She was on tiptoes on a high ladder. No matter how much she stretched her arms she just didn't seem to reach the book. Hermione wanted to use magic, but the leather-bound tome was centuries old and she didn't want to risk causing any damage.

Why? From all the books in the archive did he choose this one? It wasn't even the best one on the subject and Hermione had read them all.

"Can I help you?"

She flinched. Taking a step back she found that the ladder was too narrow and there was nothing here to support her. In her panic, she reached for the bookshelf to prevent her from crashing to the floor. "Harry! You've startled me! What are you doing here anyway?"

"Visiting my dearest friend at work. The better question is what are you doing?"

"Well, the great Lucius Malfoy, though he needed to read this specific book on goblin activity. No one ever asked for this specific work by Dankworth, probably because he is far from a reliable source of information. I would always recommend MacQuoid on goblins."

"Can you please not complain about my father-in-law, Draco is doing that way too much already. Can you imagine how awkward it is if everyone comes to you to complain about your in-laws?"

"That's what you get for marrying the ferret."

Harry looked around the archive. There wasn't a single person to be seen. "You could come over for dinner…"

"Aww, Harry. I would love to but, I can't miss the delivery."

He looked at the ground. "That's what you always say. I haven't seen you in months. Scorpius has grown a lot. Are you sure about this whole order thing? Maybe you're doing it wrong. You probably don't have to send a letter every day. I mean, Draco and I, we got Scorpius after our wedding without ordering him. And Fred and Goerge got little Ronnie after one drunk order."

Sparks were coming off the tip of her wand without Hermione even noticing it. "This is so unfair. I've been wanting a baby for so long. I've read every book and prepared myself and they just get one."

"There are more ways than one to be a parent and the twins are actually doing a great job." Harry groaned. "Just take a break and go out a little, you don't need a child to be happy and you can always play with Scorpius."

Sitting in front of the fireplace, he read his book. Lucius had recently gotten into goblin history. It was actually quite interesting and gave him a deeper understanding of the monetary system.

He shifted his weight. The chair was just so uncomfortable. It was an antiquity that was used only as decoration, but he also didn't want to move location. His wife was due to return from her trip to the resort at any minute and he didn't want to miss it.

Narcissa and he didn't have the best relationship, the past years have taken a toll on them, and since has Draco gotten married there weren't many situations for them to interact. As long as their son was little they had at least shared meals but now...

Finally, the flames turned green. He put his book aside and smoothed his robes. Lucius walked in a circle pretending that he just so happened to come across her.

"How was your trip?"

"Fine." Narcissa wiped the ash from her robes.

"The elves have prepared a vegetable bouillon for you just like you like it."

"Lovely. I'm rather tired from the traveling," Narcissa said, "I'll lie down."

He nodded pretending to be not disappointed. "I'll see you at dinner then."

Hermione returned home. Her arms were aching after hours of rearranging old books. Her gaze wandered from the filled to the brim bookshelf to the empty cradle. Her small apartment in the attic was rather dark and grim.

She opened the window, hoping that it would make it easier for the storks to find her. She put a pot of noodles onto the stove and sat down on her bed. With a cushion on her lap, she stared at the cradle.

The storks were the most unreliable creatures she had ever come across. They had one simple job, to deliver babies to those who want to start a family, but more often than not something goes wrong.

The Weasleys hadn't ordered a single child, yet they were delivered one every other year. Alice's and Katie's baby was delivered to Penelope, giving their son not only two but three mothers. Although Penelope likes to see herself as a special aunt. Harry's grandparents were delivered James after half a century when they were already retired.

Hermione didn't want to wait that long. If her little one wasn't there by tomorrow, she would storm the office to hand in a formal complaint. She didn't care about the storks not liking to be told what to do, she was done with waiting.

Lucius returned to his study. He still had a lot of work to do and also needed the distraction. Opening the window, he sat down on his leather chair. Contracts and proposals have piled up on the massive wooden desk.

There was a letter with a familiar font right in front of him. Lucius didn't even bother reading it but didn't bring it over himself to burn it either. Andrea was inquiring about the status quo on a new head researcher for Malfoy Medicals.

Ever since Severus' untimely demise, the position had remained empty. The research department was the heart of the company and Malfoy Medicals was the pride of the family's portfolio. He had always wanted his son to take over this prestigious position.

Pushing those thoughts aside, he looked out of the window. Lucius had ordered a lovely necklace with a massive emerald for his wife. Hopefully, it would be delivered before dinner. Surly, fine jewelry would lift her spirits. Narcissa loved to ornament herself.

Picking up his quill, he returned his focus to the work in front of him. Going through the proposals he quickly realized that he had to renegotiate the contract with the American suppliers of armadillo bile. If he could get the price down just a little, it would make a great difference in his profit-margins.

Completely engulfed in drafting his own proposal, he almost didn't notice the bird that flew into his office. His mind was still contemplating how much he would actually want to pay for the bile and if he could lose the supplier if he lowered the price too much when a receipt was hanging into his face.

Absently, he signed it and sent the bird off. Lucius had almost finished drafting the letter when he heard a cry. He paused and listened but there wasn't anything so he finished his letter.

By the time he put his signature on the letter and sealed the envelope with a wax-seal, he had a weird feeling. Almost as if he had made a mistake? But what could possibly go wrong with commissioning jewelry? His family had quite a reputation and no dealer who would care for their life would dare to scam him.

Turning around he found a basket standing on the window sill. It was oddly big for a necklace. There was another noise. Slowly he approached the basked, feeling like he definitely made a mistake.

