A/N: hey guys, I love you all, THANK YOU SO much for all you reviews, they really boost my self confidence lol, and to those giving me advice, I appreciate it all and do try to incorporate your ideas and fix my mistakes so once again thankyou.

Chapter 9: Getting to know the mother

Narcissa Malfoy was a lady with power. On the outside, she was a glamorous, beautiful woman whose age was impossible to tell because of the way she carried herself. Most people thought she was just a clueless blonde that had married a rich man in order to be successful in life. But that was not the case at all, she was in fact rather intelligent and Lucius Malfoy had married her only after falling in love with her quick wit and strong opinions. He confronted her before making many decisions in his life and was always sure he'd get some exceptional advice, not that he'd ever admit it to anyone. Narcissa could interpret situations from many different angles and most of the time the conclusions she made based on these interpretations were logical and helpful in some way or the other.

Today, Narcissa had decided to spend the day with her son. This was for a couple of different reasons. Firstly, Draco had spent too much time away from her and they had a lot of catching up to do and secondly, after finding out about Nick and Hermione, she had to do something about the situation that the three of them were in, because Merlin knew that this was not how they could stay the rest of their lives.

During breakfast, she had sat back and watched Hermione. She saw how neither her son nor the girl spoke each other, hell they barely even looked in the other's direction. But who could blame them, Narcissa knew exactly how horrible the relationship between the two was. Had she not been the one who listened to Draco complain all his school life about "Mudblood Granger", how she was nothing but an ugly know-it-all and stole all his glory by beating him in everything but Quidditch. She almost felt sorry for them both. But something had to be done because this would be bad not only for the two of them, but also the child and it was obvious the two cared for the boy very much.

Hermione, to Narcissa, appeared to be a very good mother; unlike some girls she had had the displeasure of meeting. She had this friendly aura about her and Narcissa could not wait to get to know her. The way she made sure Nick finished everything off his plate, the way she playfully poked him and the way she talked to him, sweetly but firmly at the same time were all positive points that had become obvious to the older woman.

Draco was a completely different story. Though she knew he was very in love with his son, Narcissa knew that he did not yet have in him what it took to be a good father. Nick asked countless questions and Draco was always unsure of how to answer them. The poor boy, he had so much to learn.

"You're awfully quite mother, something the matter?" asked Draco, shaking the older woman out of her thoughts.

"Oh no dear, nothing's wrong" replied Narcissa, waving it off.

Draco decided to not question any further but all because he dropped the subject, did not mean that he did not know what was going on. He was not stupid, he knew, from the way his mother was staring at Granger, she was trying to figure out the type of person she was. His mother could be very annoyingly clever sometimes and he only hoped that she was not up to her usual plotting because Draco knew he did not need any more drama in his life at this particular point. The situation with Nick and Granger was difficult enough already, without his mother getting involved. But he knew his mother very well and also knew he had nothing in his power that would stop her from her "evil scheming".

After breakfast, Narcissa led Draco away to a sitting room on the fifth floor and asked him the question he had been dreading all morning.

"So Draco, tell me, what are you going to do about the girl and yourself?"

"What are you on about, mother?" asked Draco irritably, trying to avoid it as much as possible but he knew it was a lost battle.

"You know perfectly well what I am 'on about', Draco."

"Nothing, mother, I plan on doing nothing with Granger, and I will not change my decision no matter what you tell me."

"Do not be difficult with me young man!"

Draco smirked at the way his mother reprimanded him, it made him feel like a teenager again.

"And don't you dare smirk at me like that," huffed Narcissa, collapsing onto the armchair in a manner very against her own, "are you telling me that you are going to live with this girl, for the rest of your life, and not have anything to do with her, except perhaps deciding how to raise your child?"

"Yes that is exactly what I'm telling you."

"That is despicable, Draco."

"Mother look, this is Granger we're talking about. She doesn't want to be here any more than I want her to be here. I only asked her to live here so I can be with Nick, nothing else, if you think I'm going to get involved with Granger then you're wrong. All because she is the mother of my child, it does not mean that she is any different from how she was before," said Draco with an air of finality.

But Narcissa was not one to give up quickly, she knew that in due time Draco would change his decision. At the moment, however, he was being stubborn and with a push in the right direction, he would begin to see things the way she did.

