The Malfoy Chronicles

A party aat the Malfoy house...this should be interesting.

Lucius is sad again. The reviews aren't coming in like he wants them too. He feels he might cry if they don't pick up soon...

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Lucius and Narcissa greeted each of their guests. Each of the seven Weasley children were there. Each of them had brought wives- or husband- except for Percy and Charlie, who weren’t married yet. All of them returned Lucius’ greeting awkwardly. This was not their forte. This was his home ground, and it made them all feel out-of-place. They watched amusedly as Harry greeted Lucius, and then received a warm hug from Narcissa. She hadn’t been as generous with her welcomes for everyone else, but Harry knew she had her reasons. Arthur and Molly were the last ones in the house. Lucius extended his hand to Arthur.

“Welcome to my home, Arthur.” He said.

Arthur took his hand nervously. “It’s a pleasure to be here, Lucius.” He said. Lucius couldn’t help but notice that, save the Minister, the Weasley clan’s ‘best’ was a far cry from what he was used to. But Lucius wanted to make them feel just a little more awkward.

He held his hand out for Mrs. Weasley, who tentatively placed her hand in his. He bowed low, and placed a kiss on her hand.

“And we musn’t forget the lovely Mrs. Weasley, to whom we owe the entire party. If it weren’t for her my house could not have been graced with such guests.” He said, and stood. Mrs. Weasley blushed, but was unsure whether he had just insulted her or complimented her. She decided she’d take it as a compliment.

“Thank you, Mr. Malfoy.” She said. He gave her a slight nod, and she and Arthur entered into the Manor. They were escorted by house elf to the ball room.

James looked around for Draca. He finally spotted her standing alone near the fireplace. He went up to her. “’Evening, Draca.” He said, and smiled at her. She wrapped her arms around him in a friendly hug.

“I’ve been looking for you since you guys got here.” She said. He smiled.

“I tend to blend into the shadows…” he said. She grinned. His tail swished nervously. He actually had something to tell her…

She noticed his nervous actions and smiled. “Nervous? Why James Potter I wouldn’t expect that from you.” She said, and playfully waggled a finger at him. He grinned, and ruffled his wings. He smiled at her.

“I have something to give you.” He said. She blinked.

“Give me? What is it?” she asked, getting excited. She liked her friend James. She loved his tousled hair, his gold eyes, and even his half-human characteristics. She loved his personality. And usually all he gave her was his friendship. She was eager to see what he had gotten her.

James pulled a little gift-wrapped box out of his pocket. “Here.” He said quietly, and handed her the box. She took it from him, and tore off the wrapping. It was an inauspicious looking white box. She took the lid off of the little box, and gasped. It was a circular gold pendant, hung on a fine gold chain, with the initials DM engraved in the center with beautiful curlicue letters. She looked at the pendant, and then back at James.

“It’s beautiful.” She said, and tears welled up in her eyes. This was the prettiest thing anyone other than her grandfather had given her. James blushed softly.

“Aw…don’t get all mushy…” he said. She blinked her tears away and hugged him.

“Will you put it on me?” she asked. James took the little pendant from the box, and she turned her back to him, holding her thick blonde hair out of the way. He reached around her and draped the pendant across her neck, clasping the chain in the back. She looked down at it. “It’s beautiful.” She said. He smiled.

Lucius was convinced if dinner wasn’t ready soon he would kill every house elf in the Manor and have them replaced. Arthur had gotten up enough courage to talk to him, and he was droning on about the many functions of something called a rubber duck. What the hell was rubber anyway? He looked up at Narcissa. She seemed to be having a good enough time. All of the wives had gathered themselves into a corner and were chatting rather amicably. The other husbands, including Percy and Charlie, were also chatting, but there seemed to be laughing and jostling as well. He spotted Draca and James off talking in another part of the room, and the children of the ginger-clan were running around his precious ballroom. Why him? He nearly groaned with relief when a house-elf came to tell him dinner was ready. He pardoned himself from Arthur, and raised his wand in the air, calling the attention of the rest of the room by means of an explosion of green sparks. All eyes turned to him.

“Good evening. I would like to take this time to say that I am honored by the presence of each and every one of you.” He started.

“Liar!” Fred said, hiding the word in a cough. The Weasley brothers chuckled, and received a burning glare from their mother.

Lucius bristled. “May I continue? Thank you. I would like to start out the evening by telling you…oh, forget it! Dinner is ready, and if you will please follow me, I will take you to the dining room.” He said.

“That was short!” George whooped.

“It was to the point!” Fred added. The twins looked at each other.

“We liked it!” they whooped in unison, and the room broke into laughter. Lucius turned on his heel and left the room, with the large crowd following him. He led them to the dining room, beaming inwardly as he heard their awes along the way. They were even more amazed when they entered the dining room.

The usually long and elegant cherry-wood dining table had been elongated even further to seat all of the guests. Each place was set with ornate silver utensils, and beautiful china plates with the Malfoy crest emblazoned in full color on the center. Each of the guests filed to a seat, with Lucius at the head. Fred picked up one of the plates.

“Like we’d forget where we were.” He said, and set it back down.

“Please. Be seated.” Lucius said, and everyone seated themselves into their chairs.

Fred perked up. “Speech, Mr. Malfoy! Speech!” he said, and his brother cheered him on. Lucius looked at the twins, and stood silently.

“Very well, gentlemen. I shall give you a speech. Let's see....This dinner is more than just a gathering of people. It is a display of change. The change that can come over one if they only let it. The change that can open the doors to new and wonderful things. Things as magnificent as friends, or as common as rubber ducks.” He said, and gave Arthur a nod of his head. “And I just want to say that many things in the magical world have changed over the years. Seasons go and seasons come, and I, appropriate to this particular season want to tell you all that there was a Scrooge among us.” He continued.

“You!” George coughed, pounding his chest. The corners of Lucius’ mouth twisted.

“You should have that checked young man. I’d be happy to correct it.” He said. “As I was saying… There was a Scrooge among us. And you are correct, Mr. Weasley. It was I. I, who had been blinded by my upbringing and arrogance, could not see the change that had come around me. But during my stay in Azkaban, the ‘ghosts’ of my past, present, and future haunted me in every waking moment. I have become a changed man. This dinner represents that.” He finished. “And true to my word, I will feed you. Dinner is served.” He said, and the food appeared on the table.

Fred and George stood to their feet. “That was a beautiful speech, Mr. Malfoy. And this-“ George said, gesturing to the food, “Is the best display of kindess we’ve seen in a while. Feel free to be kind to us anytime.” He added.

“Hear, hear!” Fred called, and then sat down. Lucius sat down as well, feeling strangely tingly inside. Narcissa smiled.

“You love it.” She whispered to him as the family began to fill their plates.

“Love what?” he asked.

“Making me hot.” She said. “That speech just made me really hot.” She said, and traced a finger over his knee under the table. He smiled at her.

“We can deal with that later. Right now we have a party to attend to. And I want to be able to see my guests to make sure they don’t ruin the china.” He said softly to her, and she laughed.

“You may have spoke about change, Lucius Malfoy…but in some ways you will never change.” She said, serving herself some food.

“Too right you are kitten. Too right you are.”

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Aww...that was...stangely uncharacteristic of our usually stoic Mr. Malfoy. but then again so is this entire party. Feel free to review. It will make Lucius' day more exciting....and mine.