Chapter 9

"Mum?" came Marie's voice.

"Hi Marie," I called out. She wandered into the kitchen, dropped her bag at the breakfast bar, and took a seat.

"Is Not Dad in the lab?"

"No dear, he headed over to pick up Eva and Wyatt."

"Oh hi, Mr. Malfoy," she greeted Lucius.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"I have my chemistry midterm tomorrow, and I'm having some issues. I was hoping he could help me out," she explained.

"I'm sorry."

She shrugged. "He just explains it all in a way that my brain understands."

"You know he would tell you you should have asked for help sooner. Have you eaten?"

"Naw, I'm going to have pizza tonight."

"Your parents are going to be home tonight?"

"They're never home. You know that," she said, grinning.

I walked to the fridge and pulled out the leftovers from the night before. "Mr. Malfoy and I are going out tonight. This is better for you."

She peeked in the dish. "Mum, your chipotle pasta! I love you!" She came over and hugged me.

As we drove to dinner, Lucius asked, "Is driving difficult?"

"Not really. The biggest issue is either the other drivers or the road conditions. You just have to be aware of everyone else. It's not that different than flying on a pitch during a game."

"So this place we are dining at; tell me about it."

"Well, this is beef country, and oil and cattle are big business. We're going to a steakhouse. It's quite casual and friendly with lots of young female staff wearing short black dresses. I think you'll like it."

"I doubt that they will compare to you," he replied.

I felt my cheeks go slightly red. For the first time, I questioned the logic to Lucius being alone with me in the house overnight. I didn't think he would focus himself on me, but he might try to seduce me, which wouldn't be good. I toyed with the idea of having Marie come and spend the night as a buffer, but at this point, it was one compliment. I'll leave it for tonight.

When we arrived, the manners Lucius was raised with took over and he was out of the car before me and offering me an arm. As we entered, I'm correct about the number of attractive young women. Lucius paid them no mind.

Once we were seated, for a moment it reminded me of years before when we were together, until Lucius got my attention from behind my menu. "Ginevra, I must admit I have no knowledge of Muggle wines. What do you suggest?"

I lowered my tall menu and smiled at him. "Are you going to have beef or something else?"

"I think I should have a steak in a steakhouse."

"Well, I will disappoint you with what I drink, but this place is known for serving great wines, no matter what. Try the Canadian Merlot," I suggested. "We once visited the winery that makes it while on holiday. It's amazing!"

"What are you having?" he asked.

"I'm going to have the Moscato. There's only one place in town that sells it, besides this place." Lucius read the menu a bit longer. I watched him with interest over dinner. He was observing the Muggles. A couple of tables over, there was a guy being a jerk to the server that was also serving us. Lucius did take note of that, and he didn't like how the man was treating the young girl.

"Is that normal?" he muttered to me.

"No! He's an ass, and a jerk."

"Why did you make me leave my wand?" he hissed at me.

I smiled at him, because he wanted to curse a Muggle due to their treatment of another Muggle. "So Lucius, you haven't said what you have been doing these last number of years."

His attention returned to me. "Most of the time, I spent regretting letting you leave." I know Lucius; after all, his crime against me was one of his worst, really. I can read him nearly as well as Severus. Lucius is being mostly truthful.

"We were, and are, both stubborn. That was never a secret," I admitted.

In a rare moment of vulnerability, he asked, "The day you left, I asked you to stay. Would it have changed things?"

"I think it might have, depending on the words you would have used," I confessed. "But you didn't, and..."

"Severus swept in and stole the possibility," he finished.

"Lucius, please. Severus is my husband. You need to respect that."

He smirked. "I forget myself in the company of such a beauty."

The server comes by to offer us more wine. "No thank you, I have to drive. But I would enjoy more water," I replied.

"Of course."

"Do you sell unopened bottles of wine?" Lucius asked.

"Of course we do." She smiled at Lucius.

"Please include a bottle of the wine the lady had for us to take with us."

After she left, he looked at me intently. "I never brought Canadian Muggle money, but I have pounds. I assume that you know where I could exchange them tomorrow?"

I realised this is his old school manners again. "Lucius, I assure you Severus and I are very comfortable. I can afford to pay for dinner. You don't need to repay me."

"But I will, and because you know me, you will allow it. That wasn't why I mentioned it, though. I need you to teach me this money system and how it compares to…" he glanced around, "what I'm used to using. I foresee a shopping trip with Evangelina."

