Hey everyone!
I think I'm just about getting these in for October. The last week is always chaotic so these are a little late but they're up. Work should start calming down now as well. I am going to be attempting NaNoWriMo this year to get some chapters written for all my fics as it worked rather well in July. Wish me luck!
Lots of love,
LSH xxx
Breaking Traditions – Part 66:
Meredith had to take a deep breath as she held her mother's arm and they Apparated into the wards of Malfoy Manor. It had been a fair few years since the oldest Malfoy had been at her childhood home. Eyes looked around as she took everything in again. Despite the nerves she felt the warm comforts of home wrapping around her, comforting her and making her feel safe for the first time in forever.
Priscilla looked at her daughter before seeing someone walking towards them and realised it was Abraxas.
"You're alright Mer," she said before Abraxas stopped infront of them.
"It's wonderful to see you again Meredith," the father spoke, "I have been wondering about you and if you were doing well."
"You could have written to me… something," Meredith said as she looked at her father, "you put me in the position I found myself in and that is something I will never forget."
"I know and that is something that should never have happened," Abraxas said, catching his wife, daughter and Narcissa off guard, "you should never have been made to run away ashamed of what happened. You are an Auror and that made things impossible for you when it came to me and your brother."
"Well now. I was not expecting that to come out of your mouth," Meredith smirked, "maybe my baby niece is making people realise their mistakes in life," she said before moving to squeeze her father's arm, "I cannot accept the roundabout apology right now but I will in time."
Abraxas left the matter like that before the group headed inside to find Lucius sat alone.
"Rosa's having a nap. Can't have her grumpy and tired to meet her aunt now, can we?" Lucius asked before looking at his sister, clearly trying to say something.
"Our father has already done the apologising for you so save your breath Lucius," Meredith spoke and Lucius snapped his mouth shut, "and whilst I cannot forgive you right now I have accepted the apology," she said.
"You look tired…" Lucius said, "maybe you should rest as well," he said.
"Just get me a coffee and I'll be fine," Meredith said as she moved to sit down in a chair.
After everyone was settled with drinks silence fell and drinks were drank.
"You all saw me when I was undercover…" Meredith spoke, "you just never know it," she said, "Isabella Delcourt who was at a lot of Ministry functions… that was me," she said, "one of my finest moments I will admit. I was terrified that one of you would realise it was me eventually but you never did."
Lucius almost choked on his drink at his sister's words and looked at his wife and mother as they smirked.
"I see I taught you well," Priscilla said as she looked at her daughter, "you really did go into the right line of work it seems."
"I was always meant to be an Auror… despite some of the more questionable choices from my brother and father," Meredith said before turning as she heard footsteps and turned to see her nephew carrying his baby sister in his arms.
"Rosalie woke up so I thought I'd better bring her down to you," Draco spoke before seeing his aunt sat there.
Narcissa rose to her feet and smiled as she moved to her children.
"Meredith… this is Rosalie," she said before Meredith moved to wrap an arm around Draco.
"You have grown so big Draco and I cannot believe you've completed your first year at Hogwarts," she said placing a gentle kiss on his head before she turned to Rosalie and watched the little one before reaching out to stroke her soft cheek.
"You can take her if you like," Draco said, "just watch your hair."
"I…I can't…" Meredith stuttered, "she barely knows me."
"All the more reason for you to," Draco said as he put Rosalie into their aunt's arms and stepped back quickly before Meredith could pass Rosalie back to him.
Meredith looked down at her niece before she chuckled at the baby's confused face.
"Yes… I suppose you are confused at this strange new person," Meredith said, "well I'm Meredith… but you can call me Mer and I'm you aunt who has been away for a very long time but I'm back now," she told Rosalie as she moved to sit down with the baby in her arms.
It still seemed unreal to Meredith that she had a little niece in her arms and that was something that she'd almost given up hope of ever seeing in her lifetime.
"She looks so like you both," Meredith spoke as she turned to look at her brother and sister-in-law, "I can see why this was rushed through. I can't tell she's not a Malfoy from birth," she said before gasping as Rosalie grabbed her hair, "now that has taken you longer than I thought it would to grab my hair," she said before removing Rosalie's little hand from her hair and summoning a rattle for Rosalie to hold.
"You look well… all things considering," Draco said as he watched his aunt with his sister, "I mean I know you have been away on a very long case…" he said before falling silent.
"Thank you, Draco. I just need to get some sleep and then I will feel as right as rain. It will take me a while to adjust to normality but that will come in time," Meredith said as she looked at her nephew, "it appears that I will be staying here and then maybe living in the cottage for a while," she said, "and, yes, I do know about you and Astoria Greengrass. My mother was writing to me whilst I was away so I am up to speed on everything that has happened. I have heard of all your milestones and watched you grow up from afar," she said.
"I have no doubt about that," Draco said with a chuckle, "Grandmother Priscilla always is one step ahead of us," he said.
"Well I'm back now and I don't intend on going anywhere," Meredith spoke, "I'm back for good now."
