Dragon's Rekindler

Dragon’s Rekindler~Chapter 1

The Return of Fire

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~Selena is now four years old. Draco’s previous nanny for Selena died of a heart attack. Draco puts an add in the Daily Prophet for a nanny/governess position~

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Why am I doing this?

Virginia Weasley asked herself. She had resigned from her previous job on account of her boss.

He had been hitting on her, and she had raised hell when her boss finally stepped over the line. He had asked her what cup size she was! Virginia, one with the famous ‘Weasley Temper’, as it now was affectionately called, had let her anger best her.

Now she was left jobless and broke as hell. With no home, save her parents’, she was living meagerly.

That’s why I so desperate to take on this job,

she convinced herself.

I just wish I wouldn’t have to be working for him!

Picking up her courage, and leaving whatever pride she had left, Virginia pushed the buzzer to Malfoy Manor’s gateway entrance. Virginia was surprised that the Malfoy’s would have such a muggle device on their property, but these days times were changing and modernization was ‘in’.

A ghost butler appeared in front of her, giving her a tremendous scare, but it introduced itself anyway, as ‘Bransworth’. After enquiring Virginia’s name, the ghost led her in through the barred gate.

“Follow me please,” Bransworth had told her in an echoing drawl, It is just me, or do all things Malfoy drawl? She thought, smiling to herself.

They walked or rather, floated along in Bransworth’s case, along the stone path that led to the huge mahogany double doors. Bransworth opened the door for her, and she stepped cautiously into the enormous foyer.

Virginia’s blue-green eyes widened in amazement, for the longest, most grand marble staircase appeared before her. She raised her eyes to the ceiling, finding an even more breathtaking chandelier made of tiny Swiss crystals. The crystals were blue, clear, and green colored, like my eyes, Virginia thought wonderingly.

Bransworth told Virginia to wait there for ‘Master Malfoy’---Virginia cringed in thoughts of having to call Draco ‘Master Malfoy’. She decided she’d never call him that.

The ghost returned with Draco, bowed to them both, asked Draco if he was needed anymore. Draco shook his head, and the butler flew upwards to the upper floors.

Draco’s attention was now on Virginia. His gray eyes were now always cold, and he didn’t look like one that could trust others too easily anymore.

Draco’s eyes roamed Virginia’s now very womanly figure. Blushing like crazy, Virginia tore her gaze away from Draco’s lean figure. What was I doing? I thought I got over him!? Draco eyeing her still, finally spoke.

“Nice to see you again...Virginia,” he extended his right hand out to her as a greeting.

“Likewise,” Virginia promptly responded.

When they shook hands, she couldn’t help but notice that his hands were freezing, whereas Virginia’s were warm to the touch.

Draco continued to speak, explaining to Virginia, what was allowed and forbidden to his daughter. Some details that Virginia was shocked to hear were, “...don’t buy her sweets...” “...don’t let her get away with anything...” “...she will be obedient, otherwise notify me...” and the one rule that really got to her was, “...don’t fall in love with Selena...”

During Draco’s rule discussion, Virginia kept nodding her head, wavy red hair falling out of its loose ponytail. What else could she do? Contradict his ridiculous rules? Not an option if she wanted this job, which was what she needed at the moment.

“Alright. Now that you are familiar with rules regarding Selena, you must hear the rules regarding my home. You will arrive on time for all three meals a day. You will join me for tea once a day, so as to inform me of Selena’s progress. Clear?” he asked her.

Virginia felt like she was being paid to listen to Draco, not take care of Selena. Speaking of pay... she remembered.

“Draco, approximately how much will I receive at the end of the year?” Virginia asked him, scared that he would refuse to pay her or even pay the bare minimum needed.

“Of course. Let’s see...how does three hundred thousand Galleons fare you?” he answered in his usual drawl---since his voice had gotten deeper with age, he sounded more and more sinister.

