A/N: As promised a healthy dose of bribery, baby Draco and a little bit of Quidditch.

Chapter Four: Fixed

In a field just out of sight of a tiny Muggle hamlet witches and wizards from up and down the country were gathering. Autumn had torched the English countryside. Forests and woods had become orange pyres of burning gold, crisp brown and shocking red. The early morning sun was low in a clear, deep blue sky and the world smelt crisp and woody. Over night a kind of stadium had been erected in the otherwise unoccupied field. The first game of the Quidditch season was an event that had the magical community taking to the outdoors despite the dip in temperature.

Lucius Malfoy appeared out of nowhere with a loud 'pop'. He had enough time to take a blissful breath of the smoky air before the toddler at his side began to cry. Deftly Lucius swung Leopold up into his arms.

"Now, now," Lucius told the boy, "there's no need for all these tears. It's just Apparition."

Leopold did not agree with this assessment and buried his face (the small amount that was not covered by a green and grey deerstalker hat) in the fur trim of Lucius' travelling cloak. His howls masked the popping sound that accompanied the arrival of Narcissa and Draco.

"ROAR!" Draco screamed in welcome, screwing up his face to make more space for his giant mouth.

This outburst was completely unprovoked and quite ordinary. Perhaps the only person louder than Leopold was Draco. Draco, in a navy lamb's wool cloak and fuzzy grey earmuffs, ripped his mitten clad hand free from Narcissa's and sprinted across the dewy grass. It was not the arrival Lucius had been planning on, but it had certainly got them noticed. Several onlookers eyed them sympathetically.

"Draco, darling!" Narcissa called sweetly. "Come and hold Mummy's hand."

"But Mummy!" Draco protested, some twenty feet away. "I'm being a Giant and I need to squish all the Muggles with my big, big feet and hands!"

"Draco, do as you're told," Lucius said swiftly, hoping to spare them any more embarrassment.

Obediently Draco ran back towards them, wobblier and more doggedly than usual because he was wearing black Wellington boots.

The good thing about this exchange was that it had distracted Leopold. He was now looking adoringly at Draco, his tears sparkling but forgotten on his cheeks. Lucius wiped them away with a gloved finger and readjusted Leopold's hat.

"Shall we try again?" Narcissa sighed, as Draco leapt to her side and took her hand.

"Gen," Leopold said, in his uncannily deep and raspy voice.

Lucius was surprised to see that Narcissa was smiling at him. Her face was covered with soft morning light which made her look paler and softer, and turned her eyes into dazzling pale blue sapphires. She looked beautiful, and beauty had always been one of his vices. For a moment it seemed the years had been rolled back and he was seeing her as he remembered her best.

The end of October marked the anniversary of their first date, an unthinkably long twelve years ago. They'd got together just after they'd left Hogwarts. Lucius had only realised his feelings for her when he didn't have the luxury of seeing her everyday across the Slytherin table in the Great Hall or hard at work in Arithmancy classes. For him at least, his feelings had grown slowly and over time, which was precisely why he'd asked her to marry him. It wasn't a flowery love or a passionate desire for her that had prompted him to marry Narcissa, but a quiet want to always have her close and to be the one to take care of her. He didn't know if this was love or not, but it was good enough for him and whatever she felt in return was good enough for her too.

"Yes, let's try again," he agreed briskly. "I need to speak to the manger of the Appleby Arrows before the game begins."

They set off across the hard ground. A healthy crowd was growing. Lucius watched Leopold gazing around with hungry eyes. There were old wizards in tweed cloaks smoking pipes standing around taking bets. Young couples strolled with the Sunday paper tucked under their arms, steaming cups of coffee in their hands and crups on leashes. Children wrapped in woollen scarves and hats hopped excitedly or pored over the merchandise tables, begging their parents for posters, rosettes and sticker books. A lardy looking witch was serving sausage and bacon rolls from a yellow gypsy wagon, the smell of them was mouth-wateringly distracting. The queue for food was almost as long as the queue at the Box Office for last minute tickets.

