Cassiopeia Lily Malfoy (Harry X Draco)

Chapter 14

When Harry got back from work the next day, Narcissa Malfoy was in his sitting room.

Draco stood up when he saw Harry.

"Harry, you've met my mother."

"Yes," said Harry, not bothering to hold out his hand. "Forgiven her, have you? I wouldn't."

"You know how I feel about second chances." said Draco.

Privately, Harry felt that Narcissa Malfoy's first chance had been used up when she embroiled Draco in a bloodthirsty war at the age of sixteen. But Draco looked happy. So all Harry said was, "It's up to you, of course."

"Thank you for taking care of my son," said Narcissa, demure, her eyes lowered.

"I didn't," said Harry. "Not for most of it. He had no one except Pansy and Blaise, and he was starving and lonely and poor."

"Harry," said Draco.

"I'm glad he's loyal to you," murmured Narcissa.

"I'm his husband," said Harry.

"She knows," said Draco. "She knows it's a sham."

Harry rubbed the end of his nose.

"Right. Fine. I'll go pick up Cassie from Sasha's house. Do you want her to meet..." he gestured vaguely at Narcissa.

"Please," said Narcissa quietly.

"I know what you're thinking," said Draco, and Harry was 100% sure he didn't, because what Harry was thinking was that Draco was so real to him, so real that he could scarcely think about anything else, "but I want Cass to have a grandmother. And mother will be good."

Harry glared at Narcissa, identifying more than ever with Pansy Parkinson.

"If you do anything to make Cassie feel... inferior, or..."

"I promise," said Narcissa.

"One word about blood purity...!"

"Of course not," said Narcissa.

"Has she even fucking apologised?" Harry asked Draco.

"We've come to an understanding," said Draco. Harry made an exasperated sound, and Draco smiled indulgently. "I don't expect you to agree with me."

"You're a saint, Draco."

Draco's smile became rather stilted and unpleasant.

"Yes, that's what I'm known for: goodness. Go pick up Cassie, would you?"

Harry wasn't sure what possessed him, but he went to Draco and kissed him forcefully on the cheek.

"Whatever you want," he said, and left.

However Harry felt about Narcissa, he could not deny that she was happy to see Cassie. Her whole face lit up when Cassie walked in the door, and she admired her at length, praising everything from her "ladylike" hands to her "graceful gait."

Cassie was clearly suspicious, but her curiosity seemed to exceed her disgust at being called ladylike. She tolerated the gushing with good grace, casting frequent glances at Draco. And that, Harry suspected, was the key reason she was so well-behaved: because Draco sat in a nearby armchair, glowing with happiness.

Narcissa didn't stay for long.

"I'll see you at the funeral," she told Draco quietly, and Draco nodded.

"When's the funeral?" asked Harry, once she was gone.

"I'm going with you." Draco frowned.

"You hated him."