Artemis was present for breakfast the next morning and Narcissa was not. Lucius was silent throughout and Draco only said a total of three words, "Pass the toast." Luna was the only one who seemed to be as cheerful and bright as usual. Draco glared at her for the fifteenth time since breakfast had begun.
"Luna, I'm getting a head ache."
"Oh my! Are you sick? Do you have a fever? Do you think we should go to St. Mungo's?"
Draco rolled his eyes. He should've used a different excuse.
"No Luna, it's just a slight head ache. Why don't you go and check on Mum?"
"That's a good idea. I hope she ate the pancakes I made her."
"You made pancakes for my mother and not for me? That's cruel."
"Pancakes are good for the soul. As is chicken soup but I don't think your mother wants some this early in the morning."
"How is chicken soup good for the soul?" Artemis asked with a sneer.
"Well, there's this muggle book "Chicken Soup for the Soul". It's a beautiful book about-"
"Luna, my mother." Draco interrupted before Luna could start on.
"Oh yes. I'm going." Luna got up and left to Narcissa's private chambers.
Narcissa hadn't left since last night and Lucius was absolutely miserable. Back at the breakfast table, Lucius looked as if he had aged twenty years in a single night. Draco hadn't talked to his father either.
"Father, I want to see the grounds today." Artemis said. Draco hated the fact that she called his father that.
"I will have an elf escort you." Lucius answered, not looking up from his plate.
"No, Draco can show me."
Draco spit out his pumpkin juice and looked at Artemis in disbelief.
"No way in Hell am I going anywhere with you."
"You don't have a choice and I want to talk to you about something."
"Whatever. I already said-"
"Something that is very important and may be to your interest."
Draco frowned. "Fine. But you have only 20 minutes."
Artemis nodded. "That's all I need."
Luna came into the dining room and pulled Draco aside.
"I know what will help Mother." Luna whispered.
"What? Some sort of potion?"
"No, no. Her sister."
"Are you crazy? Insane? Mad? Aunt Bellatrix-"
"Not Aunt Bellatrix, Aunt Andromeda."
Draco considered that thought then nodded. It seemed like a good plan. Luna went and floo called Aunt Andromeda while Draco dragged himself to meet Artemis outside. She was wearing a black again today.
"So what's this important thing you want to talk about?"
"Your wife."
"What's Luna got to do with anything?"
"You do want to get your parents back together again don't you? Well, she can be of great help to you. If she convinces your mother that she is acting completely childish then-"
"My mother is not acting childish. She just wants you out of her life. And I can't help agreeing."
"Why does your mother hate me anyway? I am her niece and-"
"Exactly! You are her sister's and her husband's child! How would you feel if you found out your husband had a kid with your sister?"
"I don't have a sister. And if that was the situation, then I wouldn't act childish and face reality."
"I fucking hate you! Why don't you just go back to wherever the hell you came from?"
To his surprise, Artemis turned away, but not before Draco saw the tears in her eyes.
"You know, I never had a home. I never had a family. Mother just shoved me from one place to another and Father couldn't have cared less about me. I envy you because you have a family, and a place to call yours. You have a caring mother who loves you. You have a protective father who loves you. You have a sweet wife who loves you. And you're about to have a kid who will probably love you too. I don't have any of that. I used to cry a lot when I was a kid but it never did me any good. My mother never came back to me. My father never met me. That's why I'm so, you know... bitchy. I was so soft when I was a kid but now I've built layers of hate around me. I'm too vulnerable inside."
Draco looked at Artemis and he felt the pain her words held. She was crying now and her mascara was running all over her face. He silently handed her a tissue.
Sorry for the short update! Thanks for the reviews, they make my day!
