Shooting Star

Chapter 21

On November 16, 2018, after over eleven years of imprisonment, falsely accused convict Draco Malfoy has been released from Azkaban under Minister of Magic, Hermione Granger.

Harry had read the Daily Prophet over a hundred times, but he wouldn't believe it until he would see the blonde male before. It would be difficult to see him again. After years of therapy to help him cope with not only having his child ripped out of his stomach, but seeing Draco's face as that happened. His breathing was shaky as he breathed through his nose, his heart thudding painfully. The Potter was sitting at the kitchen table, coffee made, extra strong on the caffeine to help his shaky nerves. He placed a hand subconsciously on his stomach. His scar still remained from the incision and he was haunted by the man's face he had once claimed to love. He couldn't have any more children if he wanted to carry them. Lavender Brown…she ruined his life. She was still out there, somewhere…and what was worse was that she had his child's love when it should have been his and Draco's.

Harry stood up and headed upstairs quietly. He walked to the room he had once sealed away for no one but for him to access. However now, someone was occupying it. Harry opened the door slowly, peeking in to see the girl sleeping peacefully. Lily, or as she called herself, Aster, was even more beautiful then Harry could imagine. It wasn't that she resembled himself, no, aside from her nose and a few other minor details, she took after her father, Draco's side in terms of appearance. Lily had his hair, only a few shades darker than his platinum blonde, and his eye color. Perhaps it was true what they say, girls resemble their fathers. Though in terms of hair texture and messiness, she got that from Harry's side of the family.

It almost pained him to wake her up. Beside her sleeping body was a black cat, purring loving beside her stomach. As a token of good faith, Harry had gone back to Hogwarts and picked up the cat, along with many of the girl's belongings so that she may have some clothes and her companion around. The cat soon sensed Harry's presence and woke up. The cat oddly named Wednesday, stretched and let out a "row" as she yawned. Despite the opposite in both color and species, Wednesday reminded Harry of his beloved owl, Hedwig.

As the cat started to climb over Aster, the girl started to stare. It was better to wake her up fully. Harry reached over and gently grabbed her shoulder, shaking it a bit. "Lily, it's time to wake up," he spoke gently.

Aster turned, mumbling, "that's not my name," she mumbled. She refused to be addressed by that name, but Harry refused to call her Aster now that he knows the truth on who she was. She was his child, a truth that not only magic proved, but testing proved accurately. Harry's frustration grew as he had this struggled with the girl. "It's time for breakfast and get dress. Today's a very important day."

Aster got up, her blonde curls morphed into a frizzy mess overnight and Harry could help but smile, "definitely my hair type if it was longer," he said with amusement. The girl got up and saw herself in a nearby mirror, groaning as she knew the pain of having to brush her hair of this madness. It hurt so much! Some days she wanted to chop it all off but she didn't look good with short hair. Thankfully it grew back quickly, like magic.

She was in pajamas though not the same shirt and pants. The top was pink with some character on it, and her pants were blue with a character from a cartoon Harry actually remembered from his childhood. Aster began brushing her hair, which was a lot of screaming and crying from her due to how painful it was. Harry had an idea and left the room for a moment, only to return with a small container of white cream. "Here, use this," He got behind her and began putting the cream in her hair. It was actually the Potter's famous wild hair manager cream. It manages the most unruly hair. It worked like magic (pun intended) and soon Aster's wild locks became more manageable and straighter. Some curl was still in her locks but Harry could brush her hair and it wouldn't result in tears and broken hairbrushes.

"Wow, Professor Potter! That stuff's amazing!" Aster exclaimed.

"Yes, it is. Our family made it. It's how my side of the family had acquired so much wealth," Harry said, though he didn't like being called Professor Potter as much as he didn't like her being called Aster.

"Wait a minute," Aster turned to him, "you're telling me…we're rich?!" She asked with a surprised expression. "Like…I'll never have to worry about money ever in my life rich?!"

"Yes but you know money isn't everything right?" Harry said.

"My mom and I were barely getting by! So as someone who has gone hungry? Money is everything!" Aster said. Harry stopped brushing her hair and looked horrified. "You were homeless?"

"For a little bit. Mom was in-between jobs and well…at least she had magic to help us get by," Aster smiled. "It's not a big deal. We had each other and it was like camping since it was during one summer."

Harry resumed brushing her hair and asked, "do you want it up in a ponytail or left down?"

"I want it down if you don't mind," Aster said and after a few more brushes. "Thank you for fixing my hair!" Aster smiled and Harry's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't seen that smile…ever. It was bright and stunning. It wasn't like his smile or even Draco's smile. It was her own smile. Wide and bright. Harry smiled in returned and said, "you're welcome."

Harry would cherish moments like this. It was the small things he missed out on the most. Things he should have been there for her. Harry looked at the mirror, seeing his daughter and himself at the same moment. It reminded him of the time he had seen his family for the first time in the Mirror of Erised his first year of Hogwarts. For the past eleven years, if he had looked into that particular mirror once more, he would have seen Aster's face as it was now, smiling at him.

Aster was wearing a dress Narcissa had picked out for her. Having a granddaughter meant she would have a female to adorn in beautiful jewels and finery, and in a family full of males, she longed for a female family member. Aster was wearing a white dress with lace along with a fitted cloak that had a cap on it that covered her shoulders, black in color. Aster looked down at her shoes, which reminded her of the slip-one she wore as a baby and had seen in photos of herself. "You look, lovely darling," Narcissa said as she knelt down and cupped Aster's cheek. The girl smiled, blushing and obviously flattered by the compliment. Aster only ever felt pretty when she was dressed up for a figure skating competition, something that hasn't happened in a long time.

