Chapter 15
Andromeda Tonks
Teddy, who was sitting on the ground and playing with his stuffed animals, was blissfully unaware of his grandmother’s sullen mood as Andromeda read her brother-in-law’s letter for the third time. It wasn’t long, but it was enough to make her uneasy.
Andromeda,
I know it is not me you want to hear from, but Narcissa is not feeling well and asked me to let you know that she will write to you once she is feeling better. After suffering strong bleedings, she was confined to bedrest for now, but she’s not in any immediate danger anymore and neither is the baby. She is presently feeling rather weak, though, and does not feel like writing letters. I’m sure she will write to you soon or I will keep you informed in her stead.
Sincerely,
Lucius
For a moment she had felt like writing a strongly worded letter back to him, tell him what she would do to him, if he didn’t take good care of her sister, but she didn’t. If there was one thing that she had ever liked about Lucius Malfoy, it had been the undeniable fact that he loved her sister and, from what she had heard from her nephew, who she had regular correspondence with, his son, too. Even if she thought he was an arrogant prick, he was probably doing what he could for Narcissa.
With a sigh, she picked up Teddy, wishing with all her heart to be able to visit her sister, to help. She had lost too many people lately and if it hadn’t been for a grandchild who needed her, she would have given up long ago. Instead, she had reconnected with her sister, gotten to know Draco, not just for herself, but so that Teddy would get to know some family at least. She couldn’t lose Narcissa now. Not her, too. There had to be a limit to what a single person could take. She felt like she was reaching hers.
The letter she eventually wrote after laying Teddy down for his nap, was very different from the one she’d had in mind first.
Lucius,
Thank you for letting me know. Please take good care of her.
Sincerely,
Andromeda
Hermione
It was Saturday and Draco had his interview today. The article together with the recipe would already be published next week. She was incredibly proud of him and knew Lucius and Narcissa would be, too. She truly hoped it would cheer Narcissa up, as Lucius’ letters lately had given cause for concern. She wasn’t doing well and bedrest had extended for an unknown amount of time.
Hermione had written a letter to the Minister a few days ago and Harry and Ron had signed, too.
Kingsley,
Draco Malfoy will send a magazine to his parents next week and you better have the decency to allow it to be delivered. It’s bad enough that they were not allowed to order potions and if there are any lasting health issues for Narcissa Malfoy, it’s on the Ministry.
Best regards,
Hermione Granger
Harry Potter
Ronald Weasley
There had been a rather prompt reply, to which Hermione had seen red, dark, bloody red.
Hermione,
I know this letter was written by you, so I allow myself to address you.
Why are the Malfoys your concern? Their punishment was very mild and you know that their good deeds during the War were taken into consideration. It is not the Ministry’s fault that they chose to brew Contraception Potion themselves.
May I remind you that they hate you and everyone like you? They may not have agreed with Voldemort’s methods, but that doesn’t make them pro Muggle or muggle-born witches and wizards.
Sincerely,
Kingsley
Unbeknownst to Hermione, she was far less charitable than Andromeda had been with her reply to Lucius, for she wrote exactly what first came to her mind and didn’t regret it for a second.
Kingsley,
The Malfoys are my concern because it’s my future in-laws you have the audacity to talk about in such a way. Draco and I are engaged and that happened with Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy’s blessing.
Also, what do you mean by “good deeds”? We would have lost the War had it not been for them.
And don’t you dare to deny the Ministry’s responsibility in this matter! I understand that shopping was restricted, even newspapers and magazines, but potions are a health necessity and I will not hesitate for a single second to give an interview about this matter. In fact, I’m itching to write to Rita Skeeter right now to make an appointment. And you know that a lot of people spoke out against punishing the Malfoys at all, all things considered. I’m sure the public will be interested.
I also find it offensive that you apparently think that Harry and Ronald only signed because I asked them to. They have become good friends with Draco and know that I’ve been writing back and forth with both Lucius and Narcissa for almost the entire school year. They are both very much on my side here and I’m certain they will happily join my interview with Miss Skeeter.