Slowly pulling the cloth that covered the basket away, he stared into the blue eyes of a little baby. The little baby stared back at him. He didn't actually sign the receipt, did he?

Panicking, he lifted the envelope off the baby and tore it open.

Congratulations,

Miss Hermione Granger and Mr. Lucius Malfoy,

Your order has been heard, have fun with your new baby

Stork Delivery Service

The ink on his name hadn't dried yet, as if it had been added mere moments before. He almost choked reading that. No, this can't be happening. He never wanted a baby. It had taken him years to get Draco delivered, but only one time of not checking the parcel before signing the receipt was enough to end up with a baby. By Merling he was in his fifties, what could he possibly want with a baby? Could he return it?

The little baby started crying. Lucius shushed. This was the last thing he needed. What if Narcissa found out about his little mishap. There weren't on the best of terms, the last thing he could use was the extra stress this little something would bring.

He silenced the baby and started rummaging through the basket, but he couldn't find any supplies. Weren't they supposed to come with a started kit? How he hated those storks, could they not once remember to put everything into the basket? Draco had come with the diapers missing, which created interesting complications.

He lifted the baby up and hid the basket beneath his desk. While the little one wasn't loud, thanks to his silencing-charm, it was still crying furiously. The head had taken on a bright red color and big tears fell from the blue eyes.

Lucius snuck out of the study, making his way slowly to the kitchen. He was turning left and right, hoping that no one would see him. It wasn't easy to make it to the basement without encountering any portraits, but he didn't want to risk upsetting Narcissa.

Finally in the kitchen, he opened the cabinet and retrieved an old metal container. There was still a bit of formula left. Sniffing on it he found that it smelled quite normal. Lucius heated a bit of water and stirred the powder into it. Rocking the little baby, he waited for the mixture to cool down to the ideal temperature.

The door opened and he turned away from it, hoping that whoever intruded on him wouldn't see the little baby.

"Father? What are you doing in the kitchen?" Draco asked.

"Drink that." He filled a cup with milk and handed it to Draco. Looking over his shoulder he watched his son drink.

"Did you just feed me formula?"

"Does it taste off?"

"No, it tastes quite normal, although Scorpius preferred the other brand. Why would you feed me formula?"

"What are you doing here?"

"I had tea with Mother," Draco said, "stop deflecting."

So much for, she wasn't feeling well. Lucius slowly turned around and showed Draco the baby in his arm.

"Did you silence a baby?"

"I was out of options." With his right hand he grabbed the bottle, bringing it to his lip he checked the temperature before feeding the little one. "Don't tell your mother."

"How did you get a baby?"

"Wrong delivery."

"Ok." Draco looked at the little baby, a smile covered his lips. "Well, after you've finished your meal, I can return you to your parents," he said in a sing-song voice, "and Mother doesn't have to know. Who does it belong to? You haven't signed the receipt, have you?"

Lucius swallowed hard. "Andrea sent me a letter, don't you want to take on a new challenge. You were always excellent at potions…"

Draco slammed his hands against his lap. "I can't believe it. I've told you a million times that a was happy as a homemaker. Why can't you respect my wishes?"

He watched his son storm out of the kitchen, slamming the door shut behind him. The little baby just started to cry again. Lucius groaned. He put the bottle down and circled the kitchen to calm the little one down.

One of his hands was beneath the little butt while the other secured the oversized head. With his thumb, he stroked over the bright hair. He sat down with the baby in his arm. The tears had dried and now the little one was tired. With closed eyes, the baby got comfortable and soon fell asleep.

Letting his head fall back, he realized how tired he was. If he could have his way, then he would go to bed and sleep as well, but dinner was one of those rare chances where he could see his wife.

"Why do you always have to pick fights with Draco? Can't you just once leave him alone?"

Looking up, he found Narcissa towering above him. Instinctively, he shushed her, which only served to make her more furious. But the last thing he wanted was to wake the baby up again.

She was mad. After decades of marriage, he could tell, without her even saying a thing. Narcissa lifted her chin and to leave the kitchen. "I'll return it tomorrow," he called after her.

Early the next morning, he took the baby and basket and went to the office of the Strock Delivery Service. The big white and black birds seemed rather busy. Countless letters with orders were flying through the cramped room.

A stork was trying to catch them with his beak while another one was more interested in grooming. One stork was opening a random letter and without any coordination, took a baby and flew off.

Lucius watched the chaos. No wonder, he had to wait years until Draco was delivered. If he was that inefficient at his job than the Malfoys would be as poor as Weasleys.

He raised the basket with the little baby inside. "I need to return this."

Most of the birds were going on like he wasn't even there, but one of the creatures attacked him with the long, red beak.

Jumping aside, he withdrew his wand from his walking cane and pointed it at the stork. Inhaling through clenched teeth, he was so short of hexing the useless creature into oblivion.

"I demand an answer!" The witch slammed her had onto the counter.

He hadn't noticed her storming the venue, but now all he could see was a bush of auburn hair. Lucius hadn't known that hair could literally stand up in all directions.

"I've been sending you a letter every day for the past months," Miss Granger said, "How difficult can it be to just send me the baby I've ordered."

He put his wand away and slowly approached her. "Miss Granger."

"What!" she snapped at him. Her eyes were gleaming with fury.

Instinctively, he took a step back. He carefully lowered the basket to the ground and took another step away from the witch. His hand clenched around the handle of his wand.

"There has been a mix-up," he explained, pointing at the basket, "I think there is someone who wants to meet you."

She looked at the baby then back at him. Her big brown eyes didn't leave his as she grabbed the basket. With her wand pointed at him, she rushed out.