Lys placed the ledger in Noah's study, then replenished Senna's potion rack with the materials she'd brought back before taking Friedm to the garden to play with broomsticks.
Friedm no longer played with children's brooms. He pulled out a latest-model Nimbus from the broom shed.
After Lys set up Cushioning Charms in the yard, Friedm, who had been impatiently stepping in place, suddenly kicked off and soared into the air.
Standing in the kitchen, Lys waved her wand to direct the ingredients to process themselves quickly, then used magic to complete the cooking and keep it warm. "Cocoa, set the table."
Then she walked back into the yard and flicked her wand. The roses and thorns that had grown beyond their boundaries quickly turned to powder and fell into the earth.
After thinking for a moment, she used a Flying Charm to flip through the window into the study. Standing at the desk, Lys glanced at the ink bottle. The quill twisted its tip to dip in ink and began writing on a piece of parchment that automatically flattened itself.
Lys could never compromise on the matter of those potions. First, her attitude couldn't keep retreating, and second, if those potions were shelved, Merlin only knew when Mother's reputation would improve.
Severus Snape had already become a Potions Master...
So even if those potions had to go somewhat underground, Lys couldn't let them never see the light of day.
"Cerebald."
Two minutes after opening the window, that stupid bird flew over—its feathers disheveled from fighting and with a bald patch on top of its head.
Lys lifted one side of its feathers to examine it, cast a healing charm, then placed the letter in the message pouch.
Then she patted its head, warning it not to fight with that rooster again. "That Chinese man's chicken is more aggressive than XXXX-class magical creatures. Look how ugly you are now that you're bald..."
Just as the stupid bird finally managed to take flight, Friedm flew to the window. Lys only heard buzzing and whooshing sounds, and when she looked up again, the stupid bird had flown away with the letter, while that little fly was still doing barrel rolls in rapid flight.
"Have Dad help you with tonight's spell practice. I have business to attend to."
The voice from outside the window, sometimes near and sometimes far, replied: "Right you are, Lys."
"If you meet your practice targets, I'll take you to ride broomsticks by the lake on Sunday."
"Brilliant! That's wonderful, Lys—I love you the most!"
Friedm was absolutely thrilled. He maneuvered his broom to stop suddenly at the study window after flying at breakneck speed in the narrow space, pressing against the window with his hands clasped together as he gazed at Lys.
Seeing her brother's sparkling eyes, Lys forced a smile, pushed him away, and closed the window before turning to notify her parents that dinner was ready.
At the dinner table, Friedm, who'd finished eating early, had already gone off to practice simple spells. Noah was chewing his food whilst lost in thought again, and Senna's third glass of wine was stuck fast to the table by Lys.
"Drink in moderation, Mother. Your hands have been shaking lately."
Noah suddenly snapped back to attention. Seeing Senna still trying to lift her glass, he grasped her hand. "Little Star's right. Didn't your cauldron explode just now because your shaking hand added an extra drop of leech mucus? Drink less."
"Dad, you should also try going out to buy things." Noah's grip on Senna's hand tightened, and he smiled with difficulty. "Alright."
"I've refused the Karkaroff family's demands, so Mother, you can brew whatever potions you wish. Those who need them will see them. As for that potion research direction, I've already copied and submitted it for review. I believe there'll be a response soon."
Lys straightened her appearance and changed the gloves on her left hand, speaking in a flat tone: "Well then, I've finished eating. Dad, Mum, take your time. I have business tonight and shan't be coming home."
Senna and Noah at the dinner table both looked toward Lys's departing figure.
Noah sighed. "I don't want to go out."
Senna looked at her wine glass. "Just one last drink."
But Lys acted as though she hadn't heard their almost childish words: "On Sunday I'll take Friedm to ride broomsticks. I hope no one will be home at that time."
Lys, walking out of the living room, heard groans from the dining room. Only then did a hint of amusement flash in her eyes, but it quickly returned to ash-like stillness.
Disapparating to that underground club, Lys dealt with some thorny troubles that Lucy and Lulu weren't capable of handling, then traveled through the Floo Network to a manor that Lucius had acquired in Britain.
After Lys had a portrait notify Lucius that she had matters to discuss, she sat in the reception room, stroking the blackthorn wand in her hand, lost in thought.
"Miss, Mr Malfoy is currently dealing with a surprise inspection from the Ministry of Magic. He may be quite late." A well-dressed gentleman entered the blank portrait and explained to Lys.
Lys nodded, placed Crunch on the freshly cleaned carpet, then looked back at the portrait.
The gentleman in the portrait smiled politely when he saw Lys looking at him.
"A Ministry surprise inspection? What's Senior Lucius been up to lately?"
The gentleman replied simply, "Nothing whatsoever. In fact, to avoid the Ministry's exploitation these past few years, Mr Malfoy has already reduced his public business considerably."
He paused, recalling. "This situation has increased dramatically from July of this year until now, but it isn't Aurors—it's the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office bringing search warrants, so there's no major problem."
Lys nodded. July—that was after her mark had burned.
The Dark Mark on her left arm had become even fainter after that soul-splitting, as if something on it had been taken away with that part of her soul's departure.
She squeezed the dragonhide glove on her left hand. Although the soul-splitting had cost her some things, Lys hadn't noticed her life being affected much.
Or rather, she didn't care about the things that were affected.
Home, workplace, travels abroad—three points in a line.
Except for the strange stiffness and greyish-white colour of her left arm, which forced Lys to wear gloves year-round to avoid excessive attention from others.
And those two symbols she'd carved into herself had upgraded the glove material to dragonhide and required occasional replacement.
She simply could no longer feel satisfied and happy as easily, becoming more inclined to be critical—but that was only relative to before.
With just the right amount of stabiliser, Lys's mood would improve considerably, and these past few days she'd simply been too lazy to take her medicine.
When Lys had read through half the book before her, Lucius finally escaped the Ministry's entanglement.
"Damn redhead... ahem, Junior Starlys, I wonder what urgent matter brings you here this time?"
"It wasn't urgent originally, but since the Ministry's investigating you, it's become rather urgent."
Lys methodically tucked her book away into the waist pouch she carried.
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