AN: Sorry for the delay! I was working in a place with limited internet for the summer! And then I forgot I had this update on my computer when I got back. Anyways, here's the next chapter!

Daphne stood before a rusted, decrepit iron gate that reached at least 12 feet high. Beyond it, the ruins of an old farm house, burned in a fire. A sign was posted just inside the gate, stuck into the ground haphazardly. 'Warning! Chemical Contamination! Keep out!'

It's a good ploy, and does the trick, too… Daphne thought with a sigh. She then looked both ways down an abandoned country laneway, ensuring that no one was within sight. Then, she pulled her wand out of her coat pocket and muttered Alohomora. The rusted gate creaked loudly and opened just enough that she could slip through. It closed behind her with a bang, just as she stepped through the enchantment around the house. Like stepping through a thick fog, at the end of a well-maintained gravel drive appeared the tall, dark homestead that once played host to the Dark Lord.

Not much has changed…Daphne thought as she tucked her wand back into her coat pocket. It wasn't really surprising to her that it hadn't; with Lucius still alive, there was no way the home would ever fall into disrepair… at least on the outside.

It took her about 3 minutes to walk the length of the drive. In that time, she knew that she would have been spotted by someone. That was fine with Daphne; she wasn't intending on sneaking up on the Manor. Not this time, at least. Sure enough, when she approached the door to knock, it opened before her fist could rap on the wood.

"Daphne," a familiar voice whispered to her from the narrow opening. Before she could step inside, her greeter stepped out. Although she hadn't thought it possible, Lucius' hair had become even whiter than the last time she had seen him. But now, his stone-cold face was worn and cracked with age. He looked tired. But more importantly, he looked worried.

"You should not be here," he cautioned her. "If your sister finds out you were here…"

"I'm here to see my father, Lucius," Daphne replied back in a firm yet calm voice. "I won't be long, I hope. I just need to speak with him."

Lucius looked at her as if he hadn't understood what she had said and tilted his head like he was hard of hearing. Then he stared at her in disbelief. Finally, after he cleared his throat, he found the words he was looking for.

"Daphne, your father has been dead for almost 3 months…"

Daphne straightened her back a little more, appearing as if she wasn't perturbed by this. With a face of impatience, she replied, "I know that. I do read the Prophet..."

"And yet you didn't find the time and date of his funeral? How odd…" Lucius quipped back. Even though he was now close to 70, Daphne had to admit he still had his wits. And that judgemental tone.

"I thought my showing up would only invite more death, so I decided to mourn in my own way," Daphne replied vacantly. Lucius sniffed a laugh at her response.

"I highly doubt it." He then shifted his weight onto his walking stick, wincing a bit from some sort of unknown ailment. Daphne tapped her foot impatiently, so Lucius replied with a smirk, "Well, I hope I don't need to explain to you that you cannot speak with him now that he's dead!"

Daphne chuckled and rolled her eyes. "Then what is the point of that portrait gallery?"

Lucius' smirk faded. "Those portraits are of my family," he seemed offended at the idea that a portrait of her father, his faithful employee, would pollute the halls of his gallery. Even after all these years, it caused a bit of rage to boil in her stomach. The way that Lucius treated her family had been nothing short of pretentious before Astoria married Draco. Daphne had assumed it would have changed after all these years, and a shared grandchild, but apparently not.

"I never presumed that my father would intrude on the hallowed halls of your wondrous family, Lucius," Daphne replied sarcastically. "I only meant that if you thought you couldn't speak with someone after they died, then what would be the point?"

Lucius narrowed his eyes. "I understood your point," he replied shorty. He then paused and seemed to consider her options. "Why should I let you in my home? Last time you were here, you ruined my only son's wedding."

