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Disclaimer: I don't own anything that looks familiar to the world of Harry Potter.

Draco Malfoy surveyed the entire length of Diagon Alley with a suspicious eye. Even though the war was over, Voldemort's secret supporters might still be lingering around. This was not reassuring at all for someone like him whose family had turned against Voldemort at the last moment. Moreover, the Malfoys were known to be aristocratic purebloods and the rest of the Death Eaters had not looked upon their 'traitorous' act very favourably.

Draco cringed at the memory of the events that happened last year. It was not at all pleasant and he was just absolutely glad that everything was over. And now he was going back to Hogwarts, back to school to complete his wrecked seventh year and hopefully, pursue a career as an Auror. If the Ministry would let someone with my kind of background even do that, Draco thought.

His mother nudged him into Twilfitt & Tatting's. Draco reluctantly stepped into the shop. He wanted to go to Madam Malkin's. It was not as expensive – I can't believe I'm even thinking about money, Draco thought – and well, he had always been comfortable with it. Except for that time in his sixth year when he had been branded with the Dark Mark and Madam Malkin had accidentally brushed her pins against his mark. He felt so annoyed at that time because he didn't want to have that ugly thing on his arm and the slight brush had sent a pain shooting through his arm.

"Mother, I don't want to buy my robes here," Draco said as the door shut behind them.

Narcissa looked at her son. "Why not, darling? We've gotten your uniform from here for the last two years."

"I want to go to Madam Malkin's."

Narcissa simply nodded, agreeing to her son's request. They left the shop quickly before the owner had come to see who it was who had entered and walked down the cobbled pavement. Draco didn't exactly want to go to Madam Malkin's because he feared he might meet people from Hogwarts.

"You've never liked Madam Malkin," Narcissa said slowly as they approached the shop.

"Mother," said Draco, with feigned shock, "how could you say that? I love everyone!"

Narcissa gave a small smile at her son's sarcastic reply. "Well, you didn't exactly warm up to her."

Draco shrugged as he pushed the door open. "I don't really warm up to anyone."

"True."

"She wouldn't remember that incident from two years ago, would she?" asked Draco, hesitating to put a foot forward.

"Ah, that day when Potter and his friends came in?" replied Narcissa. "I snapped because they raised their wands. And Potter made a nasty remark about your father."

Draco nodded. "I know, Mother. I was pretty surprised to see you talking like that. But I guess at that point of time, we were just defending ourselves."

Narcissa nodded and poked Draco in the back. "Go inside."

As they stepped into the shop, Madam Malkin came hurrying out from behind to see who it was. When she saw Draco and his mother, she froze for a second before putting on a business-like voice.

"Madam Malfoy and son. How may I help you?" she enquired and avoided looking at them.

"She obviously remembers," Draco whispered to his mother as he moved behind her.

Narcissa ignored Draco's remark. "Draco would like to get his school robes fitted."

Madam Malkin eyed Draco suspiciously. "Come here, please."

For the next fifteen minutes or so, Madam Malkin was busy adjusting and hemming a set of robes while Draco stood, rather impatiently, for her to finish. He tried his best not to fidget but he couldn't help feeling uncomfortable. He tried looking for his mother but she was not in his line of sight. Perhaps looking for more dress robes, Draco thought.

"There we go. All done," Madam Malkin announced as she surveyed the end product with satisfaction.

Draco took off the robes hurriedly. His left sleeve went up and exposed the Dark Mark. Draco quickly pulled his sleeve back down again and looked up to see Madam Malkin looking at him with pitiful eyes. He was surprised that her reaction had not been more drastic but felt ashamed to be carrying such a 'scar' around.

"S… s…," Draco stuttered. "Sorry."

"It's all right, dear," Madam Malkin said as she folded the robes with a flick of her wand.

"For you having seen it. And also, for back then. I was rash."

Madam Malkin simply shook her head and packed Draco's robes into a bag. "Where's your mother?"

Draco shrugged. "Mother!" he called.

"I'm just here, Draco," said Narcissa as she came out to the front holding an armful of dress robes.

She placed the dress robes on the counter. "These here are for me. These are for you."

Draco stared at them and groaned. "Please don't tell me I have to get them altered."

"You sure do."

Draco spent the next half an hour sulking as Madam Malkin, yet again, proceeded to hem and alter the robes to fit his body shape and size. He watched his mother smiling at him, like as if there was a halo around his head. When they were finally done, Draco rushed out of the shop without waiting for his mother.

"Wait for me, Draco," Narcissa called as she hurried after her son who was heading to Quality Quidditch Supplies.

Draco stopped abruptly, causing his mother to bang into him and almost drop the bags she was carrying. Draco took some of the bags in his hand and started walking again.

"Draco, let's get your books first. Then we'll go into the Quidditch shop," Narcissa called out.

Draco sighed. "All right, Mother."

"That's a good boy," Narcissa said as she ruffled his hair with her free hand.

Draco's pale cheeks turned slightly pink as he tried to get out from his mother's touch. "Mother! I'm eighteen!"

"Come on," Narcissa said, "there's nothing wrong with a mother showing some affection for her child."

"It's embarrassing."

"Only if you think it is."

Draco looked away. He hoped that no one he knew had seen what his mother had just done. It was like as if his image was being softened and he didn't quite like that idea just yet. His mind suddenly wandered to a recollection of Mrs Weasley hugging all her children, Hermione and Harry whenever she saw them off or picked them up at Platform 9 3/4s.

"Will you be working extra hard this year?" asked Narcissa hopefully.

"What do you mean? I always work very hard."

"I mean, are you going to let the Granger girl beat you again? If what you've always been doing is very hard work, I suggest you start working smart."

"How do I work smart?" asked Draco, intrigued.

"Ask the Granger girl."

"She works too hard. I bet she slogs day and night," said Draco, shaking his head.

"I'm sure you'll find a way. I want to you do well," said Narcissa, smiling sweetly at her son.

Draco made to go straight past the entrance to Knockturn Alley but his mother stopped him. Why would his mother want to go down that way? He frowned and looked up at her face but she was looking at something else. He turned to follow her gaze and raised his eyebrows at the unexpected sight.

"Say hello, Draco," said Narcissa, trying her best to smile nicely.

Draco smirked as he beheld the sight of the person who had just come up from the alley. "Hello, Granger."