Let’s try this again, shall we? Draco will send a magazine to Malfoy Manor next week and you will make sure it will not be intercepted. Please confirm in writing, otherwise my next letter will not be to you.
Hermione
This letter hadn’t been completely truthful.
While Draco had obviously addressed the matter of marriage with his parents and they had given their blessing, they were not yet engaged. They had agreed to wait with future plans until NEWTs were over. Kingsley didn’t need to know that. The way she had stomped out with a letter of her own after receiving post with a Ministry owl, Harry and Ron had wisely stayed out of her way. Draco had been at Muggle Studies, so he had missed the whole drama and before she would receive a definitive answer, she wouldn’t involve him. He had enough on his plate, with worrying about his mother, the NEWTs and the interview. At least the last point was positive.
She didn’t have to wait for long. She sat with Draco in their room in the evening and listened to him telling her all about the interview with real interest when the next Ministry owl pecked on the window.
She got up and took the letter.
Hermione,
I do not approve of blackmailing, but yes, they will get the magazine, if it is so important to you. Let me know which one and I will deliver it personally. Draco sending it would cause problems because there are special wards not letting anything through that is not a letter or something that was previously sent from the Manor.
I will allow myself to not congratulate you on the engagement, because I fear it is something you will come to regret.
Sincerely,
Kingsley
She scoffed and sat down on her desk. The owl seemed to consider whether it was worth waiting for a treat considering her mood, but she scowled at the bird. “You better wait, I have a letter for you.”
The owl hooted timidly.
Kingsley,
I prefer honesty to false congratulations, so keep them.
You’re lucky I’m not going to make a list of all the things I do not approve of because it would be bloody long.
Anyway, the magazine is “The Practical Potioneer” and it will come out on Thursday. If you make any inappropriate jokes about them needing a potions magazine, I will by reflex send a Patronus to Miss Skeeter, I won’t even bother with a letter. When you get it, you will see why they will be interested.
Hermione
She gave the owl a treat and the letter with a short “Bring that to the Minister” and closed the window as the poor bird hurried off.
Draco stared at her. “Everything alright?”
“Yes, fine. Kingsley will bring your parents an issue of ‘The Practical Potioneer’, you can’t send it because of the wards or some such bullshit.”
She hadn’t told him anything about her correspondence with Kingsley and therefore he hadn’t expected that they would be seeing the magazine before the year was over.
“I don’t know how you did that, but thank you.” He got up and hugged her and some of the irritation left her as she relaxed against him.
“It’s alright. I wish I could do more, but he already made a fuss about this.”
“You have no idea how much you’ve been doing for me for months. I still don’t know how you did it, though.”
She smiled as he kissed the corner of her mouth. “Oh, nothing much, I threatened and blackmailed him. Just a little. He claims it’s not because of that that he approved, but just because he’s the Minister, it doesn’t mean that you have to believe everything he says.”
Draco stared at her. “You what? You’re joking, right?”
“Nope, I never joke about things like that. I threatened that I will go to Rita Skeeter, if he doesn’t let them have the magazine and tell her that your mother’s health issues are due to the Ministry’s negligence.”
“Ok … but it’s not like Rita Skeeter is very trustworthy.”
She slyly smiled up at him. “Oh, I’m blackmailing her as well. I know something she doesn’t want the Ministry to know, so she won’t write lies about me or the people I care about. If I tell her what to write, she’ll write exactly that.”
Draco stared at her. “Father has no idea how much he’s going to bloody adore you.”
“He knows about that. The Skeeter thing I mean.”
Draco laughed.
“Oh, and Kingsley thinks we’re engaged.” This time her voice came out somewhat more timid.
“He does?”
“Yes, he asked why I suddenly care about your parents and I told him because it’s my future in-laws he’s talking about. I hope you don’t …”
She couldn’t finish that sentence because he kissed her. “And that they are. I promise that won’t remain a lie for long.”
