Chapter 31

"Cassie no running through the Great Hall please." Draco called as she tore away from him in search of Mrs. Norris. The cat, bane to all students, wasn't sure what to make of the five-year-old. She sat glaring at Cassie as the child dropped to her knees. Digging in her pockets, she produced a fish roll and offered it to the cat.

"Your offspring is trying to feed the cat," Snape stated from where he sat reading the Daily Prophet.

"If it's an animal, she must make friends with it." Draco replied settling in a chair near the older man. He watched Cassie wait patiently while Mrs. Norris sniffed the offering.

"Yes, well...I don't think she'll win THAT animal over," Snape snorted turning a page.

Draco shook his head deciding that there was no point telling him that it didn't matter. She'd try until either she grew bored or Mrs. Norris relented. Currently it appeared the cat would give in before the child.

Asking Snape for the Sports section of the paper, Draco was just beginning to peruse the latest Quidditch scores when Harry walked in. Head low, shoulders slumped, he flopped into the chair next to his lover and stared at the table blankly.

"Weasley still not speaking to you?" Draco ventured.

"Well, two Weasleys are. Percy and Natalie," Harry muttered, lifting his head. "Percy because he believes I'm doing the honorable thing by taking up my parenting responsibilities, and Natalie because she bloody KNEW about us for years!"

"She knew?" Snape asked eyeing Harry curiously.

"She was Nothing, she eavesdropped on sleeping students a lot." He grumbled eying the Montrose Magpies statistics from their last game. Draco moved the paper so he could finish reading.

"Indeed," Snape said, sipping from his teacup.

"Draco and you were two of her favorites to spy on," Harry continued. Snape choked. "She said you were very interesting." Both the Defense Against the Dark Arts and Potions professors paled slightly.

"Mrs. Weasley hopefully will keep it all to herself." Snape growled as Cassie sat completely down on the floor, fish roll still in hand. Harry sighed deeply and gazed across the room absently.

Watching Draco hesitantly pat Harry on the shoulder, Snape shuddered mentally. How could this happen? He's a Slytherin and Potter's a Gryffindor. They always fought during school. It was all a mask though he realized. They'd obviously held secret desires for each other, which the potion had capitalized on. From the looks of it, they still harbored feelings for each other. He would have to get used to them just as he had to get used to a certain small girl with black hair who was trying to befriend Mrs. Norris. Not that he wanted to do either, but he didn't have a choice. Draco he was willing to make some allowances for, because he'd been one of his better pupils. Harry though, Snape mentally snarled. There were days he truly was James Potter's son and on those days Snape didn't want to be anywhere near him.

"It's okay kitty. It tastes good," Cassie assured the cat as she licked the treat.

"What's she doing?" Harry asked finally sitting up straight.

"Feeding Mrs. Norris," Draco replied, leaning back so he could see around him. Checking to make sure Cassie wasn't doing anything she wasn't supposed to, he turned his attention back to Harry.

"I can't believe she's trying that." Harry muttered shaking his head. Draco smiled slightly and simply let his daughter do what she liked. As long as she was behaving he didn't mind at all.

"Good afternoon gentlemen, Professor." Natalie called entering the Great Hall. Spotting the girl on the floor she smiled. "Hello Cassie."

"Good afternoon Mrs. Weasley," Cassie said not turning her attention away from the cat. Walking behind her, Natalie crouched down and cocked her head to the right staring directly at Mrs. Norris curiously. The cat backed up a bit. Scooting around so that she was sitting next to the child, Natalie hoped that if she weren't behind her the cat would come closer.

"You don't have to call me Mrs. Weasley, that's my mother-in-law," she said casually. "Why don't you call me Natalie, or if your fathers don't mind, Aunt Natalie."

Cassie scrunched up her face and turned to her.

"Don't you have to be Daddy or Papa Harry's sister to be my aunt? That's how it is on TV."

"Well, I'm a lot like a sister to your papa. Would that count?" She inquired, thinking the child was gutsy trying to catch the cat. When they'd first met yesterday Cassie had been a bit reserved, but whenever Heather or Draco would speak to her she'd light up. She was still tentative around Harry, but he was new to her as well.

"I guess." Cassie paused then tipped her head back to look at her fathers. "Is it okay if I call Mrs. Weasley, Aunt Natalie?"

Draco and Harry exchanged questioning glances. Harry wasn't sure where he fit into the Malfoy's lives yet. Most decisions regarding Cassie were left up to Draco. Natalie was a good friend and if she wanted to be called Aunt, Harry didn't see any problem.

"I don't mind," he whispered.

"It's all right with us," Draco said loudly. "After all Heather is her Gran and she's not related."

"What's one more?" Harry inquired catching Draco's eyes. The blond just shrugged.

"If I can call Mrs. Weasley, Aunt Natalie, does this mean I can call Mr. Weasley, Uncle Ron?" Cassie asked as Mrs. Norris took the fish sausage in her teeth.

"You'll have to ask Ron about that," Natalie told her. "He's a little mad at your papa for not telling him he liked your daddy."

"Oh," She said, taking note of the cat's advance. "That's it kitty, take the sausage."

"Merlin, she may actually feed that cat by hand." Harry exclaimed as everyone's attention turned to the child and cat. Sensing that she'd suddenly become the star attraction, Mrs. Norris hesitated. The lure of the sausage proved too tempting though and she snatched it out of Cassie's hand. Retreating under a table, she began to eat her prize.

"Wow, not even Hagrid can do that!" Natalie proclaimed enthusiastically. "You may have a talent for animal care."

"Really Mrs...er..Aunt Natalie?" It was going to take a bit for her to remember to call Natalie aunt, but eventually it would become as natural as calling Heather, Gran.

Dusting her clothes off, the brunette got up off the floor leaving Cassie to offer Mrs. Norris a second sausage. Heading over to Harry, she sat down next to him.

"If it weren't for the fact I'm pregnant and need him to bring home the money, I'd kill my husband right now." She said, slumping forward her previous jovial persona melting away. "The moron is still acting like the world has ended."

"Typical," Draco grumbled going back to reading the paper.

"You're not the one married to him." Natalie retorted putting her elbows on the table. "I'm trying though Harry."

"I appreciate it," he said giving her a weak smile. "Don't force him on my behalf."

"He needs a good broom to the head." She snarled.

"I have a broom you could use." Draco offered, finding the image of Natalie bringing the bristles down over Ron's red head amusing.

"Thanks for the offer, but if he knew you'd helped it might make matters worse. I'm not sure who he's madder at you or Harry." She shook her head.

"Weasley will get over his juvenile reaction in time." Snape said in a condescending tone.

"Yes, well," Natalie growled, narrowing her eyes slightly at him.

"Um, where did Cassie go?" Draco asked interrupting any potential sniping match the two were about to engage in. The four adults quickly began checking under the various tables.

"With Mrs. Norris no doubt." Harry surmised pushing back his chair back.

"Which means she could be anywhere." Draco said in a worried voice.

"She couldn't have gone far, right?" Natalie hoped. The look Draco shot her told her otherwise. Natalie bolted towards the exit.

"Professor, could you stay here in case she comes back?" The Slytherin faced his former Potions teacher. Snape nodded. "If she does appear, have her sit next to you and tell her she's not allowed to move until we get back."

"Very well," Snape said as they took off.