I want doesn't get
The next morning, Lucius kept to his word and arrived at eight o'clock. When we walked out of the fireplace he saw Isla sat on the floor banging a book on the floor and Hermione running around in tight grey work trousers and a white tank top.
'Morning.' He said as he bent down to Isla and took the book out of her hands.
'Morning!' Hermione shouted back as she ran into the kitchen. 'I've been called in early, new stock or something.'
'Good thing I'm on time then.' Lucius said as he picked Isla up into his arms.
'Very.' She said as she walked out of the kitchen with toast in her hand. 'I'll be back at three o'clock hopefully if I have to stay later I'll owl you. You don't have anything planned for this evening do you?'
'Nothing except getting you into bed.' He said with a sly smirk making Hermione blush ruby red.
'Lucius!' She screeched making Isla jump in her father's arms. 'Don't say such things in front of her; she'll pick up your words.'
'She can hardly say anything Hermione.' He said as he looked at Isla. 'Now you better go and we will see you tonight.'
'Okay.' She said forgetting everything Lucius had said.
Hermione leant forward and kissed Isla on her head. 'Be good for you...Daddy.' she said softly.
'Daddy?' Lucius asked as he looked at Hermione.
'Of course.' She said with a huge smile. 'Be good Isla for Daddy and Daddy be good.' She said as she rushed out leaving Lucius and Isla to themselves.
Lucius spent the whole morning trying to get Isla dressed. He first undressed the little girl and then tried to change a nappy however it was harder than Hermione made it look. After twenty minutes Lucius finally got a nappy on his daughter and then tried to get her dressed but it seemed that this little girl did not want to get dressed today.
'Isla, you are going to let me change you.' He said with determination.
'No!' she shouted at him.
'Isla.' He said with a warning tone. Baby Draco would have never said no to his father because he knew he'd get a smacked bottom but baby Isla seemed to like to wind her father up.
Half an hour later, Isla was finally dressed in a simple lilac dress with no tights or socks but dressed nevertheless. Lucius next hurdle was lunch. Hermione had frozen a meal for Isla and told Lucius simply to heat the dish which he did.
He put Isla in the high chair and began to feed her but soon found not only Isla covered in food but himself. It seemed that Isla liked to throw her food; he wondered if she did that with Hermione but he doubted it.
After feeding or smothering Isla in her lunch, Lucius decided that a bath was indeed needing. He bathed Isla and as he dried her off and wrapped her in a towel he found her sleeping in his arms.
He took her to the nursery and dressed her in a fresh baby grow and then sat in the arm chair in the living room with his sleeping daughter curled into him. Lucius soon found his own eyes closing.
Hermione arrived home earlier than she thought. She walked through her flat into the living room to find a sleeping Lucius holding a sleeping Isla. She smiled as she watched the two and quickly went into her room and grabbed the camera. She took a few photos of the pair and then walked towards them.
'Lucius.' She said as she touched his shoulder making him jump.
'What?' He mumbled as he awoke.
'Good afternoon sleepy.' She said as she sat on the arm of the chair.
'I wasn't sleeping I was...' he began.
'Resting you eyes?' she questioned. 'How was your day?'
'Hard work.' He said as he looked at the perfect angel in his arms. 'She's hard work. She had a stubborn streak like her mother. She didn't want to get dressed this morning and then lunch time.'
'What happened?' she asked.
'Food everywhere. I had to bathe her.' He said as he looked at Isla still wet curls.
'That can sometimes happen.' Hermione said smiling. 'Has she walked again today?'
'No.' He said. 'She's mostly been in my arms all day.'
'You'll spoil her Lucius; if she knows you'll hold her while she sleeps she always want to sleep like that. It took me two weeks to get her to self sooth if it happens again I'm shipping her off to you.' Hermione said.
'That's fine with me.' He said as he looked up at Hermione. 'How was work my darling?' making her blush.
'Busy and rather boring.' She said.
'Why don't you quit? I could hire you to work for me?' he said seriously.
'Lucius as if that would work.' She said as she stood up and pulled off her blazer.
'Of course it would work.' He said as he looked at her. 'I need a new manager and you're the right person for the job.'
'I wouldn't be able to commit though.' She said. 'I want to be able to be home every night to put Isla to bed; I don't want her missing out of having her mum around as a baby.'
'Part time hours? Working from home? You'd only need to be in the office about ten hours a week.' He said trying to persuade Hermione.
'Let me think about it.' She said as she looked at him.
'Of course.' He said.
'Let me put her in the cot and then you can get off.' She said as she took Isla from him to only wake the little girl.
'I don't she wanted out of my arms.' He said as she tried to calm Isla in Hermione's arms.
'I told you. You're spoiling her.' Hermione said.
Hermione cradled her daughter in her arms and soon Isla stopped crying. She sat down on the sofa and let Isla onto the floor; the little girl returned to crawling around.
'I'll be back this evening.' He said as he walked towards Hermione and Isla.
'You don't have to.' Hermione said as she looked up at him. 'You've been here all day.'
'I want to. I want to put her too sleep this evening and spend some time with you.' He said.
'Lucius.' She neared but whispered.
'Hermione.' He said back to her. 'I will be back around seven o'clock.'
'Okay.' She said as he kissed Isla's head and her head.
Lucius kept to his word and arrived with a bottle of wine and dinner at seven o'clock. Isla was down for the night already and Hermione relaxing on the sofa with a book.
'I brought dinner.' He said as he held up a bag.
'What did you get?' she asked as she put down the book.
'A selection of things.' He said as he moved the coffee table with his wand and placed the food on top.
'I'll open the wine then.' She said as she took the bottle to the kitchen letting Lucius arrange the food.
The two of them sat on the rug in front of the fire eating the selection of food Lucius brought. They both had a glass of wine each and conversation was flowing.
'Where was she born?' he asked.
'The hospital.' She replied. 'You didn't think I'd have her at home did you?'
'I never know with you. I know you probably researched the best thing to do.' He said. 'Draco was born at the Manor like I was and every other Malfoy baby.'
'Except Isla' Hermione said.
'Yes well that was taken out of my hands.' He said darkly.
'I'm sorry.' She said as she reached for his hand. 'If I had known that you would have reacted this way then I would have told you. I so wish I could go back in time and change everything. I wish that life had turned out differently.'
'Well we can't change it but we can change our future.' He said.
'And what do you mean by that?' She asked as she tried to pull her hand away but Lucius wouldn't let go.
'I mean I want Isla to grow up with parents who share the same name.' He said. 'She should grow up with her parents under one roof.'
'I told you this a long time ago Lucius, I will only marry for love.' She said.
'You love me, you told me so.' He said.
'Yes but the question is do you love me? I won't marry someone who won't love me. I am not a woman who will marry you because I know you can take care of me and my daughter. I want you to marry me because you love me.' She said.
'I...care for you.' He said as he kissed her hand.
'I know that but I need more. Lucius, I would never, never take Isla away from you, never stop you seeing her but maybe we should accept we're not meant to be together.' She said. 'We want different things.'
'No we want the same I just don't know if I'm ready for what you want.' He said.
'Then we take it slowly? I don't know Lucius, you're the only man I have ever been with.' She said softly. 'There's been no one else since you Lucius.'
Lucius smiled at that revelation. 'Would you Hermione Granger court me?' he asked.
Hermione laughed and smiled. 'Of course Lucius Malfoy.' She said as she leant up on her knees and kissed him.
AN: Thank you again for your reviews! Every one means everything to me! Hope you like this chapter! xx