Chapter 27

LB

I was leaning against the door frame of Moony's room. He was sleeping in his bed, snoring slightly. The covers pulled up high until it touched his chin, his eyes had heavy bags under them. I pushed myself off the door frame and walked closer to him. I crouched down next to the bed and pushed his hair back.

"Uncle Moony?" He grunted as he lifted one eyelid up. "Are you sure you're up to being alone? I can stay if you want."

"No." He rubbed his eyes before he lifted himself up. I sat on the bed next to him as he shuffled against the headboard. "I'm good. A bit tired but that's all. Besides there are no classes, so I'll take the opportunity to sleep in."

"Are you sure?" Still not convinced.

"Yeah, go have fun." He smiled, still looking tired. "Cissy will love to see you. And even though Harry can't get along with Draco, I'm glad you can. I can see the difference in the boy already."

"That's not because of me."

"I don't know, cub. I believe you're a great influence, and once Cissy leaves Lucius..." He stifled a yawn. "You'll be staying the night at the Manor?"

"Yeah, Lucius won't be there, Aunt Cissy already got a room ready." I smiled at the thought. "They opened their floo for me to arrive at four."

He glanced at his lose watch, that almost had shifted to his elbow. "You better get ready then." He offered a smile.

"Yeah, yeah." I chuckled and hopped off the bed.

LB

When the green flames subsided, I saw Draco and Aunt Cissy waiting for me at the large fireplace in Malfoy Manor. Draco had a neutral face on, but his eyes twinkled. While Aunt Cissy smiled wide and happy as she saw me appear.

"Aunt Cissy!" I cried out and leaped out of the fireplace and flung my arms around her.

"Oh, Alexandra." She whispered in my hair. "I've missed you." She kissed my temple and pulled back. Her eyes inspected me with a smile. I was wearing a blue silver cocktail dress with a boat neckline. My hair fell over my shoulders in black waves with two silver pins tucked into it. "You look beautiful."

"I missed you too, Aunt Cissy." She was wearing a silk black, floor-length dress, hugging her figure nicely. "You're one to talk. What a dress." I smiled warmly. Narcissa Malfoy had put her hair in a low ponytail, her hair reaching her lower back. I turned my head when I heard Draco clear his throat.

"This is weird." His face showed no emotion, but his eyes twinkled as he looked between his mother and me.

"Hello, cousin. You look fetching." I chuckled and kissed his cheek. He was in his finest black wizarding robes, his blond hair a large contrast against it.

"Thank you, Alexandra. You don't look bad yourself." He offered me a smile. "What about a tour?" He gestured behind him. I nodded and looped my arm through Cissy as Draco took the lead, to show me around at the grand mansion.

LB

A few hours later we were sitting at a large dining table. Too large for just the three of us, but it looked like they were used to it. The house elves brought in the food and drinks, and I thanked them with a smile. I frowned a little seeing the state of the rags the elves were wearing, but I knew it's too early to ask them about it. So, I turned back to the two Malfoys as we loaded our plates.

"Draco, I need to tell you something." Cissy said as dinner disappeared, and dessert arrived.

"Do you want me to go?" I asked, already making a move to stand up.

"No, sweetie. I want you to stay." She smiled and I leaned back in my chair. I looked to Draco, who had a nervous look on his face as he glanced from me to his mother. "I wanted to tell you both... I left your father." She said it directly at Draco. "I'm drawing up the divorce papers as we speak."

"How did he react?" I asked after a few minutes as Draco was frozen in place.

"He was mad, said it would be a disgrace to the Malfoy name." I hid a chuckle as she rolled her eyes, the rest of her posture was the perfect example of pureblood etiquette. "But I'm done caring about what other people think." She smiled at me before turning to her son. "We had an arranged marriage, Draco. And I wouldn't trade you for the world, but there was never any love in our marriage. And I don't want you to see this as an example. I want you to feel free to love who you want, to marry who you want." Draco was still frozen as he looked to his mother. "Draco, sweetheart. How do you feel?"

"It's a lot to take in. I knew you were thinking about it but it's still a surprise. But I just want you to be happy, mother." He reached over with his hand and took hers. "You deserve it, you deserve to be happy, to be loved. I love you."

"I love you too, my little dragon."

If I wasn't so moved by the sweet moment, by the things they said, I would've laughed at Draco's nickname. I saw Draco flush when she called him that, and I stored it away for a later date. The three of us took our chocolate mousse and headed to the parlour. Tea was already served as we sat down. I was scraping up the bowl empty when Aunt Cissy spoke up.

"How is your uncle, dear?" She asked, her bowl vanished without a sound.

"He's good. He loves teaching at Hogwarts. He's amazing at it too." I smiled proudly. I saw Cissy's gaze flicker from Draco back to me.

"I heard he's much more interesting than the previous defence against the dark arts teachers."

