Author's Note: Here's the next chapter! I had this ready to post on Christmas, but what with my boyfriend proposing to me... i sort-of forgot to....
With that said i hope everyone enjoys this chapter.... if you have any questions, comments, or just wanna leave a good (or bad) review, you know which button to click on. :)
Enjoy the chapter.
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Chapter Thirty- Five: Chaos at the Cup
"Valora! Draco, Damien, come here for a moment!" Lucius' voice called out from the parlor. The siblings paused in their studies, each blonde hair popping up at the sound of their name before they stood as one and walked down the corridor to where their parents were waiting.
"Yes father?" Draco asked once he entered the room behind his brother and sister. Lucius gave each of them a kind smile before he motioned to the long velvet couch in front of them. "Please sit. Your mother has something she wishes to tell you." The siblings shared a look before they did as requested, walking around their father to sit side-by-side on the plush cushions.
Narcissa leaned forward in her armchair once they were seated, her gaze never wavering from their faces. "How would you three like to go to the Quidditch World Cup? It's being held this summer… Ireland verus Bulgaria. Are you interested?"
The response was instantaneous. Draco and Damien shouted 'Yes!' while Valora's face scrunched up. Narcissa noticed the change in her daughter and turned worried eyes to face her. "Is something wrong Valora? I thought you liked Quidditch…"
Valora shifted her emerald eyes over to her mother, a sigh escaping before she could help herself. "I do momma, it's just…. I have so much schoolwork to get done in three days… I'm certain I won't be able to come…"
Draco and Damien's faces grew upset… if Valora wasn't coming, then that would mean they would have to stay at home as well. "So much for that idea…" Damien whispered before looking down at his shoes.
Lucius glared at his son's downturned head. "Enough of that Damien. Don't you think Valora is upset about this as well?"
Damien lifted his head and gave his sister a startled, sheepish look. "Sorry 'lora."
As Valora nodded at her downcast brother Severus walked into the room. Immediately noticing something was off he raised an eyebrow at Lucius and Narcissa. "I take it the news didn't go well?"
Severus watched as the siblings turned to face him as Lucius' gaze grew calculating. "Severus, are you adverse to the idea of watching your goddaughter for a few days while we take the boys to the World Cup?"
Once more Draco and Damien's faces grew excited while Valora turned hopeful eyes up to her godfather. Severus sighed to himself. "Of course not. I'll gladly watch her while you four go to the Cup…I'm certain we can find something to do here." Once the words left his mouth Draco and Damien shouted and jumped from the couch to give him a double hug, effectively knocking the breath out of him.
Lucius and Narcissa shared a smile as they watched their children engage Severus in a conversation about Potions and curses… maybe it was a good thing their other godfather wasn't around. They didn't even seem to miss him and he might have become a bad influence on them. The room grew quiet as the siblings followed their godfather out of the parlor and back to their study session, the World Cup to be forgotten about until dinnertime.
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"Come along Damien… we don't want to be late." A familiar voice sounded from outside the entrance to his and Draco's shared room. Damien pulled his green scarf around his neck before he walked over to the door and opened it. On the other side stood his brother, dressed in similar black pants and gray shirt with a green scarf around his neck, and his best friend Hermione.
"All right, all right… I'm ready." Draco gave his brother a mocking glare, and everyone thought he was the vain one, before he pulled his hand slightly towards the tent's exit. "Mother and Father are waiting for us outside. Let's go already. I want to see Ireland crush Bulgaria."
Damien allowed his brother to practically drag him to the tent's flap while Hermione giggled behind them.
The Malfoy family had arrived at the World Cup site the night before with Hermione in tow, Damien claiming she had never been to a Quidditch cup before and since Valora couldn't come that there was an extra seat available for her. Lucius begrudgingly agreed, having to swallow several insults when he learned she was muggle-born, and allowed the young girl to accompany them.
Narcissa, despite her cold mask, immediately welcomed Hermione and helped her pick out an outfit to wear for the match; which is why Hermione was currently wearing a knee length brown skirt and a cranberry colored blouse, with the green of her scarf making her look slightly like a flower. Her hair was pulled back into, what she had called, a topsy-tail. Damien still didn't understand what that meant.