Today was the day that she was to meet someone, though she knew who it was, the built up to this day and she wasn't going alone. Harry would be going to make sure Aster wasn't alone but also to apologize to someone who clearly deserved it a thousand times over Draco Malfoy. Harry hadn't seen Draco in person since…before Aster was born…and when he had woken up from a coma that lasted a full week, Harry's testimony had sealed the deal on Draco's fate.

Harry had truly believed at the time it was Draco who had tried to kill him and taken away his child.

Aster was soon hugged by Narcissa before the women stood up properly and spoke, "hold your head high Aster. You are a Malfoy and we hold ourselves well," she said and winked at her, "and we Malfoy women must hold ourselves as though we carry the entire world on our shoulders." Aster followed the woman's led, and in a way, she felt like she was going to perform suddenly. She could easily prim herself up and resemble a well-groomed prat, but in her heart, Aster was modest and hardworking, a Hufflepuff.

And as soon as they headed out the door with Harry soon beside her, taking her hand, they apparated out of Harry's home, and to the Malfoy Manor.

The first thing Aster noticed about the Malfoy Manor was that it was very large but scary looking, like a horror movie house. Aster was led inside the manor by Harry and Narcissa. Harry's eyes looked sad, guilty, as though he spilled over milk and blamed it on the cat. Narcissa's eyes were filled with sadness as well, only Aster had never seen eyes like hers at the moment, but they were so sad and Aster wanted to make her feel better. However, she didn't have a moment to ask what was wrong, as she was led through a corridor and into a large living room. It was there that Aster stopped and went wide-eyed.

There were two Grandpa Lucius's!

Harry looked stunned as well, and Aster looked up, seeing a tear fall down his cheek from emerald green eyes. "Draco?" Harry spoke quietly.

Aster looked over at the two Malfoys, one of them flinching painfully as he turned and saw the child.

Draco has aged poorly since his time in Azkaban. His cheeks were sunken in and the platinum blonde hair a ghostly white color and much longer. He had several baths since he was let go from prison, but dark marks still littler his flesh, hidden by thick cloaks. Aster assumed he was very cold by how he was shivering. She was nervous, but she began approaching the man. Many would be scared to look at such a man who looked broken. As though he was near death. The girl could see the man from earlier photos through him. The two were silent as they looked at each other. Unlike with Professor Potter, Aster could feel a connection to this man despite this being her first time meeting him. If her mom, Lavender, has told her that this was her father, she would have believed it.

But this was her father.

Aster reached out, slowly taking Draco's hand, her warm hand to Draco's cold hand. "It's nice to meet you," she said smiling softly to the man.

Draco couldn't believe that she was here. For over a decade, he thought his daughter was dead. Murdered by some monster. He knew he was innocent, but no one believed him. He was Imprisoned on a crime he did not commit and no one but his parents believed him. Not even the love of his old life. Speaking of, he looked at Harry, the man holding a guilt-riddled face. Harry hadn't aged gracefully either from the looks of it. His scar exasperated over the years and his hair long and pulled back on a bun.

Aster had no idea of the tension that was in the room, but when she hugged Draco, she felt a parental bond with him. "Dad." She said softly. Draco's heart soared. "Yes baby…I'm your father," he said and knelt down, his body aching as he did so but he wanted a good look at his daughter's face. She looked mostly like him. Blonde. Grey-eyed. Beautiful. However, unlike him, Aster was bright eyed and innocent. "I'm your…daddy," he said and hugged Aster close to him, making the child gasp a little. She asked, "why are you crying? I didn't hurt you did I? I'm sorry."

Draco pulled away but kept his hand on Aster's shoulder. There was a large smile on his face as he looked at his daughter before him. "Don't be sorry," he said, "you have nothing to be sorry about. I heard you go by Aster now."

She nodded, but she heard Harry say, "her name is Lily and it will always be Lily." Aster sharply turned her head to Harry, "stop calling me that. That's not who I am."

Draco stood up and looked at Harry with a rather upset face. The two men stood in silence for a moment before Draco took Aster by the hand, "come along Aster, tell me some more about yourself," he said and led the girl to the couch and the two sat down.

Harry stared at the blondes all circled around them. His green eyes almost glowing behind his circular spectacles with jealousy. Yes he was guilty of falsely imprisoning Draco, but he knew he saw Draco. Now that he knew it was Lavender Brown with polyjuice potion who had done it. Harry winced mentally as he looked away, his hand was shaking a bit at the memory. Despite knowing the truth, he could remember clearly those grey eyes that peered down at him on that ungrateful day.

And seeing the Malfoys all grouped together made his stomach turn. He narrowed his eyes and saw the bright smile of his daughter. Harry's short-lived jealously turned to guilt once more as he knew she didn't know much of what had happened. He wanted to shelter her from some of the pain. Aster was talking up a storm of things that seemed to blur into noise and Draco politely nodded along, though there was a moment when Draco looked over and his eyes met Harry's. It felt as though a semblance of love still resonated with each other them.

However, no matter how much love they held for each other, Draco could never forgive Harry for what he had done.