ADVANCED DISCLAIMER - I don't own Draco, Ginny, Dumbledore, Hermione, Harry
or any one else that you recognize. I do own the Warners. Kayla, Jessica,
Jacob and what ever name I chose for Mrs. Warner, they are all mine, and
based off of no one inparticular.
To the Reviewer who asked (Animegirl18 aka Hosiko) I just picked a random name. I seem to use the names Jessica and Jennifer a lot for the original characters that are not main characters, and I just wrote the first last name that came into my head.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The bright sunlight of the enchanted ceiling shone down on the single round table when they entered the great hall the next morning. The artificial sunlight of the room seemed to take the chill off of the harsh winter air that circulated around the room. The large table was still set in the middle of the great hall; Dumbledore was already there, along with a few other teachers and students, waiting for the others to arrive.
Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny all entered and moved to the table, taking the same seats that they had the night before. All the other students who had stayed for the holidays were already at the table, all except for Draco.
Every one began eating but once again Ginny hesitated, she couldn't stop wondering why his seat was still empty. She tried not to think too much about him not being there, reasoning that he was probably just running late and would be there later.
She couldn't believe that he had trusted her with his story. When Ginny had asked him what was wrong, she had in no way expected that he would tell her the truth. Ginny considered herself a trustworthy person, and she was just glad that Draco had trusted her enough to tell her.
He had shared his problem with her, and she knew that the least she could do was provide him with a sympathetic ear. She realized that his actions over the past few years were completely justified. His depression had been fueled by pain, anger and confusion. And as Draco explained to her what had happened, she was surprised as the anger, pain, confusion and depression had swept over her. Ginny had in no way expected how much Draco's story would touch her.
Draco's past had shocked her in so many ways, mainly because she had had a very stereotypical view of Draco Malfoy, especially the Draco Malfoy that he used to be. She never would have expected Draco to fall in love with any one. Ginny had never even seen him as the type of person who could be a father.
But he was a father, and Ginny had no doubt in her mind that he would be a really good father. He really seemed to love the little girl that he helped create. Ginny could tell he loved her, from the way that he spoke of her, and the pain in his voice as he told his story she could tell that he loved her more than life itself. He would do anything that he could to make his little girl happy.
But others had stepped in and stopped him from being the father he wanted to be.
Ginny had once asked her mother what it was like to hold your newborn child in your arms. Molly had told her daughter that it was one of the most amazing experiences in the world. All of the months of anticipation and excitement were finished and in its place you were left with a beautiful baby. The feeling of holding someone who was completely dependant was enough to give you a god complex, but then, you realize that you need this little baby as much as they need you.
Never before had Ginny understood her mother's words until now. It was obvious that Draco needed Kayla as much as Kayla needed Draco. Kayla was his world, Ginny knew that, and his world had been ripped away with him by other people's decisions.
Every one liked to think that they knew what was right for Kayla, but no one ever asked Draco what he thought was best.
Kayla was a beautiful little baby who had unfortunately lost a mother. And now, she was losing a father to. But she did not have to lose her father. Her father, Draco, was more than willing to take responsibility for her and look after her. He wanted nothing more than to be there for his daughter, to love his little girl, to protect her and keep her safe.
The night before he had made the decision to fight for his daughter and Ginny had made the promise to help him. She didn't know how, but she knew that there had to be a way to reunite him with his daughter. At first, she was just going to research and find out what rights he had, and how he would go about getting her back.
The only thing they could do was take things one step at a time, and the first step was making Draco healthy again. Once he was back to normal and they knew what they were dealing with, once they knew what they were allowed to do, they could take the next step after that.
Ginny's gazed traveled to the door as she saw some one enter the great hall. He moved to the seat, and sat. Draco shot a smile at Dumbledore, once again apologizing for arriving late. Dumbledore smiled back, and then Draco looked across the table to Ginny.
