What's normal about this dinner?
Hannah smoothed down her green wrap dress and looked at Kristen nervously as the house-elf let them into Malfoy Manor. The younger woman was still rocking back and forth a little, despite Blaise having given her a calming draught. Hannah'd had to dress Kristen. The black dress was simple and elegant.
Grace, in her very adorable black and white dress, was holding Blaise's hand and smiling. House-elves took their coats and cloaks. Grace giggled and tried to hug them like she did Didly, Winky or Tindy. This did not please the elves. Hannah had to stifle a giggle. This was going to be fun. Grace wanted to hug everything, Kristen was high, and Hannah herself felt a vomit coming on.
Blaise was thanking every deity he could think of that it was only himself, Hannah, Kristen and Grace at the dinner. If James or Mina were around, he didn't think he would survive. He would have to be standing behind Sarah to catch her every time she fainted. As it was, he had positioned himself close to Kristen. He may have made the calming draught a bit too potent.
The house elves were standing as far back as they dared. "Master and Mistress be waiting in the main dining hall."
This was going to be very interesting. Blaise leaned down to whisper to Grace as they walked. "Now, remember, Draco's father is see-through. He's a ghost but he won't hurt you or anything. And no hugging anyone. They aren't the hugging types."
"But..."
"You heard Blaise. No hugging, Grace," Hannah whispered. "They have cooties. You wouldn't want to get cooties, would you?"
Blaise gave her a look. Hannah shrugged. Whatever kept Grace away from Narcissa Malfoy.
Cooties? Honestly? Blaise mouthed to Hannah before rolling his eyes. Of course, if he could convince her that boys had them as well, he was fine with it.
As they entered the dining hall, Blaise rolled his eyes at the decor. Everything was done in Slytherin colors--silver and emerald. He had hoped that since Narcissa extended a friendly invitation that she'd try to make Hannah more welcome. Apparently not.
Speaking of Narcissa, he barely refrained from scoffing at her grand entrance. She was wearing more formal dress than usual for a dinner, but she could go out to a bar and wear a ballgown.
Narcissa grinned when she saw the group gathered in the hall. "Aren't we missing some children? Or were they kept away?"
"They're in school, Narcissa. We weren't about to yank them out for a dinner," Blaise retorted.
She just grinned and glided over to them, accept Blaise's kiss on her cheek. A quick glance at Hannah made her eyebrow rise. She didn't look too happy to be in attendance. "And how are you, Miss Abbott? Wedding plans well underway?"
"They are," Hannah replied politely. "Draco and I are supposed to go dress shopping in a few weeks. Yes, we're all doing rather well, thank you for asking."
Kristen was looking at Hannah. She'd never heard her sound so unfriendly. Not that she blamed her. She was prepared to be icy herself.
"You're pretty for an old lady," Grace added.
Blaise started laughing. He couldn't help it, and tried to stop when Narcissa sent him a glare. It wasn't working very well though. That was a memory he was going to treasure forever--a four year old telling Narcissa Malfoy she was old.
"Thank you, my dear," Narcissa replied, reminding herself that she couldn't hex Blaise in front of the children.
Lucius floated up through the floor beside Narcissa. "Yes, I would have to agree. She is very pretty." He turned his gaze from Narcissa to the small girl in front of him. "You must be Grace, then. Did you like your Christmas pony?"
Blaise immediately stopped laughing.
"You," Hannah replied in shock.
"You got me Marshmallow Cloudia McHorsington?"
Grace squealed and forgot what Blaise had said. She tried to hug Lucius Malfoy. Hannah shouted and grabbed for her. Grace went right through him.
Blaise was standing in shock and staring at Lucius.
"You sent the horse to Zabini Manor?" Narcissa asked doubtfully. "How on earth did you manage that?"
"House elves did most of the work for me, sending owls and such. All I had to do was concentrate long enough to sign my name," he finished with a smirk.
Blaise couldn't stop staring at Lucius. "Yousent that thing? WHY?"
Lucius smirked and started to float towards the table. "As much of a fuss that Draco kicked up about it last time he was here, I thought I'd save my son the hexes."
He couldn't stop blinking and looking at Lucius in horror.
"He's a cold spot," Grace said, giggling in delight before she started jumping in and out of the space Lucius was occupying.
