Learning to Except

"Mr. Malfoy-Snape?"

"Actually, it's Malfoy-Potter, but I answer to both."

"Very well, Mr. Malfoy-Potter..."

"Just call me Draco; it's a lot less of a mouthful."

"Alright, Draco, concerning your Fathers."

"My father and my stepfather you mean?"

"Yes, your father and your stepfather. Both men are in a stable, yet critical state."

"Oh, that's...good."

"Unfortunately, everything is on shaky ground at the moment. We would like to keep them in seclusion for at least the first few nights."

"Alright, that sounds reasonable."

"There's just one more thing I'd like to discuss Mr....Draco."

"Continue."

"They seem to have a young child in their care. Their daughter perhaps?"

"Chloe? Yes, she's in their care."

"Well, by Ministry of Magic law, she's in your care temporarily."

"Oh all right then..."

It had happened in a span of less then two hours. First, a Muggle huntsman had shot his father and stepfather during the full moon and now, he was saddled with the task of taking care of his slightly estranged, younger half-sister, by adoption. Draco Malfoy-Potter, try as hard as he might to concentrate on the road in front of him, couldn't stop his mind from reeling. What was he to do now? He and Chloe barely got along at the best of times...

"Um...Draco?" From beside him Chloe's small voice rang clear as a bell.

"Yes?"

"Can I drive?" Draco glanced sideways at her, his blond eyebrows raised in confusion.

"No!"

"Then would you?" she said angrily, pointing out the large van that had narrowly missed them. Draco's eyes and mind moved back onto the road ahead. Heavy sheets of rain pelted down onto the roof of the car. Beside him, Chloe settled back and returned to her book on the history of werewolves. From just looks alone, it was easy to tell of Chloe Lily Selena Lupin-Snape's heritage. With the Snape chin and full eyelashes and the Lupin nose and hazel-brown eyes, she embodied an equal amount of both her fathers. It had been a shock when, in Draco's fifth year, the truth had come out about Remus Lupin and Severus Snape's odd, rather tainted relationship. It had been even more of a shock when, Draco, had learnt that they had already conceived a child. It had taken a long time for the men to rebuild their delicate relationship, but, after fourteen years, the men had the same feelings for each other that they had had when Chloe had been conceived.

"Draco." Chloe had looked up once again from her large ancient text.

"Yes?" he said, trying to keep a neutral tone in front of the annoying young witch.

"Where are we going?" Her voice was wrought with more then one emotion.

"Back to my house of course."

"Oh, will Harry be there?"

"I should hope so, we are still married."

"Oh right..."

"Would you like me to ask Harry to invite Erin?" His tone was softened, as the silent tears pressed again her drooping eyelids.

"Yes please," was the almost non-existent reply.

~*~

By the time that Draco pulled his blue Mercedes into the two-story house on the outskirts of London it seemed that, judging by the noise and light inside, Harry had assembled their entire group.

Turning off the ignition and moving around to the passenger's side of the car, Draco removed Chloe's limp body from her seat. She was far to light in his opinion. Maybe Harry's cousin Erin, Chloe's best friend, was on the right track with her force-feeding methods. He ambled up the stone walk and towards the red front door. Before he had even reached the handle, the door was yanked open, revealing non-other then the Boy-Who-Lived himself.

"Finally, what took so bloody long?" Harry asked exasperatedly. From behind him Draco could make out his extended surrogate family. Arthur and Molly Weasley, along with their brood, the Potters, James, Lily and Erin, and Sirius. Ignoring Harry's inquiry, Draco made his way into the sitting room to join the others. After all, this story was only going to be told once. Making his way over to the loveseat, where Sirius sat in solitude, Draco noted the concerned expressions on his friends' faces. He sat down heavily on the couch, placing Chloe gently onto Sirius' lap. Immediately, the others crowded around, bombarding the young man with questions.

"What happened?"

"Did Chloe get attacked too?"

"Are they dead?"

"Was it an ex-death eater?" Draco held a hand up to stop the wave of interrogations. He sighed loudly and began. When he had finished, the room was silent. Slowly, reality dawned on them.

"You mean to say that Remus was shot with a silver bullet."

"Quarantine!?"

Finally, in the midst of the chaos Erin Potter spoke,

"You're taking care of Chloe!"

And so, Draco noted with a weary sigh, it had begun...

~*~

"Papa!" she called into the darkness. She could see her father's face at what seemed to be the end of a very long, bright tunnel.

"Go back!" he called urgently. His ebony hair was matted with sweat and he looked to be in pain. Chloe watched him fall to the ground, clutching his side in agony. She ventured closer, shielding the light from her eyes. The closer she got, the more her father, Severus Snape, protested and the brighter the light became. She reached a hand out to touch him, when suddenly; a voice pulled her abruptly into consciousness.

"You're taking care of Chloe!" There was no mistaking that voice. Somewhere above her was Erin Potter. She reached her arms lazily towards the voice and opened one eye blearily. Surrounding her, making her feel very claustrophobic was her extended family.

I hate to do this but I want 11 reviews before the next chapter. Partially because my ego needs a boost and partially because the plot has yet to be decided.

-Werepup of Lupin-Snape