Hey y'all. Monday updates are here finally. Work hours have increased finally so the great balancing act now begins. Last month's views blew me away. Thank you so much! Thanks to Lady Laya McGonagall for the review as well.
Lots of love,
LM xxxxxxx
Finally Belonging Somewhere-Part 23:
Narcissa had driven Lucius insane all night. She had had the most disturbed night's sleep since the pregnancy with their second baby and it had made him cranky.
"Cissa she's fine and fast asleep. You don't need to keep checking on her or you will wake her up and then you will end up with her in here," Lucius said after she'd left the bed again.
"Her dreams are on the verge of changing into a nightmare Lucius. The last thing we need is her crying…" Narcissa said before the colour drained from her face as Aurora's dreams turned into a nightmare and Narcissa rushed back through with Lucius behind her.
She quickly slipped into the bed and held Aurora closed before placing her hand on the girl's head and manipulated her dreams into good ones.
"Go to bed Lucius. I'll just sleep in here," she said softly as Aurora settled down into her. Lucius didn't listen and he slipped into bed behind his wife and fell asleep again. He didn't want to sleep without Narcissa and she wouldn't leave Aurora so it was that or nothing.
He woke up the next morning to find Narcissa and Aurora safely asleep and decided to let them sleep. He instructed Lilly and Daisy to wait upon the two and make breakfast for 15 minutes after the two were awake before he kissed Narcissa's head and headed to the Ministry of Magic.
Narcissa actually woke up soon after and watched Aurora sleeping. The girl was facing her and her arms wrapped around her unicorn teddy. Narcissa felt like the world had stopped in that moment as she saw the little girl fast asleep and it reminded her of Draco and when she'd had to protect him when he was young and now she was doing it with Aurora.
She pushed some of the girl's hair back from her face and a smile formed as the girl began to wake up.
"Mummy…"
"Yes my little flower. I'm here," Narcissa said before turning to the two House Elves, "we'll will have breakfast served in the parlour in 20 minutes," she instructed. The Elves bowed and disappeared before Narcissa turned her attention back to the 11-year-old, "We need to get your warm clothes on because I am going to show you the gardens today and yes that will include the peacocks and the horses," she said softly, "your clothes are laid out for you and we shall meet in the parlour." She then gently kissed Aurora's head and headed through the door to get ready for the day's activities.
Aurora got out of bed and was glad the fire was roaring already before she began to get dressed and then she heard Narcissa head downstairs and she finished getting dressed before she began to try and find way to the parlour, but, of course, she got lost.
"Lilly!" she cried and the House Elf soon appeared, "I'm lost."
"Me take Miss Aurora's hand and take you to Mistress Narcissa?" Lilly asked and Aurora held her hand out and allowed herself to be led to the parlour.
"Thank you Lilly," Narcissa said before serving the breakfast, "we shall eat and then I'll begin to show you the garden. We need to get you a flower."
"A flower?" Aurora asked as she ate her breakfast.
"There are Daffodils that Lucius wanted for me and white roses Draco wanted for me."
"Pink Rose!" Aurora said instantly, "I want a Pink Rose!"
"Calm down please Aurora," Narcissa said and the girl apologised before the two finished their breakfasts.
It wasn't long after that that Narcissa was making sure Aurora wrapped up before they headed out into the gardens and Aurora gasped before she ran down the whole set of stairs and went straight over to the flowers and looked before Narcissa appeared beside her.
"This is where your flower will go once Lucius purchases it," she smiled before noticing a Peacock heading towards them, "follow it," she said softly and watched as Aurora followed the Peacock all the way to the Peacock area and by the time she'd caught up Aurora was knelt carefully on the floor with the birds having a look at her. She couldn't help but smile softly and grabbed her magic camera and took a picture.
Once the birds had accepted Aurora they all disappeared apart from the one that had led her. She nervously picked up the Peacock and Narcissa was holding her breath but the bird just settled in her arms.
"They are Albino Peacocks. That one is a baby and doesn't have a name yet," she explained.
"Snowdrop," Aurora said, "it can be called Snowdrop."
"Snowdrop it is. Now if Snowdrop behaves you can carry her so we can go and see the horses," Narcissa said.
