Calanthe dropped the old silver tuning fork with a sneer. She greatly disliked traveling by portkey, but felt that apparition from Italy to England was a bit too much work, and she loathed breaking a sweat. A house elf popped next to her and gathered her many bags before bowing and taking the bags without a word. She had sent word a week ago that she would be arriving today, and she was sure that Narcissa had made the appropriate arrangements for her. She made her way to the parlor Narcissa favored and grinned when she saw her friend waiting with a tea service inside. Narcissa rose when she spotted Calanthe.

"Well, well, if it isn't my long-lost friend. I trust you had a smooth journey," Narcissa said as she went to Calanthe. The women grasped hands and kissed the air by each other's cheeks. They went to the couch Narcissa had been sitting on and a house elf began to serve them tea.

Thank you again, Narcissa, for letting me stay here until my business with Blaise is finished."

Narcissa smiled. "It was no problem, although I would have greatly enjoyed to see both our boys' faces when you walked in asking for the house elves to put your bags in your wing."

Calanthe grabbed her tea and sat back. "Well, I have a feeling that I'll surprise them just as much. I told Blaise he had 30 days until I arrived, but I didn't feel like coming until today. I had things to put in order before I left. I'll see him tomorrow."

The two women talked about the various social gatherings both had been to recently, and caught up on the gossip. After the tea service had been taken away, the two women stood and started walking towards the gardens.

"So you are going by the Manor tomorrow to speak with Blaise?" Narcissa asked, to which Calanthe nodded.

"I also want to go by his place of work. I'm glad he's using his potions ability so wisely instead of doing all his experiments in his lab at the Manor. Is Draco currently employed?"

Narcissa rolled her eyes. "He was. You know how bored he gets. I still think he random went up and down Diagon Alley looking for places to work, and he was hired by Madam Malkin. He was let go though, after an altercation in a dressing room involving his girlfriend. I blame your son for that."

Calanthe threw her head back and laughed. "Oh, how much I've missed the two of them getting into trouble. Mind if I let him know you're aware?"

"Go ahead. Although I'll want to look at the memory of his face later. He should be properly horrified."

They both laughed a bit before arriving at the gardens. Narcissa walked over to some bushes growing bright orange flowers while Calanthe took a seat on a stone bench nearby.

"Any other information you can offer up? I'd like to get them terrified of my knowledge early on."

"Blaise's girlfriend, Hannah Abbott, is starting up her bakery. It's in Hogsmeade. I've only properly talked with the girl once, before I had tea with Tracey Davis and she told me of Hannah's... background," Narcissa said.

Calanthe nodded. "I did my own digging when I heard her name. How I wish he would have fallen for the Parkinson girl," she said with a sigh. Narcissa turned and smirked at her.

"Well, he did take her to Paris last weekend. Lady Hubbard saw them at the French Symphony together. They went shopping as well. He took her to a wine spa there."

Calanthe's eyebrow rose. "Without this Hannah he's so infatuated with? That sounds like my son, all right."

Narcissa nodded absently. "Well, I'm not sure if Miss Parkinson's current man was aware either. He works for Maria, or he did directly until she became Minister and Potter took over. I honestly do not know what she was thinking when she made that post, but I have trust in her." The other woman returned her nod.

"I'll have to see if she has time for a tea while I'm back. I haven't spoken to her in a long while."

"We'll have to have a tea together, just like old times."

Narcissa and Calanthe grinned at each other.

[SUMMARY]: Calanthe comes back to England and visits with her long time friend, Narcissa.