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MissesE: Thank you so much for your support! Very glad to hear you liked the last chapter! Huhu 😊 Hope you will enjoy this chapter as well. Happy reading!

#Prayfortheworld

Chapter 17: Red Salivia

RITA Skeeter slammed her hands on her paper filled desk with great frustration. For weeks she had been finding it hard to get a good material for her gossip column.

The "Snape's Scandals" were no longer attracting the readers, so as the 'Malfoy's Beast Scandals' that used to be the greatest gossip especially amongst the female witches. In fact; the pictures that she had taken of the Malfoy Patriach and his young date weeks before, did not turned out to be successful at all!

Someone had abruptly pushed her, and thus, caused her to take blurred snapshots pictures of the couple!

"Damn it!" Rita slammed her hands onto the desk again.

"If only that bloody Allen Roberts hadn't suddenly cut off his every connections with me, I could have very easily gotten my hands on the materials about those two Wizards and the muggle!" She growled loudly to no one.

Huffing, Rita decided a cup of tea mixed with vodka would do her mind justice. Walking over to the dark cherry wooden shelves to find the said vodka, Rita suddenly stopped when she felt unfamiliar presence at her doorstep.

Wordlessly, she reached out for her wand on the desk and pointed at the door.

"Who's there at the door?" Rita commended.

The door burst out opened and revealed a young woman stood at the door wearing a deep red hooded cloak, with a hidden face covered by her long flowing dark Mocha hair.

"Who are you and what business do you have with me? I don't remember expecting a visitor tonight. Even if I do, it certainly not a young woman."

The mysterious young woman chuckled lightly. "How unfortunate. Here I am willingly giving you a free service after all that you have done nothing but failed me."

Rita deeply frowned. "What are you talking about?"

The young woman lifted her left hand in the air and snapped her fingers.

Instantly, the stationeries in Rita's office elevated and and surrounded Rita, with sharp objects all pointed out at her.

Rita's mouth was agape when the stationeries on her desk and shelves had elevated and surrounded her in a slow anxious motion. As if they were ready to attack her without any warnings whatsoever.

Rita tried to cast a repelling spell but found herself she couldn't. She tried many times casting one spell after another but greatly failed at it.

"You're wasting your time, love." The mysterious lady spoke after a while.

"Shut up!" Rita hissed. "What do you want from me? I have nothing!"

"Ah, but you do. In fact, you of all the people have what I wanted the most," She showed several photos taken by the media at her. Photos of Severus Snape and Lucius Malfoy along with their Muggle friend and another Wizard in public.

"Do you recognise these people?" The young woman asked again, pointed out a black nail at Snape and Malfoy.

Rita rolled her eyes. "Who wouldn't? Everyone knows who they are unless they've been living under the Stonehenge all these years."

"Good. Then you would know these two as well?" She then pointed photo of Claire Rollins and Willy Wonka.

"I know that fella. Unfortunately, not the young wo...man..." Rita's eyes grew widened. She snatched the photo from the young woman's hand for a closer look.

Rita gasped. "Sweet Merlin! It's that little Muggle bitch at the Spring ball! And also Malfoy's date at the Hogwart's Quidditch House Cup! I would never forget such hideous looking face!"

"Excellent. In that case, I have a task for you. I want every information you could gather about this young Muggle and her relationships with these two men. In addition to that, I would also like you to investigate the other Wizard as well."

Rita snorted loudly. "Do you really expect me to simply follow your orders just like that? Honestly?" Narrowing her eyes, Rita said again, "I don't work for free, dearie. If you want something from me, I expect something in return."

"You shall do as I asked for. In return, I will let you on a little secret..." The young woman lifted her chin to look.

Rita gasped again, loudly this time. Her eyes filled with terror.

"It can't be... I-It's impossible!"

Right after those words left her mouth, a scissor was pointed at her neck.

Rita was clearly petrified. Never before had she expected to face another terrifying horror after months of living in peace and silence.

"Now that you have see me, you do realised just how capable I am to destroy you in a blink of an eye, do you?"

Rita nodded her head, very slowly.

"Good." The young woman dropped her hand and everything else dropped on the floor in a hard slam.

"I'll be sure to check on you time from time. Do not rebel on me, Miss Skeeter. Unlike someone we all know, I will not hesitate on killing you for my own personal gain. I reckon hink twice before you decide to let anyone knows about this conversation."