The trio reached Lucius and Narcissa in mere seconds and began walking towards where the Quidditch Pitch was set up, through a dense forest so the muggles that collected money wouldn't see it. They climbed up the reserved staircase for the Top Box and, when they reached the top, Damien distinctly heard his father and brother groan. His curiosity peaked; Damien peered around them and saw Ron and his entire family sitting in the seats next to the ledge.
Ron turned around upon hearing footsteps and his eyes betrayed his surprise at seeing the Malfoy's and Hermione enter the room. Though he tried to quickly hide the emotion, Draco saw it and glared.
As the family plus one edged along the second row to the five empty seats directly behind Mr. Weasley and his family a man at the end of their row spotted Lucius. "…ah, and here's Lucius!"
From his spot behind his father Damien rolled his eyes. How he had heard countless stories about the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, being a complete dunder-head.
"Ah, Fudge," Lucius said, holding his hand out as he reached the Minister for Magic. "How are you? I don't think you've met my wife, Narcissa? Or our sons, Draco and Damien?"
"How do you do, how do you do?" said Fudge, smiling and bowing to Narcissa. "And allow me to introduce you to Mr. Oblansk—Obalonsk—Mr.—well, he's the Bulgarian Minister for Magic, and he can't understand a word I'm saying anyway, so never mind. And let's see who else—you know Arthur Weasley, I daresay?"
It was a tense moment that followed. Mr. Weasley and Lucius looked at each other and Damien vividly remembered the last time his father dealt with the Weasleys. At least Valora wasn't here right now…
"Good lord, Arthur," he said softly. "What did you have to sell to get seats in the Top Box? Surely your house wouldn't have fetched this much?"
From beside him Draco snorted softly while Hermione looked uneasy. Damien just stood there, not missing the glare Ron was giving his father, and not really knowing what to do about it. He just hoped his father would cease the insults for the time being.
Fudge, who wasn't listening, said, "Lucius has just given a very generous contribution to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, Arthur. He's here as my guest."
"How—how nice," said Mr. Weasley, with a very strained smile. Lucius nodded sneeringly back as he continued down the line to their seats. Draco shot Ron a contemptuous look before he sat next to Lucius, Damien on his other side, with Hermione placed between their mother and her best friend.
The brothers and Hermione talked quietly as they waited for the game to begin. When it did a man Draco remembered as being one of his father's associates walked forward, " Ladies and gentlemen…welcome! Welcome to the final of the four hundred and twenty-second Quidditch World Cup!"
The spectators screamed and clapped. Thousands of flags waved, adding their discordant national anthems to the racket.
The insuring game lasted for an hour, with the Bulgaria mascots causing most of the male Weasleys to want to jump from the box, and their seeker Viktor Krum pulling a stunt so daring Damien promised himself that he was going to try it at his next Quidditch match against his brother when Krum caught the Snitch, sending the crowds into cheers.
The scoreboard across from them was flashing BULGARIA: 160, IRELAND: 170. Slowly, the rumbling from the Ireland supporters grew louder and louder and erupted into screams of delight.
"IRELAND WINS!" the man Draco remembered as being called Bagman shouted, who like the Irish, seemed to be taken aback by the sudden end of the match. "KRUM GETS THE SNITCH—BUT IRELAND WINS—good lord, I don't think any of us was expecting that!"
"What did he catch the snitch for?" Ron bellowed from in front of them, even as he jumped up and down, applauding with his hands over his head. "He ended it when Ireland were a hundred and sixty points ahead, the idiot!"
"He knew they were never going to catch up!" Damien shouted at his friend from over all the noise, also applauding loudly. Ron, startled, turned back to face his friend. "The Irish Chasers were too good…he wanted to end it on his terms, that's all…" Damien continued once he had his friend's attention. Understanding dawned on Ron's face before he turned back to cheer.
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"Everyone—everyone get up now!" Lucius' voice cut through the silence of their sophisticated tent. The door to the brother's room slammed open, "Get up! Draco—Damien—come on now, get up this instant!"
The brothers shot out of bed, their hair sticking up in various directions, before they turned to look at their father. "What's the matter?"