"Do you hear that Snowdrop? Behave for me," Aurora said before hearing the Peacock respond and smiled at Narcissa, who wrapped her arm around the girl and walked her through the gardens and explained everything to her.
"This grassy area is where Draco practices his flying and you can run around in the summer," Narcissa explained, "with Snowdrop and Estella if you want. Now stay calm. I do not want the horses startled," she told Aurora as they rounded a corner and the horse area came into view, "they are Abraxan horses, meaning they can fly. Lucius will want to take you up when you first go," she said carefully leading Aurora up to the horses and then she stood back and let them have a look at Aurora.
She watched as the tiny girl got lost in the horses but knew now that they wouldn't hurt her. Eventually the biggest horse knelt down in front of Aurora and Narcissa went over to them before pointing to a bench and she went and sat down on it and watched as Aurora walked around and spent time with each horse; Snowdrop remaining in Aurora's arms and behaving herself.
Narcissa watched the girl and wondered why the Peacocks and the horses had taken to Aurora so quickly. She and Lucius had agreed it would be risky but they had to find out she'd be accepted by the animals, well pets. Narcissa smiled before she walked over to Aurora and told her it was time to go and she led her over to the lake. She pulled out her wand and pointed it to the water.
"Glacius!" she said and Aurora gasped as she saw the water freeze before she felt Narcissa grab her arm as she went to fall over. She placed Snowdrop on the grass around the lake before Narcissa took her hands and Aurora stepped onto the ice and looked down.
"When…?"
"When you were distracted by the water freezing. I did promise you ice skating," Narcissa smiled before Aurora let go of Narcissa and skated a little bit away from Narcissa and she laughed as spun around on the ice.
Narcissa carefully skated around and smiled as she watched Aurora. Away from the Castle the 11-year-old was being herself. Narcissa knew she was younger mentally than she should be but she didn't even care about that. All she cared about was Aurora's happiness and she stood still on the ice and just watched the girl skate around and just enjoy herself.
She was soon brought out of her thoughts when Aurora stopped in front of her.
"Is it lunchtime yet? I'm getting hungry," she said, her normally pale cheeks flushed. Narcissa cast a temprus charm and then called Daisy and said that a light lunch should be ready in 30 minutes before Daisy disapparated and Narcissa found herself being pulled onto the ice and pulled around by her foster daughter.
All too soon Narcissa was melting the ice and Aurora had her boots back on. The two walked up the steps when a pained cry was heard. Aurora turned around and hurried back down the steps and scooped up her Peacock.
"I don't normally allow the Peacocks inside but Snowdrop seems attached to you," Narcissa said biting her lip.
"I'll house train her somehow Mummy," Aurora said before she was led inside.
"Now after we have eaten we are going to my study and I need to work on the annual Christmas Ball stuff. That will be your debut Ball," Narcissa informed Aurora.
"What's a Ball?" Aurora asked.
"My little flower…you really have been living in an ivory tower haven't you? The Malfoy Christmas Ball takes place every year on Christmas Eve and there's lots of dancing and drinking and eating. Sadly for you it means there will be lots of people but Lilly, Lucius, Draco and myself will be watching you and there will be safe points set up so you can escape if it's too much for you," Narcissa explained, "I need to get your dress, tiara, shoes and sash sorted before you go back."
Aurora looked up, her eyes wide in fear at the amount of people.
"People? Like hundreds?"
"Don't worry. Every precaution will be taken little flower. Now hurry up and finish and you can use your unicorn desk this afternoon."
At the mention of using her new desk Aurora soon focused on finishing her lunch. Narcissa smiled before she made sure Aurora was cleaned up before she led her to the study and got the 11-year-old settled with her reading book, colouring and writing stuff before she went and sat at her desk.
She smiled as she watched Aurora begin to write with a pen. There was no way Narcissa was letting Aurora use a quill before she saw the girl was totally absorbed in what she was doing.
Snowdrop was sat by Aurora's chair and Narcissa just shook her head before beginning with her Ball work and keeping an eye on Aurora. She was soon lost in her work and that is how Lucius would find them when he returned home from the Ministry; both lost in the work they were doing. He couldn't help but think how similar the two were. One thing that did surprise and shock him was Snowdrop sat as good as gold by Aurora's feet. He just silently slipped passed and left the two alone before eventually having to call them for dinner as, once again, Narcissa had lost track of the time.