Draco's POV

(London)

"Wake up you little rascals! Time to get down to the kitchen or Aunt Astoria will come up and pour water on the lot of you! Move it, kids!" Draco yelled into the bedrooms as he walked down the corridor banging a pot to get everyone out of bed. The kids inside start to mumble and groan but they knew better than to try and sleep longer. Draco reached the end bedroom and opened the door, knowing that the occupants would be still asleep, even with all the noise.

"Indigo! Ivy! Get up! Time for breakfast!" he yelled. With still no movement from under the sheets Draco pointed his wand at first one bundle then the other.

"Augumenti." He muttered. Water shot out of his wand at the two girls and they both shot up with a groan.

"DRACO!" they screamed in unison. Laughing, Draco left the room and walked back down to the stairwell. Descending to the first level he herded the remaining children to the kitchen.

"Uncle Draco?" one little boy pulled on his sleeve. Smiling, Draco picked the young boy up and swung him over his shoulder. Giggling with glee, the little boy beat on his back until he was put down once more.

"Yes, Andrew?" he replied.

"Why aren't you and Aunty 'stori married?" Andrew asked. Draco frowned, why would the kid ask that? He was very careful about keeping his private life from the orphanage, and his interaction with the orphanage from the camera's and the rest of the wizarding world. The kids knew it was out there, but they also knew they couldn't go out until they were started at Hogwarts. Besides, there was plenty of space at the orphanage.

"I heard 'rina and Piper saying that they wished you were married to each other. That it would be cute. I thought that was such a girl's thing." Andrew screwed his little nose up at the thought and Draco smirked, remembering how he used to think the same thing.
"Well Andrew, Aunty 'stori and I aren't married because we don't love each other. And you tell Piper and Marina that if I catch them talking about it I'll give them washing duties for a week." He said sternly to the little boy. Andrew, smiling wickedly ran off to tell the two girls what he said. Chuckling, Draco entered the kitchen to find all the kids sitting at the table saying grace. Astoria stood by the stove in her blue apron, plating up bowls of porridge and cereal. Grabbing the bowls, Draco started handing them out, muttering under his breath.

"Cereal for Mia, Geoffrey, Piper, Leo, Phoenix and Robert, porridge for the rest of you munchkins"

Astoria laughed at the sight of Draco Malfoy serving the children. No matter how many times she saw it happen, it still amused her to no end. The orphanage was the only place he was truly himself these days. After the war, with all the press at his door every morning, Draco had found it hard to have reason to smile. That was when Narcissa asked him to take over running the Saint Hectors Orphanage for Wizarding orphans, she was too old was her excuse. Draco took to the job well though she thought. Astoria knew he loved the place and the children, it was the only place he ever let go of the sneering bastard persona that the world loved to hate.

Once everyone had their breakfast, Draco grabbed a bowl of porridge and sat down at the head of the table next to Astoria.

"How many go to Hogwarts next year, Draco?" she asked quietly. Frowning, Draco looked around at the children sitting before him.

"Indigo and Ivy, Dev and Geoffrey" he said "That reminds me, I have to send away for the rest of their books. Flourish and Blotts haven't got the rest of the books in yet. I'm going to have to buy from Granger's bookshop in Hogsmeade. I'll send an order in and hope she doesn't come poking her nose around." He said with disgust. God knows what would happen if the bushy haired know-it-all found out that Pureblood Slytherin's were running an orphanage.

Finishing his breakfast, Draco looked around at all the kids. The majority had finished and were sitting around talking, Phoenix and Robert had brought out a game of exploding snap and Kate was painting her nails a vivid shade of blue for Ravenclaw.

"What's on the agenda for today girls and boys?" he called down the table. Harold, seeing that nobody else was listening, answered.

"Reading, gardening, lunch, then Quidditch Draco!" he declared excitedly. Draco groaned and looked at Astoria. She hid a smirk behind a spoonful of porridge.

