Narcissa was uncharacteristically pacing. Normally Draco was home right after his appointments were done, yet he still wasn't home. She didn't like it when he stayed out later, though she recognized that he was old enough to do so. Though she didn't think he lacked in his capabilities to defend himself she was still worried. There were too many people out there right now that would give anything for a chance to curse a Malfoy, and with Draco's platinum blond hair acting as a homing beacon he had little chance of getting through a crowd unharassed.
The clock on the wall read 5:43 pm.
He was 13 minutes late.
She tried to calm and reassure herself of his safety. It was Draco's fifth session with Henry after all; they most likely had been talking and lost track of the time. Due to the fact that she had yet to receive a negative phone call she could only assume it was going well and that Draco was making steps towards being how he was.
She slowed her pacing and picked a book from the shelves not glancing at the title until after she was seated. It was a Black family history book, one that she knew already and enjoyed from the late 1800's.
After five minutes of reading the same page with out retaining any thing she had had enough.
"Mingle?" She cried a tad shrilly.
With a sharp crack the minuscule house elf appeared at her side, wearing an old pillow case.
"How can I be of service to you Mrs.?" Her voice was high pitched and quivered with fear, though her eyes were filled with adoration.
""Grab me my bag. I'm heading out."
"Yes Mrs." The elf disappeared, four seconds later she returned carrying Mrs. Malfoy's large black purse.
She moved to the fire grabbing a handful of floo powder, but just before she entered green flames grew from the ground and a second later her son appeared before her.
"There you are! You are so late! Were you talking to Henry?"
"No." Draco said in monotone.
"Then why are you so late?"
"I went for a walk."
"A walk? Why were you walking around there?"
"I just wanted to."
"Someone could have hurt you! Do you have any idea how risky it is to be on the street for us right now? You should know that!"
"I do." He hated when she patronized him, but his thick mask showed nothing of his distaste for her tone.
"Apparently you don't Draco other wise I wouldn't be having this conversation with you. If you did know it then you would have come home right away! Why didn't you just come home and walk around our grounds? It would have given you the same amount of exercise and is much prettier than the city."
"Because I will go where I want when I please, and I don't give a fuck what other people do!" Draco didn't add that getting cursed by others would have just saved him the trouble any ways. He knew his mother couldn't take that, nor did he want to reveal what he did when no one was looking. That was for him to know. For him to feel and no others would ever understand.
Looking at his mother he could tell that she was a little stunned at the outburst, That was what he'd intended, he'd only said what he knew would get her off his back and stop fussing about him. Though he hadn't appeared so, he'd been in control of what he had spoken.
Narcissa stared at her son, unsure of how to react. The younger Malfoy saved her the embarrassment of trying to discipline him by turning to leave.
"Goodnight mother."
Draco climbed the spiral stairs slowly embracing the tiredness he felt. It was common for him now to feel so exhausted.
Feeling how he did all the time left him emotionally drained.
It had been easier to deal with before his mother had sent him to therapy. His emotions hadn't changed but the constant pestering from Henry just made his head ache. Each time he saw the man he'd make Draco think about things he want ready for, or had been trying to block out.
Draco had heard that keeping emotions in shortened your life span; honestly he didn't care at this point.
School was a week and a half away. Just the thought of reentering that hell hole made his insides burn. He had considered asking his mother to let him say home, but he knew that was week. To do so would be a failure and he couldn't handle another one.
He also knew the consequences of him staying would be more time with Henry. The hideous cretins at his school he despised, but more time with Henry and the thoughts he embedded in his brain would make him implode.
At least once he got to the school he could close himself off in a private room and forget all about the man.
Draco let out and audible sigh, at least there was something beneficial to his return.