Amici ed Amanti

Amici ed Amanti - WFLT Part 7

"I really wish you'd stop that," Lucy Ann said after she'd managed to catch her breath. "It's quite annoying."

Liam just smirked at her, watching her tenderly touch her fingertips to her kiss swollen mouth. "You don't like me showing up to snog you senseless?"

They'd been playing a little game of cat and mouse with one another ever since the 'incident' at Malfoy Manor a week prior. He would show up unexpectedly, snog her breathless then Disapparate before she could protest. He knew she had enjoyed their kiss in the library just as much as he did, even if she was loathe to admit it, her reaction had belied her words. She wanted him as much as he wanted her, that much he was certain.

And he was determined to finally make her his, once and for all.

"It's embarrassing while I'm at work."

His reply was to press her back against the work bench again so she had little means of escape, his hands on either side of her. She licked her lips in anticipation. "Is it now?" he mumbled before his mouth descended upon hers.

Lucy Ann's arms slipped around his neck just as her mouth parted for his probing tongue. His hands found purchase on her hips, holding her firmly against him as they eagerly tasted one another. She broke away first a few moments, panting heavily as the need to refill her lungs had become dire. He trailed hot kisses down her neck, eliciting a moan when his teeth grazed a sensitive pulse point. Her fingers threaded in his silky hair, guiding him towards the spot on her shoulder that made her shudder with pleasure.

Liam brushed a soft kiss across her lips before pressing his forehead to hers as he fought to regain control. Once his breathing had returned to near normal, his eyes flicked opened and he playfully rubbed noses with her before pulling away slightly. "So are you up to going to the Puddlemere United game with Ava and me this afternoon?"

"I'm sorry, but I can't. I already have plans."

"Plans?" he queried, pulling further away and crossing his arms. "Why I didn't know about this?"

A small smile played at the corners of her mouth. "There are lots of things you don't know."

His pout deepened as he tried to turn away from her, but she wouldn't let him. She pulled at his elbow, trying to get him to face her again. He just turned his head, refusing to look at her.

"Do you know how adorable you are when you pout?" she said with a giggle. "Now stop being so silly and kiss me again, please."

"No," he said, standing firm. "Not until you tell me what is more important than me."

She held his chin and forced him to look at her. "I promised Rauri I would attend her garden tea party this afternoon. Happy now?"

"I suppose." He allowed his arms to go slack and she took the opportunity to pull him down for a quick kiss.

"Does that make it any better?"

"Yes, a little. I think I might need a few more snogs to help heal my bruised ego."

"You need to stop popping in unexpectedly if our plan is to work. You just can't snog me at every turn."

"But you enjoy it, just admit it."

Lucy Ann looked affronted. "I will do no such thing!"

He pulled her close, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist. "Just admit it."

"William Draco Malfoy," she said like she was addressing a naughty child as she tried to break his hold, her body rubbing in delightful ways against him. "Unhand me this instant."

"You do know that Ava is going to be devastated."

She tried to push him away. "You should go before Murphy gets suspicious."

"I suppose you're right."

"I'm always right."

"I would have to respectfully disagree with that," he said with a smirk before stealing a quick kiss from her.

She slapped at his arm. "I resent that and will you stop kissing me!"

"Make me!"

"Don't make me hex you into next week," she seethed.

Liam pressed a soft kiss to her forehead before he released her to make his way to the door. When he reached the threshold he turned to say, with the patented Malfoy smirk, "I'd like to see you try."

"Liam," she called after him.

"You'll miss me so much that you don't want me to go, right?"

"No, it's not that. I wanted to know what Rauri meant by Princess wear required."

He gave her that I-know-something-you-don't grin. "You'll just have to figure that out for yourself."

"You won't give me a hint?"

"No, not unless it involves lots of snogging."

"GO!" She grabbed the little stuffed duck he'd given her at the Flooport in Rome to throw at him, but he'd Disapparated before she could hit her mark.

