Amici ed Amanti

Amici ed Amanti

Torn – Part 2

~*~

Dinner with Tavish's family was pleasant. The large stone house was pleasant. Scotland was pleasant. Everything was pleasant. She didn't know why, but it irked her.

His parents, Oliver and Hannah Wood, were nice enough and tried to make her feel right at home. Erin, his only sister, had chatted non-stop about her new position as Chaser for the Harpies. She'd finally been promoted from the reserve ranks. Tomas, Tavish's twin brother, rambled on about the strategies Puddlemere were implementing this year. He'd just joined the coaching staff. It was all she could do to smile and act interested. She could tolerate only so much talk of Quidditch and this whole family seemed to live, eat, sleep and breathe the game.

It was almost as bad as being around Liam's uncle Ron and Harry Potter. It was even worse when Liam's Da was thrown into the mix, but somehow, it didn't grate her nerves then. She longed to be in the familiar comfort of the Malfoy family home.

After dinner, the family moved to the sitting room for coffee and desert. Different room, same subject. Lucy Ann thought her head was going to explode.

"Are you all right?" Tavish asked, obviously concerned.

"I've a bit of a headache."

"Would you like to take a walk? I understand the garden is lovely this time of evening."

"Yes, I think I would like that very much."

He took her hand and led her to a small garden where they walked in relative silence. She couldn't help thinking it paled in comparison to the extensive gardens that Mrs. Malfoy maintained at Agecroft Hall. The roses were positively anemic compared to the lush bushes that were Liam's Mum's pride and joy. She supposed Mrs. Wood didn't have time to keep it up, what with talking about Quidditch all the time.

The small stone lined pond that was the focal point of the gardens was devoid of fish and she couldn't help chuckling over another fish pond empty of fish once upon a time.

"What's so amusing?" Tavish asked.

"I was just thinking about the time Liam, Gareth and I went on a fishing expedition in Mrs. Malfoy's koi pond," she said wistfully. "She was livid when she discovered we'd caught all but one of the fish Mr. Malfoy had gifted her with after a trip to Japan."

"You spent a lot of time with the Malfoys?"

"Practically lived there, I have my own room," she continued on excitedly. "Gareth didn't get into trouble because he was too young to know any better, but Liam and I? Oh, I don't think either of us could sit for a week after that!"

"She punished you?"

"Oh, yes. There were so many kids coming and going in that house with all the Weasley cousins and various friends, we were all treated just like we were another member of the family."

"Sounds…chaotic."

"It was at times, but we loved every second. It was so different from the house I grew up in – all quiet and proper manners. You were allowed to be loud and have fun. Liam and I used to get into so much trouble." She was positively beaming as fond childhood memories came flooding back to her. "That is the type of household I'd want to raise my children in."

"So you're close friends with Malfoy?"

"More than close, we're best friends."

"What about Mere and Steph?"

"They are my best girlfriends, but Liam is my best friend in the whole world," Lucy Ann answered honestly. "Has been since kindergarten."

"I really don't want to talk about him anymore," Tavish said with a hint of irritation as he pulled her into his arms.

She allowed Tavish to kiss her once they'd reached the gate. It was a tender kiss, full of promise. He pulled her close with one arm wrapping around her waist as the other tangled in her hair.

It was a perfectly nice kiss as far as kisses went, but it did nothing for her.

This wasn't how it was supposed to be. It didn't make her feel the things she should have felt.

She hadn't felt anything since the confrontation with Liam in her office the previous afternoon. That wasn't exactly true, she did feel guilty for how she'd treated him, but it was partial pay back for him walking away from her when she had desperately needed him in Pimbino.

Now she wasn't so sure she should have walked away. He did sound like he was rather desperate and she wasn't used to him sounding like that. She was so determined to prove to him that she was unaffected by what had transpired in Italy that she totally missed that he wasn't being an arrogant prat. She cursed herself for not paying more attention.

Lucy Ann made her excuses to Tavish before he could kiss her again; telling him that her head was still aching and she wished to lie down. The thought of kissing him again no longer held any appeal.

He escorted her to her room, kissed her cheek and told her if she needed anything he was just down the hall. She nodded, shut the door behind her and finally allowed the tears to fall. How could she have been so stupid?

