Chapter 17

Jane sat with her young master on her lap. They were in France for the summer and Lucius had instructed her to beginning reading lessons with Draco. It was time to start getting him ready for Hogwarts. She had loved that time in her life. She couldn't want to start school.

However, it seemed her young master didn't want to cooperate. He had been allowed to spend all day playing as he wished for as long as he remembered and now as they sat out on the balcony of the château together he made no attempt to do as he was asked. He didn't want to read and he was making that fact plain to her.

Jumping down he went to the other chair facing hers. He was normally affectionate towards her but not when they were on holiday and she was trying to make him work it seemed.

"Come on Draco, please," said Jane as she watched the small boy from across the table.

He shook his head. He wasn't going to say anything until he was allowed to go and play. He wished his daddy was there. He wouldn't make him try to read… he had said he didn't have to start lessons till September. So he didn't have to do anything till then, right?

"Young man, am I going to have to tell your father you are defying his orders? He shall be displeased with you."

That should do it thought Jane. She knew whatever Draco did, they last thing he wanted to do was to displease his papa who he just worshipped. Lucius meant more to him then he had ever seen a father mean to boy.

Draco shook his head; he recalled his father saying something about reading a little over the summer but he would tell him he just hadn't wanted too and his father would say that was ok.

They sat there in a stare out for at least 20 minutes. Draco was a determined little lad.

"Where is he?" they heard a voice saying from inside the château. "Where is my little darling?"

"Nana Eliza!!" said Draco as he jumped off his chair having won the argument as his old nurse came to his rescue followed swiftly by his father.

Lucius still felt such an affection for the aging woman that he had asked her out to join them for a few days and he knew Draco adored her.

"Oh dragon…" she said as he run in to her arms. "I have missed you…"

Jane watched on unhappily as the old women fawned over her change. He had got away with it. How was she ever meant to make him learn if he didn't do as she said? And how was she going to do that with out disciplining him.

For that day The Fountain of Fair Fortune went unread.

She decided to talk to Lucius later who she knew had noticed her expression.

"I missed you too nana." Draco said to her.

"Have you darling? Well bless you sweetheart. It has been a long time since a young man missed me."

-

"He is a proper little boy now."

"He is still my baby Eliza." Lucius protested.

The sun was setting over the château and Lucius had put his son to bed before he and Eliza had gone back out on to the balcony to enjoy a glass of wine together.

"He hates being called a baby now."

"I know he does. He thinks he is all grown up. He's five…"

"At five, you were grown up."

He chuckled and shook his head.

"I know you love him. I know you treasure him and rightly so, he is a wonderful little boy. But you can't shut him up from the rest of the world forever Lucius. He is going to grow up." she said to him and he nodded.

He knew he had to hear what she was saying because it was true.

"I know his. He is not going to be a baby forever; he's going to grow up! But not yet…."

"Yes he is. And he can't be wrapped up in cotton wall; nor can he forever be indulged."

"I don't -"

"Oh Lucius don't try it, you indulged that boy and you know you do." she said to him. "I don't want to see my boy become a brat."

"He isn't going to be one…"

"And did you see the way he was with Jane earlier? That girl is struggling I am telling you. No, what the boy needs is a mot -"

"Don't say it," he cut her off. "My boy has and never will need a mother, he had one once. A very good one - the best of mothers. But she is gone. So there never will be another mother."

"But a women Lucius. He needs one. And so do you I fancy."

"And that us what we have you and Jane. I resent any comments about a new women coming in to replace my Narcissa."

"Now did I say that? I know how deeply you loved her and how deeply you still love her. I know that better than anyone. But couldn't you make a new space in your heart for someone else? I am not suggesting that she be replaced. Only that someone new could make a space for herself."

She knew he was not comfortable with what they were talking about but she thought he had to face up to the realities of his life.

One day his son was going to go to school and then he was going to be alone.

"Sweetheart, I am not saying that you have to take a new wife tomorrow. But I want you to think about it. Not only for Draco. But for yourself as well."

"If it makes you feel better then ok I will think about it. But I am not saying anything is going to happen. Because it won't."

"Lucius that is what I love about you. You're so opened minded."

--

Draco sat with his dad on the couch. Whatever Eliza had said about a new wife he had let go over his head. But she had been raising children a lot longer than he had and he was willing to take her advice when it came to his son on some things. He had gone back to his pensive the night before and he had watched Draco as he and Eliza had gone on to the balcony to greet them. And she had been had been playing up for Jane.

"You have to do what she says."

"But daddy, why? One she is a woman. Two she is not a Malfoy."

"But young man she is your nurse. And when I am not there, she is in charge of taking care of you."

"Then why can't you take care of me all the time."

"You know why. Because daddy has to go to work to keep you, Jane and Eliza." he said to him.

"But I hate it when you are at work. It is always so boring."

"I know it is. And that is why when we get back to England after the summer you are going to have to start socialising with people your age more son. It's time for you to start getting ready to for what lays ahead, my little man."

"But I don't want too." said Draco to him. He had always been a papa's boy. His father was all he ever wanted or needed.

"I know you don't want to. But one day when you're big and strong you will understand why I am doing this. I promise." Cupping his sons face he kissed his forehead. One day...