Draco Malfoy, Broken

Chapter 22 - Observations

 22 - Observations

Narcissa stared at her sister, who just shook her head, staring at the kitchen door, frustrated. Before getting up and continued fussing over Teddy. Narcissa joined her, taking the other side, cleaning off the face of her great-nephew.

"This is about the house elves?" Narcissa said, quietly to her sister.

That comment her sister made when they arrived. Harry's strange questions about her giving orders to his elf. She had thought it odd that he would be concerned about the propriety of giving orders to another person's elf, but no, it seemed Harry was upset that she gave him an order... any order. Her sister had made an accurate description of his behavior: weird. But, as Narcissa realized, Harry wasn't one to follow any normal rules, not even ones over life and death. He defied them. That was why she and her son were free and not in Azkaban, where they may or may not belong.

"Yes, he's been getting more difficult. I don't understand it. I don't trade any mean words with Elsie, but he gets so... I don't know. He's not openly criticizing me, but in the middle of dinner?"

Andy picked up her grandson and brushed him off before setting him on the floor. He took off into the kitchen to follow his godfather. She sighed.

"Of course, you would object. As we were raised in an environment which readily had the subjugation of house elves and other magical creatures as a point of everyday society, you wouldn't see an issue with it. Did you immediately accept Remus Lupin as a son-in-law?"

"You're going to ask me that?" Andy growled, staring daggers at her.

"I didn't mean to upset you," Narcissa backtracked, tensing immediately.

"No... don't think I'll throw you out for asking me a question," her sister reassured her. "But really? You're saying you wouldn't be upset?"

"I imagine it would have been a shock, but you'll find I'll accept anyone that can bring my son happiness. Werewolf, veela... heck I'd take a muggle. I just want some of the burden... the dark cloud... off his shoulders."

"Oh, Cissa... I read your letter at least 15 times, since yesterday. I never knew... I never even considered what you were going though. I thought you hated me and were living the epitome of pureblood first class living. I'm so sorry."

"Y-You couldn't have known. I was trapped. I even thought of reaching out to you... but honestly I was afraid of getting you pulled into my drama, endangering your family... my niece."

"It didn't matter in the end," Andy whispered.

"Andy... I'm sorry," Narcissa whispered. Losing her only daughter and her husband must have been terrible. Narcissa at least had Draco... though he had been almost lost several times. Between Voldemort, Azkaban and his own mind, she was lucky to have him at all.

"Don't... you certainly didn't ask for it..." Andy frowned.

The kitchen door opened with Teddy pulling Harry into the dining room, toward the parlor. "Fly!"

"No... not after dinner. You know the rules!"

"Horsey?"

Harry groaned. "Fine."

"Come on, Arry! Arrow-pane!" he said, holding his arms up.

Andy smiled, her gaze fell upon Draco, who looked away from her nervously. He was just following Harry around, probably afraid of any more direct conversation with his aunt. Harry picked up Teddy and put him on his shoulders making weird muggle engine noises as the three of them left the dining room and out of earshot.