Draco was just finishing up his dinner when Pansy sat down next to him, an expectant look upon her face.

"What?" He couldn't help but snap irritably. He was keen to finish up and get to Aurora's room. The last thing he wanted was Pansy delaying his time with her.

"Did you not receive the owl?" She asked, tapping her fingers impatiently on the table. "About the guest list?"

"Guest list? What guest list?"

"For our engagement party, Drakie! Remember? The big one we are having this summer at your parent's house? They want us to write up a list of friends we want to attend from school."

Draco looked at her incredulously. He couldn't believe that she would actually think he would give a toss about this.

"Well anyway," she continued, seeming to choose to ignore his evident hostility, "they need to know by the end of the day so I thought we could do it together - tonight."

"I'm busy," Draco grumbled, starting to get to his feet.

"If you are going to see her, then you'd better think again." She sneered, grabbing a tight hold of his arm. "I see they've let her back in with that little Weasley brat."

"I've got to go, Pansy," Draco spat, wrenching his arm free from her grip. "I've been asked by Slughorn to help her catch up with what she's missed. And I think it's the least I can do after what my fiancée has done to her, don't you?"

"But what about the guest list?" She screeched as Draco turned his back started to walk off.

"Invite who you like, Pansy." He bellowed back at her. "I couldn't care less who's going to be at that stupid party. I have more important tasks to be getting on with!"

Namely one that he wasn't getting very far with. He swallowed, trying to force the sick feeling away that he always felt whenever he thought about that damned cabinet.

He really ought to be working on it tonight, but no way was he going to miss an opportunity to spend time with Aurora, and hopefully their child.

His daughter. He still couldn't get his head around the fact that he was a father. A secret one maybe, but ultimately still a father.

He stopped by the dungeons to pick up some things from his room, feeling oddly nervous.

And when he knocked on the door to Aurora's room ten minutes later, the butterflies in his stomach were taking flight.

It took him everything not to throw his arms around her when she opened the door, smiling warmly at him.

"Is she here?" He asked, stepping into the room and shutting the door behind him.

It was a nice room, he noted as he looked around. To one side it had a large bed next to a cot for the baby along with some storage space. And on the other, was a little living area with a sofa, table and chairs and a small kitchenette. To the back of the room was another door which Draco presumed led to the bathroom.

A proper little bedsit, Draco thought, impressively. He wondered if this room had always been like this or if Dumbledore had it made especially.

"Madam Pomfrey will be bringing her back any minute." Aurora explained. "She did offer to have her longer while you tutor me, but I really want to feed her, and I thought... I thought you might like to see her?"

She blushed as she said the last part, her voice small and hopeful.

Draco smiled, grateful to her, and loving her that little bit more.

"I'd love to," he said hoarsely, desperate to throw his bag down and hold her in his arms.

But he contained himself, instead walking over to the table and carefully emptying the contents of his bag, pulling out his Potion books and quills.

"Thank you for the teddy, by the way,"

He paused, feeling her eyes on him, slowly turning to face her.

"I would have given it to her myself, I just didn't want to make things... difficult." He explained, his heart twisting as he stared into her beautiful eyes.

"It's okay," she said sadly, "I do understand, Draco. I just wish it didn't have to be this way."

"Me too," he said, swallowing. He felt the air suddenly thicken around them, making his breath hitch in the back of his throat.

He itched to reach out and touch her. Itched to feel her in his arms. Itched to kiss her, to lie down with her and-

A sharp rap on the door brought Draco back to his senses. Aurora went to answer it whilst he turned back to the table and continued to unpack his things.

He listened, but did not turn around as Aurora greeted Madam Pomfrey. He heard a gurgling sound which made his pulse quicken. His daughter. His daughter was here, in the room with him. And any moment he was about to see her, maybe even hold her.

The door closed, and the room was now silent except for the gentle cooing noises of a baby and the sound of Aurora softly humming.

It was the most beautiful thing he had ever heard.

"Draco," Aurora called gently, "Draco, come and see your daughter."

He turned around once again and thought his heart would burst with love.

Aurora, his darling Aurora, was cradling the most beautiful baby he had even seen in his life; a head of dark hair, and eyes wide, looking adoringly up at its mother.

He stepped tentatively towards them, not taking his eyes away from the baby who had already changed so much since birth.

"Would you like to hold her?" Aurora asked, and Draco instantly nodded, wanting to so very much.

She passed her to him as he reached out, marvelling in the softness of her warm tiny body beneath his hands. He carefully cradled her in his arms, being sure to support her head in the crook of his elbow.

And, as his daughter's eyes found his, Draco was shocked at the sudden swoop of emotions that flooded his heart.

"She's perfect," he choked, horrified at the tears welling in his eyes. Shit. He was crying, and he had not expected that at all.

He leant down, placing his lips firmly on Nova's head, and found himself closing his eyes in contentment as his nostrils filled with a powdery baby scent.

A soft coo emanated from her tiny body, and he felt a little hand brush his cheek, tiny fingers trying to grab.

"She likes you," Aurora said, her voice full of such tenderness. "I think she knows you're her daddy."

He lifted his head back up, turning to look at Aurora.

"Thank you," he whispered, not knowing what else to say.

And then, because in that moment he couldn't imagine doing anything else, he reached out an arm and pulled Aurora to him, gathering her to his chest with their baby supported in his other arm between them.

"I love you," he said, kissing Aurora's hair and inhaling her scent, "I love you both with everything I have."

He felt her arm encircle his waist, as she nuzzled her head under his chin, her cheek pressed against his beating heart. He felt her sigh happily as they both stared down at their daughter, Aurora softly stroking the dark swirls of hair upon Nova's head.

"And we both love you, Draco," she whispered, as he held them both to him. "Always and forever."

It was the happiest moment of his life.