**Another short one, but things are moving along. Thanks to blacknblu30 and DipstickPines for your reviews!
Narcissa exhaled slowly, releasing the death grip she'd had on her son for the duration of the ride. She could still feel the vibration of the motorbike thrumming through her. Draco lowered the kickstand and extended a hand to allow her to climb from the bike. She carefully dismounted with only a slight stagger and he followed suit, removing his helmet and shaking out his hair. She did the same, looking up and down the narrow street.
"This is Spinner's End! Goodness! It looks so different!" she exclaimed, removing her gloves.
"The entire area is undergoing redevelopment," said Draco. "The old mill is being converted into a shopping centre."
"A shopping centre?" Narcissa gave him a curious look.
"It's like a high street—like Diagon Alley, only indoors usually," he explained.
"Oh. How curious!"
"Draco! Hiya!" Lucy waved, and crossed the street towards them, Blythe strapped in her pushchair.
"Lucy! Good to see you!" Draco replied. He gave her a light peck when she approached, and bent to tickle Blythe's chin. "May I present my mother, Narcissa Malfoy?"
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Milady." Lucy gave a slight curtsy. Narcissa looked at Draco, who shrugged.
"Mother, this is Lucy Carrington and her daughter Blythe. They live just across the street."
"Ah, yes. How do you do?" Narcissa nodded politely.
"My! That is quite impressive riding gear!" Lucy exclaimed, admiring Narcissa's attire.
Draco had managed to convince Narcissa to ride with him by transfiguring a dragon-hide flying cloak into a fashionable cycle outfit. The boots and slim-fitting trousers matched the iridescent deep purple jacket which boasted lacing on either side to cinch the waist. The shoulders and upper sleeves were adorned with round silver studs which also accented the embroidered filigree embellishments on the back.
"Oh, thank you! It was the only way Draco could get me to consent to ride this infernal contraption." Narcissa glanced at her son.
"She loved every minute of it!" he teased. "How about a cup of tea?"
"We'd love to!"
They entered the house and settled around the kitchen table, Blythe bouncing on her mother's knee as she gummed a teething toy, babbling incessantly.
"The kitchen looks great!" Lucy declared. "I love the color! And you kept the original look. How hip!"
"Well, I rather like the clean lines and the stark whitness," Draco replied. "It contrasts nicely with the green." The kettle whistled and he got up to pour.
"So, how's Harry? Up to his eyeballs in conferences and plea proceedings? I'll bet you'll be happy when he finishes second six, yeah?" Lucy sipped her tea, setting her cup down on the table out of Blythe's reach.
"He is attending an arraignment on a rather significant criminal case. I hope it won't be a lengthy one." Draco chanced a glance at Narcissa who smiled tightly and sipped her own tea.
"Oh, wow! Has he given you any thrilling details?" Lucy rested her chin on her elbow and raised her brow conspiratorially.
"No. You know how these things go. He might get into trouble for releasing sensitive information before the case goes to trial," he lied. Draco knew every sordid detail, but it wouldn't do to tell their new friend that his father had attempted to murder his mother and force him into an arranged marriage. Even if he could come up with a lie to explain the blood betrothal, he was certain she'd find it outrageous at best. Fortunately, she only nodded and quickly moved on to another topic.
"So, Lady Malfoy, it must have come as quite a surprise when Draco told you they'd bought a house in Spinner's End."
"There's no need to use a title, dear. I'm not quite so formal these days. It was unexpected to learn that they'd purchased the house, but Severus was Draco's godfather. They were quite close." Narcissa stirred honey into her tea. "I think I was more surprised that it was Harry's idea. I was under the impression that they didn't care for one another."
"So Draco mentioned. You don't think it was because of their sexuality do you?"
"Oh, no." Narcissa replied dismissively. She sipped her tea. "I think it was quite possibly the same reason I was rather averse to their relationship at first." Draco looked at her strangely. "Harry was something of a distraction to Draco. They antagonized one another throughout school. I was surprised to discover that they managed at last to strike up a relationship." She smiled over the rim of her cup.
"So you and your husband aren't bothered about Draco being gay?" Lucy asked. Blythe whimpered and squirmed in her lap.
"Not at all. Though I do believe my husband would rather he marry someone of the same station, I'd rather see my son happy." Narcissa reached across the table and patted his hand. Draco smiled at his mother.
"How progressive!" Lucy declared. Blythe whined and threw her toy down on the floor. Narcissa instinctively summoned it to her hand and Lucy stared at her in startled shock. Realizing her mistake, Narcissa gasped.
"Confundo!" Draco coughed. Lucy shook her head in confusion. "Mother is quite quick isn't she? I've always wondered how she does it," he said as Narcissa handed the toy back to the young mother.
"I—wow! I wish I had such reflexes!"