"The camp is under attack. I need you two, and Miss Granger to follow your mother back to where the portkeys are kept. I'm going to make sure nothing dangerous happens."
Without another word Lucius left their room. As Draco and Damien followed their father they could dimly hear that the noises in the campsite had changed. The singing had stopped. Damien could hear screams, and the sound of people running. As they reached the center of their tent Damien saw his mother and Hermione waiting on them, long robes pulled over their nightdresses.
"Follow your mother and don't get lost." Lucius said before he disappeared out of their tent, his long blonde hair hidden underneath his cloak's hood. Draco and Damien nodded before they stepped towards their mother and Hermione and waited for Narcissa to lead the way. Once she did, after giving the brothers a kiss on their foreheads, they were shocked at what they saw. By the light of the few fires that were still burning, Damien could see people running away into the woods, fleeing something that was moving across the field towards them, something that was emitting odd flashes of light and noises like gunfire.
Loud jeering, roars of laughter, and drunken yells were drifting toward them; then came a burst of strong green light, which illuminated the scene. From in front of him Damien heard his mother's intake of breath. A crowd of wizards, tightly packed and moving together with wands pointed straight upward, was marching slowly across the field. "What on earth…"Narcissa whispered before she turned and began leading them away from the incoming group, towards the woods.
The colored lanterns that had lit the path to the stadium had been extinguished. Dark figures were blundering through the trees; children were crying; anxious shouts and panicked voices were reverberating around them in the cold night air. Damien felt himself getting pushed by people whose faces he could not see. Then he heard Draco curse.
"What happened?" said Hermione anxiously, stopping so abruptly that Damien walked into her. "Draco, where are you? Oh this is stupid—lumos!" She illuminated her wand and directed it's narrow beam across the path. Draco stood in front of her, glare growing.
"Put that out!" The intensity in his voice caused the light to immediately fade from her wand tip. "We don't want them to find us!"
Damien, who had walked around Hermione stared at where is brother had been standing. "What's wrong Drake?"
Draco's head turned towards Damien's, "Mother's missing... I guess with all the people pushing around in here we got separated from her…"
Just as Damien cursed a voice sounded from behind them, "Damien, is that you?" Damien turned around and let out a surprised gasp upon seeing Ron standing behind him. "Damien, are you and Hermione okay?" Damien nodded but before he could speak Ron's gaze shifted over to Draco.
"What're you doing Malfoy? Did mommy and daddy tell you to hide while they tortured the muggles?" the venom leaked from Ron's mouth as he glared at the blue-gray eyed boy.
Anger flittered across Draco's face but, to everyone's surprise, Damien stepped forward. "Watch your mouth Ron or I'll let Draco do it for you."
Ron's gaze shifted to his friend and realization dawned on his face. While insulting Draco he had inadvertently insulted his best friend. "I didn't mean it Damien…I"
"Draconis! Damien! Where in Merlin's name are you? We have to leave, now!" The fourteen year olds heads snapped to the side to see Narcissa pushing her way through people and trees. "Come along. We have to leave!" Narcissa continued to say as she reached them and grabbed their arms. "Miss Granger, grab a hold." Hermione did as instructed and grabbed Narcissa's forearm tightly.
As Damien felt the world around him begin to spin, screams could be heard around the camp as the Dark Mark appeared in the sky, only a few feet from where they had just been standing. Ron looked at Damien one last time before the Malfoy's disappeared, the fear radiating off his face in waves.
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The family landed in their apparation room, the children almost falling to the floor at the sudden feeling of the hard surface underneath their feet. "Mistress Malfoy! Mistress Malfoy!" The squeaky voice of a house-elf assaulted their ears as they tried to regain their balance; Narcissa having already let go of their arms and started making her way towards the door, her robe billowing out behind her.
"Yes Wendy, what is it?" Narcissa asked as she grabbed onto the door handle and pulled it open roughly. "There is a visitor in the parlor… Tippy is with him now."
The innocent words caused Narcissa to stop and turn back to look at the kitchen elf. "What do you mean, 'A visitor'?" Wendy's ears flattened at the creeping anger in her master's voice, but her answer didn't waver. "Yes Mistress. There is being a visitor in the parlor with Tippy. The young Masters and Mistress' godfather allowed him entrance."
