A Malfoy 'Family' Christmas
Chapter Ten
In all matters of opinion, our adversaries are insane
~Oscar Wilde
Rose was just about in the house, several steps behind Lucius and Scorpius, when a hand grabbed her shoulder and stopped her progress. The sudden halting motion jolted her system and cleared her head. Even if she wanted to know what Lucius planned to discuss, she couldn't just follow after them. It would be far too suspicious.
"Where do you think you're going?" Charlotte asked. The hand on Rose's shoulder belonged to the female Zabini. Rose looked down at her feet then made to move back onto the porch. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. I meant, where are you going without us? We want to know what's going on too! Lead on, Rosie!" To emphasize her point, Charlotte gave Rose a slight shove.
The young Weasley surveyed the rest of the Slytherins standing around in the backyard. As she looked at each face, she tried to determine what their opinion was about eavesdropping on the private conversation of their friend. While none were as enthusiastic at the prospect as Char, they also didn't appear as if they were against it.
"We're gonna loose them if we don't get a move on!" Char called out, grabbing Rose's hand and dragging her behind. It was obvious that Charlotte thought Rose was taking too long to decide what to do and had made to decision for her.
It took a few minutes to determine where the pair of Malfoys had disappeared. Charlotte had to press her ear to at least five doors before finding the room that Lucius had taken Scorpius into. When Charlotte pressed her ear to the double oak doors of the study, she quickly turned to the group and motioned them in closer.
Rose moved to stand beside the dark haired girl. After taking only one step, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning to see who, or what, had tapped her, Rose saw the rest of the group not doing as Charlotte requested. Al, Mia, and Bell were putting on Extendable Ears, while Oliver and Geoff headed to opposite ends of the hallway to act as lookouts. Albus, the one who had tapped her shoulder, had an amused expression on his face and an Extendable Ear in his hand.
"Thought this might help," he whispered, his voice filled with the same amusement that was clearly etched onto his face.
"Thanks," Rose muttered sheepishly. She turned back to the door, the Extendable Ear allowing her to easily hear what was going on, on the other side.
"What do you want to talk to me about, Grandfather. As you most likely noticed, I do have company." Scorpius' tone, while polite, had a slight edge. Rose figured that the blonde had not forgotten the events of the dinner a few evenings prior.
"I assure you, it will not take long and then you will be back with your friends. Now, have a seat." The conversation paused and only the rustling of clothes could be heard. Even after the rustling ceased, the conversation continued to lag. Rose imagined the pair sitting across from each other engaging in a staring contest power struggle.
"I want to apologize for both my behaviour and your father's behaviour at dinner the other night. It would appear we both lost our heads and acted very undignified. I promise this conversation will not end in a similar manner as that." Lucius paused, letting his apology sink in. Rose was taken aback by the elder Malfoy's words. It would appear that Rose was in for a lot of surprise character shifting moved from the male Malfoys.
"Thank you, Grandfather," Scorpius spoke, his own surprise evident, "for the apology. I hope clearer heads can and will prevail in this discussion."
"Yes, well, I called you away from your friends today because there is an extremely important matter I wish to discuss with you." Something in Lucius' voice put Rose on edge.
"Very well," Scorpius responded, irritation at his Grandfather's stalling clear in his voice.
"About your 'girlfriend', Rose." He seemed to have difficultly vocalizing the word girlfriend in relation to her.
"No!" Scorpius yelled. His word was accompanied by the sound of scrapping. In his outrage, Scorpius must have suddenly stood and pushed the chair he was sitting in backwards.
"Scorpius, you promised not to turn this in to the same fiasco as the dinner," Lucius chided.
"You promised Grandfather. I did not! And so far you aren't even close to keeping your word." Scorpius' voice returned to a normal volume, but Rose could tell he was fighting very hard to keep it that volume.
"I have done nothing of the sort. All I said was I wished to discuss your girlfriend. You jumped to conclusions about specifics." Lucius' voice was haughty and conceited as a result of having bested his grandson.
"It wasn't that difficult of a leap to make. Not after your attack at dinner. You made it plainly obvious what you think of her. I hardly think forty-eight hours is enough time to change your mind."
"No, I haven't. I am hoping to change yours, Scorpius. This girl is not deserving of you!"