The woman quickly, apparated to Merlin knows where.

As soon as she left, Rita's trembled knees gave in and she slipped down on the floor.

Rita Skeeter was no pushover. She was everyone's nightmare when it comes to false informations and gossips however, rarely she showed her weaknesses. During the First and Second Wizarding World, though Rita might have fled from the war to save her own life, never once did she felt scared or terrified.

That was, until at this very moment.

She couldn't tell anyone about what had just happened. She couldn't even write it down to the 'Daily Prophet' to warn other people, fearing what might have happened to her life later.

Rita Skeeter did the next thing that she knew best －researching.

DECEMBER arrived in a blink of an eye. Before everyone knew it, it was already Christmas. However, unlike the previous years, the Malfoys had decided that this year, they would forsaken the traditional way of spending Christmas by going off to somewhere else.

Somewhere at the snowy Mountains in Canada, there was a private property owned by the Malfoy for their Summer Vacation House. It was there where Severus Snape, Lucius and Draco Malfoy, Claire Rollins and the latest addition to their small group, Willy Wonka decided to spend their Christmas.

The sound of someone crashed onto the thick white snow, and fell ungracefully on her butt, followed by a loud burst of manly laughters by the two men standing not so far away from the scene.

"You gotta keep your balance, love!" Willy Wonka shouted out aloud under the canopy he was currently occupied under with Lucius who were over watching them.

Claire Rollins got up to her shaky feet after the ungraceful fall from her skateboard. Her face was red, partially from the fell and the rest from the embarrassment.

"Darn it. Why can't I use the darn poles like you?"

"Because you're not skiing!" Severus Snape answered, stopping beside her. He chuckled deeply at her. "You're a clumsy lass, aren't you?"

"Shut up." Claire grumbled and got up. She was determined to try snowboarding at least once in her life. "Damn it. I CAN do this!"

Of course, doing so was easier said than done.

A fem moment later, after repeatedly falling on her butt and embarrassing herself, Claire began to wander if she could snowboarding after all.

"Can I really do this?" She grumbled loudly.

Panting heavily, Claire got up on her feet once again before someone called out to her.

"Having trouble, love?" Lucius stopped in front of her. He chuckled deeply while offering his hands for her.

Claire rolled her eyes at his remarks. Taking his hands, she got up on her feet easily. She then looked at him with one hand on her hips.

"Go ahead and laugh, Lucius. I really can't do this."

"Neither could I. Why do you think I'd refused your offer earlier?"

"Huh. Is that so?" Claire snorted. "Here I'd thought you could do almost anything."

"Anything? Prey tell, love, just what exactly do you have in mind?" Lucius came closer to her. She could feel his breathing on her face as their noses were brushing each other.

Their lips were very closed on touching when they heard something shouted loudly at them to move out of the way.

"Huh?" Claire pulled away first, and turned her head to look at the source of the voice.

A snowboarder was heading toward them rapidly fast. Claire, with her feet still stuck on the snowboard, started to panic as the snowboarder getting closer, when all the suddenly she felt an arm wrapped around her waist before found herself being pushed to the other side －her feet finally freed from the snowboard as the incoming snowboarder passed by them.

"Are you all right, Claire?" Lucius said a moment later.

Claire nodded and gave a small smile. "Thanks."

The snowboarder earlier made a turn and stopped before them. he turned to look at them who were still on the ground and frowned.

"Kindly do not bother the other boarders if you're not into snowboarding, Miss Claire."

"Apologise, Draco. Claire was just having a slight problem with it." Lucius said.

"I can clearly see that, Father." Draco scoffed.

"If it isn't too much of a problem to ask, perhaps you could teach her how to snowboarding, Draco?"

Draco raised an eyebrow at his father's request, before his eyes moved from the man to the young woman beside him.

While he had made a promise to his Father that he would act more tolerable and civilized in her presence due to his love to his father, that doesn't give him any reasons that he should like her －especially when she had punched him in front of everyone, and the Weasley of all the people!

Sighed, Draco reluctantly nodded.

Lucius smiled warmly to his son before helping his girlfriend to get back on her feet.

And so it began.

Draco's Lesson 101 on Snowboarding.

For Lucius, it was a chance for his son to see Claire more than just a mere Muggle and is someone who was important in his life. Someone whom Lucius would never want to trade for anything else.

