Until Proven Guilty

Chapter 3

Ginny arrived at her destination and viewed her surroundings with awe. All the houses were huge and had large, landscaped yards. Wide sidewalks lined the streets, and there was a park with a running track and expensive playground equipment surrounded by shade trees. Draco Malfoy’s house stood out from the rest because it was obscured from view by a brick security fence that extended all the way out to the side walk.

Ginny approached the electronic keypad cautiously and entered the code Roberta had given her along with the directions. Why a Malfoy would have something so muggle was beyond her. She watched the big gate open, then followed the driveway up to a red-brick mansion, vaguely aware of the gate closing behind her. Parked in the drive way was a very nice looking car. A woman emerged through the double doors and approached Ginny.

“I’m Roberta.” The voice on the phone had created a glamourous image in Ginny’s mind, but in reality the secretary was about forty-five years old and at least that many pounds overweight. “You can leave your things here. I’ll have someone bring them up to your rooms.”

Once inside, Ginny’s senses were bombarded with fresh flowers, antiques, and priceless paintings. She had expected Draco Malfoy to favor abstract prints, contemporary furniture, and a few bearskin rugs. When they entered a state-of-the-art kitchen, she was forced to make a comment. “This house is gorgeous.”

“It’s lovely,” Roberta agreed as she walked through the kitchen and into the hall. “Your rooms are this way. Maria’s suite is here,” she said, indicating to the right. “She hasn’t been in the country long, so you may have trouble understanding her at first. You are over here.” Roberta opened the door to the left. A couch and two chairs were arranged around a televison, and there was a large, beautiful painting and mirror set against the far wall. They stepped briefly into the bedroom, where a balcony offered a view of the rose garden. Her bed had a canape and was big enough for at least four people to sleep without touching.

“Maria cooks meals for the family, and you’re welcome to join them, but the kitchen is well stocked, so feel free to help yourself,” the secretary invited. “The laundry room is down the hall.” They walked back through the kitchen and to the stairs. “Katie’s room is up here,” she said as they climbed.

The child’s room was painted a soft green and had high ceilings. Large windows admitted plenty of sunlight. A two-story playhouse was built into one corner, and a bookcase covered an entire wall. The door to the closet was slightly ajar, and Ginny could see rows and rows of miniature clothes.

Roberta explained that Katie would start school the next day, but Ginny would be given access to her every afternoon so she could make her evaluations. Ginny nodded as they heard voices below. “That must be them,” Roberta predicted, walking toward the stairs. Back in the hall, Ginny glanced to the left of Katie’s room and Roberta followed her gaze. “Draco’s quarters are down there. He’s a very private person, so you’ll probably want to avoid that area.

When they returned downstairs Draco Malfoy was standing by the front door, dressed in old, faded blue jeans and a t-shirt. Ginny’s subconscious registered these impressions of her new employer as she focused on the little girl clutching his hand.

Katie was a little older than her snapshot and absolutely breathtaking in hot pink overalls. Most of her hair was pulled into a neat French braid, but a few loose tendrils framed her face. The large, blue eyes shifted nervously as she continued to hold onto her father’s hand, and Ginny swallowed hard. Neville’s death put an end to her dreams of motherhood, and she had learned to accept it, but Katie Malfoy dredged up the old yearnings.

Roberta smiled at her boss, then spoke to the child. “Katie, I’d like for you to meet Ginny.” Katie retreated behind Draco Malfoy’s leg. “I guess your daddy told you that she’d be staying here for a while?” Roberta tried again, but Katie had no comment.

Draco Malfoy gave Ginny a brief nod of acknowledgment. “Are those your things out front?”

Roberta answered for her. “I told her to leave them there, and I’d have someone bring it up.”

He muttered something about things being in the way as he pulled Katie from behind his leg. “I’ll see you tonight,” he told her, then disappeared out the front of the house.

Without her father to shield her, Katie seemed very small. A short woman walked in, and Roberta introduced her as the housekeeper. Maria’s head bobbed when Roberta asked her to arrange for Ginny’s things to be moved. As soon as the other woman was gone, Roberta patted Katie’s shoulder.

“Well, I need to get to the office. Since you and Ginny are going to be spending a lot of time together, you’ve got to be at least a little friendly,” the secretary coaxed.

“Katie’s not being unfriendly,” Ginny chose her words carefully. “It will just take us a little while to feel comfortable with each other.”

Roberta gave Ginny an approving smile. “Well, you have my floo number?” Ginny nodded. “Call if you need me.” After giving Katie another pat, Roberta walked out the door.