Upon hearing that Severus allowed the person inside their manor, Narcissa turned and quickly left the apparation room, leaving Draco, Damien, and Hermione standing in the stark white room alone.
As Narcissa raced up the staircase in front of her she wondered why on earth Severus would do something so stupid as to let a stranger in their manor when they were away… and with her daughter still inside. Her anger grew as she turned the corner and made her way to the parlor, footsteps sounding from behind her signally the children were finally following her.
With only a few feet to go Narcissa caught sight of blonde hair whipping around a corner in front of her. Her heart tightened as she called out, her fear from the Quidditch World Cup leaking into her voice. "Valora! Valora darling!" In an instant Valora's face peaked around the corner and dropped its cold mask, her features falling into tired lines and uncertainty.
"Mother!" Without another word Valora raced over to her mother and wrapped her arms around her. "Oh mother… Uncle Severus just heard about the attack at the Quidditch Cup… I was so scared…"
Narcissa brought her hands up to hold her daughter, her head lying on top of Valora's head comfortingly. "It's alright ma princesse, momma's here."
While Narcissa held her daughter in her arms, Draco, Damien, and Hermione edged around her and continued on to the parlor. As they turned and looked in the opened doorway the brothers stopped, their movements shutting down. "Mother, come here."
Draco's voice carried over to the occupied woman, who looked up sharply at the sound. Now, with worry clouding her mind once more, Narcissa let go of Valora and walked the rest of the way over to her sons; knowing she would never admit to the dread she was starting to feel develop within her.
She turned the corner and stared at the guest in disbelief. "Sirius, what are you doing here?" From beside their mother Draco and Damien gazed at their godfather distrustfully.
Standing in the middle of the parlor was thirty-one year old Sirius Black, his hair tangled and rain drenched. He looked at the fair-haired woman before him with no expression on his face. "Remus has been kidnapped. My house was ransacked and… his door was broken down." As the words left Sirius his tall stance began to deflate. "I'm scared whomever took him was sent there for me…"
Time stood still as the Black cousins gazed at one another before Narcissa turned to Tippy, who was standing at the base of Sirius' legs. "Go to Grimmauld Place with Mister Black and get all of his belongings that he wishes to keep."
Tippy nodded his head before he turned to grab Sirius' hand. "Comes Mister Black, we must be doing as Mistress says."
Sirius looked at the small elf hand that was being held up to him, but hesitated a moment, looking back up at Narcissa. "Why are you helping me?"
Narcissa's blue eyes narrowed on him. "Because whether or not I like the fact you are family, and a Malfoy never abandons family." With a subtle nod of her head Tippy grabbed Sirius' arm and disapparated with a soft crack, Sirius' surprised expression searing itself into her mind. Honestly, Narcissa thought before turning back to face the children, he came for help, so why was he surprised that he actually got it?
She gazed at her children for a moment before her eyes landed on Hermione. "Take Miss Granger to the Robin Guest Suite. She's been through enough this evening." Without another word Narcissa left the parlor, causing Damien, Draco, Hermione, and Valora to stare at her retreating form in confusion. Once it was clear that she wasn't returning Damien turned to Hermione "Well, we better do as she said. The guest suite is this way."
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Narcissa rushed through her manor, intent on getting to her husband's study before something else happened concerning her family. As she reached the door she slammed it open and ran inside, startling the two standing occupants who paused their conversation and turned at the sound of the opening door.
Lucius, who was brushing the soot off his robes looked at his wife bewildered. "Cissa?"
Narcissa gave her husband a cursory glance as she spoke six words before she fled from the room. "Sirius is moving back in, indefinitely."
Lucius looked at the closed door in shock while Severus reached out and took the deatheater mask from his clutched hand. "What was that about?" Lucius asked out of the side of his mouth as Severus placed the mask on the top of his desk.
Severus turned back to face his friend, "Black's house was searched and the wolf was forcibly taken from the residence. He's frightened, rightly so, that he was the intended target."
Lucius' eyebrows rose. No wonder Narcissa was so brisk. Not only had she almost lost her cousin, but the children had almost lost another loved one. "Let's go help him get settled back in then."
