Sorry this one is semi-short. I have to go to the doctor. But I will try for one more tonight!
Chapter 3:: Rough and Tumble Boys
Over the next several weeks, Draco never saw Alyssa at the daycare when he was picking up Zander; and she was always tucked away in her office in the mornings. He did see Ms. Stoneforth a lot in the evenings. He would make small talk with her and found she was quite the charming country girl.
It was a month after he started picking Zander up that he saw Alyssa once more.
"Ms. Myrick? Mr. Malfoy is here for Zander, you needed to speak with him first, correct?"
"Yes, send him in please." Hermione was tired, her hair was more voluminous with soft, curly ringlets, and she was rubbing her temples attempting to soothe a migraine when Draco was shown in. She stood when he entered. "Hello, Mr. Malfoy." She accepted his hand and after a brief shake, gestured to the plush conference chairs in front of her desk. "Please, take a seat." She then sat as he sat, shuffling through a few pieces of paper.
"Okay, I'm very sorry for the abrupt conference. Please forgive any inconveniences." She started, eying him carefully for any signs of his temper.
"I have all the time in the world, Ms. Myrick." Draco flashed her a perfect—and rather professional— smile. Hermione, for some reason unbeknownst to her, felt herself blushing at this and had to shift her attention to the papers, hoping he didn't notice; he did.
She politely cleared her throat and after a slight pause, she returned her eyes to his. "I wish we had happier news to tell you Mr. Malfoy; but, unfortunately, Zander has been caught in a some-what serious fight."
"How serious can a fight between two children get?" Draco leaned in slightly. He knew that fighting was not something to condone, but really what was the worst they could do?
"This one was pretty bad. You see, little Zander has: pushed a child off of a jungle gym, where the other child broke their arm and fractured a rib; jumped on top of that child, biting his other arm; then began to punch the child in the face. The other child suffered a broken arm, a fractured rib, a broken nose, a black eye, several bite marks that needed stitches, and several bruises."
Draco's jaw literally dropped and Hermione allowed him a moment to compose himself before continuing. "I understand that Zander may be a little…uncomfortable… with his mother gone. However, we cannot tolerate violence; especially when a child is hurt so severely. We were able to numb that child, but we had to have him taken to St. Mungo's."
"Of course. I'm terribly sorry for all of that trouble. I will take full responsibility for Zander's actions. If the mother attempts to sue, please tell her to contact me."
"That's the thing. The child attacked is the child of my partner."
"Huh? That Morgan boy?"
"Yes, sir."
"Why on Earth did he attack Morgan? He said they were best friends!"
"We thought so too, but for some reason, Zander refuses to tell us what happened. We did all we could do. We talked about this with him, gave him a time out, did not give him snack with, and we separated him from the rest of the children for the day. We didn't want to do anything too rash because we don't know why he hurt Morgan. We figured maybe you could talk with him. You may punish him how you wish at home—within reason, of course—but if he tells you what happened, could you please tell us? Amanda is devastated by what happened, but Morgan won't say a word either."
"I will try. Do any of the other children know?"
"Not to my knowledge. S-uh-Marie said she saw everything, but she won't say in front of everyone so I will talk with her alone after a while. If you could, just see if Zander will tell you?" Alyssa had a pleading look in her eyes and Draco found himself being pulled in. She mystified him and he wasn't quite sure why. "Would you like me to pull Zander in for a moment? See if he will tell me anything if you're here?"
"Uhh..oh! Yeah. That's fine." Draco had been snapped out of his mind in just enough time to see her stand up and walk around her desk and past him. He turned and watched her leave, mezmorized by the hypnotic sashay of her hips. He took a mental note of her long, shapely legs and the shape of her tight rear; admiring the way her tight office skirt rose ever so slightly as she moved, exposing trace amounts of her flawless thighs.
When she returned with Zander by her side, she made the child sit in the chair next to Draco.
"Why don't you tell your Godfather what you did today?" Hermione started, her tone neither angry nor excited.
"I beat up a kid." Zander hung his head, not allowing his teary eyes to meet Draco's stern ones.
"Can you tell us why?" Hermione leaned forward on her desk, speaking softly. Zander burst out bawling. The tears and sobs were loud and Hermione gave a sympathetic frown. She walked around the desk—much to Draco's great pleasure—and took the small boy into her arms. "Zander, you'll be in less trouble if you are an honest boy." The little boy only cried harder.
