Just as Lucius expected, the grandmas were overjoyed with the perspectives of having a grandchild for a few days to spoil. But then there came another thing that bothered Narcissa.
'What if Aquilla says that she lives with us? What if she says something about Azkaban?' she asked. Lucius hesitated and went to Aquilla's room. The girl was drawing something, like almost always. Lucius knelt next to her and looked at the drawing. It showed a sun showing all teeth in a wide grin and a few flowers.
'Hi, my smart girl' Lucius said. 'See, you're going to play a little game.'
'Game? Wi Auntie?' Aquilla smiled evilly. 'Like wen Auntie says Akila play game wi you?'
'What games Auntie told you to play with me?' Lucius frowned.
'Akila put youl wand in places' the girl said. Lucius sighed. So this is why I found my wand in the fridge, he thought.
'No, you're not going to play a game with auntie. You are going to play a game with grandma, and it will be a long, long game. Long and difficult. Do you want to play it?' he asked, and Aquilla nodded.
'Wat game?' she asked eagerly.
'This game is to pretend – act a lot. You will pretend for grandma that you are with mommy and daddy, and not with us. Do you understand?'
'Say glandma Akila is in Azkaban?' Aquilla frowned.
'No, not in Azkaban. You see, we – Auntie Cissa and I – are playing this game with Grandma Lestrange. We are pretending that mommy and daddy aren't in Azkaban. Grandma Lestrange doesn't know this, and we want it to stay this way. You are a smart girl, I'm sure you'll manage…'
'So, Akila no say glandma uncle Lucius leads fol Akila – Akila say glandma daddy leads?'
'Yes, yes, this is how this game works. But this is going to be a long game – a few days, you are going to stay only with grandma, not now yet, next week. Do you like the idea of this game?'
Aquilla nodded enthusiastically. Lucius patted her and went to join Narcissa.
'Cissy, I've just heard why I'd found my wand in the fridge last week' he said casually. Narcissa sighed.
'Have you also heard where your green cloak is?' she asked. Lucius frowned, puzzled.
'No… was it Aquilla too?' he asked.
'Yes, it's another game I played with her, but I told her to keep it secret. If Dobby didn't move it, it should be behind the bookshelves' Narcissa said, pointing at the shelves just opposite her. Lucius looked there and found his cloak.
'The next time I lose something, I'm asking Aquilla where she put it' he decided. 'But if she managed to keep it secret, I'm quite calm about the little game with Grandma Lestrange.'
'SANTA CAME!' the kids squealed, waking the adults. Narcissa smiled to herself. Of course, even the excitement of going somewhere without them – the whole "do you want to stay with grandma for a few days, like the big boys do sometimes?" thing worked really good on Draco – couldn't beat the heap of Christmas gifts. Of course, some of them were already opened, and when the kids climbed the adults' bed, they covered it with stains of chocolate. Narcissa couldn't help giggling, remembering absolutely spotless house of Andromeda the only time she visited her. It's better to have pure-blood and dirty kids than the contrary, she thought.
She went to check the unpacked gifts. She barely managed to avoid a real fight between the kids when Draco noticed that Aquilla got more than he did. She also wondered if it was a good idea to confiscate the gift labeled "Aquilla" with Andromeda's handwriting, but then she dropped this thought. Andromeda was too righteous to send something dangerous. Anyway, Aquilla didn't like the pictured book about bunnies that Andromeda got her, and she eagerly splashed red paint all over the bunnies.
'Blood!' the girl squealed and splashed some of the paint on Candy as well. Narcissa removed the "blood" from the cat's fur and faced Aquilla.
'Aquilla Bellatrix Lestrange, it's not good to paint animals with the same paint that you use on paper' she said. 'And you are not to harm Candy.'
Aquilla nodded and apologized, and then she unwrapped another gift – it was a set of toy swords and daggers, enough for two kids to play.
'You will share them with Draco if he wants' Narcissa said.
'Play wi Dlaco!' Aquilla squealed and poked her cousin with one sword.
When the gift excitement was over, all four had a very early Christmas dinner. Then they took bags for Draco and for Aquilla, a supply of Polyjuice Potion for Lucius and they left. First, they took Draco to Grandma Black, and then Lucius drank first portion of the potion and put charms on Narcissa and they went to Grandma Lestrange.
'Oh, my little sunshine!' Grandma Lestrange said, cuddling Aquilla. 'My sweetheart is going to stay with grandma? I'll have my sweetie just for myself for some time? My dumpling grew so big since the last time!'
Lucius cleared his throat.
'Mom' he said blankly. 'Aquilla didn't come here alone.'
Soon they were sitting at the table, Aquilla on Grandma Lestrange's lap, and having their second Christmas dinner.
'My sweetie, do you know that Santa made a mistake this year?' Grandma asked when the dinner was over.
'Why?' Aquilla asked.
'He forgot to bring you one of the gifts – but then he came to me, and asked me to keep it for you. Do you want to see it now?'
'Yes!' Aquilla clapped her hands. Grandma Lestrange called the house elf.
'Whiny, bring the present for Young Mistress' she ordered. Lucius winced.
'Didn't Santa leave something for me at yours as well?' he whined. Grandma Lestrange laughed.
'No, it seems you weren't nice enough' she said and then Whiny came with a big pack. Aquilla tore apart the wrappings. Narcissa cursed silently as she saw what it was.
It was a huge set of finger paints.
Grandma Lestrange is a mixture of my own grandmas. Yes, Santa's mistake also. Next chapter will be about Aquilla's stay at Grandma Lestrange's! Leave a review please, reviews are love.