I chuckled as I glanced to Draco, who was busy with his second helping of chocolate mousse. He was sitting on my right, in his own dark green armchair. "More interesting huh?" Draco avoided my eyes as he looked at his dessert. "It's that the only nice thing you could muster?" I turned back to Cissy. "From what I heard from the others, he's more than just interesting. The stories I heard about the previous teachers."

"Yes." Cissy nodded with a serious face. "I had some doubt about Dumbledore's choices for the job, but it seems like Remus is doing well."

In the corner of my eye, I saw Draco put his second bowl on the table and it disappeared within seconds. He rested his arms on his knees as he leaned forward. "So, is either of you going to explain how this-" He pointed between us. "Happened?"

Cissy and I shared a glace, and she gave me a nod, telling me she would take the lead in this one and I leaned back against the couch. I tucked my feet under me and pulled my dress a bit down as Draco waited for his mother to start.

"I found out about Alexandra back in 1980, she was about three and half by then. I was visiting Walburga and for some reason she had her library locked up, she never did that. So, I may have figured out to get in and to try and find out what she was hiding."

"Mother!" Draco gasped, his eyes bulging from shock. I couldn't help the laughter that boiled up and Aunt Cissy continued with a smile.

"You do what you have to." She put it simply. "So, first I didn't check out the family tapestry but investigated the cupboards, books, etc. When I was about to give up and walk out the room, I saw the addition on the tapestry." Her eyes flittered from me to Draco. "That was certainly not what I expected. I think I stood there for ten minutes, just staring at the wall, at her name. I was frozen in place until Walburga caught me in the library. She was angry, really angry but so was I. I asked her why she didn't say anything. She told me Orion forbid her to look for Alexandra, but still she tried to track her down."

That took me by surprise, my eyes wide as I looked to my aunt.

"I don't know if it was because even though she treated Sirius badly, he was still her son, you her granddaughter, or the fact that she just needed someone to continue the Black line, but she tried. Failed, as you can see. She didn't know who your mother was and it's not like she could ask some of Sirius' old friends. But that's when I started my search. It took me a lot of time gossiping with pleasant and some unpleasant people before I even found out who Sirius was seeing at that moment. I found out about Cordelia Dubois over a year after I found about Alexandra. But of course, there was no sign of her anywhere. She had disappeared from one day to another. I found her old flat, but there was no sign to where she had gone to. All of her furniture, clothes, everything was still there."

"How did you find her then?" Draco asked curiously.

"I never found Cordelia." She shook her head sadly. "It was when I saw Remus Lupin in Paris in 19̈83, I found Alexandra. She had black wavy hair that reached until her lower back. She was holding Remus hand tightly as she pointed excitedly into a toy store. She was practically bouncing." She smiled to me. "But it was when she turned, I knew who she was. She has the exact same eyes as Sirius, just a shade lighter than yours." She said to Draco, still a smile on her lips. "I stepped up to Remus, and I still laugh at the shocked and slightly frightened look he had when he saw me." She chuckled. "And I demanded an explanation. He reluctantly gave it to me, after I promised not to tell anyone else."

"But why not tell me?"

"Draco, sweetheart. You were too young, you were three years old then, and even later..." She shook her head. "I couldn't risk of you letting it slip with your father."

"I still don't like that you didn't tell me, but I understand." He sighed and clasped his hand around his mother's. "Why didn't you tell me before school started?"

"Honestly? I was afraid how you would react. If you were going to be mad or didn't want to believe me. I only found out she was transferring to Hogwarts at the end of August."

"Alright." He said slowly, before he could say something else the doorbell rang. I looked surprised to the door of the parlour.

"I should leave you to it." Aunt Cissy said as she rose elegantly from her seat.

"Aren't we going to celebrate New Year's together?" I asked, jumping off my seat, not even close to the elegance my aunt had.

"I don't want to intrude Draco's party. I'll be up in the library." She kissed my cheek before going over to her son and did the same. "Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year." Draco and I said in unison, and Aunt Cissy walked out with a smile. When my aunt was gone, I walked closer to Draco and poked his chest. "You said you invited a few friends."

"I did."

"A party is more than a few friends, Draco."

"Oh, come on; It will be fun." He grinned as he walked to the front of the house, me on his tail. "I precured you some of the best fire whiskey money can buy."

"I think I could stay for a little while then." I pursed my lips to hide a smile. Draco gave me my personal bottle of fire whiskey, and when he walked to the front door, I walked to the parlour and poured myself a glass as I leaned against the window, looking outside as I heard people trickle in, making their way to the parlour. When the door opened again, I noticed the house elves had decorated and filled the place with drinks and food. I shook my head in confusion because none of it was there when I entered a few minutes ago. I sipped my drink as I saw Draco's bodyguards arrive, followed by Theo Nott, Blaise Zabini, Pansy Parkinson, and a few I didn't recognize. Music started to play, and I swayed a little on the beat of the music as my gaze found the garden again. The garden was decorated by fairy lights, illuminating the large grounds around the house. You could spot white peacocks making a stroll around the garden. There was a large willow tree on the far left, the branches low to the ground.

