Venom & Virtue

chapter 67

I turned the page of my book, holding it down firmly to counter the light breeze swooping around the veranda.

The weather had begun to turn for the better in the last week, an inkling of Spring arriving as the flora and fauna bloomed around the grounds of the manor.

I glanced up from the printed words, my attention drifting over to Draco, his hunched form planted in the grass a few hundred yards away.

It was a bad day again; I'd known it the moment I'd woken up to find his lean presence missing from the bed, the sheet cold.

I sighed to myself whilst I watched him, the broad slope of his shoulders unmoving as he stared out across the garden, contemplative.

He'd been unusually quiet since the day of Lucius' funeral, not simply his typical reserved nature, but more thoughtful, as if something were weighing heavily on his mind.

I hadn't wanted to ask him about it, knowing that he would only share in his own time and way, once he was ready, if at all.

"He must be out here."

I turned at the sound of an unfamiliar voice, my eyebrows raising in surprise as I spotted Teddy and his mother arrive through the French doors of the drawing room.

The witch stopped as she spotted me, equal surprise crossing her own pointed features.

"Oh sorry, I didn't realise they were entertaining guests."

I smiled, putting my book down on the table, "they're not, you're Nymphadora right?"

"The very one," she looked to the boy holding her hand, "and this is Te-"

"She knows who I am mum, we're friends," Teddy grinned up at me, his hair changing a fraction to a light blonde.

The witch raised an eyebrow in curiosity, glancing back at me, "you've met?"

"Briefly," I nodded, holding out my hand, "I'm Seraphina."

She took it, shaking firmly, "ah, the girlfriend."

"Something like that," I blushed, ignoring the little boy's wide stare.

"Well it's nice to meet you, is Draco around? Narcissa mentioned he might be in this direction."

"Yeah he's over there," I inclined my head across the garden.

She followed my motion, concern piquing in her eyes as she spotted him.

"I see," she murmured, beginning to move towards the steps, "come on Ted."

"I don't want to," the boy protested, digging his heels into the ground.

"Don't be silly, it's just Draco."

Teddy shook his head, hiding his face against her hip, earning a sigh from the witch.

"He can stay with me, I'll watch him?" I offered.

"I'd like that," Teddy whispered.

Nymphadora rolled her eyes affectionately, "fine, but don't be rude to the poor girl okay?"

He nodded, detaching himself from her leg and hopping onto the seat across from me.

She gave me an apologetic smile, before continuing down the steps towards her cousin.

Teddy's bright eyes followed after her, watching as she approached Draco, joining him down on the grass.

"What's wrong with him?"

I followed his gaze, my heart pulling at the child's question.

"Nothing, he's just... sad."

"Adults don't get sad."