Chapter 14
Lucius' POV
I once more ended up having to muffle my room from the sound of Ginevra being pleased. However, I did allow myself to enjoy it for a while. The following morning, I didn't come down for breakfast. I think the time change finally caught up with me. Once awake, I wrote a couple of Owls and sent them off. When I came downstairs, Evagelina was sitting at the breakfast bar working on homework. I glanced around. "Good morning,"
"Good morning." She smiled at me, but still looked like she was feeling uncomfortable.
It was my job to put her at ease. "I'm sorry my reaction to you made you uncomfortable. I spent so many years with your dad when he wasn't a dad, and Draco was always using the term 'dad,' I simply replied to the title."
She looked up at me. "I can't find a term that feels right to call you. Mr. Malfoy is way too formal. Lucius... well, if I'm calling an adult by their first name, it's normally one of my uncles or aunts with the added title. Dad is dad; I'm sorry if that hurts. Pa seems too old fashioned and informal for you."
"Draco now often uses the term Father, or many female British aristocrats use the term Papa."
"Maybe I will use Father, but it might take some time," she admitted.
"Take all the time you need. So, where is everyone else?"
"Mom is writing, Dad is in his lab, and Wyatt is in his room. Are you looking for breakfast?"
"I am."
She points to a cupboard. "Mom says after a guest has been here twice, they are family and can help themselves. Breakfast was cereal today."
I opened the cupboard and found a number of boxes. "What do you suggest?"
"Do you like sugary or not?"
"What is your favorite one?"
"The Frosted Flakes."
As I made my cereal, I asked, "This Star Wars marathon tonight, what exactly is it?"
"It's three of the best movies of all time! There's something in the story for everyone, even saps like Mom! Tonight will be my first time seeing someone else see it for the first time!"
"I look forward to it." I smiled at her. "Severus showed me your room and I saw some of your sketches. You draw very well." She smiled at me.
"Thank you. I like to draw horses. A couple years back, we were camping and there was this herd of wild horses. I had Mom take a bunch of pictures so I could draw them. It was so amazing!"
"I have stables with a few horses at the Manor," I informed her.
She smiled at that. It's progress; small and slow, but still forward movement.
When Marie got back to the house, the ladies started pulling out all the movie supplies. There were crisps, popcorn, about eight different types of candy, and cans of fizzy drink, all placed in the living room. Ginevra came over to me. "Please tell me you brought some sleep wear?"
"Why Ginevra, that's bold! Your husband's not fifteen feet away!"
She laughed at me. "Part of the tradition of this is everyone wears their night clothing."
"I recall you slept in the nude. This evening just became very enjoyable," I teased her.
"Still do," she teased back, "but I do have kid appropriate nightwear."
"Children; always ruining the best fun!" I pouted.
She shook her head at me. "Lucius, you're doing far better than I expected you would with all of this."
Twenty minutes later, in a darkened room, the movie started. I read the yellow writing on the screen; Episode 4. "Why aren't we starting at Episode One?"
Evangelina stopped the movie from playing. "Because this is how the movies first came out. Now read; It's important.'' She made the movie go again.
War, rebels, evil empire. Ok, I can give this a chance, I thought to myself.
This Princess sounds like a Potter type.
The guy in black; I like his cape.
I understand him. Good help is hard to find.
Lord Vader? Hmm. As the movie continued, I glanced over at Ginevra, who was snuggled up to Severus. He looked too comfortable.
The Force? Hmmm, sounds like how magic works.
Sorcerer's ways? Choke a man without touching him? This just got interesting.
Did the old man just use the Imperius Curse?
That thing is a live lump of shit!
At one point, the movie is stopped and Severus orders Chinese food, then the movie resumes. This battle is much like a wand duel.
As the movie ended, the wards went off announcing a visitor. Severus and Wyatt went to the door and the girls headed into the kitchen, putting out plates and cutlery. Ginevra slid over to me. "I would love to know what you're thinking about this."
"I can sympathize with Darth Vader," I admitted.
She laughed at me. "Severus and I figured you would."
"The Force is similar to magic," I whispered to her.
"I know. This is the type of thing we are talking about with Marie. Severus and I will chat with you later about it." Severus and Wyatt returned with two large paper bags. "Come on! This is the best Chinese food this side of China!" She patted my knee as she started to get up. I lingered a few seconds to enjoy the view of her from behind. "Wyatt, I've been meaning to tell you all day; Mr. Sorrento invited you to join him and Tony at the hockey game tomorrow night."
"Really? What did you tell him, Mom?"
"I said that I felt if I said no, you would hate me until the summer." Ginevra smiled at her son.
"Mom, you're the best!" The boy hugged her.
After we have all returned to the living room, Marie seated herself next to me. As the next movie is being set up, she tells me, "You know, this is actually my favorite night of the whole year! My favorite movies with my favorite people in the world. That now includes you, The Sequel!"
I shook my head at the girl. As the words scrolled up the screen, Darth Vader's obsession reminds me of Voldemort's obsession with Potter. I glanced at Severus, who gave me a look that told me he thought the same thing. Wyatt was sitting between Ginevra and Severus, but I noticed their arms are draped across the top of the sectional sofa and touching. Evangelina finally sat down between me and Severus.
A green house elf? He's an annoying little shit.
That is a Jedi Master?
Darth Vader has a master? Again, I glanced at both Severus and Ginevra. He gives me the same look as before. She's clearly finding my reactions amusing. That's fine, Ginevra. It just shows that you care.
Are the guys in white able to hit anything?
His father? What?
By the end of the third movie, I can't help but see parallels between myself and Vader. We both followed a master who was using us til something better came along, and our sons were what lead to our own redemption.
After the movies were done, the children headed up to their rooms. "Time for a little foolish wand waving, Severus," Ginevra announced.
He pulled out his wand and did a charm. "The main floor is charmed now, so they won't hear us talking," he explained.
"Scary how much magic is in the movies right now and how correct it is without being direct with it," Ginevra stated as she started cleaning up.
"We never stopped that for being put out to Muggles?" I asked.
"It's labeled as fantasy and science fiction. Here's the thing with Marie; the closer to being right about magic she gets, the more she's into it. It's freaky because the girl has no magic of her own."
"She seems to have a better understanding of it than many of us," Severus claimed.
"I have been meaning to talk to you guys about this," Evangelina said from the stairs. "I just passed the charm!" She smiled. "Marie is talking to her dad, so she's going to be awhile."
"What did you want to say?" Ginevra asked.
"Former Headmistress McGonagall had a speaking engagement with our year talking about career paths. I had the chance to speak to her as there are no classes at the school to help me and I chatted with her about Marie. She thinks Marie might be a very rare type of Muggle, more rare than Muggle borns. A slang term for them is an Occultist. She's going to find out who in the Canadian Ministry can check into this and Owl you about it."
I had never heard the term. I looked over at Severus, then Ginevra. They were clearly in the same boat as myself.
"What else did she say?" Severus asked.
"Well, she doesn't know the rules here, but in England, they're highly prized because they're drawn to magic and the paranormal."
"She stated we were her favorite people in the whole world. Ginevra, how does she feel about the rest of your family?" I asked.
"To visit, we normally go to England. Mum and Dad have visited here most; you know how Dad loves Muggles. Marie finds them a bit odd, but likes them. Well, we will have to wait for Professor McGonagall's Owl," Ginny finished.
"If she is one, in England she would be allowed to know about our world!" Evangelina said excitedly. "It would be so cool! I hate lying to her."
"Honey, keep calm. She most likely isn't one and it's all just chance."