Chapter 21:Family Matters

"I'm glad you're taking the day away from the sight of him," said Pansy. "I can't believe he completely fooled us. I mean, it's one thing to lie about his past, but to completely rearrange it…."

"Pansy!" hissed Blaise at his wife. Pansy looked at him in surprise. "Stop."

Blaise looked over at Draco sitting in a high backed chair in front of their fireplace. He had a glass of Firewhiskey in hand. Blaise didn't know all that had happened but whatever it was shook Draco. The man hardly spoke outside of a classroom, and that worried Blaise.

"But he lied to us…."

"No, he didn't," said Draco softly startling his friends. "He didn't tell everything but he didn't lie. There's a difference."

"You're defending him?"

Draco didn't look up at her and continued to stare in the fire. Blaise sighed.

"Listen, mate. I don't know how you feel about the guy…."

"You're right, you don't," said Draco looking up at Blaise.

"Draco…"

"I mean, I thought he was my friend. I liked him, maybe even loved him, and the whole time he had been hiding this huge secret…."

"That's what I mean,' said Pansy.

"I knew he had secrets for months, and I was trying to get him to open up to me, and this pops out!"

"Are we on the same page?" asked Pansy to Blaise. Blaise shook his head.

"I think he's finally letting lose."

Draco stood and paced. "I mean, the signs were there the whole time. He's a half-blood. His parents died when he was young, raised by Muggles. He said he was Gryffindorish in nature, Seeker, Quidditch, and oh Merlin, his righteous attitude….!"

"And it's out of the Pitch," said Blaise.

"He's venting," said Pansy.

"But he's an all around nice guy," said Draco. "Sure he's made some mistakes, but who hasn't. And he sure isn't perfect. He's got a son he's hardly saw in six years. Jamie's mother just died…." Pansy and Blaise didn't say anything as Draco stopped in his pacing and fell silent. Pansy grew up with both parents and a older brother five years older. Blaise spent very little time with his mother and step-fathers, while they were alive. Both didn't know how Draco felt but they understood. Draco had lost one parent to death and the second in her own mind.

"You all right now?" asked Blaise. Draco shook his head.

"No, I'm still very confused." Draco looked at the clock. "I have to go. I have an appointment to keep."

"Of course," said Pansy standing. "Tell her hello for us."

Draco smiled at them. "I will," he said. Pansy and Blaise bad him farewell and Draco left to visit Narcissa at St. Mungo's.

"Hello, again, Mr. Malfoy," said Cheri when Draco walked in. "We haven't seen you in a while."

"I've been busy," said Draco.

"We heard. The return of Harry Potter. The whole hospital's talking about it."

Draco struggled to keep his face blank. "I'm sure it is."

"It did have some good effect," said Cheri. "You're mother has been more lucid since the news of his return."

Draco looked at her in surprise. "She has?"

"She's been very responsive but still has her moments, and she recognized some things."

Draco nodded. "Do you think it's a good idea for me to….see her?"

"I don't see why not. But I warn you, no matter how well she may seem, her schizophrenia will never go away."

"Thank you, Healer," said Draco and he walked into his mother's room. It looked the same as Draco last visit except for Narcissa sitting at the window. "Mother?"

"Draco," she said. "The men here are imbeciles. They won't let me have Morgana's Dark Cherry wine."

Draco had to smile in amusement. Morgana's dark cherry was his mother's favorite wine. This small sense of normalcy from her comforted Draco.

"I'll talk to them," he said sitting in the chair next to her. "How have you been, Mother?"

"I've been very well," said Narcissa. "The flowers are very nice. Are they from you?"

"Yes, they are." Draco glanced at the narcissi on the table. "Fresh every day. I thought you would like them."

"They're lovely. Thank you." Narcissa looked at him sadly. "Where's your father? He doesn't visit anymore."

Draco gulped. The Mind-Healers said there was a possibility she would reject the reality of Lucius' suicide when they first evaluated her.

"He couldn't make it today. I'm very sorry, Mother."

Narcissa nodded. "I understand. He's a very busy man." She turned and smiled at him. "How's your potion making? Still have the highest score in class?"

