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CHAPTER 25

Draco Malfoy successfully avoided his wife for another five and a half month. It was easily achievable due to the size of the place they were living. Unfortunately, he was not so lucky enough to avoid his mother but managed to keep their meeting to minimal, avoiding her comments, ideas sometimes very harsh critiques regarding his behaviour as a father and a husband. He met his father frequently, but neither talked about the new addition or her mother other than their business matters. The only person he didn't try to avoid was his little daughter. Due to medical reasons, Hermione was not allowed to take care of her baby during night time, and she was forced to have three hours of child-free resting time during the mid afternoon. She obviously protested against it, but healers convinced her that her health was very important and having a healthy mother was beneficial for her daughter in the long term. Finally, after a long discussion she hesitantly agreed to leave Etamin in an experienced elf care during the time she was unable to look after her.

Draco never left his precious baby girl at a care of an elf. He was there for her at night time, feeding, burping, rocking and setting her. During day time, he read stories and sang to her. Sometimes he took her to the Muggle Park near his in-laws place and let her watch moving clouds, dancing leaves in the breeze and animals and insects. She was very enthusiastic and curious baby and loved her little strolls. He learned to use muggle stroller with the help of her mother-in-law. She taught her many things including feeding his baby solids when she turned six months old. He quickly became a hands-on father in both Muggle, and magical way and the bond between the father and daughter grew stronger and stronger every day. Apart from Draco's in-laws and the elf in charge of the baby, nobody was aware of their development.

Draco didn't miss his daughter's first smile, first babblings, first rolling over or even the first time she sat by herself. Very recently he was very lucky to be there when she started to crawl for the first time. On that day, he entered the nursery as usual, after half an hour his wife had retired to her afternoon nap. He saw her sitting next to the elf on her play mat surrounded by both muggle and magical baby toys, and he left at the door watching her with the heart full of love. After sometimes, she saw him and let a happy squeal with a beautiful baby smile as always she did but that day she didn't wait for him to reach her and suddenly started to crawl towards him. Draco was shocked and left speechlessly with happy tears rolling down his eyes. He slowly bent down and knelt on the floor without taking his eyes off from the approaching angel. Little Etamin reached him and sat down near him with a beautiful big smile, the she raised her chubby arms asking him to carry her. The proud father carefully picked up his most precious gem and hugged her protectively and started to shower her with a rain of loving kisses while the little one giggled non-stop as usual.

A couple of days later he got another shock. On a Monday, he apparated in front of his father's study around the morning tea time. He didn't inform Lucius that he was coming as the matter arose happened to be an urgent one, and he thought of meeting his father in person and discuss a solution as soon as possible. He was surprised to hear the laughter of Lucius Malfoy was coming out of his study. It was not an evil, maniacal laugh Draco used to hear since his childhood, but it was a soft, happy one that he didn't even though his father would capable of having. Curiously, he slowly opened the door and left in a shock when he saw his little daughter in his father's arms. Etamin was babbling and blowing raspberries at her grandfather and Lucius was happily enjoying her little company while her mother and her grandmother watching them cheerfully.

"Father..." Draco scrunched his brows together and addressed Lucius in disbelief.

"Oh! Draco, what a pleasant surprise! What brings you here?" Lucius turned around and greeted his son happily.

Before even Draco could reply, his little angel squealed in delight after seeing her father and wiggled demanding her grandfather to put her down. When Lucius released her, she hurriedly crawled towards her father who scooped her up and kissed her tenderly.

"Hello, princess! Never thought I'm going to see you here..." He said tickling her tummy with a big mischievous smile. Etamin giggled and threw her arms around his neck and hid her face against his neck. Draco nuzzled her hair playfully making her chortled. Other three people in the room watched them with wide opened eyes. None of them could open their mouth to respond to the situation. Finally, after sometimes Hermione managed to gain her ability to speak.

"Malfoy? How come she knows you?" She asked still couldn't believe her eyes.

"Why Granger? She is my daughter. She knows her father." He sneered back.

"But... but you never spend time with her. You completely ignored her?" She added in confusion.

"Completely ignored her!" He yelled. "Whom you think taking care of her during night time and your day naps? An elf?" He gritted his teeth. Etamin looked at him in confusion and started to cry. "Sorry love, father didn't mean to scare you..." He kissed her and tried to settle her by gently rocking her.

