Disclaimer, Author's Notes, & Warnings: SEE PROLOGUE
LEGEND:
"Normal Talk"
'Thoughts or Emphasis'
(...Parseltongue...)
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Chapter Three - Malfoy's Manor
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Harry was settling in quite nicely at Malfoy Manor. He was able to, with the help of Mrs. Malfoy, determine the areas that were safe for him to be himself for a couple of hours, enabling him to have access to the Malfoy's vast library. Surprisingly the safest places for him to transform into Harry Potter and converse with the lady of the house were the wardrobes and closets. Harry laughed at that irony and yet it was useful for him in order to be able to re-vamp his summer homework, with more access to wizarding texts for research he was sure to pass with higher marks.
Professor Snape was going to be for in a shock about that one.
Draco had given his kitten form a name, but he had to argue with him about it first. Harry was sitting on Draco's desk waiting. "How about Soot?" "Smudge?" "Coal?" "Blackie?" He had asked the kitten who just narrowed his eyes at every name and looked away. Clearly he was not happy with the names. Draco took the chance to look at the name part of the Tag and saw, Couldn't you come up with something more original than those Drackie?
Draco flinched and then frowned when he read that. Then he laughed. "How about Noiro (pronounced: nu-arr-rro), it is the same thing as Blackie, but it's in French. What do you think?" The kitten tilted his head to one side, thinking about it and then mewed his consent. He liked the way the R was pronounced because it was like listening to Draco purr.
Now the name on the tag read: Noiro. They were together for the most part of everyday, except for the afternoons when Malfoy left him behind to go outside onto the Manor's grounds. Doing what? Harry didn't know and he was curious about it, however there were a few other things on his mind to occupy his time for now.
He was also able to find out about that issue with the goblin that Malfoy Sr. had. It turns out that the reason that the goblin was accused of stealing was because Mrs. Malfoy had requested a large sum of money to be withdrawn without her husband's permission in order to be able to purchase an obscure little bit of property in France. The goblin was going to be her secret keeper for the land and house.
It was about a week after they had been at the Manor when Harry was finally able to read the letter that the goblin had given him. He was in Mrs. Malfoy's closet, hiding from some of the house-elves who wanted to shoo him out of there because they knew that he was an animagus and one that should not be in their home, but Mrs. Malfoy told them to leave the kitten alone.
It was not always going to be the case. She knew that her husband and his cronies were planning a grand escape from Azkaban. She was hoping that a solution would come up soon for her son.
So, when Harry explained how he knew that she wanted him for a companion for her son, she allowed him the chance to read the goblin's letter in peace.
Harry was sitting at the back of 'call me' Narcissa's wardrobe with a glass ball that had been spelled with Lumos to light the pages of the letter. The lumpy package contained several things; the first thing it contained the deed to a plot of land and house that Mrs. Malfoy had wanted purchased in the name of her son, the second thing it held was all the keys to the place. The third item was the land address and a spell to enable someone to perform a self induced Fidilius charm. Finally, it held an extra key to a vault in Gringotts for Draco, accessible only in the case of an emergency, which was defined as his father's release, by any manner, from prison.
The letter read as follows:
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My dear sir,
I know not who you are, but I know that you are one of the ones that exist who can allow me the chance to finally to fulfill my former obligations to Lady Malfoy. Despite the evil her husband has done to me, I in no way hold any grudge, against the Lady. She has always been fair and generous. Her son follows her in that respect.
That wonderful boy has tried to ease my suffering, by providing healing potions and food, when I was in the dungeons of his father's Manor. His father had me confined there for a very long time and attempted to extract information from me by various means.
Goblins are, for the most part, very honourable creatures. Above that, we each develop our own code of honour throughout our lives. Mine was that once I gave my word to do something I would see it through to whatever ends may come. I don't recommend it for everyone, seeing as I have passed on... you are permitted to laugh at this I know that I did.
Contained in this envelope is the deed in Mr. Draco Malfoy's name, obtained as requested by his mother. Also, contained within is the spell that I was to read once the deed was in his name, that way there was added insurance for the boy to be able to escape to a safe and secure location, away from his father's house should the need arise. I was to have been the secret keeper.
There are other reasons that his father did kill me for, but the main reason was his suspicions that I stole money from his vaults. The truth is that I did this dishonourable deed and stole the money from his vaults. I know that was not an honourable act, but the man is evil and hateful, serving a foul creature.
I have no regrets with the actions that I took. I opened a secure account in the name of the boy on my own. His mother doesn't even know that I have done this, but the amount was substantial enough to be detected. It's to help the boy maintain that house and land, but it also contains more than enough to enable him to continue on with his education unhindered.
My associates do not even know that I have done this, but now that it has been done it can not be undone by any means, whatsoever. I have locked the forms under a secrecy contract spell that I've hidden in the vault belonging to Mr. Harry Potter. I hope that he will not think too ill of me for doing this, but his vault was the most trusted one that I could think of, as he is the Boy-Who-Lived.
Access to this account is spelled to recognize the precise time when Lord Lucius Malfoy leaves Azkaban, whether he is released or escapes. The key will glow, so please keep an eye on it, as it will provide a small time margin to give a chance for the boy to escape.
I do not know what will happen to him, but the truth is that I have seen him enter Marseilles's and I knew that this strange wonderful person had the potential to avoid his father's fate. I knew in my heart that I had to save a least one person from the fate of following the Dark Lord.
The house has been updated and modernized to a certain extent, but it remains unfurnished. The flooring and internal painting was done in generic colours, in order to allow for the wizard to change it at will.