~*~

They arrived at the Puddlemere United home pitch in plenty of time for Ava to peruse the various souvenir stands. Liam was very glad he decided to stop by Gareth's flat before collecting Ava. He had to extract his brother from between a pair buxom blond twin witches that lived in his building. Daisy and Violet were awful sorry to see him go, but their pouts turned to smiles when he promised he'd be back before the evening was out. Murphy and Griffin Parkinson met them there.

Ava settled for nothing less than the latest jumper brazened with Wood's name on the back, the newest Tavish Wood action figure and a new poster that she was determined to have signed before they left the stadium that day. Apparently her life would be complete (and she'd not ask for another thing as long as she lived which was stretching it a bit as far as he was concerned seeing that she was only five years old) if she could only meet Tavish Wood.

All the talk of Tavish Wood was making Liam wish for something a little stronger than the iced Butterbeers that were being served, but as he had to keep reminding himself, he was with his baby sister. His brother, his best friend and his cousin were as good as dead as soon as Ava was safely deposited at home. They should have known better than to even think about teasing him.

Liam's mood, however, was lightened considerably less than an hour later when Puddlemere United suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Kenmare Kestrels. The Ketrels Seeker snagged the elusive Golden Snitch mere seconds after one of their Chasers had made a spectacular score against the Puddlemere Keeper, one Tavish Wood. The score was 270-30.

The only thing that kept him from gleefully celebrating was the fact that his baby sister was nearly in tears. It would definitely be in poor form to gloat. "Sorry about that, Squirt," he intoned softly, taking her hand so they could exit the top box. "Even good teams lose occasionally."

"Did you ever lose when you played," Ava asked with all the seriousness in the world.

"Once," he replied tightly. If he closed his eyes he could still see the triumph on Erin Wood's face when her Seeker snatched the Snitch right out from in front of him. "Once, we lost to Gryffindor once."

She patted his hand. "That's not so bad. Mummy is a Gryffindor so that makes it okay. At least it wasn't Hufflepuff that would have been bad."

He silenced Murphy and Gareth was a cutting glance. Sure a loss to Hufflepuff (as if that would ever happen) would have been horrible, but it was nothing like losing to Gryffindor. He was still bitter to this very day. He didn't know how his father managed to hold his head up year after humiliating year. According to Mum, he hadn't handled it well.

"You'll understand when you're older. It's still early, how about I treat you to some ice cream?"

She blinked up to him with water filled blue eyes. "But you said you'd take me to see Wood!"

"I don't think it's such a good idea. He just lost a tough match. I'm sure he's not in the mood."

"But you promised."

"I did?"

She nodded, one fat tear slid down her cheek. "Yes, last week. You promised."

How was anyone in the world supposed to be able to say no to that sweet little face? He knew he couldn't. Circe help him if he had daughters of his own in the future because there was going to be no way in hell he'd be able to say no.

"All right, Squirt, but I can't make any guarantees he'll be available."

She grabbed his hand, pulling towards the steps. "He'll be available! I know it!"

"I can't believe I'm going to be standing around waiting for Wood like some little fangirl!" Griffin whined. "It's not like he's all that great."

Ava whipped around to give her favorite cousin the dirtiest look she could muster. "Take that back!"

"No, he's a pouncy git!"

"Wood getting beat today was fantastic!" Murphy chimed in.

"Take it back," she growled.

Gareth held his hand out to his baby sister. "That is enough, you two. You don't want her get angry. She might accidentally hex off something you might need."

The small group of four wizards and one wee little witch made their way down to the labyrinth beneath the stadium where the visiting locker rooms were located. Liam had to use the Malfoy name and a fifty Gaellon piece to buy access to the cordoned off area. Gareth, Murphy and Griffin had no problem waiting on the other side.

