Chapter 3

The next morning Harry woke up with a pounding head-ache, forever grateful to the house elf that greeted him with a hang over potion. He instantly felt better then down as he realized why he was drunk in first place. He showered and found freshly pressed clothes on his bed. After having dressed up, he wandered downstairs where he found Pansy, Theodore and a little girl sitting at the table for breakfast. He was asked to join them and he obliged, he was hungry and the food was delicious. The little girl was Esme, their daughter now a little older than one, she looked like a really loved child, full of life and always smiling. After breakfast Theodore excused himself and left to handle some work outside, Pansy signaled Harry to follow her into the playroom.

She set Esme down and he little girl padded to her stuffed toys. She eyed Harry and the latter couldn't take it and unfolded the whole story to her. She comforted him and offered him to stay for as long as he needed. Pansy and him had grown closed right after the war when she had personally come to apologize in tears for what she had done. Harry had forgiven her and since then they met weekly for drinks and such causing a strong friendship to bloom out. They had however grown a bit distant when Pansy fell pregnant, her in-laws were very cautious about her and she had barely left their house. However now, harry found that nothing did change, they were still great friends. They had lunch and Harry isolated himself in the library, losing himself in his thoughts. He really didn't know what to do.

He was interrupted however by a small poke to his ribs. He looked down and saw little Esme smiling wildly at him and lifting up her hands to be picked up. Harry smiled and picked up the little girl, he black hair could almost rival his, that little button nose, onyx eyes and pale complexion depicted a perfect combination of her parents. "Why are you sad stranger?" Harry smiled. "I am no stranger, you can call me Harry and I am sad because… well it's adult stuffs". The little girl scrunched her nose in concentration, she nodded and asked to be put down. Harry complied. Before walking out she looked by her shoulder, in a style so similar to her mother and sais "yew should do whut makes yew 'appy" and walked away. Harry smiled, she had definitely gone after her mother.

The day drew on. He spent it in the library, skipping dinner and sending and owl to Ginny to tell her not to worry he was fine and he needed time. He had a cold shower and went to bed. It had not even been half an hour that he felt the bed dip to his left. A small bundle of heat pressed to his side and he turned around to see little Esme cuddled to him. "Shleep," she whispered "mother shays me brings lucks". Harry smiled, hugged her and slept. For the first time in moths he slept soundly till the morning…

He woke up rested to a smile face of Pansy Nott. "You look good together" she mused lifting the little up from Harry. "Breakfast is ready, come down soon I'll get Esmy ready" she padded away smiling and Harry sighed. So that was what his life would be, living off the Notts? He dragged himself out of bed and showered, brushing his teeth and got ready. He could not help notice that the elf, Joffy was it?, left him quite some fancy clothes to wear. However he got in the black slacks, deep blue button up shirt and the charcoal coat that when with it. He got down the stair to see that Pansy was dressed quite classy too, she had a form fitting green dress that really made her look like the house's mistress. Little Esme had a fluffly flowery silk dress with a little black bow in her hair. He noticed that Theodore was amiss.

Before he could enquire about it Pansy beat him to it. "We are having someone over as we do every Saturday, Esme is glad to have someone to play with," she explained matter of fact while sipping her tea. "However, I would be glad if you'd join us Harry". Oh Harry knew that game, she knew he was in no position to refuse him and that little sweet Slytherin smile suggested exactly the same. Harry smiled "Whatever the Slytherin Queen wishes" with a small bow that left Esme giggling. They had breakfast while Harry caught up with his old friend, he learnt that Theodore had lost his job in the ministry due to bias towards ex-death eaters and their lineage. The man had however joined a law firm and was doing quite good in it with his legal background. They still had enough money for Pansy to call herself princess- or even queen.

Some hours passed and then the floo flared up, Theodore stepped out, smiled to his wife and pecked her lovingly. He ruffled the hair of little Esme and stated "They're coming" while slyly looking at Harry. Harry did not have time to reflect upon that as barely a second later a little boy stumbled out of the floo, dusting his robes with a sneer at the floo powder that clinged and making his way to Esme. He greeted her with a kiss to the cheek and Pansy scooped him, cooing over how cute the little fellow was. Following him someone else flooed in, same sneer plastered as he dusted his clothes. Harry stood in complete shock and could not take his eyes off his former school nemesis.

"Potter?"

AN : / There you go your fresh first three chapters :D how was it? Too quick? A mini feedback maybe? :3 Stay tuned to be updated soon, see you lovelies xxx