Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters you may recognize from the wonderful world of Harry Potter, they all belong to the revered JK Rowling, I just like to play with them a little.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
THE MALFOYS
Lucius arrived home in the early evening. He was quite annoyed with Draco for disappearing that morning, without a word of explanation, and due to that he had been delayed at the office.
"Narcissa." Lucius greeted his wife with a light kiss to the cheek. "How was your day, dearest?"
"Lovely, thank you, darling. Your day must have busy, you're quite late?"
Good, Lucius thought. At least Cissa is in a pleasant mood. She's obviously finished punishing me for last night's indiscretion. "Draco disappeared from the office before lunch. Incidentally, you haven't seen him today, have you?"
"No, not since breakfast. Do you think he may have gone to find the Weasley girl?"
"I think not. He admitted he had no idea where the girl lived," Lucius replied confidently. "And surely, if by chance, he had come across any information regarding her whereabouts, he would have alerted me."
"Were you able to make any inquiries today, regarding her whereabouts?"
"I did, but my contacts were unable to forward any information at this stage," Lucius lied. "It seems the Weasleys are extremely tight lipped regarding the location of their home. Quite a feat no information has leaked out, considering how many of them there are." He had not made any inquiries into Ginevra Weasley's whereabouts today. It wasn't that he was unable to, but that he still felt compelled to delay their meeting for a while. Something just did not feel right to him. It was as if he had missed some vital piece of information, and Lucius Malfoy was nothing, if not thorough.
"That is unfortunate. Draco will be upset," Narcissa responded. "Do you feel you may have the information by tomorrow?" Anxious to meet her little grandson, Narcissa had spent much of the day dreaming of all the gifts she could shower upon the little boy.
"Certainly. Something should turn up tomorrow. After all, they're usually such a trusting lot. Surely they've given someone the location of the property."
"Wonderful! Dinner is ready. Would you like to eat now, or wait for Draco, dear?"
"We could be waiting all night for Draco. Merlin only knows where the boy has gotten to - probably off with one of his whores," Lucius growled. While he wouldn't take his irritation with his son out on Narcissa, being reminded of it did nothing to help his disposition.
"Lucius!" Narcissa's hand flew up to rest on her chest. "I don't wish to hear such vulgar things."
"My apologies, darling." Lucius slightly bowed toward his wife. "Now, shall we go to dinner?" He extended his hand toward her. His usually perfect manners would have to remain intact for the balance of the evening, if he did not want to spend a second night in a guest room.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
After dinner, Lucius settled down in his study to complete some pressing paper work. Unable to settle in the parlor, Narcissa established herself on one of the antique couches, and tended her embroidery, while keeping silent companionship with her husband. The quiet of the manor enveloped them as the evening grew late.
Sometime later Draco arrived home. Millie the house elf greeted him in the foyer, as she did every night.
"Sir, Millie can be of service to sir?" The creature spoke as her young master Apparated into the entrance chamber of the manor.
"Where are my parents?"
"Millie believes Master and Mistress is in Master's study," Millie replied, bowing low.
Draco dropped his cloak onto the wretched creature, and without so much as a backward glance at the elf groveling on the floor, covered by his discarded cloak, he strode off in the direction of his father's study. As he entered the room both occupants looked up. Lucius smirked, after taking in Draco's demeanor. Must have been with one of his whores.
"Draco, where have you been?" Narcissa enquired sharply. Although Draco was a grown man, she was still his mother, and liked to know where he was most of the time. It irritated Draco at times, as it was not always appropriate to inform his mother where he had been, or what he had been doing.
"Mother." Draco approached Narcissa, and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead. "Father, good evening." He inclined his head toward Lucius.
Lucius' smirk had now disappeared, as his earlier annoyance with his son resurfaced. "Draco, where have you been all day?"
Draco ignored his father's tone, and smiled at his parents. "Mother, Father ... I went to see Drake and Angel."
"How did you find her? I have not told you where she is," Lucius queried.
"Coincidence really. I couldn't concentrate this morning, so I went for a walk, and I decided to get an early lunch at a café. Pansy Parkinson happened to be in the café with her boyfriend, Ronald Weasley." As Draco explained he watched his father's eyebrows rise at the mention of Ginny's brother being connected with the only daughter of one of his colleagues. "After some discussion, I convinced Pansy to take me to the Weasleys' home."
"Miss Parkinson is entertaining Ronald Weasley?" Lucius was appalled.
"Yes, Father. She is, but whomever Miss Parkinson is entertaining is not my business."
"That's wonderful dear. I trust the Weasleys were receptive." Narcissa's excitement was beginning to brew.
