Narcissa tapped her foot impatiently as she waited for Draco at the bottom of the stairs. She cast tempus with her wand, and when she saw the time, she rolled her eyes.

"Draco, stalling will not help you. Fetch the notes and get down here, now!"

Draco scowled and headed down the stairs. He did not want to do this. He could handle this himself. Damn. But it was his mother. He'd do just about anything for his mum.

"I'm here. Don't get your knickers in an undue bunch."

"You are the last person to talk about my knickers," she said dryly. Adopting a more serious air, she turned to him fully and looked into his eyes. "You will conduct yourself with proper decorum, are you clear? We are not going to see some some green Junior Auror who wets themselves when they hear dogs bark. You are to act like a Malfoy. Behave," Narcissa finished sternly before turning to the sitting room. "Now, I had it arranged that we would arrive by portkey in the main office of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. The portkey itself is that spoon," she said, nodding to the silver spoon on the table. "It activates in just over a minute."

"All right," Draco said, eyeing her warily. Just who were they seeing then? "I'll try to behave."

"You'll do better than try or you'll be looking at the hexing end of my wand."

"Salazar! All right. I won't embarrass you in front of your friend."

They were mostly silent until the assigned time to grab the spoon to the Ministry. Draco hated travelling by portkey, but he also hated arguing with his mother about anything.

In a flurry of colors and noises, they arrive in the main sitting area. As soon as they had both landed, Narcissa sneered, dropping the spoon to the floor as if it were covered in dirt and strode confidently through the many desks and hallways, leaving Draco to hurry behind her. She stopped at a desk at the back, where a witch was writing quickly on many different parchments. She immediately looked up and nodded at Narcissa to enter the door next to her desk.

"She's expecting you, Lady Malfoy."

Narcissa didn't acknowledge her, instead opening the door to the office and motioning Draco through behind her.

Maria looked up as the door opened. Narcissa was right on time, which was to be expected. Draco's presence was not anticipated, however, and she raised an eyebrow at Narcissa in question before rising and greeting them.

"Narcissa," she said as they exchanged air kisses. "It's always a pleasure. But considering the look on your son's face, I think perhaps this visit is more about business." She held out a hand to Draco. "Hello, Draco. I'm sure you hardly remember me, since it's been several years since we've last met. I'm Maria LeGrot."

Draco looked the woman square in the eye and took her hand, offering a firm handshake. "I will admit, I do not recall, but then again, I have not always been one for taking note of those I should. A failing I no longer have. It's a pleasure to meet you, Madam LeGrot."

"A dangerous failing in certain times. While I hope this is not one of them, I fear my optimism is not that strong. Now, dear boy, what can I do for you? It is you who needs to see me and not your mother, correct? I can't imagine Narcissa bringing you for a spot of tea." No, it was obviously a business meeting, which was unfortunate. She had been looking forward to a bit of time when she didn't need to think about work or keep her public face firmly fixed. Maybe Narcissa could break away from her child once the business was concluded.

The three of them moved to sit down and Narcissa glared at her son.

"Draco has been getting death threats, and I'm afraid to report that it seems they weren't all folly like he originally suspected. Why don't you tell Maria who nearly killed you, darling?"

"It seems dear, sweet Alecto Carrow is not as dead as we all supposed. She's a bit put out with me. Waited until I visited the Malfoy family crypt to ambush me. I asked her about the notes though. She said she wasn't sending them. She's not the sort to lie about it, as funny as that sounds. She'd admit to sending death threats with pride, brag about it even. So it makes me wonder who else might be sending them. I thought that it was someone just trying to scare me, but after Carrow, I'm not entirely certain."

Draco sighed. He did not feel right about this. Not at all.

"And the idiot boy didn't even want to tell anyone besides the healer he went to. I'm sure you realize, Maria, the gravity of Alecto Carrow out and about. She's more than slightly insane. If news were to break out, especially with that Dark Mark business..." she trailed off in the end.

"Yes, that Dark Mark. Terribly upsetting, that. I found the peacock to be... Interesting. An odd choice for a sigil. I can't help but wonder at it's significance."

Maria shook her head as if she were pulling herself out of deeper thoughts and summoned a roll of parchment and quill to herself. "Obviously I cannot investigate these threats myself. I'm afraid even a few years behind a desk have slowed my reflexes. There are several Aurors that I think would do the case justice. I can interview you now and pass the notes along to the investigation Auror, but most likely you'll still need to meet with him or her, if only to make sure that I didn't miss anything. And, of course, there will be a memo stating that Alecto is still alive and to reopen her file. Did you happen to keep the owled threats?"

Draco took them out of his coat pocket. "I'm sentimental," he said, smirking. Then added, "Peacocks symbolize purity."

Both women had odd expressions on their faces as if his bird knowledge was the last thing they expected.

"I'm smarter than I look," Draco said.

"No one accused you of being stupid, Draco," Narcissa said flippantly before turning back to Maria. "Whenever Lucius finally agreed to my want of peacocks around the manor, he made Draco understand that they weren't just for female amusement, but that they meant something, to me at least." She waved off the discussion. "Back to our discussion. I realize I am asking this more as a personal favor, since after going to St. Mungo's to be treated, they refused and he was forced to find alternative healers."