"Well, to be fair, your son was using me for sexual favours for years leading up to that," Daphne paused for a moment to relish in Lucius' discomfort. "And then, of course, he jilted me for my younger sister. So, I think I had every reason to be angry. But I see your point." She paused and took a step forward, reaching up and running her hand along the iron bolts and panels that held the door together. "I suppose you should let me in because I've noticed the use of several illegal methods of concealment," Daphne lied. She knew that there the Malfoy family had the most powerful enchantments in existence on their home, but even Daphne wasn't so smart as to point them out with the naked eye. "I hope you're not hiding something here, Mr. Malfoy," she replied patronizingly. "I might need to have a word with the Minister about this, you know…"

"Alright, fine," Lucius relented. He pushed the door open behind him and ushered her inside, as if he thought the birds themselves were listening in. "He's in the sunroom. I trust you know the way…"

Daphne gave Lucius a smug smirk. "I know every nook and cranny of this house, Mr. Malfoy."

Where the outside of the Manor was unchanged, the inside was another story. Much of the Malfoy's décor and furniture had been reclaimed by persecuted families from the War. The Ministry has removed much of the artifacts and cursed objects that used to be scattered about the home in cabinets and cases. Where once the home felt like a Victorian museum, it now felt more like a house in the midst of an estate sale; visible marks on the walls from portraits and weapons; imprints left in the floor by missing oriental rugs. The glory of the Malfoy family had indeed diminished over the last two decades.

How far the mighty have fallen…

Daphne eventually came across the panned glass door. The glass was in desperate need of a cleaning, as was the rest of the sun room. It felt more like she was stepping into a smoky room than a place where all manners of magical plants had been kept. Of course, the Ministry had confiscated all the plants after the War, and now, only a faded floral couch and a dried-up fountain remained. Closing the door behind her, Daphne pulled her wand out of her coat pocket again, and took a quick turn around the room, casting Muffliato around her.

Last thing I need is someone listening in on us…

Once satisfied that they would not be spied on, Daphne slowly approached the portrait in the corner of the sunroom. It was propped up on a wooded easel, facing the faded couch. Daphne wondered if her sister ever came down here to visit him. Or if he sat here alone. At that thought, Daphne felt her throat tighten. She wasn't sure if it was from guilt, or rage, but either way, she cleared her throat to get rid of it.

He father had been sleeping, resting in his overstuffed armchair in his old study. The portrait must have been painted before they had sold the estate and moved into the Manor. If Daphne didn't have so many unpleasant memories, she would have bought the place herself. Instead, she let another family have it, and prayed they had a happier time there then she did. Upon hearing Daphne clear her throat, Lennox stirred and blinked his eyes open. He narrowed them at her, then pulled a pair of glasses from the breast pocket of his jacket. Now, he stared at her, blinking for a few moments, before finally letting out a deep chuckle that could shake the earth.

"Your sister hasn't done you justice," Lennox mused, pushing himself up in his chair. "We'd heard that you were grey, wrinkled and had got fat over the years."

Daphne rolled her eyes and moved forward, stepping around the couch to take a seat. She flopped down on the cushions, and a plum of dust erupted around her. "Sorry to disappoint, I suppose…" Daphne replied, waving her hand to disperse the dust. "You look the same as you did the last time I saw you," she lied.

Lennox laughed at her joke, tucking his glasses back into his pocket. His hair had turned grey, and his face had puffed out much like a frog. And yet, those green eyes were still as chilling and direct as ever. Daphne tried to think about what he had looked like the last time she saw him, and sadly found that she couldn't really recall.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" Lennox mused, pouring himself a drink from the decanter beside him. "I had hoped to see you before I passed, but I suppose late is better than never."

Daphne bit the inside of her lip to stop herself from blurting out something that she may regret and reminded herself of why she had come all this way. "Father, did you leave me any money?"

Lennox laughed so loudly that Daphne wondered if the Muffliato curse could possibly contain it. She cursed herself for the way she had phrased that question; it sounded so pathetic!

"I'd heard you married that Nott boy! Don't tell me he's in the poor house already?" he laughed, his hand shaking so much as he bobbed that Daphne was sure he would spill the drink.