His lips curved into a smile, and his eyes never left hers as he reached across the table for some of the remaining food. She smiled back at him.
"Great, breakfast, I am starved" he smiled, and piled his plate up high.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Christmas holidays passed quickly, but the details of Draco's past never left Ginny's mind. They had not really spoken about Christmas night, they had hardly even spoken about his story since that day, but she made sure that he knew she was there for him if he needed to talk.
Ginny spent a lot of time thinking of Kayla. She wondered if she was happy with her grandparents, she wondered if, even for a young child, she understood what had happened to her mother and father. She wondered if she thought that her grandparents were really her parents.
Ginny also spent a lot of time thinking of Kayla's future. Kayla would be smart and funny, just like her father, she would be a heartbreaker to, beautiful, just like Draco said that Jessica was. Ginny wondered how much more of Jess would be seen in Kayla. She had wanted to ask Draco, but she also didn't want to bring up the subject around him again.
Ginny and Draco had become close friends over the weeks that had passed. They had never really spoken about anything serious to each other. They would laugh and joke, but that was what Draco really needed. He needed a friend, and Ginny had made herself a promise that that was what she would be to him. Their friendship was great, and they spent the time to overcome the old Weasley Malfoy rivalry.
The only thing that they were worried about was telling Ron. Even though Ron had seen the changes in Draco, it didn't mean he liked him any.
Draco spent the weeks after Christmas eating. It took him a while to be able to eat the amounts that he used to, but he had started eating more all the same. After a little while, he had started to gain weight as well. Ginny encouraged him any way she knew how. He had also started to spend more time outside in the sun, so his skin lost its pale harshness.
With the added body weight, the colored complexion and the healthy smiled he wore; Draco could have easily been mistaken for another person.
Ginny had not told him yet, but she had started to research ways to get Kayla back. The way she saw it, they only really had two legal choices. A custody case in a muggle court, or a custody case in a wizard's court.
And as much as she hated to admit it, if they were forced into a muggle court, they would have no chance in winning. Draco, as Kayla's father, would have some rights, but there were other things that muggles took into consideration.
In the muggle world, there was no such person as Draco Malfoy. He had been home schooled by his mother instead of going to an primary school, and he would be laughed out of a court room if he said that he completed his secondary education at a school for wizards and witches. And when they asked him about his career prospects, there was no way that he would be able to explain that he was going to be working in the department of magical law enforcement for the British ministry of magic. Plus, he had very little creditability in the muggle world. Although he was wealthy in the magic world, he was poor in the muggle world.
A poor teenager with no education and no employment opportunities, they wouldn't exactly be rushing to allow him to keep Kayla.
But in the magic world, he had a better chance of winning custody of his daughter. His life would not seem as crazy there, because his life was not crazy according to other wizards. In the wizarding world, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was a highly respectable educational establishment. The job in the magical law department, just like any other job available at the ministry, was high paying and held a certain level of respect. And also, the Malfoy's were one of the richest families in the area.
A rich teenager with a secure job and a first rate education was more likely to be awarded full custody.
They just had to find a way to be able to turn the tables so that the case was on their terms. Either way, the Warners would look respectable and responsible, they just needed to find a way to play their odds so that Draco could look responsible and respectable to.
Since Draco was from a long line of pure blood wizards, it was almost one hundred percent certain that Kayla would have magic blood to. Ginny just hoped that that would be enough to have the case held in a magical court. But that would also mean that a few muggles would be told of their world.
Draco had told Ginny that Jessica's parents didn't know he was a wizard, they knew he was different, but Jessica never told them why. It would all be revealed to them when Kayla was 11 anyway, but he was scared of what they would do.
The Warners were conventional people, they didn't like any type of controversy. They were not as bad as Potter's aunt and uncle, but Draco knew that the Warners would never allow Kayla to know about the magic world.
