Relinquished

Chapter Six – A Reason

Searching for a way to be near her

Narcissa Malfoy had never seen her son in such a state. As a boy he’d been anxious to please his father, and although Narcissa had never actively contributed to her son’s moral upbringing, she’d never done anything to stand in the way of Lucius’s prejudiced teachings. She had been most thankful that he had been removed from the war, as she was sure he would have fought with Voldemort and would have most certainly either been killed or joined his father in Azkaban.

The day before yesterday he’d come home just before lunch, flushed and deep in thought. She had pried some details from him and had guessed the rest. He had bumped into Miss Granger again, and she told him she didn’t want to see him again, but Narcissa could see the faint outline of a hand on his cheek and knew that the encounter hadn’t ended well. She knew that he’d gone looking for her yesterday, but had returned dejected and sulky. This morning he was pacing, obviously restless and unable to find anything to occupy his mind. She kept casting worried glances at her pride and joy over the top of the book she was pretending to read.

For his part, Draco was feeling frustrated beyond belief. He was confused as to why it didn’t feel right when she wasn’t around now. He’d only come back into contact with her a week ago and even then it wasn’t like they had been friends before. When he’d been so close to her that he could see the tiny flecks of yellow in her hazel eyes, he’d felt the safest he’d felt since fleeing Hogwarts with Snape all those years ago. There was something powerful drawing him to her. He knew that she felt it too; the way she leaned in to him when they were standing close was a dead giveaway. He had to think of a way to talk to her, to make her see that he was a changed man. He knew that his arrogant comment about their almost kiss hadn’t done much to help disprove her theory that he hadn’t changed.

“Please, my darling, don’t wear a hole in the floor, we’ll never get our deposit back,” Narcissa said. Draco's head snapped around to look at her, as though he’d forgotten she was even in the room with her.

“Right, sorry,” he mumbled under his breath as he flopped into a chair. He drummed his fingers on the arm restlessly for a few moments, before standing and resuming his pacing. Narcissa clicked her tongue in annoyance and her son stopped his pacing and looked at her.

“I’m…”he began

“..going for a walk?” His mother finished, not even lifting her eyes from the page she wasn’t really seeing. He stooped to peck his mother on the cheek, when a loud squawk from the window drew both of their attentions towards it. The owl that Draco had sent with Granger’s letter was sitting outside, impatiently pecking at the glass. Draco looked at it for a few moments, before his mother tugged on his arms and gestured for him to open the window for the bird. He did that and it hopped through and dropped the letter. Both Malfoy’s watched as it fluttered to the floor. Draco bent to pick up the note and wasn’t surprised to see that it was addressed to Hermione. He looked at the note, then at his mother and then back to the note.

He felt his mothers hand on his shoulder and was startled, as he hadn’t even realised she had stood and crossed the room to where he was standing. She read the name on the front of the envelope with curiosity.

“Well, now you have an excuse to talk to her, at least,” she said her eyes dancing with mischief.

“I don’t know where to find her,” he said. She reached up and brushed a strand of blond hair out of his eyes.

“Leave that to me, my pet,” she said.

*-*-*-*

A half hour later, the two Malfoy’s found themselves sitting in a cramped and hot kitchen, with Mrs Onesiphoros awaiting her husbands return from the markets, casting them apprehensive looks every few moments. It was clear to Draco that the Greek woman found Narcissa Malfoy intimidating, a fact which his mother seemed oblivious too.

When Hektor bustled into his kitchen, muttering obscenities in Greek about the busyness of the market this morning, Draco rose. Hektor, who had not been expecting to find his tenants sitting in his kitchen stopped for a moment, before greeting both Malfoy’s, and making sure his wife supplied them with refreshments.

“Now, what can I do for you, fine lady?” Hektor asked when he was satisfied that his guests were well taken care of.

“We were hoping to get a little information off you, Hektor,” Narcissa said sipping at her drink innocently. Draco smirked. His mother really was good. He’d never have thought of tracking down Granger like this.

“Anything for you, Mrs Malfoy,” Hektor said. He offered her a plate of biscuits and she took one.

“My son has bumped into an old school friend whilst on the island, and has a communication from England to pass on to her. Unfortunately, he doesn’t know where she is staying and hasn’t been able to find her”

Hektor nodded knowingly, “Yes, the English miss,” he said, “She is staying with Elani Rosakis, a widow who let’s out a room to anyone who wants it. The girl works at market, for Panos Kalakos.”

“Where will I find Mrs Rosakis?” Draco asked impatiently. Hektor stood and wrote the directions on a sheet of paper for the younger man. He kissed his mother and said a hurried thank you, before bolting out the door.

“I’m sorry, Hektor, he must be anxious to see his friend’s letter is delivered,” Narcissa said flashing the man a broad smile and helping herself to another biscuit.