Hey there everyone!

Hope you're still hanging in there or things are getting better for you in whatever country you are reading this from. Things in the UK are slowly looking up but there's a long way to go yet. Stay safe and eventually we'll all be OK and able to do things we love. Enjoy the update!

Lots of love,

LM xxx

Breaking Traditions-Part 21:

The day of the Ball had come and Lucius was at the Ministry of Magic as he had been summoned. Lucius had had to reassure he wife numerous time that it was nothing to do with the adoption and it was actually to do with Hogwarts.

The truth was Narcissa was worried that her mother would come back and ruin everything. Her nerves were high where her mother was concerned as she couldn't predict what Druella was going to do any more. She thought that her mother may have used her common sense for once but she doubted that as she was so against the adoption.

Priscilla was lurking in the background as she'd only ever really shown up for the Ball and had never seen Narcissa's preparation process. She had let Narcissa know what she was doing and Narcissa allowed her to shadow her. After all the initial Ball learning had come from her mother-in-law and she could show Priscilla how she'd tweaked things to suit her and that was good.

"She's still worried about Druella coming back," Priscilla told Cygnus, "I'd hate this to get ruined because of that."

"Druella will know the Ball is taking place. The Malfoy elves will be on the lookout for her as will Lucius, us and Abraxas. If she does show up then we will be ready for her," Cygnus said, "I will not have Druella ruin things for Narcissa."

"I have to agree there… that I really just want to duel her. I don't know how your marriage has survived sometimes," Priscilla said honestly.

"Oh it's been trying. I can assure you of that," Cygnus said, "but divorce isn't really an option so it has been a lot of trial and error really and time apart but it has worked… at least until now," he added before spotting his daughter walking around the Gardens and making sure that everything was just the way that she wanted it to be.

Eventually a couple of hours before the Ball and Lucius walked into the master bedroom and kissed Narcissa's cheek softly.

"Thought I'd find you here. Everything looks perfect," he said as he headed to get his robes to change into, "security is all over the place and keeping an eye out for that delightful mother of your," he said.

"That's the polite way of speaking about her. She deserves worse but she also is still my mother," Narcissa said as she finished putting on her make up and watched him in the mirror, "I still think that she will find a way to come and ruin this. She's as cunning as they come Luc," she sighed before feeling his hands on her shoulders.

"If she does then we will be ready for her, especially my mother," Lucius chuckled softly before heading to the ensuite to get himself ready and silently hoping that Druella wasn't going to try and ruin the Ball.

Eventually the guests began to arrive and Lucius and Narcissa stood there greeting the guests as they arrived. Priscilla, Abraxas and Cygnus were mixing with the guests and keeping their eyes pealed for an appearance of any kind that didn't make sense.

"So your mother went away?" Helena Greengrass asked Narcissa as the two were alone.

"She's been causing so much tension so father told her to stay away for a while. I'm hoping that she's somewhere visiting the Rosier side of the family," Narcissa said quietly, "but we fear that she may come and try something tonight so please keep an eye out just in case." Helena nodded before heading over to Lucius.

The two began to walk around and converse with the guests. Lucius just looked at his wife with utter adoration as she smiled and laughed softly with the guests and appeared to glide in that silver dress that hugged her figure perfectly. He wanted to follow her but he was soon enrolled in a conversation about politics but he moved positions so he could see her. He was just focused on her and soon found himself poked.

"You still getting some action Lucius? You can't take your eyes off her," one close friend smirked as he looked at where he was looking.

"What happens in the bedroom stays in the bedroom David," Lucius said as he pulled his eyes away from his wife and turned to look at his male associates. There was no way that he was going to let his and Narcissa's bedroom activity be disclosed.

Narcissa was stood chatting… well gossiping… with her fellow wives and her eyes kept flickering to Lucius as she knew that he was watching her. That was the specific reasons she'd decided to wear that chosen dress. She smirked as she saw him watching her and bit her lip.

"Someone's still so in love," Anthea Parkinson giggled as she looked where Narcissa was looking, "Draco said the family is closer than ever now," she said.

"Y…Yes that's correct. We are starting to become closer as a family, despite Draco being at Hogwarts. Him being away is hard but we are talking more and that is helping."

"They do say absence makes the heart go faster," Helena said, "we are feeling the same with Daphne leaving for Hogwarts. It isn't so bad for us though as we have Astoria to focus on now."

"Yes and I am starting to understand the meaning of that," Narcissa smiled softly as she nodded in agreement, "yes. It must be nice to have another child," she said before her eyes widened, "Lucius!" she shouted before rushing over as she'd seen her mother.

Priscilla, Abraxas and Cygnus had all come rushing out from where they'd been socialising.

"Druella no," Cygnus said as he walked over to his wife, "you do this and there will be no going back. If you love Narcissa then you won't do this."

"Oh I think the whole world needs to know what my daughter is doing," Druella smirked before she turned to the audience, "My daughter and my son-in-law are planning to adopt a baby girl. Just thought you should know."