A Ceasefire and Planning
Hogwarts, continued
Harry had finished eating and was on his way to go see Hermione. He had so much news to tell her. They had been working on a new spell today and he had gotten it! She would be so proud of him. He heard a noise around the corner and stopped.
"Ugh, please stop. Just stop."
Malfoy?
Harry peered around the corner. Draco was leaned against the wall, sitting on the floor. He was clutching against his chest, in pain. "Mal-Draco?"
Draco winced, "Great. It's perfect Potter. Just leave me be."
"You clearly not okay, Draco. You look like you're really hurting. At least let me help you to the Hospital Wing."
Harry put his hand out to help Draco up. He looked at it. "Come on. You clearly need some help. So just take my hand and let me help you."
"Fine. Only because mother would be upset if I turned down help. "
Draco reached out and Harry pulled him to his feet. "Mother? Is that what you call her?"
"Yes, is that a problem, Potter?" Draco fixed him with a look. Harry realized Draco was very protective of his mother. "No, I was just curious. My cousin calls my aunt 'mom'. Mother just sounds so formal." Harry shrugged.
Draco watched him for a moment. "I call her mom too..."
"What was that? I didn't hear you."
Draco stopped. "It doesn't matter, Potter. Let's keep going."
Harry shrugged but they kept going.
They were just outside the hospital wing doors when Draco froze. He could feel it. The family magic. It was so strong. It was strong but it didn't hurt, at least not right then. It was oddly comforting. It felt more like his mother, but he knew it wasn't her. She couldn't pull on it like this.
Father? It's so gentle. I didn't think he could be...
As quickly as it came to him, the family magic pulled back and with it the strange pull. Draco hadn't realized that even his breathing had been strained.
Family magic does not mess around.
"Draco? You okay?"
He forgot Potter was there for a moment. He actually looked concerned.
"Uh, yeah. Sorry, it was the family magic, you know how that is."
"Family magic? No. I should though? Uh, my aunt doesn't like magic..."
"What do you mean, your 'aunt doesn't like magic'? You live with magicals? ... Potter?"
Harry (Potter) looked oddly uncomfortable.
"No. I love with my mom's sister. Muggles."
What? I thought he just dressed muggle. He actually lives with them? But mom.... How?
"Uh, don't worry about it Potter. I uh, I can see if Mother would send you some information. It's not going to be all knowing. Family magic reacts differently in different familys.... But you should be able to feel the Black Family magic. Your grandmother was one. Mother was born to the Blacks."
Draco didn't know why he was trying to help Potter, but it was nice. In a weird way. Maybe Potter didn't mean to offend some of the pure bloods, he was the last Potter after all. So he should know the traditions...
Wait. He's supposed to be the last Potter... But those books claim he's raised by a Potter aunt and uncle? How?
Draco was about to ask Harry about that when Madame Pomphrey's voice interrupted them.
"Mister Malfoy? Mister Potter? You two better not be fighting. Professor Snape said he sent you down here, Mister Malfoy. I've been waiting for you. You had me worried."
The boys shared a quick look, "Pot-Harry was helping me get here Madame Pomphrey. I was having trouble."
"Yeah."
She gave them a look, trying to see if they were just trying to keep her from being upset. She must have seen enough, because she smiled and gave a nod. "Come on in. Let's go. Mister Potter if you can help Mister Malfoy to that bed right there, I'll see what's wrong."
Harry nodded and helped Draco into the bed.
"Thanks Potter."
"No problem, Malfoy."
Malfoy Manor, later in the day
Lucius sat in silence. After his emotional outburst, he felt embarrassed. He was Head of House, he was supposed to stay under control. Narcissa and Cassiopeia both waved off his embarrassment. Both women telling him it was reasonable, that it was allowed, but that was not how Lucius was raised.
Narcissa rubbed circles against his back - any small comfort was worth it. It was a long and emotional night. Bippy popped in with Draco's letter.