There was no two ways around it – she was still completely in love with Liam. She couldn't delude herself anymore by going through the motions of a happy relationship with Tavish. It wasn't fair to him or to her and most certainly not fair to Liam. He deserved to know the truth.

She was in love with her best friend. And this time she was determined to let him know it.

She hastily threw her things in her bag before shrinking it down and stuffing it in the pocket of her traveling robes. She made her way down the hall to the last door on the left before knocking hard. "Tavish, I need to speak to you."

"Are you all right?" he asked before he could get the door all the way open. He stood there looking utterly scrumptious in pair of blue plaid pyjama bottoms and a white tee-shirt.

"No, but I will be."

"What are you talking about?" he asked in confusion.

"I've got to go back to London tonight."

"Whatever for?"

"To tell Liam I'm in love with him." She could barely keep the giddiness out of her voice.

"What? You mean to tell me you're in love with that arrogant arse Malfoy?"

"Yes," she whispered.

"How long?" he asked harshly.

"Forever."

"And what about us?"

"I'm sorry Tavish, but I can't do this anymore."

"This?" he asked incredulously.

"Pretend I'm not in love with Liam Malfoy. I've tried. I can't. I'm so sorry," she said breathlessly.

"Sorry? Sorry, for leading me on while you're in love with some other bloke?" He advanced on her.

"I said I'm sorry." She backed away.

"And that is supposed to make it all better?"

"I need to go."

He placed his hand on the wall next to her head, blocking her path to the stairs. "Maybe you ought to stay the night. It is late."

"No, I need to go," she said firmly as she tried to duck under his arm.

He trapped her between his arms. "Maybe I don't want you to go."

"Let me go now before I have to do something I don't want to do." She pulled her wand from her pocket.

"You're making the biggest mistake of you life if you think for one second that bastard will ever love you. He's a Malfoy, rotten to the core every last one of them. I know all about his father."

"You know nothing," she raged before taking a deep breath, calming herself. "I'm not going to stand here and justify him to you. Please give my excuses to your family," she said before Apparating to the gates of Agecroft Hall.

Addison, the Malfoy family butler had her wait in the Game Room while he retrieved Mrs. Malfoy. It was late and he said that Liam had not been there that evening.

"Lucy Ann," Ginny called as she swept into the room tightening the sash of her pewter colored silk dressing gown. "Is there something wrong?" She enveloped the younger witch in a warm hug.

"No, ma'am," she said, pulling away from the witch she considered her second mother. "I was looking for Liam. It is very important I speak with him immediately and I thought he might be here."

"Liam is in Rome as far as I know."

"He must be at Gareth's," Lucy Ann mumbled as she mentally ticked off places Liam could be staying.

"You mean to tell me, that my eldest child has been on English soil and did not come to see me?" Ginny asked, obviously quite perturbed.

Lucy Ann blanched. "Well, he just showed up evening before last. He didn't Floo or write. I had no idea."

The elder witch pursed her lips as she thought for a moment. "Gareth would know, wouldn't he?"

"Maybe," she replied noncommittally. Poor Gareth didn't need the wrath of his Mum coming down on him without warning. "I don't really know where he'd be staying if he's not here."

Ginny reached for the Floo powder pot. "Well, we'll see about that won't we?"

"There you are," a distinctly male voice interrupted her before she could cast the powder. "Your presence is requested upstairs."

"Can't you handle it? I was about call Gareth."

"Apparently not, this seems to be a Mummy only problem," Draco said gravely as he entered the room and shot Lucy Ann a wink.

Ginny rolled her eyes, sighed dramatically and stalked out of the room, muttering all the while about annoying children. Her husband watched her retreating figure until she was out of sight.

Lucy Ann wondered idly if her husband, if she ever managed to snare one that is, would still be in love with her after so long. The little tinge of jealousy she felt couldn't be helped – she wanted what Draco and Ginny Malfoy so obviously had.

"Sorry about that, but I thought you could use some saving," he said warmly, opening his arms to her for a comforting hug.

She allowed her rescuer to lead her into his study where he sat her in a delicate rosewood chair with blue brocade seat cushion.

He didn't speak again until after he'd poured two drinks. "It's frightening really, how much she's like her mother," he said as he handed her a lemon tonic. "But don't tell her I said that. I'm far too old to sleep on the sofa these days."

