Chapter Five
"One thing I have not figured out is how Quirrell is associated with Voldemort," Draco says, "I just don't understand it. They said that he was here for the first year and helping him, but how?"
Regulus blinks.
"Well, a lot of help you are," he says. He sits on his bed.
Regulus flies to his shoulder.
"How is he contacting him?" Draco asks.
Regulus puffs his chest.
"He was talking like he was right there," he says, "Maybe he really is using a spell that we don't know."
Regulus coos.
Draco scoffs. "I have spent a long time creating that. It was not just this last year. I've been fascinated with creating spells since my life before," he says, "I don't think it's that. He was talking like Voldemort was right there."
Regulus flaps his wings.
"Go ahead," he says. "It's no like you were helping anyway."
He flies out the window.
Who would have a better idea? He can ask Fred and George they should be more acquainted with strange spells than a bird. He leaves the dorm and goes to the common room.
Blaise sits with Pansy and Millicent by a fireplace.
"Heading out?" Pansy asks.
Draco nods. "I have to go find Fred and George," he says.
"Any particular reason why?" Millicent asks.
"Have to ask them something," he says.
"Don't get in trouble," Blaise says.
Draco waves a hand. He leaves the common room and goes to the corridor.
"Mr. Malfoy," Professor McGonagall says.
Draco turns to her. "Hello, professor, what brings you to the dungeons?" he asks.
She raises an eyebrow. "Meeting with other professors, specifically your godfather," she says, "Seems like you're on a mission."
"I need to go discuss something with Fred and George," he says. It isn't anything too strange for him to be looking for one of the Gryffindor crew.
She raises an eyebrow. "Anything I can help with?"
He pauses. "Perhaps, how long has professor Quirrell worked here?" he asks.
"Well, as the Defense professor, this is his second year, but he worked as the muggle studies professor for a few years before that." She walks down the hall, and he walks beside her.
"Has he always been jumpy?" Draco asks.
She stops walking and turns to him. "You're sure curious about your professor," she says.
"I like to know who is teaching me. Quirrell stutters too much to get a good idea of what he can teach me." Quirrell is hard to understand and even harder to understand is why they would have a coward attempt to teach a class full of creatures that can be considered terrifying.
Her eyes travel from Draco's head to his toes. "What about me?" she asks. She walks down the hall again.
"What about you?" Draco follows her.
"Who do you ask about me?"
"I asked Professor Snape before coming here." He did, the first time. He interrogated Snape about each of his professors even Dumbledore because they say you can learn anything with research but it's not as easy as they make it seem.
She nods. "Alright, I can understand wanting to know who is teaching you. Professor Quirrell has always been a bit cautious, but in more recent years he has been more so," she says.
"I'm guessing that's all you're willing to share," Draco says.
She nods. "Keep out of trouble, Mr. Malfoy. You still have detention to serve after your night escapade to the astronomy tower," she says.
"Of course, professor. Why would I get into trouble when it doesn't benefit me anyway? Too much work," he says. It is a lot of work to do his punishments. He only had detention once his first life, technically this time, and he did not want to do it again.
She looks at me above her glasses. "I would like to believe that but unfortunately, Mr. Malfoy, I think you'll get into a lot of trouble that will not benefit you," she says.
Draco smiles. She sure knows her students. "Thank you for your help," he says.
Fred and George walk in front of them.
"Fred, George," Draco says. He jogs to catch up to them.
They turn to him.
"Mini-Malfoy," George says.
Draco turns. McGonagall walks away.
"Hanging out with the professors now?" Fred asks.
Draco rolls his eyes. "Better company than you, Weasel," he says. He actually did like the professors' company a bit.
He laughs. "You called out to us," he says.
He scoffs. "Only because I need you for something."
"Ah, so you were even seeking us out." George waves a hand. He walks toward the Gryffindor tower.
Draco glares. He finds them hilarious but if they find out he will never be able to live it down.
Fred pats Draco's shoulder. "What did you need?" he asks.
"What was Quirrell last year?" Draco asks.
"Pretty much the same as this year," George says.
"Quirky," Fred says.
"A nervous mess. What about before that?" he asks. He could have always been the same, but his gut is telling him that isn't right.
"We didn't have muggle studies," George says. He shrugs.
Draco sighs. "Alright. Thanks anyway," he says.
"You can try and ask Percy," Fred says.
"Thank you for being helpful, Fred," he says.
"Why are you so curious about him?" George asks.
"I like to know who is teaching me." Someone is definitely going to call him out for that half-truth eventually.
"It's the middle of the year," Fred says. Or now.
George leans down. "Shouldn't you have asked before now?"
Draco shrugs. "I have multiple professors," he says. It's true, it's hard to learn everything about each professor throughout one year and definitely not in half.
