'And if your friends don't come back to you
And you know this is madness
Lilac mess in your prom dress'
Tori Amos (From the Choirgirl Hotel), Liquid Diamonds
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During the intermission, Arthur and Narcissa talked.
-"So I thought you don't like French opera" – she said in her mild voice and took gulp of champagne.
-"Well I don't, but I love you" – said Mr Weasley, biting his tongue. He dared to say something like that to another woman. He regretted, but not that much, like if would say the same words to Victoria. He really loved Narcissa once, but it was just once, and she has chosen that slimy git Lucius. Arthur realised that Lucius wasn't very warm and kind with her.
-"Oh you love me? You never said that before to me." – Mr Weasley was stuck now. 'Never telling your wife you love her. What the heck have you married her for?' – "I love you too, Lucius." – She said and kissed him. He didn't give any resistance.
After the opera, they went straight home. Lucius followed Narcissa to her bedroom, and on the door she kissed and hugged him.
-"This was beautiful a night, Lucius."
-"I know."
-"When are you going to take me next time to an opera? I love operas. I don't really mind if we watch your favourite one, "Don Giovanni" (Note From me, the Author: Don Giovanni is an opera about sex maniac that kills women with which he had sex. No offence on anyone, but it is kind of opera for Lucius Malfoy).
-"Certainly. So do you want to?"
-"You mean sex?"
-"Well yes…" - Arthur hoped for her to say yes. He really felt sorry for the way Lucius treated her.
-"Yes… but?"
-"But what?" – Asked Arthur anxiously.
-"Lucius, there's just too much between us. I bet tomorrow you won't be nearly as kind as tonight."
'Well better that then to cheat on my wife again. And that Lucius, why did he slap Molly? He'll pay me. I swear I'll make somehow everyone know what is happening between him and that Victoria Berger.' He entered his bedroom, when he saw papers that made him remember he forgot to do something important. He hurried down to his study. He just started to look for one book on the shelf that would be useful, when:
-"No need to search for that book. It's not there. It's in my hands." – Said in irritating voice. He turned around. Victoria was sitting in handsome wooden chair, with her legs crossed.
-"What are you doing here? And give me that book." – He said, feeling that he is loosing his nerves.
-"No need to give that book to you. I finished that what was due tomorrow. The same thing you were supposed to be doing this evening. Well I did it for you."
Arthur took papers she gave to him, and looked at them. All what she did was perfect, totally perfect. No mistake was made.
-"Well thanks, I really don't know how…" - he said in very awkward and embarrassed kind of voice.
-"Just shut up." – She said slowly. – "I know you are tired and want to go to bed, but please, have fifteen minutes for me. Please."
-"Well okay" – he said and sat on the other chair, beside which she was sitting. He couldn't say no, especially after what she had just done for him.
-"Lucius…" - Victoria started, putting her hand on hand of Arthur Weasley – "you are strange. I mean you are behaving very weird. I don't really know what got into your head, but… if a doctor would tell me that something isn't right with you I would believe him immediately." – She looked away.
-"Victoria, why… I mean what do you see in Lucius Malfoy?" – He quickly corrected himself. – "What do you see in me?"
-"Well you are so attractive, you have charm, other women want you, that's very important for me. I want to be with guy, so when women see him feel jealous on me…." –she started very slowly. - "You are rich… Pureblood, which I know is very important for both of us… you are in league with Voldemort… the thing just two of us know, and you forbid me to ever talk about that…"
-"Victoria" – he cut her. – "Have you ever minded that I am so much older than you are? I mean, I can be your father. And I am sure you know I have a wife… and a son."
-"Well Lucius, you never minded that. Anyways it's getting late. I need time to apparate. See you tomorrow."
-"Victoria, if I'd asked you to have sex with me, would you agree?"
-"Well yes, but now, this very moment I wouldn't."
-"Why?"
-"Because I can feel that you don't want to have it with me." – She said, gave him a devilish smile, and got out of the room.
'Women.' He made his way up to his bad, and fell asleep.
When Lucius Malfoy arrived to "his" work, he felt miserable. He had to spend all day with Muggles. He hated them. An invisible force stopped him three times that day to draw his wand and kill a Muggle. He ate in the restaurant, so he doesn't have to eat sausages. He came home late, so nobody was awake. He spent night, sleeping on the couch in the living room.
Tomorrow, he contacted Ministry to take four weeks off. He sent an owl, and then looked around small living room. Then he spotted thing he didn't before – it was a virginal harpsichord. He took closer look, and saw that it was old, but in very good state. 'Probably no one ever played it, because didn't know how' he thought. He putted his ten fingers on four-scaled instrument, and started playing Bach's Goldberg Variations. Virgin was a small instrument, so it didn't produce loud noise to wake up Weasleys and Harry, who were still sleeping.
After first variation, he felt it was hard for him to play with Arthur's short hands. Real Lucius had very delicate hands, and long finders, which helped him play.
The house was small, so harpsichord/piano sounds of virgin was easy to travel. When Lucius finished first seven variations, he turned around, and found that Fred, George, Ginny, Ron, Harry, Molly, and Percy are staring at him in disbelief.
-"Dad… I mean father" – Fred started first – "how come…"
-"I never heard you playing before" – finished George.
-"Yeah you never ever played that piano" – added Ron.
-"First, you tall idiot, this isn't a piano, this is virginal harpsichord. And like I don't have right to play it in my own house. Now I am hungry. I will have to go to the Ministry to get few things done, for those four free weeks I am, taking." – He said and made his way towards the kitchen, leaving Weasleys and Harry on the threshold of the living room.
While they were having toast for breakfast, no one said a word. Mr Malfoy left without a goodbye.