Severus didn't argue at the strange command, he just stared at his friend in silence as he was led out of Lucius' study and towards the second floor, where the mutt's room would permanently be. Oh how Severus hoped it was nowhere near his room.
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"So you're Valora?" Hermione's soft voice asked. From across from her Valora's head snapped up, her eyes landing on the bushy haired girl clad in her night-robe. Slowly Valora nodded her head, her eyes glancing over to her brothers before she returned her attention back to Hermione. "And your Hermione. Damien's told me all about you."
Hermione's cheeks reddened, but she didn't look away. Her reaction though caused a scowl to form on one of the brother's face. He stared at her discretely before looking back at the far wall, thankful that no one noticed his reaction.
"Really? Well I've heard several things about you too…" Hermione said, trailing off uncertainly at the look the small girl gave her brother. Valora gave Damien a glacier-melting glare before turning back to Hermione. "Like what? Might I ask?"
Hermione was extremely uncertain now. Was there something about this girl she wasn't suppose to know? Is that why she freaked out suddenly? "Well, I know that you're a sixth year at Beauxbatons despite being only thirteen… and that, well…. I kind of know about your…urgh…your birth parents…"
There, the bomb was dropped and now Hermione watched in fascination as Valora's face closed off. She turned her blonde head towards her brother, who was staring back at her with mixed emotions. "Why?" The one word slid out of her mouth like steel, wrapping around her tongue before spilling out. Damien continued to stare at her, the glare he was receiving cutting his heart and he showed no fear on his face, despite being terrified, only slightly mind you, of what his little sister was capable of.
"She found out when we were first years Valora. Our Transfiguration professor ratted me out in front of her so I decided I would explain… so you can stop glaring at me!" Damien said as his sister's glare grew more intense. Valora titled her head to the side in slight shock at being yelled at by her brother.
Upon seeing that things were about to get heated between the siblings Hermione spoke up, "Look, I'm sorry if I caused any problems… Valora, if you would like, I could get your parents to removed that particular memory from my mind."
The thirteen- year- old girl turned shocked eyes to the Gryffindor. "You don't have to do that Hermione…" Damien and Draco gazed at their friend in amazement. She was really willingly to be obliviated just so Valora wouldn't remain mad at them?
"But if me knowing is going to cause problems, then I don't need to remember…"
Valora stood from her seat next to Draco and walked over to the determined girl. "As long as you don't go telling people, then I don't see a problem with you knowing about mine and Damien's past."
Hermione smiled at the small girl. "Of course I won't go telling people." Valora looked at her for a moment before nodding. "Then that's settled. Damien, you can stop glaring at my back."
Damien's head ducked down as Valora looked at him from over her shoulder. "Sorry 'lora."
As the siblings and their guest continued their conversation Kara apparated into the suite, "Masters, Mistress and Miss Granger, a late dinner is being served in the dining hall in half-an-hour. You is needing to get freshened up." The siblings nodded their head before saying parting words with Hermione so they could get ready for their upcoming meal.
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"Well-known light wizard and Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor- missing."
The front page of the Evening Prophet was stretched out in front of Lucius, Severus, Narcissa and Sirius well after the children were in bed, the moving pictures showcasing the inside of Sirius' house and an old picture of Remus, his scarred face glancing around uncertainly.
"At approximately half-past midnight this morning, Professor and celebrated light wizard Remus John Lupin was reported missing from his residence, Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place by an anonymous source. (While it is a known fact that Mister Lupin is in fact a dark creature by creation, he is still a proclaimed light wizard and good friend of Mister Albus Dumbledore.)
Earlier yesterday night there was a confirmed Deatheater attack at the four hundred and twenty-second Quidditch World Cup, so this reporter has to wonder; Did the deatheaters become more daring as the night went on and kidnap this un-expecting wizard? With Mister Lupin being a light wizard and simultaneously a dark creature, it seems exactly like what they would do.
When more information surfaces about this crime, you can rest assured that this reporter will keep you posted on all of the facts. Hopefully, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement will find Mister Lupin and his assailant before it is too late.
Faithfully Reported by,
Amelia Greenwich."
Lucius slammed his fist on the tabletop; his anger reflected in the other's faces. "We did not kidnap that wolf!"