"You don't know that! You've spent all of twenty minutes with her, most of which you spent spewing awful things in relation to her!"
"Everything I said was true! Your association with her, the offspring of a blood traitor and a Mudblood, is threating the purity and ancientness of the Malfoy name and blood line!" Lucius' voice rose with each sentence.
"My 'association' is doing nothing to the Malfoy name!"
"It is doing everything! You are the sole Malfoy heir! If you pursue a relationship with this girl you will be throwing thousands of years of refined breeding away. Her blood is tainted! She shouldn't even be here, associating so closely with us! She is worthless and should be nowhere near this noble, pureblood family!"
Rose pulled away from the door, her entire body shaking. With each word Lucius spoke, each attack he performed against her, she felt the blood draining from her body. It was as if, with his words, Lucius had sliced into her. He used his words like a sectumsempra spell and left Rose weakened and bloody.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, and then took in her surroundings. Bad idea. The faces of those around her looked at her as if afraid the lightest breeze would shatter her. Instantly, she began to feel as if it would happen. She needed to get out of there. Away from people. Just away.
Rose stumbled down the halls of the Malfoy house, not entirely aware of where she was going. A few of the Slytherins, namely Albus, Mia, and Charlotte, tried to follow her. However, in an only half-conscious attempt to get away, she cast a boundary charm, halting the other's progress.
After what felt like hours, but was more likely only a few minutes, Rose found herself in front of her bedroom door. One word kept repeating over and over again in her head. 'Away.' In that moment, all Rose wanted was to get away.
She hurriedly opened the door and set to work. She headed straight for her bed and grabbed the trunk she'd stored beneath it. Then, she hauled it out and placed it on her bed. Afterwards, she flicked her wand and commanded her belongings to pack themselves. Drawers opened and neatly folded clothes shot out and placed themselves in her trunk. Next, her textbooks and parchment packed themselves.
A knock on the door broke her concentration, causing her toiletries to stop halfway to the luggage and fall to the ground. Slowly, Rose made her way to the door and opened it a crack to see who was there.
Standing in the warm glow of the hallway lights, holding a tray of steaming cups of delicious smelling peppermint tea was Astoria Malfoy. She smiled sweetly at Rose. That simple act cleared Rose's muddled mind slightly. 'Away' was no longer the sole thought in her head.
"Can I come in? I've found that there is almost no emotional problem that peppermint tea and a kind ear can't fix." To emphasize her point, Astoria lifted the tray slightly. Rose, still overwhelmed with emotions, simply stepped aside and opened the door wider.
Astoria walked in to the room and placed the tray on a small antique desk in the corner. Moments before, her textbooks had occupied the same area. Astoria then surveyed the room. Upon seeing Rose's half-packed suitcase she sighed slightly. Then she waved her wand and moved the trunk to the floor, sitting in the newly vacant spot.
Rose joined her taking the spot that Astoria had patted moments before. As soon as her butt touched the fabric, Astoria magically brought the tea over. The dark haired Malfoy took a sip, waiting for Rose to start. Rose said nothing, simply sat and drank. Astoria waited another few seconds, and then set her tea down.
"I understand you wanting to leave. These past few days have been quite disastrous. I'd really hoped that, at the very least, Lucius would keep his opinions to himself. I am truly sorry about that, especially this newest tirade." Rose was a little surprised that Astoria knew about it so quickly after the fact, but said nothing.
"I will not insist that you stay if you truly want to leave. I just hope you'll be willing to give us one last chance. I know we've probably used several and may not deserve such a change, but the rest of us have really enjoyed having you here and getting to know you a little better. You obviously mean a lot to Scorpius and, therefore, mean a lot to Draco and me.
"So I hope you'll stay. The annual Malfoy Christmas party is tomorrow, and Narcissa knows how to throw one truly amazing party. I am sure you'll enjoy yourself. But you don't have to decide right this minute. Take a few minutes; drink your tea and think it over. If you still want to leave, I'll be in the kitchen to help you to your grandparents. If not, I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow."
Astoria then stood, grabbed her tea, and left. Rose sat on her bed, sipping her tea. She digested all that Astoria had just said, rolled each word and phrase around in her mind. It took her half an hour to think over everything and then she made her decision.
She grabbed her wand and waved it in the air.
To be continued