It's been a long time and I apologise to all readers for updating so slowly. And once again, thanks to all reviews sent in. I'll answer some misconceptions at the end of the chapter.

Chapter 6: Three sickles' question

"Granger?" Draco called out. The lump moved and gave a small moan. Hermione got up from where she had been seated for the past hour and a half. Her limbs were numb from the cold and her stomach growling for food. "Malfoy," Hermione said fearfully as Draco approached her and hauled her up. " I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?"

"I'm sorry, Malfoy. I truly am. I just don't know what to do!" Hermione wrapped her arms around her body tightly and rocked to and fro on the balls of her heels.

"Sorry for what?" Draco repeatedly clearly, enunciating every syllable as if he were talking to a small child. He gripped Hermione's arm and pulled her closer to his face. This was fear etched in her eyes. "You're hurting me, Malfoy," Hermione bit her lip, refusing to cry. Draco released his grip on her arm and hissed, "Where's Ben." Hermione's lip trembled violently, her eyes focused on the door behind Draco and she pointed with shaky fingers. "He won't come out," Hermione said hoarsely.

Draco turned and placed his ear to the door. There was nothing coming from the other side. "As he eaten?" Hermione nodded her head. "I brought the food to the door but he wouldn't open. After I went to use the washroom and I came back, the whole tray had disappeared." Draco nodded his head and beckoned for Hermione to follow him.

Draco led Hermione down to the main foyer and switched on the lights. "Sit," he commanded and pointed to the dark green couch. Hermione listened obediently. "Speak," Draco ordered simply. Hermione interlocked her fingers and rubbed them. "I was trying to get Ben to change out of his clothes because they were all dirty from the cleaning today and he refused. So I told him to go to his room and stay there for fifteen minutes, like detention. Ben went to his room and started shouting at me. Even after I apologised he refused to come out. I'm really sorry, Malfoy."

Draco massaged his temples and gave a loud sigh. He flopped down on a chair opposite the couch. "Tantrums," he said bemusedly and gave a lopsided grin. Hermione looked at him shocked. "Are you not worried?" Hermione asked him. Draco shook his head and grinned back, "No. Why should I? It's the not first and it certainly will not be the last. I say we trick him out of the room; it's the easiest, okay? So listen…"

Ben lay grumpily on his bed. His hair was mussed and his shirt dirty and sticky. The tray was bare of food and licked clean. The duvet was crumpled and there were brown marks staining the beige lining. He stared up at the ceiling above him angrily. "Stupid Herb!" Ben shouted for the millionth time. Herb insisted on changing out of his clothes. Herb insisted that he needed to be clean. Herb insisted that he ate his vegetables (which he did out of hunger). Fine. Herb can insist as much as she wanted to because he was staying in this room forever, until he was an old man. By then, Herb would have died! Died… Ben's eyes welled up with tears. Mum and Dad wouldn't want it that way, would they? Mum had special powers: she was a witch. Yet, she couldn't protect Dad. Ben plunged his face into his pillow and gave a small wail. They're gone. Ben rubbed his eyes vigorously. No, he wouldn't cry. He would be strong. Just like Uncle Draco, Uncle Draco that Mum had told him all about. The brave Uncle Draco who helped fight a war, the brave Uncle Draco that would take care of him until he was old enough to go to school and next time, get a job to help Uncle Draco.

Ben sat up in his bed suddenly. He could hear violent scrambling from outside his room. Suddenly, frantic knocks came from his door and the voice of Herb. "Ben! Ben! Your Uncle Draco is back, and he's bleeding! Ben! Come help me! I can't do this on my own! Ben! Ben! Help!" The voice came out in short gasps. Ben ran to his door and flung it open to find Hermione crouched next to the door. She looked surprised when Ben came out, but Ben was already halfway down the stairs.

"Uncle Draco! Uncle Draco!" Ben yelled and rushed down the stairs to the main foyer. He could see a pair of feet sticking out from behind the couch. As he approached the body, he saw blood splattered all over the couch. Ben crept slowly forward and eventually found himself staring at Draco's body, the blood trail led to his mouth and his eyes were closed.

