Just Around the Riverbend

Avanell
margaritama
Ithilwen
Heidi191976
Lady Disdain
Citten
Ash
slytheringriffendor21
Jessi
Voracious Reader
Sureves Epans
HarryGinny4eva
Megan

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When Hermione finished her story she noticed that Daisy’s face was pale and ashen.

“He really…..killed people?” Daisy choked. Hermione felt a little bad for going into such details.

“From what I’ve heard through the grapevine….Mr. Malfoy was a big supporter through the First War. In principle, he agreed with everything that Voldemort said. He thought he was doing the magical world a favor by weeding out the Muggleborns and halfbloods. I’ve heard tell that by the time his son Draco was born, that he was ready to pull out. But it wasn’t so easy to walk away from Voldemort.

The man threatened his entire family. When he came back the second time he was only going through the motions, really. Although those motions were really dangerous and stupid….”

Daisy had kicked off her shoes and pulled her feet up onto the sofa so that she could rest her head against her knees. She was a halfblood, in more ways than one. She didn't think her cousin would turn on her...but...

Hermione decided to swoop in for a bit of damage control. She had truly felt that Daisy needed to know about her cousin’s past, but she hadn’t meant to frighten her…

“Where did you go to school in America?” Hermione asked. Daisy looked up, a little surprised at the change of subject.

“I didn’t go to school. My father trained me in the magical arts, and my mother trained me in Native magic. I took several placement tests and I’m registered as a fifth-level student. I can also grow a crap-load of vegetables and make it rain in a small area.” She said, looking very proud of herself. Hermione smiled. “There’s one thing I don’t understand….” Daisy said.

“What?”

“If there was an entire war going on over here….why didn’t you guys ask for help? I’m sure the American Magical Government would have gladly sent some people over to kick ass and take names.” Daisy said.

“That was an idea that was thrown out. The downside to that would have been that even if America or anyone else had sent people to aid the fight against Voldemort, there would most certainly have been an influx of people fighting for Voldemort as well, and then the fight would have just turned into Magical World War One.” She said. Daisy nodded, surprisingly understanding for someone her age.

“What do you think about those…tutors that my cousin has hired?” Daisy asked, desperate to get away from the topic of her cousin as a Death Eater. Hermione had described their uniforms, and the thought of him in a half-skull mask scared the crap out of her.

“Well…I think the French and Latin teacher is rather practical. The Seamstress lady could be fun, especially if you’re already interested in it. That etiquette coach seems like a real arse, though.” Hermione said. Daisy giggled softly. “But in Mr. Malfoy’s little corner of the world, proper etiquette is everything….so I guess that’s practical, too.” She said.

There was an awkward bout of silence before Daisy finally spoke up again.

“I’m glad I met you.” She said suddenly. Hermione’s cheeks grew warm.

“Whatever makes you say that?” she asked.

“If I hadn’t met you we would probably still be in the bookstore and Mr. Malfoy would have had a panic attack.” She said. Hermione snickered at the thought of Lucius ‘Cool as a Cucumber’ Malfoy having a panic attack. But she then smiled at the younger girl.

“I’m glad I met you as well.” She said. There was another pause, before Hermione glanced at her wrist watch. “I have to be going for now….” She said. She felt guilty at the absolute look of sadness that crossed Daisy’s face. “But I’ll owl you, all right?” she asked. Daisy perked up immediately.

“Looking forward to it.”

~~

Over the next week Hermione and Daisy owled each other daily. It was mostly trivial ‘how are you’ s and ‘I did this today.’ Daisy had just finished penning a note to Hermione, and sent it off with the owl her cousin had bought for her. It was a beautiful brown long-eared owl with amazing yellow eyes. She had named the owl Agtni, which meant ‘wise’ in Cherokee.

Today was Daisy’s first day with one of her new ‘coaches.’ Jacques Fornier would be meeting with her on Sundays and Wednesdays. Mondays and Thursdays would be spent with Coco Maes, and Tuesdays and Fridays would be spent with Gertrude Cummings. She would have Saturdays to herself. Terrific.

As it was a Sunday, she would be meeting with Jacques for her first lesson in ‘etiquette.’ She ate breakfast with Lucius in silence, quite nervous to come face to face with the rather severe looking Frenchman.

Lucius picked up on her nervous energy, and glanced up from his paper.

“Is anything the matter?” he asked. Daisy looked up from her eggs, and planted a smile on her face.

“Oh no, cousin! I was just a little nervous about my first session with Jacques.” She said. Lucius gave her a small, reassuring smile.

“Jacques is a master at what he does. He was Draco’s teacher as well.” He said, remembering the first time he’d had to literally drag a rambunctious six-year-old into the lessons. “A word of warning, though.” Lucius said, his smile fading. “Jacques will not tolerate any sort of rebellion in his presence. He strikes quickly and without mercy.” Lucius added. He noticed the color drain from Daisy’s face. “Just do as he says, and you’ll be fine.”

Daisy was not amused at all.

Lucius walked Daisy to an empty room, which had been set up like a small classroom. There was a desk and chalkboard in the middle of the room, and beside the chalkboard stood Jacques, looking every pit the pompous, dictatorial Frenchman he was.

