Chapter 25

"Mother, I do expect that you have a wonderful reason as to why I woke up to Alastaire drooling over my sleeping wife this morning," Draco announced as he walked into the kitchen. Narcissa turned and smiled at her son while Lucius glared at Maximus.

"Now Draco, Maximus is right here; do remember your manners," she said cheerily. Draco rolled his eyes.

"I'm well aware of his presence. I meant for him to hear that."

"That's enough Draco," Lucius scolded.

"I say, where is my beautiful daughter-in-law?" Narcissa looked around Draco as if Aeris was going to pop out of thin air.

"She's getting dressed." Draco took a seat next to his father at the small table in the kitchen. He caught a glimpse of Maximus smirking at him and had to force himself to remain silent.

"So, how was your Honeymoon?" Lucius asked, obviously uninterested as he held the morning paper in front of his face.

"Magnificent," Draco replied, looking straight at Maximus as he did so.

The door to the kitchen swung open and Aeris walked in slowly as everyone turned to stare at her. She could feel her cheeks growing hot from the unwanted gazes as she walked over to Narcissa. She jumped as she felt her wrap an arm around her shoulders.

"Good morning my Dear Aeris," Narcissa said sweetly as she rubbed her shoulder. "You look lovely today." Draco scowled as Maximus stood up from his seat.

"That she does Mrs. Malfoy," he admitted with a smile. "That powder pink dress is very complimentary to your skin tone Aeris."

"Why were you even looking at her skin?" Draco thought angrily.

Aeris did not respond to this but instead looked over Maximus. Although he had a rivalry with Draco she did not hate him. In fact, looking at him now reminded her of her first run in's with him in this world. He was a very sweet man to her and in truth she did miss his friendship. The thought of Draco leaving for Hogwarts and leaving her in this manor alone did weigh heavily on her and she may have just been desperate for a friend right now.

"Max, why are you here?" Aeris asked calmly.

"That's…complicated Darling," Narcissa replied. Maximus shook his head.

"Don't worry Mrs. Malfoy," he added. "She deserves to know. Aeris, Draco is leaving for Hogwarts tomorrow morning, this I'm sure is information you already know. Unfortunately, the Dark Lord has forbidden you from going along to see him off. I am here to keep you company."

"What?" Draco spit, standing up from his seat.

"Sit down Draco," Lucius said with a sigh. Draco ignored his father.

"Forbidden? I don't understand; why am I forbidden from going?" Aeris asked while trying to keep her composure as her blood began to boil.

"Well Aeris, the train station is flooded with many witches and wizards. Everyone must be seen as a possible threat. You must understand that the Dark Lord is doing this to protect you."

"I thought that Draco married me to serve that purpose? He is supposed to protect me." Narcissa lifted a brow at Maximus, waiting for his response.

"I'll admit that I ran this by the Dark Lord as well Aeris. I too was initially confused by this arrangement."

"Yeah I bet you were," Draco thought sarcastically.

"What was his response?" Aeris asked as she smoothed her hair back.

"It seems that he is angry about something that occurred on your Honeymoon night. He claims that Draco is on what you would call probation at the moment. Apparently he is unhappy with Draco's performance already." Maximus glanced over to Draco just to make him angry. Lucius slammed his paper onto the table.

"Draco, what have you done? How can you have messed this task up already?" he asked his son.

"Please leave Draco alone, Mr. Malfoy," Aeris said. "You see, I'm afraid what happened was indeed my fault. Draco was basically under my control last night and could not refuse me." Maximus scrunched his brow now.

"He was under your control and could not refuse you?" he asked her. Aeris' blue eyes had a hint of fire in them now.

"Well, in more ways than one, that is." She gave him a small wink and Narcissa had to contain her happiness.

Narcissa was not fond of her son maturing this fast and she did not enjoy discussing it, but the fact that Aeris was using that fact to put Maximus in his place as Draco's replacement made her ecstatic. The fire in her daughter-in-laws eyes and that little wink she had given Maximus just proved that she was going to get along well with her. Draco coughed, slightly nervous of the attention his parents were giving him now due to Aeris' words.

"I see. Then excuse me, Draco, for getting short with you," Lucius apologized, a slight blush on his face now.

