The Slytherin Prince [Draco Malfoy]

Prologue II

"Ma.. mama.." The little toddler pried at her crib as she stood up weakly against the railing to look at her mother. Katherine laid in her bed adjacent to the crib, her face pale and sickly. She managed a difficult smile to her little angel and the toddler giggled happily to see her mother respond.

"Eleanor.. my baby.." She stretched her hands out and the little girl instantly grabbed her index finger tightly. "Mummy loves you so much.. Your daddy loves you too." And a streak of tears fell down quickly when she thought of William. They both failed their daughter. Sweet Eleanor.. She will have no one else left for her after she's gone. Katherine looked at her daughter lovingly, using the last of her moments to trace and outline mentally her cute little button nose, and that pair of ocean blue eyes she got from her father. Her soft dark brown hair, which she won't have a chance to braid in the future and tell her how beautiful she looks.

"Promise me you'll be happy Eleanor.. Be brave and live the life we couldn't. Mummy and daddy will always love you. Always..." Her voice faded into the night as her hand dropped down to her side. Two years old Eleanor didn't knew it was the last time she ever saw her mother open her eyes again.

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"There must be something you can do.. She entrusted her daughter to you!" Old Sofia raised her voice at Katherine's parents. Currently she was at the Rosier's manor discussing about Eleanor.

"She is a Prince! Not a Rosier..! It is because of that.. thing, Katherine is dead!" Katherine's father, Martin Rosier banged the table angrily. He was already devastated over his daughter's death, how dare they bring up such a ridiculous request! He would never forgive that little demonic child. During her whole pregnancy, she was constantly mourning over William. Her depression caused a difficult labor and ever since she had been bedridden. For three years. His poor daughter suffered so much because of that evil thing and this cursed family.

"There is no need for anymore discussion. My decision is final. We will not keep her!" Sofia understood that she could no longer convince him, and so she apparated home alone with a heavy head.

"How did it go?" Leon asked his wife, his sagged skin too filled with multiple creases when he frowned. She merely shook her head in disappointment. The old man sighed tiredly, and wondered what's the point of keeping a child if she can't carry out the lineage?

"We have to give her away. She'll bring nothing but misfortune to us." He nodded. "To whom then?" Instead of replying, she wrote on two parchment papers and sent out her house owls to deliver them.

By nightfall, Morgan apparated back to the manor after her work at a muggle marketing company. Followed by Severus Snape. He had started teaching potions at Hogwarts for about a year now. Once Sofia saw that they were gathered here, she told them of her plans.

"One of you has to take in Eleanor."
"What! But mother isn't she supposed to go to the Rosier??" Eleanor's aunt, Morgan shrieked out. She can't support a toddler! Besides she's not even her responsibility.

Sofia rubbed her temples, feeling annoyed after a long day of persuasion.
"She has to go. So I don't care which one of you, just take her away."

Morgan toyed with her pearl necklace annoyingly and rolled her eyes at this dysfunctional family. She refused to take in her niece for no reasons at all. She has nothing to gain from this anyway.

Severus honestly didn't wanted to carry this responsibility too. How is he supposed to take care of a toddler himself?

"Is there no other way..?" He asked. He felt attached to the Princes, they did in fact gave him his pureblood status. Although he's only a half-blood.
"No.." Severus didn't knew his grandparents would reject the kid in the end. But he couldn't accept her too, can he?

Without coming up with any conclusion, they headed up to Katherine's bedroom. Eleanor had just woken up and was jiggling the bed rattle hanging overhead.

Severus suddenly thought of Katherine's final moment. She looked like she was about to embrace Eleanor for the last time. He sighed and thought that's perhaps every mother's natural instinct to protect their child. Just like Lily... He blinked back the tears and thought of her son Harry. He should be two, like her.

"Dada.." Eleanor used her tiny hands and latched onto Severus's coat. He stepped back in total shock since he didn't knew how to properly interact with a child. Eleanor only giggled louder and stretched her arms further to try to catch Severus again. The rest of the family looked at Severus baffled. Sofia immediately lightened up and cried out.

"Oh great! Severus she seems to like you very much! You'll take her then." She decided on her own and Morgan quickly sympathize with Severus. But only a while, for after that she went downstairs to have a joyful dinner with the family. No burdens for her!

Severus stood there mouth agape, half blaming this little kid and his aunt. Someone who's 22 years older than him would actually push everything to him, he thought.

Suddenly Eleanor started wailing with all her might and Severus went towards her with one big step.
"Wh-what's wrong!" He sincerely thought she was bitten or she had miraculously hurt herself somewhere. But he was wrong, since she was quick to stop and her hands clumsily took his big hands and started jumping up and down, ecstatic that someone was playing with her. She didn't had much company. She laughed and displayed a goofy grin with her baby teeth showing, almost mocking him to have fell for her trap.

He let out a huge breath.
"What should I do with you..."