How was it that the Malfoys always heard these things about Draco? First, that he would have been spending easter at Hermione's house, now that he had gotten engaged to Harry.
Draco was starting to think that there was a sneak in Hogwarts. It was probably Blaise.
"What a careless son you are, Draco, getting engaged and forgetting to tell your mother." Narcissa Malfoy reprimanded as she walked towards her son.
"Well, I simply thought that you wouldn't care."Draco said as he was finally put down.
"But I do care! I am your mother, Draco." Narcissa scoffed.
"Yes, but father made himself clear. And if you're trying to indoctrinate-"
Draco tried to say, but his mother's unbelievably calm voice got the best of his.
"Oh no, dear. Please, walk with me outside of this... area." His mother suggested.
Draco hesitantly accepted her offer and followed her out of the room.
Harry had not argued Narcissa Malfoy's presence, not one bit.
She had appeared out of nowhere, true, but he knew that her heart wasn't as black as her husband's. After all, she had lied to the dark lord to keep him safe.
And besides, his fiancè needed this and Harry couldn't always speak up for him, Draco was perfectly capable of standing up for himself.
"Wow, Draco's parents really love crashing celebrations, don't they?" Ron observed, shaking his head, showing a half a smile on his face.
"Look, Draco," said Narcissa. "My opinion on the matter differs greatly for your father's." she explained.
"Oh, it does?"asked Draco, a hint of sarcasm in his tone.
It wasn't like she had dignified him with a letter.
Her behaviour had been the same as her husband's, she had been no better than him.
She just wanted to play the victim, working on her son's pity to get back in his grace.
She was so similar to Pansy, on this matter.
His trusting habits needed to change, he wasn't going to fall for his mother's pleas.
"Look, my dear, I'm sorry that I didn't get in touch with you. As you know, your father won't smile at you if you contradict him." she voiced her apologies.
Her red stained lips were letting out a sigh, while her shaky fingers put her hair behind an ear.
She wanted to look like the submissive wife everyone thought her to be.
"If you say so." Draco rolled his eyes. He couldn't deny that she was a good actress., at least.
"I couldn't talk to you before, but now I am here, Draco, hoping you will see past your rage and at least try to forgive your own flesh and blood." Narcissa pleaded, looking even more emotionally destroyed than before, her gaze fixated on the floor.
"You could have tried to at least send me a sign of you still being my mother! Yet you gave me the cold shoulder." Draco snapped.
"Oh, I know, my love, I don't expect you to grant me forgiveness right away... But know that, even though I can't understand your liking for a male... I will support you through it. Even if it means the Malfoy name will not see its successors through you."
The woman said.
Draco suddenly felt a lot of love for his mother. He wasn't fully convinced of her words, but he had to admit that he had missed her and her reaction to his relationship with Harry was nothing like his father's blinding rage... Maybe, all hope wasn't lost, after all. He would live without a father, but at least he would still have a mother. All it took was to give her one chance.
After all, she was his mother, not some bratty girl.
"Mother... I've missed you, I'm not going to lie... I thought I lost you..." He managed to say through his broken voice.
"I missed you too, my sweet son. You'll see, your father will understand too, one day. You just have to give him time." Narcissa said in a delicate tone, showing Draco a comforting smile.
"I don't really care if he doesn't, honestly." Draco said, bitterly.
"So if you wanted me present at your wedding, I'd be happy to oblige." Mrs Malfoy said, letting tears escape her eyes, putting a loving hand on her son's shoulder.
Draco couldn't really say no to her tear filled face.
"Of course, mum." He said.
Narcissa looked relieved with Draco's answer, then she cupped his face in her hands and planted a soft kiss on his temple.
"I love you my sweet boy." She breathed.
The next day, in the afternoon, Draco and Harry agreed to a meeting with Narcissa, in Hogsmeade.
It would be a way to observe the woman's behaviour on them being a thing.
"Thank you for agreeing to this, babe." Draco said to his lover as they made their way to the three broomsticks, holding hands.
"I did this just for you. I mean I know she's better than your dad, but... Are you sure she's completely honest with you?" Said Harry, expressing his concerns.
She was a good person, through it all, but she was still a Malfoy.
He didn't really feel like trusting her right away.
