After Luna and Longbottom left, the house fell back to quiet. Mother returned to her work, plastering the walls over one room at a time. Pansy read magazines and listened to the wireless. Draco got to work on his notes, organising and rewriting them where necessary, which is where Pansy found him a few days later.

"Merlin, you are such a nerd."

Draco looked up from his desk, "What?"

"You heard me," Pansy said walking over and looking over his shoulder, "Anyway, let's go out."

"Go where?" Draco asked, turning in his chair.

Pansy shrugged nonchalantly, "A mall maybe?"

"A medieval war hammer? What are you even talking about?"

Pansy huffed at him, "No, nerd, its a muggle building filled with shops. There's one in Salisbury."

Draco frowned at her, "I don't see the point? And how do the shops fit? Muggles can't manipulate space."

"It's a very big building, and the shops are small, I think." Pansy said, crossing her arms over her chest, "And the point is doing a lot of shopping without having to walk six blocks in the rain and then have to apparate to an entirely different town to get everything you want."

Draco massaged his temples, "It's nearly christmas, the amount of people-"

"It'll be fine," Pansy cut him off, "They'll all be muggle anyway so they won't care about us and it's not like we have to stay. We could just look and then leave."

Draco narrowed his eyes.

"If I stay in this house for a second longer, I'm going to lose my mind," Pansy said.

Draco looked at his parchment and sighed, "Fine. Help me pick out something muggle to wear?"

Pansy went through his closet and transfigured one of his old cloaks into a muggle coat.

Draco looked at the coat, which was boring to say the least, asking Pansy, "That's it?"

Pansy flicked her wand at his collar, changing it from a high collar to a more casual style and unbuttoned the top two buttons, "That's it."

"Kipper!" Draco called and waited.

A few seconds later Kipper appeared in front of him with a snap, "Yes, young Master?"

"I need some muggle notes from the safe," Draco said.

"How many? Of which type?" Kipper asked.

Draco looked at Pansy who shrugged.

"...Ten of the largest bills?" Draco tried.

"Will that be enough?" Pansy asked.

"Twenty then."

Kipper bowed and disappeared.

"You know how muggle money works?" Pansy asked.

Draco nodded, "Muggles have a lot of different note papers, but they're all connected. It makes more sense than our money in some ways."

"Seems fussy to me," Pansy said.

"If muggles can manage it, so can I," Draco said.

Kipper appeared with a stack of paper money in his hands which Draco put in the inside pocket of his jacket.

"Kipper, tell my mother that we're going out and will be back by supper at the latest," Draco said.

"Let's go," Pansy said, grabbing his arm and leading him outside, pausing at her room to grab a coat for herself.

They hurried down the drive and called the knight bus which was actually carrying other passengers for once. Pansy explained to the driver where they wanted to go. Draco pretended not to notice how the woman with two children pulled them closer to her, and the old man with wispy silver hair glared at him, or the muttered 'deatheater' from one of two sisters.

Luckily the maul was close by and they were soon off the infernal bus contraption and in a-

Draco turned on his heel as the knight bus disappeared. The maul was huge, and all around it muggles had made a massive pavement to fit all their automobiles. Muggles streamed in and out of a set of doors and Draco and Pansy followed them inside. There were shops and stands in the middle of massive walkways, proper moving stairs made of metal and everything was bright and clean and sharp.

And there were so many people, more than he had ever seen in one place. None of them cared about him in the slightest, except that he was in the way. Draco and Pansy started walking, letting themselves be pushed along by the crowd.

"Are you okay?" Pansy asked, grabbing hold of his arm.

Draco found himself smiling in disbelief, "Pansy there's so many-" Pansy nodded, "-and this is just one- how many mauls are there?"

Pansy said, "At least one in every big town. London has more."

"And V-Voldemort thought he could- I don't know. It was nonsense. Look at this!" Draco gestured to the crowd.

"Well, he was mad," Pansy said, stopping in front of a storefront display.

