A/N: Quick Edit in Chapter 31: I realized I needed to correct how Hermione travels since she still doesn't have her wand.

Standard disclaimers apply.

Chapter 34

Draco and his mother had moved into her drawing room for tea. Because of the femininity of the Queen Anne antique furniture and decor, the room remained her place of sanctuary while Voldemort ruled their home. The evening sun shines into the large windows that overlooks her magnificent rose garden. The refraction of light through the crystal chandelier creates prism rainbows that sparkle around the room. It reminds Draco of some of his few pleasant childhood memories. He muses, "I remember thinking the prisms were fairies and trying to catch them."

Narcissa notices his wistful expression. Her heart clenches, wishing she had curbed Lucius' stoic and borderline abusive behaviors toward them. She needs to let him know how she feels. Gathering her thoughts she begins, "Draco, you learned a charm in an afternoon that most do not learn in a lifetime. I am sure you used memories of your beautiful and brilliant Hermione." She looks into her son's eyes and continues, "I know we spoke briefly of this during Yule, but I must be sure you understand. I am extremely proud of you. You have overcome the horrendous obstacles of your childhood. I am ashamed that I fostered and allowed it. I should have protected you. I am so sorry Draco, that I was not a good mother to you." She looks down, breathing deeply. She does not want to become a weepy, sobbing, mess.

Draco hears her sniffle. He stands, walks to Narcissa and sits beside her taking her hands, "Mum, you are not a bad mother." He has not called her Mum since Lucius forbade him as a small child. He had sneered, "Draco you will only refer to her as Mother. You are not a mudblood or a peasant and will not speak like one." It had broken her heart. She loved it when he called her Mum or Mummy. She looks up at her son and pulls him into a hug that would make Molly Wesley proud. She pulls back. Her eyes sparkling. "Thank you Draco. Now, you need to go and pick up Hermione so you will not be late for dinner. Please tell Mr. Potter and Miss Weasley congratulations on their engagement.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Draco floos to his flat to take a shower and change for dinner. As he dresses he has a niggling feeling that something is wrong. He brushes it aside, reasoning it to be because of having dinner with Potter. Not due to him being his schoolyard nemesis, as they put that away during training. It is because they are Hermione's best friends and it is their first interaction with them as a couple. He smirks, thinking about making Potter a bit uncomfortable as he spends the evening with his beautiful swot and Mentalist Extraordinaire.

Draco checks the time. Hoping Hermione is home so he can spend a few private moments together, he apparates down to her flat. He calls out, "Love are you here?" Not receiving a response he decides to check her bedroom. He is disappointed he did not find her there changing. He had not paid much attention to the room last time he was there as they had been busy. He takes a deep breath, her scent lingers in the room and it calms him. He takes a moment to look around her room and notices the portum he gave her for Christmas on her beside table. He runs his hand across his family heirloom, causing the kneazle to purr and walk along the box. It seems to be reaching toward the latch so he opens it. Hermione's wand is inside so he decides to bring it to her. Picking it up, he notices it feels as comfortable with his magic as his own and smiles. He tucks it next to his in his wand holster and apparates to The Auror Department.

Draco is not concerned when her office is dark. He taps on Potter's door before opening it saying, "Are you ready for dinner?" His mask slides into place seeing the Weasel across from Potter and he growls, "Why are you here?" Harry looks between the two men. Ron's face is turning red and he snaps, "I'm here to see my best friend, why are you here ferret?" Malfoy's sneer looks like they are back at Hogwarts, his voice is dangerously low, I belong here Weasel, you do not." Before things escalate, Harry jumps up, his wand whips and he binds and silenced both. "Enough! Not that I owe either of you an explanation as this is my office. Malfoy, I can have a friend here." Ron is all smug until Harry turns to him, "Ron, Malfoy and I are partners on a case." Harry fumes. They were just discussing how Ron was working through his anger issues. "I'm sorry I cursed you both. I will lift it, but if either of you aren't civil I'll do much worse. Got it?" Both men glare, but Draco nods immediately and Harry releases him. Ron's eyes are closed and he's doing his deep breathing exercises. He can feel both men watching him and after a minute or so opens his eyes and nods. Since his face is just a bit pink, instead of bright red, Harry releases him. "Alright then, Ron, we'll catch up more later. I have work to do." He knows he is being dismissed and tries to swallow his disappointment before it turns into jealousy and anger. But then Harry offers to walk him out, causing him to smile.

As Harry takes Ron to the elevators, Draco sits down. He thinks on why he got so angry with Weasley. He had been doing so well with controlling it during training. He realizes it is because he had been expecting Hermione and saw her former boyfriend. He decides it was probably wise of Potter to stop him or else he might have beaten the weasel muggle-style for what he did to her. His musing is interrupted by Harry.

Harry walks slowly back to his office, he knows he really shouldn't have restrained Malfoy, but he knew what would happened if he hadn't. He runs his hand through his hair pulling on the ends. "Um, Malfoy, uh, I wanted to apologize for...um well before."

Draco looks up, surprised to see Potter leaning against his door frame looking down at his shoes. Chagrined, he quickly continues,"Ah...I knew Ron was ready to go off on you and well...you know if I hadn't done the same to you as I did to him it would've made him worse. I hadn't seen him in ages and he's trying..."

Not wanting to hear more, Draco stands and puts his hand up to interrupt him, but as Potter is still staring at the floor he does not notice. He briefly touches his arm, startling Harry who stops mid-sentence. Clearly both men are uncomfortable. Draco cleat his throat, "Apology accepted. So it is time for dinner, where are our lovely ladies?"

"Gin's at my place. I thought Hermione was with you?"

Draco shakes his head. "She left me to come here to update you and the minister on the case."

Harry nods."Yeah she was here. We had just finished up when Ron got here." Harry scowls.

He can see Draco's anger, "What did that ... Weasley ... do to her? If he hurt her I will..." This time it's Harry that briefly touches Draco's arm. "Nothing, he was surprised to see her and said he thought she'd still be in training. Then, she jumped up and ran out while I was telling him off. I thought she apparated home."

Draco realizes, "She could not apparate, she does not have her wand. She would have flooed so I must of missed her at her flat."

"Ugh," Harry thinks, "she's already added him to her wards." Harry tries to smile but is pretty sure it looks like a grimace, "So she's at home waiting for us. Ginny's meeting us there so we better head out." He looks down at his watch, "Shite! We're already a few minutes late. We better go or they'll hex us. You remember how to get to 12 Grimmauld Place right?" Harry's irritated that he is gone before he finishes his question.

Draco still has the odd feeling, causing his magic to flair. The loud crack of his arrival causes Ginny to jump. Her wand is at Draco's throat before he fully appears. He smirks, "You know with those reflexes you would make an excellent Auror." Harry arrives just behind him in time to see her skills. They all laugh as she reminds them, "My phenomenal reflexes are what makes me an outstanding Quidditch player." She looks around, "Where's Hermione?"

A/N: Hope you are all well and are handling the isolation as best as you can. Thanks for still following! Please review and let me know if you like it or see errors as I have no beta.