Chapter Text
”Now boys,” Narcissa said, drawing both the attention of her son and his pensive young friend, “remember this is our little secret.” A tongue-tying jinx was also in place, but it would do no good if they felt compelled to write it down.
“Father would not like this.” Theo quietly confessed. Rather than putting the boy off, this act of rebellion and sneaking around filled him with excitement and glee.
Neither of their fathers would, but something had to be done. Thoros had killed his wife already. She couldn't let him kill his son. Theodore had been staying with them longer and longer. She thought both her son and her godson were safe.
Then she caught her husband striking them with his cane. She didn't care if corporal punishment was legal. And she didn't give a damn that their parents didn't spare the rod or their wand. No one harmed her little Dragon or her sweet Theodore. Lucius would not dare such a thing again in front of her. She made sure of that. She may appear like a sweet socialite wife, but she was a Black first and a wife second
But she needed a plan. An exit strategy for her boys if something were to happen to her. She no longer trusted her husband with them. So here she was, sitting in a muggle park, holding her breath.
“You have a lot of nerve Lady Malfoy.” An ice-cold voice said from her left.
Narcissa visibly sagged in relief. “Addy,” she breathed. Her relief conflicted with her amusement. Her darling little Dragon was giving the woman who dared talk to his mummy in that tone was bad and wrong. And he would protect his mummy. Theo would help. If they both got upset enough, then they might have an accidental magic that would show the mean lady.
“Take that name out of your mouth.” Andromeda snapped at her youngest sister. “We aren't family remember Narcissa.”
“I, I deserve that. I deserve that and more. But the little blonde who looks like he's about to breathe fire is my little Draco. And the boy with him is my godson Theodore.” She gave both boys a reassuring smile. “Go on, boys. You can play.”
“But mother, there are muggles!” Draco exclaimed, aghast.
Andromeda gave her sister a dark and pointed look.
“It’s okay, my darling boys. Remember, we aren’t going to tell Lucius or Thoros. As long as you stay where I can see you, it will be okay.” She said, daring her sister to say something.
“Going to wash the dirt off their hands when they get home instead?” Andromeda asked in a harsh tone.
“They are small boys. Of course, I will.” She snipped back before trying to rein in her temper
“Addy, sorry, Andromeda.” Narcissa corrected. “I am going to ask you for something I have no right to. But I’m hoping for the sake of those two boys you will consider it.”
“Weaponizing your child? Why am I not surprised?” Andromeda said, shaking her head in disappointment.
“Theodore’s father beats him if he gets underfoot, so I have taken him into my home where I knew he would be safe,” Narcissa said, watching a little girl with an impossible mess of curls get approached by the boys. ‘Honestly, did Muggles have no hair care products for curly hair?’ She thought before continuing, “I thought they would be safe. Lucius struck them with a cane. Addy, he struck my child. I know he’s a handful, but he swore we would raise our children differently from our parents. We would never harm such a precious gift.” She had struggled to conceive.
She had lost so many pregnancies before Draco finally came.
She couldn’t leave with them. Lucius could use their marriage bond for hunting her and the children down. So she was left using her body, affected affection, and her wand to ensure those boys were safe despite her husband.
Mercifully he was a hands-off father. Draco had idolised him and would have done anything to have his father's attention or approval, but Lucius relied on others. Child rearing was not a man’s work. He’d review the reports to ensure the boy was performing adequately and meeting expectations, but that was it.
Then he hit Theo. Draco didn’t care about himself. Father could strike him with a cane. Nobody was allowed to hit Theo. Draco was already planning on hitting Theo’s father a bunch when they were big and strong. Now his own father made the list.
“Your hair is very messy,” Draco told the little girl reading underneath a tree.
“Your mouth is very rude.” The little girl countered. “Honestly, I have heard it all but go on. If you can come up with a unique insult, I’ll award you the title of the bully of the week. Bonus points if you can make me cry.” She commented dismissively and disinterestedly, not looking up from her book.
“It’s rude not to look up at the person you are talking to.” Draco accused.
