Hello Ladies and Gents! So sorry for the long wait, but I've got finals this week and the next! Eeep! But, hey, that's my excuse! It may seem petty to you, but is driving me nuts! Oh, the stress!

Anyway, thank you all for the continued support and for those who are reading this story for the very first time: Welcome! :D

I do not own any of this, it all belongs to JKR!

So, let me know how I did and Review, Favorite and Follow!

Enjoy! :)

Previously:

Hope wrinkled her nose, fear flashing in her eyes as she peeked at the other occupants. Once she was positive no one was watching her she quickly spat the runny potatoes into her napkin. She wiped off her chin with a grimace, rubbing the back of her hand against her pants. She had just gotten here and she could tell it was better than the Dursleys, she just had a feeling. Even if it was just temporary. She wasn't going to chance that by disobeying the rules so early in the game. She wasn't allowed normal people food at the Dursleys and she had to obey the rules. She didn't want to be kicked out. She liked it here.

CcCcCc

There was a silent, unspoken concern for their newest little member. Traded glances and unspoken gestures transpired a lot over the duration of dinner, not that Draco noticed, he was to busy attempting to sneakily rid his plate of his vegetables. The adults could tell that Hope hadn't eaten any of her dinner, saying she wasn't hungry, and Narcissa was adamant that the girl only had a pumpkin pasty or two at the most. They would have to ask Draco later.

She sat patiently at the table, unmoving, watching everyone with attentive eyes. There was a sense of discomfort around her, she would shift and move around. Since she had been sitting upon her legs to look above the table you could only guess her legs had fallen asleep, but she gave no remark about it. Her tiny hands were clasped on her lap and she made no move to eat the dessert when it was placed before her. If the fact that she wouldn't eat didn't alert them, the fact that she hadn't attacked the cake as viciously as Draco had should have. And it did.

Narcissa watched the girl eye the cake, she obviously wanted to eat it, but refrained herself from doing so. She gave a soft sigh and looked down at her blonde haired son. "Draco, slow down, it's not going anywhere."

Draco looked up, wiping his face off with a napkin and mumbled sheepishly. "Sorry, mother."

She shook her head in amusement, taking a bite from her own plate. She peered up when her husband coughed lightly into his arm, waiting for her to look at him. She rose a delicate eyebrow in response.

Grey eyes flashed to Hope and then back to her, concern apparent in his eyes. Narcissa frowned, looking over at Severus who eyes were on Hope. He glanced up and met her gaze, dark eyes boring into hers. He probably felt as at a lose at what to do as she did.

Draco watched the adults silently communicate, mouthing words non to discreetly in an effort to get their point across. Honestly though, it wasn't hard to tell who they were taking about, it was quite obvious really. Draco looked across the table towards the focal point of their muted conversation; Hope.

Hope must have sensed the blonde's gaze because she looked up only a moment later. She offered him a smile which he quickly and happily returned.

They both sat there in silence, watching the adults with interest. Severus was the first to catch on to their listening in and stopped mid-gesture, swiveling in his seat to look at the two. Both children looked at him innocently enough, blinking up with large doe eyes. Narcissa and Lucius followed his gaze and considered the two before them. After a few fleeting glances, Lucius spoke. "Draco, why don't you and Hope go up to your room?"

Draco jumped up immediately, pushing his chair in with more force that was probably needed, slamming it into the table. He ran over to the redhead, helping her out of her seat and began to drag her up the stairs. You could here her giggle lightly at something as she was pulled out of sight and up the staircase.

"Dissy!"

The summoned house-elf appeared and looked at Narcissa imploringly.

"We are done with dinner, thank you."

"Yes, Madam." Dissy snapped her fingers and the table was cleared. "Is there anything else Dissy can get you?"

Narcissa looked at each of the males, both of which shrugged. She refrained from rolling her eyes. "Dissy, can you tidy up the study room and set the chairs up for three?"

Dissy nodded, her ears flopping loudly. "Would madam be liking tea?"

"No thank you, Dissy."

Dissy nodded, popping away at the unspoken dismissal.

Lucius slowly rose. "To the study room then?"

Severus and Narcissa nodded.

CcCcCc

Draco opened the door to his room, walking over and sitting down upon his bed. It was huge! Covered in a large silky looking fabric of a vibrant green, three silver pillows sitting neatly at the head of the bed. Hope stared at it. "That's your bed?"

"Yeah- why?" Draco cocked his head to the side in confusion, glancing at his bed.

"Well...its huge!" She told him in astonishment.

Draco shrugged. "Yeah... I guess."

"You guess?" She sputtered. "It's gigantic!"

"Yea, I suppose so, huh?" Draco inquired, running a finger over the fabric.

Hope nodded, taking one look around the extravagant bedroom before she sat down on the floor before the blonde. "So..."

"Oh! I got it!" Draco jumped up suddenly from his bed and raced to the other side of the room, snatching a square box off of a table. He dragged a small table over and set the box on top of it, taking out a checkered piece of glossed cardboard and a dozen different black and white pieces. "We can play chess! Do you know how?"

Hope shook her head. "No, I don't."

"That's ok, I can teach you if you like?" He proposed eagerly, already setting the black and white chess men against each other.

"If you don't mind."

"Not at all, mother or father don't like to play 'cause they're to busy and Uncle Sev rarely visits." Draco paused. "Wait, that's not true... he's over a lot, he just doesn't like to play, says he's busy."

Hope hummed lightly to show that she was listening, watching the tiny chess pieces with interest. "You like playin' it then?"

"Yeah... I do." Draco sat back and looked at her. "Do you know anything about chess?"