Draco begged for a cone of roasted chestnuts, which prompted the Malfoy parents to switch children. Narcissa, who was wildly allergic to many things, including nuts, could barely stomach the smell. Rather than waiting in line with them she took Leopold to inspect the stadium and look for her friends. Lucius saw several wizards he knew. Virgil Parkinson tipped his hat, Ernest Avery said a cheery 'hello!' and Narcissa's cousin, Cordelia Yaxley, came to chat.

"Hello, you," she said, punching Lucius in the shoulder as he paid the moustachioed wizard for Draco's cone of roasted nuts.

"Cordie!" Draco beamed.

"Hello gorgeous," she said in return.

She kissed her hand and touched it to Draco's head. He became oddly shy and huddled close to Lucius.

Cordelia was a green eyed witch with a slow, meandering drawl. She was as angular as an underfed cat and was always dressed impeccably. She had a short, boyish haircut but balanced this by always wearing the sharpest high heels Lucius had ever seen.

"This is most unexpected," he said with a smirk. "It's a quarter to nine on a Sunday morning and you're dressed and awake! Whatever is the matter with you?"

Cordelia smiled and rolled her eyes.

"Very funny," she said, falling into step with Lucius as he walked away from the striped awning of the nut vendor. "I couldn't possibly stay away from fourteen very fit and very passionate wizards."

"I thought that was just an average Saturday night for you," Lucius teased.

"Naughty!" Cordelia laughed, and swatted Lucius, but her eyes were unusually bright. "Now that you mention it, I was helping Roman Fainlight plan your birthday party last night. You set the bar impossibly high with last years shenanigans. I don't think I've been able to see Caoimhe Voisin the same since that fascinating demonstration with a bottle of champagne and - "

"I'd quite forgotten that!" Lucius laughed.

A year ago things had been inconceivably different. He'd been wildly happy. His birthday party had clearly reflected that.

"Not too much debauchery this year, Cordelia. Thirty-one isn't anything to shout about," he said mildly, plucking a nut from Draco's cone.

"I think a good party is just what you need," Cordelia disagreed, following his lead and looting Draco's quickly diminishing snack. "Start the year the way you mean to go on. Everyone loves dressing up to the nines and getting addled. It would fix everything."

"I doubt that," Lucius replied, with a bitter laugh.

"How's your divine wife?" Cordelia asked. "She hasn't spoken to me about Leogate in ages. I don't know if that's because she doesn't want to be a burden to me – which she's not - or if she's just got used to the whole thing."

While Lucius thought about his reply Cordelia stole another nut from Draco, who looked up at her and stuck his tongue out revealing a pile of nut mulch. He gave her an exaggerated, somewhat ugly smile, and happily continued chomping.

"You truly are a charming child," Lucius told Draco sarcastically.

"Daddy!" Draco replied delightedly, and hugged Lucius' leg.

"It was touch and go to begin with," Lucius said, turning to Cordelia. "It's obviously not an ideal situation but I think we're all getting used to Leopold. I didn't know until she died."

They were both choosing their words very carefully. It was difficult to forget that Draco was with them.

Cordelia pursed her lips in a sympathetic expression and linked arms with Lucius.

"Tilda got her comeuppance in the end," Cordelia said with a superior look. "I was always more concerned about the other one. You know she's dating some rich, Greek Pureblood now?"

Lucius felt his jaw clench and his stomach knot. For a second he was struck through with anger and… jealousy? This quickly drained from him when he saw a short, square wizard with a bald head and badly made cloak walking towards the Quidditch pitch.

"I'd love to talk all day," Lucius said, though his tone was laced with bitterness. "I've some business to attend to. Would you mind taking Draco with you on your quest for Narcissa? Tell her I'll meet her in our box if I don't rejoin you in a few minutes."

"You're always up to something," Cordelia chimed, looking impressed. "Does your diabolical mind ever stop scheming? Come on Draco, darling. Let's go find Mummy and see what she wants to do to celebrate your Daddy's birthday."

