thattimeofthemonth | Open RP Post

Things seemed better. Melinda was eating with them, though Lucius still sat between the two women just to be sure. Melinda was actually smiling, though always at ease, and let the parents dote over their son. It was good for all three of them, and it let her see the change in Lucius as well. It was actually entertaining to see some of his normal arrogance back. A sign of good things.

"How have you been managing with Lupin's young son?" Melinda asked in a silence, looking to Draco. "I've come to understand this is your first experience around infants. Keeping you up at night?"

"I'll admit that I was nervous around Teddy at first. But when Remus had me hold him, Teddy seemed to be okay with me. Then Remus showed me how to feed him." Draco replied, a little embarrassed. But he enjoyed being around Teddy and it was like having a little brother.

"For the most part, Teddy seems to sleep through the night. Remus and Tonks are starting to trust me more with him and showing me how to help care for him. It lets me help them out a bit."

Narcissa seemed to have a wistful look at the mention of Teddy. Her own regret of not being able to bear more children and a mixture of hope of Draco having his own family to care for someday. Lucius noted her look and lowered his own eyes sharing in her regret.

"It's a good life experience. Whether or not you have your own someday, it's a useful thing to start to learn. Besides, I'm sure Remus and Tonks can use the help. New parents are always struggling." She gave a small smile to him between her bites of breakfast.

Narcissa reached down and gently squeezed Lucius' knee, unseen beneath the table. They both understood the other there. They had wanted several children, and sometimes there was guilt she had been unable to provide Lucius with them.

"I believe I got roped into babysitting for them one night. Not sure when." Draco replied. He was not about to explain the hair dye battle they had that night. "Remus can be crafty."

Lucius placed his hand on Narcissa's, appreciating the support. He knew that his son would be a good father later on in life and was glad to see him getting this experience now. He had wished he had been able to give Draco other siblings to grow up with. It was clear that Draco had wished for a sibling.

He was also proud to see his son adopting to the new living situation as well. Most people would have had a hard time to adopting to the lifestyle the Lupins' led...especially if they were used to a more comfortable one. Then Draco was always quick to adapt to his surroundings.

It wasn't either for either of them. There was still that deep part of Narcissa that believed her son deserved better. He should have had more of the good life like she and Lucius had grown up with. There was still the part of her that believed herself better than the likes of the Lupins. It was learning that she wasn't ever sure would truly take, but her son had a better chance than she. He was growing up in a different world. Maybe a new mindset the Malfoy and Black lines hadn't known.

She turned her hand over to lace their fingers together, squeezing her husband's hand. There would always be love, there.

"He's one of the craftiest people I know," Melinda agreed, chuckling. "He wouldn't be alive today if he wasn't. Be careful about him." Her voice was a gentle tease to her friend.

"Malfoy's can be just as crafty." Draco replied. He was fully aware of the various stories of how much trouble Remus got into or helped cause. He had stories from his father, Snape, and Remus himself about them. Slytherins can be just as crafty.

It was strange to watch their son grow away from the life they were used to. Lucius knew it was necessary, but at the same time he wanted to hold his son back and keep him. He still wasn't about to admit that their way of living was out dated and what had gotten them into trouble from the start. It was how he was raised to be and to know another life was too much for him now.

He knew enough that it was hurting his son and separating him from those that were his age. And that was why he had allowed Draco to go with the Lupins. Draco shouldn't be kept here as much as he would have liked him to. Now Draco appeared to be happy and was acting his age instead of mimicking what his parents taught him.

It had taken a fight, a great deal of discussion, and even a bit of crying to come to the agreement to allow Draco to leave with Remus. Narcissa had been terrified that the man would do something against her son pay back for everything that had happened, never mind the fact of what Remus Lupin was. But... when it came to the good of her son and protecting him, there was little Narcissa wasn't prepared to do. The same ended up going for her husband.

Her fingers squeezed his again. Someday, she hoped, they would have a grandchild. Someone they could spoil more than a little at times and love as much as they did Draco.

"As your father and mother have been proving. I've been hearing bits about their days as students... quite crafty indeed. They've been teaching me a little more about how schooling happens here in the UK."

