𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓖𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼 || 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐮𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐨𝐲

Chapter 33 - Dignity

The remains of winter flew by, spring came and went as swift as the winds that scattered the seasons cherry blossom's petals on the Malfoy Manor lawn.

Summer was upon the great house and unlike summers passed, this year it looked the part. Nothing had changed, visibly that is, but Malfoy Manor looked different somehow. The trees greener, the rose garden brighter, the blooms bigger. The grey stone brickwork no longer had a gloomy tinge, the gargoyles that sat upon the house even looked like they were smiling when you cricked your neck at a certain angle.

On this summer afternoon laughter filled the gardens as a young blonde haired boy dashed around the troughs of flowers, ducking and crouching as he went.

"Come on cheeky! It's time for lunch!" Ophelia called as she traipsed through the gardens, her hand raised to her brow as she searched for the boy.

"I'm not hungry!" Draco called with a cheeky laugh. Ophelia looked around, her lips pursed as she tried to follow the sound of the boys voice.

"How will you ever be a world class quidditch player if you don't get big and strong?" Ophelia asked as she closed in on a rustling rose bush. As silently as she could on the marble white gravel she crunched lightly forward like a predator hunting prey.

One...Two...Three...

"Got you!" Ophelia shouted triumphantly as she jumped around the bush.

But there was no Draco there.

Ophelia's face dropped, she really thought she had him that time.

"You know, you're far worse at seeking than Ms Peppershore ever was, she used to find me within about a minute," Draco huffed from behind the governess, his arms cockily crossed over his chest.

"I thought Ms Peppershore was decrepitly old?" Ophelia's brows furrowed.

"She was," Draco smirked as he turned towards the house.

"Touche," Ophelia smiled back, "Now to lunch with you." Ophelia pushed upon the boy's shoulder playfully, starting him off in the direction of the orangery, it's glass walls practically blinding in the summer sunlight.

"Alright mu-" Draco started, but his words stopped so quickly, his body turning rigid as stone, it was as if he'd been petrified. His face went pale, his eyes wide. "Sorry, Lia, I didn't mean to call you..."

"Mum?" Ophelia answered for him as the two climbed the intricately carved stairs up to the patio. Draco nodded gingerly. "It's okay, don't worry Draco, lots of children have called me mum by accident under my teaching, its just a natural automatic response."

"What if I... wanted... to call you mum?" Draco asked nervously as he scratched at the back of his head. Ophelia paused for a moment, taking in what the boy had just said and mulling over the issues that presented themselves.

"I don't think your mother would be very happy if you did..." Ophelia told him truthfully.

"I only see her every other weekend, and even then, she's... distant. She's not like you!" Draco protested.

"Regardless, she is your mother Draco, she carried you, birthed you, nursed you... I. nor anybody, can take that away from her, not even you." Ophelia sighed.

Draco nodded in silent agreement, and the two carried on into the house.

"What about step-mum?" Draco suggested with shining hopeful eyes.