A/N: Same as before and no, he hasn't.

_

Eliah sat there, swaying slightly. Her mouth was set in a frown, her brow was creased, and she continued to weep.

It was at this moment, that Naxxus heard the familiar "swooshing" sound near the fireplace, and turned to see Tobias stepping out of the flames, and onto the rug. He brushed the ashes from his cloak, looked around, and then smiled.

"Well, how are the ladies this evening? Everything well with you two?"

Naxxus nodded and grinned.

"I am well, but I cannot say as much, for Eliah." she said and pointed at the girl laying on the sofa.

Tobias looked over at his daughter briefly. He raised one hand to his hair, touched it litely, and then let his hand fall to his side. He turned back to Naxxus.

"Oh dear, what is wrong with her? She should be happy tonight, since it is her wedding night."

Eliah groaned.

"She would be happy, if she wasn't in a rage and then within moments, riddled with fear and longing."

Tobias glanced in Eliah's direction.

"Why? What happened?"

Eliah groaned, but said nothing.

Naxxus grinned.

"Really Tobias, you should have paid more attention to what went on at the wedding! Did you not see Icarius Ridgely having a go at your daughter? Or, did Lucius not mention that to you?"

Tobias grunted softly and pulled up a chair from near the wall. When he was seated, he looked to Naxxus.

"He did mention something about Ridgely, but he seemed to feel it was of no importance, and did not elaborate on the subject matter."

"I see." Naxxus looked over him at Eliah. She did not know whether the girl was paying attention to what was said, but she felt it needed to be spoken.

"What was he saying to Eliah?"

Naxxus shifted in her chair, and looked at him fully.

"He was telling Eliah, that because Lucius is thirty years older then she is, that makes him an old man. He was apparently wanting to know, what a young girl, would want with a man of Lucius' age."

The groan erupted fresh from the sofa.

"He said I was merely after Lucius' money! That I could not possibly want to be bedded by an old man, unless he had the gold in Gringott's to back it up!"

Tobias stared at his daughter for a moment.

"Oh, I see now. I did wonder a bit, when Lucius mentioned your age, and how Ridgely was a pompous git. Well, no need to worry, my dear! We know the real reason, and that is good enough for all involved."

Eliah smirked.

"Is it really? Does Lucius love me, or is he just wanting to bed me? Those are the questions Icarius threw at me! I could not even answer them! I have been Lucius' wife for only four hours, and I cannot even say if my own husband loves me..." she trailed off at this. Her face was shadowed and tired looking.

Naxxus was startled by this outburst. Eliah was not one to give into such childish worries. If a man loved her, that was fine...and if he did not, that was always fine, too...

But now? She was definitely worried whether Lucius Malfoy loved her. And, she had a very clear feeling, that if he did not, Eliah would be crushed.

"Eliah, my child, I told you never worry what Ridgely has to say! He is a fine one to talk about who was what age when they married! His wife was twenty-five years his senior, when he married her! And, he was after her gold! As I say, do not worry..." he stroked his chin slowly, "As for Lucius' love for you, I can safely say, it is real and it is, there."

Eliah gasped softly.

"Oh...I would never question his love...no, just what is being said..." she hung her head slightly.

"Naxxus knew it was time to move onto other matters, so she turned to Tobias. She smiled warmly.

"Now Tobias, what brings you here, at this late hour?"

Tobias laughed deeply.

"Oh yes, that...well, there is a Quidditch match tomorrow evening, and Lucius' son, Draco is playing in it. He plays Seeker for Slytherin, you know?"

Both Naxxus and Eliah nodded.

"Yes, we know, but what does that have to do with us?" Naxxus inquired.

Tobias smiled a bit more.

"Lucius is, of course, attending it. Usually does, when Slytherin is playing..."

"And?" Naxxus eyes him curiously.

"And, he obviously wishes to show off his new wife..."

Again, Eliah gasped.

"Hush you." Naxxus spat.

She fell silent.

"But, I thought, and correct me if I am wrong, that Lucius was not to be near Eliah, until after the Vow was performed?"

Tobias chuckled.

"That is very true, however, the others and myself, have decided, that just for this one time, the law can be relaxed. So," he turned to Eliah, who was sitting on the edge of the sofa staring wide eyed at her father, "we have decided, that she may attend the match with Lucius. I will be there, so I can watch to make sure things remain, erm, pure and chaste between them."

Naxxus laughed coldly.

"You think he would deflower his new bride right there, before the eyes of the governors, the teachers and the children? Surely you are making it more then what it could be? Even Lucius Malfoy, would not stoop that low!"

But then, she thought to herself, he might do just that, if it suited him in some way. He was, after all, a Malfoy...they could not be trusted with anything, or anyone.

And that, is what bothered Naxxus the most.