our little angel

Grandparents Visit

Age: 1 month
Words: 1076
Summary: Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Malfoy visits their granddaughter.

The warmth of a soft spring breeze filtered through the slightly open window, the sun casting a golden hue across the room. Lola was sitting in a cozy armchair, cradling her one-month-old daughter, Raven, in her arms. Raven was peacefully dozing, her small chest rising and falling in rhythmic breaths. The silver-blonde strands of her hair, like her mother’s, were already growing in thick and fine, and her tiny fingers curled around Lola’s thumb.

Mattheo was sitting on the edge of the bed, absentmindedly flipping through a book, but his eyes never strayed too far from Lola and Raven. The life they had built together felt like a dream—a dream full of love, laughter, and little moments of happiness that outshone any darkness from the past.

But today, that dream was about to be interrupted.

A soft knock on the door caught Lola’s attention, and she felt her stomach twist in nerves. Her hand instinctively tightened around Raven, as though protecting her from what was to come.

"Mattheo," Lola murmured, her eyes meeting his.

He closed the book with a resigned sigh, setting it aside before standing. "Are you sure you’re ready for this?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

Lola took a deep breath and nodded. "They’re her grandparents. We have to at least give them a chance."

It had been a month since that fateful night when Lucius and Narcissa had shown up at their door, and after much deliberation, Lola had decided to let them meet Raven. It was clear that her parents still struggled with the idea of what had happened between them, but the love for their grandchild was undeniable, even if it was accompanied by a complicated past.

Mattheo opened the door, and the cold, composed figures of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy stood in the doorway. Narcissa's face was softer than usual, her eyes a little warmer, but Lucius was as cold and calculating as always. He gave a curt nod as he stepped inside, and Narcissa followed, a hesitant smile gracing her lips.

"Hello, Lola," Narcissa said softly, her voice unexpectedly tender. "We hope we’re not intruding."

Lola stood, her grip on Raven tightening instinctively, but she forced a polite smile. "No, you’re not intruding," she said. "This is your granddaughter, after all."

Lucius raised an eyebrow, his cold grey eyes flicking over to Raven, who was still nestled in her mother’s arms, oblivious to the tension in the room. "One month old," he observed, his voice stiff. "I didn’t expect the child to be so... small."

Narcissa’s eyes softened as she gazed at Raven. She reached out with tentative hands, her fingers brushing lightly over the baby’s blanket. "She’s beautiful, Lola," she murmured, her voice filled with an emotion that Lola hadn’t expected to hear. "I’ve missed so much of your life, but I hope to make it up to you—and to Raven."

Lola swallowed the lump in her throat. Her mother’s words were unexpected, and they sent a wave of conflicted emotions through her. It had taken a lot of strength to walk away from Malfoy Manor, but seeing her mother so vulnerable made Lola wonder if she'd made the right choice.

Lucius, however, wasn’t one to show vulnerability. His gaze shifted between his daughter and Raven, and though his lips were tight, Lola could see the flicker of something—perhaps a hint of regret—beneath his controlled exterior. "This is a Malfoy child, but a Riddle by name, I assume?" Lucius spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Quite the situation you’ve put yourself in, Lola."

Lola held her ground, her eyes narrowing with quiet defiance. "Her name is Raven, not Malfoy or Riddle. She’s my daughter. Nothing more, nothing less."

Mattheo, who had been standing off to the side, crossed his arms. "And if you’re here to argue about her name, you can leave now," he said bluntly. "We’re not here for a family feud. We’re here because Raven deserves to know her family. Not because of your titles or legacy."

Lucius’s gaze flicked to Mattheo, and for a moment, the tension between them was palpable. But after a beat, he merely nodded curtly, his lips pursed. "I’m here to meet my granddaughter, nothing more."

Narcissa reached out again, this time more boldly, gently taking Raven from Lola’s arms. The baby stirred slightly but remained asleep as her grandmother cradled her with careful hands. "She’s so precious," Narcissa whispered, her eyes full of a quiet adoration. "I never thought I’d see the day when I could hold a grandchild in my arms. I... I was wrong, Lola. I’m sorry for how things ended between us."

Lola’s heart clenched at her mother’s words. She didn’t know what to say. Part of her wanted to forgive them, wanted to believe that they could all move past the mistakes they’d made. But the hurt was still fresh, buried deep inside her.

"I’ve made my own mistakes too," Lola finally said, her voice steady but quiet. "But this is Raven’s life now. I won’t let anything get in the way of giving her the future she deserves."

Lucius, still standing by the door, cleared his throat and gave a small nod. "I’ve been a fool, Lola. But I... I want to be a part of her life. If you’ll let me."

Narcissa, her eyes still on Raven, nodded. "We want to be part of her life, if you’ll allow us to prove it."

Lola glanced at Mattheo, seeking his approval. His eyes were soft, understanding, and he gave her a quiet nod.

"I’ll think about it," Lola said, her voice thick with emotion. "But we do this on my terms. I’m not asking for a perfect family. But Raven deserves to know her grandparents, and you deserve the chance to know her."

Narcissa smiled softly and nodded, her eyes glistening with tears. "Thank you, Lola. We will do better. For Raven."

And as Lola watched her parents carefully return Raven to her arms, a weight seemed to lift. Maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for healing. For Raven’s sake, for her own, and even for her parents. It would take time—trust was something that could never be rebuilt overnight. But for the first time in a long while, Lola felt a flicker of hope.