August 2004
"Delphini Black Lestrange!" Lucius Malfoy voice ressounds, a hint of rage in it.
Not so bad, she thinks, Uncle Lucius didn't use my middle name... She has been dreading this all morning."What did you do to the peacock?" He keeps two fingers at the bridge of his nose and she can see his nostrils flaring. He is trying to keep is composure, but his precious white peacocks are off limits even to her. Astoria glances at her, an inquisitive look in her face and her left hand on Scorpius head, fearing he will wake.
"It didn't do as I said." As haughty as a seven year old can be. She says nothing further, as if that will suffice.
Her exasperated uncle does not agree.
"Young lady, explain yourself this moment!" He is dangerously close to mid-naming his niece. "I swear I'll keep you inside and away from books for the whole summer. What happened to the peacock?"
"I wanted it to show its tail. It didn't. I was mad at it and I couldn't help myself..." Lucius sights. Another magical incident then. "It just happened, Uncle, I was angry and it just... blew up, really." She looks down at her shoes. He sees a small white feather lost in her mane of curls and that is all he needs. She would never be so careless as to forget to eliminate all evidence had she done it on purpose. She is as Slytherin as they come.
"It's allright, Delphini. Just stop trying to order the peacocks around. They are pretty birds, but they are not smart enough for you to train. Stick to the raven, will you?"
Her green eyes glance up in a silent apology. Astoria sees her chance and suggests "I'm taking Scorpius upstairs." He is drowsy but awake in her arms "Come along. I'll read for you both from Fantastic Beasts." She turns to her and smiles a quiet thank you. Astoria remembers all to well her magical mishappens. They weren't quite so destructive, but she always felt bad afterwards.
Lucius stares at them both while they leave. Narcissa is suddenly at his side, worry in her eyes. A soothing hand on his shoulder then and a quick remark. "She is Bella's..."
Indeed, he thinks, "But that makes three peacocks in the last year, Cissa. I have to ward them from her now!" She chuckles and he is not amused. Realizing her husband's annoyance, she kisses his cheek and tells him of the memory that made her laugh.
"Bella was given a kitten once. Well, more than once, but I only remember the last one. She was ten and she was supposed to take it to Hogwarts as her familiar. Except that the poor kitten didn't do as she said and was blasted across our playroom, not quite so accidentally..." There is a wicked little smirk in the corner of her mouth.
A Black at heart, still, he thinks. "Was it found dead later?"
"No. Remember my familiar from Hogwarts? She was a hand-me-down. More of a toss-me-down, really."
He kisses her, that perfect wife of him, wicked but magnificently caring. "Well, let's not get her a cat then. Since this befalls your family's crazed blood, you are helping me ward the peacocks. Right now, before Delphini makes another mess of white feathers in the garden."
X
A few months later there is a big box with a bow on top waiting for Delphini in her playroom. She lifts the lid and takes a peek. There are two big glistening eyes at the bottom. They hiss at her. She decides she likes whatever creature it is already.
Half an hour later, Narcissa decides her niece has been too quiet for too long and slowly pushes the door to the playroom open. The dark haired child is sitting on the floor, a happy grin on her face. There is a huge grey cat chasing one of Delphie's toys. She is the one making it move, Narcissa realizes. She worries, quite a lot, that the Ministry will come after her one of these days. But she is proud. And then she notices the huge pointy ears atop the cat's head, and its long tail with a tuft of hair at the end. Oh, Morgana help us!
She quickly makes it to her son's wing.
"Draco!" He looks over his shoulder, holding Scorpius in his arms, and Narcissa holds back a little at the sight. "What were you thinking? A Kneazle, Draco?"
"Oh Mother, don't fret. She will be fine, she likes it already, and she had a huge smile when she came in to thank us."
"Us? Astoria is in on this?" Narcissa cannot believe her ears. Not taking their horror of all things Muggle seriously wasn't bad enough; she is actually siding with Draco on spoiling the prodigious little witch.
"Well, your son can be rather charming." Astoria giggles from the settee in the corner, as Draco hands her their son. "And the Kneazle was quite beautiful. It will protect Delphini too."
"You two are taking full responsibility for this. If something happens, it's on you. Including Darkie getting eaten! Draco, you break the news to your Father when he arrives." She turns on her feet and leaves the room, thinking of ways to appease her husband.
Lucius nearly flips over on the spot when the Kneazle crosses his path the minute he walks in the living room, a shrieking girl following it "Give it back! Put it down! STOP!"
The look on his son's face tells him everything he needs to know. He glares at him.
"Should I expect a dragon on our lawn for her birthday, then?"
"Well I'm her dragon. She doesn't need another one." Draco sort of expects a Cruciatus to come flying his way at that, but he just couldn't keep that pun inside. His father huffs heavily, glares at him from atop his nose and decides for leaving the room. Not before warning him though.
"If one of the peacocks so much as drops a feather because of that…"
Author's Notes: I'm sorry for making you wait. I have a huge exam coming and getting into a writing mood has not been easy. So basically, I'm not deserting you or this fic, but I make no promises as far as when the next upload will come. Just know that it will