George squints.
Fred shrugs and pats George's shoulder.
"Where's Percy?" He might as well keep with the research he's started even if it's with the second most annoying Weasel.
"Common room," Fred says.
Draco goes to the painting and says the password.
Fred and George look mildly impressed.
"You are not a Gryffindor," the painting says.
He shrugs. "Think of me as an honorary member. The hat considered putting me here anyway."
She sighs. "I do not think I shou-" she says.
The painting opens and some people leave. Draco catches it and enters. Fred and George follow. "Percy," Draco says.
He sighs. "Malfoy, why are you in here?" he asks.
"I want to be," Draco says. When he first went to school at Hogwarts it made it a personal goal to always know the paintings' passwords at any given time. He succeeded until fifth year.
He sighs. "Fine but I don't know where Harry, Ron, or Hermione are," he says, "Are you here with Fred and George?"
"I'm not looking for them, and no," he says.
He sets his book down and raises an eyebrow.
"How was Quirrell before he was the DADA professor?" he asks.
"Malfoy, I am-" he says.
"The sooner you answer my questions the sooner I leave." Or he stays until the golden trio return.
He sighs. "Fine. He's always been nervous, but it might have gotten worse when he became the DADA professor, but DADA is scarier than muggle studies."
"Thank you," he says. It's not too helpful, but it's more than what he had, which was nothing.
Draco leaves the Gryffindor common room to the men's dormitory. He puts Harry's invisibility cloak under his pillows and make sure it is covered. He leaves Gryffindor. He's hungry and hasn't learned anything that could help anyone. He missed the official time to eat but he can probably go to the kitchen. He walks in.
"You are not allowed in here," a small house elf says.
He smiles. "Sorry, I missed breakfast, and I was hoping to get food," he says.
The house elf sighs. "Okay, Blinky will get you food," they say.
"May I ask if you have a gender you would like to be referred to as?" he asks. He knows very little about House Elves, even during his summer(s) of learning there weren't books on that. The books only called them names and called the servants.
"Winky is female," she says.
Draco nods. So, they have genders, or some do.
She brings him some plates of meat and potatoes.
"This isn't what we had for breakfast or will be having for lunch," he says.
"Winky made it, especially for you," she says.
He smiles. "Thank you, but next time please do not inconvenience yourself," he says. It's weird because he's used to not caring but he doesn't want people to go out of their way for him, including the house elves.
She pulls out a chair. "I do not mind it..."
"Draco." He bows slightly.
"Draco," she says.
He smiles and eats his plate of food. "Thank you, Winky," he says, "If it is alright with you, I would like to come back and cook with you."
She gasps. "Really?" she asks.
"Yes," he says. He likes cooking and he like Winky.
She nods. "The others will appreciate it too, Draco," she says.
He nods. "Actually, I can do it now," he says. He was going to search for more information but maybe he needs to step back.
She claps. "Brilliant," she says.
He stands. He goes to the stove. "What are we making?"
"Soup!" Winky says.
Draco nods and preps the broth in the fridge. Some of the other house elves crack into the room or walk in after he's started adding more ingredients. When the soup is set to stay heated on the stove Draco sits. "Do you like it here?" Draco asks.
The house elf beside him says, "It is not so bad. I have been worse places."
"We are treated well here."
"But you don't get paid, and most students don't acknowledge you. Why don't you leave?" Draco asks.
The elf across from him says, "We have nowhere else to go. I love the other elves and would not want to leave them."
"Oh, you found a family," he says. He's never experienced it but he's pretty sure most people don't get the opportunity.
The elf nods.
"They don't treat you badly at all, right?" he asks.
They shake their heads.
"Some of us make money too," Winky says.
"How much?" Draco asks.
The elf beside he says, "One gold galleon a month."
Draco gasps. "That is not nearly enough," he says.
"We reject pay most times," Winky says, "They give a place to stay and food."
"I guess if you are okay with it, but it does bother me a little because I want you all to be happy," he says.
Some nod and others tear up.
"Introduce yourselves with names and pronouns," he says, "You start." He points at the one across from him.
"Hokey," they say, "She/her."
The one beside her says, "Teller. He/him."
The one beside Draco says, "Marsh. He/Him."
"Are you the only four that work here?" he asks.
They shake their heads.
"We typically all hide when students come in, but it did not seem necessary with you," Marsh says.
"Is that a good thing?" he asks. He doesn't know if Marsh is saying he isn't a threat or he's likable.
Winky nods. "Winky has a good judge of character," she says, "For the most part house elves can be antisocial, so the others left."
He nods. "I'm not in the way, am I?" he asks. He doesn't want to disrupt their routine because he wants to talk to them.
They shake their heads.
They eat the rest of the food on their plates.
