The Potter girl

chapter 21

A week later, Draco awoke to an empty bed, the sheets cold to the touch. His eyes shot open, his heart racing. He looked around the room, his gaze landing on the empty crib. Panic set in, his mind racing with thoughts of the prophecy and the whispers that had haunted them.The sudden realization that both Addie and Emily were missing from the room sent a jolt of alarm through Draco's body. He threw the covers aside and jumped to his feet, his heart pounding in his chest. He paused for a moment, listening intently, and then his ears picked up the sound of soft giggles from downstairs. Emily's giggles. Relief washed over him, but it was quickly followed by a hint of confusion. Who could be down there with her so early in the morning?Draco padded down the stairs in his bare feet, his eyes adjusting to the dim light of the early dawn. The warm glow of the fireplace in the living room guided him, and as he entered, he found the sight that had become a soothing balm to his soul—Addie, sitting cross-legged on the rug with Emily in her arms, playing with a stuffed hippogriff. The baby's eyes were wide with wonder, her tiny fingers reaching out to touch the toy's soft feathers.Addie looked up at the sound of his footsteps, her eyes lighting up with a smile that was brighter than any charm. "Look who's up," she whispered, her voice filled with joy. She leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on Draco's cheek before turning her attention back to their daughter. "Your daddy's here," she said, her voice filled with affection.Emily looked up at Draco with curiosity, her eyes shifting from his to the toy hippogriff and back again. She giggled as Addie tickled her belly, the sound like a melody that filled the quiet room. Draco couldn't help but smile as he watched the two most important people in his life bonding in the early morning light.Addie leaned back, her eyes never leaving their daughter's face. "you're so pretty" she said in a baby voice looking at Emily as she giggles and blows raspberries on her belly. Emily's laughter filled the room, a sweet sound that Draco felt his heart swell with love as he watched the two of them, the simple act of playing together a stark contrast to the weight of their situation.Draco sat down next to Addie "do you want to play with her?"she asked him, his eyes drawn to the way the soft light of the fire danced across Emily's features. He reached out a tentative hand, and she grabbed his finger with surprising strength, her grip surprisingly firm. He felt a jolt of connection, a bond that was more profound than any spell or prophecy could ever be."I'd love to," he said, his voice filled with a tenderness he hadn't known he was capable of.Addie handed him the tiny bundle that was their daughter, and Draco felt his heart swell as he cradled her in his arms. He had never felt so inexperienced in his life, but the love he had for her washed away any fears he had of being a father."Good," Addie said with a smirk, "now you can change her diaper."Draco stared at her for a moment, his eyes wide. "Me?" he asked, his voice cracking slightly."yes you"Addie laughed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You're her father," she said, handing him the changing supplies with a knowing smile. "You're going to have to learn eventually."Draco took the items with a sigh, his heart swelling with love as he gazed down at Emily. He knew that Addie had chosen to breastfeed their daughter, a decision that he had supported fully despite the raised eyebrows and whispers from some of the more traditional wizarding families. It was a bond that was deeply personal, and one that he knew was best for their child. But now, as he held her, he realized that his role was just as important, even if it didn't come as naturally to him."Plus i need to make her a bottle," Addie said, standing up and heading towards the kitchen. Draco watched her go, her movements graceful and tired. He knew that the past week had taken a toll on her, despite her insistence that she was fine. He resolved to be more attentive, to share in the responsibilities of caring for their daughter.In the kitchen, Addie began to warm a bottle of breastmilk with a simple incantation, her eyes focused on the task at hand. Draco followed, feeling slightly out of place in this domestic scene. He had never seen this side of her before—the motherly side that was so natural and beautiful."You know, I used to think I'd never see you do something like this," he said, his voice filled with a mix of admiration and awe.Addie glanced over her shoulder, a smirk playing on her lips. "And what's that supposed to mean?"Draco shrugged, a hint of a smile tugging at his own. "Just that you're...different now. Stronger, more...human, I suppose."Addie rolled her eyes but the pink that flushed her cheeks told him she was pleased. She handed him the bottle and he took it, his eyes widening slightly at the warmth. "How do I...?""You just have to put it to her mouth," Addie instructed, her voice gentle and patient. Draco looked down at Emily, who was squirming in his arms, her eyes fixed on the bottle. He brought it closer, feeling the warmth of the milk against her soft, eager lips. She latched on immediately, her eyes fluttering closed as she began to