Ava immediately wormed her way through the bevy of beautiful witches that lined the walkway to the Apparation point. She picked a prime location about half way down the line so she could see him the moment he attempted a get away. Liam hung back, not wanting to see the wanker unless absolutely necessary, but not too far that he didn't know where his little sister was. He couldn't believe he was actually doing this.

After what seemed like an eternity, a small buzz rippled through the crowd as the locker room door opened and the witches all pushed forward, jockeying for a better position. Liam watched carefully to make sure that Ava wasn't about to be crushed, but she seemed to be holding her own so he leant back against the wall to make himself as invisible as possible. It simply wouldn't do for the Malfoy heir to be seen hanging around a locker room, no telling what kind of nasty rumors might surface.

Wood emerged last after a long line of other players to the screams of his female fans that he blithely ignored. Ava wasn't so easily deterred, slipping under the rope and pursing her quarry with great tenacity.

Liam watched idly as she dogged Wood's every move until he was almost to the Apparation point before he turned around to acknowledge her presence. He pushed away from the wall when he saw the snarl on Wood's face as he turned to deal with Ava. His steps quickened when her most prized action figure slipped from her hands, pushing past several witches and security personnel to reach her side. She buried her face in his chest, sobbing her heart out when her big brother knelt down to gather her in his arms.

"Think you're a big wizard, do you," Liam called out to Wood's retreating figure, "making a little girl cry."

The other wizard stopped and turned around. "I didn't feel like being bothered."

"All she wanted was an autograph." Liam bit back from her favorite player. He wasn't about to give Tavish Wood any more satisfaction.

"That little whelp belongs to you, Malfoy?"

"My baby sister."

"Then I suggest you keep her away from me in the future. I won't be responsible for what might happen to her next time."

"You're such an arse," Liam said, slowly rising to his full height. His fingers itched to wrap themselves around his throat as his anger rose. "I hope you know that!"

"Are you telling me I'm your baby sister's favorite player," Wood asked incredulously. "I'm the favorite Quidditch player of the precious Malfoy princess?"

"You don't deserve her admiration! Whatever is between you and me doesn't extend to her!"

"This is completely brilliant. All the witches in your life seem to prefer me," Wood taunted gleefully. "First Lucy Ann and now your sister! I wonder what I have to do to bag your mother!"

Liam was amazed at the amount of blood that splattered everywhere after his fist connected with the Wood's nose. Everything went dead silent as his simmering rage boiled over and his sense of wonderment faded away. The world narrowed to just the two of them. He was going to kill that bastard if was the last thing he did...

~*~

"So," Rauri started, putting the delicate floral teapot down after pouring her potential sister-in-law another cup of tea. "Have you given any thought as to when you'll be marrying my brother?"

Lucy Ann nearly spluttered, completely taken aback by the directness of the little girl across the table from her. Here she thought she'd been invited to tea because Liam's little sister had missed her, but in reality she was there for an interrogation. She suddenly felt silly sitting in the Agecroft Hall fall garden in an impossibly girlie pink dress robes with a fancy tiara on her head.

"Uhm," she mumbled, tomorrow if he'd have me was on the tip of her tongue. "I haven't given it much thought, really."

"Well, a firm date would be nice," the little red haired witch said, flipping through her pink leather planning book to the calendar section, "but I can work with a tentative date. I'm a busy girl and I like to plan ahead for such important events. How is April looking for you? That gives you just over six months."

"I d-d-don't know," Lucy Ann stuttered, thinking maybe Rauri had been taking lessons from Stephie on how not to take no for an answer. It was come hell or high water for those two apparently. "Maybe you should ask your brother how he feels about all of this."

"I already have."

"And he's okay with this?"

"Not exactly," Rauri admitted sheepishly, "but I figured you could convince him like Mum does Da all the time."

"Convince him?"

"Yes-"

"But we're not even seeing each other..."

The little girl seated across from her heaved a heavy sigh. "A minor formality. He loves you and you love him. You should get married."

"He l-l-loves me?" Lucy Ann asked, her heart pounding at the possible implications of Rauri's words. "He said that?"

