You Raise Me Up

I know you all are disappointed with Strix's reaction. But it stands to reason...in a twisted sort of way...he wouldn't want to give up his only son and heir...even if said son and heir was conceived under the most heinous of conditions.

Skydancer - Lucius with the silver cell phone embedded with emeralds....I...that's hilarious...I might put that bit in...and I imagine he would want a matching Bluetooth head piece...

lafemxtina - I know...I miss them too....they'll be back at the end of this chappie, and all of next.

Kazfeist - *Mischievous smile* Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaybe....just wait and see....
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Lunch finished without a hitch, and all were disappointed to be parting ways. Percy was the one who suggested that they, himself excluded, could re-convene at Malfoy Manor. Andromeda, Ted, and ‘Dora’, as she preferred to be called, all exchanged looks.

“I don’t know, Minister…this lunch was the beginning of something wonderful…but I don’t want to rush into anything with the Malfoys…” Andromeda said softly. Bellatrix scoffed.

“Come on, Andie…you have Severus and I on your side…and Dora there is an Auror….Hermione wouldn’t allow anything to happen to you all….live a little….” She said.

Andromeda looked at Ted, and then at Dora. Ted gave her a reassuring smile, and Dora shrugged.

“I suppose we could….” She murmured, and smiled when Bellatrix’s arm draped around her shoulder.

“You won’t regret it, sister. I promise…”

~~

Lucius sat in the study, his reading glasses perched on his nose as he read the paper. Seemed as if there had been a small Ministry resistance group forming. Called themselves ‘The Forsaken,’ and acted like little Death Eaters… Stupid twits had gotten themselves caught at their first official meeting by none other than Harry Potter. They had been dealt with quite severely due to the final outburst of the Dark Lord. Fifteen years in Azkaban for each of them ought to sufficiently cool them down.

He clicked his tongue bemusedly as he turned to the comics strip. Never, even under threat of his manhood or painfully extended torture, would he admit to anyone that he enjoyed the funnies. There were strips there with dry wit, and those were the ones he enjoyed most. No one could ever know of his little weakness…not even Narcissa.

Narcissa was curled up on the sofa asleep. She was gingerly tucked under his cloak as she snored softly. He smiled as she murmured his name in her sleep, but growled slightly when Bellatrix herself called for him.

“Lucius! What on earth are you doing, you silly man?” she said, her voice loud with…excitement?

He didn’t look up from his paper as he supplied the answer. “Just seeing if that chillingly gruesome and murderous rampage I went on last night made the paper….apparently they’ve yet to discover the bodies….” He teased. The joke was lost on somebody, however, when he heard a sharp intake of breath.

He lowered the paper, and stared, quite visibly shocked, at Andromeda, Ted, and Nymphadora Tonks. His mouth opened to say something, but closed again when he could think of nothing. He knew of Cissa’s lost sister, of course….but he never thought to meet her….and certainly hadn’t been expecting it. And even in his wildest dreams, dreams in which he had met her sister, he certainly never expected to meet her Muggleborn husband and Halfblood daughter.

He folded the paper and stood, brushing nonexistent wrinkles from the front of his robes.

“Where’s Cissa?” Bellatrix asked, the excitement still in her voice. Lucius pointed silently to the couch, and the blonde witch huddled beneath his cloak. Bellatrix handed off Orion to Severus, who, by the way, looked as if he had been sucking a lemon. Grumpy old bat…

She then went to Narcissa, and none-too-gently shook the witch awake. Narcissa sat bolt upright, and Lucius couldn’t help but chuckle when she cried out some nonsense about him trying to attack her while she slept. She rubbed her eyes and stretched, admonishing her sister.

“I was asleep, you old badger!” she whined. She heard a feminine chuckle behind Bellatrix, and leaned her head to see around her sister’s form. Her eyes lit on the Tonks family, and she sat quietly for a moment, as if convinced they would disappear. She threw back Lucius’ cloak, and stood. She walked slowly to her brown-haired sister, her mouth slightly open as if in shock. When she stood in front of her, she slowly raised her hand to touch her sister’s face, making sure she was real.

“Andromeda?” she asked, her voice soft. The woman nodded, and Narcissa threw her arms around her immediately in a suffocating hug.

“Oh…Andie! I never thought I’d see you again! I wanted to write you a letter after everything was over….but I knew I didn’t have a right to ask for your forgiveness. But you’re here now, and oh, Andromeda, I’m so happy to see you! I’m so, so, so, so, so sorry!” she cried, sobbing pitifully. Andromeda was taken back for a few moments, but by the time Narcissa had finished her trembling message, the witch had snaked her arms around her, and was holding her close as she cried.

