The hot summer wind blew dryly at the three friends as they sat doing at a narrow river. Harry's eyes were gleaming, a smile on his face. It was his seventeenth birthday and that meant that he could, starting with today, use magic as much and as often as he pleased. Harry turned to find Hermione and Ron looking at each other, and couldn't help but smile even more. Life was perfect, but he knew that after that day, nothing would be the same again.
His first task was to find the Aunt Petunia and Dudley. Or what was left of the two of them. He had no idea where to even being searching.
"You know I've been thinking, Harry—" said Hermione looking away from Ron.
"Yeah?"
"There is—one way—to find your cousin and aunt I mean."
"How's that?" Harry asked sitting straight up. Hermione and Ron looked at each other and Harry knew that they had discussed this without telling him.
"Well you see—" she said but Ron placed a hand on her shoulder. She fell silent.
"Look, Harry," said Ron. "There's really only one way I can think of to find them. And it's with the help of a powerful family. A rich family."
"What?" asked Harry, "What do mean? Who do we know that's—rich and power." Harry's question became a statement. He knew who they were referring to, and he knew that he didn't want their help. "No."
"It's really the only way, mate." Ron said frowning.
"The Malfoys would never help us. Why would they?"
"Because—" said Hermione. "Draco's mom knows that Vol—Voldemort's angry—at Lucias. Her only hope of having Lucias in one piece when he gets out of Azkaban—"
"Is with my help—" Harry finished not looking at either of them. "Why—how. I don't even know how to begin—to ask them for help."
"Proposition, Harry." Said Hermione.
"Alright," said Harry getting up. "I'll send Hedwig."
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Noxi was running around the giant house throwing balls at half empty glasses. She was having so much fun that she didn't even notice that her brother was standing in the room with his back leaned against the wall and his arms crossed.
"You mind cleaning after yourself?" said Draco.
"She will!" said Noxi.
"Who?" asked Draco rhetorically.
"Her!" Noxi said impatiently pointing up the stairs.
"Who? The house elf? We don't have one of them anymore do we? Harry Potter saw to that!"
"I meant that woman that sweeps and cleans that takes care of us!" growled Noxi.
"Oh, her. Mother? Why don't you try saying that? Helps people understand which 'her' you're referring to."
"Well from now on if I say—"
"Mother? Yes that would be nice."
"Draco," said Narcissa Malfoy walking down the stairs.
"Yes, Mother?" said Draco giving Noxi a nasty glare and then looking away.
"Don't argue with your sister." She descended the stairs and walked up to the two kids who were both as skinny she was.
"She needs to learn manners! And without Father around—"
"Don't you play the parent card on me, Draco!" growled Noxi launching forward to attack him. He grabbed her by the front of her shirt and threw her forward. She crashed against the bottom of a couch.
"DRACO!" yelled Narcissa. She rushed up to help Noxi up but she threw away her mother's arms.
"Don't touch me!" she yelled. "I don't need your—" she stopped as a snowy white owl flew through the front window and sat gracefully down onto the table.
"Looks like Potter's owl." Said Draco walking forward and releasing a letter from Hedwig's claws. "Yeah it's Potter's." Draco unrolled the piece of parchment. "Malfoy I need to talk to you. Meet me at—" Draco stopped. "WHAT?" he growled tossing the paper to the floor.
"What?" asked Narcissa.
"He wants me to meet with him at the Burrow."
"The what?" asked Noxi who was looking interestedly at the piece of parchment that laid on the floor.
"The Burrow. I heard Harry used it a few times. It's the Weasly's house. It's outrageous!" growled Malfoy. "I'll just send him back that pigeon of his. He'll know we don't want to—"
"But I do, Draco. No, send him a letter requesting him to come here. I need to talk to the boy."
"But—why would you—?"
"I have my reasons, Draco. Send it."
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Harry, Ron, and Hermione made their way up to the gigantic yellow house with all their eyes as wide as the front doors. The black gate in front of the house was pointing arrows at them and Ron grasped Hermion's hand.
"Oh stop being pathetic, Ron!" said Hermione slapping away his hand.
"It's huge!" said Harry.
