thattimeofthemonth | Open RP Post

Melinda didn't linger in the hug, knew better than to, and reseated herself as she watched the young man who had been forced to grow up so very quickly. He had made some horrible choices, ones she had been learning more about from his parents, but in the face of things, she wasn't entirely surprised. It would take a very different kind of child to go against his parents, ones he wanted to protect more than anyone else. She hoped, but believed, that Remus saw him as more than most people saw him. His actions would not be easy to forgive for many, but... every child deserved a real chance as themselves, not the product of what they were forced into.

"I've been speaking with your father about that particular topic. There... has been a cautious suggestion that perhaps it might be better to relocate, or rebuild."

"Rebuild?" He had never thought of that as an option. "I just don't see my father being keen on that with how the house has been passed on from one generation to the next." He personally thought it was good. They could use the chance to update it since it was very old place.

He moved away from the window to the piano and whiped away some of the dust that had collected over the years. "Did my dad or mom ever mention anything about music? My mother had met my father at school, but got to know him through music. He used to play the piano all the time. He taught my mother and then me. My mother took lessons to get to know him. It was the one of the few times she would get to see him away from other students and his father." This was more of a happier topic to discuss.

"I... am not fully certain your father will ever be able to live there again." Her voice was quiet, knowing it was a bit more telling than perhaps she should, but this young man was going to, most likely, become head of the household sooner than he might feel comfortable with. Narcissa would always be truly in charge, but Draco would need to step up if he so chose to continue that route.

"No, neither of them has mentioned it." Actually, Draco's bit of information was giving her an idea that she tucked away in the back of her mind. "Do you still play, by chance?"

[Redoing the tag, wanting to put more into the response.]

He gave a nod in understanding. "I'm afraid to say that I would agree with that. However, just from what I've seen today was an improvement. How...were you able to reason with my mother? I realize that some of the issues were part of the way how she was handling things...even if it was meant well. And I know my father can be difficult on top of it."

He hesitated a bit at the other question if he still played. "I stopped playing when my father stopped playing. When the music stopped...I knew that something was up and it wasn't good. Later I learned...that He had returned in full form. I could see him changing like he was trying to brace himself for what was going to happen. He didn't want to seem weak or soft.

He became stricter, harsher in his words, and easily irritable. Nothing seemed to please him. My parents always fought. At one point I tried to keep playing wanting to remember the good things that came with it, but my father put a stop to it. He was so mad that day. Since then I didn't try again. I'm not sure what would happen if I tried to play again. I'm honestly surprised he never got rid of the pianos."

"Unfortunately, you would be right. Your mother was trying to help, but it could only lead to worse things in the end." Melinda gave a soft smile. "Though her heart was truly in the right place. I ended up sitting down with your mother and speaking to her honestly - asking for only two days worth of her trust and if she saw no improvement, I would leave. She sat in on those sessions and saw how I worked, and by the end of those days, your father's hands no longer shook. It was a great improvement."

Melinda listened in silence for some time, then, very softly, "...play. For me, now. Please." She had a hope, if Draco would do so, that perhaps Lucius was ready if he should hear it from across the house.

"Impressive. It takes a lot to earn my mother's trust." Draco replied. "Very few earn it." Draco believed though that the big key factor was letting her see how Melinda worked and that she wouldn't be a threat to the family.

Hesitantly, Draco gave a nod. With a wave of his wand he cleaned the piano so it was dust free. After giving the piano a test, he then proceeded to tune the piano as it had been some time since it was last played.

He settled down to play a piece from memory. He thought at first he would be rusty, but found that after a few bars in that his fingers easily moved across the keys with few mistakes. He only hoped that this would bring the results Melinda wanted and not the past results.

"I'm honored to have it. There are few women as strong as she, for all that perhaps she and I might not have seen eye to eye in our past. Now, though... we manage to work together, for your father's sake." So no, not always easy around here between the two of them, but they were making it work so Lucius could get better.

But she sat back, listening, as Draco began to play. Really, she could hear even past the mistakes that once he must have been very skilled. Practice would be the only cure to buff out what had become rough with age. Her eyes closed as she enjoyed the music, but also so she could listen more closely to the hall coming towards the room. Would either of the Malfoy's take a bit of bait?

