Chapter 25
Draco looked at himself in the mirror. He had a silver pair of dress robes on. He didn't like them though, and he did not want to go downstairs. It was his father's engagement party. It wasn't going to be any fun he thought to himself.
He knew he had to though. Leaving his room he walked along the hall way and to the top of the grand stair case. The security his room offered him was so tempting. Just to run.
Forcing himself to take to the stairs he walked decisively down them into a huge crowd of people. He didn't think so many had even been there for the Christmas party. There were groups of giggling girls, society's mothers who had brought their daughters to share in Marias good luck, stuffy old men smoking cigars and young bachelors coming to eye jealously Maria's groom.
There were few or no other children about. He hadn't seen any of his friends such as Greg, Vincent of Pansy. He didn't know if Blaise had come either. Oh he wished his father had invited his Aunty Andy, Uncle Ted and Nymph. But he knew without asking that they were never going to be welcome to a gathering of the pureblood high society.
Maria was the first person he saw as he went into the ball room. She had a brilliant gown of red on, was strapless. It done up like a corset at the back, and though it looked acutely uncomfortable she carried herself well in it. Maria was a true pureblood if nothing else.
"And here he is!" she cooed to her school friends who had conveniently all come to help her now it was a marriage, not a funeral she was about to arrange."My special little boy!"she said as he went to her side.
Her friends gushed over him. He was so cute, adorable! She was so lucky to be moving in with him and Lucius! And to think she was going to be a mother! At her age. Surely it wouldn't be so long till she had children of her own? But Draco was so sweet!
Unable to see his friends or his father he stood with her. Maria put a maternal arm about him and kept his near. To any one watching she appeared to be a perfect mother. Every one smiled at her. She was a worthy successor to poor Narcissa they whispered to one another. It was as if it was rude to mention the dead when they were in the presence of such a desperately alive young women.
Draco felt awkward around all these young girls. He didn't much like them either. They were nothing like Jane or his nana Eliza. They must be round here somewhere he thought to himself. He was just about to go and search for Eliza when a man came up to him and Maria.
"Madam, dinner is ready if you and your guests are ready to go thought to the dining room." Maria was told. Madam...she was truly the lady of this household now she though with a smirk.
"Naturally. Come on you, shall we go and tell your daddy?" she asked. Draco again recoiled from the way he spoke to her as if he was two but there was nothing he could do against it now he didn't think. And certainly not tonight. But he was sure she had noticed the look on his face.
He had no time to think thought because she had grabbed his hand and was pulling him through the crowds to find Lucius. She naturally found him among a mixture of bachelors and married men who had come to the party, his old school friends.
"Yes you are a very lucky man," said Grimm to his employer. Crabbe, Goyle and Snape were with him as well as Eliza.
She had an ancient beauty to her that evening. Her silver haired shimmered in the ballroom and her wrinkles only added to her loveliness, they did not take away from it. She had a purple gown on and despite her dumpy figure seemed to be holding her own in the circle of men.
"Well of course he is! I brought him up." She said sending ripples of chuckling about the group, despite knowing Grimm had been referring to Maria.
"Yes!" said Crabbe. "We all owe many a successful prank to you Eliza."
"Don't forget it young man..." she commanded him. "Oh Dragon you look splendid," she said as Draco took her eye. Without a second thought he left Maria for his nanas side. "Such a handsome young man. A great deal more handsome than your father was..."
"I thought I was your favourite!" said Lucius in mock hurt.
"You were – until I met your son," she replied.
"Darling," said Maria as she wrapped her arm through her grooms. "We have to go into dinner now."
It was a shame thought Lucius. He had been rather enjoying himself talking to his old friends.
"Very well," he said as he turned to his young bride.
They lead the company into the ballroom and the two of them were seated together in the middle of the table. Maria had done all the arrangements; he had let her run wild with it. He could not help but compare her to the first Mrs Malfoy and as ever he found Maria lacking, but no matter. She was over tolerable at least. No, he had only felt he had to change one thing.
Looking at the place names she saw the person on her left had been moved. Over to the other side of Lucius. It wasn't like she could make a fuss about it now, but she knew who had done this.
Draco was delighted to find himself in between his father and his Uncle Severus. On the other side of Severus sat Eliza. With his father between him and Maria he began to relax for the first time that evening. Down the table he saw Jane in a blue dress. She looked pretty. Champagne was flowing through the room as was wine, but his father still kept his head unlike some of the guests. He didn't just appear lordly to his son but absolutely majestic. He was more formal with his familiars as they sat to eat. Much of the talking was done by gossiping women who spoke only of where to find the best bouquets and the most beautiful dresses. Draco knew his father had no real interest in any of those things.
