Chapter 13

Draco nearly spilled his wine as he overheard the two whispering witches. "The girl has her curls apparently but her hair is a white as the Malfoys'!" The first one giggled as the other replied:

"She can't like that! Weren't they enemies at school?"

"Arch-enemies as far as I could tell. Muggle-born and pure-blood? It was sort of expected back then, wasn't it?"

The other one sighed. "Glad those days are over," she said. "At least, now I don't have to worry about marrying into the right family anymore."

Draco decided not to let the conversation get to him. Surely it was just rumours. There could be many explanations, he figured. Yet a sliver of doubt entered his mind.

A few days later, he overheard a similar conversation. One that was abruptly broken off at the sight of him and only resumed when he was out of earshot. During that day, he imagined himself stared at more than usual. He was wearing a new travelling cape of rare black fur but somehow he didn't think that was the cause of all the curious glances.

The latest tidbit he picked up was the child's name: Lucy. Some seemed to think that was a reference to his father Lucius, but Draco knew that couldn't be it. Hermione would never in a million years name her child after him! The general idea seemed to be that he, Draco, had named the child after his father, and had even forced Hermione to do so!

Draco couldn't take it any longer and wanted to know the truth once and for all! He went to his secret potion cabinet and dumped some Veritasserum in his pockets. If she wouldn't tell him, he'd force her to drink it.

Draco could spot her bushy hair from miles away. He stormed towards Hermione as she was just filling her bag with paperwork, reading to leave the archives to head home at the end of a long day. Slowly but determined, he rose up behind her startling Hermione into dropping the files.

"Tell me! Is it true?" Draco's voice was low, almost inaudible, but threatening nevertheless. "Tell me if the whispers are true?"

"What whispers?"

"The child, that she… that she's quite blond, nearly white-haired."

Hermione nodded stiffly. "Baby's often have lighter hair when they are so small," she deflected busying herself with picking up the notes and forms. "My hair was a lot brighter too when I was young."

"Being callous doesn't suit you," Draco gritted his teeth. "You know what I am asking!"

Hermione looked him straight in the eye. "In that case, the answer is yes." She zipped her bag and ran as fast as her heels could carry her. How could she have been so foolish as to admit to it! He could take her away! Raise her as his own!

"Not so fast!" Draco used his wand to stop her in her tracks. Hermione tried to move but found she could not.

Draco leisurely strolled towards her. "So the child is mine," he gathered. "A baby girl called Lucy with near white curls and dark eyes. And when, if ever, were you going to inform me?"

Hermione swallowed hard as she tried to raise her shoulders indifferently. Unfortunately Draco's curse had not yet worn off. "I wanted to tell you. I honestly didn't know what to say. It's not as if we've ever even mentioned or truly acknowledged those… those moments."

Draco bit his lip and nodded his head. He scraped his throat. "Well, yes, about that. Clearly, well, clearly it had some unforeseen results. I'd have taken you for someone to have, hmm, you know taken precautions against such things. Some horrible Muggle contraption or what not."

Hermione huffed. "It's not as if I was in a relationship at the time," she said. "There wasn't any need, or so I thought."

"We'll have to talk about this," Draco continued. "Preferably without consulting lawyers."

"Is that a threat?" Hermione inquired. "Because I'm not too keen on those."

"In the current climate," Draco answered coolly, "they won't be too inclined to assist me, though fortunately money does still speak."

"You want visiting rights?" Hermione asked, hoping he wouldn't speak the dreaded words.

"Joint custody sounds much more fair, wouldn't you agree?" he replied, his tone harsh and his eyes narrowing.

"Draco," she pleaded, "it will never work. We wouldn't even want the same things for her or teach her similar…" Her voice broke as she saw his frown.

"Values?" he sneered. "That's what you were going to say?"

Hermione didn't respond and briefly closed her eyes. It was clear that they'd never see eye to eye on any of this.

"I'd say it gives you an excellent opportunity to use your negotiating skills again. I'll arrive at your place tomorrow morning at nine and we can discuss matters further then." His tone was final.

"I've got an important meeting tomorrow morning," Hermione tried, but Draco waved her objections away.

"Your schedule is cleared for tomorrow," he said, "I took it up with your boss."

"What?!" Hermione was outraged.

"He attends my club," Draco said off-handedly. "Eats out of my hand, good old Florian does." And with that he left her, perplexed and shattered.