Narcissa's silver voice asked archly, "Draco Malfoy, is there some reason you haven't accepted my invitation to my little get-together this Saturday?" Draco Malfoy didn't like where this was headed - and so he tried to cut her off, as smoothly as possible.
"I haven't had a chance to look through my mail in days, mother."
"Your ... employment ... has been keeping you busy?"
"Mo-ther! Surely you don't believe a word those magazines have to say."
"Of course not. I'll believe a lot more of them once your dear friend Pansy's through with them, no doubt." How Narcissa managed to talk so smoothly about the targeted assassination of business rivals* was beyond Draco, but his mother managed anyhow and with aplomb.
"No doubt." Draco Malfoy said. "As wonderful as it is to hear your voice, Mother, I really do need to be going back to work." Draco Malfoy said, willing her with his eyes to leave it alone. It didn't work. It never worked (except when they'd been around the Dark Lord, which proved that she knew what he was doing, and just chose to ignore it), but he always tried it anyway.
"Draco, if you would only answer my question, you could get back to work presently." Narcissa Malfoy stated blandly, her voice as firm as rock.
Draco Malfoy flicked his eyes upward, before saying, "I do believe I will have some time free, yes. Unless I contact you with my apologies, you can presume that I will attend."
Draco watched his mother smile slightly, and his heart sank. He had hoped - even though it was futile - that he could just say he was going, and leave it at that. "Will someone be attending on your arm?" Behind him, he heard Granger's slight snort at the 'politeness' - typical of the Amazon, she didn't go for the subtle gestures - and, this, if anything ever was, was subtle indeed. Narcissa was reminding him to take a date, lest she feel compelled to throw anyone at the party even remotely interested in him (or, more accurately, the Malfoy's wealth) in his direction. He hadn't the patience for putting up with the simpering, anyway, and she knew it.
Draco Malfoy met his mother's eyes, and was gratified to watch them widen just slightly. "I'll find someone. Mother."
"Thank you, my son." Narcissa Malfoy unbent the stick that was shoved firmly up her arse to say. She was always gracious in victory, a trait common to the Malfoys in general.
"Until then." Draco Malfoy said smoothly, though he wanted to spit it at his interfering mother, as he ended the floo call. He turned around to catch Granger smothering a grin. Not that it should surprise Draco that Hermione Granger had interfering parents - she was certainly bossy enough that she'd have picked it up from somewhere.
Draco's eyes flicked up and down Granger's fit form, too quickly to be a leer, but still calculating. Now, there was a thought.
*he means destroying the businesses. not the people running them. mostly. character assassination is fair game, as always.
[a/n: What is Draco up to? And can he pull it off? I have been waiting for months upon months to introduce Narcissa. Seen here in her Winter Queen regalia, chiding her son for being too childish to actually respond to his invitation. ]