Christmas at Malfoy Manor was a family affair, as usual; Draco and Hermione stayed the night on Christmas Eve, and on Christmas Day they were joined by Lucius' parents and Lucius' sister and her family, and even Andromeda and Teddy stopped by. The day was spent exchanging gifts, eating an abundance of food, talking and laughing, and singing carols. By the time the day came to a close, Cassie was too exhausted and too giddy to be worried about the next day - all she could think about was the fact that she would see Julian. She fell asleep cuddling her body pillow and wearing his Quidditch sweater (which she'd conveniently plucked from his room before they left Hogwarts), surrounded by the scent of his cologne and shampoo.

The next morning, however, as reality set in and she realized that today's the day, they're meeting him today, the nerves came in droves. He was to arrive at 5:00, she knew, but she also knew that Lucius would want to speak with him alone, so she planned to be ready by 5:30 at the earliest. The day seemed to drag on and on, weighed down by the knowledge that it all came down to that night.

Lucius had settled himself in his study at approximately 4:45, awaiting Julian's arrival. He held a glass of scotch, a matching empty one on the other side of the desk, and lounged back into his chair. He was not nervous to meet this boy; on the contrary, actually. He was intrigued to see what was so special about him that Cassie was so taken with him. He could tell when she was talking about him just how infatuated she was, so there had to be something about him. And if he was being honest with himself, he was also excited to scare him a little. As any father would be, Lucius was concerned that... well, to be blunt, that Julian was only interested in Cassie for her looks, or her wealth and status. Of course, Lucius knew his daughter's worth, and intended to make sure this boy did, as well.

So lost was he in his own thoughts that the time before the boy's expected arrival passed quickly, and he was interrupted by three short knocks on his office door. Lucius looked up and checked the clock. 4:56. He's early. Good man. He waited just a moment more, then called, "enter."

The heavy door swung open slowly, and there in the doorway he stood. The boy who had captured his daughter's heart. Lucius stood fro his seat and made his way around the desk, a hand outstretched as he took in this newcomer's appearance: perfectly pressed black velvet dress robes, wavy blond hair tied back neatly (he could hear Narcissa's voice in his head - sounds familiar, doesn't it, darling?), shoes and silver cuff links shined well, and kind, grey eyes. Yes, Lucius supposed, they were very alike. He seemed like he knew his own worth, as any man worthy of Cassie should. When he shook Lucius' hand, his grip was firm, assured.

"You must be Julian," Lucius said smoothly, gesturing for him to have a seat as he sunk back into the leather wingback chair behind his desk.

"Yes, sir," Julian said, as he sat across from him. "Julian Macavoy. It's a pleasure to finally meet you; Cassie's told me all about you and Mrs. Malfoy."

Lucius sipped his scotch, and nodded toward the glass sitting in front of Julian. "Would you like a drink?"

Glancing between Lucius and the glass, Julian slowly shook his head. "No, thank you, sir," he said, polite as ever. "I'm all right."

Hm. Interesting. Lucius shrugged and set his own glass down. "Suit yourself, I suppose." There was silence between them for several moments, and then Lucius spoke again. "So, Mr. Macavoy. Tell me about yourself."

Julian couldn't keep himself from fidgeting just slightly in his seat - Good, thought Lucius, he's nervous. That means he feels he's got something to lose. - but he nodded. "I'm in Slytherin. Pureblood. My father works at the Ministry, in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. I'm in my seventh year at Hogwarts, I play Quid-"

"Seventh year?" Lucius interrupted, a little late due to the amount of time it had taken him to comprehend what he had said. "So you're, what? Seventeen?"

Julian looked a little startled at being interrupted, but said nothing about it and didn't sound indignant at the intrusion when he spoke again. In fact, his voice was quieter than it had been previously, as if he knew that Lucius would not approve of what he was about to say. "Just turned eighteen, sir," he said, and looked away from Lucius' face for the first time to level his gaze with the glass of scotch in his hand.

"Ah," said Lucius, swirling the amber liquid in its glass. His voice hardened slightly. "You do realize that Cassie's only just turned fifteen, in August."

"Yes, sir."

"And you don't see any problem with that?"

There was another moment of silence as Julian seemed to flounder, trying to figure out what to say to appease Lucius. Yes, Lucius would later admit, he may have been a little too harsh on the boy, but he wasn't thinking about that at the present time. The only thing on his mind was Cassie's well-being. Julian cleared his throat awkwardly before he responded. "I believe that Cassie is mature for her age," he said slowly. "And I appreciate that quality. She's more mature than some of the girls in my year, actually."