Before Ginny had a chance to speak, Maria came back through. She said that she served breakfast at seven, lunch only when Mr. Draco was home, and dinner at six every day except for Sunday, which was her day off. She reported that her things were being transferred to her rooms then went into the kitchen.

Alone again, Ginny studied the child. Kate seemed nervous, so Ginny decided to take things slowly. “Well,” she said, “what should we do now?” The small shoulders shrugged. “I hate to ask you this...” Ginny watched and was pleased to see a little spark of interest in the bright eyes. “Roberta took me around the house, but I don’t’ remember how to find everything. Would you show me again?”

Katie contemplated this request. “Can we take turns?” she asked finally.

Ginny had seven brothers and top marks in early childhood development, but this question confused her. “Take turns doing what?”

“If I do something for you, you have to do something for me. It’s fair.”

“What would I have to do?” Ginny was cautious.

“Maybe you could take me somewhere.”

This seemed harmless enough, so the terms were accepted. Katie was a very good guide. As they entered each room, she pointed out interesting features like a loose brick in the den fireplace and the laundry chutes, which she warned Ginny that she must not climb into.

The backyard was large, with a swimming pool to the left surround by a six-foot wrought-iron fence. Katie touched the paddock and said that children could not go in there without an adult. To the right was a continuation of the stone-paved patio scattered with potted plants and expensive outdoor furniture. There were some beautiful gardens close to the house, and a well-maintained lawn extended past the pool. Ginny could barely see the roofs of the homes on either side of the Malfoy residence over the trees that lined the fence.

They sat on the patio for a while and enjoyed the late summer weather. Then Ginny glanced at her watch and saw that it was almost time for The Passionate and the Loveless. She knew she owed Katie a ride in her car, but didn’t want to miss the blood test results, so she proposed a compromise. “There’s a television show coming on that I’d like to watch. Afterwards I’ll take you to get something to eat. Maybe we can find a fast food place.”

Ginny expected an immediate, positive response, but Katie considered carefully. “My daddy doesn’t like me to eat at fast food places,” she said finally. “He says it’s not nutritious.”

“You and your father are concerned about nutrition, are you?”

The child shrugged, her jaw set stubbornly in what was obviously an inherited trait.

Ginny stood and led the way inside, proud that she made it to her room without a single wrong turn. Katie touched Maria’s door as they passed by and said that it was a private area and Ginny should never go in without knocking first. She also pointed to the laundry room and confided that all items put down the chutes eventually ended up there, even toys.

Once inside the suite, Ginny covertly turned the televison to Channel Five, then took a pen from her purse. They sat at the little table and Ginny drew a pitiful sketch of the food pyramid whil keeping one eye on the television screen. She listed the contents of a typical hamburger at a fast food restaurant as The Passionate and The Loveless theme music ended and the camera zoomed in on Elena talking to someone through the fireplace.

Elena was whining about how hard it was to be a wife and a mother while making millions as a successful real-estate agent. Uninterested, Ginny turned back to Katie and continued the health lesson. “Now you can see that a hamburger has protein and grains, and maybe the pickle can count as a vegetable.”

“Or you can eat a carrot when you get back home,” Katie contributed.

Ginny smiled. “I guess you could. Why don’t you draw a better food pyramid while I watch the rest of this show, and then we’ll go eat a mostly nutritious lunch.”

Katie accepted a clean sheet of paper and focused on her assignment as the doctor informed Tori that Parker was not her baby’s father. Her pregnancy was apparently the result of a brief romance with Parker’s half brother, Pierre, during a bout of amnesia Tori had experienced around Christmastime. Disappointed with this news, Ginny picked up her purse. Katie’s drawing was not complete, but Ginny told her she could finish it later, and they headed outside.

The nice car she had seen earlier was gone, explaining how Mr. Malfoy traveled to work or wherever he went. He was turning out to be quite a surprise. Since when did Draco Malfoy live like a muggle?

Ginny didn’t know how they would get to a fast food restaurant, but she entered the security code anyway. As they stepped out onto the sidewalk, they saw a petite woman in a business suit two houses down and across the street, standing at her front door. Although the woman appeared to be older, her gray hair was cut stylishly, and she watched with interest as they approached.

“We’re looking for a fast food place,” Ginny explained. “Could you direct us to the closest one?”

The woman studied Ginny for a second, then looked back at the gates that separated Draco Malfoy’s house form the rest of the world. “My name is Annabelle Boyer,” she said, and Ginny recognized this as a polite demand for reciprocal information.

