Disclaimer: I do not own any original Harry Potter characters. Sniff sniff.
Claimer: I own Jack Harry Arthur Potter, Maxmillian Xavier Black, Camilla, Annie and Sam Grisham and the entire 'de Varci' family.
This story is being used for entertainment purposes only, no money is being made and no violation of copyright intended.
Read, enjoy, and review!!! *****************************************************************
This chapter is dedicated to Anthony *****************************************************************
When Draco got back to Hogwarts, things had changed. Since Dumbledore believed that people would want privacy and space after the horror of the Final Battle, the room arrangements had been changed. Everyone had their own private bedroom. The Houses were abolished too, since more rivalry was the last thing everyone needed.
Away from Cendrillon, he retreated back into his shell. He rarely ventured out of his rooms apart from mealtimes and lessons. If he, as Head Boy, was required to plan something or attend a meeting, he would do so but never venturing ideas unless asked or showing much enthusiasm.
At Christmas, finally, he went back to France and spent two weeks with Cendrillon. When he came back to school, he was slightly happier and began participating more. Halfway through February, Cendrillon owled with the news that she was pregnant and it was his baby. He immediately went to Dumbledore who said he had enough credits to graduate anyway. So he packed up and went back to Cendrillon. He married her.
In September, Maxmillian Xavier Black was born. The family moved into Malfoy Manor.
In October, it ended. Draco woke up one morning to find a note on the pillow next to him.
Drake-
I can't do this. We're too young and it will never work out. I can't be tied down with a child and a husband. Besides, I've met someone else and we are in love. I know you'll understand.
Lonnie
Your Cinderella
*********************************************************************
"That's such a sad story." Hermione said. Draco shrugged.
"I've heard sadder." He replied. Hermione thought about how much everything had changed since the Final Battle. How many lives it had ruined, how any hearts it had broken. It all traced back to Voldemort, really. He had started this all.
"What is it you're searching for?" Hermione asked Draco in impulse, not knowing why she'd said it. Draco turned to face her.
"I don't know." He replied.
***************************************************************************
It was about six in the morning when Hermione let herself back in, having walked a few miles along the shore after her conversation with Draco. To her surprise, Lavender was awake and doing aerobics in the living room. She stopped when she saw Hermione.
"Herms? Hi! I thought you spent the night at Ginny's! But where are your clothes. and why are you covered in sand?" Lavender asked, doing stretches.
"No, I came back last night but I couldn't sleep so I went for a walk." Hermione said, conjuring up some toast.
"Oh. Meet anyone?" Lavender asked, starting on some exercises.
"No." Hermione said, deciding for no particular reason to leave out her conversation with Draco.
"Whatever. How was Ginny?" she asked.
"I think she's okay now. She just really really misses him." Hermione said, her mouth full.
"They were so in love. I remember wishing someone would feel that way about me." Lavender sighed, abandoning the aerobics.
"I know," Hermione agreed. "I know."
***************************************************************************
After taking an Energizing Potion, Hermione no longer felt tired. She spent about half an hour cleaning the hut while Lavender was in the shower, then did some work for a couple of hours while thinking about what she wanted to do that day.
"Lav? Any ideas for something to do?" she asked as Lavender was standing in front of her mirror applying eyeliner.
"Nope." Lavender replied.
"Maybe we could go see the dolphins in the bay? It's supposed to be nice out there. " Hermione suggested.
"Okay. I need to sunbathe anyway," Lavender agreed. They grabbed their beach bags from by the door and cut across town to the bay. It was a large grassy hill overlooking a stretch of water. They set their bags down about halfway up the hill. Lavender soon fell asleep in the warm sunshine, but Hermione scanned the water for any sign of dolphins.
There were a few groups of people scattered across the hill, but it wasn't too crowded. There were a couple of restaurants down by the water. Since Lavender was asleep, Hermione decided to go down and buy a sandwich or something.
She went to a little stall on the sand and bought a chicken pesto sandwich. She gazed out across the sand at the people eating at picnic tables, and caught sight of two heads of platinum hair. Draco and his son. She debated with herself whether or not to go say hello to them. Curiosity won her over- she really wanted to see what his son was like.
She weaved her way through the tables. Draco looked up and saw her.
"I seem to keep running into you." He said, smiling very faintly. Hermione could see deep smudges under his eyes. Max was an exact replica of Draco, just a lot smaller. He was engrossed in eating a grilled cheese sandwich.