She shook her head 'no'.

"That's okay, so this here is the knight." He began to explain the slightly complex rules of chess, being thoughtfully thorough and explained the game rather well for someone of his age.

CcCcCc

"I just don't understand why she wouldn't eat." Narcissa spoke up as soon as she sat down in the study room, a side room filled with books much like their library, though much smaller and contained a simple work area with a desk.

"Perhaps the same reasons she has trust issues and flinches." Severus proposed, sitting down across from the woman.

"Are you intending they starved her?"

"I can't fathom why," Lucius drawled sarcastically, closing the door with a snap. "Especially with that whale of a son they have."

"Son?"

"Hope's cousin and the Dursley's spawn." Severus informed her.

"A rude and unintelligent child if you ask me."

"So, you suspect the Dursleys starved her, along with making her sleep in a cupboard under the stairs, and abused her?" Narcissa seethed, gripping the arm of the chair roughly.

"Along with whatever else we have yet to unearth."

"What else do you think she's hiding?" Lucius asked Severus.

"Could be a multitude of things..." He mused aloud.

"Well, I don't know about you, but she needs to know that she is loved, that she's allowed to eat and everything else a normal child should feel and know. I will personally see to your destruction Severus if you neglect to do such things."

Severus stared at her. "I would expect nothing less of you though I feel bothered you would would suggest such a thing."

Narcissa's eyes widened as she realized what she had said and quickly backtracked. "Oh, I'm sorry Severus, you know I didn't mean it- well alright maybe I did but-"

Severus held up a hand to silence her. "I understand Cissy."

She smiled and inclined her head slightly, a light blush creeping up her neck.

"What do you propose we do then?" Lucius spoke, drawing the focus back onto the more appropriate topic.

"Well, I'll have to speak with Dumbledore about Hope's living conditions and what to do with the Dursleys." Severus reflected lowly.

"As for Hope, she'll need clothes." Narcissus smiled, an excited glint in her eyes. "And I know just the place to get her some."

Both men traded an amused look.

"Alright, so we've got that settled." Lucius looked at his wife. "Will you be bringing Draco?"

Narcissa nodded. "I think I will. She seems pretty calm around him and if she feels safe around Draco then I'll bring him, despite the fact that he won't want too. But perhaps he may if Hopes coming along."

Severus nodded. "I should probably be getting over to go talk to Albus..."

"You'll probably want to say goodbye to Hope before you leave so as not to freak her out when she discovers you have left and hopefully both Hope and Draco will be in bed by the time to arrive." Narcissa gave a wry smile.

"Alright, I'll go do that. Thank you Cissy, Lucius. You've helped me quite a lot today."

"Its been our pleasure. Hope is a lovely young girl." Lucius told him, also standing up. "You remember were Draco's room is?"

"Of course."

"Then we will see you soon." Lucius clapped the other man on the shoulder, offering a smile.

Severus clapped his shoulder back, helping Narcissa up and smiling at her when she kissed his cheek in goodbye.

CcCcCc

There was a soft knock on the bedroom door, causing both Hope and Draco to jump and look at the door in alarm.

"Come in." Draco yelled loudly.

That's when Severus entered, taking a look at the chess board that was splayed out between the two.

"Hello, sir." Hope greeted, rubbing her thumb and index finger together nervously.

"Hello Hope, Draco. Are you two having fun?"

"Yeah! I'm teaching Hope how to play Wizarding chess and you know what's weird? She didn't know they could move. I think she was joking." Draco babbled along happily.

Hope's cheeks tinged pink. "Well normal chess doesn't- uh- move."

Draco bobbed his head, tilting it. "I'm guessing they don't destroy each other when you capture their pieces?"

"No," Hope shook her head. "I've never played before, only watched, but when you take a piece you just set it off to the side..."

"Where's the fun in that?" Draco questioned, pointing towards the crumbed mess that was once their chess pieces.

Hope shrugged indifferently, clearly not knowing how to answer. "I dunno..."

Severus watched them in amusement, glad to see that Draco was having fun with someone else his age. Someone who wasn't the child of a Death Eater, anyway.

"Hope," Severus cleared his throat. "I've got to go somewhere. I'll be back rather soon, but for the time being you are going to stay here with the Malfoys."

Hope straightened up, face scrunching up in confusion. "Why?"

"I've got to go and visit a- good friend of mine." He explained.

"Who?" Draco asked in childlike curiosity.

Severus had to resist the urge to glare at the young Malfoy heir.

"Albus Dumbledore."

Draco's face screwed up briefly. "Why? I thought you and father didn-"

"I really must be going." He interrupted, looking at Hope. "Will you be alright?"

She nodded slightly, nervousness bright upon her features. "Yes, sir."

"Lucius and Narcissa will be down the stairs if you need anything." He told her. "I'll be back well past your bedtime, so I'll bid you two goodnight now."

"Goodnight Uncle Sev."

Hope hesitated momentarily before she sprang up and wrapped her arms around the man's legs in a tight hug. She quickly released him and looked up at him hesitantly. "Goodnight, sir."

She quickly turned around and sat down before Draco, peering down at the board. "So, if I move this one...?"

"No, don't move that piece, I'd take your knight, so try again." Draco advised.

"How 'bout here?"

"No again, you'd take my bishop."

Hope looked up with a small smile gracing her lips. "Alright, so how do I move it again?"

"Ah, come on. You don't wanna move it there." Draco whined lightly, eyes sparking as he pouted.

Hope giggled. "Draco!"

Neither children bothered to look up when the door wasn't closed right away, but if they had, they would have been looking at a very flustered and startled Severus Snape.