It would be a lot easier for Kayla to adjust to her magical school if she had lived for a little while in the magical world. That would have to be one of the reasoning factors that made up their case. Ginny hated having to use little Kayla as a bargaining chip like that, but she knew that some things would have to be done so that Draco could be happy with his child.
She had studied other cases like this in the various books of the Hogwarts library. There were dozens of custody cases revolving around illegitimate half blood children. In most cases battles in a muggle court, the witch or wizard always lost. Most cases being made in a wizard court won.
They had really good chances. Excellent chances even. But only if they were in a wizarding court.
"Hey Ginny" the voice started Ginny out of her thoughts. She was in the library again, a large book open in front of her. She had been reading more about custody cases, and had let her thoughts get carried away with her.
"Malfoy, looking good, Have you lost weight?" She smiled brightly. Draco chuckled and sat down across from her.
"Gained more actually, I am almost back to a healthy size for my age" he smiled. Ginny couldn't help the bright grin that broke out on her face.
"That is great" She told him and closed the book she had been reading from. She still had not told Draco that she had gone ahead and started reading about custody cases, and truthfully she didn't know how he would react.
"What is this?" he asked, pulling the book towards him and reading the title 'Magical law verses Muggle Law'
"I, umm, was just reading about ways I could help you get Kayla back" She told him. His eyes were still glued to the book. "There is a whole chapter in there dedicated to custody cases"
Draco had flipped the book open, he was yet to say anything to Ginny. She just sat, watching him silently, trying to track what he was thinking.
"Thank you" He looked up at her. Ginny smiled and blushed a little.
"Well, I said I would help you, so I am going to help you" Ginny replied.
"What have you found out?" Draco asked, handing the book back to her. Ginny took the book and put it to the side.
"We......I mean, you will have a better chance at winning if you get to fight on your own turf, a wizard court. They will take us.....I mean you, more seriously if you don't look like a crazy loon. If you tell a muggle court that you are a wizard, the only thing they will give you is a padded room in a mental hospital"
"But, the Warners don't know about me and our world." Draco replied. Ginny nodded.
"I thought as much. So you may have to tell them....."
"Tell them, are you insane Weasley, I can't tell them!" Draco replied, earning himself a 'shush' from the librarian and a few other studying students. "I can't tell them, they can't find out why I am different and if they find out Kayla is different....."
"They are going to find out in 11 years when Kayla gets her Hogwarts letter, so what is the harm of telling them now. They may see that you can offer her a better understanding of who she really is, and then you can make some sort of deal about her future from there. If not, then we can take the case to the ministry. They know that you have a child, because every child born with Magical blood in automatically recorded on their files"
"But I can't tell them, I can't. They will take Kayla away from me forever" he told her sadly. Ginny reached across the table and gently took his hand.
"They will not take her away from you.......... I won't let them" She replied. Draco smiled.
"Like you have any say in the matter" He laughed. Ginny just grinned at him. She still had not let go of his hand.
"Anyway, they can't take her anywhere, because we will just follow them and fight them there" Ginny informed him. He nodded.
"Thank you for doing this Ginny, you know that you don't have to, I just really appreciate that you care enough about me and Kayla to help" Draco said after a few minutes of silence.
"No child should live with out their parents. Kayla has lost her mother, I don't think she should have to live with out her father" Ginny replied. Draco nodded, his hand still locked with Ginny's.
Neither of them really knew what to say to each other. With his free hand, Draco reached for the book and flipped it open to the chapter on custody cases. They sat together in silence as Draco read, their hands still clasped together.
Then suddenly, some one cleared their throat.
"Ginny, tower, now" Ron growled. Ginny looked from Ron to Draco and then back to Ron.
"I am talking to Draco at the moment, I will met you back there later." Ginny replied. Ron shook his head and pulled Ginny's hand away from Draco's.
"Ginny, tower, now" He growled again, and then turned and left the library.
"Well, I think that is my cue to leave. I will see you later, that is if I survive" Ginny smiled, Draco grinned.
