Hey everyone!

First of all I want to say a great big thank you to everyone who read my stories last month. It means so much to me to be able to write stories that y'all love to read and enjoy. Secondly I can only apologise about the delay in the beginning of the month updates. Work has been draining and I didn't have the energy to update after work but I have a few days off now so getting these up now I can.

Say safe.

Lots of love,

LSH xxx

Breaking Traditions-Part 45:

"Well that was an enlightening visit," Narcissa said as she, Lucius and their fathers were sat in the sunroom enjoying the last bit of sun for the day, "never did I expect to see tensions on par with what my mother has caused with us," she said and Lucius nodded.

"Yes. It was certainly an eye-opener to the way that Astoria is treated by her own parents," he said as he looked at his wife, "something happened in the Stables didn't it? Something happened that truly soured Helene for the rest of the visit and subdued Astoria. She was so excited and eager when she arrived and then after she came back from walking Rosalie around the Gardens everything had changed."

"Unfortunately yes. Astoria was all excited to be telling me about her horse and how she's a twin and how twin horses are rare when Helene snapped at her and told her to basically shut up," Narcissa said as she sipped on her drink, "I couldn't stand a child being spoken to like that. Astoria is 9-years-old and did not deserve to be spoken to in that manner. She was talking to someone else who loves horses as much as she does and she was excited. I can see why James and Caitriona took over the legal rights for Astoria. Her parents treat her so cruel."

"Yes and yet Malcolm and Helene love each other… in a cruel and twisted way. They love Daphne with all their hearts but Astoria was meant to be the heir for Malcolm and she wasn't sadly," Abraxas said as he remembered the man from the First Wizarding War.

It was in that moment that Priscilla arrived and sat down next to her husband, asking what was being discussed and she sighed as she heard.

"Well Lucius you shouldn't be surprised with the way that Malcolm treats his daughter after the way Helene was treated in the War. Those two love each other dearly in their own way," Priscilla said, "Daphne too but, sadly, Astoria is another story altogether," she said.

"I know mother but that doesn't make it any easier at all," Lucius sighed as he looked at his mother, "Malcolm was cruel… wicked. I'd never seen someone as cruel as him before," he said as he shuddered at the memory, "that look gave me nightmares for weeks afterwards."

"It did," Narcissa said, "only time I've ever seen Lucius terrified to close his eyes," she said, "I don't want to talk about this any more," she said before placing Rosalie in her basket and walked off with her daughter, causing Lucius to sigh.

"She hasn't been right since the Greengrasses left and appears even more attached to Rosalie than she was before and nothing I can say or do helps her," he said before Priscilla got up.

"I think it requires a woman's touch and Cissa is more than likely upset about the way Astoria is treated after everything that you have been through to have Rosa," she said, "I'll go to her," she said before leaving the room and heading out into the Gardens.

Priscilla knew where her daughter-in-law would be and she headed straight for the Rose Garden. She knew Narcissa could have been in the Secret Garden but this was more of a Rose Garden situation. She could hear faint crying and thought that it could have been Rosalie before arriving and seeing that it was Narcissa crying softly.

Watching her for a moment Priscilla considered her next move and she waited a few seconds longer before walking into the Garden and wrapping her arm around Narcissa and kissed her head softly.

"Now now. It's OK, everyone is safe and it's OK to be upset but you also need to calm down before Rosa wakes up and detects your distress," she said as she kissed her daughter-in-law's head gently.

"I just don't understand how anyone could treat their daughter the way Malcolm and Helene treat Astoria. I could have hurt Helene… I could have hexed her and Astoria isn't even my child," Narcissa whispered as she rested her head on Priscilla's shoulder.

"Malcolm is angry that he doesn't have an heir. He could have had a way to getting the land and Larid title that way but Astoria was a girl and that was no fault of hers at all," Priscilla said as she looked at Narcissa, "You stood up for an innocent girl and Astoria will be forever thankful for that because you aren't family but you stood up for her," she said softly.

"Yes. James said something about Calum is getting the title," Narcissa said, "I can see why now. I wouldn't trust Malcolm at all. He has his own intentions I'm sure for the land and tenants that live on the land. I wouldn't even trust Malcolm alone with his daughter."

"We can be thankful that James and Cait managed to get Astoria under their custody because at least she's away from them now and safe in the Big House," Priscilla said as she looked at Narcissa, "that's why they did it and Astoria is too young to be in a marriage contract… well arranged marriage but Malcolm may have tried to marry her off to one of his friends and then who knows what could have happened to Astoria," she said before hearing Narcissa sighing.

"I'm assuming Malcolm also resents Astoria because Calum is getting the title and not him. That's not a reason to treat your daughter in the way that he is though. James is perfectly entitled to give the title to who is best for the land and tenants and that is Calum. I understand that he's been adopted by Cait and made a legitimate child as well so he has every right to take up the title," she said and Priscilla nodded softly.

"He does indeed and I am glad that it is going that way because I would be concerned with Malcolm left in charge of the Land. I'm sure he would abuse it all no end. What we have to hold onto is Astoria is safe, James and Cait are protecting her and that she can have a happy childhood. I also think she's dying to see Rosalie again soon as well," she said causing Narcissa to chuckle softly before she watched Rosalie, wondering what would happen as her daughter grew up.