thattimeofthemonth | Open RP Post

"...you know, given time and training, Draco might do well for a partner," Remus said thoughtfully. "Really though, the only safe bet for a long term partner is an Animagus and as rare as they are..." But his arm tightened around her; it was obvious who he was thinking of. If Sirius hadn't been killed...

"As for the Malfoys, it's hard to explain without you having seen it. Lying, oh yes, I could see that with no difficulty. But I came on them with no idea they'd be there. No time for them to arrange anything. I saw Lucius... There is mental damage there. I know that they would never suffer their pride so much as they did in front of me if they hadn't changed. Narcissa made a meal, no House Elves, and they aren't looking as perfect as they had."

But still, Remus couldn't help his next words. "It's not them I'm doing this for; its for Draco. He deserves a chance, but I'll only give him one. Tomorrow, I'm going to take him to see Kingsley."

Tonks, kissed Remus's forehead and held him close knowing that he was upset about Sirius. She realized it was a grief that was never going to leave him, but he was learning to cope with it. She had her doubts on trusting Draco just yet. She was worried he would turn on them the minute he was given a chance. He was a Malfoy and it was hard to let go of that fact.

She couldn't help but raise an eyebrow as she listened to Remus explain his time with the Malfoys. This to her seemed like a tall tale, but since it came from Remus she knew it was the genuine truth. It really seemed the Malfoys have falling into rough times especially if they were being humble toward someone they treated poorly in the past.

"I only hope your effort is worth it. I understand that you see yourself in him... I just don't want him to turn around and betray you. Just...be careful and that's if Kingsly allows it." She replied.

"...I plan to be, and I hope I'm right. It's a risk, but... I'm going to make sure I do everything to prove he's telling the truth. Not just to me, but to everyone." He shook his head a little, tucking himself against the woman he loved, eyes closing. "Maybe I need to be right. Maybe if I can be right about him, I can be right about other things. Even as it is, Kingley's having a hell of a time repealing the laws Umbridge put into place..."

It still hurt, but he had dealt with that all of his life.

"Let's hope you're right..." Tonks softly replied. "For your sake and his."

Morning quickly came, much to Draco's dismay as he woke up to Teddy's cries. They also reminded him where he was, that he was no longer back home. He felt as he barely got any sleep as nightmares plagued them. He blamed the fact that he wasn't used to being in this house and all the noises that came with it.

Someone eventually came and got Teddy, he wasn't too sure who. He wasn't quite sure if he should get up...or try for more sleep. Judging by all the commotion going on downstairs...it sounded like it was best to just give up sleeping. Groggily, he dug through his trunk and grabbed his robes and slid them on over his gray pjs. He then headed downstairs, unsure of what to expect or what he was supposed to do.

Remus was attempting to juggle both his infant son as well as gesturing with his wand to try and warm up a bottle of formula. When he spotted Draco, he gave a flash of a tired smile before he gestured with his chin. "Good timing! Here, come help for a minute." And without much other warning, he came over and put Teddy into Draco's arms. "Here, mind his head, make sure it's propped up."

And with that, he'd go back to trying to get Teddy's breakfast ready.

....Draco couldn't help but look startled and unsure of himself as he suddenly had the baby in his arms. He never even had a chance to protest. Surprisingly enough the baby didn't even cry as he held him, but only appeared to be interested. That helped ease his nerves a little bit especially when he realized he wasn't going to drop the baby and that he wasn't as fragile as he thought.

He gave a small smile when Teddy tried to wrap his hand around his fingers. He couldn't help but marvel at how innocent and accepting a baby could be. It felt nice to not be judged for once in his life and to simply be accepted.

He quietly walked around, holding Teddy as he waited for Remus to finish up preparing the baby's breakfast. When he didn't think he was being watched he made faces getting the baby to laugh.

Remus pretended to be more focused on getting Teddy's breakfast than he really was, but it let him risk glances out of the corner of his eye towards Draco to see what the young man would do with a baby in his arms. A little smile touched his lips as he watched Draco take to it quite well and Teddy, it seemed, to Draco. So when he had a bottle ready and tested for its warmth, he came over and offered it over to Draco instead of taking Teddy back. "He seems pretty happy there, why don't you feed him? Just keep the nipple at his mouth and the bottle tilted up so there's no air bubbles getting drunk."

