Like I said, I'm really turning over a new leaf! Hope you guys like this chapter, and I'd love to know what you're thinking!
Draco glanced down at his robes. He adjusted his collar and carefully looked himself over one last time.
Granger was playing at his desk, waving her fake wand around and yelling out accio every couple of seconds. She actually looked kind of cute, even he had to admit. He didn't know who'd picked out Baby Granger's clothes, but this dress had been in the pile. It was a deep red, with gold stitching at the bottom and on the sleeves. He'd found red and gold slippers that matched, and he thought he'd done a rather suitable job of brushing her hair and tying it back with a golden ribbon.
All in all, he was getting the hang of this whole babysitting thing.
The fireplace came to life, and Draco hurried to open the gate. Theo stepped into the room, brushing soot off his robes.
Granger bounced off the desk and ran into Theo's arms, brandishing her wand proudly.
"Hermione, you look a vision." Theo lifted her up and grinned, glancing at Draco.
Draco rolled his eyes.
The fireplace roared once again, and Blaise stepped through.
"Dinner with your Mum, and you thought I'd want to come?" He growled irritably.
"Blaise!" Granger cried, reaching for him. "You came!"
Blaise visibly softened. "Of course I did, Granger. You look quite the Gryffindor today."
Theo snorted. "Whipped by a toddler."
Draco rolled his eyes again. He took Granger from Theo and placed her on the ground. "Come on. We don't want to keep my mother waiting."
"Is your Mum scary?" Granger whispered nervously.
"She'll like you." Draco assured her.
"Can I hold your hand?"
Draco sighed, but held his hand out.
Granger nodded and gripped him tightly.
With that, the four of them headed down to the main dining room.
…
Narcissa Malfoy was waiting for them in the dining room, beauteous as ever. Blaise and Theo both kissed her cheeks, and then Draco moved to hug her.
He didn't get very far, however, with Granger diving into the back of his robes. She'd gone white, and he nervously wondered if she had some memories of the manor. He'd been careful to avoid walking past anything he'd thought she might recognize.
"Ah, Miss Granger, I presume." With some difficulty, Narcissa Malfoy bent down. "Come out from behind my son, would you?"
Granger wouldn't. She was standing on Draco's robes, holding his legs tightly. Her eyes kept jumping from Narcissa to the door, and Draco could tell she was deciding if she should make a run for it.
"I hear you like to read." Narcissa said calmly. "Have you seen the Malfoy library yet? It's rather large."
"She also likes animals." Blaise supplied helpfully.
"You should take a walk around our gardens, then." Narcissa mused. "They're sizable, and many animals come to graze. What might your favorite animal be? Mine are dragons."
Granger made a soft noise. She slowly peered from behind Draco.
"I like cats." She said softly. "I like cats and I like unicorns."
"Unicorns?" Narcissa smiled. "Now, that might be a bit ambitious, but I'm sure I can do a little digging around and see if I can find a unicorn for you to meet."
Granger's mouth fell open. "Really?"
"That's right. What else do you like?"
Granger emerged from Draco's shadow. "One day I'm going to do magic."
She carefully produced her wand-in-training from the side pocket of her dress.
"And what's that?" Narcissa asked in amusement.
"It's my wand. One day I'll have a real one, but this is the one I use for practicing." She explained. "I'm magical."
Draco held his breath. He didn't know how his mother would react. If his father had been here…
Narcissa smiled uncomfortably. "That's right. Come, let's eat."
Baby Granger held up her arms to Draco, who glanced awkwardly at his mother before lifting her up.
They took their seats around the table, Granger happily nestling into Draco's lap. He could sense his mother watching them, out of the corner of her eye. He pulled two plates in front of him, as he'd gotten used to at Hogwarts, and mentally winced when he realized how unrefined it all seemed.
Granger has no such reservations. As soon as there was food on her plate, she grabbed the first fork she could reach and stabbed into it.
"So, Narcissa," Theo quickly blurted. "I heard from Draco you recently visited France. How was your trip?"
Draco shot Theo a look of appreciation. His mother subtly turned her attention to him and smiled. "Yes, I went to visit some relatives. It's lovely there. And how is Hogwarts these days?"
Slowly, conversation started up. Draco was more thankful than ever that his friends had decided to come. They were able to keep Narcissa occupied for a good portion of the meal. Draco couldn't shake the feeling that she was massively uncomfortable, though, and he wished he could take Baby Granger and retreat back to his bedroom.
It was nearing desert when she couldn't hold it in any longer.
"Miss Granger, dear, do tell me who dressed you?"
"Draco did." Granger said simply. "Well, I got dressed myself. But Draco gave me the clothes. Usually I pick out my own clothes though unless Daphne and Pansy help me. I like shirts and pants. Dresses are itchy."
Narcissa shot her son a disapproving look. "That would be because the clothes you're wearing today wouldn't be caught on a Squib. Draco, you picked it out for her?"
"I thought she looked good." Draco said defensively. Part of him was a bit offended that his mother didn't like his clothing selection. The rest of him was entirely too relieved that that seemed to be the only thing she was distressed by.
"For the ball, I'll take care of her clothes." Narcissa sniffed. "We can go shopping tomorrow."
"Er, Mother, not that I wouldn't love to go shopping, but I actually have plans." Draco lied. His friends both nodded, and he mentally congratulated himself on picking such wonderful, loyal friends.
"No matter, I'm sure Miss Granger and I can spend the day together." Narcissa frowned at him.
"She…needs to be with me." Draco said quickly, but it was too late.
"Oh, can't I go with your Mum?" Granger pleaded. "I like her! I want to go shopping with her! And this dress is so itchy!"
He opened his mouth, and then sighed. "Fine, alright. I suppose we can go shopping tomorrow before my…plans."
"Very well." Narcissa stood up. "Alright, it looks like we're all about done with dinner. You can all go, and don't forget to make those plans for tomorrow."
She swept out of the dining room, and the three boys leaned back and sighed.
"Dinner with your Mum is exhausting." Blaise shook his head. "Honestly, Draco, never invite me anywhere ever again."
"Too late, you can come over again tomorrow." Draco growled.
"Let's have a gathering tomorrow." Theo suggested. "Y'know, we'll get everyone together and have a poker night or something."
"What's poker?" Granger asked curiously. "Do you poke something with a stick?"
"No," Theo grinned. "That's not…no."
"Poker night sounds good." Draco interrupted. "Hey, Granger, can you read?"
Baby Granger looked about as offended as her older counterpart would have been. "Of course I can read!"
"Excellent." Draco gently let her off his lap and stood up. "Let's go to the library. I have a feeling you'll enjoy it in there."