For the rest of the day, Draco retired to his study to complete the paper work he had been falling behind on. This gave Narcissa the chance to talk to Hermione alone. She found the younger woman sitting in an arm chair the library, completely engrossed in the book she was reading with her feet tucked up her and her brown eyes moving side to side as the read. Approaching her silently, Narcissa asked "may I join you?"

Hermione looked a bit startled by the unexpected interruption but smiled and told Narcissa of course. The sat in comfortable silence for a moment as Hermione politely stopped reading.

"So Hermione," began Narcissa, "tell me a bit about yourself, because Merlin knows that what I've heard from Draco is far from the truth."

Hermione laughed at this and asked, "What would you like to know about?"

"Well tell me about your life before you moved into the Manor."

"Well I had a fairly simple life, well as simple as it can get for a single mother. I'm a Healer at St. Mungo's so that keeps me quite busy."

"You're a Healer? But dear, how on earth did you manage to complete the course with Nick?" asked Narcissa somewhat shocked.

"Sometimes I don't even know myself. But I had a lot of help from my mother and when Nick was first born I took a year off, so I managed fine," replied Hermione.

"I admire you dear. I know that little boys can be quite a bit of a handful. But you've done quite a good job of keeping up with everything."

"Thank you," said Hermione, feeling a sense of pride at being complimented by some like Narcissa Malfoy.

They continued like this for a few hours, just getting to know each other. Hermione told about her about her life during Hogwarts and also before and after that when Nick was born. Narcissa recounted times before the war, when Voldemort was not as powerful, and how her and Lucius used to be the perfect couple. She also spoke of Draco's childhood, some parts making Hermione giggle, such as when Narcissa laughed and told about the time Draco ate his whole fifth birthday cake right before the party and tried to blame it on the house elf even though his hands, face and his brand new out fit were covered in chocolate icing, "he was just as diplomatic back then" she said. Needless to say, the two women bonded very quickly, and though both were not best of friends, each understood the other and enjoyed their company.

Dinner time rolled around before long and Narcissa had decided to spend the night. She claimed she got lonely in her villa out in the country side and Draco told her she was welcome to stay as long as she wanted. They sat there eating a delicious roast beef with a side of creamy mushrooms and Nick was popping questions at a hundred kilometres per hour.

"Mummy, why does Nick have two gram-ma's now?"

"Because, dear, one is your mummy's mummy and one is your daddy's mummy" explained Hermione patiently.

"Does this gram-ma give presents like the other one?"

All three adults laughed and Narcissa said, "yes she does."

Nick's eyes light up at this before he turned to Draco.

"Daddy how old are you?"

"The same age as your mummy," replied Draco.

"But I don't know old mummy is?"

"Okay well, I'm twenty-two."

"Really? Wow, Daddy, you're old."

"Not as old as your gram-ma," said Draco, smirking at his mother.

"But you is still old," said Nick

"So how old are you Nick?" asked Draco

"I am one, two, eleven, twelve, fifteen, sixteen, four!" said Nick holding up four fingers, looking very proud of himself.

Draco laughed again and ruffled his son's hair, but it being as silky as it was, fell back into place.

"I'm so glad he got the Malfoy hair, if he'd gotten your bird nest Granger, I don't know what I would have done," Draco commented, looking at Hermione with his usual smirk.

"Yes well it seems that that's the only good Malfoy trait he got," Hermione shot back, after rolling her eyes.

"What bad Malfoy traits has he inherited then Granger?" asked Draco, clearly offended.

"You can figure that out for yourself, Draco" Hermione said sweetly.

"Hermione know-it-all Granger, not willing to share her, oh so explicit, knowledge, some owl the Daily Prophet, this could make the front page."

"Ha. Ha. Ha. You're so funny."

"Why thank you ma'am, didn't know you thought so highly of me."

"Oh shut up Malfoy."

"Why don't you shut up?"

"Merlin, you're so immature."

"You started it Granger."

"I did not! You did when you dissed my bird nest."

"Ah, so you admit that's what it is," said Draco, grinning triumphantly as Hermione huffed and looked away. He knew he'd won that one and it made him very proud indeed to outdo Granger, for once. But upon seeing the look on his mother's face, the grin disappeared instantaneously. She looked at him, her eyebrow raised and a knowing smile emblazoning her long face. Draco stared hard at his plate, what the hell was his mother playing at. He was really beginning to regret letting her stay and to think they hadn't even gotten through one night.