"Who's there?" came a voice that made the three of them jumped. The gate opened to reveal Noxi with her arms on her hips. Harry's heart stopped. She looked like Tonks. A small Tonks that looked meaner and more spoiled. "I said—"
"I'm Hermione Granger. This is Ronald Weasly and Harry—"
"Harry Potter?" asked Noxi, her eyes widening. "So you I finally get to meet you—I was looking forward to meeting you, you know—when school starts—it'll be my first year and all and—" she was talking so fast that Harry couldn't even begin to understand her if he wanted to.
"Uh—right." He said blinking at her. "So uh—can I talk to Mal—Draco?"
"Why would you want to talk to him? He's boring nowadays. Always cleaning the house and comforting what's-her-face. Anyways, I'm much better to talk to—and I would love to show you my room and—"
"Potter?" came Draco's voice. He walked out of the house and through the front gate to meet them.
"Malfoy," said Harry.
"Come inside," he said. Harry looked at Hermione who shrugged. "Don't worry I won't kill you." Then he smirked. "Not yet anyways, Potter."
"Comforting," Harry said following him, with Noxi at his side saying things that Harry couldn't dream of catching. She sure does look like Tonks though—
"Ah," said Narcissa who was sitting on the couch. "Harry Potter. We meet at last. I have heard—so much about you. So much. And this must be Mrs. Granger I presume. And Mr. Weasly." She shook each of their hands as Draco laid them to sit down.
"What did you want to talk about?" Draco asked.
"We need your—help." Said Harry.
"Why would I—?" Draco began but Narcissa put up her hand and he fell silent.
"So do we, Harry."
"You do?" asked Harry looking suspiciously at her.
"Yes," she said. "Noxi get us tea."
"No!" she yelled. "I'm not a house—" Harry looked over at her and she fell silent. "Fine!" she yelled and stomped off into the kitchen.
"Wha—?" Harry shook his head. "What do you need?"
"I want you to help my husband out of Azkaban and keep him safe." Harry looked absurdly at her.
"What?" he looked over at Hermione who was looking intently at Narcissa.
"Go on." Hermione said.
"If you could do that for me, Harry, I would grant you what you wish." Draco was looking at her mother with the same absurdity as Harry.
"How would he offer protection for—?" Draco began but became quiet right as Narcissa's hand went up.
"The Order is on his side. If they offer your father protection he cannot be harmed."
"I—I can't do that. If he gets into the Order he'll know too much. This might be a trap, anyways." Harry said shaking his head.
"Why didn't you think this was a trap when you came here in the first place, Harry?" asked Narcissa with a smile. "You know you trust me."
"What?" growled Harry.
"She's not tricking us, Harry." Said Hermione shaking her head.
"What?"
"She's not. Trust me."
"Smart girl." Narcissa said bowing her head at Hermione. "So—will you do this?"
"Fine." Said Harry.
"Then we have a deal. What is it that you wish of me?" asked Narcissa.
"We—we need your help to find my cousin and aunt. Your rich. You can find them easily."
"Deal." Smiled Narcissa. Noxi had come back with the tea and stood looking at Harry with such hunger that it made Harry feel extremely uncomfortable. Narcissa had gone up to call a few people to go search for the Dursleys.
"I'm Noxi. If I haven't told you that. Noxi Malfoy."
"Rotten name." Spat Draco.
"Who named you Noxi?" laughed Ron. Noxi glared at him and he fell silent.
"Father did." Answered Malfoy, his voice so polite that Harry almost didn't believe he was the one talking.
"Oh," Harry said looking at the girl. "Is it just me or she has a striking resemblance to Tonks?"
"Yeah," said Hermione. "She does. Well they are related."
"I'm not related to that werewolf loving blood traitor!" growled Noxi. "You stupid Mudblood!"
"With the fowl mouth of her brother." Mutter Ron. When Draco opened his mouth Narcissa walked into the room with Dudley and Aunt Petunia. They were trembling and at the sight of Harry they seemed oddly happy.
"Aunt Petunia! Dudely!" said Harry and the two rushed to him and quickly cowered behind him.
"Well I did my part of the deal. Now it's your turn to return the favor, Harry. Finish this bargain of ours. Help my husband escape from Azkaban and keep him safe."
"Don't worry. I'll keep my promise."