Hermione smiled. She had never thought to agree to such a quick engagement, but it was normal for him. A courting period, then engagement. And she found she didn’t mind. She loved him and after all, a long dating period was no guarantee for a successful marriage either. “Ok,” she whispered before kissing him again.
Lucius Malfoy
Lucius entered the bedroom he shared with his wife. She lay in bed, too pale, looking very small in the huge bed, despite the pregnancy now clearly visible under the blanket, and he had to swallow before approaching. But when he sat down on the edge of the mattress, she opened her eyes and smiled at him. He bent down to kiss her.
“Post from Hogwarts?” She asked in a far too quiet voice and looked at the envelope in his hand.
“Yes, from both Draco and Hermione. Hermione sent this.” He gave her a few photos and was relieved to see genuine amusement in her smile as she looked at them.
It had been full moon again and Draco was in the now familiar wolf form, the ugly cat once more by his side. Draco looked more enthusiastic than usual during such photo shoots, the cat less so. They posed in front of the fireplace, Draco standing, looking at the camera, the cat on his back as if to ride him, looking extremely grumpy.
The next two photos had them both wearing pointy wizarding hats, the cat looked murderous. Then there was one with Hermione sitting on her bed, cat on her lap and Draco sitting behind her, head on her shoulder, then he turned his head so that his certainly wet nose brushed against her cheek, which caused her to laugh. They both looked happy, just the cat was still glaring at the camera, which must have been placed somewhere before them and activated by magic. Hermione was holding her wand.
It was obvious that these photos had been sent to cheer Narcissa up and Lucius appreciated that.
“Draco wrote that he and McNair were successful with the potion and he’ll soon let us know what it is.”
“That’s wonderful! He’s pretty secretive about it, isn’t he?”
“He is. Hopefully we’ll find out soon.”
xxx
They did find out soon.
On Thursday around noon Bimsy said that the Minister had come to the Manor and since Narcissa was still not allowed to leave the bed, Lucius went downstairs by himself.
“Minister,” he greeted Shacklebolt. His voice was civil but cool.
“Lord Malfoy. I will make it relatively short. But first, how is your wife?”
“Confined to bed and very weak.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” He actually looked a little uncomfortable. Good. “Well, I received a letter, or several letters, from Miss Granger.”
“Did you now?”
“Yes, I was ordered to give you this unless I want to face unpleasant consequences.” He held a magazine in his hand which he didn’t hand over yet. “I heard you approve of her engagement with your son.”
Lucius didn’t even blink. No, he didn’t know of a standing engagement, just the plans, and since Draco hadn’t asked him to send him a ring to propose with yet, he was reasonably sure this was a lie, told by Hermione most likely, not the Minister. He didn’t know why, but he knew her well enough to know she hadn’t done that without reason, so he played along. “Indeed. She’s a bright young woman and she’s very important to Draco. I don’t think he would be doing as well as he is now after you forcefully made him leave his home, if it hadn’t been for her.”
The Minister was silent for a moment, then he held out the magazine, which Lucius took. “It seems he is indeed doing well.”
Lucius looked down and there was a photo of Draco and a much older wizard on the cover. It said “Draco Malfoy and Devon McNair achieve the impossible. Read more on page 5”. He opened on page 5 and couldn’t fully hide his surprise this time. “Breakthrough with Wolfsbane Potion – No More Pain During the Transformation”. Then it went on about how esteemed potioneers had thought it impossible to improve the Wolfsbane Potion and how a student who hadn’t even finished school yet, had had the ground-breaking idea on how to make it work. It was said that it had been tested by a werewolf who wanted to stay anonymous, but had written a thorough and believable report.