Lucius leaned forward in his chair and set the scotch glass down, subsequently forcing Julian to meet his eyes once more. "Regardless of her maturity, why are you interested in someone so much younger than you? What are your intentions with my daughter, Mr. Macavoy?"

Again, Julian seemed lost for words. "I…" he began, and looked like he immediately regretted speaking so soon, before he had planned out his reply beforehand. "I think that she's smart, and kind, and-and beautiful-"

"So you're interested in her for her looks?" Lucius cut in, raising an eyebrow.

"No!" Julian said, shaking his head. "I-I mean, not just for her looks. Yes, Mr. Malfoy, she's beautiful, she's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen in my life, but I swear I'm not only interested in her because of that. I'm not taking advantage of her, I swear to you."

Lucius surveyed him for several moments, quiet. After what felt like an eternity, he laced his fingers together and laid them on the desk. "You said she's the most beautiful girl you've seen," he said. "I agree. But, Mr. Macavoy, she is exactly that: a girl. She is vulnerable. Quick to trust. If we're being honest, I'm a little wary to have her dating anybody, let alone someone nearly three years her elder."

He watched as Julian's eyes began to widen as he spoke, and the boy sat forward in his seat as well. "Mr. Malfoy, please," he said, and his voice took on a hint of desperation. "Believe me. I know it's only been three months, but I have nothing but good intentions with Cassie. She's made me a better man. Yes, we're almost three years apart, but, if we're being honest, sir, I don't agree that she's vulnerable."

Lucius' eyes glinted slightly as he echoed his previous words, but he stayed quiet as Julian continued.

"She is headstrong, and independent. She obviously values herself as highly as you and I do, and won't let anyone take advantage of her. Not only that, but she's fierce. She knows how to take care of herself, no matter how hard I try to do it for her. I don't believe that she's vulnerable, nor too quick to trust. I'm sorry, I don't mean to dispute you, Mr. Malfoy, but I… I can't lose her. She is too precious to me."

Again, Lucius fell silent. Part of him wanted to unnerve Julian with the sudden quiet, but he was also carefully considering what he'd said. He searched Julian's eyes, and took a drink from his glass, and didn't speak again until he had set it down and threaded his fingers back together. "You obviously care for her very much, Mr. Macavoy," he said, and Julian nodded. "I appreciate that. I'm sure you'll agree that Cassie deserves only the best. What makes you think that you are worthy of her? What can you offer her?"

This time, Julian spoke immediately, and seemed more sure of himself than ever. "I will give her as much affection as she could ever want, or even more. I will take care of her. I will provide for her. My family has built something of an empire, and I can assure you that she will want for nothing. I will protect her, from anything and everything that may trouble her. I would give her the world, if I could." Here, he hesitated for a moment. Then, "I love her."

Lucius would have laughed, if he hadn't remembered feeling exactly the same way about Narcissa immediately after beginning their relationship. He'd known Narcissa was the only one for him after their first date, and as he looked into Julian's eyes, he recognized the same sureness, the same amount of love in them, filled to bursting. "Have you told her that, yet?"

Julian shook his head, dropping his gaze to the desk. "No, sir, not yet. I was planning to tonight," he murmured.

"Hm." Looking up to the ceiling, as if he could see Cassie through it, he thought for a moment. "And how do you think she'll respond?"

They met eyes once more, and for a second Julian looked confused. "I… I'm hoping she'll say it back, sir. I think she will."

"And do you think she will because she loves you, or because she wants to please you?"

"I think she loves me."

Lucius nodded again, then took another long drink from his scotch, draining the glass. As he set it down, it refilled itself automatically. "Well," he continued. "You're a seventh year. You'll be leaving school this year, and what then? Do you intend to continue seeing Cassie once you leave? Or will you move on to… bigger and better exploits?"

"I intend to stay with her, sir," Julian said quickly. "I understand that long-distance relationships can be difficult, but… I think we can do it. We've been writing since we parted ways for the Christmas holidays, I'm not sure if she told you. I have no doubt that we'll be writing every day once I leave school."

No, Lucius certainly hadn't known that they'd been writing every day, and the realization gave him a slightly different perspective on their relationship. "She did not tell me that," he said. "But… I'm glad to hear it. She's obviously smitten with you, Mr. Macavoy. The way she talks about you... " He paused and shook his head, seemingly in disbelief. "Well, if we're being honest, it reminds me of my wife and I, at your age." Lucius gazed hard at Julian, trying to decipher him. The boy stayed silent and held Lucius' gaze. Eventually, he said, "I will not have my daughter hurt."

"I would die before I hurt her, Mr. Malfoy."

