thattimeofthemonth | Open RP Post

Narcissa easily handled getting the dinner to the table by herself. She had gotten quite used to it when the Potter boy had cost them their House Elf. Lucius had often helped in preparations too. Not as much now. Draco had shown no interest in cooking and when he was forced too it often ended up disastrous.

She ushered Remus to a seat and made sure he was the one served first since he was the guest. Then she went onto Lucius, Draco, and finally herself.

"It's been sometime since we heard what has been going on outside of here...perhaps you could enlighten us on what's going on?" Narcissa quietly asked. It was rare that any of them went out and when they had to get supplies they made it quick and kept to themselves.

Many of his questions were answered quite quickly. How much had the Malfoys changed... it was almost shocking, but a shock he kept to himself. He knew damn well that they, before the Return, would have never allowed him in this house never mind to be seated at the dinner table with them. It told him more than any words could have, and it solidified something in his mind - Draco needed to be given a way out of here, perhaps all of them did, before the young man turned into something as unpleasant as he once had been.

He gave a small, grateful nod as Narcissa served him - another thing on the list of things he never imagined the Malfoys doing, serving their own dinners - and waited until she spoke up to start any sort of conversation. However, he turned it back on her, just for a moment, rather than immediately answer. "Where would you like me to start?" Because it would give her the chance to guide where he went instead of letting her know something they had no desire to hear, or just as equally allowing her to make the choice to bring up more delicate subjects.

"What is going on that the Daily Prophet isn't saying? We all know that they rarely tell the truth of what's going on and would rather us to focus on mundane news." Narcissa replied after a long debate on what was best to discuss. She believed that since Remus worked for the Order he would know more then the average person would know.

She noted that her husband was barely touching his own meal and was struggling to follow the conversation. She reached over to squeeze his hand in reassurance.

Quietly, Draco ate as he paid attention to the conversation going on. It had been too long since they had any contact from the outside world. He often resisted the urge to sneak off to just walk aimlessly about in the neighboring town. He only didn't because he was too afraid to.

So that was the path Narcissa wanted to go down. Remus took a few bites of his meal while he turned over what he could and couldn't tell them, how far he was willing to go to trust them as well, before he spoke frankly on what he self-approved of. "Those who haven't been pardoned are still out there, still being hunted down. It's been... ugly. There have been terrible attacks as they've been found or chased down. More deaths. But... over all, it's starting to calm down. The school is being repaired but it's going to take a long time to bring it back to what it once was."

He looked up to them, speaking to all three even if Lucius was having difficulty. "Azkaban is being turned upside down and inside out - every prisoner is being checked to make sure that they truly should be there, that they are in fact who they are, that they're in fact guilty."

It seemed that they were trying to do a thorough job and clean up any possible followers and those who shouldn't be in power near it. Secretly, Narcissa welcomed the change. Her only qualms was how it would it the way of thinking and that pureblood witches and wizards was going to be a thing of the past.

"...What is their version of guilty?" Lucius quietly asked, his hands visibly shaking even though they were folded on the table in front of him. He had folded them in an attempt to hide the shaking, but it was a loss cause. His meal was still left untouched.

"What more can any of them do? The corruption ran deep, and no one truly knows the depths of it. Shacklebolt is determined to make sure that the Ministry isn't continued to be seen as a laughing stock, and he's doing a damn good job of it. Couldn't have asked for someone better." As far as Remus was concerned, that was that. He knew Kingsley was going to do the kind of job that should have been done years ago if someone like Fudge hadn't gotten his mitts on it.

But Lucius' question was a loaded one, and Remus took the time to properly think it over before he answered. "Those who truly served him, without coercion. They are making damn certain about that, given how badly it was spread. ...You were all considered pardoned, given what was told to the Ministry by Potter."

"Even with Potter's support and all the changes going on...I'm sure most didn't want to believe it. What-- can we do to save ourselves? My actions have cost my family everything.

We...may have been pardoned as you say, but we can't keep living in isolation either." Lucius commented starting to sound a little like his old self again. "If we did anything at all, we would be watched and questioned."

This was quickly turning into something more than he was expecting. Remus put his knife and fork down, looking seriously across the table at Lucius. "No, you're right. Most didn't want to believe, and some don't, but most people didn't want to believe He was back, either. I... have a thought, on this subject, but only a thought. I need some time to think it over, but it could pan out, depending."

This could be a terrible idea, and frankly, it would depend a great deal on Draco. Perhaps speaking to Harry might be in order as well, given that the young man had a better perspective on Draco than himself. He could only speak to now and a touch of the past, and it couldn't give the whole picture to be honest.

His eyes focused on Draco. "I'd like to speak to you, after dinner." A bit flat, indicating he'd like to speak to Draco alone, and that meant his parents putting a certain amount of trust once again.

Lucius looked away at the mention of the Dark Lord. But when he did return his gaze there was a glimpse of hope. He gave a nod in understanding. This day had been a strange day overall and he wasn't sure where this was going to lead too. He fell silent once more lost in his own thoughts.