"It's not that at all," Daphne continued, trying to remain calm. "We are very comfortable. We don't need any money from you," she paused and smoothed out an imaginary wrinkle on her skirt. "What I meant is, am I still included in your will?"

Lennox finally had calmed himself down and took a long sip of his cognac. He peered at his daughter from over the rim of his glass, as if he was trying to figure out what her motive for being here really was. She was sure he was still angry with her, and she hoped that if he had something to say, he would just get it over with. It didn't matter what he said to her now; he was dead and couldn't do anything to her now. She just needed to know if her sister's motives were valid.

"Of course you are," Lennox added matter-of-factly after he gasped from the drink. "You're my eldest child; why wouldn't you inherit some of my wealth?"

"Because you disowned me, remember?" Daphne sputtered. She was utterly shocked; after everything, and the years of silence, her father had left her in his will? It didn't make sense to her.

"Well, I didn't think you would stay away forever, Daphne," he added with a small shrug. Daphne just stared at him. Nothing she could think to say conveyed how confused and shocked she was by this. "I know that I told you I never wanted to speak to you again, but you were and still are my eldest child. Nothing ever changes that," he paused and looked at his glassed, then added. "You understand, I know. Having two children of your own now."

Daphne did. She couldn't imagine any scenario where she would never stop loving or caring for Elora or Damien. And yet, she also could not imagine one where she would treat them the way her parents did her.

"I thought you were glad to be rid of me," Daphne replied flatly. "You always liked Astoria so much more than me. Even as children, your favouritism for her was undeniable."

Lennox rolled his eyes and took another long sip of his drink. Then he set the now empty glass on the table beside him. "I suppose you were too young to remember," he started, sitting forward in his chair now, as if he was telling a secret. Daphne unconsciously moved forward, too. "Your sister… well, she was extremely ill as a child. She almost died several times before she was even a year old."

"What was wrong with her?" Daphne pressed, confused yet concerned.

"Apparently a curse. Somewhere in one of our bloodlines. We don't know who or why, but it came out on your sister."

"You mean a Blood Malediction?" Daphne asked, almost in disbelief. "Those haven't existed for a 1000-years! How had it never come out before then?"

"The healers at St. Mungo's think it was something to do with her… features," Lennox added uncomfortably, with a cough to clear his throat. Daphne read between the lines.

"Her beauty, you mean," Daphne corrected. "She was cursed because she was beautiful?"

"That's the best guess that the healers could come up with," Lennox shrugged. "Either way, when we were told that she had survived, and she was going to live, your mother and I were ecstatic. We tried to make up for lost time with Astoria… give her whatever she wanted," he paused and fiddled with the decanter again, before deciding against having another drink so soon. "We feared that the healers were wrong, and so we wanted her to be happy all the time. We wanted her to be happy and have everything she wanted, in case the curse should take her anyways."

"So you spoiled her. On purpose." Daphne summarized. Although she had to admit if she were in the same position, she would probably do the same, it didn't change the way they treated her. "But then why were you so cruel with me?"

Lennox sighed. "You were always a headstrong child. Nothing we ever did stopped that. Perhaps you were too much like your mother… or me. Either way, you were always angry about something, and that never changed."

Well, that's the truth… Daphne thought, sniffing a laugh.

"Well, did you ever think that I was always angry because of the way you treated Astoria?" Daphne grumbled back. Lennox looked like he was going to argue, so Daphne decided to press forward with her purpose to stop him. After all, Theodore was always reminding her 'Is it worth it? Are they worth it?'

"Father," the word caught in her throat, "You need to remove me from the will. I don't want the inheritance, and I fear that if I did, Astoria will do something to my family."

Lennox made a sour face. "She's not that petulant, Daphne," he grumbled, then paused, like perhaps she was in fact that vengeful. "Besides, the will cannot be changed. It's Unbreakable."

Daphne squinted, as if try to read fine print. "Unbreakable? Like the vow?"