Cordelia took charge of Draco and parted from Lucius with a look of curiosity.

Lucius stalked after the bald wizard, keeping sight of him by the gleam of sun bouncing off his shiny head.

Rodger Shrimpole was the manager of the Appleby Arrows, one of the best Quidditch teams in the league. Lucius was a betting man but bought his luck as well as made it. Today he wasn't willing to sit through the match worrying about whether his gold was going to multiply or disappear.

"Shrimpole," Lucius called when he was a few feet away. "A word before the game if you please?"

The squat wizard turned his head. Lucius watched with pleasure as the wizard's eyes widened as they lit upon him. The look of pre-match nerves turned into an ashen panic.

"Mr Malfoy, Sir," he said, with a weak smile that looked more like a cringe. "'Ere to see the game, ar ya?"

"Yes," Lucius said curtly. "My wife and sons are here too."

It sounded odd to his ears to speak of having more than one son, but it was by far the least complicated way of including Leopold into the equation.

"Lovely," Shrimpole said, looking uncomfortable. He gulped and his piggy eyes darted from side to side watching the scores of people now entering the stadium.

"I've a suggestion to make about the outcome of the match," Lucius said quietly, as he took a step closer to Shrimpole.

"Really, Sir?" Shrimpole squeaked, turning sweaty and trembling slightly.

"Yes, really," Lucius said, his eyes narrowing.

He hated cowardice and he hated it even more in Shrimpole because it was premature. Lucius enjoyed being feared and revered but he hadn't even begun to put any pressure on the wizard, and that took all the fun out of the confrontation.

"I want your team to lose."

Shrimpole gave out a shrill, quavering laugh of terror.

"I- I can't do tha'!" he said, trying to smile as if Lucius had made a joke. "First game o' the season an' all. We was top o' the league last season, we was!"

"Be that as it may, I notice you're playing your reserve Keaper," Lucius remarked in a would-be casual voice.

Shrimpole's expression plummeted.

"You 'eard about that didja?" he said to his shoes.

"Dear, dear quite the scandal, wouldn't you say? A high ranking Quidditch player like Cuffe accused of rape and assault. I hear there's considerable evidence against him," Lucius continued. "Is he still in custody or have you just suspended him while he's under investigation? Not the kind of publicity your club needs right now, is it?"

"What's it to you?" Shrimpole asked sullenly, refusing to meet Lucius' eye.

"I've rather a lot of gold on your team's defeat," Lucius said silkily. "Of course, if you were to lose today and Rothbury scored the only goal for the Arrows… I could make those allegations go away."

"You're kidding," Shrimpole said hoarsely.

"I'm not kidding as you put it," Lucius countered. "I'm deadly serious."

Shrimpole looked as if he was teetering on the edge of a high balcony. He was wringing his hands and switching his weight from foot to foot, all the while looking furtively around.

"I really can't. First game o' the season! But Cuffe's the best Keeper in the league – really can't do without him – ya sure ya can get 'im off?"

"Quite sure, though you'll have to make it worth my while."

"Rothbury, ya say?"

"Good man," Lucius smirked and clapped Shrimpole on the shoulder. "I knew you'd see things my way. Now, I must find my family."

Shrimpole flinched and bowed haphazardly.

"Oh, one more thing," Lucius said, after taking a step away from the wretched looking manager. "If your team were to win the game or word of this conversation reached any other ears I would make your life unbearable. Is that understood?"

"Yes," Shrimpole said with a jerky nod. "Enjoy the game, Mr Malfoy, Sir. Nice doin' business with ya, Sir."

Lucius, who had already begun walking away, waved his hand at the blundering wizard as if telling a servant to go away. Everybody had a price and bribery was all too easy these days, Lucius thought to himself as he strode away. He'd had more than enough practice over the years.