In an interview Draco explained how he had managed that and McNair confirmed that the idea for the new recipe, which was printed out on the next page, had come from Draco and he had just made some adjustment, which he laid out. A smart man. No one would have believed that it had indeed been Draco who had come up with the solution, if they hadn’t made the entire process transparent. Like this it was harder to deny. McNair had apparently stated before that he wouldn’t take another apprentice because he now told the interviewer that he had changed his mind and would take exactly one more – Draco, after he had finished school.
Lucius couldn’t have been prouder of his son. Only months ago, he had worried about whether a year away from his family would be too much for him with everything he had been through and now here he was, smiling winsomely on the cover of a magazine with an article about a potion he’d helped develop, looking so much healthier than he had when Lucius and Narcissa had last seen him. He couldn’t wait to show this to Narcissa.
Finally, he looked back up. “Thank you, Minister. Was there anything else?”
“Tell your future daughter-in-law that it is foolish to threaten with a journalist who is known to backstab people whom she interviews.”
Rita Skeeter. Whatever she had threatened with, it had involved Rita Skeeter. Lucius, who knew the full story, let out a laugh, which startled Shacklebolt. “Minister, here’s some free advice. Don’t mess with her. She’s three steps ahead of you and already a better politician than you are.”
Shacklebolt stared. “You respect her,” he finally said. It wasn’t a question.
No pause, no hesitation. “I do.”
“And you know something I don’t.”
Lucius’ drawl sounded bored now. “With all due respect, I know a lot of things you don’t. If you’ll excuse me now, I’d like to show this to my wife.”
xxx
When he entered their bedroom, Narcissa was awake and Bimsy was just pouring her some tea.
“What did the Minister want?”
“Hermione reduced him to a delivery boy. An occupation he should stick with.”
They exchanged a smile as he handed her the magazine. He saw his wife’s eyes widen as she saw her son on the cover. With more enthusiasm than he had seen from her for days, she opened it and read the article and the interview. “Lucius, this is amazing!”
“It is.” Still smiling, he sat down next to her.
“And what did Hermione do?”
“Blackmail the Minister,” he said dryly before explaining what little he knew. He would have to write to her later to get the full story.
Devon McNair
Hermione Granger sat opposite him, sipping tea.
“Minerva told me that you want to attempt becoming an Animagus.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Davon chuckled. “You two are far too ambitious for your age.”
She grinned. “Maybe. Headmistress McGonagall said you may help me with the potions part.”
“I will, I helped her, too, back then. Though I think you are more skilled than she was.” Minerva had been doing reasonably well, but he had preferred to make sure everything had been right.
Miss Granger was different. She was doing perfectly well with following any instructions given to her. She didn’t have her boyfriend’s ambition when it came to coming up with new recipes, she was happy sticking to the books, which wasn’t anything Devon held against her. That was what they were for after all.
“You know the risks, though?”
“I do. I think I can manage.”
“I think so, too. Very well. We’ll start next full moon. You know you will have to have a Mandrake leave in your mouth from full moon to full moon.”
“I know. Headmistress McGonagall said I could attach it with a sticking charm on the inside of my check or under my tongue.”
“Yes, I’d suggest you try out both to begin with to see what’s more comfortable to you. I think you would do perfectly well with the potion yourself, but since you’ll be busy with studying for your NEWTs, I will have the potion ready when you need it.” He had also stopped working with Draco now that the potion was done. He too should focus on his NEWTs.
Miss Granger smiled gratefully. “Thank you, Sir!”
Draco
He was sitting alone in the common room, reading, when Luna approached him.
“Hi, congratulations on that potion!” She beamed at him and he found himself smiling back.
“Thank you.”
“I’m sure that will make full moon easier.” Her voice and smile were dreamy, but Draco’s eyes widened.
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, I’ve noticed that you always go to your room early on full moon and that you always looked tired the next day. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. I just couldn’t help but notice. You’re not mad, are you?”
People were not giving her enough credit, Draco thought. She may seem weird to almost everyone, but she was more perceptive than most. “Thank you for keeping it to yourself. And no, I’m not mad.”
She smiled. “I’d never tell on my friends.”
~tbc~