Draco Malfoy Gets a Life Coach

Knocked Out

"And how are things going with your romantic relationship project? I notice we've only been talking about the others."

Damn it to hell. Only ten minutes left in the session, I had thought I was in the clear.

It'd been a few weeks since Granger had visited the manor. We'd seen each other in passing, exchanging oddly stoic pleasantries. The absence of our usual sniping banter set my teeth on edge.

I still had no clue what Mother had spoken to her about, but for the time being, the parade of Pureblood witches through my home had ceased. I didn't know for certain that the two things were related, but the more time that passed without Mother breathing down my neck about when she could expect grandchildren, I became more and more convinced that they must be.

We were quickly approaching the end of my obligation to the ministry and moving into my post-house arrest era, in which my being here would be solely by choice.

I'd also be able to move freely in the world. Anywhere in the world.

Something stirred deep inside me at this thought. Something like comfort, at the idea of needing to remain around for another six months, based on my promise to Granger.

I laughed to myself, realizing that about four months ago I would have been waiting at the doors to be released. I would have wanted to leave the country.

But now...

"Draco??"

I looked up at Michelle, realizing with a jolt that I'd been sitting silently for far too long.

"You wanna put any of that on loudspeaker?" she asked.

"What's a... loudspeaker?"

She laughed and put a hand over her mouth for a moment. "Sorry, muggle technology. What I meant was, do you want to say any of what you're thinking out loud?"

"Not particularly," I said, endeavoring not to give a hint of anything away.

Her brow furrowed.

"Okay," she said lightly, cocking her head to one side. "But where'd you go? Your energy just shifted."

I glared at her, then realized I was glaring and softened my expression a bit. Manipulation never worked on her, but sometimes I forgot that. Hell, I hadn't even known it was manipulation before this.

"It's just, I'm not really sure about that project anymore."

She didn't say anything. Just watched me, seeming to expect me to say something else.

Rather than childishly waiting out the silence, I leaned on my knees and thought about what it really was that made me not want to talk about it.

"I suppose I just, can't make up my mind about what I want. In some ways, I want marriage and a family and all that's expected of me, but then the fact that it's expected of me makes me not want it. Does that make sense?"

She nodded.

"I totally get that."

She thought for a moment before continuing.

"Let me ask you this. If your parents and your family expectations were out of the equation, what would you want?"

"But they aren't!"

"Uh, duh," she said with a laugh. "I know that, but are you willing to humor my hypothetical curiosity, just this once?"

I grinned in spite of myself. "Just this once, huh? I think we both know what utter bollocks that is."