CHAPTER 13: HELL AGAIN

2 weeks later (march 22, 2006, Wednesday)

"Alright mother, I'll see you on Saturday" Draco said as he bade his mother farewell. It had been over a week since Narcissa first moved into the The Morgana Rivery center for rehabilitation and magical disabilities and had visited her as much as he could. After Draco's appointment in the center a few weeks back, the head of the center and Draco had decided that it was best to move Narcissa as soon as possible so that they can evaluate her situation themselves and start creating her program. Three days after his first visit, Lucius and Draco assisted Narcissa in moving into the center. Needless to say, both Malfoy men found it hard to leave Narcissa in a new setting without both of them to look after her and that by some form of miracle, it was Narcissa who insisted they leave her be to get settled into her new home. Draco promised to visit her all the time and had kept his promise since he made it. Lucius on the other hand, found it extremely difficult to leave his wife's side, so after three days of not being able to be with Narcissa in the Manor, he immediately bought a house in Morgana's town despite the fact that it was a muggle town and that he had absolutely no clue how to act and live like one! Draco of course, did not have the luxury of doing what his father did and had to stay in the manor as he now runs the family business.

"Draco dear, do tell nippy to water my flowers. I would hate for my garden to die just because I'm not there" Narcissa reminded his son as she stood up and walked with him towards the door.

"Of course mother, I'll make sure your garden remains in tip top shape." Draco said as he gave his mother a hug and smile before turning towards the door. He did not bother to tell his mother that Nippy, their old houself had died the first night Voldemort stayed in their manor and he did not have the heart to tell her that her garden was gone the moment Voldemort started to rise again. He knew that his mother's healer had told he and his father that they should tell Narcissa the truth should she recall something that was already in the past. He knew that his reluctance to correct his mother was not helping her but he couldn't bear to see hear hurt, confused and disappointed.

As Draco continued out of the center, he decided to take a short walk to visit his father's new home.

"Ah Draco, I was just on my way to see your mother. I assume you just left there?" Lucius said as he led his son inside his new house. Draco noted that the place looked a little too bare for standards the older Malfoy was used too. "Yes, Mother seems to be adjusting fine. She seems happier" Draco said as he sat down at a plain light brown couch located in the living room "I have to say father, your taste in décor has lowered drastically." Draco said rather openly than just thinking it.

"Well, being in a muggle town doesn't really allow me the opportunity to summon the houselves here. Besides, this place is small enough as it is, I don't know what furniture would fit!" Lucius reasoned "not to worry, I've had Allegra contact some muggle house maker or designer or something to take care of this. It seems this town is practically out of muggle maps! They would be here with Allegra within the week or so." His father said smugly.

"And when did you contact my secretary to do your bidding father?" Draco asked, he was a little annoyed that his father still continued to call his secretary and ask for such demands! He doesn't even work in the office anymore! "I thought I made it extremely clear that you are not to bother my staff with your demands anymore." The last time his father did that, he had to replace his entire staff, and it was not because of his father's ex-death eater status.

"Well, who was I to call to assist me? I couldn't let my house elf contact muggles, I don't know anyone else who is muggleborn and I didn't want to bother your with this because you have to concentrate on getting that acquisition with the Morgenstern group ready and perfect!" Lucius said.

Draco looked at his father and raised an eyebrow "Well, maybe you could call upon whoever you hired to look into my latest acquisition to do your bidding instead of my staff who clearly needs to prepare for that said acquisition!" clearly his father was losing his touch. He isn't as sharp and cunning as he used to be. Draco was in the middle of acquiring a huge potions company that combines muggle and magical methods of creating antidotes and medicines. The Morgenstern's were an old German pureblood family that had built an empire on potions since the 1600's and then soon combined muggle methods to strengthen and improve their potions and other products such as cosmetics, skin care, laundry and even house cleaning products. Since then they have become a German household name, however the Morgenstern family has had so many familial conflicts in the past decade that it has taken its toll on the company as well which is why Malfoy & Group, Ltd. Is in negotiations with the German company.

"Alright, you caught me! It's just that the Morgenstern account is a huge deal and I had been trying to buy acquire them for the last decade of my career and here you are, barely even 25 years old and already have them signing over their company to our company! I can't tell you how proud I am of you." Lucius said as they walked back out of the house.

"Thank you father, and its not just me, I guess if you hadn't been as persuasive as you were with them and with their company filing for bankruptcy, it was easier for me to get them to sign the deal with us" Draco replied. His father rarely gave him praise but he noticed that after the war, Lucius decided to be more open about how proud he was of him, it was still a pretty weird thing for Draco but he had gladly welcomed the change in his father. "I suppose I'll take my leave now, I still have to finish that acquisition and I did promise mother that I would have her garden in tip top shape." Draco said as he bid his farewell to his father.

Lucius raised an eyebrow and looked at Draco prompting him to explain why he was to keep a long gone garden in tiptop shape. " She still thinks that Nippy is alive and that her garden is still as beautiful as it is. I couldn't tell her that it was gone and about Nippy so I'll just have the other house elves to start fixing up a new garden for when she comes back home." Was all Draco could say as he left his father on the side of the road and onto his brand new car.

