Harry looked at the woman sleeping on the floor holding a very pretty child in her arms. That's the first thing he noticed as he stepped into Rosewood Villa. Harry himself was a father and he knew that gesture too well.
His heart melted at the sight.
" Mr. Potter"
"Ms. Malfoy"
For a second Harry was startled seeing Narsicca there. Then he realized it was Narsicca who requested an audience to discuss Hermione. Of course she would be there.
Harry cursed himself mentally for his own stupidity.
Harry and Narsicca tip toed away from the lobby by the fireplace and settled in the adjacent area. They could still see sleeping Hermione but if they could keep their voices low, there won't be any chance of waking up the girls .
As Harry settled down, an house elf in a pretty pink polka dress walked in with tea.
Chamomile.
Harry smelled the tea and smiled.
Moine always liked Chamomile tea at night.
She used to say, " it soothes down the nerves and helps you relax and then slooooowly makes you drift into a peaceful sleep".
Of course they needed Chamomile tea today. If he was to discuss the future of his bloodline with Malfoys and unfortunately if Harry had to be obliquely involved with a woman who was soon to become Malfoy's spouse, all hell was bound to break loose. Harry was expecting Draco to be there, his absence puzzled Harry. Where was he?"
Even before he could complete thinking, Draco walked out from the fireplace.
"Oh, so Malfoy is still the roudy bachelor returning late types... greeeeaaaat.... here I am, getting Ginny's howlers amidst late night Ministry meetings and there stands Malfoy the ferret, walking back home past midnight while his mother and Fiancé waits for him patiently... what a luck!!!!"
Harry sighed mentally....
Although the child was asleep and half her face was hidden in Hermione's bosom, the silver hair, the elongated facial structure and the lean athletic built was enough to tell Harry whose child she was.
Harry hoped secretly Ginny would be this good to his kids with Hermione. Sometimes things get complicated and Harry didn't want any complication in his marriage. He loved Ginny and he had no doubts about that.
Suddenly Draco looked conflicted.
He looked everywhere as if he was seeing things for the first time.
Harry had acquired quite an elevated smelling sense during his Auror training and he faintly smelled alcohol as a puzzled Draco spotted them and walked unsteadily towards them.
" Merlin.... how drunk is he? " , Harry felt uncomfortable thinking about confronting a drunken Malfoy in front of his mother regarding sharing of a woman for the purpose of abiding by the Marriage Law.
And suddenly he realized, would he himself be sober if Ginny did something like this and publicly declared about helping Malfoy to have kids while she remained married to Harry?
Hell No. Impossible.
For the first time since Hermione's declaration he felt conflicted.
Was it a good idea?
Honestly speaking, Harry was clueless at this point.
Draco completely ignored Harry.
He walked straight to Narcissa and faced her.
His eyes were red and his hair was disheveled.
" What place is this?", his question startled Harry.
But Narcissa didn't answer him, she gestured him to sit as she herself spoke soft yet firmly, "Tempa, please awaken Missy and Mini, the visitors are here".
The house elf nodded and scurried over towards the sleeping girls to obey her mistress.
For a moment everything went blank in Harry's head.
VISITORS.... VISITORS.... VISITORS....
And he froze mentally.
Both him and Draco Malfoy were visitors.
Seems things were not exactly in line with his thoughts. Why did his mother referred to Ferret as a visitor?
A very sleepy Hermione walked over to them as she carried the sleeping child in her arms. The child was about five or six years old. May be due to the change of posture, may be due to the movement, the child rose her head and opened her eyes to study the surroundings.
Both Harry and Draco froze.
Their reasons were different, but their shock was equal.
Harry saw a pair of deep brown eyes staring past his soul while Draco saw his " mini me" staring at him with Hermione's eyes.
" Fuck..... when did I screw her!!!!" , cursed Draco in quite an audible voice receiving an instantaneous glare from Narcissa Malfoy.
" Language Draco", she lashed out.
And Harry felt like an eleven year old again,
suddenly entering a world he had absolutely no clue about, a world where everything surprised him. He wanted to figure it out but his brain simply froze. How could it be?
Hermione got settled beside Narscissa and the child climbed down from her mother's lap and staggered towards Harry.
" Are you Harry Potter?", she asked curiously.
Putting his own feelings aside, Harry smiled broadly at her and said, " Oh yeah, and who are you?"
The girl gave a big smile and said, " I am Minerva Ginerva Malfoy, daughter of Hermione Granger and grand daughter of Narsicca Malfoy."
Harry's smile faded.
Minerva- Ginerva..... Mrs McGonagall-Ginny.... so they both know. And none..... Ah.... the secrecy vow. So thats why she asked not to judge. Suddenly Harry felt relaxed. Ginny said him so much without saying anything... what a smart wife he has...
" So, Minerva- Ginerva.... do you have any simpler name?", asked Harry smiling.
" Missy...", the child said with a smile and Harry saw that two of her front tooth were missing. It was so adorable. Harry himself had two sons. Both Harry and Ginny were obsessed with a daughter. No doubt, Harry felt his fatherly emotions rising.
" Can I get your Autograph Mr. Potter? Mom said you are one of the greatest wizard of all the times, as good as Dumbledore himself. Even friends at school says Harry Potter is the Light Bearer of our times. Can I take a selfie with you Sir? I will show everyone that I know you.... "
Harry burst out laughing.
" Yes my Little Lady. But only if I get a "Missy Hug first".
The girl was overwhelmed.
She jumped into his embrace.
And thats when Harry felt it.
A burst of something unknown. Something strong.... something weak... something fresh.... something decaying..... something simple... something complex.... her life force was stronger than expected. She had much stronger magic in her blood than Harry's own kids. But why did he sense the decay? What disease could prevent Hermione Granger, the greatest healer of the era, from saving her own child?
He gave a startled look at Hermione.
For the first time in almost ten years their eyes met.
And like old days, she nodded. She understood. She reciprocated. Harry felt a current of happiness sipping into his heart. Many what ifs melted away with that one nod. It was still that old Hermione deep down, Harry had no reason to feel uncomfortable.
Missy took a couple of selfies with Harry and only after calming down a bit did she notice Draco.
" We are related. Isn't it?", she naively asked Draco.
Harry wanted to laugh out loud.
" Bravo Mionie".... he tried to reached out to her using occlumancy. He felt she received the message. But wasn't very sure. Her guards were way too up.
Things were really complicated. Huh!!!
The ferret was really in the dark!!!!
Awesome.
Draco tried to smile at the child. But it was evident he was still in deep trauma. He stretched his hand and Missy obediently walked to him.
And just like Harry, Draco too looked up with a shocked expression. Only that, he didn't look at Hermione. He looked at his mother.
A similar silent interaction took place between the mother son duo before Draco let go of his daughter.
Only after Tempa took Missy away for a midnight snack that Draco dared to speak.
" Before everything else, what's wrong with her?"
Harry nodded in dismay. Even he knew what's wrong. How couldn't he?
" She is terminally ill a-s-s-h-o-l-e", Harry couldn't stop his anger anymore. What a pathetic father Draco would make, he sighed mentally as he cursed loud at the ferret.
Narscissa smiled sadly.
Let's start from the beginning then.