suckle.Addie watched with a knowing smile, her expression filled with a blend of amusement and affection. "See? You're a natural," she teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Draco couldn't help but chuckle, feeling a sense of pride that he had managed to do something so simple yet so profound."I guess I am," he murmured, his eyes never leaving Emily's contented face. He felt a strange sense of peace settle over him, a feeling that was as unfamiliar as it was welcome. It was as if holding her tiny form in his arms somehow made everything else seem less daunting, less terrifying."Oh, Merlin," Addie said suddenly, standing up with a start. "Come on, I'll show you."Draco followed her back into the nursery, feeling a bit like a fish out of water. He had read books on the subject, of course, but the reality of it was something else entirely. Addie laid Emily down on the changing table, her movements swift and sure as she explained each step. He listened intently, his eyes never leaving the baby as Addie pointed out where to put the new diaper and how to fasten it securely."You're doing great," she assured him, her voice soothing and calm. "It's not rocket science, just...baby science."Draco tried to mimic her confidence, but his hands trembled slightly as he picked up the clean diaper. Emily looked up at him, her eyes wide and curious, blissfully unaware of his inexperience. He took a deep breath and tried to remember the instructions Addie had given him."Okay, so...first things first," he murmured to himself, trying to sound more assured than he felt. He carefully unpinned the soiled diaper and tried to keep his face neutral despite the smell. "This is definitely not covered in potions class," he thought with a wry smile.Addie watched him with a knowing look, her hands hovering over her mouth to suppress her laughter. "Remember, Draco, it's not about being perfect. It's about caring for her," she said, her voice a gentle reminder of the love that bound them all together.He nodded, taking a deep breath and focusing on the task at hand. He placed the clean diaper under Emily, who kicked her legs in excitement, as if she knew what was coming. He carefully lifted her and placed her on the soft fabric, her little eyes staring up at him with unabashed curiosity."Okay, let's get this over with," he murmured, trying to sound more confident than he felt. He managed to get the dirty diaper off without incident, and Addie handed him a wet cloth to clean her up. Emily giggled as he gently wiped her, her tiny limbs flailing. Despite his nerves, Draco found himself smiling at her antics."See, it's not so bad," Addie said encouragingly. "Now just put the clean one under her and lift her legs."Draco nodded, feeling slightly more at ease as he mimicked her instructions. He managed to get the clean diaper in place and was about to fasten it when Emily decided to unleash a stream of urine, hitting him squarely in the chest."I guess she's got quite the aim," Addie managed to say between giggles, wiping a tear from her eye. Draco looked up at her, his own laughter bubbling to the surface. He hadn't heard her laugh like that in a long time, not since before the prophecy had cast its shadow over their lives. It was a beautiful sound, one that reminded him of the carefree days of their youth before the weight of the world had settled on their shoulders.The laughter continued as Draco tried to clean himself up with a spare cloth, Emily watching him with a mix of curiosity and amusement. He couldn't help but feel a bit like a fool, standing there with a wet shirt and a half-changed baby, but in that moment, it didn't matter. All that mattered was the love in the room, the love that had brought them together and created this little miracle."Here, let me help," Addie said, still chuckling, as she took over the diaper duty. Draco stepped back, watching with a smile as she expertly finished the job. Her laughter was infectious, and soon enough, they were both wiping tears from their eyes. It was the first time in what felt like an eternity that they had allowed themselves to laugh without fear or tension.Once Emily was clean and dry, Addie handed her back to Draco. "You're on feeding duty," she said, her voice still shaking with mirth. "I'll go get you a fresh shirt."Draco nodded, his own smile wide as he looked down at his daughter. He took the bottle from Addie, the warmth of it now familiar in his hand. As Emily latched on again, he couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder. He had never felt so responsible, so connected to something so small and fragile.The door to the nursery opened a crack, and the twins' muffled laughter could be heard from the hallway. "What's going on in here?" Fred poked his head in, his eyes scanning the room for the source of the amusement. "Oh, just Draco getting initiated into the world of diaper changing," George said from behind him, a smirk playing on his face. Addie's laughter grew louder at the sight of her husband standing there, soaked in baby urine. Draco couldn't help but join in, the absurdity of the situation breaking through the tension that had been weighing on them. The twins' laughter grew contagious, filling the room with a warmth that had been missing amidst the whispers and fears of the prophecy.