When Draco Met Ginger

“Twinky get the other elves up and begin to search for Miss Cissa please.” Draco said and stood up. He picked up the small blue teddy bear that Cissa slept with and held it close for a second.

There were still rogue Death Eaters out, young Crabbe and Goyle being just two of them. Their parents had died in the Final Battle, and there had been very little signs of them, just a note pinned on his door one day. They had threatened to 'get him' and anyone he was close to. To him that meant Narcissa and Hermione.

Personally he felt no fear of them, their empty threats could be handled by a flick of his wand. He knew them well enough growing up with them and he was positive he could defeat them easily. Were they foolish enough to break unto the grounds that once welcomed them to do this?

Yes, Hermione was going to rip into him with claws of the lioness she kept sheathed. A mother's love for her child was a force to be reckoned with.


~*~

Ginger took the note from the eagle owl, and he settled upon her bedpost and waited. She didn't recognize the small finely scripted letters, but this was Malfoy's owl. He had delivered so many letters to her dealing with the Cannons goings-on that she felt sure it had to deal with him. She almost threw the letter in the garbage when the owl hooted at her in anger.

“I don't keep owl treats you know that. A piece of bread?” Ginger asked him. The owl hooted again and it seemed to her he shook his head in a no fashion.

“I'm in no mood to deal with more shenanigans from your owner, bird.” Ginger crumpled the letter in her fist. Nightfall made a clicking sound with his beak close to her and she jumped back. Charmer hissed from underneath her bed.

“Just go back to your master, I'll most likely see him Monday at practice anyhow. What ever his little plans with this letter can be dealt with then.” Ginger opened the window and tried to shoo the owl out.

“Come on now- Go!” She yelled and the bird pecked at her hand that still held the note.

“If I read it will you stop?” Ginger asked in exasperation. She was tired and the nap she had taken had not really been as restful as it should have been.

Dear Miss Wallace,
This is Cissa. I'm sorry that lunch didn't go well. I really liked you, and you make my brother smile. When ever he talks about the team he mentions you a lot. Mummy told me it's cause you don't chase him like those other girls do. I don't like those girls anyhow, they try to make friends with me when Draco is around, but ignore me when he isn't. Mummy said that's called snobby. Mummy won't let me say what I called it. I had to clean her cauldron for a week once when I told her.
It's sad sometimes to see him all alone in that big house. Mummy and I can only visit him on breaks now cause she is too busy with those other kids at school. Mummy said he lost a lot of friends in a war, and that he needs new ones. Could you be his friend?
Oh! One other question because no one will answer me. What is a Death Eater? Why would anyone want to eat death? I'm confused by that.
Give Draco another chance. PLEASE.
Yours truly,
Narcissa E. Granger.

“That poor child,” Ginger said out loud. “How do I answer this?” A mew came from under the bed and the owl hooted again.

Her dream had opened up to her the possibility that neither Malfoy or Snape had been as guilty as she had perceived. If her dream had been real and not manufactured by the days events. She could either asked her father or look into a Pensieve, and neither was an attractive idea to her.

The child obviously loved her brother, and didn't know anything about his past. Malfoy also loved the little girl and would do anything for her, and that fact amazed Ginger. She sat down at the desk in her bedroom and began to write.

Dear Cissa,
If you would like to have lunch with me tomorrow I'll accept. Please have your brother's owl return with another note. As for your questions, it is not for me to answer. I'm sorry dear.
Sincerely,
Ginger Wallace.

Ginger rolled the note up and tied it to the owl's leg. It looked as if he smiled at her before flying out the window.

One more chance. She thought and Charmer climbed out from beneath the bed; her mews of happiness at the birds leaving settled into a soft purr as she rubbed against Ginger's leg.

“I hope this was a good decision,” Ginger said to the cat.

~*~

“Master we is not finding lil miss yet.” Twinky said to Draco, who had finally ended his search in the sitting room. He looked up at the portrait of his mother and sighed. It was time to floo Hermione and the Aurors.

“You scoured the dungeon?” Draco asked and picked up the jar of floo powder in readiness. How do I tell Hermione? He groaned and set it back down.

“We be seeing no foot prints in the dust sir. No one has entered there that we can be telling.” Twinky answered him.

“Have you checked the attic?” Narcissa's portrait finally spoke. She'd been off talking with other portraits all night and had just returned to her own frame for the night.

“Why the attic? Cissa knows better-” Draco raced off and bounded up the flight of stairs; passed the many gaping portraits of his ancestors. Some shouted that his hurry was unfitting of a Malfoy. He ignored them and pushed the attic door open and sneezed from the dust that stirred from the breeze his entrance created.

Draco wanted to shout with happiness when he saw the trail of small Cissa-sized footprints leading to the Owlery door. Twinky appeared at his side, and he smiled in joy.

