RP: Full Family Outing Location: London Date: 23 December 2004
"Dad, are you sure?"
Lucius repressed a sigh as Draco asked him the same question for the tenth time. He adjusted his grip on the youngest member of their family, hiding a wince as Lyra tugged at the lock of hair she had wrapped around her fist, and shifted his shoulders under the still-unfamiliar coat he had Transfigured from an old cloak. "Draco, it is impossible for Hermione's parents to visit Diagon Alley, is it not? If we are to have a dinner out as a family, all of us at once, clearly we must have it where all of us can attend. Hence, London."
He didn't say the two other reasons he'd chosen to escort the collected Malfoy-Granger family into Muggle London. First, while there were several Muggle villages closer to Malfoy Manor and there was Seaton near Dragon's Grange, he didn't think any smaller town would have restaurants he would find acceptable. Second, anywhere magical was best avoided until things were less dangerous for his son and daughter-in-law. There were rumbles at the Ministry about the uproar over the food bank attempts and Lucius thought it wise to stay out of the public eye. In Muggle London, they were not immediately recognizable.
Ahead of them, Nova skipped between Warren and Hermione, while Scorpius clung to his grandmothers' hands. Draco shoved his hand through his hair and exhaled sharply. "All right," he muttered. "But it's weird."
Lucius shook his head, patting Lyra's back when she wriggled against his shoulder. "You promised your wife that you would introduce your children to their Muggle halves. I promised that I would do what I could to learn to tolerate said Muggleness. We are both making an effort this evening."