Sunday, I received conformation my 'leak was fixed'. While Draco was out, I gathered my things and told Blaise I was leaving.

"Whatever, I'm not your bloody Mum." He muttered, pulling his bed spread over his head. I looked around his messy room and shook my head. It was as if we'd never left school.

My flat was as I left it with three additional weeks of dust and trash left by my watch out. After cleaning that mess up, I walked to my bedroom and plopped on my bed, sighing when the feeling of my fluffy mattress hit my back. Though staying with Draco had been pleasurable, especially physically, I was glad to be back on my own sheets. Lucan crawled out of my bag, looking around the room as he slid onto my nightstand. I looked at him, smirking. "What do you think, Love?"

He flicked his tongue out at me, sliding onto my window sill to feel the sun coming through the glass. I laughed, sitting up. I looked at my bag and my clothes raced from it, going to my closet and my dresser drawers as they opened. When everything was put up, the closet and my dresser drawers closed themselves. I yawned, grabbing one of my pillows and inhaling my honeysuckle bed spray.

I later awoke to a loud 'POP'! I sat up when I heard steps coming to my room. Draco appeared at my door, looking on me. His face looked dead. "Did I wake you?"

I nodded, looking at my clock. Bloody hell, was it three already? We had dinner at my parents house at six! "Are you okay? You look like the bloody dead."

"I'll survive." He took off his tie and tossed it on my nightstand, receiving Lucan's black glare. He sat down next to me, pulling me to him and kissing me. I responded back, jumping when his hand slid between my thighs. I grabbed his hand to stop it from parting my legs, pulling away from him. "Yeah, Love?"

"What happened." I demanded with concern. I hadn't been used to relive stress I wasn't fully informed about since I was with Travis.

Draco sighed, leaning back against my pillows. "It's just been a bloody awful day. It doesn't help I'm facing our parents tonight."

"We're facing our parents tonight." I corrected him, running a hand through his hair. "What happened? Did Schwinger fire you?"

"No," I sighed in relief as he spoke. "I'm just suspended for a bloody week."

"I'm sorry, Love." I kissed him and his hands went back to my body again. I didn't push him away this time, knowing how he felt.

Draco pulled me on top of him, maneuvering my legs to straddle him. I pulled back from his mouth, pulling his dress shirt off and kissing exposed skin on his chest. He let his head fall back, closing his eyes. I watched him, amazed. We'd been back one day and he was already this stressed out. I felt instantly guilty for Draco's state. I popped his belt and sat back up to finish pulling my shirt and bra off.

***

We arrived at the Grove at five fifty-five. We walked down the lamp lite, cobblestone path through the thin trees and brisk air, dread filling my stomach. I had almost avoided this place for six whole months after my last falling out with my parents. Funny, how all our battles always happened here.

"Are you ready for this?" Draco asked me.

"Do you want the truth?" I asked as we came to face the house. A large pond stood between the us and the grand patio. The large house lite up in the golden glow of the lamp light, making me sigh. This home looked so happy but I knew it was quit the contrary. "Lets get this over with."

We walked hand-in-hand around the pond and up the steps onto the grand patio. We made our way to the main entrance, where I could here Mum's voice clearly. I gripped Draco's hand as he pulled me through the open, French doors. Four heads shot up from the crème colored couch as we entered, making me squeeze my bloke's hand harder. Dad looked at us, his face fortunately pensive. I noticed the brandy in his hand. Narcissa looked at me politely and smiled at her son, he hair clasped at the nape of her neck. I noticed she too had a drink. I let my eyes go over to Draco's father, who's face was pointed like Lucan's whenever he saw Draco. I thought about the family resemblance and snorted.

"Astoria, what is so funny?" I dried up as I was forced to look at Mum. Her red hair was down and her face as blank as it had been my entire childhood. I noticed she had gained a few spots on her chin since I last saw her. Or maybe she'd had them then and I just didn't notice.

"Ah, a joke...someone...told me yesterday. You lot reminded me of it, Mum."

"I'm glad us 'lot' can allow you to express your humor in the most inappropriate time. Please, take a seat while I get you beverages. Draco, is wine alright?"

Mum rose as he nodded. She glanced up at me, being a mere five-five, her eyes like daggers on me. This was going to be such a lovely evening! Draco kissed Narcissa's cheek as he sat next to her and I next to Dad. I felt Draco's hand shift under mine but ignored it.