Only when Remus requested to speak with Draco afterward did both parents look up. Draco glanced at them for approval and once they granted it he agreed. His face paled slightly, as he was a bit apprehensive of what this could mean.

Narcissa then went ahead and guided the conversation to more lighter topics in an attempt to keep things from being too somber.

Over all, this whole ordeal was one of the last things he might have expected out of tonight. He had expected to come up here into the mountains, spend a miserable few nights to get the dementors, return back home and take Teddy off Tonks' hands. Finding the Malfoys, having to turn over the idea of what to do about their son, talking with someone he called once an enemy. What an odd sort of world, sometimes.

He ate while he spoke with them about more neutral news, about the changes in Diagon Alley, at the school, about the Wizarding World in general. The food was better than he might have expected, honestly, but then again his opinion of food was more in the category 'thank goodness it's edible' than worrying about the flavor (for which Tonks was often grateful. Not the best of cooks.)

When the meal was over though, Narcissa quietly decided to take the forward hand and moved over to her husband, touching his arm lightly and suggesting that perhaps he should turn in for the night.

Lucius allowed Narcissa to lead him away from the table. Sleep sounded like the best idea for now. He was exhausted from today's excitement and his mind in a turmoil. A potion had already been made to allow him for an uninterrupted night's sleep.

Draco waited until they had left and suggested they go into the sitting room to have their conversation. "What did you wish to discuss with me?" He asked getting right to the topic.

Remus sat down, rubbing a hand over his face. Needed to shave at some point; starting to look more like a wolf than he should. Tonks always gently teased him about it, but she loved him no matter what state he was in. Draco might have noticed that his clothing was actually in a better state than when he was a teacher, given that Tonks refused to let him keep the shabby clothing he had unless there was a pointed reason for it.

"Draco..." He started, then stopped, and ended up letting out a hard sigh. "I'm going to ask you some possibly difficult questions, but they're things I need to know before I can suggest what I have in my head." With that, he leaned forward, hand gesturing slightly. "Why did you do what you chose to do, during that final battle at Hogwarts? ...You had every choice in your actions that day. What went through your head?"

Draco sat across from Remus and frowned. He hadn't expected to go into detail about the war...but it made sense. No one had ever asked him or really talked to him about it. In a way...Draco was relieved to finally discuss it. He got to share his story.

"I was so desperate... grasping at straws trying to save myself...my family. All of them were poor, pitiful attempts. I tried to go after Harry thinking that this would be my last chance to prove myself to Him. It was the only thing I could think of that might save my family.

And even after all of that...Harry still saved my life when many would have just left me there to die. The two people that had been my so called friends all my life turned on me. I still don't know why he did it. After all those years.

I thought maybe I would stay on Harry's side and fight there to make up for everything. Maybe that was where I should have been trying to prove to them instead of the Dark Lord.

And then I saw my parents standing behind Him calling out for me. Professor McGonagall tried to hold me back. I wanted them to come over to where we were. It's where we should have been."

Draco paused, finding himself choking up on the discussion. Everything coming back to him along with all the emotions that went with it. He tried to brush away the tears that were threatening to fall, embarrassed by the display of emotion.

"-- I was afraid. Afraid that if they did come over where I was that He would have killed them on the spot. Then I would have had no one.

I was so embarrassed for my parents. Watching them pleading calling out to me in front of everyone. All of their pride was gone. I couldn't refuse them any longer... I joined them. I wished that I had never shown my face...maybe things would have been different. But if I never showed my face I would have been deemed a coward then too...even though thats what they say I am now.

I could have done something...but they're right. I was a coward. Part of Professor Snape's death was because of me too. He lied for me and that's something I can never repay. Did you know that he was my god father? He was like a brother to my father. He was also the only one tried to support me during these times."

Silent tears slid down his face as he mentioned his god father's name. He looked away in shame as he tried to recollect himself.

Remus sat in silence after Draco finished, not just to let himself think over Draco's words, but to let the young man compose himself. Really, this almost felt over his head, like he should turn to someone with more experience than him, but maybe it was just because he understood what it was like to be outcasted, feeling alone and hated, that kept him there. Maybe it was because the fate of one young, relatively powerful wizard could hang in the balance of tonight. Bring his soul back away from the darkness his parents had shrouded him in.

Little things pointed out to him. Calling him 'Harry' instead of just 'Potter'. The tone of his voice, the tears in his eyes. He had no idea that Snape had been the boy's godfather, but it somehow also didn't surprise him. Snape had sacrificed himself for so little in return, and yet so few knew the truth of what the man had done. There was still work going on, trying to make sure that people knew the real man.

"Do you still feel that way? That you would put your parents above all else, if it came down to it in the future? From what you've said, they are the most important things in your life."

"They're all I have," Draco whispered after a while. He glanced up at Remus, unsure of what to expect. What those sacrifices meant. But if it meant that he could help them...he would do it.

"I think there's still good in them too. They're not all bad like people claim them to be. It's because of me. They're love for me kept them from going fully over. It's what made them different from the other Death Eaters and servants of Him. I want to do what I can to save them."

"It's something you might have to accept, that your parents hold- held, beliefs that are far from popular and they chose to flaunt those to many. Evil is one thing, but that is even more difficult for people to over come in their minds as much as their choice of sides."

