I Am Lacerta - Reposted for the Watty Awards 2011

I Am Lacerta Chapter 21

I Am Lacerta Chapter 21

When Fred did drop by the next day, he looked distant. And trust me a distant Fred is a wierd Fred.

"What's wrong?" I asked him.

"Nothing, nothing. Could you tell me though: What was the first thing I said to you, on the night of the Yule Ball." I tried to hide my stunned expression and said immediately:

""Are you okay?", why do you ask?" I said, surprising myself at how I'd remembered the exact words.

His face softened immediately and he grinned lazily. "Just checking you're you and not imperiurised. What's up lovely?"

"Do I look like the sort of girl who's imperiurised easily? Anyway not much, just waiting until the day that Kessler stops telling me off for not dealing with the customers before my social life. I mean seriously, what customers do you see around here?" I asked sarcastically and he laughed. "How are you? Everything OK?" I asked gentler this time, grabbing his hand and rubbing soothing circles on it - he looked completely depressed and I didn't like it at all.

He sighed as if world-weary. "Percy's being a complete and utter twat. He and my dad had a huge argument. He's ruined the whole balance of the family and it's starting to seriously piss me off now. Mum's crying all the time, Dad's always breaking things, Ginny's more mopey than usual although she has Hermione to hang around with now, which means she has to spend more time with Ron which isn't great because he's feeling tetchy - I think he has a crush on Hermione. The only normal people around are George and me, except the Order of course-" 

"What's the Order?" I began to ask but before Fred could answer I heard a voice behind me saying:

"Hello, Lacerta. Do you want to introduce us to your friend?". It was the clear, piercing voice of Lucius Malfoy - I would recognise it anywhere. 

I snapped my head around and saw him eyeing Fred and my held hands, Cissy and Draco standing behind him. I tried to break the tension by saying:

"Of course, Lucius. This is Fred Weasley, a close friend of mine-" I knew if I told them Fred was my boyfriend they would freak out "-, Fred this is my aunt Narcissa, my uncle Lucius and my cousin Draco." Fred looked surprised to find out that I was the cousin of Draco Malfoy, but I kept talking, "What on earth are you doing here, Narcissa?", directing the question to my favourite of the three.

I saw her about to answer, but Lucius cut right across her saying, "Are we not allowed to visit our favourite niece at the place where she works? Besides, Draco needs to get his school books-" 

I cut him off saying, "I asked, Cissy. Do you always butt in and take over, or is today my lucky day?" 

He looked taken aback, which was good as that was the whole idea. I glanced over and Cissy looked grateful and annoyed at my lack of respect for her husband at the same time. I saw her glance at Fred and she looked very disapproving of him. I mentally cursed, this was going very badly.

"Look, Lacerta, I seriously advise you to be wary of the.. friends you make. Blood traitors are bad company to keep. I mean really, what would your parents say?" I was outraged at him calling Fred a blood-traitor - but what was worse was saying it right in front of him.

"How dare you!" I screeched, and Malfoy flinched - the bloody coward. "How very DARE you call him a blood traitor! Fred Weasley's twice the man you are Malfoy, no matter who his family is. Your a spineless little worm, and I actually think it's quite funny how you think you have even the slightest control over me because let's face it - you don't." I roared, and saw out of the corner of my eye that Fred was looking very proud and yet scandalised that I was related to these people. "And looking at how many friends you have - I don't really want advice on how to make friends, thanks."