Hope's Salvation
By: Brianne Crandle


Chapter Three: Of Plans and Diapers



Ginny felt as if she was floating through a dream. No, not a dream, a nightmare!

There was no way that Draco Malfoy, a boy who came from a family that had long hated hers, was in her house, and would be staying in her house. It went against all moral code, all the laws of nature. Ginny half expected the Minster of Magic to arrive at her home and arrest them all for even considering it. No they hadn't just considered it, they had decided it. And if that didn't tip the scale down the road of wrongfulness, then the fact that Malfoy would be sleeping in her room certainly blew the top off.

Malfoy. Sleeping. In. Her. Room.

Something dark and evil had indeed ceased the world for something as horrible as this to come upon her.

Behind her Ginny could hear the soft gurgling of Draco's baby sister. She was indeed an adorable child, too bad she had been born into a family that held centuries of dark wizards and had a royal prick for a brother.

Turning down the hall Ginny huffed her way towards her door and pushed it open in annoyance, positively fuming at the fact that a boy, a Malfoy at that, would be invading her girlish sanctuary.

Your kidding right, Draco said in what Ginny assumed was Malfoy humor, entering her room hesitantly, as if he expected to be attacked.

Kidding about what? she demanded, disappearing into her closet and wrestling her way towards the back.

I'm not staying in here am I? Draco replied on a scoff that voiced her own opinion to the mark.

Sadly yes, don't get any ideas, it defiantly wasn't my choice, she said dragging a very lumpy, very dusty old mattress from within her closet and placing it by her window seat.

Draco looked utterly flustered, But...but your a girl, he sputtered in a completely unMalfoy manner.

Ginny snickered softly, Good of you too notice Malfoy, but if you want to sleep in Ron's room I can just go tell mum and....

No! I mean its better than sleeping in the same room with those idiots, he said gruffly and shifted his sister in his arms, fingering the pink lace of her little dress with disgust.

Ginny growled to herself, muttering about how much she would love to toss him right out her window and into the pond. She smirked at the image.

Returning to her closet she quickly gathered a few old quilts and tossed them on the mattress, a puff of dust sprouting into the air like a tornado, making her cough and sweep at the air in front of her.

Draco made a face that clearly depicted his opinion, I'm not sleeping on that am I? he asked stiffly, arching one golden brow.

Ginny scowled at him, You know for someone who just got here, and is pretty much unwelcome, you complain an awful lot, she snapped.

But no, I'll be sleeping here, you get the bed, mum's orders, she continued, interrupting an undoubtedly rude remark that was about to escape Draco's lips.

Draco, acutely aware of how true Ginny's statement was, pushed back his temper and shifted his weight onto his left foot, glaring at a particularly scruffy looking stuffed dog that sat mournfully on Ginny's bed. Death and torture is beginning to look allot brighter than a week here, he thought bitterly. Esperanza gurgled in pleasure.

~*~


Ginny turned over as she tried for the hundredth time to find a comfortable position on the very lumpy old mattress. Damn Malfoy. She cursed and glared reproachfully at the ceiling as if daring it to defy her. There was so much wrong in his being here. He was stuck up, rich, snobbish, rude, sarcastic, and completely handsome. No she didn't like him at all. Not one bit.

Glancing over towards her bed Ginny glared at Draco's bare back, his tousled blonde hair shinning silver in the moon light. He was insufferable. How anyone could stand him she didn't know.

A few moments later Esperanza began to cry fitfully in her crib, which had once held Ginny's dolls, and like everything else in her room, was painted a soft lavender. Ginny waited for Draco to rouse and tend to his distressed little sister but after a minute of patiently watching Draco's back for signs of consciences, she sighed wearily and crawled over to the crib.

Esperanza fretted all the more when it was Ginny's face that appeared above her and not her brothers. Ginny frowned and grabbed a waiting bottle on the night stand next to Draco, it wasn't very warm but it would have to do. Gently she reached down and lifted the infant carefully into her arms, cradling her small head in the crook of her arm. It was the first time Ginny had held her since Draco had arrived a short twenty-four hours ago. Esperanza was somewhat frail but looked very much like her brother, except for the eyes, they were such a startling blue. Esperanza quieted after a moment, sucking softly on her bottle, little hands fisted at her sides.

You know your lucky Malfoy got you out of that dreadful place, she told the infant, who looked up at her with innocent little eyes, and Ginny wondered momentarily what Draco had looked like as a baby. The sane part of her mind quickly pushed back the thought before she could really dwell on it.

