Chapter two: Meeting the son

Caroline stepped out of the fireplace inside the Leaky Cauldron and greeted Tom before she made her way out to the alley. She sighed at the sight of all the people running in all directions. She hated crowds, she really did, and it didn't help that she was the most famous witch in the world either.

People tended to gather around her like ants to sugar, and ask her all kinds of questions, or just stare at her, shake her hand or take pictures. Sirius had told her that she couldn't hide inside the walls of the manor all the time, so she tried to get out now ant then. They thought that if she showed herself often enough, the fans would stop bugger the hell out of her every time she made an appearance in a public place.

She made her way forward, trying not to be run over or walk into someone. Her first stop would be Madam Malkin's, and then she would head to the barber and do something about her hair. It had grown so long, that it now reached down to her waist, and that was both unpractical and hard to keep clean.

At Malkin's she bought two sets of dress robes, and three muggle dresses. She bought some everyday robes and a new cloak with a large hood that would cover her face if it needed. She also found some pants, a couple of tops and some new stylish shoes, boots and high heeled ones.

When she stepped out of the shop, she wore one of the new dresses, a green one without any arms, and a pair of flat sandals.

The barber was a young woman Caroline had known from school, Penelope Clearwater. After ending her love affair with one of the Weasley boys, Percy, she had started the hairstyling studio together with a friend. She gasped at Caroline's soft hair.

"It's like silk! What have you done to make it like this?" Caroline smiled.

"Nothing, I guess it runs in the family."

Penelope did a wonderful job on her hair, and gave her some styling tips. When she left the studio, her hair was falling in different layers and waves that framed her face and made her look even more cute than before.

Now, she had to visit the bookshop, she was in need of some new cooking books.

There wasn't that much people in the shop, so she could easily make her way between the shelves and tables filled with books. The section containing books about cooking where rather large, but the trouble was that she was very short, and the books she wanted just HAD to be out of her reach.

"Problems?"

She turned around, just to find a blond young man standing behind her, with a smirk on his face. It had been a while since she had seen him, three months actually, and he had changed. He was now even taller than she remembered him, his body was more muscular and his skin was more toned instead of the sickly pale color his skin had had during the war. He looked a lot healthier.

"Malfoy, what a surprise to see you here, decided to start cooking?"

The blond crossed his arms over his chest.

"No, of course not, I have house elves for that. Cooking is for women and house elves."

Caroline snorted and turned again, standing on her tiptoes trying to reach up to the book.

"Let me help you Potter." Malfoy stood behind her and reached up for the book.

"Here you go." he gave it to her, and she was a bit annoyed over his behavior. Why was he nice? What had changed?

"What are you playing at?"

Malfoy gave her a amused look. "Nothing, I'm just helping you to get your book." She snorted.

"Yeah Malfoy, and I am Merlin."

He smirked before turning serious. "Potter, I know we haven't been the best of friends, but I have something to discuss with you. And I would be grateful if you would hear me out."

Caroline was shocked at the blonds request, and she found herself curious. What was it he anted?

"Okay, I was going to take a coffee, you wanna come?"

Malfoy nodded and Caroline made her way to the disk to pay for the book. They walked out of the shop, and to her surprise, Malfoy offered his arm to her. She stared at it first, but took it after a moment of hestitation. They crossed the street and walked towards one of the small coffee shops. The small shop had a terrace, and they seated themselves in the corner, to get some privacy.

They both stayed quiet while they waited for the coffee, and Caroline waited for the blond to start talking. But when he stayed quiet, she spoke up.

"So, how have you been?" The question was innocent, but it seemed as Malfoy hadn't expected it. He looked down at his hands.

"I've been good, I have started to train, I want to be a healer." Caroline looked surprised. "Wow, I never thought you would say that." She smiled at his confused look. "I mean, I saw that you where great with taking care of wounds during the war, I should know as you helped me, but I never thought you would do it, you're a Malfoy after all."

At this, he smiled. "Yeah, father almost got a heart attack, but he came around."

Caroline nodded. "So, how's your father?" She had gotten to know Lucius during training sessions and work for the Order during the war. He had joined them on the light side, and she had come to see him as a great man, not that she would openly admit it.

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about." He took a sip of his coffee. Caroline waited for him to continue.

"Mother left." He spoke softly.

Caroline felt the urge to place her hand over his, but she didn't. "I'm sorry to hear that."

Draco snorted. "Father is rather relieved, they never loved each other. The thing is that there is a ball coming up in a few weeks, that we, the Malfoys need to host. And that was my mothers task. But now she refuses, and nor me or my father has the time or the energy to do something like that."

Caroline blinked. Where was he going with this?

"And father came up with the idea that you could fix it." he spoke quickly, but she heard every word. "What? Why would he say that? I mean, why would he want me to do that, I have no experience."

Malfoy laughed. "I said that to my father, but I think he wants you to do it because you are about the only woman he trusts."

"He trusts me?"

The blind shrugged. "I would think so. Besides, it would be fun with someone else in the manor for a while, Pansy is starting to annoy me."

"Pansy's living with you?"

He nodded. "Seeing as she is to be my wife."

Caroline nodded. "Okay, so what does this entail?"

Malfoy gave her a surprised look. "So you are actually considering doing it?"

She smiled a small smile. "I have no other work right now, and I can certainly need something else to do then just take care of my dear godfather."

He smirked. "Well, if you could step by tomorrow, we could discuss this further."

Caroline nodded. "Okay, but listen, I haven't decided yet, so don't think anything else."

They separated outside the Leaky Cauldron, Caroline promising to step by tomorrow.

Well people? what do you think?