Miss Patil Takes a Holiday

Miss Patil Takes a Holiday

Chapter 18: All’s Well That Ends Without Bloodshed

It was the second day in Padma’s life that she had spent in a holding cell awaiting justice. That the day was contiguous with the first such day that she had spent in the same occupation was of little consequence. She moved her shoulders uncomfortably against the granite wall, wishing that she had some background in law. She and Tomas had still not been given a reason for their abduction across the Atlantic by creatures she had learned were called Brownies. She looked to the other occupant of the cell, the pitifully sobbing, and rather rank-smelling Dibby. Somehow, she knew this revolved around him. It all had since Greece.

Padma moved again, this time jostling the very queasy Tomas who had been trying, between bouts of nausea, to tell her something about the former Mrs. Malfoy and a television appearance. Padma dismissed his prattle entirely. He had been such a mother hen since she announced her pregnancy.

She attempted to stand to ease the ache between her shoulders, and was immediately assailed by her inappropriately named morning sickness. She sat rather abruptly when the world began spinning. Apparently she was not over her transatlantic Apparation, a thing, incidentally, that she had thought impossible in one go until this afternoon.

Dibby began wailing in earnest as she placed her hand on her head in an attempt to still the motion of the world, “Dibby is sorry, Mistress. This is all Dibby’s fault. Dibby will iron his ears until they burn. He will bang his head until it explodes. He will wink out of existence...”

“Oh, leave off,” Padma said, a note of exhaustion creeping into her voice. She leaned her head against the stone wall and closed her eyes. “If you want to off yourself, don’t do it because of me. I’ve enough bad karma without your help.”

Dibby wailed and banged his head against the wall while rocking to and fro. That was the only movement in the cell until a Brownie’s appeared. Its head was covered in thick red hair with two pointed ears peeking from the mass. It looked around for a moment, its grey-green eyes assessing the situation before disappearing.

Padma had learned a brief history of the Brownies from their rather talkative transporter while they had awaited their cell. She thought the one that had just appeared must be at least part kitsune, a Japanese fox spirit who was part trickster, part helpful sprite, and was to be appeased and respected at all costs.

The Brownie opened the door again, this time ushering in Narcissa Black, covered in a sheet. Along with her came and a beautiful specimen of youthful male with an olive complexion and the hazel eyes of a true Neapolitan. The boy was without a stitch of clothing. Upon seeing them, Tomas guffawed and then vomited. It was the third time he had retched since they had been snatched. It took all of Padma’s self-control not to join her friend’s ruminative ejections.

The former Mrs. Malfoy sidestepped the pool of offal and sat in a regal pose on the rough bench opposite Padma. The patrician blonde raised her nose in the air haughtily and did not deign to acknowledge the other occupants of the room.

An hour or so later, if Padma could tell by the increasing rumbling of her stomach, the same vulpine Brownie brought in a light repast of fruit, sandwiches and what Padma assumed was pumpkin juice. She gulped the beverage and almost spewed the contents. Instead of the mildly sweet, non-acidic beverage she expected, she had taken a mouthful of orange juice. Padma never drank orange juice. It always made her dyspeptic. Immediately, heartburn set in and she moaned as she put the juice down. As if on cue, a bottle of stomach curative appeared on the tray, the pink liquid glistening in the bottle as light from the opening door struck it . Padma drank it as she watched who entered next.

Lucius was the first one to stumble into the room, as if he had been shoved, his silver hair uncharacteristically mussed and his clothes dirt-stained as if he had been in a fight. A dangerous-looking Native American man and Headmaster Snape followed him.

It was then that things became much less boring.

&*&*&

Lucius found his hands on Narcissa’s shoulders, shaking her with a good deal of force, without knowing how he came to be in that position. It took the strength of the naked infant, the poof, and Red Horse to pull him off her. Severus remained aloof in his usual manner, his eyebrow quirked and a sardonic sneer on his face.