Draco looked at the clothes on the mannequins, when he looked around he could see the displays in three other clothing stores, all the clothes were different, entirely different styles and colour pallets and uses and there were more stores and more floors with more stores with even more people. The realisation struck Draco-

Their world was so small.

Why had he ever thought different?

"Let's go in," Pansy said, walking into the shop.

They explored racks and racks of clothes and had to figure out their size since muggles couldn't instantly alter their clothes with magic. They fumbled with muggle money together and tried on all sorts of clothes and shoes and bought anything that caught their fancy. They had lunch at the shops in the centre, sharing each other's pizza and burger which was terribly greasy and messy but also very good. And Pansy talked him into buying something for Potter.

  '~*~'   

They were exhausted and overwhelmed in the best sort of way when they got back, bursting into Draco's rooms and dropping all the bags on the floor in a pile.

Pansy sat on the edge of his bed with a groan and kicked off her shoes.

Draco emptied the many coins from his jacket and the crumpled mix of notes left over from the shopping spree, taking the transfiguration off and dropping the robe onto the floor. He grabbed a large bag and took out the blue peacoat he had bought and pulled it on in front of his mirror

Pansy threw a bag at Draco's face, "Here are your scarves."

Draco pulled out the soft ivory scarf and wound it around his neck. Also in the bag was a matching scarf, hat and gloves in a vibrant green the colour of Potter's eyes. Draco took off his coat and scarf, setting them to one side as he looked at the other scarf.

"Maybe I shouldn't give it to him," Draco said.

"Uughh, Merlin, not this again," Pansy muttered.

Draco frowned at her, "We never talked about exchanging gifts."

"It's a scarf."

"And hat and gloves. What if he thinks this is 'moving too fast' again?" Draco said.

"I don't care. Slap him," Pansy said, "Potter can't keep his head in his arse forever."

"That's not helpful," Draco said.

"Because I am so brimming with experience and knowledge," Pansy said sarcastically.

Draco sighed, rubbing the soft fabric between his fingers.

"Just give it to him," Pansy said. "You're dating, that's what people do when they're dating."

There was a soft tap-tap-tap on the open door.

Pansy bolted up from the bed, the colour draining from her face. Draco couldn't convince himself to move at all.

"Kipper told me you were back," Mother said, "I came to see about dinner." She stepped into the room, carefully navigating the mess the two of them had left scattered across the floor. "... then it's more than just friendship."

Mother's shoes were simple white patent flats, peeking out under the trailing edge of her robes. She hooked a finger under Draco's chin and lifted it, forcing him to look at her.

"I'm not angry," Mother said.

Draco searched her expression but couldn't read anything there, "You're not?"

"Truthfully," Mother said, picking her words carefully, "I suspected for a few years now that you had different proclivities. Although I thought you were like Pansy and not interested in anyone."

Over his mother's shoulder Draco saw Pansy grabbed hold of the bedpost in both hands like it was all that was holding her up. He quickly shook his head, "I didn't tell her."

Mother told Pansy, "You're welcome here for as long as you wish. That has not changed," She reached out and took Draco's hand in both of hers, "Is it only boys? You don't have any interest in girls?"

Draco stiffly shook his head, "No... no girls."

Mother studied his expression, taking a deep breath and nodded, "I see." She squeezed his hand, "Draco, do you want to have children?"

Draco blinked, "What?"

"Not now of course, in five or ten years maybe," Mother said, "I could arrange for a surrogate from a good family."

"I'm not really- I don't-" Draco said weakly.

"Your father would be far more amiable if he was certain the family legacy would be preserved," Mother said, "It's very important to both of us."

Draco knew this wasn't something she would budge on. No matter what happened there had to be an heir. The family had to carry on. He looked down at his hands, "In ten years. I would- of course."

Mother smiled, "Wonderful."

"Are you going to tell Father?" Draco asked in a small voice.

"In time. I wouldn't want to put your father in a mood during the holidays," Mother said. "Considering the boy in question though- The public will not be kind to you about this."

"I know," Draco said. He hesitated and asked, "You're not upset about Potter?"

