Chapter 41: Cissie's in the Front Seat, Picking Up Trash
Bellatrix sighed. Lucy was really trying to rain on their shopping trip, due to that stick up his ass. It wasn't as if she cared about the trip for itself, because shopping only interested her for five minutes or less. She did want to spend time with her daughter and sister together, though. Of course he had to make himself a wet blanket today of all days.
"We can ask the Ministry to put protections on your home," Rodolphus told Lucius. "I don't think they're in on the weekends, though, but we'll speak to them about it first thing Monday morning."
"And until then, we just hope Delphini doesn't have time to come calling," Lucius snapped.
Rodolphus sighed. "Do me a favor. Don't start talking until I've finished."
Lucius sat back, resentment in every line of his face, but he remained silent.
Rodolphus gave a pleased smile before continuing. "Our home is protected. You allowed us to remain with you when we escaped from Azkaban in the nineties so we owe you. We have plenty of room at Raven's Nest, and you're welcome to come and stay with us until Malfoy Manor is safe."
"Thank you," Lucius said.
"Do remember not to treat our elf as if he were yours during your stay," Bellatrix said tartly. "Be polite to him and realize that he doesn't have to do a bloody thing that he doesn't wish to for you, because you don't pay him."
Lucius gaped at her in mild horror. "You pay your elf?"
Bellatrix shrugged, mildly uncomfortable. "Sort of. We provide him with whatever he needs."
"What happened to your elf," Rodolphus asked.
Narcissa shifted, agitation on her face as she glanced pensively around the room. "The day after we fell ill and lost our magic, an elf came here and ordered us to free Star. Star and the strange elf spoke privately and left together. Star has never returned."
Bellatrix frowned. "That's interesting... and strange." She would definitely be asking Kreacher and Regulus about that, as they were usually in the know.
"Pack your bags, and we'll get you settled in at Raven's Nest," Rodolphus said. "Then we really need to take our daughter shopping!"
"Of course... and I still very much wish to come along," Narcissa said. "Come, Lucius, let us pack a few things."
Lucius nodded and rose from his chair with his usual fluid grace. "We will be ready shortly," he said, and left the library with Narcissa.
"Do you think all the elves are being freed?" Rodolphus wondered.
"I wondered the same," Bellatrix said. "We will speak to Regulus and Kreacher on the matter soon."
"If they're using elves and goblins as Aurors, they probably do want as many as they can get," Lyra said. "So what's this Lucius's deal anyway," she asked suddenly, leaning forward in her chair toward her parents where they sat together on one of the library's two sofas. "He sort of seems decent when he's not being a prick... Like he wants to be decent, but then he gets in his own way with his strong belief that he should be a complete prick."
Rodolphus grinned. "You are very discerning. You have the Lestrange brain!"
"The Blacks are just as brilliant, I'll have you know," Bellatrix said sharply.
The family rivalry comments were nothing new to her and Rod's relationship. He'd started them over Sirius's dreadfully embarrassing and shameful behavior. Of course, Bellatrix had retorted at once with a comment about Leta Lestrange which had shut him up for a little while. Obviously, when her sister Andi's marriage caused so much trouble, he'd started in again on the Blacks. Only when Bellatrix reminded him sharply that he'd chosen to marry one did he shut up.
Rodolphus chuckled. "Yes indeed, she has plenty of Black in her, as well. Whenever she becomes all emo, I can see those black stripes proudly shining."
Bellatrix smacked him across the chest with one hand. He crowed with laughter as he caught her wrist and drew her close for a kiss.
"Not in front of the child, please," Lyra shouted, covering her face.
"You're hardly a child, as you keep reminding us," Bella said. "And it was just a bloody kiss," Rod chimed in.
"Let's look at the books," Lyra suggested. "Then the two of you can keep your hands off one another."
Book browsing was an acceptable family activity they could all agree upon. It kept them occupied until Narcissa and Lucius returned. Each carried two trunks, one in each hand. Bellatrix was shaken by the quiet rage that shot through her at the sight of her sister lugging trunks. Cissie hadn't deserved to lose her magic. Perhaps Lucius did, but not her Cissie!
"Put those trunks down now, Cissie," she snapped angrily. Narcissa started as Bellatrix slammed the book she'd been holding back onto the shelf. "I will levitate them."
"And mine," Lucius demanded.
"You need to build some muscles," Rodolphus told him. "I mean look at mine... It wouldn't hurt you to make yourself a bit more desirable for poor Cissie, now would it?" he chided.
"Rodolphus," Narcissa snapped as the blood rushed to her face.
"Indeed, Daddy," Lyra told Rodolphus sweetly. "Don't ask the impossible of poor Uncle Lucius. He's far too thin to have any hope of developing real muscles."
"She certainly didn't learn how to behave in Australia," Lucius snapped.
"I think I learned to behave far better than you did," Lyra shot back, chin lifted as she locked eyes with Lucius. "Now be nice. You are about to be a guest in my home, after all."
Bellatrix found herself smiling as she flicked her wand to levitate Narcissa's trunks. Lyra was calling Raven's Nest her home. Perhaps she was planning to stay. Not that she had a choice, mind, but if her plans matched Bellatrix and Rodolphus's, it would be easier all around.
"Let's go, then," Rodolphus said, and grasped Lucius's arm for Side-Along Apparation. Bellatrix took Narcissa's, and Lyra moved to place a hand on each of Narcissa's trunks. "I'll get these home, Mum," she told Bellatrix who nodded her thanks.
"Apparate directly into our library," Rodolphus told Lyra. "I don't want anyone seeing us bringing Lucius and Narcissa just in case Delphini has anyone spying on our manor. We do have the place encased in wards, but they have built in family recognition so you can get past with no problems."
Lyra nodded and they Apparated together out of Malfoy Manor.
"Hey, I didn't know you were bringing guests!" Rabastan said, sitting up on the sofa, hair wildly askew as he blinked at them. "And right into the library too! What if I'd been wanking it or something?"
"Wank on that sofa where Rod and I usually sit, and guests will be the least of your problems," Bellatrix promised. Her eyes narrowed with warning as she shot him a glare.
Rabastan laughed. "I was joking, Bella! Damn."
"That's right, Bellatrix," Narcissa said gently. "Just look at the state of his hair. He was obviously napping."
"I always thought you were very smart," Rabastan told Narcissa, giving her a sweet smile as he picked up the book that had fallen across his chest. "I was trying to read this book on advanced transfiguration, and I just nodded off. Hi, Lucius."
"Good afternoon, Rabastan," Lucius said, nodding.
"I'll call Harold to show you to a guest room," Bellatrix said. "And don't fuss over unpacking right now, Cissie. We want to get to the stores before it grows too late."
When Harold arrived, Bellatrix told him to show the Malfoys to a room far away from her and Rodolphus's own.
Both Lucius and Narcissa gaped at Harold in his plague doctor mask, but Narcissa gave him a polite smile and murmur of thanks as he led them out. Lyra set Narcissa's trunks to float behind her with a flick of her wand while allowing Lucius to lug his own.
"So you're taking Lucy shopping too, right," Rabastan asked hopefully and Rod grinned, shaking his head.
"Nah, Bro, he's all yours!"
Rabastan groaned. "Well, we will most definitely be drunk when you return," he proclaimed.