“Ginny Weasley,” she responded. “And I guess you know Katie.”

“Actually, I don’t. I’ve seen her a few times,” the neighbor added, then returned her attention to Ginny.

“I just arrived today,” Ginny provided. “I’m sort of a temporary nanny.”

Mrs. Boyer nodded. “I read the newspaper.”

Ginny sensed that additional inquiries would follow and reminded the neighbor of her original question. “The closest fast food joint is in London.”

Ginny looked at Katie and the little girl shrugged. “That will do.”

They said goodbye to Mrs. Boyer and walked a little way down the sidewalk.

“It this a magical community?” Ginny asked Katie.

The blonde girl nodded slowly. “Yeah...”

Ginny pulled her wand out of her pocket and waved it once. There was silence and then BANG! There was the Knight Bus. Ginny payed their passage and they climbed on.

“Take us to the nearest fast food restaurant, if you please.”

***

“Does eating here count as my thing you have to do for me?”

Ginny smiled down at the little girl. “Is there something else you’d like me to do?”

Katie lowered her head and answered softly, “Could we visit my school?”

“Why?” Ginny asked as she lead the way out of the restaurant.

“Because I have to go there tomorrow and I don’t know where the bathroom is.”

Ginny gave the child her full attention. “Your father hasn’t taken you to see the school?” Ginny asked, and Katie shook her head. “You haven’t even met your teacher?”

“No.”

It seemed like any responsible parent, no matter how busy, could find the time to take their child to a new school before the first day. Ginny made a mental note of Draco Malfoy’s failure to properly prepare his daughter for her school years before Hogwarts.

They walked back into the restaurant and Ginny asked for directions to the local pre-school. The clerk started pointing, but Katie tugged on Ginny’s shirt.

“That’s not my school. I go to Morrow Academy in London,” she reported solemnly.

The clerk saw Ginny’s confusion and stepped into the conversation. “It’s supposed to be a good wizarding pre-school. Very expensive. It’s actually just a couple blocks from here. Can’t miss it.”

Ginny thanked him and they continued on there way. As it turned out, the Dolores S. Morrow Academy looked more like a miniature Hogwarts in Ginny’s opinion. They stepped up to the gates and an officially robed man appeared out of nowhere to ask Ginny if he could be of assistance. She explained that Katie was a new student, which he seemed to doubt. He gave them a long look, then pulled out a clip-board and checked his lists. He nodded reluctantly and handed them two temporary visitor’s passes and pointed them to the headmasters office. The headmaster was an older man with white hair and perfect posture by the name of Mr. Elliot. He offered to give them a limited tour of the pre-school building, and they followed him through the cavernous hallways.

“The teachers are all extremely busy today, since school begins in the morning,” the headmaster reminded them as they reached Katie’s classroom. “I’ll check with Miss Chloe and see if she can spare a few minutes to talk to you.”

Ginny and Katie waited in the hall while Mr. Elliot conferred with the teacher. There was a restroom directly across from them, and Ginny pointed it out. Katie nodded grimly. Then Mr. Elliot returned and said that the teacher would see them.

Miss Chloe looked chic and sophisticated in tailored crimson dress robes and matching shoes. Her glossy, black hair was expertly styled and caressed her cheek each time she moved. The headmaster made introductions.

“Miss Chloe, this is Mrs. Malfoy and her daughter Katie.”

Ginny opened her mouth to make the correction, but Mr. Elliot was already listing the teacher’s considerable credentials. Ginny learned that Miss Chloe was born in France and had graduation from one of it’s finest wizarding schools. Mr. Elliot explained that this was her first year of teaching, and Morrow Academy felt fortunate to have her.

During this discourse, Ginny watched as Miss Chloe assessed her under demurely lowered lashes, taking in the cheap sandals, baggy dress, and lack of makeup in one quick sweep. When Mr. Elliot finished heaping laud and honor on the teacher, the headmaster excused himself, and Miss Chloe’s smile became less cordial.

“It’s a shame that you weren’t able to attend our orientation this morning with all the other new students.”

Ginny rarely worried about her appearance, but Miss Chloe’s cool appraisal made her regret her shapeless outfit, and Katie didn’t look much better with the ketchup stain on her shirt. “I’m not Katie’s mother.” Ginny wanted to make that clear from the start. “And I’m sorry we missed the orientation.”