As Draco began his trip back to London, he decided to take his lunch at the diner where he met Robert weeks ago so that eh could thank them and maybe even see if the doctor and his wife were there too.

As he arrived in the diner, a very busy Robert greeted him.

"Draco! How are you, my boy?" Robert asked as he carried out a large box and put it on top of another box of the same size.

"I'm good, I just visited my mother from the other town and I decided to come see you and maybe grab lunch here." Draco said as he sat down by the counter so that he could sit and face Robert at the same time.

"Oh! Well, glad to know you remembered me! Haha! Tell you what, you come with me and deliver these boxes to Andrew's house and we can have lunch there. It's the twins' second birthday today and I gotta deliver them cup cakes and birthday cake!" Robert said enthusiastically.

"Oh, well I wouldn't want to impose, I mean it's an intimate gathering, I suppose and I wouldn't know anyone there." Draco said, unsure on how to turn down this kind and welcoming man.

"Nonsense! Andrew and Daisy would love to see you again!" Robert said as he instructed a boy of 17 to put another box, which seemed to hold a very big cake, to the van parked outside the diner. "Now let's go and deliver these to the birthday twins!" Robert added as he moved toward Draco and put his arm around his shoulder.

Draco forced to stood up and could only nod in agreement followed Robert out of the diner until he remembered that there were cupcakes on the table "uhm, Robert, you might want to get those cupcakes in the van too." He reminded the old man.

"Oh! That's right! Haha! I almost forgot about those! My god! Age is catching up with me! Haha!" Robert said as he went back to retrieve the boxes of cupcakes from the table.

"Here let me help you with one of those" Draco said as he took one of the boxes and carried it out into the van.

As they arrived in the children's birthday party, the sight of a 2-storey brick house with white windows and a well-trimmed hedge follows the sides of the house. As soon as Robert rang the doorbell, they were immediately greeted by Daisy's warm smile and welcoming embrace.

"Robert there you are! I was beginning to think you forgot the cupcakes again!" Daisy said as she kissed both of Robert's cheek and gave him a hug.

"No! Of course not! Draco here dropped by and helped me with them! Now, the cake is still in the van so I might need Andrew to help me with that, mean while I need to get these cupcakes in the kitchen!" Robert said as he raised the box of cupcakes to make sure that Daisy saw that he really didn't forget them.

"Oh sure! Hello Draco, how have you been? Thank you so much for reminding him to bring the cup cakes! He forgot them last year and they were just sitting in his counter top!" Daisy said as she greeted Draco the same way she did with Robert.

"It's not a problem at all, it's the least I could do, after all I am crashing your grand children's birthday party, I hope you don't mind, Robert insisted I come with him." Draco said as he offered Daisy an awkward smile.

"Oh not at all Draco! You're just as welcome here as you were at the diner! Now come in! I'll lead you to the kitchen where you can put those cupcakes down and then I'll introduce you to everyone." Daisy said as she led Draco to the kitchen.

Once Draco had put down the box of cupcakes, Daisy immediately led him out into the backyard where the party was to take place. As he stepped into the backyard, his ears were immediately assaulted by the noise that only a large group of children between the ages of 3 to 10 and some other infants and toddlers could make.

Draco couldn't help but feel welcome and content while he was with Daisy as she introduced him to parents and grandparents alike of the children who were currently in attendance. It wasn't until he heard someone speak that he felt like a thousand bucket of ice cold water fell on him.

"Oh Helene! There you are! I see the celebrants have finally woken from their nap!" Daisy said as she left Draco's side to pick up one of the twins.

" I know! They're fully charged for the activities of their party! Except Felix here is still a little cranky from being woken up." Helene said as she carried the cranky now two-year-old baby boy.

"Oh, before I forget my manners again, Helene, I'd like to introduce a new friend of Robert's and ours, Draco!" Daisy said as she too, carried the curious now two-year-old little girl who kept looking at everything that she could see.

As Draco approached Daisy, He didn't know if he felt numb or cold, maybe he was feeling both at the same time if that was possible. He couldn't see the woman Helene was talking to as her back was faced him but he remembered her built as if it was yesterday, her hair was not as bushy as he remembered but then again the person he was observing from behind while walking toward the two women had blonde streaks in her hair which she never had.

'Stop it Draco, you're imagining things, don't let yourself hope again! She's gone, you have to remember that!' Draco thought to himself, as he walked into Daisy's side, he however lost all of his train of thought.

"Draco, this is my daughter, Helene, and these are my grand children Felix" as she pointed to the little boy in Helene's arms "and this is Rosie" as she faced the little girl in his line of sight.

"Hello Draco, It's nice to meet you." Helene said as she smiled at him.

It was then that Draco swore his heart stopped.

DISCLAIMER: J.K. ROWLING OWNS HARRY POTTER AND RULES THE FANDOM OF IT.

HAHAHA!

SO Helene and Draco finally met! What happens now? I literally have no clue! I hope this chapter doesn't suck as much! I tried to fit so many things into it that I overwhelmed myself! Anyway! It's been a while huh? I can't believe It's almost Christmas! :)

xx