Chapter 2- Heartfelt

"Mother?" Draco called as he entered Malfoy Manor. Draco didn't see his mother everyday, or even every week. The Manor was large enough that they could practically each have their own house in it.

Three weeks had passed since he'd seen his mother and here she was reading in the Library. His mother looked up at him as he entered and sat down across from her. Now that he was here he didn't know what to say to her. How could he simply ask her, 'do you love me?'

Draco rubbed his palms on his knees nervously.

"Draco? It's been so long." His mother smiled at him happily and set her book down.

Draco didn't know what to say so he started with the news Potter had given him.

"Father sent me a message." His mother's smile disappeared and she nodded somberly.

"What does he want from you now?" She asked with a note of anger in her voice. Draco was confused but chose it ignore it for now.

"He wants me to take a bride. I have a year or he'll pick someone for me."

His mother closed her eyes, but took his hand in hers. "I'm sorry, Draco. I wish I knew how to stop him. Or kill him."

Draco reared back in shock. He, more than anyone, wished his father was dead, but he never knew his mother wanted the same thing.

"Mother?"

"What Draco? Surely you don't believe I have any love for the man. He deserted us! Left us to die while he followed that mad man. I can't believe he has the nerve to even contact you."

Draco felt a rush of affection for the woman in front oh him and that gave him the courage to ask what he really wanted to know.

"Mother? Why did you save me? Why didn't you let me die?" Draco watched his mothers face anxiously as emotions darted across it. Shock, anger, pain, and then sadness.

"I can't believe you have to ask. I thought you knew."

Draco felt resigned then. He did know. It was her duty to protect the Malfoy heir.

"You are my only son and I love you more than life itself. I would die for you Draco and I would save you from dying a thousand times. It's that simple. It wasn't considered appropriate for me to be overly affectionate with you while you were growing up, but there is nothing stopping me now. Everything I've done since you were conceived has been to protect you."

Draco sat stunned into silence. He knew that his friends mother loved their sons and daughter and that most mothers did love their sons, but he never imagine he was one of those sons. He thought he was a business arrangement. How could anyone actually love him when he was only alive out of necessity?

"Now, I'll be sure to tell you just how much I love you every time I see you. I can tell you truly doubt I ever cared for you." His mother's eyes teared up and he reached for her alarmed.

"Don't cry, Mother. Really now. I just...I thought...I was convenient to you and Father." Draco hadn't meant to say that much but it was out there now and it wasn't coming back in.

"Convenient? To your father, maybe, but never to me. Not ever." His mother assured him and pulled Draco into a tight hug. Draco responded stiffly. He had never been hugged in his life.

He wrapped his arms around his mothers small waist and breathed in the scent of roses. He never knew his mother smelled like roses.

"Thank you Mother. I needed to hear that."

"Your father told you to see me?" She asked sitting back into her seat.

"No, Potter did." Draco said lowly. He never told mother Potter was his Probation Officer.

"Excuse me?" She asked with narrowed eyes. Draco winced. "Potter is my Probation Officer. I went to see him about an hour ago. He gave me the message and suggested I talk to you. I was...rather upset."

"Are you friends?" She asked softly.

"No, I don't have friends mother."

She crossed her arms, "Well I don't see why. You're a lovely boy."

Draco raised an eyebrow, "Mother, I'm a dick. I'm rude to everyone, excluding you, and also attempted to murder the most beloved wizard in history."

"Don't use that language around me, Draco. Its crude."

"I'm crude then." Draco replied dryly. This was the most he'd spoke in a long time.

"What will you do about a bride then, Draco? You must have one whether we like it or not."

Draco looked at his mother incredulously. "I planned on letting Father pick. While I am very good looking mother, complete terror is not the look I want on my wife's face as she marries me. A pure blood girl would at least pretend to be happy."

"Incorrigible. All men are. You have to date and marry a girl Draco. I will see to it that you do and that you are happy. You are very lucky my resourced are limited because of my house arrest." His mother warned.

Draco swallowed loudly and shook his head. "You can try all you like Mother. No girl is going to want to marry me. It'll have to be a girl forced by her parents."

Draco looked at his mother closely. She was a beautiful woman, truly. Her blonde hair was long and fell in ringlets down her back and her blue eyes were striking. Draco thought he got a lot of his good looks from the woman sitting across from him. His father was a handsome man but that was a small thing compared to his mothers beauty.

"You arent as scary as you think you are. I'll just have to find a girl more terrifying than you." His mother said with a grin. Draco thought maybe he should worry about what she would do. His mother wasnt someone to mess with.

"I'll leave you to you're book mother. I have a thank you letter to write. It seems that Potter was right."

His mother frowned, "Right about what?"

"That you loved me."

She smiled and returned to her book.

Potter,

You were right. Dont rub it in. Thanks.

D.M.

Draco sent the message off without a feeling of regret. He owed Potter for saving what was left of his life. He wouldn't have fixed his relationship with his mother without his stupid ideas. Why did Potter realize his mother loved him? Potter didn't even have a mother. Maybe that was why. For a moment Draco didn't envy Potter. He had a mother who was alive and healthy. That was something to be thankful for.

After dinner an owl tapped on his window and it was an owl he recognized. Potter.

Malfoy,

of course I was right and yes I will rub it in. You're welcome. Also we need to have an extra meeting, as you actually did have one violation. Tomorrow at noon. usual place.

Harry Potter

Draco frowned. Potter was very strange sometimes but there was nothing for it. He would have to deal with his violation tomorrow.

A/N: Things will pick up in the next chapter. I'm glad you all like the story so far. Enjoy! I've decided that I like the idea of Draco and Harry becoming friends, so that's where that relationship is headed.