Hey everyone.
OK OK so I've been gone for what feels like forever and I can only apologise. Real life bites at times and I've had that time when it has. I've been trying to write and drawing a blank but writing my 2 new fics is starting to help me get back into the grove. I'm also off work for a week now so I'm going to try and get some planning up and running so I can get back to my regular update plans. Thank you all for baring with me whilst everything has been going on around me. One of the new fics is going up now and the other will be just before my birthday next week.
Lots of love,
LSH xx
Finally Belonging Somewhere-Part 103:
Everyone gathered for dinner that evening and Aurora was surprised to see another boy she hadn't met before there and she watched him with interest wondering who he was as she'd not known a boy around Astoria's age.
Astoria chuckled softly as she looked at Aurora.
"That's Alasdair," she explained, "his family has been living on Greengrass land for longer than I dare to think. He's my best friend…"
"But I thought I was…" Aurora said with a frown as she was confused.
"You are my little sister… at least that's the way I see you," Astoria said and Aurora nodded before falling silent again as she ate her dinner.
"Well tomorrow will be a big day as Lucius and Narcissa will be coming to stay for a couple of days as Lucius has managed to get a couple of days away from the Ministry," Cait said.
"Mummy and Daddy are coming?" Aurora asked as she looked up and smiled.
"Yes. At some point tomorrow they will arrive so you can show them whatever you want to," Cait said with a chuckle.
"Speaking of tomorrow. Kenzie, Greer and Aislynn want to take Aurora into town and get her some of their favourite books," Jen said, "the idea came about when the girls were bonding at Cal's."
"Well I don't have a problem with that. I will check with Lucius and Narcissa that they're fine with Aurora going but I don't see it being an issue," Cait said, "and I'll see if Maggie can take them as well."
"If it helps then I'll go with them," Astoria said as she looked at her grandmother, "that way it'll be fine for sure," she said and smiled at Aurora, who nodded softly and smiled.
Cait spoke to Lucius and Narcissa after dinner and they agreed to letting Aurora go as long as Astoria went with them. They were worried about their daughter in a new place where she didn't know anything but they also knew that she needed to go to other places as well. Astoria spoke to Lucius and Narcissa and reassured them that she was going to be by Aurora's side the whole day. She wasn't about to let Aurora face a lot of new things alone.
The next day arrived and Maggie wanted to get going early so they could make the most of the day as Aurora had been excited to get going. Draco looked at Astoria.
"Look after her," he said as he looked at the 13-year-old.
"Draco… she'll be fine. We'll all look after her," Astoria said, "what will you do whilst we're gone?"
"Learn how this place works. Your grandfather has said he'd give me a lesson in this place and everything around it," Draco said as he looked at Astoria, "Rora and I will be here a lot so might as well learn a few things whilst I'm here," he said, "get to know my future in-laws as well," he said with a smirk that made Astoria blush.
"You really are putting on the charm offensive aren't you?" Astoria smirked back at Draco, "when is the very mysterious Aunt Meredith arriving back? Yes I know all about her."
At the mention of his aunt, Draco covered her mouth and shushed her,
"Aurora doesn't know about Father's sister so please do not say it that loudly," he said and Astoria sighed and nodded,
"Fine but she needs to know about her soon," she said and Draco sighed with a nod,
"I know she's due back from her latest Auror assignment this week. Then we're looking at breaking the news to her," he said before Aurora ran up to them dressed like she was ready for a day on the land in her jeans and boots with a jumper and her coat undone.
"Proper Highlands girl," Astoria said with a chuckle as she straightened Aurora's headband before the two headed to join the others.
The group packed into the 4x4 that Maggie drove and they headed off. Aurora was sat between Astoria and Kenzie which allowed them to point things out to Aurora as Maggie drove. It was a pleasant drive to the town and the weather was perfect for strip into the nearest town.
They arrived and got out of the car and Maggie decided to take them for a drink first. Aurora listened as everyone greeted Maggie and the children, which made Aurora shy and hide behind Astoria, much to the older girl's amusement.
The group sat and had some cake and drinks before they headed to the bookshop as Maggie knew that was where they'd be spending most of their time based off the list Kenzie, Aislynn and Greer had built up. It made Maggie wonder if they'd thought about where the books were going to be kept. She had the feeling some would end up back at Hogwarts with Aurora and the rest Lucius and Narcissa would take back to Malfoy Manor with them. Books could be sent backwards and forwards as needed.
The bookshop reminded Aurora of both the Malfoy and Greengrass libraries with the old, yet elegant feel of the place. Kenzie, Greer and Aislynn began to move around, picking up the books on their list whilst Astoria was walking Aurora around and explaining bits of the building's history to her.
The 12-year-old looked around as she was told things and commented on how much things reminded her of the two libraries she knew and loved and Astoria chuckled before she squealed as she spotted the Castle that she'd heard about.
"You remember that tune well then," Maggie said as she walked over to Aurora and Astoria, "the Castle is at the top of the hill in town. Yes we can go after lunch," she added with a chuckle as she saw the look on the girl's face. She smiled softly and then she looked as Aislynn, Greer and Kenzie appeared with the books. Maggie rolled her eyes as she saw the amount of books. She took them off the girls and paid for them before the group dropped the books off at the car and then headed to a local pub for lunch.
For Aurora it was something new and she looked around trying to take everything in. Luckily Maggie had picked a quiet corner for them all to sit in. Astoria and Kenzie were sat either side of Aurora as they ate and drank. It was eye opening for the Malfoy girl who hadn't seen many Muggle things in her life.
After lunch the group headed to show Aurora around the Castle as she'd said that she wanted to go and see it. Maggie didn't have the heart to let Aurora down as they had no idea when they would be back over in the town. There was a shop that Narcissa would like so Maggie was on a mission to get the witch there eventually. Aurora loved her time in the Castle and heard the tune playing, deciding that she wanted to try and learn it again and keep practicing it.
Eventually the group headed back to the Greengrass Estate and they walked into the hall and Narcissa appeared.
"Where is my little princess?" she called softly and Aurora ran up to her mother and hugged her tightly before beginning to tell her mother everything that had happened during the trip to the town. Narcissa glanced at Maggie as Aurora said some obviously Muggle things but let it slide as she heard the joy in her daughter's voice. However Narcissa knew that the bliss would end once she and Lucius sat down with Jen to learn about what the healer had discovered about their daughter.