Chapter 52
“Over here’s the blue room. It’s like the yellow room we just saw, except not hideous,” said Draco while the Weasleys trailed after him.
“I quite liked the yellow room,” Percy remarked.
Draco paused outside the blue room so both girls could poke their head into it and look around at the classic furnishings and tasteful powder blue wallpaper. “Careful, Percy. I’ve stuck up for your aesthetic choices when needed, but that is a step too far.”
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” Audrey reminded while admiring a tin-glazed blue and white lamp that really was quite pretty.
Percy smiled wryly. “Somehow I don’t think Draco sees it that way.”
Draco could only shrug, because, while Percy was right, it wasn’t the sort of thing nice people admitted. After a few minutes the party continued on the tour, with helpful commentary provided by Draco as they went.
“What I love about the emerald room is that it’s just green, but someone thought it should sound fancy. That plus it’s haunted.”
Molly squealed and refused to go in.
“Draco, stop lying. It’s not haunted,” Percy scolded.
“I’m not lying. Look at this lady here. This is my own ancestor, Walburga Black,” Draco explained as he pointed to a portrait of a woman in a black dress with impressive emeralds sewn throughout it. She was the real reason for the room’s name. “On new moon nights you can hear her wailing. She’s the bad sort, so she’ll say nasty things little girls won’t want to hear. That’s why you need to go to bed on time and not wander about.”
Lucy giggled and walked up to the painting to get a better look. “Can you make me a dress like that, Draco? It’s pretty.”
“The Black family does have impeccable style,” Draco agreed. “Come along, we can discuss what present I’ll make you over dinner.”
They continued like that, visiting all seven of the color themed rooms on their way to a small dining room they’d been instructed to meet at for the evening meal. There were enough people now that someone had decided it warranted formality. The Weasleys were tired from the trip and settling in, but Audrey had suggested it would be a good practice run before more family arrived that weekend and the girls were eager to test out their etiquette lessons.
“We’ve reached the dull interlude, where his royal highness takes all his stuffy business meetings during the day,” Draco explained as they strolled past the small reception room the king’s secretary had shoved them in what felt like a year ago.
Percy might have whimpered. “You know they believe you when you say things like that,” he complained.
Draco paused in front of the large entrance to the Hogsmeade Chamber. There was a guard stationed outside the doors, but she looked bored and paid Draco and his guests no mind. “Well there’s nothing of interest going on so what would you have me say about it?”
Percy fluffed up a bit like a bird trying to impress. “These are the grand rooms where his majesty performs important business in service to the kingdom. It’s an honor to visit them.”
Well that did sound nice, and Draco supposed he’d understand why Percy would want to talk up public service. Still, he pouted. “But we’re not allowed to go in, even though nothing is happening.”
“Something important could be happening. The king works long hours. You never know,” Percy insisted.
Draco was about to say something about how he was pretty sure the king was waiting for them at dinner, since Draco’s silly interludes had definitely made his party late, but before he could the doors to the Hogsmeade Chamber actually opened. The five of them all turned in unison to see what was happening. Which meant all five of them saw Overseer Umbridge, Overseer Slughorn, and an older woman he recognized as Minerva McGonagall - who Draco saw wearing the pendant denoting her as Overseer of Transportation. They were walking together out of the room, with only Overseer Umbridge looking pleased. More people were still milling in the room behind them that Draco couldn’t see.
Turns out something very important had been happening inside.
Draco gulped and leaned down to the girls to whisper. “This is a good lesson that your father is probably right should he and I ever disagree. Except about ghosts. I would never lie to you about a room being haunted.” The girls looked at Draco with wide and serious eyes, taking his words to heart like it was the gospel truth.
“Why, if it isn’t Mr. Malfoy back at the castle,” came the sickly sweet tone of Dolores Umbridge.
Draco withheld his grimace, trying to tidy his features before he looked up at the vile woman approaching him. The two other overseers trailed not far behind. Draco bowed politely, hoping formality would allow his party to move on quicker than snark. “Lady Umbridge, so lovely to see you.” He bit out.
Unfortunately, Dolores could hear the discomfort in his voice and clearly it gave her a sense of satisfaction. Her beady eyes trailed over the Weasley family for a moment. “Who are your guests?”
“Not my guests,” Draco hastily corrected. “His majesty has invited dear family friends to the castle for the week. This is Mr. Percy Weasley, Mrs. Audrey Weasley, and their children.” The entire family dipped appropriately, the perfect picture of etiquette.
“What well behaved children,” Dolores said as she examined the two girls. Her tone was not pleased. Draco felt the sudden need to move along immediately, before something horrible would happen.
“So well behaved,” agreed Darco. “But as you know, I am a poor role model. I’m afraid I’ve made them late and we must be going.”
“Going? You just arrived,” Dolores stared at the girls a moment longer before pulling her gaze away to examine her parents. “Where have they received their education?” she sweetly inquired.
Draco couldn’t cut in before Audrey answered, “We home school, my lady.”
“Tut tut. That won’t do. Are you a formally-trained educational expert, Mrs. Weasley?” Dolores eyes were shining with a malicious glee.