"Grace... Grace, honey, let's not keep going through Mr. Malfoy. It's not polite."
Hannah finally grabbed her by darting through Lucius' middle with the upper part of her body. She looked at him with a furrowed brow.
"Sorry."
Lucius just raised his eyebrow and continued toward the table. "Well, I take it she likes the horse?"
"It's not a horse," Blaise snapped, finally doing something besides staring. "It's a pony. A miniature horse. I hate horses."
Blaise crossed his arms and glared, but Narcissa came up next to him and put her hand on his shoulder.
"It's how he does his evil doings these days. I'm afraid you'll just have to live with it. I've yet to figure out how to get him out of the Manor."
He let out a sigh. Kristen was standing not too far away, and so he motioned her forward towards the table. "Let's ignore the whole thing about the horse and just have dinner. I'll deal with it later."
"I love my pony," Grace said from where Hannah was carrying her. "Thank you."
She was looking at Lucius and trying to touch him.
Hannah didn't think she was going to make it through this.
Narcissa hid her grin as she sat down at the table. She had made sure there was a booster seat in Grace's chair, but she hadn't planned on Lucius sitting next to the small seat. She suspected he was doing it just to get onto Hannah and Blaise's nerves.
Hannah situated Grace in the booster seat while Blaise helped Kristen to her chair. The eldest Stewart was looking a bit off. Perhaps the calming draught had been a bad plan. Blaise waited for her then took his own seat after assisting Hannah to hers. She didn't know if she was going to be able to eat anything. She was a bit nervous by how close Mr. Malfoy was to Grace.
It was an awkward moment while everyone sat down. Narcissa looked over the interaction between Hannah and Grace, and then Blaise and the other women. Her name was... Kristen.
"Are you feeling alright, Kristen? You seem a bit queasy."
"Oh I'm fine," Kristen responded, slurring her words a bit.
Hannah looked at Blaise in alarm. How much had he given her? She was so calm she was going to fall asleep before the main course.
Blaise winced. He wanted to make the draught strong enough, but he may have added a bit too much hellebore. Kristen was going to fall out of her chair soon. "It's fine."
She knew it wasn't but Narcissa nodded anyway. She snapped to start the course, and house elves brought in a light soup. "So, Hannah, how are things going at your bakery?"
"Very well, actually," Hannah replied politely. "I just hired some more employees, and Dean Thomas wants to open a small branch of the Happy Hearth in his art gallery."
"She still plans to make her own wedding cake," Kristen offered.
Lucius raised his eyebrows. "Really? Do you plan on making the food for everyone else as well? Aren't you just a little overachiever?"
"No," Kristen snapped. "She isn't. She just takes pride in her cooking and baking. Especially the baking. I'm making the food, not that you could eat any."
Hannah wanted to dive under the table.
"I just plan on making the cakes," Hannah replied. "I am a bit particular about sweets."
"Don't taunt, dear," Narcissa said after taking a bite of soup. "Blaise, have you thought about the Christmas present I gave you?"
Blaise smirked. "You mean the picture you gave me of my father? Funny you should ask. Hannah and I had dinner with him and his family a while ago. Alessandro's even met Draco."
Narcissa was a bit surprised, not that she'd let it show. She didn't know Blaise would actively pursue his father. "I'm glad you're getting to know your family."
"Since yours went and died on you," Lucius muttered with a smirk. Narcissa glared at him, and Blaise choked on the bite of soup he had just taken.
Hannah was eating slowly and trying not to call notice to herself. She felt it best she not comment unless spoken to.
"I am beginning to understand why Draco is how he is," Kristen muttered.
Blaise had to chuckle. This was nothing. "They're worse when Draco's around. Trust me. You should hear about the time Draco showed up to Narcissa's birthday party in his pants after blowing up my bathroom."
Kristen started laughing so hard she snorted.
"Blaise, I don't think that is appropriate dinner talk," Hannah snapped.
"Indeed. What's my rule, Blaise?" Narcissa asked.
He rolled his eyes and sighed. "No talk of hexing, sex, death and destruction at the table."
"Thank you."
Blaise made a face at her when she wasn't looking.
"My goodness," Hannah replied with slight sarcasm. "What on earth do you talk about when Draco is here then?"