"Mother,
Here is the records you requested I keep. Pass along my hellos to Father and Great Great Aunt Cassiopeia. It is my hope she will be available for me to meet after exams next week. The pull has been constant and always takes me to the hospital wing.
There have been some accidents recently resulting in petrifications. Everyone is fine. It's been the mudbl- muggleborns that have suffered. Granger and a Ravenclaw prefect were the latest in the accident.
It'll please you to know I shared your latest treats with my roommates. They all pass along their thanks and gratitude.
Love Draco."
Cassiopeia hummed as she read the letter. "Hmm. You've got to watch that boy, Narcissa. That language isn't going to be acceptable. Not with me. James's wife was a Muggleborn. Andromeda's husband is too. More and more muggleborns are coming into our world. It's unacceptable and ridiculous that he uses that language. He's going to create enemies. Your husband will need to keep it out of his mouth as well. " She finished with a look at Lucius.
Narcissa sighed. "I keep telling him. Unfortunately he is currently emulating his father in hopes of Lucius being more open with his affections. Lucius emulated Abraxas, so this cycle will continue until it finally is stopped. I'm more worried about these strange petrifications?"
Lucius nodded. "He never mentioned what caused them. Just that they're accidents? I can contact Severus."
It was as if on cue that the floo lit up. "Lucius. Narcissa."
"Severus. Is everything alright with Draco?" Narcissa hurried over to the floo.
Severus Snape hummed quietly. "Hmm. He seems to be having chest issues. Messers Zambini and Nott, as well as Miss Parkinson brought it to my attention in separate conversations. I sent him to the Hospital Wing to be examined. I'm just letting you know."
"Thank you, Severus. We'll keep in touch." Lucius responded, allowing Severus to end the call.
"Well. That's interesting. Either he was hurting worse than he lets on, or it's just noticable and classmates are reacting." Cassie tapped her finger on her glass as she spoke.
Narcissa relaxed back into her seat. "Hopefully it was just concern. Draco didn't say that it got worse."
Lucius sat down next to his wife. "He also wouldn't want to worry you. This evening I'll contact the other governors. I was not told about any accidents resulting in petrification. How many students are currently in that state? Why is Dumbledore not notifying us?"
Cassie nodded along, "It's odd. I don't remember anything that could result in an accident like that. Of course, if it's the muggleborns being attacked, you would think the Headmaster would still notify the board. There's always the chance one of them was the child of a squib. Some Heads still keep track of them in that very case - a magical child is born to them. Arcturus would be up in arms if one of them was of Black descent."
"Has Saint Mungo's been notified?"
"Obviously not." Lucius shut Narcissa's thought down. "If Saint Mungo's knew, the prophet would know and so would we."
Narcissa lifted her cup up, stopping just before taking a sip. "Maybe Andi - Andromeda would be able to find out. Saint Mungo's is supposed to regularly check in to make sure the Hogwarts healer doesn't need any help. I believe they also send their rookies over to assist... "
She trailer off, sparing a look at her husband. Andromeda was a sore topic - she had run away to marry a Muggleborn instead of following through with the betrothal to marry Lucius and he had taken offence to it.
Narcissa knew better than to bring Andromeda up, but she would be a good spy in this situation. Dumbledore wouldn't think the Malfoy's and Tonks were working together to get information. Cassie hummed, "She's a head healer last I heard. Perfectly capable and a reasonable excuse for her to check in on Pomphrey."
"Fine. Do what you want." With that, Lucius removed himself from the couch and attempted to leave the room.
"Lucius, she is still my sister. I would never stop you from talking to yours, regardless of the circumstances behind any dislike of her."
Lucius froze. Narcissa knew it was a low blow, but with all the recent information, she would need a confidant.... If Andi would even want to talk to me... and the other "high" society ladies would make Aurelia's status as a squib well known. She (Aurelia) would be isolated, with no one to talk to, no others -besides the Malfoy's and Cassie- to help her. Any appearance in a magical area would be dangerous.
