There might have been a time

When I would give myself away

(Ooh) Once upon a time

I didn't give a damn

But now here we are

So whataya want from me

Whataya want from me

Just don't give up

I'm workin' it out

Please don't give in

I won't let you down

It messed me up, need a second to breathe

Just keep coming around

Hey, whataya want from me

Whataya want from me

Whataya want from me

Whataya Want From Me ~ Adam Lambert

His mother's slender fingers trailed through his hair while her other arm hung over his shoulders. It had been years since he sat with her on the sofa, allowing her to hold him like a child, but now he could deny her nothing. One day soon, memories of these moments were all he'd have left of her.

"You're quiet," she said. "What are you thinking about?"

His thoughts had turned to his disastrous encounter with Andromeda. He'd made Teddy cry and upset her so badly she ran away. Now she hated him and was even less likely to change her mind. Even Harry would be mad that he scared Teddy. There was no way he'd tell his mother about any of that.

"Quidditch," he lied. It was possibly the lamest lie he'd ever told. Yet if he'd said it to anyone else, they'd have believed him. There weren't many things he was good at, but lying was one of the few.

She laughed. "Of course you are, and I'm thinking about interest rates." She pulled him closer. "Sweetheart, why do you even try lying to me?"

He shrugged. "Habit. It works on everyone else." Although he suspected lying to Harry would be equally difficult.

"You're thinking about your girlfriend?"

"Well, I am now," he teased, turning to smile up at her.

She looked tired, thin and sick. He hated to see her that way.

"Tell me about her."

Looking away, Draco settled his head against her chest. With a sigh, he searched his mind for some detail to share with her, but nothing felt right. He'd actually have preferred to talk about interest rates.

"I don't know what to say," he admitted.

"What does she look like?"

He considered describing a female version of Harry, but couldn't do it. It felt disrespectful to both his mother and Harry. So far he'd managed to avoid directly lying to her about his relationship and he wanted to keep it that way. He owed them both that much.

"When we're together I can't see straight."

Lame and sappy, but sadly true.

"You sound like Lucius when we were younger."

Draco laughed. "I can't imagine Father saying anything that sentimental."

"He has to me." She rested her chin on his head. "He even wrote a poem or two when we were in school, but don't ever tell him I told you."

"How did you fall in love?" The question surprised him since he never intended to ask it. Yet he really wanted to hear the answer.

"Your father decided he was in love with me first. I don't know what attracted him, but I didn't return his affections." She chuckled. "Actually, I thought he was an arrogant, egotistical prat, which I told him frequently."

"I'm sure he loved that."

"He took it in stride. He also turned into a bit of a stalker. As you know, Malfoys aren't used to hearing the word no. Anyway, I won't embarrass poor Lucius by telling you the stunts he pulled to win my heart, but I will tell you that none of them worked. I was amused and grew to like him, but not love him."

"Something must've worked. You're not going to tell me you've been under the Imperious Curse all these years, are you?"

She laughed, hitting him gently.

"No. I love Lucius, and I love him of my own free will. Even your father wouldn't go that far to secure a wife. But it wasn't his lavish gestures that changed my mind about him; it was the softness in his nature, the way he took care of me when I needed it."

Draco turned to face her with an expression of shock. This sounded familiar. He thought of himself sobbing in Harry's arms.

"It was almost Christmas," she went on. "Andromeda left a few weeks earlier and Bella had just taken the Dark Mark. I'd grown-up with two sisters and they were both suddenly gone. I still talked to Bella, but it wasn't the same. And my parents were entirely focused on them. They were furious with Andromeda and bursting with pride for Bella. I was invisible and I was not used to being invisible."

"But you weren't invisible to Father."

"No, I wasn't. I didn't let on that anything was wrong at school. No one suspected, except Lucius. He spent the weeks leading up to Christmas making me feel special. He stayed with me, talked to me, and annoyed the hell out of until I confided in him. He saw what I was trying to hide. He became exactly what I needed and I loved him for it. He's been exactly what I've needed ever since and I've never stopped loving him."

Draco wondered if someday he'd have a similar story. Harry was exactly what he needed while he was going through hell. Would this experience bind them forever the way it had his parents? He hoped it would. He couldn't help smiling at the thought.

"You got me off topic," his mother scolded with mock sternness. "We're supposed to be talking about your love life, not mine."

"But yours is more interesting," he insisted with a grin.

"Honestly, Draco," she sighed. "Why are you so resistant about this? You know, I'd like to meet this girl."

"I-I don't know," he stammered. He hadn't expected that. He didn't want to refuse her, but he couldn't do what she was asking for her own sake.

"Sweetheart," she tightened her hold on his shoulders, "I don't know what you're afraid of, but you don't have to hide anything from me. I'd never judge you or your girlfriend. I love you, and I'll love any girl who makes you happy."

What about any boy? he mused.

There was humor in this awkward situation. He'd be laughing hysterically if it were happening to someone else. But it was happening to him and he wasn't amused. Actually, he was panicked, trapped, and desperate not to hurt his mother.

"Unless it's Lucius and I you're ashamed of," she said softly, hurt evident in her voice. "I know we didn't make the best choices and you paid for them."

"Don't ever say that," he snapped, sitting up, pulling out of her grasp. "How can you even think it? I'm not ashamed of you, Mother or of Father. I love you. I'm proud of you and grateful for every sacrifice you made on my behalf."

"I didn't mean to upset you." She pulled him back into her arms and he didn't resist. "I know you love me, Draco. I've never doubted that. I love you, too, more than anything."

"Why is it so important you meet?"

Of course, he didn't tell her that she'd already met his girlfriend a couple of times, even threatened her life once or twice. Although the memories of those meetings served to send chills down his back.

"Normally, I wouldn't push this, Draco. I've always tried to respect what you need. But I want to meet the girl who's taking care of you. I want to know that you have someone before I'm gone. Sweetheart, I don't have much time left."

He tensed in her arms.

"Please, don't talk about that."

"Not talking about it isn't going to make it go away. I'm dying, Draco."

"I know that," he whispered, trying to hold back tears. "I'm not Father. I'm not in denial. I know I'm going to lose you. I just can't bear to talk about it. I-I don't want to lose you."

"I know, sweetheart." She hugged him, refusing to let go. "I don't want to leave you. I don't have a choice."

"I love you," he said. "I don't like keeping this part of my life from you."

"Just think about it," she replied. "How bad could it be?"

The shock could kill you. Father could try to kill him.

"I will," he promised.

As their conversation died, he remained in her arms and did just that. He thought about what she wanted, what he wanted, and how little time they had left. If he was ever going to tell her about Harry, it had to be soon.