If I survive tonight, I wouldn't change a thing -- June 1998

I nodded in agreement, "I do like that idea." I replied. "I'm not sure he would let me be there for you though." The more I thought about it, the more I liked this plan. I mean, there was no point in delaying the inevitable. I wanted Father to know that we had some control over our lives, even if we don't have choices. I turned to my brother, "I'm game if you are." I knew Draco would make the right choice regarding Pansy and the twins but I wasn't sure if he truly loved her. To be honest, I wasn't sure if Malfoys were capable of 'love'.

I sighed.  "I won't let him make you leave," I said simply.  I offered her my hand.  "Let's do this..."  I was not entirely sure if I was ready for it, but something had to be done and, for once, I felt like I was sort of prepared for something Father decided to do to us.  I knew what I was going to do about Pansy... I would do anything to keep the three of them safe and if being coerced into marrying her was the price, then so be it.

I rolled my eyes slightly. I didn't want to start another fight if Father made me leave but I knew I wanted to be there for Draco. I nodded and took his offered hand, "For us," I said, "and for them." I patted my pocket with the sonogram picture in it. If I just remembered the babies and what Draco went though when he resisted the Mark, I knew I could make myself take it will little resistance. I wasn't happy about it, but at least Draco and I would be in this together, just like always. I sighed, "Let's go."

I took a deep breath and we walked to Father's drawing room and I saw him sitting there reading a letter, looking rather pleased wit himself.  This could get interesting to say the least.  I cleared my throat slightly.  "Father... I wanted to speak to you about what happened earlier," I said, surprised by the confidence in my voice.

Bellatrix had just sen her return owl and I was rather pleased.  Tomorrow she said she would be here to help get these two back in line.  I looked up from the letter when my son cleared his throat.  I saw Juniper with him and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.  "There is nothing to discuss, Draco," I told him, folding the letter closed and standing up, "unless you have made your choice."  I looked at him expectantly.

Of course Father would try to dismiss me like that.  I was surprised, but grateful, that he just seemed to be ignoring Juniper all together.  I looked into his cold eyes and nodded.  "I have," I told him.  "And I am going to do what is right for my family.  I will marry her so we do not have a disgraced infant to our family name."  I would much rather the twins be born outside of this family, but I would do whatever it took to protect them as well.  It was hard to speak as if there was only one child in danger when it was both of them, but the less Father knew the better.

I smiled.  "Excellent," I said, glad that my son still had some intellect left.  I glanced over to Juniper and then back to Draco.  "And why is it that she was brought along?" We would see how tomorrow would unfold as to whether or not JUniper would be necessary.

I took another deep breath so I would not walk up to Father and punch him in his face.  "She is here for me.  To support me unlike what you've been doing," I snapped.  Okay, well, at least I did not hit him.

We had walked into Father drawing room. I was nervous about how he would react to me being there after what happened but I wasn't going to let Draco handle this alone, especially if the Mark issue was brought up. He seemed to be ignoring me for the most past as he and Draco discussed him and Pansy getting married but then he turned to me. It didn't phase me that he spoke about me as if I wasn't there, I was so used to it. I squeezed Draco's hand when he defended me so he wouldn't do or say anything else that he might regret. "It's okay Draco. " I said to him before meeting my Fathers cold gaze. I took a deep breath. "I'm here to support my brother Father, " I began, putting as much venom into the last word as I could muster. "I will always support him, no matter what."

I shook my head.  "No, it is not alright, Juniper," I said, hating the fact that I automatically fell back into the way Father expected me to speak.  I turned to our father.  "If you expect me to start acting like an adult and take responsibility for my actions -- such as marrying Pansy and supporting her -- then I expect the same from you."  I let go of Juniper's hand and walked closer to our father.  I squared my shoulders and was glad that Father and I were basically the same height.  It made this work so much better than if I would have done this when I was a child.  "So here are my expectations from you -- if you expect me to follow yours, that is," I said.  Since Mother told us about the Dark Mark, I knew exactly what he was goign to be expecting from us.  "You will speak to us and address us like the adults we are -- not just some pieces of vermin that happened to enter your home.  You will stop treating Juniper the way you treat your inferiors as she is your daughter and not some piece of trash.  And, though I will do whatever it is you say that I have to do to protect my family, you are no longer a part of that.  I will protect my children, Pansy, and Juniper.  I am through saving you from any sort of wrath that may befall you.  You are an adult after all... it is time you start taking responsibility for your actions."

I could not believe what I just did.  I laid down the law for Father basically.  Where was this coming from?  It happened earlier tonight and now... Apparently I was finished with the way he treated us.  I stood there glaring at him, just waiting to see what he decided to say to that.

<< I love the last line of that!  He so used Lucius's words against him!  yay! Draco got balls! lol >>

I looked between Draco and Father with wide eyes. Apparently, Draco was finished with how we had been treated all our lives. I was too nervous about Father's response to say anything although my whole body was screaming to distract Father from what Draco had said. I bit my lip and waited for Father's response. I griped my wand tighter to reassure myself. If anything happened, I could protect us too.  I would support Draco, no matter what, just like I always had.

<< me too! It's about time he got a dose of his own medicine!!! >>

I met Draco's stare and I raised my hand and hit his cheek.  I could not believe the way he was addressing me, and yet I felt a small amount of pride by him standing up for himself and his sister.  "Enough of this, Draco," I said to him, taking a step back so I could look at the two of them instead of just my son.

I clenched my jaw to keep from saying anything from being startled by his hit.  I turned to look at him.  "Do we have an understanding, Father?" I asked him, moving to stand closer to Juniper again.  I was not going to let him touch her if that was what he was thinking.

I could see the determination on his face.  I nodded at him. "Of course," I replied silkily.  "You will go to the Ministry with Pansy and be married there -- no celebration, no gifts, no big ceremony.  And if she is not okay with that, well, tell her what is at stake.  Any mother should want to protect her children..."

I glared at him.  "Don't worry, father, unlike Mother, Pansy has some maternal instincts and will protect her children," I said darkly.  I did not like to insult Mother, but it was true.  And I also wanted to play it as if Mother did not warn us at all tonight about Father's plans.  I was still attempting to protect her the best I could.