"Daddy," he said to him quietly.
"Yes son," he replied.
"Can we go and see a game of Quidditch soon?" he asked.
"I think that is a very good idea. You've been so good you deserve a treat don't you. Especially after you weren't well. Yes I think I can lay my hands on some tickets somehow." Lucius spoke so quietly only Severus could hear him on the other side of him. He shouldn't dote on the boy so in public. Maria despite being immersed in wedding discussions also overheard.
"Can uncle Sev come too?" he said looking up at the greasy haired professor who he so admired. It seemed he had not seemed him that much of late.
"How about it Snape?"
"I think I could be persuaded." He nodded.
Draco giggled. His uncle and father began talking about their teams and the days of Hogwarts and the banter between all the men who heard the conversation begun. It was as if they husbands about table had sprung to life.
Mrs Parkinson saw that Maria was unhappy with this. No women wanted Quidditch to dominate the conversation when they should all be focusing on her and how wonderful she was.
"Well then little Draco. What do you think of your new mamma?" she asked. The conversation broke up the men's conversation up as it was out of the blue and the women who had been talking with Mrs Parkinson heard the question all turned in curiosity to see what his answer was going to be. Maria listened intently. All eyes were watching him.
"She is my step mamma Mrs Parkinson. My mamma died when I was very small." He told her solemnly.
"Yes, yes she did." Said Lucius in approval of his answer. "And it is only right that we spare her a thought tonight," he told the table. He stood up and raised his glass. "To my Narcissa."
"To Narcissa!" The table chorused back to him.
Two women down the end of the table looked at each other in shock as did all the society matrons. That was the first toast of the evening. Lucius had toasted his sweetheart before he had given a thought to his bride.
Draco sat comfortably beside his father for the rest of the dinner he knew he had done the right thing. His father went back to pretending to be interested in weddings.
Once pudding was done, Maria smiled. This was her chance to shine again she thought to herself. "Is every one ready for some dancing?" she asked the table, and the girls all squealed delightedly.
"Yes," said Lucius who had picked up on his bride's mood throughout the night. He supposed toasted Narcissa before her had been cruel but it had had to be done. It would have been wrong not to mention her then. "Jane perhaps you would take Draco up to bed. I have a feeling my little heir is getting quite tired now."
"I am not papa..." he said through a yawn.
"Oh yes you are my sleepy boy," he said as he swiftly kissed his forehead. "Sweet dreams." He said sternly so Draco knew not to argue.
"Goodnight Draco," Maria said to him and he went over and he kissed the cheek she offered. The girls again remarked on his sweetness. It so good to see him so devoted to her already.
Severus ruffled his hair which Draco objected to and he gave Eliza a warm hug goodnight.
The last thing he saw as he left the room was his father place an attentive kiss on his fiancées forehead and lead her to the ballroom. Maybe things were going to be ok he thought.
"Did I do well tonight?" he asked his governess.
"I think you did very well. I know you made me proud."
"Good...Jane?"
"Yes master Draco..."
"I know it is late – but can I have my coco and a story?"
-
"Oh don't go."
"I have to my dear. Work calls." Lucius told as he looked at his fiancée. "You have a good day though. And shall be home before you know it." He promised her. Picking up his brief case, he popped his head into the family room. "Have a good day Draco."
"You too dad!" the boy chorused back to him. He had been much better that weekend. After Saturday night he had been fine and Sunday, the day before, he had been playing with him as if nothing had happened at all. Whatever had upset him it was past.
Lucius left the house with a pop and Maria sighed. If nothing else at least she had time to talk to her step son now which she had not managed to do the day before.
Sending Jane out of the room (who only went with a resentful look), she settled down by Draco on the sofa.
"Draco can I ask you a question?"
"Yes Maria."
"On Saturday, why did you try and spoil the party?
"I didn't."
"Oh, Draco how many more lies?" She asked. "First you try and spoil the seating arrangement, then you use your 'illness' for a treat, and then you remind every one of the tragedy your father faced." she shook her head. She didn't shout at him but she spoke calmly. It was much worse.
Draco panicked. He hadn't done any of those things!
"But I – Maria, I didn't!" he protested.
