thattimeofthemonth | Open RP Post

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.

"When Draco returns tonight, we'll have a discussion over this. I just want to make sure that this is something he clearly wants to do and that this is his decision alone. We will not make it for him.

I realize that we didn't give him the freedom he needed to make proper decisions on his own. Sometimes I feel that if we had, he may not have had suffered as much for them. I can only hope now that he will do his best to make better decisions that will give him the path he wants."

Narcissa carefully responded. It was hard for her to admit her fears and faults to someone outside her family. Yet, Melinda had earned her trust and she needed to show it.

"Discussion is the best way to talk out his possible choices. I believe I will retire early tonight, or perhaps Lucius will feel up to a session." Basically pointedly giving Narcissa a chance to speak with Draco alone if she wished it.

Jake, meanwhile, was leading Draco slowly along the sidewalk, the air cool with rain threatening to come. "I thought maybe we could see a movie or go to a show? There's a great band playing nearby. Or... if you'd rather just go to dinner?"

Narcissa gave a nod, thankful for the time alone.She wasn't going to tell Lucius if he should have a session or not...that was between him and Melinda. Once she saw how she worked, Narcissa knew she wouldn't have to interfere.

Draco walked alongside him, quietly taking everything in. He was always used to leading with the small circle of friends he had, but in this situation Jake was clearly leading everything.

"How about dinner? That way we can talk more," Draco carefully suggested. He wasn't familiar with movies but the band sounded interested. Yet, he wasn't sure if he wanted to be surrounded by other people in a crowded spot right now.

"Sounds good to me." Jake didn't seem bothered by Draco's choice and started thinking about it. "There's a pretty good Italian place nearby, pizza joint, Chinese? Anything catch your interest?" He studied Draco in the streetlight, the corner of his mouth staying up.

Who wouldn't be interested? Sure, Draco was a little weird, but who wasn't? Good guy, cute... seemed to be interested back, even better.

"Let's go for Italian," Draco replied. He just recently had Chinese and pizza...He was familiar with some Italian food as they had gone to nice restaurants back in the past.

Casually Draco studied Jake. He supposed what he enjoyed the most about him was the fact he was easy going and didn't seem to judge to harshly. He found that it was easy to relax around him and let his guard down a bit. Only the one thing he fretted over was trying to explain a few things that needed to be dealt with. He didn't want to keep lying.

"Sounds good." Jake flashed that smile as he walked along at an easy pace, brushing back hair from his eyes. Heh, was Draco checking him out? Hoped so. Actually put some thought into this outfit earlier.

"How are things going with your family? Still enjoying being out here or missing home?" He kept half an eye ahead of him on the quiet sidewalk and half on Draco as they strolled. It was a nice night and for England, less rainy than usual.

"I'll admit that I miss them...but at the same time I'm enjoying the freedom as well." Draco carefully replied and spoke in a softer voice. This had been something he wanted to clear up, but he wasn't sure if it was wise to start now or wait.

"...But I also should be fair that there's a lot I need to explain to you that I haven't been able to properly explain yet....only because it's pretty heavy and not something I would readily tell everyone."

That... Didn't sound good. Jake's brows came together as he tried to puzzle it out. Maybe Draco was born a girl? Did he not think this was a date and that he's gay? Maybe something even stranger? Hands in his pockets still, slowing his stride, he listened.

"If... If you want to talk about it, I'm here. Some weird guy you met on vacation, right? Who better to get it off your chest to?" Trying to stay easy about it so maybe it would be easier to talk about, but from that expression, it really was something big.

Draco frowned unsure of how to even explain things and even though Jake was trying to make it easier...it wasn't helping.

"When I came here, I wasn't really expecting to run into anyone here let alone start to get to know other people my age. I'm used to people going the other way to avoid me or give me a hard time... People didn't like my family for various reasons so in turn they carried their feelings about them on to me. If you hang around me after this...you might see that."

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