Divorce, disaster and denial

Ok, said I would update and here it is. Thank you for the reviews, reviews are loved so much. In this chapter I will be explaining Andie to you all, and going into some detail in what happened between Harry and Ginny.

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Andie walked into the kitchen to find a whole horde of red heads standing by her fireplace.

“Ummm, not wanting to sound rude or anything, but who are you and what are you doing in my kitchen?” she asked them.

“We’re the Weasley’s and we’re here to see Harry,” said the only dark haired one of the lot.

“Oh right. Just a minute.” She walked to the door and called to Draco. A minute later Draco and Lucius walked into the kitchen and both shuddered at the sight of so many red heads.

Lucius regained his composure. He walked up to what appeared to be the two eldest Wesley’s. “Molly, Arthur, how nice to see you. Only a pity that it was under such unfortunate circumstances.”

“Yes, yes, very unfortunate, but these things will happen. So sorry to hear of Narcissa’s passing Lucius, Draco. Such a loss to your household and your family. And Draco, so sorry to hear about your wife’s untimely demise. Very unfortunate to loose two women in such a short time. How is Scorpius handling it?” Arthur said, sounding and looking very sincere.

“Thank you for your condolences, Scorpius is doing very well, considering. A little withdrawn maybe, but it is to be expected. Have you all met my daughter, Andromeda?” Lucius said, indicating Andie, who was leaning against the wall beside her brother.

“No, I don’t believe we have. Must admit that, as rude as it is, we never knew you had a daughter Lucius,” Molly said.

“Well, Narcissa wasn’t very fond of her. Explanations later, it is only polite to introduce you all to her, avoid confusion, and to enquire your sudden appearance in my kitchen.”

“Ah, of course.”

Lucius motioned to Andie, and she stepped into his comforting aura. “Andie, this is Molly and Arthur Weasley and their children Ron, Bill and George. This is Fleur, Bill’s wife, and Hermione, Ron’s wife. Ron and Hermione went to school with Harry and Draco.”

“Yes, we did. And we were just the best of friends, right Ferret?” Ron said sarcastically, a wide grin on his face.

“Oh yes, we got along famously,” Draco drawled from his father’s other side. “So, what prompted this visit?”

“Ah, right. Well, we wanted to see Harry,” Hermione said.

“He’s sleeping. We went to see a lawyer this morning, not a good outing. Your letter brought some emotions to the forefront of his mind. He quite tired himself out,” Andie explained sketchily.

“Yes it did, but I’m awake now,” Harry said from the doorway, making them all jump.

“Oh Harry, are you alright? We were so worried about you when we heard what she’d done. It’s disgusting, it really is, and I’m sure I can find a way to fight it,” Hermione said as Molly enveloped Harry in a hug, once again complaining that he was too skinny.

Harry laughed, a sort of shaky exhalation that sounded nothing like his former bright laugh. Lucius, sensing Harry’s tears were only just under control and Molly wouldn’t handle controlling her mothering over the young man, made a quick decision. “Harry, why don’t you and your guests go outside into the gardens, catch up? Me, Mr and Mrs Weasley can go and talk about the boring details and formalities while you spend some time alone.”

Harry nodded and walked to the veranda doors, Ron, Hermione, Fleur, Bill, George and Draco following him out. Andie, however, remained glued to her father’s side.

“Don’t you want to go with them dear?” Molly mothered.

“No thank you, I’d rather stay here.”

Lucius gave the slightest shake of his head when Molly and Arthur looked at him questioningly, as if to tell them to drop it. He signalled to a house-elf to bring them refreshments in the living room and then led them into it. Molly and Arthur seated themselves on one of the sofa’s, while Andie seated herself beside her father, on the sofa opposite them. As Lucius accepted the refreshments from Onyx the house-elf, Molly and Arthur took the time to get a proper look at Andie.

She was about Harry’s age, long red curls which hung into her startlingly green eyes. She was quite pale, paler than even Lucius and Draco, and not too tall, perhaps 5’ 5”. She had full red lips and was dressed simply in a green silk shirt, buttoned up to her throat, and a pair of black jeans. She wore simple black dragon hide boots.

“So, Molly, Arthur, what can I do for you?” Lucius said as soon as he noticed the two staring at his daughter.

“We were wondering how Harry is doing?” Arthur said.

“Before I answer that question, may I enquire as to what you already know of the situation? So as not to repeat things you have already heard.”

“Well, Ginny came to us and said that she had walked in on Harry and another woman, and that she was going for divorce. We knew that they hadn’t been happy for a while. We were furious at Harry, until we found out what our daughters idea of divorce entails,” Arthur said.

“Which is?”

“She’s taking his children from him. No access, no visits, no letters even,” Molly said. “Is that the whole story?”

“Not quite.” Lucius took a deep breath, unsure of how to begin. “Do I have your assent to tell you these things, even if it puts your daughter in a compromising moral position?”

Arthur and Molly looked at each other. “Yes,” Arthur said, sounding not so sure of himself.

