Milly stepped away from her Uncle. "I'm going to go and see my family and friends" she stated, her eyes daring him to forbid it.
Lucius simply shrugged. "Go. See ffor yourself. I'll wait here" he replied.
Milly walked up the garden path to Remus Lupin's house. Hesitantly, she knocked on the door. Her godfather opened it, looking wary. "What are you doing here Black?" he asked briskly. "I told you, when your father betrayed us and got sent to Azkaban that I never wanted to lay eyes on you again"
"Uncle Remus?" Milly asked in confusion.
Remus scowled. "Trot off home to Malfoy Manor" he snapped. "And never call me that again!" With that, he turned and went back into the house, muttering about the impudence of some people.
Disheartened, Milly hopped over the wall and knocked on Jessica's door. To her surprise, it was opened by Ryan and Robbie, who appeared to be on their way out. They didn't greet her in any way, however Ryan called over his shoulder "Jess! It's for you" before he and his twin scooted around her and walked down the garden path, snippets of their Quidditch discussion floating back towards Milly.
Jessica appeared at the front door with Fred, George, Lee, Angelina and Katie Bell just a few steps behind her.
Milly could scarcely believe her eyes; just last week, she, Jessica and Angelina had been talking about Katie, saying how much they disliked her!
"What are you doing here?" Jessica asked in an unfriendly tone.
"I wondered if you lot wanted to hang out some time" Milly said hopefully.
George scoffed. "With you? You must be joking!" he looked torn between disgust and amusement.
Milly tried to hold back her hurt at George's rejection, but a look of sadness flickered across her face. Katie spotted it.
"What's wrong Black? Got a crush on my boyfriend?" she asked spitefully.
Milly's stomach flipped. Her boyfriend? George?
George smirked at Katie, the girl he had always detested. "I'll only ever have eyes for you, Princess" he promised, shooting Milly a look of pure disgust.
Milly's stomach churned. "Whatever" she muttered, hastily walking away, ignoring the jeers and cackles from her old friends.
She turned the corner and found Lucius waiting, casually leaning against the wall like a professional model in a robes commercial.
Her stomach was hurtling around like a Catherine Wheel and her head began to throb. She felt her legs buckle beneath her and she crumpled. Just before she hit the ground, he Uncle caught her, scooping her up easily as he apparated them back to Malfoy Manor.
He carried his niece up to her room, calling to his wife as he passed the drawing room.
"Milly? Milly, can you hear me?"
Milly was vaguely aware of concerned voices speaking to her but the darkness was closing in on her and she drifted out of consciousness.