“I forgive you, Cissa. You were afraid…” she said, not quite sure of what else to add.

“Yes…I was a coward. My own Slytherin sense of self-preservation kicked in when I should have defended you. But you’re here now, my dear….let’s make the most of it!” she practically purred, and gently kissed her sister’s cheek. She moved to Ted, who was standing next to Andromeda. She looked him over, but he stood his ground bravely, standing to his full height to not look intimidated. Narcissa burst out laughing at this, and gently patted his cheek. “The infamous Ted Tonks. I must admit, you are much more handsome than I thought!” she said. He gave a nervous chuckle.

“Um….thanks.” he said. Narcissa moved to Nymphadora, and gave her the once-over before hugging her as well.

“My niece! Glad to finally meet you, my dear. I’ve heard about you. An Auror, yes? And a member of that pesky Phoenix crowd!” she said. Dora stiffened slightly. “I’m not going to bite you, my dear. Now! All of you, I want you to meet my husband!” she said, turning to where Lucius had stood quietly.

Truth be told, Andromeda felt she would rather give birth to Nymphadora as a fully grown woman than meet Lucius Malfoy….but the chances of that were unlikely. Besides, he hadn’t struck yet….maybe all that rubbish in the Prophet had been true…

She started slightly when, after coming out of her reverie, Lucius was standing right in front of her. He held out his hand aristocratically, and she extended hers. Lucius gripped her fingers gently, and lowered his head to her hand, kissing it like a gentleman. Gentleman, indeed! But Andromeda only blinked a few times as he lowered her hand.

“A pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Tonks. Welcome to my home.” He said.

“Er…It’s a pleasure to be here…” she said softly. The pleasantries were extended to Ted and Dora as well. At about that time, Draco strode into the room, Hermione a few steps behind, both looking undeniably and satisfactorily fucked….in the good way.

Hermione’s belly was starting to make itself even more known, and she quite liked it. She made a mental note to herself to be the first Malfoy wife to give more than two children. Maybe they could give Molly and Arthur a run for their money…

Dora went to Hermione immediately. “Mione!” she squealed. Hermione took a moment to show her shock, but then she was on Dora like ugly on a goblin. They embraced like old school friends, and Dora immediately began complimenting her on her gorgeous pregnancy, and what a handsome husband she’d snagged.

Draco stood still, absolutely and thoroughly shocked. He’d never seen his other aunt. He’d only seen his cousin under…questionable circumstances…and he never even thought to see his uncle….shudder… It was Andromeda who approached him, and pinched his cheek as though she knew him.

“What a handsome young man you’ve become! And you have caught yourself a wonderful wife in Hermione. She’ll keep you in line well, I think!” she said good-naturedly. Draco was still floored, and only nodded mutely as the woman hugged him. He was nudged gently in the side, and looked up into the bemused face of his father.

“Speak, son. Silence doesn’t become you….” He teased. Draco swallowed.

“Hello.” He said, and Andromeda laughed heartily.

~~

The rest of the day was spent touring the Manor and laughing on the grounds. A picnic had been set up for the entire family on the lawn, on a spot that overlooked the entire property. Andromeda knew of the Malfoy wealth, but had never been subjected to it first-hand. A comical look at Ted told her he had never seen the likes of it either. Dora didn’t seem too surprised…she’d been here before on a Ministry raid.

Narcissa didn’t want them to go. She’d just become acquainted with her other sister again, and she didn’t want them to go. She wanted them all to stay the night. The sisters would have a room together…a sleepover of sorts. Andromeda was slightly unsure.

“Come on….We’d have all sorts of fun! The house-elves can bring us chocolate and we can stay up all night in sugar-induced hazes…” Bellatrix said, her eyes full of mischief. Light-hearted mischief, of course, but mischief nonetheless. Andromeda chuckled.

“If Ted and Dora have no problem with it…” she finally conceded. Turns out they didn’t, and the plans were made immediately.

The festivities were only broken when a house-elf popped into the room. Lucius addressed it rather harshly, as even he was affected by the light-hearted nature of the visit.

“What is it, Taffy?” he said sharply.

“There is being a visitor, sir. It is Harry Potter! He is requesting the presence of Master Draco and Mistress Hermione!”
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Oooh! What might he want?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Do review....they are the sugar in my tea! And since I'm from the South, I require quite a bit of it! I took a trip to chicago once...made the mistake of getting tea....it was like brown water to me....No offense to any northerners who like unsweetened tea....it's just not my forte.

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