I Am

Well, here's chapter 2. Diddn't get as many reviews as i'd like, but oh well...i have nearly 400 for this story on ff.net, so i suppose i don't really need them on this one. Anywho, here's chapter 2. Hope you all enjoy.

BTW, this is where the grammar and everything else starts getting better, lol. It really smooths out in this chapter, and gets better from here on out.

Anywho, here it is.

ja'ne- Ami

((-))

I Am…

Chapter 2: Playing Daddy and Confrontations

3:30 a.m. What sort of ungodly hour is it? Draco hardly knew what that time of day looked like but, he stared down at his son. Antony had felt it pertinent that he eat at 3:30 a.m. Draco yawned and stretched as much as he could. Even only having Antony for a day he was already worn out. The little guy could eat, sleep, and poop more than anything Draco could think of. And, on top of that Draco’s mother had found out about Antony. Draco quirked a grin. She’d taken it a lot better than he thought she would. It had been an accident that she found out in the first place, but now she knew.

((-))

They had been sitting eating breakfast with Draco yawning widely between bites of toast and jam. So far everything was going well, he hadn’t let anything slip and was still thinking about how to tell his mother she was now a grandmother. His mind kept floating back up to his bedroom where his tiny son lay in his crib sleeping. He yawned again. And that was when Daniella bounced into the dining room carrying another tray of wonderful fruit, and Draco noticed with a shred of horror, a bottle. He tried to magic it away but his mother had seen it.

Narcissa cleared her throat and Daniella stopped, realizing her mistake. Her eyes went wide and unerringly went to Draco. Narcissa’s sharp mind saw it.

“Well, fuck…” Draco mumbled.

“And just why, my dearest most beloved son would Daniella be bringing a bottle to our table?” She asked straightening her back and looking intently at her son.

Well this wasn’t turning out how he wanted it. He had wanted to sit her down and tell her delicately, but he supposed this would do.

He sighed and ran a hand through his long silver hair. “Well, because mother. Babies need to eat.”

“And where is there a baby in this house? Hmm?” He could tell in her voice that there was no disapproval but more, curiosity.

“Well, apparently I have fathered a child, well a son. And,” he sighed deeply hating Veronica in that instant, “his mother did not feel up to the challenge of raising him. So last night I found him outside my balcony door, no name, nothing but a blanket and basket and a birthday. What kind of man would I be to leave him?”

To his surprise when he looked up he found his mother silent with tears rolling down her face, and a huge smile brightening her aura. She got up gracefully as always and went over to him. She knelt in the floor and took his hand in hers.

“I will have you know, my son, that I knew this day would come. I had hoped that you would be married when this happened, but it seems fate has chosen a different path for you. Now, I wish to see my grandson. But, “ she paused and smiled. “What is my grandson’s name? You said he had none when he arrived last night. I am interested to see what such a name you have come up with.”

Draco stood and brought his mother with him. This was going way better than he had expected. His mother seemed to be ecstatic that she had a grandson even though Draco was but 17 and the child was conceived out of wedlock. But that would never matter to his mother, or for that matter him. Antony was his son, an even if he was an “illegitimate” child, he was still his child, and now, no matter what, his heir. He would be raised as a Malfoy Heir.

“His name is Antonius Marquel Malfoy, after Grand-dad and Great-Grandfather. They were the two who taught me the most so I felt I should name my son after then men who molded me. You know call him Antony for short.”

Narcissa smiled. “That is a fine name. And a name I’m sure your grandfather’s would be proud of.”

He led his mother by the hand, Daniella following closely behind, bottle still in hand. They were silent until they entered the room. It seemed Antony was awake now and found one of his teddy bears fascinating. Narcissa rushed to the crib leaning on the rail and staring down at her grandson. Draco and Daniella both flanked her and looked down with her. Narcissa was smiling. Antony had noticed her and now the bear seemed completely obsolete. He stared at her with those wide violet eyes and his little mouth turned up into what Draco was sure was his first smile.

Narcissa reached into the crib and picked Antony up carefully cradling him. The small baby found Narcissa’s long blond tresses fascinating an grabbed a handful gently pulling on them. Narcissa’s chime like laughter filled the room and Draco couldn’t help but join her.

((-))

Narcissa hadn’t let Antony out of her arms the whole rest of the day. Draco could only watch and smile. He had wanted to bring his mother this sort of happiness for as long as he remembered. Her face was bright and full of life and hope, and when she looked down at her grandson it lit up even more. She saw a future there, another chance as it were. Draco knew without a doubt that Antony would be spoiled beyond belief.

But now, at 3:30 well, he looked at the clock 3:45 a.m. it was just the two of them. He looked down and found Antony sleeping yet still sucking on the bottle, which by now was nearly gone. He gently removed the bottle and set it on the bedside table. He shifted his young son and got off the bed. He laid the baby in his crib and laid him down. With a final light kiss to the tiny forehead Draco padded over to his own bed and climbed in it. The lights went dim but not completely out.