"Not right away, but everything is all right now. Mother, they're brilliant... so beautiful." Draco deliberately didn't tell her about Ginny's brothers, and what they may still do to him. "Father, I'm taking a leave of absence from the company, effective immediately. I need to spend some time with Drake and Angel."
"Is that really necessary?" Lucius' doubt still lingered, though only faintly now, as he watched Draco's eyes light up when speaking about young Drake and Miss Weasley. He had only ever wanted happiness for his son, and if the Weasley girl gave him that, so be it. At least she is a pureblood, Lucius mused.
"Yes, I feel it is. I need to get to know them," Draco stated firmly. "I've already missed so much, and I don't intend to miss anymore."
"And if Miss Weasley objects?" Lucius posed.
"I'm certain she won't. I've already sought her approval to return tomorrow, and her words were `they'd like that'." Draco was positively beaming, unable to contain his delight.
"Draco, will we get to meet Drake and your Angel?" Narcissa asked quietly, almost not wanting to hear the answer that may be forthcoming. She was keenly aware she still might never know her grandson.
"Yes, Mother. I'll make certain of it, but first I have to gain their trust," Draco said gently. "It may take a little time."
"I see." Narcissa's voice was full of disappointment. She so wanted to be a part of this little boy's life.
Draco walked over, and knelt before her, taking her hands in his. He spoke very softly, "Mother, I promise you, I just need a little time. I've just dropped into their lives, and I can't expect that everything will just fall into place immediately. As pleasant as that thought is, it's unrealistic. I imagine it will take some convincing to get Ginny to agree to come here for a visit, but trust me, I will convince her." Draco loved his mother more than anything, and would do whatever was necessary to make her happy.
"I trust you, Draco," Narcissa whispered, her voice wrought with emotion as she reached out to stroke his cheek with one hand.
As Lucius sat watching the display between mother and son, he resolved to put aside his lingering doubts, and do everything in his power to unite his wife with her grandson. "She wouldn't have to come here, if she felt uncomfortable with the idea. We could visit her home."
"Oh, Lucius, could we?" Narcissa asked, her excitement showing through again.
"Yes, dear. Of course we could."
"I would have to ask Ginny," Draco interrupted. "She'd probably feel safer with her family around her, than what she would coming here."
"Safer? Darling, why would she not feel safe here?" Narcissa asked. Why would she not feel safe here, of all places? Malfoy Manor was protected by some of the most powerful wards ever to be created, she mused.
"Mother, for as long as anyone can remember, our families have never been on pleasant terms with one another," Draco reminded his mother gently, so as not to upset her. He couldn't stand to see any woman upset, but seeing his mother distressed just about killed him.
"Draco, I am aware of that, but it is not a reason for her not to feel safe at the manor," Narcissa replied indignantly. "We have the strongest wards protecting our property. Why would she not feel safe?" She was struggling to understand exactly what Draco was implying.
"Cissa, I feel it may have more to do with me, than the Manor," Lucius said as he stood, and walked over to the couch where his wife was seated. He took the position closest to her. "I have to admit, I have been anything but pleasant to the entire family, for as long as I remember. Perhaps, it is I she fears."
"Lucius, we need to fix this. I want to be a proper grandmother," Narcissa pleaded, turning to face her husband.
"We will fix it, dearest, just as soon as we can," he assured her patting her hand.
As the two men sat, reassuring Narcissa that she would be able to be a proper grandmother, Draco's stomach gave an extremely loud growl.
"Draco," Narcissa admonished. It was distinctly bad manners to allow ones body to make unnecessary noises in company.
"Sorry, Mother. I'm rather famished. I've hardly eaten today."
"Millie," Narcissa summoned the house elf.
"Mistress, Millie can serve you?"
"Fix Draco some dinner immediately."
"Yes, Mistress," the elf responded bowing low before popping out of the room.
"Mother, I could have done that."
"There is nothing wrong with allowing me to look after you," Narcissa responded, stroking his cheek again. "What sort of a mother would I be, if I had allowed you to go hungry?"
A short while later, the house elf returned, balancing a tray laden with food for Draco. After he had eaten his fill, he bid goodnight to his parents, and retired to his chambers, for some much needed sleep.
So much had changed in the last twenty-four hours. Just yesterday he had been a bachelor with no responsibilities. He didn't even have to work, if he didn't want to, but now he was a father, responsible for twins. However, he found it wasn't an unpleasant thought. Like the night before, Draco was unable to switch his mind off, and again, even in his dreams, his thoughts turned to Drake, Angel and of course, Ginny. Seeing her today had re-ignited some old feelings that had never fully faded.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
AUTHORS NOTES
Thanks to everyone who reviewed.
-->