Author's Note: I'm slowly working on the last bit of this story, so I'm still going to be updating only a chapter a week. For those of you who've read "Much Ado About Nothing" and "A Winter's Tale", you'll recognize Natalie. I mentioned her in the last chapter, but she'll be back to make Ron's life interesting later on. I couldn't leave her out, she was fun in the first two stories, I had to bring her back for the third.

Chapter 24

"Cassie, Daddy's sleepy. You're sleepy too." Draco said trying to convince her to go to sleep. The little girl shook her head vigorously. She sat up right in the bed, arms crossed refusing to lie down. "Yes you are."

"No I'm not." She answered.

"Yes you are." This was ridiculous. "I'll be in the next room Snapdragon. There's nothing to worry about."

"No. Don't wanna sleep. Daddy, what if the bad men come back?" Her bottom lip quivered as her eyes watered. He couldn't blame her for being frightened, he'd been. "Can I sleep with you?"

He couldn't say no, not when he'd wanted nothing else but to hold her all day. Great, just what I need a five-year-old kicking me in my sleep. It's not like she didn't do it for nine months before, he thought affectionately as he picked her up and carried her to his bed.

Crawling under the covers, they snuggled down together. Draco reached over to turn off the lamp only to realize that there was no lamp. Instead he whispered a spell and the candles all flickered out. They lay for several minutes in the dark before Cassie's voice broke the silence.

"Daddy, will you tell me a story? You promised to tell me a story of when you were at Hogwarts, remember?" She whispered, wriggling closer and curling up against his chest.

"I know, but I'm so tired I can't think of one." He heard her murmur please. Sighing he quickly racked his brain for something. "I used to be the Slytherin house's Seeker" he began. "Mr. Potter was the Gryffindor house's Seeker." He smiled slightly when he thought of Harry. It'd been too long since he'd seen him. He looked good, but a little weary. Life wasn't completely wonderful for him, not that Draco had had it much easier. For a moment he wondered if there was a chance for them. Probably not, he realized. Whatever they'd had most likely ended that day in the Quidditch locker room. Harry was probably disgusted with the act and didn't realize what it all meant. Or he just believed it to be the love potion's fault, not that it was his own feelings that triggered the reaction.

"Now as you know, the Seeker has the most important job. We catch the Golden Snitch and thus win the game for our team." Draco continued focusing on the story rather than his own thoughts. "So whenever Slytherin had to play Quidditch against Gryffindor, we always clashed. You see we were both good Seekers, therefore it was a battle to see who got the Golden Snitch first."

"Did you catch the Snitch?"

"Sometimes, but whenever I played against Potter I almost never did. He always seemed to have an edge." He admitted running a hand gently through her hair, brushing it back so it wasn't in her face as she slept.

"You should have caught it all the time." Cassie whispered, mostly asleep now.

"I'm glad you think so. A lot of people didn't, except my own house."

"Stupid. You're the best," she mumbled after a minute. Draco smiled warmly.

"Thank you Snapdragon."

------------------------------------------

Clean and dressed, Draco felt better as he lead Cassie to the Great Hall the next morning. She was wearing a pair of dark blue shorts and her favorite t-shirt with the blue Hawaiian flowers on it that Draco had brought with him. Somehow he'd managed to grab summer clothes for her, but not for him. He'd have to suffer.

Most of the teachers were on holiday, so Hogwarts was incredibly quiet. Even the ghosts were strangely missing. Draco hadn't seen any floating about all morning. He'd half expected Peeves to appear while he was bathing earlier. Fortunately, the poltergeist seemed to have better things to do.

Cassie was looking about in amazement. She'd never been in a castle before and wanted to see everything at once. Running from one side of the corridor to the other, she kept following a small knight as he bolted through all the paintings. He kept yelling at her, but she only laughed. Thankfully the suits of armor in the next hallway distracted her. Dragging Draco over to one, she made him lift her up so that she could peer inside it.

"There's no one home." She said gloomily as he set her back down on the stone floor. "I thought armor was supposed to have knights in them."