"Did it ever cross your mind that you were sat next to me because your poor father needs a rest from your constant bothering him? Did you even think that a party about your father wasn't the right place to ask for treats for yourself! Selfish little boy... and then finally you humiliate me in front of everyone and say you don't wasn't me to be your mother!"
"I didn't say..."
"Well I tell you what you nasty little brat! When I am your mother there will be changes unless you start behaving yourself. As if your father didn't need reminding further that you are the reason he lost Narcissa."
Draco sat on the sofa in floods of tears. What she said was tearing at his heart. Was he the reason is mother was dead? Had he killed her? Maybe his father had never wanted him... he had just put up with him.
"You behave yourself young man. Or I promise you - Daddy and I will have another son...a better son. Daddy will want one." Draco shook. Another son? A better son... "But if you work with me... I won't let it come to that. Cause we're friends, aren't we?" she asked. He nodded. "Come sweetheart, its ok," she said as she hugged him. "You be a good boy, a quiet boy. And everything will be fine."
He nodded. He would be good. He would be silent.
"Oh and one last thing, Draco. Your father told me to tell you something. You are no longer to call me Maria."
"So what am I to call you?" he asked.
"Why, mother of course."
That evening Draco dreamt of Narcissa, her longer beautiful hair and her blue eyes. He dreamt they were together and that he was in her arms and they were safe together. He dreamt of his father loving them both more than anything. And he dreamt northing of Maria. For eight loving hours she was out of his life for good.
-
"I am going to take you out to dinner tonight," said Lucius. Maria, having been curled up in the sofa with a book smiled at this much welcome news.
"I like the sound of that," she said to him.
"Well I know the three of us haven't had a lot of time together as a family."
"The three of us?" she questioned.
"Well of course. I know the two of you are getting on so wonderfully now. I want to take both you and Draco out." He said to her.
Bubble burst.
"You can spend the day getting ready; you have the house to yourself." He said to her.
"Am I not looking after Draco today then?" she asked.
"No, he is going over to Andromeda's today. First visit since his cousin has left for Hogwarts." He told her.
"I don't know why you even let them see him. I mean I know that the court order went through year ago but can't you appeal against it again?" she asked. "I know that I am most probably speaking way out of line but I care about your son – the boy I am soon to call my own. I don't want him with that sort of wizard Lucius."
"And I appreciate that darling. Don't you think I hate it to and I always have? But he would be devastated. She has always been in his life. I am selfish, but not so selfish as to take away his trips there. He has built up ties of affection with the Tonk's whether he has my approval for it or not." He said to her. "Any way, where is he I need to drop him off? Draco!" he called.
"I could do that," she offered.
"Thank you darling but it is going to be hard enough for Andy to accept I am remarrying without rubbing her face in it."
"You don't think she is going to approve then?"
"Whether she approves of us or not is of little consequence but I am going to get a lecture about putting Draco first I am sure of it."
"As if you need it. Sometimes I think the only one you really care about is that boy." She said and he noted the hurt tone in her voice. She did love him. But he could never love her. Only care. He tried to love her...
Firmly, he pressed his lips to hers. She caressed his face and wondered why he had not denied her claim.
"Ok dad I'm ready," announced Draco before he had come into the room giving the two of them time to spring apart.
"Good. Come on then you, shall we get you over to Andy's?"
"Have a good day Draco." Maria called.
"Goodbye." He said to her. It was enough. He had so far got away without calling her mother. He knew it may be what his father wanted but it was not what he wanted.
-
"When are you ever going to understand the simple fact that I love my son and nothing is going to change that," said Lucius to Andromeda. He had been right. She was kicking up a fuss about Maria.
"I am just saying that he does not need a nice new mother if this is what this marriage about. He has me, Eliza and Jane. Between us we are all the mother he needs." Andy reproached him.
He had to admit what she was saying was making sense to him and yet he had gone far too far down the road to turn back. He was engaged for pity's sake!
"He will always be number one."
"Then all I can say is good luck to her. She is going to need it being married to you."
Lucius shook his hair. His long blonde hair was tied back but a few strands fell down in front of his face. Sweeping out of the room he went into the kitchen to find his son already playing with his uncle. He was dome having this conversation with Andy.
"Dragon I'm off to work now." he said as he walked over and kissed him. "Remember to wait here instead of fluing home tonight ok? We're going to go straight to the restaurant to met Maria for dinner."
"Ok dad," he said. "Love you."
"I know son. See you tonight." He said. Just as he left the room he turned to see Draco and Ted immersed in their game one last time. "Bye baby." He whispered.
He'd be just fine with them. He always was.
Please review!