Humble Me

"Mummy?" Teresa climbed up on the couch next to her mother. "What's wrong Mummy?"

Ginny was sitting with her head in her hands, the bills piled up on the table in front of her. "Nothing dear, nothing for you to worry about." She reached over and pulled her daughter into her lap and held her close.

It had been almost a month and she couldn't find another job. The place she had been working let her go. They had let a lot of people go. Raising a daughter on her own she hadn't been able to save very much and they were quickly approaching the end of what she had. After she paid the bills that were before her that would be it. They would have until the food already purchased ran out.

She sighed. She didn't have a choice. There was nowhere else she could go. She couldn't go to family, none of them had a place for her and she couldn't ask any of them to pay for her rent. No, she had to swallow her pride.

"Sweetie?" she turned her daughter so she could see her face, "How would you like to go on a trip to the country?"

"Really?" Teresa was immediately excited. "Where are we going?" She was bouncing up and down.

"We're going to go see an old friend of mine. Would you like to meet one of my old friends?" She couldn't help but smile at the little girl's enthusiasm.

Teresa squealed. "When are we going?"

"When would you like to go?" Ginny laughed.

"Right now!" Teresa declared.

"All right, then, you better go pack." She set her daughter on down and gave her a pat on the backside to send her off. She shook her head slightly as she watched the girl disappear into her room. Running her hands through her hair, she stood and moved to pack her own things.

A few minutes later Teresa ran into her room. "I'm ready!"

Ginny turned to her with a mock critical glance. "Is that so?"

Teresa beamed and nodded.

"Did you pack any clothes?" Ginny asked. Teresa got a really thoughtful look on her face before shaking her head. "Don't worry about it, Dear, I'll go grab some for you."

"No!" Teresa said defiantly. "I'm a big girl, I'll get them. How many pieces?"

"Three," Ginny answered. She meant three days worth, but that was what Teresa had meant by 'pieces' anyway. Teresa nodded and ran off again.

Ginny checked her bag to make sure she had everything she needed before they left. Putting both of their bags into the car, she buckled Teresa into the back seat. She didn't like apparating with Teresa and flooing was out of the question so driving was what they were left with as she wasn't authorized to create portkeys.

It wasn't long before Teresa was asleep and Ginny was left in silence. She didn't feel like turning on the radio. There was no way it could take her mind off where she was going so why bother?

She dreaded asking for his help, but she had no other options. What would he say? What would he do? How would he react to learning that he had a daughter? She had his eyes, Teresa did. Would he agree to help them? Would he turn them away? Would he be angry with her for keeping his child from him? Would he try to take Teresa?

That was what really worried her. If he wanted to, there was no doubt the courts would agree. He could take of her, after all.

Tears were beginning to make seeing difficult. Ginny blinked furiously to clear her vision. She was going to face the man she loved. She was going to see him for the first time in five years, the first time since she left.

She reached down and turned on the radio, forcing her mind to focus on the lyrics of whatever was playing.

She was surprised at how fast the trip had gone. She sat in her car for fifteen minutes, staring at the mansion before her before she could gather enough strength to open the door. She went around the car and opened Teresa's door, touching her gently to wake her up. "We're here, Baby."

Teresa looked at her groggily for a moment before a huge grin spread across her face. She unbuckled herself and jumped out of the car, running to the door and knocking before Ginny could even think.

Teresa knocked three times before someone came to answer. Ginny tried to stop her, but she would knock anyway. Eventually the door opened and there stood. He had only opened the door wide enough to look out, holding it above his head with hand. Ginny's breath caught in her throat when she saw a white gold band on his finger. Was it her's or had he remarried? She hadn't read anything about that...

She was standing a little to the side of Teresa and in a shadow, so when Draco opened the door, the only thing he could see at first was a little girl. He got a very confused look on his face before looking around to find who she was with. When eyes finally found Ginny he froze.

He swore his heart stopped beating. Someone had shoved cotton down his throat again. He closed his eyes and looked down again. When he met the little girl's eyes again a shuttering breath filled his body. He clenched his jaw, swallowed again, and closed his eyes to steady himself.

Opening the door wide, he stepped aside so they could come in. Teresa's eyes opened as wide as the door as she looked around the entryway.

Rubbing his face with his hand, he closed the door. Was the child his? Those eyes... And Ginny. She looked so good, but so scared. He didn't know whether to rejoice at finally seeing her again, worry about what brought her here, or just break down right there. Did he have a daughter?

He led them to the library. It was the largest room he could think of with enough things to amuse the girl while they talked. Ushering them toward the fire, he asked, "May I take your coats?"

She helped Teresa out of her's and told her to go look at all the books before standing to take off her own. She stopped dead when she saw the pillow in one of the chairs. Her coat was halfway off and her necklace had been pulled out from beneath her shirt in the shuffle. He found it almost impossible to take his eyes off it. Finally managing, however, he helped her the rest of the way out of her coat, bringing her out of her own trance at the same time.

He motioned with his hand for her to sit. She took a seat on the couch and looked at her hand nervously. He sat in his chair and watched her with concern in his eyes.

"I...we..." She stood up and took a few steps toward the fire so her back was to him. Lowering her head, she mumbled, "I need you're help." Turning to him quickly, she looked at him with pleading eyes. "I'm so sorry. I wouldn't have come here if I had anywhere else to go, but I've lost my job and Teresa..."

"Shhhh," he stood and laid a hand on her shoulder to steady her. "Calm down. It's all right." He locked eyes with hers. They were so concerned, so soft. She started crying, hand coming up to cover her face. He sighed and hugged her. "Will you stay the night?" She nodded into his chest. "Here, you sit down and I'll have a house elf show Teresa? to a room and she can play there or sleep. You can check on her later, then we can talk. Would that be all right?" She nodded again and sat down as he guided her into the other chair.

Calling for a house elf, he introduced Teresa and told her what was going on. She just smiled cheerfully and went with the elf, skipping as they left the library.

He sat back down and turned to Ginny. "Now, just calm down and let me know what going on. I'll help in anyway I can." It was tearing his heart out to watch her cry.

Staring at the floor, she said quietly, "I lost my job a month ago and I've reached the end of my savings without a prospect in sight. I don't have anywhere else to go because none of my family has room for us and I can't ask them to pay rent for me, so...I came here. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

He hung his head as well. He just couldn't stand to see her so small and vulnerable. "You are welcome to stay here as long as you need."

"Thank you." He could barely hear her voice. "Draco?" There was more fear now than there had been when she asked for help. She was going to explain the girl. He wasn't sure how he would react.

"Yes?" He said, almost as quietly as she.

"Teresa...doesn't know why we're here." Was that all? She was going to ask him to not to say anything that would... She interrupted his thoughts. "She...doesn't know who her father is either. I've never shown her any pictures of...you." The word was almost completely inaudible.

He couldn't help but look up. Tears had filled his eyes. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I...I didn't know...I didn't find out until five weeks after I had left. It wasn't something I could put in a letter and I could never bring myself to face you. I didn't want you to hear it from anyone else either. I'm so sorry."

He just nodded. They sat in silence for an eternity. Finally he said absently, "She's beautiful, just like you."

"She has your eyes," Ginny replied. "Everytime I look into them I see you."

"I'm sorry." He didn't know what else to say. It must have been awful for her to be reminded of him everytime she looked at her child.

She looked up at him with a strange expression on her face. "I'm not."