Kristen snickered, glad Hannah was relaxing enough to actually speak.
"We don't," Lucius said dryly. "Not that Draco ever comes around anymore."
Narcissa sighed. "Can we have the next course, please?"
House elves whisked away the bowls of soup and the main dish was placed in front of them.
"At least this is going better than the last dinner. Bulstrode isn't here making remarks."
"And I believe I had to remind everyone of my dinner table rule then too."
Blaise snickered. Narcissa was far too uptight about dinner rules. He was going to have to convince Draco to start a food fight with him sometime.
Grace was being awfully quiet. She was usually very talkative during dinners. Blaise grinned when he saw she kept staring at Lucius, who was dutifully ignoring her.
When Blaise was looking at her, Grace took her fork and stabbed it into Lucius. Well, through him.
"Cold."
Blaise put his head down and tried to stifle his laughter. Grace's fascination with Lucius was hilarious.
"Grace, darling, stop that."
Grace ignored Hannah. "Warm," she said, hand outside of Lucius. Then she out her hand in his essence. "Cold."
Blaise started laughing harder.
Narcissa also grinned. It was amusing to watch such a small girl playing with Lucius. "He does tricks, Grace. He can disappear, walk through walls and float through the ceiling."
Lucius glared at her.
Grace started clapping and bouncing. "Oooooo. Show! Please, please show me."
With a grin, Lucius slowly sunk through the seats and through the floor. Narcissa sighed.
"He probably won't come back now. Oh well, he always hates joining me for these dinners." She started into her dinner. "Have you chosen a date for your wedding?"
Grace made a whimpering sound. She liked the ghost man.
"June twenty-seventh," Hannah replied. "A place called Fallingstar Manor has been rented for the day. They have lovely gardens then and indoor ballroom for the reception."
Blaise blinked. This was news to him. He knew Hannah had a date, but he didn't know that they had a venue.
"You look surprised, Blaise," Narcissa said.
"I'm just showing up. Well, that and making sure that Draco doesn't blow anything up. Hannah's planning everything." He smiled at her.
"The only think I don't have at this point is my dress and the bridesmaids dresses. I think. I mean I haven't ordered the flowers, but I know what kind I want. And I know who I want to perform the service. I just have to speak to him."
Blaise shook his head. Mentions of the bridesmaids always worried him. "Have you told Mac she's wearing a dress yet? Because I don't want to be there for that. She'll kill me."
"I have. She told me where I could put the dress, but she'll come around."
Kristen snorted.
Blaise snickered. "If anyone can convince her, it'll be you."
"Well, yes. I am quite good at getting my own way as you well know."
Narcissa grinned when Blaise glared at Hannah and looked back down at his plate. "You two are getting off to an excellent start in your marriage."
Kristen snorted again. "Like she's the only one who gets her way. Blaise gets his way plenty. I think that's a bratty Slytherin thing."
Blaise made a face at Kristen. "I am not bratty."
This time, Narcissa scoffed. "Oh please. I helped raise you. You are bratty. Slytherin children are by nature, bratty."
"Well you don't have to go announcing it like that," Blaise snapped.
"But it's true," Kristen replied. "You and Draco both pout. A lot."
"Blaise..." Grace said shifting. "I have to potty."
He didn't even hesitate. Blaise immediately turned to Hannah. "How about an elf takes you to the nearest bathroom?" There was no way he was leaving Hannah with Narcissa.
"Blaise... no," Grace said shifting and whimpering. "I don't know these elves like Didly or Winky. They don't like hugs. I don't want them."
He sighed and leaned over to Hannah. "I am not leaving you alone with Narcissa. Just take Grace to the bathroom, will you?"
Hannah's eyes were wide. "What is it you suspect she'll do?"
She lifted Grace and went in the direction the house-elf gestured.
"It's not her I'm worried about," Blaise mumbled.
Dinner was almost over, so Blaise just back and waited for Hannah and Grace to return. He turned to Kristen. "Are you feeling better?"
"I'm fine, thank you," Kristen replied. "But I was wondering if you could tuck Grace in. I feel sleepy."
Blaise had a feeling that instead of carrying Grace out of here, he'd be carrying Kristen.
"Tuck in Grace often, Blaise?" Narcissa asked with a small grin.