"Gardening? Seriously Astoria!" he groaned.

"It needs to be done Draco and the kids actually like gardening. It's only you that groans and mumbles about it constantly. We're planting roses around the fence." She concluded. Draco frowned at her.

"I'm going to visit mother this morning and send out the order for the books. I'll get my broom and stuff for this afternoon." He said quietly. Astoria nodded.

Using a summoning charm on all the dirty dishes, Draco stood and put them all in the sink.

"I'll see you later, enjoy your gardening!" Draco said with a wink. Several of the older kids glared at him; obviously gardening wasn't as popular as Astoria thought. Laughing, Draco left the kitchen and walked to his study. Summoning a piece of paper and some ink he sat down to write the order out.

Dipping the quill into the green ink, he began to write.

I need eight copies of Hogwarts: A History, four of the Confronting the Faceless and four of the Immediate Transfiguration. Have them sorted and sent to Saint Hector's Orphanage, London ASAP.

That should do it. Folding the paper he placed it in his pocket and went to the fireplace.

"Malfoy manor!" he shouted, spinning away into the flames, only to be pushed out onto the plush carpet at his old home. His mother sat quietly reading on the sofa, a cup of tea beside her.

"Mother." Draco nodded. Narcissa looked up from her book and smiled.

"I'm fine, thank you for asking Draco." she said sarcastically. "How're the kids?" Draco pouted at her,

"It's always the kids before you ask about my health." He sniffed with a hurt expression. Narcissa just smirked.

"I can see with my own eyes son, that you need a female to keep you in line, and if you won't let Astoria do that, then maybe you should look for someone new. I'm not getting any younger and I want some grandchildren of my own Draco." She admonished. Draco frowned, this argument was getting ever old and they would never get anywhere with it.

"Mother, when I find the perfect girl, then things will be different, but until then stop with your meddling." He warned.

Narcissa just laughed again, brushing off Draco as easily as she did an annoying fly. Draco sighed, shaking his head. Leaving his mother, he climbed the staircase to the second floor. Taking the third door on the landing, he entered and stood staring at his old room. His mother had certainly done up the mansion and made it a better place since Lucius died, but he didn't expect her to remodel his room. The large Slytherin banner that had adorned the walls was gone and the room was painted a grey that matched his eyes. The four poster bed was made with green satin sheets and a grey blanket was draped across the bottom of the bed. His desk was stained a dark black instead of the light brown it had been and it was neat and orderly, only an inkpot and a stack of papers on top of it. Taking a seat at the desk, Draco realised that his room was actually perfect for him now. He liked it and it felt comfortable. It felt like it was his. Taking out the note for the books, Draco read over it and decided it was right. He would take mother out for lunch at the Three Broomsticks and stick it on the door for the little golden girl.

Leaving the room to return to his mother and take her out he found her in the same position, but this time with her purse in her hands.

"We're going to the Three Broomsticks for lunch. I have an errand to run in Hogsmead. Get some books for the kids going to Hogwarts next year." He told her. Narcissa nodded and stood up to grab Draco's arm as he apparated them to the boisterous pub. Upon arrival, Draco nodded to Rosemerta and took a seat in the corner of the room. Ordering some butterbeer and roast beef for lunch, Narcissa waited until the waitress had left before pulling out a list from her purse and passing it to Draco.
"These are the balls we have to attend and I expect you to come to each of them with a date. Not any of the daft bimbos you have on the side. You cannot ask Astoria as she already has a date. I suggest you find someone quickly too before everyone already has dates. As you know the yearly ball for the War is soon, so as per the rules this year, you have to find someone from another house from your Hogwarts days. If you cannot find a date yourself I will find someone for you. And you won't like who it is. Ok?"