“Harry came home and found your daughter in bed with another man. You’re right, they hadn’t been right for quite a while, but this was too much for Harry. I assure you that what I tell you is the truth, we have seen the memories in a Pensive ourselves, Harry is being very truthful. Harry left and felt it wouldn’t be prudent to go to you, so he came here, to Draco. He has been here ever since. A few days ago Harry got the letter saying that Ginny was going for divorce. That was a small thing, I assure you. Harry had been expecting it. The only problem is the prenuptial agreement that your daughter and he signed. The contract states that the marital party that strayed from the marital bed is required to immediately relinquish parental rights.”

“That’s the bit we don’t understand,” Molly said.

“What it means,” said Andie. “Is that because Ginny filed for the divorce on the grounds that Harry was unfaithful, he looses all say about his children. They become hers, hers solely. Harry cannot have contact with them unless she says so, and she is refusing to allow him that right.”

“Can’t Harry fight this?” Arthur said, his face appalled at his daughter’s behaviour.

“We went to see a lawyer, a very good one. There is nothing that can be done. Harry could take it to court if he wanted but then the press would get wind of it and there is no guarantee that he would win. Harry signed the contract, he agreed to this. When he put his name to that paper, he never envisioned that it would end like this. He signed it without fully understanding what it meant.”

Molly and Arthur leaned back in their chairs and were surprised to find Andie pressing glasses of Firewhisky into their hands.

“While you ponder that, I suppose you would like to know about Andie?” Lucius said.

At the nods from Arthur and Molly, Andie paled, if it was possible with her alabaster complexion.

Lucius gave her knee a little squeeze. “During my marriage to Narcissa, I was unfaithful. I was very lucky that she decided to ignore my indescression. And the outcome of it.” He sighed. “Andie is the result of my wander away from my marital bed.”

“But that’s no reason to keep your daughter hidden from the world!” Molly exclaimed.

Lucius smiled in spite of himself. “No, it’s not. Even if Narcissa hadn’t disliked Andie, I still would have kept her hidden, for the solitary reason of what she is.”

Arthur and Molly gave him questioning looks.

“Not long after Draco was born, I was sent on a mission by the Dark Lord to gather allies in the form of the Elves that live in the French mountains. My pleas were unsuccessful, however, I did have one success. Nine months later I got an owl to tell me of Andie’s arrival. I was unable to get away to see her until she was six months old, but I fell in love with her immediately, as one does with a daughter.” He smiled at Andie, who blushed.

“You had to keep her hidden. A Death Eater with a daughter with that kind of power. Your family would have been a magnet for people wanting to use her,” Arthur said. He looked at Andie. “You’re unique. There are no other half-Elves in existence.”

“My father is placing all of this on himself. My hidden existence is not all his fault. My Uncle is to blame here too. My Uncle is King Oakarin. He made the decision, when my mother died when I was nine, to keep me in the Elvin kingdom. He died a year ago and my cousin took the throne. He threw me out.”

“Selfish bastard. Just because you’re more powerful than him. Me thinks he’s compensating for something,” Harry said from the doorway, making Andie laugh. He walked up to the sofa behind her and tickled her in the sides, making her giggle and squirm. He walked round the sofa and sat down on one of the chairs.

“Harry, we are so very sorry. We had no idea what she was doing, what the contract meant. Can you forgive us?” Molly said.

“Of course, you’re family. And besides, nothing to forgive. You believed and defended your daughter. I would have expected nothing less,” Harry said while accepting a coffee from Lucius.

Molly sighed. “Still, we’re sorry all the same. Why don’t you come and stay with us, just for a little bit?”

Harry took a sip of his coffee. “I’m sorry, Molly, I wish I could say yet, but I wouldn’t feel right. It’d be putting you all in the middle of all this and I can’t do that and sleep easy in my bed. I’ll be fine here, really. They’re taking good care of me. And they have access to lawyers that I need.”

Molly and Arthur nodded. They sat in silence for a while. As Molly opened her mouth to argue her point again, Hermione poked her head round the door.

“Molly, I hate to interrupt but the time is getting on a bit and we really should be going. The boys have to get back to work after all.”

“Of course,” Molly said as they all stood and walked to the kitchen. They all gave Harry a hug and several pats on the back, and looks of apology, before they flooed out, their final promises of unconditional assistance ringing in the air.

*****

The sun was setting and Harry was sitting in the green house with Andie while she tended to her plants. Lucius had gone to see to some official owls that had arrived earlier and Draco was dealing with some letters he had received.

“It’ll be ok, you know. My mother used to say that once you hit bottom, the only way is up,” Andie said as she caused a seeding to sprout into a fully mature rose bush.

“Doesn’t feel like it’ll be ok. Feels like the world is crumbling around me.” Harry sighed. “I really thought she loved me still. Well, maybe not love but maybe cared enough not to do this.”

“Maybe she isn’t what you thought. Or maybe she’ll come around. You never know, this might all blow over, she might see sense.”

Harry laughed at her eternal optimism. She smiled at him and returned to her plants. He watched her a little longer and then retired to his rooms, shocked to find his battered son James lying in front of his fireplace.

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I know, I know, a cliffie. But I figured that I had no other way to continue. So, what did you think? Review and let me know.

Here is my question to you all: Who should Harry be with now he’s single? Here are your choices: Draco, Lucius, George, or Andie. I know this is posted in Lucius/Harry but that can be changed. So, let me know.

Post a review to let me know what you think. Any questions, feel free to ask, and I will update soon.