Chapter 14
A yellow taxi pulled up near the front gate of the white-paneled house. Blaise Zabini stepped out first before helping Cassandra Clearwater exit. She was white as a sheet and her hand shook as it reached out to Blaise. The tall Italian man closed the door behind her, all the while saying nothing as she stared at her former residence. A small girl watched her from the front window, and Cass instantly knew who she was.

"Ready?" Blaise asked as the cab pulled away. Cass shook her head, but followed him up the front path anyhow.

"Mummy, someone's coming," Ruby called out as she continued to watch the two people coming up the walk.

Hermione exited the kitchen. "I remember when I used to be able to sense people," she said as Draco followed her. They met Ruby by the living room window and peered out. "Or maybe you just looked out the window," she amended.

Draco leaned over Ruby to see who was coming and paled. Glancing back to Hermione, his eyes conveyed his reservations before he picked up the little girl.

"Is that the lady from the picture?" Ruby asked as Draco reached the staircase. He glanced at Hermione from the corner of his eye before nodding. "Can I meet her?"

Draco started climbing the stairs. "Not right now," he told her. Soon they reached Ruby's bedroom. "I need you to play quietly in your room for a bit."

"But Daddy," she whined when he deposited her on her bed.

"No," he replied, trying with all his strength to keep his tone firm. "When your mother decides you can come down, then you can. Until then, stay in your room." He closed the door before she could protest again, and with a wave of his wand over the door, he silenced the room so Ruby wouldn't hear the goings on downstairs.

The front door had just been opened, and Hermione blocked Cass from view. He knew that once Hermione opened the door wider, he would be face to face with his former love. Draco was suddenly positive that he wasn't ready for that, and considered turning around to retreat to his bedroom. Draco shook his head; for his daughter's sake he wouldn't play the coward now.

"Come in," he heard Hermione say, and at that moment he was reunited with Cassandra Clearwater.

"Draco," Cass gasped as she crossed the threshold. Her hand covered her heart as her eyes widened at the sight of him.

He remained as hardened as he could; a throwback to his formative years at Hogwarts. Sneer in place, cold, unfeeling eyes trained on her, and arms crossed over his chest; that was the Draco Malfoy he presented at that moment.

As Hermione led their visitors to the sitting room, she shot Draco a look that told him to behave. Before she could enter, though, he took hold of her arm.

"Do you think this is such a good idea?" he asked. His eyes didn't meet hers, but rather they focused on the blonde perched anxiously on the edge of a couch cushion.

"Too late now," Hermione murmured, leaving him where he was. Taking a deep breath, he followed her.

"Where's Ruby?" Cass asked, her hands clasped in her lap as she stared at Draco and Hermione. Neither one answered, nor did their expressions give away any information. Cass turned to Hermione with tears in her eyes. "I know, believe me, I know what I did was wrong. I was young and scared, and just so, so stupid."

"Scared of what?" Draco interjected, standing as far from her as possible.

Blaise passed her a handkerchief as she pushed on with her story. "Draco, when I told your parents that I was pregnant, I wasn't looking for a hand out. I wasn't hoping to weasel my way into your family. I thought that, even though you and Astoria called off the wedding, that they would just arrange another pureblood marriage. We couldn't be together, but I thought you should know about your daughter."

Draco scoffed. "And yet, it's five years later that I learn I have a child."

Cass's blue eyes began to water again. "Your father told me that he would see to it that I never breathed a word to you about Ruby," she explained. She looked over to Hermione, hoping to find a sympathetic ally. But Hermione wouldn't look her way, choosing to focus on Draco instead. "When I left, I did it because I was afraid that your father would put his threats into action. I thought Ruby would be better off with you, Hermione, rather than moving around from place to place."

"So, you left her where my father could find her?" Draco spat out.

"He wanted nothing to do with her," Cass replied. "He said that as long as no one knew he wouldn't hurt us. That's why I never told you who her father was."

Hermione, who had remained silent until then, spoke up. "What are you going to do now?"

Cass sighed, hoping the interrogation would soon be over. "I don't know," she answered honestly. "I never thought about coming back, but now that I have... There's no place in her life for me, is there?"

Hermione felt her former friend's pain, but Draco was like a cat ready to pounce. Their eyes met in a silent debate before he shook his head and left the living room. As she turned back to face Cass, she realized that the future - hers, Ruby's, Cass's, Draco's - rested in her hands.

"I think Ruby should know who you are," Hermione decided, thoughtfully choosing her words. "But Draco and I will explain that to her. I don't know where you fit in here until she knows. Where are you staying?"

"A hotel near here," Cass replied quietly.

Hermione rose from her chair and nodded. "It was nice of you to come," she replied stoically. "I trust you know the way out." Without glancing back, Hermione left the living room for the second floor and her family.