For Claire, it was a beginning of hell. Because the moment Lucius had left the two of them and headed to the canopy where Severus Snape and Willy Wonka were enjoyed drinking hot cocoa, Draco smirked sinisterly at her.

Oh boy.

"Oi, use your waist more!" Draco slapped Claire firmly on the back of her waist, causing her to shriek a bit too loud.

"Hey, what was that for?" She frowned, turning to look at the younger looking man.

"You're doing it all wrong! Honestly." Draco yelled and rolled his eyes. "You have to move your waist more not just your feet. You ought to find balance. Only then you won't down flat on your face and make a fool yourself! Now try again!"

From far, Lucius watched his son coaching Claire using a pair of Muggle-made Binocular. He could see improvement in her skills, albeit slowly. Sighing, Lucius never felt so at eased. Everything that he needed, his family, back together again.

While Lucius did missed Narcissa from time to time, especially during Christmas, when family gathered together, he found himself at peace knowing that she had gone to a hopefully better place than here. He knew Draco was having a hard time. After all, he had been a Mummy's boy growing up. However, Lucius knew if anything, his boy had grown up after the war.

It would take Draco some time to accept that Claire was slowly becoming a part of his life now. But Lucius had a full confident that when the time comes, he would finally understood why he, Lucius chose the Muggle in the first place.

"They seem to have fun." Willy voiced out all the sudden.

After the whole 'kidnapping' event and the fact that Lucius had beaten the wizard within the inch of his life after stunning him, and brought him to face with Shacklebolt, Willy had explained his intention and told them everything; about Claire's past, his connection with her, his reason for choosing her and including pledged his undying loyalty to Claire and only her alone.

When Severus had asked him about the Death Mark, Willy had said he spotted two Death-Eaters were trying to break through the barrier surrounding the manor, and thus, had used Killing Curse on the poor sods.

It was also revealed that Willy had known Claire's biological parents, both Muggles, way before she had been born during one of his trips to the Muggle world to do some researches. They had been neighbours when he had first left the Wizarding World and came and lived in the Muggle world when she had been an infant.

Willy had later revealed that he was, in fact, Claire's Godfather, when her biological parents had died in the nasty fire caused by the Dark Lord during one of his riots.

The reason why he chose not revealed himself to her all these years because he had been confused himself as why Claire had survived when the Dark Lord had crucio-ed her. Initially, Willy had thought that Claire had been someone else who bore the same name as his God-daughter.

For Claire, the whole thing had been bizarre for her mind to take. Nevertheless, she accepted it with an opened heart. After all, he was her only link to her biological parents now.

Lucius blinked his eyes a couple of times before he turned to look at the said wizard who was smiling gleefully at his God-daughter.

"Indeed they are. Although, Draco seems a bit harsh on her. I should have a word with him later." A hard pat on his right shoulder by the same wizard caused Lucius to nearly bit his tongue.

"Ah, you're too tense!" Willy chuckled loudly, much to Lucius' uncomfortable. Ever since it was the Wizard revealed himself as Claire's God-father, Lucius had one thing in his mind; his future with Claire.

Lucius had tried to ask the Wizarding regarding their future together. However, Willy's reply had disappointed him greatly.

"I'm apologised, Mr. Malfoy. It's not that I do not wish to help you, it is just that as for now, anything or anyone that is related to Claire one way or another, my prediction will go haywire. Ever since my dear Claire met the two of you, my predictions of her had been off."

Lucius sighed. He was about to ignore the wizard and focused on his love and son when Willy asked him something that made him paused.

"How truly in love are you with my God-daughter, Malfoy?"

Lucius slowly turned his head to face. When he spoke, his voice was rich with confidence.

"More than life itself."

"I see." Willy smiled.

There was something about his smile that both concerned and worried Lucius. "Are you by any chance, oppose to our relationship,Wonka?"

"Oh not at all! However, I shall test on what you've just told me. Soon."

"Test? What sort of test are you-" Before he could finished, he was interrupted by the arrival of his love and son.

Claire shook her head. "I so don't want to do that again."

"Be grateful you have a wonderful teacher! Because of me, you're getting a lot better at it than before."

"I take it you lots must be tired and cold. How about some cups of freshly brewed hot cocoa for a change?" Willy offered each of them a cup, which they gladly accepted.

