Diagon Alley was crowded as Draco and Narcissa Malfoy strolled past the bustling shops, the clouds in the late August sky offering a reprieve from the summer sun. It had been three years since the war ended, and although the Malfoys were still adjusting to their new place in society, today felt like a rare moment of normalcy.
Draco had been distractedly nodding along as his mother spoke about her upcoming landscaping plans, his eyes scanning the familiar streets, when a flash of red hair caught his attention. His breath hitched, and he came to an abrupt stop.
Ginny Weasley was standing in front of Flourish and Blotts, laughing with an older witch. But it wasn't just her presence that made his heart pound in his chest. On her hip, she balanced a small child - maybe just over a year old - with wispy blonde hair and bright wide eyes.
Draco felt like the ground had dropped out from beneath him. He couldn't tear his gaze away from the baby, who was babbling happily, clutching a tiny fistful of Ginny's hair. Every fiber of his being screamed that this couldn't be real, and yet there they were, clear as day.
His mind raced, replaying the few passionate weeks he and Ginny had shared two years ago. They had parted ways, both knowing it was impossible to continue. But now...No, it couldn't be. Could it?
"Draco, what is it?" Narcissa's voice was sharp, jolting him from his thoughts. She followed his slack-jawed line of sight, her eyes narrowing as they settled on Ginny and the child. "...Is there something you need to tell me?"
He didn't answer, his throat dry, but the look on his face must have said enough. Narcissa's gaze flickered back to him, and she drew in a breath, her posture stiffening.
"Draco Lucius Malfoy," she hissed, low enough that no one else could hear. "Tell me right now that isn't what I think it is."
"I - I don't know," Draco stammered, his eyes still locked on the child. "It's been almost two years since…since-"
"You idiot," Narcissa seethed, her voice like ice. "You reckless, foolish boy! How could you be so careless?"
Draco swallowed hard, panic rising in his chest. "I didn't think…We were careful..." he felt the bile rising in his throat.
Narcissa's eyes flashed dangerously. "Clearly, not careful enough." She glanced back at Ginny, who had now noticed their presence and was staring at them with an unreadable expression. "What are you going to do?"
Draco's mind whirled, the noise of the street fading into the background. He felt frozen, torn between running away and marching over to demand answers.
"I...I don't know," he whispered, frozen in place, his voice barely audible over the clamor of the crowd.
Narcissa Malfoy gave him a pointed look, smoothing down the front of her robes as she approached the bookstore where Ginny Weasley stood chatting with an older woman - Molly Weasley, if she recalled correctly. Draco, still pale and bewildered, had made no move to follow, but she needed answers, and she would get them herself if necessary.
"Mrs. Weasley," Narcissa greeted as she neared them, her tone as smooth as ever despite the rapid beat of her heart. "Ginny." She inclined her head, her eyes flickering briefly to the baby, who was now gurgling happily, clutching a tiny knitted sock in her fist. "What a surprise to see you both here."
Molly looked up, her warm smile faltering slightly. "Narcissa Malfoy," she replied, her voice polite but guarded. "It has been some time."
"Yes, indeed," Narcissa said, her gaze lingering on the baby in Ginny's arms. The child was now peering curiously at her with wide blue eyes, and Narcissa couldn't help but notice again how very blonde she was. "And who is this little one?"
Although confused at the interaction, Ginny felt it would be impolite not to answer. "This is-"
"My granddaughter!" Molly interjected proudly, stepping closer to the baby and tickling her under the chin. "Isn't she a darling?"
Narcissa's heart skipped a beat. Granddaughter. That word sent her mind spinning. She had hoped for a simpler explanation, but no luck. Her eyes darted to the child, who was now babbling happily, reaching out a chubby hand toward her.
"She is quite lovely," Narcissa said, her voice perfectly controlled. "And what is her name?"
"Victoire," Ginny supplied, her tone easy, though there was a glint of something in her eyes.
"Victoire," Narcissa repeated slowly, a thoughtful frown creasing her brow. "That's a French name, isn't it? Quite unique for a Weasley."
Molly beamed. "Yes, it is. She was born on May 2nd, so the name seemed fitting."
"May 2nd?" Narcissa's eyes widened fractionally. "How very symbolic."
"Yes, isn't it?" Molly beamed, completely missing the tension in Narcissa's posture. "Such a strong name for a strong little girl."
