller hall beyond to see about twenty elevators set along the wall. I quickly hurried into one of them and looked to see which level I needed to be at:

Level 9: Department of Mysteries

Level 8: The Atrium

Level 7: Department of Magical Games and Sports, incorporating the British and Irish Qudditch League Headquarters, Official Gobstones Club and Ludicrous Patents Office.

The list went on until Level One. It had 'Minister of Magic and Support Staff' on that level and I knew that was the one I wanted. I pressed the 'Level One' button and the doors closed automatically. I leaned against the wall as the elevator made its way up the building, checking my watch. It was already twelve thirty so I really didn't have long to confront Mr Malfoy.

"Level One, Minister for Magic and Support Staff," the same cool female voice spoke up after the elevator suddenly stopped. This was it. I took a deep breath as the doors opened and I stepped out.

The hallway was deserted and I wasted no time finding someone that would help me find my way to the Minister's office. Sure enough, I saw a sign that read "Minister for Magic's office this way" with an arrow pointing to the left.

I followed the sign's direction and walked down a new hallway that had the sunlight streaming through the windows. Hmm, I thought I was underground. Very strange. Soon enough, the hall finished in a dead end and only a door separated me from what lay beyond it. I opened the door and walked inside.

This wasn't the Minister's office, but was merely a waiting room. There was another door at the other side of the room that was gold in colour. That must be his office then. I started walking over to it when I heard a sharp voice rang out from across the room.

"Oi, kid! What do you think you're doing?"

I jumped at the voice and looked round. A young woman with long, straight blonde hair sat behind a desk on the left side of the room, an irritated expression on her face. Her eyes narrowed as I made my way over to her.

"I'm here to see the Minister obviously," I replied, trying to be polite.

"Do you have an appointment?" she asked, crossing her arms.

"No."

"Well I can't let you in."

"Why not?" I demanded, starting to get angry.

She laughed coldly. "Why not?" she mimicked in a high pitched voice. "Well because one; you haven't made an appointment and two; you're not with your parents. The Minister does not talk to six year olds –"

"I'm ten years old," I snapped angrily.

"Oooh, you're so grown up," she snarled. "Where's your Mummy then?"

"She's at work."

"And you're supposed to be in school, little girl, not here stalking the Minister."

"DON'T CALL ME A LITTLE GIRL!" I shouted, as the anger rushed through my body. "I AM TEN YEARS AND ENTITLED TO TALK TO THE MINISTER IF I WANT!"

"Why do you want to see the Minister anyway?" she asked, leaning back in her seat and looking as though she was enjoying watching a kid get so worked up.

"IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS! I JUST WANT TO ASK HIM A QUESTION AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA STOP ME!"

"What is going on here, Miss Brown?"

I turned around at the sound of the new voice and my anger was wiped away immediately. There, standing in the doorway leading into the office beyond was the Minister himself, Draco Malfoy. His eyes met mine and I had a chance to look at him properly for the first time.

I was right in thinking he looked like me. His eyes were exactly the same shade as mine, his skin was pale and his hair was the same colour and hung over his eyes instead of being slicked back like it was in the picture. He was taller than I thought he would be and looked better than what I had imagined. I don't understand why Mum didn't fall in love with him, he is quite a catch.

He looked at me curiously for a moment before turning back to the woman behind the desk. "Miss Brown, why is there a kid in my office?"

"I don't know," she answered sarcastically. "That was what I was trying to find out before the little kid started screaming at me –"

"DON'T CALL ME A LITTLE KID!!" I yelled at the top of my voice. "I'M NOT FIVE YEARS OLD!"

"You see?" said the secretary, gesturing at me. "She's very arrogant and stubborn. I feel awfully sorry for the parents. What they must have to put up with."

Draco glanced at my angry face and smirked. "I can only imagine. Maybe I can talk some sense into her, as the Minister of Magic."

My mouth dropped open as well as the secretary's. He was actually going to let me in! That was a surprise!

"But Mr Malfoy –" the secretary started to say.

"No buts. I get the say around here. I'm the Minister, you're the secretary. Am I clear?"

She nodded and return to whatever she had been doing before. Draco smirked and turned to go into his office. "Well, are you coming in, kid, or are you going to stand there all day and gap like a goldfish?"

I closed my mouth and followed Draco into his office. The door closed behind me automatically and I took a moment to look around the office.

It was huge and grand with a big fireplace, tall bookshelves, a long desk and other things you would find in a boss's office. It looked like it was the size of the apartment me and Mum live in, it was ridiculous. No one should have an office that big. I'm a very hard person to be impressed by anything and this didn't impress me at all.

"Have a seat," Draco said, bringing me back to earth. I took the seat opposite him as he sat behind the desk, placed his legs on the table and leaned back in his seat. "First things first, let me introduce myself. I'm Draco Malfoy –"

"I know," I interrupted. "I read about you in the paper."

"Well aren't you the smartie-pants?"

I shrugged. "I had nothing better to do at the time."

He gave a little chuckle. "So, what brings you here to the Ministry, miss?"

"Do you always put your feet on the table?" I asked, frowning at him in disapproval.

"Not usually, but since I'm talking to a kid, I thought I would be hip. Besides the fact I'm lazy."

"That would be right," I muttered. "Rich people are always lazy and use house-elves to do all their work for them."

He raised his eyebrows at me and slowly slid his legs off the desk. He sat up in his seat properly and looked me in the eye. "Tell me, what's your name?"

"Abigail," I answered simply.

"Last name?"

I smirked at him. "All in good time, sir." I folded my arms and leaned back in my seat.

He frowned at me and rubbed his chin. "Who are your parents?"

"I have a mother, but no father," I replied promptly. "Mum doesn't like to talk about him much. Why?"

"Just curious," he answered with a mysterious smile. "You remind me of someone, but I can't place my finger on it."

"Well that's funny because you remind me of the guy I read about in the paper yesterday and I don't have trouble putting my finger on that."

Draco grinned. "You don't seem to have any trouble with that. You haven't answered my original question."

"Which was?"

"What brings you here to the Ministry? I mean you're supposed to be in school –"

"I decided to wag," I said, making it sound like it was no big deal.

"You – you wagged?" he almost gasped. He looked like he didn't believe what I said. "Well, you're a little rebel, aren't you?"

"Well, you would want to wag school if it was run by Muggles," I protested, sitting up properly. "And taught by a blind bat who doesn't notice you sneak out of class."

"So let me get this straight," said Draco, leaning on the desk. "You skipped school and somehow found your way through the Ministry and sneaked you way past the security and came up here?"

"Yep."

"I'm impressed," he said, nodding. "But I'm afraid you're going to have to leave."

"Oh no you don't!" I snapped, banging my fist on the table. "You're not going to kick me out of this office like the secretary!"

"Oh yes I am. Kids aren't allowed into the Ministry and I can see why."

"But – but –" I stammered, trying to find the right words to say. "I go to all the trouble to finding the place and walking here and this is what I get! You kicking me out of the office without any reason!"

"You haven't told me your reason for being here so that's why you're leaving."

"You haven't given me a chance to say why!" I retorted angrily.

"Why should I? You're just a kid. I don't have time to listen to kids as I have very important meetings to conduct." He stood up and started to walk towards the door.

"Hey! Don't walk away from me while I'm talking to you!" I snapped, also standing up as he walked past me. He didn't turn around at acknowledge which was really annoying me. "LOOK AT ME WHILE I'M TALKING TO YOU, DAMMIT! I'M YOUR DAUGHTER!"