PRETENDING TO LIVE~ {The Lestrange Daughter #2}

𝟐. Mourning

TRIGGER WARNING; Contains mild gore in the form of injury.

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One might think that seeing a father and son taking a stroll together would not be strange at all, but most fathers and sons are not Lucius and Draco Malfoy. Despite his constant prattling about how Draco was the future of their family, Lucius rarely seemed to have time for his son. Especially when no one was around to witness it. That's why Valentine found it so odd when she looked out a first-floor window and saw the two of them walking leisurely through the gardens. Lucius wasn't one for such things, let alone spending time with his own child. 

Valentine paused, gaze narrowed in distrust. Lucius seemed to be talking about something important given the deepness of his perpetual frown and how closely Draco was paying attention. Draco always listened to his father but his attention was so raptly focused that Valentine knew this couldn't be a casual conversation. 

She reached out and unlatched the window, pushing it open. She was hoping she might catch some of the words said but the wind was stiff that afternoon and they were too far away. Valentine wore a frown of her own.

It might be nothing. 

That's what she tried to tell herself.

But what if it's not? What on earth could they even be talking about? Lucius never does anything but scold him. 

They'd only arrived back at the manor yesterday afternoon and already something had caught her eye. That was never a good sign. 

"Val." Narcissa called out as she spotted her from down the hall. 

"What?" Valentine said tersely.

"Oh, really?" Narcissa huffed. "Would it kill you to use some of those manners I've been trying to sink into that head of yours?"

"It might."

"Don't be ridiculous." Narcissa rolled her eyes. 

"Was there something you wanted?" Valentine arched a brow.

"It is a crime to converse with my niece?"

"It should be."

"I'll never understand where you learned all that sarcasm from." 

"One of life's many mysteries, I'm sure."

"Val," Narcissa sighed, taking several steps closer. "Why don't you go visit Leah? You know how difficult things have been for her lately and you promised you would."

Valentine had every intention of visiting Leah in the next couple of days. From what she had heard, little had changed. Even if Valentine could do nothing but to talk to someone who clearly wasn't listening, at least Leah would know that she was there, that she hadn't been forgotten. Leah was the type to care a lot about that sort of thing. Yes, Valentine would be seeing her sooner rather than later but she did not want to seem overly eager for obvious reasons. 

"I'll go when I feel like it since she's not going to stop sulking anytime soon." Valentine snipped. 

"Val-"

"She's acting like a spoiled brat. Tell me I'm wrong."

"You're all spoiled, dear." Narcissa shot her a meaningful look. "And she's your friend. It wouldn't hurt for you to look in on her, I'm sure she'd appreciate it."

"The only thing Leah appreciates is loud noises and glitter."

"Be that as it may, I'll tell Rose to expect you tomorrow at the latest."