Molly continued to coo at the baby, oblivious to the turmoil bubbling beneath Narcissa's calm exterior. "Victoire here is such a joy to all of us. A true blessing. We're so grateful to have her."
Narcissa's mind raced. If this child was Draco's, why was Molly Weasley acting as if nothing were amiss? She glanced at the older witch, whose face was radiant with the simple happiness of a doting grandmother.
"She has your nose, Ginny," Narcissa remarked, choosing her words carefully. "But I think I see...other features as well."
Ginny raised an eyebrow, clearly struggling not to laugh. "Do you think so? I suppose she does have some family resemblance."
Molly nodded vigorously. "Oh, yes! It's always interesting to see which traits they get from each side of the family."
"Indeed," Narcissa murmured, her eyes narrowing slightly. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was some joke being played at her expense, some hidden truth she was just missing. "Family resemblances can be...surprising."
Ginny adjusted Victoire on her hip, trying to keep the confusion off of her face. "They certainly can be."
Draco, who had been watching the interaction from a distance, looked like he was ready to collapse. Narcissa glanced at him, then turned back to the Weasleys, determination in her eyes.
"Draco," she called, her voice carrying across the crowded street. "Come here, darling."
Draco stiffened but obeyed, his steps hesitant. When he reached them, he gave a jerky nod, his gaze flickering between Ginny and the baby, who was now sucking on her fingers and staring at him with wide eyes.
"Draco, this is Victoire," Narcissa said, her tone too calm. "Isn't she charming?"
Draco looked like he might faint. "Yes, she...she's very...charming."
Ginny's eyes widened slightly as she began to piece together the conversation. She glanced at Draco, whose anxious expression made her heart skip. Merlin's beard, she thought. They think Victoire is mine!
Molly, still beaming, seemed blissfully unaware of the awkwardness. "Ginny's been wonderful with Victoire, always so doting."
Ginny's face flushed a deeper shade of red. "Mum!" she exclaimed, nearly choking on the word. She turned back to Narcissa, forcing a strained smile. "I'm just her aunt. I babysit for my brother and his wife."
There was a brief, charged silence as Ginny's words hung in the air, and Ginny watched as Narcissa's shoulders seemed to relax, just slightly. Draco let out a breath he'd clearly been holding, his eyes closing for a moment as relief washed over him.
"Well, it's been lovely catching up," Ginny said, shifting Victoire on her hip. "But I should get her back to her parents. You know how it is." Ginny offered Narcissa and Draco a strained smile. "It was, um, nice to see you both."
"Yes," Narcissa murmured, her gaze lingering on the baby for a moment longer. "Likewise."
With a final, polite nod, Ginny turned and walked away, her heart still pounding as she wove through the crowd. She glanced down at Victoire, who was now chewing contentedly on her tiny fist.
"Oh, Victoire," she muttered under her breath, "you almost got your auntie into a right mess back there."
As they walked away from the encounter, Molly glanced back over her shoulder at the Malfoys, a puzzled smile on her face.
"That was so strange," she mused aloud, shaking her head. "I'm surprised they even came over to talk to us. Narcissa Malfoy, of all people! So odd!"
Ginny, still recovering from the confrontation, let out a tense laugh. "Yeah, odd," she muttered, trying to keep her voice steady.
Molly seemed oblivious to her daughter's discomfort as she continued, "I mean, they've never been the type to just stop for a chat, have they? Especially with us. What do you think that was all about?"
Ginny shrugged, her grip tightening on Victoire as she struggled to come up with a plausible explanation. "Who knows, Mum? Maybe they're just trying to...I don't know, be more social?"
Molly shook her head thoughtfully. "No, I don't think that's it. They looked like they'd seen a ghost. And did you see how they kept staring at Victoire? It was like they couldn't believe their eyes."
Ginny forced a tight smile, trying desperately to steer the conversation elsewhere. "Yeah, well, maybe they're not used to seeing happy people."
Molly huffed out a small laugh but kept going. "No, that's not it either. They were really fixated on her. I wonder if it's because Victoire is so blonde? Maybe she reminded them of someone in their family."
Ginny felt like her face was on fire. "Probably just surprised to see a Weasley with anything but red hair," she said quickly, then cleared her throat, grasping for any topic that didn't involve babies or Malfoys. "Anyway, did you hear George is thinking of expanding Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes to Hogsmeade?"