"As a matter of fact, yes, I do," he replied, making a face at her. "Why? Think I should leave it to the house elves?"
She glared at him. "Certainly not. I just didn't see you tucking in a child."
"Well, I do."
"You're pouting, Blaise," Narcissa said.
"He does that a lot," Kristen said, gesturing with her dessert fork. "Oooo. Spinny."
Hannah led Grace back in just in time to see Kristen drop her for and do a face dive into her chocolate cake. The table and dishes rattled noisily with the force of the impact.
"Oh dear. Well, thank you for having us, Mrs. Malfoy. Dinner was lovely."
Blaise snickered and pulled Kristen out of the cake. After casting a cleansing charm on her face, he casting a lightening charm on her. There was no way he was going to be able to carry her for a long period of time without it. As he lifted Kristen in his arms, he just had to smile at Hannah. This wasn't how he expected to end dinner, but it was a nice, easy excuse.
"Well, Narcissa, we'd better get these two into bed. Thanks for the dinner."
Narcissa just shook her head. "It was interesting to say the least. I'm glad you both could come."
Hannah just raised a brow at the older blond. Right.
"Mr. Malfoy," Grace called. "Mr. Malfoy, I'm going home now. Please come back and say bye."
Blaise rolled his eyes. "Grace, let's just go home. I'm sure you can come back and visit Mr. Malfoy later."
"But I want to say bye," Grace replied, making the pouty face. "He's my friend now. He got me my horsie. Please Mr. Malfoy!"
Lucius leaned half out of a nearing wall. "Goodnight, Miss Grace. If you'd ever like another pony, just let me know." He quickly disappeared after that, and Blaise nearly dropped Kristen and attempted to strangle him through the wall.
Grace just giggled.
"Well, that was strange," Hannah remarked. "I think he's going to be friends with Grace to spite you, Blaise."
With a huff, he tried to get a grip around Kristen's back. "Of course he would. Wonderful. Lovely. Can we get home now? More pony mentions and I think I'll lose it."
Narcissa waved goodbye to them as they went to the foyer and prepared to apparate.
"Let's just get home and go to bed. Sound good?"
Hannah shifted Grace in her arms and raised a brow at him. "Don't be snippy with me just because you've secretly been blaming Draco for Marshmallow all this time and it was really his father."
"If Draco had kept his mouth shut, there wouldn't be a sodding Marshmallow!" Blaise hissed before sighing. "Let's go, shall we?"
He already had his wand in hand, so he quickly apparated to Zabini Manor. Making his way to Kristen's bedroom, he laid her down on the bed and that was all. He wasn't about to put her to bed. She wasn't Grace. He went to find Hannah.
Hannah handed him Grace and went to go put Kristen in something more comfortable.
Grace looked at Blaise and giggled. "I can put my own jimjams. Can I have a story?"
Blaise shifted Grace to a more comfortable position. "The last time you tried to dress yourself for bed, you tried to dress like Winky and ran around in your pillowcase for half an hour. Why don't we pick something out for you and I'll just help."
Grace moved to her chest of drawers and pulled out a top and bottom... pink. "Hello Kitties!"
"I hate the kitties," Blaise mumbled. "All right, get over here and let's get ready for bed."
Grace bounced a bit and threw her jimjams on the bed before lifting her arm so he could pull the dress over her head. She giggled and pulled on her top before trying to get ride of the little white tights she was wearing. Grace giggled again when she got tangled and nearly fell. She also had not removed her shoes first.
Blaise rolled his eyes and picked her up by the waist and plopping her onto the bed. He knelt by it and removed her shoes and then the tights. He grabbed the bottoms. "Stand up and hop in," he said, holding the bottoms out for her.
Once she was situated, Grace wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thank you. Stories, Blaise. Stories."
He was running out of stories. There were only so many that he knew that were suitable for little girls. She didn't like it when he read out of books, because she said he didn't do the voices right.
"How about I give a really long one tomorrow? Everyone's very tired, Grace. I don't think I could come up with a good one tonight."
Grace frowned. "Just tell me one you already told before that you think I liked."
There was no way he could get out of this. "Fine. The Princess story or the Dragon story?"
Grace giggled and situated herself in the bed with Mr. Bunny. "Dragon."