She nodded solemnly. She'd been witness to the famed Weasley temper more than times than she'd cared to admit. "She wouldn't, would she?"

"Oh yes," he chuckled. "She's a quick one with that temper." He settled back in his large desk chair. Lucy Ann thought he still looked intimidating behind that massive desk even if he was dressed for bed. "So, just what has Liam done now that has you Apparating about the English countryside this time of night?"

"Well," she said, but stopped, debating what exactly to say. She had no clue how to even begin. Liam would probably die just knowing she was sitting in his father's study debating whether or not tell him everything. But, Da always knew how to make things better…

"You're not pregnant are you?"

If the wizard sitting across from her hadn't looked so serious, she would have laughed at the absurdity of the question. "Oh, good Merlin, no!"

"Too bad," he sighed. "I wasn't sure after what Liam had told me and then you showing up desperately looking for him."

"He…he…you talked to him?" She was stunned, although Liam had always sought out his father's advice for just about everything. Why should this have been any different?

"Yes, this morning. He told me about Italy. I must sincerely apologize for my son's stupidity. There must be something in the Malfoy bloodline that makes the males act stupid because I swear Gin and I taught him better than that."

Lucy Ann nodded gravely; her lap suddenly became very interesting. "I'm as much at fault, I think. I allowed things to get out of hand."

"Did you force him to do anything he didn't want to do?"

"No." She couldn't believe she was having this conversation with him. This man was her second father and she admired him to no end. And here she was discussing her lack of a love life with his oldest son. Would it be too much to ask if the floor would open up and swallow her whole?

"Then it wasn't your fault, Buttercup. Liam is just daft. Do you love him?"

"Yes," she answered, lifting her eyes to meet his when he'd called her by his nickname for her. He'd called her that since she was the yellow faerie in a school play when she was just a wee tot. "I have for a very long time."

"I figured as much," he said before stifling a yawn. "It's getting late, why don't you just stay the night. You can find him in the morning."

"No, thank you. I really would like to speak with him tonight."

He walked her to the Apparation point on terrace before giving her another hug. "He's at Murphy's."

"Thank you, Da." Lucy Ann gave him one last quick hug before Apparating just outside of the garden gate of her school chum's cottage.

She stood in the dark for the longest time trying to quell her nerves. This was it. Liam was finally going to know once and for all exactly how she felt about him. There would be no holding back. If she'd read his signals right, he felt the same way about her. She cursed herself for being so stupid the other day to dismiss him entirely.

"This had better be good," Murphy grumbled as he unlocked a combination of locking charms and Muggle locks before slinging open the door, wand drawn. "You know, some people do have to work in the morning."

"Hullo, Murph," Lucy Ann said sedately. "Nice to see you, too."

"Luce?" he asked in confusion, "what are you doing here?" He stepped aside to allow her in, following her to the sitting room.

"I'm here to see Liam. Is he asleep? I need to speak to him." She glanced toward the door that led to the room where he would be.

"He's gone. He returned to Italy this afternoon."

"What?" She could actually feel her heart sinking into the pit of her stomach.

"Yeah, said there was no point in remaining in England."

"Why?" She didn't care that she was sounding desperate and tears were threatening to spill down her cheeks. "Why would he say such a thing?"

Murphy sighed. "He said he'd come to make things right with you, but now that you're with Tav there was no point."

"What did you tell him about Tav?" she asked harshly. Cold fingers of fear creped slowly up her spine. This was not answer she knew she was going to want to hear.

"I told him that I've never seen you happier, that he was good for you."

It felt like she'd just been clobbered by a bludger as she sank to the floor was her feelings overwhelmed her.

"I told him that he was wasting his time and you were happy and in love and he'd just have to deal with it. He was finally going to have to learn to share you with someone else," Murphy continued on softly. "Not that he was ever any good at the sharing bit."

She was going to be sick right there in the middle of Murphy's sitting room, she just knew it. Her heart and mind were both pounding causing her to wonder if this was how it felt right before one died of a broken heart. "Oh Merlin, oh Merlin," she kept mumbling as she rocked back and forth, her brain racing to find a way to stop the madness. How in the bloody hell could everything have gone so wrong? She closed her eyes in an effort to regain her composure. "What else did he say?"