"Well, not exactly in so many words, but he does! I just know it!"

"I don't think you should be going around putting words in other people's mouths."

"I'm not!"

"You just said that he didn't say it."

"I should just lock you two in a room until you admit you love each other," Rauri muttered in a not-so-quite voice.

Someone shouting her name from up at the house saved Lucy Ann with having to dignify the little girl's mutterings with a response. She was far too young to know what happened behind locked doors when her brother was involved.

"Can't you see we're having tea," the little red-haired witch complained when her cousin finally discovered their secluded spot.

"Lucy Ann. House. Now," Griffin panted, doubled over trying to catch his breath.

"What's going on?" Lucy Ann asked, suddenly very afraid. She could feel the panic in his voice. It was unsettling because the Malfoy house had always been a place of sanctuary for her. "Are Mum and Da all right?"

"Liam! It's Liam. He's gone insane. He's destroying Ava's room and she's screaming and crying. Draco is trying to stop him, but he won't listen. He even took a swing at him!"

What he had to say made Lucy Ann's blood run cold. She knew Liam been to a Quidditch match with Ava so she could only imagine what was at the root of his behavior. It was so odd for him to be so overt in his anger. He had always prided himself on being cool and collected in his anger, very Malfoy. If what Griffin was saying was true, then it was so out of character for him that something very bad had to have happened.

"Is he still there?" she asked, standing quickly and upsetting the delicate tea service with a clatter.

"He's not going to stop until he completely destroys everything, I think."

"Did Mum try to stop him?" she queried as they made their way quickly up to the old manor house.

"She spoke to him, but Draco wouldn't let her near him out of fear of Liam taking a swing at her as well."

"What set him off?"

"He had a few words with Wood. I didn't hear what was said, but I think he broke his nose!"

"Oh God!" Lucy Ann picked up her pace. She knew that Liam and Tavish had what was at best a volatile relationship and putting those two in the same proximity was dangerous. How they got together in the first place was quite troubling. "Liam wasn't hurt was he?"

"I don't know, there was just so much blood," Griffin answered.

Chaos greeted the group when they reached the second landing. Ava clung to her mother, wailing loudly in the hallway. Draco stood in the doorway to the little girl's room. Rauri immediately ran to her sister, patting her sister's foot comfortingly as she worriedly watched the events unfold before her.

"Don't make me have to stun you," Murphy could be heard saying after what sounded like a major scuffle. "I will do it."

"Liam," Gareth said in a very measured tone, "just stop. We can talk about this like rational adults. Don't make me or Murphy have to do something we don't want to do."

"Get off of me!" Liam grunted as another loud crash caused Ava's wails to grow even louder.

"Stupefy!"

Lucy Ann looked in the room just in time to see Liam fall on the bed, temporarily incapacitated.

"Would someone like to tell me what in the bloody hell is going on?" Draco demanded once the only sound in the house was his softy crying youngest daughter.

"Yes," Ginny echoed her husband, "why is Liam destroying Ava's room?"

Gareth exchanged glances with Murphy before taking the lead. "Well, to make a long story short, he's gone completely nutters."

"I can see that," the Malfoy matriarch said curtly, "but why is Ava so upset?"

Murphy took over, carefully explaining the events that had sent his best friend over the edge. His skills as an Auror prompted him to leave out a few minor details that would have sent the eldest Malfoy after Tavish Wood himself. He didn't know if could have gotten both of them out of trouble. It was hard enough convincing Wood not to press charges as it was.

"I don't know what we're going to do with him while he's in this state," Draco said softly while looking at his son sprawled on the blue and white bed covering.

"I'd like to talk to him," Lucy Ann said, managing to finally find her voice as the reality of what she'd just seen and heard began to sink in. "Alone," she added when all eyes turned on her.

"I don't think it's such a good idea," Gareth stated firmly.