"I know my mother." His fiancé stated.
Harry knew that she wasn't exactly genuine, given her abilities to lie to powerful legilimens, but he chose not to interfere with his lover's happiness.
"Ah, here you are, my lovely boys!" Said Mrs Malfoy when they entered the bar.
She was already seated, waiting for them.
She had chosen a table in the center of the room. It wasn't that ideal - Harry thought - as this was the perfect way to get all the attention.
The woman was wearing her hair in an elegant bun.
Her choice of outfit was definitely posh, it was a very expensive khaki gown, paired with her brown heels.
She had at least four rings on her hands. The light in the room made a ruby on one of her rings shine as she waved her hand to the pair, motioning for them to sit with her.
She got up from her chair to give them both a one arm hug, together with two air kisses.
"Hello, Narcissa." Said Harry, nodding his head at her when he sat down.
Draco's face sported a smile that wouldn't drop at all costs.
"Hello, mother." He said.
Madame Rosmerta eyed the woman eerily, not really enjoying her presence in her bar.
She still managed to speak in her sweet voice when talking to Harry.
"Hello, dears, butterbeers for everyone?"she asked.
"Yes, three-" Harry began saying, but Narcissa shook her head.
"Two." She said. "And one red currant rum with lemon zest and three ice cubes, please."
The bartender kept her death stare. She left mocking Narcissa.
"Even her drink is posh." She muttered to herself.
"Well." Narcissa said, when her fancy drink was placed in front of her. Her eyed then fixed on the ring on her son's left hand. "Marriage, uh? What pushed you to make this choice?"
"Oh," said Draco, looking at his fiancé lovingly. "Because we want to be together for the rest of our lives... Wait, how do you know about this?" He asked, even though the Hogwarts sneak theory made sense to him.
"Oh," the woman giggled. " The other day, on one of my strolls through Diagon Alley, I came accross this Jewel Shop.
While looking for a beautiful ring to add to my collection, I was congratulated by the seller for your wedding. I was confused at first, but then he told me that Mr Potter had bought the engagement ring right there, in his shop."
Harry cursed himself for being so blunt when he bought the ring.
When he purchased it, he told the man behind the counter that he was looking for an emerald engagement ring - obviously, it didn't take the man long to put two and two together.
"Does father know?" Asked Draco, while wrapping his fingers around his butterbeer mug handle, looking down on it.
"Oh, naturally. I tried to convince him it was good news - he hasn't spoken to me since. So I fear he won't be attending." The woman said in a gloomy voice.
Harry bit his lip. She looked convincing, he had to admit.
Was she really going against her own husband for her son's 'tantrum'?
Around five minutes later, Narcissa's rum was almost finished. Harry wondered how such a fragile looking woman could drink this fast.
Their talk had been fine, up to that moment.
The woman and her son were going on about memories and happy times, when Narcissa mentioned the wedding ceremony.
"So, I was thinking, I could organise your big day, dears." she gushed. "You don't want to use an old tux, Draco. We need to find you something... incredible looking."
Oh, the Malfoys and their fondness for appearances.
"I don't really care about the looks, honestly." Draco declared.
He and Harry could have said "I do" in their pajamas, for all he cared.
"But the place will be packed with photographers. After all, it's the Chosen One's wedding." His mother chirped.
While Harry and Draco were out with Draco's mum, the remaining four of the group were under their favourite tree, preparing themselves for the impending exams.
Hermione was the most nervous among them.
Not many days from then, she would have been enduring in NEWTs, her most dreaded exams.
She had been going on about it for years, spreading anxiety throughout her peers.
Luna and Ginny's studying sessions weren't that easy, as they'd spend most of their time together kissing and being cute.
However, Luna still noticed that her friend was a little too tense to only be worried about the NEWTs. She was constantly tapping her book with her quill, biting her lips and looking downright uneasy.
Even Ron had noticed that.
"Ok, now you will tell me what's bothering you." He demanded.
"Nothing." His girlfriend said in a stern voice, not daring to meet his gaze.
"Last time it was 'nothing' you and Harry didn't speak for a month. So, tell me what this is all about!" said Ron, close to losing his temper.
