The Family Jewels

Chapter 41
Not pretty enough

Blaise walked to the Hospital wing, almost in a daze, Hermione clutched in his arms. If anything had happened to her…well, he didn’t like to think about it. He had to acknowledge that something profoundly disturbing had happened to her; she was raped and abducted by Draco’s father, while looking just like his son. She had not even looked at Draco, going straight to Blaise and hiding her face against his chest. Hermione was always one to internalize everything, needing to think it through before acting. Blaise had a bad feeling about what this would mean for Draco.

He walked through the door to the Infirmary, to find Madam Pomfrey waiting for him. “Just lay her down here, Mister Zabini. Careful now!” Poppy Pomfrey had been especially fond of Miss Granger from the time in Second Year that she had spent a great deal of time in the Hospital Wing, first as a cat, then later petrified. Madam Pomfrey put up a screen, and advised Blaise that he should wait outside for the Aurors, who would be coming for the evidence that she would be collecting.

Draco found him there, loitering outside the door to the Infirmary. They exchanged grim excuses for smiles, glad to have her back, but angry and hurt. “How is she?” Draco asked.

“Nothing yet. Pomfrey kicked me out and told me to wait for the Aurors.” Blaise paused, “Draco, are you all right?”

Draco shrugged. His father had betrayed him in the worst way possible; it felt like his heart had been ripped from his chest. He couldn’t even blame this on Voldemort; his father was acting purely out of self-interest. In a strange way, though, he had never been more proud to be a Malfoy. His family tree was full of loyal, honest men who had put their families first. It was up to him to go back to the true Malfoy ways, one generation should not be allowed to overshadow over a thousand years of tradition. “How am I going to face Hermione, Blaise? She must hate me.” Draco sat down on a bench and dry washed his face with his hands.

“Draco, you didn’t do anything to her. You put a Talisman of Venus around her neck and protected her with your love.” Blaise lounged next to Draco, both young men sprawled in unconscious long-limbed grace. “Don’t underestimate her, mate. She knows the difference between you and your father.” Underneath his confidence however, Blaise was actually quite uneasy about exactly what Hermione was going to say. Blaise himself was unnerved when he saw the two Malfoy faces looking back at him.

“Don’t lie to me Blaise. Not you,” Draco said in a low voice.

Blaise flushed, they knew each other too well to attempt to soft pedal the effects of this. “Sorry, Draco. You looked like you needed a friend.”

They clasped hands and Draco said, “I do need a friend. I need you, Blaise. Only you will be able to get the three of us through this.” Draco stood up, “I can’t just sit here and wait. I should go see my mother and see how she is doing. I got a letter from my father that he must have sent before Hermione changed him. Talk to Hermione, Blaise.”

Draco gave the closed Infirmary door one last wistful look, then turned on his heel and disappeared around a corner.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Lucius Malfoy didn’t look quite the hardened Death Eater that he was, sitting there as his seventeen year old self, dressed in his son’s Quidditch uniform. The men sitting and standing opposite him in the Headmaster’s office viewed him with clear eyes, however. Dumbledore and Snape had been joined by Professor McGonagall and Kingsley Shacklebolt, Ministry Auror, and member of the Order of Phoenix. “What evidence do we have that Lucius Malfoy kidnapped Miss Granger?” Kingsley asked.

“Surely we have the testimony of Misters Crabbe and Goyle?” Professor McGonagall asked.

Snape shook his head, “I’m afraid that they are prepared to swear before the Wizengamot that Draco asked them to drug Mister Zabini and then guard the Head Dorm.”

“But that’s ridiculous; a whole stadium full of people saw Draco catch the Snitch at exactly the same time!” Professor McGonagall practically shouted.

“Perhaps we can ask Lord Malfoy is he has anything he wishes to say.” Professor Dumbledore inclined his head toward the young man sitting in front of him.

“Oh no, I’m afraid I will have to give up that title to my son. He is now Lord Malfoy.” Lucius couldn’t seem to stop the small upturn of one side of his mouth. He was …smiling.

Shacklebolt had been the Auror assigned to Lucius Malfoy for the last ten years. This sounded like another one of his schemes to get away with whatever crimes and misdeeds he had been caught at. “At the very least, he is an escaped prisoner from Azkaban; we can hold him over for trial on the additional charges with that.”

