A/N: Unfortunatley, these past few days I have been quite ill and unable to eat proper foods, and have had horrible back pain. Therefore, my imagination has, as they say "Done a bunk." However, I will try my best to write and not dissapoint you. :-) Thanks for the continued support. (Sorry for the despairingly short chapter. I apologise most sincerely x.x)

"I would assume that you were going to offer me refreshment," Dumbledore said to Uncle Vernon, "but that would be optimistic to the point of foolishness." - Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

They waited.
And they waited.
"Trial called to order," murmured an old wizard who looked as if he would drop asleep any second; he wore an expression of utmost fatigue. He glanced at Narcissa before inclining his head towards the Minister for Magic.
"Thank you, Edward. Please bring forth-" he was cut off as Lucius was brought in, not in a cage as Narcissa had imagined, but quite freely, his black robes he had gone to prison in quite fresh. His hair was in perfect condition to, and he gave it an involuntary flick as if to emphasize this. So, he'd been given the time of a life in Azkaban, had he? Extra privlidges?
For a moment, she wished he wasn't being released.
"Lucius Malfoy, under the courts eye, do you deny being loyal to He Who Must Not Be Named and participiating within activities that are as follows; murdering, torturing, kidnapping, attacking, selling innocent people to society?"
Lucius resumed a blank look. "Minister ... I believe strongly I were under the Imperius curse."
"That," said the Minister, "is most likely under durrestiction. Cleared off all charges." He banged his hammer down as if pushing this fact a little more, and the court stood and begun to leave, muttering their suspicions to one another freely. Snape had an eyebrow raised and leant forward to Narcissa, his black hair framing his cheekbones. "I guess the bribe payed off well," he said softly.
"Guess so," she replied quietly, standing up as Lucius strode arrogantly over to them. He looked suprised that Snape was there but did not push the matter; he instead took her hand and pressed his lips against her skin. "It's lovely to see you again," he said in a reserved tone, "Where is our son?"
Ah. Where indeed. She'd left him with a Ministry offical outside the court room, but he didn't seem to hear this as he strode out, not bothering to wait. Opening the double doors, he almost flattened Draco.
"Hey - what's your problem?" shot Draco angrily.
Lucius turned very slowly, his face bleached with anger. "What did you say to me boy?" Narcissa and Snape had caught up, and looked shocked as he was about to threaten their son. "- Lucius - No, that's Draco. Our son?"
"Did you bring him up to be this badly behaved?" breathed Lucius. Before either of them had a chance to answer, he slapped the child hard across the face. Draco's cries filled the air around them and Narcissa leapt forward to defend and attend to her son. "Are you alright Draco?" she soothed, rubbing his sore cheek. She looked up at Lucius. "What the HELL is your problem?"
"I see you've mollycoddled him into a mummies' boy!" snapped Lucius, turning to leave. "Let's all go get a drink or something, and some food, I'm parched." And he strode off quickly. Snape shrugged at Narcissa and followed Lucius.

Life with Lucius Malfoy was not enjoyable.
Granted, it was pleasant and had it's certain bonuses; unlimited money, being able to have whatever she wanted - but the way he treated them both wasn't paticularly nice. He loved them, yes, but if something upset him he often got into a sulk, and refused to speak to anybody for days. Sighing, Narcissa went about her normal ordeal, igniting the lamps once their flames had died down.

- Let's fastforward a fair few years -

Draco was eleven now; and once he had learnt to obey everything his father requested, was showered with gifts in return. Broomsticks and Quidditch gear, mainly. He'd already accquired his wand - what else did he need?
"Robes," mused Narcissa, "Come on, dear." So off they went to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Opening the door, Narcissa reassured Draco she'd be right back, and went to check on something. Draco stared silently at the boy next to him with glasses, and began, with Malfoy arrogance, to reel off what he thought and how things should be done. The boy next to him never introduced himself, but merely nodded at Draco whenever there was a pause. "Who's that giant oaf, anyway?"
"Hagrid - gamekeeper at Hogwarts," Harry told him with a cold over-tone to his voice. Draco nodded, already bored. Narcissa returned and recoiled at the sight of the boy; he was so much like James and Lily. "This is my mother," drawled Draco. Narcissa extended a hand and Harry shook it, before stepping off the stool and saying, "Goodbye," to them both, going off to pay for his robes.
"What an odd boy," said Draco coolly, "Mother, I think these shall do. And I'm quite hungry too, so I want an ice cream."
"Yes, of course ..."
They took his robes to the counter, Harry gave a small wave to them as he left the shop.
"Mother, why do you look at him with such curiousity?"
Narcissa gave Madam Malkin a handful of gleaming Galleons. "I knew his parents," she said vaguely, picking up the bag of robes and inclining her head towards Malkin before leaving.
"How?" Draco enquired, as they both made their way back into the swarm of people. Narcissa did not answer straight away; she pretended to be examining the newest broomstick with some thought. She remembered when she had bought James and Sirius brooms in Seventh year ... tearing herself away from hurting memories, she looked at her son and tried to be as honest as she could. "We were - his parents and I - friends in the last year of school."
"Oh." Draco examined the broomstick too, with keen interest. "Mother, can I have one?"
"No," scolded Narcissa, "First years aren't allowed-"
"- Aren't allowed broomsticks, yeah I know. But maybe, I could smuggle it in, and -"
"The answer is no, Draco," she said firmly. "Come on, let's go get you an ice cream."