Virginia’s eyes spoke for her, which Draco picked up on, and she finally answered, “Oh jeez. Yeah, sure, O.K. That’ll do, “ she was excited about her paycheck. It was more than even the Weasley Wizard Wheezes were making in a year.

Fred and George would be so jealous. But Ron would get jealous of the money, especially in the way Virginia was going about getting it...by working for Malfoy.

“Good. I will call Bransworth to take you and your belongings to your room. I’ve located it near Selena’s so that you can be there for her,” Draco said.

What, can’t be there for your own daughter?

Virginia thought bitterly. She felt compelled to ask him. As if he were reading her mind Draco continued, “I’m a very busy man. The only way she can have human contact is through nannies”.

The conversation ended and Draco called for Bransworth, who floated down from the ceiling.

“Yes Master Malfoy?” Bransworth asked.

“Take Ms. Weasley here to her quarters. Then send Selena into Virg-...Ms. Weasley’s room to acquaint themselves,” Draco commanded.

Virginia was led through the dark hallways---even though it was a bright sunny day outside---and to her room.

She opened her door and gasped.

An enormous king sized canopy bed was to one side of the room, and at the other end, a beautiful dark maple wood wardrobe. The canopy bed’s covers were a rich satin black cloth. The top of the canopy had black hangings with silver trim lace as fine as silk---which it probably was, Virginia reminded herself. The bed itself was covered with silver colored pillows. Some large, some small. Virginia felt like a princess, not at all like a nanny. I guess this makes up for who I have to work for.

Virginia loved her room and sat down on her insanely soft bed covers. The feather soft mattress sunk under her weight. She closed her eyes for a minute, but was awoken by the sound of her door being cracked open.

She could make out a small girl from the tiny crack that she opened. Virginia smiled, wondering how any child of Draco’s could be so shy---and so unlike him.

“Hey there Selena! I’m Virginia Weasley. Nice to meet you!” Virginia greeted her cheerfully.

The little girl cracked the door open a little farther, then slowly walked up to Virginia. Virginia patted the area on the bedspread, indicating that it was alright for Selena to sit next to her.

Selena raised her scared, blue eyes and said in a tiny voice, “Hullo Veeheenia”.

“Hullo. You can call me Ginny if you’d like,” Virginia told the nervous girl, who quite obviously couldn’t pronounce Virginia’s name.

The girl smiled and Virginia noticed her missing baby teeth---being replaced with permanent adult teeth. Virginia reminisced in her past child hood, full of laughter, love, boldness, and well...just plain happiness. The opposite of Selena’s situation.

The girl had obviously inherited her father’s silver blond hair, but not his cold gray eyes. She had blue eyes, just like her late mum. Unlike her parent’s faces---that were usually cold and unwelcoming, Selena’s face was warmly welcoming---ready to get love and give it back.

Virginia instantly broke one of the rules Draco gave her...”don’t fall in love with Selena...” he had told her. Odd, thought Virginia.

She wondered why he didn’t love his daughter.

The day went on, tea time came and Selena was sent to her room for an afternoon nap.

Virginia walked around the enormous manor, searching for Draco’s sun room (which was unsurprisingly dark). Finally, Virginia found the room, knocking three times and hearing a muffled voice call out, “Come in!”

She opened the door and walked in.

Draco looked up at her, and indicated with his hand for her to sit opposite him.

“So. Tell me what you think of everything so far,” Draco asked her.

“Its great, Selena is wonderful, and I absolutely love my room, especially the bed,” she answered, while smiling at the thought of falling asleep on it.

Draco looked her straight in the eye and spoke quietly, “I picked it specially for you. Its a exact replica of the one I sleep in every night,” he added with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Virginia wondered why Draco would give her a exact replica of the bed he slept in himself. Why would he tell me that?

Bransworth finally came into the room with the tea, and handed each of them a steaming cup. Then he left the two alone.

Virginia wanted to voice her fears for Selena’s speech disabilities, so she quietly, without trying to invoke a stab at Draco’s family pride for being perfect, said, “Draco, I fear Selena may have some speech development problems”.