Narcissa was the first to hear the music. At first, she thought she was imagining it. It had been a long time since anyone played-- Draco had been fourteen when the music stopped. The music brought a smile to her face and it grew more when Lucius placed the paper he was reading down to investigate.

It was hard to read his expression and Narcissa wasn't sure what to expect. The last time Draco had played he was furious. Quietly, she followed her husband. Lucius stopped by the music room, but didn't step in. He wore a confused expression as he seemed lost on what to do.

Draco looked to Melinda but still played. He wasn't sure what to do now that his parents came.

Melinda quickly mouthed 'keep playing' to Draco, leaning back and keeping an eye on the two older Malfoys as they stood in the doorway. Her fingers of one hand were hidden in the folds of her robes, clenched tightly together, hoping for a good outcome. It could end in tragedy, bringing up the anger and frustration from before thanks to poor memories, but it could also be healing - memories of a better past, a new future.

So silently she hoped, because it was all she could do. If her methods worked, she believed it would lean towards a better outcome, but that was the fear of working with the mind - it was such a tricky thing.

Purposely, Draco made a few mistakes. It seemed to catch his father's attention as the confusion left his face. This particular piece had been a difficult one when he first learned it. His father moved to sit next to Draco.

"This is how it's done. You're falling into the same issue you had before," Lucius comnented and proceeded to play the section Draco was purposely butchering.

Draco simply nodded and watched as his father played. He could see his mother smiling. Draco then tentively repeated what his father had shown. It was a start. His father then continued to instruct him on the piece.

Slowly, a smile came to Melinda's face as her hopes came true. She listened silently, keeping herself not a part of the family time but not disturbing it by leaving, either. If the whole family moved over to the piano, perhaps, she would slip out unseen. It was meant to be their time together.

It made her, badly, wish to go tell her beautiful daughter how much she loved her, though.

However, it was working as she had hoped. This showed that her methods had been working as she thought they would, bringing Lucius further out of the walls he had placed around himself and his heart to try and survive the war he had placed himself into.

Midway through his instructions, Lucius had he realized he fell for his son's ruse. Instead of being upset by it, he couldn't help but smile. Draco had been trying to reach out to him and he managed to with music. He then suggested they play a song together, which Draco happily agreed to matching his father's smile.

Quietly Narcissa moved to sit next to Melinda. She placed a hand her shoulder. "Thankyou," she said in a soft voice. To see them playing together as if nothing had ever happened gave her much hope.

Melinda couldn't help but smile to the other woman, listening to the two men play. The touch was not an insignificant one, and she was no fool to misunderstand the importance of it. "It was and remains my pleasure," she said just as softly, not wanting to disturb them. "That is why I work, to see this sort of outcome."

She looked to the men, then said even more softly, "perhaps we should leave them to it. I get the feeling they may be a while." Let father and son rebond, as badly as it was needed.

"Yes, in the past they would spend hours at the piano. Hearing them play again is breathing life back in this house." Narcissa replied with a nod of agreement. She followed Melinda out of the room after giving Lucius a reassuring smile that it was safe to keep playing. Lucius gave a nod and appeared to be comfortable with just spending the time with his son. He knew as well that they would be near by.

Draco in the mean time was enjoying every minute of it. He couldn't believe that this actually worked and had been quite surprised when his father joined him. He mouthed "Thank you," to Melinda as he saw her and his mother step out to let them spend time together.

Melinda gave a small nod to show she saw what he mouthed before she walked out with Narcissa, looking very pleased about how that all went. "I think it's time for all of you for a new breath," she said with honesty in her voice, not unkindly. "It will be good for you all."

She looked to Narcissa, still smiling, though it was faintly sad. "I think I will take some time to go speak with my daughter, if you'll excuse me."

Narcissa gave a nod and showed her where their fire was. They rarely used it to communicate with anyone these days. No one contacted them as well. She stepped outside to attend to the garden to give Melinda her privacy. She she worked, she made sure she could still hear her boys playing. Should the music stop she would come in and check. For now things seemed to go well.

"Thank you." Melinda gave a small smile of appreciation before she went to speak with her daughter. It would not take terribly long, perhaps no more than fifteen minutes. The younger woman in the fire could have been Melinda thirty years ago, so similar in looks they were, but they had the ease of two people who loved one another.

