I Don't Want to be a Hero - Second Year
Chapter Thirty
An Interlude 'Til Christmas - Part II of V
27 Nov 1992 - Friday, Malfoy Cottage
The end of classes on Friday had Harry and Draco bidding farewell, and then heading once more to the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. Neither were in trouble. Both were going to the Malfoy cottage for the weekend. Narcissa, who had gotten oddly more domestic in her second pregnancy had promised to cook for the three boys (one of those 'boys' being Lucius). It would be the first time for Lucius to taste his wife's cooking, and although he was dubious, and rather hoped Narcissa did not inadvertently poison them all, did his best to keep his caustic remarks to himself.
Lucius was just completing the grading of a written test for his NEWTs classes when Harry and Draco entered the classroom. He motioned them to their desks.
"Read, gentlemen, I am slightly behind the grading of these tests," explained Professor Malfoy. He then waved his hand, and the door to the classroom closed silently behind them.
Harry and Draco went over to their desks to look at the reading material provided; the two books looked like textbooks. Draco shrugged, dropped his bookbag to the floor, and grabbed a book. Harry followed suit as he found one just like Draco's book on his desk.
The books were not quite textbooks but were copies of the same book that explained the skills of hand-to-hand combat for wizards. Both boys were immediately absorbed by the text, and the line drawings that moved to demonstrate technique.
"Ready?" Lucius smirked as he startled both students from their books as he went to gather them for the trip to the cottage.
"Father!" exclaimed Draco as he held up his book. "This is neat! Are we going to learn this?"
"You are, Dragon, and Harry. This weekend will not be all flying, though if you turn to chapter 13 you will see that the hand-to-hand fighting may also be done on brooms."
"Wicked!" enthused Harry. "But, when would we need this, Professor? I mean, I understand that a wizard can lose his wand but I mean just the fighting itself."
With a few deft strokes and swirls of his wand Lucius had their bookbags floating from the floor, and their winter cloaks Summoned from the hooks by the door where they had hung them. As he answered Harry's question they put on hats, gloves, cloaks, and their bookbags, and left the classroom.
"Fighting technique such as demonstrated in your books not only prepare you for the possibility that you may someday need such skill but they also train your body, and keep you fit. Thus, it is time for you gentlemen to join the ranks of wizards and witches who do more than just fly their brooms." Lucius winked at Harry, "Or brew their potions."
"Does my dad keep fit like this?" asked Harry.
"Severus is quite remarkable at hand-to-hand combat, but his love is the foil…" both boys frowned in puzzlement. "The rapier. Fencing. I have seen no one equal to the deadliness of Severus' moves. He translates those moves to his wandwork, and dueling, and it is why, should he ever compete, he will take top honours. Wicked, I am certain you would declare, Harry."
"Yeahhhh," Harry smiled.
"And, you, father?" asked Draco, his silver-grey eyes shining up at Lucius.
Lucius almost tripped in their walk down to the gates of Hogwarts as he saw the glitter of pride in his son's eyes. He had never seen his son look desirous of his father being his… hero. It stunned him, and made him instantly want to be a better father to Draco so he would be as equally acceptable to his second child.
"Fisticuffs, Dragon." He smiled, removed the amulet that was a portkey from around his neck, and held the round piece of copper down for the boys to touch. Once they did, he ordered, "Malfoy cottage."
Malfoy Cottage, Hogsmeade
The Malfoy cottage was located on the edge of Hogsmeade on four acres of lush green land that was currently covered by a swath of sparkling snow. There was a driveway that split near the home with one part leading to the wide front porch, and the other leading to a carriage house where two horses lived near the buggy Lucius used when he and Narcissa needed to go into the town of Hogsmeade. Wizards did not always travel by Floo or Apparition, and those who chose otherwise would ride horses, or carriages.
The cottage itself was no Malfoy Manor but was still an impressive sight. In the style of a French Country Cottage it stood two stories in height with long, high, sloping roofs of pale grey slate that resisted the accumulation of snow, and debris. The front of the cottage was welcoming in its wide, front porch with a low railing that was a series of round pickets, and then two supporting columns on either side. The porch had been warded with spells to keep away the cold or heat, and to maintain a clement temperature. The cottage itself was all white and would have appeared to vanish into its surroundings of snow if it were not for the wealth of plant life on the front porch that took advantage of the cleverly, and magically, maintained environment upon the porch.
They were met by the two house elves that came with the cottage, brothers, who had been named Kili and Fili. Fili collected bookbags, cloaks, gloves, and scarves (and was nearly buried by the items) and popped away with his burden. Kili showed them into the cottage, and into the main room which was a large living room warmed by a crackling fire.
"Something smells good," remarked Lucius with some pleasant surprise. He had expected to get chased from his home by smoke billowing from the kitchen; and, where was that kitchen located?
Narcissa came through a door in the living room that Lucius had really never paid much attention to. His wife was dressed in a lavender chiffon and silk Empire gown with a muslin apron over the top of it. She wore no jewelry since she had declared that all jewelry irritated her skin. Her honey blonde hair was in a soft bun that had several thick curls that had escaped during the making of dinner. It was no matter to Lucius. He grinned at his beautiful wife, and he could feel his heart thumping mushily in his soul. Once more he felt himself falling in love with his wife, and the sensation was one to make him lightheaded.
Walking towards Narcissa, he drew her into his arms, kissed her most thoroughly, and ignored the "ews" from first born and his best friend.
"What have you been up to, Cissy?" asked Lucius.
Narcissa's silvery-blue eyes sparkled, "Putting my cooking lessons to the test. Dinner is ready…" she glanced at Draco and Harry, "... if you are adventurous?"
Draco replied enthusiastically, "I am, mother!"