"Do you magic the food to the tables?" he asks. That would make the most sense, but it could be something else.
Winky nods.
"I thought magic like that was not allowed to be used here," he says.
She shakes her head. "Not for us," she says.
"You probably have a lot to magic out there. Would you prefer if I went?" he asks.
Marsh sighs and nods. "It would probably be easiest so everyone could come out and help," he says.
"See you again," he says. He stands and heads toward the door. "Actually, some of you have been here a while. What do you know about Professor Quirrell?"
Teller frowns. "He used to come here occasionally and treat us well but a few years back he got nervous and stopped coming."
Hokey nods. "He called us names once, before he did not do that," she says.
Draco sighs. "Thanks. Do you remember when?"
"Three years?" Hokey says.
Draco nods. "Thanks, Hokey. Okay, I'll go," he says, "Thank you all."
A few of them tear up again and other waves.
He goes to the Great Hall.
"Draco, I haven't seen you all day," Harry says.
"I was in the kitchen," he says.
His eyebrows scrunch together.
"I was curious," he says. The house elves also probably helped the most out of everyone he's seen today.
They sit at the Ravenclaw table.
"Are you going to eat?" Lara nods to the food.
Draco shakes his head. "I ate in the kitchen," he says.
She shrugs. "Alright. The soup today is really good," she says.
Draco's face heats up.
Cedric comes and sits across from Draco with Cho.
"Hello," he says.
"Hi. Would you happen to have time?" Cedric asks.
"Need help?" Draco asks.
He nods.
"Sure. Meet me in the library two hours before dinner," he says.
He nods.
Regulus comes back with a letter while the others eat. He opens it.
Dear Draco,
Of course, we are more than willing to keep you both this summer. Lara was a delight to have this Christmas, and we would love to meet you beyond writing. Nymphadora is excited to have some people who are not so old like her father and me. I am surprised though. I did not think your family would allow you to contact us let alone live with us. Severus has explained very little. It is alright if you would prefer not to explain but if you would like to tell me I am willing to listen or read.
Sincerely,
Aunt Andromeda, Uncle Ted, and Tonks (Nymphadora)
Draco grabs his quill.
Hello Tonks Family,
Thank you for allowing us to come into your home this summer. I would like to explain some of what happened, but it will have to be this summer. My family does not know we are going to you, but we are hoping to get out of their grasp soon. I am also excited to meet you all. You will not have to deal with too many problems, and I will keep out of the way.
Thank you,
Draco Malfoy
P.S. Lara loved being with you all too and has not stopped talking about it.
He gives the letter to Regulus. He flies off.
"Draco," Lara says.
Draco waves his hand.
"How did you find Andromeda?" she asks.
He raises an eyebrow.
"Well, mom and dad never talk about her. I don't think I've heard them ever mention that family, but she is our aunt."
He shrugs. "I just found her in a family book," he says.
She sighs. "Great answer," she says.
He shrugs. What am he supposed to say? He remembered the name because his mom mentioned it once while talking to Bellatrix while Voldemort and his dark cabinet lived with them. Sure, he mentioned being from the future, but he hasn't brought it up again and neither has Lara. Playing it off as something easy is better.
"So, your family isn't close?" Ron asks.
He shakes his head.
"Draco," mother says.
"What, mother?" he asks.
"You must be on your best behavior from now on. The dark lord and the death eaters will be staying with us," she says.
"The dark lord?" he asks. The literal worst person on the planet?
She nods. "He has finally seen your father's hard work and asked to stay here," she says.
Draco nods. He tries to swallow the bile working up his throat.
Voices echo through the mansion. He crouches and watches from the stairs as people move stuff inside.
"Hello, Narcissa," Bellatrix says. Narcissa has shown Draco pictures and talked about her.
Mother inhales. "Bellatrix, how are you?" she asks.
"Well, I am finally back where I belong, so happy."
Mother nods.
"Maybe this time I can get rid of that woman," Bellatrix says.
"I don't understand why you want to kill Andromeda; she's already been exiled from the family," Narcissa says.
Bellatrix laughs. "She was let off too easy. The Black family must stay pure," she says.
Mother sighs.
"Unless you agree with her, we will not discuss this further," she says.
"Of course. I owe Andromeda-"
"Quit saying her name," she says.
Mother nods.
Draco stands up and goes to his parent's room. Andromeda is a name he had not heard. He goes to where the book his mother tells him not to touch is. He looks through it. A picture of three women lays in the back cover.
'Narcissa, Bellatrix, Andromeda' Footsteps bounce up the stairs.
Draco puts it down. Footsteps get closer. He hides the book again. He runs to the door and opens it.
Bellatrix yelps.
"Nephew, what were you doing in there?" she asks.
I "Whatever I want. This is my house." He knows it was a mistake, but he needed her to be distracted.
