Chapter 30 - Something Not Quite Right
Susan Shard was not the usual tutor type; in fact she was a most ordinary young girl. She had dark brown hair that fell down to just above her shoulder and flicked up at the ends. The dark colour was highlighted with a rather gaudy but not striking red. Her eyes were a soft warm brown colour, which gave the rosy cheeks on her reasonably fair skin, an even sunnier glow. She was not dressed up to the nines, but she was smart enough. She had a dark blue knee length skirt and white blouse. A hefty looking leather shoulder bag was pressed onto her shoulder and hung down near her thigh.
There was a type of auror about her, which gave out a very loving and happy approach to people; she made no attempt to hide it as she showed her wide smile.
She sat down in front of Lucius' desk, so calm, where most people usually shook as they sat in that green cushioned chair. She did not appear frightened of Lucius in any manner of the word, but gazed up at him serenely with a soft smile.
Narcissa entered the study and shut the door quietly; Lucius looked up at her, his brow furrowed. Susan Shard smile widened as her brown eyes followed her. She stood up
"Hello, you must be Mrs Malfoy, I'm Susan or Suzy whichever you prefer" she said brightly holding out her hand. Narcissa shook it softly and then joined Lucius on a chair beside him.
"Narcissa, where is Draco? You said you were going to fetch him" Lucius asked
"Uh…well he won't come out of his room" Narcissa said softly taking a quick glance at the young applicant at the same time
"Why?" asked Susan suddenly, her smile dropping
"Well…he's not particularly keen on the idea of a tutor"
"I could try and help" the young woman offered. Narcissa frowned, what made this girl think she could do a better job than her in persuading her son to take on a tutor.
"No…I'm sure he'll come around" Narcissa nodded
"Well then" said Lucius folding his hands on the desk "We might as well get this interview done…then we can see what has happened of my son."
Susan sat up straight and nodded.
"Now then…do you have a copy of your OWLs and NEWTs grades from Hogwarts?" he asked. Susan nodded and reached into her bag she pulled out a few pieces of parchment, handing them to Lucius who handed some to Narcissa.
The results were all rather good. For OWLs she received mostly Os and Es, with about two or three As. Her NEWTs had even better results.
"And you mentioned briefly that you had some experience in tutoring?" said Lucius
"To cousins, and nieces and nephews mostly" she smiled confidently "Some friends of the family's children too"
"You have no children of your own?" asked Narcissa "What is your marital status?"
"Oh…I, live with my boyfriend but we're not getting married yet for financial reasons….if we did having children isn't the first thing to do on my list" she explained.
"I see" said Narcissa disapprovingly. There was something about this girl she did not like, she was too happy, too twee, too…something. She seemed far too comfortable in her surroundings. "Lucius, I think I might get Draco down now?" she whispered to husband. Lucius nodded "Excuse me Miss Shard" Narcissa nodded to the tutor and got out of her chair.
"Draco please come out of the room" Narcissa begged "She's not horrible at all…you'll like her"
"NO!" he yelled. Narcissa heard him stamp his foot.
"Draco! I will carry you downstairs like a baby if you don't come out!"
"NO! I DON'T WANT A SMELLY TEACHER!" he shrieked. There was the sound of footsteps on the corridor. Narcissa looked around at Lucius walking along the hallway, a few steps behind him was Susan Shard.
"Is he being trouble my dear?" asked Lucius coldly
"Nothing I cannot handle Lucius" Narcissa sighed
"I HATE TEACHERS!" came Draco shriek. Narcissa heard a small chuckle come from Susan Shard.
"Please don't encourage him" Narcissa rebuked.
Lucius walked towards the room and tried to open the door
"He's locked it from the inside…he found the key" said Narcissa tonelessly
"Where's your wand?" Lucius frowned
"Somewhere" Narcissa shrugged "I think it's in the library"
Lucius shook his head. Pulled out his own and mumbled
"Alohamora" the door clicked open
"NO!" yelled Draco from the inside, Narcissa knew he would be holding the door shut with all his might. Lucius kicked the door open with a loud 'THUMP'
"Lucius" Narcissa gasped. Susan Shard let her mouth drop in a very unflattering way
"Father" Draco's voice said as Lucius entered the room with an angry expression on his face.
