Chapter Four

Gathering


Usually, Draco was a quiet, reserved child. Usually. After his mother died, whom Draco loved immensely, he became even more reserved. No one could actually admit that he was an angel exactly; he did have the hereditary Malfoy arrogance when it was needed. His friend, Harry Potter, was the one who usually witnessed this. Draco and Harry weren't best friends exactly, but they were pretty close. Both being only children in their families, had a certain bond that connected them together. Sometimes Draco even spent some time with Neville Longbottom, because his parents were always out, being Aurors, but they usually left him with his grandmother, or sometimes even Harry.

However, Draco's only friend was Harry, because Harry lost his parents as well. Harry, since the age of 3, lived his godfather Sirius Black and Remus, who did most of the cooking (since Sirius couldn't cook to save his life).

But now, Draco could open up a bit more, not only to Harry, but to Alexia Connor as well. Or Alex, as she insisted he call her. Draco had taken to Alex almost immediately. He had to admit, when he was first introduced to her, he wasn't hopeful that he'd ever find someone like his mother. Especially when she said she wasn't the motherly type. But she was willing to look after him, act like a big sister she said. It was better than nothing, Draco thought. He didn't show his Malfoy arrogance and superiority, like he did with the other hopefuls. Heavens knows he did try. He did try to show he wasn't just a child, and tried to be arrogant, but she just brushed it off. Like Harry did, but Harry knew him for longer, so he was used to the Malfoy manner of talking. Sometimes Harry acted haughty in his own way, but Harry was too kind to be mean.

He couldn't wait till Harry got back from holiday with his godfather, then he could tell him about Alex. So he had to settle for telling his grandmother about Alex. Draco's grandmother was really kind as well. She always showered Draco with gifts and affection. But she was strict, she always acted really stern when he and Harry were bored and decided to stir up some mischief. But he knew that she was secretly amused. Especially when they used some potions Harry had "borrowed" from his godfather to put pink streaks through Severus' hair.

When Draco's grandmother arrived, Draco had to prevent himself from talking about Alex. Instead he waited until she was properly settled in, with her luggage in her usual room. After they had a really late lunch. It was actually Malena who had brought up the topic of the Child-Minder.

"Any luck with finding someone?" She asked when they sat in the main living room to have tea.

Draco was practically bouncing in his seat.

"Grandmother, she was really brilliant," Draco blurted out. "Her name is Alex, and she's really cool. We talked about everything. We talked about quidditch, and how she likes the Tornadoes, but its okay, because she doesn't like the Cannons. And she likes playing Beater. And she has three older brothers, and-"

"Okay, okay," Malena cut him off laughing at his excitement for the new Child-Minder. "Clam down, Draco. And do try to breathe."

"Sorry," he said sheepishly. "Oh, but grandmother, Alex is really funny, because she likes hanging out with me. She even said that even if she didn't get to be my Child-Minder, she'd still like me to owls her."

"She seems like a pleasant person."

"She really is."

Draco and Malena spent most of the evening together, but Draco had to stop himself from talking about Alex incessantly, because for one he just ended up repeating himself, and secondly he noticed that his father had a slight scowl on his face every time she was mentioned.

Finally, Draco went to bed. Malena had just stepped out from his bedroom from tucking him in, when she decided to go look for Lucius. Who she found in the study, gazing at the lit fire, his arms resting on the arms rest, his hands clasped under chin, with one finger up across his lips.

"Sulking, Lucius?" she said sitting in the other chair across from him.

"Pardon?" he said.

""I've been watching you since I've arrived, don't think I haven't noticed you scowling every time Draco mentions Alexia Connor."

"I don't know what you mean," he finally said after a long pause.

"Oh, Lucius. I'm your mother. I know you better than anyone. You're jealous of this Connor person, because Draco constantly talks about her. But you need to understand Lucius that you're Draco's father, and Alexia Connor will go as soon as Draco is old enough to go to Hogwarts, and that's only a few years from now. Think about it, Lucius. I'll leave you alone now. Good night."