"I saw you guys from over there and I thought I'd just come and say hi." Hermione said.
"Would you care to join us?" Draco asked.
"Oh, I don't want to intrude. Really, I just came to say hi." Hermione said. "And besides, I've already eaten."
"It wouldn't be an intrusion. More of a welcome visit." He said. Hermione couldn't resist sitting down. Draco turned to his son.
"Maxy, this is Hermione Granger. She went to school with me a few years ago. Say hi." He said gently. Hermione marveled at how soft he was with his son.
"Hi!" he chirped. "I'm Max."
"Hey there Max." Hermione said. She had always been quite good with little children. There was a short silence as Max took a large bite of his sandwich.
"Daddy's sad again." Max said unexpectedly. "He gets sad a lot."
"I'm sorry to hear that." Hermione said, knowing that Draco was getting slightly uncomfortable. Max continued.
"Daddy gets sad since Mommy went away after his own Mommy and Daddy died-" Draco said something in French to Max, who obediently began eating his sandwich again.
"Oui Daddy." He said. Draco turned back to Hermione.
"I'm sorry. That was rude of me. I tend to drift off into French when I'm with Max." Draco said.
"It's okay. It's interesting listening to other languages. Can you speak anything else besides English and French?" she asked.
"Mais bien sur." He replied. "But of course. I was brought up in a multi- lingual environment. I was taught to speak German, French, English and Japanese. I lost most of the Japanese when went to Hogwarts though." He said.
"Wow. Can Max speak German too?" she asked, watching the little boy play with his sandwich.
"Yeah." Draco replied.
"And how old did you say he was?" Hermione asked. To the extent of her knowledge, Max's linguistic skills were far superior to those of other children his age.
"He'll be two in September, won't you Max?" Draco said.
"Ja, Klar. Daddy, willst du mit mir gespielen dieses machmittag?" Max asked.
"Ich mu? ein bib?chen arbeite machen." Draco said gently. Max pouted.
"Bitte, Daddy?" he asked. "Ich liebe wann du willst mit mir gespielen!"
"Max, ich mu? arbeite. Aber vielleicht konnen wir dieses abend ein Rätsel machen."
"Gerne." Max stopped pouting. Hermione smiled at this dialogue, vaguely recalling from somewhere that 'arbeite' meant work and 'spiele' meant play.
Max looked around and became visibly excited.
"Daddy! Daddy! Camilla's over there! Can I go say hello? Can I? Can I?" He cried. Hermione looked over to where a small dark-haired girl was walking with her parents. Max waved at them.
"They've seen us and they're coming over here!" Max said, smiling. They did indeed come over. Draco introduced Hermione to the adults as Max chattered away to his friend.
"Annie, Sam, this is Hermione Granger. Hermione, this is Annie and Sam Grisham." He said.
"Hi. Nice to meet you." Hermione said. The pair responded in the same way.
"Draco, can we borrow Max for the afternoon? Camilla wants to go to the zoo and it would be nice if he could come too." Annie said. Draco looked dubious.
"The zoo? Which one?" he asked.
"One in London. We'll take a portkey and be back by sunset. We'll be really careful with him, don't worry." Annie assured him.
"That sounds great, He'd love to go." Draco replied. They smiled and left, taking Max with them. Hermione started to get up from the table.
"I'd better go, since you have work to do. Was that what you were saying? I never really understood German." Hermione laughed. Draco smiled faintly.
"Yes, there's a bunch of legal stuff I have to take care of." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "But it will take a while. Law was never really my strong point."
"Really? I studied law for a little while. If there's anything you need help with, I could give you a hand." She offered. Draco looked immensely relieved.
"Thank god. I thought I was going to have to spend hours slaving away at it. Hopefully with your help it won't take too long. But wait a second- aren't you on holiday? Don't you have something better to do?" he asked.
"Not really. Lavender's fine jus lying in the sun but I can't do that for more than a couple of days. So what is it exactly you're working on?" she asked. Draco looked down, the trace of a smile disappearing.
"It's a custody case. Cendrillon is trying to get hold of Max."
***************************************************************************
I am hyper because my laptop came and it is sooooooooooooo cool. I have been permanently hyper for the past few days, and I am seriously sleep deprived. I have had literally 20 hours sleep in 72 hours. Not good for the eyes. Or the imagination. I WANT REVIEWS! YES I DO! Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, especially tiger_tiger2 who is my most wonderful reviewer. Peace!