"These don't, although sometimes ghosts pop out of them," he told her taking her hand.

"Oh." She mulled over whether or not seeing a ghost was a good idea. Would they be like the ghosts in the movies that were more skeleton than human? Maybe they had arrows sticking out from them or missing their heads altogether! Shuddering at the thought, Cassie let her father lead her to the Great Hall.

Snape met them at the door with his normal grim demeanor.

"Malfoy." He nodded as he opened the door.

"Good morning Professor Snape," Draco replied, allowing Snape to enter first.

"Morning Mr. Snape." Cassie chimed in. He glanced down at her.

"Miss Malfoy." The small child unnerved him. He was used to children no younger than eleven in the school, after all he was a teacher. Yet for some reason her bright smile was disarming, leaving him feeling uneasy around her. Draco could handle it, but she was his child. It was always different when it was your own. A notion Snape had been avoiding for years.

They entered the Great Hall and Cassie immediately stopped. The ceiling held blue sky with a few wispy clouds floating by. It was like they were outside, but they were still inside. Amazed she ran over to one of the tables and climbed up on it. Reaching up, she wanted to see if she could touch a lazy cloud that was just above her head. Abruptly her father picked her up off the table, promptly depositing her back on the floor. He scolded her for a minute before explaining that the ceiling was enchanted. From the head table, Dumbledore watched them. A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Snape sighed taking his place at the table on Dumbledore's left. They were going to have to suffer with a five-year-old climbing on everything until the Malfoys returned to New Zealand. Something Snape wasn't as anxious about as he first thought. He wanted to talk to Draco alone about curses and other things before they left.

"What are all these tables for?" Cassie asked as Harry and Ron entered.

"For the students to sit at and eat," Draco replied.

"Oh, there must be a lot of students. Where are they?"

"It's summer here, so they're on holiday." He answered as she took a few steps away and peered under a bench.

"So when it's winter where we are, it's summer here and they get time off. I bet Lisa wishes she could be here right now. She has school!" Cassie laughed and scampered off towards the Hufflepuff table. Draco sighed and went after her.

"Well, she seems well rested." Ron commented, watching Cassie dive under a table causing her father to pause. "Five Knuts says he won't go under after her."

"I'll take that," Harry replied just as Draco dropped down and crawled under after her. "I think you owe me." Ron grumbled and dug into his pocket.

Finally catching her, Draco threw his child over his shoulder. Realizing that he had no idea where he was supposed to sit, he wasn't sure where to go. Instinctually he wanted to head towards the Slytherin table, but as he glanced up at that head table he noticed Ron and Harry joining Dumbledore and Snape. Figuring that was where he and Cassie were going to be eating, he walked towards it.

"Daddy, put me down," she giggled.

"Not if you're going to go running all over the Great Hall." Draco told her. Cassie only started laughing harder. This was fun! She'd gotten her father to chase her under two different tables, around another and climb over a fourth. She normally didn't have this much playtime with Draco until the weekends. Plus she had a huge castle to explore and play Croc Hunter in. She was so lucky!

"Finally caught her, the little Snitch?" Ron chuckled. Draco narrowed his eyes.

"A Snitch would be easier." He replied coolly.

"Bet Harry could catch her." Ron challenged leaning forward. Draco arched one eyebrow.

"Think so Potter? I doubt your Seeker skills have prepared you for a highly excited five-year-old." With that he put Cassie down and they both sat on the other side of Dumbledore.

"Good morning Cassie." The older wizard said smiling down at her. Cassie grinned and said good morning. "What do you think of Hogwarts?"

"It's bigger than an apartment building," she said, noticing the empty plate in front of her. Tapping her father on the arm, she asked him who was making breakfast.

"The cooks I imagine," he replied.

"But they won't know how to make pancakes." She pouted. "Not Daddy's special pancakes with the cinnamon." Her face fell then brightened. "Maybe you can show the cooks how to make your special pancakes!"

"Um...." Draco didn't know what to say. Ron was staring at him like he'd grown a second head while Harry was choking on his water.

"You cook?" The red head blurted out. He couldn't imagine Draco cooking let alone setting foot IN the kitchen.

