Just Around the Riverbend

Okay, this took a lot longer than I wanted it to, because I had to revise several times. I wanted it to say something good, and I completely scrapped one revision. Anywhoo! I hope you all are doing well, and I look forward to what you have to say about this chappie.

forsaken_dream
Condwiramur
angeles
harisprayX12
Anathema
Serin Blackmoon
HarryGinny4Eva - Glad to see your convalescence is nearly over!
margaritama
JadeLucky
Anna
Alina

Well, my lovelies. You're all asking a similar question, and I have no answer for you. You'll just have to wait and find out, won't you? *Dodges shoe* Hey! I will eventually let everything out of the bag, but for now you must stay calm and keep your shoes on your feet, and your manticores in their cages.

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Lucius awoke first in the morning, stretching fluidly beneath the warm covers to get his sleepy muscles moving again. He tilted his head to the side, looking over at Hermione’s side of the bed. She was completely beneath the covers, and the only evidence that she was there at all was a puffy tuft of hair that was out from under the covers. He snickered to himself at the amusing sight, only quieting down when Hermione gave a soft snuffle in her sleep.

Ah, the dear woman… he thought to himself. He remembered that she hadn’t felt too well last night. The poor dear had a bit of a tummy-ache. Well, he hoped she was feeling better this morning. Hogwarts letters were supposed to be arriving soon, and he wanted her to come with him and Daisy- and he supposed Phelan- to get her supplies. He’d probably also have to supply the little Werewolf Prince with a few more outfits so that he wouldn’t embarrass anyone with his innate lack of style.

“Hermione.” He murmured, reaching under the covers to rest his hand on her...he patted for a moment to figure out exactly what he was touching….ah! shoulder…and gently shook her.

“Go ‘way.” She said, and he felt her swat at him from beneath the covers.

“Hermione, I think the Hogwarts letters are supposed to be arriving today, and I’d like for you to come with me to get Daisy’s supplies.” He said gently, leaning over her covered form, trying to find where her face was.

“Later. Sleep now.” She replied, trying to snuggle down deeper into the covers. Lucius reached over and grabbed the covers, pulling them off of her with a flourish. She groaned and rolled to her stomach, tucking her knees underneath her so that her bare bottom was poking up into the air, almost begging to be swatted for her insolence. So Lucius obliged. He gave a gentle swat to her left buttock, grinning as the globe of flesh jiggled suggestively.

Hermione rolled off of the bed and stood in a dueling stance, flaring at Lucius with sleep-heavy eyes. Her effect was ruined by the fact that she was stark naked.

“If we’re not leaving at this moment, then leave me alone and let me sleep! I’ll have you know I slept terribly last night. It was too hot in here, and you’re like a human furnace. And you kept me plastered to yourself like a bloody stuffed animal! So if you’d be so kind as to bugger off, I could catch a little more sleep. Or, if you like, I can just go back to my room where I’ll stay for several nights!” she snapped. Lucius’ face showed surprise as he watched her vent angrily. He had known she was a bit ill last night, but he hadn’t realized that she hadn’t gotten very good sleep.

Then he realized just how cheeky she was being, and it wasn’t cute like their little play time.

“Hermione Granger, I apologize for interrupting your sleep, as you obviously didn’t have a good time of it last night, but if you continue with this horrible attitude I will not hesitate to turn your bottom red with the nearest hairbrush.” He said, his voice deceptively quiet. Hermione continued glaring at him for a few moments, before she completely caught him off guard by bursting into tears.

He scrambled from the bed and crossed around to where Hermione was standing with her face now buried in her hands.

“Hermione…” he said softly, drawing her to his bare chest. She shook with sobs against him.

“I’m t-tired.” She hiccupped. “I’m just tired.”

“I apologize again, kitten. Go back to bed. The letter might not even come today. And if it does, we can go after lunch.” He said, his arms falling away from her. She turned back to the inviting bed, and crawled onto the soft sheets, curling up as soon as her head hit the pillow. Lucius leaned over her and pulled the covers up to her chin, tucking her into the covers.

“Sorry for snapping.” She mumbled sleepily. He pressed his lips to her temple.

“I should have been more considerate of you. I knew you hadn’t felt too well last night. Just rest now, kitten, and I’ll fetch you in a few hours if Daisy’s letter comes.” He said, but his words fell on deaf ears as Hermione had already left for the land of Nod. Lucius felt rather silly for being manipulated so easily by a few tears. It seemed the women in his life so far just knew how to work him.

