Dark and White

Chapter One: Tea With Mother

During the war he had turned over to the light side. It was inevitable really. The minute he had gone to Dumbledore and told him his decision, that damn sparkle had appeared in the old man's eyes, and Draco had realized that Dumbledore had known all along. How annoying!

It was the only decision really. Of course Dumbledore had known! And Draco had known. And his mother had known. If Narcissa could only have been the stubborn, cold-hearted bitch of a wife to Lucius as everyone had expected of her, none of this would have happened, but life was more complicated than that. Over the years, beneath the notice of his father, his mother had forced him to develop a heart. She had taught him a life-lesson: the bad guy never won. And Draco could not countenance losing. He was a Malfoy after all. It was odd that his father had never come to this realization.

So he fought in the war, alongside Dumbledore and his Order, alongside Harry Potter and his two sidekicks. Eventually, after some violent threats, the Golden Trio accepted Draco. Granger had even started calling him by his first name. He worked with her more closely than with The Boy Who Lived and his partner-in-crime because they were smarter than those two boys. He relished the fact. They were the intelligence of the fight while Potter and Weasley went and fought the big bad wolf himself.

After it was all over, he had had to find a life completely different to the one his father had prepared him for since he was a child. Since his father's death, he was bereft of his guidance. The consequence of wrong doing was no longer a harsh punishment, perhaps the Cruciatus curse, meted out by his father; instead he might lose money. All these things changed, in such a short time. He had even joined the Golden Trio for coffee or lunch once or twice. It was a little much for a 21-year-old. Then again, he had his mother.

Dearest Draco,

Please come join me for dinner tonight.

Mother

He hated her damn letters. They were always short and sweet, with the amazing ability to drown him in guilt if he didn't do what she asked. Damn her.

So here he was. Walking up to Malfoy Manor with the grandest of red roses in his hands, knowing there was a reason for his mother's beckoning, yet not knowing what the reason could be. Oh, how I love these chats with Mum. Nobody had actually ever seen Draco roll his eyes this way. It made him look vulnerable and uncomfortable. Well, he at least hoped nobody had seen him like this.

He walked into the manor and gave his coat to the nervous elf waiting at the door.

"Shaky, please announce my arrival to my mother. I would hate to waste our precious time together,"

The elf gave him a strange look before hustling away. Draco smirked to himself. Mental note: do not use sarcasm with the house elves anymore. It confuses them.

He made his way to the family dining area where his mother was sitting with a cup of tea.

"Thank you for coming, dear," Narcissa said, sweetly, and then her smile faded. "It is nice to have some company every once in awhile, and Lydia has been sick. You know how stubborn she is when it comes to medical potions."

Draco laughed quietly to himself, thinking fondly of his mother's best friend. She definitely reminded him of a certain other stubborn witch he had not seen for some time. Another mental note: find Granger soon. Pester her as much as possible.

"Yes, well, I hope she feels better soon. Send her my best wishes," he said formally.

"Come Draco, why are you acting this way tonight?" she asked, sadly. Draco felt his heart drop a little to see his mother's downcast expression.

"I'm sorry, Mother. I just always feel under pressure when you ask me to come by the house to 'join you for dinner'. I always know it's because there's something on your mind that you're not telling me."

"Then maybe you should come see me more often," she suggested, winking. "Tonight, however, you are right. Let's sit down for some dinner, and then we'll talk."