Miss Chloe accepted the apology with a brief nod, then turned to Katie. Under her scrutiny, the child seemed to wither. Miss Chloe asked several simple questions, but Katie hid her face and refused to answer. With barely concealed irritation, Miss Chloe walked to a desk and pulled out the little chair. “This is where you will sit,” she directed their attention to the reading and activity centers, but Katie showed no interest. Eventually the teacher worked her way back to Ginny. “We’ll give Kate a few days to settle in before we begin testing her.”

“I guess you test all the children to get a base IQ.”

The teacher lifted a shoulder. “Katie will need a special evaluation.”

Ginny’s forehead creased in confusion. “Special?”

“Surely you realize that her behavior is not normal. Her lack of verbal competence indicates possible learning deficiencies. Some kind of speech therapy may help, but she probably should be moved into a remedial class, at least until she learns to talk.”

“Katie most definitely can talk,” Ginny refuted this statement. “She is shy, but if you will be patient-“

“I have seventeen other children in this classroom,” Miss Chloe interrupted. “Everything cannot revolve around one slow child.”

“Slow!” Ginny was outraged that the teacher would use such a term in front of Katie.

“Her oral skills are certainly below average. Did she have difficulty learning to speak? Any stuttering, that type of thing?”

Ginny paused, unable to respond because she didn’t know the answer. Miss Chloe mistook her ignorance for embarrassment over Katie’s lack of ability. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” the teacher consoled. “With early intervention and the correct environment, Katie can learn a number of useful things.”

“I can’t believe that someone as well educated as you are would classify a child based on five minutes of observation.”

“My initial impressions are almost never wrong,” Miss Chloe informed her.

“Well, you are very wrong about Katie.” Ginny urged the child toward the door.

“Since Mr. Malfoy is the parent, any further discussions on this subject really need to be with him,” she said to Ginny’s back. “There will be an open house at the end of next week. Perhaps he can attend.”

“I’ll tell him,” Ginny promised as she pulled Katie through the school and out the front doors. Still fuming, Ginny returned the visitor’s passes to the guard, then pulled out her wand and waved it once.

***

Once they were seated on the Knight Bus, Ginny turned to Katie. “Why didn’t you speak to Miss Chloe?”

Katie’s response was simple. “Because she has mean eyes.”

“But now she thinks you can’t talk. Tomorrow you’ll have to show her how smart you are,” Ginny advised, but Katie just shrugged.

“She’ll still be mean.”

Ginny couldn’t thing of a comforting response, so they rode in silence. When the bus stopped a little ways from the Malfoy estate, Ginny saw that many families were taking advantage of the nice weather and the lovely park. “I’ll bet you play out here a lot.” She pointed to the playground.

Katie looked at the children playing. “My daddy doesn’t let me. He thinks I’ll break my arm.”

The park disappeared from view as they walked up to the front gates of the Malfoy estate. She punched in the security code and noticed a little blonde girl about Katie’s age in the yard across the street. “Is she a friend of yours?” Ginny asked Katie, watching the gate slide open.

Katie turned and stared at the girl. “I see her sometimes, but I don’t know her name. She has a brother.” There was a wistful note in Katie’s voice, and Ginny added another black mark on her mental list. No fast food, no park, no friends. The evidence against Draco Malfoy was mounting.

Ginny was about to twist the front door knob open when it was jerked out of her reach. She looked up to find Draco Malfoy and all his glory standing before her. His brilliant eyes flashed in anger.

“Hi daddy.” Katie greeted.

“Where have you been?” he demanded through clenched teeth.

Ever since Neville’s death, Ginny had been uncomfortable with men. Draco Malfoy had startled her, which made the reaction worse. As a result, it was a few seconds before she could compose herself and by then he had Katie in his arms.

“We went to lunch at a fast food joint and then toured Katie’s new school.”

His expression darkened, and Ginny started to list the nutritious values of a hamburger, but he cut her off. “And what, may I ask, was your mode of transportation?”

Ginny winched when Katie answered. “The Knight Bus, daddy.”

He gave Katie a critical examination. Ginny felt obligated to defend the bus, although it was her least favorite way to travel. “The Knight Bus is perfectly safe.”

“It goes way too fast. It should be considered a road hazard.”

Ginny felt that now wasn’t the time to say that it already was considered a road hazard, but only to those on board. “It goes at a completely acceptable speed,” she denied the allegation.

