our little angel

Uncles Getaway

Age: 3
Words: 1087
Summary: Draco takes his niece and they run into Harry, Hermione, and Ron.

It was a crisp autumn day at Hogwarts, and the castle’s long corridors were alive with students going to and from their classes. The air was filled with the usual chatter and bustle, but one small, blonde-haired child was unaware of the noise around her, her eyes bright and full of curiosity as she trotted down the hallway beside her uncle, Draco Malfoy.

Raven Malfoy, now three years old, was full of energy as always. She held Draco’s hand tightly, skipping beside him, her toy lion clutched in the other hand. Draco, though typically cold and stoic, couldn’t help but indulge his niece’s boundless energy. It had been a while since he’d spent time alone with Raven, and despite his usual preference for a more solitary existence, there was something about the little girl’s presence that softened him.

“You have to stay close to me, Raven,” Draco said, his voice firm yet gentle. “Hogwarts is big, and I’d rather not lose you in these halls.”

Raven nodded enthusiastically, looking up at him with her bright, innocent eyes. “I won’t get lost, Uncle Draco! I can find my way to the big windows and the stars!” she exclaimed, referring to the common room where she often sat by the window and gazed out at the sky.

Draco couldn’t help but smile at her infectious enthusiasm, even though he was still a bit anxious. As the two continued down the hallway, they turned a corner and came upon three familiar faces—Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley. The trio was walking toward them, chatting animatedly.

Harry was the first to notice the pair. His eyes flickered with surprise before he gave them a nod. “Draco,” he greeted, his tone surprisingly civil considering their past history. “And Raven, right?”

Raven’s face lit up as she saw Harry, her small feet immediately picking up speed as she pulled on Draco’s hand to rush over to him. “Harry!” she exclaimed with a grin, dropping her toy lion at her feet and running the last few steps toward him.

Draco sighed, his gaze softening as he watched his niece. “Raven,” he muttered under his breath, but there was no real frustration in his voice—just a little disbelief at how much the child had wormed her way into his heart.

Harry crouched down to meet Raven at eye level, a smile tugging at his lips. “Well, hello there, little one! How’s Hogwarts treating you today?”

Raven beamed, holding her hands out as if she had something important to show. “I’m running and running! I’m going to find all the stars in the sky!” she said, her voice full of excitement. “Uncle Draco says I can’t go too far, but I can see all the big windows and the stars at night!”

Ron laughed from behind Harry. “Stars, huh? You’ve got a big imagination, Raven. I bet you’ll be a wizard just like your dad one day.”

Raven’s eyes widened, and she looked up at Draco with the utmost sincerity. “I’m magic like Daddy, aren’t I, Uncle Draco?”

Draco’s lips twitched in a subtle smile, though he hid it quickly. “You certainly have a lot of magic in you,” he said softly, his tone warmer than usual. He couldn’t help but be proud of his niece, even if he wasn’t always the best at expressing it.

Hermione, who had been watching with an amused smile, stepped forward. “How are you doing, Draco?” she asked, her tone polite but kind. “You look like you’re keeping Raven in line.”

Draco raised an eyebrow. “Keeping her in line? Hardly. She’s the one running the show. I’m just here to keep an eye on her.”

Raven, hearing her name, looked back up at Draco and grinned mischievously. “I’m the boss!” she declared proudly, placing her hands on her hips and giving Draco an exaggerated look of command.

Hermione chuckled softly. “Well, it certainly sounds like you’re the one in charge.”

Ron grinned and nudged Harry. “She’s definitely got the Malfoy confidence down.”

Draco gave a wry smile. “I have no idea where she gets that from,” he said dryly, though it was clear he enjoyed the moment. As much as he tried to maintain a hard exterior, moments like this with Raven reminded him of the joy he rarely allowed himself to express.

Raven suddenly gasped, her wide eyes falling on the group’s shoes. “You all have big shoes! Like mummy and daddy!” she exclaimed, crouching down to inspect their footwear as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world.

Draco glanced at his niece, trying not to laugh at her innocent observation. “Come on, Raven. Let’s not be rude,” he said gently, though his voice had a teasing tone. “We should let them go on their way.”

Raven, however, wasn’t finished. She straightened up, and with all the seriousness a three-year-old could muster, she declared, “I like your shoes, Harry. They’re cool!”

Harry, his expression warm, couldn’t help but chuckle. “Thanks, Raven. You’ve got good taste.”

“I’m going to have shoes like yours when I’m big,” Raven said, nodding firmly as she looked at Harry's worn-in sneakers.

Ron laughed. “I think Harry would be honored by that.”

Draco, realizing that the encounter was drawing to a close, shifted on his feet. “Right, well, I’ll let you all get going,” he said. “Raven, say goodbye.”

Raven, a little disappointed the fun had to end, waved enthusiastically. “Bye-bye, Harry! Bye-bye, Hermione! Bye-bye, Ron! See you soon!” she called out as she waved her tiny hand in the air.

The trio smiled and waved back, with Harry giving a small nod to Draco. “Take care of her, Draco,” he said, his voice friendly.

“I always do,” Draco responded, his usual cool demeanor back in place.

As Draco turned and began walking down the hall with Raven, the little girl’s high-pitched voice rang out one more time. “Uncle Draco, can I run some more?”

Draco gave a half-smile, adjusting her in his arms before he replied, “Let’s just make sure you don’t run too far this time.”

And with that, the small duo disappeared down the corridor, leaving behind the trio of friends who, for a brief moment, saw the softer side of the Malfoy family—a side that wasn’t often on display, but one that was certainly there, just beneath the surface.