Draco's eyes widened. Did his father just apologize to him? Was this really happening? The immense gratitude he had for Aeris was growing by the second. He gave her an appreciative look and caught himself being hypnotized by her presence. Her pink dress was quite striking, and her blonde hair was slicked back off her face into a tight bun on top of her head. She appeared to be the embodiment of femininity as she smiled back at him.

"So, is there no chance that Aeris would be allowed to come to the train station then?" Draco asked Maximus.

"None. Don't worry; I will be here to look after her for you. I will also be dropping in every now and then to keep her company while you are away at school." Draco clenched his fists at his sides.

He disliked everything about this situation but he knew that there was no way to change it. Had Maximus not been his rival, and was his friend instead, he would be thanking him. But this was not like Blaise or Goyle stopping in to make sure Aeris had someone to talk to every now and then. This was a threat. Draco had only spent a few short days with Aeris and now he was going to leave her alone until break. That gave Maximus the perfect opportunity to prey on her and turn her against him.

"Well that is very thoughtful of you Max, but you must excuse us now," Aeris said as she hooked her arm with Narcissa's, surprising her a bit. "Draco and I have much to discuss with our parents now. I'm sure you understand."

"By all means Aeris," Maximus replied as Aeris and Narcissa exited the room. Lucius followed after them but Draco stopped next to Maximus.

"When you're in Malfoy Manor, you will address Aeris as Mrs. Malfoy," Draco ordered. Maximus smirked at him.

"That's what I call your mother."

"Then Mrs. Draco Malfoy will do just fine." With that Draco exited the room, leaving a scowling Maximus in the kitchen alone.

"Why it appears that someone has come out of her shell," Narcissa whispered to Aeris as the two walked down the hallway.

"Maybe just a tiny bit," Aeris replied. "I must apologize for my rude behavior back there though. It was inexcusable that I hinted at a private matter in front of both you and Lucius just to get Max heated up."

"My Dear, I was applauding you the entire time. I admit that I do not enjoy hearing of my only sons adult…endeavors, but you are quite the coy little woman and I approve of your guts." Aeris smiled to herself.

"So this is what it feels like then? This is what it is like to have a mother?" Narcissa felt tears forming in her eyes at the sound of being called a mother by this very important girl.

"Oh Aeris, I already love you like you were my own. Should you need anything, do not hesitate to come straight to me." Draco and Lucius walked behind their women quietly.

"Well she certainly has mother wrapped around her finger already. Good show, Aeris," Draco thought as he listened to the two.

"Well, there is one thing I would appreciate," Aeris admitted, stopping in the hallway. The others stopped as well.

"You just name it sweetheart," Narcissa said.

"Is there any way that I can come along and see Draco off to Hogwarts? He is my husband, and he will be gone for so long, I just can't bear the thought of him leaving without a proper send off." Lucius cleared his throat.

"That is out of the question Aeris. You heard Maximus earlier. There is no use in harping on the issue any further," he explained. Draco shot him a frustrated look.

"I understand that, I'm just so distraught over the whole thing." Draco smirked as Aeris made a convincing sound as if she were about to burst into tears.

"Dear, I'm sorry. Why don't I have Lucius speak with the Dark Lord once more tonight to see if he will change his mind?" Narcissa said.

"Narcissa, that is out of the question," Lucius stated, shaking his head.

"I don't believe I am asking much. Do this, as a favor to your daughter-in-law." Aeris looked to Draco before realizing what she would need to do.

"Oh Lucius!" she cried, throwing herself against him and wrapping her arms around his thin body. "Would you? Would you really speak to my father?" Her blue eyes beamed up at him and he sighed.

"I suppose it could not hurt to inquire for you," he said, giving her exactly what she wanted.

"Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Really I do."

"I wonder what her motive is. Maybe she does want to see me off tomorrow morning, but knowing Aeris it's more than that," Draco thought as he smiled at her.

Aeris did have a reason to go with the Malfoy's to the train station tomorrow morning, but it was not to say goodbye to Draco. All Aeris wanted was another chance to possibly run into Harry Potter again. Finding out that he was a real person was just about the best thing that had happened to her, but this time she wanted to speak with him. She wanted to find out who he really was, and maybe if she was lucky enough, he would want to find out who she was too.