At Draco's surprised look, she levelled her her gaze with him. "I am in contact with Blaise, you know."

Draco rolled his eyes. He was seriously going to have to have a talk with his best mate about NOT telling his mother every little thing.

"St. Mungo's refused to treat you? Well, that shall not be borne. Perhaps it's time to remind the director that without the MLE's patronage the hospital would close. Refusing to treat a patient, I've never heard such a thing." She quickly scribbled a note to herself on the parchment, a reminder to look into Mungo's treatment practices. It wouldn't be practical to withdraw MLE patronage completely since no other facility had the resources to handle the Auror squads on a good day, much less in the middle of a war. But perhaps the threat would be enough.

She took the notes from Draco and glanced through them. Short and to the point, which was more worrisome than if they each went off into a rant of one type or another. It meant that the sender was focused. It also meant that there was less for the Aurors who specialized in codes and psychology to use against the culprit.

"When did the first one arrive, do you remember?"

At the question, Narcissa arched her eyebrows and turned to Draco. She couldn't wait to hear this.

"St. Mungo's didn't exactly refuse to treat me," Draco said. "They just sort of ignored me and took their sweet time trying to decide who would be stuck with me, and the first owl was..." Draco considered. His mother would be upset about this, but it could not be helped. "About three weeks ago the first arrived. They're post paid owls, and always a different one."

"You looked into that, did you?" She wrote the information down on the parchment. "Strange thing to do if you think they're some one's idea of a bad jest. Did you happen to make a list of when each arrived and where they originated?"

Draco almost told her he had several habits she would probably find strange. Most of them involving nudity in some way. He didn't have a job, so yes, when he got odd owls, he poked around a bit. Everybody had to have a hobby. Plus, he was paranoid. He was also a Slytherin. They did stuff like that. Suspicious of everyone save their own and even then they were still guarded. A true friend stabs you in the front... and all that rot.

"Each has originated in a different location. They arrived on the eighteenth, the twenty-first, the twenty-second, and the latest on the twenty-eighth. It's been rather quiet since then."

"I see." That was the type of investigating an Auror would do. Perhaps, if he hadn't taken, or possibly been forced to take, the Dark Mark, he could have joined the MLEs ranks. He didn't seem like the type of man who was content to laze around and spend the family money. It was almost too bad that that path was closed to him now. She always needed good Aurors.

"Is there anything else you can tell me about them? Did they perhaps smell, or feel odd when they first arrived. An odd question, I know, but parchment picks up fragrances from the surroundings. If you noticed anything like that, it could lead us to the writer."

"Nothing unusual on that front, but I couldn't help but feel the bread one was terribly ingenious."

Narcissa huffed and rolled her eyes. "You would." She sighed and turned her attention back to Maria. "Any other questions? I hate that one of the few times I get around to visiting you in your office has to be on business. I was so wanting an afternoon tea with you to catch up. Our short chat on Halloween left much to be desired."

Maria smiled at her friend. "Yes, it did. We really must get together soon to gossip. I haven't had a good gossip session in years."

She let her face slip back into her normal, serious demeanor as she turned to Draco. "Those are all the questions I have, but as I said, the investigating Auror might wish to speak to you as well. I have a few thoughts on who to assign to the case. Can I assume that you would prefer it not to be Harry Potter? I seem to recall your mother mentioning a school-boy rivalry between you two."

Draco could not help his derisive snort. "You've got that absolutely correct. School-boy rivalry indeed. The right wank- um.... yes. Not terribly fond of him. I don't feature him being too terribly motivated to help me out either. My cousin Dora might if she's available, but anyone you deem able should be more than fine."

As soon as the words Harry Potter left Maria's mouth, Narcissa had her wand out ready to either send soap to Draco's mouth or bind his lips shut. She knew how irrational Draco could be when even around someone mentioning Potter, and she wasn't about to have Draco spouting off foul language. She eased when Draco quickly corrected himself and eased into a smoother topic.

"I'd be happy with anyone you sent, Maria," Narcissa said, smoothly sliding her wand back into her sleeve. "I'd prefer if they were seasoned Aurors, naturally, because I take my son's life very seriously, but also because I'd hate to let the hounds out again. The house-elves took dreadfully long to fetch them and they also scared the peacocks."

Maria nodded, her mind racing through the ranks of Aurors. Dora would most certainly have to be Tonks, of course. A good Auror as long as she didn't have to be around anything breakable. If she was willing, then it could be the perfect match. She was either Black enough to deal with her family, or too Muggle to be of any use. She suspected that the Black blood prevailed of the weaker Tonks.

"I will see who's available and owl you the name of the investigator."

Draco nodded. "If I may excuse myself then? I believe you ladies would like tea or lunch or something and a chat, and that most certainly does not require me, and besides, I'd be intruding."

"Thank you, darling," Narcissa said with a small grin. "We won't be but just a moment. Try not to get into too much trouble, will you?"

Draco pinned his mother with a look. "I think I can manage to find my way home. I'll see you there. Don't rush on my account, Mother. Please. Enjoy your visit. Good day, Madam LeGrot."

That said, he left.

Narcissa followed Draco with her eyes as he left, and once the doors were closed, she grinned deviously.


{SUMMARY} Narcissa takes Draco to meet Maria. They discuss his death threats and what there is to be done about them.