{SUMMARY} Blaise and Hannah have an interesting supper with Narcissa and Lucius at Malfoy Manor.
Grace, in her very adorable black and white dress, was holding Blaise's hand and smiling. House-elves took their coats and cloaks. Grace giggled and tried to hug them like she did Didly, Winky or Tindy. This did not please the elves. Hannah had to stifle a giggle. This was going to be fun. Grace wanted to hug everything, Kristen was high, and Hannah herself felt a vomit coming on.
Blaise was thanking every deity he could think of that it was only himself, Hannah, Kristen and Grace at the dinner. If James or Mina were around, he didn't think he would survive. He would have to be standing behind Sarah to catch her every time she fainted. As it was, he had positioned himself close to Kristen. He may have made the calming draught a bit too potent.
The house elves were standing as far back as they dared. "Master and Mistress be waiting in the main dining hall."
This was going to be very interesting. Blaise leaned down to whisper to Grace as they walked. "Now, remember, Draco's father is see-through. He's a ghost but he won't hurt you or anything. And no hugging anyone. They aren't the hugging types."
"But..."
"You heard Blaise. No hugging, Grace," Hannah whispered. "They have cooties. You wouldn't want to get cooties, would you?"
Blaise gave her a look. Hannah shrugged. Whatever kept Grace away from Narcissa Malfoy.
Cooties? Honestly? Blaise mouthed to Hannah before rolling his eyes. Of course, if he could convince her that boys had them as well, he was fine with it.
As they entered the dining hall, Blaise rolled his eyes at the decor. Everything was done in Slytherin colors--silver and emerald. He had hoped that since Narcissa extended a friendly invitation that she'd try to make Hannah more welcome. Apparently not.
Speaking of Narcissa, he barely refrained from scoffing at her grand entrance. She was wearing more formal dress than usual for a dinner, but she could go out to a bar and wear a ballgown.
Narcissa grinned when she saw the group gathered in the hall. "Aren't we missing some children? Or were they kept away?"
"They're in school, Narcissa. We weren't about to yank them out for a dinner," Blaise retorted.
She just grinned and glided over to them, accept Blaise's kiss on her cheek. A quick glance at Hannah made her eyebrow rise. She didn't look too happy to be in attendance. "And how are you, Miss Abbott? Wedding plans well underway?"
"They are," Hannah replied politely. "Draco and I are supposed to go dress shopping in a few weeks. Yes, we're all doing rather well, thank you for asking."
Kristen was looking at Hannah. She'd never heard her sound so unfriendly. Not that she blamed her. She was prepared to be icy herself.
"You're pretty for an old lady," Grace added.
Blaise started laughing. He couldn't help it, and tried to stop when Narcissa sent him a glare. It wasn't working very well though. That was a memory he was going to treasure forever--a four year old telling Narcissa Malfoy she was old.
"Thank you, my dear," Narcissa replied, reminding herself that she couldn't hex Blaise in front of the children.
Lucius floated up through the floor beside Narcissa. "Yes, I would have to agree. She is very pretty." He turned his gaze from Narcissa to the small girl in front of him. "You must be Grace, then. Did you like your Christmas pony?"
Blaise immediately stopped laughing.
"You," Hannah replied in shock.
"You got me Marshmallow Cloudia McHorsington?"
Grace squealed and forgot what Blaise had said. She tried to hug Lucius Malfoy. Hannah shouted and grabbed for her. Grace went right through him.
Blaise was standing in shock and staring at Lucius.
"You sent the horse to Zabini Manor?" Narcissa asked doubtfully. "How on earth did you manage that?"
"House elves did most of the work for me, sending owls and such. All I had to do was concentrate long enough to sign my name," he finished with a smirk.
Blaise couldn't stop staring at Lucius. "Yousent that thing? WHY?"
Lucius smirked and started to float towards the table. "As much of a fuss that Draco kicked up about it last time he was here, I thought I'd save my son the hexes."
He couldn't stop blinking and looking at Lucius in horror.
"He's a cold spot," Grace said, giggling in delight before she started jumping in and out of the space Lucius was occupying.
"Grace... Grace, honey, let's not keep going through Mr. Malfoy. It's not polite."
