June 2001

"Happy Birthday my darling boy!" Narcissa cooed as she hugged her son.

At twenty-one years of age, Draco couldn't understand why his mother had to use the phrase 'darling boy' with each birthday that passed. He guessed it had something to do with how mothers always saw their children as the little babies that she had given birth to and Draco had been the only child of Narcissa Malfoy.

Once Narcissa had released Draco, she led him into the living room and gave him his presents from her and Lucius. Draco had received a new watch, new dress robes, a bottle of expensive brandy and some spending money.

"Thank you mother."

"You're welcome Draco. Your father will be down in a minute."

Draco nodded and examined the bottle of brandy a bit closer, deciding to save it for a special occasion. Two minutes later he met the stare of his father who then looked to Narcissa and Draco watched as his mother left the room; leaving the two men to talk.

"Happy Birthday son."

"Thanks."

Things were still awkward between them but Draco could notice that his father was trying to change, the drinking had been cut to a minimal amount now and his parents no longer screamed at each other during one of his father's drinking sessions. The wine cellar was looking more stocked now than it had done in a long time.

"I think it's time we had a little talk Draco."

"I'm not a schoolboy that you can punish anymore father, so I apologise if I have done something wrong."

"You haven't done anything, it's time that I explained to you about everything."

Draco sat back lazily and watched his father closely, today of all days; his father had chosen to speak with him about their strained relationship.

"I haven't been the best father or husband and I realise now that it was because I put my own selfish desires above my family."

Draco said nothing, knowing his father had more to say.

"I joined the Death Eaters when I graduated from Hogwarts, I wanted revenge for my best friend who had been killed during a duel with myself and two muggleborns. I blamed them, I was severely angry. At the time, The Dark Lord promised we would win and I would be held with such honour, I would be made Minister for Magic under my master's rule in the new world he wanted to create and I yearned for that. Then I met your mother and we had you and although I tried to live a triple life, it got to me. The Dark Lord fell and for thirteen years we lived a lie, I made everyone believe that I was repentant. When The Dark Lord resurfaced, I joined his side once more without hesitation and your mother suffered most whilst I was in Azkaban because you were used to punish me for a mistake that I made."

"You don't have to do this now-

"But I do Draco, what I'm trying to say is that I have done terrible things and I've had to pay the price. I've been a horrible person to lash out at you since our trials and I've had so many arguments with your mother and hurt her feelings that I want to make amends. I apologise for not being the father you deserved, I should have been less hard on you over the years and kept you shielded from the purity cause instead of talking openly to you about it. I should have set a better example. Can we start afresh? I understand that it may be too late but if you are willing, I'd like us to try and have a better relationship from now on. Maybe we can go to a Quidditch match every now and then or share a brandy?"

Draco frowned, it wasn't like his father to suggest father and son activities. Sure over the years that he had been at Hogwarts Lucius would take Draco to the Ministry for the day or take him shopping for school supplies; but Lucius had always been the stricter parent out of his mother and father. He had wanted to have a conversation with his father about their strained relationship and was glad that his father was the one to bring it up.

"I'd like to try father, we need to get over all the bad things that have happened."

And then Lucius did something that Draco could never remember experiencing from his father. Lucius had wrapped an arm around him and pulled him in for a hug. Draco returned his father's hug, even if it did feel slightly awkward. Lucius released Draco and smiled slightly. Narcissa re-entered the room, carrying a tray of things for the three of them to eat for breakfast. As Draco and Lucius followed Narcissa into the dining room, Draco felt that he was slowly getting to a place where he could live a happy life and not be affected by his past. Patching things up with his father would take time but he thought to himseld that things were starting to get slightly better.

A/N: Like it's been mentioned before, Draco wanted to make amends with Nott, Blaise and Goyle which he has done. Now he's making things better with Lucius and next he will try and make amends with Harry, although the two won't become friends but I would like to show Draco redeeming himself in the eyes of his rival and when you read the next chapter, I hope you like it.