Chapter Three

Disclaimer: I own only the plot

The mother and daughter browsed the books in Flourish and Blotts, but for once Hermione's mind couldn't even be cleared by the world of books. The last few days had gone by at a painfully slow pace. Kairi scarcely spoke a word to anyone, not even to the twins. She hadn't forgotten about the news of her father.

Hermione sighed. "Kairi, enough is enough. You need to learn that you're not always going to get your way."

Putting down the book she had been looking at she muttered, "I want to see him."

Groaning, Hermione rolled her eyes. Her daughter was just as stubborn as she was. Turning back to Kairi she found that she no longer stood beside her.

"Kairi?" she called, looking around the many book shelves.

When she heard Malfoy's voice, she knew no good could come from it.

Peering from behind the shelf, Hermione could see Malfoy speaking with a women, whom she recognized to be Pansy Parkinson.

"Our Master is not pleased with you, Draco," Pansy cooed, "Not pleased at all."

"You think it's so easy?" Malfoy growled back in return. "Things like this take time, Parkinson. Not that you would know."

Pansy merely smirked at him, "Don't play coy with me. The Dark Lord respects me because I listen to him. I do as he says without question, unlike you."

Malfoy snapped. Grabbing Pansy by the shoulders, he shoved her into the brick wall. "Don't you dare speak to me that way. I have done more then you could ever imagine!"

Suddenly, the sound of a book hitting the floor shattered everyone's attention. Kairi stood only few away from Hermione, staring with frightened eyes at Malfoy.

With a pop, Hermione was left alone with only Kairi and Malfoy.

Straightening up, Malfoy quickly put on a grin, "Hello Kairi. How are you?"

Backing away farther from Malfoy, Kairi hurried to Hermione's side.

"What's wrong, Kairi?" Malfoy asked, laughing slightly.

Hermione wrapped her arm around their child and pulled her close. This was the reason she didn't want Kairi to meet Malfoy. He couldn't help being what he was, who he was. And not even knowing his child would change that.

Kairi pulled at her cloak, "I want to go home. Now." She was scared of Malfoy.

Hermione nodded. Taking the nine year old by the hand, she lead her away from the unwanted moment.

Kairi's POV

Her mother quietly closed the bedroom door behind her as she left Kairi alone. Curling up in her blanket she tossed her book on the bed. There was no way her mind would settle enough to read.

Was her father really as horrible as she witnessed? Did this Draco Malfoy even know that she was his daughter? Kairi had to know.

Jumping out of bed, Kairi changed from her pajamas into jeans and a sweatshirt. Her mother had just said good-night, so there wasn't a big chance of her finding that her child snuck off.

Taking a deep breath, Kairi scooped up a handful of Floo Powder.

"Malfoy Manor."

Within seconds the nine year old found herself standing in an elegant living room. Stepping out of the fireplace, she saw Draco, her father, quickly scrambling up from his spot on one of the many couches.

"Kairi?"

Confidant like her mother, she walked toward Draco with determinedness shinning in her gray eyes. "I know," she began, "I know who you are, Draco Malfoy. Mum told me everything after you showed up at the twins' Joke Shop. She told me that you're my real father. Is that true?"

Sighing, Draco sat down once again, gesturing for her to come and do the same. Only when she sat beside him did he begin to explain.

"Yes," he answered softly, "I'm your father."

"Why didn't Mum tell me about you before?" she asked curiously.

Draco laughed and said simply, "Because from the moment we met your mum has hated me. To her I was an arrogant ferret and to me she was a know-it-all Mudblood."

Kairi shook her head, still seemingly confused, "If you two hate each other so much then why did you have me?"

Smiling softly at his daughter he ran a finger across her cheek and said, "Hermione and Ron had just gotten into a fight. She was upset and came to me. She thought that if anyone could take away her pain it was her worst enemy. She knew that around me her mind would be far away from Ron. For one night she didn't hate me. For one night I didn't hate her. She was no longer a worthless Mudblood and I could relate to her. I could sympathize with what she was going through." He took Kairi in his arms for the first time and hugged her tightly. "Your mother loves you beyond all belief. She has always loved you and always will. Hermione cares about you so much that she kept you from me in hopes that it would keep you safe."

Pulling away slightly, Kairi asked, "Safe from what?"

"Safe from me," he whispered, "If my father knew that I had a child with Hermione-a Muggle-born- he would kill you both. And I don't want to think of what would happen if the Dark Lord found out about you. I love you, Kairi. You need to know that. I may not show it in the same way Ron might, but I do with all my heart. That is why we can't see each other again; I don't want to see you get hurt. Listen to your mother. She will look after you, and so will Ron and Harry. You have to go now."

"But-"

"Now, Kairi," he said firmly.

Nodding, she left the couch, pulling a hand full of Floo Powder from the pouch in her pocket.

"Bye," she said emotionlessly, throwing the dust into smoldering flames.