Narcissa Malfoy had been through a lot in her forty-four years as a witch.

She'd lived, and survived, two wizarding wars. She'd married and given birth to her wonderful, if not at time's incredibly prattish and stubborn son. She'd watched said son struggle throughout his teenage years with the responsibilities of his father and then, the madman his father had so foolishly encouraged him to follow. It had taken a long time for Draco to come back to life after the war. And she was in no doubt as to whom she owed for that miracle. It helped of course, that Scorpius Malfoy was an absolute darling whom she loved more than she ever thought possible and her future granddaughter (for Narcissa was convinced that Hermione was going to give birth to the first Malfoy female in generations) too - even if she was currently kicking her mother's bladder to pieces.

"Are you okay dear?" Narcissa asked, wincing slightly when Hermione gasped. Draco had been a kicker too.

"I'll be better when this one starts behaving," she sighed, lifting her tea to her lips once again. Narcissa grinned at her daughter -in -law. "She's just excited to join the rest of us."

"She's just excited to torture me like him," Hermione groaned as Scorpius came skidding into the room, chocolate cake smeared across his face. Narcissa laughed.

"Come darling. Mummy needs to relax and you need cleaned up," she said, standing from her seat and offering her hand to her grandson. Scorpius smiled and eagerly took her hand in his. Hermione flashed her a smile and mouthed 'thank you' as they left the room.

"I want to show you something Grandmother," Scorpius said, diverting them from their path and towards the kitchens instead. Narcissa frowned.

"Show me what Scorp-" she stopped abruptly when Scorpius pushed open the door and the kitchen was revealed. Scorpius slipped his hand from hers and skipped towards Lucius, who, was to Narcissa's utter bewilderment, standing over the counter mixing, what she assumed to be cake batter given the numerous cakes that surrounded him already, and muttering to himself. He hadn't noticed her.

"Pass me that butter please Scorpius," he said, gesturing with his chin in it's direction as he continued to stir.

"Look Grandmother, I'm helping." Scorpius said. Lucius' head snapped up, his eyes wide as he caught sight of his wife in the doorway. Narcissa raised an eyebrow and he gulped.

"So," she began, setting her teacup down and finally addressing the elephant in the room, "you're the one who's been baking all this time. Not Miffy?"

Hermione and Scorpius had left not long after Narcissa had caught her husband in the act, so to speak, and he'd avoided her until dinnertime.

Lucius hummed and Narcissa smiled into her cup. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"It's not very becoming of a Malfoy," he sneered. Narcissa laughed, almost choking on her drink and Lucius leaned forward to pat her on the back but she simply waved him off.

"You're delusional," she eventually choked out, tears blinding her, "I think it's wonderful."

Lucius eyed her warily, his lips pursing. "I expected more derision."

"I don't think you expected anything husband. I don't think you planned on ever telling me if Scorpius hadn't revealed your secret himself."

"Little terror," he mumbled under his breath and Narcissa grinned. She stood from her chair and made her way around the table and settled herself on his lap, her arms wrapping around his neck. She nuzzled her nose against his and felt him relax under her.

"Why all the baking more recently?" She asked. Lucius huffed, his lips curling into a scowl, his eyes narrowing and his fingers circling the rim of his own abandoned tea.

"Scorpius informed me," he replied haughtily, "that his Nana Molly's baking was better than Miffy's, or well, mine. I'm determined to set him right."

Narcissa's eyes widened in surprise. "Molly Weasley? He thinks her baking is better than our's - than your's?" She amended. Lucius continued to stare harshly at his cup and simply nodded. Narcissa leapt up from his lap. "Well that's simply unacceptable," she murmured, to herself more than anyone else.

"Where are you going?" Lucius called after her as she swept from the dining room. She popped her head back around the doorframe and smirked.

"To rectify the situation."

She stepped through her son and daughter in law' floo with little to no flourish, sweeping the dust from her body and stopping dead at the sight of Draco and Hermione heatedly snogging on the couch. She cleared her throat, pointedly looking at the crown moulding of their living room to alert them of her presence. She was vaguely aware of Draco scrambling off Hermione and smirked. She had warned them about having their main floo connection connected to that room. "I'm sorry," she said after a few moment's, turning her head to look at them, "but I need to speak to Hermione son." Draco nodded, avoiding his mother's eye and mumbled something about tea before scarpering from the room.

"Narcis-"

"Hermione don't," she laughed, moving across the room to seat herself beside her daughter in law, "I remember all too well those last few months of Draco's pregnancy."

Hermione blanched and Narcissa's smirk grew, "Anyway," she began, swiftly changing the subject, "I need your help."

Hermione's eyebrows furrowed and when Narcissa began to explain her eyes widened in shock.

"Oh my God," she murmured when Narcissa had finished. "That's…..Wow."

Narcissa nodded primly, "Yes. So….you'll help me then?"

Hermione smirked and Narcissa saw her son's influence clear as day, "oh yes," she nodded, pulling herself up, "I'll help."

"Molly?" Hermione called as she stepped through the Weasley's floo, Narcissa following closely behind.

"Hermione?" The Weasley matriarch replied, stepping out of the kitchen, her face alight with worry, "What's wrong? Is everything ok? Is it the baby? It's not time is it?"

Hermione stepped forwards and clutched her hands in her own. "No, no everything is fine," she reassured her, "I just," she hesitated and glanced at Narcissa who simply nodded," we have a proposition for you."

"Oh dear," Molly laughed, relaxing instantly and ushering them towards the sofa. Narcissa continued to stand as she watched the pair of witches, "I thought something was wrong."

Hermione laughed and rubbed a hand over her stomach, "No everything is fine. I, we, were just wondering if you'd be interested in a little competition?"

Molly's face pinched in confusion. "Competition?"

"Here," Narcissa said, dropping a piece of parchment into Lucius' lap when she returned home two hours later.

Lucius looked up from the book he was reading and frowned as he read over the words. "What is this?" He asked.

Narcissa smirked. "Hermione's baby shower is in a week. You and Molly are both going to bake a cake." Lucius eyes widened and he leapt up from his chair.

"No."

"Oh yes," Narcissa said, her smirk transforming into a grin, "and we're going to judge it."

Lucius spluttered. "A competition?!" Narcissa nodded.

"Yes. Either Scorpius will be proved wrong or…." she trailed off deliberately and left her unspoken words hanging.

"Or he'll be proved right," Lucius mumbled, his eyes wide, "this is. No. I can't - I won't do this 'Cissa."

"You will," she grinned, "and you'll win. We're Malfoys. We always win."

Lucius' eyes narrowed at her expression. "You are such a Slytherin."

Narcissa shrugged, "A Black too," she reminded him, relishing in the way her husband shuddered at the reminder.