Disclaimers: Please see Chapters 1 and 2 for all disclaimers

Shout outs…

Angoliel… Unhand that Muse! (jk!)

Mercury Gray… Never have to apologize for your alliteration…

Evenstar Elanor… Get on with it? Cheeky monkey! (jk, also!... I'm just teasing you).

Wyall Jared… Always interesting to explore what you think you may or may not be capable of… Glad you liked the chapter so much.

Chapter 24: Dinner at Malfoy Manor

Narcissa stared at Serena with a haughty expression that said my son could have never done ANYTHING that would warrant detention… She was wearing a velvet cloak and a very stylish hat with several glossy, black, raven feathers stuck in the band.

"Mother?"

She smiled indulgently at her son but didn't answer them, turning her attention back to Serena as she waited for an answer. For a moment, Serena considered not answering her just to be difficult but that was more effort than she was willing to expend.

"Your son is here on detention. I have rules in my class about disrespectful comments. May I ask why you're here, Mrs. Malfoy?"

Narcissa walked over and stood behind Draco, putting a protective hand on her son's shoulder. "Does a Mother need a reason to have a surprise dinner with her son?"

No, you just don't want him alone with me. You must have paid someone a lot of money to tell them if I was spending any time alone with Draco for you to have gotten to Hogwart's this quickly. Or perhaps this is just mere random chance.

Serena steepled her fingers. "Well, since your mother came all this way to surprise you, Draco, I suppose we can cut this short for now. However, I will let Professor Lupin know to expect you tomorrow to finish your assignment and that you'll be handing it in to him."

"Very well. Draco?" Narcissa offered her son her arm so he could walk her out of the room. Serena couldn't help but smile; she had at least accomplished one thing: she'd made Narcissa Malfoy nervous and that small victory brought her a tiny bit of glee. It was petty. She knew it and she didn't care.

Narcissa and Draco were halfway to the portkey when Draco finally asked, "Is something going on, Mother?" Draco was suspicious. His mother wasn't usually a clingy woman and it had been a long time since she'd surprised him at school.

"Does a mother need an excuse to visit with her son?" she asked with a smile.

Draco responded with that teenage smile that said he was torn between being pleased by being his mother's attention and embarrassed by it. They reached the portkey, and then arrived at the Manor in an instant. Narcissa's House Elf scurried out; he was thin and nervous. Since Lucius had lost Dobby to Harry Potter's trick, Milo had been doing double the work.

"Dinner is ready, Madame," he said in a high, trebly voice.

"Good." Narcissa waved her hand dismissively and Milo disappeared instantly.

When she walked in to the massive dining room, the table was set and well appointed with crystal and fine china. Candles burned in the chandelier and there were flowers on the table. There were two roasted ducks seasoned with rosemary on the table and several bowls with side dishes. There was a basket of fresh, crusty bread that was still steaming. Each plate had three glasses with it. One had wine, the next water, and the last had hot mulled cider. The one thing that was missing was her husband.

"Where's Father?" asked Draco.

"I'm sure he was just delayed at work," said Narcissa, but inside she wasn't so sure. The past few days, Lucius had taken to coming home whenever he felt like it. As if on cue, the front door shut and Lucius, wearing a smug smile, strolled into the dining room. His smile faded slightly when he looked at Narcissa but then his eyebrows went up as his eyes fell on Draco.

"Draco?"

The boy shrugged. "Mother wanted to have a surprise dinner so she came to get me at Hogwart's."

"Did she? How quaint, a family dinner."

They all sat down and as they started dinner, Narcissa looked up with a smile. "Did work keep you late tonight, dear?"

The strangest smile crossed Lucius' face before he responded to his wife. "I suppose it was work. I had to confer about the transfer from Azkaban tomorrow."

"Wouldn't that be Ms. Parson's responsibility?"

"Yes, Meredith is handling the logistics of the transfer, but I wanted to review her plans. We wouldn't want any mishaps. She's actually quite good… at her job."

Narcissa forced the smile to stay on her face but Draco had picked up on the odd current between his parents. He put his fork down slowly.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"Whatever do you mean?" asked his father.

"You're both acting a bit looney," said Draco.

"Looney? Well, perhaps I have been working too much. But I assure you, Draco. I'm far from looney." Lucius managed to chuckle at his son.

"Your Father is right. He's just had a lot on his mind lately," said Narcissa. "Once the trial is done, we can all get back to the way things used to be."

Lucius turned his eyes to his wife. Oh really? You slept with my brother. Things will never be the same, Narcissa.

With that, the conversation turned to the trial and everything Lucius hoped to accomplish tomorrow, and from there it progressed to Draco's classes and his success on the Quidditch field. But as he went to bed that night, Draco couldn't shake the feeling that there was more going on than his parents would admit to.

Wow. Two chapters in one weekend. I was on a roll! Hope you've enjoyed this one… stay tuned for how Sirius helps Serena and the start of Severus' "trial" – all coming up in future chapters! Please read/review and let me know what you think!