Duet

*~*~*~*
Correspondence

Lucius Malfoy looked up from his parchment-strewn desk in his office at the Ministry of Magic. A white blur in his peripheral vision distracted him. He looked back at his desk to discover a large snowy owl perched on a stack of books. She politely stuck out her leg.

“Aren’t you a pretty girl,” he murmured as he gently unfastened a medium sized envelope. Feeding her an owl treat, he glanced at the envelope.

Mr. Lucius Malfoy
Ministry of Magic
Department of Antiquities
- Personal -

Personal? Who would send him personal mail at the office? Lucius studied the owl preening her feathers. She was not a familiar owl. Scowling, he opened the envelope.

A smile broke on his usually serious face when he saw the photograph. Who would send him a photograph of himself as a silly adolescent? The white blond wizard unfolded the enclosed letter and was startled by the signature.

“Mr. Malfoy,

Enclosed is an exact copy of a photograph I found while cleaning out my aunt’s attic several days ago. I also found some sheet music for piano.

You must have been quite good friends with my mother when this photo was taken because she refers to you as “Luci”. Not to be rude, but I can’t imagine you permit very many people to call you that.

Until I found this photo the only thing I knew about her was that she died protecting me from Voldemort and that I have her green eyes. If it would not be too much trouble, could you tell me something about this photograph? Given the atmosphere at Hogwarts today, I can’t see how a Slytherin and a Gryffindor became such obvious friends.

I thank you for your time and any information you might be willing to give me. You may keep the photo if you wish, if only for a memory of a happier time.

Sincerely,
Harry James Potter”

“…Memory of a happier time.” Lucius thought as he contemplated the photograph. A soft hoot made him realize that the white owl was still perched on his file cabinet, waiting for orders.

Lucius poured a bit of water into a dish and placed it beside Hedwig. She sipped at it gratefully and then looked at him, her head cocked slightly.

“Be off with you. I have no reply for your master today.” Hedwig gave a hoot and soared out an open window high on the wall.

Lucius re-read the letter before he tucked both the letter and the photograph into a deep pocket within his robes. The boy was obviously trying to play some sort of game with him; he’d have to just play along to see where it leads. He took a sip of lukewarm tea and returned to the stack of parchment on his desk.

*~*~*~*
Several days later an eagle owl delivered a reply from Lucius Malfoy. He sent two photographs of Lily Evans playing Quidditch.

“Harry,

I located two photographs of your mother. As you can see, she played Chaser for Gryffindor. Your father and his friends were not pleased with your mother becoming friends with me. Remus Lupin was the only one who gave us much support, but he was very ill while we were at Hogwarts. Severus Snape had not yet perfected the Wolfsbane Potion he currently takes each month.

Lily and I both enjoyed playing the piano and we occasionally played duets – but our competitive natures made for interesting sessions.

You are correct when you state that not many people call me Luci, in fact, only Lily and my late wife Narcissa, were permitted. Anyone else I would have hexed.

I enjoyed receiving the photograph and it was a reminder of happier times. Feel free to owl me with any other question you may have.

Lucius Malfoy”

Harry and Lucius began a cautious postal correspondence that grew into an odd sort of friendship. Both of them were very lonely and found a shared understanding with one another. Once Harry returned to Hogwarts for his seventh and final year, Lucius decided to provide an owl for them to use because Hedwig was too identifiable and someone might question why she was flying to Malfoy Manor.

In the event the letters were intercepted, Lucius decided that they should not use their own names. He began to refer to Harry as “Raven” and, in a move that amused Harry, signed himself “Luci”.

They kept their friendship private, telling no one. Harry told Lucius about the Dursleys, the resentment he felt at being saddled with “the Boy Who Lived”, his growing dissatisfaction at the evasions and outright lies by Dumbledore, his godfather still on the run from the Ministry, growing apart from his friends and his loneliness.

Lucius confided in Harry his growing dissatisfaction with Voldemort, wanting to distance himself from his fellow Death Eaters, fear that Draco would be forced to choose sides against him and the loneliness he felt since his beloved Narcissa died of cervical cancer the previous year.

Narcissa’s death from cancer opened a wedge into the sheltered reality of Lucius Malfoy. He had begun to think that wizard medicine could cure anything. Mediwizards could regrow entire limbs, but could not prevent one cell from attacking its neighbor. Cancer was extremely rare in a wizard and there were no successful potions available to cure it. With no other alternative, the Malfoys were forced into the Muggle medical community. Chemotherapy worked for a little while, but the cancer did not stay in remission. Lucius was struck by the kindness of the doctors, the nursing staff and total strangers with sick relatives of their own who offered support and comfort. In the end, the only real magical benefit was that the pain relieving potions Severus Snape brewed worked better than Muggle morphine.

*~*~*~*
Hermione Granger agreed to help Harry learn the piano. Professor McGonogall gave them permission to use and old music room near the Great Hall. Harry suspected it was the same piano that was in the wizard photograph.

Harry drifted further from Ron as seventh year progressed. Although Harry still played as Gryffindor Seeker, he no longer thought it an important element in his life. Ron still dreamed of playing professional Quidditch and could not understand Harry’s growing disinterest in playing. Since it was his final year, Harry began to train Dennis Creevey and a second year as his successors.

Harry wrote to Lucius about his desire to learn to play the piano, but that Hermione really didn’t have the time or the experience to properly teach him. He was practicing his scales and had taught himself several of the simpler tunes in his mother’s beginner’s piano books.

Lucius replied that he could secure Harry lessons from a witch in Hogsmeade. If he was interested, he could owl Irma Griphook directly with his schedule of availability. She would contact the instructor and let them know the times Harry was available. Harry arranged to take lessons during the monthly Hogsmeade Weekends. He had long since outgrown the lure of Honeyduke’s and Zonko’s and decided he could spare the three hours for lessons.

*~*~*~*
TBC