A/N: Let me know if your reviews if this is moving too slow. I can't really decide if I like the pace, I usually move it along a lot faster but then it feels rushed so…Just lemme know
This chapter gave me a little bit of trouble. So I feel like it's subpar. I'm hoping I'll hit my stride again in the next one.
"Molly," Narcissa said with a smile, taking a seat at the table across from the somewhat larger woman. Molly had lost weight since her children had left the house, but she still had a large frame. Courtesy of carrying seven children.
"Narcissa, lovely to see you again. I'm sorry we couldn't get together sooner. I've been a bit flustered planning the ball this year. There seem to be a lot of vendors cancelling on me."
"Would you like me to make a few calls?" Narcissa asked. As the Minister's wife Molly Wealsey had a certain clout with the vendors in London. However, Narcissa had the experience in how to deal with them. And it never helped to throw some money around. She knew that even with the new salary Molly was a frugal woman. She would hate to see the ball ruined because she refused to bow to their pressure.
"Actually, that would be wonderful," Molly replied with a weak smile. "I'm afraid my assistant quit recently. Seems she got herself pregnant, and I haven't had a chance to replace her…And Fleur's been sick so I've had the children…"
Narcissa reached across the table to take one of Molly's hands.
"Molly, I know we haven't been close…for a long time. But I'd rather like to think that Scorpius has brought us a little closer than before. And you should have owled me, I don't mind helping and I know how bad those people can be. I'll take care of it. I don't have the social calendar I used to, so why don't you let me help with this."
"You're sure you wouldn't mind?" Molly asked. What Narcissa said was true, they'd been good friends at Hogwarts. Until Molly had chosen Arthur Weasley. Then she'd been thrown from society, and Lucius had insisted that Narcissa give up the friendship. And though Narcissa hated to admit it, after his miscarriages she had rather started to hate Molly Weasley and her brood of children. But she adored Ginerva and could only praise Molly for how she had raised the young woman. And she missed having friends, she hated most of the women she socialized with.
"Of course I wouldn't. Why don't you come for dinner later and we'll discuss what needs to be done. I find these things are best done with a glass of wine…Or two." Molly laughed at this and nodded.
"I'm sure you didn't owl me to talk about my life though," Molly said with a knowing smile. She took a sip of her tea and looked at Narcissa expectantly.
"No, I was hoping you could help me with something else. I think Ginerva is dating my son – and no one is better at discovering information than you. They are playing it very close to the chest right now, but I know there's something more going on," Narcissa said. Molly leaned back and frowned a little.
"And how do you feel about this pairing?" She asked finally. She wanted to find out about Ginny's relationship herself, now that Narcissa had piqued her interest, but she would interfere with her daughter's love life. No, if that's what she's after she'll be sorely disappointed. Narcissa smiled, a genuine smile.
"Well I'd rather like to push it along I think. I believe that Ginerva has been very good for Draco. And I think she's done a splendid job raising my grandson in his absence. Draco was never happy with Astoria and he's too young to be a widower," Narcissa replied. With that Molly fell forward with a conspiratorial smile and the two eagerly began talking of weddings.
Draco rang the bell and Scorpius rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet. It was the first time the young boy had seen his mum in a week and he was looking forward to a day in the lab, even if he had to share her with his father. She had promised he could brew his own potion today too.
"You know, Fred's been brewing potions with Uncle George could couple months now," Scorpius said as the door buzzed back at them and swung open. Draco chuckled.
"You mentioned that once or twice. Don't worry Ginerva said you could brew one of your own today. Start to finish, as long as you promise to be careful."
"I already promised that dad," Scorpius whined as he reached for a lab coat. Draco stared at him for a minute, reaching for a lab coat that looked his size at the same time.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to whine," Scorpius said quickly. Draco just shook his head and shrugged into the lab coat.
"That's okay. I hated lectures at your age too." They entered the next door and Draco was amazed at what he saw. The lab resembled the set up that Snape had had in his personal area. Long tables spread out with bubbling cauldrons at various states of completion. Ginny was in the middle of one chopping up something. Draco smiled at the sight. Her hair was swept into a tight ponytail at the back of her head, and her lab coat fell to her knees, under which she wore a pair of dark jeans.
"I thought maybe you could brew some sleepless draught today," Ginny said to Scorpius. She motioned to the other side of the table from her where a book lay open, probably to the page he needed. "You know where the ingredients are."
Scorpius nodded and hurried past Draco to examine the book. He then went to the cupboard and Draco was amazed that he quickly pulled what he needed and returned to the table. Draco approached Ginny and merely watched for several moments as Scorpius pulled out four sprigs of Lavender and added standard ingredient to it. He ground the mixture in his mortar into a creamy paste and then turned to his cauldron.
"I was hoping you could start a polyjuice potion for me," Ginny said to Draco. She had placed her wand in the center of the table for Scorpius to use and gestured toward the cabinet. "It's pinned on the inside door."
When Draco returned he was surprised to see that Ginny had a second wand she was using to stir various potions. Scorpius had placed the wand she'd given him back on the surface of the table and was sitting on the bench, reading through the book. Draco started the potion and then stepped back, checking the clock and sat on the bench next to Scorpius. He forgot that potion brewing required a lot of waiting. While he was waiting he let his mind wander.
"Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy, you have a healthy baby boy," the nurse said offering the child to Astoria. Astoria turned her face away.
"Give him to his father," she spat. "And get me some painkillers."
