Draco nodded, walking with her, offering her his arm. The silence did unnerve him, and his mind wanted to offer its own conversation, tantalizing distractions of internal monologue about his mother, father, cousin, Severus, Morrigan.
He set his jaw, trying not to offend his mother, but also trying not to break the silence that she insisted on. He focused his thoughts on measured steps, not that it was necessary for his steady movement to the garden, but he could not keep his heart beat from speeding as the minutes moved by.
Then she spoke. No, he hadn't expected they wouldn't run into each other. He had hoped, but even he could admit that was a childish notion, one borne of an inability to heal wounds he'd personally inflicted on his mother.
"No, of course not. I still have much to learn from you in handling such awkwardness." Flattery, yes. Completely. Truth? Most definitely. Still, he didn't want to make this worse than it was. And yet, he knew he would.
"Yes, it is, and the situation only becomes more complicated as the days pass. There have been moments when I wanted nothing more than for him to have never returned, even though I selfishly--" he stopped. "I have been too selfish, Mother. I have wanted nothing more than to protect you. It is my job, my place, and yet I have no idea how to do that now. This month, so much has changed."