Murphy nodded. "I agree. I don't know what kind of state he might be in if the spell wears off when you're with him. I won't have him hurting you as well."

"He won't hurt me."

"You don't know that, Goose. He's pretty far gone right now and probably doesn't know what he's doing." He motioned to his rapidly blackening eye.

"I do know. He'd never hurt me, never!"

Draco stepped in. "No, I think we should have him checked out at St. Mungo's."

"No," she said harshly. He would be so embarrassed if word of this to got out. "He'd never forgive you! Please, just let me try. If I can't get through to him then you can think of something else."

"Lucy Ann is right," Ginny said. "Liam would be terrible embarrassed. I think she should try talking to him."

"Thank you, Mum," the younger witch replied, carefully stepping over the mess to make her way into the room. "I can handle him."

"I don't feel good about this," Murphy said.

Lucy Ann took her other best friend's hand when she reached his side. "Please."

He squeezed her hand, closing his eyes against her pleading. "I'll be in the doorway."

"Alone."

"I don't trust him right now."

"But I do."

"I can't change your mind?"

She shook her head. "No."

"Do you have your wand on you?"

"Yes," she said, producing her slender maple wand for his inspection.

"Leave the door open just in case. I'll be down the hall."

Lucy Ann had to agree to Murphy's terms before everyone would leave. She stood in the doorway, watching as everyone filed out of the room. She shut the door after the last one disappeared down the stairs.

"It's just you and me now," she said as she crawled on the bed next to Liam. "I got rid of them all because I know how much you hate for them to see you like this."

It was several long minutes before she could work up the nerve to touch him, gingerly brushing his hair back from his eyes so she could kiss his forehead.

"I know you can hear me so I am going to release you from the stunner. Please don't go nutters on me or I'll have no choice but to stun you again. Do you understand me? Ennervate."

Liam woke up from this stupor with a start, spluttering and trying to scramble away from her when she reached for him. "I'm going to fucking kill Murphy."

"Shhhh, Liam," she said soothingly. "He'll only stun you again. You need to calm down. Please."

"What are you doing here?" He slid to the far side of the bed, sitting up to survey the damage he had wrought.

"I was having afternoon tea with Rauri. You know you scared the hell out of Ava this afternoon."

Liam's shoulders slumped. "I know."

"Evanesco." The mess disappeared with a few flicks of her wand. "Is that better?"

"It doesn't make what I've done go away."

"No, it doesn't, but it's a step towards fixing it."

She slid up on the bed behind him, tenderly running her hands over his shoulders and pressing her body against his back. He tried to shrug her off and stand up, but Lucy Ann held tight.

"Don't," he uttered as he finally managed to pull away from her to stand by Ava's tall dresser. A Tavish Wood action figure he'd somehow managed to miss gestured rudely at him. Liam smirked as he causally snapped the head off the offending toy.

"Okay," she said slowly, crossing the distance to stand near him. "I take all of this has to do with Tav."

"I've been such a fool."

"You've never been a fool, Liam."

"I have, about everything. Wood, especially."

"What about him?"

"He was right."

"Right about what?"

Liam threw the decapitated body of the Wood action figure across the room. "Do you want to know what he said to me? He told me that it was amusing all the witches in my life seemed to prefer him over me!"

"No!" Lucy Ann said in disbelief. She knew better than most what an arrogant git Tavish could be, but she ever imaged he could be so petty. It went a long way to explaining what sent Liam over the edge.

"First you, then Ava and he said he wondered what he'd have to do to bag my mother."

"What did you do?"

He smiled. "I hit him."

"Oh god. All this blood is his isn't it?"

"Do you want to know what the worst part is?" Liam asked with a half laugh. "It's true and I've just been deluding myself all this time. I've been making a fool of myself running after you when you were clearly happy with him. I just refused to see it."

"Liam," she implored softly, putting her hand on his arm.

"I just couldn't stand it, you know, you being with that bastard. I never once thought you might be happy. I only knew that he had something I wanted."

