Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters you may recognize from the wonderful world of Harry Potter, they all belong to the revered JK Rowling; I just like to play with them a little.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
MEAN MAN
Draco, Ginny, and the children landed just in front of the wrought iron gates of Malfoy Manor. Draco had charmed the Portkey to only bring them this far, as the wards protecting the Manor would have devastating affects on Ginny and the children, if they attempted to arrive by magical means on the actual grounds of the impressive estate. This was something that he would have to change as soon as possible, so that they could come and go as they pleased.
"Everyone alright?" Draco asked looking to each of them.
"Daddy, do you really live in that big house?" Angel asked in awe as she wandered closer to the gate.
"Yes, sweetheart. That's Malfoy Manor," Draco replied with more than a hint of pride in his voice.
"Wow," Angel uttered.
"Well, it certainly is impressive." Ginny felt as though she should say something.
"It is, isn't it?" Draco smiled gently at her. He knew she still wasn't terribly comfortable with the idea of visiting his parents, but he had gotten her this far without having her run away, screaming.
"What do the words on the gate say?" Drake asked tracing the large iron letters with his fingers.
"They say `Malfoy Manor'" Draco replied showing him each word as he said it. "Shall we head up to the house?" he added to Ginny.
"Umm- Yes, I suppose we should." She looked up nervously toward the grand house.
Draco stepped forward, opening the gate for them to walk through. Once everyone was inside he closed the large ornate gate firmly and began to lead them up to the house. As they meandered up the long drive, Angel skipped up to the side of him and firmly grasped his hand. With Ginny on his other side, holding onto Drake's hand, he imagined that they must look like the perfect family.
Ginny's thoughts wandered as they wound their way up to the household. She too, was in awe of these lavish surrounds; her earlier statement seemed almost inadequate, even to her own mind. Impressive was an understatement, the Mansion was enormous and it was set in perfectly manicured grounds that rolled on as far as the eye could see. Her home, `The Burrow', would probably fit into the portico covering the staircase, leading to the front doors.
It now made sense to her why Draco occasionally seemed pompous and snobby. This type of environment would have predisposed him to etiquette she had only read about in romance novels add to that seemingly unlimited wealth and it was more than obvious that they were almost from different planets. Too soon, they had climbed the stairs and were standing before the large front doors.
"Ready?" Draco reached over and gave her free hand a squeeze.
Ginny took a deep breath and forced a brief smile to cross her features. "Yes."
"Everything is going to be fine. I promise," Draco whispered.
Draco wanted Ginny to feel comfortable in his home. He hoped she and the children would visit often, not for his sake, because he could visit them, but for his mother. Draco knew once Narcissa spied Drake and Angel she would want to see them often, if not every day, and play a large part in their lives. He could only hope Ginny would approve.
"I trust you," Ginny said in barely a whisper.
As if in slow motion Ginny watched Draco reach forward, turned the door handle and swing the door open. Waiting in the foyer was Millie, the house elf.
"Master Draco, sir. Millie can serve you?" the small creature squeaked as it bowed low.
"I trust my parents are in the parlor?" Draco addressed the elf while he shrugged his cloak off.
"Yes, sir, Master Draco," Millie replied. "Millie can take your cloak, sir."
"Mummy, what is that?" Drake asked pointing his finger in the direction of Millie.
"It's a house elf. They're servants to wizards," Ginny answered in monotone.
Angel looked at the creature quizzically. "Why don't we have an elf?"
"Because we don't need one," Ginny answered firmly.
"Why?" Angel persisted.
"Because we aren't rich," Ginny retorted in an annoyed tone.
"Why?" Angel continued to pester her mother.
"House elves belong to old, wealthy, wizarding families. We don't have one, nor will we ever get one. Alright?" Ginny knew that until Angel had explored all the `whys' she would not be satisfied.
"Oh," Angel replied, a little disappointed.