"Daddy, why are you and Mummy always fighting?" came Nick's voice, shaking Draco out of his thoughts.

"We're not fighting Nick" replied Draco.

"Yes you are."

"We were having a grown up discussion, that's all."

"Are all gwown-up discussions so loud?" asked Nick curiously.

Draco didn't reply, instead he stood from his chair and picked Nick up, telling him it was time to go to bed. They climbed the long staircase that led to his bedroom and after Nick had changed into his pyjamas and brushed his teeth, Draco sat him in his lap and began reading him a story. It was a book about a boy and a girl who went on a quest to find seven hidden diamonds, each guarded by a ferocious dragon. Nick constantly asked what this was and that was and Draco patiently answered all his questions.

They were so engrossed in the book that both father and son failed to notice Hermione standing in the doorway, silently watching them. She smiled every time Nick asked a question and Draco tried his best to answer him. She was amazed at how easily Draco had taken up fatherhood. She knew it wasn't perfect, but it was a lot better than what she had expected him to be capable off. Draco, to her, had always been a stuck up selfish little prat, and to see him caring for someone else but him self was truly shocking.

Nick had also taken to Draco really well and it was only when he was around him that Hermione realised that her son had always been missing something in his life, no matter how normal she tried to make it. She was happy now though, to see him complete, even though it was Draco that was completing him. It was then that Nick finally announced he was tired and Hermione hurriedly walked to her bedroom in fear of being caught.

When she reached it, she changed into a pair of short shorts and a tank top and walked into the bathroom to brush her teeth. As she was coming out, she walked into a sight that made her blush from the roots of her hair to the tips of her toes. There, standing in the middle of the room, was Draco Malfoy naked as the day he was born. Hermione squealed very loudly, ran back into the bathroom, slamming the door, and leaving a laughing Malfoy in her wake. She leaned back against the door, her heart pounding loudly. This was not something she was expecting, not something she ever wanted to see. But that wasn't the worst off it. She actually liked what she saw, it did not repulse her to see him like that, in fact it sort of –she shuddered- turned her on. Shaking her head violently, she tried to get the mental image out of her head, but it seemed as though it had been imprinted into her brain.

"It's safe now Granger, you can come out" Draco called through the door. Taking a few deep calming breaths, Hermione slowly opened the door and walked out. This time Draco was sitting on the bed, his hands stretched behind him, his smirk in place. "Geez Granger, you really are perverted aren't you?"

"Excuse me?" said Hermione incredulously, "I'm perverted? How dare you say that! I WAS NOT the one changing in the middle of the bedroom."

"Well you see, my dear, I could not possibly change anywhere else as the bathroom was a bit…let me see…occupied."

"You could've waited."

"Malfoys don't wait."

"Malfoys can kiss my ass. You are never going to do that again, do you understand?"

"Why are you getting so worked up Granger?" asked Draco lying down onto his side of the bed, "afraid that you see something you like?"

"In your dreams, Malfoy, in your dreams," replied Hermione, also coming to lie down.

"See, so what is there to worry about? It's nothing you haven't seen before right?"

Hermione just chucked a pillow at him before turning her back to him, falling asleep not too long afterwards. It was just as she started breathing loudly, that Draco retaliated. He slowly inched his hand towards her and in a quick movement yanked at her hair. Letting out a scream on pain, which only made Draco laugh harder, Hermione yelled:

"DRACO MALFOY, I AM GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU!"

~oOo~

The next morning at breakfast, Narcissa made an announcement that shocked Draco and Hermione beyond belief.

"The Annual Spring Dance is coming up this weekend and this time the Robinson's are holding it. Julia Robinson invited me but Draco, you know, I truly am tired of attending these festivals. So I told her that you would come in my place and Hermione is going with you" she said.

"WHAT?" shouted Draco, "Mother have you lost your mind? This is Julia Robinson we're talking about; you know that if she even gets a hint about Nick, it'll be all over the papers. And on top of that she's going to expect Granger and I to act like a…a couple." He spat the last word, venom laced in his voice.

