Disclaimer: I own little to nothing of what it is named/referred to and am making even less from it.
A/N: Translations can be found at the bottom, thanks to M (my beta), all of you who have been reviewing so regularly and to Rachel and Steue for ensuring that another one off wont be finished for quite some time grin
Chapter 10.
Narcissa pulled the brush through her hair one last time before gently laying it back down on the polished surface of the bureau. She was procrastinating and she knew it, for she had little desire to go where she had been summoned. 'Summoned' was perhaps the wrong word though. No one summoned her any more, not that that was a bad thing. The truth told she was eternally grateful for the fact.
She missed Lucius terribly, but the way of life had never been one she would have chosen for any of them. It was at times like this that she missed her husband most though, for if he had still been alive she was certain that he would have been at the school now no doubt dealing with the Headmaster and likely insuring Draco's tenure at the school. But though she loved her son more than life itself, she was less than convinced that that was what he needed. She knew that if he was going to live anything approximating a normal life, then he was going to have to start learning quickly.
He had been raised in his father's image, to serve a power that no longer existed, and was instilled with values that she had never truly believed in. The end of the war though had come just in time to give him a chance. Unfortunately, it seemed that he was not so keen on the idea. With a final glance in the mirror she stood and, taking her cloak from the house elf that stood demurely by the door, stepped outside. She arrived outside the gates of the castle shortly thereafter, and took a moment to take it in before beginning the walk up to the front door. It had been years since she had last visited the castle and she was surprised at the sense of homecoming she felt as she neared the door.
She was met at the entrance by Flitwick, whom she remembered from her last year at school. The short man, that she remembered for his friendly manner, was silent the whole journey up the many staircases to what she assumed was the Headmaster's office.
"Please, take a seat Mrs. Malfoy." Dumbledore greeted her upon her entry.
"I hope I haven't kept you waiting." She apologised, glancing around and spotting Draco already seated before the Headmaster's desk.
"It's quite all right." He replied. "There is someone else I'm still hoping might join us." She took the seat he gestured towards and perched on the edge. She looked back towards her son, and this time caught his eye – it wasn't long, however, before he glanced away. "In any case I think we ought to be able to start now." Dumbledore said sitting himself down. "I'm sure Draco has given you his account of what happened on Thursday afternoon already."
She nodded as she had received a letter the previous evening and as he recounted what it was that seemed the official course of events. The two were not entirely different apart from where 'I might have…'s became 'It seems that he…' Through it all, Draco remained stony faced. Just as Dumbledore came to the end of what had happened in the class, there was a knock on the door.
When it opened Severus Snape entered, which was hardly a surprise as he was her son's Head of House. It was odd; their relationship had become a little strained since the rather obvious parting of ways at the end of the war, when her husband had been killed by the Aurors and Potions Master hailed something of a hero, but even still she had a huge respect for him. Perhaps even more than she had had previously, and she had privately hoped that Draco would have taken him as a role model. Her train of thought was interrupted, however, by the realisation that he wasn't alone.
"Apologies for our lateness Headmaster, we were delayed a little by a few curious students."
"Understandable I suppose. I shall make an official announcement at lunch that will hopefully put a damper on the rumour mill."
"I suspect that may be somewhat futile, but never mind."
"Perhaps. However there is someone here I would like you to meet, Draco." The older man said. "Halò a Minerva."
"Halò a Albus." Came the quiet yet confident greeting from the small figure that was tucked in beside the dark haired man.
"Draco, this is Minerva McGonagall – aged about three years. Minerva seo Draco agus a Màthair."
"Mar sin maduinn." She said looking first to one then the other. Narcissa couldn't quite compute what it was that she was seeing before her now. The girl, she supposed, held a slight resemblance to the stern Transfigurations professor she remembered from her time at the school and the woman her son had complained about on occasion. She eventually tore her eyes away from the admittedly attractive little girl and looked towards Draco. It was plain to see that he was just as surprised at this as she was, however, there was also a rather harrowing look if guilt, if not anything that she could describe as remorse per se.
"I think you'll find it quite understandable that I really have no option but to ask Draco to leave the school." Dumbledore continued, after the Head of Slytherin had settled himself and his charge down on the spare seat.
"Of course." She replied, after all she had hardly been expecting anything else.
"However," Severus cut in. "it is in no-ones best interests for us to abandon you entirely Mr Malfoy. Young people are prone to do stupid things, I know that better than anyone perhaps, but Draco has had several warnings and I was more than clear as to where his behaviour was likely to lead, were he not to reform at least a little. In any case, I will tell you now – that if you require assistance in deciding what it is that you are to do now, than I would be more than willing to assist." Narcissa was a little thrown by this offer but none the less grateful. "It would be advantageous perhaps, if Draco were at least able to finish his NEWTs."
"Did it ever occur to any of you to ask what it is that I want!? Maybe this is the best thing that could have happened!"
"Draco!" She admonished her son's outburst automatically, as she turned to see him standing there, fists balled at his sides.
"Well it's true! It just means that I can start earlier!"
"Start what, Mr Malfoy?" Asked the Headmaster, his calm words like oil on troubled waters.
"Start searching for them." Though this statement lacked the fire of the previous statement, his conviction was written clearly on her son's face. Narcissa was too stunned to respond; it was Severus who seemed stirred to action first. She watched as he stood and unthinkingly held the girl who had been seated on his knee over the desk to the Headmaster. The older man took her into his arms while the Slytherin turned to face his (former) student.
"Who do you want to look for Draco?" He asked, though she was fairly certain that they all knew the answer. The tone of his voice as he faced Draco was subtly different from anything Narcissa had ever heard from him.
"I want to find them. I know they could have done it! He's done it before and if he were going to take anyone with him it would have been father!" The first statement was quickly followed by the second, his pace and anguish obviously increasing until she could see the tears welling in his eyes. "He was always his Master's most valuable…most useful… if he thought he was going to need assistance…he would have taken him…taken father with him."
If the mother had been stunned before, she was as good as frozen now. This outpouring from her son was certainly not what she had been expecting. The venom that it had begun as, faded into the almost hysterical pleas of a child, her child, too far adrift to grab hold of any lifeline she felt capable of throwing. She was brought out of her own swirling tide of emotions as Severus dropped to his knees before the boy, who had fallen back into his seat.
"Draco! Listen to me. Your father is gone and he is not coming back." The other man uttered these words only once and the truth, that Narcissa suspected her son had known deep down all along, seemed to sink in at last. He did not fight or yell or deny that what he was being told was true but the floodgates opened and for the first time that she could recall since he had reached his fifth birthday, he cried.
A/N:
Halò - Hello
Minerva seo Draco agus a Màthair – Minerva, this is Draco and his mother.
Mar sin maduinn – Good morning.
I know that this chapter is a little different from all the others thus far (and for at least as far ahead as I've written grin) but for some reason I couldn't just leave Draco out of it. This is pretty much it for him, at least for a while and again I would really love to here what you think of this.
Thanks for taking the time to read
xLx