Draco sighed in response. It was the same every year. Find someone that won't make a scene. As for the different house theme for the War ball, who in the world would go with him? Death eater Draco

"Mother, I know the rules, I will attend the balls, and I will not have a date to every one of them. I'd prefer to go without one. You know this. So why do you keep pushing?" he scowled. Narcissa just looked at him with a stern expression, making Draco be quiet and start eating. Both ate in companionable silence, listening to the chatter of the room. When they finished, they rose and left a galleon on the table for the meal. Leaving the warm cheerful room, Draco and Narcissa made their way to Better Books to leave the note. Finding a sign saying out to lunch be back later, they attached the note to the door, putting a sticky charm to keep it there. Wandering the shops, Draco picked up a couple of second hand brooms for Quidditch this afternoon. Narcissa eyed them with disdain as he shrunk them and put them in his pocket.

"You're not teaching them Quidditch again are you? You know I don't approve." She sighed. Draco smirked. Of course he was. Why wouldn't he?

"Yes, the boys love it. As do Indigo and Ivy, they'll be great chasers when they get to Hogwarts. Besides, some of the older ones play, they need the practice." He laughed at the look of disgust on Narcissa's face.

"Come on, come back to the orphanage and watch us play. They should be finished their gardening by now." He said grabbing her hand. With a pop they landed at the Orphanage gates. Roses bloomed around the fence, red and yellow above the white pickets. Draco smiled. They did look rather nice. Narcissa was already walking up the steps to the door and Draco hurried after her. Through the doorway, kids' boots were piled up in a muddy mess and Narcissa hurriedly levitated them to the laundry to clean. Muttering under her breath, she disappeared to clean them. Draco walked through to the kitchen where everyone was finishing up their lunch. Taking the bought brooms out of his pockets, he returned them to standard size.

"Who's ready for some Quidditch!" he yelled and there was a chorus of "YES!" as the kids took their plates to the sink and ran to get their brooms. Laughing, Draco grabbed the trunk with the balls and charmed the brooms to follow him out the back. Setting up the hoops with a flick of his wand Draco set the bludgers and snitch to stay inside a 100 by 100 by 100 metre area. With the kids gathered on the lawn he assigned the new brooms to Indigo, Ivy, Devlen and Geoffrey.

"These are for next year when you go through broom training and quidditch if you try for it. It never hurts to have a broom, just in case." He told each of them. They nodded and looked adoringly at their new brooms.

"Right. I'm not assigning teams today – Au..." "I am." Narcissa stood in the doorway and all the kids squealed with delight at seeing her. Smiling, Narcissa divided up the teams evenly and let go of the snitch into the air.

"GO! FIRST TEAM TO 500 POINTS WINS!" she yelled into the air. Draco sat back on the grass, watching them play and being the referee. All of the kids played fair so there wasn't really need for a ref, but Draco did it anyway. There were plenty of mistakes today as Indigo and Ivy were on opposite teams and kept throwing to each other by accident. Grinning as Kate stopped goal after goal Draco knew they would all be awesome Quidditch stars someday.

Suddenly, Astoria shot out of the house, running to Draco.

"Draco! Someone just floo'ed in. The wards recognised them as unknown. We don't have any prospective parents coming in today." She said in a panic. Draco stood up, brushing any grass from his pants and strode inside. Walking through to the lounge, Draco saw a young woman standing with her back facing the door, looking at the picture of all the kids about the mantle. She had long curly hair that was the richest chestnut colour that Draco had ever seen. The look of it made him want to run his hands through it, to see if it was as soft as it looked. Taking in the rest of the woman, Draco realised, that for all the long hair, the woman was tiny and delicate looking from behind. But in tight jeans, her legs went on forever. I'd like to see those legs better, he thought to himself. It had been too long since he had anyone to call his own. Clearing his throat, Draco stepped into the room.

DISCLAIMER I OWN NOTHING BUT THE PLOT!

So, chapter 2 my lovelies!

I'm going to keep posting these today and hope that I get some reviews
I know that the first couple of updates aren't very long but this one makes up for it a bit. :D

Love, Tay Lupin xoxo