"He can even set the timer on the microwave." Cassie announced proudly. She kicked her feet waiting for the cooks to bring the meal. It would be like going to a restaurant, she imagined.

"What's a microwave?" Ron asked turning to Harry for help.

"A box that heats up food that Muggles like to use," Harry told him. "It's actually quite handy."

"Especially when you want to defrost frozen chicken." Draco mumbled.

"You use Muggle technology? Now there's something I never thought you'd do? What you forgot how make a fire?" Ron teased. Draco glared at him. Cassie looked confused; she didn't understand why Ron thought it was odd that her father used Muggle technology. Everyone did in New Zealand. They'd even figured out a way to put Quidditch games on television. They broadcast it as a fantasy show on the Science-Fiction Channel. Hundreds of Muggles were now addicted to "Magic Sports" a show about a fantasy world of magic folk and Quidditch.

Thank goodness the food appeared before Draco could make a scathing remark that Cassie probably shouldn't hear, taking everyone's mind off the microwave. As they ate Harry began wondering why Draco would have Muggle appliances. If Lucius had been looking for Draco all this time and had only now found him then he must not have been living in a wizard community. If he had, Lucius would have had abducted Cassie years ago. The only way he could have survived was to become a Muggle or as close to one as he could be. Blend in and disappear was the best way to survive.

Glancing down the table at Cassie he noticed how she kept whispering to Draco and gingerly poking her food with her fork. It was as if she wasn't sure it was real. Draco was constantly reassuring her that everything was safe and pulled her back up into her chair when she slid under the table. Probably trying to find where the food was coming from.

She's almost how I was when I first arrived at Hogwarts, Harry thought. Except she was raised by a wizard and knows a few spells. Ron had enlightened him last night of what had transpired at Lupin's home. A five-year-old with a wand who knew curses, Draco had made sure she knew magic. But he'd left out what could be considered frivolous magic. Enchanted ceilings, spelling food to the tables, these were all new to her.

"Mr. Dumbledore is there anyway I can send a thank you letter to the cooks?" Cassie asked as they finished their meals. Snape drew in his breath sharply unable to believe what he'd just heard. No one thanked House-elves.

"I suppose you can. Do you know how to write?" Dumbledore inquired, amused by the question as the remainder of the meal vanished. Cassie nodded vigorously.

"I can read too. Both Maori and English." She proclaimed loudly.

"Fascinating. Mr. Malfoy, you have a bright child. Reading and writing in two languages. Amazing." Draco felt honored by his praise. Dumbledore waved his hand and a piece of parchment, quill and ink appeared. Cassie picked up the quill curiously.

"It's like a pen Cassie. Just dip it in the ink," Draco told her. She nodded and quickly began to write in large letters on the parchment. Dumbledore watched her with great delight. None of his students had ever sent a thank you letter to the cooks, come to think of it, he didn't know if he had ever done so either.

Cassie folded the note and handed it to Dumbledore. Taking it, he promised to have it delivered to the cooks immediately. Placing it in front of him, he winked at the little girl and made the note vanish. Her mouth gaped open then a smile spread across her face.

"Shall we retire to my office?" Dumbledore suggested rising from his seat.

"Yes." Harry stated having a feeling that the headmaster had something up his sleeve.

Standing, they all followed him out of the Great Hall and to his office. On their way they ran into Professor McGonagall. Besides Snape and Hagrid, she was the only other teacher at Hogwarts currently. Dumbledore had informed her of Draco's arrival last night and she knew what he had planned for the young man. The wizard asked her to join them and she did without hesitation, stealing a brief glance at the child as she stepped in behind Dumbledore.

Lupin and Black were already in the office when they entered. The new arrivals quickly arranged themselves in various seating or standing locations while Dumbledore walked to his desk. He sat and opened a drawer; taking out a piece of parchment he laid it in front of him.

"Mr. Malfoy, I believe that for your own safety you shouldn't return to New Zealand." He stated looking directly at Draco who was sitting next to McGonagall with Cassie on his lap. "Lucius knows where you and your daughter are."

