Dragon and Angel

CHAPTER TWO

MALFOY MANOR

Lucius stood, watching Ginny Weasley disappear into the crowds of shoppers, silently pondering what his only son had been up to five or so years ago. There was no doubt in Lucius' mind that the little boy was his grandson. Drake was a miniature Draco, in looks and temperament, if his little display was anything to go by. As Drake defended Ginny without hesitation, Lucius knew that Draco would defend Narcissa, if she were ever to be threatened, with the same disregard for his own safety. Given the little boy's size, Lucius estimated him to be no more than five years old.

"Well, I think perhaps it's time I had a chat with Draco," he muttered to himself before making his way swiftly to an Apparation point.

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Lucius was immediately greeted by a nervous house elf as he Apparated into his Wiltshire home. "Master is home. Can Millie serve Master?"

Apart from discarding his cloak in the direction of the hapless creature, Lucius otherwise ignored its presence and strode toward the family area of the grand house, in search of his wife.

Narcissa was seated on an antique love seat, tending to her needlepoint, in the winter parlor when Lucius came across her. "Dear, you're home early. I wasn't expecting you until late this afternoon."

"I had an interesting, impromptu, meeting in Diagon Alley this morning with one Miss Ginevra Weasley. Is Draco home?"

"Oh? I would have thought that you, of all people, wouldn't lower yourself, so to speak, to bother with any Weasley and no, Draco left for the office quite some time ago."

"Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't. However, I overheard Miss Weasley chastising her son, quite loudly in the street. With the knowledge she, unknowingly, imparted to everyone within ear-shot, I simply could not keep my silence." Lucius took a seat next to Narcissa, removed the needlepoint from her hands, placing it on the occasional table next to him. As he turned to face her he wondered how this beautiful woman -- the woman he had spent the last twenty-five years with -- could possibly be a grandmother, she simply did not look old enough for the title. He took her hands within his and gazed deeply into her eyes before continuing. "Cissa, it seems we may have a grandson."

The statement hung in the air as Lucius gauged Narcissa's reaction to his news. Narcissa's thoughts were propelled into a whirlpool -- 'A grandchild! This was not possible, Draco was not married.'

"Lucius, it's not possible. Draco isn't married. He's not been in a relationship long enough to be part of the conception of a child," Narcissa voiced her thoughts insistently.

"My dear, I assure you, it is entirely possible. One does not need to be married, or to be in a long-term relationship, before it is possible to create new life. In fact, all one needs is a partner, willing or not, and perhaps an hour or so -- depending on the partner of choice." Lucius smirked; he often marveled at his wife's, deliberate, naivety. Of course, Narcissa would not believe her precious son was like that, but Lucius knew better. He was well aware his son went through women, like Severus Snape went through potions ingredients. Though not entirely comfortable discussing his son's sex life with his wife -- there were some things a mother was better off not knowing -- he knew that he needed to make her understand, preferably, before he confronted Draco. Lucius continued to watch her closely as she struggled to come to terms with the information he had imparted.

Narcissa stood and glided, gracefully, to the picture window overlooking the sprawling lawns of the Manor. As soon as the snows melted each year, they were charmed to look lush green. The view was usually calming, however this morning it had no affect whatsoever, as she tried to understand just what Lucius was implying. If it were true, did Draco know and why had he not told them? No, it couldn't be true -- it just couldn't be! Not with a Weasley and besides her boy was not like that!

He watched her, standing in front of the window bathed in morning sunlight, from his position on the love seat. As the sun's rays glinted through her blonde hair, it appeared as though it were spun gold. She turned to face him, her expression hardened. 'Oh dear, this is going to be more difficult than I anticipated,' Lucius thought.

She had reached a firm decision in her mind, and turned back to her husband. "No. This can not be possible, and I do not want to hear another word on the subject".