"So Draco, did you bring us any gifts back from Mexico?" His mother mused as her husband looked at us. His jaded eyes focused on me and I tried to push myself into the couch to hide from him.

"Ah, yes. We'll hand them out when Amethyst... Ah, Astoria? Could you retract your nails from my flesh? I think I'm starting to bleed."

"You think that's bad?" Dad snorted, trying to take attention off as me as Lucius glowered. I released his hand, noticing the dark marks forming from my nails. "Amethyst broke my wrist when she delivered Daphne, dislocated my shoulder with Astoria."

I glared at him, catching his eye. This was not the time to contradict his anti-social reputation! Dad sipped his drink, glancing over at his paper. Mum returned at this moment, handing Draco a glass of wine and me a Butter Beer in a glass. I took one sip of it and almost gaged.

"Mum, is this diet?"

"Yes." She stated, sitting on the other side of Dad. "You've gained a lot of weight for someone only in her first trimester." Oh, she did not just go there!

"Really, I couldn't tell." Draco stated, raising my hand to kiss it.

"I could." Lucius muttered, picking his glass up from the table and refilling it.

"Yet you managed to miss that pimple below your nose." I muttered. Draco pinched me and Dad turn and give me a look of complete disapproval. Lucius looked at me, a brow raise for me to repeat my statement. I decided now was the best time to redirect the conversation. "So Draco, you have gifts!"

"Oh, wait until Daphne arrives!" Mum asked, smiling politely. "I'm glad you thought of us, Dear!"

I bit my lip, resisting the urge to throw my drink at her. "Excuse me, I need to use the loo."

I walked up the grand stairs to the left wing. I continued down the hall and stopped when I noticed the door to my old bedroom open. I walked into it, sighing as I looked around. My school things were piled in trunks and boxes, my old purple and yellow bedspread folded up on my canopy. I was an awfully spoiled slag.

I walked over to my black chest and opened it, finding my fifth year picture album inside. I pulled it out, blowing dust off of it. I sat on my mattress and opened it. The first picture was of Daphne and I by the lake in our bikinis before the Dark Lord had taken the school over. We laughed, hugging each other in a towel as Blaise had taken the picture for us. I snorted, letting go of the fact my body would probably not look like that again.

I flipped a page and almost dropped the book. Travis kissed my cheek, making me laugh as his stubble tickled me. His long, Brazilian inherited arms ran through my hair as he nibbled on my neck, making me blush. I flipped the page and found another of Dad, Mum, Daph and I after my parents had been acquainted on charges of Death Eater Activity. We were at the Ireland summer home and I had just been excepted into law school. Dad had an arm over me and looked down at me fondly. I bit my lip, realizing he was now downstairs, dealing with the trouble my actions were causing. I closed the book and put it back in the chest. Two moving bodies outside caught my gaze and I walked over to see Daphne and Andy walking up the patio. Bloody hell! This had Amethyst Greengrass written all over it.

I took a deep breath as my head began to ache. The only way I was going to get out of here sane was to not let Mum's petty antics ruin this. There were more important things to deal with today. I had all four of the grandparents to my child downstairs and that was more important than the melodramatics of a wizard acting like a third year. I looked down at my stomach, sighing.

"You better be glad your well being is the top of my priorities."

The room was deathly quit as I walked down the stairs. Daphne sent me an needful expression as I came down, rising.

"Tori! Wow, you went Hispanic!" I snorted as she ran up to hug me. She ran a hand through my hair in disgust. "For Merlin's sake, it looks likes Millicent's bad highlight charm in fourth year!"

"Ah, no, my hair hasn't begun splitting for no reason!" I told her. Daphne nodded in agreement.

"Perhaps you two would like to take a seat and socialize with everyone?" Mum huffed disapprovingly at our ignorance of the group. Bloody damn, just when I thought I could possibly keep my sanity for the rest of the evening.

I sat wedged between Dad and Draco, ignoring how happily Mum was looking at Daphne. Per normal, she was the good daughter. Andy caught my eye for three seconds and I looked away, feeling like I'd swallowed acid. Draco put an arm around my shoulders casually, glaring at my ex-employer. The green eyed bloke turned away from me, straightening the shoulder strap of Daphne's robes.

