Chapter Text
Diagon Alley had always held within itself a peculiar kind of life. The kind that was only brought in by many peculiar people. Narcissa loved it.
It wasn't a the manor, with only three people and many empty halls. It wasn't the Ministry, rushing with the throes of busy people. It was a kind of place where the air hummed with magic and chaos in every corner. A place where magic wasn't just useful but fun too. Animals in shop windows and brooms floating on display.
She smiled at the joy it brought.
Beside her, Draco did not.
His chin, as pale in complexion as his father, was lifted just enough to show unfailing confidence, his small shoulders squared under his robes, and his hair slicked back in a way she always thought was ridiculous but he loved, thinking it made him look regal. She thought it made him look pompous but she wasn't going to tell him that.
He was trying so very hard, and yet, he had just glanced at her for the seventh time since entering the alley. Little flicks of grey eyes meeting hers in a show of nerves. And if he walked a little closer to her than he had in years, she wasn't going to spill his secrets. Well, maybe to Lucius tonight. It was rather cute.
So she squared her own shoulders a little more, ignoring the many glances that fell upon them as they passed. Usual, but still annoying and she was suddenly glad that Lucius had braided her hair back for her this morning. It always looked nicer up, the contrasting colors twisting into something beautiful.
"Mother." Draco, brave as ever, led their way down the alley.
"Yes?"
"Olivander's first?"
"Yes." As if she'd postpone the thing he'd been most excited for for over a year. He'd been talking non stop about getting a wand for school since the day her turned ten, knowing it was only a year away.
He nodded once, a grin breaking through his mask as he walked a little faster over the cobblestone.
Lucius should have been here, beside her to watch as their little boy got his first wand. She brushed the thought away as quickly as she could, hiding the quiet ache of it in a corner of her heart only her husband ever saw.
He'd been called away early that morning for ministry business that he couldn't miss. He'd tried to get out of it, stating he had family business, but the Minister was not inclined to postpone. As if your child getting his first wand didn't happen only once.
He'd apologized over breakfast and refused to let them change their plans. Draco had picked this day weeks ago, and counted down every night since. Lucius had then apologized again as he left the manor, kneeling to straighten Draco's robe and press a kiss to his forehead.
Bring him back every bit as proud as he leaves. He'd whispered to her, her own kiss placed a moment later.
And suddenly they were there. Her little dragon holding the door to the shop, the grin not fallen from his face, as he let her enter first.
"Ah. Mrs. Malfoy. Master Malfoy. A true pleasure." Mr. Olivander looked up from behind the counter, eyes widening in recognition. "Narcissa Malfoy, nee Black. Cherry wood, unicorn hair, 11 inches, supple wand. I'll be right with you, just found a wand for another lovely witch."
Narcissa inclined her head in a half-curtsy and stepped out of the doorway, Draco following to the side to wait. "Correct, as always, Mr. Ollivander."
A movement caught her attention at the side of the shop, a family of three. The father had wandered towards a display of wand-care kits, looking them all over one by one. Clearly muggle by the tan trousers, muted red buttoned shirt rolled up to his elbows. A pen peeked out of his breast pocket, a little spell etched onto it. Newly charmed.
The mother stood beside her daughter, one hand on her shoulder. Their matching jeans and different colored sweaters set a scene of a lovely family with a muggleborn daughter. They moved slightly as a, very fluffy haired, daughter spun the wand in her grasp. A directional ring was on the mothers hand. Her own sister had one for a while.
It was a terribly useful thing, able to gently nudge the hand towards a previously chosen item. She knew many witches who used them for children in case they got lost in a crowd or vault keys. She'd heard of it being a favorite item for muggleborns, linking them to cars or keys.
She held back a smile and resolved to tell Lucius about it. She did love muggles and muggleborns who loved the magical world. She'd been friends with one in school, one this girl remined her an awful lot of. Didn't just enjoy the magic, but embraced it.
"Are you getting a wand too?" The girl turned to look at them both, locking eyes with Draco with excitement.
"Er, yes." Draco floundered for a split second before sticking a hand out to shake. "Names Draco. Draco Malfoy."
"Like a regular Bond? Or did you just forget your name halfway through?" Her father snorted the exact moment she covered her mouth with a hand. She looked mortified.
Narcissa took a breath and schooled her expression to a calm blank facade. She couldn't wait to tell Lucius about this.
Draco looked properly confused, hand lowering. "What?"
She reached out quickly, grabbing his hand from where it had dropped and shaking it. "Pardon me. I didn't mean to say that. I'm Hermione Granger."
"What is 'bond'?"
Hermione's mother sent her an apologetic look even as her father continued to hide a grin under a fist. The poor girl looked as if she wished the floorboards would swallow her whole.
"Uh.." She paused for half a second, turning redder than before in embarrassment. "It's from a movie. Sorry."
No one said a thing as the children continued to stare at each other, the awkwardness only getting worse.
"Is your hair naturally that blond?"
"Hermione." The mother said, in no way masking her slight reprimand.
"I'm just wondering."
"...Yes." Draco looked truly confused now and Narcissa was presented with the results of only having Draco be around other aristocrat children. He had no ability to talk to 'normal' people. "Is your hair always that fluffy?"
Oh, dear.
"Yes."
This was going absolutely nowhere.
"Draco?" She took a step forward, getting the attention of the whole Granger family as he turned towards her. "Introductions?" She let her eyes lift slightly upward in the ghost of a smile she knew he'd pick up.
"Of course mother." He turned back towards the family and inclined his head, his back once again straight and his face blank. "Mr, Mrs, and Hermione Granger, this is my mother Narcissa Malfoy." he took a single step to the side and she walked through the new opening, hand out.
Mrs. Granger caught it first. "Lovely to meet you, Mrs. Malfoy. I'm Helen Granger."
"Richard Granger, nice to meet you."
She stepped back and gave a small nod. "Lovely to meet you both. You as well, Hermione." The girl nodded emphatically at her, looking a little star struck.
Ollivander popped around a shelf of wands, "Mrs. Malfoy! Ready now, let's find your boy a wand!"
She took a moment to look at the family of three, so obviously new but so accepting of magic. They truly loved it despite knowing of it for a week or two at max. Unbidden, a memory of a different muggleborn witch came to mind.
She took two step towards Ollivander before pausing and turning towards the little family, "If Hermione finds she dislikes carrying her wand in a pocket, Wiseacre's stocks rather excellent holsters." and turned back to follow the man.
She paused as Draco stopped as well, looking at Hermione.
"I'm sorry," she heard him whisper to her, "ahead of time."
Interesting.