Lucy Ann's eyes brimmed with tears. She had no idea what Liam was feeling when he had shown up in England two months after her disastrous holiday in Rome, demanding she make time for him. She'd been so hurt that she had refused to believe he was trying to make things right. Tavish was nothing but a very handsome distraction. She suddenly felt a pang of guilt for misleading Liam that terrible day in her office.

"You must hate me so much," he whispered.

"I don't hate you."

"And I've just been trying to snog you senseless for weeks, trying to make you admit you love me when you've been so clear that you don't. God, you must think I'm the worst kind of arse there is."

"You are an arse, Liam Malfoy."

He gave her a pained look. "I knew it."

"But I came to terms with that ages ago."

"I know that we'll never be friends like before, but I can't stand the thought of you hating me. Can you ever forgive me for being an arse? If you can, I promise I'll go away forever and never bother you again. I swear!"

"I like it when you just pop in to snog me."

"I beg you, please forgive me." He grabbed her shoulders, holding her in front of him so he could give her a searching look. She could see the panic starting to rise in his features. "Please."

"I'll never forgive you if you don't kiss me right now."

"Please forgive me," he said, choked. He screwed his eyes shut tightly, but not before she saw the glisten of tears.

"Liam, I love you!" Lucy Ann stated firmly. "It's always been you!"

"What?" he asked, confused.

"I love you," she repeated, relief flooding over her now that she'd finally given voice to what she'd been harboring for so long.

His face was a mixture of hope and fear. "You do?"

"Yes," she giggled. "I think I fell in love with you the first time you ever kissed me."

"But you hit me and told me never to do it again."

"Liam, I was five."

"Say it again."

"I love you."

"Can I kiss you now?"

His arms slipped from her shoulders down to her waist to pull her close to him as he lowered his head to capture her mouth in a tender kiss. Her arms snaked around his neck, pulling him down to her. She melted into him as the kiss grew more heated.

Liam rested his forehead against hers after a few moments, panting slowly. "Is this real?"

"Yes." Her arms tightened around him.

He slowly kissed his away across her cheek and down to her ear where he whispered huskily, "I love you, too."

A loud thump near the door caused them to jump away from each other just as he'd begun nibbling her neck.

"What was that?" she asked, feeling more than bereft at the loss of his arms around her.

"I don't know," he said, striding to the door that was now ajar, "but I'm going to find out."

Liam snatched opened the door and Rauri fell at his feet with a giggle. "Li Li and Goosey, sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" she taunted in a sing-songy voice.

"What do you call yourself doing, rug rat?"

"I wanted to make sure you were okay." She gave him a most angelic look.

"What were you really doing?" he demanded, draping his arm around Lucy Ann who had come over to him to wrap her arms around his waist and bury her red face in his side.

"See, I told you that you just needed to be locked in a room to discover what everyone all ready knew," Rauri said smugly.

"You were right," Lucy Ann agreed.

"Don't encourage her," Liam chastised. "Now what is it going to cost us for you to keep quiet for a few weeks? I don't want to overshadow Murphy's wedding with our good news."

"Hrm, I don't know. This is an awful big secret that I'd have to keep quiet."

"Just name your price, little witch."

"A pink princess dress."

"Is that all?"

"Matching shoes and a pretty, sparkly tiara."

"Done."

"When can I expect payment?"

"Lucy Ann will take you shopping on Saturday."

Rauri chewed her bottom lip as she thought the plan over. "Okay, deal."

"Deal," Liam echoed, sticking his hand to seal the deal.

His little sister shook his hand quickly before darting out of the room to skip down the hallway singing softly about them kissing again.

He started for the doorway. "I'm going to kill her if she spills this."

Lucy Ann grabbed his arm. "I don't think she will. A princess dress and all the trimmings are at stake."

"I suppose you're right," he conceded.

"I know I'm right, now come here and kiss me," she demanded, pushing the door shut and whispering a locking charm.

~*~