When Your Parents Tell You Bedtime Stories

7

"Hmmm...[insert good quote here]..."

~ [Insert author here]

"So, Persephone's pretty much screwed herself then?" Aludra asked after listening to Mr. Malfoy explain the situation.

"Are you sure she's gone to find Bla...her father?" Draco asked, lounging in the leather armchair by the common room fire.

"Positive."

"Well, maybe, since she won't listen to me, he can tell her the truth."

"I still can't believe it. Hermione Granger was...." Rigel trailed off.

"No one's perfect, Mr. Flint," Draco said standing. "I must be going, I'm going to at least attempt to find my daughter. It's late, you should all turn in."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Malfoy," Alphard said, feeling ashamed from his behavior earlier.

"I am too," a voice spoke from behind him.

*******

"So, it's true then," she said, looking up at the man above her. "You are my father."

Blaise found his way over to the bar and poured himself a drink then took a seat on the chair across from her. "Biological, yes."

"How come you didn't want me?" she asked, now seeing he was alive and perfectly capable of taking care of her.

"Who said that?" he asked, sitting up more now.

"Well, I just assumed...."

"Persephone, I fought for custody of you. But Harry Potter thought you would be better off in Draco Malfoy's care; that's how you ended up with him."

"But, why would I be better off there then with my own father?"

Blaise dropped his head before moving next to her on the couch, setting his drink on a table. "I wasn't exactly a saint in my younger days. We all make mistakes, it just seems mine can't be forgiven."

"Well, that's a little harsh. But, then again, Harry Potter is a Gryffindor and my dad's partner; maybe he just didn't trust you. Stupid sodding Gryffindors...."

"Your mother would have never let me see you if she was still alive. I did something really stupid."

"Did you love my mother?" Persephone asked, trying to shove off an eerie feeling haunting her.

Blaise shook his head. "You see...no one's ever explained this to you before?"

"Obviously people around me didn't think I was old enough to handle the truth," she spat.

"You're almost as old as your mother was when she had you. I'd say you're old enough to handle the truth. But, I have to warn you, you'll think a lot less of me when I'm done."

"I can't think less of anyone then I do of my lying "fake" father right now," she said, glaring.

"Alright," he sighed. "Your mother was a smart woman, Persephone. She knew not to trust me...."

********

"Persephone!" Aludra practically screamed. "Your dad told us everything, I'm so sorry...."

"Don't," Persephone said, a little bitter, cutting her off. "I'm sorry, Dad," she said turning to Draco Malfoy. "I should've trusted you when you said you wanted to take the truth slowly."

"Are you alright?" he asked, studying his "daughter."

"Did you really love her so much that you would take in her bastard daughter?" Persephone was still bitter and angry at the night's events. Her mother was a Gryffindor, the savior of the wizarding world, and her father was some sneaky sly criminal, and the only man she had ever trusted she had tossed aside.

"I did, and I still do." No use in hiding anything from her now, Draco thought.

"I hate him," she nearly whispered.

"So do I," Draco put in.

"I'm glad I ended up with you." A moment later Persephone spoke again. "Are we Slytherins or sodding Gryffindors here?"

"Slytherins," Rigel said.

"Then what are we standing around getting all sentimental for?" Aludra asked.

"I guess I should leave," Draco said, making for the portrait hole. He stopped and bent down to Persephone's ear. "I love you," he whispered. Three strong words he had only spoken once before.