Jack kept his eyes squeezed shut as he clung on tightly to his daddy.

He tried to work out where they were, but he'd lost track as soon as they left his mummy and auntie Hermy behind. He knew they were running through the tunnels still because of the splashing sound his daddy's feet made when they landed in the puddles on the ground.

He could feel his heart doing that racing thing that happened whenever he was scared. But he'd never felt this frightened before and he was afraid he was going to wet himself.

He didn't want to open his eyes because his daddy had that horrible mask on, the one that gave him bad dreams.

"I'm sorry, Jack," he'd said regretfully before he pulled it down over his face, "but I've got to hide under it to keep us safe."

He'd wanted to go back for his Fox the Explorer hat but he was too afraid to ask. He felt his bottom lip wobbling when he thought about it hanging on the hook on the wall, and his Fantastic Mr Fox book on the shelf above his and Mummy's bed, wondering if he'd ever see them again.

Jack tried to concentrate on the feel of his daddy's heart as he pressed his ear against his chest. It was going fast too, but it sounded a lot louder and a lot more powerful than his own.

He missed his mummy already; missed her soft body which was so lovely to cuddle, just like Auntie Hermy's. His daddy had a body liked Uncle Ron's; hard and sturdy. And although he loved it when he picked him up, and let him climb onto his lap, Jack preferred Mummy cuddles every time.

He was aware that they'd come to a stop, and Jack dared peek his eyes open the tiniest bit to see if he could work out where they were.

They were still in a tunnel but a different one to what he knew. And just in front of them, slightly above their heads was a large gaping hole, just big enough to fit through a human.

Jack's eyes widened as he looked up through it, his little heart now racing in not just fear but complete wonderment. For beyond it appeared to be a never ending sight; a dark blanket filled with tiny little dots of bright lights.

Stars.

"We're about to go Upstairs, little fox," his daddy whispered softly in his ear. "Are you ready?"

Jack suddenly wanted to be back in his bed, curled up tight under the warm covers with Mr Dog tucked safely in his hand.

But then his thoughts turned to his mummy, and he remembered how he'd promised to be brave for her. And he wanted so much to make her proud.

"Okay," he whispered, his small voice barely making a noise above the howl of the icy February wind.

******

Draco felt Jack's shivering body tighten around him as he sprinted as fast as he could through the grounds, the fox keeping close to them, protecting them from the Dementors overhead.

He tried not to think what would happen when the Undergrounders attempted to flee; would they be able to conjure enough Patronus's? Or would the pull of the Dementors thirst be too strong?

His fox alone certainly wouldn't save them all.

But at least he was saving Jack. He only prayed that he'd manage to get back in time to save Blaire too.

As soon as he made it to the edge of Hogwarts' protective enchantments, he pulled his mask up from his face so Jack could see him properly.

"I'm going to Apparate us now," he warned gently as Jack's frightened little face looked up, the light of the moon shining on his skin, making him look almost ethereal. "It's going to feel a bit funny, but I promise you it's only going to last for a second and then we'll be safe."

As Jack once again nodded, seemingly still too frightened to speak, Draco felt a rush of love for the child who looked so much like Blaire but yet with pieces of himself, too.

"Close your eyes," Draco murmured, holding him tightly in one arm as he raised his wand in his other.

Jack gave a strangled half gasp as the breath was momentarily sucked from their bodies, little fingers gripping almost painfully through the folds of his cloak, digging into Draco's back.

"We're here, it's over," he reassured him as he furtively looked around from where he stood outside the wrought iron gates, making sure they weren't being watched.

Like Hogwarts (and most other properties these days) Malfoy Manor now had anti-Apparation charms put upon it. This meant he had to make his way through the grounds on foot, hating that he was losing precious time.

His mother was at the door of the treehouse the second he walked through it.

"Draco," She gasped, looking at the trembling child in his arms. "Who-?"

"This is Jack," Draco interrupted, knowing this wasn't the most ideal way to tell her, but time wasn't on his side. "Your grandchild."

"But... how?" she squinted looking closer at the boy, who was clinging onto Draco for dear life, her eyes then instantly widening. "Blaire?"

