After a few weeks with no sign of the little girl or her kidnappers, Lily and James decided to give up the search. It was time to focus on their sons, and if she was still alive, they probably would have received a ransom note…
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Callie had been staying with Sirius and Severus for a couple of weeks, and she was bored out of her mind. The two men had been a lot of fun to live with. They had even given her a room of her own, and let her pick out the color. When she told Severus that she liked the color light blue he had changed everything in the room to just the shade she wanted, and later a canopy bed that matched was brought in. She had lots of bookshelves, filled with books, and Sirius would read to her every night before bed. She was just upset that he couldn't stay with her during the day.
Sirius had to go back to work as he was an auror, and it would look suspicious if he wasn't out looking for his kidnapped goddaughter. Severus usually stayed with her, but he was having some guest stop by, and told her she had to stay in bed. She had recently gotten a cold, and both men thought it would be best for her to rest until it went away.
He looked up when the door creaked open, and smiled at the little boy about her age, tiptoeing inside. He looked to be a lot taller than her, and had blond hair and ice-blue eyes. He also had a look about him that screamed troublemaker. She watched as his eyes came to rest on her, and a smile spread across his face.
"I didn't know Severus had another child staying with him." The boy said as he walked over to the bed. "I'm Draco by the way, Draco Malfoy." He said as he climbed up to sit next to her.
"I'm Calla." Callie said, before she broke into a coughing fit. When she was done coughing she was surprised to see the glass of water Severus left for her right in front of her nose. Smiling she took it from Draco and took a sip, handing it back to him to place on the nightstand. "My full name is Calla Lily Potter, but Siri calls me Callie, and I like that." She said, trying to do it the way Lily always said was proper.
"Are you sick?" Draco asked as he looked at Callie, and then at the covers over her lap.
"Just a cold." She said, and coughed again.
"Well when I have a cold my mother reads to me, I'll read to you." Draco said as he hopped off the bed and scrambled over to the book case to get a book. She watched as he looked at all the titles, pulling the books out to examine the covers, shaking his head when he didn't approve. Finally he came across one he thought would work, and tucked it under his arm, returning to the bed. "Now, you have to lie down and close your eyes." He said, and when she did he began reading the story of Sleeping Beauty, and she was asleep in no time.
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The next time Callie saw Draco it was because Severus had to take the blonde's mother some potions for morning sickness. Callie had been confused when Severus had told her Narcissa Malfoy had a baby in her stomach, but the man patiently explained that the baby had to stay there until it was big enough to be born, then Draco would be a big brother.
When she got to the manor Narcissa Malfoy told a house elf to take her to Draco's room, and she was a little startled to see two other children. Draco was the first to see her, and sprung to his feet, running over and grabbing her hand. "This is Callie, she is living with Professor Snape." He informed the other children, then pointed to each of them. "That is Pansy," he said as he pointed at a little blond girl. "And that one is Blaise," this boy had black hair, and was the tallest of all of them. "And those two are Vince and Greg." He said pointing to two very large boys.
"We were just about to play a game, do you want to play?" Pansy asked, eager to have another girl to play with them.
"What is the game?" Callie asked quietly, a little scared of all the people she didn't know.
"Well, I'm a princess, and Blaise and Draco are the Princes. Greg and Vince are bad guys, and it's is the princes job to protect the princess." Pansy explained.
"What would I be?" Callie asked, it seemed like they had all the parts for the game filled.
"You'll be MY princess." Draco said, having decided she would be his.
After that day Callie was always Draco's little princess.
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"Draco, what's a Father?" 6-year-old Callie asked her friend as they sat in his playroom. Severus and Sirius had brought her to Draco's manor so they could visit the new baby. Draco had a new brother, Orion, and Severus and Sirius wanted to see him.
"A father is a man who loves you, but it strict sometimes." Draco said, smiling at her.
"Oh, and what's a dad?" Callie asked, wondering about that to.
"A dad is a man who has fun with you, but is strict some of the time, but not as strict as a father." Her 6-year-old friend said.
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Severus could only stand and watch as Draco chased Callie around the playroom. He saw her look at him, and prepared himself for what he knew was coming. Sure enough, Callie jumped into his arms, but nothing could prepare him for what she said.
"Father, Father, you have to protect me. Draco's trying to get me." The little girl squealed, laughing as she threw her arms around his neck.
"Callie, what did you call me?" He asked not believing what he had just heard.
"Well you're strict a lot, and Draco said fathers were strict. You take care of me, and you're a man. That makes you my father." The little girl said, smiling at her logic.
"Then what is Sirius?" Asked a voice being Severus and he turned to see Lucius standing there, along with a stunned looking Sirius.
"He's my dad. He isn't as strict as father, but he is still strict." The little girl said.
"Can't argue with the logic of a six year old." Lucius said with a chuckle, trying not to smile at the looks on his friends' faces.
Callie never called Sirius and Severus by their first names again.
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Callie finally turned 11 years old, and she was excited about getting to go to school to study magic. The only thing that upset her was that it wasn't going to be Hogwarts. No, instead her parents decided to enroll her in all girl boarding school. The worse part about this school was that it was year round, and in New York. Her parents had promised to come visit her, but also told her that her friends wouldn't be allowed to come.
She had begged her father to let her go to Hogwarts, but he had told her that wasn't an option as James and Lily were going to start teaching there. He informed her that if they found out she was alive they would take her back, and she really didn't want them to take her away from her dad and father. So she had to settle for a going away party to say goodbye to her friends.
She was about jumped in fright when she felt a hand close around her own, and turned sad green eyes to Draco. "I don't want to go." She said as a tear rolled down her cheek.
"It's only for a couple of years, then when you're 17 you get to come to Hogwarts with the rest of us." He said as he wiped the tear away.
"It doesn't make everything better you know. By the time I get there you guys will already know everyone, and I won't know anyone." She said as she squeezed his hand.
"You'll know Blaise and Me, and Pansy and Me, and Greg and Me, and Vince and Me. Oh and did I forget to mention ME." Draco said, smiling when he heard her laugh. He noticed how it made his stomach feel weird whenever she would laugh, or smile at him. But that just made him like doing it that much more.
"I know you'll be there, but that doesn't mean you'll remember me. It'll be six years before we see each other again." She said, sounding distraught.
"I'll remember you, and you'll remember me. I'll make sure of it." He said reaching into his pocket, and bringing out something. He opened his fist, and showed her his treasure. "See, you wear this, and I will always be there." He said as he held up a heart shaped locket with a calla lily in the center of it.
"It's beautiful." She said as she turned and pulled her hair up so he could put it on her. How could she forget him with this as a constant reminder?
"I had a house elf take me to go buy it. Mother was preoccupied with Orion, and Father was at the ministry, they didn't even notice I left." Draco said, proud of himself for sneaking out and his parents not knowing. "Now you know that you have someone waiting for you at the castle. Your prince will be waiting, somewhat patiently, for his princess to return."
Looking at Draco she slid the ring Sirius had given her when she was little and living with the Potters off her finger. "You take this then, and you can remember me." She said, placing it in his hand. This way, they would have something of the other person to help them remember the one waiting for them.
Mustering up all his courage he leaned forward and pecked her on the lips, pulling back just as the door opened.
"Callie, it's time to go." Sirius said from the door way.
That was the last the two would see of each other for 6 long years.