"I told you, it's nothing." Hermione repeated. Her nostrils were beginning to flare. Talking to her in this state was like trying to cuddle with a hungry lion.
"Mmm, no. I see that something is up." said Luna, arching her lips.
Hermione's eyes narrowed and her neck turned red, she gave the impression that she was on the verge of exploding. But, just as her lips parted to speak, she started looking ill.
She placed a hand on her mouth and hurled in the direction of the castle.
Luna, Ginny and Ron all exchanged questioning looks.
"Babe, are you alright?" Ron shouted, but his girlfriend wouldn't give him an answer.
"She looked like she was about to throw up." Ginny remarked.
Ron's eyes widened in worry. "What if she has a virus? If so, I caught it, too!" he groaned.
"I'll go check on her before she runs into Pukey Boplnikes." Luna offered, then she got up and made her way to the girls' bathroom, leaving Ginny and her brother alone to wonder about Hermione's sudden sickness.
After Narcissa left- her send-off including a very awkward group hug- the couple found themselves walking back to the castle.
"See, my mother isn't so bad." Draco happily observed, pushing his boyfriend playfully forward as they stepped on the soft grass.
Harry had mixed feelings regarding her, though.
"She wouldn't shut up about you being presentable at the Chosen One's wedding... sounds to me like she wants to take advantage of the attention we'd get to plan something nefarious." he snorted.
Draco stopped walking to give him a 'really?' look.
In many occasions Harry had proven himself right, he knew that, but he was suspicious of everything lately. When he slept in Draco's dorm he was afraid that a menace would kidnap them in their sleep - said menace was Blaise, to be exact.
"Stop seeing evil schemes everywhere, babe! That is my mother, she has her own sense of humour." he whined.
"Whenever I'm suspicious of something, I always happen to be right." Harry snapped.
Draco raised an eyebrow. When Harry was convinced on something, he wouldn't stop until he got what he wanted. But he was starting to abuse this power he possessed.
"Oh, will you stop being so mistrusting? Relax for once!" the Slytherin voiced.
The truth was that Harry was undeniably stressed because of the NEWTs and everything else and Draco knew just what he had to do to calm his nerves.
He wrapped his arms around Harry's neck, pulling their bodies closer together.
Harry sighed, circling his fiancé's back with his arms. "You're right, I'm too tense..."
"Come on, I know a way to make all this stress go away." Draco whispered, lightly brushing Harry's lips with his own and breathing against them, all while he grabbed his left buttcheek firmly.
"Draco, we're in the middle of Hogsmeade!" Harry observed, accentuating the fact that they were outside in the open air. But he didn't remove the possessive hand from his buttock. He didn't hate it there.
"I know that, silly." Draco purred. "Although I'm shocked that a Gryffindor like you isn't willing to have some outdoor fun. I thought your kind was known for being adventurous." He joked.
"Are you saying I'm not Gryffindor enough?" Harry playfully asked, pretending to be offended at Draco's remarks.
He glared him so intensely that if someone had been in the middle of them, they would have been badly charred.
"Maybe. But I'll admit that you might have a point. I know a place that is much better. I can show you the way." Draco whispered in his ear. Then, he licked his earlobe.
His lips formed a wicked smile as he felt the other boy shiver at the contact.
Harry let out an involuntary gasp when he did that.
He hated that face, it usually indicated that the other boy had something unspeakable planned out in his mind and there was no escaping from it. Not that he minded-he couldn't wait to see what his plan was- but he was supposed to be studying. Draco, that slimy bastard, knew that he just couldn't say no to his 'hot requests'.
"Take me there." Harry managed to say. His south region was beginning to enjoy Draco's suggestions.
Narcissa Malfoy had not left Hogwarts grounds yet. She had fled from Hogsmeade, but only to access the castle.
She walked into a room.
By the looks of it, it must have been an office. There was a desk filled with quills, books and semi-opened ink bottles.
The woman made sure that she was alone, then she locked the door behind her with a spell.
Not far from her was a fireplace. She walked closer to it and squatted down.
All she had to do now was wait.
Suddenly, the fire crackled and her lips curved into a wide smile as she saw her interlocutor, the shadow of the flames reflecting on her face.
"Here you are." She said softly. "Operation starts now."