Chapter 558 - Fernburgh Ⅲ (1/2)

Deciding to stand back to watch at a slight distance, Arthur takes a seat on the couch to observe the ensuing madness. Dora is the first to react as she changes her hair to pale blond and eyes to gray-blue to match. However. Malfoy continues to ignore the child, who stares up at him in confusion at failing to gain praise or some sort of reaction from him.

”Unc-o Lu-lu,” Charlie loudly said as he tugged on the fine robes of Lucius Malfoy with his slightly grubby hands.

Lucius's lips twitch in annoyance as he finally says, ”Weasley, don't you have some sort of nanny, a house-elf to take the children away to the nursey?”

”Molly and I want to raise our children ourselves,” Arthur firmly retorted. ”That's how we were raised and would like to continue the tradition. And though a house elf might be something we might consider in the future if we have more children, but I personally think that too many parents in our world rely on house elves to raise their children rather than taking a more proactive approach.”

Lucius's face tightens as if recalling his own childhood. His mother had died shortly after childbirth, and he had all but been raised by a nanny house elf. Not that his father had not educated him nor that his father had not loved him, but it was at a distance.

Seeing the younger wizard's expression, Arthur can all but guess Malfoy's train of thought. Feeling a slight touch of pity for the man, Arthur says, ”They just want your attention, they'll leave you alone, Malfoy, if you give them what they want.”

Somewhat afraid to trust the advice of a Weasley, Lucius' eyes slowly flicker downward to the two young children staring intently up at him, as they clutched his robes. Uncertain of what to do, he glances over at Weasley, who makes the motion of petting something, and whispers, ”Say something nice.”

A tad of a flush can be seen on his pale cheeks as Lucius raises his hands and rathe clumsily pats the two young children on the head. Clearing his voice, he rather awkwardly says, ”The two of you are most excellent lineage and will go on to do great things.”

Dora satisfied at having received the attention that she wanted hurries over to play with a discarded toy on the rug. However much to Arthur and Lucius's shock, Charlie raises his hands in the air in the universal sign that he wanted to be picked up. Panicked, Lucius glances over at Arthur, who warily motions to Lucius to pick up Charlie.

Rather rigid now, Lucius stiffly picks up the redhead little boy and holds him up in mid-air unsure of what to do. Charlie giggles and says, ”Sit.”

Understanding the demand, Lucius uneasily places the redhead little boy on his lap. Charlie happily stares up at the long, shiny hair and gently reaches up to wrap his hand into the hair. ”Pwetty,” Charlie said as he gently touched the luscious silver blond hair.

Lucius has a strange expression on his face as if uncertain of the emotions he is feeling. A bit more confidently than the first time, he pats the little boy's short, silky red hair. The two of them are like that for a minute, before Charlie releases the pretty hair and says, ”Down!”

Lucius quickly moves to comply as he gently sets down the little boy on the ground, who rushes off to play with his same-aged second-cousin. Lucius wordlessly stares at the child if amazed, but rather bewildered by the transpired events. Catching the stare of Weasley, Lucius sits back up, and haughtily says, ”Of course, I can deal with a child, Weasley. Though I can see the merit in having a closer relationship to one's own child.”

Arthur merely grins back at Malfoy, who glances away and avoids meeting Arthur's gaze until another knock at the door caused Arthur to rise and see who it was. Opening the door, Arthur is greeted by the sight of a fair-haired man with a rather mellow voice, Edward Tonks usually called Ted instead.

”Ted,” Arthur smiled at the muggleborn wizard, who had been a former Hufflepuff.

”Arthur,” Ted grinned back and rather friendly clasped the arm of the former Gryffindor.

Chuckling, Ted steps inside as Arthur closes the door behind him. ”Where is Dromeda and Dora?” Ted asked glancing around for his wife and child.

”Andromeda is in the kitchen with the rest of the women,” Arthur replied. ”And little Dora is in the parlor room playing with Charlie.”

”Thank you, Arthur,” Ted said, before hurrying over to the entrance of the parlor room, before quickly spotting his little munchkin.