Claimer: I own Jack Harry Arthur Potter, Maxmillian Xavier Black, Camilla, Annie and Sam Grisham and the entire 'de Varci' family.
This story is being used for entertainment purposes only, no money is being made and no violation of copyright intended.
Read, enjoy, and review!!! *****************************************************************
This chapter is dedicated to Anthony *****************************************************************
When Draco got back to Hogwarts, things had changed. Since Dumbledore believed that people would want privacy and space after the horror of the Final Battle, the room arrangements had been changed. Everyone had their own private bedroom. The Houses were abolished too, since more rivalry was the last thing everyone needed.
Away from Cendrillon, he retreated back into his shell. He rarely ventured out of his rooms apart from mealtimes and lessons. If he, as Head Boy, was required to plan something or attend a meeting, he would do so but never venturing ideas unless asked or showing much enthusiasm.
At Christmas, finally, he went back to France and spent two weeks with Cendrillon. When he came back to school, he was slightly happier and began participating more. Halfway through February, Cendrillon owled with the news that she was pregnant and it was his baby. He immediately went to Dumbledore who said he had enough credits to graduate anyway. So he packed up and went back to Cendrillon. He married her.
In September, Maxmillian Xavier Black was born. The family moved into Malfoy Manor.
In October, it ended. Draco woke up one morning to find a note on the pillow next to him.
Drake-
I can't do this. We're too young and it will never work out. I can't be tied down with a child and a husband. Besides, I've met someone else and we are in love. I know you'll understand.
Lonnie
Your Cinderella
*********************************************************************
"That's such a sad story." Hermione said. Draco shrugged.
"I've heard sadder." He replied. Hermione thought about how much everything had changed since the Final Battle. How many lives it had ruined, how any hearts it had broken. It all traced back to Voldemort, really. He had started this all.
"What is it you're searching for?" Hermione asked Draco in impulse, not knowing why she'd said it. Draco turned to face her.
"I don't know." He replied.
***************************************************************************
It was about six in the morning when Hermione let herself back in, having walked a few miles along the shore after her conversation with Draco. To her surprise, Lavender was awake and doing aerobics in the living room. She stopped when she saw Hermione.
"Herms? Hi! I thought you spent the night at Ginny's! But where are your clothes. and why are you covered in sand?" Lavender asked, doing stretches.
"No, I came back last night but I couldn't sleep so I went for a walk." Hermione said, conjuring up some toast.
"Oh. Meet anyone?" Lavender asked, starting on some exercises.
"No." Hermione said, deciding for no particular reason to leave out her conversation with Draco.
"Whatever. How was Ginny?" she asked.
"I think she's okay now. She just really really misses him." Hermione said, her mouth full.
"They were so in love. I remember wishing someone would feel that way about me." Lavender sighed, abandoning the aerobics.
"I know," Hermione agreed. "I know."
***************************************************************************
After taking an Energizing Potion, Hermione no longer felt tired. She spent about half an hour cleaning the hut while Lavender was in the shower, then did some work for a couple of hours while thinking about what she wanted to do that day.
"Lav? Any ideas for something to do?" she asked as Lavender was standing in front of her mirror applying eyeliner.
"Nope." Lavender replied.
"Maybe we could go see the dolphins in the bay? It's supposed to be nice out there. " Hermione suggested.
"Okay. I need to sunbathe anyway," Lavender agreed. They grabbed their beach bags from by the door and cut across town to the bay. It was a large grassy hill overlooking a stretch of water. They set their bags down about halfway up the hill. Lavender soon fell asleep in the warm sunshine, but Hermione scanned the water for any sign of dolphins.
There were a few groups of people scattered across the hill, but it wasn't too crowded. There were a couple of restaurants down by the water. Since Lavender was asleep, Hermione decided to go down and buy a sandwich or something.
She went to a little stall on the sand and bought a chicken pesto sandwich. She gazed out across the sand at the people eating at picnic tables, and caught sight of two heads of platinum hair. Draco and his son. She debated with herself whether or not to go say hello to them. Curiosity won her over- she really wanted to see what his son was like.
She weaved her way through the tables. Draco looked up and saw her.
"I seem to keep running into you." He said, smiling very faintly. Hermione could see deep smudges under his eyes. Max was an exact replica of Draco, just a lot smaller. He was engrossed in eating a grilled cheese sandwich.