But Molly wasn't letting it go. "No, that's not it either. It was more than just surprise. It was like they were trying to figure something out, especially Narcissa - like she was putting together some kind of puzzle." She shook her head again, clearly baffled. "And Draco looked so uncomfortable, like he'd seen a ghost. I've never seen him like that, not even during the worst of the war…"
"Mum, let's just drop it, okay?" Ginny said, her voice tight, but Molly was too lost in her own thoughts.
"I mean, why would they be acting like that? Unless…" She trailed off, a confused look crossing her face. "Wait. Ginny."
Ginny froze, her heart plummeting. "Mum, please-"
But Molly wasn't listening, her eyes widening as the pieces clicked into place. "Did they think-" She turned to Ginny, her voice rising in shock. "Ginevra Molly Weasley, did they think Victoire might be Draco's daughter? With you?"
Ginny cringed, her face flaming. "Mum, it's not-"
Molly's eyes widened further, her voice filled with disbelief. "Ginny, did you actually…were you and Draco Malfoy…involved?"
Ginny groaned, her shoulders slumping. "Mum, it was just a short fling, okay? It happened two years ago, and it's long over. It didn't mean anything."
Molly took a deep breath, her face pale. "And you…you must have…Oh, sweet Merlin," she whispered, her hand flying to her mouth. "You were - Ginny, were you even careful?"
Ginny's face turned a deeper shade of red, and she looked around desperately, hoping no one could overhear. "Mum!" she hissed, horrified. "This is not the place to have this conversation!"
But Molly was on a roll, her eyes wide with a combination of disbelief and fury. "Ginevra, I cannot believe you would be so reckless! Of all the people to not be careful with…"
Ginny thought she might actually die of embarrassment right there in the middle of Diagon Alley. "Mum, please!" she begged, her voice barely a whisper. "Of course we were careful! I'm not that stupid!"
Molly's hand went to her chest as if she'd narrowly avoided a heart attack. "Well, it certainly didn't look like it back there!...A fling…" she repeated faintly. "You and Draco Malfoy. Ginny, why didn't you say anything?"
Ginny looked down, her voice small. "Because I knew it was a mistake, and it was over almost as soon as it began. I didn't want everyone making it into a bigger deal than it was. It wasn't serious."
Molly's anger seemed to deflate, her expression shifting from frustration to concern. "Oh, Ginny," she said softly, her voice full of regret. "What a mess."
Ginny nodded miserably. "Yeah, tell me about it. This is not exactly how I pictured my day going."
Molly sighed, shaking her head as they continued down the street. The silence between them felt heavy, the tension still hanging in the air. She glanced over at Ginny, taking in her daughter's flushed cheeks and tight grip on Victoire. Molly's heart softened. She knew she had overreacted. Ginny was an adult, and whatever had happened with Draco was long in the past. She reached out and gave Ginny's arm a gentle squeeze, offering a small, tentative smile. "I'm sorry, dear. I didn't mean to make it worse."
Ginny nodded, her shoulders relaxing just a bit. They walked on in silence for a few more moments, but the awkwardness still lingered. Molly, never one to let things stay uncomfortable for long, took a deep breath and decided to try lightening the mood. "You know," she said, as if she were sharing a harmless secret, "I had the biggest crush on Lucius Malfoy when we were at school."
Ginny stumbled mid-step, clutching Victoire tighter as she nearly tripped over her own feet. "Mum!" she hissed, her face flushing bright red. "Please, for the love of Merlin, stop! We are not having this conversation."
Molly chuckled, undeterred. "I'm just trying to tell you that I understand, that's all. He was very handsome back then, all sharp cheekbones and that aloof charm."
Ginny's eyes widened in horror. "Mum, no. I do not want to hear this. This is not helping!"
Molly shrugged, trying to hide a smile. "I'm just saying, I know what it's like to be drawn to the wrong kind of boy. You can't help who you're attracted to."
Ginny let out a strangled groan, quickening her pace. "Mum, I'm begging you. Please stop talking."
Molly sped up to keep pace with her daughter, her voice light and teasing. "Well, it's true! Draco is a good-looking boy, after all. I can see why you'd be tempted."