While the two youngsters were busily talking about their recent activities, Lucius' mind wandered about what Willy had just said to him.

NOT long after they were done with their activities, night arrived at last. Dinner were served by the House-Elves who were taking care of the place.

A huge roasted turkey served at the centre of the long table, with gravies, roasted potatoes, loaf of bread, chicken pies, Christmas cake, cookies, mushroom soup, salad, and last but not least, a glass of Red Wine to be served for all.

Dinner was good and comfortable. Everyone was enjoying their meals while chatting about what they were doing today and what they might do tomorrow. After dinner were served, Willy suddenly remembered he had made something earlier for dessert and went off to the kitchen.

When he returned a moment later, he was carrying a tray of poached pear in a small glass dessert cup.

"Here you go, love. Made with lots of TLCs." He handed one cup to Claire.

"TLC? What the Devil is that?" Severus asked, strangely.

"It means Tender,Loving, and Care. TLC."

"Ah." the black haired man nodded. "Well this is indeed lovely. However, are you sure you can take it, Miss Rollins? You do know it's being poached by red wine, yes?"

"Too late." Draco answered for him, pointed out at the already tipsy Claire staring in the air with a small goofy smile.

Totally inexperienced.

Severus looked bewildered at his friend. "Did she had the wine earlier?"

Draco shook his head. "I heard she asked the House-Elf for a jar of Rosy Tea sometime during meal earlier."

"Then she's must have been a very light drinker for being tipsy by just eating the poached pear." Severus sighed and looked at the Grandfather's clock hanging on the wall. "It's not even ten o'clock yet. Perhaps someone should take her to her chamber? Lucius?"

"Hmm? Oh yes." Lucius finished his drink, pulled himself to his feet and went to the other side to her seat. When he reached there, Lucius pulled her chair and gently lifted her arms to link with his.

The couple slowly made their way to Claire's chamber. Claire, though only consumed very little amount of alcohol, was already swinging left and right had it not been for Lucius who kept her steady in his arms.

"Thanked Merlin you didn't consume any alcohol during our first date or else, we won't ended up to where we are now. I get turned off easily when any of my date got tipsy so early."

His comment made her pouted. "Are you saying I'm turning you off, Lucius? That's not a very noice thing to say to your lady friend! Apologize! Or else I won't give you prezent!"

Lucius chuckled deeply in her ear.

"My dear, you never turned me off." He blew an air to her ear before continuing their destination.

Getting to her chamber wasn't that difficult, Lucius assured himself. Getting her to bed, however was quite a challenge, he mused.

Using wordless spell, Lucius opened the door of her chamber before shutting it. He then proceed to laying Claire on her bed as gently as he could, with her arms still tangled around his neck.

"I have a present for you..." Claire mumbled softly. Her eyes were drowsy and falling asleep but she fought it.

"You can give it to me later, love. For now, go to sleep." Lucius was just about to kiss her foreheadwhen she suddenly shouted.

"No!" Claire suddenly sat up. Much to Lucius' surprise. "I want to give it now! There's a green box on the desk. Bring it over to me."

Lucius raised an eyebrow but did as he was told. Waving his wand at the present, hebought it over to them and put it on her laps. The present was quite a medium small size, so to say, wrapped in a Slytherin green with red polka dots ribbon.

"Open it! Open it!" Claire clapped her hands joyfully.

Lucius smiled at her as he slowly unwrapped the present.

Underneath the wrapped present was a set of Slyterin green plaid pyjamas made from 100% Cotton made from Japan.

"I noticed most of your clothes were all made from expensive silk. So I'd thought why not get you something you never had before like cotton for example. Cheap but very comfy." Claire giggled.

Lucius looked at his gift. Indeed this was the first time he received such present. Usually, a man of his status would receive expensive material made from the very best craftmen that ever existed.

Now..

The material was soft and comfortable, despite the plain plaid pattern.

"Do you like it?" Claire bit her lower lip. When she had bought the pyjamas she had been confident he would like it no matter how plain it was because of it's material. But now she wasn't so sure anymore.

Lucius slowly put down the pyjamas back to its box. Cupping her cheeks with both hands, he leaned forward and closer to her lips.

"Perfect." He whispered, before sealing his lips with her.

Claire wasted no time. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pushed her body into her.

