AsheleftNarissa’swing,Luius’swalkslowedandhebegantotalktothebundleradledinhisarms.
“Iwaitedfiveyearsandfifteenhoursforyou,myson.”
Hewalkedthroughthemanor,headingtowardsthewingthatwouldbeDrao’sown.
“Yourmotherwantedagirl.Shetoldmethatoverandover.Shewantedadaughtertomakejustlikeherself.Butthefatesinsteadsmileduponmywishes,DraoLuiusMalfoy,thoughIdoubtyou’lleverusethemiddlenameuntilyouaregrownandIamnolongerhere.”
ThebabyooedathimasLuiusstoppedatthedoorwaytoDrao’swing.
“Thisiswhereyouwillgrowup,myson.TheHouseElvesjustfinishedityesterdaywhileyourmotherwassreaming.”
BabyDraogiggledasLuiusswungopenthedoorandwalkedinside.
Drao’sroomshadn’thangedovertheyears.MorethingshadbeenaddedasDraohadobtainedmorepossessions,buttheskeletonofwhatDraowouldliveinnowwasthere,evendowntothesameolorsheetsonthebed.
“Yourribisinmyroomsatthemoment,butwhenyougrowoutofitthisiswhereyouwillsleep.”
Luiuswalkedaroundtheroomandstoppedatthelongeiling-to-floorwindowthatlookedoutoverthendsurroundingMalfoymanor.
“Andthis,myson,willsomedaybelongtoyouandwhomeverisoutstandingenoughtobedeemedworthyofyourlifepartner.I’msureNarissawillpressforanotherhild,adaughtermostlikely,butyouanbeassured,myson,thatwhenIdietherewillbenoonetostandagainstyourimtowhatyouareentitled.Youaremyheirandmyjoy.”
ThehandthatwasnotholdingthebabymovedtotouhthebabyDrao’sheek.BabyDraogiggledloudlyandgrabbedLuius’sringfingerinbothhands.ThelittlehandsfoundtheMalfoysigringandpulleditoffLuius’sfinger.ItimmediatelywentintobabyDrao’smouthandhebitdownashardasheouldwithhistoothlessgums.
LuiushukledatDraoashetookbakthering.“Thattoo,willbeyours.”
ThememoryshiftedtoLuiussittingaloneinhisstudywritingsomething.Itlookedlikealetter.Butbeforeeitheroftheboysouldseewhatitwasthedoortothestudyswungopenandafive-year-oldDraowalkedintotheroomwithaloud,“Father!”
LuiuslookedupatDrao.“WhatisitDrao?”
“MothersaysIhavetowaituntilI’meleventolearntoflyonabroomlikeeveryoneelse!”
Luiusraisedaneyebrow.
“AndIwanttolearnnow!”
“Andyoushall.”TheelderMalfoypedhisquilldownonthedeskandwalkedovertowhereDraostoodwithanestatismileonhisfae.“Iwillteahyou.”
“Yay!”Draoletoutahappyryandhuggedhisfatherbeforehurryinghimoutoftheroom.