“The Belvoir will wear off at sundown anyway, and we will then clearly be holding Lucius Malfoy at that point,” Severus said. He did not want Lucius to be out of Azkaban for long. He was not sure enough of Narcissa Malfoy to want her errant husband on the scene.

“Let us then ask Lucius if he will make a statement for the record,” Dumbledore stated again.

All turned to Lucius, who looked at them with that same small smile playing on his lips. “I admit that I took a Belvoir to disguise myself as my son. But, I assure you, Miss Granger gave herself most willingly to me. Such a beautiful girl, don’t you think? I used a Portkey for us to leave school grounds, but I don’t see how that can be an offense punishable with Azkaban.”

“Well, Malfoy, it so happens that it isn’t possible to add to a life sentence in Azkaban, so this is a moot point, anyway,” Kingsley said, standing. “We will Floo to the Ministry, and I’m sure we will obtain Miss Granger’s pensieve testimony on that point. Good day, everyone.”

When Shacklebolt and Malfoy were gone, the remaining Hogwarts professors had more to discuss. “How is Miss Granger?” Dumbledore inquired of Severus.

“She is still in the Infirmary, and Mister Zabini is standing guard over the door. I am most concerned about how this will affect Draco. His father’s interference in his life has been a crushing blow to the boy,” Severus stated.

“Quite. You will be keeping a close eye on him, I presume?” Dumbledore asked.

“Of course, Headmaster. I think I should see where he is right now.” Severus took his leave.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Draco Malfoy was curled up in the fetal position on his cousin Nymphadora’s couch, his head resting in his mother’s lap while she gently stroked his soft hair and listened to his anger and frustration. “Darling, your Miss Granger is a highly intelligent witch. She realized that it was Lucius, not you. You mustn’t second guess every little thing; you should go sit at her bedside and let her know that you are her rock in a hard place. She may be ashamed about what happened with your father.”

Draco looked at her with incredulous eyes, “Haven’t you been listening, Mum? He raped her and abducted her while looking like me. I’m sure I did those things in her eyes.”

“And yet, she knew he was not you, darling. Trust, Draco, trust,” Narcissa said.

Both of them looked up when Severus Snape stepped out of Tonks’ fireplace. “Draco, I had hoped you had come here. I was searching Hogwarts and Mister Zabini informed me that you had received a letter from your father,” Severus paused. “Madam Pomfrey has released Miss Granger from the Infirmary, and she is asking for you. She has had a trying day, do not make her wait.”

Draco sat up immediately and straightened himself up. “She really wants to see me? She doesn’t…blame me?” he asked, not even trying to hide the eager light in his eyes.

“I think you will find that she doesn’t blame you in the slightest. There will be trauma that you will have to overcome, however. Be gentle with her,” Severus advised.

“I love her, Uncle Sev, I will do whatever it takes to bring her back to us,” Draco vowed. He walked to the fireplace and took some Floo powder from a pot. “Can I use your rooms to go back to Hogwarts?”

“Of course, Draco. I thought I told you not to make her wait.” Severus put on a mock exasperated face.

Draco grinned at his godfather and mother, threw the powder into the flames and said, “Hogwarts castle. Private rooms of Severus Snape.”

Severus and Narcissa shared a long glance. “Your husband has shown himself,” Severus said carefully.

Narcissa gave a very unladylike snort. “He is no husband of mine. We may finally have peace, Severus, he sent Draco a letter.”

Severus’ heart leapt at her words, and he took the letter.

Draco,

You now know that I have your Mudblood toy. Very tasty piece of baggage she is, too. If you would like her back, come to the Manor tomorrow night at midnight to receive your Mark. I will not be willing to return her if you are late or bring anyone other than yourself. I will be keeping her quite safe until then.

Lucius

Severus looked elated. “I must get this information to the Aurors and the Order so that we can plan for a raid. This might be it, Narcissa; we know where the Dark Lord will be tomorrow night. This may be the end.”

Narcissa smiled, “Go darling, but be very careful. Lucius may only have been planning on drawing Draco to the Manor to then take him somewhere else. Do not underestimate him.”

Snape flooed back to Hogwarts, Narcissa’s warning still ringing in his ears.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N – I wasn’t planning on have a Final Battle as part of this fic, but it seems to be drawing me in. Any thoughts?

Annie – I actually have not read any of the Anita Blake novels. I have to admit that other than JKR, my favorite novelists are Jane Austen, Anne Rice and Martha Grimes. Strange list, I know.