Draco gave a sheepish grin when Remus caught him off guard. He couldn't say no at this point since Remus did have a point... He decided it was best to sit down and try this out. He wasn't too sure how this would go and he still wasn't sure why so much trust was being placed on him with Teddy. Draco held the bottle as instructed and carefully kept an eye out as Teddy hungrily ate.

"I always wanted a brother," he commented. "I sometimes wonder what it would have been like if I had one."

From what the Malfoys had mentioned, it seemed like Draco was lucky to exist at all, never mind a sibling. Personally, there was a part of him that believed it was possibly part issue of the Pure Bloods becoming a bit too... zealous in their attempt to remain pure, possibly part due to the inherit issues that darker magic played on the body, but neither was a proven fact. Given that the Weasleys were a Pure Blood line and they were always quite prolific, perhaps the latter was a factor. Either way, not an opinion he would venture to anyone else, not even his wife.

"A part of me wished I had a sibling," Remus admitted, "but it never would have worked out. In a way, my friends were more like family than my own family." The Marauders had been his brothers, until everything had gone terribly wrong, again and again and again. A part of him squeezed tight at the thought of how he had lost his friends - murder and betrayal.

Draco gave a nod, but it was hard to read his expression. He really wasn't sure what to call Crabbe and Goyle. In a sense they had been friends when they were growing up, but toward the end they had lost faith in him when his father had failed and he had failed in his task. Then there was Pansy...and in the end that didn't work out. She didn't want to be seen around with a family who had failed. And really he couldn't blame anyone but himself.

He understood where Remus was coming from seeing the examples with Professor Snape and his father. A part of him wondered what it was that Remus and his friends had done to get Snape to hate them so much. It didn't seem to sound a lot like the stories he had overheard.

At this point Teddy had finished his bottle and he could hear Tonks was coming downstairs. "What do I do now?" he questioned as he placed the empty bottle onto the table. He might as well ask since he figured Remus was going to have him do what ever had to be done next anyway.

They had been awful to Severus, really. Sirius instigated it all, James matched him, Peter would do whatever Sirius said, and Remus hadn't entirely liked it but was just as guilty for going along with it. Snape, he realized as he grew older, had every right to hate them.

He didn't talk about it.

"I'll spare you the unpleasantness of the next bit." He grabbed a spit rag and threw it over his shoulder, taking his son and holding him to his shoulder, patting his back. "Need him to burp, but babies can spit up, I learned the hard way."

He did lean over to kiss Tonks when she came up to him, giving her a warm smile before she went to make herself tea. He glanced to Draco and said almost seriously, "be careful of Tonks before she's truly woken up."

"Right.." Draco replied and was thankful for the warning and the fact he didn't have to deal with the messy part. He was barely awake himself and wasn't too keen on wanting to clean up an unexpected mess.

He should eat as well, but he wasn't too hungry. His nerves were still shot from trying to adjust to his new surroundings and his lack of sleep didn't help.

"Do you think, it'll be alright if I can explore the area later on today?" he asked. Even if it seemed very muggle populated, it was better then being stuck in doors. Just to be out among people would be refreshing.

Remus quickly shared a look with his wife, hesitating heavily, before cautiously saying, "I think it might be best if you don't go out alone until you're used to things."

What did surprise the hell out of him was when Tonks suddenly tilted her head and smirked a little bit. "I'll take him out. He needs to get some proper clothing."

"...You're sure about this?" Remus cautiously asked.

"Oh, I'm sure. You can watch Teddy for a few hours, hmm?"

Draco found himself tensing up when Tonks had offered to take him out. He had an idea there would be a lecture and a warning of some sort during this little outing, especially with how quick she was to jump in.

He's also never really interact with her. And just the little bit he saw and the warnings Remus left of her...she wasn't someone to cross.

"What's wrong with my clothes?" he challenged. Draco couldn't help it. Appearance was one thing the Malfoys pride themselves in and had been strict on. Granted...now a days it hasn't been as strict. They might be old and worn out, but they still blended in with the wizarding community and muggles if necessary.

