Draco was scowling furiously by the time he returned to Malfoy Manor. Swollen glands and a crush on Ginny Weasley... that Blaise Zabini not only knew about but wanted to hep out with. Just great. He spotted his mother in the main sitting room.

"Are you waiting for me?" he asked incredulously.

"Of course, darling. I was worried. I knew you went to St. Mungo's today," she said with a small grin.

Draco glared at her. "I have swollen glands. Likely from the climate change. Everything else seems to be in working order."

"Oh good," Narcissa said casually. "I was truly worried for you. Who knows what you could have caught while in other places."

"The medi-witch who examined me informed me that there is no such thing as wizarding VD, but I did give her my floo. Since I'm all healthy and everything, I thought I'd start working on that grandbaby situation for you."

Narcissa had been smiling until he mentioned the medi-witch, then she frowned.

"Stop being rude and making fun of my wants. You are being childish."

"Apologies, Mother," Draco said sincerely.

He walked over to the couch she was sitting on and sat next to her.

"I'm fine. Honestly. Don't worry, all right?"

She rolled her eyes. "Do you think me stupid? Of course I knew there was no such thing as wizarding VD. It was a harmless prank." Narcissa scowled. "You flirting with some floozy was not part of the plan."

Draco scowled. "Please don't call her that."

Then he mentally kicked himself. A lot. What in the hell was the matter with him? He was defending Ginny Weasley to his mother. Not that his mother knew who he was speaking of. He needed to fix this without her noticing and fast.

"I was just joking as well, Mother. Harmless. I'm not seeing anyone. Swear. After what I just went through it would be a miracle if I did want to date anyone. Just clam down."

She smirked and her eyebrow rose. "You're not seeing her and yet you're defending her. Suddenly grow caring heart, have we?"

"Not that I am aware of," he said smoothly. How could he possibly explain to his mother that he was defending Ginny Weasley because she knew exactly who he was and did not treat him like something she'd stepped in?

"It's not like that," Draco said. "It will never be like that. Not with her."

Narcissa's smirk grew to a full smile. "But you'd like it be," she teased. "Oh, my darling boy has a little crush. How cute." She cupped his cheek and patted it before he lurched back.

It was not cute. It was most definitely NOT cute. He was Draco Malfoy. He and cute were opposites. She wouldn't think it was so damned cute if she knew who it was.

"Can you not do that," he asked. "I'm no longer a first year, Mother."

"But you'll always be my baby boy who wanted to play with my dresses and lacy ball gown when he was little." She laughed at his expression.

"You know, it's rather lucky for you that I like girls more than boys. Otherwise Blaise would be your daughter-in-law, and we'd have to adopt those grandbabies. He's absolutely perfect for me... except for the fact that the both of us like the femmes too much."

Narcissa snickered. "Don't tell him this, but I already do consider him my daughter-in-law. If either one of you was female, he'd be wed into this family quicker than you can say 'magic'."

"Fabulous," Draco snapped, his jealousy welling up again unexpectedly. "Why don't you speak to him about knocking some poor witch up and giving you grandbabies."

"He got that talk a long time ago," she said. "And there you go acting as if I just told you your brooms were auctioned off or something. Blaise did not replace you. He is your good friend who knows more about you than even yourself, I suspect."

Her eyes narrowed. "Does Blaise know about this crush of yours?"

Damn! "I don't know," Draco lied. He folded his arms across his chest and started a really good pout. He couldn't help it. He was so damned good at being jealous. He didn't even have to try. Maybe he could get a job being jealous of people. He'd make a mint doing that.

"I'll just owl him about it then," she said with finality.

"But I just said I don't know!"

"Oh, he knows. You still can't lie at all, dear. Anyway, you probably saw him earlier today." She grinned. "That means that he possibly knows who she is, which could hint at Hogwarts, since I know the girls that Blaise is around regularly, and I doubt you'd want to get involved with them. I do so love puzzles."

He was going to be sick. Was it possible to hide all the owls? Draco couldn't believe this was happening to him. He was tempted to just tell her who it was so she'd stop, but he didn't know if he could handle the look of horror she was sure to have on her face about it.

And his mother knew what sort of girls Blaise saw? Oh, that was just NOT acceptable.

"What makes you think he'd actually tell you?" Draco asked.

She gave him a positively wicked look.

"You think he's the only one with good blackmail material? Please," she scoffed. "I've known him since he was born. He'll tell me anything."

He couldn't let her do that. Not to Blaise. Normally he was all for blackmail, but not Blaise. Never Blaise. Draco scowled, letting out a great sigh as he weighed his options. He could tell her. He could. She probably wouldn't even believe him. He just didn't want her doing anything to Blaise because of him. She wouldn't hurt him, not really, but even the thought of Blaise being made uncomfortable by anyone but him bothered Draco greatly.

"How's about I just tell you and ruin your fun then?" Draco raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, it will still be fun. I'll be able to owl her for tea and dinner sometime. We can go shopping and I'll be able to show her the many baby albums of you running around in nothing a'tall."

Dammit.

There was no winning with her. You'd think Draco would have learned that by now. Well, better him being tortured than Blaise. Draco knew he could take it. He'd been put through much worse. Funny that he was not into saving his own skin any longer. Skin. It always came down to one little patch of skin on his left arm with him.

"Well, I'm sure Ginny Weasley will be delighted to hear from you."

She frowned and stared at him.

"Either you suddenly learned how to lie to me or you're telling me the truth. I'm not sure which worries me more." Narcissa sat back and paused before grinning. "I've always been fond of red-haired children."

I am not going to freak out. I am not going to freak out. She is not planning my children with Ginny Weasley. This is NOT happening.

That was obviously not the reaction he'd been expecting. "Excellent." Now I just need to go set myself on fire and run around the lawn. Scare the damned peacocks.


{SUMMARY} Draco tells Narcissa everything checked out. He also tells her a few things he didn't plan on.