Once Lucius was separated form his ex-wife, Severus stepped forward, his gnarled hand outstretched in a gesture of mocking goodwill. “Narcissa, wonderful to see you again, and so much of you this time.”

He executed a perfect bow over her hand and kissed the air above it just before she snatched it back, her lips curled as if she smelled something rotten. “I should have known you wouldn’t stay dead, Severus. You never did know when to make your goodbyes.”

The poof, who was rubbing his shoulder as if in some pain, retreated to Padma’s side while Severus’ son paced as he glowered at the room’s occupants. Red Horse seemed to have perfected that particularly menacing look, if Lucius could tell from the way the infant chose to hide behind Narcissa for the scant protection she offered. Lucius snorted derisively while smirking in the direction of the infant’s dangly bits as they made contact with the rough and very cold seat. The infant took Narcissa’s hand and looked hopefully toward the cell door.

Lucius’ pale gaze swept the room and rested on Mona Lisa. He was once again mesmerised by her glowing skin and dark beauty. She gave him a brief smile, her lips quirked as if pulled by strings, and then released back into the pensive frown that had settled on them the day before.

He turned away in despair. His life had turned to shit once Narcissa had re-entered it. Perhaps it had always been thus and he had failed to notice it before.

It was in that moment of melancholy that Lucius noticed Dibby pulling his ears in distress as he sat in the corner. The creature reached out to Lucius in a supplicating manner as he pulled back his booted foot to kick it. A single tear tracked down its cheek and Lucius lost his motivation to do it harm. The creature was only responsible for the Mona Lisa portion of the debacle that was his life. Narcissa and Lucius had laid the groundwork for the most recent years before.

Severus warned, “I would not complete that motion, Lucius. Brownies are very unlike house elves. They do not take kindly to abuse of even the least of them.”

The door to the cell swung open once more and a red-furred creature with pointed ears and a face like a corgi entered. Its nose twitched disagreeably as it said to all assembled, “Follow me. There will be a hearing about the rouge house elf, Dibby of the House of Patil.”

“Patil?” Narcissa said over the general hubbub of movement. “He’s mine. He was given to me as part of my dowry. I want him back, along with everything else this grasping whore has taken from me. Isn’t it enough that she stole my husband?”

At the same time, Padma protested, "I don't own him! He's not mine."

Before Lucius could react to Narcissa’s spurious statement or Mona Lisa's outrage, the Brownie said in a quelling tone, “Contrary to what most of you British wizard thing, elves is not chattel, Madam. Now follow me.”

Narcissa stomped her foot, sending the sheet she wore to the floor. “I will not take orders from a jumped up elf with delusions of grandeur.”

The creature, without a motion, levitated Narcissa from the floor and silenced her. She struggled ineffectually at the magical bonds that held her, but remained cocooned in the enveloping magic until they reached their destination.

&*&*&

Tomas could not believe it. The more he watched Malfoy, the more he realised that the man was hopelessly in love with Padma and that his admission of the day before had been more than just words to smooth the tension fraught situation. During the trial, when Padma was asked to speak, the man's icy gaze never left her. When she returned to the seat, Malfoy shifted between the native fellow and the Snape so that he could see her better.

It was enough to make Tomas want to cheer the meddling little house elf that started all this, and then throttle him for interfering in such a permanent way. Tomas, until recently, had never considered having children. It had not seemed to be in the cards for him with his failed love life. Now he had Seamus, and while they were far from an old married couple, Tomas could dream.

His attention turned to Malfoy's ex, who had paled even further when the effects of Dibby's spell were made known to the court. Tomas almost felt sorry for her as she realised her intimate life had been broadcast across the world. As the court replayed portions of the more damaging bits, she became paler, and raised her chin higher in an attempt to maintain a haughty pose in the face of such damning evidence.

Padma sighed and moved restively as one of the Brownies called Severus Snape to testify. Tomas asked, "That's Snape? Jesus, he looks terrible."

