Another opportunity - Chapter 1
Malfoy Manor was consistently quiet at this time of the day. Narcissa Malfoy was a lover of routine and coolness. Yet despite the silence that usually brought that peace into her life, both she and her husband were far from the balance they had struggled to achieve in recent years.
The elegant blonde walked a little nervously through the foyer and headed straight to Lucius's office. She felt that they needed to talk, and she knew there isn't a better place than the walls of the room where they had conducted earlier conversations that changed the course of their family history.
"Cissa... Wait." - she heard Lucius, a bit out of breath, calling after her. She forgot that he was still limping on his left leg and he wasn't as fit as he used to be.
She turned and waited for her wizard with a smile. When he stood in front of her with relief clearly written on his face, she stretched her hand out towards him and laced their fingers together. - "Forgive me."
"It's okay, honey." - Lucius placed a quick kiss on her forehead just below her hairline. She smiled, because until recently he had considered such small signs of affection as weakness. - "Where are you in such a hurry?"
"Your office."
He didn't argue with her. He just obediently went where she wanted to see him.
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He was confused by what he heard tonight about his son's feelings. It hurt him that Draco was unable to confide in him. He was upset that he wasn't worthy of his only child telling him about such an important part of his life. He liked to think that everything he did, he did for the family. He would like to think that he would help his son get this particular witch. However, he knew that if he had been initiated into the strength of his heir's feelings before their family collapsed in the Dark Lord's eyes, he would have disinherited him rather than accepted a relationship with Muggle-born.
And now?
Knowing his son's feelings, he preferred not to think about what he must have felt when Hermione Granger was tortured before his eyes. He remembered what he himself felt when the Dark Lord was torturing his wife. However, after all, he could embrace his beloved. And Draco?
Pensive, he walked in silence with Narcissa until they reached the door of his office. As his witch crossed the threshold, she turned and, still holding his hand, nestled against his chest. He heard something that looked like, "Why didn't I notice it?" - He wanted to make sure. He leaned back and looked at his wife's embarrassed face. After a while he asked. - "Could you repeat that?"
For moments before her gaze softened, he saw the anger in her eyes. She didn't like to repeat herself. "Why didn't I notice how deep Draco's feelings were? I thought my heart would break when I heard what he felt. Years pass and he still loves her."
He headed for the couch which stood against the wall opposite his desk. He hugged the tiny woman and pulled her to him. - "We were just not looking where we should have been. The situation wasn't improved either by the fact that I started negotiations with the Greengrass family… I think our biggest mistake was that we wanted to arrange everything as our parents did."
"It's just that we were in love before there was even an idea of getting an engagement deal between us, darling."
Lucius Malfoy considered his wife's words for a moment in silence. She was right. She was a wise woman, and that was what he wanted for his son. He didn't trust that Draco himself could see which of the girls he met at Hogwarts was the most intelligent. He himself only knew young purebloods who cared more about proper alliances than about real feelings.
"I just realized my next mistake. Do you really think this can still be fixed? Little Ivy seemed to like our Dragon."
"I hope we can fix this. I don't know how long it will take or if someone will advance us by accident, but I would like it to be successful. I wish our son was finally happy."
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Theodore Nott was following his wife. Usually he tried to walk next to her, but today he wasn't sure if he would be able to come home with her without arguing. Daphne and Astoria knew what was going on in the life of their mutual friend and didn't think to share any information with them.
Suddenly he stopped and closed his eyes. He still couldn't believe how deeply Draco Malfoy felt for Granger. He was aware of his crush but even in his wildest dreams he wouldn't have thought that he was in love with her. So much in love. He growled in frustration which caught his wife's attention.
"Are you coming or not?" - To his surprise, Daphne was amused.
"Are you enjoying Malfoy's suffering?"
She turned and looked at him as if she wanted to see through him. "I don't care about that annoying buffoon at this point. I'm glad Hermione finally decided to go out and talk to people. Both Astoria and I were afraid that she would eventually lose the fight against mourning."
He didn't know what to say. After a moment of silence, he asked. - "Is she so affected by the death of her husband? Can you tell me when we get home?"
The witch came up to him and placed her hands on his shoulders. - "Of course. This is the answer to both questions. Honestly speaking, I haven't seen such love yet between her and our Gregory. Even when they were silent, you could feel that they loved each other."
Daphne has never been a sentimental woman. That's why he was so happy about the arranged marriage between them. At that moment, he saw a side in her that he had never seen before, and he wasn't sure what to do about it. - "Wait." - He quickly caught up with her and silently led her through the gardens of Nott Manor to the main door.
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In his mind's eye, he could see the tears appearing on her cheeks. He didn't think it would ever hurt him that his loved one suffered after another men. He was sure that he had long stopped living his unfulfilled love. He knew he loved her. However, he hoped it was just an echo of the past. He hoped that when he saw her, he would smile at the memory of the feeling that had once burnt a hole where his heart was beating. However, this didn't happen. Looking at her, he still felt what he felt as a teenager. He sighed as he remembered the blush on her face after her daughter went to share her idea with her.
"According to the logic of this little girl, I am an only child, because my parents aren't financially stable."
He laughed under his breath and for the first time in a long time he fell asleep with hope in his heart.
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I'm not sure about this chapter. How did you like it? Regards, katie-krum