Lucius bit her upper lip, groaning when she opene her mouth to let his tongue in.

After a minute of battling for dormination, Lucius finally pulling away for her, panting and huffing as their foreheads touched.

"I have something to give you too." He said breathlessly. Reaching out to his pocket, Lucius took out a small gift and handed it over to her.

"My undying love to you."

Claire looked at the small box and turned back to him who wore a warm smile.

Slowly she unwrapped the gift. opened the box and gasped softly at the small love-shaped locket charm. Inside the charm, was a red Salvia flower.

Forever mine.

It's Lucius' way of love declaration.

"Oh Lucius." Claire pulled him close for a couple soft kisses on the lips. She pulled away from him and looked straight in the eyes. Gone all her tipsiness.

"I love you, Lucius Malfoy." She said it. Those three precious words she had been dying to tell him but was so unsure of her real feelings before, now clearly came to light.

"I love you." She kissed his cheeks and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I love you so much, Lucius. Very much."

Lucius had been so stunned by her words, suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him.

"I love you very much, as well. My beautiful Claire.."

Lucius devoured her lips again, gently biting her lips. Claire moaned into his mouth, clutching his long blonde locks as he gently pushed her down on the bed. His right hand gently pitched her waist.

Lucius moved from her lips to her neck, sucking and softly biting her skin, leaving marks all over her neck and caused Claire to gasp.

Oh dear Merlin he had never been deeply in love like this. Not with Narcissa nor anyone else for that matter.

It was getting harder for him to control himself any longer. If he continued on like this, Lucius feared he might crossed the line.

Sighing on her skin, Lucius was just about to pull himself away from her when Claire suddenly tightened her arms around his neck.

"No.. Please, Lucius. I want you to make love to me.. Tonight."

For the second time,the great Malfoy Patriarch was stunned by his young love

"Pardon?"

"I want us to make love, Lucius. I'm ready.. to give myself to you. I-I know you've been waiting patiently for me. So now, I'm giving you a permission to cross that line and make love to me.."

Lucius stared at her face thoughtfully. Her eyes were in passion filled haze as she looked back at him with so much love while her fingers played with his long locks.

Lucius knew better.

Gently he held on her hands and brought them to his lip. Lucius kissed her palms repeatedly and gently.

"We can't."

"Why ever not?"

"You're intoxication, my love. Also, you will kill me the next morning and you will hate me forever. I can't let that to happen. I'll die, Claire. I'll be sure to die if ever you leave me."

He gave her a last kiss on the lips.

"Turn around. Let me hold you while you sleep."

Claire in her intoxication state grumbled softly about something but turned around as she was told.

Lucius held her in his arms and let sleep consumed them both.

Meanwhile, downstairs, three men were sitting in the living room with flushed cheeks either from the many rounds of wine they had consumed of the fact that Lucius hadn't come down since he left to escort Miss Rollins to her private chamber.

Draco refused to comment the stupid remarks made by his intoxicated friends like what was taking Lucius too damn long to bring up the girl to her room.

MORNING came in bless. Claire stirred from her sleep with a slight headache and a pair of arms wrapped around her.

When she opened her eyes, she was met with green plaid pyjamas shirt wore by the man on the same bed as her.

Smiling to herself, Claire closed her eyes again for a ten minutes of sleep before they need to start packing and headed back to the manor.

By twelve o'clock sharp, everyone had finished packing their stuff was were getting ready to apparate back to the Malfoy manor.

Claire reached out her hand to her Godfather to apparate them, while Lucius held hands with Draco, and Severus Snape apparate alone.

In a blink of an eye, they arrived at the front door of the manor.

"Home sweet home, at last!" Claire said, stretching her hands in the air.

Lucius smiled and stepped into the front door. His smile faded quickly and he was left with his mouth agape, face white and widened eyes.

Draco who was standing in line behind him began alerted when he noticed his father's broaden shoulders stiff.

Taking out his wand discreetly from his pocket, Draco stepped aside and pointed his wand at the person when he too suddenly stopped.

"Hello, Lucius. Draco. Nice to see the two of you are safe and well." The soft airy voice belonged to none other than Naricssa Malfoy shocked everyone including Severu Snape and especially Lucius who had thought his wife had died in the war.

Soooo, drama anyone? XD there are lot more to come! Thanks for reading! 😊