Sleep though did not claim him as he so hoped it would. So many thoughts pervaded his mind he could barley keep them straight. But the first one that came up was school. Gods…school started less than a month. More like 3 weeks to be exact. And just last week he’d received his notification of his Head Boy status, his duties, book list, and course outline. He sighed. His mother had offered to watch Antony while he was away, but even in the 24 hours he and Antony had been together they had formed a bond Draco knew he’d never had with his father. He didn’t know if he could survive 4 months, much less one week without seeing or holding his son. He could on the other hand speak with Dumbledore about it, arrange for a private room, and see if he could bring Daniella. That way someone would be there to take care of him while he was in class, and he could see him whenever he wanted.

But, how to keep people from finding out?

It wasn’t that he didn’t want people to know, but if his school mates found out he was a father, and a kind caring one at that…well, he didn’t know what they would think. He was supposed to be the pride of Slytherin, their prince. But, on the other hand. He and his housemates had always been unbelievably close. They were there for each other through every trial and tribulation. This would be just another one of those trials. And Pansy and Blaise would support him no matter what. He knew he could count on them. But the rest of the school…no…the rest of the school could not and would not find out about Antony. It was none of their business what he dealt with.

And then there was Veronica. He quieted the growl of fury that rose in his throat. He would kill that bitch. How dare she! She hadn’t even told him she was pregnant. He hadn’t even known. If only she would have told him. He could have helped her, made arrangements. If she hadn’t wanted the baby then surely he would have told her he would take it. But this…this was just brutal and horrible. She had left their child to abandonment, neither wanting it, nor loving it. And perhaps if he hadn’t woken up to the knocking then Antony would have…Draco shut the thought out of his mind. He would not even think of the “could have”s that might have come about.

He shifted restlessly. He was unbelievable tired, but his mind would not shut off. He kept thinking about things, everything.

How was he going to do it? How was he going to be the father that Antony needed him to be? He was just a 17 year old kid! This part of his life wasn’t supposed to happen for another 5 years at least, and even then he was supposed to be married and stabilized. Not still in school and living at home with his mother.

But as his mother had said fate had a different path in mind.

And he would play the hand he was dealt.

He flung his arms down on his bed and got up. He tread silently to his enormous bathroom and opened the cabinet where he kept all of his potions. He pulled out a bottle of his best sleeping potion, shut the cabinet and walked back into his bedroom. He checked once more on Antony before climbing back into bed. He downed the potion in a single gulp and fell blissfully asleep.

((-))

When he woke light was streaming in under the heavy curtains. He looked at the clock. Hells bells, it was nearly noon!

Draco jumped out of bed and rushed to the crib. Antony was blissfully asleep. There was an empty bottle on the bedside table next to the one he’d fed him early that morning. Someone had fed him, played with him, changed him, and put him down for a nap. There were only two people he could think of that would do that. His mother or Daniella.

He sighed. Thank the gods for both of them. He transferred the baby into the bassinette his mother had produced yesterday and wheeled it into the bathroom. He was in desperate need of a shower. He stripped and turned the shower on. One last check on Antony and he got in savoring the feel of the soft water rushing down. For an instant he was simply a 17 year old boy again simply hopping in the shower before running off to go flying or go hang out with friends. He shampooed his hair, which he realized was nearly 4 inches longer than it had been at the end of school. Oh well. He finished his shower and wrapped a big white towel around his waist. He got out and found Antony wide eyed and gurgling. It made him smile.

Come to think of it, it was hard for him not to smile around Antony. The tiny baby’s very presence made him want to smile. And it seemed Antony felt the same about Draco for when he looked down into the bassinette the baby gurgled and smiled at him.

“Alright bud, you stay right there and let daddy get dressed. Then we’ll get you dressed and go downstairs to see Grandmother.” Draco told him.

Draco went about his normal routine finally winding up wearing a pair of designer jeans, with the matching brown designer belt. His favorite designer t-shirt and his absolute favorite pair of flip-flops. He rolled the bassinette back out into his bedroom, picked Antony up and set him in the bouncy chair on the bed. (Once again, his mother had conjured up more baby things.)

“Alright, so what shall we put you in today? Grandmother put that thing on you yesterday and you looked like a little poodle. Nope, no son of mine will wear those frou-frou outfits. I think something more…comfortable.”

Draco opened the armoire and rummaged. “No, no, no, no, no…ack! What in the Goddess’ name did Mother put in here.” It seemed everything Draco flicked passed had frills of some sort on it. There was nothing even remotely boyish. He grabbed his own wand and waved it in front of the clothes. Instantly they all changed. He finally wound up choosing a blue onsie and some tiny little blue jeans. No shoes though, they had tried that yesterday and Antony had protested so loudly and profusely they had decided that that would be a trial for another day. He laid the clothes out on the bed then grabbed the things he’d need to change him.

This was the part he did effortlessly. He’d always been a quick learner, and as many diapers as he’d changed yesterday…he was a pro. From what Mother had said yesterday he was lucky. “Most babies,” she’d said, “Do not like to have their diapers changed. Antony seems perfectly fine with the whole process.”