Lucius held Narcissa's hand tightly. It was a hard transition for the both of them, but at least they had their love for one another. That was all he needed to get through everything and to be supportive of the path his son wanted to walk in.

"What was it like over in America...were the schools very different?" Draco asked. He had met the other students during the Tri-wizard tournament. That alone had been a big culture shock...but Melinda was the first person he knew that was from America. He could only imagine the differences.

Melinda looked thoughtful about that, tapping her fork before answering. "I think that it depends very much on the school, as some are similiar to the System you all have over here. I believe schools like that - there are four of them in the states alone! - are from those founded by those from Eurpeon descent. However those founded by natives and of a mixed culture are very different. No houses, like are so prevalent here."

Draco was quite surprised by the news. He was rather curious to know more about the schools that weren't like Hogwarts. It seemed that even in America Hogwarts way was dominent.

"What type of school did you go to? He questioned.

"I actually went to a school that is nothing like Hogwarts. Children intermingle much more and we mix differently between every class. I got to know everyone in my year well. We did have teams for sports, though, so in that way it might not be so different. I was actually very shocked to learn about the idea of House Points!" Melinda chuckled, looking completely amused.

"That would never work here." Draco commented remebering his failed attempt at befriending Harry and how his godfather lost Lilly to James.

The very idea of mingling with other students and getting to know them shocked Draco the most. Hogwarts tried to do it, but it was almost taboo to interact with students outside their house.

"Not with houses, I suppose. That sort of nonsense doesn't end up happening with us, though the competition sounds like fun." There was a brief pause, then she looked thoughtful. "I've been asked to teach a few times. Healers are getting rarer and rarer."

"The houses made the students more competive and helped show their pride. It was always interesting to see which house was the best and who the top students were." Lucius interjected and pointedly looked at his son."Draco could have been the top of his class instead of second had he studied and kept up with the Malfoy tradition."

At these comments Draco rolled his eyes and focused on eating.

"Do you think you will teach later on?" Narcissa questioned. It was important that they needed more healers.

It was such a very fatherly thing to say and really, it sounded more like the Lucius most people knew. Narcissa looked to her husband, giving a firm nod of agreement, but there was a certain joy in her eyes. It had been terrifying, dealing with his decline along such a rapid spiral. Perhaps she less than overly fond of Melinda and her ways, but she could not argue with the results the healer was getting.

Melinda's lips thinned, and she finally shook her head slightly. "I'm not so certain I would be up to a classroom full of children. I wouldn't mind teaching one, perhaps two children who are dedicated to wanting to learn to heal, but I heard enough from Remus about his teaching venture, as well as other friends back home, to be fairly sure that I'm happier with just one at a time."

Though she did chuckle quietly. "We have an entire college dedicated to those who wish to focus on medicine, healing, and uncorrupting. It's quite a bit different than most schools."

Even though Draco rolled his eyes at his father's comment he was quite pleased to hear his old father back. He knew his father simply expected the best and it would forever bother him that his son was second instead of first. Even if he really applied himself it was going to be hard to beat Granger.

The possibility of Melinda teaching caught Draco's eye. He wouldn't mind learning from Melinda herself. Especially with how fast of the results she produced. His father not only finished his first plate, but was working on a second plate and was very animated in their discussion. He also noted that his hands weren't even shaking and that he was very focused.

"It seems that with Hogwarts its expected we go right to our career field after school and learn on the field..." Draco commented briefly remembering the panic other students had as they tried to figure out what career field to go into.

Things were simple. Nothing was being discussed that might trigger something, nothing happening that might do the same. For Melinda, even getting these basics down were deeply important; the things that would trigger him to regress would take a substantial amount of time to work through.

"That isn't terribly different, I suppose," Melinda said after thinking on it, "but we also have our colleges where students who aren't decided can focus more for a year to get their hands into actual work and pick a topic that they enjoy. Those that know what they want to do tend to go right out into the field and get more one-on-one help..."

Though she hesitated again, frowning faintly. "Healing is a subject that is often considered somewhat... unpopular. I think people don't believe it's terribly exciting."

Draco had to admit as a student it didn't sound entirely flattering. Those he knew that seemed interested in the subject were families of healers or had someone who had been hurt...He fit in the second group.