"Narcissa. I would appreciate if you didn't speak like that again. I will allow -"
Cassie scoffed interrupting him, "She may talk to her sister. You don't understand the politics behind the ladies in the upper echelons of society. Do you think that any of the other Ladies of a house would keep any true confidence? Any one of them that has even a slight grudge against either of you would out Aurelia's status as a squib. She would be a target. Andromeda is on the outs. She clearly supports muggleborns. She openly supports them. Andromeda would be ideal for knowing this and supporting her. Her child seems to be thought of as a Muggleborn - assuming only muggleborns are in the Hospital Wing right now."
She paused to look Lucius in the eyes. "Muggleborn lover Andromeda Tonks, the outcast of the Blacks, would be easily seen in the company of a Muggleborn student and their family. No one would bat an eye. The prized and bigoted - yes, bigoted, Lucius - walking around with a Muggleborn and muggles? Ha, laughable. Everyone would talk. Is the child yours? Is there a magical bond? If so between who? The children? Morgana forbid they assume the children have a soul bond. The child would be in even more danger. If they found out the mother was a Malfoy squib? Any of the other ones that knew of her existence would know the situation behind her "removal"."
She paused for a moment. "Besides, she would become a target. The Malfoy's would lose credibility in certain circles." She rolled her eyes with that statement.
Lucius sighed. "I understand. I thank you, Narcissa, for trying to find a safe solution for Aurelia. I apologize. I'm going to see if I can find any of Mother's things. Perhaps she left a clue. I never did look in her things after her passing."
"Thank you, Cassie."
Cassie laughed, "Of course, dear. We Black ladies stick together. Lucius will have to get used to Andromeda and her little one being around. Especially if we can find Aurelia. I'm sure she has a different name now anyways. Maybe Andromeda will just happen to mention that the Goblins have certain services that muggleborns have to specifically ask for - silly laws and such. If the child is of a curious nature, perhaps they'll ask at Gringotts about them. Inheritance services have to be specifically requested by the magical wanting the test after all."
Narcissa laughed too. "Oh yes. Then the Malfoy account manager would send a letter to Lucius. He would be quite surprised and upset over finding out he had a new relative. He would rush over to Gringotts, demanding to know who it is, how they're a Malfoy. Then to be surprised with the knowledge that his baby sister he thought was dead is alive and well and a mother. It could cause quite a stir. The child would instantly be considered a half-blood. Quite a raise in options for them too."
The two laughed as they finished their tea and topics turned more somber. "Will Andi even want to speak to me, Aunt? I ignored her, I abandoned her. I followed along with Mother and Father's instructions. I still ignore her, long after their passings. Bellatrix isn't even an issue, locked up in Azkaban. There have been many times I started to write her a letter only to burn it after. I don't know if Lucius will actually be alright with it. I'm worried."
Cassie nodded and let her continue on, seemingly repeating the same concerns for a few minutes before stopping her.
"Narcissa. You and Lucius are the better match to begin with. Andromeda would never have been happy here. Especially when Abraxas was alive. She's better with that boy. Besides, you have to admit you were quite content to be the one given off."
Narcissa, abashed, responded, "Yes. I have to admit I am. I had quite the crush on Lucius and was envious of Andi getting betrothed to him. Even though Andi didn't want it, and was clearly interested in Ted. But I couldn't help it. It was easy to turn a blind eye to her when Father punished her for speaking out against it. It was easy to continue to ignore her, long after. I was wrong to do so, and I regret it. Lucius and I love each other. We have a wonderful son together - although I admit I hope that they both change a bit with Aurelia's survival being known."
Her aunt smiled, "I believe they will. Lucius will hopefully stop drinking so much and perchance May will become a month of good for you all. Now, I need some parchment. I have a letter to a niece to write."