"Astoria, how did you enjoy Mexico?" Narcissa asked, using her 'I-wish-you'd-go-away' tone."Draco said you were very fond of the architecture?"

"It was absolutely magnificent." I told her flatly, unhappy anyone was talking to me. "The churches and missionaries were divine. And the Zócalo... wow. Draco, can you get out Daphne's gift? We bought it while there."

"Yes Draco, unlike the present you owed me sixth year that I never received."

I snorted, fully informed of that event. Daphne had given my bloke a lap dance during his birthday and he promised her a shag on hers in return. As it turned out, Daphne and Pansy have the same birth date. Needless to say, Draco pleased his bitch-of-the-time to keep his wand attached rather than the slag of their year. The blond blushed, his face bright red.

Andy rolled his eyes as Draco pulled out a green box and a bottle. My bloke stood to pass them their gifts and sat back down, putting a hand on my knee to signal that I was to explain them.

"Mexico...City still has an Austin Cervantes Fire Whiskey chain. I figured...you'd like it since you wasted a bottle of Gwendoline Hampshire when Allyson substituted it in your liquor cabinet at work after manufacturing in England stopped." I met eyes with Andy for a split second before turning quickly to Daphne. She opened the box and her face went bright with joy. "I...found this and figured I could finally pay you back for ruining your cashmere dress seventh year."

"Oh Tori, it's lovely!" Daphne pulled out the champagne colored dress and marveled at it. "I forgot you'd even destroyed that dress. Then again, I don't think it mattered. I really dislike things that Gran Irena gets me."

"It wasn't that hideous thing." I corrected her, shaking at the memory of the pink monster. "It was the silver one you lost in the lake when..."

Mum watched me, her eyes bulging. Dad began to count the number of figurines on out fire place, ignoring the awkwardness. Daphne went pale as Lucius and Narcissa looked between us, brows raised at the new gossip. Draco tried to look innocent but I knew Garlinghouse probably told him about that ordeal the day it happened.

"...when what?" Mum shot, her face matching her hair. "That dress wouldn't have happened to have been the one your grandfather had given me? The same exact one you both told me you didn't know of it's whereabouts in which I accused your aunt of stealing?"

"Mum, of course not!" Daphne exclaimed, looking at me with an expression I was familiar with. If she went down, I was going down with her. After all, I'd worn that bloody dress the night Blaise popped my cherry.

I looked over at Draco, who pulled out the throw rugs he'd picked out for my Mum. Thank Merlin there was someone who knew how to shop for my bloody mother in this relationship! Upon seeing the objects from someone who she was favoring, Mum instantly forgot about the conversation.

Dad received his case of vintage, Cuban cigars; Narcissa her pot and Lucius the Cobra wand cover we'd watched the maker create in front of our very eyes. At that instant, Lucan crawled out of my bad and wound himself around my wrist, making Dad jump, speaking with slight surprise.

"For Merlin's beard... you brought back a snake?" Daphne looked at the snake and cooed it, holding her hand across the sitting table to hold it. Lucan flicked his tongue and I bent forward so he could crawl onto her arm, her eyes brightening. Andy's face went pale.

"No bloody way, Daph! We will never own a snake!"

"That's what I told her. You see how far that went." Draco snorted. I raised a brow to him and he stuck his tongue out at me. The Malfoy parents looked unaffected by it. Mum wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"And what is to become of this thing once the baby comes?"

"It'll go."- "stay." We looked at each other, brows raised. Mum sipped her wine, watching us. I looked at him, shaking my head. "The snake stays."

"Tori, the snake can fry if it means our child is safe."

"He hasn't bitten anyone, even you and he hates your guts. Lucan will do fine." Lucius choked on his drink when he heard the name. This made me smirk.

"Astoria, perhaps Draco has a point here. The baby is the prime concern for all of us." Mum stated persuasively. I caught her tone and glared at her, causing her to double-take.

"Mum, here's an idea. Why don't you stop looking for ways to start a fight and just let us deal with it. The baby still has six months and I think we'll decide before then."

"Astoria Fraulein, how dare you speak"-

"Amy," Dad looked at Mum, his tone stern. She raised her brow at him, daring him to continue. Dad deflated and returned back to his normal tone. "Is Zillah finished with dinner yet? I'm starving and Tori keeps eying the artificial grapes on the table."

