Chapter 559 - Fernburgh Ⅳ (2/2)

While the children happily chew their food, Molly, and the three women resume chatting. At one point, Molly says, ”I have almost finished knitting a baby blanket for you, Narcissa. I'll have you come to look at once it's done for it's never too early to start preparing.”

Narcissa flushes and pales all at the same time creating a rather strange contrast. Andromeda feeling bad for her younger sister changes the subject to scheduling their next tea date. The conversation continues until the children begin to grow sleepy at the growing late hour.

”I think it's time we go,” Andromeda finally said as she picked up her sleepy daughter from the ground.

”Mm, yes, it is this little one's bedtime,” Molly cooed to the tired figure of her son curled up sleepily in her arms.

Nodding her head in agreement Narcissa leads the way to the parlor room as the men rise to their feet and know it is time for them to leave. Lucius incredibly well-mannered as usually says, ”Thank you for having us, Molly. It was an enjoyable evening.”

”Of course, Lucius,” Molly said with a warm smile. ”We're family.”

Lucius visibly startles at her words as an undisguised smirk appeared on Arthur's face. Before Lucius can think of anything to say, Molly hands the sleepy figure of Charlie to her husband and says, ”I'll be back in just a jiff. I packed a basket of food for you, Ted, for lunch tomorrow. And a special goodie basket just for you, Lucius.”

Ted earnestly thanks Molly as Lucius flushes a rather lovely shade of pink, before muttering his thanks to the amus.e.m.e.nt of everyone in the room. It was rather hard to rile the young pureblood up, but when they did manage to do so, it was rather funny to watch. It must be the strange and inexplicable human instinct to pull on the tiger's tail and see what happens.

Molly returned soon after with the two food baskets and handed one over to Andromeda, and the other to Narcissa. The Malfoy's and the Tonk's quickly left soon after having said their goodbye's. Closing the door firmly shut to their home, Arthur carries Charlie upstairs, while Molly leads Bill to brush his teeth before bed, before putting on his pajama's.

After having read Bill, a storybook, Molly, and Arthur left their dozing children, and carefully closed their door shut. With a tired sigh, Molly begins to undress for the night as Arthur pulls off his boots. ”Thank you, Arthur,” Molly murmured as she folded her clothes. ”It was a lovely evening, and I appreciate the fact that you minded your temper.”

”Malfoy wasn't that bad,” Arthur admitted honestly out loud. ”You wouldn't think it, but he's surprisingly naïve in the strangest of ways for being such a suave pureblood in society.”

Molly nods as she pulls her dressing gown over her head, before saying, ”Well, it wouldn't surprise me. From what Narcissa has told me is that Lucius's mother died in childbirth, and though Abraxas, may he rest in peace, dearly loved his son, but poor Lucius was largely raised by a nanny house elf. It wouldn't surprise me if he's largely clueless to do with the baby that is now on its way.”

The husband and wife continue to chat until at long last, they go to bed, but elsewhere at Malfoy Manor a similar scene is occurring. The Malfoy couple were sitting in bed, while Lucius reviewed some doc.u.ments while Narcissa read a romance novel about a witch in love with a wizard sea pirate.

After a moment, Lucius puts down his doc.u.ments and turns to gaze at his lovely wife. ”Narcissa, do you think that we should have more of a proactive approach when raising our children?”

Narcissa carefully marks her page, before closing her novel shut. ”I think that we should still employ a nanny house elf,” Narcissa truthfully confessed. ”But I would like to play and care for our child much as Andromeda and Molly do. I rather enjoyed playing with the two small children this evening. And though undignified in public, I do not see it being an issue in the privacy of our own home, Lucius.”

”That is exactly what I thought,” Lucius murmured in satisfaction like it had been his idea all along, before returning to glance down at the doc.u.ments that he put down.

But before he can resume reading again, Narcissa idly remarks, ”You have recently been getting along well with Arthur Weasley, Lucius. If I did not know any better, I would even dare to suggest that you are on friendly terms with each other.”

Lucius mutters under his breath, ”Preposterous,” but does not vehemently protest like he normally used to do in the past.

With a Cheshire smile hidden and only known to herself, Narcissa returns to reading her novel wondering if the squib pirate would ravish the fair muggle maiden on the next page or would the witch protect the fair maiden and sacrifice herself in exchange? Either way, she could hardly wait to find out.