Hey guys!

First of all... happy April! Spring is here and I have a new laptop. Second of all I can only apologise for my unscheduled lack of midmonth updates. Unfortunately my Grandad suddenly passed away and, as you can imagine, I was rather a mess for a while and the last thing on my mind was updating and writing but I'm back now and here's some updates at long last.

Lots of love,

LSH xx

Hidden Child-Part 91:

Dear Mother and Father.

I would like to speak with you at a convenient time. I have something that I wish to speak with you about. It's nothing to worry about but Astoria wishes me to speak with you about it.

With love,

Draco

Lucius and Narcissa had worried as soon as they'd received the owl from their son and were worried that he'd been hiding something pretty serious from them and that was the last thing they wanted Draco to do. The two of them tried to figure out when the best time for them to go to Hogwarts would be. They decided that, seeing as they were meeting to finalise Draco and Astoria's marriage contract with Astoria's grandparents, they'd stay the night at the Greengrass Estate and then head to Hogwarts the next day.

"Can we tell them if they ask?" Lucius said as they were sat in James' study.

"You may. Astoria may well have already gathered or realised we stepped in to stop her father marrying her off to one of his friends. What Malcom fails to remember is that Catriona and I are the only ones legally allowed to decide what happens to Astoria," James said as he sipped on his whiskey, "Daphne is to marry Theodore Nott. We want the best for our granddaughters and, despite everything, that is your son and Theodore," he said before raising a glass and toasting their agreement. Yes they weren't really fans of the arranged marriage but they'd noticed how Astoria and Draco were coming together on her own so they'd decided to arranged the marriage as it appeared that romance was blossoming between the two anyway.

The next day and Lucius and Narcissa Floo'd into the Headmaster's office and were surprised to see Draco and Astoria sat there with Dumbledore already and having a drink. The Headmaster rose from his seat and headed out of the office and headed to a meeting with the Heads of House.

Draco turned and looked at his parents and could see the worry on their faces. He looked back at Astoria and she could see his nerves and nodded at him softly before he began to try and speak, but the words failed him. All he could see was his parents' disappointed faces and he choked on his words. He began to suffocate and he turned to Astoria and she grabbed his hand.

"What Draco's trying to say is that he knows Lyra has to come first but he's struggling with it all," she said, "he knows Lyra has to be the priority but he's been used to being the only Malfoy known to the public and Lyra's come out of the shadows and then has the whole destiny. He's feeling a little forgotten with everything going on," she explained, keeping her hand wrapped around Draco's the whole time, "he understands everything but… he's just struggling to be able to process and cope with everything. He's also been afraid of telling you because he thinks that you'll be mad at him."

Astoria finished and silence fell on the room and Draco's hand was shaking in hers. She squeezed it softly and then looked at Lucius and Narcissa. The two looked at each other and then at Draco as they processed what Astoria had said and they remained silent for a while.

"Please don't be mad," Draco whispered and that seemed to rouse Narcissa from her thoughts.

"We are not mad at you at all Draco. This is hard for you as well," Narcissa said as she looked at her son, "we are more angry with ourselves that we didn't notice any of this… or that that we ask you how you were," she said before going over and sitting on the other side of her son.

"I don't want you to be angry with yourself because of me," Draco said as he looked at Narcissa and she shook her head.

"No. You are our child to and, with everything going on with Lyra, we have neglected you," she said, "it's not been easy for any of us with Lyra coming out of the shadows. Did we know about her prophecy? We had our suspicions but never dreamt that Lyra would be that child. It seemed impossible that Lyra was the child," she said, "does Lyra know that you're feeling like this?"

Draco shook his head as he looked at his mother,

"No. With everything she's got going on I don't want her to be worrying about me as well. She's getting her memories back and that must be scaring her as well. I'd rather keep it from her if I can. That's my decision and I wish that you would respect it," he said and Narcissa nodded before she looked at Lucius, who nodded as well.

"Things have been complicated," Lucius said as he looked at his son and he nodded softly, "what we will do is talk to you more and if you have any problems then you must tell us ok?" he said and Draco nodded softly before he looked at Astoria, who nodded.

"Astoria and I wish to ask a question… are we going to be married to each other?" Draco asked, "Daphne's already revealed that she's supposed to be marrying Theo…"

"Yes you two are," Narcissa said, "we were finalising the marriage last night. The Greengrass Estate is rather nice and I can't wait for you and Lyra to go there during the next school holidays."

"You stopped my father's plans?" Astoria asked as she looked at her.

"Your grandparents only have the legal powers to decide what happens with you," Lucius said, "so they usurped your father and arranged your marriage to Draco. It's a well planned marriage and you two are the best fit for each other. Astoria… we've also noticed how you care for Lyra and we want someone who can love and care for Lyra as well and that is what we want," he said.

Astoria blushed before she nodded,

"I love her like my little sister and I'll do what I can to help her," she said softly as Draco wrapped his arm around her waist, "and I mean that."