A/N: A new chappie dear readers - enjoy!

14. Reunited

Seamus felt tears sting his own eyes as he saw Danny embrace Lucretia, it took him a moment to realise that there was someone else present. He pointed his wand at the boy, he was thick-set and dark haired, he could only be Marcus Flint's son; "don't move", he snarled, "what did you do to her?" he demanded. He had heard from Ron what Flint had said about his son 'having fun' with Lucretia. "Nothing", the boy said, his hands raised in a pose of surrender, his wand at his feet. "Don't lie to me, if you've touched one hair on her head". Will shook his head but it was Lucretia who spoke. "No!" she exclaimed, pushing away from Danny and grabbing Seamus' wand hand, "please he didn't do anything to me! He helped me, he just pretended to … to hurt me so his father wouldn't! Please, he helped me escape!" Seamus lowered his wand and Lucretia let go of his arm. "OK, well we need a rescue team here, you'll both need to go so St. Mungo's", said Seamus raising his wand and sending up green sparks. Lucretia turned back to Danny and clutched him tightly. The four of them waited. They didn't need to wait long, there were faint popping noises as people apparated around them. "Lucie!" the cry was echoed on all sides but the voices she registered most prominently were her parents, she tore herself away from Danny's embrace and stumbled towards them. She fell into her mother's arms, she recognised her warm, comforting scent, unable to focus on her as she was blinded by tears again, she heard her Uncle Ron talking to Will, she wanted to tell him that he'd done nothing wrong but Seamus was explaining. She felt the cool embrace of her father envelope both her and her mother; "I love you Lucie", he choked, his voice full of emotion, "I will never let anyone or anything hurt you again."

Lucretia awoke later in St. Mungo's her parents either side of her bed, she blinked and saw them smiling at her, she smiled back. "How long was I asleep?" she asked, her voice still slightly groggy. "About ten hours", Ginny said. "Wow , really? And you guys have been here the whole time?" she asked, looking between her parents, they both looked like they needed a decent nights sleep. "Yes, of course, we didn't want to leave you", said Draco as Ginny squeezed her hand. "I'm safe now you know, you don't have to watch over me, you both look like you could use some sleep", she said pointedly, "I'm sure you could get someone else to baby sit me". Ginny laughed and even Draco managed a smile, "we'll all go home together", he said, "the healers said you can leave later today". Lucretia smiled at this piece of news, then frowned as she remembered; "where's Will?" she asked, almost fearfully. "He's been released already, he's with the Auror's", said Ginny quietly. "What? Why? I already told Seamus, he didn't do anything to me, he saved me!" Lucretia exclaimed trying to get out of bed, Draco restrained her gently pushing her back down. "It's just routine Lucie", he soothed, "besides both his parents have been arrested, he can't go home". Lucretia stopped struggling but looked sceptical; "what's going to happen to him?" she asked, she saw her parents exchange a glance. "We don't know", Ginny admitted, squeezing her hand again. Lucretia sighed; "is Danny here?" she asked finally. "Yes", said Ginny, sounding relieved that she had dropped the 'Will' subject. "Can I see him?" she asked. "Of course you can, we'll send him in. Draco … let's go and get some coffee", said Ginny, Draco hesitated but made to follow his wife; "we'll be back soon Lucie", he said.

Danny walked in moments later and Lucretia beamed at him, he beamed back and hurried to her side gathering her up into a gentle yet tight embrace. She held him close to her, inhaling his familiar scent, she had missed him more than she thought possible. "I though I was going to lose you Lucie", he breathed against her neck. She released him and cupped his face in her hands looking him right in the eye; "never", she said firmly, before pressing her lips to his. He pulled away from her after what seemed like a lifetime and scooted onto the bed, facing her. She took his hands in hers and smiled. "Are you sure you're OK?", he asked after a minute.

"Yes, I'm fine, I wish people would stop asking me"

"I'm sorry"

"It's OK, I just want to forget what happened"

"I know, do you know when you're coming home?"

"Today dad said"

"Oh good, just in time"

"For what?"

"For Christmas of course!"

"Already?"

"It's Christmas Eve today Luce"

"Are you kidding? Wow … I've missed so much"

"Are you OK?" he asked again as her face fell.

"I was just thinking about Will"

"What about him?"

"What's he going to do for Christmas?"

"Seamus said he'll be staying with his aunt and uncle for now"

"That's OK then, I hate to think of him alone"

"What … what happened Lucie?" he asked quietly. She didn't need to ask what he meant.