“Bonjour, Monsieur Malfoy.” Jacques said, and inclined his head politely. Lucius returned the slight nod.

“Bonjour, Jacques.” Lucius replied. The two then proceeded to start up a conversation in French, and Daisy stood next to her cousin for several minutes in silence before she got really annoyed.

She broke into their conversation in a language of her own, speaking rapid Cherokee. The two men stopped, and looked at her. Jacques narrowed his eyes.

“What was that?” Lucius asked.

“Yeah…it’s annoying when you can’t understand what someone’s saying, isn’t it?” she asked, and crossed her arms.

“Américaine irritable.” Jacques said softly. Lucius sighed.

“That was your first test. You failed.” He said. Daisy felt her cheeks grow a bit warm.

“You Americans think you are entitled to know everything. Zere are some conversations zat do not concern you.” Jacques stated firmly. “Lesson one: Do not assume you have the right to know what is going on in a conversation. If you are to be included in the conversation, someone ranking you will let you know.” He said. He then pointed at the desk. “Asseyez-vous!” he said. Daisy looked at him blankly. “Sit!” he snapped. Daisy walked to the desk, and sat down, and immediately propped her head up on the desk with her hand.

Jacques said something to Lucius in French. Lucius looked at Daisy and pursed his lips, but then said the one word that actually made Daisy a little nervous.

“Oui.” He said, and turned on his heel, walking from the classroom with a flurry of his cloak. Daisy was alone with Jacques. She looked up at him, her blue eyes a bit wide.

“You did not make a very good first impression.” he said. He went to the desk and opened the top drawer. From the drawer he pulled a short leather strap, and laid it gently on the corner of the desk. “I hope I do not have to use zis.” He added, but his eyes showed very clearly that he would if he had to. He watched Daisy swallow hard, and shrink in her chair.

He didn’t like her already. He could see that her American spirit was going to get her quite a few welts. It wasn’t that he hated all Americans…..just a vast majority. He found them rude, annoying, and classless. He would do everything in his power to make sure he turned this one into a halfway decent member of polite society.

“Our first topic: When to be silent.”

~~

Lucius sat in his study, staring at the parchment in front of him. Draco had gone through etiquette training with Jacques for three years initially, and for an ‘adult etiquette’ one-year course when he turned sixteen. Lucius had never had a problem with Jacques using corporal punishment on Draco. Draco was the type of boy who needed a firm hand to keep him in place.

But for some reason, his heart ached at the thought of Jacques harming Daisy. He’d given him permission, of course, because if he’d found out he had struck her without it he would have made Jacques disappear. Forever. Without a trace.

But Daisy wasn’t Draco….and that caused all sorts of internal conflict. She wasn’t his daughter to punish…..But as her legal blood guardian he had the right to see to her rearing, and as such he had the right and responsibility to punish, or have her punished, whenever she did wrong. She would be eaten alive if she didn’t learn proper etiquette. The press would have a field day with Lucius Malfoy’s ‘Uneducated American Cousin.’

And so with these thoughts pushing everything else out of his head, he did something he rarely did: he shoved his parchments aside and opened the bottom left-hand drawer of his personal desk. He pulled out a small glass, and a silver flask. He quickly pulled the top to the flask, and filled the small glass. Then, he set the flask and glass in front of him. He shouldn’t….he hadn’t in quite a while….oh, but dammit he wanted to! Ignoring the glass he took a large swig of the liquid straight from the flask. He sucked in a small breath as the alcohol burned its way down.

“Drinking already?”

Lucius turned to the door just in time to see an old friend practically glide out of the shadows.

“Ah….Severus. So nice of you to drop in unannounced. It’s good to see that these last two years of hermitry have done nothing for your manners.” Lucius said.

Severus Snape had not changed at all in the last two years. He was still a tall, pale, greasy little bastard. But he was also a dearly missed friend of Lucius’. He was one of the few people Lucius trusted.

“Word from the Prophet is that you’ve acquired yourself a cousin from America. I must say…how very unexpected.I had to come in person to see if it was true or not.” Snape said. He walked towards the chair in front of Lucius’ fireplace and sat in it as if he were its master.

“It’s true, you miserable sod. Have you come to mock me?” Lucius asked, taking another swig from his flask.

“No. But I have come to warn you…There are many who will try to get to you through your cousin. You still aren’t a well-liked man. Some of those people would see you done social harm….others want it more physical.” He said, staring into the low flames.

“I know that, Severus. I’m not stupid.” Lucius hissed.

Snape stood, and turned to his friend.

“Never said you were.” He said softly, as he headed for the door.

“Wait! It’s been two years since I’ve seen you, old friend. Don’t tell me that you can’t stay for a few drinks…” Lucius said, standing from his desk. Severus paused, unconsciously reaching up to scratch at his neck.

“As long as you pour from a decanter, not a flask…”

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Une vie merveilleuse….Oui ? - A Wonderful Life....Yes?
Américain irritable - Petulant American(roughly)
Asseyez-vous - Sit (***THanks to Jess for pointing this out to me!!!)

OKay. I do NOT speak ANY sort of French. I used Yahoo Babel fish, and those little things I put in are probably really rough translations. I do not claim to know French, so if it's not right, you can tell me KINDLY, and I'll change it.