When Draco Met Ginger

The trio landed at the apparition point near the 'Golden Snitch' and walked the few steps to enter the family type wizards' Sports Bar. It was a fairly new establishment, and the Wizardry community flocked to it to see the famous people that were part owners in it.

Draco had found the place, and persuaded the Potters and Weasleys to go into ownership of it with him. He had fronted most of the galleons to get it running, and they all took part in keeping it running. It also gave Fred and George another spot to place one of their shops. From the outside it was deceptively small, but inside it was huge. It had a bar where the WWN broadcasted Quidditch matches, a gift shop featuring the Weasley gags and Chudley Cannons' items, a dining area for families and at night a dancing room opened. The proprietors also had private dining rooms to be away from prying eyes.

“Greetings, Mr Malfoy. The usual room with Miss Granger in attendance?” The maitre d' on duty, Thomas met at them at the doors.

“Yes, Thomas.” They followed the short wizard through the bar to a private room called Narcissa's Garden.

Ginger looked at the plaque and was astonished. The child has her own room at a bar? She doesn't seem all that spoiled. Maybe the Daily Prophet was correct the first time about Malfoy being her father?

“This room was named for my mother, Narcissa Malfoy.” Draco said, reading her look correctly. “And yes, Cissa was named for her. This room fits all the owners and their families. The Weasleys in particular breed like rabbits, and they spend a lot of time here.” He explained further after Cissa ran into the room to play on the giant playground inside.

They went over to where a few tables were and sat down. Thomas handed them menus before leaving, promising a waiter in a few moments to take their orders. Draco lifted a water glass to take a sip while he looked over the choices. Cissa had a standard order of chips, a Muggle cheeseburger and a chocolate shake.

“So if she is really your sister, Lucius Malfoy is her father?” Ginger asked suspiciously, holding the menu in front of her.

Draco choked, spitting water all over himself. He grabbed the folded napkin by his plate and furiously wiped at the water spots staining his silk shirt.

“Lucius Malfoy?” He sputtered. “May have had a hand in creating me, may have once been a loving father to me, but that monster he served changed him. No- Lucius Malfoy was not anyone's father at the end.”

“Her father is the wizard that influenced my life just before the War started, and most likely saved me from a horrible life in Azkaban. He was also my mother's lover from their Hogwarts' days and beyond. If my mother's parents had not had such a loathing for anyone not Toujours Pur, he would have been my father by blood. I call him Dad for all those reasons.”

“You seem awfully accepting that your mother cheated on your father. If my mother had done that to my father, I would have hated that.” Ginger stated, setting her menu down. Not sure of what to order, not even sure she was staying.

“Dad made her happy towards the end of her life. Voldemort had her killed a few years before the Final Battle.” He said as he sat back down, a sad look in his pale grey eyes.

Ginger looked at him shock, she hadn't known that. “But she was a Pureblood, married to a Death Eater? Why would he kill one of his followers?”

“Because I failed my first and only true mission, her death was my punishment. Voldemort may not have had love in his heart, but he knew how to manipulate it to suit his own needs. His plan backfired though, I joined the Order of The Phoenix and became a spy.” Draco looked away, and watched as Cissa slid down a slide before running over to them. She threw her arms around Draco's neck.

“Dray, I'm hungry.” She whispered in his ear, not liking to see her brother so sad.

“I know kitten,” He buried his face into her curly black hair, and his arms held her tight. She was the one constant in his life, and she healed the hurts inside that the past brought.

The waitress entered the room, and took their orders, bringing Cissa's food early as usual.

“They know you well, Miss Granger.” Ginger laughed as the child dug into her food, and sipped her shake.

“It's a secret, Mummy won't let me eat this when she's here. Only when Draco brings me. Oh call me Cissa, my Mummy is Miss Granger.” Cissa smiled and dipped her chip into a mass of ketchup she had splattered onto the edge of her plate.

The waitress returned then, bringing Ginger's and Draco's orders. She set them down in front of them. Cissa looked at Ginger's and crinkled her nose at the sight of the broccoli. “Will there be anything else?” Bridget asked.

“I think Cissa would like a cola now.” Draco smiled up to the waitress, and Cissa drained the last of her shake with a smile. The waitress tapped the rim of the glass with her wand, and it turned into a glass of cola.

“Ring the bell if anything else is needed.” Bridget added before leaving.

“Dray, I'm done,” Cissa said, sticking her last chip in her mouth. “Can I go back and play now?”

“Sure, kitten.” They again watched her run off.

“Kitten?” Ginger asked after hearing it for the third time that day.

“Hermione is a Gryffindor, and their mascot is a lion. So she's a kitten. Her father is Slytherin like me, but I couldn't come up with a snake nickname.” Draco laughed softly. “Hermione is still positive Cissa will be placed in Gryffindor, but I see too much Slytherin in her.”

“She's adorable.” Ginger said.

“She's on her best behavior at the moment. She can be quite the handful when she wants something. Last year she decided to take a stroll through the Dungeons at Hogwarts. It scared Hermione to death, and we didn't find her for hours. She had fallen and hurt herself badly, so Ron and Harry made up this Dungeons Bat story. So far it has kept her up top, but I'm sure she'll wander once again. She doesn't understand that past the Potions classroom and The Slytherin dorms the castle is old and not well taken care of.” Draco explained.

“So is there really a Dungeon bat? Or did they just make it up?” Ginger asked.

“The Gryffindorks, as us Slytherins called them, hated our Head of House, Severus Snape, and because his robes billowed like wings as he walked, they made up the name.” Draco answered.

“Snape? He was a Death Eater also.” Ginger said.

“He was also a spy, for twenty long years. It's a matter of public records after our trials, so I am not revealing anything new. If it wasn't for Dumbledore Pensieve memories, vouches from the Order and the fact his information led to the victory at the Final Battle he and I would have been sent to Azkaban.” Draco shuddered.

Ginger remembered the pictures she had seen in the Daily Prophet from that time of the black haired Dark Wizard. Draco could almost see the wheels in her mind turning as she thought and winced. He had said too much he realized, seeing her hazel eyes turn a deep green as she looked at Cissa.

“Her father was a Death Eater?” Ginger's voice rang loudly through the room, making Cissa turn at the words Death Eater.

“Sh,” Draco cautioned.

“Don't shush me, Mr Malfoy!” Ginger threw her napkin to the table angrily. “I have had enough. Whether or not you both got off cause of your supposed 'spy' work means little to me. You both actively worked as Death Eaters, hurting innocent people.”

Draco felt Cissa's hand in his as the confused child looked up at him. They both watched as Ginger stood up and walked towards the door. Cissa pulled her hand from Draco's and ran after her.

“Miss Wallace, please don't go!” Cissa begged.

“I'm sorry Cissa,” Ginger said, her eyes locked with Draco's. “I thought for a moment I could let go, forget. But I can't.”

Cissa's arms wrapped around Ginger's leg, her face looking up.

“Cis, let go of Miss Wallace.” Draco ordered. “I don't know what I can do to make you change your mind, or why you hate us so much.”

Without another word Ginger Wallace disapparated from the room.