"Thank you again for your help Ginny" he smiled. Ginny nodded.
"Don't mention it"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
To the Reviewer who asked (Animegirl18 aka Hosiko) I just picked a random name. I seem to use the names Jessica and Jennifer a lot for the original characters that are not main characters, and I just wrote the first last name that came into my head.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The bright sunlight of the enchanted ceiling shone down on the single round table when they entered the great hall the next morning. The artificial sunlight of the room seemed to take the chill off of the harsh winter air that circulated around the room. The large table was still set in the middle of the great hall; Dumbledore was already there, along with a few other teachers and students, waiting for the others to arrive.
Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny all entered and moved to the table, taking the same seats that they had the night before. All the other students who had stayed for the holidays were already at the table, all except for Draco.
Every one began eating but once again Ginny hesitated, she couldn't stop wondering why his seat was still empty. She tried not to think too much about him not being there, reasoning that he was probably just running late and would be there later.
She couldn't believe that he had trusted her with his story. When Ginny had asked him what was wrong, she had in no way expected that he would tell her the truth. Ginny considered herself a trustworthy person, and she was just glad that Draco had trusted her enough to tell her.
He had shared his problem with her, and she knew that the least she could do was provide him with a sympathetic ear. She realized that his actions over the past few years were completely justified. His depression had been fueled by pain, anger and confusion. And as Draco explained to her what had happened, she was surprised as the anger, pain, confusion and depression had swept over her. Ginny had in no way expected how much Draco's story would touch her.
Draco's past had shocked her in so many ways, mainly because she had had a very stereotypical view of Draco Malfoy, especially the Draco Malfoy that he used to be. She never would have expected Draco to fall in love with any one. Ginny had never even seen him as the type of person who could be a father.
But he was a father, and Ginny had no doubt in her mind that he would be a really good father. He really seemed to love the little girl that he helped create. Ginny could tell he loved her, from the way that he spoke of her, and the pain in his voice as he told his story she could tell that he loved her more than life itself. He would do anything that he could to make his little girl happy.
But others had stepped in and stopped him from being the father he wanted to be.
Ginny had once asked her mother what it was like to hold your newborn child in your arms. Molly had told her daughter that it was one of the most amazing experiences in the world. All of the months of anticipation and excitement were finished and in its place you were left with a beautiful baby. The feeling of holding someone who was completely dependant was enough to give you a god complex, but then, you realize that you need this little baby as much as they need you.
Never before had Ginny understood her mother's words until now. It was obvious that Draco needed Kayla as much as Kayla needed Draco. Kayla was his world, Ginny knew that, and his world had been ripped away with him by other people's decisions.
Every one liked to think that they knew what was right for Kayla, but no one ever asked Draco what he thought was best.
Kayla was a beautiful little baby who had unfortunately lost a mother. And now, she was losing a father to. But she did not have to lose her father. Her father, Draco, was more than willing to take responsibility for her and look after her. He wanted nothing more than to be there for his daughter, to love his little girl, to protect her and keep her safe.
The night before he had made the decision to fight for his daughter and Ginny had made the promise to help him. She didn't know how, but she knew that there had to be a way to reunite him with his daughter. At first, she was just going to research and find out what rights he had, and how he would go about getting her back.
The only thing they could do was take things one step at a time, and the first step was making Draco healthy again. Once he was back to normal and they knew what they were dealing with, once they knew what they were allowed to do, they could take the next step after that.
Ginny's gazed traveled to the door as she saw some one enter the great hall. He moved to the seat, and sat. Draco shot a smile at Dumbledore, once again apologizing for arriving late. Dumbledore smiled back, and then Draco looked across the table to Ginny.
His lips curved into a smile, and his eyes never left hers as he reached across the table for some of the remaining food. She smiled back at him.