"Well naturally," replied Narcissa calmly, she was used to Draco's outbursts and they had no effect on her whatsoever.

Draco glared at his mother. He knew what she was up to. She was purposely trying to make him and Granger spend time together, alone so that they could end up falling for each other in some sick twisted way. Just the thought of looking at Granger as anything other that a Mudblood know-it-all was repulsive enough to make him want to vomit.

"But Mrs. Malfoy," said Hermione, speaking for the first time, "I can't go to the dance, I have nothing to wear. I haven't been to a formal since the Yule Ball back in fourth year."

"That won't be a problem dear. You and I will go shopping today and get you an outfit while Draco stays home with Nick. Is that okay with you Draco?" Narcissa asked her son, daring him to object.

"I don't have a choice in the matter, do I?" grumbled Draco.

"Excellent, we'll be leaving right after breakfast."

And that was exactly what they did. Hermione kissed Nick and told him to be good while she was away and apparated to Diagon Alley. She would never admit it, but she had had some difficulty deciding what to wear while shopping with Narcissa Malfoy. In the end she had settled with a pair of beige corduroy pants, a white camisole and a thin dark brown coat to protect her against the spring breeze. As she arrived at Diagon Alley, she caught sight of Narcissa standing in front of a very expensive looking shop examining the outfits that were displayed in the window.

"I think we'll try here first dear," she said upon spotting Hermione, "Eliza's usually has the best and I've heard most girls your age shop from here."

Hermione, who had never set foot into the shop before, knew that only rich Pureblooded girls her age would shop here. She did not comment, however, and followed Narcissa into the shop. The owner recognised the older woman at once and came to tend to them.

"Whaz can I zu for you, Narcissa?" she asked in a heavy French accent, hugging and kissing her on both cheeks.

"Eliza dear, we're looking for a dress for Hermione," replied Narcissa, indicating Hermione who was staring around the shop in awe, "it's for the Spring Dance."

"Ah…ze Spring Dance" said Eliza clapping her hands together "but Narcissa, Julia told me zat you are not coming."

"I'm getting too old for all that glamour."

"What nonsense. You must come."

"I already declined the offer dear, and besides, Draco and Hermione are taking my place."

"So zis iz Draco's latest conquest, am I correct?"

Hermione blushed when she heard this and made a move to say something, but Narcissa beat her to it, "yes, if you put it like that."

"Zat Draco of yours iz such a playboy, Narcissa," Eliza laughed, "I zu wonder if he well ever settle zown."

"Don't we all?"

Both women laughed at this, while Hermione stood awkwardly, looking at the two. Eliza was a beautiful woman with black hair, which was tied in a knot at the top of her head and piercing blue eyes. She wore an emerald green skirt, with a blouse made of pure white silk. In her hand was her wand and draped around her neck was a measuring tape. She had on her feet a pair of silver stilettos that made her look humongous as she would have been around 5ft 7" without them.

Eliza had guided them to section containing dresses of all shapes and sizes. There were formal dresses, casual dresses, party dresses, and dresses basically for all occasions. Pulling random dresses, of the racks, Eliza shoved them in Hermione's hands and asked her to go and try them on.

Thirty-five dresses later, they finally picked the perfect one. It was simple yet sexy and it had been one of the many that Hermione had actually found suitable. Looking at her watch, Hermione realised that it had been almost three hours since they had come to the shop, but Narcissa didn't stop there, she told Hermione that the clothes she wore, though suitable were too informal and she ended up buying her a whole new wardrobe. So laden with about fifty bags all containing clothes, underwear (Hermione had blushed when Narcissa insisted she need to buy some new sets), jewellery, and shoes, they finally made there way back to the Malfoy Manor. Once she'd put all the bags down, Hermione collapsed onto the bed, finding out for the first time just how tiring shopping could be when you went with Narcissa Malfoy. In fact she was so tired that she didn't even tell off the house elves for putting away her things and merely closed her eyes and fell asleep.

A/N: I'm going to leave it there guys, I think this is the longest chapter I've written so yeah! Spring Dance coming up next chapter (btw I stole the name from out year 11 formal lol) so that should be exciting. But there won't be an update for a while because I got exams coming up AGAIN! Grrr ah wells…REVIEW PEOPLE!