A/N: Well... H&V actually really bothers me, just the protocol for putting things on their site. So I probably will not be posting there any longer. Repeat, I am still writing this story, albeit while I'm at school so it's difficult. Thanks for sticking it out.

Chapter 36

After work, Wiltshire

Draco stepped out of the fireplace to complete pandemonium. On the couch of their most used parlor was his mother, weeping dramatically, while house elves scurried too and fro with trays of tea and tissues and all other manner of things.

" Mother? Mother, what is it? Did you visit father again today?" Draco dropped his briefcase on the carpet and rushed to his mother's side.

She was improving since the war, but sometimes after a visit to Azkaban she would come home in tears, or stony silence, or worst of all that glazed faraway look in her eye. It would take her days to recover and Draco wished he could hex his father for all the damage he was still doing. God help her but she loved the horrible man, and Lucius was happy to take advantage of it.

" No," She sniffed.

He breathed a sigh of relief, " Then… then what's happened?"

Ipsy scurried by and dropped something in his lap before grabbing his briefcase, " Eripp found this while cleaning the master's bathroom."

Draco fumbled in his lap a moment and came up with… an ordinary hairpin.

" Is this how I'm to find out everything in my son's life! Newspapers and hairpins," Narcissa wailed.

" Mother would you calm down please," Draco put the hairpin on the coffee table which was rapidly filling with plates of fresh scones and cookies.

" And on the day of my book club, Draco," She said, burying her perfectly coiffed head in her arms.

" Mother, Merlin in a Mirkin, just let me explain," He began.

" No! I have to find out that my son is dating from a hairpin! Who is she? Or will it be printed in one of those scrotty little Quirble magazines you're always bringing home?" Narcissa sunk further into the turquoise settee.

" Mother, now, you need to calm down just a little so I can talk to you," Draco poured himself a cup of tea and slowly began to prepare it.

" What I don't understand is why you didn't tell me you were seeing someone," Narcissa sniffed.

" Because it's not serious," He deliberately stirred his tea.

" This is the first time you've ever been seeing any young lady," She half-sobbed, " And you didn't tell your mother."

" I've dated before," Draco protested.

" Just Astoria," She dismissed, " And that went so well didn't it?"

Draco rolled his eyes, " Oh did it end poorly mother? I'd completely forgotten. Thank you for reminding me."

" Is it because of Astoria that you haven't dated since?"

" Yes, mother, it's because of Astoria, not that noseless mass-murdering fuckwad that our family followed for generations," His voice dripped with sarcasm, " Women are just lining around the block for Voldemort's aryan poster boy."

Narcissa wiped her eyes and gave her son a wry smile, " You would have looked lovely on that propaganda poster."

" Yes, if photographer was able to shoot around the wand being held to my head," Draco grinned.

" Alas," Narcissa daubed her nose with one of her ever-present lacy handkerchiefs, " I'll have to comfort myself with the fact that you're dating now."

" I'm not mom, it's just a fling," Draco sighed, " When I'm dating someone, I promise I will tell you."

" What's her name, at least?" Narcissa begged.

" I'm afraid that won't work on me, Mother," Draco sipped his tea calmly, " We took an unbreakable vow to tell no one, and I begged her to let me tell you but the vow was already made. Alas!"

" Fine, I'll just get it out of Blaise," She smirked.

" You wouldn't," Draco smirked back.

" Oh, I think I would," Narcissa winked, " Drink your tea, dear."

He raised an eyebrow, " My tea seems a little bitter."

" Oh, it is," Narcissa took up a scone triumphantly.