"Yes, it was all the rage amongst Pureblood families for hundreds of years. It was meant to ensure that no other family could take the wealth from blood relatives." Lennox explained, eyeing the decanter again. "There is no way to change the succession once the document is signed. And it was signed over 35 years ago."

"So, there's no way? I have to take the money?" Daphne sighed, exasperated at the thought.

"Well, you can give it to whoever you want once you receive it. But you have to take it. Or else, no one gets the money."

Daphne closed her eyes, her thoughts throbbing in her own head. She was being strong-armed into taking this money, and there was no way to decline it. Which meant that Astoria would be coming after her for what she thinks is her rightful money.

"Well, can you please tell Astoria that I will give her the money? That I don't want it?"

Lennox pondered the idea but shook his head. "If Astoria finds out that you were here, I think it will make things worse for you." Daphne looked up at the portrait, helpless in that moment. Lennox stared at his daughter, apparently unable to help. She opened her mouth to ask for advice, but he beat her to it. "I think that it's best that you pretend that you know nothing about this. And if you don't want the money, give it to someone else, like Scorpius."

Daphne felt water welling behind her eyes. "But father, she's going after Theodore!" She blurted out before she could stop herself. "She's going to destroy his career and destroy my family, all because she wants everything to herself!"

Lennox looked down at his hands, ashamed that he was unable to help. Instead, he leaned closer to her, and whispered his advice.

"Then I suggest you find a way to keep your family safe."

Father and daughter locked eyes for what seemed like hours. Daphne wondered if it was possible for a portrait to read the minds of someone. She wondered if he knew what Astoria's plan was. At last, he said, "Whatever you decide to do, she cannot know that you know what she's up to. That is all I will say about that."

"So there's nothing you can do to help us?" Daphne answered, a plea hidden in the tone of her voice. Lennox shook his head. Daphne sighed, and began to stand from the couch. "Well, I'd best be off then-"

"I wonder if I can meet my grandchildren?" Lennox interrupted. Daphne felt a weight drop in her stomach, and she froze in place. "You can think of it as my belated, dying wish."

Daphne cleared her throat and continued to stand, awkwardly smoothing her coat and skirt again. "I'm afraid… it's not possible at the moment." Lennox stared at her, his eyes fixed on his daughter. She awkwardly continued, "I mean, my children don't know that I have family. Aside from Tracey… they think that Tracey is their aunt."

"So you've never told your children of their true heritage?" Lennox grumbled angrily. "After all these years, you've never thought to tell them the truth?" He now grabbed the decanter and poured himself another glass, apparently overcome by the frustration of the present situation. "The Greengrass Family have been one of the most prestigious families since the time of Merlin! I never would have thought that you would turn your back on all of that, especially when it comes to your children!"

Daphne took a deep breath and looked at her shoes, gathering her thoughts and her emotions before she spoke. Of all the things that ran through her head, she decided the most appropriate and fitting thing to say was, "Can you really blame me?"

Lennox had now poured himself another drink and set the decanter back on the table. He muttered some choice words to himself, but Daphne ignored them, and started to walk away. "Daphne, please consider it," he called after her. She stopped and turned back to him. "Despite everything… everything that's happened between us over the years, I want nothing more than to meet and get to know my grandchildren. Someday, when you are a grandparent, you will understand."

Daphne continued to stare at her feet, considering her options. He was dead, and he couldn't do anything to harm her or her children now. What's more, he had a point about her heritage… Greengrass was a proud family, and her children may want to know about it. Perhaps she was getting soft in her old age. Perhaps she hoped that if she agreed, he would help her to stop Astoria. Or perhaps she really did miss her parents. Either way, Daphne took a deep breath and finally replied.

"I'll see about getting another portrait in my home," she pondered aloud. "But I will need to speak with my family first…." Daphne nodded her head in to signal her departure and turned towards the door. Under her breath, she muttered to herself, "We have a lot to discuss…"