Hello all who have made it this far, thank you for making it this far and I really hope that chp 6 doesn't take me half as long to update as this chapter did! May have been 3 years pretty much to the day between these chapters but I just found my mind wandering back to and I had the ideas to carry this story on! Who knows I may get this one finished some day!
Without further ado I give to you chapter five of Tulips, lets hope that 3 years has improved my writing!
Draco did not care what Severus said, he was most definitely not sulking. He was merely deliberating how long it had taken Potter to get over him and get some stupid, easy witch into his bed in order to create the small, but infuriating, child that was currently roaming the halls of Hogwarts. The girl looked no more than two and a half to three years old but the way she walked and talked suggested she may be around four. Harry and Draco parted ways less than five years ago so 'he was quick to warm the bed with some tramp' thought Draco. Draco quickly glanced at the clock on his mantle and realised his thoughts had possessed him longer than anticipated. In a swish of smart emerald dress robes he made his way to the Great Hall for his dinner.
It may have taken at least eight hours of strong research before Tulip found anything for her little situation but as she flounced into the Great Hall, a bit late for dinner, the look her father was giving her proved that she had clearly removed the glamour that was hiding her true identity. She had considered sitting up to the top table with Sev but tonight was the night that she always sat with the Gryffindors and not even the big reveal to her daddy Draco was going to change that!
Zulemanix watched her small friend come marching into the Great Hall with a very sly grin on her face; Tulip was dressed in a short, deep red velvet dress paired with gold shiny pumps and a small gold cloak which still went amazingly with her silver eyes and icy blonde hair. She looked up to the new D.A.D.A professor who looked like he was about to drop his jaw into a large helping of roast beef and assumed that the small girl had once again worked her magic to get her way.
"Do you think Daddy likes my new look? I don't think he'll be keen on my outfit because he's a Slytherin but I couldn't exactly wear green to come and sit with you guys!" sang Tulip as she plonked herself on the big red cushion next to Zulemanix on the bench.
"You've sorted the whole glamour issue then I assume Tu?" warbled Zulemanix.
"Yeah course I have, it is quite hard when you can't really read but some of the books had some really good pictures that I followed!" squealed Tulip around mouthfuls of meat and carrots. Zulemanix could only shake her head at the child and then try to feed Von Eberting crumbs of pumpkin pie.
Draco was pretty sure a piece of roast potato had just gone down the wrong pipe and closed up his lungs, he was also very certain that if his jaw went any lower they would be able check his teeth in China. Snape was sat to his left and had just happened to glance at his godson,
"She's only dressed like that to go and sit with the Gryffindors you know," Snape drawled out, "Potter doesn't force her to wear stuff like that all the time..."
"I'm not looking at what she's wearing!" Draco choked out around the rouge roastie, "Have you not seen her face Snape, did Potter literally go out of his way to find my unknown separated-at-birth twin to procreate with! The child practically has my hair cut and colour let alone the fact we are definitely sharing an eye colour!" Draco was furious inside, if Potter was just going to find some floozy that looked just like Draco why on earth didn't he just stay with Draco!
Snape watched his godsons face and was about ready to hit the boy, the evidence was staring the so called genius right in the face and the dense idiot could not even see it! The girl was his; she was the right age, the right looks and most definitely the right amount of cunning.
"Draco how about you join me in my chambers after dinner? We can have a bit of a chat regarding some of your personal matters can we not?"
Draco sighed and looked at his godfather; this was the point of the man he supposed so he better make use of it.
"Alright Severus, the girl won't be there will she? I know she's been left in your care whilst Potter gallivants off to wherever the fuck he likes to do whatever the fuck he wants"
Severus shook his head and sighed at the bitter and resigned tone Draco was using. He knew that Tulip would most definitely be out entertaining herself for as long as she could possibly get away with so there was no worry that the girl would turn up during the chat he knew him and Draco needed to have.
Tulip was almost disappointed that her father had not caused a scene. From the story Severus had told her before bed last night the blond was quite the drama queen really and she half expected an explosion so spectacular to occur it could be heard in the dunes of the Sahara! Speaking of the Sahara reminded her that she must get to the common room for half eight exactly so to not miss her Daddies floo call.
"Zu what is the time?" Tulip asked, Zulemanix then tucked her hand into her nest of hair and pulled out a pocket watch on a chain that was in fact attached to the top of her ear. She flipped open the lid and Tulip peered over her shoulder but Tulip could not read the face of the watch for love nor money.
"What does that even say Zu, it looks like a mess to me!" Muttered Tulip, this was simply down to the fact that Tulip still hadn't grasped how to tell the time not because Zulemanix had some special magical pocket watch.
"It's eight twenty-three my mathematically challenged friend, how about we make our way up to the common room yes? I think Von Eberting could use the exercise. Ouch! Von Eberting clearly does not agree..." Zulemanix placed her slightly bleeding hand in a napkin and then floated from the table to the door whilst Tulip hurried her little legs to follow.
