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 FIVE
THE COUCH
Draco and Lucius ate a small meal, in the dining room, before retiring for the evening to their respective bedchambers.
Lucius found Narcissa propped up in their over-sized, four-poster bed, reading a book. She didn't look at all happy, but he could fix that, he thought as he prepared for bed.
Narcissa placed the book on the nightstand and watched her husband go about his nightly routine. She waited until he had just about completed his preparations to break the silence.
"Is Draco alright?" Her voice was cold.
"Draco will be fine. He is, of course, shocked but he will be fine."
"You're sure of this?"
"He is my son - he will be fine." Lucius was becoming irritated with her attitude.
"He's my son too," Narcissa whispered.
"Cissa, he's fine, he admitted to having - well um - that is, after speaking with Draco, there's no doubt in my mind that Drake is our Grandson. Draco wants to see him." Lucius stumbled through the explanation; he was not accustomed to discussing such matters with a lady.
"You don't sound pleased?" Narcissa responded, observing the dark look on her husbands' handsome face.
"I really don't know what to think. On one hand, I feel I should crucio the boy, at the very least, for his stupidity at even touching a Weasley, but I can not all together blame him - she is very attractive, enough to turn any mans head, for a pauper, at least. On the other hand, there's Drake. He reminded me so much of Draco - I want to know this child, though I doubt she will let any of us near him and Weasley senior will certainly object." Lucius voiced his thoughts while leaning on the doorframe to the bathroom.
Under different circumstances, Narcissa may have felt sorry for her husband. He stood there, so obviously torn. It was rare to see him like this, he was usually so strong, so sure, but he had displeased her earlier in the evening and she was not about to let him forget it.
"I think we should just put this day to bed." Lucius yawned as he made his way to the bedside. He reached out to turn down his side of the bed, but as his hand as it entered the perimeter of the large bed he felt a sharp pain shoot through his body. "Narcissa," Lucius yelped cradling his now injured hand.
Narcissa smirked as she reached across, picked up Lucius' pillow and threw it at him. He caught the large pillow, instinctively. Narcissa had placed a ward around the bed - he would definitely not be sleeping with her tonight. His punishment for dismissing her earlier in the evening.
"I believe the couch in your study is not too uncomfortable," Narcissa haughtily spat at him.
With a deep growl, Lucius tucked his pillow under his arm and left the room. This was certainly not the first time he had been admonished to sleep elsewhere and probably wouldn't be the last. In hindsight, he should have let her stay while he spoke to Draco, but the matter was delicate and she was prone to get emotional.
"Bloody women," he muttered as he entered one of the many guest rooms.
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Draco endured a restless night's sleep. Unable to switch his mind off, his thoughts kept returning to Ginny and his son - even in his dreams. He knew his father wouldn't have approached him with news of the little boy if there had been any doubt he may not be a Malfoy. In that he trusted and he had no doubts, himself, as to the parentage of Drake, after hearing his father's recount of the details. As morning dawned he dragged himself from his enormous bed, and shuffled to the bathroom for a hot shower, in the hope it would make him feel a little more awake.
After showering and dressing, Draco went down stairs to find his parents already in the dining room eating breakfast.
"Good morning Mother, Father." Draco kissed his mother's cheek and nodded to Lucius.
"Good morning dear, did you sleep well?"
"….. slept better than I….." Lucius muttered under his breath.
"Not really. Sorry, what was that father?"
"Nothing," Lucius replied. "Have you thought about what you're going to do?"
"Yes Father, I'm going to see Ginny this morning."
"And you know where she will be?" Lucius raised an eyebrow to his son, he was sure that he did not.
"Umm... No, actually." It hadn't occurred to him that he had no idea where Ginny was living. He just needed to see her and hadn't thought through the details. "I don't know where she lives."
"I see." This morning, for some reason, Lucius felt compelled to delay any meeting between his son and Ginevra Weasley. "Why don't I make some discreet enquiries at the Ministry today? Most of her family works there and I still have some contacts who may be able to find out where she is living, without arousing anyone's suspicions."
"Thank you, Father. That would be good. Do you think we may find out today? I really need to see her, now."
"I'm sure we will have location for her by the end of the day." Lucius was pleased. As long as he was in control of locating the girl, he could delay this meeting for a while longer. "Well, I had better get to the office. Are you coming, Draco?"
"Yes, I'll be right along." Draco rose from the table and walked around to his mother's side to kiss her cheek.
"Have a good day, dear." Narcissa smiled at Draco. "Lucius, you seem to be a little stiff today, darling." Her voice was positively dripping with honey.
"Oh no, I feel just fine." Lucius bent to place a chaste kiss upon her cheek. He was aware of the little game Narcissa was playing - she played it whenever he spent the night on the 'couch', it was as if she had to rub it in just one more time before she let the issue go, whatever it may be.
"Do let me know if you unearth any information about the Weasley girl."
"Of course, dearest."
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For just over two hours, Draco had been sitting at his desk, attempting to read a contract and hadn't made it past the opening paragraph. He simply could not focus. A walk is what I need, he thought, just to clear my head.
After leaving the building Malfoy Holdings occupied, Draco strolled through Diagon Alley, at a leisurely pace. It was not quite lunchtime but he had begun to feel quite hungry, not surprising really, considering he'd not eaten much breakfast. He began to walk towards his favourite café. Maybe once he'd had something more to eat, he'd be more able to concentrate on the contracts he was supposed to be checking. After all, there was nothing he could do about Ginny until his father got the information from his contacts.
He entered the small establishment and, without paying any attention to the other patrons in the shop, went directly to the counter to place his order.
"Mr. Malfoy, how are you today?" Rosie asked with enthusiasm.
"Well, thank you Rosie, how are you?"
"I'm always good. Well, what will it be this morning?"
"I'll have two bacon sandwiches and a strong coffee, thanks."
"Why don't you take a seat and I'll bring it over when it's ready, Mr. Malfoy."
Just as Draco turned to make his way to his usual table he heard a voice he hadn't heard for years-
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