Chapter 7

April/May2006

Milly was mad at him. Although maybe mad wasn't the best term? Angry, maybe? Furious? Upset? Enraged, even? Draco wasn't sure which level of Anger to classify the state of the small elf but he knew it had to be Level 5 at least. He held in a grimace as he peeked through his hair from his face being buried in his luxurious pillow. She was tapping her foot at him…hands on her hips and the Malfoy scowl etched across her face.

That must've been where he got it from. He always assumed he learned it from his parents but Draco was now certain that he learned his trademark eyebrow raise from this little being who was talking….admonishing him and oh dear he hadn't been paying attention…

"Really, sir. You makes Milly so worried, thinking you is dead or hurt. You stays in bed all morning and makes no noises. Milly had no idea you is even here! You promised Milly that you would stops the drinking!" Milly huffed and crossed her arms.

Oh, she was waiting for him to say something? Wait…drinking?

"Milly," he grumbled and raised himself up on his forearms, "I haven't been drinking. I swear."

Draco couldn't help the grimace as he felt the pang in his head when he fully sat up, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. It certainly felt like he was suffering from the worst hangover but he couldn't be that lucky. A hangover he could remedy with a simple potion. An Occlusion Migraine, you could only wait out.

Milly didn't seem convinced and barely showed concern in her big eyes as her brow quirked higher. If that was even possible.

"Then why is Sirs acting like when he would-"

"Mills," Draco said softly, trying to diffuse the ticking time bomb that was her ire, "I swear, ever since Pansy found me that one time, I haven't gone off the deep end and gotten drunk. I am having…magic problems with my head."

"Magics problems?"

"Yes. And there isn't a potion that can help. I was practising a type of magic and it has…stressed my mind." Draco wasn't sure how else to explain it to her. He wasn't sure Milly understood or even knew what he was referencing. But she seemed content with this response as she snapped her fingers and the formerly usual hangover cure spread appeared on a tray on his bedside table.

"Milly thinks that this will still help Sirs. It always did in the past. I will get a nice bath going for Sirs as well. Sirs Mother is visiting today."

"Fuck," Draco groaned and flopped backwards on his bed as Milly left, regretting the sudden motion. How had he forgotten his mother was visiting today? He debated if he could feign being ill and maybe she would put off her visit. Draco grumbled to himself but held in his dramatics while getting up to sulk to the bathroom.

Narcissa Malfoy was sitting demurely waiting patiently for her son to grace her with his presence. She picked some imaginary lint from her long navy dress and readjusted her perfectly sleek hair. She looked around the greenhouse appreciatively, admiring the work her son had put in to replace that dreaded drawing room. It had been a year since she had last visited the Manor and she was secretly in awe of the progress her son and his friends had made in reimagining it.

Narcissa couldn't bear to stay in the haunted building anymore, she was reminded of the trauma around every corner. She had implored Draco to let the Manor just wither away and decay since the Old Magic wouldn't allow them to demolish the foundations.

But she was proud that her son was treating the Manor just as he was treating himself: something worth redemption.

Narcissa had just noticed an interesting colour of narcissus when she heard his footsteps. A smile graced her lips as she watched her son stride across the room. She noted he had been taking better care of himself, not looking so gaunt. Instead, he was broad shouldered and somewhat burly, having finally lost that dreaded Seeker physique he'd fought to maintain while at school. She knew it may seem vain but Narcissa was thankful that his face had developed to mirror closer to hers than his father's. She held back her grimace at the state of his hair though. It had grown even longer and he now kept it pulled back into a low bun, the end just barely grazing the colour of his black dress shirt. She debated for a brief moment if she should make a comment about it and decided that she should. Lest he think she approved of the disastrous hairstyle. Draco kissed his mother's cheek before sitting across from her. She didn't even wait a second longer.

"Darling, your hair."

Draco dramatically rolled his eyes in show, "Mother, you've brought this up before."

"Yes but it's just…" she reached over and flicked some fringe out of his eyes, "I don't mind when you leave it longer. But this is getting out of hand."

"I appreciate the concern," he smirked, "I'll get a haircut soon. It's just not a priority right now."

"Yes, those murder cases are still taking up all of your time? So much so that you cannot even spare a minute to visit?"

She smirked as she tried to sound willfully pathetic. Narcissa never imagined that she and her son could have a relationship as relaxed as they did. Voldemort had poisoned Lucius so much that she briefly thought she may lose her son along with her husband. Draco was not so easily swayed by promises of power. The damage was done by Lucius though with poisoning her son with racist, bigoted biases. Thankfully, he found a change of heart, though she never could get him to disclose all of his secrets surrounding Miss Granger.