"But you never show any interest in involving in anything related to her..." Hermione snapped.

"You completely ignored me and didn't ask me to involve in anything..." He hissed.

"That was because you didn't show any interest..." She yelled.

"I didn't show any interest because I thought you didn't want me to get involved..." He yelled back.

"Children, children stop yelling..." Narcissa said picking up the distressed baby from Draco's arms. "Both of you are making the little one frighten for no good reason. You two have trust issues and communication problem. So sit down and address your issues at least for the sake of your child..."

"I thought...I thought you don't like her because she is a girl..."Hermione muttered.

"You thought!" Draco spat. "That's your problem, you... you know-it-all. You take decisions based on your thoughts without hearing anything from the other side. It's true that Potter and Weasel survived the war thanks to your logics, but it's not going to help you in everything in your life." He added. "Yes, I did want a male child but that doesn't mean I don't love my daughter. She. Is. my. Flesh. and. Blood... She is my life..."

"Merlin's sake children! Stop arguing in front of your child!" Narcissa said in a very stern tone. "Both of you are equally wrong. Now forget about the past and move on with your life. Have your spent your time as a family? Do you even have a single family photo? Have you done anything together, even a picnic? I know the answer is no. Your baby is six months old, she is not going to be a baby forever so stop acting like immature kids and try to become responsible parents otherwise two of you are going to ruin her life. She needs both of you in her life equally..."

Draco and Hermione didn't open their mouths. They stood looking down avoiding each other's gaze with guilt.

"Err... I-I think Ety needs her morning nap..."Hermione muttered uncomfortably and took the whining baby from her mother-in-law. "Well, errrr... see you again later..." She said quickly and walked out in a hurry.

Narcissa sighed and shook her head in vexation then turned around to face her son who quickly avoided his mother's gaze and looked at his father in a hurry.

"A very important matter arose and it needs your attention immediately. That's why I came in-person to inform you..." Draco said in a very serious voice.

Lucius looked at Narcissa, who had turned little red with anger. She muttered something under her breath in frustration and stormed out the room without saying a word. Two wizards watched her reaction with raised brows, but neither commented on her act.

"I seriously thought you don't like her..." Draco muttered casually when they were half way through the work.

"Don't like her? Which one? Your mother, your wife of your daughter...?" Lucius asked raising his head from the parchment he was reading.

"Etamin..."

"Etamin? Why? Why should I dislike her? She is my granddaughter for Merlin's sake..."

"Because you wanted a grandson..."

"Well, I was shocked and I admit, I was disappointed when I heard the news but the day your mother brought her here and placed her in my arms, I fell in love with her..." Lucius said emotionally.

"Me too..." Draco mumbled.

"What did you mean by you too?"

"I was shocked too and I left the place without even looking at her..."

"I have been told that..." Lucius chuckled.

Draco ignored his father and continued. "But when I returned, I went to see her and fell in love with my little angel..."

"Then, what's the reason you avoid everybody..."

I don't know..." Draco shook his head. "Maybe I thought Hermione is happy without my interference, and you are unhappy because I couldn't secure a male heir."

"Says the wizard who accused his wife, for taking decisions based on her thoughts..."

"Alright I got it... it was my fault..."

"And Draco, I know your mother can be bossy and harsh sometimes, and I honestly think she shouldn't be interfering with your family life but once in a while pay attention to her. She suffered a lot and went through a lot because she has an extremely difficult man for her husband. She didn't give up and never going to give up. She had done, and she will do anything for the unity and the well-being of her family. For her, family comes first, and it is everything for her..."

Draco didn't reply his father and Lucius didn't expect a reply from him. Both of them get back to their work eventually and opened their mouths only to discuss the business matter arose till the end of their work.

After finishing his work, Draco apparated in front of his daughter's nursery. Etamin was sleeping in her cot, and Hermione was watching her while stroking her silky hair. He slowly walked towards them in uncertainty and stood behind his wife.

"So adorable...isn't she?" Hermione muttered not even turning her head to look at the person standing behind her.

"Hmmm..." Draco replied peeping over his wife's shoulders.

They left without talking and watching their peacefully sleeping daughter.

...My family...my dearest little family...my everything... Draco thought emotionally. Finally, he cleared his throat, and Hermione turned around to face him.

"Errrr...I-I need to go back to my work..." He mumbled, and she nodded her head.