"Great, breakfast, I am starved" he smiled, and piled his plate up high.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Christmas holidays passed quickly, but the details of Draco's past never left Ginny's mind. They had not really spoken about Christmas night, they had hardly even spoken about his story since that day, but she made sure that he knew she was there for him if he needed to talk.
Ginny spent a lot of time thinking of Kayla. She wondered if she was happy with her grandparents, she wondered if, even for a young child, she understood what had happened to her mother and father. She wondered if she thought that her grandparents were really her parents.
Ginny also spent a lot of time thinking of Kayla's future. Kayla would be smart and funny, just like her father, she would be a heartbreaker to, beautiful, just like Draco said that Jessica was. Ginny wondered how much more of Jess would be seen in Kayla. She had wanted to ask Draco, but she also didn't want to bring up the subject around him again.
Ginny and Draco had become close friends over the weeks that had passed. They had never really spoken about anything serious to each other. They would laugh and joke, but that was what Draco really needed. He needed a friend, and Ginny had made herself a promise that that was what she would be to him. Their friendship was great, and they spent the time to overcome the old Weasley Malfoy rivalry.
The only thing that they were worried about was telling Ron. Even though Ron had seen the changes in Draco, it didn't mean he liked him any.
Draco spent the weeks after Christmas eating. It took him a while to be able to eat the amounts that he used to, but he had started eating more all the same. After a little while, he had started to gain weight as well. Ginny encouraged him any way she knew how. He had also started to spend more time outside in the sun, so his skin lost its pale harshness.
With the added body weight, the colored complexion and the healthy smiled he wore; Draco could have easily been mistaken for another person.
Ginny had not told him yet, but she had started to research ways to get Kayla back. The way she saw it, they only really had two legal choices. A custody case in a muggle court, or a custody case in a wizard's court.
And as much as she hated to admit it, if they were forced into a muggle court, they would have no chance in winning. Draco, as Kayla's father, would have some rights, but there were other things that muggles took into consideration.
In the muggle world, there was no such person as Draco Malfoy. He had been home schooled by his mother instead of going to an primary school, and he would be laughed out of a court room if he said that he completed his secondary education at a school for wizards and witches. And when they asked him about his career prospects, there was no way that he would be able to explain that he was going to be working in the department of magical law enforcement for the British ministry of magic. Plus, he had very little creditability in the muggle world. Although he was wealthy in the magic world, he was poor in the muggle world.
A poor teenager with no education and no employment opportunities, they wouldn't exactly be rushing to allow him to keep Kayla.
But in the magic world, he had a better chance of winning custody of his daughter. His life would not seem as crazy there, because his life was not crazy according to other wizards. In the wizarding world, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was a highly respectable educational establishment. The job in the magical law department, just like any other job available at the ministry, was high paying and held a certain level of respect. And also, the Malfoy's were one of the richest families in the area.
A rich teenager with a secure job and a first rate education was more likely to be awarded full custody.
They just had to find a way to be able to turn the tables so that the case was on their terms. Either way, the Warners would look respectable and responsible, they just needed to find a way to play their odds so that Draco could look responsible and respectable to.
Since Draco was from a long line of pure blood wizards, it was almost one hundred percent certain that Kayla would have magic blood to. Ginny just hoped that that would be enough to have the case held in a magical court. But that would also mean that a few muggles would be told of their world.
Draco had told Ginny that Jessica's parents didn't know he was a wizard, they knew he was different, but Jessica never told them why. It would all be revealed to them when Kayla was 11 anyway, but he was scared of what they would do.
The Warners were conventional people, they didn't like any type of controversy. They were not as bad as Potter's aunt and uncle, but Draco knew that the Warners would never allow Kayla to know about the magic world.
It would be a lot easier for Kayla to adjust to her magical school if she had lived for a little while in the magical world. That would have to be one of the reasoning factors that made up their case. Ginny hated having to use little Kayla as a bargaining chip like that, but she knew that some things would have to be done so that Draco could be happy with his child.