Hannah finally grabbed her by darting through Lucius' middle with the upper part of her body. She looked at him with a furrowed brow.
"Sorry."
Lucius just raised his eyebrow and continued toward the table. "Well, I take it she likes the horse?"
"It's not a horse," Blaise snapped, finally doing something besides staring. "It's a pony. A miniature horse. I hate horses."
Blaise crossed his arms and glared, but Narcissa came up next to him and put her hand on his shoulder.
"It's how he does his evil doings these days. I'm afraid you'll just have to live with it. I've yet to figure out how to get him out of the Manor."
He let out a sigh. Kristen was standing not too far away, and so he motioned her forward towards the table. "Let's ignore the whole thing about the horse and just have dinner. I'll deal with it later."
"I love my pony," Grace said from where Hannah was carrying her. "Thank you."
She was looking at Lucius and trying to touch him.
Hannah didn't think she was going to make it through this.
Narcissa hid her grin as she sat down at the table. She had made sure there was a booster seat in Grace's chair, but she hadn't planned on Lucius sitting next to the small seat. She suspected he was doing it just to get onto Hannah and Blaise's nerves.
Hannah situated Grace in the booster seat while Blaise helped Kristen to her chair. The eldest Stewart was looking a bit off. Perhaps the calming draught had been a bad plan. Blaise waited for her then took his own seat after assisting Hannah to hers. She didn't know if she was going to be able to eat anything. She was a bit nervous by how close Mr. Malfoy was to Grace.
It was an awkward moment while everyone sat down. Narcissa looked over the interaction between Hannah and Grace, and then Blaise and the other women. Her name was... Kristen.
"Are you feeling alright, Kristen? You seem a bit queasy."
"Oh I'm fine," Kristen responded, slurring her words a bit.
Hannah looked at Blaise in alarm. How much had he given her? She was so calm she was going to fall asleep before the main course.
Blaise winced. He wanted to make the draught strong enough, but he may have added a bit too much hellebore. Kristen was going to fall out of her chair soon. "It's fine."
She knew it wasn't but Narcissa nodded anyway. She snapped to start the course, and house elves brought in a light soup. "So, Hannah, how are things going at your bakery?"
"Very well, actually," Hannah replied politely. "I just hired some more employees, and Dean Thomas wants to open a small branch of the Happy Hearth in his art gallery."
"She still plans to make her own wedding cake," Kristen offered.
Lucius raised his eyebrows. "Really? Do you plan on making the food for everyone else as well? Aren't you just a little overachiever?"
"No," Kristen snapped. "She isn't. She just takes pride in her cooking and baking. Especially the baking. I'm making the food, not that you could eat any."
Hannah wanted to dive under the table.
"I just plan on making the cakes," Hannah replied. "I am a bit particular about sweets."
"Don't taunt, dear," Narcissa said after taking a bite of soup. "Blaise, have you thought about the Christmas present I gave you?"
Blaise smirked. "You mean the picture you gave me of my father? Funny you should ask. Hannah and I had dinner with him and his family a while ago. Alessandro's even met Draco."
Narcissa was a bit surprised, not that she'd let it show. She didn't know Blaise would actively pursue his father. "I'm glad you're getting to know your family."
"Since yours went and died on you," Lucius muttered with a smirk. Narcissa glared at him, and Blaise choked on the bite of soup he had just taken.
Hannah was eating slowly and trying not to call notice to herself. She felt it best she not comment unless spoken to.
"I am beginning to understand why Draco is how he is," Kristen muttered.
Blaise had to chuckle. This was nothing. "They're worse when Draco's around. Trust me. You should hear about the time Draco showed up to Narcissa's birthday party in his pants after blowing up my bathroom."
Kristen started laughing so hard she snorted.
"Blaise, I don't think that is appropriate dinner talk," Hannah snapped.
"Indeed. What's my rule, Blaise?" Narcissa asked.
He rolled his eyes and sighed. "No talk of hexing, sex, death and destruction at the table."
"Thank you."
Blaise made a face at her when she wasn't looking.
"My goodness," Hannah replied with slight sarcasm. "What on earth do you talk about when Draco is here then?"
Kristen snickered, glad Hannah was relaxing enough to actually speak.
"We don't," Lucius said dryly. "Not that Draco ever comes around anymore."