Narcissa gave an apologetic look to Susan Shard and ran in after Lucius.
"Draco I am absolutely disgusted with your behaviour!" Lucius was glaring down at Draco. Draco whimpered and looked at his mother for help.
"Don't look at me like that Draco" Narcissa said softly, knowing that face could break her "Your Father is quite right!" she said fairly.
"If I may" came a voice. Susan Shard had poked her head around the side of the door. "I know so many children who hate the thought of teachers" she shook her head with a wide smile. She then crouched down to Draco's height "Hello there…are you Draco?"
Draco looked at her confused and nodded. She shook his hand
"My names is Susan Shard…but you can call me Suzy"
Draco looked up at Lucius' expressionless face. Draco looked back at her and nodded
"You can call me Draco"
Susan laughed.
Narcissa watched as the young woman spoke to Draco as if he were her equal, and not a child. She listened carefully to every word he said. She soothed him and told him about herself.
Narcissa frowned. This woman seemed far too…she could not put her finger on it.
"Miss Shard, continue to speak with my son if you please…I wish to discuss something with my wife" Lucius nodded. Susan smiled up at him and turned back to Draco. Narcissa opened her mouth to protest when Lucius took her arm and led her out of the room.
"Lucius what-"
"I couldn't help but notice how you seemed rather unease in there"
"I was…well…" Narcissa looked away and down the hallway at the bedroom door, where Draco continued to speak to Susan Shard.
"Well?"
"You don't see it?" Narcissa enquired
"See what?"
"I don't know…perhaps it's just me but there is something about that woman…that girl. Something…I'm not sure. She seems too close to Draco all of sudden and-"
"Ah…I see" Lucius smirked "You're jealous"
"Me? Jealous?" said Narcissa dumfounded "Why in Merlin's name would I be jealous?"
"You've been the only witch in Draco's life. Now he seems to get on with another you're jealous"
"Oh that's complete nonsense Lucius" Narcissa rolled her eyes
"As you wish" Lucius shook his head knowingly "But Narcissa I really recommend we employ her. She's not expensive, Draco likes her, and she's well qualified" Lucius listed
"Fine. Fine we'll employ her…but….if things get worse and I-"
"Then we dismiss her…after all, she's only a servant"
--
"Cissy…I'm sure she isn't so bad" Alexia Flint smiled as she poured Narcissa some tea
"She isn't! That's the problem. It's just me who…well I don't know. I only want the best for Draco, and I have a bad feeling about this girl. Maybe because she's too young…I don't know…"
"I think Lucius has got a point" Myra Parkinson stated helping herself to yet another cream slice "I think you are jealous"
"Myra how could I be jealous of a nine-teen year old girl?" Narcissa glared at her plump, raven haired friend.
"Well you were a young mother, and this girl is acting like a replacement for you" she shrugged "She's only doing her job…but to a mother as dedicated as yourself Cissy it must be rather hard to let go"
Narcissa sipped her tea
"Perhaps"
"Frankie, you've been very quiet today…are you alright?" Alexia asked their beautiful friend; Francesca was looking out of the window with her cup resting her lap. Frankie looked around
"Pardon?"
"I said are you alright?" Alexia smiled
"Yes…I'm perfectly fine"
Narcissa was not convinced; Alexia and Myra also seemed rather dubious as well. Francesca was usually the centre of the conversation, if it were about children, like it was now; she would begin yawning conspicuously to let everyone know she was bored. However today, Francesca was not her usual self. Narcissa had noticed that she was not wearing as much make-up as usual. Her hair was clipped up rather casually, and she wore a simple gold suit that made her look half dressed with out the jewellery and diamonds.
"Has something happened?" Myra enquired
"No" Francesca sighed and looked at her fingers "Just a few family problems on my mind"
"Anything we can do?" asked Cissy
"No…just trivial things" Francesca winked and showed a sign of her usual personality.
Ooh so what's up with Frankie?
How will Narcissa cope with this strangely annoying tutor?
Find out soon
I know the update is late
But I had exams sorrreeee…
Lots of stuff planned my friends
Sooo much to write
Dassy xxx