Chapter 10

The final months of Seventh Year passed quickly. As the shadow of their NEWTs approached, so did the anxiety of her fellow students. Nexi shook her head when one of the girls in her Charms class broke down crying about what a failure she was and how she'd get the lowest grades in their year and be sent home in disgrace. Poor girl, she thought, letting it get to her so hard.

Nexi had to admit she was nervous, but it was an excited nervous. No matter what, after those tests she was finished. An adult in the wizarding world, she would be able to live her life as she chose. She'd be able to breathe.

The tests were a blur. She thought she'd done well, but they wouldn't really know until summer. She'd graduate and her scores would come. Being finished was wonderful. She even smiled at Severus as they left the last test. He looked shocked. She hadn't spoken to him since the letter. And they still wouldn't be close. Not now.

As she packed up for the final time, she found herself oddly choked up. This hadn't been home, but it had been a large portion of her life for seven years. She'd written parts of her books in this room, in this school. Sitting on the bed, she contemplated the end of her schooling. Shaking it off, she stood back up and continued. Looking back was fine, but looking forward was much better.

The train ride back to London was bittersweet, but she had her own compartment and used the time to reflect on what she'd left and what she was heading toward. She'd be apparating when she got off the train, she could have directly from school, but she felt this was part of her journey. Severus would be going off to his new life and she hadn't said goodbye. Well, sometimes growing up meant leaving people behind. She sniffled for a moment, but stopped when she realized that there wasn't anything for it. He'd made his choice and so had she.

When the train stopped, she grabbed her trunk and Athena's cage. She'd sent the bird ahead, and would apparate with her luggage directly to the cottage. As she popped into the magical boundary, Nanny appeared on the front porch. Rushing forward, she grabbed the cage and trunk.

"Welcome home, Missy!" Nanny said, smiling. "I have dinner ready and Master Malfoy sent a message ahead that he'd be joining you!" She beamed. They entered the house and Nexi smiled at the coziness of it.

"That sounds wonderful, Nanny." She smiled at her elf. "If you don't mind, I'll head upstairs with my trunk and refresh myself. Lucius will be here when?"

"Two hours," Nanny said, making the trunk and cage disappear before her. "Your trunk is upstairs, and I've sent Athena's cage to the storage shed."

"Shed?" Nexi asked. "I didn't know there was a shed."

Nanny nodded. "It's in the back. Filled with other things."

Shaking off her curiosity for the moment she nodded and rushed upstairs. "I'll be down in a bit, Nanny. Please greet Lucius if he gets here before I arrive and stay clear of him after?" She'd seen his disdain for the house-elf he'd brought during their tryst . Nanny would not be mistreated, even by her lover. She waited for the elf to nod her understanding. "I will be leaving my hair down, so you can rest while I get ready. It's so good to be home, Nanny!"

Inside the large bathroom, she took a quick bath and then chose a simple set of robes in mint green. Brushing her hair loose down her back, she smiled at the reflection that greeted her. She started down the stairs and realized that Lucius had just arrived. Nanny was bowing and leaving him, as Nexi had asked, when her feet hit the first floor.

"Lucius!" She greeted, rushing into his arms. As they embraced, she sighed and felt him relax around her. "This feels so much better than just what I remembered."

"Incredible," he agreed, his voice husky. "I missed you, Onexia." He pulled back and tilted her head up to his. Lips finally touching after months apart, he was shocked the room didn't catch fire. Her moan confirmed that she felt the same way.

Pulling away, she asked a question she clearly knew the answer to. "Shall we eat first, or…"

He swept her into his arms, and as she giggled, he carried her up the stairs to their room. "Later, for now, I have a different hunger."

Hours later, after they exhausted their bodies to the point where food was necessary, they walked downstairs to find that Nanny had set up the dining room for two. The food was hot and plentiful, and wine was open and breathing. They sat down and enjoyed the first TRUE meal in Nexi's home. And they talked.

"I don't know how often I can visit," he started, and she smiled. "I'd do it daily, hourly if I could."

She shook her head. "That wouldn't be smart, Lucius. She'll know. We have to be careful. You and I both know that the Blacks aren't to be crossed." He didn't look happy, but he had to understand. "You're married to her, Lucius. Pretending doesn't remove reality."

Lucius grunted, he knew she was right, but he hated it. "She's not you, Nexi." He said, thinking that explained everything, and to him it did. "Do you have any idea the torture I feel when trying to do my 'husbandly duties'?" He looked green at the thought.

She took his hand and made him look at her. "And yet, you must. Narcissa, her family, your family all expect an heir, Lucius. It will happen, accept it."

He still looked disgusted. Sighing he nodded. She was absolutely right. Ugh, a child with Narcissa.

"I know, but I don't have to like it." He finished his food. "I shouldn't have brought it up. We don't have unlimited time, and I'm wasting it." She had eaten enough and agreed to table the discussion.

"Let's go upstairs, Lucius, and we can say a proper goodbye." She led him from the table and up the stairs for another round of mindblowing sex. Anything to take away his angst about his real life.

After Lucius left, kissing her senseless before apparating away, she called for Nanny. The elf popped up in front of her and she smiled. "Thank you for dinner, Nanny. I have a request, if you will hear it?" Nanny nodded her agreement and Nexi went on. "Teach me how to cook and keep house, please? In case, you one day want to take me up on my offer of freeing you."

Nanny looked confused. "But Nanny will never want to leave Missy. Why would Nanny?"

"Even if you don't, I want to know." Nexi said, trying to phrase it in a better way. "Will you teach me?"

"Will Missy promise not to free Nanny if she shows her?" Clearly worried about leaving Nexi, the elf's voice trembled.

"Yes, Nanny, I promise." Nexi answered, smiling kindly. "Now, let's start by showing me how to clean up the wonderful meal you made us. Then we can both go to bed and rest."

The elf nodded and took her mistress into the dining room for her first lesson in keeping house.