A/N: Note that text in italics signify unspoken thoughts except for the reference to The Daily Profit or for emphasis during a conversation.

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Chapter 12

Draco is dressed rather casually today, he opted for a pair of black jeans and a black Egyptian cotton shirt and pulls on an older, favorite emerald cashmere sweater. He pushes his sleeves up, then pulls them back down after noticing the ugly mark marring on his otherwise smooth alabaster skin. He grimaces and thinks again about his father, trying to push his resentment aside so he can enjoy this day with his mother.

He heads downstairs with a faint hope that his father will be otherwise occupied during their breakfast. He schools his features as he walks into the dining room. His father sitting at the head of the table behind a newspaper and his mother, looking a bit sullen, but she smiles brightly when she sees him. Thank Merlin she doesn't seem to be upset with him.

"Hello, Mother, happy Christmas." He leans down and kisses her cheek fondly and she beams at him. "Father." He says in a bored tone before walking to the side table to fill his breakfast plate. His father doesn't even move his newspaper in response. The silent treatment it is then. Wonderful! I might just have a pleasant day.

"Happy Christmas Draco darling. Did you sleep well?"

Instead of taking his usual seat to his father's right he sits next to his mother. "Yes ma'am, thank you."

"Excellent. I thought after breakfast we could exchange gifts and then maybe you would play the piano for me. It has been so long since I have heard you."

"Of course Mother, anything you would like." He says with a fond smile at her

His father harrumphs and begins to lower the newspaper before Draco can see his face and his mother places her hand on his arm and clears her throat delicately. His father quickly snaps that paper back up.

Draco looks between his mother and the newspaper his father is holding and almost laughs. It seems his Mum has won this go round. He smiles appreciatively at her then tucks into his breakfast with as much gusto as a Weasley, but with table manners.

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

Later in the day, Draco and his mom are sitting in the solarium drinking tea while enjoying the winter sun. Draco is lost in thought and wondering if Hermione has gotten her present and if she has figured out it was from him, part of him hoping she has, the other hoping she hasn't. He can almost imagine the delight on her face while upon seeing the kneazle on the Portum, then the surprise on her face when she sees the necklace. He wishes he could have seen it and sighs.

Narcissa is watching her son and can tell his thoughts are far away, she hasn't seen this wistful look on his face before. No wonder he balked at the idea of the ball. "Draco, who are you thinking of on this beautiful afternoon?"

Draco looks at his mother in surprise. How does she know? He isn't sure if he can or should tell her the truth. His mother remains silent for a few minutes waiting on his answer.

In a quiet voice, he answers, "A beautiful, intelligent and amazing witch."

Narcissa is intrigued. She knows she must not have attended the ball last night since he would have been completely preoccupied with her and that nasty incident with the Greengrasses would have been avoided. One day Lucius will learn to listen to her, she had tried to tell him to let Draco be last night after their discussion when he arrived home; although at the time she still hoped Draco would like one of the Greengrass girls. She tilts her head to get a better look at her son's face and her heart melts when she sees a genuine smile on his face, she has missed it!

"But of course she is if you are interested in her. Are you courting her?"

She notices his face fall and wonders at his response of, "We are friends."

"Well then, you need to ask her out." She says with concern.

She watches Draco rub his face, something she had not seen him do since he was a child. "It isn't like that."

"Is she married or involved with someone?" He shakes his head. "Oh!" She blushes, "Does she not like boys?" she stage whispers which make Draco chuckle. "No Mum, it's just…" He sighs.

Narcissa gets up from her chair and joins her son on the settee, full of motherly concern she pats her son on his leg and looks at him with love, "What is it dear?"

"I'm not good enough for her." Draco says frowning

Narcissa is outraged looking at her heartbroken son she exclaims, "How dare she say that to you!"

Draco defends instantly, although wearily. "She didn't say it; I am saying I'm not good enough for her." Defeat in his voice, he hangs his head.

"Draco Lucius Malfoy, that is not true and any witch worth her salt knows that," his mother frowns in consternation that her son should feel that.

