AN: Hey y'all! I wanted to ask if anyone wanted to be my beta. English is my fourth language and last chapter had too many dumb mistakes and I still don't feel perfectly comfortable in this language. If anyone's interested, email me at again, a million thank you to all who review. Any complaints/questions/comments, leave it in a review. Some of them will be answered as the story progresses, but if any of you have any questions, just ask. Thanks again! 10 reviews gets a new chapter, as always!
Narcissa Malfoy always got what she wanted. With her arranged marriage to Lucius at the tender age of 17, she had forced herself to prosper and find a measure of happiness in a bad marriage. One of those sources of happiness was her son. She would kill and be killed for her only son and she would prevent him from suffering, no matter the cost.
She had been ecstatic for those few precious seconds when Draco had said that he had found his mate. When Narcissa had turned, she had discovered who her mate was after two years, only to had the fact mocked by her parents and her husband. 'Oh what a miserable existence!' She thought to herself as she hurried through the halls.
But the same wouldn't happen to her baby. No, if his mate was Ms. Granger, than Ms. Granger he would have. First thing was to meet this girl. After that, they'll talk, the girl would see how wonderful it would be to marry her son, and done! She'd have grandchildren by next year, Gods willing.
She walked quickly down the halls, finally hearing giggling behind a closed door at the end of the hall. She smiled, and straightened out her periwinkle robes. If she knew that she would be meeting her future daughter-in-law today, she would have dressed for the occasion, but oh well.
She entered the room with the grace and elegance that she had, wanting to make the best impression on the girl. What she found gave brought a smile to her face. All three girls were practically laying on top of each other in a bed towards the corner. They were looking through Witch Weekly and laughing at something.
She softly cleared her throat to announce herself. Pansy sat up, a smile coming on her face when she saw the new arrival. "Aunt Narcissa! How good to see you!" Pansy said, standing and going over to the older woman to great here. When they parted, Narcissa raised a delicate eyebrow and turned towards the two girls still on the bed.
"Um, sorry. I'd like you to meet Ms. Hermione Granger and Ms. Ginny Weasley." Pansy said with a smile, motioning for the two to stand. Narcissa smiled, nodding to the girls.
"I believe we have met, a few years ago and under more, lets say 'uncivil', circumstances. You both look lovely."
"Thank you." They both said at once.
Hermione just stared at the older woman. She had thought that Draco got his looks from his father, but now she saw that most of them came from the mother. The same coloring and the a certain manner of inner pride. At the thought of Draco, a flush came over her, with the same tingles up and down her spine.
"I've heard much about all of you. Ms. Granger would you ca-" Narcissa started and abruptly closed her mouth were Draco burst into the room.
Draco braced himself against the doorjamb, breathing hard and still slightly panicked. He looked at his mother and shot her a warning glance before his eyes caught sight of Hermione. His mind went blank for several seconds as their eyes connected and he momentarily forgot why he came into the room when he saw that his mother had a sly grin on her face and had crossed her arms as if ready to declare some imagined victory.
"Um, excuse me ladies. Mother, we haven't finished our discussion yet. Would you care to meet me out in the hallway?" Draco said, giving his mother a look that dared her to make a scene.
"Of course, darling. Ladies, we will have a talk in the very near future. Ms. Granger, I'd like you to join me for tea tomorrow morning. I've decided that I want to spend some time in my old home and with my son. You and I will have a little chat tomorrow." With that, Narcissa nodded to the other two girls and went out the room, giving her son a smile and a wink.
"Ladies, I'll see you three later." Draco said, not looking directly at Hermione in fear that he might lose himself again in her eyes. "If you were not my mother, I'd lock you up, I swear!" Draco whispered harshly, as he took his mothers arm and walked back away from the room.
"Why, Draco! I'm am shocked that you would use that tone of voice to a lady! Especially your mother." Narcissa said, hiding a smile. She knew that her son had a temper, but it was so much fun to get his all riled up.
"You're mad. And you're trying to have me sent to a mental ward with you also. If you think that your visit is a good reason to play matchmaker to us, then I'll send you home."
"Have you fed today? You're awfully testy." She said, patting his right check affectionately and sitting down next to the fireplace of the study that they had walked into.
Draco punched the air a few times and jumped up and down, pounding on the floor to help relive some of the tension and anger. He loved his mother, really he did, but she was worse then Mum Weasley sometimes. He walked into the room after straightening his clothes, watching his mother smile sweetly at him and motioning over to the seat next to her.
Draco reluctantly sat down, having experienced his mothers mood swings before.
"Looking at you now, you make me feel so old." She said with a smile, tugging a few strands of silvery blonde hair behind his ear. After his father had escaped Azkaban, Draco had gone out of his way to change his appearance. He began wearing casual clothing, stopped slicking his hair back so solidly. He showed more emotion, especially to her; before, the last time she could remember her son laughing was when he was about six years old. When Lucius had heard his heir doing something so 'common', he had backhanded the small child and that had put a stop to the innocence. But now he was laid back, a smile ready on his lips and his witty and sarcastic sense of humor was now not used to hurt.
The fate that Ms. Granger was his mate didn't really surprise Narcissa when she thought about it. Every summer since Draco was eleven, he had come home complaining about Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, but mostly about Hermione. It was always 'Hermione this, Mudblood that' and on and on it went until it was time to return to school. A vampire's mate wasn't just a common thing.
