A/n: Hey there, dear fellow muggles! May you enjoy entering the mortal world of our favourite wizard :)
"S'il n'existait pas, Dieu, il faudrait l'inventer."
Who doesn't like an interesting Dostojevski quote to start with?
Chapter 8: Narcissa and Her
When Narcissa Malfoy found her little dark-haired guest and her son at the breakfast table, it was immediately clear to her that neither had closed even one eye all night. A smile played around her lips as she watched both of them practically slipping from their chairs. They seemed to have the consistency of jelly-fish.
The question that she asked herself now was whether they'd been up all night making up, or whether they'd been fighting. She hadn't been woken by any loud noises, so they couldn't have had a real fight, like she knew her son could instigate. On the other hand, from what she'd seen from the younger child, she doubted that he would be able to put up such a fight. He was so quiet and polite, and well-spoken.
Clearly, Narcissa Malfoy had yet to see when anger took power of Harry's eyes.
For now though, she lived with the image of a very gentle spirit; and not likely to go up against her strong-willed son.
The young mother sighed at the thought. When is Draco going to settle down a little? She doubted he would be allowed to stay long at his next school if he kept the same attitude. Even her cousin Severa hadn't been able to keep him tame outside of a classroom, though she clearly had more control.
Once their breakfasts swallowed, Narcissa sent the two boys right back to sleep. Harry absolutely needed some decent rest after his trip to the emergency room, and Draco would become very whiny, and in the worst case, hyperactive in about an hour if he did not get some sleep too.
Narcissa knew better than to put them together again though. She wrapped Harry in a warm blanket on the most comfortable couch, and by the time she'd come back from putting her son to bed, the little raven had long gone away to the dreamy world of childhood. She watched over him from the kitchen, where she prepared some more tea for her mother-in-law.
"How did you sleep, dear mother?" She inquired, forcing her voice to sound polite.
"Hmmm" Mrs. Malfoy Senior huffed haughtily, not unlike Draco. "I'm sure I heard whispers coming from the boy's room all night. Why didn't you put them to sleep?"
So they did talk all night. "I'm certain it was but a dream, mother."
"Don't you patronize me, young lady." The old woman chastised her like she as five years old.
Being treated like a child made Narcissa want to act like a child and roll her eyes at her, but she refrained.
After having taken good care of her mother-in-law, as was expected of her (as she expected from herself) she built a fire in the living room and watched over the small child with a cup of morning tea by her side, her thoughts wandering.
She had not wondered why his parents didn't take better care of such a lovely son, though she was annoyed that they had not even inquired where he was. She thought that they probably didn't know he was here. But it was not to be excluded that they simply didn't care. Narcissa had seen how tightly the boy's clothes fit. Clearly he hadn't gotten much attention in a while.
He hadn't gotten a new set of clothes in at least half a year, she guessed. But the ones he was wearing weren't of low quality. It didn't look like they didn't have enough money to buy him a new pair of trousers. So why hadn't they?
Unfortunately, Narcissa was not surprised. She knew very well about disregarded children. She would always hate herself for it, and try all her life to make up for it, but the first four years of his life she had barely looked back at Draco; until there had been no one else left to care for him, and she had been forced to do it all alone.
At least, her cousin Severa had been there, and still was. She had sometimes looked after Draco and taught him since he was very little. It was one constant he'd had in his life. Narcissa was very grateful for that.
All this meant that she understood (without condoning) how parents could not care for their children. Parenthood was not a biological given. Some people were parents, and some weren't. They could sometimes change, as she had done herself, but oftentimes, children were left raising themselves, or being raised by older siblings.
Her mind meanderings were interrupted by the sound of her phone. She hastily scrambled to her feet to get it before it could wake the boys.
"Don't hang up, Narcissa!" A stern and cold voice ordered the moment the receiver touched her ear. It was all she could do to not do just that, but it was Christmas after all, and he had the decency not to call at any other time.
"What is it, Lucius?" She asked in the emotionless tone she reserved just for her husband.
"I couldn't buy a gift this year…for Draco, but…"
"I'd rather you didn't anyway." Narcissa cut him off. "I'm not sure how I should explain to him with what kind of money those gifts were bought."
"You didn't give him what I bought the other years?"
"I did. It's the only way he knows his father. Though I'm not sure he's right to think that. It's not like you bought it personally."
"Narcissa…" The man half-pleaded half-growled. "You know I can't buy it myself."
"And whose fault is that?"
"Don't act like you're a saint, Narcissa." Lucius drawled over the phone. "Anyway, could I talk to Draco for a bit? My time is limited."
The single mother fumbled with her blouse. She knew she had to refuse him, but it was always surprisingly hard. She had once promised to love and cherish this man, even die for him. They were technically still married, and she was still faithful to that contract. She liked to tell herself she did it for Draco.