Narcissa, the crafty thing, always knew that all she needed to do was squeeze out a few tears and anything she wanted was hers. Hermione was not so spoiled, but she would probably soon realize the same thing. Damn…

But he couldn’t bring himself to be angry. He had enjoyed the pleased looks on Narcissa’s face when he got her a particularly spectacular gift. He enjoyed the same looks on Hermione’s face, but her joy came from such little things that he found it hard sometimes not to please her. She enjoyed being touched. His little kitten liked to be rubbed and petted, whereas Narcissa had been rather the opposite. She had enjoyed being in his bed, and quite enjoyed their sessions, but any other time she was distant and cool: the proper pureblood wife. Hermione was fiery and touchy. He had loved Narcissa in his own way, but he found himself quite firmly wrapped around the small fingers of this fierce little Muggleborn.

~~

Daisy picked at her breakfast nervously, pushing a bite of egg across the plate. Phelan was almost the polar opposite. One would think he was the one going to Hogwarts by the way he almost bounced in his seat. He had long since finished his breakfast, and his eagle-sharp eyes were watching the horizon through the breakfast room window, dancing back and forth as he tried to spot anything moving in the skyline.

Lucius was reading the morning paper, smirking as he saw a small article about another Ministry employee imprisoned for bribery. Ah…he was so glad he’d pulled back his financial support of the Ministry’s coffers before Shacklebolt had gone into office. The dark-skinned wizard wouldn’t have let him roam free long. He still had enough power to be feared in the hallways, but now he needn’t worry about who was looking at the financial sheets and watching his back for mistakes.

He was a bit disappointed that he hadn’t seen Draco this morning, but he was sure that the boy would come down for lunch, or maybe even join them in a bit. Draco was going to be very prickly for a while, and it was going to take quite some time for just he and Draco to get along, much less for Draco to treat a half-blood and a werewolf with a modicum of respect.

“I see something!” Phelan said excitedly, and Lucius was sure if he had been transformed the boy’s tail would be wagging like some retarded dog’s. Daisy stood from her seat and went over to the window, looking out with Phelan. Her human eyes didn’t catch sight of the flying creature for a few more moments, but she could feel Phelan actually bouncing on the balls of his feet. “I hope it’s your Hogwarts letter, Daisy. I’ve never seen one. My kind doesn’t get them, you know.” He said off-handedly, his eyes still on the ever-closer owl.

Daisy felt guilty. She was nervous about going off to school because she would be lonely. This was Phelan’s chance to step foot into a school he should have never been denied access to in the beginning. She felt incredibly selfish in that moment, and hoped the post did contain her letter.

The owl arrived at Malfoy Manor a few minutes later, and the window was opened before the bird even had to tap at the glass. The owl landed on a specially designed pedestal, and stuck out its leg to have the wizards retrieve its burden. As excited as he was, Phelan wasn’t disillusioned enough to try to take the letters from the owl. First of all, they weren’t his mail, even if one of those tantalizing letters was Daisy’s Hogwarts letter. Second of all, owls didn’t like werewolves, nor did any animal, really, and he didn’t want to tempt that sharp beak and risk being called ‘stumpy.’

Lucius was the one to retrieve the letters, since it was his house, and he gave the owl a piece of sausage as a treat, and the owl gave its thanks in a hoot. With a soft rush of feathers, the owl was out the window again, and Daisy closed the window behind the bird. Lucius began to sort through the letters in the post.

“Ministry event, charity, charity, Ministry charity, personal letter. Ah! I see Miss Daisy Melfy.” He said, and handed Daisy the heavy parchment envelope. Daisy swallowed hard, and took the letter from him. Lucius looked at the next letter with some surprise. “And a letter for Mr. Phelan Greyback.” He said, withdrawing the envelope from the stack and holding it out to the gobsmacked teenager.

Daisy had carefully broken the wax seal on her envelope, and removed the papers inside.

Miss Daisy Melfy
The Breakfast Room
Malfoy Manor
Wiltshire, England

Dear Miss Melfy,

We are pleased to announce that you have been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as a transfer student. Due to your unique circumstances, you will be allowed to take a screening test tomorrow at noon to determine your placement in either the Third Year ranking, or the Fourth Year ranking. Please send an owl at your earliest convenience to confirm or reschedule this meeting. Term begins September 1, and we look forward to seeing you then. Enclosed is your list of basic school supplies. Your list of school books will be given to you upon completion of your screening test.

Yours Sincerely,
Aladfar Denebola
Headmaster

“They let me in. I’m scheduled to take my screening test tomorrow at noon. My basic school supply list is here, and they’ll give me my book list when I finish my test.” She said. Lucius reached forward and tilted her chin up a little, so she was looking at his face. He was smiling at her, and Daisy felt a little more at ease. The expression looked good on him.

