Updated: Friday, February 18 2005

Disclaimer: See Chapter One

Chapter Twenty Nine: Meet The Malfoys

Landing within the informal embrace of her uncle's arms, Estella was able to keep her footing as they appeared in front of an impressive stone manor.

"This is where they live?" Estella whispered in surprise as she looked up at her Uncle in question.

Severus nodded, thankful that for any wandering ears, it would appear his niece was looking down her nose at the sprawling estate in front of them – the Black and Snape estates were after all notorious for their grandeur. Leaning down to whisper in his niece's ear, he reminded her of that status.

Standing aside his niece, he took her arm gentlemanly and escorted her up the steps to the main entrance. The doors opened, unbidden, upon their approach to reveal a tall, slender blonde woman with severe features.

"Ah Severus," She cried in welcome as she ushered them into the manor's entrance hall. "How pleasant of you to accept our invitation."

Severus nodded in inclination and bowed, gently taking the woman's extended hand in his own and placing a faint kiss on her wrist. "A pleasure," he replied. Then, squeezing Estella's shoulder encouragingly, he pushed the child forward. "Allow me to introduce you to my niece, Estella Black."

Narcissa clasped her hands together in delight and bent over slightly to get a better look at the child. "Don't be silly, Severus." She cried, "I'd know who the child was anywhere! She's just how I imagined her. Severus you have done a remarkable job. My aunt would have surely approved, may her soul rest!"

Estella looked at the woman curiously and allowed herself a small smile at her apparent passing of the inspection. "It is very nice to meet you, Mrs Malfoy." She said, inclining her head respectfully, taking heed of her Uncle's warning that a person of her breeding would not curtsey to an equal.

Narcissa beamed, positively thrilled, and she pulled the unsuspecting child into a airy embrace, kissing each cheek with flourish. "Nonsense child, there's no need for formalities here, we're family!" She said, "call me Aunt Narcissa!"

Estella eyed the woman cautiously before throwing her uncle a questioning nod. Seeing his slight nod of approval, she faced Narcissa and corrected herself. "Very nice to meet you, Aunt Narcissa."

"Oh Severus, she's an absolute delight!" Narcissa beamed, "it's a crime that you deprived us of her for so long!"

Severus stiffened momentarily, "I do assure you Narcissa that it was not intentional. Estella has been a rather sickly child."

Narcissa looked at Estella sympathetically, a calculating look in her eye. "Mmm, yes, she does look rather small for her age." She concluded, "still, you have done a worthy job with her."

Estella shuddered inwardly under her Aunt's close scrutiny, comforted only by the stabilising presence of her uncle.

"Ah Narcissa, I see our special guest has arrived!" A smooth masculine voice said from a doorway, revealing a tall, menacing, immaculately dressed figure crossing the hall to shake hands with Severus.

Their macho rituals over, the man narrowed his hawk like gaze at Estella. "Step aside you silly woman, let me get a look at her." He said gruffly to his wife, as he made to stand toe-to-toe with his young cousin-in-law appraisingly. The calming draught still in effect, Estella was able to push aside her quaking inhibitions under the man's penetrating gaze and, chin raised stoically, matched him with a spirited glare of her own.

After an uncomfortable silence, the pointed blonde man quirked his eyebrows in amusement and smirked approvingly. "Clearly the progeny of a Snape and a Black." Was all he said as he stepped away to offer his hand to Estella to shake. "I am Lucius Malfoy." He said, shaking the child's hand firmly when she didn't hesitate to take his hand. "Since it appears we are cousins by virtue of marriage I would like to welcome you to the family."

Estella inclined her head respectfully. "Thankyou sir, it is a pleasure to meet you." She recited.

Lucius smiled shortly and took his wife's arm. "Narcissa dear, I do believe our young Draco has met his match." Then, addressing his guests. "If you would care to follow me, we shall adjourn to the parlour."

Severus nodded, and, placing an unnoticeably shaking hand on his niece's back, guided her behind the Malfoys in the direction where he knew their parlour to be.

"When will the other guests be arriving?" Severus queried as they entered the empty room and took their seats on deceptively comfortable dark leather settees.

Narcissa and Lucius exchanged a knowing look before Narcissa smiled falsely at Severus. "Oh," she said flippantly, "we decided to scale down the celebrations this year."

"You're the only ones who accepted our invitation." Lucius contributed with sickening sincerity.

"Is that so?" Severus said coolly, his eyes darkening in suspicion. Next to him, Estella subtly shifted closer.

"Uncle Severus!" a young voice cried from a unknown doorway. "You came!"

The adults in the room rose from their chairs and turned to face the approaching form of Draco Malfoy. Estella froze in her seat then rose stiffly to stand at her uncle's side. Seeing her, Draco stopped mid-step.

"Oh, you must be Estella." Draco said, extending his hand. "I'm Draco, Draco Malfoy."