He looked away, running his fingers through his hair. After a moment he returned his angry gaze to her. “My daughter will never ride in it again at any speed.” He shifted the child to his other hip. “I want you to be perfectly clear on this, Miss Weasley. Anytime you take Katie off this property, it had better be with my permission, in my car, and with my driver at the wheel. Otherwise it’s equivalent to kidnaping.”

Ginny listened to him ranting on and insulting her intelligence. He emphasized each syllable as though he were talking to a young child. When he finished, she nodded. “I understand.” His expression relaxed and he turned toward the house. “But Mr. Malfoy,” Ginny called after him, and he paused. “I want to make it perfectly clear that any further instructions you have for me had better be delivered in a polite, civilized manner. Otherwise I’ll have to report your uncooperative attitude to the family court judge.” She hooked her purse over her shoulder and left him staring after her.

***

Inside her new room, Ginny changed clothes, then collapsed on the bed to recover from her confrontation with Katie’s father. She woke up hours later, completely disoriented. It took a few seconds to remember where she was and why. Her head felt dull-not quite a headache, but close.

It was 6:30 when she walked into the kitchen, expecting to find Katie and her father eating dinner, but the room was deserted. Warming charms surrounded the pans on the counter, filled with fried chicken and several vegetables. A cake and two pies were off to the side. After putting some food on a plate, Ginny walked back to her room and ate at her little table. Fifteen minutes later, when she put her dishes in the sink, all the food had disappeared and the kitchen had returned to perfect order. There was still no sign of Katie, so Ginny walked upstairs.

From the hallway Ginny could see that the green bedroom was dark and quiet. Roberta had said that she would have access to Katie each day, but the term nanny seemed to indicate more responsibility, and Albus Dumbledore had made a reference to concerns about Katie’s lack of supervision. With a sigh, Ginny realized the only way to clarify her position in the household was to find her employer. She had taken one step down the forbidden hallway toward his room when Maria came around the corner and almost scared her to death.

“I can help you?” the housekeeper asked, looking pointedly at the area Ginny had been warned to stay away from. Ginny cleared her throat and explained that she was searching for Katie. Maria’s expression became even more suspicious. “She with her father now. He puts her to bed on time.”

Ginny thanked her, then turned away, feeling foolish. The housekeeper didn’t reply, but stood and watched Ginny’s retreat, as if she were afraid the new nanny might reconsider and run to Mr. Malfoy’s door.

Ginny returned to her rooms and changed into some sweat clothes. It was just starting to get dark as she ran down the driveway, pausing at the metal gate to enter the security code. She followed the winding road to the park, then started running around the track, admiring the beautiful homes with lights shining through the windows. Occasionally she caught sight of families gathered for the evening meal. She filled her lungs with flower-scented air and didn’t count laps but instead ran until her knees forced her to stop.

That night she climbed into the strange bed expecting to lie awake for hours. To her surprise, she woke up with the sun at six o’clock on the next Tuesday morning. Ginny stared at the clock in amazement. She had not slept for that many consecutive hours in over two years.

After searching through her limited wardrobe, she found a decent pair of khaki pants and a shirt her mother had given her for Christmas. She didn’t really thing she could change Miss Chloe’s original opinion of her, but didn’t see any need to emphasize it.

Once she was dressed, Ginny forced herself to look into the mirror. She had always considered herself passably attractive, but after Neville’s death she had gotten into the habit of ignoring her appearance. Years of running regularly and eating sporadically had left her painfully thin. She examined the pale, tightly stretched skin of her face, the solemn brown eyes, the long red hair that hung over her shoulders. At least her teeth were white. She thought of Miss Chloe and wished for chic and sophisticated. She settled instead for clean and neat.

Maria had breakfast arranged buffet style on the kitchen counter. Ginny picked up a biscuit to be polite and was nibbling on it when Katie came in. The child was wearing green overalls and a frown. Her hair was divided into two perfect pigtails, and Ginny thought when she got to know Maria better, she might as for braiding lessons. The housekeeper helped Katie get some cereal and then settled the child at the table.

“Will your father be joining us this morning?” Ginny asked, anxious to determine her responsibilities.

Katie shook her head. “He won’t eat breakfast too much for a while. He has to get to court early so the judge won’t think he’s late.”

“I guess he’s pretty busy right now with his new case,” Ginny ventured.

She regretted the words immediately as Katie’s expression darkened. “He says things will get better in a few weeks.”

A tall, thin man with brown hair and freckles walked into the kitchen while Ginny was trying to think of a way to cheer up Katie. He lifted Katie out of her seat, swung her around with the cereal spoon hanging from her hand, then plopped her back into the chair. “You must be the baby-sitter,” he said to Ginny, taking a clean plate from the counter.