"I'm hungry, too," Harry replied a bit more subdued.
"Well, I am starved," said Lucius as he bussed Narcissa's cheek.
"Wonderful! Come along, then!" Narcissa ushered everyone towards the dining room which was a sunny area with a wall of windows that looked over the side garden. It was snow outside but each windowsill was adorned by beautiful flowers, and Asperagus fern that drifted down in feathery touches.
"I have cooked corn on the cob, cornbread, with fresh butter, meatloaf glazed with a marmalade bar-b-que sauce, mixed vegetables, and your choice of milk, orange juice, or cranberry apple juice." She smiled charmingly at Lucius. "No wine this evening, my dear, since I cannot have any."
Lucius looked over all the feast. As he helped his wife into her chair, he asked, "Truly, Cissy, you made all of this? Who was your teacher?"
"Sit down, Lucius," she urged. The boys were all ready digging in. Lucius seated himself, unfolded his napkin upon his lap, and served himself some of the meatloaf. "Since you have made Arthur Weasley a contact at the Ministry I decided to make amends with Molly Weasley. That was a month after I announced our blessing. I had only meant to have tea, but Molly divined my condition and she gave me several rather helpful books to read, and it was I who commented on how delicious her kitchen smelled. Before I knew it I was helping to bake a cherry crumble pie. By the end of my visit Molly offered to teach me to cook, and I accepted."
"Mother, this meatloaf is good!" Draco chewed indelicately.
"Thank you, Dragon, but please don't speak with a full mouth," Narcissa chided gently as she began her meal with the vegetables.
"Cissy, I have never had meatloaf in my life, and I do believe it is now my favourite food," Lucius declared. He then glanced over at their guest. "Harry? Is the food to your liking?"
"It is, sir. It's really very good, Mrs. Malfoy," Harry smiled but his thoughts were with his father. "I never thought about it before but how is dad going to eat if he's asleep? Will he be able to walk when he wakes up?"
"Magic, Harry," reminded Lucius.
"But, how?" asked Harry in a polite tone.
Lucius chewed a bite of his meatloaf, swallowed, cleared his throat with the acidity of cranberry juice, and replied, "There are Healers that specialise in the movement of the body that we call Muscular Therapists. There are spells for moving the legs, the arms, and keeping the muscles flexible on a stationary patient. However, those spells require application and monitoring by someone trained to do so. Your father has a Muscular Therapist who visits twice a day to apply those spells."
Harry nodded his approval. Narcissa continued, "Feeding is generally by magic but Healer Smethwyck is keeping the use of magic to a minimum so that it will not interfere with the re-growth of Severus' new lungs. Madame Pomfrey, who is rather skilled in creating Nutrition Potions for the students has created a specific set of Nutrient Potions for Severus."
"Wicked," Harry approved again.
"Not as sumptuous as this feast," chimed in Lucius, "but the potions will keep your father nourished. I expect he will want a nice rib-eye for Christmas."
Dinner was a success, and Narcissa was delighted that there were no leftovers worth mentioning. Kili and Fili cleaned the dining room, and kitchen, and served a Czechoslovakian dessert called Kolache which was lightly glazed pastry with a dollop of fruit jam in the center. Narcissa had used raspberry, blackberry, and strawberry - all fresh thanks to the magic of the House Elf Market.
Narcissa settled down to her embroidery (a skill she had taught herself when she was a girl). House elves had always done the embroidery in her home, or it had been bought in Paris. Narcissa had been fascinated by the fine stitching, and had decided to do it herself. Bellatrix had never appreciated her work, and took great delight in denigrating it whenever possible. Andromeda had taken a liking to embroidery after Narcissa began to teach herself, and together they became quite artistic with it.
The mother-to-be was embroidering baby booties, baby gowns, and baby sheets. Her designs were flowing flowers, and leafy vines, but there were also whimsical figures of baby dragons, Aethenor, Kneazles, Krups, and Hippogriff.
Lucius usually read in the evenings but his routine had changed when he became an instructor at Hogwarts. He moved into his study just off the living room, and worked on the accounts. He also made a Mirror Call to the wizard at Malfoy Manor that was taking care of his Malfoy White Peacocks, and his Aethenor.
Draco had a number of games to play with but his parents had taught him that the evening was for quiet play or reading. The choice was obvious as both boys sat down to the hand-to-hand combat books that Lucius had given them at the end of classes at Hogwarts.
At ten of the clock Lucius emerged from his study, sent Draco and Harry to bed, and instead of reading his book, he removed his wife from her embroidery, took her to the sofa, and proceeded to impress upon how much he loved, and desired her. By half after ten Lucius and Narcissa ascended to their bedroom to continue their sofa activities in the privacy of their room.
And all slept peacefully.
a/n: JKRs Aethenor is a domesticated Pegasus. The Pegasus is wild, the Aethenor is not. I have long chosen Lucius as the creator and breeder of a completely white (not albino) Aethenor just as he has done so with his 'Malfoy White' Peacock.
Pregnant mothers that I have known do something known as 'nesting' in which they become more nurturing and domestic. I believe that with the rise of the Age of Voldemort, and the wickedness of her own sister Bellatrix, Narcissa was not allowed the luxury of nesting during her pregnancy with Draco. Lucius was a philanderer but it was what he was taught that wealthy Pureblood males were allowed to do. He never thought, until recently, that he might have been hurting Narcissa with his peccadillos.
Severus Snape's morality has all ready been hinted at.
All ready vs. Already - after some research, and speaking to my mother the retired English teacher I have learned that the correct phrase is all ready. Already is a contraction of the correct phrase that was accepted in the American Colonies. It still is not completely recognised as a real word and so I am using all ready.