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"Sirius, I would like for you to join us…" Sirius looked up from his desk, his belonging scattered around his new room, to look at his door. Narcissa's head was halfway inside and she was giving him a curious look.
"Please cousin?" She asked upon seeing the look he gave her. Slowly Sirius let out a sigh before he stood and walked over to her. "Where are we going?" He asked as Narcissa led them not towards the staircase, but down the corridor to the rest of the guest suites. "To join Lucius and Severus… we think you might be able to help us find something…"
Narcissa didn't say another word until they had reached their destination: the library. She pushed the doors open and exposed Lucius and Severus sitting huddled together at one of the closer tables, books and pieces of parchment scattered around them.
"Have you found anything?" Lucius asked three hours later, his hair starting to look stringy and unkempt from his constant tugging at it. Sirius, who was up in the second floor of the library looked down over the railing and slowly nodded his head. "Yes…yes I think so…"
Narcissa, Lucius, and Severus rushed over to the staircase and climbed up to join the tired animagus. As they rushed over to him he held out a small, worn journal. "It's a diary…" Lucius reached him first and gently took the journal from his hands. The cover was cracked, red leather that held the Malfoy coat of arms on it. Lucius looked up, startled. "What is it Lucius? Whom did the diary belong to?" Narcissa asked, her hand coming to rest on his shoulder.
"My grandmother Freya… this was her diary…"
Now intrigued, everyone huddled together closer, so they could each get a good look at the mysterious book. "Open it to the bookmark…" Sirius mumbled and Lucius did as told. The diary opened with a split of the spine before falling effortlessly open to the desired pages.
The hand-written passage went on for pages and pages, each one detailing things Freya Mimir Malfoy shouldn't have known.
"While many won't believe a bit about what I am about to write, I simply have to shrug my shoulders and carry on. My purpose in life is to let her know everything. She simply doesn't know, which in all truth is not her fault. She's a seer, not a knower like her great grandmother…with that being written, I dedicate these next pages to my darling Valora Jaden… may the information I give to you clear your clouded sight.
'In the history of the Wizarding World there have only been three known Seers gifted with a sight known as 'Prophetic'. In general terms they are considered to have the Eyes of a Prophet.
The first and true being gifted with the Eyes of a Prophet was Queen Maeve, an evil witch that lived and thrived terrorizing muggles before the time of Merlin. Upon her death the sight passed to another, who many believed to have been Morgan le Fay, but this has never been proven.
The last known Seer gifted with the Eyes of a Prophet was the founder of the Palace of Beauxbatons. The only name on record is his last name, Aesalon. It is unlikely though that this is the same man who was the first animagus recorded from Ancient Greece, Falco Aesalon. He is most likely his descendent.
Eyes of the Prophet are hard to acquire, considering one must already be a seer to develop this rare and powerful gift. In addition to already possessing the sight, one must have faced a terrible, irreversible tragedy in their lives on more than one occasion.
While it is extremely difficult to develop Eyes of a Prophet it is simple to distinguish a Seer with the gift. When the Seer goes into their trance, their eyes, no matter if they are open or closed, will turn milky white. The reason why this effect occurs is still unknown, but many believe it is caused by the Hue and Iris completely disappearing from the pupils.
Eyes of the Prophet will remain with a seer until their death. There is no cure. No potions will help ease the pain the visions bring. It is not a curse, but a gift so pure that only select few will ever have the chance to experience all it can bring.'
With that said my dear, innocent Valora, I leave you until next time. Please understand and accept your gift, for if you don't… tragedy will strike you once again."
As Lucius finished reading the passage he looked up into the startled eyes of his wife.
"Mother? Father? Are you in here?" the adults swung their heads around, surprise written on all of their faces as Narcissa walked over to the railing. Standing down at the door was Valora, her blue gown blood soaked at the ends.
"Mother? What's happening?" Valora asked once more before she fell onto the floor, her eyes clouding white as blood trailed down her legs.
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Author's Note: Well that's the end of that chapter.... please please please leave a review and let me know how the story's going. Do you understand it still? Is it enjoyable to read? Anything u want to tell me about, feel free to leave a nice review!!!!! Lots of love~ HermyDraco11243~