It had been a week since his trail and Draco was still reeling. He was pleased that he had earned his freedom, even if it was limited for a short while, and he was also livid that the person who over saw those limitations was Granger. He had loathed the girl in school, her bushy hair, her blood status, and her know-it-all attitude. It didn't help that she beat him as the top of her class, and she had been part of the stupid Golden Trio.
Draco hadn't spoken to his mother since they had returned to the manor. She had retreated to her garden before he could ask her about the events that Potter had spoken of and warded herself in there. Draco had had no choice but to retreat to his room. He had tried every day to seek his mother out but after his first few failed attempts he stuck to his room, she would talk to him when she was ready.
The only company Draco had had was his house elf Neely. She had been his elf his entire life, she had been bought when he had been born, as his nanny and then as he got old she was his confidant and friend. Neely had been bringing Draco books to keep him occupied and after he had refused to come down to dinner she had taken to bringing him his meals in his room as well. She would stand there and watch with her large silver eyes until he had eaten what she deemed an appropriate amount of food before disapperating away. Neely had always taken good care of Draco, and he had in turn taken good care of her. He had seen how his father had abused Dobby and had decided from a very young age he would not treat Neely the same way.
Draco was sitting in his study when he heard a soft knock on his door. He lifted his head from his book to see his mother walking in.
"May I speak with you for a moment?" She asked entering the room.
"Of course Mother," he replied gesturing to the chair beside him. "I'll have Neely bring us tea."
Draco didn't even need to call for her as soon as the words were out of his mouth Neely popped in to the room and a tea tray and a few biscuits. He gave her a smile and nodded his thanks and she popped away again as he served his mother tea.
"What is it you would like to discuss?" Draco kept his tone even and uninterested, he knew prying his mother would only make her change her mind and he did want to know.
"There is no need to pretend to be coy with me Draco," she sniffed before taking a sip of her tea. "I know you have been seeking me out daily, and that it is eating you to know what happened with the Potter boy."
"I will admit I am curious about the encounter but I assure you that was not my only purpose for wishing to speak to you." Draco said coolly, he knew how to play his mother's game and kept his expression.
"Very well, yes the events that Potter testified to were true, my reasons were as stated, to protect and find you. I will say nothing more on the matter." Narcissa states clearly before pressing on "However I do wish to speak to you about our meeting with Miss Granger this afternoon."
At this Draco's face darkened, Narcissa waved him off before he could protest. She had no time for his childish feelings about the girl who could determine their fate. "You will behave, you be polite to her and do whatever she tells you to. I know it is beneath us to sake orders from her but you will do it for the sake of the family name. If you fail me in this I will personally see to it that you end up in a cell next to your father." Narcissa's face was dark and serious. "I have failed you long enough and now with your father in prison it is time for me to rectify some of your, less desirable behaviors."
Draco felt the shock on his face, before he could master his expression once more his mother let out a soft laugh. He hadn't heard his mother laugh in a very long time.
"Don't look at me like that!" She chuckled "I know that we spoiled you as a child and that your father passed on some of his mannerisms to you but so help me I will not allow you to follow in his footsteps. The Granger girl is your chance to prove that you are different and that the court was right not to imprison you."
"I am not Lucius." Draco bit out, he didn't mean to use that tone with his mother but he did not like what she was implying.
"Excellent." She took another sip of her tea before switching topics "Your birthday is coming up in a few months, the trials should all be over by then, perhaps we can ask Miss. Granger about having a small get together with what remains of our friends." She mused, Draco once again looked bored, he knew his opinion on the subject didn't matter. Narcissa would speak to Granger about it with or without his approval and he merely shrugged before setting his tea down.
He was about to ask his mother a question before he was interrupted by a small pop.
"Master, there is an Auror here for Mistress to take her to the ministry," Neely said quietly, her eyes flickering between her master and his mother.
"I must take my leave then; I shall see you when you return from your own meeting Draco." She looked him in the eye, "Do not disappoint me." Without another word she swept from the room and closed the door behind her.
Draco sank in to his chair running his hands through his hair. Why hadn't his mother confided in him the events of that night with him? Was she ashamed? Did she think he wouldn't understand? Whatever the reason may be it vexed him greatly.
Draco had an hour before he was due at the Ministry so he decided he might as well get ready. "Neely will you please draw me a bath, I will be in there momentarily."
She left with a soft pop and he made his way back to his bedroom. He walked in to closet and decided that if he was going to make his mother proud he had better put in some effort of impressing Granger. That was such an odd thought, Draco smirked to himself, who would have thought he would ever need to impress Granger.
Draco studied his closet before settling on a pair of dark grey slacks, light blue button up shirt and the matching grey robes. He looked at his choices satisfied that he would look presentable but not overly dressed, and made his way to his bathroom.
He shrugged out of his robes and stepped in to the tub. Draco had always been a fan of baths, he had taken every opportunity to bathe rather than shower at Hogwarts, he just left weightless in the tub and it had always relaxed his aching muscles after Quidditch. It was his safe space, where the outside didn't exist and he was just Draco.
He collected himself and mentally prepared for his meeting with Granger and wondered what she had in store for him. He was sure that her idea of community service was going to be helping poor muggles, or working in some library. He wrinkled his nose at the thought. Draco Malfoy did not work for Muggles. He looked at his arm, where the Dark Mark disfigured his otherwise flawless skin, no he could not work for muggles, not with this thing on his arm.
All too soon he knew he had to get out of the tub and get dressed. He stepped from the tub and wrapped a towel around his waist, giving his hair a shake he wordlessly cast his wand over his head drying it, he no longer slicked his hair back the way his father had and this led to it looking slightly messy which Draco had become fond of. He made his way to his bedroom and changed in to the clothes he had previously laid out. After doing a quick check of himself in the mirror he grabbed his wand off the dresser and made his way to the apperation point in the manor. He took a steadying breath and with a loud crack left for the ministry.
Draco wasn't sure what he was supposed to expect as he made his way to Grangers office. He noticed the stares and the whispers as he walked briskly past, it wasn't new for people to talk about him but it was unsettling because for once he didn't know what they were saying. It used to be envy, now he was certain their feelings were far from that.
Draco kept his chin up and eyes straight ahead. He reached Grangers office with a few minutes to spare and set himself in the seat across from his door and waited.