Alyssa stood and handed the child to Draco. "If you find anything out, please let us know. We just want answers." Draco nodded and walked out of the office, leaving Alyssa to return to her desk.
Draco looked down and noticed a small girl sitting on the bench next to Alyssa's office. She had platinum blonde hair pulled back into two short braids and bright silver eyes that rose to meet his. She was wearing a pretty pink skirt and a mint green spaghetti-strap blouse. Her socks were a mint green and pink diamond print that rose to her knees and she wore black Mary Janes with two silver buttons on each.
Draco nearly stopped short of oxygen when he saw her. "Excuse me, child." He said softly to her, lowering himself to about her level. "What is your name?"
"Sky. Sky Gwangah." She turned her head away but watched him out of the corner of her eyes wearily.
Draco—in so much shock—nearly dropped Zander, but he corrected his arms before danger could come to the small boy.
"Tell me, what is your mother's name?" He was getting excited. This could be his link to Granger.
"Evawee one knows da~t!" She cried out almost as if he should have been able to read her mind. She sighed heavily—and rather exaggeratedly at that. "Haar name is 'Mummy.' Wha elz wooh et be?" The look on the child's face showed that the answer was so obvious that Draco suddenly felt extremely stupid for not knowing.
"Do you know what other adults call her?"
"No. But I used to live with Mummy and Austin and Moegun and Miss Jeanie." Hermione, for the first time since Sky started talking, was so happy that Sky's speech was underdeveloped that hardly anyone could understand her. She listened in, praying that she wouldn't be given away by her own daughter. But Draco pressed on gently.
"Jeanie? Do you know her last name?"
"Uh-uh. Sometimes! Ummm… Sometimes she yehws at Moegun cawwing him Moegun Wee Aiden Weezuwee. It ahways makez me 'n Austin wafs." She gave Draco a huge smile. "I hav a woose toof, shee?" She opened her mouth really wide and wiggled one of her front teeth for Draco. "Mummy says I am getting to be a big geru now an' dat I can puht my toof undah my pewwo an' whaoo I am asweeping, tee toof faywee wiuh bing me munnies." Draco couldn't help smile. She was trying so hard to talk and she was telling him a story with such excitement her eyes lit up with joy. When her smile was wide, he could make out two dimples in her cheeks and he noticed her soft bridge of freckles dusting her nose and cheekbones.
"Oh? Do you like getting monies?"
The girl nodded excitedly before pulling out her change purse. She showed him the contents, beaming proudly. Draco inconspicuously counted as he told her she shouldn't show her money to strangers. She only had 5 knuts but she was so proud of the coins that Draco patted her head and ruffled her silky hair.
"What's your daddy's name?"
"Mummy says dat we hab Mummy an dat we wiuh be okay. She says we don' need a daddy wike ubbah kidz."
Before Draco could ask if she ever met her dad, the little girl was pulled away from him by Choley, the young receptionist in the lobby, and ushered into Alyssa's office where the door was shut quietly. The receptionist only looked at Draco, scrutinizing him.
"I'm sorry. Forgive me for stepping out of place, Mr. Malfoy, but I don't think it's proper for a stranger to delve into a child's life and ask them about their family. From what I understand, Sky and Austin have had a childhood with a single mother. They've never met their dad, from what we've been told, the mom doesn't want to talk to him."
"Do you know her mother or father's name?"
"I'm sorry, but I am not allowed to release any names. Ms. Myrick has very strict privacy policies."
Draco merely nodded impatiently. Stupid privacy rules. "Well, if you will excuse me, Ms. McAdams. Have a pleasant evening." Draco strode out the door after a curt nod and once the apparition point was reached, he apparated to Malfoy Manor.
A/N::
WAAAH! You guys are amazing. I've had quite a few reviews yesterday so I'm glad to bring you part 3. Okay? Is there anyone who has a problem with me bringing them part 3? Okay. Didn't think so XD
But really guys, I LOVE reading your reviews. I get so many supportive comments and reviews and it really makes me want to work my best at getting the next chapter out. Unfortunately, this weekend I have to study big time. I have a vocabulary quiz in Japanese on Monday so I really need to study =) but in between studying all weekend I MAY get chapter four done and up =) so keep looking out for it.
Until next chapter! ~Cry