The nurse looked taken aback but handed the baby to Draco and hurried off to consult with the doctor. He smiled down at his tiny son and then frowned at Astoria.
"At least try to act like you were raised properly. You're a Malfoy now, not just the daughter of some drunk," he hissed in her ear. When the nurse came back in he was cooing at his son in a most un-Malfoylike manor.
"Would you like us to notify anyone?" the nurse asked.
"Just my mother," Draco replied, not looking up.
"These are probably going to make her tired, perhaps you'd like to go to the nursery with your son? He's going to be hungry soon…But he won't be able to nurse until the painkillers are out of her system."
"I'm not nursing him, start him on formula," Astoria replied flatly. The nurse gave her the potion and she tipped it back like a shot. "I'll see you later Draco."
Draco followed the nurse out who was obviously trying not to frown at the new mother's actions. He, on the other hand, was outright scowling. He made a note to cut the allowance to her family for that month. Let them scrape from money for a month and see if she didn't come around. Really, it was unbecoming for her to act like this. This was her son after all.
Draco awoke to a screaming infant yet again. He rolled over and looked for Astoria, but he half of the bed was empty. He frowned and pulled himself out of the bed with a groan. He'd been in business meetings until late the night before and it was not even sunrise, he realized as he caught a glimpse of the dark outdoors.
"Trixie," he snapped his fingers as he made his way down the short hallway to the nursery. "Formula."
Trixie reappeared seconds later with a warm bottle and Draco pulled his son to his chest, giving him the bottle with a soft smile.
"You're a hungry one aren't you son. That's good because that means you'll get big and strong and you'll be an excellent Quidditch player and take over the family business just like your dad," Draco said softly, stroking a finger from his free hand down the side of the six month old's face. He latched onto it with a smile as he finished his bottle.
"MAMA, MAMA! MAMA!" Scorpius was screaming from his high chair the morning of his second birthday. Draco groaned and let his head fall into his hands.
"I don't know where she is Scorpius, I'm sorry. Please eat your breakfast and stop screaming," Draco said, putting the bowl of fruit in front of the toddler again. Scorpius knocked it right off the chair and cross his arms. Screaming again.
Where was that bloody woman, Draco wondered. He snapped his fingers for Trixie and motioned for her to clean up the mess. "And summon his nanny. I have to take care of some things today."
"I don't care how you do it, just start following her. I want to know where she is at all times. And for gods sake make sure she doesn't bring anymore men home," Draco was saying. Narcissa opened his study door and stepped in.
"Mother," Draco said stiffly. A willowy dark haired man sat in the chair across from Draco's desk. Narcissa frowned.
"Bradley," she said, recognizing the man Lucius had often had do his dirty work. "Is this really necessary?"
"I can never find her anymore. She's wasting galleons on drinking. She's no better than that good for nothing father of hers," Draco spat slamming his glass down on the table. "It wasn't supposed to be like this mother! Father promised it would get easier. It hasn't gotten easier. I could handle her ignoring me, hating me, but she hates our son. Her own flesh and blood."
"I will take care of her," Narcissa said stiffly. Draco sighed, defeated, and fell into his chair.
"Fine. But Bradley will still be tailing her. I need to make sure she doesn't stir up any more scandals. It cost us too much to get rid of her last binge," Draco said with a sigh. He motioned for Bradley to leave before he let his head fall into his hands.
"I've found her," Bradley said as he carried Astoria through the foyer of the Manor. Draco glared at him.
"You shouldn't have lost her in the first place," he replied coolly. "Where was she?"
"Some flat. Wizarding London this time. Mostly booze I think. Maybe some of that muggle drug she was using before. Thought Narcissa took care of this," Bradley grunted.
"She did. She hasn't been feeling well so she hasn't been able to deal with her. Just put her in her room. Ward the doors, I'll floo my mother."
When Narcissa arrived she looked better than the last time Draco had seen her and she offered him a rare smile.
"You didn't have to come mother, I could have stayed with Scorpius. I don't want you getting sick from him again."
"Nonsense. That's all behind me now, and I want to spend some time with my grandson. Plus this dinner's very important. Go get ready, I'll go check on your wife."
"You're sure mother?" Draco asked again as he straightened his tie and pulled on his cloak.
"Go. We'll still be here when you get back, none the worse for wear. Enjoy yourself a little tonight. You haven't had a night out where you weren't worrying about one of them in a long time.
Draco's wand started vibrating and he pulled himself back to the present with a frown. He added the leaches and carefully measured the lacewings into his mortar to crush. He probably should've taken care of that before he thought guilty. He added the lacewings to the cauldron and lit the flame again. Counting carefully he waved his wand to seal the first step and glanced at Ginny's parchment.
Carefully tossing the boomslang skin into the cauldron he measured out the bicorn horn and crushed it to a fine powder before he tossed it in as well. He adjusted the heat under his cauldron, counted carefully and then sealing it, reduced the heat for the cauldron to brew. He carefully charmed the fire to extinguish in eighteen hours and made a note on the chart next to it.
"Have you missed it," Ginny asked, sitting down next to him on the bench. He shrugged.
"Not so much. I missed magic the most I think. It makes you itchy, not having a wand for so long. The worst part is that they suppress the magic so once a month you're allowed into a room that just absorbs it out of you – like a pensieve. But it never feels like you use it. Like one minute you're over full and the next minute you're just empty." Ginny shuddered at this.
"Well, Scorpius is done his potion. How about we go get some lunch?"