Ten minutes later, we were all sitting in the dinning room and Zillah was setting up appetizers. I saw her and smiled, hugging her after she placed Dad's plate down. She chuckled and told me to come back to the kitchen later so she didn't get in trouble. We all took out seat, me between Draco and Daphne. Once we were all seated, we unfolded our napkins and began eating. I took a bit of my spinach pie, smirking when I realized Zillah had remembered to put mustard sauce on mine. Lucan crawled around my neck, smelling. I took a piece of pork from my plate and set it on the napkin in my lap, allowing him to slither down to it.

"So Astoria, tell us, how is the baby's health?" Narcissa asked. Everyone peered at me for an answer and I nodded, glad that we were in a more formal tone.

"Well. I have a healers appointment on Wednesday in which case she'll tell me the gender so we can call it something... other than 'it'."

"Oh, wait until it's born!" Daphne begged me, smiling. "I've skimmed a few magazines and they said it's more fulfilling to wait until then."

"Daphne, I don't know if this pregnancy can be called 'fulfilling'." Mum stated, sipping her wine. Bloody witch. "And in any case, it's better to find out so you can prepare. Your father and I decided to wait until you were born to set things up and it was such a hassle!"

"Lucius and I waited and we had a fine time with it." Narcissa shot in. "And if they need help, we will gladly assist them in anything from setting up the nursery to babysitting."

"As will Crider and I." Mum shot, her face going red.

"And Andy and I!" Daphne put in, looking at me for help. I looked at Draco who just stared at his plate. "Tell you lot what, we'll worry about that in six months. Say Daphne, how are wedding plans coming?"

"Well. You and Draco will need to come in for fitting a week before the wedding." My sister told me proudly. Draco was about to speak, not realizing he'd been forced into the wedding party by knocking me up. I looked at him with a death glare, silencing him. If I had to spend the next two months looking for another groomsman with my sister, he would pay. "But besides that, all's done!"

"And I still have galleons left at Gringotts?" Dad shot, sipping his brandy. "Amazing! And only at four times the cost of all seven years of my daughters schooling! Andrew, remember that when you two decide to have kids."

Daphne bit her lip. Andy shifted. I cleared my throat, steadying my words.

"How much exactly is that Dad? With all this thinking of preparing for children, you might as well let us in on the figures."

"You two have no worry." He stated, sipping his drink. Yeah right, bloody bastard didn't have numbers.

"And why's that?" I shot again, feeling heat come to my blood.

"Well, with Draco's income and both your trust fund combined, you'll do very well." Mum stated, looking at the clock. Zillah came out with levitating platters and placed honey glazed pheasant with hickory-smoked greens and herb seasoned potatoes in front of each of us. When she left, everyone began to eat but Andy and I.

I glanced up at his blank expression, both of us thinking the same thing. Lucan tensed in my lap with my mood. I tore off a bit of chicken to give to him. How many times had Crider and Amethyst Greengrass thrown our income in our faces, then turned around and bragged about our fame to... wait, they were unlocking my trust fund?

"Amy, I'm proud to see your cook can make such delectable foul"-"I thought I was cut off from my trust, Dad?"

He nodded, chewing and drinking before speaking. "You were. But seeing the current circumstances"-

"Wait, rewind!" I looked at him, my voice high. Draco looked at me cautiously. Daphne practically pleaded me not to continue but I was too stubborn to listen. "You cut me off when I quit law school, when I could have used the money most, and forced me to live off of Travis's income for six months until Andy hired me. And now that I'm expecting a child with someone who is taking equal financial responsibility, you're helping me out?"

"Astoria, don't manipulate the situation to make it sound overly dramatic." Mum hissed, looking at me with a dark look. Lucan slid up my arm, looking around protectively as he felt my emotions shift. Draco winced, having already experience how I reacted to that accusation. Narcissa and Lucius watched us as if this were an entertaining show. Andy watched me, waiting for the blow. Daphne looked like she wanted to hide.

"Am I? Narcissa, tell me, would you say that if two people left their daughter stranded without resources due to social calling supporting the decision"-

"Now hold it right there, Astoria!" Dad ordered, throwing his napkin down. Lucan hissed, making Mum jump.