Ginny helped the children out of their traveling cloaks and passed them to Draco, who instantly dropped them onto the house elf. Then he walked around behind Ginny and gently assisted her out of her cloak, as any gentleman would. However, Draco lingered in his position behind her, taking in the scent of her hair, until she noticeably stiffened. He moved back immediately, cursing himself silently for the indulgence that obviously made her uncomfortable, and tossed the cloak to the waiting elf.
Millie and the cloaks disappeared with a loud crack causing Angel to jump.
"It's alright, sweetie. Sometimes the elves make a little too much noise moving around." Draco placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
Angel smiled up at her father. "It was cute."
"No it wasn't! It was ugly," Drake interjected.
"Cute!" Angel retorted crossly placing her hands on her hips.
"Ugly!" Drake insisted, folding his arms across his chest.
"Enough!" Ginny demanded her hands drifting to her hips.
"Yes Mummy," the twins responded in unison.
"Right, are we all ready now?" Draco asked with an amused frown playing across his forehead. "This way everyone," he added indicating that they should follow.
Draco led them down a corridor toward the back of the house, passing many darkened rooms along the way. There were portraits lining the walls, mostly of smirking blonde wizards with much the same features as Draco. Ginny supposed they must be his ancestors.
"Mother's winter parlor is in the family section of the house. It's a little more relaxed than these front rooms she uses for entertaining," Draco explained to Ginny.
He stopped short of an open doorway and turned to Ginny placing is hands on her shoulders, holding her gaze with his. "Smile, Gin. You look like you've seen a Dementor." He smiled gently. "I'll hold your hand if you like."
Ginny gave him a weak smile and nodded; as she did, he reached down and took her hand into his. This minimal contact was comforting to her, but her expression showed that she was still unsure of what she was about to do.
Draco winked at her. "Come on, show some of that Gryffindor courage you've always bragged about-"
Ginny drew a deep breath to steady herself. Draco was right - she was being silly. He would never have bought her here, if there had been any chance of her, or the children being hurt. After all, he had once loved her.
"Well, why are we standing out here?" Ginny smiled as she drew herself up to her full height.
"Good girl." Draco impulsively placed a soft brief kiss on her forehead.
With her hand still firmly in his grasp, he turned and led them into the parlor, where his parents were waiting. Drake and Angel followed behind staring unabashedly at the luxurious surrounds.
"Mother. Father. I'd like to present Ginevra Weasley." Draco's tone was formal and he inclined his head but he didn't let go of her hand.
Lucius, who had stood as soon as they entered the room, walked toward Ginny. Oh Merlin, he's coming straight for me. Ginny momentarily panicked, until she felt Draco gently squeeze her hand and she remembered to breathe again.
"A pleasure to make you acquaintance, Miss Weasley," Lucius intoned gently as he bent and scooped up her free hand to place a kiss upon it.
Ginny's eyes involuntarily popped open as wide as they could. She must be dreaming, Lucius Malfoy was being pleasant to her - Ginevra Weasley. Why was he being so nice? He had never been polite to anyone in her family. In fact, she doubted if she'd ever seen him be pleasant to anyone before. This was quite shock. She took a moment to gather herself before responding. "Mr. Malfoy." It was all she could choke out, with a nod of her head.
"Ginevra, how lovely of you to come." Narcissa, who had drifted over to greet her, smiled gently at the younger witch.
"Mrs. Malfoy. Umm- Your home is lovely." Ginny was at a loss for anything else to say.
"Thank you, dear," Narcissa responded almost absently as her gaze was captured by a movement behind Draco.
Draco, aware of his mother's distraction, released Ginny's hand and stepped aside, to reveal the children.
"And these are my children, Drake and Angelique," Draco said proudly.
Lucius raised an eyebrow in confusion at his son. "Draco?"
Draco chuckled in amusement. "Twins, Father. You seem to have missed one."
"Well, this is a pleasant surprise." Lucius kept his expression unreadable, though Draco could see through his eyes, that he was clearly shocked.
"Twins! Oh my! This is wonderful!" Narcissa exclaimed with genuine happiness as she approached the children and bent to their level. "Hello darlings!"