She laughs. "Not anymore. It is the dark lord's," she says. She grabs his hair and drags him to the dining room.
"I caught this kid rummaging through your room, Lucius," she says.
Lucius raises an eyebrow. "Why were you in there Draco? It is off limits," he says.
Draco shrugs. His house never used to be off limits to this degree.
"Punishment is the only option. He must not have been punished nearly enough," Bellatrix says.
Voldemort nods.
Father stands. "Crucio," he says. He waves his wand.
Pain stabs through him. Draco screams. He falls to the floor. Lucius never would have done that before. The pain pulses through him for ages or maybe seconds. Time stretches and Draco attempts to grasp something outside the pain consuming his limbs.
"Son, go to your room," Lucius says.
Draco stands and stumbles to the stairs. His body is still trembling with lasting pulses, but the spell is no longer on him. He goes to his bed and sits.
"Mini-Malfoy," George says.
Draco blinks. "Hmm?"
"You were pretty out of it. Are you okay?" Fred asks.
He nods. "Just tired," he says. It isn't false. He is tired.
"He's always tired," Blaise says.
Draco gasps. "When did you get here?" he asks.
He raises an eyebrow. "That is a bit different than normal. He is usually quite aware," he says.
He rolls his eyes. "I miss things sometimes," he says.
"Sure," he says. He stares at him. "What were you talking about?"
"Our aunt," Lara says.
Draco closes the drawer to his bedside table. She has to exist. Even if she was banished from the Black family, she was still alive at this point. He runs his hand through his hair.
"What's up?" Blaise asks. He sits on his bed.
"I'm trying to find a woman." Draco flips through a book.
He laughs. "Well, you have to go talk to people if you want to find one," he says.
Draco rolls his eyes. "The problem is I think she's married so I don't know her last name or who she is married to," he says.
"Have you tried looking at yearbooks or asking one of the professors?"
He shakes his head. "I don't know what professor would tell me she's as old as my parents at least," he says. He also doesn't want the questions that go along with it.
"McGonagall and Dumbledore have been here that long and Snape might have gone to school with them," he says.
"Snape won't tell me. McGonagall might but she would be pushy, and Dumbledore is hard to get to," he says. He really doesn't want to talk to Snape.
He shrugs. "Are you sure Snape wouldn't tell you?" he asks.
"I'm going to look at the other yearbooks," he says. He can't find anyone in the current one. He needs to go later.
Draco takes the yearbook and carries it back to the library. He sits in front of the shelves and shuffles through the pages.
"What're you looking for?" Hagrid asks. He has a book.
"A woman named Andromeda Black."
He nods. "She had a daughter. Good family," he says.
"Who was her daughter?" he asks.
"Nymphadora Tonks," he says.
Draco smiles. "Thank you, Hagrid," he says. The first clue.
He nods.
Draco sighs. he has a name and a time frame for the daughter. He met Nymphadora once. He's the same age as Snape or close.
He goes back to his common room. "Do any of you have knowledge of the muggle world?" he asks.
Millicent, Blaise, and Pansy look at him in confusion.
"I do," a kid says.
Draco does not even care he was listening to his conversation. "How do you find someone in the muggle world?" he asks.
"What information do you have about them?"
"Their name," Draco says.
He winces. "Well, that will be hard," he says.
He sighs. "Thanks anyway," he says.
He goes to his bed. "Reggie, what am I going to do? Honestly, it was a bad plan, to begin with. She was banished from the family she probably doesn't want to be contacted by them. Now, I have a name, Andromeda Tonks, but nothing to do with it," he says.
Regulus coos.
He raises an eyebrow. "How would you do that?"
He ruffles his feathers.
"Andromeda Tonks might not be easy to find and we don't even know if she stuck around," he says.
He nips at Draco.
"Regulus, I just don't know if it is a good idea," he says. He also feels insane because he's talking to a bird like he knows what he's saying.
He coos.
Draco sighs. "Fine. If you can't find them in four days, come back," he says.
He flaps his wings.
He takes the letter out of bedside table and give it to him. "Be good," he says.
He puffs his chest and flies away.
Three and a half days later he comes back with an envelope.
Dear Draco,
It would be lovely to have my niece. I hope we will get to have you soon too.
Sincerely,
Aunt Andromeda, Uncle Ted, and Nymphadora (Tonks)
He sent a simple 'Thank you' back.
"Draco?" Cho asks.
He turns to her. "Yes?"
"Are you okay? You seem pretty out of it," she says.
He nods. Lara is safe. That's the most he could ask for.
"You helped a lot today," Cedric says, "Thank you."
Draco nods. "Ask for help anytime," he says. Even though he barely remembers helping.
He nods.
Draco leaves the library.
"Mr. Malfoy."