Lucius stood and moved toward her, with more grace than a man should be allowed to display. He took her in his arms and whispered gently, "Cissa, not only is this possible -- it is true. This little boy... I saw him with my own eyes. His name is Drake Arthur Wesley Malfoy. He is the very image of Draco at the same age. Add to that, the fact that Miss Wesley seemed rather panicked when I approached her; rather out of character from what I remember of the girl, still people do change. Cissa, we can't ignore the fact that there is a child out there, who could very well have claim to the Malfoy fortune."

With a sigh of resignation, she rested her head on Lucius' chest. She trusted Lucius. He had never been untruthful to her and she knew she would have to believe him this time as well. "Does Draco know?"

"I have no idea. I presume not. He would have said something, if he had any idea," Lucius whispered into her hair, hoping that this was, indeed the truth. For if his son had known about this child, all along, it would break his mothers heart. He knew Narcissa craved a grandchild and, under the right circumstances, she would welcome a baby with open arms. Of course, the right circumstances being after a large society wedding, and the baby born no less than nine months into the marriage. For now, he would stand there, holding his beloved wife, enjoying the peace of the manor -- for surely the tranquility would be lost once he had spoken to Draco.

Sometime later, after deciding against going to the office for the day, Lucius Flooed his secretary to cancel all his appointments and left a message for Draco -- he was in a meeting that Lucius had intended to chair. He now found he was somewhat impatient to speak with his son. The questions, he did not have answers for, gnawed at him, incessantly.

Lucius and Narcissa spent the remainder of the day in each other's company. They took lunch together in the dining room and later, a stroll through the ancient rose gardens.

"Lucius?" Narcissa's tone was tentative.

"Yes, dear."

"Do you think she may allow us to see him?" she all but whispered to her husband.

"I can't answer that, Cissa." Lucius kept his voice just as quiet and tightened his grip around her shoulders. He could only hope that, one day, they would be allowed to know this boy, but being nobody's fool, he knew they might have to wait until the boy was old enough to make his own decision on the matter. He desperately hoped not, if only for Narcissa's sake. It seemed, as the day had worn on, she was becoming more and more attached to the little boy she had yet to meet.

They returned to the house, late in the afternoon, to find an extremely agitated Draco pacing, in the winter parlor. His hands ran through is blonde hair, continuously, a sure sign he was troubled.

"Father, is everything alright? I received your message, when I returned from meeting with the French buyers and came right away, but the bloody, useless house elves couldn't tell me where you or Mother had gone. I didn't know what to think!" Draco's frustration was evident by his tone and volume.

"Language, Draco! Your Mother is present. I simply needed to speak with you." Lucius barely concealed the smirk he found wanting to creep onto his handsome face. Despite outward appearances, the Malfoy family had always been close. It was heartening to know his son still cared deeply, for both of them. Of course, in hindsight, the message he had sent Draco had been quite vague and he had, evidently, interpreted it to mean that there was something wrong with one of them.

"My apologies, Mother." Draco's humble tone as he addressed Narcissa was followed by a cheeky half smile, that usually won his mother over, no matter what he had done wrong.

Lucius arched an eyebrow at his son. "Draco."

"Of course, I really am sorry, Mother." Draco he stepped forward and placed a kiss on his mother's cheek before addressing Lucius again. "What is it you needed to speak to me about so urgently?"

As Lucius stood regarding his son, trying to decide exactly how he was going to handle this situation. He made quiet observations of the man his little dragon had grown into. Draco, now twenty-four-years-old, stood a full six feet four inches tall -- topping Lucius by two inches -- his body was hard from years of Quidditich and, of course, his handsome face, so much like his own. Lucius had little doubt there was not much Draco couldn't handle, he'd grown into a fine man, but this was very different. This was life altering, and needed to be handled with delicacy.

"Father?" Draco prompted him, after waiting quite a while for Lucius to respond.

Lucius forced a smile to cross his features. "Perhaps we should take a seat." He motioned toward the comfortable chairs in the room.

Both men waited; as well breed gentlemen did, until Narcissa had taken a seat before lowering their tall forms into the plush chairs. Draco sat across from his parents and looked to them expectantly.

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