Arthur Weasley was going through some papers, when secretary came in, and told him that Mr Weasley asked him for this. Arthur just started sorting those papers in right order, when Mr Malfoy entered his own office. Arthur couldn't help not missing that Lucius was wearing Arthur's best robes.
-"Why are you wearing my best robes?" – Was first thing Lucius heard when he entered his own office.
-"Oh please. These ones are worst robes you can find in my closet. Aren't you happy to see me, or better to see yourself?"
-"No. What about you?"
-"Well even when you got my body, I can't mistake, you are still handsome. But not as much as I am, of course."
-"So you want four weeks free, you don't want to work?"
-"The job you do, Arthur? No, it's disgusting."
-"Well I will give it that, you just need someone to sign you this, someone else that isn't me. Lemme see… who's the person you have warmest relationship with? ("She is far away, you bastard" - Lucius snapped.) Oh how silly I have been. You would like to see her, wouldn't you? Victoria will be very pleased to sign you this?"
-"What? Victoria hates you, I mean she hates me, I mean she hates the person whose skin I'm wearing, and who is now in my office."
-"Well too bad, Malfoy, oh sorry, too bad Weasley." – He sneered. He finally learnt how to do Lucius Malfoy's favourite expression. – "But I don't have that much time to change my decision. Now, I'm very sorry, but I don't have more time for you. Von voyage."
Mr Malfoy slammed the door behind him.
He almost entered Victoria's office as he usually did, without knocking. But that way was allowed only if he was Lucius Malfoy, or perhaps if he had Lucius Malfoy's look (that would work with her). He knocked, and when he heard voice to come in from inside, he entered.
-"Hello Miss Berger." – He said sitting in one of the chairs.
-"Mr Weasley, how nice to see you again. This time I hope you are sober."
Her office was big one, not big as Mr Malfoy's was.
-"You don't have to tell me anything. Mr Malfoy told me why are you here for." – She continued.
-"So are you going to sign me that?" – Mr Malfoy said, looking all the time at her legs, as she crossed them.
-"Maybe, if you look perhaps at this paper." – She said shortly.
He looked in the paper she passed him, and it was the same paper that she was supposed to sign.
-"Now, tell me at least one good reason why I should sign this?"
-"Well for welfare of poor man with seven kids to fed, Harry Potter, and his wife."
-"Harry Potter? die Wunderkid?" – she laughed. - "Well, are you going to be paid during the absence?"
-"Yes, I will."
-"Well than I shall sign it." – She took it from his hands and signed it.
-"So what do you think happened to Malfoy?" – asked Macnair.
-"I have no clue" – answered Victoria who was sitting in his lap – "he is strange. You know that today he asked me to sign that Arthur Wesley can be absent from his work, and plus get paid. He would never do that for me. I thought he would never do that for Arthur, but I'm mistaken."
-"That is strange indeed," - said Macnair, and put his hand around her and unbuttoned third button on her blouse.
-"Oh, please stop it, we both know that your wife can come any moment into your study, and see me sitting in your lap."
-"So what if she does?"
-"Well you would be in trouble. Now, you said you saw him and that Narcissa when you went to that French opera. Did he act strange?"
-"He said he came there because Narcissa liked French opera." – Macnair said and kissed her on her neck.
-"Quit that." – He stopped. – "Now what did they do during the intermission?"
-"Well I haven't seen him."
-"How come you haven't seen him?"
-"Well you know that you don't have to go out of the dome or parlour, if you don't want to."
-"Yeah of course I know that. But I remember going with Lucius; he wanted to go out. Staying in isn't like him. You know, he always wants to show off."
-"Victoria my dear, everybody wants to show off. Not just you and Lucius."
-"And you know what else is strange. He doesn't have the Dark Mark on his arm anymore."
-"Did Master made it invisible for him?"
-"Well that's what I thought, and when I told him that, he said I am right."
-"Well why are we so upset with Lucius? We still have each other" – he said, and started kissing her.
Well there were reasons to be upset for Lucius, cause Lucius now wasn't where Lucius was supposed to be – in the middle of the meeting. He was at Weasley house, playing the virginal harpsichord.
-"Damn it" – he was cursing virgin for tenth time. – "Why do you have just four scales?"
He really had problems with it. First he tried to play Prelude, but he couldn't cause it needed full range – ninety-seven keys grand concert piano. Then he tried Beethoven's "Pathétique" sonata, but he couldn't.
During his little concertos, Harry, Ron, Fred, George, and Ginny were listening to him. And all of them had to be quiet all the time so they wouldn't crash Mr "Weasley's" concentration.
Draco also felt something is wrong with his father. Usually when he starts complaining to him about Harry Potter, his father would just scrawl, and tells him how one day the Dark Lord will finally kill Harry one sunny day when birds will be singing a requiem for Harry Potter. But now, every time Draco says something bad about Harry Potter, his "father" tells him that it isn't nice to talk about people that way. Especially about Harry Potter.
Mr Weasley was sitting in the living room, drinking tea.
-"Hello Father." – Draco came from upstairs, and sat opposite of Mr Weasley.
-"Oh, hello Draco." – Mr Weasley said. He didn't like Draco at all. He was thinking how could anyone rise a monster like Draco. Well of course he always found the right answer – Lucius Malfoy, who was monster himself.
-"How come you are drinking tea?" – He asked.
-"What are trying to ask me? You want to tell me that I can't drink tea?"
-"No, not that" – he said quickly – "but you usually drink coffee or wine. Even whisky, sometimes."
-"Whisky? I don't like whisky. It makes me sick."
-"That's what are you saying now. But how then you get drunk, and sleep for next two days."
-"Well I don't get drunk very often." – Said Mr Weasley – "maybe once every year?" – Mr Weasley guessed.
-"Or every months."