Ben grabbed Draco's hand and tears started to leak from the corners of his eyes. "Uncle Draco…Uncle Draco, don't leave me, Uncle Draco…" Ben sobbed softly and hugged Draco's body. As he lay on Draco's chest, he felt the slight 'bah-dump' of a faint heart signal. "Uncle Draco?" Ben asked the silent face. All of a sudden, Draco's eyes flung open and his hands grabbed Ben's small body. "Got you!" Draco shouted and gave an evil grin. Ben screamed and ran from Draco. "Uncle Draco! You tricked me! Uncle Draco put me down!" Draco grabbed Ben's legs and started tickling his stomach. Soon, happy squeals were coming from Ben. Hermione gave a smile, as she stood at the end of the stairs, contented.

"Thanks, Malfoy."

"What for?" Draco replied as he wiped the tomato juice off his robes and helped wipe the floor. Ben was safely tucked in and asleep. "For helping me with Ben," Hermione replied. She carried out a mug of coffee for herself and Draco. "Hey, it's my duty to do this kind of stuff as a 'parent' right? What would I be if I didn't help out? I can't leave a six-year-old kid with a crazy babysitter like you right? I mean, look what you did to that red hair kid at your apartment the other day, you almost spilt milk down her front!" Draco felt a soft pillow hit his head from behind. "I was careless, it won't happen again," Hermione snapped back. She thrust the mug in front of Draco's face. "I'm going home." Before Draco could hold on to the mug properly, Hermione turned and grabbed her bag and her cleaning supplies. "Good night," she eyed Draco icily. "Night," Draco called after her.

Draco was about to open the papers and read the latest news when he heard the clicking of heels grow louder. "Do you have Floo Powder?" Hermione asked abruptly when she stopped next to him. Draco smiled.

"Sir, the schedule has been sent already via the mail. You should have received it by now."

"You mean mail as in the letter man delivers the mail?"

"Yes sir, snail mail. Not via the Internet sir."

"Internet?"

"No sir, not the Internet."

"Well, thank you. I see where the problem lies. It's all right then. Thanks again Jenkins. Good bye." Draco placed the phone back on the receiver. By the letterman eh, no wonder he hasn't got it yet.

It was the morning of a new day, and he had so much to do. Where did the time fly? Draco mused. "Ben! Are you ready to go yet?" Draco hollered. "Almost Uncle Draco! Give me twenty more minutes!" Came the reply. Draco rolled his eyes and loped up the stairs three at a time to his nephew's room. "Ben, you don't have to wear button up shirts to visit Granger," Draco said exasperatedly when he saw his nephew still stuck on the second button. He walked over and helped Ben button up the rest of the buttons on his shirt. "But it's called first expression! Herb says it's very important," Ben said proudly. "Impression, Ben. Not expression," Draco laughed.

"Hi Ben! Hi Malfoy," Hermione said brightly to Ben and switched her tone coldly to Malfoy. Draco looked at her offended, " Is that how you greet your customer? And what are you wearing? Just got out of bed?" Hermione was dressed casually in torn jeans and a checked long sleeved shirt three sizes too big for her small frame. Hermione glared at Draco and patted Ben's head. "I'm painting the kitchen," Hermione said shortly. "You do know that you haven't paid me for yesterday's services," Hermione called out from the kitchen as she poured a cup of juice for Ben and made a cup of coffee for Draco. She had reserved one black and white mug for Draco. She just couldn't stand herself using the same mug as him even after a few hard scrubs in the sink.

"Here, 75 galleons flat. I'm not giving you that extra 10 galleons because you made a mess with the tiny terror over there playing with the train," Draco said and passed the bag of coins over the counter. Hermione glared at Draco but made no noise. It was her fault anyways. "But if it makes you any better, Ben dressed up in that shirt that took him half an hour to button up just for you," Draco continued and sipped the coffee. Hermione glowered.

"Anyways, I've got something to ask you," Draco said as he gulped the hot coffee down. "Does it have anything to do with Ben?" Hermione questioned him as she pulled a chair to face Draco over the counter. "Yes, why?" Draco asked slowly. "3 sickles," Hermione replied and stuck her hand over the counter. "What? Pay you to answer questions? Forget it, Granger," Draco placed his coffee down and looked mutinous.