Padma nodded absently, her gaze straying once again to Malfoy. Tomas rolled his eyes dramatically. "Please, just go speak to Malfoy after this. You know he loves you."

A Brownie, one of the bigger ones, rapped Tomas on the head before making a rude shushing motion with its finger as the former Headmaster began to speak, his voice silky, almost purring. Former Death Eaters could really be sexy, and as far as Tomas was concerned that Snape fellow could have warmed his bed anytime if it weren't for Seamus.

&*&*&

In the end, Dibby's fate was that he was to return to some place called Newalla, Oklahoma with Severus Snape and his son, until September, when the family would be moving back to England. Dibby wailed as a small female Brownie with a cute button nose and a mahogany head of hair announced that she would be transporting the Snapes and Dibby to their residence. Severus bade him farewell, and for the first time in his life clasped Lucius' hand.

Lucius returned the gesture with just as much repressed emotion as his old friend. After pulling away and trying to disguise the misty condition in which he found his eyes, and the tightening of the muscles of his throat Lucius said, "I shall expect you and your lovely family for dinner when you return to England."

"We shall be honoured, Lucius," Severus answered smoothly after clearing his throat several times. "It has been too long, old friend."

Dibby sobbed softly in the background as the female elf signed his probation papers. When Severus and his son turned away from Lucius, Padma stooped to the elf's level and whispered something to him. She kissed his cheek and Dibby quieted. Lucius almost sneered but refrained from the expression as the Snape Brownie gave him a hard look. These American creatures were truly formidable.

Lucius inclined his head and followed Mona Lisa, who was flanked by her homosexual flatmate, out of the room.

"Dr. Patil, a word please?" Lucius skimmed his fingers over the back of her neck as he caught up with them.

Padma turned her expression cautiously hopeful, "What is it, Lucius?"

The man moved away seemingly becoming engrossed in the stone edifice of the hallway in which they trod. Lucius drew Padma to him, loving the way she fit against him. "Mona Lisa, I do have some situations to deal with, but I was wondering if..."

Lucius stopped, unable to continue as his emotions boiled to the surface. He attempted to master himself, to slip behind the cool, patrician facade that had protected him his entire life. He failed entirely, and so dipped his head and kissed his Mona Lisa. "I love you and I want our child... for us to be a family. You make me want to... be a better man, but..."

"I love you too, Lucius Malfoy, but I can only wait so long." Padma's hand drifted to her belly as she drew out of his embrace. "I think you need to settle things with your ex-wife and without violence this time."

Padma strode away from him, the sensual sway of her hips exaggerated by the swing of her hair as it brushed them. Lucius turned away, unable to watch her exit, and saw Narcissa. His ex-wife stood in the doorway of the courtroom her expression stricken.

&*&*&

The Brownie that had abducted his party in the pub in Times Square deposited Lucius at St. Catherine’s rectory. The creature, a lovely female who looked to be at least three quarters wood-sprite, bowed to him and said with an atrocious yank accent, "Sorry about the whole abduction thing. If you ever wanna let me make it up to you..."

Lucius suppressed a shudder as the Brownie lifted her elegant brows in flirtatious manner as she ran a finger over his rumpled waistcoat. He bowed in his best courtly fashion, "I thank you, Madam, for the offer, but I shall have to decline."

"You can't blame a girl for trying." She twittered and then blinked out as if she had never been there.

Lucius stared at the edifice of the building in the gloom of the street lamps, wondering only a little why the creature had taken him here when he had requested he be sent home at the end of his very long day. He strode through the wasted garden, more weeds and brown patches than actual recognisable garden material. He paused at the door that had a coat of fresh paint. The window beside it had been repaired also, the new glass winking at him from where a strip of cardboard had rested before. Lucius was heartened to see that his friend had used some of the funds he had donated on his own dwelling, which had been falling down around the priest’s ears for years. He raised his hand to ring the bell just as the door opened.