Mr Weasley drunk his tea, and asked Draco to join him for walk in the garden. Even if this was really unusual thing for Draco to be offered by Lucius, he went with him. They were both swathed in cloaks, because it was December.
-"So Father, when do you want party to be held?"
-"What party?"
-Father, you know, the Christmas party. Every year one of families makes party, this year is Malfoy's turn.
-Well I don't know. Do you want to decide?
-OK let it be 27th.
-Fine. Do you want to make arrangements, or you want to invite people?
-Well it's mother's job to invite everyone. And you never ever asked me to be in charge of decorations. That's always the thing you do, and never let anyone else help you. And I always stay bored.
-Well Draco, I mean son this year it will be different, you will be in charge. I will just have to check is everything right.
-Father, you are greatest… I love you – Draco said, and hugged Mr Weasley.
While Narcissa invited about four hundred people to their party, Draco did an excellent job in decorating. The big circular room was covered in the gold, and windows were crystal clean. There were twelve Christmas trees, and all of them decorated in the same way – silver, red, and, purple. Mr Weasley (cause Draco wasn't allowed to use the magic) charmed glass ceiling, so when certain hour comes, confetti will start falling down. Even the LWFO – London Wizarding Philharmonic Orchestra, with choir was coming to perform Bach's Christmas Oratorio and Brahms's German Requiem (Requiem for Christmas, the day when our God, Jesus Christ was born. I am so morbid!), so they had to conjure a stage.
Mr Weasley felt sorry for his family. First he knew how bad Lucius can turn out and he knew that they were probably having really hard time with him, which was unfortunately very true. Second, he was swimming here in money, while they didn't have enough money to buy ingredients to make a descent lunch. He decided to invite them, too. That would include Lucius Malfoy, too. But this was still his house. Arthur sat down and wrote an invitation for all nine Weasleys (with Mr Malfoy, of course), Harry, and Hermione, to come over for Christmas party.
Mr Malfoy spent whole day playing the virginal harpsichord. He and Molly didn't communicate at all after that night when he put Cruciatus Curse on her. Even Ron, Fred, George, Harry, Ginny, and Percy talked to him just when they had to. During one morning, the post arrived. Percy got the it. When he entered the kitchen, where everybody else were breakfasting, he sat down on a chair. Before he knew, Mr Malfoy confiscated the post from him, and started going through.
-"Bills, bills, bills…" - he went through the bills, throwing them on Molly, who sat right beside him. She didn't say anything, just grunted. –"All for you. It's not my business. Now what is this: tax, some Penelope Clearwater is writing you Percivel" – he said and threw the letter on Percy, who blushed. During previous weeks that Lucius was spending with Weasleys, he decided that Percy sounds like a sissy, and now he calls him Percivel. – "Some Her – mion , I mean Her – may – own, or what ever it is, for Potter, and one another letter from that Herm girl for you tall-boy." – He passed Harry and Ron both their letters.
-"Father, it's Hermione" – said finally Ron - the tall-boy.
-"Are you here to correct me how to pronounce a Mudblood's name?" – He said shortly, and fixed his cold brown eyes on Ron. Even if he was Arthur, he still kept his cold look.
-"No. I am sorry father."
-"And what do we have here, some Lee Jordan…"
-"That's ours Da..." – started George, but Fred corrected him quickly.
-"Father."
-"And some Devon Rogers…"
-"That's Mum's" – said George.
-"And this one?" – he recognised seal. It was sanguine-coloured wax, with snake in shape of big M.
He opened, and read it aloud, so everyone can hear it:
'Dear Mr Weasley,
'We are honoured to inform you, that you, and your family, along with Ms Hermione Granger and Mr Harry Potter, are invited at Malfoy Manor, for Christmas Party. It's been held on December 27th, and starts at seven o'clock. Please arrive on time."
'Thank you.
Yours Sincerely,
'Lucius Malfoy'
'This in nothing like my signature' thought Mr Malfoy, while all five Weasleys, Molly, and Harry stared open mouthed at him.
-"What? Never been invited to a party?" – Sneered Lucius.
-"We were, but Malfoys…" - started Ron.
-"Tall-boy, just shut your big mouth, and finish the breakfast." – Lucius retorted.
-"What do you think, is it real?" – Ron asked Harry, who was laying on sleeping bag beside Ron's bed.
-"I don't know. Why would Malfoys call me to their party? They hate me. And they think very rude stuff about Hermione."
-"I just sent Hermione an owl about the party. Malfoys hate Weasleys, too. Why did they invite us?"
-"Well, you are still the Purebloods, and your Dad is important person in Ministry."
-"Speaking of my Dad, what got into him, lately?"
-"Ron" – said Harry sitting on Ron's bad, beside him, - "you know that I shouldn't really say anything bad about your Dad, but I think that something is wrong with him."
-"Harry, you have full right to say that" – said Ron standing up from his bad, and walking over to the window.
-"I mean he plays that virginal harpsichord whole day, and he is rude to everyone."
-"Well I hope it will pass."
-"TALL-BOY, POTTER, DOWNSTAIRS! NOW!" –the voice came from downstairs. Harry, and Ron run downstairs.
Mr Malfoy was there waiting for them.
He motioned them to sit down, while he sat at the virginal harpsichord, and started playing Mozart's K.545, first movement. He started talking at the same time.
-"You tall-boy, does other children have descent robes?"
-"You mean my brothers and a sister?" – said Ron in voice of anger mixed with surprise, why father for his children says other children.
-"Potter, you have normal robes, don't you?"
-"Yes, Mr Weasley."
-"Tall-boy, you have girly maroon robes with laces?"
-"Yes" – said Ron in voice of embarrassment.
-"Well boy we are going now to Diagon Alley to buy you new robes. Potter do want to come with us?"
-"Sure" – said Harry.
-"Go tell that woman that she doesn't have to make her awful lunch for us, we'll eat in the restaurant."