"Hello." Angel's forehead creased into a deep frown. "Who are you?" She continued looking at Narcissa, cocking her head to one side in confusion.
"Oh, she's just darling," Narcissa said. "My name is Narcissa Black Malfoy but you may call me Grandmother."
"Oh! You're Daddy's pretty mummy," Angel exclaimed with excitement before launching herself Narcissa and wrapping her tiny arms around her neck tightly.
"Angel! Sweetheart, you'll knock your grandmother over. I'm terribly sorry, Mrs. Malfoy. Angel is very affectionate," Ginny apologized quickly. It was not something that she'd ever had to worry about before, but this was not her family or her friends, these were Draco's parents and they obviously did things differently.
"Oh, there's no need to apologise. She's just fine. It's lovely that she's so openly affectionate," Narcissa responded sincerely as Angel released her hold. "And you must be Drake?" She turned her attention to the little boy, but he was staring intently at Lucius with a scowl across his face.
"Drake, your grandmother spoke to you," prompted Ginny.
"Hello," Drake mumbled not breaking the intent gaze he had upon Lucius.
"Drake! Where are your manners?" Ginny growled at him flushing with embarrassment. She never occurred to her that her son could be so rude to his grandmother.
"It's quite all right, dear," Narcissa said softly as she rose to her full height. "Perhaps Drake needs some time to become familiar with us. Shall we sit? I have arranged refreshments."
Draco took Ginny's arm and led her to the long settee. Once he was certain she was comfortable, Draco stood next to her until his mother had taken the chair opposite then he walked around and sat next to Ginny. Lucius took the chair across from him. Drake wandered over and climbed up onto the couch, next to Draco, still keeping Lucius within his sights at all times. Angel stood surveying the adults for a moment, before wandering over and standing directly in front of Lucius. He smiled at the small girl.
"Hello, Angelique." Lucius kept his tone light so as not to frighten the child. Drake's reaction, though silent thus far, was not encouraging. He knew, after the incident in Diagon Alley, it would not be easy to win their favor and, Merlin only knew, what they had been told about this family since the day they were born.
She smiled broadly at him, and then proceeded to clamber onto his lap. Much to everyone's surprise.
"Angel-" Ginny started.
"Shh-" Draco quieted her, placing his hand on her leg.
Lucius sat very still. The expression on his handsome face was one of astonishment and perhaps even a small amount of joy as the child made herself comfortable. He was uncertain as to what he should do, not having had a child sit upon his lap since Draco was a toddler.
"You're my grandfather aren't you?" Angel enquired sweetly.
"Yes, Angelique. I am." Happiness coursed through him. It was such a simple gesture by the little girl. He would never have guessed that hearing a small child call him grandfather could evoke such feelings.
"You can call me Angel, if you like. Everyone does."
"Really? I think I rather like Angelique. After all, that is your name. Is it not?" Lucius countered.
"Well- yes, but everybody calls me Angel."
"Ah- I think Angelique is a much prettier name. It suits a pretty little girl like you," Lucius said smiling. He really had no idea what he was doing but he hoped that a compliment might put an end to her insistence that he call her by the shortened form of her name.
"Really?" She smiled, as her eyes grew wide. "Do you think I'm pretty?"
"Yes. You are very beautiful," Lucius smiled triumphantly, it had worked.
"Oh, thank you, Grandfather." Angel squealed as she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, much to his surprise, yet again.
"You're very welcome, Angelique," Lucius said smiling over her shoulder.
"You're not mean at all," she exclaimed with delight.
Lucius' eyes popped wide open at that comment. Surprise and confusion were clearly evident on his normally unreadable features.
"Is so mean," Drake mumbled taking this opportunity to let his feelings be known.
"DRAKE!" Ginny and Draco yelled together.
Drake jumped down off the chair and stood with his hands upon his hips.
"He is mean! He scared Mummy and he's a mean man!" Drake stared straight at Lucius, as if daring him to take action and show everyone how bad he really was.
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AUTHORS NOTE
Huge hugs to all who reviewed :D
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