Instead of getting angry, as Virginia feared, Draco appeared thoughtful for a moment, and spoke, “Then its your job to fix her”. Damn, he’s blunt! Virginia thought with mild amusement.

“I’ll start right away,” she promised Draco, eyeing him carefully.

“Good,” he responded, and continued to sip away at the tea.

After five minutes of silence, Draco spoke again, “So, how did your family handle the fact that you’re working for a Malfoy?”

Virginia answered him with a slight grin at remembering their reactions.

“Ron took it the worst. My other siblings were alright with it, as long as I promised to hex you if you tried to hurt me. Other than that, my parents were of course slightly hesitant to let their baby daughter go so far from home. How about you? Do you mind having a Weasley in your house?” Virginia finished, looking into Draco’s eyes as he answered.

“Well, I sure hope you don’t disappoint me Virginia, but yes I’m O.K. with having you here,” he answered quietly.

Tea time ended, and Virginia went to her room to unpack her belongings. Virginia herself decided a short nap was in order, being exhausted by traveling and all.

* * * *

Virginia yawned and sat in bed, letting time go by until she was expected downstairs for breakfast. She had been so tired, that she skipped dinner.

The sun was pouring itself into her room through a crack in the shades. She got out of bed, showered, and dressed. Virginia put her long red hair into a long, tight, French braid. Then she made her way for the breakfast hall.

Draco and Selena were already sitting there at the long dining table made for thirty people---not three.

No one spoke once at all during breakfast, which quickly bored Virginia. But once Draco left the room, saying good morning to Virginia, Virginia made way to sit next to Selena.

“Gord Morming! Ginny!” Selena squeaked at her.

Well, at least she got my name right.

“Dear, its Good Morning,” Virginia corrected Selena with a smile. I hope she improves.

Selena tried again to speak correctly.

“Gord. Morging”.

Virginia shook her head and told Selena to try again. Selena’s eyes started to water up, and she started to cry, saying, “Me cannit do et!”

Virginia felt sorry for trying to push the four year old to speak correctly, and pulled the crying girl into a hug.

Selena fell quiet after a few minutes of silent sobs. Finally, she tilted her little head up and looked Virginia in the eye, with her own wet, red ones.

“Whaddar you doin’ to me? Me feel beddar now.”

Virginia was about to laugh, but realized just why the little girl didn’t know what a hug was! Sadly, it seemed that Selena had never been given any signs of affection from anyone. Obviously, Selena’s previous nanny had gone 100% along with Draco’s dumb rules.

Virginia realized then, that she was pretty damn lucky to have a family that cared for her so much. Deciding what she would do for the deprived Selena, Virginia made up her mind. She would love Selena, no matter how nasty, cruel, and unfeeling Draco wanted her to be. How can he treat his own daughter like this?

Telling Selena to sit in her lap, Virginia asked her if she would like her hair braided. Selena’s response was, “Me want butiful hair like you Ginny!”

Virginia blushed. She was flattered, even though the compliment came from a four year old. Virginia complied and set to work on Selena’s own ‘butiful’ silver tresses. Once the braid was finished, Virginia took out one of the two ribbons from her own hair. Always carrying two, just in case she lost one.

Selena was ecstatic about her new look, it was obvious that no one had bothered showing her an ounce of human affection.

Afterwards, Virginia and Selena went to Virginia’s room, where they took out a set of colored pencils and parchment. Selena was an eager student, observing Virginia carefully draw a person with red hair. Selena was curious about who the ‘red haired’ person could be, so she asked.

“Ginny? Who thad you draw’ed?”

Virginia looked up from the parchment, and said, “That, and drawing, hunny. This is my brother Ron,” she added, sounding just a bit homesick.

Selena, taking no heed of her corrections, smiled and asked sweetly, “Can you draw’ed me?”