"Fine, but if nobody has the answers to Ben, then don't come crying back to me," Hermione smiled over the mug. "Nobody will ever come crying back to you," Draco scoffed. Hermione placed the mug down and gave a fake smile, "Sure, now if you would mind leaving, I have my business to attend to." The doorbell rang in answer. "Customers, Malfoy," Hermione sang.

Draco mulled over the letter in his hand over his coffee break. He had gone to the post office near his house to ask about his letters during lunchtime. Surprisingly, the letter that Jenkins had said was there in a crème envelope addressed to him. The postmaster was more surprised that the young man had entered the post office for the first time and had asked for a letter that had come a few weeks back.

Inside, Draco saw the schedule planned out for Ben before his parents had passed away. Some days he had piano classes, other days, he went for French lessons and Japanese lessons with teachers whose names Draco couldn't even pronounce. Why Ben needed such training he didn't know because they definitely didn't come in handy when fighting Dark Lords or hexing fellow students, nor was it useful in Potions or Herbology. Right at the bottom, Draco saw a small note written by Nicola. Draco, Simon wanted Ben to take these to expand his 'horizon'. I don't think it really helps but it keeps Ben occupied. You don't really have to continue them but at least let Ben go for lessons in basic Arithmetic and Language classes especially Japanese lessons. He's a show off when he goes to the restaurant. Draco grinned. First impressions huh, Ben.

Draco handed over the 3 silver pieces as he walked into Hermione's apartment at two in the afternoon. "Malfoy? What are you doing here? It's two," Hermione asked surprised. The small girls and boys stared at the blond man in astonishment too. They had never seen him around before. "Uncle Draco?" Ben's voice piped up in the midst. He was just as surprised at his uncle coming so early, or was it eight already?

"Granger, you said you had answers to my questions. You've got your sickles, now answer my questions," Draco said shortly as he shrugged off his coat and draped it casually behind the barstool. Hermione nodded dumbly and went to prepare another coffee. "What's the Internet?" Draco asked curiously when he got his mug of black coffee with one sugar. Hermione smiled and called out to the children, " Well kids, this is Uncle Draco. He's Ben's uncle. Would you like to say hello?" The small children immediately stopped their activities and rushed over to the young man. The children took his coat and his gloves and started playing with it.

"Hey, stop it! Those are premium dragon hide gloves, don't tear them," Draco growled and snatched the gloves away from the prying children. The next thing he knew, the children had clambered up onto the counter top and had started firing questions. "Why do you have so much white hair?"

"It's not white hair, it's blond and I was born with it."

"Why are you eyes grey, my mum's one are brown."

"I don't know, go ask your mum."

"Why are you here? Are you Hermione's boyfriend?"

"NO." Draco glared at the children. What were they? Undercover spies for the Ministry trying to pry into his life? Hermione laughed. "That's enough kids, go back and Uncle Draco will entertain you later." The children whooped delightedly and ran back to their toys.

"So, your questions, what are they?" Hermione asked curiously. "I got a letter from Ben's mum. Ben's been going for classes in New York, piano and language classes like a muggle. I'm not really sure why because it definitely doesn't help in Hogwarts, and his mum still wants him to study some stuff. Here," Draco explained and passed the letter to Hermione.

Hermione read the letter amused. "Ben's a half blood?" She asked surprised. "Yes," Draco replied testily, "Anything wrong with that?" Hermione eyed Draco closely, "I should be the one asking that question. I never knew that Ben was a half blood. With his eyes and hair, I thought he was a pure blood."

"Pure bloods do not have stupid surnames like Murray," Draco snapped back. Hermione held up her arms in mock defence, "Sure, whatever Malfoy. What questions do you have?" Draco ran a hand through his fine hair. "Well it's not really questions, but more of just one question."

"This is going to cost you more than just three sickles, Draco Malfoy," Hermione hissed. She had changed out of her jeans and shirt into something more presentable and was currently walking down the busy London streets in black pants and a green tank top with a black sweater. Draco gave an airy smile and held on to Ben's hand. "You made me lie to my customers at 2.30 about my grandma being sick, when she's already lying six feet under in soil and making me lose my business by sending all the children home early by at least 3 hours. You're going to Malfoy and I mean it literally," Hermione carried on as she rubbed her cold hands. " And all this because of Ben trying to get into a respectable school when terms have been on for at least 4 months."

