Chapter 17

"Hermione, good to see you. We need to talk and I was just going home. How about you join me?" Draco smirked and Hermione glared. This is not want she had planned. She wanted to talk to Haily about everything first not just throw it at her. Hermione could not find her voice to tell him to go to hell. Instead she turned around to find Katie nodding her head and Harry standing behind her. She kept think traitors, traitors. She looked at Haily to find her staring at Draco with a look of confusion.

"How about tomorrow? I mean Katie, Haily and I just got in town. And it would be nice to rest up. Plus, Katie does not know where the hotel is and she would be terribly bored." Hermione smiled, she thought she found away out of it. But she heard Harry clear his throat, before saying.

"Actually, I am just about to take off. Katie can have dinner with me at the burrow. Then when you are done you can come and visit. They do not know that you are back yet. Or that you have Haily. Unless, Ginny, opened her mouth. But I do not think she would have." Hermione just stared at him then soon turned it into a glare. He knew she was angry but that did not matter. She needed to go with Draco.

"That is an excellent idea. I would love to have dinner with Harry." Katie smiled at Hermione. Then before Hermione could state where she thought they could shove dinner. Harry grabbed Katie's arm and apparated.

"You have smart friends Hermione. Come on. I would like to meet my daughter formally. Not just be association." Draco smirked and held the elevator door open. Hermione grabbed Haily's hand and reluctantly followed Draco. Once down stairs, Draco led them to the floo. "You do remember how to floo right. I will go first to show Haily then Haily can go and then you can follow."

"No, Haily will not floo by herself. She can either go with you or me." Hermione looked at Haily and she was looking very curiously at Draco. Hermione nodded at Draco he asked for Haily's hand. Which Haily gave immediately with a smile. Hermione heard Draco say, 'Malfoy Manor.' She heard Haily giggle as she took up some powder. Stepping into the gate. She took a deep breath the said, "Malfoy Manor."

When Hermione stepped out of the gate and took a look around. It was massive. Then room she was in she guessed was a sitting room. The walls were a deep red. The floors were a mahogany wood. The furniture in the room was black. There were two long couches and a love seat. Above the fireplace was a painted portrait of the Malfoy family. This portrait did not move nor did it talk. The room looked barely lived in or even touched. Except for the fact that Draco was seated on one of the couches and Haily was on the love seat.

"Ah, Hermione. You should seat, the elves will be bringing some tea." Draco noticed her glare and gave it up to the S.P.E.W thing she was always on about. She then took a seat on the couch across from him. She was nervous he could tell by the way she kept playing with her hands. She smiled at him then looked over at Haily and took a moment to watch her daughter. Draco took this moment to also watch his daughter. It felt funny when he said that but it was true. His daughter was a beautiful girl. She had light blond hair that had a slight curl to it. He loved that her hair was not frizzy and bushy like her mothers once was. He then looked down to her face she had big brown eyes that held a look of innocence. For some reason he doubted that she was a little angel. She looked like one though. He also noticed that Haily had little freckles that were scattered over her face. Haily was wearing a light green shirt and a pair of shorts. After watching Haily, Draco could not help but wonder if she would end up playing quidditch. After a few minutes the peace was broken by Hermione's voice.

"Haily, this is your father, Draco." Hermione smiled and waited she did not know what for but for something.

"Mom, I think I could have told you that." Haily then smirked at her moms nervousness. There was not a reason for her to be. She figured that this, Draco was her father when they met him at the elevator. A blind man could probably tell. Draco chuckled and looked at Hermione. She just shrugged. Draco noticed his daughters smirk and again laughed. "What ever, is so funny, I think I should be let in on the secret." Haily looked over to her mom for support and then saw her mom laughing. All Haily could think was that she had a couple of nutter's for parents.

"Sorry, ho-nn-ney." Why was she laughing, mainly because of this situation. It was a laugh of relief, one of happiness. For the first time ever. Her family was sitting right around each other. Together. She shook her head and then grinned like a fool. "Haily is there anything that you want to know? I mean, oh I do not know. Anything?" Haily nodded and her father, smiled.

"First off. Draco, sir. May I call you dad?" Haily's voice was nervous. Draco smiled one of the biggest smiles. And nodded.