He met Draco's eyes calmly. "What you do with that? Is how you will be handled. You're still young. Things can be changed with you that might never happen for your parents."

He's heard stories about what his parents have done in the past and what they did to support their beliefs. It was what led them to join the Dark Lord.

Unfortunately, Draco had to agree that it's also what caused the large rift between his parents and everyone else. He remembered how his father used to give Remus a hard time when he was a professor. After the pink hair incident it kept his father from pursuing the issue.

"You're wanting me to not follow my parents' beliefs?" Draco questioned more to gain a confirmation that he was correct.

"It isn't just what I want," Remus corrected just slightly, finding it difficult to find just the right words. "The question is, do you feel the same way they do? I don't know if you truly feel the same way they do in their prejudices or if you were parroting their words. Even more than ever, there is a huge amount of importance in the distinction."

He needed to know what kind of man Draco was.

There was a long pause before Draco finally answered. Most of the time he spent staring at his own hands trying to debate what it was he really believed in. He wasn't expecting this meeting to become so serious and touching on subjects people usually avoided with him.

"No...while I understand why my parents believed in what they did...I don't fully believe that such things hold to today's time... I've seen a lot over the last few years to realize that their beliefs are old fashioned and what got them into trouble today." Draco carefully said trying to find the right words to convey his feelings on the subject.

"Only...because of my parents I couldn't really say what I wanted to say. Knowing they wouldn't approve of it and that it would be used against them. Naturally, I just followed them because I was afraid of what would happen."

There it was again his fear over ruling what he wanted to do or say. It felt strange to voice these things now...after all these years and to someone that they caused so much grief too because of what he was. He didn't dare look up at Remus, unsure of what to expect.

"Hmm." Just a quiet sound of acknowledgement, and the silence returned. His eyes didn't leave Draco's face, trying to decide if he fully believed the young man's words. There hadn't been time to figure out something to say, hadn't been time to discuss it with his parents, or anything else that might have skewed the reply, but this was still a Malfoy and despite Draco's age, there had to be a grain of salt taken with his words.

His fingers tapped slowly together, but after a time, he finally chose his next question. "What do you want to do with your life? Honestly. If you could chose your path, regardless of your family name or your parents' wishes, what would Draco chose as his path?" It was an important question for him, though he wondered still if it was fair for him to be asking any of this instead of someone more... more... well, pretty much anyone more suited for the job.

The question caught Draco by surprise and he glanced up at his old professor. "I don't know..." he replied. His voice filled with uncertainty and confusion. "I never really thought about it. The last few years had been focused on trying to save my family...and now it's been watching over my father. Aside from...Professor Snape.... you're the only one who knows...saw what he can be like now a days."

He shook his head and his shoulders slumped.

"I've just been so focused on my family that I've never thought about anything else...or what I wanted. Why are you asking me all of these questions? No one's ever shown interest in me before. They just pin me as a Malfoy and leave it at that."

"Because, buntly, I think that you can be saved. I'm not sure that your parents will ever be forgiven,but you have a chance. I... I'm probably not the man who should be doing this, but I'm here and I think I can set that path. Start you on it, if you wanted. Bring you back with me and get you started doing something more with your life instead of being trapped here. I needed to know what kind of man you've become."

Remus spoke frankly, quietly, not looking away from Draco as he spoke.

Draco opened his mouth to speak, but shut it quickly. He wasn't really sure what to say still stunned by what his old professor had to say.

There was a good long while before Draco finally allowed himself to speak. He knew that this would be his one chance at it...and didn't want to mess this up.

"What can I do I have to do to prove myself then?" Draco softly questioned with a determined expression.

Wasn't that the main question? Lupin sighed quietly, then started on what he thought was the best route. "I think first off, we make sure that your name is truly cleared, and I have someone who I think will be fair and impartial in doing so and more importantly, people will listen to him about you. Even more so because I believe Potter will speak up for you as well."

He gave a small rolling gesture of his hand. "Secondly, I think you need to decide what you'd like to do. That way, I can help you figure out who you need to be talking to."

This was where he hesitated the most. There was a third, but really he should talk to Tonks about this first... "Thirdly, you will need to live somewhere else for a time, until you've been a bit more... settled. I fully believe, though, that once you are more established, that your parents will be able to do the same."

It seemed of late his life constantly rested on Harry Potter. He wasn't too sure how he thought about it. It seemed that their lives were forever going to cross each other. The thought of others that would listen to him and be impartial....Draco doubted that on a long shot but kept the comment to himself.

The last bit really held his attention with mixed emotions.....

"Live somewhere else?" Draco looked up hesitantly at the idea. He's only been either at home or at Hogwarts. The thought of living with someone else brought a lot of uncertainty. Nervously, he played with the family ring he wore. "But my parents... I don't think they would find that idea very appealing."

Here he felt very torn. He wanted to a chance to grow and improve himself and he knew that staying here wouldn't help. The thought of leaving his family behind concerned him. He had hardly left their side since the final battle.

"What would become of my parents if I were to leave?"

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