Ginny whirled around, her eyes blazing with frustration. "Mum, seriously! I don't want to have this conversation with you! It was a mistake, okay? It was stupid and impulsive and-" She threw her hands up in exasperation. "Why are we even talking about this?"
Molly raised her hands in mock surrender, trying not to laugh. "All right, all right, I'm sorry! I just don't want you to feel bad about it. It's in the past, and we all make mistakes when it comes to love."
Ginny glared at her mother, still flushed with embarrassment. "Well, you're not helping! This is literally the last thing I want to talk about right now!"
Molly's eyes twinkled mischievously. "Fine, I'll drop it. But just so you know, you could have done worse. He's certainly an improvement on that Corner boy you used to date."
Ginny let out a half-laugh, half-groan, covering her face with her hands. "Oh my God, Mum, stop!"
Molly grinned, leaning in to whisper conspiratorially. "But you have to admit, a grandchild with Malfoy looks and Weasley spunk would've been quite the combo. Those genes are something else."
Ginny handed Victoire swiftly off to Molly, her exasperated yell echoing down the street as she stormed ahead, and Molly's laughter followed her, light and carefree, breaking through the awkwardness at last.
The atmosphere at Malfoy Manor was quieter than usual as Draco and Narcissa stepped inside, the faint sound of crackling flames coming from the nearby drawing room. Draco felt like he'd been put through the wringer, his mind still spinning from their encounter in Diagon Alley. He followed his mother reluctantly, his steps heavy.
Lucius Malfoy looked up from his armchair as they entered, his demeanor composed but his gaze keen. "Ah, there you are," he said, setting aside his book. "How was your trip to the market?"
Narcissa gave a delicate sigh as she removed her gloves, a slight frown creasing her brow. "Oh, it was eventful, to say the least. Draco saw a baby and thought it might be his."
Lucius's eyebrows shot up, his expression shifting to one of incredulous annoyance. He turned his gaze to Draco, who was standing awkwardly by the door, looking thoroughly miserable. "Is that so?" Lucius said, his voice dangerously calm. "A baby that you thought you might have fathered?"
Draco shifted uncomfortably under his father's gaze, running a hand through his hair. "I - it was just a misunderstanding," he muttered, avoiding Lucius's eyes.
Narcissa raised an eyebrow, folding her arms. "Oh, really? Because from where I was standing, it looked exactly like you thought you had an illegitimate child."
Lucius's expression darkened, his voice low. "Draco, what have you been up to that would make you panic at the sight of a baby? You know how this reflects on our family."
Draco's face flushed with embarrassment. "I wasn't up to anything. It was just a…brief, stupid mistake a while ago. And when I saw them with the baby, I - I panicked, all right?"
Narcissa's eyes narrowed. "So there was something to panic about?" She sighed, rubbing her temples as if warding off a headache. "For Merlin's sake, Draco, do you have any idea what you were risking?"
Draco groaned, his frustration mounting. "I know, Mother. I wasn't thinking clearly. It was just - seeing them like that threw me off."
"Clearly," Narcissa snapped. "And what if it had been your child? Were you planning on introducing me to my unexpected grandchild in the middle of Diagon Alley?"
Lucius shook his head slowly, his voice tight with controlled irritation. "I expect more discretion from you, Draco. If you're going to be reckless, at least have the sense to manage the consequences properly."
"I wasn't being reckless!" Draco snapped, then winced at his own tone. "I mean, nothing actually happened!"
Narcissa's gaze softened, but only slightly. "We're not just annoyed because of the spectacle, Draco. You can't afford these kinds of errors in judgment. We've worked too hard to regain our standing."
Draco hung his head, his parents' disappointment thick in the air. "I know. I'm sorry. It won't happen again."
Narcissa sighed, "You're too old to be making these kinds of mistakes, Draco. If there's even a chance you could have thought that baby was yours, then you've been far too careless."
Lucius shook his head, exasperation evident in his tone. "Tell me, Draco, should I be expecting a parade of bastards to show up at our doorstep, or was this a one-time lapse in judgment?"
Draco winced, rubbing the back of his neck. "It was a mistake. A stupid mistake. There aren't any others."
Lucius's eyes narrowed. "You're sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure!" Draco replied, his voice tight with frustration and embarrassment. "It's not like that for Merlin's sake!"
