His Saving Grace

CHAPTER SIX: Everyone Knows













Hermione had just finished fastening the buckle on Grace’s shoe when people began arriving via the floo network. Ron and Ginny, followed by Molly and the twins filled the living room and waited expectantly. Harry smiled at her, a gesture meant to reassure her.





“Alright, Mione, we’re all here, what did you want to talk to us about?” Ron asked, sitting on the arm of the sofa.







“Yeah, what was so important that you dragged us all here to stare at Harry’s droll visage?” Fred asked, laughing when Harry gave him the finger.









“Well she could tell us if you lot would be quiet for five minutes!” Molly said, hands on her hips as she glared at her children.









“Must be something pretty serious, look at her, all dressed up and she’s got Gracie all decked out too!” George said, fingering the little bow atop the baby’s head.







“Bloody hell, Malfoy is here!” Ron said, staring in amazement as the blonde stepped through the fireplace into a room filled with redheads. He frowned slightly and then looked to Hermione.





“I’m early aren’t I?” He asked. Hermione smiled and cleared her throat.







“I called you all here because I have finally been in contact with Grace’s father.” She said. “I promised you that as soon as he knew, I would tell you all.”







“Well?” Ron asked, practically jumping from his seat in anticipation. He had been anxious to know who fathered little Grace from the beginning.







“I am her father.” Draco said, coming to stand beside Hermione.







“Is this a joke?” Ron asked, his voice cracking as his eyes bounced between Draco and Hermione.







“Well, that explains your reaction in Diagon Alley.” Ginny said softly, blinking rapidly as she tried to absorb the information.







“Well I don’t know why we didn’t see it before, Gracie looks like him.” Fred said, his head tilted to the side as he pondered the resemblance between the baby and her father.







“Because we all assumed they hated one another, never considered the possibility, figured it was some other blonde.” George said, a mischievous grin spreading across his face as he reached for the bag at his feet. “Well I had brought Gracie a present, but a teddy bear seems wrong somehow.” He tapped his wand against the side of the bag and then handed it to Hermione.







“Hold her for a minute.” She said, passing Grace into Draco’s arms. She opened the bag and started laughing immediately. “That is so not funny, George.” Hermione said, laughing anyway as she withdrew a snowy white stuffed ferret. Draco rolled his eyes and snuggled his daughter closer to him. He loved holding her, inhaling her soft, powdery scent. “Well thank you, I think.” She said, placing the stuffed animal back into the bag.







“Malfoy is Gracie’s dad?” Ron asked again, still befuddled and staring at them with wild eyes.







“Good lord you can be thick sometimes, Ron.” Harry finally said, rolling his eyes. “Yes, Draco is her dad.”







“Bu…but…how?” Ron flushed when Draco raised one eyebrow “I mean…I know HOW…but why?”







“Ron, you can’t ask someone a question like that, especially not a lady!” Molly said, slapping at Ron’s shoulder. “Mr. Malfoy, I assume you are going to take responsibility for your actions?” She said, staring up at Draco with a stare that could send her children running. Draco was a bit unnerved, he had seen Molly Weasley in action when she disposed of his crazy aunt, she was not a witch to trifle with.







“Yes ma’am.” He said, reaching into his pocket and withdrawing a piece of parchment. “In fact, I signed the documents for the ministry; from this moment on Grace is a Malfoy in name as well as in blood.” Hermione took the piece of paper and looked over it briefly, and then she stared up at Draco.







“Draco, are you certain? This isn’t something you can play at until you get bored, if this gets filed, it’s forever.” She said.







“I’m more than certain.” He said, staring down at Grace.







“Where have you been this last year? Hermione sent owl after owl and got no response whatsoever?” Ron asked.









“I was in Switzerland…I needed time to recover…I became ill following the war.” He said, deciding to leave out the nature of his malady. “My parents opted not to let anyone know where we were until things calmed a bit more in England.”







“Your parents! Oh my goodness, they are going to be livid when they find out!” Molly said, her hands coming to rest on her cheeks.







“Actually, I told them last night. We are joining them for dinner this evening.” Draco said, his cheeks flushing.







“That explains why Mione and Gracie are all dressed up.” George said. “How did old Lucius take the news?”









Draco tensed, he was in general a very private man, but he knew that these people were essentially Hermione’s family, and by extension his daughter’s family. Whether he liked it or not, he owed them honesty.









“Father’s reaction is what you might have expected.” He said.







“He drew his wand and threatened to kill you?” Ron asked, his brows lifted. Ginny slapped him in the back of the head and frowned.









“No, not exactly.” Draco said, chuckling slightly at the interplay between siblings. “He wasn’t happy, but Mother took him down a notch or two.”







“Narcissa stood up to Lucius?” Molly asked, smiling.







“Mother has changed much recently; she does not allow my father to get by with anything anymore.” Draco said. “She was more upset that I was careless, than the fact that Grace is a halfblood.”







“I don’t blame her! You are old enough to know better, both of you!” Molly scolded.







“Yes ma’am. I take full responsibility.” Draco said, tucking his head.







“Well, I guess it’s good that you know and it is all out in the open.” Molly walked over to Draco and nudged his chin up. “You have a chance to make good, young man. Be the man your father was not. Don’t muck it up.”







“I won’t.” He replied softly, grateful that no one attacked him. The Weasleys all filed by, each one kissing the baby and hugging Hermione.







“Be very careful, Malfoy.” Ron said, still unable to believe that he had fathered Hermione’s child. One by one they filed into the hearth until it was just them and Harry.







“Potter, I just want to thank you…for taking care of them…and for understanding, I know it can not be easy to accept me in their lives.” Draco said. Harry stood and stared at Draco for a long time before placing his hand on his shoulder.







“I will always take care of them, whether you are in their lives or not. As far as my acceptance goes, if Mione says you are a changed man, I will trust that, she isn’t easily fooled. I’m glad to see you are going to be a man and step up, Grace is worth it.” Harry said. “Now, I trust you to make certain that they are safe. No offense, but your father can be rather volatile at times, I should know, he tried to kill me over a house elf once.”







“Don’t worry; I will make certain that nothing happens to them, I promise to return them safe and sound.” Draco watched Harry nod, and then lean in to kiss the baby on her nose.







“You be a good girl now, Gracie girl. Give your grandpa Lucius’s hair a yank for me.” He straightened and kissed Hermione on the cheek. “Gryffindor courage, Mione, it will see you through.” He whispered before stepping into the fireplace and following the Weasleys home.







“Well that went better than I expected.” Hermione said, thankful that no one made a scene. “I suppose we should get going.”







“It’s going to be fine, Hermione. I meant what I said; I will not let anything happen to you or to Grace.” Draco said. He watched her sling a bright pink bag over her shoulder and then smiled up at him.







“I know, Draco.” She said softly. “Let’s introduce our daughter to her family.” She followed Draco and Grace into the fireplace, praying that her courage would not leave her when she needed it most.







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