He shakes his head no. "Draco, look at me." He meets her eyes and she sees his pain. "You said you are friends." He nods. "Well, she must not think you are so bad if she is your friend." He shrugs and drops his head again.

Narcissa's heart clenches, she has always hated seeing those she loves in pain, especially her son. It was so much easier when he was a child, she could as assuage him quickly by taking him in her arms and rocking him. At that time, her love was enough to heal all his wounds; hopefully, her words will work this time. She places her hand on her son's shoulder and says, "Draco, there was a time that I worried your arrogance would be your undoing. You were egotistical and completely self-absorbed."

Draco is taken aback; his mother has never said anything like this to him. His shoulders slump and he rubs his face and says softly, "Exactly my point."

Narcissa rubs a few soothing circles on his back, "Dear one, I was speaking of the past, not the present. What you went through during the war changed you for the better. You see beyond yourself, and beyond your family. I know one of the reasons you became an Auror was to improve the Malfoy name, but I also know it is more than that."

Draco gives his mother a questioning look. That was his initial motivation and the only motive his father knows about and until now, thought that was what his mother thought as well. She smiles at her son. "What I know is that you are a good man, who is doing his part to make the world a safer and better place. I saw many of the same atrocities in our home during the war that you saw." At the time, I did what I thought was best for our family, but I should have done what was best for you."

Draco shakes his head no and opens his mouth to argue, but doesn't when his mother holds up her hand and says, "Let me finish." He nods in response and she continues, "Your father and I had a discussion before he was sent to Azkaban; I wanted to bring you here with me to France. Unfortunately, I allowed him to convince me to stay and let you take his place in the ranks of the Dark Lord." She lets her anger slip through her façade for a moment and Draco sees the fire in his mother's eyes before her calm demeanor returns. "I was foolish and allowed the love I have for your father to cloud my better judgment."

Draco shakes his head vehemently "Mother, I would have been an insolent brat and fought you every step of the way to France and after."

"Yes, you probably would have, but it is still what I should have done." She smiles at her son fondly, "I hate that you experienced everything you did, but I must say that I am very proud of the man that you have become. You have transcended the hopes and dreams I had for you as a child. I would like to see you embrace your future with self-assurance and you should start that by asking this friend of yours out. For the time being, I won't interfere by trying to match-make again and I will keep your father at a distance as well. Since she wasn't here last night, I assume she isn't a part of our normal pure-blood circles, am I correct?"

Draco is staring at his mother, when he realizes his mouth is hanging open he closes it. It is taking time to digest what he just heard. He finally nods.

"Well then, since you said she is a witch earlier that means she is half-blood or muggleborn?"

Draco is stunned at his mother's composure after her last statement. Is she really okay about this? He is unsure about answering her.

"Close your mouth dear." She says with a bit of teasing lilt to her voice. With that he realizes he is doing it again, shutting it so quickly his lips make a popping noise. "So, half-blood or muggleborn?"

"Mug…muggleborn." He managed to finally get out.

With his response, she can't help but embrace her son. "You really have changed my Dragon." She smooths down his hair like she did when he was a child and he melts into her hug.

After a few moments in his mother's soothing embrace, he pulls back searching her face for any trace of distaste, and asks "You would approve of me dating a muggleborn?" He can't help but think of her sister Andromeda that was disowned by her family for marrying one.

"If you care about this woman, regardless of her blood status, I approve."

Draco is gobsmacked. Has she truly changed?

Narcissa, breaking from her usual emotionless poise, grins at the bewildered look on his face, tousles his hair and laughs. Draco feels light-hearted as he laughs with her.

"Let's have another cup of tea and you can tell me all about this woman who has bewitched you."

Draco smiles broadly, his mother actually giggled at her pun. This is the woman he remembers from his young childhood, carefree, loving and laughing.

They have a wonderful afternoon together, one that has almost inspired him to ask Hermione out when he returns home.

A/N: Please review!