𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓖𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼 || 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐮𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐨𝐲

Chapter 6 - Bought & Bartered

"What should I do?" Ophelia asked as she gripped the edge of the torn mattress.

"Well... Lucius Malfoy is a pompous arse, he believes he is above everybody else, from what I've heard he doesn't forgive or forget easily... he carried around the grudge of our little nickname for him for years..."

"You went to school with him?" Ophelia narrowed her eyes on her half-brother, for some reason Lucius seemed so much... older than her sibling.

"He was a prefect, sixth year, when we started Hogwarts... we called him Barbie, he used to chase us about the castle after curfew, James got caught by him once..." Remus remembered with a warm smile, his voice was warm from the fond memories, back when everything was much simpler.

"How can I get back in his good books?" Ophelia cringed at her own words, she didn't particularly want to grovel and beg to that disgusting excuse of a man, but she would if she had to.

"Are you sure you want to?" Remus asked, noticing her twisted face.

"My brain says yes, my heart says no," Ophelia sighed, "He's a pig of a man."

"Good to know my sister isn't easily swayed by his charms," Remus smirked. Ophelia's nose crumpled up in disgust. "You're just going to have to go give a heartfelt apology, grovel a little, he will enjoy that."

"And if that doesn't work?"

"Pack your bags and kiss your teaching career goodbye," Remus winked. Ophelia groaned, burying her head in her hands. Must I really grovel? She thought to herself. She wondered if it was worth it, if teaching at Hogwarts would be worth it in the end, she surely wouldn't get there without Lucius Malfoys positive reference. Hogwarts wouldn't even offer her an interview if he bore a grudge.

"Fine," Ophelia muttered, rubbing her eyes roughly. "How are you anyway?"

"As well as can be expected," Remus had a soft sad smile on his face, he wasn't at all convincing.

"Well, you look like shit." Ophelia told him matter-o-factly as she stood from the beat-up mattress.

"That's just how I look," Remus shrugged.

"Promise me, you're okay? I worry about you, especially living here..." Ophelia looked about the tattered shack.

"I like it here, it stops me being a danger to others... no one comes within twenty miles of this place,"

"Are you not lonely?" Ophelia asked sadly.

"Not at all, I go into the closest town now and then for supplies, speak to the locals there, plus I have this rather annoying little sister who comes to visit when she needs something," Remus chuckled.

"I don't only come when I need something!" Ophelia playfully punched him in the arm, "I just get the vibe that you don't like to be bothered, so I often need an excuse to come and see you,"

"You don't need an excuse Lia, you're welcome anytime, except full moon of course..."

"Of course." She nodded understandably.

"Let me know what happens with Malfoy... tell me, is his kid as much of a an ass hat as his father?"

"Draco is actually quite sweet, he's just... wrapped up in an unideal upbringing," Ophelia whispered sadly.

"Well, let's hope he doesn't turn out like his father."

***

It was dark by time Ophelia returned to Malfoy Manor, though there were warm glows emitting from some of the windows. Ophelia sighed as she stepped through the intimidatingly tall double doors and into the houses marble entrance room. Ophelia considered leaving her groveling until the morning, but Mrs Malfoy was due to return, and the thought of having to grovel and beg the both of them for her job seemed a lot worse than facing Lucius alone.