Narcissa sighed. "Can we have the next course, please?"
House elves whisked away the bowls of soup and the main dish was placed in front of them.
"At least this is going better than the last dinner. Bulstrode isn't here making remarks."
"And I believe I had to remind everyone of my dinner table rule then too."
Blaise snickered. Narcissa was far too uptight about dinner rules. He was going to have to convince Draco to start a food fight with him sometime.
Grace was being awfully quiet. She was usually very talkative during dinners. Blaise grinned when he saw she kept staring at Lucius, who was dutifully ignoring her.
When Blaise was looking at her, Grace took her fork and stabbed it into Lucius. Well, through him.
"Cold."
Blaise put his head down and tried to stifle his laughter. Grace's fascination with Lucius was hilarious.
"Grace, darling, stop that."
Grace ignored Hannah. "Warm," she said, hand outside of Lucius. Then she out her hand in his essence. "Cold."
Blaise started laughing harder.
Narcissa also grinned. It was amusing to watch such a small girl playing with Lucius. "He does tricks, Grace. He can disappear, walk through walls and float through the ceiling."
Lucius glared at her.
Grace started clapping and bouncing. "Oooooo. Show! Please, please show me."
With a grin, Lucius slowly sunk through the seats and through the floor. Narcissa sighed.
"He probably won't come back now. Oh well, he always hates joining me for these dinners." She started into her dinner. "Have you chosen a date for your wedding?"
Grace made a whimpering sound. She liked the ghost man.
"June twenty-seventh," Hannah replied. "A place called Fallingstar Manor has been rented for the day. They have lovely gardens then and indoor ballroom for the reception."
Blaise blinked. This was news to him. He knew Hannah had a date, but he didn't know that they had a venue.
"You look surprised, Blaise," Narcissa said.
"I'm just showing up. Well, that and making sure that Draco doesn't blow anything up. Hannah's planning everything." He smiled at her.
"The only think I don't have at this point is my dress and the bridesmaids dresses. I think. I mean I haven't ordered the flowers, but I know what kind I want. And I know who I want to perform the service. I just have to speak to him."
Blaise shook his head. Mentions of the bridesmaids always worried him. "Have you told Mac she's wearing a dress yet? Because I don't want to be there for that. She'll kill me."
"I have. She told me where I could put the dress, but she'll come around."
Kristen snorted.
Blaise snickered. "If anyone can convince her, it'll be you."
"Well, yes. I am quite good at getting my own way as you well know."
Narcissa grinned when Blaise glared at Hannah and looked back down at his plate. "You two are getting off to an excellent start in your marriage."
Kristen snorted again. "Like she's the only one who gets her way. Blaise gets his way plenty. I think that's a bratty Slytherin thing."
Blaise made a face at Kristen. "I am not bratty."
This time, Narcissa scoffed. "Oh please. I helped raise you. You are bratty. Slytherin children are by nature, bratty."
"Well you don't have to go announcing it like that," Blaise snapped.
"But it's true," Kristen replied. "You and Draco both pout. A lot."
"Blaise..." Grace said shifting. "I have to potty."
He didn't even hesitate. Blaise immediately turned to Hannah. "How about an elf takes you to the nearest bathroom?" There was no way he was leaving Hannah with Narcissa.
"Blaise... no," Grace said shifting and whimpering. "I don't know these elves like Didly or Winky. They don't like hugs. I don't want them."
He sighed and leaned over to Hannah. "I am not leaving you alone with Narcissa. Just take Grace to the bathroom, will you?"
Hannah's eyes were wide. "What is it you suspect she'll do?"
She lifted Grace and went in the direction the house-elf gestured.
"It's not her I'm worried about," Blaise mumbled.
Dinner was almost over, so Blaise just back and waited for Hannah and Grace to return. He turned to Kristen. "Are you feeling better?"
"I'm fine, thank you," Kristen replied. "But I was wondering if you could tuck Grace in. I feel sleepy."
Blaise had a feeling that instead of carrying Grace out of here, he'd be carrying Kristen.
"Tuck in Grace often, Blaise?" Narcissa asked with a small grin.
"As a matter of fact, yes, I do," he replied, making a face at her. "Why? Think I should leave it to the house elves?"
