ALLURING || D.M.

Chapter 38

Dusky amber light bathed the dining hall, quarter past six, later than usual but the chairs were full now. Lilianne sat two seats down from her mother, her back straight but her stomach twisted at the company. The clinking of cutlery seemed louder than it should have been, masking strained silences that fell between the small flickers of conversation.

Travers Sr. was staring at her, as harshly as his son who watched with the thin hostility of a wolf at bay. "Interesting morning, don't you think?" His father spoke to the room, glancing directly at the girl, "Dramatic" he feigned an excited tone, drenched in sarcasm underneath.

His son scraped his plate too hard on the bowl, jagged screech punctuating the tension. The girl didn't even flinch, composed, a little pale, "It is important to remember when it's our turn" her blue orbs focused on him. Proper manners, she should not respond, simply keep eating. "Right, Miss Lestrange?" The man spoke with formality, this time it was directed right at her.

"If I crossed a line, I accept that. I just looked out for my brother" Her voice was soft, even, not commanding nor submissive.

"But uninvited" Corvinus refuted sternly. "Now, now, you're just sore" Rabastan mocked, she didn't dare meet his eyes. "Rabastan, I should think you taught your daughter better than to meddle in other people's affairs" Travers's tone gave no room for joke.

The man resorted to laugh either way, "Is my daughter in the wrong or is your son just weak?" silence fell, Lilianne was actually thankful he had her back, breathing calmer now as Grethel placed an appreciative hand on top of her husband's. Corvinus and Septimus were frozen in their seats, the younger could not bark at a man like him, but he was expecting his father to.

"Now that's just ridiculous" He gasped, hitting his closed fist on the surface. Rabastan shrugged, a sadistic grin hidden behind his wine goblet. "There's no need to argue" Narcissa spoke from one end of the table, pressing ice in hopes to stop the fire, "Both children performed excellently" she had not even witnessed the event.

"You ask me, they all need to toughen up" Yaxley said with his usual flair, "If there's potential, it's well hidden" most of the youngsters lowered their heads at that. Mulciber finished chewing his pork before adding, "Training was supposed to push their limits" he passed it with a sip of wine, "We have a clearer picture of who needs sharpening now" he looked around.

"Discipline shall do the trick, every morning at least three hours" Avery grunted, if the rest did three, his daughter would do six because of her loss. A smidge of laughter came from the other end of the room. "You find this amusing, Malfoy?" Septimus's tongue was begging for someone his age to speak.

Draco lifted a single eyebrow as he smirked, "Deeply" he bit. "You did not even duel, I'd be the last to throw a stone" The dark-haired boy puffed his chest out. For once the blond gave him a sympathetic glance, "Perhaps I simply have the luxury of doing what I want for a change" mockery floating on the surface.

"Boys" Narcissa spoke with quiet elegance, "Please". Septimus rolled his eyes, "You might think you're so great, but you're all talk, I haven't seen you do a single thing". The blond leaned his head in amusement, "You practise every day, don't you?" he didn't wait for a response, "But the thing is, discipline without wit makes for a very dull wand, Septimus" he saw the fire behind the boy's eyes, "It's not just edge and flourish, you also need a brain".

"That's enough" Travers Jr stood, ready to go at the blond who merely snickered, raising both hands in mockery. "Either do something or sit down" His father pulled at his robe. Draco just kept laughing somewhat quietly, "I was just offering advice" he shrugged when the rest of the table focused on him.

"This is not the point" Corvinus complained, leaving his son's tantrum for later, "If this... cohabitation is going to work, then everyone needs to remember their place" Lily's eyes gave nothing away, but her insides churned, she believed the subject had moved past the incident. Not offensive, not weak. "I did not mean to provoke anything" She was not apologizing, simply stating.