Taking another drink, Lucius nodded. He reached over and gently caressed the snakehead attached to the end of his wand, held securely in his cane. There was a slight edge in his tone as he spoke again. "I'm sure you're aware of my past, Mr. Macavoy." He had to be; despite the second war having ended over four years prior, there was still a certain stigma that hovered around the Malfoy name. Just because it was over, and none of their family had served any more time in Azkaban, didn't mean that the memories of what had happened had disappeared.

Julian's eyes followed Lucius' hand to his wand, and he gulped nervously. "Yes, sir. I am," he said quietly.

"Then you know what I am capable of."

"Yes, sir."

"Keep that in mind as you continue your relationship with my daughter. If I come to find out that anything unsavory has gone on between you two, I will not hesitate to make it right." Lucius raised his eyebrows at Julian and returned both hands to the desk, resting the tips of his fingers together atop it. The threat in his words was obvious, and the tension that settled upon the room was palpable.

It seemed that Julian was at a loss for words, because he opened and closed his mouth several times before he was able to speak again, and uttered another, quiet, "yes, sir."

Lucius smiled then, and stood. Julian was quick to mirror the action. They shook hands over the desk, and then Lucius began to lead him toward the door, laying a hand on his upper back as they walked. "I'm sure she'll be waiting. It was very nice speaking with you, Mr. Macavoy." They ventured into the hallway together and stopped at the bottom of the stairs, in the entrance hall.

"You as well, Mr. Malfoy," Julian said. "I promise you, I will treat her as well as-"

His words died in his throat as Cassie's voice carried down the stairs. "Julian!" She hurried down them, all thoughts of propriety tossed to the wind, and threw her arms around Julian's neck when she reached them. Lucius smiled at the sight, the knot in the pit of his stomach loosening slightly as he watched them interact. Julian's arms wound around Cassie's waist and he held her close, and Lucius could tell that had he not been standing directly beside them, he would have kissed her.

When Cassie pulled back, she cupped Julian's face and looked between him and her father, trying to see if she could tell what happened between them. Neither showed any sign of their previous conversation, however, and she gave up, pressing her lips to Julian's cheek instead. "I'm so glad to see you," she murmured.

"And I you, darling," Julian said quietly, stroking through her hair briefly. "You look beautiful."

Cassie smiled bashfully and ducked her head to hide her blush. "Thank you," she said. She looked between them once more, then turned to Lucius and kissed his cheek. "We'll be going now, Daddy. I'll be back later."

"Before ten," Lucius reminded her.

"Yes, before ten," Cassie echoed, and couldn't keep from rolling her eyes.

Lucius smiled and kissed the top of her head. "All right, my love. Have fun."

"We will!" They were already heading for the door, Cassie tugging Julian rather impatiently, and Lucius stifled a chuckle at the sight. Before he had a chance to say anything else, they had gone, and Lucius went off to locate his wife.

He found her in their room, watching Cassie and Julian out the window as they walked, hand in hand, toward the wrought iron gates. She looked up with a smile when he entered, and reached out to him. Lucius stepped into her arms and kissed her tenderly.

"How did it go?" she asked, and leaned her head on his chest.

"As well as could be expected," he replied, shrugging slightly. "He seems to really care for her, but I'm still... concerned."

"Trust her judgement, Luc," Narcissa said gently. She laced their fingers together and held his hand tightly. "It'll all be okay."

The tingle of magic that passed through the house about four hours later signaled that someone had entered the wards, and Lucius and Narcissa hurried across their bedroom to watch out the window as Cassie and Julian walked back through the gates and toward the Manor. It had begun to snow again, slightly obscuring their view of the couple, but they could still see how Cassie leaned heavily against Julian's side, each with an arm wound tightly around the other's back, how she looked up at him with absolute adoration. That protective urge within Lucius reared its head, but he squashed it down.

They approached the house rather quickly, and paused before the front doors. Lucius' teeth clenched just slightly as they turned to face one another and Julian's hands came to rest on Cassie's waist, just above her hips. He must have tensed bodily and alerted Narcissa of his stress over the situation, as she began to trace circles across his chest, which always soothed him. He forced himself to take a deep breath, but didn't dare tear his gaze from the couple on the lawn. He could tell they were talking, but couldn't distinguish what was being said. Cassie's arms had wound around Julian's neck and she was playing idly in his hair.

It was all too much for Lucius to bear, but he still couldn't look away. The need to protect his baby girl was growing stronger by the second, as was Narcissa's determination to calm him. By this time, she had begun to stroke through his hair and had tugged him into a nearby armchair. They still had a direct view of Julian and Cassie, and the feeling of Narcissa's gentle ministrations was relaxing him immensely.