“Lil miss up here?” Twinky asked him.

“I believe so, you can have the other elves stop looking. I have a young witch to retrieve.” Draco told him and walked the same way she had done earlier. His footprints and strides larger in the dust. More portraits made protests against his disturbance, and again he ignored them. He couldn't care less what they thought of him anyhow.

Draco turned the knob silently and slowly pushed the door open. Heddy's eyes peered at him in the room lit only by the stars and the pale moon. She hooted and flapped her wings in relief.

Draco looked down onto the floor and saw her, and breathed a sigh. She looked like a little angel all cuddled up there, feathers from the owls surrounding her covering her lightly.

“Angel my arse,” He said and stood in the doorway. Just then his owl flew back into the room and hooted loudly, waking Cissa. She sat up and looked around; rubbing the dusty sleepies that gathered in the corner of her eyes. She yawned and stretched like an innocent kitten.

“Nightfall! Did she answer?” Cissa asked the bird, not noticing her brother in the doorway. She stood up and reached for the letter tied to his leg.

“Narcissa Granger,” Draco finally said, his relief turning into anger. He tapped his foot and waited for her to turn and look at him.

“Uh oh,” Cissa said to the owls and turned, the letter clutched in her hand.

“What are the rules?” Draco asked her.

“If you are going to do something bad, don't get caught?” Cissa replied.

“This is not Slytherin house, this is your very worried brother who almost flooed your mother to tell her I had lost you.”

“I wasn't lost, I just fell asleep.”

“Are you allowed up here by yourself?”

“Um no. But I wasn't by myself! I had Heddy.” Cissa answered logically.

“Heddy is not me. What is that letter you have? Who gave you permission to owl anyone this late at night? Who gave you permission to use my owl?”

“Oh the letter?” Cissa tucked it behind her back. “Um permission?”

Draco tapped his foot louder and the dust bunnies floated around making Cissa sneeze. Draco held his hand out and waited.

“The letter please.” He sighed with exasperation.

“Draco but-”

“No buts Cissa, hand it to me.”

Cissa grumbled under her breath and put the letter in his hand. Draco recognized the handwriting but didn't know from where. He opened it and read the words and wanted to laugh at his sister's small play at conniving.

“What does it say?” Cissa asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. She stomped her foot in the dust when Draco didn't answer just tucked it into his pocket.

“Kitten what did you write to her?” Draco picked her up and headed back out of the owlery.

“I asked her to be your friend.”

“Why?”

“Cause you are lonely, and those other girls are-” Cissa lowered her mouth to his ear and whispered something unintelligible.

“Mum hears you say that you'll be in trouble again.” Draco said and they entered her room.

“Are you going to tell her?” Cissa asked and her eyes widened.

“We'll keep this among us Slytherins for now,” Draco said sternly. “You'll do your punishment without question, and you will never go to the attic without human accompaniment again. The manor rules supersede any Slytherin rules we have previously discussed.” Draco ran a hand through her short black hair and tucked a strand behind her ear. He set her down by the bed. “Get cleaned up again for bed, Cissa.”

“Mum doesn't want me to be Slytherin.” Cissa reminded him and opened up her drawer for new pajamas. She pulled out a decidedly green one with silver trim.

“Mum doesn't have much say in it, only the Sorting Hat does.”

“What the Sorting Hat says goes?”

“Yes dear. No one knows till First year what house they truly belong in.” Draco pushed her towards the bathroom door. “Now Cissa.” He ordered.

“Yes Draco- can I see my letter now?”

“When you are washed up and changed- maybe.” Draco replied.

Cissa went into the bathroom and Draco could hear the water running. He pulled the letter out, unsure of how he should allow Cissa to answer it. He had never liked how closed away Hermione kept the child, how little she knew of what had been happening around her. Other than books and the people who had been involved in the Order, she had no one. Considering how Ginger felt about the Cissa's father, would it be wise to even allow her to visit.

Draco knew one day all of this was going to smack Hermione in the face, but promises kept; he couldn't change it.

Cissa ran out of the bathroom and jumped into the bed, an expectant look on her face. Draco sat down beside her on the coverlet and handed her the letter. Cissa smiled as she read and looked up at Draco.

“Can she please?” She pleaded with him, her coal black eyes staring into his.

“I'll send an owl in the morning, and you will spend the afternoon sweeping the owlery.” Draco decided.

“Ew...”

“What's 'ew' about it? You fell asleep in that muck.” Draco reminded her before tucking the blankets around her and kissing her forehead.

“I picked a 'clean' spot to lie in.”

“Clean my-”

“Draco!” She giggled and snuggled her bear tight.

“Good night kitten.” Draco repeated the steps he had done just a few hours earlier. This time he place a watch elf at her door.