Diaper changed Draco set about dressing him. Now this was the challenge. His mother had done it yesterday and he hadn’t paid much attention. But how hard could it be? I mean come on, there wasn’t much fabric, and only a few snaps, and he did do very well in school. This honestly couldn’t be that hard…right?

Twenty minutes and several failed attempts later Draco snapped the last button and examined his son. It seemed to him that they were all snapped into the right places. He’d have Daniella make sure. He picked Antony up and settled him on his shoulder, slid his wand in a hidden pocket, and exited his room. Daniella came rushing up the stairs nearly knocking in Draco and Antony.

“Oh, thank the gods you’re up.” she said slightly breathless.

Instinctively Draco held Antony slightly closer. “What? What’s happened?” he asked.

“It’s Dame McDowell…and…”

“Veronica” Draco growled the name.

“Exactly, They’re here, they just arrived they’re in the parlor with your mother. And,” they started down the stairs, “it’s not just them, it’s her brothers and sisters too. Here to defend her honor so they say. I think they’ve got things mixed up. You might want to grab that note and maybe one she’s written you before.”

Draco was so furious he was nearly shaking with it. He held out a hand and instantly a box with every letter including the one that had come with Antony was in his hand. They entered the parlor, Draco barley able to contain his rage and Daniella walking behind him containing her own rage. She had never liked the girl.

“There he is! There’s the thieving bastard!” Darren McDowell rose off the couch as if to start toward Draco.

“You take one more step closer to my son or my grandchild and I will personally take pleasure of relieving you of your ability to have children.” Narcissa rose and her voice was dripping with venom.

Apparently her threat sunk in for Darren paled and sat back down.

Draco stepped forward clutching Antony to his chest. “I would like to know what accusations are being brought against me. From what I can gather I’ve done something horrible.” His voice was like cold steel.

“My dear, these…people” his mother spat the word. “Are trying to tell me that you kidnapped your own child. That you came into Veronica’s private place of residence and stole the sleeping child from her crib.”

Draco caught it. They knew Veronica had had a baby, but even the own dimwitted girl had kept the baby’s sex a secret.

Draco laughed, a roaring deep laugh. Ah! The girl was so stupid!!!

Dame McDowell stood up looking outraged. “And just what is so funny?! This is a serious matter.”

Draco’s mirth overwhelmed him. “Woman you are blind! And just what is the baby’s name? Hmm?”

“I…it’s…um…”

“Or maybe Veronica should tell us. I would think that the baby’s own mother would surely know it’s name.” Draco sneered at Veronica. “Well V. What is it? What is our child’s name?”

Veronica paled and started stammering incoherent things.

“You see! You see! She doesn’t even know the name of her own child because she never named it! She never had any intention of keeping it! And I will have you know that your granddaughter, Dame McDowell, is not a girl!” Draco carefully shifted Antony so that he sat back against his chest. “HE, is my son, and he was left on my balcony in a basket with nothing but a note as to where he had come from. And his name is Antonius Marquel Malfoy. And you will have nothing further to do with him!”

Antony kicked his tiny legs as if in complete agreement with his father.

Dame McDowell sat back down in a flurry of her overly expensive dress robes. “Veronica” she whispered. “Is this true?”

Veronica stood. “Of course it isn’t true! How dare you Draco!? How dare you?” she went over to him and reached taking Antony out of Draco’s arms. Antony went into a fit. He screamed and cried and kicked his tiny legs. Veronica stared at him completely unaware of what to do.

“YOU IDIOT!” Draco raged and carefully pried Antony out of her hands. “Don’t you know anything?! He’s only an infant, you can’t just pick him up like that! He’s too small! He can’t even hold his head up on his own!” Antony snuggled into his father’s arms and immediately stopped his crying. Draco cradled him soothing him with whispers and a rocking motion.

He turned his head up to glare at Veronica, she paled under it. “You were always to stupid for your own good. I normally don’t go for dumb broads.” He whispered so that only she could hear. He raised his voice so that everyone could hear him. “You have all been duped. Your own flesh and blood lied to you. She never wanted Antony, she didn’t even tell me she was pregnant. I had no idea there was even a child until three nights ago. Now,” he straightened, “I will take full responsibility and custody of Antony. He will be raised as my heir. But, I want you,” he pointed at Veronica, “and your family to stay away from my family, and that includes my mother, my son, and my household. You will have nothing to do with Antony, and he will not know you. I am sure within a few years I will find a good, respectable woman to be both wife and mother. As far as I am concerned you are nothing to him, and nothing to me. Now get out of my house.”

And with his final words he and Antony exited the parlor. He escaped into the gardens. The one place he had always gone to find solace. He sat down next to the coy pond and situated Antony in his lap so that Antony was looking up at him.

The baby looked up at him and smiled then heaved a heavy sigh as if to say thank you and fell asleep.

“No one, you hear me. No one will ever take you away from me.” Draco whispered.