Audrey glanced at Percy before answering. “Well, no, but-”
Dolores didn’t let her finish. “Well then, I’m afraid you are not qualified to decide what the best instructional opportunities are for young ladies. Educators much older and cleverer than you have devised an exceptional program of study, and I would love to share with you what proper educational opportunities are available for your children.”
“Lady Umbridge, I don’t think that approach-” Percy tried to reply.
Dolores cut him off as well, piercing Percy with her gaze. “Don’t you wish your daughters to have a proper education?”
One look at Percy was enough to know how Dolores’ words terrified him. There was nothing Percy wanted more than the best possible future for his daughters. Draco grabbed Percy’s arm before he could say anything in reply.
It was Horace Slughorn’s jolly laugh that cut off the unwanted woman. “No need to proselytize, Dolores. These are the king’s family friends.” The old man turned to the younger guests, trying to relax the mood with what was meant to be a warm smile. It was a bit sharp around the edges, the eyes too calculating. “We’ll all be family friends, soon enough,” he promised. Slughorn continued his walk down the hall, stopping first to pat Draco’s shoulder with a, “Good to see you, my boy,” then he even patted Percy’s with a, “Enjoy your time off, we have it covered back in the office.” Begrudgingly, Dolores followed at his heels.
McGonnagal stayed behind to look the group over. It felt like her sharp, bespeckled eyes captured everything before she offered a thin, no-nonsense smile. “You’d best be off before anyone else tries to take a bite out of you.”
Draco glanced over her shoulder, curiosity getting the better of his senses. The largest man Draco had ever seen, with long tangles of bushy black hair and beard that hid most of his face, was wearing layers of leather and leaning down to exchange words with Andromeda. Ron wore his full regalia, standing next to a stoutly, well-dressed older man who was generically attractive and managed his warm smile much better than Slughorn had been able to. Still, King Harry stood next to him and received whatever the older man had to say with a grimness that didn’t match the man’s outer appearance. Draco felt the Weasleys moving behind him. Audrey’s hand grabbed Draco’s arm and tugged. It would be wise to go, but Draco was fascinated imagining what conversations these important people might be in the midst of.
The movement must have drawn the king’s attention, because King Harry looked up and saw Draco watching. For just a moment the grimness eased away. Draco felt a tightness in his chest and finally took McGonagal’s advice and ran off with his friends to find their supper.
They were late. Which would have been forgivable, but another large portion of their party was later still in the Hogsmeade Chamber. In fact, the only ones on time were Hermione and Narcissa. They’d had to sit together for twenty minutes, exchanging pleasantries over a bowl of bread. Draco didn’t dare dwell on that experience.
Quickly, Draco took the seat to his mother’s right, with the Weasley’s situating themselves on either side of the far end of the table to Draco’s right. It left awkward space around Hermione across from Draco, but Draco was certain someone would be there soon to fill it and tried not to think too hard about whether Hermione minded. The adults forced out the necessary greetings, but the girls had fallen into silence. Percy only managed the barest hello before sitting stiffly himself, gripping the table edge.
Oh hell. This wasn’t going well at all. All of Draco’s efforts to restore the day had fallen apart and he didn’t dare follow through on his plans to be silly over cutlery. The silence dragged between them.
Strangely, it was Hermione who found a path forward. “I was just asking Narcissa about her talents in needlepoint. I wanted to make Rose a nice gift this winter but I have no talent at all for it. Audrey, didn’t you do that beautiful shawl for Molly, I mean your mother, for her birthday last year?” It was a modest topic, but Hermione persisted through awkward silences. She glanced at Percy and the girls on occasion, but instead of peppering them with questions she turned each moment back to Audrey or Narcissa, letting them share their knowledge until both ladies were deep in conversation with each other about technical stitching.
The heavy gloom around the guests slowly lifted. It felt impossible to be upset when Audrey recounted lovingly how she shared her passion for embroidery with her daughters and how proud she was of their work. By silent agreement, no one engaged the girls in the discussion, but Draco could see their shy contentment and knew they felt loved.
Dinner was nearly through the main course by the time the others arrived.
Ron came first, straight to his wife to kiss her hello and apologize for being gone all day without a word. Ron did his best at domestic greetings to his brother’s family, but clearly despite Ron’s good natured attempt they weren’t close.
The king sank into the chair on the other side of Hermione, immediately dropping his head into his hands. “Tell me there’s wine,” he pleaded.
Andromeda sat at the same time, across from him and next to Narcissa. “You’d do best to manage a modicum of decorum,” she said without sympathy.
Surprisingly, the giant of a man had come back with them. He shifted the chair next to the king so it was almost at the head of the table. It gave him more space when he sat down so he could fit in with everyone else. “Why don’ we all pour ou’selves a drink so we can ‘ave a proper toast,” said the larger man.
Ron bellowed at a laugh. “Why not. I can’t say I understand your choices, Harry, but if you’re set on it then we should celebrate.”
“I’m set on that glass of wine,” the king mumbled. “Maybe a whole bottle.”
“What are we celebrating?” Audrey asked, trying to parse through the comments and determine if this was actually a moment for good cheer.
Ron laughed again. “Harry is going to get married!”