𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐄𝐃 | ᴀ ᴅʀᴀᴍɪᴏɴᴇ ꜱᴛᴏʀʏ

Chapter 11

THANKSGIVING IS HELD AT MY PARENTS' COUNTRY HOUSE upstate every year. It's always a small family affair. There's my parents, of course. You've met my father. My mother is an older, shorter version of Pansy. For all her strong feminist beliefs—she'd been a top-notch attorney before motherhood lured her away—she loves playing the happy homemaker. After she and my father hit the big-time financially, she also dedicated herself to various charitable organizations. It's what she still does with most of her time now that Pansy and I have flown the nest.

Then there's Blaise's father, Andre Zabini. Picture Blaise thirty years from now, but bigger, more muscular and bald. Mrs. Zabini passed away when we were teenagers. To my knowledge, Andre hasn't been out on a single date since. He spends a lot of time at work, quietly crunching numbers in his office. He's a great guy. Big guy. He could snap your neck off if he wanted to.

And that brings us to the Potters, Harry's parents. Can't wait for you to see them. They're a fucking riot. James and Lily Potter are the most mellow people I've ever met.

They're almost catatonic.

Imagine Ward and June Cleaver after they've smoked a giant bong of marijuana. That's James and Lily. You'd think Harry's parents would be a little more high-strung, wouldn't you? I have a theory. They had Harry later in life, and I think he sucked out any energy they had left—like a parasite.

Topping off the mix is Harry, Blaise, Pansy, and myself.

Oh—and of course the other woman in my life. I can't believe I haven't mentioned her before. She is the only female to ever truly hold my heart in her hand. I am her slave. She asks, and I do.

Gladly.

Her name is Mackenzie. She's got curly black hair and the biggest blue eyes you'll ever see. She's almost four. See her there? On the other end of the seesaw I'm currently riding.

"So, Mackenzie, have you decided what you want to be when you grow up?"

"Yep. I wanna be a princess. And I wanna marry a prince and live in a castle."

I need to talk to my sister. Disney is dangerous. Corrosive brainwashing bullshit, if you ask me.

"Or, you could go into real estate. Then you could buy the castle yourself and you won't need the prince."

She thinks I'm funny. She laughs.

"Uncle Draco. How's I gonna have a baby wit no prince?"

Oh, boy.

"You've got plenty of time for babies. After you get your masters in business or your medical degree. Oh, or you can be a CEO and start a daycare at your office. Then you can bring your babies to work with you every day."

"Momma don't go to a office."

"Momma sold herself short, sweetie."

My sister was a brilliant trial attorney. She could have gone all the way to the Supreme Court. Seriously. She was that good.

Pansy worked throughout her entire pregnancy and had a nanny all lined up. Then she held Mackenzie in her arms for the first time. She told the nanny the same day her services wouldn't be needed. Not that I blame her. I couldn't imagine a more important job than making sure my perfect niece grows up happy and healthy.

"Uncle Draco?"

"Yes?"

"Is you gonna die alone?"

I smirk. "I don't plan on dying for a long time, honey."

"Momma says you gonna die alone. She tol' Daddy that you gonna die and it be days till a cleanin' lady find your rottin' corpse."