A vampire could live without it's mate, but it was a horrible existence. She herself had had to live with having close contact with her mate throughout all these years and she refused to have her only son suffer like she did. No, her son would have the girl that was destined for him. It just required her to employ some of her more Slytherin characteristics, just not in front of Draco.
"Hey, Draco! Ron is distracting Mum so we could sneak down real quick and look at the presents." Harry said, walking into the room. He stopped short when he saw that Draco had company.
"Harry, this is my mother. Mother, meet Harry." Draco said, standing to introduce the two.
"Um, please to meet you." Harry said, not knowing what to do. When he saw the woman raise her eyebrow, he nervously walked over to them. All three fell into an uncomfortable silence when Harry approached and he suddenly took Narcissa's hand and kissed it. When he pulled back up, Draco and his mother burst out in laughter.
"Very pleased to meet you, Harry." Narcissa said, wiping the tear from her eyes after her laughter had died down. "I know that you must have heard this before, Harry, but you look so much like you father."
"You knew my parents?"
"Yes, they were in my year. Remind me to talk to you before I leave. We were friends for quite some time before, well lets just say certain circumstances, made us sever our relationship."
"I'd really like that, Mrs. Malfoy." Harry said with a smile, immediately getting attached to the lady at the mention of her parents.
A few hours later, the party was in full swing. Many of the 7th, 6th and even some 5th year students from the different houses had slowly arrived, blindfolded and under several confusion and tracking spells, had slowly been lead through several floo and apparition to get to the house. Hermione had managed to figure out a charm last year to make some electronics work around magic. It wasn't perfect on needed to be recast every could of hours, but it provided music to the party, both muggle and wizarding music alike.
Molly had set up the food buffet style so the guests came in and out of the dinning room with plates and drinks whenever they wanted. The cake sat in the middle of the room, waiting to be cut and eaten.
Draco had been discreetly following Hermione ever since he saw her enter the room, not believing it was possible for her to become even more beautiful. When he saw Krum walking over to her, he shot the older boy a dirty look, showing off his fangs for a second, smiling when he saw the boy pale and back down, going over to talk to Arthur and some aurors in the far left corner of the room.
He saw Harry, dancing poorly in a corner with Ginny, with that silly ridiculous cone shaped hat. He had ran after Draco for about 15 minutes, yelling some rubbish about that it was birthday tradition to wear one. Harry had quit when Draco wouldn't budge.
He was talking to Neville and Dean when he saw Hermione walking towards his, hands behind her back and a smile on her perfect face.
"Hello, boys." She said with a smile, seeing Ginny and Pansy looking at her, giving her the thumbs up. "She took a deep breath and put the smile back on her face. "Draco, how are you liking the party so far."
"It's great." He said with a stupid smile, totally wrapped in whatever the girl said.
"Yes, it seems so. I'm a bit disappointed in you, though." She said, stepping a little closer to him.
"Why? I apologized to Krum and I've been on good behavior with all the Gryffindors." Draco said, giving her his best innocent look.
"I know. It's just that you've ignored a tradition that I like and I would just be thrilled if you do it and maybe we'll take a few group pictures." Hermione said, pulling the bright red and silver paper hat. She gave him a cute little smile, reaching up and putting the hat on him.
He made a face but smile when she gave him a quick peck on his cheek. He was still looking on her when he saw a flash out of the corner of his eyes and saw Harry with Colin Creevey's camera.
He was about to go chase his friend, maybe kill him a bit, when he felt Hermione tug his arm and going over to the Patil twins. He followed, going after her like a little puppy dog, not noticing the several sets of eyes looking at both of them.
"You most be Ms. Granger's mother." Narcissa said, walking over to the woman who was sternly watching over Hermione. She saw a angry flush when the two children were talking to each other. Narcissa made a mental not to get Harry to make her a few copies of that picture.
"And you are?" The woman asked rudely.
"I am Lady Narcissa Malfoy, Draco's mother. I must say that our children would get along so well. Just look at them." Narcissa said with a smile, looking over at the two. Mrs. Grangers anger increased when she followed the blond woman's gaze and saw the Hermione had her hand on Draco's arm, smiling and adjusting his hat.
"Oh really. I only think that she's being nice on account of it being his birthday."
"No, I don't think so. My son apparently thinks the world of your daughter and they have spent along time together last year and so far into the summer. She really is such a pleasant young lady." Narcissa said, taking a delicate sip of her wine glass.
Jane was furious, not being able to look away from Hermione, looking like a whore with that boy. She walked nearer to them, trying to get her daughter's attention. Her anger rose when she saw Hermione engrossed in her little group.
"Everyone! Everyone, I'd like to get you lot in a group for some pictures! When that's done, we can cut the cake and start opening up some of the presents!" Molly yelled, getting the attention of al the teenagers in the room.
Harry was having the time of his life. All his friends were around him. He had his girlfriend on his arm and everyone was having a smashing time. He was dancing, talking, eating great food. He didn't believe that this could get better. When Pansy and Ron walked over to them, she had told them of Ron's plot to get Draco to wear a birthday hat, they had all looked towards the two from across the room. Laughing when Hermione had finally managed to get the boy to wear it. Harry grabbed Colin's camera and began snapping random pictures, promises to Ron and Pansy to make copies.
Yep, things could not possibly get any better than this.