"I saw you guys from over there and I thought I'd just come and say hi." Hermione said.
"Would you care to join us?" Draco asked.
"Oh, I don't want to intrude. Really, I just came to say hi." Hermione said. "And besides, I've already eaten."
"It wouldn't be an intrusion. More of a welcome visit." He said. Hermione couldn't resist sitting down. Draco turned to his son.
"Maxy, this is Hermione Granger. She went to school with me a few years ago. Say hi." He said gently. Hermione marveled at how soft he was with his son.
"Hi!" he chirped. "I'm Max."
"Hey there Max." Hermione said. She had always been quite good with little children. There was a short silence as Max took a large bite of his sandwich.
"Daddy's sad again." Max said unexpectedly. "He gets sad a lot."
"I'm sorry to hear that." Hermione said, knowing that Draco was getting slightly uncomfortable. Max continued.
"Daddy gets sad since Mommy went away after his own Mommy and Daddy died-" Draco said something in French to Max, who obediently began eating his sandwich again.
"Oui Daddy." He said. Draco turned back to Hermione.
"I'm sorry. That was rude of me. I tend to drift off into French when I'm with Max." Draco said.
"It's okay. It's interesting listening to other languages. Can you speak anything else besides English and French?" she asked.
"Mais bien sur." He replied. "But of course. I was brought up in a multi- lingual environment. I was taught to speak German, French, English and Japanese. I lost most of the Japanese when went to Hogwarts though." He said.
"Wow. Can Max speak German too?" she asked, watching the little boy play with his sandwich.
"Yeah." Draco replied.
"And how old did you say he was?" Hermione asked. To the extent of her knowledge, Max's linguistic skills were far superior to those of other children his age.
"He'll be two in September, won't you Max?" Draco said.
"Ja, Klar. Daddy, willst du mit mir gespielen dieses machmittag?" Max asked.
"Ich mu? ein bib?chen arbeite machen." Draco said gently. Max pouted.
"Bitte, Daddy?" he asked. "Ich liebe wann du willst mit mir gespielen!"
"Max, ich mu? arbeite. Aber vielleicht konnen wir dieses abend ein Rätsel machen."
"Gerne." Max stopped pouting. Hermione smiled at this dialogue, vaguely recalling from somewhere that 'arbeite' meant work and 'spiele' meant play.
Max looked around and became visibly excited.
"Daddy! Daddy! Camilla's over there! Can I go say hello? Can I? Can I?" He cried. Hermione looked over to where a small dark-haired girl was walking with her parents. Max waved at them.
"They've seen us and they're coming over here!" Max said, smiling. They did indeed come over. Draco introduced Hermione to the adults as Max chattered away to his friend.
"Annie, Sam, this is Hermione Granger. Hermione, this is Annie and Sam Grisham." He said.
"Hi. Nice to meet you." Hermione said. The pair responded in the same way.
"Draco, can we borrow Max for the afternoon? Camilla wants to go to the zoo and it would be nice if he could come too." Annie said. Draco looked dubious.
"The zoo? Which one?" he asked.
"One in London. We'll take a portkey and be back by sunset. We'll be really careful with him, don't worry." Annie assured him.
"That sounds great, He'd love to go." Draco replied. They smiled and left, taking Max with them. Hermione started to get up from the table.
"I'd better go, since you have work to do. Was that what you were saying? I never really understood German." Hermione laughed. Draco smiled faintly.
"Yes, there's a bunch of legal stuff I have to take care of." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "But it will take a while. Law was never really my strong point."
"Really? I studied law for a little while. If there's anything you need help with, I could give you a hand." She offered. Draco looked immensely relieved.
"Thank god. I thought I was going to have to spend hours slaving away at it. Hopefully with your help it won't take too long. But wait a second- aren't you on holiday? Don't you have something better to do?" he asked.
"Not really. Lavender's fine jus lying in the sun but I can't do that for more than a couple of days. So what is it exactly you're working on?" she asked. Draco looked down, the trace of a smile disappearing.
"It's a custody case. Cendrillon is trying to get hold of Max."
***************************************************************************
I am hyper because my laptop came and it is sooooooooooooo cool. I have been permanently hyper for the past few days, and I am seriously sleep deprived. I have had literally 20 hours sleep in 72 hours. Not good for the eyes. Or the imagination. I WANT REVIEWS! YES I DO! Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, especially tiger_tiger2 who is my most wonderful reviewer. Peace!