"Yes, Mother," he murmured urgently. "She survived the battle and ended up giving birth to our son whilst in hiding."

Narcissa's hand flew at once to her chest. "She- she's alive?"

Draco nodded and glanced down at Jack whose little face looked frozen with fear.

"This is your Nanny Cissy," he said gently, urging him to face her. "And she's going to look after you whilst I go and fetch Mummy, okay?"

But Jack wouldn't let go and Draco could feel his little heart racing in fear. And then at that exact moment, Orion came skidding into hallway, yapping excitedly at their ankles.

Jack started whimpering and tried to scramble further up Draco's body, evidently terrified of the dog.

"Hey, it's okay, little fox," Draco reassured his son as Jack buried his face into his neck, sobbing hysterically. "This is my dog, Orion. Remember, I told you about him, just like Mr Dog. He won't hurt you, he's just excited to finally meet you."

Narcissa quickly crouched down and scooped Orion in her arms, instantly quietening him.

"He's never seen a real dog before," Draco quickly explained to his perplexed looking mother. "He's spent his whole life in the tunnels under Hogwarts. I only discovered them six months ago when I was investigating a complaint from Dorlores. I'm sorry I didn't tell you before but I had to keep them - and you - safe. And then Astoria found out thanks to the Malfoy fortune declaring Jack as the heir instead of Scorpius. She sent Diggory after them."

"She did this for the gold?" Narcissa said breathlessly, her face filling with horror. "I knew that woman had a selfish streak but this..."

"I need to go back and save Blaire," Draco implored, beginning to attempt to prise Jack off his body. "She's lost her magic. She needs me."

His mother reached out a hand to touch Jack's back but it just made him sob harder and cling onto Draco tighter. A dampness rapidly appeared between them and Draco realised his son had just peed himself in fright.

Draco's heart bled for him, but he was also getting anxious, desperate to get to Blaire before it was too late.

"Please little fox," Draco soothed, tightening his arms around his son, "I need to go and get Mummy. Nanny Cissy is my mummy and I promise you she'll give you lots of cuddles and read you stories just like she used to to me, okay?"

"Of course I will, Jack," his mother said kindly, and Draco was suddenly so incredibly grateful to her for not freaking out like a lot of people would have done right then. "I'll put Orion back in the kitchen and then perhaps we can meet him again later when you're feeling a little more settled. Before that though, how about you come with me and we can go and see Mummy's old room that she used to stay in and get things ready for when she gets here. Does that sound okay to you?"

To Draco's relief, Jack stopped crying and he could feel him nod his head exhaustedly against him.

"That's my brave fox," Draco murmured softly, stroking his hair and kissing the top of his head as his mother quickly went and shut Orion away. "And I'll be back with Mummy as soon as I can."

Narcissa returned and took Jack from his arms, Draco's heart breaking at the look of sheer panic sliding over his son's face at the thought of being parted from yet another parent.

"Daddy," his little voice trembled as he pulled away from his Nanny and reached out his small arms back towards him.

"Remember Mummy's bracelet," Draco said, giving his hands a light squeeze; desperately trying to reassure him. "Well this here is the treehouse. Mummy loves this place and she's going to be so excited about being back here with you and Nanny Cissy. And your little brother is here too, as well as Mr Dog. They're all going to love you so, so much just like me and Mummy love you."

Tears rolled down Jack's cheeks as Draco stepped away, he felt awful, but he knew his mother would soon make him feel safe and secure. The look of love that had filled her face as she gazed adoringly down at the boy in her arms told him so.

And if, god forbid, anything happened to him or Blaire now, he at least had the knowledge that he'd just left his son in the best place possible.

"I'll be back before you know it," he promised again before closing the door behind him.

He placed as many protective spells he could think of around the perimeter of the treehouse so that it soon resembled nothing more than a crumbled down old Muggle shack in a tree rather than the robust safe haven it provided for his sons.

He raced away, his heart hammering in his chest. Midnight had already passed but he was praying he was not too late.

When he arrived back at Hogwarts, however, it was to the horrifying discovery that Blaire and the Undergrounders had already gone.

******