“I’m not a baby,” Katie objected.

“What are you then, a monkey? A goose? A lizard?” the man teased, and Katie giggled as he piled food onto his plate. He mixed eggs and bacon and fruit, then poured gravy over the whole mess. Ginny watched jelly seep out of a doughnut onto his grits and shuddered.

“I know you aren’t going to eat that,” she couldn’t help but say.

“Max always mixes his food,” Katie explained. “He says it’s the way real men eat.”

“Max Hopkins.” He sat down and extended his hand to Ginny.

“Ginny Weasley,” she returned, touching his palm briefly.

“Born and raised in London,” he supplied as if she had asked. “Taught to fear the Lord, respect my elders, and appreciate beautiful women!” He gave her what he probably thought was a charming smile. “Always been lucky, too. I mean, how much luckier can you get than to land a part-time job with Mr. Draco Malfoy? He pays good, lets me live in the apartment over his garage, and all I have to do is run a few errands and drive Katie around. Can’t beat a deal like that!”

“Are you taking Katie to school today?” Ginny ignored the rest of his useless information.

“Sure am. Today and everyday. That’s what my boss, Mr. Draco Malfoy, told me to do,” Max reported around a mouthful of mush. Averting her eyes, Ginny said that she wanted to ride with them and asked if it would be a problem for him to bring her home afterward. “No problem at all,” Max answered slowly, looking up from his breakfast.

Katie’s posture improved after Ginny’s announcement. “You’re coming with me to school?”

“Today and everyday,” Ginny imitated Max. “I don’t thing Miss Gamble will let me stay, but I can at least ride with you.”

Katie curled her lips into a brave little smile, and Ginny’s heart melted.

Once everyone was finished with breakfast, they walked our into the bright sunshine and Max opened the back door of a new-looking vehicle. He watched while they put on seat belts, then talked all the way to Morrow Academy. Finally Ginny realized that he didn’t expect any response from her, so she concentrated on Katie. In an attempt to distract the child from their destination, Ginny opened Katie’s new bag and admired all her school supplies.

Despite her efforts, Ginny noticed that the tension in Katie’s body was increasing steadily as they approached the school. Max turned through the gates and pulled up the curb, stopped behind several other cars. Apparently cars weren’t odd for wizards to own now that Voldermort was gone. A man stood by the curb opening doors for the students, but Ginny didn’t give him a chance to assist Katie. She stepped out and took the child’s hand. Then they walked into the school and down the long hallways to the pre-school building. Ginny pointed out the bathroom again and Katie nodded, her fingers clutching Ginny’s.

Miss Chloe was standing by the door wearing another beautiful pair of dress robes. She waved her manicured hands as she to a lady she could only guess was another parent. Finally it was their turn to approach.

“Mrs. Malfoy.” The teacher’s tone was cool. “Katie,” she added.

Ginny opened her mouth in another attempt to explain her relationship to Draco Malfoy, but people from behind surged forward and pushed them aside. As Miss Chloe’s attention shifted to other parents, Ginny bent down to Katie. “I’ll be waiting right here after school.”

Tears slipped over Katie’s lashes and ran down her cheeks. “You promise?”

“Promise,” Ginny answered, then watched as Katie disappeared into the classroom.

“First day of school,” Max said as she climbed back in the car. “Seems like just yesterday.” He began a soliloquy about his early years, and Ginny stared dismally out the window. Ginny interrupted to ask why Katie didn’t attend the public school. “Have to check with the boss on that one,” he replied.

Although Mr. Malfoy was not happy about Ginny’s presence in his home, they both wanted what was best for Katie. Ginny pictured Morrow Academy with a guard at the gate and Miss Gamble standing like an expensive mannequin outside her classroom door. After she described the situation to Mr. Malfoy, surely he would admit his mistake and transfer Katie to a public school. Something more comfortable.

Max dropped Ginny off behind the house with a promise to pick her up at 1:30. Inside she found Maria chopping vegetables. Ginny told the housekeeper that she needed to talk to Mr. Malfoy.

“He real busy,” Maria answered, the knife suspended about her cutting board.

“I know, but it’s about Katie. Very important,” Ginny added for emphasis. “Should I write him a note?”

“I tell him,” Maria said, turning back to her vegetables.

