Happy April everyone!

I have had the 9 days of hell at me, including 6 days working so that's why these updates are late. Better late than never though right? Hope everyone's still enjoying the story.

Lots of love,

LM xxx

Finally Belonging Somewhere-Part 44:

Druella and Priscilla were stood with an arm each around Aurora as they stood at the bottom of the stairs. The guests had arrived and the mothers were keeping Aurora sheltered from the stares that she was getting. Narcissa had been reluctant to leave her but Priscilla had reassured them that they wouldn't let anything happen to Aurora.

Aurora was watching the top of the stairs before a whimper escaped her lips as the music started so the announcer could announce the ones who were to be announced. Druella wasn't going to pick her up and frowned deeply as Priscilla picked the girl up and rested her on her hip. The 11-year-old held her doll close and then she looked at the top of the stairs. Draco and Astoria were together and that all but confirmed the fact that there was going to be a union between the two families.

Draco and Astoria were announced and then they headed out onto the dancefloor and then turned their attentions back to the top of the stairs and Lucius and Narcissa were stood at the top. Draco followed where his mother was looking and could see Aurora in his Grandmother's arms and wondered what had scared her.

"And now invited guests please welcome the hosts of the Yule Ball… Lord and Lady Malfoy!" the announcer said before Lucius and Narcissa walked down the stairs. Narcissa just seemed to float down the stairs and she tapped Aurora's nose as they passed her before joining Draco and Astoria on the dancefloor.

Finally the loud music began to change into a more calm and classical style and that made Aurora relax as she was carried to the edge of the dancefloor. She looked as a hand was placed on Priscilla's shoulder to see Abraxas stood there.

"Are you OK with her?" he asked his wife.

"She got scared when the fanfare started and I remember our daughter-in-law saying she needs to feel close," Priscilla whispered as she watched Lucius and Narcissa begin to waltz around the floor and noticed how Narcissa's dress flowed in the twirls she did.

Priscilla carefully placed Aurora down and Druella came over and looked before offering a hand to Priscilla.

"She should not miss out on the dancing," she said and Priscilla nodded and they formed a circle with Aurora and began to dance with her, not even noticing that their husbands had gone off to talk politics no doubt and the two witches danced with the young witch until Druella felt a hand and turned to see Narcissa stood there.

"May I have a dance with my daughter?" she asked and Druella nodded and the two matriarchs allowed Narcissa to take Aurora with her. Narcissa led Aurora onto the dancefloor and wrapped her arms around her 'daughter' and began to dance with her.

Aurora giggled as Narcissa twirled her around and she was unaware of eyes on her because she was having so much fun dancing. Narcissa's plan was to keep Aurora distracted for as long as possible so she would be able to enjoy her evening. She didn't want to have to hear her use the safe word because that would really be a bad sign.

Eventually the buffet food was ready and Astoria went and found a seat and watched Aurora clamber into her seat and then she settled and sat her doll on the table and waited for Draco to get the food for them. He arrived back and kissed Aurora's head and then went and got some food for himself. He soon came back and began to eat and discuss topics with Astoria, knowing that Daphne and Charlotte were watching Aurora. It didn't stop him worrying about her though.

Aurora looked around and could see Lucius and Narcissa with their parents at a table and it was in that moment that she could finally hear the whispers.

"Yes that's the orphan girl. Oh yes the Lady Malfoy is adamant that the girl is staying."

"Well that Rita Skeeter cannot be trusted at all but she looks normal, very thin and small for her age. Wonder if they really are going to keep her."

"Of course they are. They wouldn't have had her put in their son and that Greengrass girl's marriage contract. Oh you didn't know if anything happens to them and Draco is of age but she isn't then Draco will become the girl's magical guardian."

"Well I heard that the girl is mentally ill. Poor Narcissa and Lucius… their missing child is out there and they're worrying over that thing…"

That was all Aurora needed to hear before she hurried down from her chair and run out into the garden in tears. Narcissa and Lucius were instantly on their feet as were, surprisingly, their parents. Narcissa made to move but Lucius stopped her.

"You're better at hosting," he said before summoning Aurora's doll and unicorn teddy. Both zoomed over to him and he hurried out into the garden. He instantly put a locator spell on the doll and followed it until he found Aurora over by the lake.

He sat down beside her and felt her arms. She was cold as ice and he instantly wrapped his cloak around her and then passed her her doll and teddy.

It took a while and Lucius thought Aurora would never speak to them again and then finally…

"They say mean things about me," she whispered, "saying Draco look after me if something happen to you and mummy, that your child is out there but you aren't searching because of me."

"Oh Aurora!" Lucius said pulling the girl onto his lap, "the first part is true, the second part is the truth and a lie. We will look for our missing child but only once you're doing better," he said, "you and Draco are our main focus for now," he said before feeling her shivering still but the tears had stopped.

He carefully got up with her still in his arms and then walked back inside. He looked as everyone stared at him and he shielded Aurora from the guests as Narcissa hurried over.

"Take her over to the fire and I'll bring your food over. She's so cold," he said before passing Aurora to Narcissa, who's eyes widened at how cold Aurora was, before he walked off to go and get their food.

Narcissa saw eyes following her but she just carried on and was soon sat up close to the fire with a shield up to protect them from the flames but not the heat. She stroked Aurora's cheek and rocked her, trying to warm her up as quickly as possible before Lucius arrived back with their food and then left again knowing Narcissa had the situation under control.

The witch gave Aurora a hot drink and then she watched as Aurora came back to her and she kissed her forehead.

"Mummy…"

"Oh my little flower it's OK," she said softly before passing Aurora her plate and her little arms crept out of Lucius' cloak and she began to eat her food again.

Eventually she warmed up enough to be taken out of the cloak and Narcissa had Draco and Astoria watch her so she could interact with the guests and find out who had made Aurora run off like that. Of course she found them and they had a stern talking to before Narcissa began to dance the night away again having dances with her father and father-in-law and Lucius, Draco and Aurora.

It began to get late and nobody had seen Aurora for a while and that was causing concern until Narcissa finally caught sight of her in a chair, curled up and fast asleep. She whispered something to Lucius before scooping Aurora into her arms and gracefully exiting the room and putting Aurora to bed before rejoining the Ball.

"She's fast asleep with Dilly on watch, Lavender curled up beside her and her music box playing," she said to Lucius before he pulled her close and kissed her softly.

"Let's enjoy the rest of the evening then," he said before whisking her away for another dance and the two danced the night away before falling into bed with each other at the end of the night and Lucius held her close feeling that somehow their family was whole again.