"Then gave back those resources when she was expecting their grandchild because they're equally as wealthy and close friends were going to be putting money forward"-

"If you don't want the money, then just say so, Astoria!" Mum barked, standing at her seat.

I looked at her, shaking my head. "I don't give a damn about the money and you know that, Mum!"

"Then why do you dare make such a uproar about this in front of the parents of the man you let knock you up on a one night stand?" Dad shot."You should be begging for their forgiveness and blessing!"

"Like you did, Crider?" Andy shot in my support.

The judge rose and pointed at the wizard. "You will not talk to me like this in my house!"

"House? Oh, you call this a house?" I shot, rising also. "This place is anything but!"

"Can we all just please sit down and speak calmly?" Daphne pleaded, her eyes watering. "Fighting never gets us anywhere!"

"Well, it was good enough for you to spend nineteen years in!" Mum shot at me, her words sly. Daphne defiantly received that trait from her.

"The nineteen years I was in this house, I was someone working for the affections of people I could never please!" I spat, looking at them both. "We were the perfect children here and as soon as we got to school... you can bet half those bloody letters we convinced you were McGonagall bitching where factually written!"

"Keep me out of this, Tori! Please!" Daphne begged, tears falling down her cheeks.

I rolled my eyes at her, shaking my head. "Congratulations, Crider and Amethyst, you have her scared. Happy?"

"How dare you!" Dad barked, Lucan focusing on him again. "You selfish, inconsiderate, brat! We have tried to come to some understanding with you but you refuse to listen to us at all!"

"Oh please, Crider, save it for Witch Weekly!" Andy rose with us, looking at the man. "Tori was on my team three days before you two hinted to Travis that I was shagging her!"

They what? "We never did any of the sort!" Mum stated theatrically. "We told Travis the only reason you'd hire you was because of your fondness for young interns! We never told him such things! Travis was a good man! Which is another thing you've managed to screw up in your life, Astoria! He was a damn good wizard"-

"You've officially crossed the line right there!" Draco stated, not rising. The table fell silent. I looked at Draco urgently, shaking my head. Daphne and Andy pursed their lips for the same reason as me.

"Draco, no"-

"How you can sit here and tell her that he was a good man"- "DRACO, I SAID NO!"

He looked at me, stunned. My breath rose and fell for a few minutes. We looked between each other and he stared in disbelief. "They don't know, do they?"

"Know what?" Dad demanded, his accent thick. "Know that she randomly decided that McLaggen wasn't what she wanted? The only thing you ever wanted was to do everything in your power to upset your mother and I, Astoria, and I don't know why! You had your entire future laid out for success! You were going to go to law school, work at the firm and marry Travis! You weren't going to sit around and let your education go to waist like"-

"Me?" Tears fell down Daphne's face, looking up at Dad. "Or Mum?"

"Daphne, do not mix my words around"-

"No, Dad, Astoria's right. I'm tired of bowing down to you when all you ever do is tell us me my life is going nowhere!" Daphne rose, throwing her napkin down. She looked at them and sighed. "Well guess what? I think I have a pretty damn good life right now! I have a man that loves me as much as I do him and, with or without you, I will marry him! Andy is the most important thing to me and I won't let you ruin what we have because you don't think"-

The platters instantly flew from the table. Mum, Andy and the Malfoys all dunked to avoid them. Lucan crawled up my neck as I began to sob. Draco grabbed my arms seconds later, soothing me.

"Astoria, calm down. Come on, Tori, it's okay."

The chandelier above the table began swinging. Lucius pulled out his wand and set a freezing charm on it. Dad and Andy pulled theirs out and commenced applying charm to the tables, portraits and items in the room that could be effect by my spew. Daphne ran over to me, stroking my face.

"It's okay, Baby. Just relax, everything will make do. Mum, go get some tea and lemon juice. Andy, go get a blanket"-

"No." I snapped, shaking my head. "I just want to go home, to my flat."

"Okay then, we can"- I cut Draco off, shaking my head.

"By myself." I turned and left the room, heading for the living room. I opened a silver pot by the fire place and threw powder into the flames, sighing as they turned green. Lucan crawled around my neck protectively, making me shake. Stupid-bloody-arse's! Would this nightmare ever be over?