It took Ginny a full five minutes to unpack her things and straighten her room. She opened a book but couldn’t get involved in the plot. She turned on the television, but none of the programs interested her. Restlessness finally forced her to leave the safety of her rooms. She made it to the front entrance without running into Maria. Feeling bold, she stepped into the enormous living room. It was beautifully decorated and set up for entertaining on a large scale. Ginny was examining a small oil painting when Draco Malfoy spoke from behind her.

“You wanted to see me?” His voice seemed amplified in the large open space.

Feeling like a trespasser, she turned to face him. “I need to know Katie’s schedule. I looked for her last night after dinner, but couldn’t find her.”

He stared at her without speaking for a few unnerving moments. “I am under no obligation to keep you informed of Katie’s whereabouts,” he said finally.

“I’m here to evaluate the home environment,” she reminded him and his jaw tensed. “I should spend a lot of time with Katie, and I’ll need to observe the two of you together.”

Draco Malfoy frowned. “I am not a circus performer, Miss Weasley. I will give you time with Katie after school. I will allow you to roam my house and critique the atmosphere. But I won’t have you sitting in a corner taking notes while I watch television with my daughter.” He turned to leave, and Ginny took a step toward him.

“I also wanted to discuss Morrow Academy. Katie isn’t happy there, and I think you should transfer her to the local public school.”

“Katie’s school is no concern of yours,” he said over his shoulder.

“For the next three months, everything about Katie is a concern of mine,” she contradicted him. “Did she tell you about her teacher?”

“The subject came up,” he admitted. “Miss Chloe is very well qualified.”

Ginny tried to think of a way to describe the teacher. “She’s stiff and critical. And the school itself is extremely intimidating.” When none of this seemed to make much of an impression, she pressed on. “Katie cried when we left her this morning.”

He was still facing away from her, so she couldn’t see his expression, but his voice shook a little when he replied. “Most children shed a few tears on the first day of school. I investigated Morrow Academy thoroughly, and it is perfect. Besides, it will prepare her for all the years she will spend away at Hogwarts.”

“Morrow Academy may be perfect for some children, but not for everyone. Not for Katie,” Ginny disagreed.

He turned and stared at her. “You met my daughter twenty-four hours ago, and you think you are qualified to make decisions about what kind of child she is?”

“It only took Miss Chloe five minutes to determine that Katie needs remedial testing.” Ginny was pleased to see the tension in his jaw increase. “I am giving you my educated opinion, Mr. Malfoy. I have been to the school, I have met the teacher, and if Katie were my child, I would remove her immediately.”

He ran his hands through his hair in an impatient gesture. “I appreciate the fact that you are trying to help.” His tone indicated otherwise. “But Katie is not your child, and there is no question of her changing schools. The security at Morrow Academy is the best fit for Katie.”

“You missed the parent orientation yesterday,” Ginny continued doggedly. “But there is an open house next Friday you will have to attend.”

“I don’t have to do anything,” Draco Malfoy said.

Ginny’s eyes narrowed. “You’re being uncooperative again.”

He scowled and looked at his watch.

“If you miss that open house, I will be forced to mention it to the judge.”

And then he smirked. That damned arrogant smirk. As she stared, she couldn’t help but admit that he was rather handsome. Slowly the smirk turned into a smile, although his eyes showed no amusement. It was an evil smile. Ginny shivered. Then he took another step toward the door.

“Do you want Katie to be the only one there without a parent?” Ginny insisted.

He stopped then. “Next Friday won’t be a good day for me. Katie understands.”

“Do you really think so?” Ginny decided she had nothing to lose. “No one is that busy.”

“I’ve got a murder trail to prepare for, Miss Weasley. Leave my daughter and her education to me.” With that, he walked out of the room and left Ginny staring after him.

Discouraged, she went back to the kitchen and took an apple from a fruit bowl on the table for lunch. She ate it outside on the patio enjoying to sunshine. When she returned to the kitchen to throw away the core, Maria was nowhere to be seen but another shiny red apple had been placed in the bowl.

She was able to watch the first half of The Passionate and The Loveless before Max came to pick her up. After setting up the television to record, she hurried out to the SUV. On the way to the school Max told her that he had interviewed to be a tour guide at some war museum. “Has flexible hours and it pays pretty good. All I’d have to do is walk around and explain what caused the first and second war with the Dark Lord.”

Ginny wished him luck, silently thinking there wasn’t much hope of him getting a job where he had to speak at all, let alone describe economic collapse and global conflict. Ginny was standing in the hall across from Katie’s classroom when Miss Chloe opened her door. The women nodded to each other, then Ginny watched for Katie. She was the last child out.

