Chapter Thirteen: Picking up the pieces

"I start university in the fall." Draco chuckled warmly. "Alienist Studies, no less!" Draco smirked at Masters, raising one finely arched eyebrow. It had been three months since his world had changed so completely, but it seemed like an eternity.

"Where will you go?"

"Aesculapius. Mom always said it was the best school for any type of Healer studies." He blankly stared at the floor lost in ruminations about his mother.

"How is your mother? Have you heard from her?"

He slowly raised his head, his sad, gray eyes meeting hers. "She sent me a note when I received my OWLs. She'd heard from Pansy's mother what my scores were." A slight smile played at his lips. "I got more OWLs than Mother did and she was beside herself. I told her all along that Granger was a fluke, some kind of freak of nature, but she didn't believe me. I told her I was smart. I think she finally believes it—." His eyes moved unseeing to the vase of flowers on the table. "—She wants to see me."

"How do you feel about that?"

He sighed deeply. "I'm not sure," he confessed. "I know she's my mother and all but what she did to Father," he sadly shook his head, "I can't forgive her for that." He clenched his fists, gritting out the next words between his teeth. "He could've died. Just because she was angry with him about her bloody reputation, she could've killed him!"

"It's up to you whether you meet with her or not." Her sapphire eyes conveyed warmth and understanding.

Draco shrugged.

"How is your father doing these days?"

"He has ups and downs, I guess. Do you know that he hired Squibs to take over the running of the household? Squibs! I think he still has a little house-elf phobia but he'll never admit it. Flossy remains, of course. Dad lets her stay and just live there. Retirement he calls it, for a house-elf! Flossy's lapping it up. She keeps in contact with Father's abusers and lets them know every little thing Father does for her. He even got her a mink coat! A mink coat! He and Mum were married for five years before he got her one!" He laughed heartily and the alienist did as well.

"Just between you and me, I think he has a thing for one of the Squibs. She's very pretty and Father's type exactly—female! He doesn't think I know, but I'm not an idiot! I doubt they'd ever get married; she is a Squib, after all."

His expression turned somber. "Father was disappointed that I didn't take the Mark. I told him I couldn't until I finished my alienist training. I'm a little surprised that he accepted that, but I think he's afraid that if he pushed the issue I would leave him like Mum did." He glanced at the concerned expression crossing her face. "Don't get upset. You just need to light a fire under Golden Boy Potter to get him off his arse and have him take care of the Dark Lord, before I get out of school!"

"How are things between you and Harry?"

"There aren't things…exactly. Ever since the incident we steer clear of each other. He ignores me and I ignore him. It works pretty well." He examined his expertly manicured nails. "I think he may be a little afraid of me."

"Harry has a lot of things on his mind, Draco. I wouldn't worry over it."

Draco shrugged. "Did I tell you I asked Pansy to marry me?" A wide grin split his face, gray eyes glittering.

"You did not! When?" She leaned closer to him.

"Last weekend. I think she's a little nervous about staying at the manor with two adult males and no chaperones. I guess she's a little old-fashioned."

"She's been staying with you since school let out?"

"Yes, her mother kicked her out, after the Aurors arrested her father. I still can't believe her mother blames her for what happened. The man molests his daughter for years, then comes to the school almost kills a teacher and tries to do the same to the Headmaster, and yet this is all somehow Pansy's fault! She keeps in contact with her mother and I think she would want her back, but now Pansy won't go."

"How is Professor Lupin?"

"He's doing much better. Madam Pomfrey says he will be well enough to teach by fall."

"Pansy's mother may need some time to come to grips with what she now knows, to process it, if you will. It may take her some time."

"Pansy was crushed. She and her mother had always been close. She still suspects that her father was doing the same thing to her sister, Rose, but she denies it."

"Pansy denied it until just recently, didn't she?"

He looked at the floor a sad look crossing his face, as his eyes became misty. Shaking his head, he continued, "She didn't tell me. It went on for six years and she never said a word. I thought we were close, but she never told me. She said she told her mother once early on, but her mum called her a liar and slapped her face. She never went to her mother again. She began to brew her own anti-pregnancy potion, afraid of what could happen. An eleven-year-old girl brewing an anti-pregnancy potion." He leaned forward burying his face in his hands. 'I just wish she would've talked to me! I would've found a way to help." His breath caught in his throat, as he felt hot tears wet his cheeks.

"It's okay, now, Draco. She trusts you. Everything is okay now." She gently stroked soothing circles on his back. He regained his composure, sitting up and she handed him some Kleenex.

"You'll come to the wedding?" The wolfish grin returned to his face.

"Draco, are you sure? Most people don't want to have it be known that they are associated with an alienist and I am rather well-known in the community."

"I'm rather well-known in the community myself, thank you very much. Have you forgotten 'Bare Boy Becomes Bonkers Biting Harry Potter!' I still get owls occasionally about that incident. I don't care if people know you, at least they'll know I've been sufficiently tranquilized!" He titled his head to the side, tongue lolling out of his mouth and eyes bulging.

Masters laughed. "Oh Draco, you can be so silly!" She began to absently pick at a thread in the armchair. She swallowed nervously. "Will Professor Snape be at the wedding?"

"I knew it!" He wagged his finger at her. "You fancy him, my godfather." He smirked.

"You're being silly again." She blushed furiously. "I was simply curious, is all."

"I'm sure he'll be there." He looked at her face, but she would still not meet his eyes.

She thought it was a good time for a change of subject. "Is Pansy going to school with you?"

"No, not Pansy. She's opening a boutique in Diagon Alley. She keeps saying she'll give the other shops a run for their galleons. She has quite a keen fashion sense, so I have no doubt she will be successful. Father is helping her get started, of course."

"I'm sure she'll do fabulously." He was obviously very proud of his wife-to-be.

"That she will! She hasn't decided on a name yet. She wants it to be cute, yet fun. I told her to call it Pansy's but she thinks that sounds too frou-frou."

Masters looked to the clock on the wall. "I'm sorry to say our time is up, Draco. You are doing so well that I think we can cut back our sessions to once a month, if that's agreeable—With the understanding of course, that you'll let me know if things are not going well?" She met his gaze as they stood. She had to look up quite a bit, because he was over a head taller than she was.

"Fine by me, fine by me." He pulled the alienist into a firm embrace. "Thank you for everything."

"It's been a pleasure, Draco!"

He released her, a teasing glint in his eye. Crossing the room, he opened the door. "I'll be sure to put in a good word for you to Severus." She blushed and he winked closing the door behind him.


*****

Author's notes: Aesculapius is the Greek god of health and curing disease. Well that is it, complete! I hope you enjoyed it. I have thought about doing a sequel as a romance between Severus and the alienist, but my next story will probably be a hurt/comfort type Severus story.

Thanks to all who read and especially to those who reviewed!

CuriousDreamWeaver: Everyone lived! Thanks for your support all during the story!

Devil's_fire: Thanks so much Kat!

Arafel2: Thanks for everything! You're very sweet!

Catmint: Thanks for the compliments. From you they mean so much!

Black maze(): I have thought about a sequel, but going in another direction. Thanks for the review!