Draco nervously bit his lip. "Mum, I'm a professor now. I got my Potions Master degree already."

"Oh, is that so? I knew you could." She patted his arm affectionately. "I've missed you so much."

Draco put a hand on hers and squeezed it gently. "I've missed you, Mum."

They spent the rest of his visit talking about past events, even through Narcissa sometimes slipped in her delusions. When the subject of Harry Potter came up she was alert and current.

"Why are you interested in him?" he asked.

"Oh, didn't I tell you? I saved his life once."

Draco's eyes widen in surprise. "You did? When was this?"

"During the Last Battle. Your father and I had been so worried about you, but the Dark Lord wouldn't let us leave. When Potter come into the Dark Forest the Dark Lord cast the Killing Curse at Potter. I saw it hit him."

Draco's eyes widen in surprise. Potter had died and came back to life? How was that possible?

"How is he still alive?" he said.

"I have asked myself that for months," said Narcissa. "The Dark Lord sent me to check if he was still alive, and he was! I was so anxious to find you that I lied to the Dark Lord and told him Potter was dead. And in return he vouched for us during the trials."

Draco nodded. He remembered Potter stating that his parents didn't fight with or against The Dark Lord as far as he knew. The result of the trial was that Narcissa got off and Lucius was under house arrest. Draco's charges were dropped since the only witnesses were Death Eaters and most died during the battle, all except Fenrir Greyback who the Aurors tracked down and killed five years ago.

Narcissa took both of Draco's hands and squeezed them. "He saved my baby, so I saved him. Doesn't that mean he gets a second chance?"

Draco didn't know how to answer her. When he returned to the manor he was surprised to see a house-elf waiting for him anxiously.

"Forgive Libby's suddenness, Master Malfoy, but a guest has come to see the master. Libby has him waiting in the conservatory."

"Thank you, Libby," he said and went to the conservatory. He wondered about Libby's odd behavior. Visitors to the manor weren't common, and Libby had been in the manor for thirty years. She knew how to handle herself when a visitor came.

Draco got his answer when he walked into the conservatory. Sitting at a table, a bit frightened at being in the large room, was Jamie Potter-Williams.

"Jamie, what are you doing here?" he asked in surprise. "How did you get here? Does your father know?"

"I went through the fireplace. Daddy showed me how," said Jamie quietly. "He doesn't know."

"You mean your father doesn't know you're here," said Draco. Jamie nodded. "Jamie, you have to go home."

"Why?"

"Because Harry will not be happy that you're gone."

"Why don't you come over anymore?" asked Jamie. "Are you mad at Daddy? At me? Do you hate me?"

"No, of course I don't hate you," said Draco walking up to the boy and placed his hands on Jamie's shoulders. "I'm not angry at you."

"But you are at Daddy," said Jamie fighting back tears. Draco had to wet lips that had suddenly gone dry.

"Jamie, the reason I'm not talking to your father, it's complicated. I don't even know where to begin."

"Is it because he lied?"

Draco looked at the boy in surprise. "I don't…how did you know?"

"I heard Daddy and Grandma Weasley talking. I didn't understand all he was saying but he's very sorry. He didn't want to lie, but he had to."

"Why did he have to lie?" asked Draco. "Why is he hiding?"

"Because they won't leave him alone!" yelled Jamie. "He just wanted to be left alone."

"Jamie," Draco knelt in front of him. "Who won't leave him alone?"

"The people! The people that follow him and make him remember but he doesn't want to remember!"

"The reporters?"

"Yes, them. They won't leave him alone so he left."

"Tixy." The house-elf speared. "Make some hot chocolate for Jamie." Tixy nodded and disappeared. "Jamie, how do you know why your father left?"

"Daddy told me. He told me everything. He said he had to leave so the mean people wouldn't find me and hurt me. " Tixy reappeared and placed the cup on the table in front of Jamie. "Thank you."

Tixy nodded and disappeared. Jamie picked up the cup and took a sip. Jamie sighed as the taste of chocolate calmed him down.

"Your father told you everything?" he asked.

"I told you. Daddy hates liars. Maybe that's why he hates himself."

Draco looked at Jamie in confusion. He had seen Harry in the last week and the man showed now signs of anger or resentment.