"Uhm…he prattled on about being stupid while you were in Italy and he'd wanted to make that up to you." He shifted uncomfortably as he said it.

"What else?" She could tell he was holding something back and she was quickly losing her patience with his game. "What else did he say?"

Murphy swallowed hard. "He went on about Tav giving you yellow roses when your favorite flower is heather. He was a mite brassed off to find that we all liked Tavish too, thought we deserted him or some such rubbish. And he might have mentioned something about being in love with you…" He'd said the last few words in a rush.

She had to laugh then - a rolling in the floor, tearful, hysterical laugh because it was the only thing she knew to do at the point. Da knew. Murphy knew. She wondered if Stephie and Mere knew. Everyone else seemed to know, except her that is, the important one in the equation. That was just like Liam.

"Are you are all right?" Murphy asked, squatting down next to her and watching cautiously.

She sat up, wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. "No, I think I've gone completely around the bend now." She pushed his hands away when he tried to help her up. "Don't touch me! You've done enough all ready."

"Lucy Ann, I didn't know! I'm sorry! I didn't know!" he pleaded.

"It's always been Liam, Murphy, always. How could you not have known?" She Disapparated before he had a chance to formulate a response.

Lucy Ann didn't even know what she was doing when she appeared at the Ministry and demanded a Floo ticket to Rome. All she could think about trying sort out this mess with Liam.

She just kept going over the past few days in her head - everything from the moment he'd shown up in her office Thursday evening to her parting words with Murphy a few hours ago. How did everything get so out of sorts? Wasn't love supposed to be easy? She had to remind herself that nothing about Liam Malfoy was ever easy.

Before she knew it, she was standing at the wrought iron gates of the white stone building where the Malfoys maintained a large, lavishly furnished flat. The sounds and smells of Rome assailed her senses as memories of her previous visit came flooding back. Her mouth watered at the thought of warm buttery croissants from the bakery around the corner slathered in strawberry jam.

That would be the first thing they do after getting this mess straightened out…

"Miss Goosey!" Costa said excitedly when she opened the door. "Costa happy see you!"

She pushed past the bobbing little house-elf into the cool marble foyer. "Liam," she called loudly, her eyes darting up the stairs for any sign of him. "Liam, it's Lucy Ann, I need to talk to you!"

"Oh," Costa said, wringing her hands and looking away. "Youse too late. Little Master gone. I's pack his cases."

~*~

Two weeks later….

Witch Weekly's Wizarding World Whispers by Jenny Gianfared

This reporter could scarcely believe her own eyes when she saw the delicious Liam Malfoy, heir to the Black and Malfoy family fortunes, while on holiday last week. He was dancing the night away with a bevy of beautiful witches at the sizzling new nightspot, Cabaret Voltaire, in Sydney, Australia this past week. Rumor has it ladies that Europe's most sought after bachelor has departed for parts Down Under, trading in posh digs and a comfortable job in Rome to play Seeker for the Murwillumbah Opaleyes in the rough and tumble Aussie Quidditch League.

Remember you heard it here first, the exceedingly handsome Puddlemere United Keeper and Team Captain, Tavish Wood of the Wood family Quidditch Dynasty, is back on the market again. He had most recently been seen about town with Lucy Ann Honeychurch, a young witch best known for her close association with the Malfoy heir, but a very reliable source has informed this reporter that their budding romance has fizzled out after a trip to Scotland to meet his parents, Oliver and Hannah Wood. Makes one wonder if she'd brushed up on her Quidditch knowledge beforehand.

Gareth Malfoy, who happens to be at the top of his Auror's Class and second in line to the aforementioned Black and Malfoy fortune, has been seen about town with a lovely Irish witch by the name of Maeve Finnigan. A little birdy has it on good authority that, Draco Malfoy is none too pleased with his youngest son's choice of companions. It seems that the young Miss Finnigan is the daughter of Ginny Weasley Malfoy's former school beau, Seamus Finnigan. What this reporter would give to be a fly on the wall at Agecroft Hall.

And there you have it ladies, two of the three finest young wizards Britain has to offer are just waiting to be knocked off their broomsticks by some lovely young witch that can talk bludgers and snitches while surviving a meeting with a potential mother-in-law.