She glared at him. "Certainly not. I just didn't see you tucking in a child."
"Well, I do."
"You're pouting, Blaise," Narcissa said.
"He does that a lot," Kristen said, gesturing with her dessert fork. "Oooo. Spinny."
Hannah led Grace back in just in time to see Kristen drop her for and do a face dive into her chocolate cake. The table and dishes rattled noisily with the force of the impact.
"Oh dear. Well, thank you for having us, Mrs. Malfoy. Dinner was lovely."
Blaise snickered and pulled Kristen out of the cake. After casting a cleansing charm on her face, he casting a lightening charm on her. There was no way he was going to be able to carry her for a long period of time without it. As he lifted Kristen in his arms, he just had to smile at Hannah. This wasn't how he expected to end dinner, but it was a nice, easy excuse.
"Well, Narcissa, we'd better get these two into bed. Thanks for the dinner."
Narcissa just shook her head. "It was interesting to say the least. I'm glad you both could come."
Hannah just raised a brow at the older blond. Right.
"Mr. Malfoy," Grace called. "Mr. Malfoy, I'm going home now. Please come back and say bye."
Blaise rolled his eyes. "Grace, let's just go home. I'm sure you can come back and visit Mr. Malfoy later."
"But I want to say bye," Grace replied, making the pouty face. "He's my friend now. He got me my horsie. Please Mr. Malfoy!"
Lucius leaned half out of a nearing wall. "Goodnight, Miss Grace. If you'd ever like another pony, just let me know." He quickly disappeared after that, and Blaise nearly dropped Kristen and attempted to strangle him through the wall.
Grace just giggled.
"Well, that was strange," Hannah remarked. "I think he's going to be friends with Grace to spite you, Blaise."
With a huff, he tried to get a grip around Kristen's back. "Of course he would. Wonderful. Lovely. Can we get home now? More pony mentions and I think I'll lose it."
Narcissa waved goodbye to them as they went to the foyer and prepared to apparate.
"Let's just get home and go to bed. Sound good?"
Hannah shifted Grace in her arms and raised a brow at him. "Don't be snippy with me just because you've secretly been blaming Draco for Marshmallow all this time and it was really his father."
"If Draco had kept his mouth shut, there wouldn't be a sodding Marshmallow!" Blaise hissed before sighing. "Let's go, shall we?"
He already had his wand in hand, so he quickly apparated to Zabini Manor. Making his way to Kristen's bedroom, he laid her down on the bed and that was all. He wasn't about to put her to bed. She wasn't Grace. He went to find Hannah.
Hannah handed him Grace and went to go put Kristen in something more comfortable.
Grace looked at Blaise and giggled. "I can put my own jimjams. Can I have a story?"
Blaise shifted Grace to a more comfortable position. "The last time you tried to dress yourself for bed, you tried to dress like Winky and ran around in your pillowcase for half an hour. Why don't we pick something out for you and I'll just help."
Grace moved to her chest of drawers and pulled out a top and bottom... pink. "Hello Kitties!"
"I hate the kitties," Blaise mumbled. "All right, get over here and let's get ready for bed."
Grace bounced a bit and threw her jimjams on the bed before lifting her arm so he could pull the dress over her head. She giggled and pulled on her top before trying to get ride of the little white tights she was wearing. Grace giggled again when she got tangled and nearly fell. She also had not removed her shoes first.
Blaise rolled his eyes and picked her up by the waist and plopping her onto the bed. He knelt by it and removed her shoes and then the tights. He grabbed the bottoms. "Stand up and hop in," he said, holding the bottoms out for her.
Once she was situated, Grace wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thank you. Stories, Blaise. Stories."
He was running out of stories. There were only so many that he knew that were suitable for little girls. She didn't like it when he read out of books, because she said he didn't do the voices right.
"How about I give a really long one tomorrow? Everyone's very tired, Grace. I don't think I could come up with a good one tonight."
Grace frowned. "Just tell me one you already told before that you think I liked."
There was no way he could get out of this. "Fine. The Princess story or the Dragon story?"
Grace giggled and situated herself in the bed with Mr. Bunny. "Dragon."
{SUMMARY} Blaise and Hannah have an interesting supper with Narcissa and Lucius at Malfoy Manor.