-"Yes" - said Harry, and went outside to find Mrs Weasley.
-"Father can I ask you something?" – Ron finally got some courage to ask his "father" this.
-"You already asked, but go, I'm listening."
-"Well are you in good mood now?"
-"Of course I am. When I play Mozart, I'm in good mood, when I play Beethoven it's bad mood."
-"How can I know what is what?"
-"Well learn" – snapped Lucius, and banged first accord of "Pathétique" sonata on the virginal harpsichord. – "That was Beethoven. I'm sorry, but I shan't tell you every time who is who. You'll just have to learn to recognise their styles."
Mr Weasley was pacing in the dark of his study. He could see sun behind closed sky-grey blinders. He missed his family so much. And his wife, that was always there to help him; Percy, with his reports and rapport; Fred and George, with their jokes; Ron, with his... well... with himself; and Ginny, with her tenderness. He looked at one of the tables. A pile of about hundreds of boxes, in almost every colour were there. The red one, with silver frame, and a young man with gentle face and big white wig, and city in background called "Wien", attached his attention. He opened that box. It was empty, for a silk ribbon only. Then silver letters on the ribbon formed words "W. A. Mozart (1756-1791)", and the box started playing "Eine Kleine Nactmusik". Mr Weasley knew what this was. This was a music box. But they weren't just Muggle object. These ones were enchanted by the composer and they played all their works. Of course all the composers were wizards, but they were just living Muggle life. Boxes always played different music. When someone dies, it plays Requiem (Requiem aeternam dona eis domine; et lux perpetua, luceat; luceat eis; Te decet hymnus Dios in Zion) when someone is happy, it plays something slow, so it can calm person down; when someone is sad, it plays something happy. Mr Weasley was sad, so Mozart's box played very cheerful melodies.
-"Lucius, you amaze me."
'Not her again.' Victoria came closer, and closed the box. Then she took the white one, with red border, and man with black hair on it. She opened it, and it labelled F. Chopin. It started playing "Funeral March".
-"Guess who was it?"
-"Victoria, this is not a funeral."
-"Well, I just buried a parson. Guess who was it?"
-"I don't know and I don't care."
-"Fine then, but when you read it in the newspaper don't blame me you didn't want me to tell you. Goodbye Lucius."
She stormed out of the room, slamming the door. Arthur didn't realise at all that she killed someone, and she came to tell him who is it. When she was gone, he closed Chopin's box, and opened Mozart's again. But this time it didn't play the same cheerful music Arthur seemed to like, but it played Confutatis (confutatis; maledictis; flamis agibus adictis; Voca me; voca me cum benedictus), from Mozart's Requiem. He closed the box with loug band and shouted:
-"Draco, are you ready to go to Diagon Alley to buy robes?"
-"Yes, Father."
Mr Malfoy, Harry, and Ron arrived to Diagon Alley by Floo Powder. He usually apparated there with Draco, but now he had two boys with him, and it would take ages until they got there. Either way, it wasn't safe.
Mr Malfoy was little nicer. He bought them two ice creams, even if it was winter. Lucius reminded himself happy days, when Draco was small. Once he had taken him to the Diagon Alley during the winter, and Draco wanted so much an ice cream. Lucius bought him, but Draco had to promise he wont tell his mother. They looked all around, until they got to the Knockturn Alley. Mr Malfoy still had lots of money left over from being a Malfoy. He sacrificed some of it to buy that boy robes for his own money. 'Now, Jesus, who were you calling selfish' Lucius muttered to himself remembering the principles of the Christianity he abandoned that his grandmother taught him.
He thought that he shouldn't be so mean with Mrs Weasley. Beside Ron's robes, Lucius' main reason for coming was to buy few stuff under Arthur Weasley's look. It would be shame that Lucius Malfoy is buying that kind of Dark Arts items.
-"On no, we are gong here."
-"But dad, I mean father, this in Knockturn Alley. This is specialised for Dark Arts" – started Ron.
-"You listen to me: I am buying you a new robes, you are going where I say" – said Mr Malfoy, with very angry voice. Ron just gulped.
They passed lots of Dark Arts shops. Harry remembered "Borgin and Burkes". As they passed, Harry saw no one else then Walden Macnair inside.
-"Harry, do you remember when you saw Mr Malfoy, with that git Draco, in this shop" - , said Ron, pointing his finger at 'Borgin and Burkes". Mr Malfoy, who went in front them, immediately turned around, and stopped.
-"When did you see me….I mean when did you saw him there." – Asked Mr Malfoy in very curious voice.
Harry told Lucius everything.
-"… and then in the bookstore."
-"I know what happened in bookstore. I was there." –Said Mr Malfoy – "And I cut his lip" – muttered Lucius to himself, but Ron heard him.
-"Dad, I men father, didn't you give him black eye, and he cut your lip."
-"Whatever." – Retorted Lucius. And they set of. They went to a small apothecary, but old witch there told Mr Malfoy that they ran out of unicorn blood last month, when a blond, tall man with grey eyes bought all. She was referring to Lucius Malfoy, and Lucius, Harry, and Ron knew that. They finally found it in apothecary on the end of the street.
Arthur and Draco were watching racing brooms. If there was real Lucius Malfoy with Draco, Draco would spent all time talking about how Harry Potter is Dumbledore's pet, and how Dumbledore, just because Harry's parents, does all that to Harry. But he was supposed to be silent with Mr Weasley.
Draco and Arthur were here in Diagon Alley because the same thing Lucius, Harry, and Ron were – to buy Draco new robes. When Draco entered the "Madam Milkins Robe Shop", Draco have chosen black robes with high collar, and cardinal red hem. When he got into the back he was very surprised:
-"You?"
__________________________________________________________________________________________
ego sum liberalissimi
And you know this is madness
Lilac mess in your prom dress'
Tori Amos (From the Choirgirl Hotel), Liquid Diamonds
________________________________________________________________________________
During the intermission, Arthur and Narcissa talked.
-"So I thought you don't like French opera" – she said in her mild voice and took gulp of champagne.
-"Well I don't, but I love you" – said Mr Weasley, biting his tongue. He dared to say something like that to another woman. He regretted, but not that much, like if would say the same words to Victoria. He really loved Narcissa once, but it was just once, and she has chosen that slimy git Lucius. Arthur realised that Lucius wasn't very warm and kind with her.
-"Oh you love me? You never said that before to me." – Mr Weasley was stuck now. 'Never telling your wife you love her. What the heck have you married her for?' – "I love you too, Lucius." – She said and kissed him. He didn't give any resistance.
After the opera, they went straight home. Lucius followed Narcissa to her bedroom, and on the door she kissed and hugged him.
-"This was beautiful a night, Lucius."
-"I know."
-"When are you going to take me next time to an opera? I love operas. I don't really mind if we watch your favourite one, "Don Giovanni" (Note From me, the Author: Don Giovanni is an opera about sex maniac that kills women with which he had sex. No offence on anyone, but it is kind of opera for Lucius Malfoy).
-"Certainly. So do you want to?"
-"You mean sex?"
-"Well yes…" - Arthur hoped for her to say yes. He really felt sorry for the way Lucius treated her.
-"Yes… but?"
-"But what?" – Asked Arthur anxiously.
-"Lucius, there's just too much between us. I bet tomorrow you won't be nearly as kind as tonight."
'Well better that then to cheat on my wife again. And that Lucius, why did he slap Molly? He'll pay me. I swear I'll make somehow everyone know what is happening between him and that Victoria Berger.' He entered his bedroom, when he saw papers that made him remember he forgot to do something important. He hurried down to his study. He just started to look for one book on the shelf that would be useful, when:
-"No need to search for that book. It's not there. It's in my hands." – Said in irritating voice. He turned around. Victoria was sitting in handsome wooden chair, with her legs crossed.
-"What are you doing here? And give me that book." – He said, feeling that he is loosing his nerves.
-"No need to give that book to you. I finished that what was due tomorrow. The same thing you were supposed to be doing this evening. Well I did it for you."
Arthur took papers she gave to him, and looked at them. All what she did was perfect, totally perfect. No mistake was made.
-"Well thanks, I really don't know how…" - he said in very awkward and embarrassed kind of voice.
-"Just shut up." – She said slowly. – "I know you are tired and want to go to bed, but please, have fifteen minutes for me. Please."
-"Well okay" – he said and sat on the other chair, beside which she was sitting. He couldn't say no, especially after what she had just done for him.
-"Lucius…" - Victoria started, putting her hand on hand of Arthur Weasley – "you are strange. I mean you are behaving very weird. I don't really know what got into your head, but… if a doctor would tell me that something isn't right with you I would believe him immediately." – She looked away.
-"Victoria, why… I mean what do you see in Lucius Malfoy?" – He quickly corrected himself. – "What do you see in me?"
-"Well you are so attractive, you have charm, other women want you, that's very important for me. I want to be with guy, so when women see him feel jealous on me…." –she started very slowly. - "You are rich… Pureblood, which I know is very important for both of us… you are in league with Voldemort… the thing just two of us know, and you forbid me to ever talk about that…"
-"Victoria" – he cut her. – "Have you ever minded that I am so much older than you are? I mean, I can be your father. And I am sure you know I have a wife… and a son."
-"Well Lucius, you never minded that. Anyways it's getting late. I need time to apparate. See you tomorrow."
-"Victoria, if I'd asked you to have sex with me, would you agree?"
-"Well yes, but now, this very moment I wouldn't."
-"Why?"
-"Because I can feel that you don't want to have it with me." – She said, gave him a devilish smile, and got out of the room.
'Women.' He made his way up to his bad, and fell asleep.
When Lucius Malfoy arrived to "his" work, he felt miserable. He had to spend all day with Muggles. He hated them. An invisible force stopped him three times that day to draw his wand and kill a Muggle. He ate in the restaurant, so he doesn't have to eat sausages. He came home late, so nobody was awake. He spent night, sleeping on the couch in the living room.
Tomorrow, he contacted Ministry to take four weeks off. He sent an owl, and then looked around small living room. Then he spotted thing he didn't before – it was a virginal harpsichord. He took closer look, and saw that it was old, but in very good state. 'Probably no one ever played it, because didn't know how' he thought. He putted his ten fingers on four-scaled instrument, and started playing Bach's Goldberg Variations. Virgin was a small instrument, so it didn't produce loud noise to wake up Weasleys and Harry, who were still sleeping.
After first variation, he felt it was hard for him to play with Arthur's short hands. Real Lucius had very delicate hands, and long finders, which helped him play.
The house was small, so harpsichord/piano sounds of virgin was easy to travel. When Lucius finished first seven variations, he turned around, and found that Fred, George, Ginny, Ron, Harry, Molly, and Percy are staring at him in disbelief.
-"Dad… I mean father" – Fred started first – "how come…"
-"I never heard you playing before" – finished George.
-"Yeah you never ever played that piano" – added Ron.
-"First, you tall idiot, this isn't a piano, this is virginal harpsichord. And like I don't have right to play it in my own house. Now I am hungry. I will have to go to the Ministry to get few things done, for those four free weeks I am, taking." – He said and made his way towards the kitchen, leaving Weasleys and Harry on the threshold of the living room.
While they were having toast for breakfast, no one said a word. Mr Malfoy left without a goodbye.
Arthur Weasley was going through some papers, when secretary came in, and told him that Mr Weasley asked him for this. Arthur just started sorting those papers in right order, when Mr Malfoy entered his own office. Arthur couldn't help not missing that Lucius was wearing Arthur's best robes.
-"Why are you wearing my best robes?" – Was first thing Lucius heard when he entered his own office.
-"Oh please. These ones are worst robes you can find in my closet. Aren't you happy to see me, or better to see yourself?"
-"No. What about you?"
-"Well even when you got my body, I can't mistake, you are still handsome. But not as much as I am, of course."
-"So you want four weeks free, you don't want to work?"
-"The job you do, Arthur? No, it's disgusting."
-"Well I will give it that, you just need someone to sign you this, someone else that isn't me. Lemme see… who's the person you have warmest relationship with? ("She is far away, you bastard" - Lucius snapped.) Oh how silly I have been. You would like to see her, wouldn't you? Victoria will be very pleased to sign you this?"
-"What? Victoria hates you, I mean she hates me, I mean she hates the person whose skin I'm wearing, and who is now in my office."
-"Well too bad, Malfoy, oh sorry, too bad Weasley." – He sneered. He finally learnt how to do Lucius Malfoy's favourite expression. – "But I don't have that much time to change my decision. Now, I'm very sorry, but I don't have more time for you. Von voyage."
Mr Malfoy slammed the door behind him.
He almost entered Victoria's office as he usually did, without knocking. But that way was allowed only if he was Lucius Malfoy, or perhaps if he had Lucius Malfoy's look (that would work with her). He knocked, and when he heard voice to come in from inside, he entered.
-"Hello Miss Berger." – He said sitting in one of the chairs.
-"Mr Weasley, how nice to see you again. This time I hope you are sober."
Her office was big one, not big as Mr Malfoy's was.
-"You don't have to tell me anything. Mr Malfoy told me why are you here for." – She continued.
-"So are you going to sign me that?" – Mr Malfoy said, looking all the time at her legs, as she crossed them.
-"Maybe, if you look perhaps at this paper." – She said shortly.
He looked in the paper she passed him, and it was the same paper that she was supposed to sign.
-"Now, tell me at least one good reason why I should sign this?"
-"Well for welfare of poor man with seven kids to fed, Harry Potter, and his wife."
-"Harry Potter? die Wunderkid?" – she laughed. - "Well, are you going to be paid during the absence?"
-"Yes, I will."
-"Well than I shall sign it." – She took it from his hands and signed it.
-"So what do you think happened to Malfoy?" – asked Macnair.
-"I have no clue" – answered Victoria who was sitting in his lap – "he is strange. You know that today he asked me to sign that Arthur Wesley can be absent from his work, and plus get paid. He would never do that for me. I thought he would never do that for Arthur, but I'm mistaken."
-"That is strange indeed," - said Macnair, and put his hand around her and unbuttoned third button on her blouse.
-"Oh, please stop it, we both know that your wife can come any moment into your study, and see me sitting in your lap."
-"So what if she does?"
-"Well you would be in trouble. Now, you said you saw him and that Narcissa when you went to that French opera. Did he act strange?"
-"He said he came there because Narcissa liked French opera." – Macnair said and kissed her on her neck.
-"Quit that." – He stopped. – "Now what did they do during the intermission?"
-"Well I haven't seen him."
-"How come you haven't seen him?"
-"Well you know that you don't have to go out of the dome or parlour, if you don't want to."
-"Yeah of course I know that. But I remember going with Lucius; he wanted to go out. Staying in isn't like him. You know, he always wants to show off."
-"Victoria my dear, everybody wants to show off. Not just you and Lucius."
-"And you know what else is strange. He doesn't have the Dark Mark on his arm anymore."
-"Did Master made it invisible for him?"
-"Well that's what I thought, and when I told him that, he said I am right."
-"Well why are we so upset with Lucius? We still have each other" – he said, and started kissing her.
Well there were reasons to be upset for Lucius, cause Lucius now wasn't where Lucius was supposed to be – in the middle of the meeting. He was at Weasley house, playing the virginal harpsichord.
-"Damn it" – he was cursing virgin for tenth time. – "Why do you have just four scales?"
He really had problems with it. First he tried to play Prelude, but he couldn't cause it needed full range – ninety-seven keys grand concert piano. Then he tried Beethoven's "Pathétique" sonata, but he couldn't.
During his little concertos, Harry, Ron, Fred, George, and Ginny were listening to him. And all of them had to be quiet all the time so they wouldn't crash Mr "Weasley's" concentration.
Draco also felt something is wrong with his father. Usually when he starts complaining to him about Harry Potter, his father would just scrawl, and tells him how one day the Dark Lord will finally kill Harry one sunny day when birds will be singing a requiem for Harry Potter. But now, every time Draco says something bad about Harry Potter, his "father" tells him that it isn't nice to talk about people that way. Especially about Harry Potter.
Mr Weasley was sitting in the living room, drinking tea.
-"Hello Father." – Draco came from upstairs, and sat opposite of Mr Weasley.
-"Oh, hello Draco." – Mr Weasley said. He didn't like Draco at all. He was thinking how could anyone rise a monster like Draco. Well of course he always found the right answer – Lucius Malfoy, who was monster himself.
-"How come you are drinking tea?" – He asked.
-"What are trying to ask me? You want to tell me that I can't drink tea?"
-"No, not that" – he said quickly – "but you usually drink coffee or wine. Even whisky, sometimes."
-"Whisky? I don't like whisky. It makes me sick."
-"That's what are you saying now. But how then you get drunk, and sleep for next two days."
-"Well I don't get drunk very often." – Said Mr Weasley – "maybe once every year?" – Mr Weasley guessed.
-"Or every months."
Mr Weasley drunk his tea, and asked Draco to join him for walk in the garden. Even if this was really unusual thing for Draco to be offered by Lucius, he went with him. They were both swathed in cloaks, because it was December.
-"So Father, when do you want party to be held?"
-"What party?"
-Father, you know, the Christmas party. Every year one of families makes party, this year is Malfoy's turn.
-Well I don't know. Do you want to decide?
-OK let it be 27th.
-Fine. Do you want to make arrangements, or you want to invite people?
-Well it's mother's job to invite everyone. And you never ever asked me to be in charge of decorations. That's always the thing you do, and never let anyone else help you. And I always stay bored.
-Well Draco, I mean son this year it will be different, you will be in charge. I will just have to check is everything right.
-Father, you are greatest… I love you – Draco said, and hugged Mr Weasley.
While Narcissa invited about four hundred people to their party, Draco did an excellent job in decorating. The big circular room was covered in the gold, and windows were crystal clean. There were twelve Christmas trees, and all of them decorated in the same way – silver, red, and, purple. Mr Weasley (cause Draco wasn't allowed to use the magic) charmed glass ceiling, so when certain hour comes, confetti will start falling down. Even the LWFO – London Wizarding Philharmonic Orchestra, with choir was coming to perform Bach's Christmas Oratorio and Brahms's German Requiem (Requiem for Christmas, the day when our God, Jesus Christ was born. I am so morbid!), so they had to conjure a stage.
Mr Weasley felt sorry for his family. First he knew how bad Lucius can turn out and he knew that they were probably having really hard time with him, which was unfortunately very true. Second, he was swimming here in money, while they didn't have enough money to buy ingredients to make a descent lunch. He decided to invite them, too. That would include Lucius Malfoy, too. But this was still his house. Arthur sat down and wrote an invitation for all nine Weasleys (with Mr Malfoy, of course), Harry, and Hermione, to come over for Christmas party.
Mr Malfoy spent whole day playing the virginal harpsichord. He and Molly didn't communicate at all after that night when he put Cruciatus Curse on her. Even Ron, Fred, George, Harry, Ginny, and Percy talked to him just when they had to. During one morning, the post arrived. Percy got the it. When he entered the kitchen, where everybody else were breakfasting, he sat down on a chair. Before he knew, Mr Malfoy confiscated the post from him, and started going through.
-"Bills, bills, bills…" - he went through the bills, throwing them on Molly, who sat right beside him. She didn't say anything, just grunted. –"All for you. It's not my business. Now what is this: tax, some Penelope Clearwater is writing you Percivel" – he said and threw the letter on Percy, who blushed. During previous weeks that Lucius was spending with Weasleys, he decided that Percy sounds like a sissy, and now he calls him Percivel. – "Some Her – mion , I mean Her – may – own, or what ever it is, for Potter, and one another letter from that Herm girl for you tall-boy." – He passed Harry and Ron both their letters.
-"Father, it's Hermione" – said finally Ron - the tall-boy.
-"Are you here to correct me how to pronounce a Mudblood's name?" – He said shortly, and fixed his cold brown eyes on Ron. Even if he was Arthur, he still kept his cold look.
-"No. I am sorry father."
-"And what do we have here, some Lee Jordan…"
-"That's ours Da..." – started George, but Fred corrected him quickly.
-"Father."
-"And some Devon Rogers…"
-"That's Mum's" – said George.
-"And this one?" – he recognised seal. It was sanguine-coloured wax, with snake in shape of big M.
He opened, and read it aloud, so everyone can hear it:
'Dear Mr Weasley,
'We are honoured to inform you, that you, and your family, along with Ms Hermione Granger and Mr Harry Potter, are invited at Malfoy Manor, for Christmas Party. It's been held on December 27th, and starts at seven o'clock. Please arrive on time."
'Thank you.
Yours Sincerely,
'Lucius Malfoy'
'This in nothing like my signature' thought Mr Malfoy, while all five Weasleys, Molly, and Harry stared open mouthed at him.
-"What? Never been invited to a party?" – Sneered Lucius.
-"We were, but Malfoys…" - started Ron.
-"Tall-boy, just shut your big mouth, and finish the breakfast." – Lucius retorted.
-"What do you think, is it real?" – Ron asked Harry, who was laying on sleeping bag beside Ron's bed.
-"I don't know. Why would Malfoys call me to their party? They hate me. And they think very rude stuff about Hermione."
-"I just sent Hermione an owl about the party. Malfoys hate Weasleys, too. Why did they invite us?"
-"Well, you are still the Purebloods, and your Dad is important person in Ministry."
-"Speaking of my Dad, what got into him, lately?"
-"Ron" – said Harry sitting on Ron's bad, beside him, - "you know that I shouldn't really say anything bad about your Dad, but I think that something is wrong with him."
-"Harry, you have full right to say that" – said Ron standing up from his bad, and walking over to the window.
-"I mean he plays that virginal harpsichord whole day, and he is rude to everyone."
-"Well I hope it will pass."
-"TALL-BOY, POTTER, DOWNSTAIRS! NOW!" –the voice came from downstairs. Harry, and Ron run downstairs.
Mr Malfoy was there waiting for them.
He motioned them to sit down, while he sat at the virginal harpsichord, and started playing Mozart's K.545, first movement. He started talking at the same time.
-"You tall-boy, does other children have descent robes?"
-"You mean my brothers and a sister?" – said Ron in voice of anger mixed with surprise, why father for his children says other children.
-"Potter, you have normal robes, don't you?"
-"Yes, Mr Weasley."
-"Tall-boy, you have girly maroon robes with laces?"
-"Yes" – said Ron in voice of embarrassment.
-"Well boy we are going now to Diagon Alley to buy you new robes. Potter do want to come with us?"
-"Sure" – said Harry.
-"Go tell that woman that she doesn't have to make her awful lunch for us, we'll eat in the restaurant."
-"Yes" - said Harry, and went outside to find Mrs Weasley.
-"Father can I ask you something?" – Ron finally got some courage to ask his "father" this.
-"You already asked, but go, I'm listening."
-"Well are you in good mood now?"
-"Of course I am. When I play Mozart, I'm in good mood, when I play Beethoven it's bad mood."
-"How can I know what is what?"
-"Well learn" – snapped Lucius, and banged first accord of "Pathétique" sonata on the virginal harpsichord. – "That was Beethoven. I'm sorry, but I shan't tell you every time who is who. You'll just have to learn to recognise their styles."
Mr Weasley was pacing in the dark of his study. He could see sun behind closed sky-grey blinders. He missed his family so much. And his wife, that was always there to help him; Percy, with his reports and rapport; Fred and George, with their jokes; Ron, with his... well... with himself; and Ginny, with her tenderness. He looked at one of the tables. A pile of about hundreds of boxes, in almost every colour were there. The red one, with silver frame, and a young man with gentle face and big white wig, and city in background called "Wien", attached his attention. He opened that box. It was empty, for a silk ribbon only. Then silver letters on the ribbon formed words "W. A. Mozart (1756-1791)", and the box started playing "Eine Kleine Nactmusik". Mr Weasley knew what this was. This was a music box. But they weren't just Muggle object. These ones were enchanted by the composer and they played all their works. Of course all the composers were wizards, but they were just living Muggle life. Boxes always played different music. When someone dies, it plays Requiem (Requiem aeternam dona eis domine; et lux perpetua, luceat; luceat eis; Te decet hymnus Dios in Zion) when someone is happy, it plays something slow, so it can calm person down; when someone is sad, it plays something happy. Mr Weasley was sad, so Mozart's box played very cheerful melodies.
-"Lucius, you amaze me."
'Not her again.' Victoria came closer, and closed the box. Then she took the white one, with red border, and man with black hair on it. She opened it, and it labelled F. Chopin. It started playing "Funeral March".
-"Guess who was it?"
-"Victoria, this is not a funeral."
-"Well, I just buried a parson. Guess who was it?"
-"I don't know and I don't care."
-"Fine then, but when you read it in the newspaper don't blame me you didn't want me to tell you. Goodbye Lucius."
She stormed out of the room, slamming the door. Arthur didn't realise at all that she killed someone, and she came to tell him who is it. When she was gone, he closed Chopin's box, and opened Mozart's again. But this time it didn't play the same cheerful music Arthur seemed to like, but it played Confutatis (confutatis; maledictis; flamis agibus adictis; Voca me; voca me cum benedictus), from Mozart's Requiem. He closed the box with loug band and shouted:
-"Draco, are you ready to go to Diagon Alley to buy robes?"
-"Yes, Father."
Mr Malfoy, Harry, and Ron arrived to Diagon Alley by Floo Powder. He usually apparated there with Draco, but now he had two boys with him, and it would take ages until they got there. Either way, it wasn't safe.
Mr Malfoy was little nicer. He bought them two ice creams, even if it was winter. Lucius reminded himself happy days, when Draco was small. Once he had taken him to the Diagon Alley during the winter, and Draco wanted so much an ice cream. Lucius bought him, but Draco had to promise he wont tell his mother. They looked all around, until they got to the Knockturn Alley. Mr Malfoy still had lots of money left over from being a Malfoy. He sacrificed some of it to buy that boy robes for his own money. 'Now, Jesus, who were you calling selfish' Lucius muttered to himself remembering the principles of the Christianity he abandoned that his grandmother taught him.
He thought that he shouldn't be so mean with Mrs Weasley. Beside Ron's robes, Lucius' main reason for coming was to buy few stuff under Arthur Weasley's look. It would be shame that Lucius Malfoy is buying that kind of Dark Arts items.
-"On no, we are gong here."
-"But dad, I mean father, this in Knockturn Alley. This is specialised for Dark Arts" – started Ron.
-"You listen to me: I am buying you a new robes, you are going where I say" – said Mr Malfoy, with very angry voice. Ron just gulped.
They passed lots of Dark Arts shops. Harry remembered "Borgin and Burkes". As they passed, Harry saw no one else then Walden Macnair inside.
-"Harry, do you remember when you saw Mr Malfoy, with that git Draco, in this shop" - , said Ron, pointing his finger at 'Borgin and Burkes". Mr Malfoy, who went in front them, immediately turned around, and stopped.
-"When did you see me….I mean when did you saw him there." – Asked Mr Malfoy in very curious voice.
Harry told Lucius everything.
-"… and then in the bookstore."
-"I know what happened in bookstore. I was there." –Said Mr Malfoy – "And I cut his lip" – muttered Lucius to himself, but Ron heard him.
-"Dad, I men father, didn't you give him black eye, and he cut your lip."
-"Whatever." – Retorted Lucius. And they set of. They went to a small apothecary, but old witch there told Mr Malfoy that they ran out of unicorn blood last month, when a blond, tall man with grey eyes bought all. She was referring to Lucius Malfoy, and Lucius, Harry, and Ron knew that. They finally found it in apothecary on the end of the street.
Arthur and Draco were watching racing brooms. If there was real Lucius Malfoy with Draco, Draco would spent all time talking about how Harry Potter is Dumbledore's pet, and how Dumbledore, just because Harry's parents, does all that to Harry. But he was supposed to be silent with Mr Weasley.
Draco and Arthur were here in Diagon Alley because the same thing Lucius, Harry, and Ron were – to buy Draco new robes. When Draco entered the "Madam Milkins Robe Shop", Draco have chosen black robes with high collar, and cardinal red hem. When he got into the back he was very surprised:
-"You?"
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ego sum liberalissimi