"Indeed." Estella replied shortly, raising an eyebrow in perfect imitation of her uncle as she stood possessively in front of Severus to accept Draco's hand. "Many happy returns for the occasion of your birthday."

Draco nodded his head in acknowledgement, continuing to stare obtrusively at the girl he had up until that moment, only heard about. "Do you fly?"

Estella turned her nose up at him in distaste. "I have yet to ride a broom." She said with disdain. "I have much less frivolous things to do to occupy my time."

Severus explained. "My niece has proven quite astute in my Potions Lab."

"Why is that no surprise?" Narcissa smiled. "Draco, dear, perhaps you would like to show Estella your Potions Lab."

Draco nodded, smirking with satisfaction when he saw Estella's face fall open in surprise.

"You have your own Potions Lab?" She asked in awe, and a slight amount of envy.

Draco nodded smugly and gestured for her to follow. "Shall I show you?"

Estella hesitated. Seeing this, Severus cleared his throat. "I should very much like to see this lab of yours for myself," Severus requested. "Lucius, Narcissa, if you would grant my leave?"

"Shall we all go, then?" Lucius stated, not waiting for confirmation as he strode ahead of his son and into the inner bowels of the house.

Narcissa curtly shooed at Severus and Estella who walked with the younger Malfoy heir. "If you'd excuse my absence, I shall go oversee the party preparations."

Draco's lab, it turns out, was in a transformed room on the third floor, across from his private rooms. While the equipment was state of the art, and the resources admirable, Estella much rather preferred the efficient sparsity of her uncle's lab. Striding around the room appraisingly with her hands clasped behind her back (not unlike her Uncle when he would observe a class at work) while Severus and Lucius discussed specifics in the doorway, Estella made a mental list of criticisms.

"Well?" Draco asked boastingly. "Is this one of the best Potions Labs you have seen or what?"

Estella whirled around disdainfully to face the taller boy who was leaning languidly against a polished mahogany workbench. "Well, for aesthetic value alone it is surely impressive," she conceded, watching the smug look on Draco's face solidify. "However," she added slyly, determined to bring the annoying materialistic boy in front of her down a peg or two. "Do you realise that excessive exposure to UV rays like what these windows will inflict upon your ingredients will spoil the more sensitive potions?"

Draco looked, aghast, at his father and bona fide uncle. "Is this true, Father? Uncle Severus?"

Lucius looked to Severus for confirmation, the darker haired man being the unquestionable authority on the subject. "Indeed it is true," Severus said smugly. "Well done Estella for remembering that little piece of information."

Estella nodded politely. "Perhaps if the windows were charmed to repel the harmful light it will counter the effects." She suggested, "although the most appropriate location for a lab is underground. The atmosphere there is much less volatile."

"Oh I am certain the environment could be recreated with the right charms," Severus assured. "Such ministrations impact insignificantly upon a potion's potency."

'But they interfere all the same!' Estella shared a look with her equally perfectionist Uncle.

Lucius nodded. "I will see to it that it is done." He acquiesced, "I would have situated the lab in the manor's dungeons if not for their current occupation. Besides you know how Narcissa can be about such things, Severus."

"I do recall." Severus replied, keeping a distracting eye on his niece's body language.

"So, anything else wrong with my private lab?" Draco asked defensively, taken aback that his intended audience was not swooning and ogling his good fortune as he was so accustomed.

"Well oiled oak is a more deflective work surface than polished mahogany." Estella said. "It doesn't look as impressive, but these benches are far too porous."

"That will only be of concern if I make a habit of spilling my potions, right Father?" Draco asked, his face reddening.

Estella shrugged and moved to look at the shelves of bottled ingredients. "Did you prepare these ingredients all by yourself?" She enquired.

"Yes of course," Draco said proudly. "This is my private lab!"

Estella smirked, looking at the arrogant boy triumphantly. "You mislabelled this jar of shrivelled dragons nails here." She pointed helpfully. "They look to me like they are dried frogs legs."

Sure enough, Estella's potions master of an uncle confirmed her suspicions and it was Estella's turn to wear a smug look. Staring at the reddening face of her defeated foe she smiled disarmingly sweetly and said with a sincerity that fooled even Severus. "Of course, I have only my Uncle's lab to compare yours with, and he is of course a master of his craft" she stated. "I would like for you have the best private potions lab."

Draco looked up, surprised. "You do?" He asked in disbelief, "why?"

"Why?" Estella asked, appearing to be taken aback. "Why else? You're family!"

Lucius smiled a rare, genuine smile at the sight of his son getting along with a child more than worthy of his acquaintance. As an only child in a highly superior family it had been difficult to secure a playmate for his son that was his equal. Now, it appeared, that search was over.

Severus, meanwhile, looked upon the scene unfolding before him with smug satisfaction. If his niece didn't make it into Slytherin there was something seriously wrong with the sorting hat.

End Chapter: Meet the Malfoys