"They didn't touch me", she said, "thanks to Will, I thought they were going to - to hurt me and then I thought that - well I thought that Will was going to hurt me - he - well he -"

"He what Luce?" he whispered, scared of what he might hear.

"He was a bit rough - he had to be to convince them - but well, he kissed me"

"What?" Danny's eyebrows shot up and he looked furious.

"No!" Lucretia pleaded grabbing his hands more tightly, "he did it to protect me! He had to make his father think he was going to hurt me but as soon as his father left him to it he stopped! He got water for me and untied me and then later on he risked his own life to help me escape! I owe him my life Danny, he saved me"

"I'm sorry", said Danny, "I just don't like the thought of anyone else near you"

"I know", she said, "I'm sorry too, you were all I could think about"

"You don't have to apologise, none of this is your fault"

"I thought I'd never see you again"

"Ssh, we're here now that's all that matters", he said, pulling her into his arms again as tears started falling down her cheeks again, "I love you Lucie", he whispered. Her breath hitched in her throat at his words; "I love you too", she answered, clutching him tighter.

Lucretia was discharged from hospital a few hours later, she was flanked by her parents and followed by Danny as they left the hospital. There were several reporters outside but Draco kept them at bay with his steely stare, they were in the car within seconds. It had been decided that, under the circumstances, the whole family would be spending Christmas at Malfoy Manor as it was the only place big enough to accommodate them all. Danny's family would also be joining them. As they pulled up to the Manor Lucretia grinned as she saw her brothers and her sister running down the front steps towards the car, she jumped out immediately ignoring Draco's protests that she was over exerting herself and ran to greet them, they caught her in a tight embrace and the four of them were soon sobbing uncontrollably. The tears did not subside as Lucretia was reunited with her whole family, her Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and cousins all took turns in welcoming her home. By the time everyone had their emotions under control it was time for dinner which was always a chaotic experience when everyone had got together. Lucius proposed a toast at the end of the meal; "to everyone who helped bring my beautiful Granddaughter home safely, and of course, to Lucie!". "To Lucie!", everyone echoed beaming widely at her.

After dinner the cousins set up camp in the old ballroom as the adults retired to the sitting room, Danny had been coerced into doing a jigsaw with the twins and Alfie although he would have much rather spent this time with Lucretia. However she was surrounded my Amelia, Roxanne and Victoire who were catching her up to speed with the latest gossip. "Gotcha!" Victoire's account of Kara Bones huge falling out with Stacey Turner was interrupted by a triumphant sound from Fred, who had seemingly just beaten Octavia at wizard's chess. "You know I think I might go and get myself a drink", said Amelia, rising from the beanbag she was sat on and drifting from the room. "You were saying?" said Lucretia, turning back to Victoire. "You know, I've completely lost my train of thought", she said, "I think I might get a drink too, do you girls want anything?" she asked as she rose gracefully from her own beanbag. "Oh, please", said Roxanne. "Do you want a hand?" asked Lucretia, preparing to get up. "No, no, it's fine, I'm sure you want to hear all about Roxanne's latest date with James".

Victoire hurried down the hallway and into the kitchen where she found Amelia pouring herself a glass of juice, she closed the door carefully behind her. "We need to talk", she said. Amelia jumped, and turned to face her; "about what?" she asked.

"What do you mean about what? About what you told me the other week!"

"I don't want -"

"Tough, I let it go when Lucie was missing, but she's back now, we need to deal with this!"

"How?"

"I got you a test"

"What?"

"Yeah, I had to do some nifty transfiguration while I was in Hogsmede last so no one would recognise me when I bought it"

"You didn't have to do that"

"Yes I did, if it was left to you you would have just swept it under the carpet and convinced yourself nothing was happening when you started to gain weight"

Amelia flinched. Victoire felt a stab of guilt but disregarded it, the girl needed a wake up call.

"You're doing this test Milly"

"Not today Vicky, please, it's Christmas!"

"It's today or tomorrow Milly, you can't put this off forever!"

"I know, I know … OK, tomorrow"

"What?"

"I need time to get my head around this and it will be easier to slip away tomorrow with everyone opening their presents and stuff …" she tailed off.

"OK fine, but no backing out, you will do it tomorrow, or I'll have to tell someone"

"No, Vicky, please!"

"I won't. So long as you do the test."

When Victoire and Amelia returned they found Narcissa telling everyone it was time for bed; "come on everyone", she said kindly, "up to bed now, you all need your rest, you've got a busy day tomorrow". Victoire and Amelia shared a look, she wasn't wrong.