"Mother," Draco sighed, "Honestly, I would love to visit you. But I can't leave the country while this case is ongoing, you know that. Besides, I would be an awful bore to you and all of those lovely ladies you want me to meet."

"You are almost twenty-six years old, dear. I cannot help but wish for you to start looking for someone to settle down with," she paused and reached to hold his hand, "I know that she meant a great deal to you. To us. But it's been years, Draco. Years. It breaks my heart to say this but there's a certain point where you need to accept the inevitable and let go."

Draco took a deep breath, warring with himself about if he should speak his next thought. He closed his eyes, "She's alive."

Narciss froze and clutched at his hand. Her eyes grew wide with disbelief as she stared at him. Perhaps she heard him wrong. Yes, that was it.

"What?" she breathed.

Draco blinked slowly before releasing her hand and walking a few paces away. Narcissa watched him worriedly. He stood with his back to her, one hand on a hip while the other raked through his hair, disheveling some from the hated bun. She felt her heart ache for her son, having watched for the last few years as he ran himself ragged trying to bring Greyback to heel and trying to find Miss Granger again. She wished he didn't get his hopes up and this moment was no exception.

"She's alive," his voice thick from unshed tears. He kept his back to her a moment longer to collect himself. "I don't have concrete proof. But she is. There've been several…instances over the last few months. With the incident at the Burrow last week, I'm certain. I'm more than certain," he paced as he talked and eventually sat next to his mother again, "please believe me."

To say Narcissa was speechless was an understatement in that moment. The pleading look in her son's eyes was enough for her to swallow down her suspicions. She clasped his hand in hers and schooled her expression to show interest. She decided she would withhold any judgement until Draco fully explained.

"Tell me everything."

Draco felt immense relief as he recited his theory to Narcissa. He knew she was sceptical of the idea but she still listened intently and asked only a few questions. By the time he recounted every minute detail he could remember, including his trouble with his Occlumency and the headaches, it was well after noon and Draco realised that Theo and Blaise would be back from their weekend adventures soon. Milly had popped in quietly at some point with a light lunch for them.

"That is, honestly quite a lot to process, Draco."

He nodded, setting down his fork and taking a quick drink from his water. "How do you think my mind feels? I still don't understand why the Occlumency has acted this way."

Narcissa looked at him studiously, "I can't say that I've had that problem with my Legillimency. Your father, Severus, even Bella, were exceptionally skilled Occlumens but I don't recall them mentioning those issues."

"Severus had advised me before about using it too much, pushing too much back. I'm not sure there's a Mind Healer with experience treating an Occlumens?"

Narcissa shook her head, "No, I don't believe there is. Have you thought of checking a Muggle method perhaps?"

"I've considered it. But honestly the Occlumency is the least of my priorities right now."

"If I may be frank?" She waited for his gesture to continue. "I…I would love it if Miss Granger were truly alive and well. Or as well as she could be. But you have had this fleeting theory before and met a dead end essentially. I also find it rather odd that after all this time, now you are suddenly getting clues that this Fox may actually be her? Are you absolutely certain it's not Greyback or another Dark wizard trying to ensnare you? Have you shared this with anyone else?"

"I've told no one. You know I only unconditionally trust you, Mother. I've considered all of the possibilities that it could all be a ruse. And it sounds mad but my instinct is fully pushing me towards this conclusion. It matches with all of the oddities during the liaison. I'm just fuiours with myself that I didn't catch it before."

Before Narcissa could say anymore, Theo and Blaise loudly made their presence known as they entered the greenhouse. They stopped short at the sight of the two before grinning widely.

"Narcissa!" Theo proclaimed joyfully and swooped to give an exaggerated kiss to both cheeks.

"You look lovely as ever," Blaise murmured and kissed her hand in a gentlemanly manner.

Draco shook his head and covered his face with a hand, "you two are ridiculous."

"Drake, you can't bring such a lovely flower into our home and not expect us to fawn over her," Theo feigned offense before nudging Blaise who chuckled.

Draco rolled his eyes and settled for glaring at them.

Narcissa smiled, "thank you both. It's lovely to see you but I must be going. I have a dinner party to get ready for."

She stood and laughed at Theo's and Blaise's protests that she stay. After quick goodbyes to them, she held Draco in a fierce hug, whispering for Draco to take care of himself and to bring her home. Draco nodded and only smiled, not trusting words to not tumble from his mouth.