Mother looked thoughtful and patted his hand before letting it go, "I don't know if I can truly be happy about anyone you might end up with Draco, but I know Harry Potter, and I know he won't use you and I know he won't hurt you. If he makes you happy, I won't complain about the choice."

"Thank you, Mother," Draco said.

Mother brushed a kiss on his cheek, "Dinner is in half an hour, in the family dining room."

Draco held his breath until his mother swept from the room closing the door behind her. Then he went over to his bed and collapsed onto it face first.

Pansy sat down next to him, "That went well?" she said tentatively.

Draco groaned into the bedspread.

"A kid in ten years, huh?" Pansy said absently.

"Merlin," Draco managed a laugh, "more like fifteen, if ever."

"It could have gone worse," Pansy said.

"I don't know," Draco said, his words muffled.

Pansy reached over, running her fingers through his hair. She was shaking, "At least you weren't disowned and kicked out of your home."

"I know."

"Are you upset?" Pansy asked.

"I don't know."

"Happy?"

"I don't know."

"What do you know?" Pansy asked, only slightly sarcastic.

Draco rolled onto his side, "I feel upset and relieved and anxious, and a bit like I'm going to cry. My head's a mess."

Pansy flopped down beside him, "Perfectly normal then."

"Shut up."

Pansy went back to brushing her fingers through his hair, "Cry then. It will make you feel better, we have time, and I know a glamour to hide the puffiness when you're done."

Draco squeezed his eyes shut and nodded.

  '~*~'   

"Young Master."

Draco pulled one eye open just wide enough to see Kipper.

The dour old elf stared up at Draco through his eyebrows, "Young Master. It's time to get up."

"No. It's not," Draco said sourly.

"Mistress has prepared the blue room for breakfast. She is expecting you," Kipper said.

Draco closed his eyes again.

"Young Master," Kipper intoned, "Young Master. Young-"

Draco sat up and threw his pillow at Kipper's face.

Kipper looked insufferably smug as the pillow slid to the ground.

Draco scrubbed his face, "I don't know how Father could stand you."

"The Master is a gentleman of the old ways," Kipper said primly.

"Just because something has been done for ages doesn't mean it isn't utter shite," Draco muttered.

"He understood the proper way of things," Kipper went on.

Draco groaned. "You can observe the old ways as much as you bloody well like."

Kipper frowned, "Young Master has said elves won't be punished. Young Master has given elves time off. Young Master has given elves spending money. Young master has allowed Mistress to run the household-"

"Enough," Draco snapped.

Kipper glowered at him and then stiffly bowed.

"No one said you have to take time off or money and you can bloody well punish yourself if that's what gets you off," Draco said shortly, shoving his sheets back, "And you'll not say another ill word about my mother."

"Not an ill word!" Kipper said quickly, a brief spark of panic in his eyes, "Mistress shouldn't have to! Mistress should be at ease! Not worrying about moneys."

Draco went to his dressing room, pulling out a comfortable sweater and pair of trousers. "She wanted to take care of everything, to keep busy."

"She doesn't want!" Kipper shouted.

Draco blinked in surprise, "Kipper-"

"This is why elves should be punished!" Kipper wailed.

Draco sighed and found a pair of socks.

"Elves must be kept in line! Elves mustn't presume! Or shout!" Kipper grabbed his eyebrows, dragging them down as he dissolved into a pool of his own distress.

Draco went into the bath and grabbed a bottle out of the potion cabinet. He filled the eyedropper as he walked back to Kipper, "Open your mouth," he said sternly.

Kipper tipped a blotchy face up towards Draco and obediently opened his mouth.

Draco gave him two drops of blue tinted liquid, "Swallow."

Kipper blinked and blinked again and slowly relaxed from his face to his shoulders and tightly squeezed hands.

"Better?" Draco asked.

Kipper nodded.

"Good. Now, I'll be down for breakfast soon enough." Draco said, "You can return to your tasks. Go clean something, that always puts you in a better mood."

"Yes, Young Master," Kipper said sleepily, walking out of the room.

Draco looked at the vial thoughtfully, "The ratios are still a bit off." He made a few mental notes as he got ready for the day.