"This definitely isn't the kind of area for that sort of thing," Tonks said dismissively, gesturing a little. "You'll need something that blends in more. It won't be too big of a deal."

Remus just took and let out a slow breath. Was he really going to let Tonks take Draco out into the Muggle world? Really, he wasn't about to tell her no, either. He didn't want to have to deal with an angry Nymphodora Tonks. "...I would just accept what she has to say on the matter, Draco. It shouldn't be too difficult to procure something more suitable. You... would stick out a touch, given your age."

Draco felt his face flush and he looked away. He didn't understand or rather refused to understand why he would stick out. Let alone his age being a problem with it.

Then there was the fact if he wanted to explore and go out on his own...he was going to have to do what they said.

"Alright....fine." Draco reluctantly agreed even though it was clear he wasn't pleased with the idea.

"I get the feeling you don't quite understand just how different-"

But Tonks interrupted her husband, looking amused. "No, Remus, if he wants to go out on his own, let him."

Which made him look sharply to his wife, brows way up. "...but-"

Tonks just grinned a little. "He's a big wizard, he knows the rules about magic. He'll be /fine/."

....

Remus knew Tonks was up to something and he wasn't sure he liked it. "...if you're sure..."

"I am. Enjoy yourself after breakfast, Draco."

Draco gave a curt nod and then excused himself from the table. He wasn't liking this one bit. He realized that Tonks was up to something and knew full well that she didn't trust him and only put up with him because of Remus.

He decided to take a shower to try to calm his nerves down and to try and wake up some more. He knew his face was still flushed from the conversation. He wanted to sleep some more but that wasn't going to happen.

He had a feeling no matter where he was going to go that other wizards and witches would be treating him the same way. This was why his parents had hid away from society. But didn't he come here to prove himself? He couldn't keep hiding.

After the shower he then dug through his clothes trying to find something that wouldn't "stick out". Eventually he managed to find something that wasn't too formal. He still wasn't hungry and decide to just stay in his room a little longer.

Unsurprisingly, it would be Remus that came by when Draco wasn't coming down. He gave an odd knock and called Draco's name - if the door was opened, it would be him with a tray (maybe a wand or an elbow knock then?) full of breakfast, looking a touch uncertain but also trying a half smile.

"Hungry?" He asked. "Thought you might want to eat before you went out. I got us a meeting at 2, so if you want to eat and head out for a bit, you have time. We need to leave here by 1:30, no later."

There was a paused, before Draco opened the door. He was a little surprised to see Remus bringing up breakfast. It was the last thing he was expecting.

"Oh...thank you," Draco replied and went to relieve Remus of the tray. He was a bit embarrassed by this as he didn't mean for Remus to go out of his way. Now that the food was before him, he realized that he was hungry and reached over to grab some of the toast and bite into it.

"Meeting?" This bit of news caught him off guard. This day was certainly a day full of surprises.

"Remember?" He moved to sit on the edge of the bed. "I told you we would be going by the Ministry. I have someone who I think can help you out and confirm you. With him behind you, most would think differently. Besides, I think he can help you figure Out a possible future career, if you want one."

...Right now he remembered...but he hadn't expected that to be right away either. "Who is this person?" He asked and gave an embarrassed smile.

"I think it'll be easier if you meet him when we get there." Because he had a feeling Draco would panic if he knew before hand.

"Eat up and enjoy yourself today. You can use a Locator spell if need be to make sure you know how to get back." He gave a nod before he stood up, making a face as his back cracked. Too old...

He gave a nod, but couldn't hide his concern for Remus. Not that he could do anything for him...at least now. "I'll make sure to be here by 1:30..."

As for enjoying the day...he doubted that. His first time back in society after months of hiding...was going to be a challenge. He was thankful that the one sweater he had had a hood, that he could hide under if need be.

Draco managed to eat some of the breakfast not all of it. Warily, he brought the tray down with him and tried to brace himself for his outing with Tonks.

But Draco would be in for a surprise. Tonks would be waiting for him downstairs, looking very much like a Muggle in her clothing minus the tee shirt she wore was for the Weird Sisters. She smirked on seeing him, but it wasn't a cruel smirk. More amused.

"So you want to check out the area? Go ahead. You don't need me to be a babysitter - just don't let Remus know I let you go off alone."

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