As the two females hopped in through the portrait hole they could hear the roar of flames from in the hearth,
"Tulip? Are you here? I think I'm a bit early mate no one's here?" Harrys voice rang out around the common room, he was obviously next his best friend and top Auror Ron Weasley.
"No Daddy I'm here!" shouted Tulip running over to the flames that showed her father's head, "How's you Daddy, how's Uncle Ron and Aunty 'Mione? When are you gonna kick the bad guys butts and come home?"
"Hello sweetheart, we are all good my love and we're kicking bad guy butt everyday just for you!" Harry chuckled, "are you keeping out of trouble and out of the new professors' way?"
"Yes of course Daddy, I'm a good girl and always do as I'm told." Said Tulip with a face like butter wouldn't melt. This was met by a chorus of laughter from Harry, Ron and Hermione and a deep chuckle from Zulemanix behind her.
"I'll believe that when I see it little one," said Uncle Ron, "We know you much too well and you've most definitely being causing at least mild trouble!"
"Okay okay, maybe some minor things but nothing life threatening anyway." Said Tulip, Zulemanix almost wanted to comment that it may not be life threatening for her but it most certainly would be for Mr Potter.
"Anyway, sorry this was so short and sweet pumpkin but we have to go. Floo powder is a luxury in this place so we can't go using too much! I love you and I'll see you soon, bye Tulip."
Tulips small little nose scrunched up like a disgruntled Malfoy as she said her goodbyes before the face of her father disappeared from the flames. She asked Zulemanix for the time again and decided it was probably time she went to bed, especially after she spent hours in the library last night undoing her glamour.
Draco followed Snape down the familiar corridor to the dungeons. This route brought back memories of the happier and sadder times at Hogwarts but he quickly shook that off and followed Severus through the door. Once they had both settled in Snapes matching dragon skin arm chairs with a tumbler of some fine fire whiskey Draco had a look around the room. The small pink chair next to Snapes really looked out of place and the floor was littered with what he assumed were toys for young girls, he really had so many questions to ask but first he was going to wait for Snape to explain himself.
Snape cleared his throat and took a sip of his drink, he really was going to need the courage he felt and he knew Draco was going to need it just for the alcoholic content.
"Draco I am almost worried by how dense you are being in the current situation. I want you take a real good look at the facts laid out in front of you and come to the right conclusion on your own, I really don't want to have to spell it out for you but if it comes to it then I will."
Draco gave his godfather a puzzled look but soon slipped into the recess of his mind to ponder. Potter had a child, she was blonde, she had grey eyes and Snape willingly takes care of her... but how old is the girl, what even is her name?
"Severus how old is she?" Dracos voice almost quivered as he asked.
"Tulip turns four in just under two weeks time."
Draco did the math in his head, if she was almost four and you add on around another nine months then you just about get back to the week of the most spectacular break up know to the wizarding world. It was also the week where Harry and Draco had decided to change things in the bedroom too. It was all pointing to just one viable option.
"Tulip is my daughter." Said Draco in disbelief, a small clapping noise could be heard and both men looked to the door to see a very sassy almost-four year old sarcastically hitting her hands together.
"I was expecting more pizzazz about the whole thing really Daddy but you got there in the end." Said Tulip with a cheeky grin, Draco downed his glass of whiskey and just stared at the girl. She skipped across the floor and flopped herself onto Dracos lap, "Hello other Daddy, nice to finally meet you. My name is Tulip Dracoanna Alexsius Malfoy-Potter but you can call me Tulip."
Draco looked at the girl in his lap and sighed, bloody Potter had even given her his name even if Draco knew nothing about her! He couldn't help but notice the features that Harry had given her now that he could see her up close. The tousled hair, the green flecks in her eyes and even the shape of her thin pouty lips.
"Daddy are you okay?"
Draco cleared his throat and brought his arms up to hug the girl to his chest.
"Yes Tulip I'm fine, all of this is just a bit of a shock okay? Your other Daddy is going to have a lot to answer too when he gets home." Said Draco as Tulip snuggled into his neck. He was already enjoying this whole 'being a father' thing from just the simple act of holding his child. "Now how about we put you to bed so I can go and think about things, hey Tulip?"
The girl didn't say anything but just nodded, Snape was quickly out of his chair and taking the young girl to be bathed and put to bed as Draco made his way to the bottle on the mantelpiece and poured himself another glass of fire whiskey. Harry certainly had a lot of things to answer to.
Far away in a tent in the Sahara Harry felt a cold shiver run through his body and it definitely was not caused by the temperature...
Thank you for your continued support even with my long and unannounced hiatus from this (probably crap) story! Hope to see you again soon!
(Please review although I am unworthy of such things!)