A Gilded Cage

Disclaimer: I still don't own Harry Potter or anyone for that matter. I'm just a poor college student.

Author’s Note: So I guess I should mention, this is really not along the lines of anything. Lol. Draco never became a death eater, Dumbles is still alive ( even if I don’t trust the conniving old man) and so is Severus (cause I cried lots when he died and will no doubt cry more during the movie). Draco married Pansy Parkinson (obviously) and had Scorpius as well as Maria (cause I like the name). And also Draco and Harry never really liked each other, but there wasn’t that all consuming hate thing. So it’s easier for them to forgive and forget then it would be in the actual timeline… so now that that’s done. Enjoy! ^_^
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It had been a couple weeks since Harry had come to his office offering to endorse him in the ministry election. The ministry had become even more busy since then. He had met earlier than anticipated with the Muggle officials and the Minister of Magic had suggested that they join them at the party that would be held that evening. Everyone running for an office would be there greeting the wealthy and the poor alike. The party was open to everyone, which made it slightly more dangerous than any other event that had happened lately. But Harry had thought it would be the best place to endorse Draco. Draco, reluctantly had agreed. When he thought back to the day Potter came to him, he couldn’t help but smirk. Pansy had instantly drilled him that evening on what Potter was doing there to begin with.

“Why was Potter at your office?” she asked suspiciously after Draco returned from tucking in their children,

“He wanted to let me know he was planning on endorsing me in the election.” he said as if he didn’t deem it too important. Pansy instantly forced his attention to her,

“Draco you don’t really believe him?” she asked sneering, “He’s going to embarrass you in front of the whole ministry! We won’t be able to show ourselves in public again!” she screamed suddenly angry. Draco never could understand how a woman could go from calm to angry in only a few seconds. His mother had been very good at it, and Pansy had done it in school. He never imagined it could get worse when one married,

“Pansy, If it comes to that, I can merely say he was acting on childish actions from childhood.” he said removing his robe and handing it to Tippy, who by this time was quite a bit older and slower. She bowed and took it to be cleaned even as Pansy started to rant. Draco had learned by now to ignore her, or simply nod and agree. He picked up the prophet and sat in a chair in front of the fireplace. Pansy continued to rant behind him, not seeming to realize she was being ignored. Her yelling continued to raise in volume until a sniffing child appeared in the door. Pansy instantly fell silent and Draco put the paper down offering his arms to child. Pansy frowned and headed towards the bathroom, ignoring her husband and daughter. Draco held the sobbing child and wondered if that’s how his own mother had acted when he was Maria’s age.


He shook his head, thinking of that night made him want to cry himself. His children didn’t deserve to be treated as if they were insignificant. He never saw Pansy as that type, but he supposed, like his mother, marriage had changed her views. He stared at the documents on his desk before waving his wand and sending them into their separate drawers to be worked on later. He still had a few hours before the ministry’s little party, so he decided to get ready and then see what he could do to perhaps help.

As he stepped out the door of his office he was greeted with Cassandra dressed in a tight red dress with Potter smiling and leaning towards her. She seemed to giggle at something he said before she turned to see Draco standing there. He was boiling, but he wasn’t quite sure why. Yes, as a young man he had a crush on Potter, but he hadn’t felt those feelings in quite some time. He shook his head,

“Harry, you’re a bit early.” he said forcing a convincing looking smile. Cassandra knew the smile to be fake and backed a bit away from Harry who didn’t seemed to notice the forced smile,

“I thought I’d find my date for this evening.” he said motioning to Cassandra who smiled a bit but flinched when Draco’s gaze fell upon her, “You don’t mind do you?” he asked noting for the first time the look Draco was throwing her,

“No of course not. I just wonder what her boyfriend would say about it.” he said shrugging. Harry arched an eyebrow,

“He won’t be coming unfortunately.” she said, “And, H- Mr. Potter.” she corrected quickly, “offered to be my date this evening.” she explained and Draco simply nodded and headed towards the elevators. He heard Harry say something to Cassandra and then the stomping of feet as he ran after him. The other man didn’t say anything but settled beside him in the elevator. When the doors closed her finally spoke,

“You know, you keep acting like that someone’s going to be suspicious.” Harry said and Draco nearly choked as he took a deep breath, “I mean, she’s cute, but your wife would kill her.” he said smacking Draco on the back with a concerned look. Draco just stared at him hair falling into his face. He had thought for a moment that Harry had discovered his hidden secret. But happily he had not. He finally straightened pushing his hair back into some semblance of order,

“I assure you Potter I have no interest in her… Pansy would indeed kill her.”



Draco couldn’t believe this. Pansy had shown up dropped off the children and disappeared leaving him alone with two young children and a group of potentially dangerous witches and wizards. The Muggle representatives stood close to him and their wives crooned over the children, giving him a bit of a chance. Harry had yet to arrive with Cassandra and he began to worry that Pansy had been right. But within moments of that thought Harry entered with Cassandra on his arm. He had chosen dark green dress robes that darkened his eyes along to match.
The prophet instantly descended upon him, like vultures coming in on a fresh kill. He smiled charmingly, introducing Cassandra as a friend. He also hinted at an important announcement later that evening. They grinned and continued to shoot off questions until he excused himself. He smiled at Draco as he approached,

“I saw Pansy come in with the children and then leave. So I ran out and bought a few things.” he knelt to the ground waving the two over. Scorpius gladly ran over, Maria was a bit more timid, but with a bit of coaching from her father walked over to Harry. He smiled presenting the girl with a new doll and the boy with a signed Quidditch poster that he seemed genuinely excited about. Both children instantly showed their father faces brightened considerably. Draco nodded and glanced at Harry who was watching them with a father like pride. That perplexed Draco. The man had his own children from what he knew. With that… Ginerva Weasley. Why would he need to spoil someone else’s children, and he wondered what Ginerva would think of Harry walking around with the lovely Cassandra on his arm. He stored it away to ask later.