"I was in the dueling club at school," said Narcissa. It wasn't a total untruth.
"Fencing! Amazing! Did you attend school with Mr. Snape as well?"
"I did. I was a few years ahead of him though. I believe he was in the same class as Harry's parents."
"Oh. Hey, Emma said her mum and Harry's were quite close growing up. If Harry's interested, I could maybe ask if her mother wouldn't mind you and Harry visiting. Maybe she has some photos or something."
"He might like that. I'll ask him tonight," said Draco. Blythe was whinging in earnest now, refusing the teething toy her mother offered.
"Well, I guess the park is out of the question now," said Lucy. "I think we'll just go have our morning nap. It was a pleasure to meet you, La—I mean, Mrs. Malfoy."
"Indeed." Narcissa nodded. Draco saw Lucy out and returned to the kitchen, where he sat across from his mother once more. "She's a pleasant girl, Draco. What does her husband do?" Narcissa asked.
"I'm not certain. I don't know if he ever said. He's a likeable enough bloke, however." Draco refreshened his tea. Narcissa nodded thoughtfully.
"They're not so very different are they?"
"Honestly, no, Mother. They seem to have the same ambitions and problems that we do—just without the benefit of magic. Some are poor, some are wealthy, some are quite content to be in the middle," he replied. Draco took a long sip of his tea.
"So, is this where you want to be, my son—in the middle—in the muggle world, on an ordinary street in an ordinary town?"
"I don't know, Mother. It's no longer just about me, is it? I have to take into account what Harry might want as well. We talked last night, and realized there is much that we must consider in order to grow our relationship. So much has happened so fast that we haven't had the opportunity to do what couples typically do when they're courting."
"And the girl?"
"Yes, there is Adrestia to think about as well. Harry is quite fond of her, as am I. We will not allow her to be hurt or taken for granted, but we will respect what she wishes."
"Do you love her, Draco?"
"I suppose—in my way." Draco traced the rim of his cup and Narcissa raised a brow. "I care very deeply for Tia, but it's not the same as Harry. She knows this. We have an understanding."
Narcissa let out a sigh. "Draco, when your father and I were betrothed, I wasn't particularly certain that I wanted to marry him. We had courted for a while, but it was our parents who orchestrated our relationship. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Abraxas had encouraged Lucius to call upon me and initiate the courtship. He'd always seemed to have eyes for Elvira Crouch when we were in school."
"Goyle's mother?" Draco gave her an astonished look. She nodded.
"Which is why I was quite surprised the first time that he came to call. Then Mother and Father informed me that he would escort me to the Twenty-Eight ball. Your aunt Andromeda had married the muggleborn, and it fell to me to restore some semblance of honor. I had hoped that I would grow to love your father over time, and I was attracted to him. I think he might have felt some affection towards me early on, particularly during the period that I was expecting you, and immediately after you were born. He was ecstatic that his firstborn should be a male heir. Then, it just seemed the deeper he became involved with—" She let the implication hang in the air a moment.
"He simply changed, Draco. I was blind to it all myself; being a dutiful wife began to become my personality. As long as he spoiled me and you, I turned a blind eye to his dalliances—Alecto, Thicknesse's secretary, Bellatrix…" Draco gasped audibly at the mention of his aunt's name. "Oh, yes, I knew. I only turned to Severus because he was willing to listen. I hadn't intended it to be anything more, and then it was. I felt less stressed when I was with Severus. He understood my growing concern for our safety—yours especially."
"Did you tell him about—"
"No. It didn't come up until he mentioned to me that he thought you might be inclined towards other wizards. He didn't seem aware that your sole focus was Harry, and I was afraid to reveal that to him. Bella had taken to following me everywhere. She even came here with me on the night he vowed to protect you, and—" Narcissa stared into her cup. Draco reached out and took her hand.
"Draco, there was a time, not so long ago, when I would not dare hope that we would be alive to discuss your future. Even when I realized how you felt about Harry, I refused to believe that it would ever become reality. Our world was so fragile! Now that the war is over, I don't want to go back to the way things were. I am beginning to see things in a much different light. I want you to have the love that you deserve, Draco."
"But I don't deserve Harry, Mother. He deserves so much better than me. Every day, I fear that he'll change his mind. That I'll find out it was all a dream, or we've both been duped by Amortentia. What will the public say when they find out about us? I'm afraid I'll never be enough for Harry Potter."
"You are enough for Harry, my son. Draco, in spite of it all, you are still a Malfoy. Malfoys rise above every obstacle. Malfoys don't back down from a challenge. Harry is a smart boy, and it is clear that he can't be forced to do that which he isn't obligated to do. He didn't have to return your affections, but he did. He didn't have to take us in, but he did. Harry cares for you. Harry chose you."