"I have friends there that are willing to help us." Draco replied as Cassie leaned back against him, her head resting just below his chin.

"That may be," Dumbledore began gently. "But we both know how persistent and dangerous Lucius can be. It is important that we keep Voldemort and his followers from spreading any farther than they have."

"I understand that." Draco reached around and straightened his daughter's shirt. He couldn't return to the way life had been. Nash, Trina and Lisa would be in danger. Risking their lives wasn't what they'd bargained for when they'd offered to train him. Actually, he doubted anyone ever thought Lucius would find them as quickly as he had. Draco certainly hadn't. He'd prepared for the inevitable, but when it came right down to it, he'd been knocked off balance by the abduction. Dumbledore was right; he couldn't go back.

"Now, I don't wish to uproot your family without giving something in return. It appears that we have an opening on our teaching staff." The old wizard continued casually after a moment. "If you would like it, I am prepared to offer you the Defense Against the Dark Arts position along with safe haven for you and your family."

"Wait, what happened to Professor Lilium?" Ron inquired sitting up a bit straighter. McGonagall coughed as he and Harry exchanged confused looks. "She's been here for years."

"I'm afraid she was let go," McGonagall told him pushing her glasses back up on the bridge of her nose.

That didn't make much sense to Draco, Harry and Ron. Professor Melantha Lilium had taken the DADA position during their sixth year and had been the only person to hold it for seven years. She'd been a petite woman with frizzy black hair and violet eyes. Her classes had always been interesting and everyone seemed to like her, even the Slytherins.

"We had no choice I'm afraid," Dumbledore said sadly. "Broke one of Hogwarts' rules." The three former students still appeared mystified as how anyone as innocent and unassuming as Lilium could do anything wrong.

"She was mixing love potions," McGonagall said curtly. "We're lucky none of them were taken by students or her intended love."

"You mean she was fixing them for someone on the staff?" Ron inquired, still in shock. The head of Gryffinidor nodded. He slouched down and closed his eyes thoughtfully. "Who?"

Black cocked his head to the left suddenly studying Snape intently. The Potions Master had pursed his face into an even sourer look than normal. Casually he asked him if he had anything to add and nearly had his head handed to him on a silver platter in return. This confirmed his hypothesis. Snape had been the object of Lilium's love potions. He told him as much and his old classmate nearly cursed him then and there if not for Dumbledore's interfering.

While Black and Snape exchanged heated, but carefully chosen words for a child's ears hear many things, Harry glanced over at Draco. The blond eyed him for a moment, an unspoken knowledge passing between them. They now knew where the potion had come from. But how had it gotten from Lilium's quarters to their drinks? Harry didn't know, but at least one piece of the puzzle was in place.

"I will take your offer," Draco said over the squabbling. "But it must include Cassie's godmother, Heather O'Toole."

"Of course!" Dumbledore exclaimed. "When I said family, I meant all those you consider family." He slid the piece of parchment forward. "I have all the particulars worked out here, if you'd care to read and sign the contract." Draco nodded, gently setting Cassie on the floor before getting up. While he read the contract and discussed details with Dumbledore and McGonagall, Cassie climbed back into the chair and sitting crossed legged, watched everything.

"It looks like this will be your new home." Harry said tentatively to her. He felt odd talking to her, but he believed he had to. She probably didn't understand what was going on.

"I guess," she answered. "As long as we're here, Voldigmort and Lucy-us won't get me right? Daddy said Hogwarts was the safest place in Britain." Looking up at him, she absently pulled at her shoelaces. "That's what Gran said too."

"And they're right." Harry told her feeling a smile tug at the corners of his mouth. "You'll be safe here. I'll help make sure of it."

As they left the office later that morning, Harry wasn't sure why he'd made that statement. Perhaps it was because she was a small child who'd needed some reassurance. But he'd said he'd make sure of it. Somehow it had become personal. Gazing at her as she held her father's hand he was a bit envious. Draco had found someone, even if it'd been a brief moment, to love enough to have a child with. He was lucky; Harry doubted he'd ever be.