The stream of people entering the stadium was much thinner now than it had been moments before. It would still be short while before the game began, but Lucius no longer had a reason to linger with the civilians. He made his way up the stairs to the top box he'd reserved.

Draco was standing on his seat when Lucius entered. Although no one was on the pitch yet he was clasping his binoculars and scanning from one end of the hoops to the other. Narcissa was sat beside him, her face upturned, saying something in the sweet voice she always used when talking to him. Leopold was standing at the front of the box, peering between the wooden spindles like a prisoner behind bars.

"Is everything alright?" Narcissa asked cheerfully as he slipped into the seat beside Draco.

"Yes," Lucius assured her. "I'm rather chilly. Shall I summon Dobby and make him bring us some hot drinks from home? I don't like the look of the stuff these common types are making."

"Good idea," Narcissa agreed. "Do you think we ought to get him to bring a blanket for the boys? I don't know if they'll be warm enough sitting for however long. I don't want either of them to get ill."

Lucius found himself rather enjoying talking about the purely mundane with his wife. All summer long their conversations had been heated or glacial, and there had been many weeks when they'd been on practically non-speaking terms. In those moments they'd forgotten what it was to trouble themselves about extra blankets and hot drinks.

Dobby was summoned and sent away again. He returned with a blanket the size of a double duvet and Lucius and Narcissa busied themselves packing the children between them while their drinks were prepared.

"Is this my first Quidditch match?" Draco asked as Narcissa tucked the blanket in all around him.

"Madj!" Leopold experimented.

Under Draco's tutelage Leopold was fast beginning to speak. He was still behind other children his age but was gaining more confidence with every day.

"It's Leopold's first match," Lucius reminded him. "You came last season with Theodore. You ate a whole bag of Bertie Bott's and threw up over the banister onto a dog, don't you remember that?"

"Who do you think will win?" Narcissa asked quickly before Draco had a chance to remember and regale them with the unfortunate tale. "The Appleby Arrows are going to be the team in light blue and the Montrose Magpies wear black."

"BLACK!" Draco roared and bounced in his seat.

"Ba…Bak! Bak!" Leopold added, mimicking Draco.

"Mummy used to be black, didn't she?" Draco continued, brightly.

"She didn't used to be black," Lucius found himself saying shortly. "That was her name. Now sit still, the game's about to start."

Sure enough the two Quidditch teams were filing out onto the pitch from opposite ends of the stadium. From their vantage point the players were little more than black and blue stick men.

"Look!" Leopold cried, pointing down at the teams.

"Yes, that's right," Lucius told him. "Daddy's about to make lots of money by sitting here and drinking tea. If it ever arrives," he added menacingly.

As if on cue the House Elf appeared with a crack. He was carrying a tea tray, which jangled as he arrived.

"Elf!" Leopold cried, pointing at Dobby.

"Could you have taken any longer?" Narcissa complained irritably. "Look! The game's just beginning and now we've got to fuss around. We're missing the match. That deserves punishment. I want five minutes in the water butt from you!"

"But Mistress," the elf wailed. "Dobby cannot swim!"

"Well, you'd just better hope you learn to float before it's too late," Lucius grumbled, taking the hot drinks from Dobby's tray. He handed Narcissa her favourite willow patterned cup and scowled at his hopeless servant.

"Go," Lucius barked, and raised his hand as if to slap the elf.

Dobby gave a little squeal and disappeared with crack.

"Isn't this nice?" Narcissa said pleasantly.

She took a sip of her tea and looked out to where two Chasers were scrumming in mid air over possession of the Quaffle.

It was a testament to how far they'd come over the last few months. Lucius looked at her for a long moment, only half listening to the commentator. Narcissa glanced at him and smiled. Lucius turned his attention to the match in time to see the Appleby Arrows Keeper let in a spectacularly obvious first goal. The stadium rang with cheers and boos, but no one was cheering louder than Draco Malfoy and Leopold Lascelles.

A/N: Do you like these little 'coming up' notices or would you rather I left you in total suspense?