When she was done, her world felt just that bit warmer.

It was another hour or so before they were done playing the piano. Both of them appeared to be relaxed and at ease as they conversed over some tea. Draco found himself offering to help prepare lunch wanting to learn when he could. Only this raised Narcissa's suspicion that the Lupins couldn't cook. She didn't say anything but instructed her son on what to do. She was just glad he was finally showing some interest.

Lucius sat at the table watching them interact. For the first time in a long time it seemed like how things used to be. They were a family without a dark master threatening them and a war going on around them. He only hoped that soon he could have his wand back. He still felt a part of him was missing. He knew that Melinda was helping as the dark world that had replaced him was slowly disappearing and being replaced with the light. He also noted that his wife was more relaxed around her. Things were slowly coming back together.

Melinda showed Narcissa a picture of her daughter, which was a bit of a sweet one that she took when she traveled - the younger woman in the photo held a photo in her hands of herself when she was much younger. "So I can remember her now and as a child," she explained, chuckling.

A very simply sort of day for most families, but for the Malfoys, it was a day of healing. A sign that things could be normal. Melinda knew the Lupins didn't cook and hoped Narcissa wouldn't hold it against them if she found out because it would be obvious how they lived otherwise. Not much could be done, there.

But Melinda looked out the window as night came, her eyes sad. It would be very soon when Remus' change would come.

Narcissa smiled at the picture. The young woman was indeed very pretty and someone she might improve of for her son. The only thing that held her back was the curse. She kept such comments to herself. "Does she have a young man in her life?" She felt it was safe to ask. She didn't want to be rude.

As Draco noted how late it was getting he let his parents know he would be out for a bit but was returning. He neverously arrived at the meeting spot they had agreed on. Before hand he had changed into a more comfortable but nice outfit. At the same time he couldn't help but thing about Remus and the full moon tonight. He decided then he would learn to be an animangus for him.

"She does, actually. A brilliant young man by the name of Jonathan. He works as a healer as well. College love." She smiled; obvious how much she approved. "I imagine I'll have a granddaughter soon enough."

Jake, however, showed up dressed up slightly more than Draco had seen him before. A long sleeved shirt with a button up under it, black jeans and boots, and that typical warm smile on his lips that lit up more when he saw Draco. The other had dressed up... it meant this was a date as far as Muggles went!

"Hey." Warm and pleased to see him with none of the awkwardness. "Thought I was going to be late, but it looks like I'm right on time."

It made sense that healers ran in the family and interacted with other healers. Very few families had different jobs. "This would be the college you mentioned earlier? The one Draco seemed interested in?" Narcissa questioned. This was something she felt more comfortable discussing.

Draco gave an easy smile in return. If only Jake realized that suits and nicer clothes then what he wore now was a regular thing for him. He had no idea where this was going to go. He noted Jake had dressed up more then usual and was glad to see he had some fashion sense.

"No worries, I arrived a little early," Draco admitted.

"It would be, actually. It's an incredible place. They call it a teaching hospital. People may go there, free of charge, to receive care. Both Muggle and Wizarding methods are taught so that any healer is fully prepared to handle whatever may come, body or mind. Most are less specialized than I, but stay to a general category. It can be a difficult education, but highly rewarding. There is always a demand for healers of body or mind." Melinda spoke calmly, not with the excited tones of someone trying to sell the college but explain it neutrally.

"Draco, if he wished, and the both of you would be welcomed to come see the college if you wish. I imagine they would be delighted to even let Draco shadow for a day, to see what it would be like."

"I believe that this would be a good path for him. He was never meant to deal with the hardship of our past mistakes and to witness those horrors. But I admit that I would hate that have my son so far away," Narcissa had replied. "But I can tell that he's really inspired by you and what you have done for his father."

"It can be difficult, and I believe it will be for him if he should chose this path, but it will only be for a few years. He would be somewhere that his name carries no weight, good or bad, and instead it would be his actions that paved the way, something I think Draco might like."

It was cautious, here. Take it too far and Narcissa might feel like she was trying to mother Draco. Not gently push and motherly love could keep Draco away from a possible fantastic future.

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