Draco raised his eyebrow at Hermione becoming angry. "Cool down Granger. I'll pay you the amount that you've lost and even more just as long as you answer my questions: can you get Ben into a school for 5 years." Hermione rolled her eyes and went down into the train station. She bought three tickets and walked to the signboard and eventually walked to a correct platform when she found which was the correct one. "One of the ladies whose child is in or rather was in my house an hour ago said to try these schools. I don't know how much help it would do, but it's worth a shot," Hermione passed a slip of paper on which she had written down names of a few schools and their addresses in a hasty scrawl. Draco nodded in consent and watched fascinated as the train came by.

"Welcome to Joyeux, the school of Learning," A prim lady announced loudly to the audience made up of only Hermione, Draco and Ben. "In here, children are taught to be obedient, polite children, groomed to be the future of England. As you can see, these are the classrooms which can hold up to thirty students and taught only by the best professors." She motioned for the trio to look into the glass and wood doors behind her. Inside, thirty students dressed in navy blue uniforms were listening intently to an old man who was scribbling illegible words on the chalkboard. Almost immediately, all students started scribbling on their books too before turning their attention to the professor once again. Hermione winced at the sight. These weren't children; they were robots. She glanced at Draco who was frowning at the sight too. Ben was looking just plain bored.

"Now we shall move on to the French classroom," the lady announced and clapped her hands loudly. The trio followed her to a room full with boys and girls and a lady whom Hermione presumed was the teacher. "Girls and boys," the teacher announced when she saw the visitors, " please welcome the visitors." And just like Hermione described them, the students stood up mechanically, gave stiff bow and sat down. "Would you care to join us?" Draco shook his head, gave a wry smile and grabbing Ben's hand, walked out of the room. Hermione smiled apologetically at the teacher and backed out of the room slowly.

"That was such a good school, I could have stayed there the rest of the time," Draco said sarcastically as he walked out of Joyeux. "How can they name it Joyeux when that place is as dead and cold as a morgue?" Hermione laughed and crossed out the name on list. "Well, we've still got the Little Twinkies to visit and then The Great Han, that's a Chinese school. So let's start or we'll never get finished," Hermione said as she scanned the list and looked at her watch, " And that's only the beginning. It's four now, if we apparate to these places we'll be done by seven thirty. " Ben gave a loud groan.

Four hours later, Ben lay panting on the cool grass. It was eight in the evening and the sun was three quarters through the sky. He hid his eyes with his hands and lay there contentedly. The three of them had spent the whole afternoon visiting numerous schools including a Japanese and Chinese one but none of them were satisfactory. It was either the method of teaching or the standards. All the schools had disappointed them. Ben looked towards the bench where his Uncle and Herb sat. They too were looking exhausted just by sitting there.

"So what are you going to do? We've travelled through almost every part of London except the seedy part where they are no schools and none of them are suitable for him," Hermione started. "I know, I was thinking maybe just send him to a boarding school until he's old enough to go to Hogwarts," Draco replied grumpily. He had never walked so much in his life as compared to today, and his feet were aching for a soak in warm water. Hermione hit Draco's shoulder hardly and gave an even harder glare. "Ow! What was that for?" Draco asked a bit too thickly. Malfoys and walking just did not mix. "You are not sending him anywhere, Malfoy," Hermione replied nastily, "You are his 'father' so start acting like one!"

Draco looked at Hermione in the eye, " Fine. I've got a proposition to make. And I don't think you'll like it." Fifteen minutes later, and Hermione was not liking it.

Here to clear misconceptions and some replies to your reviews. Bear with me for a little while or just skip down ahead and review with constructive criticism (:

s.halliwell24You might want to read the first chapter to see why Hermione doesn't have a high paying job.

Irol: It's not really a 'Ben was born to be Draco's happiness' message, but more of a subtle hinting that with Ben around, Draco's going to be a lot happier. You'll see why later (:

cheebabomb: Think straight think straight:x

Yeah, that's it. And remember that every review counts especially when I'm getting about three reviews per chapter and that's quite low. But the page views are about 280 a chapter so that's really good. Thanks once again to all people who read and review. Ming (: