Chapter 31
I stepped off the muggle contraption (a Tacsi, Lily called it), trying not to look queasy. Admittedly, the Tacsi was, in many ways, better than the Knight Bus. But it was a muggle object, and I still found it hard to believe I'd gotten off it in one piece. How did muggles live like this, with no magic? I'd only gone like this for a day (all right, less, even) and already I was finding it hard to cope.
"See, muggles aren't all that bad." Lily was saying, as she walked towards her house (at least I thought it was a house; it looked like a bloody hovel compared to my mansion). Not bad, she said? Muggles were horrible!
"Ah, but they are." I could almost see her roll her eyes. She rang the doorbell, and a moment later, a woman who bore a painstaking resemblance to her opened it. Her mother, no doubt.
"Lily, darling!" I was left on the doorstep, standing awkwardly (and feeling the same way), while Lily's mother gushed on and on about how good it was to see her again. I felt a small spasm of jealousy, at seeing her family. They were so. . . happy. So unlike mine. The instant I felt it, I brushed it off; I was a Malfoy pureblood. Of course we had different practices.
"Yes mum, I'm fine, Dad's all right? And Petunia—she's alright too?" Lily said, as she tried unsuccessfully to fend off her mother's attentions.
"Perfect, she's with her friends, you know, Christmas shopping and all." Mrs. Evans answered, and, while brushing off imaginary pieces of lint, peered over her daughter's shoulder to look at me. "This must be Lucius?" She motioned for me to come closer, and she smiled warmly. I smiled back. She looked so much like Lily, save for her blue eyes, it was hard not to. "My, what a handsome young man you are." She wrapped me in a motherly hug; she smelled of flowers and cookies.
The irony of the situation was laughable; my own mother didn't hug me, but this woman, this stranger, did it with such pleasant familiarity.
"Both of you, you must be freezing, come on in, out of the cold. Richard?" A pale-looking man walked into the room. Pale, like he hadn't gone outside in quite some time; pale, like he didn't have enough blood. Lily's father.
"Daddy." Lily said softly, walking over to him and embracing him. She loved him very much. I could tell. "Are you better?"
"What nonsense has your mother been writing to you now? I'm fit as a bull, and I could" he stopped to cough into a handkerchief, "just a bit of coughing, you know, nothing wrong. Lillian," he turned to Lily's mother, "you mustn't exaggerate these" he coughed again, "stories, wouldn't want Lily to be worried about her old man when she's got her Lizards coming up--"
"O.W.L.'s" Lily interjected softly.
"Precisely, what I meant to say. Is this the young man Lily's been writing about?" He looked at me, and clapped me on the back. "You be nice to her, or you'll have me to answer to, you hear?" He said jovially. From the corner of my eye, I saw Lily turn a bright red. She was adorable.
"I will, sir." What else could I say? And I had to me polite. I was raised that way (I managed to block out the part in my upbringing which specifically taught me that muggles were better dead than alive, and there was absolutely nothing wrong with Avada Kedavra-ing them).
"Don't 'sir' me, just call me Richard."
"How about some hot chocolate? We'll get Lucius settled in first. You don't mind staying in the attic, do you dear?" I shook my head, and smiled the smile I reserved especially for mothers.
From what I could tell, mothers, whether witch or muggle, acted the same: they all believed you were trying to steal their daughters from them (which I most certainly was, but I was in no hurry to let her know that, was I?).
"We've cleaned it up quite well, don't you worry." She turned to Lily. "You show him to his room, I'll get your father to bed." She whispered the last statement; loud enough for everyone but her husband to hear.
"No problem mum. Lucius, could you?" She motioned to the trunks, her eyes and voice just a little too bright. I nodded; she couldn't do any magic, because of that stupid law against Underage Wizardry, but I could.
"Locomotor Trunk." I waited until her parents were already out of the room, so they wouldn't have to ogle at the sight of magic being done in front of them.
Our luggage floating eerily behind us, we walked up the stairs. She said nothing; her eyes shining brighter and brighter with unshed tears, as she showed me the way to my room.
"That's the room Petty and I sleep in," she managed to croak, in a very un-Lily-like manner. I levitated the trunk, and let it drop gently onto her bed.
We finally reached the attic, via a set of narrow steps that resembled,
somewhat uncannily, some of those at Hogwarts.
"I'll help you unpack," she croaked again, but I had a certain feeling that that wasn't the reason she was here.
"It's all right, Lily." I gathered her into my arms, and stroked her hair gently. Her father's sickness was really bothering her, I knew.
If it had been my father, I wouldn't have been worrying about him; instead, I would have been worrying about my inheritance, and when I would get it. I might even have been worrying about his will, and wondering if I would have to make another one (with his forged signature, of course); one that suited me. The thought almost made me ashamed of myself. Almost. My father was not the man Lily's father was. The same rules didn't apply, did they?