All her efforts were for naught when they kissed. Lucius went stock still as Julian pulled Cassie far too close for comfort and held her in place with his hand in her hair. Cassie's fingers stilled in his hair and slid down his arms and around his back, pulling him closer. It seemed like an eternity before they parted, and by that time, Lucius was breathing heavily and trembling slightly. Narcissa had switched from playing with his hair to rubbing his shoulders and neck, fingers moving deftly to work out the knots quickly forming in his muscles, but it still wasn't enough. Panic had begun to surge up inside of him, and it was only when Cassie entered the house and Julian retreated back toward the gates that Lucius snapped out of it, launching himself from his chair and beginning to pace.

Narcissa sighed, following after him and taking him by the arm. "Lucius, please," she said. She caught his face and brought their lips together, caressing his jaw affectionately. "Calm down, my love. Everything's all right."

"He had his hands all over her," Lucius snarled. "How dare he? They've only just met, but he was-"

"He was doing the same things you did to me at their age," Narcissa interrupted, her voice still lilting gently, but having taken on a little bit of edge. "You can't fault them for following in our footsteps, Lucius. If anything, it should show you how much they care for one another. You said yourself, he told you he loves her. And he believes she loves him."

Lucius began to speak again, but she cut him off before he could.

"She is still your little girl, Luc." Lucius seemed to deflate slightly as she spoke those words, as if his biggest fear had been revealed; indeed, that had been his most prominent worry after speaking with Julian. No longer was he worried he would hurt her, or that he was taking advantage of her. He'd made sure to scare Julian enough that he wouldn't dare. But the fear that his daughter was growing up far too quickly hadn't left him. "No matter how old she gets, she will still be your Princess," Narcissa continued. "Nothing and no one can change that. You two have a bond that I've never seen before. She loves you more than anything. You're not going to lose her."

After a moment or two, Lulus perched on the edge of their bed and ran his fingers through his hair, then pulled her close and buried his face in the crook of her neck. He took a deep, shuddering breath, and wrapped both arms around her waist. She massaged his scalp and pulled her fingers gently through his hair, then bent to press a swift kiss to the top of his head.

A soft knock at their door interrupted the silence, and Lucius looked up as Narcissa called, "come in."

Cassie stood in the doorway, snowflakes in her hair, cheeks rosy and slightly flushed, and eyes bright. She was smiling, beaming actually, and looked between them for a moment before she spoke. "I'm home. It's before ten. 9:55, actually."

"Did you have a good time?" Narcissa asked, still holding tightly to her husband.

Cassie's smile grew. "Yes. It was wonderful. I'll tell you about it in the morning, though, Mum. I'm exhausted. I was on my way to bed, actually, and just wanted to check in." A pause, and then, "Daddy? Are you all right?"

Lucius nodded and tapped Narcissa's hip, signaling for her to let him up. She did, and he made his way over to Cassie. "I'll walk you to your room, love," he said. "I'll be back in a moment, Cissa."

Narcissa hurried over to kiss Cassie's cheek and bid her goodnight, and then Lucius wrapped an arm around her and led her down the hall. She followed him quietly, waiting for him to speak.

"I can tell you're very happy with him," Lucius said slowly. "And that he treats you very well. I know... well, I know you wouldn't settle for anything less."

Looking up at him, Cassie nodded. "He does," she agreed. "He's sweet."

They reached Cassie's room too soon, and Lucius paused outside the door. He cupped her face in his hand, his thumb tracing her cheek. "You're sure about him?" he asked. "I mean, you're sure he deserves you?"

"Yes, Daddy, I'm sure." She leaned into his touch slightly, nodding again.

Lucius pressed a lasting kiss to her forehead. "Then you have my blessing."

Cassie's eyes lit up, and she pulled back to look into his, a grin splitting across her face. "Really?! Oh, thank you, Daddy!" She jumped into his arms and he caught her easily, holding her tightly.

"Of course, Princess. If you're happy, I'm happy."

She kissed his cheek and buried her face in his shoulder. "I am happy. I promise. I... I love him. Very, very much."

"I know you do. I assume he told you the same, then?"

Cassie raised her head, eyebrows furrowed slightly. "How did you know?"

Lucius chuckled as he put her down. "He told me before you left."

Then she was rolling her eyes, as usual, and Lucius laughed again. "Of course, he told you before he even told me," she muttered.

"Well, at least he told you," he said. "I'm glad you had a good time, love. Go to bed, now. It's late." He kissed her head once more, then pushed her gently toward the door. "I love you."

"I love you too, Daddy. Thank you, again."

"Of course, Cassie. You know I'd do anything for you."

"I know. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, darling."