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

I took a shaky breath and trembled slightly when we got to the Manor and I heard the voices. I forced one foot in front of the other as we made our way to the study. I looked over at my brother as we stopped in front of the door, took a deep breath to calm myself down as much as I could and watched Draco open the door. I held my head as high as I could as we walked into the study. The door closing behind us sounded like a cannon, it was so quite in the room you could hear a pin drop. I cleared my throat to be able to speak but it took a moment to work up the courage. "Father." I said, my voice shaky. I turned to my Aunt. "Aunt Bellatrix."

"My childhood," I said, shuddering slightly and involuntarily.  I did not relish the idea of looking around, though it was not as if I forgot where anything was.  This pllace haunted my dreams.  I looked over at Pansy.  "I feel like we should stay together and not do too much... only what is necessary.  I don't want anyone to really realize that we are here,"I suggested.

I turned when I heard the twins walk in, an evil smile spreading across my face.  I looked over at Lucius and saw that he had a look of surprise mixed with pride on his face.  they were finally stepping up to the plate and doing what was needed of them to be in this family.  I saw the piece of paper in Draco's hand and snatched it away from him.  "Aw, lookie here... my itty bitty nephew is all gwown up," I taunted, using my baby voice.  "Or so he thinks..." I added menacingly.

"You will leave them alone," I warned, already rolling up my sleeves.  Obviously just the left needed to be raised, but that woul dhave just been odd.  I was preparing myself, but I wanted to make sure that Father and aunt Bellatrix would hold up their end of the deal.

"You can't touch them." I wanted nothing more than to pull my brothers sleeves back down, take his hands and apparate away but we had to go through with this. It wasn't just Draco and I anymore, we had to think of Pansy and the twins and I had to think of Lincoln. I took a shaky breath and rolled my sleeves up as well. "You can do whatever you want with me, but you can't hurt them." I was speaking of everyone, including Draco. I didn't care what they did to me, as long as my brother, my sister-in-law, my nieces or nephews and Lincoln were okay.

I rolled my eyes.  "Oh look... the itty babies think they can tell us what to do," I said, cackling.  "Oh trust me, kiddies, we can do whatever we please... and you are really in no spot to stop us."

I put a hand on Bella's shoulder, reaching for the license.  "Now, now, Bella... we do keep deals in the family," I said, looking down and reading what it had said.  Draco was finally listening.  "Speak out of turn again, Juniper, and there will be more dire consequences... I will not stop your aunt next time," I added, my eyes glinting darkly at my daughter.

Lincoln Matthews wrote:"My childhood," I said, shuddering slightly and involuntarily.  I did not relish the idea of looking around, though it was not as if I forgot where anything was.  This pllace haunted my dreams.  I looked over at Pansy.  "I feel like we should stay together and not do too much... only what is necessary.  I don't want anyone to really realize that we are here,"I suggested.

I felt like I was intruding or something with Lincoln.  I had no idea of his past, but from what I had figured out, it was not good.  I nodded at him, though.  "Is there a room that is connected to both the kitchen and a bathroom?  Then we could just be in those three rooms..." I suggested, trailing off, not liking the way this place was making Linc look.  Juniper would not be too pleased to see this at all.

I took our things to our old drawing room.  "The kitchen is down the hall, but the bathroom is adjoined," I explained, thinking this would probably be the best spot.

I was surprised that Father actually said something about honoring a deal.  I wanted to hit him for speaking to Juniper like that, but it really was nothing we were not used to.  "Let's just get this over with," I said, though I knew that it would not go quickly.

I looked at my Father in disbelief, although it really shouldn't surprise me that much. I did not think I had spoken out of turn, I had just repeated what Draco had said and Fathers part of the deal that he he made last night. I wanted to point out that I did not care what happened to me but then, they might go for Draco, and I could not let that happen. I was pleased that Draco did not do anything about what Father had said though. I was used to it now, no need to worry. I took a shaky breath and bit back all my retorts and turned to my Aunt. I was not sure how she would take what I was about to say but I would say it regardless "A deal is a deal." I turned to Father, happy that he had said something about keeping the deal but wanting to ensure he would stay true to his word before I would let either of us take the Mark.

I nodded at him.  I looked around and could see a few pictures of a small boy, covered in dust of course, and had a feeling that they were not of Lincoln.  "Are you sure you want to be here?" I asked him, turning to look at him and noticing how pale and clammy he was getting.

I looked over at Lucius, pouting.  "Aw, can't I have some funf irst?" I asked, looking back at the children with an evil grin spreading on my lips.

I sighed, looking at the children. "You can deal with her," I said, walking forward and grabbing Draco roughly by the shoulder.  "You, however, will be coming with me."

Pansy Parkinson Malfoy wrote:I nodded at him.  I looked around and could see a few pictures of a small boy, covered in dust of course, and had a feeling that they were not of Lincoln.  "Are you sure you want to be here?" I asked him, turning to look at him and noticing how pale and clammy he was getting.

I shook my head.  "I don't," I said to her.  "But it's one of the safest places I can think of... it's abandoned and no one would suspect I'd come back here... let alone bring someone else to this place."  I hated how it still stood here untouched.  I wished someone would jsut tear it down...