Chapter Eleven:
Lucius held the seven-month old baby girl in his arms. Narcissa stood, walking to her husband.
"Does this mean Bella-?"
"Lost the trial, yes. This is your niece, Elizabeth."
"What surname are you going to use?" Narcissa said, waiting patiently. She knew who had actually fathered the child, and it wasn't her brother-in- law.
"Malfoy. I recognize her as my legitimate child. Bella has kept my name for her anyway." He handed the bundle to his wife. "Take her to Draco's old nursery; that will suffice for now."
"Elizabeth! Elizabeth, wake up!" Draco shook his four year old sister.
"W-w-why?" Elizabeth said, failing to stifle a yawn.
"It's Christmas and I have presents! I got a broom!"
She sat up. "A real one?" she asked, suddenly awake. Draco nodded, and tossed her a small wrapped package. "What's this?"
"Your present. It's from Father, I think."
Elizabeth opened it. Inside the small black velvet box, there was a necklace, adorned with a masterfully-worked purple stone that seemed to glow. On the back, a small word was engraved: Black. A tiny card fell out of the box.
"'From your Mother.'"
Elizabeth woke up from her long sleep. Blaise was in the corner, sleeping on an armchair. Silently, she got up and walked to him. Elizabeth gently shook him, and the dark-haired Slytherin boy woke up.
"Blaise. Blaise, let's do something. I'm tired of sitting around here doing nothing."
Groggily, Blaise replied, "What do you want to do, then, be a rebel?"
"What exactly do you mean by that?"
"Well, we could go to the Muggle world, if you're not scared or anything…"
"Me? Scared by Muggles? Theo will probably not want to go; I mean, remember his last run-in with Muggles?" Elizabeth laughed.
"Let's go boating."
"Boating? As in physical labor boating?"
"No, as in top speed, mechanical boating."
"Alright. But, who's going to drive, then?"
"I can drive a boat."
"Since when?"
"Since Draco, Theo and I went out to the channel last year, when you were sick."
"That's where you went? I thought you went to-" Elizabeth began, but Blaise leaned down and kissed her. He whispered something in Elizabeth's ear, and her eyes widened. "No, Blaise, you have to wait! You know the code."
"And I also know ways around the code…"
"No," Elizabeth said. Changing the subject, she added, "We should tell Draco and Theo. You can find them; I have to go home to get my things. And Draco's things, I suppose." Blaise let go of her.
"Fine." He turned, and added, "But I will have it."
"I know."
Elizabeth was wearing a designer bikini under her brown dress. She had on Chanel Sunglasses for Wizards, and she toted a Louis Vuitton bag, which had her wand, towel, and keys in it.
"Ready?" Elizabeth said to the three Slytherins, who were all waiting in the foyer of Blaise's house.
"We've been ready for a couple of hours now, Beth," Blaise said, apparently annoyed. Elizabeth grinned sheepishly, and then shrugged.
"Let's go." Elizabeth grabbed Blaise and the Slytherins Disapparated.
"Hey, Beth!" Blaise called out. "We're going in, okay?"
"Yeah, sure…"
"You want to come with us?"
"No, that's quite alright."
"Suit yourself." Two splashes were heard. Elizabeth shifted her position. She didn't notice that Blaise was sneaking up behind her.
SPLASH! Elizabeth was now in the lake, and the others were laughing.
"EWWW!" Elizabeth shrieked. "There are kelpies and grindylows in here!" She swam over to where her boyfriend was standing on the boat, fully clothed. "Blaise, could you give me a hand, please?" He reached his hand down. Elizabeth yanked as hard as she could, and he came toppling into the water, landing on top of her.
"Damn it, Elizabeth!" Blaise swore. "Elizabeth?" They only saw bubbles for a few moments. Then, Elizabeth came up, face red.
"BLAISE! You lost me my sunglasses! GET THEM BACK, NOW!" Blaise pulled her closer.
"No way, Bethy. I don't think I owe you any favors right now," Blaise whispered, sneering. "You ruined my shirt," he added as an afterthought.
"So? It's not like you can't afford another one."
"Then, buy new sunglasses."
"I can't. They were limited edition," Elizabeth whined. Then, she brightened up a bit. "Oh well. Your loss. You bought them."