"Lucius." Ian's normally beaming face was ashen and covered in a thin sheen of perspiration. "We were told to expect you."

Lucius followed him into the familiar rectory office, still smelling of mouldering decay and still just as dingy as before. Draco rose from his seat, followed by Harry Potter and a vaguely familiar young man with brown hair and grey-blue eyes. Potter was the first to speak, "Mr. Malfoy, we were sent by the Ministry to debrief you. This is my partner, Seamus Finnigan."

The other man scowled but extended his hand. "Malfoy."

The two Aurors spent an hour sipping the weak tea that Mrs. Pringle, Ian's out of sorts housekeeper, provided as Lucius explained his role in the day's events. At the end of the interview, Potter stood and extended his hand once again. "Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Malfoy. And... thank you for the letter you sent to my wife. It really has... It made a difference."

He left the room, followed by Draco as Officer Finnigan stopped before Lucius. The man looked at Lucius appraisingly before he stated, "I hope you are as good a man as Padma claims you are. I won't stand by and watch you hurt her."

Lucius made an effort to smirk, knowing the expression was more pained than superior. "I shall endeavour to live up to your high standards. I suppose you are one of her former boy friends."

"Not bloody likely, but she does live with my boyfriend and since I care for him, I care for her, if you get my meaning." Finnigan put out his hand. "Just try not to be... yourself. You've got a child on the way, and they both need you."

Draco returned to the room after the Aurors left. "Father, Mother owled this letter to me this evening. I think you should read it."

He placed the envelope in Lucius' hand and gave him a one armed hug. Lucius stiffened and then embraced his son wishing he had done so more often in the past. "Dragon, I am sorry for the mess I made of your life."

"Father, don't." Draco pulled away from him, smoothing his hands over his still short hair, a concession to his Muggle wife's tastes. "Just read the letter. I hope we'll see you for after Mass dinner this week. Scorpius misses you and I'd like you to get to know Iris better."

"We'll see." Lucius pushed the letter into his cloak pocket. "I should leave. I'm sure Ian has a great deal to do tomorrow, and I think we're keeping him from his rest."

Lucius strode out of the house and reached the Apparation point behind the parish office. He removed himself to the Leaky Cauldron.

&*&*&

Dragon,

I cannot convey to you how deeply sorrowful I am that I have missed so much with you. I am sorry for missing my grandchildren's birth and your wedding. I am sorry for acting on the feelings by which I was raised. I am also sorry for what I have done to your father. Until today, I had no idea how much I depended on him being there for me, no matter what I did. I know I have lost that now forever, and I wish I had never done what I did. I was a fool. .

I know you are thinking that I say this only because I was caught in such a public manner and perhaps that fact does play a part. I only know that I am unsuited to raise the children that I now carry. I do not know if you realise this, but your father wanted a houseful of children. It was by my insistence that you were an only child. I never wanted another child to take away from the love I had for you. I still do not.

I want you to understand my motives in my rejection of you and your new family. I fear that the Dark Lord may return. It is probably an irrational fear, but it there nonetheless. I could not bear to stand before him and be given the same orders that doomed your cousin Nymphadora and her werewolf husband. I am weak and I know it would kill me to be the instrument of your death. Your son seems to be sweet and I could not take his father away from him.

Please give me time to come to terms with my own prejudices. I will visit, though I do not expect you or your new wife to forgive me for missing so much of your life.

I love you,

Your mother

PS. Since I know that you will be giving this letter to your father, I will address this next portion to him.

Lucius, I am sorry that my actions injured you. I have held my resentment for you too long. We were never suited for each other. I never loved you as you needed to be loved, just as you could never return the affection, as I needed you to do. I hope things work out for you with your Doctor.

I shall have papers drawn up in the morning releasing you from any obligation to the children I carry. I would hope that you might be able to help me find a good family on which to bestow them. I do care enough for them to ensure that they have a good home. I cannot provide more for them than that.

Yours,

Narcissa



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