It also didn't help that he was forced to witness so much devastation on both sides that he would never rid himself of the nightmares. He had also hoped that going on this pathway it would help put his family in a positive light. He was trying to help those that his family helped ruined.

"What got you interested in healing?" Draco asked. There was so much about Melinda he didn't know save the little that Remus had to explain.

Healing certainly wasn't a typical Malfoy field to go into, but at least Lucius and Narcissa both realized the reasons why Draco would be interested. Unlike, perhaps, in the past, it wouldn't be held against him. No, far from it. A sign of things had changed in this family.

"I wanted to prove that my family could do more than what people believed of them. I was a child when I figured out that I could soothe people by singing and helped ease my grandfather's passing before I was even in school. It told me everything I wanted to do with my life, even if it was... abnormal. Both my gift and the choice of how I used it." Melinda chuckled, but there was a hint of an old pain around her eyes.

"Remus did say you are one of the best." Draco said with nod of understanding. They may not have been cursed, but their alliance with the Dark Lord had sealed their fate in people's eyes.

After breakfast and tea had been finished, Draco sought Melinda out. He wanted to talk with her more about the healing and what it would be like to possibly go into the college or have her teach him. He knew that no one was going to take him here not even as an intern. Even if someone did take him on...the staff would still give him a hard time and quite possibly the clients. He didn't want to discuss this in front of his parents yet. Not until he was sure about everything. But they did at least know he was interested and didn't seem to hold him back.

There had been an inkling that perhaps Draco would do this and Melinda pointedly went to a quiet room, somewhere they could sit and talk without being immediately over heard. So when Draco found her, it seemed like a very convenient spot. She only gave a smile and gestured for him to join her as she looked out the large windows towards the forest below.

"Will you be staying more of today or returning back to the Lupin's?" She asked to start. "...Close to the full moon." Really, she couldn't blame the young man if he wanted to be out of the house during it.

Draco noted that they had went into the music room that had been rarely used of late. A grand piano took up a large portion of the room. Old books filled the shelves on most of the walls. A picture of the Malfoy family when they were younger sat on the piano. Draco appeared to be five and playing with two large dogs.

"I plan on staying tonight and heading back tomorrow. Although I have brief plans to meet with someone in the evening." Draco paused and appeared to be embarrassed. "I started to get to know some kids my age...that are Muggles. I didn't want to mention it in front of my parents just yet. It's already hard on them right now...I'm not sure how they would have reacted to that news."

Melinda had gone through the house more than once, studying what the Malfoys chose to display in their vacation home, somewhere less likely for visitors to join them. Trying to understand the family, learn more about them without prying questions. This room felt comfortable to her, like there had been happier memories made in it in the past.

The mention of Draco making friends with Muggles brought a smile to Melinda's lips. "Ahh, yes, I can see that might not go over terribly well. Your parents have that old prejudice against them. My grandparents were of the same vein, but my mother chose to ignore that. Not that she went about making friends with them or even interacted with them, but she never hated upon them. I... tend to be a bit unsettling for them, and have mostly avoided them, myself, but I'm glad to here you're getting out and making friends on your own. I think it's something you've needed for a while."

"It's nice to not be judged for a change," Draco softly commented. "I'm still trying to figure out what I want...I was always having to be what other people expected of me."

Realizing what he was dwelling on, Draco focused on the main topic at hand. It had been a pleasant morning and he didn't want to focus on the bad stuff.

"How hard of a transition would it be for me if I were to try and to this college you were talking about?"

Melinda's lips thinned a bit more before she spoke, her voice very soft. "Sometimes, though, Draco? You must learn to ignore that judging. You are who you are. You may change, but in any given moment, you can be nothing more than that. You can lie, you can twist, but you are still that person beneath. It is something you must always remember because you need to be a person that you can live with. Everyone else must only live with you when they are with you, but you are always with you. Be happy with the person you are."

She gave him a soft smile. "I think, though, that it might be a difficult transition to go to the college, but not impossible. You would have to learn to be a little more American, and to be very far from your family. You cannot apparate that distance. But perhaps you might enjoy it... no one would know you, there."

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