"What a surprise seeing you here." A familiar voice, full of mirth came from next to me. I tore my eyes away from the willow tree and smiled as I saw Emmett Nott standing there.

"Hm, a surprise?" I raised an eyebrow as I leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "For me, yes. For you? Nu-hu." I shook my head. "You knew I'd be here." Nott just looked at me with a large grin before his eyes travelled my body.

"You clean up nice, Lupin-Black."

"Great at compliments, I see." I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes.

"Right, let me try that again. You look fucking hot." He said with dark eyes. I looked to him before laughing. I tutted at him as I poked his chest.

"I don't believe that's how you mother taught you how to compliment a young woman, Nott."

"True." He shrugged. "But it was the first thing that came to my mind." He winked before he bowed, holding out his hand. "Care to join me for a dance, miss Lupin-Black?"

"Well, if you ask me like that. How can I say no?" I grinned back at him as I accepted his hand, and he pulled me towards the empty space.

LB

The night was fun, even though the most of them were thirteen-year-olds, only Emmett Nott and I were sixteen and were drinking that night, the young ones kept to drinking butterbeers. A few boardgames came to pass, just like truth or dare and charades.

I was playing truth or dare with a group, Nott sitting right next to me when an unknown Slytherin asked me about Sirius after I chose truth.

"We all know Sirius is your father." He started and I tensed, Nott must've felt it because he laid his hand softly on my lower back. "Will you follow in his footsteps?"

"What do you mean?" I asked politely as I tried to control my breathing.

"Well, being a murdering lunatic." He smirked at me. I felt Nott's hand tightened around my waist, and I was reaching for my wand, fuck the trace. I saw movements in both of my eye corners, but before Nott had leaped to the boy, Draco had punched his square on the nose. The boy had never expected it and looked shocked at Draco, covering his bleeding, possibly broken nose.

"Out! Now!" He grumbled, his eyes blazing. The boy, whose name I still didn't know, scrambled up and ran out the room. "Fuck." Draco frowned as he looked at his fist. I gave Nott's hand a squeeze and jumped up.

"Let's get this taken care off." I said to Draco as I looked at his bruised hand. "We'll be back soon." I said over my shoulder, mainly to Emmett.

LB

I lead Draco to the kitchen and asked for an ice bath to one of the house elves. With a pop the ice bath had appeared on the counter. I hopped on the counter next to the ice bath and I placed Draco's hand in it, making him hiss. The elf came back with another pop and handed me a bruising paste before disappearing again.

"How does it feel?" I asked after his hand soaked in the ice bath for a few minutes, music from the party carried softly into the kitchen.

"Better. Thanks." He offered a small smile. I lifted his hand from the ice bath and dapped it dry with a towel.

"You shouldn't have done that. I can take care of myself."

"Believe me, I know." He chuckled but winced as I flexed his fingers. I frowned as I uncorked the tube of bruising paste. "But you were reaching for your wand and you're still sixteen, don't want to get expelled, do you?"

"Oh, are you going to miss me if I'm not at Hogwarts anymore." I cooed. "I didn't know you grew so attached to me."

"As if." He huffed and I grinned as I spread the paste over his hand. "But mum would kill me if there was a way to prevent that."

"Ouch, that hurt, little cousin." I said as I patted his hand a little forcefully, making him wince again. I grinned triumphantly as I hopped off the counter. "Let your mum check it out in the morning, alright?" I said as we walked back to the party.

LB

I danced with quite a few Slytherins, including Nott's brother, Blaise, Draco, even Pansy. But when Crabbe or Goyle, no idea who's who, wanted to ask me. I was happy to note that Nott made it in time to "rescue me". (His words) And guided me again towards the dance floor.

"You know, Blaise's hand was a little too low on your back, if you ask me." He said as he twirled me around.

"But I didn't ask you, did I?" I smirked up to him. "Come on, Nott. He's thirteen, not really my type." I chuckled. "Are you jealous?" I asked, pursing my lips together.

"Nott men don't get jealous." He huffed, his face blank.

"If you say so." I said dropping my hands from his neck. "I think I'll ask Blaise for another dance than, he's a surprisingly good dancer."

"I don't think so." He pulled me back, flush against his chest. "It's nearly time." I looked up to him, confused. But then I heard it, the room started to chant in unison.

"Ten, nine, eight, seven, six -"

"Five, four, three -" Nott and I chimed in as we looked to each other, my hands still resting on his chest. "Two, one." Nott leaned down, and I reached up before our lips met. My arms went around his neck as his arms circled around my waist, pulling me closer. Our lips parted and our tongues danced around each other. The kiss began sweet before it became more heated. We parted only when a throat was cleared next to us. But before we turned to see who it was, probably Draco, we smiled at each other and in unison we said.

"Happy New Year."