With that she walked out of the room, leaving Lucius to his thoughts. Eventually, when the time was nearing to midnight, Lucius decided to retire for the night.


Noon couldn't come fast enough for Draco. Every five minutes he would steal a look at the clock, and then stare anxiously at the fire place. Breakfast passed too slowly for Draco's liking, which he spent mostly by bouncing up and down in his seat. Even his favourite food, chocolate chip pancakes couldn't distract him from his excited anxiety from continuously staring at the time. Malena Malfoy didn't know what she wanted to do more; to sternly reprimand him for fidgeting or, to laugh at his excitement. Finally she settled for a neutral expression, but did allow a small smile to grace her face. Lucius on the other hand was quietly sullen.

Once the fire did spring to life with green flames, even though it was nowhere near noon.

Draco rushed quickly to fire, about to greet the figure who stepped out, but was greatly disappointed when he saw who it was.

"Oh, it's you," he said disappointedly, his eyes downcast as he made his way back to his place on the settee.

"It's so nice to be appreciated," Severus said sarcastically.

"Yeah," Draco muttered sullenly, who plopped himself on the settee, crossed his arms across his chest and adopted a pout on his face.

Severus just smirked, whilst Lucius was about to reprimand Draco for being rude. But stopped himself after catching a look from his mother.

The morning passed extremely slowly for Draco's liking who did everything he could think of to pass the time, and finally, when there was only five minutes till noon, the green fire sprang to life again, but this time the person who he wanted to appear, appeared.

"Alex!" Draco exclaimed as soon as she stepped out and dusted herself off. Draco wanted to throw himself at her for a hug, but thought it inappropriate, especially since he saw his father trying to hide a scowl at his behaviour. Malfoy's don't show emotions in front of strangers.

But she won't be a stranger for long, she's the Child-Minder, she supposed to look after me, Draco thought. Still, he held himself in check.

"Morning," she said, just seconds before the big grandfather clock sent a gong throughout the whole living room, and smirked.

"Good afternoon, Miss Connor," Severus smirked as well.

"Mr Malfoy," she nodded to Lucius. And he nodded and quickly introduced Malena.

"Miss Connor, let me introduce you to my mother, Draco's grandmother, Malena Malfoy."

"Pleased to meet you Mrs Malfoy," said Alex, but added on, "pardon me, but your maiden wouldn't happen to be Hughes, would it?"

Malena appeared startled for a moment.

"Why yes, dear. But how did you know that? I think you knew my grandfather, Myron Connor? He talked about you a couple of times," Alex replied.

"Grandfather? Time passes so quickly, I've not seen Myron in so long. Since his first son was born, William was his name, wasn't it?"

"Yes, Mrs Malfoy."

"Well, I think we should catch up over lunch, come dear, it's this way."

Malena led the way to the dining room, where lunch was already served.

Lucius' first instinct was to scowl, how can his own mother be so friendly with he? Didn't she notice how young she was, how inexperienced. However, his curiousity was once again piqued after the information that his mother knew the Connor family, or at least Alexia Connor's grandfather. And so he joined the rest of the gathering for lunch. And listened to his mother reminisce about old times, and Draco question Alexia Connor for facts about her life, and particularly about quidditch.
Coward in the Shadows-I'm glad you liked the story, but I don't feel appreciated with meager reviews I'm getting, but I'm hoping they'll pick up after the story progresses. I'm glad you think that my story is Mary Sue free. Alexia Connor was actually what my original character was called, and because I couldn't think of anything else for my pen-name, and my obsession with the name Connor, I picked Lady Connor as my pen-name.

starbryte234- I'm glad you like this better than the first, and I am pleased because I'm really trying harder, but my writing abilities aren't exactly the best, but I don't see myself as a complete amateur.

CatOrange-I agree, even if the Malfoy's turned good (or what they classify as good- not that it'll ever happen) but their arrogance is their trade mark. I'm very pleased to know that you've put my story in your favourites, it really boosts my moral, and encourages me to write more. I read you bio, by the way, and if you've read mine, you'll notice that we're intrested in some of the same books.

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Bye for now,

Lady Connor