Chapter 14: A Day with the Kid

Things were looking better for Draco as weeks passed. Ginny had offered him to teach and he had happily accepted. He enjoyed teaching kids and he was surprised with his own teaching abilities. James had slowly started to warm up to him. Draco knew this because they had started discussing Quidditch teams; something Draco had noticed Ginny was not generally interested to discuss with her son. Draco also noticed that James had the capability to learn things quickly and he was amazed by how much the little boy's memory could hold. He blamed Hermione for that.

One Tuesday, Draco didn't see Ginny at the house all morning. He was pretty sure he had seen James. Ginny generally told him if she is going out for some work but he had no such notice today. This was not like Ginny. When the lunch break came and went and Draco still didn't see her, he asked Aurora.

"Where is Ginny today?"

Aurora looked at him as if he was the most stupid person she had seen. "Don't you know?" She asked.

"Know what? Is she alright?" Draco asked. He was concerned that something has happened to Ginny and somehow the news hasn't reached him.

"I hope so …"

"What do you mean?"

"Don't you know what day is today?" Aurora asked irritatingly.

"Tuesday." Draco replied automatically. Did Ginny go somewhere on Tuesdays?

"Yeah…" Aurora said rolling her eyes. "I meant date … its 31st July."

"So?"

"It's Harry's Birthday; Harry Potter's Birthday."

"Oh!!!" Draco said. Why would he remember Potter's Birthday?

"Yeah, Ginny gets a bit upset these days … and you know what tomorrow is?" Aurora asked.

Not to sound stupid by saying Wednesday, he said, "1st August?" He didn't know what was special about tomorrow.

"Yes Draco … Harry died on 1st August." She said shaking her head. "It will be four years tomorrow."

"Oh Merlin!!!" Draco exclaimed. Then the irony stuck him. "So he celebrated his birthday and then died the next day?"

"Sad, isn't it?"

"Yeah … it must be hard for Ginny."

"Yes … she does not come to House these two days." Aurora said as a matter of fact. "I guess she does not want to show us how sad she becomes … and how vulnerable she is?"

"I would think having friends around would help." Draco suggested.

"I tried that for couple of years … but she just likes it alone." Aurora said shrugging.

Draco found it surprising. A girl like Ginny wants to be alone at a time when she should be with her friends and family. May be she was with her family … but James was here in the school. She wouldn't leave her son alone, would she?

"Hey" Aurora said breaking Draco's thought process. "Can you baby sit James for me today after the school? I promised Ginny I would but I … actually I have a date."

"A date?"

"Yes Draco, a date … women my age date you know …" Aurora said blushing.

"Why doesn't one of her brothers take care of James?" Draco asked.

"I believe Ron is out of town and Hermione has a full time duty at St. Mungo's. She generally takes her son Harry along. Fred and George are useless and I think Molly Weasley is visiting Charlie in Romania." She said counting on her fingers. "Look she asked me … I don't know why she didn't ask her brothers … she probably wants to avoid them. Now can you please take him?"

"Yeah ok …fine." Draco said a bit grudgingly. A one-to-one with James didn't appeal him much.

Later that afternoon Draco was walking James to Ginny's house.

"Where is Miss Aura?" James asked

"She was busy?" Draco replied.

"Are you going to baby sit me Mr. Malfoy?"

"Yes."

When they reached home, Draco sat on the couch and James went inside his room. He arrived few minutes later with a pack of cards.

"Do you know how to play Exploding Snap?" He asked Draco.

"Err … yes … but it's been a while."

"It's easy Mr. Malfoy." And James started explaining all the rules of Exploding Snap. As a child, Draco's father had never encouraged Draco to play trivial games like Exploding Snaps or Gobstones. But as James went into the intricacies of the game, Draco realized how much more it was then just a deck of cards. They had fun playing with each other and by the time they finished three games, both were laughing out loudly.

"My dad gave me these cards on my first birthday." James told Draco. "Mommy said she argued with him that I was too small for playing cards but he said the sooner I learn, the sooner I can beat my cousins."

Draco smiled at the little boy. Even now he couldn't help wondering how much James looked like Harry. "Do you remember your Dad, James?"

"Well not exactly … but I have many pictures of him … so I know I look just like him."

"Yes you do."

James was quiet for a while. Then he said, "Mommy said you saved Dad's life once."

"Err … yes." Draco said … he didn't like where the conversation might go.

"Uncle Fred says that's why she kept you for the House. He says the money she pays you could be used in their joke shop."

Draco smirked, "Your uncles don't like me."

"That's because they don't know you." James said. "Mommy always tells them you are a good person."

"She does?"

"Yes … anyone who saved my Dad's life should be." James said. "I used to be scared of you a bit … but I am not anymore." He added hastily.

"Good to know that." Draco said smiling.

"Do you know how to cook Mr. Malfoy?" James asked.

"Err … not exactly … are you hungry?"

"A little bit …"

"Ok let's see what's in the kitchen."