Lucius leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "We're not just talking about this for the sake of it, Draco. You can't go around acting like an impulsive schoolboy. It's time to grow up."
Draco felt the reprimand keenly, but he couldn't bring himself to argue. "I get it. I will. I promise."
Narcissa and Lucius exchanged a look, their shared exasperation clear. Then Narcissa's gaze softened, just a bit. "We just want you to be careful, Draco. For your sake, and for ours."
"I know," Draco muttered, his voice low. "I'm sorry."
Narcissa sighed, then finally relented, her tone lightening. "Well, I suppose the trip wasn't a complete disaster. At least we didn't actually end up with a surprise addition to the family."
Lucius let out a breath, a hint of reluctant amusement in his eyes. "Small mercies, I suppose."
Draco managed a weak smile, finally meeting his parents' eyes. "I really am sorry."
Narcissa gave him a long, measured look, then nodded. "All right, Draco. Just…try to use your head next time."
Lucius leaned forward, his gaze still hard. "Yes, use your head, Draco. The one on your shoulders."
Draco's face turned crimson, and he gritted his teeth, mortification flooding him. "Yes, Father. I understand."
Draco stood motionless for a moment, before realizing that no more words were being thrown in his direction. Sensing that he was free to go, he turned and started for his room.
Narcissa watched him go, then turned to Lucius, who was still shaking his head in disbelief. "You'll never believe who the baby really belonged to," she said, her voice edged with exasperation.
Lucius raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Who?"
Narcissa leaned in slightly, lowering her voice as if sharing a scandalous secret. "It was the youngest Weasley girl's niece. Draco thought it was his."
Lucius blinked, the information taking a moment to sink in. Then his eyes widened with shock and disbelief. "The Weasley girl? Draco!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the hall. "Get back in here!"
There was a momentary pause, then Draco cautiously popped his head back around the door, his expression wary. "Yes?"
Lucius fixed him with an incredulous stare. "Weasley? Really, Draco? Of all the witches in the world?"
Draco grimaced, his shoulders hunching slightly. "It was just a brief thing, all right? It didn't mean anything."
Lucius let out a long, exasperated sigh, his eyes narrowing. "Make better choices, idiot. You're a Malfoy. You don't get to have 'brief things' with Weasleys."
Draco shrugged helplessly, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Yeah, I know. I'm sorry."
Lucius shook his head, waving his hand dismissively. "Get out of here before I say something we'll both regret."
Draco nodded quickly, slipping out of the room without another word.
As the door closed behind him, Lucius turned back to Narcissa, still shaking his head in disbelief. "A Weasley," he muttered. "How on earth did we end up with a son who thinks that is a good idea?"
Narcissa's lips twitched in a reluctant smile. "It seems even Malfoys can be fools in love."
Lucius snorted, though his eyes held a trace of reluctant amusement. "Love? Merlin, I hope not. I don't think I could handle any more surprises."
Narcissa patted his arm lightly. "I think it's safe to say we've had enough excitement for one day."
Draco trudged down the long corridor of Malfoy Manor, his father's words still echoing in his ears. Make better choices, idiot. He grimaced. It wasn't like he didn't already know that. All he wanted now was to retreat to his room and let the embarrassment of the day slowly fade away.
As he pushed open the door to his room, he was greeted by an unexpected sight: a sleek, familiar-looking owl perched on his windowsill, staring at him with unblinking amber eyes. His heart sank.
Ginny's owl.
Draco's stomach twisted with a mix of curiosity and dread. He approached the bird cautiously, as if it might explode. The owl hooted softly and extended its leg, a small roll of parchment tied to it. Draco hesitated, then untied the note, feeling a sense of inevitability settle over him.
He unrolled the parchment and stared down at the single word written in Ginny's familiar, bold handwriting:
Idiot.
Draco let out a long sigh, then slumped back against his desk, a reluctant, wry smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, that's fair," he muttered, folding the parchment and slipping it into his pocket.
He glanced at the owl, which ruffled its feathers and tilted its head, as if waiting for a response.
Draco shook his head. "There's no argument to make," he said to the bird. "She's right."
The owl hooted once more, then spread its wings and took off into the night. Draco snorted, shaking his head as he folded the note. He slipped the parchment away, still smiling. "I've been called worse."