She had studied other cases like this in the various books of the Hogwarts library. There were dozens of custody cases revolving around illegitimate half blood children. In most cases battles in a muggle court, the witch or wizard always lost. Most cases being made in a wizard court won.
They had really good chances. Excellent chances even. But only if they were in a wizarding court.
"Hey Ginny" the voice started Ginny out of her thoughts. She was in the library again, a large book open in front of her. She had been reading more about custody cases, and had let her thoughts get carried away with her.
"Malfoy, looking good, Have you lost weight?" She smiled brightly. Draco chuckled and sat down across from her.
"Gained more actually, I am almost back to a healthy size for my age" he smiled. Ginny couldn't help the bright grin that broke out on her face.
"That is great" She told him and closed the book she had been reading from. She still had not told Draco that she had gone ahead and started reading about custody cases, and truthfully she didn't know how he would react.
"What is this?" he asked, pulling the book towards him and reading the title 'Magical law verses Muggle Law'
"I, umm, was just reading about ways I could help you get Kayla back" She told him. His eyes were still glued to the book. "There is a whole chapter in there dedicated to custody cases"
Draco had flipped the book open, he was yet to say anything to Ginny. She just sat, watching him silently, trying to track what he was thinking.
"Thank you" He looked up at her. Ginny smiled and blushed a little.
"Well, I said I would help you, so I am going to help you" Ginny replied.
"What have you found out?" Draco asked, handing the book back to her. Ginny took the book and put it to the side.
"We......I mean, you will have a better chance at winning if you get to fight on your own turf, a wizard court. They will take us.....I mean you, more seriously if you don't look like a crazy loon. If you tell a muggle court that you are a wizard, the only thing they will give you is a padded room in a mental hospital"
"But, the Warners don't know about me and our world." Draco replied. Ginny nodded.
"I thought as much. So you may have to tell them....."
"Tell them, are you insane Weasley, I can't tell them!" Draco replied, earning himself a 'shush' from the librarian and a few other studying students. "I can't tell them, they can't find out why I am different and if they find out Kayla is different....."
"They are going to find out in 11 years when Kayla gets her Hogwarts letter, so what is the harm of telling them now. They may see that you can offer her a better understanding of who she really is, and then you can make some sort of deal about her future from there. If not, then we can take the case to the ministry. They know that you have a child, because every child born with Magical blood in automatically recorded on their files"
"But I can't tell them, I can't. They will take Kayla away from me forever" he told her sadly. Ginny reached across the table and gently took his hand.
"They will not take her away from you.......... I won't let them" She replied. Draco smiled.
"Like you have any say in the matter" He laughed. Ginny just grinned at him. She still had not let go of his hand.
"Anyway, they can't take her anywhere, because we will just follow them and fight them there" Ginny informed him. He nodded.
"Thank you for doing this Ginny, you know that you don't have to, I just really appreciate that you care enough about me and Kayla to help" Draco said after a few minutes of silence.
"No child should live with out their parents. Kayla has lost her mother, I don't think she should have to live with out her father" Ginny replied. Draco nodded, his hand still locked with Ginny's.
Neither of them really knew what to say to each other. With his free hand, Draco reached for the book and flipped it open to the chapter on custody cases. They sat together in silence as Draco read, their hands still clasped together.
Then suddenly, some one cleared their throat.
"Ginny, tower, now" Ron growled. Ginny looked from Ron to Draco and then back to Ron.
"I am talking to Draco at the moment, I will met you back there later." Ginny replied. Ron shook his head and pulled Ginny's hand away from Draco's.
"Ginny, tower, now" He growled again, and then turned and left the library.
"Well, I think that is my cue to leave. I will see you later, that is if I survive" Ginny smiled, Draco grinned.
"Thank you again for your help Ginny" he smiled. Ginny nodded.
"Don't mention it"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*