Working for Malfoy

Chapter 18: News

About five minutes into the meal, mother spoke to me.

"You are almost 21 years old, Draco, are you considering getting your own home?"

"Believe it or not, me and Blaise have been looking for a few homes for the two of us." I answered after taking a drink.

"Do you have one that you are interested in?" She asked.

"Actually, I was going to write to Blase and see if he would like to go over to the houses we have checked out already and make a final decision, but plans changed." I said while gesturing to my stomach.

"What about tomorrow? Your father won't be here so Hermione and I can do some girl things together." She looked at Hermione with a smile that she returned.

"I mean, I can write to Blaise in the morning and see what's going on if you want." I said.

"I'm not going to rush you. Take all the time you need." She said.

"Actually, I was planning on having the house and being moved out by the 15th of June."

Mother and Hermione both looked at me with a shocked impression.

"How long have you and Blaise been looking for a home?"

I thought about it before answering. "Almost six months."

"How come I didn't know about this?"

"In complete honesty, I thought you knew."

"What makes you think that?"

"Well, Blaise told his mother what we were doing, so I just assumed that she talked to you about it."

"She hasn't said anything about a house to me."

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion before shaking my head. "Well, you know now."

She just rolled her eyes. "I wish I would've been told about this sooner, but yeah, I now know that you are searching for home."

"If you don't mind me asking, where are you planning on moving to?" Hermione asked.

"The house I am planning on getting is in Little Hangleton, but I have also been looking at some in Manchester and Bristol."

"What about Blaise?" Mother asked.

"Bristol, Spinner's End, and Little Hangleton." I replied.

Mother nodded.

We continued to eat in silence before we were interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Excuse me." Mother smiled before leaving the room.

Hermione and I nodded as she left.

We sat in a comfortable silence and continued eating.

The front door closed and mother entered the room slowly, a look of shock on her face and a letter in hand

I stood up and approached her slowly. "Mother are you ok?"

Her breathing became shallow and she started shaking slightly.

"Mother?"

I only had a moment's notice before her knees gave out. I stepped forward and grabbed her before she hit the ground and helped her into a chair.

She covered her face with her hands.

My eyebrows furrowed. Crouching down in front of her, I grabbed her wrists gently and uncovered her face to see tears streaming down it.

"Mother what's wrong?"

She didn't answer, instead looking towards the door with a look of wanting to get away.

"Draco." Hermione's voice sounded from behind me.

I didn't answer her as my mother had buried her face in her hands again.

"Draco." Hermione said again.

I stood up and turned around to see Hermione holding the letter my mother had just moments before.

Walking to her I take the letter and read it.

Mrs. Malfoy and Family,

I am sorry to inform you that Andromeda Tonks was found murdered in her home the morning of the 21st of May at 6:17 p.m. She was found by her husband when he came home from work at 6:14 p.m.

She lives with her husband Ted Tonks and only known grandchild Teddy Lupin. With no one to take him in we are going to send him to you.

Sincerely,

Corban Yaxley

I looked back at my mother who was currently gripping the table so hard that her knuckles were turning white. Walking back to her I resumed my position in front of her and pulled her into a hug.

She wrapped her arms around me and started crying. I rubbed her back comfortingly as she cried into my shoulder.

"I never forgave her. I never forgave her." She cried.

"It's going to be ok." I whispered.

We sat like that for a while before a knock sounded.

Turning my head slightly I told Hermione to get the door. She nodded in response and left the room.

A small voice sounded through the doorway followed by an angered one.

This was followed by silence before the door was closed.

"Mother, do you want to go to your room?" I asked.

She nodded and made to stand up before stumbling into me. Wrapping my arms around her waist I supported her up the stairs and to her bedroom. When the door was opened she walked inside and closed the door behind her.

I leaned my forehead up against her door and sighed. With great reluctance I pulled away and walked back down to the dining room. I was met with the most heartbreaking sight you could possibly imagine.

"I have nobody. Mummy and daddy died then grandma died and grandpa doesn't want me." A boy with brown hair cried in Hermione's arms.

"You have your Great Aunt and cousin." Hermione told him.

The boy looked at Hermione with confused eyes. "I thought they didn't like grandma."

"They do. They just didn't talk very much." Hermione answered easily before noticing me.

With a small smile she wiped the tears off the boys' face. "Do you want to meet your cousin?"

He nodded.

"Turn around."

The boy turned around and looked at me curiously. His hair turned a platinum blonde color and his eye color turned grey.

I knelt down as he walked towards me. Without warning he threw his arms around my neck and hugged me. With hesitation I wrapped my arms around his back.

"Are you Teddy?" I asked.

"Yeah." He smiled slightly.

"My name is Draco. I am your cousin."

The boy smiled before turning to Hermione.

"Are you his girlfriend?" He asked excitedly.

My eyes widened as Hermione giggled softly. "No, I am just staying here for a while."

"Oh." Looking between me and Hermione he shrugged. "Oh well, I think you two will make a cute couple." Then he ran out of the dining room and into the kitchen.