*throws chapter at you*
Since I started writing this, I have started, like, 10 other stories. That said, consider any and all stories on a sporadic update status until completion. This one in particular only has a few left, so hopefully you enjoy a short, transitional chapter before we rejoin the dinner party.
Thanks for all the love.
I own nothing.
Roughly Two Weeks Before Dinner - Wednesday
Divine Delicatessen, corner of Loc Alley and Visu Alley Market Districts
"Have you tried the Rejuvenative Reuben?" Narcissa turned to the man next to her. Draco's eyes immediately turned to the sandwich listing on the menu board, thinking.
"I believe so. I think you'd really enjoy the Chilled Out Chicken Club more, though." He gestured to the sandwich listing and Narcissa read the list of ingredients. It seemed her son knew her quite well, which brought a slight smile to her face. She so loved these little moments.
"I believe you're right, darling," she replied, and they stepped up to the counter to place their orders. Minutes later, mother and son were seated, enjoying their meals and making small talk. Draco hated small talk. He hated angering his mother more, but his concern for her outweighed his feelings about the temperament of the former Mrs. Malfoy.
"How have you been, mother?' He asked politely, cringing at his own lack of subterfuge. Her ice blue eyes narrowed in suspicion at her son, berry coloured lips pursing.
"I've been well," Narcissa replied slowly. "We received the support of the Portuguese branch of our Witches' Auxiliary not long ago, Sophie flooed this morning with the good news." As she spoke, Narcissa watched her pride and joy valiantly attempt to reign in his disinterest. 'Obviously,' she thought, 'he had something else he would rather have asked.'
"Oh! That reminds me!" Pressing a hand atop Draco's, Narcissa smiled, "When were you going to tell me about him?" As girls, the Black daughters had been raised to be above veiled speech and misdirection as conversational tactics. As young women, Narcissa, like her sisters, had realized there was an addendum; unless one is good at it. She took an almost unholy amount of glee at Draco's slightly wider eyes, the grey overpowering the black of his irises. It took all her willpower not to snort inelegantly while he fought the urge to gulp deeply.
He cleared his throat, seeming to find the nerve to ask, "Him?"
"Your father, darling. The Manor renovations?" Narcissa's amusement was in danger of starting to show. When Draco's shoulders visibly sagged, she went in for the kill. "But since we're on the subject, how is Mr. Potter?"
Narcissa swayed through the green flames of her private floo with a smirk.
"Have fun with your boy?" The deep tones of his voice lilting upward in his innocent query had her guffawing long and loudly, the sound echoing through her wing of the chateau. She collapsed on one knee holding her stomach, free hand slapping the floor and sending the envelope she had been carrying gliding across the floor to his feet.
He flicked an ebony curl from his eyes, the oceanic orbs flashing in irritated amusement. Picking up his tea, he grumbled, "Very ladylike, Cissy," evoking a reprisal from the woman now rolling on the floor of her receiving room in her Versace pantsuit.
Sliding an elegant finger under the flap, he opened the envelope and pulled its contents. He raised a shapely brow, his eyes sparkling. "A dinner invitation? Is it time, Cissy?"
While she was still letting loose occasional huffed chuckles, Narcissa had finally crawled her way over to the chair opposite him and had seated herself. He remembered the buttoned-up, prim woman he had met, thinking with affection that the vivacious, smiling creature before him had opened herself up so much. To the world, to him. While he was taking in her laugh-rumpled suit and exhausted slouch, he knew he was doing the right thing.
"He asked about you, said he wanted to meet you. I told him I'd bring my beau if he would bring his." She reached out, taking his larger hand in hers, and grasped it.
"But will he?" His thumb traced an absent pattern over her knuckles leaving shivers to trail up her arms and down her spine. Narcissa closed her eyes with a wistful smile and leaned back to relax while his hand caressed hers.
"Not a chance, that's why I extended the invitation to Mr. Potter myself."