"Narcissa." Lucius threatened as the silence stretched on. "It's Christmas, for heaven's sake!"
"I don't think it's a good idea, Lucius."
"He is my son too, Narcissa!" He was yelling now. "He has a right to know his father! It's Christmas and I want to talk to him!"
"Why didn't you think of that before you murdered a woman." Narcissa's throat was flaming with anger and it was hard to keep her tone level and calm.
"I am loyal. I did what I was asked. You know how it goes with SH, Narcissa, you were there." He argued.
"You thought that taking a life was more important than building up ours, taking care of the one we created." Narcissa now fired the words at an alarming speed. "I made mistakes in the past, but I am trying my hardest to make up for it and keep our son from turning into us! And allowing any kind of influence from you will undo all I have worked for!"
"Now I'm the bad influence? Who was it who told me 'come on, Lucy pussy, you don't know how to have fun'." He said with a mocking girly voice.
Narcissa closed her eyes in shame. He would never let her forget who she was. She was secretly happy her husband was in prison.
"Your mother's here." She said to change the subject. Their conversation wouldn't go beyond petty fighting. She walked to the kitchen where her mother-in-law was still sipping her tea with a sour expression. Narcissa was certain she would find something unacceptable about the tea.
"Narcissa! Let me talk to Draco, n…" His voice was lost when she handed the wireless phone to the lady, who looked at her questioningly.
"Who is it?"
"Your son." After her conversation with her husband, Narcissa couldn't keep the sarcasm from leaking through her façade. Unfortunately, the old lady picked up on it. She was too shrewd for peace's sake.
"Not being caught for your deeds doesn't make you any better, Miss Black." Mrs. Malfoy senior liked to hit where it hurt, and to pretend the marriage of her son had never taken place with this woman.
Narcissa flinched, her self-control coming apart at the seams. It always happened when he called, and she hated that fact.
Mrs. Malfoy senior took the receiver from the pale blonde' s hand and pressed the 'end call' button before even putting it to her ear. "How can I talk to the son you ruined." She accused and handed back the phone.
The young mother took the phone, speechless. Yes, she had started the whole thing, but she had tried to put her husband back on the right track after straightening herself out. She was now working full-time, and was a single mother. She did not have one minute a day to herself. She deserved more at least than contempt.
But she did not know how to express her desire for recognition, and she was aware she would not get it from this woman in any case. Did she even want it from her?
She took the phone and simply put it down on the table and collapsed onto one of the chairs. She felt drained.
But the old woman wasn't happy with just one snarky comment. She was in the mood to complain and over-dramatise. "The ancient Malfoy family has been defiled." She poured herself another cup of tea and stirred aggressively with the silver spoon, even though she hadn't mixed anything into it.
"It is not!" Narcissa attempted to defend herself. "I am turning Draco into a respectable young man!" She knew he would be. Draco was a difficult young boy, but despite his character, she knew he had a very passionate heart and mind. He would go to great lengths for the ones he loved.
"Oh, for heaven's sake!" Mrs. Malfoy senior exclaimed. Narcissa winced. Her mother in-law sounded exactly like her son when she uttered that phrase. "I wasn't able to see my own grandson for four years because he was with your family, those breeders with plebeian folk!"
"I beg your pardon?" Narcissa hadn't heard this one yet, and she was flabbergasted by the nerve of this woman. "Plebeian folk?"
"Oh, I know your sister married with those lowly families. What was it, Andromeda Tonks? It's truly ridiculous." She huffed haughtily, inflating her chest. "Your cousin…"
"Severa has done a very good job educating Draco in my absence." Narcissa snapped before her mother-in-law could add any criticism. "And it's not like you were very happy to care for him yesterday when I went to the hospital."
"For heaven's sake," Narcissa really wished she'd stop saying that, "the boy is uncontrollable." Mrs. Malfoy senior stirred some more. "He and that unmannerly street-boy have kept me awake all night."
Narcissa's mouth dropped open. Clearly, this woman's judgement was entirely clouded, thickly misted. Harry was the most mannered and well-spoken boy she'd ever met of that age, to the point that she felt slightly jealous her own son could not act like that.
"Mom? What's wrong?"
Both women turned abruptly. In the doorway of the kitchen stood the son they were speaking of, pale hair all tangled up and eyes drooping.
Narcissa jumped out of her chair to take Draco away from the old witch, to protect him from whatever words would come out. "Sweety, it's all right. We're just having an adult discussion. You should go back to bed." She chastised gently.
She took her son by the hand to take him back to his room, he obviously wasn't rested yet, but he stood frozen as they passed by the living-room door.
Narcissa followed Draco's gaze and it fell upon the raven, only his dark feathers sticking out from under the blanket, still fast asleep on the couch by the dying fire.
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