“I’m very proud of you. I know you’re nervous, Daisy, but Hogwarts is a wonderful experience. If your father had grown up in England, he would have gone to Hogwarts.” Lucius said softly. Daisy gave a tentative smile in return, and nodded.

“Now! What does your letter say, Mr. Greyback?” Lucius asked, turning to Phelan. He had broken into his letter at about the same time Daisy had, and his face was pale as he read.

“Phelan?” Daisy asked, her heart starting to sink into her stomach. Phelan cleared his throat, and began to read aloud.

“Dear Mr. Greyback,

Though you are not a student at Hogwarts, you are going to be given a unique opportunity to pass through the gates of the school. Upon speaking with the Board of Governors, we have decided that it is pointless to expect you to wander the halls aimlessly. Idle hands are the devil’s tools, they say. So, while your intended is in her own classes, you are being offered a chance to learn a bit yourself. It has come to my attention that you are quite gifted in the magic department. By the confessions of a few of your peers (It appears your pack isn’t unwilling to speak to another creature of the night) you are advanced in your studies. You will be allowed to revise privately, and as your age coincides with a Fifth year level, you may take your O.W.L.s.

This, of course, is not a requirement, but should you decide to take these revisions seriously, you will be allowed to also revise and study for N.E.W.T-level classes in what would coincide with your sixth year, and actually take the tests your ‘Seventh Year.’ You will have full access to the Hogwarts School Library as any student would, and you will have contact with the Professors of the subjects you wish to attempt the O.W.L on.
As a member of the Lycan community who has been given sanction to attend this school, I expect you to be on proper behavior. You and Miss Melfy are to conduct yourselves with dignity at Howgarts. It does not escape me that you two are practically married. You will be given private quarters near the staff, and any intimate behavior should be confined to that place.” Here Phelan paused, and he could feel his face heating up. He supposed it was just the Headmaster covering his own arse by telling them this, but it was still a bit embarrassing for them to basically be told ‘as long as you do it in your room, I don’t care.’ But he cleared his throat, and continued.

“Your private quarters will be shown to you at your earliest convenience, and may be furnished in any way you see fit. This will be your home until Miss Melfy graduates. I look forward to seeing both of your bight shining faces at the beginning of Term, and I am hopeful that this will be a unique, but nonetheless eventful, year. Yours Sincerely, Aladfar Denebola, Headmaster.” Phelan finished.

Lucius was surprised, but not displeased. Phelan couldn’t technically be a student, because of his ‘condition.’ There were still laws to uphold. But he’d been given permission to revise and sit his O.W.Ls, and eventually his N.E.W.Ts. This could mean a much brighter future for him and Daisy, if some of the archaic laws concerning werewolves were repealed. Sigh…what the world had come to when Lucius Malfoy began contemplating his involvement in Werewolf Rights…

“That’s good, isn’t it?” Daisy asked. Phelan suddenly grinned.

“Yeah. Yeah, it is. I…I’ll be able to sit my O.W.Ls. The last Werewolf to do that was Remus Lupin.” Phelan said, still looking a little dazed. He was startled slightly when Daisy threw her arms around him, her letter still clutched in her hand.

“I’m happy for you! And we’ll be together. We’ll get our own rooms, Phelan. Won’t that be neat?” she asked, grinning. Phelan looked at her face, blinking a few times. Did she realize that meant they’d be sleeping in the same room? Possibly the same bed? He would not break his word and attempt to engage her until she was sixteen, but still….

Lucius cleared his throat.

“Speaking of…I do believe we need to have a little talk.” Lucius said, drawing himself up to full height and looking down at the teenagers. Phelan held up his hands in surrender.

“Look…I’ve already had ‘the talk’ with my father. And I gave you my word that nothing would happen. I’m not listening to you explain….things…” Phelan said, his pace face taking on a tinge of green. Daisy shuddered.

“Eeew!! I’m not having that talk with you. I’ve already had it too, except it was with my mom!” she interjected quickly. Lucius actually looked relieved.

“Thank the Gods. I thought I was going to have to bribe Hermione…”

“Bribe Granger for what?”

Lucius looked up to see Draco at the door, dressed in finely made casual robes.

“For sex education.” Daisy supplied. Draco paused mid-step, looked around for a moment, and shuddered.

“Gods damn it…I certainly walked in at a terrible time.” He said, starting to move again. He sat down at the table, serving himself some food before stealing the paper Lucius had set down. Lucius watched his son, contemplating his behavior. He’d basically ignored them all, except for his single question.

Things were going better than he had planned!!
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Ah....breakfast. Well, what did you think of the Hogwarts letters? Were the good? Suckish? I had alot of trouble with this chap, and I'd love to hear what you all have to say...

You've read, now rate/review.