She gave an amused huff. “I only look at people worth my time. And so far, you aren’t worth my time.”
This was a new experience for Draco. Most people wanted to be his friend. He was rich and had fine things, and went to fun places. Everyone catered to him, except for maybe Theo, who was his.
“Your book has no pictures,” Theo said, looking over her shoulders. It also had big words and was as big as some of the big books in the library at home.
“It does not.” She confirmed in a bored tone, still reading.
“I like reading too.” Theo quietly admitted. That at least got a reaction. She looked up from her pages for a fleeting moment to give him a small smile.
Draco didn’t like that.
He wanted a smile too.
It wasn’t fair.
“I read books too.” He complained. “We even have an entire library at home.”
Still, she didn’t look up. “Good for you. You are a mean little boy with a library.”
“I am not mean!” Draco said, stomping in frustration.
“You said my hair was messy.” She pointed out, flipping a page.
“But your hair is messy,” Draco argued.
At that, she stopped reading. “Do you think I don’t already know that? It’s my hair. I’m the one who has to brush it in the morning.”
Draco frowned.
“And I’ve heard it all. Do you think I like having my hair? That every other little or big bully before you hasn’t already said everything possible about my hair?” She accused. She would not cry. She refused to cry. She didn’t want to give him the satisfaction.
“Even though your hair is a nightmare, your skin is a very pretty colour.” He offered.
Theo gave a small laugh. “I’m Theo. He’s Draco, and he’s not trying to be mean. I promise. Good young men of quality and refined breath don’t go out with the intentions of harming a young wi…woman.”
That got another twitch of the lips.
“I’m not a bully. Father is a bully. And Theo’s father is the biggest bully ever.” Draco complained. “I’m not like them. I don’t want to be like them.” He said, near tears himself. It still hurt his heart that his father hurt Theo. “I said a nice thing about you to balance out the bad.” He pointed out.
“Say sorry.” She insisted.
“What?” Draco asked, confused. She wanted him to apologise.
“Say sorry.” She insisted. “You said a mean and hurtful thing, and now you must apologise. If you do that, then if you want, I will read you a chapter from my book, and it has everything. Love, action, intrigue!”
“Fine, I’m sorry I was honest about your hair. That was not polite.” Draco grudgingly said.
Theo beamed and sat down on the ground, followed by Draco, both curious to hear a muggle story. And so she spent the afternoon reading them a few chapters about the beautiful buttercup and her farmhand turned pirate Wesley. While Narcissa made arrangements with her sister, if something did happen to her or if she thought things were so tense at home, her husband might again lash out.
“Theodore, Draco, it’s time to leave,” Narcissa instructed.
“Cissa, we have been hearing the most amazing story!” Theo exclaimed.
“If you come back tomorrow, I could read more…” The little girl offered excitedly.
“Unfortunately, we won’t be returning tomorrow.” The pretty blonde lady said.
“Oh,” she said in disappointment.
Mrs Tonks, however, smiled and decided to push or test her sister. “Write down your telephone number, and the boys can call you when they visit from Wiltshire. I’ll have Dorea bring them.”
Now that got a big smile. Hermione quickly wrote two numbers down. “The top is the landline, but the bottom is my mobile.”
“You have a mobile?” Andromeda asked.
“For safety when I’m out since I can’t stay inside all day.” No, her job was to be out and ‘having fun’ or in some academic camp or program. She quite literally couldn’t stay inside. She’d be dropped off at the park or library and left to her own devices.
She’d get a call for dinner, or if there were a medical emergency at the clinic, she would buy a potato cheese and onion pasty or something like Nando’s before going to the library to read until they were done.
She was proud that she was mature enough to be left alone. Most kids her age needed babysitters or supervision. She wished she could have had a key or the ability to stay home. The park was an unfortunate necessity. If she stayed at the library daily, people started asking questions because they didn’t understand how grown up she was. Even her weekends were spent with a 16-year-old going from tutoring sessions, music lessons, swim lessons, art classes, and dance classes for physical activity.
It was okay, though. She understood how busy Mommy and Daddy were.