Chapter 38

By Friday Lucius had been able to convince anyone who didn't already know what had happened to Jezzy that she had gone away to visit family in Wales. Maria and Martina knew better. Lucius was lethargic and withdrawn, something he had never been, or at least never let anyone else see. Martina and Maria both had decided it was best to move the families in for the remainder of the Holidays. That way Jezzy's absence might be less apparent.

Martina, Kayleigh, Scorpius and Draco arrived early Friday morning. Draco met his father in the Study. Lucius was sitting behind his desk, as per usual, shuffling through papers. Draco took a seat in front of him and linked his fingers over his chest, waiting for him to finish. He didn't have to wait long. Lucius cleared his throat and looked up at him, dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep.

"You need to sleep, father."

Lucius gave him a wan smile. "My wife is gone. I'll sleep when Xanthus finishes his job and she comes back."

"She's in the care of the Dark Lord, and he favors her. Do you really think he would do something to hurt her?"

Lucius shrugged. "The Dark Lord does as he pleases, regardless of what others may think of him." He paused and stood to pace. "You have noticed, no doubt, that he has become increasingly impatient of late."

Draco nodded. "I assumed it had something to do with the Ministry fiasco."

"Yes, well, the Order is getting in the way more and more now that people are starting to realize something is up. Not that they haven't been in the way since the word 'go', but this time they are giving us even more trouble. Yaxley was nearly captured the last time he went on a mission, and the break out of Azkaban isn't going as planned. He wants his Death Eaters back."

"He sure is taking his time about it though. I mean he's been back what, seven years? Why is he taking so long to move?"

"He has made mistakes by moving too fast before. I believe he is trying to be more cautious." Lucius rubbed his chin. "But he is becoming increasingly obsessed with Harry Potter."

"Potter was a prat in school."

"Yes, well he is now the unspoken leader of the Order and doing quite well, especially with his Auror training."

"Well, at least he won't be in the way of Xanthus at school."

Lucius nodded and paced back to the window.

"Do you think he can do it?" Draco asked quietly.

"He can, if he enlists the right help."

Draco frowned. "What do you mean?"

Lucius turned away from the window and looked directly into his son's eyes.

"He can't do it on his own. He will need help. I just hope he asks the right person."

"Just go tell her to meet me in my room."

Dru looked at her brother and shook her head. "I sure am doing a lot for you lately. How do you plan on making this up to me?"

"Just do it and I won't tell father that you and Reign are having sex right under his nose."

Dru glared at him. "Xanthus Hunter Malfoy, don't you threaten me."

Xanthus smiled. "I'm sorry, but I can't go in there and be like, "Hi Ness, sorry I've been ignoring you, but would you like to hang out with me?" It would sound stupid."

"Yeah, it would."

It had taken some time, but she had finally convinced Xanthus to speak with Ness. She thought it would be a good idea if he had other support than her during this time.

"Fine, go to your room and I'll send her in there."

Xanthus kissed her cheek and smiled before taking off to his room. Dru rolled her eyes and opened the door to the game room. She stopped and gawked at what she saw. Vinny was pressed close against Sidra, and they were kissing. Dru's eyes grew large when she watched her best friend's tongue slide into her sister's mouth. She closed the door behind her and stood with her back to it, facing the other side of the hallway, her hand still on the knob.

Footsteps and voices gradually grew near and she began to panic. She couldn't let everyone just walk in on that. She wished she hadn't! Sebastian saw her first and frowned at her.

"Why are you standing there like that?"

"Uh, no reason."

"So get out of the way."

Dru shook her head.

"Dru, please. You're being weird." Lith commented, trying to pry Dru's hand off the handle.

"No you can't go in there!"

"Why not?" Reign asked, a hint of a smile on his lips.

"You just can't." She said in a firm tone.

"Oh, just get out of the way!" Sebastian exclaimed, pushing her away from the door.

Dru righted herself quickly and shouted. "Alright maybe we should go in the game room."

She pretended to fall into the door, making as much noise as possible to warn Vinny and Sidra that they were coming in. When the door opened they were sitting at the table, looking as if nothing had happened. Dru stood up straight and blushed when her sister turned to her.

"What was all the noise about?" She asked as if nothing had happened between her and Vinny.

Dru blushed again and looked at the ground. Vinny tried to hide his blush by looking at the floor also. Lith took her seat on the couch and grabbed the book she had been reading all week. This was the last night they were going to be together until after Christmas and the air was thick with unspoken things. Lith and Sebastian had been avoiding each other ever since she had gone outside to watch him fly. She hadn't spoken to Dru much since that time, but Dru had a feeling something was up.

Ness of course had been very quiet, starring off into space most of the day. Sidra and Vinny had, apparently, worked out some of their differences enough to snog in the middle of the game room. Reign was being quiet today, unusually so.

Suddenly Dru remembered that she was supposed to be doing something and sat down next to Ness by the window.

"I think you should go see Xan in his room." She whispered in Ness' ear.

She turned to Dru, her expression blank. "Huh?"

Dru smiled. "Xanthus wants to talk to you in his room."

Ness' eyes brightened and she tried not to jump up and run out of the room. She didn't even care if he was going to yell at her, at least he was going to talk to her. She walked slowly out of the room and down the hall to his door. She knocked quietly and waited patiently for him to answer.

Martina was outside bundled against the cold as she watched the children play in the snow. Scorpius and Cam were having a snow ball fight and Rhia was teaching Kayleigh how to make a snow angel. She jumped when a pair of arms encircled her. He kissed her cheek and leaned his chin on the top of her head.

"It's cold outside." Draco commented.

"No shit Sherlock."

Draco chuckled. "Why don't we get them inside and warm up a bit. It's about lunch time and Kayleigh needs a nap."

Martina turned in his arms and kissed him. "Are we going to take a nap too?"

Draco smirked. "That, my love, will have to wait until after dinner. I have a ton of things to do."

Martina pouted and he kissed her again. Draco called to the children and ushered them out of the cold, his thoughts now on his lovely wife and how warm they were going to get tonight.

Xanthus pointed his wand at the door and opened it for Ness. She stepped inside cautiously and shut it behind her. She stood nervously in the doorway watching Xanthus stare out the window. His bedroom faced the back of the house and he watched his brother and sister in law move the younger children inside out of the cold.

"You… you wanted to see me?" Ness prompted.

"Yes. I did." He motioned for her to sit on the couch near the fire and sat next to her.

They were silent a moment before he spoke again. He wasn't even sure how to start a conversation with her any more.

"So…." He sighed. He had been about to ask her how she had been, but he already knew the answer to that.

Miserable.

"I'm sorry I haven't been much of a fiancée."

Ness looked at the floor, tears welling in her eyes already.

"I've… well things have become clearer to me over this past week. I would like it if we could, maybe, start over."

Ness looked up at him, her tears spilling over her lashes and down her cheeks.

"I'd like that."

Xanthus smiled at her and brushed the tears off her cheeks with his fingertips. Ness closed her eyes and tried not to break down at his touch. He leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. Ness sighed and pressed her lips closer to his. He pulled away from her and drew her in for a big hug. She wrapped her arms around him and sighed again. It felt good to be close to him again.