The prophet had been watching their interactions carefully all night. They already seemed to know what Harry’s announcement was before he made it. But that didn’t keep them from fighting the rest of the papers for a front row seat when he finally announced that he would like to make a statement to the press.

Draco’s nervousness returned full force as he watched Harry take center stage. Something he had done so often as a student without trying,

“Now… I’m sure you’ve all heard from the prophet that I have an important announcement to make. Well I lied, I have two announcements to make. The first is something that Ginerva has been waiting for me to say. We have officially split due to differences, but we are still friends. Now you can all stop hounding her for an answer. I’ve given it to you.” Draco shrugged. It seemed his question had already been answered, Ginerva had left Potter,

“ The second is the most important. For this upcoming election we have a good group of diverse wizards running for the Minister of Magic. And out of all those candidates, I believe that Draco Malfoy is the best candidate. So yes this means I am officially backing Draco.” he said even before the question was asked,

“We can’t forever blame the child for the sins of the father.” he said as silence met his response. Cassandra looked worried but started clapping, which was soon followed by most of the hall. People were talking loudly to one another as Harry stepped off the platform and shook Draco’s hand.

The flash of photography made Draco blink to clear his vision. It took him a moment too long to realize that someone was standing far too close to his children. He was a tall dark haired wizard, but he didn’t hold a wand but a dagger that was buried at his side as if to hide it. Harry seemed to follow Draco’s gaze and realized the danger. He reacted differently than pulling out his wand and training it on the would-be- attacker. The man seeing he was caught snatched Maria and pulled her towards him,

“Let her go.” Harry said coldly the smile gone from his face. The man shook his head and backed up. Several men joined him wands drawn pointed at Harry and Draco.

“Maria!” Draco took a step towards them and the nameless man pressed the dagger to her throat. He still didn’t speak, but his actions spoke louder than any words,

“Papa!” the girl cried, beginning to sob which shook her small frame. The man was unbalanced as it was, any slip and he could slice the tiny girls throat without meaning to. Harry was trying to devise a plan while Draco looked panicked. It was obvious they had wanted him but he had noticed and they went for what they could take.

The girls sobs intensified and Draco reached out as if to sooth her. Aurors were everywhere within moments wands trained on the small rag tag group. They seemed prepared to panic and the dagger pressed more firmly into soft flesh, the barest line of blood beginning to run down Maria’s throat. She stopped crying and froze as if confused by the new sensation. No one moved, no one knew what to do. Harry did, but it all needed luck to work. He shifted his weight and the attacks saw that, their wands turned to train of him. He froze again watching Maria.

The trembling had began again, but no tears followed. Her eyes were closed tightly and her small fists were holding tightly to her clothes. Harry smirked, yes luck seemed to be on their side. The man holding Maria seemed even more confused by the other mans smirk. Something was going on that he didn’t know about. But a moment later he knew what it was.

A burning began at his sleeves and he instantly let go to douse the flames that had arisen from his clothes. Harry leapt forward snatching the girl as she tumbled from the flailing mans arms. She clung desperately to Harry as the Aurors moved in. Harry stayed crouched low as spells began to launch around the room. He was determined to protect the girl from any more harm. He didn’t move even after no more spells were uttered, and continued to stay crouched in a protective shield until a hand fell on his shoulder,

“Harry you alright Mate?” Harry glanced up at Ron Weasley and nodded smiling,
“Yeah Ron. Thanks. Took your lot long enough.” he said standing hands running soothingly through Maria’s hair,

“Sorry Mate. We do what we can!” the red head responded a sloppy grin on his face. The man had obviously partaken in a bit of drink that evening. Ron waved goodbye after a moment, so he could join the rest of his unit in taking in the wizards. A few had escaped, but they would find them soon enough.

The man that had snatched Maria, was practically crying in agony. No one had bothered to put him out right away when the fight broke loose. The tiny girl had done an impressive bit of accidental magic. There were always good things about being young he supposed.

Slowly he moved over to Draco who had a death grip on a wide eyed Scorpius. Harry Gently handed Maria to Draco who didn’t seem to want to let her even an inch away from him. She cried into his shoulder, and he spoke soothing words to her eyes darting to Harry quietly thanking him. Harry merely shrugged, indicating he hadn’t really done anything at all. He moved closer to the family, watching as the Aurors escorted the group out.

Harry frowned, something wasn’t right. There was someone else pulling the strings here. But he couldn’t quite figure out who it was. The prophet snapped more pictures of the reunited family, and a few with the family and a in thoughts Harry, looking a like a protective family member.

That was the picture that Pansy Malfoy saw that morning. With a scream of rage she threw the thick paper at an unwitting house elf. Who squeaked in pain and collected the paper to escape their mistress’ anger.

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Hahahaha it’s *glances at clock* 4:33 in the morning and here I am finishing this story. My goodness. Good thing I don’t have class tomorrow or I would not be getting up ^-^;


Thrnbrooke: here you go the third chapter… I’m enjoying writing this. ^_^ you also receive a s’more. Cause they’re yummy-ness!

Black Padfoot: Glad you still like it! *puts out many s'mores* help yourself ^-^


PLEASE REVIEW! Reviewing makes me and my other personalities happy ^-^