"Of course. Me a father. That hits you hard." Draco smiled at Haily and she smiled and got up from her spot walked over to Draco and hugged him. At first Draco was startled but then he hugged back. Tears coming to his eyes as he realized that the little girl in his arms was his daughter. He did not want to let go. With her in his arms he vowed never to be like his father. That his daughter, would be treated as if she was a princess. Anything and everything he could find would be hers. He also took a silent vow to love and cherish this little girl like there was no tomorrow.

Hermione noticed Draco's face and the tears that welled up in his eyes. And for the first time Hermione felt completely guilty for taking Haily from him. She could tell by looking in his eyes that her, their daughter would be loved.

"Daddy, I can't breathe." Draco let her go and smiled. "Dad you are a man and you are crying." Draco shook his head a let out a deep chuckle as did Hermione.

"She truly is your daughter Draco. Even in the most emotional of times she can crack a joke." Hermione could not help but smile though as he nodded.

"Hermione we have a lot to talk about. All three of us do. Why, well, how about you stay here? There are plenty of rooms and I can take a week or more off. Hell, I do not even need to work." Noticing Hermione's look, he added, "But that is only if you wish too. Katie can stay to." Draco noticed that Hermione was not looking at him but rather at Haily and waiting for her to answer.

"Well, mom I think that is a wonderful idea. That way I can get to know, Dad. You can get re-adjusted with here." Slyly, Haily added, "And I can go to Hogwarts." Haily smirked knowing that her father would argue with her mother if she said no.

"Alright, we will ask Katie if she would like to join us." Hermione looked over at Draco who smiled.

"So you already got your letter from Hogwarts?" Haily nodded enthusiastically. "Well are you going to go?" Haily was about to answer when her mother cut her off.

"Most certainly. Where else would I send her? Especially if I accept Dumbledore's offer." Hermione answered and noticed Haily doing some weird kind of jig. "Honey, calm down." Draco just watched her.

"You are going to take the job?" Hermione nodded and looked at him. "That is great. We will be working together. I am the Potions professor." Hermione stared at him wide-eyed.

"Then why were you at the Ministry?" Hermione asked and watched as Haily walked around the room.

"Oh, I was going to see, Potter. Needed to ask him something." All three of them continued there talk before Hermione realized that Katie was still at the burrow. She told Draco this and he nodded and then asked Haily if she would like to pick a room. Hermione headed over to the fireplace grabbed some powder and walked in. When she landed she was standing in front of almost every Weasley, except Ron. When they noticed her every one smiled except one, Molly Weasley.

"Hermione Jane Granger just what did you think would happen if you ran away from your problems. And what is this that I hear. YOU HAVE A DAUGHTER." Hermione shuddered and looked at Harry and Katie they gave her a look of sympathy. Ginny was looking at the floor. Fred and George were interested because for once they were not on the receiving end of their mothers anger. "Do not look at them. Answer me." Hermione only nodded because she could not find her voice. Arthur was trying to calm Mrs. Weasley down, while shooting sympathetic looks to Hermione.

"Mrs. Weasley, I do have a daughter and I will bring her here tomorrow. We, as in, Haily, Katie and I will be staying at Draco's house. I am sure we can all come over tomorrow. Then you can meet Haily." But everyone was staring at her as she had grown a second head. Everyone, but Harry, Katie and Ginny.

"Hermione I think we all miss heard you did you say Draco as in Draco Malfoy." Mrs. Weasley said this with a little fear. While watching for Hermione's reaction.

"Yes. He is Haily's father." That did it every jaw dropped but Harry, Katie and Ginny. Katie was looking around in amusement and Harry could not contain his chuckles as he heard the resounding boom.

"WHAT?"

A/N: Sorry for the long wait. I will try to update soon. Maybe if a get more reviews. So if you would like the chapter up by Friday. I would love REVIEWS. But I can not be greedy. Hope you enjoyed this chapter and REVIEW! Like the great readers you are. Happy fourth of July to everyone. Hope it is a good one. If you are not from the U.S. Ihope you have a happy fourth even if there is no reason to celebrate. Have a good day, night, morning or what ever.