Shaking aside the sentiment Ginny went on, settling herself into the window seat, I wonder what's its like, Malfoy manner, bet its huge with tons of expensive furniture, she said lazily, skimming a finger along Esperanza's baby soft cheek.

But I doubt it was very warm, or homey, she said thoughtfully as the baby gripped her finger, Draco certainly didn't turn out quite nice did he? Though he isn't as bad as I thought he was, but that isn't saying very much. She was talking more to her self than the child now.

I wonder if he really likes his father, he certainly doesn't seem the fatherly type, she yawned slightly and leaned back against her window, folding her legs delicately under her.

I w-w-wonder she muttered sleepily as she yawned much bigger this time, If he isn't as bad as he seems, maybe its just a show.

Esperanza gurgled slightly, and Ginny smiled warmly at her, a sense of motherly protection sweeping over her before she could stop her self. Setting the bottle aside she settled herself more fully into the comfort of the warm pillows at her back. Soon both Weasly and Malfoy were sleep.

Draco on the other hand was not.

~*~


It wasn't till the next day Draco realized that going back to Hogwarts was not an option.

He had awoken early the next morning, having slept little, and decided to go for a walk, Ginny's conversation with his little sister still replaying through his mind. Walking lazily through the Weasly's few acres of land he decided he may not have wanted to end up a pawn like his father, but there was no way in hell he wanted to be like Harry Potter,he had his pride after all. Harry was so self righteous and disgustingly good. Draco, despite his ejection from his family, would never be known as a good boy, not as long as he was still living. No that was not the way for Draco.

Even now he felt a slight curiosity as to why his little sister was so important. During his escape he had been much too distracted to even care, his only thoughts of his mother and fulfilling her dying wish. But now in the quiet of the woods, he wondered if he had done the right thing. No doing the right thing was to ...right, he wondered if he had done the smart thing. Lucius was after all his father, true he had never loved the man, respected him yes, but love was not possible in the effect of fear and duty. His father was powerful, perhaps not on his own, but with the Dark Lord looming at his back he certainly was a force to reckoned with. Lucius had done some terrible things, things Draco, no matter how bitter or cold he might have been, would never have dared to commit. He could be ruthless as well, and he was very capable of showing no mercy, and utterly no compassion. Draco knew he didn't want to be like his father, serving another, simpering in fear and obeying every command. He didn't want to be like Potter either, always saving the day and begging for attention he hardly deserved. There was a great gap in Draco's soul as he struggled to deiced who he wanted to become. Was fighting against the Dark Lord the smart thing. Or should he do it because it was the right thing? Not being totally evil was so hard.

As Draco's thoughts wandered and flitted through the wind he finally noted that if he was indeed going to protect his sister, he could not continue hiding. He knew the Dark Lord wanted her, for some unknown reason, though Draco guessed his father knew, or did now. No, he couldn't return to Hogwarts, besides what would happen if he showed up to school with a baby in his arms? Even he wouldn't be able to silence those rumors.

Draco sighed dubiously and seated himself on a large rock. Pulling his dark cloak about him, he turned himself into a lonely shadow as the first arms of blue dawn stretched across the sky.

He would need help he realized, he knew nothing about babies, fighting and deceitfulness, sure he could handle it, babies, no way. Besides he had no idea where to begin, where to look. He certainly couldn't return home and ask his father.

Draco paused. Or could he?

Well not directly of course, but he was still a Malfoy, he could still return home undetected. Though he wouldn't be able to fly in he knew, after his escape the skies would be watched relentlessly, but Draco knew more than his father suspected. While his father might not have cared much for his family or home, Draco on the other hand had spent much of his child hood tramping about in secret passage ways, much to his mothers dismay. There was a particular passage way the led straight to Hogwarts, well actually to the Forbidden Forest. He had discovered it during his third year of school when he had been lurking in the Dungeon's, for reasons he no longer remembered, when he had stumbled upon it. He returned through the tunnel the next day, his mother had nearly died of worry.

Grinning smugly, Draco rose and headed back towards the Weasly's crazy looking house, a plan already forming in his mind.

~*~

I have to do what?! Draco cried holding his baby sister a good arms length away from him, his face twisted in disgust. Esperanza gurgled happily, obviously thrilled at being held in such a dangerous way.

Ginny laughed brightly, thoroughly enjoying Draco's distress, and handed him a cloth and diaper, You have to change her diaper Malfoy, she told him sternly. If only she had a camera.

Draco looked horrified, well as horrified as his Malfoy upbringing would allow.

Why don't you change her! he demanded, trying to look commanding while balancing a bouncing baby between his hands. It wasn't very effective.

Malfoy, she's your sister and your going to have to get used to it, she told him matter-of-factly.

The unMalfoy part of Draco gagged inwardly as the putrid stench wafted off his sister to his nose. It was positively disgusting. Aside from that he had no idea how to handle a child, let alone change a diaper. Which end went in the front? What holds it on? Should he use his wand?

Deciding that guessing could possibly end up in injury, Draco reluctantly decided it would be best to ask.

Fine, Weasly, but seeing as how I've never done this before I'll need a demonstration. That did it Draco thought triumphantly, now she would have to change it.

Ginny was not so easily deceived, No, no, no Malfoy your doing this, but I can tell you how.

Draco groaned. Ginny looked positively delighted.

Now lay her out on the bed, yes that's right, careful of her head, Ginny said smoothly and Draco complied, grumbling under his breath.

Under Ginny's direction Draco didn't do half bad, though she was required to dispose of the ruined diaper, Draco stubbornly refused to touch it. Taking Esperanza into his arms Draco bounced her gently on his knee, it looked so very unlike a Malfoy that Ginny felt herself smile slightly. Draco really wasn't that bad after all.

So Weasly, where are Potty and co? Shouldn't you be off worshiping his shadow or some such, Draco drawled, perfectly aware of Ginny's reluctant smile. There was no way Draco was going to let her like him, not unless he could help it.

The man was a pig, Ginny decided and glared angrily at the snobbish blonde boy. He looked much to self-confident. Ginny was about to change that.

Sorry, I know how much of an infatuation you have with him Malfoy, but I don't think it'll ever work out, she snapped back at him viciously.

Draco was somewhat taken aback. The insult was cruel, well aimed, and much to good for his piece of mind. A slow trickle of respect inched its way towards his smug countenance. The girl had spunk, that's for sure.

Well done Weasly, you've proved yourself to be smarter than your dutterheaded brother, though that's not saying much, he said smoothly, his eyes reflecting innocence. It was amazing the way the man could make something positively horrid sound like a complement.

Ginny grinned despite herself, Well now all I have to do is pull your head out of your arse and I'll be considered a genius, she replied as sweetly as possible, flashing him a brilliant smile.

Draco sat in a shocked silence for a long moment, and for the first time in his life, was completely void of words. Slowly a smile formed at his lips, then a soft chuckle, followed by a slightly louder laugh. Moments later he was laughing, for perhaps the first time in years, Ginny hesitantly joining along moments later. When their laughter slowly drifted off, Ginny couldn't help but notice Draco indeed had a nice smile. And he was smiling at her.

~*~



Lucius Malfoy screamed in agony and fell to the ground in a heap of black robes and expensive clothing, twitching helplessly in pain.

You have failed me again Lucius, hissed a very pale man seated regally in a high backed chair, his red slitted eyes were molten red and crackling with anger.

I-I am s-s-s-sorry mil-lord, Lucius whispered, shameful tears leaking out his eyes, his face abnormally twisted in pure unadulterated fear.

Your son will die for this treachery Lucius, that child was vitally important, the Dark Lord snapped, eyes flaming with anger, he twisted his wand dangerously between two pale, sharp nailed fingers.

Please Lord please, I'll do anything, just don't kill me, just don't kill me, Lucius cried, groveling for his masters feet, his cowardliness was disgusting.

Voldemort backed away in disdain, eyeing his servant like a bug that need to be squashed. He decided he would have pity on this man, he could still be useful, he would use him to reclaim the child. He must have the child!

There is one way you can redeem your self Lucius, and if you fail me, I will kill you, the Dark Lord said calmly, fighting the urge to cast the Cruciatus Curse again, to hear him scream, but he need the man sane... for the moment.

Anything Master, oh thank you master, thank you, Lucius sobbed, rising shakily to his knees and bowing down to Voldemort. The man was a simpering fool, but a loyal simpering fool, which was just what he needed.

Voldemort smirked, which was terrifying to any, as his dark plan began to take form in his mind, Well Lucius.... about you son....



******************************************************************************
Well folks there you have it! Chapter three! Tada!

Thanks so much for your reviews all! Im so glad you all like it so far!

Ok to Reven Eid, oh i wasn't ticked off at all, I love criticism, I suppose it only bothered me because it was so hard for me to decide on Esperanza's name. I hate giving names. Ugh, so hard! And I most likely do need a beta but I'm new (well not knew but.... ignorant) and I wouldn't know where to find one. And there's something disturbing about someone correcting and changing my work. Ah well, if you have an suggestions I love hearing them!

Oh and after reading everyone's reviews I have decided to keep the Title as it is ^_^

Love you all! Mwah!

~*~ Brianne Crandle