They looked around in the kitchen cupboards and the only thing Draco felt confident about was Mac-n-Cheese.

"You like this?" He asked showing the packet to James.

"I do" James said happily. "Mommy doesn't make it much though … she says it's not good for your health."

"Well … Mommy is not here, is she?" Draco said.

They made Mac-n-Cheese and ate bowl full of it. There was still some left in the bowl.

"Let's leave that for your Mommy." Draco said. "She might be hungry when she comes back."

"She won't eat." James said enjoying his meal.

"Why?"

"She would be too upset with all the crying?" James said shrugging.

"Crying?"

"Yes … she would come home with her eyes all red, she will hug me and she will cry more. And then she will tuck me in the bed and pretend to sleep herself."

"How do you know that?" Draco asked.

"I remember last two years."

"You do?"

"I am five now, Mr. Malfoy." James said shaking his head as if he is explaining a very obvious thing.

"Right." Draco said. "Do you know where she goes?" He asked.

"No ... she doesn't take me. Last year I asked her and she said she wants to be alone. She misses Daddy too much."

"Hmm." Draco said.

"Where are your Mom and Dad?" James asked.

"Oh … they died." Draco said.

"When you were a child?" James asked.

"No actually … I was quite old. I was seventeen." Draco said remembering those fateful days.

"Do you miss them?"

"Sometimes."

"You can talk to me if you miss them, Mr. Malfoy and I will talk to you when I miss my Dad. I don't talk to Mommy … she becomes sad."

"Alright James." Draco said smiling. They had almost finished their dinner. "Let's have another round." Draco said taking the cards.

They were in the middle of the game and Draco was loosing spectacularly when Ginny came back. James ran towards her. Like James had said, her eyes were red from crying and her cheeks were puffed. Draco had never seen such sadness on Ginny's face before. Ginny didn't notice Draco and hugged James tightly.

"Did you eat anything?" She asked him.

"Yes … Mr. Malfoy made Mac-n-Cheese. There is some left for you."

Ginny snapped her head to look at Draco. She gasped and quickly wiped her eyes. "Draco … what are you doing here? Where is Aurora?" She asked.

"She was busy … so I came here with James."

"Oh … umm … Thanks." She said a bit uncomfortably. "I hope James didn't bother you."

"We played Exploding Snap, Mommy. Mr. Malfoy lost to me four times." James said excitingly.

"Well … I was out of touch." Draco tried to defend himself.

"Well you are the champion, James." Ginny said patting her son, "Now it's well past your bed time … so off you go."

After James bid both of them good night, Ginny sat on the couch.

"I am sorry you have to see me this way." She said to Draco blowing her nose in a handkerchief.

"Are you alright?" Draco asked. He was not used to weeping girls … but somehow Ginny did not make him uncomfortable.

"No." Ginny replied honestly. "But I will be fine."

"Do you want to eat?"

"I am not hungry. Thanks Draco … for taking care of James."

"No problem. You should eat something Ginny … you are not looking good."

"Tell me about it. I never show this face to my friends or family." She said pointing her puffing cheeks. "Well except for James … but he is a baby … he won't remember."

"You will be surprised how much he can remember." Draco said.

"Why … what did he say?"

"Umm … Nothing." Draco didn't feel like betraying James' trust. "I am just saying he is a brilliant boy."

"I know. Hermione gets in his head quiet often. I guess Ron doesn't allow her to spoil their son." Ginny said trying to smile. But she failed miserably and a tear rolled down her face. They were quite for a while. Then Ginny said, "I think you should go back to House. Kids there might need you."

"I can stay here." Draco said and then realizing what he had said quickly added, "I mean if you want me to."

"No … I will be fine Draco … Thanks."

"Ok ... take care of yourself Ginny." Draco said walking towards her and squezzing her shoulder.

Ginny smiled. Even with the puffy cheeks and red eyes, that little smile made her face light up.

"Good Night Draco"

"Good Night Ginny."

As Draco was walking back towards the House, Ginny's sad face kept coming to his mind. It had been almost seven months since Draco had started working for Ginny and not once he had seen her like this. She never looked so weak and so vulnerable. First time in his life, Draco wanted to comfort a person. First time in his life, Draco wanted to share the pain. He was sure Ginny will return to herself in few days … she was a strong person; but the Ginny he had seen today, broke his heart. He was not sure he will be able to see her like this again. Not if he can help it. He thought.

Author's Note: I thought it was about time Draco and James had some interaction. Also I know you might think that it was a hell of a coincidence that Harry died the next day after his birthday but its not. What happened actually was the Queen invited him for his Birthday into Buckingham Palace. Harry could not come on July 31st because he wanted to celebrate the day with his friends and family so he went on August 1st. That was when he got the news of the muggle baiting and as he was close to the site he went to investigate it.

Oh and obviously the Queen knows all about the wizarding world … after all Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville helped her find her handbag. If you don't know what I am talking about, see the video on youtube about Harry Potter and the Queen's Handbag. Some how I am not able to give the link here.