"Daddy doesn't show it so we don't worry about him," said Jamie almost reading Draco's mind. "He hates it when people worry about him."

Draco nodded. It sounded like something like James Black. He didn't want anyone worrying about him. How much more was James Black similar to Harry Potter?

"Speaking of worried, your father will be," said Draco. "I'll go fire-call him. You finish your chocolate."

"Will he be mad that I left?" asked Jamie. Draco smiled at him and smoothed Jamie's wild hair.

"Well, he won't be happy," he said.

With one last smile at Jamie he walked to the large fire-place in the family room and threw a bit of Floo powder in.

"The Burrow," he called. The fire flared green before Weasley's head appeared.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" he said impatiently. "We're kind of busy here."

"Let me guess, Jamie's missing?" Draco really wanted to wipe the disgusted look off Weasley's face.

"How the held do you know that?" yelled Weasley.

"Because he's here. Let me speak to Potter."

"Bring him here!"

"I want to talk to Potter first." Draco kept his voice calm, despite him wanting to hit the imbecile. He really did not see what Potter saw in him.

"Listen, you pompous son of a…."

Weasley was pulled away before he could finish and a few seconds later Harry's face appeared in the fire. He was anxious but Draco could see a small bit of relief in his face.

"Draco?" he said in both surprise and worry. Surprise that Draco fire called and worried for Jamie.

"Potter," said Draco, hopefully in reassurance.

"Why did he come to you?"

"He wanted to talk," said Draco. "He was upset and we talked."

"What was he upset about?"

"Are you going to pick him up or talk over the fireplace?" Draco knew he sounded anxious now, and he was.

"Oh, right, uh, stand back."

Draco stood back as the fire flared and Harry stepped through. Draco suddenly remembered James Black would move in quick motions when he was anxious and that James would have a relieved smile when whatever he was anxious about was over. Harry had the same stance and the same smile.

"Where is he? Is he all right?" asked Harry.

"He's fine. He's in the conservatory having hot chocolate," said Draco and lead Harry to the conservatory.

"Thanks for watching him, Draco," he said as they walked. "You didn't have to."

"He's a frightened boy," said Draco not looking at him. "I can understand."

"Still, thank you." There was a pause before Harry spoke. "Why did he came to you, anyway?"

"I told you. He wanted to talk."

"About what?" asked Harry.

"Why don't you ask him?" Draco opened the door to the conservatory. Jamie looked up nervously when they walked in, his hands clutched in his lap and his green eyes wide in fright. They widened more when Harry entered.

"Daddy…."

"Oh, thank God," said Harry running to Jamie and picked him up in a hug. "I was so worried about you."

"I'm sorry, Daddy." Said Jamie hugging Harry back. Harry pulled away and started scolding his son.

"Don't you ever leave without telling someone again! Do you have any idea how worried I was? Not to mention Grandma and Grandpa Weasley, and her aunts and uncles! Uncle Ron was about to call a search party!"

"I'm sorry, Daddy," said Jamie tearing up, suddenly frightened of his father's wrath.

"Why did you come here, anyway?" asked Harry more calmly, smoothing his son's hair.

"I wanted to talk to Draco."

"Talk about what?"

"Why you're mad at yourself, Daddy," said Jamie. "Why are your mad at Draco?"

"Jamie, that's complicated…."

"But you like him. Why is it complicated if you like him?"

Draco looked at Harry in surprise. "You like me?" he asked.

Harry ducked his head. "Kind of."

"He talks about you a lot," said Jamie with a smile.

"Really?" asked Draco hopefully.

"Look, Draco, thank you for taking care of my son. I appreciate it, if there's anything I could do…."

"Ask me to dinner," said Draco. Harry looked surprised.

"What?"

"Ask me to dinner. It's not that hard."

"But I thought…"

Draco smirked. "Someone told me that if a person had a reason to lie, it must be a good one."

"So this is like a second chance?" asked Harry with a small smile.

"Hey, if you rather we keep ignoring each other…."

"No. No. I would like a second chance." He gave Draco a full smile. "So, dinner?"

"Glady," said Draco.

TBC