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Chapter 12
Charlus Potter, and Abraxus Malfoy were staring out the window, watching Lucius help Carina on to a children's broom. She was trying to sit on it side-saddle, much to Lucius' dismay. Charlus snorted. "Carina had a vision a few weeks ago. She and Lucius were married, with twin sons." He said, looking at Abraxus pointedly.
Abraxus raised an eyebrow. "Really? There hasn't been a set of Malfoy twins in two hundred years." He said, watching bemused as Lucius showed her how to grip the broom handle.
"Yes. Altair and Draco, she said. The Black naming customs seem to carry over, which had to be Carina. You name after Emperors, or some such, correct?" Charlus asked.
"Yes. He must love her very much, to let her name his Heir." Abraxus said. He contemplated for a moment, then decided to broach the subject with Charlus. "This situation with the Dark Lord, and Prewitt dying, has me concerned for the future. I want to secure our bloodline and legacy as securely as possible. Would you be ammenable to a Marriage Contract between our houses? The House of Malfoy is not as old as the Potter name, however we hold much influence. Our House is also the richest, next to the Blacks. It would be a fine match." Abraxus said.
Charlus hummed, thinking about the current situation. Whatever was going on with Dumbledore was almost more concerning than this so called Dark Lord - to him at least. He wouldn't put it past Albus to try to take control of Carina and James, if something were to happen to the adult Potters. He would do almost anything to prevent that.
"If I had a galleon for every Marriage Contract request I have received, I would be as rich as you, I think." Charlus said, wryly. "I had wanted to wait until she was Hogwarts age to think about it, but I am also concerned about the current situation." Charlus said.
Abraxus huffed. "Who else are you giving serious consideration to? If Carina has already seen them together and happy, isn't it inevitable?" He asked.
"Kiefer Shacklebolt has expressed an interest for his son Kingsley. His cousin, Omar Shafiq, has put out feelers as well. His nephew Ameer is a few years older than Carina. There have been others as well, but we are hoping to unite with a family we have not joined for generations, to diversify the blood. You are also on that list, as there has not been a Malfoy-Potter union in a very long time. I think one married a Peverall, sometime in the Sixteenth Century, but that is all." Charlus said. "I have agreed to a meeting between the Shacklebolt's, Shafiq's and ourselves in two weeks. You are welcome to join us. The future changes all the time, with every decision made. I will finalize a Marriage Contract for Carina sometime this year." He said, closing the subject.
Abraxus sighed. "My wife would also like us to consider the daughters of Cygnus Black. She adores Carina, but she does not want us to put all of our hopes into one girl, before a contract is made."
"I believe Bellatrix, the eldest, is being considered for the Lestrange's. Andromeda is a sweet child, but already seeking to buck authority. Your best option there, may be Narcissa. She is two years younger than Lucius and Carina." Charlus said, musingly. "However, I believe we could come to an agreement. If you are willing to be flexible."
"Flexible, how?" Abraxus asked. He settled down in his arm chair, expecting a long discussion.
"Good job, Carina! You fly like a bird!" Lucius said, excitedly. "You could be on the quidditch team at Hogwarts. We could play together, if you are a Slytherin." He said.
Carina's face fell, she knew that would not happen. "I am not allowed to play organized quidditch. It is not 'suitable for a Lady'." She said, sadly.
Lucius looked indignant. "That is not fair! If you can do it as well as a boy, you should be allowed to do it." He said, stomping his foot.
Carina smiled brilliantly at him. "I agree. But the outfit's are not proper, and I could hurt myself. That is what my Mother says, anyway. I can only play in private." She said, giving him a sad smile.
Lucius pursed his lips, thinking hard. "Well! You will just have to marry me, and I'll let you do whatever you fancy." He said, proud of his solution.
Carina smiled sweetly at him. "Oh, Lucius! Our Father's will decide who we marry. At least mine will. Maybe if we tell them we want to marry each other, they will let us." She said unsurely. They had hopped off of the brooms by this point, and were sitting on the veranda in front of Abraxus' study. Lucius' Mother was sitting a few feet away, chaperoning. She thought their conversation was cute, if a little sad.
They sat quietly for a moment, drinking some lemonade that an elf had brought them. Carina nibbled on a small cake, giving Lucius an idea. He moved his chair closer to Carina, watching his Mother from the corner of his eye. She pretended to be absorbed in her book. "Father told me I could never take a Maiden's first kiss, unless we were engaged." He whispered to Carina. "If we kiss, they have to let us marry." Lucius said, with all the logic and seriousness a five year old can have.
Carina startled slightly. "Won't we get in trouble?" She asked, biting her lip. "I am not sure what a maiden is, Lucius. How do we know if I am one?"
Lucius nodded, trying to seem wise. "Oh, you are. It is a Pureblood girl, that is unmarried." He said gravely. Lucius really liked Carina. She was nice, and wasn't a crybaby like Primrose Parkinson. And she did not try to make him play 'tea parties' like Mallory Abbott. He did not want to be stuck with a ninny his entire life. Marriage was forever, and it was best to find someone you got along with, according to his Father.
Belladonna Malfoy was bemused by this entire conversation she was hearing, maybe it was time to intervene? She looked up, just in time to see Lucius grab Carina's cheeks, and smash their lips together.
A bright light flashed, causing her to shut her eyes quickly. As she reopened them, she saw Lucius and Carina, floating three feet in the air, and surrounded by a Golden Aura. Her jaw dropped, and she screamed.
Charlus and Abraxus had come running. They had seen a flash of light, and ran outside to see what was happening. They heard Belladonna scream, and arrived just in time to see the children settle, unconscious, on the brick veranda.
"What happened?" They each yelled at an astonished Lady Malfoy.
"Lucius kissed Carina. They are Soul Bound." Belladonna said breathlessly.
Charlus looked at his unconscious daughter, his little girl, and promptly fainted.
Abraxus looked at the mess around him, and sighed heartily. He should be used to outrageous situations. Being friends with a Potter, it was bound to happen. He looked up to the Heavens, looking for strength. "Floo Healer Abbott, Bella. We need to check the children." He said. As she ran off to do that, Abraxus enervated Charlus. He came awake with a gasp, then rushed over to the children.
"I guess that Marriage Contract is redundant at this point, Abraxus. I will be talking to your Heir about his ungentlemanly behavior, later." He said, a distinct chill in his voice.
"Of course, Charlus. I exspected nothing less." Abraxus said. If Charlus was anything, he was an overprotective Father.