"Errr Malfoy..." She addressed him before he reached the door, and he turned around. "Errr... if you...if you have time, I mean if you can only, we are having our lunch around 12.30pm, and you are welcome to join us. No pressure..." She mumbled nervously.

"Sure, I'll be there..." He replied.

"I-I mean no pressure if you...if you..."

"Granger, I'd love to have lunch with my family..." He said firmly.

Hermione exhaled soundly. "Alright then, I-I'll see you around 12.30pm. Do you want me to send Pinky when we are ready?"

"No, I'll be alright... See you then..." He replied her and left the room with the heart ready to burst with some unknown enthusiasm and happiness. Yes, he was extremely happy and eagerly waiting for his little family's lunch time.

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Life is so unpredictable...

Weasley family realised that again on the day when little Victoire found her uncle's racing broom and thought of going for a ride all by herself. Ron was a very responsible person and never left his broom within a reach of a child. Without forgetting, he always kept it in the broom cupboard and shut the door securely but that day, unfortunately, he forgot to shut the door firmly. Victoire was not a child who wanders around. She normally stayed close to Pansy all the time but on that fateful day she decided to play near the broom cupboard without helping Pansy with gardening.

Pansy raised her head from her work when she heard something hitting the ground with a terrific thud and let a heart-wrenching scream after identifying the fallen object. Praying feverishly, she ran towards the fallen child and all other Weasleys who were inside the house quickly dash out in response to her scream and ran towards them.

Fleur started a hysterical cry when she saw her daughter lying on the ground unconsciously and bleeding from her nose. Bill quickly reached her and held her.

"No love, no. We can't move her. It causes her more damage we need to do something as soon as possible..." He said panicking.

"GET THE REVIVE POTION!"George yelled.

"NO YOU CAN'T USE REVIVE POTION FOR KIDS. GET THE REVIVE REMEDY AND FETAL DRAGON HEART BLOOD BOTTLE..." Arthur yelled back.

Molly ran back inside the house and came out with a small goblet of revive remedy and a glass vial.

"THIS NEEDS TWO DROPS OF FETAL DRAGON BLOOD BUT NONE LEFT AT THIS HOUSEHOLD..." She shouted in frustration.

"WHAT? THEN GO AND SEE WHETHER LOVEGOODS OR DEGGORYS GOT SOME. HURRY UP WE ARE WASTING TIME!" Bill yelled.

"Virgin's heart blood is a substitution for fetal dragon heart blood..." Pansy muttered.

"VIRGIN'S HEART BLOOD? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR SENSES PANS? IT'S DARK MAGIC, AND YOU CAN ONLY GET IT FROM THE BLACK MARKET IN KNOCKTURN FOR FORTUNE. WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME HERE..." George snapped.

Ron looked at his panicking family with displease. Being an Auror he knew panic results disasters by preventing people from making the best decision in the time of crisis.

"For merlin's sake people, forget about the home remedy and send a Patronus to St Mungo's ED. Professional care will be here in no time..." Ron said drawing his wand in frustration.

But it was too late. Pansy was too focused on unconscious child lying in front of her. From centuries, her family practiced dark arts, and she knew the darkest and most illegal spells by heart. Next, everything happened in a fraction of a second, without giving time for anyone to react.

Pansy grabbed the goblet from Molly and cursed herself muttering the darkest spell, pointing her wand at her heart. Her heart opened, and blood started to gush out. She added two drops of blood into the goblet using her wand and placed it at the mouth of the child and forced some down her throat. With no time delay, Victoire coughed and gained her consciousness. The goblet and her wand fell from Pansy's hands. She fainted with a beautiful, happy and satisfactory smile. Arthur jumped and supported her unresponsive body while Bill the curse-breaker, came forward quickly and muttered the counter curse before it was too late.

Ron with his shaking hands produced his Patronus and directed it to St. Mungo's emergency department asking their aid as soon as possible. Then mounted his broom that was lying nearby and kicked off cursing each and everyone on earth who called her 'Draco Malfoy's whore.'

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I did the last chapter when I was solely depending on Maxolon and ice blocks. This time I was hospitalised due to dehydration. Please pardon me for any mistakes as I didn't go through it for a second time. I'm working full time and I have a four year old son, now I'm pregnant again and having around the clock morning sickness so it's not easy for me to go through this several times. Again please pardon me for any mistakes...

Thank you very much for reading. Please review... Thank you again...