“Come on now, Katie,” Miss Chloe said with exaggerated patience. “I asked you twice to be ready.”

Without a word, Katie joined Ginny and they walked back to the car. During the drive they looked through Katie’s bag. She had a homework sheet of circles and was supposed to find pictures of red things from magazines to share with her class the next day.

Maria had cookies and a glass of milk waiting on the kitchen table for Katie when they got home. Ginny took a cookie off the plate and, after a brief hesitation, the housekeeper poured another glass of milk. Then Ginny suggested that they take the snack into her room and do homework there. Katie agreed before Maria could object, although it was obvious that she wanted to.

Ginny started the tape of The Passionate and The Loveless as they settled in at the little table. Katie finished a cookie, then said she was going to make extra good circles so that Miss Chloe would like them. Ginny tried to imagine a circle perfect enough to please Miss Chloe as she listened to Cedric tell Marissa that he had been an alcoholic for years, which was no surprise to anyone except Marissa. During the commercial break Ginny saw an advertisement for a local florist, and an idea started to form. It was so simple that she laughed out loud, and Katie looked up.

“I was thinking about how Miss Chloe is nicer to some of the other parents and kids than she is to us,” Ginny explained. “I think she might still be mad that we missed the orientation, and when I saw how happy that lady was to get roses...” Ginny pointed toward the television.

Katie assimilated this information. “So if we send Miss Chloe some flowers, she’ll be nice to me?”

“I think it might help, especially if she thinks they are from your father.” Draco Malfoy was a minor local celebrity and unquestionably attractive. Miss Chloe seemed vain enough to enjoy attention from a handsome man and smart enough to recognize the advantage of knowing a good criminal lawyer.

“We’re going to tell daddy to give flowers to Miss Chloe?”

“No, we won’t bother him at work. I’ll order the flowers and have the florist sign his name.” Ginny said thoughtfully. “And I’ll make sure they get them to her by tomorrow morning.”

***

They ate dinner promptly at six and without Draco Malfoy. After the meal, Katie invited Ginny to play in the beautiful green room. When Katie opened a cupboard full of Barbies, Ginny sat down on the floor and took out several. “I’ve always loved Barbies,” she said from her cross-legged position. “I have a bunch at home.”

“Barbies are my favorite,” Katie agreed, pulling out her Barbie Dream House. Ginny arranged furniture while Katie opened a box containing a bridal ensemble. They took all the pieces out and put the white outfit on Back-to-School Barbie. Then they chose three more dolls to be attendants. Ginny placed a smiling Ken beside the bride, and then her hands started to shake. She jerked back and knocked over two of the bridesmaids. “What’s the matter?” Katie asked.

Ginny didn’t answer immediately. “I almost got married once,” she finally forced past stiff lips. “But,” she pointed toward the dolls still arranged for a wedding, “my Ken died.”

“Oh, that’s sad.” Katie’s eyes clouded with concern.

“I don’t like to talk about it,” Ginny said, afraid that she would be asked for details. Then she started returning bridesmaids to the correct boxes. Katie grabbed the Ken doll and hid him under the Barbie carriage, then jammed the other dolls into the cupboard without regard for clothes for accessories.

Ginny stared at the jumbled mess. “Aren’t you afraid you’ll lose things if you don’t put them in the right boxes?”

Katie gave her a mischievous grin. Not unlike her father’s smirk. “Nope. Maria will fix them tomorrow.”

Before Ginny could object to the unfairness of this plan, Katie said it was time for her shower. Ginny offered to help, but the child insisted she could handle it alone. In response to Ginny’s doubtful expression, Katie took her into the bathroom and demonstrated her custom-made shower. The system controlled the water temperature and pressure automatically.

“I thought most children took baths instead of showers,” Ginny commented.

“My daddy says I could drown if I take a bath, so the shower is better,” Katie admitted matter-of-factly. “But I have to tell somebody before I get in.” Ginny was impressed by the technology, but it seemed a little sad. Katie was very young to be so independent.

After Katie’s shower Ginny suggested they watch TV downstairs, but the child shook her head and pointed to the clock. “It’s almost my bedtime.” Ginny offered to read her a book, but Katie declined again, and it was obvious that she was politely ending their evening. This hurt a little, since Ginny couldn’t remember a day she had enjoyed so much.

She trudged down to her room and changed into running clothes. Then she ran laps around the park until her knees ached. Ginny took a shower then slept until dawn.