I smiled. "The money isn't that hard, but of course I'll show you. I expect Severus and the kids by noon, unless business causes a delay."

He reached over and squeezed my hand. "Thank you." He didn't let go, I finally had to pull my hand from his.

On the drive home, I feel like I'm under a microscope.

We were sitting at the dining room table enjoying the bottle of wine that Lucius brought home from the restaurant when my phone rang. It was Marie. "Mum?" she sounded scared, so I put her on speaker.

"Marie? What's wrong?" I asked.

"Someone is trying to get in, break in! They know I'm alone!"

I knew that we're far enough out that the police can take a long time to get to even an emergency call. I looked at Lucius, "I can count on you to have my back, right?" He looked a bit puzzled, but nodded. "Marie, Lucius and I are coming for you. Hang up, go to your room, lock the door, call 911 and tell them we are coming to hopefully scare whoever it is off! Only open your door to me." I then covered the phone so Marie couldn't hear me. "Lucius, don't use your wand, but bring it, in case. We most likely will scare them off just by being there."

We drove over to Marie's and I parked in the driveway. I pointed out a van that didn't belong to anyone in the area. "I have a key," I said as we got out of the car. I could tell Lucius was on high alert, like me. As I opened the door, I reached to turn on the lights as we entered. I closed and locked the door behind us. "Marie, it's me and Lucius." Then I added, quieter, "The police might break the door in. If they do, which I doubt, hands up and in the air, showing we are no threat, and do as they say."

"Apparating would be faster," he pointed out.

"Muggles," I stated as we continued through the house. I turned lights on as we went. We finally got to her room. "Marie, open the door."

The door flew open and she looked panicked. "My friend's mom is here," she said into the phone and nearly jumped into my arms!

I took the phone from her. "This is Ginny Snape speaking. Myself and my daughter's father are here with Marie. We are going to take her to my house, but yes, I think we still require the police. Mr. Klack was a prosecutor for years."

"A few questions for you, Mrs. Snape," came the reply.

Thankfully, Lucius caught on. "Marie, pack a bag. I think Ginevra intended for you to spend the night at her place." He walked over to the window. "Ginevra, there is something moving out there."

I relayed this info to the operator.

"Officers are still at least 20 minutes away," the operator informed me.

"Marie is really upset, so please send the officers to my home."

"I recommend staying in the home," the operator suggested.

"No, she's too upset right now." I paused. "Lucius, let's get her to the car. I ask that you protect her." He nodded. "I'll stay on the phone with you," I explained to 911.

Lucius wrapped a protective arm around the girl as we stepped out of the house and rushed for the car. As I closed my door, I looked at Lucius and gave him a small smile. I gave the operator a play by play until my garage door was fully shut, then I provided my address.

As we stepped into the house, I looked at Marie. "Love, go wash your face. Take a few moments," I instructed, then I led Lucius to the kitchen. "The police are going to show up here, and they will have questions. Answer honestly, and be cool about it. If they ask about your career, you're an aristocrat."

"Ginevra, what's going on?" he asked.

"Her dad was a prosecutor for the province. I'm guessing that, because whoever it was didn't take off when they realised she was at home, that they were looking for retribution for being sent to jail."

"Her reaction seems normal for girls, but you didn't…"

"She didn't live in a world at war."

"Where are her parents?"

"I don't know, but I'm about to find out." I pulled out my phone and called Marie's mother. The voicemail picked up, so I called her father's phone.

"Hello, Ginny?"

"Yes. Mike, I'm calling because there was an issue at the house. Marie is here at my place, and we're waiting for the police."

"The police? What happened?" he asked, alarmed.

"She called me, sounding scared. Someone was trying to break in. I guess they knew she was alone."

"Alone? Where's Emily?"

"I don't know. Her phone goes to voicemail. I just wanted to let you know. I would guess the police will call you after they finish here."

"Ginny, thank you! I don't know what we would do without you! Can Marie stay there until I get back to town?" he requested.

"You know she is always welcome here. I'll call you back once we finish with the police."

As I hit the end button, I looked at Lucius, who was standing at the window watching out for something. "Lucius, there's a cabinet in the bathroom in mine and Severus' room. There should be something in there to calm nerves." I looked over at Marie, who had finally entered the room. "Do you mind getting it for me?"

A/N In the next chapter Ginny has to explain why police carry a sex toy on their uniforms.