"Lucius, I'm so worried about him--" she hiccoughed, "and he's trying to act like--"she hiccoughed again, "like nothing's wrong, but"-hic- "there is!" She sobbed vehemently, burying her face into my now-tear-soaked sweater.
"Listen—I can't tell you he's going to be all right. If what you're saying is any indication, I know he won't be here forever. But he wouldn't want you crying over him, would he? He wants you to be happy, and if you're happy, then so will he. I can tell what kind of man he is, Lily; he doesn't want to be treated like a sick invalid. Act like nothing's wrong. You don't want to remind him of what's going to happen soon, yeah?" She gave me her watery smile, complete with teary green eyes and a red nose. She was so beautiful. "Don't cry, they might think I made you." I admonished tenderly. "Then I'd be kicked out of this quaint little muggle settlement. You want that to happen?" She shook her head, and, before I knew it, she had tackled me down with a bear hug.
I kissed her lightly on her nose (now a pinkish color), and held her loosely.
I eyed the unopened trunks with great disdain. No house-elves. I turned to Lily.
"Er, how do you unpack these things?"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Author's notes:
This is a quickie chapter, since I still feel guilty for not studying J Hope this chappie's okay enough J Two more chapters of muggle-ness, before the return to Hogwarts, and the inevitable initiation. . . *dang dang dang* *scary music*
Thank You's:
tv-fan-06—thanks! J I'm glad you liked it J
Dwen—Yes, I'm sad to say, I think it really is the last bit of fluff there. *sob* You're right though, Lily can persuade Lucius to do *almost* anything. That 'almost' hints at something ominous and horrible to come. There was a line somewhere, where Lucius said something like 'If it made her happy. . .'. So, that shows how much he likes making her happy, and how much he hates to make her cry. I'm sure you would have enjoyed that beach in South Carolina a lot more if Lucius had stayed there J
Chelli—I know, midterms come much too soon. I should be studying, but, as tomorrow's a holiday here, I've decided to procrastinate a bit. Bwehehehe. I loved writing (*ahem* borrowing) that line [from Lucius' Pensieve]. Lily's still Lily, and despite her never-changing goodness, she borrows a bit of Lucius' mischievousness. *is shocked that mischievousness is actually a word*. Hope you enjoyed your vacation out of town J And thanks for reviewing twice! J
Erenriel—hmm, you think Lucius accio-ed the bunny over to your house? Or maybe that bunny's a Duracell bunny in secret, and you know, it goes on and on, etc. *covers the computer screen, is case Lucius is behind her* *whispers* he doesn't like the fact that he might need therapy, he thinks he's perfect. . .
*Lucius apparates in* "Who's perfect?"
*Author coughs* "You, of course."
*Author tries to lean casually on computer screen*
*Lucius, with his incredibly smart wizard intellect, notices instantly and sees through the plan*
"Hiding something, are we?"
*Author tries lie and look convincing; key word: try; Author cannot convince expert liar like Lucius* "Of course not."
*Lucius sweeps author away unceremoniously onto floor, and glares at computer screen*
*Author is freaked out. . . however. . . a quick glance at the computer screen shows her Quidditch screen saver is on*
"That's supposed to be Draco, is it? And that's Harry?" *Lucius points to Daniel and Tom*
"Er, yes, it is." *Author yet again attempts to lie, since Lucius does not look convinced* "That's what I was hiding from you. I have a. . . er. . . crush on Draco." *this is obviously a blatant lie, since Lucius is the only one the author will ever love* (that sounded sooo sad)
*Lucius raises eyebrow*
"I see." *Lucius has strange-yet-evil smirk on face, as he disapparates* (probably to tell Draco of his *cough cough* admirer)
Whew. That was close. Erenriel, you owe me a nice, long review next time J I just saved you from Lucius' crucio. J
Addy—ADDY!!! *hugs* You're back!!! Of course, I'll send over the rest of the dragon-meat (I only managed to force 1/8th of it down), I hope it doesn't spoil in the mail. *shudders at the thought of greenish dragon meat rotting* Thank you so muchyou're your long long long review! It was 3 kb in my hotmail inbox, and I almost fell off the chair! (And no, this was not one of my regular bouts of clumsiness; I really was happy and surprised) You're right, it's unfair. I hate the evil midterms. Our English test was *horrible*. And I thought it would be easy. I've never had a multiple choice exam with eight choices per number, the last two choices being 'all of the above' and 'none of the above'. That is just so wrong. *sigh* Oh well. I'm glad you think this story is one of the top 5 Lily fics J People ought to make more Lucius/Lily stories. Evil, especially Lucius-evil, is sooo deliciously delectable. Yum. J
Sarah—don't worry, I shan't attach the 29 to your name J Hmm, sunglasses. Good idea. I'll mention it (and dedicate to you, o' course) somewhere in the next two chapters. Those are the 'muggle-life' chappies. Oi, I *would* review!! I told you midterms are being extremely mean. J
Runespoor Oracle—here's 'more'! J thanks for reviewing! J