Virginia smiled and said, “Sure. We’ll pretend you’re a model for Witch Weekly. Alright?” Selena nodded enthusiastically, even though she’d never seen a ’Witch Weekly’, “Just sit over there on that stool, and make sure to smile!” Virginia added.

Selena did as she was told, smiling a bit too enthusiastically, so Virginia patiently got out of her seat and corrected Selena’s lopsided, silly grin. “That’s better!” Virginia told her little model.

First, Virginia started drawing Selena’s nose, and then progressed to the end---Selena’s platinum colored hair done in a loose braid, allowing a few rebel baby hair strands fall about her tiny, happy face.

“All done,” Virginia concluded.

She showed the picture to an awestruck Selena, who was singing her praises continuously, until dinner time.

Upon sitting at the enormous table with Draco and Selena, Virginia felt silence fall over them again. Virginia, growing up in a houseful of loud, rude, pushing, shoving, obnoxious brothers was not used to the deathly silence that threatened to push her sanity out the window. So she attempted small talk with Draco about what Selena and she had done that day while he was out conducting business.

“Selena and I had fun today,” Virginia filled him in.

“Oh really? What did you two do then?” Draco asked her.

“We draw’ed daddy!” a smiling, excited Selena joined in.

Draco’s face went cold upon hearing Selena’s interruption and yelled at her, “How many bloody times do I have to tell you not to call me daddy! Call me ‘father’!”

Selena was cowering behind the table, short enough to hide her upset face.

Virginia was shocked at Draco’s appalling behavior towards his daughter, and decided to go back to the drawing topic.

“Anyway, we were drawing. It was a lot of fun, wasn’t it Selena?”

When Virginia had mentioned drawing again, Draco had an unreadable expression plastered on his face.

Virginia wondered what was going on behind his cool, composed, pale face.

Dinner ended without anymore incidents, and it was time for Selena to go to bed. Virginia dressed Selena in her night robes---pink with the Malfoy insignia: MM .

Then Virginia read Selena a muggle picture book titled Sleeping Beauty. Selena fell asleep within the first ten minutes of reading. Virginia smiled warmly at the sleeping ‘buti’ in front of her, and tucked her in, nice and tight. Blowing out the magical everlast candles out, Virginia left the room for her own.

Virginia couldn’t forget how Draco looked at dinner, how cruel he was to his daughter---and for no apparent reason, and the deathly silence during every meal.

She didn’t even know where Draco went between meals, but he was always punctual, nevertheless.

Changing into her black satin nighty, Virginia lay down and pulled the surprisingly enough, black, satin covers over her head, planning what to do for Selena the next day.

* * * *

The next morning, Virginia set about her now mandatory routine, of waking up, showering, dressing, and going down for breakfast.

After yet another silent breakfast, Selena and Virginia returned to the task they set out to do yesterday, drawing.

Virginia took out her colored pencils and found a pack of crayons for Selena to use. They continued to draw, this time they drew animals. Virginia and Selena sat in silence (not deathly; it was tranquil silence this time) next to each other, both of them drawing something different.

Selena peered over Virginia’s shoulder and proclaimed, “Wow! Thads a good Dragon!”

Virginia, absentmindly began drawing what was supposed to be a horse---and somehow, while Virginia was drawing it’s ears, had ended up as a dragon.

Virginia’s face contorted with confusion said to Selena, “Thanks. Silly me, I was trying to draw a horse!”

Selena giggled at what Virginia called herself and asked why she drew it.

“I don’t know,” Virginia answered truthfully. She smiled at Selena and added thoughtfully, “Did we see a dragon during breakfast? I don’t recall seeing one at any present time”.

Then an idea popped into her head...Draco’s name means Dragon in Latin. Why would I subconsciously draw ‘him’? Virginia frowned. Because you still love him, duh! said a voice in her head. She shook her head, unaware of the concerned looks that Selena was giving her, No. I. Don’t! At least not anymore. Especially since he can’t even love his own child, Virginia thought sadly.

What did happen to make him so hateful towards Selena?