The wards that have been added on this house are similar to the ones on his old home, including one that allows young Mr. Malfoy to use his wand undetected by the ministry. I arranged it this way because I know that he may eventually have need of it.
I would ask you kind sir, to take my place as the secret keeper of that house and help the boy. His heart is different from his father's and I believe in it. You are equally free to do as you choose, but it is my hope that you will accept this and help him.
I am hoping that I have not erred in my choice, but there was something about you or perhaps it was your aura sir that compelled me to seek you out specifically and request your assistance in this matter.
Thank you! You're allowing me this chance to make things right.
With sincere regards,
Ghorash Ghipstone
Ex-Manager of Personal Accounts
Gringotts Bank for Wizard's, Diagon Alley Branch
Post Mortem Date, July 13, 19--
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Harry smiled at the thought of pulling another one over Lucius Malfoy. To become the secret keeper and hide his son away from him had a strangely satisfying quality and a weird quirky sense of appeal. The address was on the deed, but Harry knew that he would have to go there first to see the place and make sure that nothing had penetrated the wards. Also, he knew that he had to consult with Narcissa on this.
"Narcissa," he whispered. Not a minute later the Lady of the House came into her wardrobe, closing the door behind her. She settled herself down and sat primly down on the floor next to Harry.
"Yes? Did you finish reading it?" She asked. Harry nodded and showed her the deed of the house. "He actually did it. Thank all the heavens."
"It's not furnished, but there are wards around the house. So the location should still be secure." Harry explained and then he told her about the extra account that had been opened in her son's name. She was never able to do that for her son, but a goblin from Gringotts had and died because of it. "He didn't regret his actions or choices, Narcissa. It seems that this creature had hopes for your son when he saw him enter Marseilles's."
Narcissa breathed a sigh of relief. Then she paused reflecting for a bit, "Noiro," she started, they had agreed earlier on that he would only answer to that name while he was in Malfoy Manor or on its grounds. There was less chance for him to be found out.
"Seeing as that house is unfurnished do you think that there is a way for you to go see it? See what the rooms look like and get a copy of the plans or sketch the layout. We have a lot of furniture in some of the unused rooms here that could help. I will not offer any of the portraits from this house, but I think that there are a few that have been placed in storage that will be good for Draco to have. I would also like for you to consider being the secret keeper. No one would ever think to look at you for that."
"Well, first I would have to see how far away that house is, before I can do anything about it, but you can some of the furniture ready. I am sure that the basics, like a couch, dining room set and beds of various sizes could be brought with me the first time around. Since the wards include no wand detection I will probably be able to place them around the house. What do you think?"
"I think that I will ask my son, if there are any furnishings that he is particularly fond of and endeavor to get rid of them," she said with a calculating smile. "You see, I seem to have a bad habit throwing away the things that he loved by his father's decree, but little does he know that I have everything that he has ever lost, and they are in a safer location at the moment. Perhaps you could take them with you, but how would you carry them all?"
"If you have them shrunk, I can carry them and I will take that time to consider being the secret keeper." He said enigmatically, as he did not show her the spell that was part of the letter. He looked at the address for the house. It was in a mapped location with latitude and longitude. Luckily he knew how to navigate in that manner having studied the mapping of oceans on navigator charts last week. It was fascinating the oddball information that he could find in the Manor's library.
He folded the letter and stuffed the envelope once more with all of its contents. Narcissa watched as he touched the full envelope to the bell of his collar and saw that it disappeared. Her eyes were wide, "Where...?"
"My school trunk," he said fingering the bell. "I have to carry everything with me." He paused, looking over some of the clothing that was hanging in her wardrobe. "I have a couple of conditions before I agree to do anything."
"What is it?" She asked, curious about what he could possibly request.
"Could you take a one week or two week holiday somewhere with your son and bring me along, as Harry? I would like to visit some other place because I have never been able to see new places. Maybe another Wizarding community?" He asked hopefully.
She thought about that for while. They usually planned to travel in the summers to go to the coast in France and sometimes they traveled to Italy, this year they hadn't planned to travel, but perhaps a week or two somewhere else was a good idea. Somewhere that her young dragon always wanted to go, unfortunately at this time of year it was off season, but then it was more fun because there would be less people around. "What's your other condition?"
He blushed in embarrassment, but had to ask, "Could you help me find better clothing and ones that fit?"
Narcissa looked at him closely for the first time and laughed. "I sorry Noiro, but I never thought that that would be your request."
He smiled at her sheepishly, but explained that when he was living with his relatives that he never had the opportunity to shop for the things that he needed. He couldn't show up one day wearing new clothes, new glasses or anything of the like after his school year was finished as his relatives would then demand to know where the money came from and more than likely demand the money for themselves.
Narcissa was saddened upon hearing that, but agreed. "I'll see what I can do. What about the furniture?"
"Get it ready and I will be able to bring them with me tomorrow, when Draco goes out on the grounds in the afternoon. It shouldn't take that long to set everything up. I think that I will do that tomorrow afternoon, rest the next day and then take the rest of the furnishings with me on the following day. That way it is more than partially ready in case of an emergency. Could you have some emergency medical supplies and potions ready for the house at the same time?"
She looked at him and said, "Actually, I have something that will be of use to you. You know about the items that I had to 'throw away', well there's something else too. I have always wanted to supply my future son or daughter-in-law with a Hope Chest. I have been filling it with items like you've mentioned ever since my son started Hogwarts. It's filled with things like linens, towels, plates, cutlery and such... I think that if I were to make sure that there are no Dark elements in it or tracing spells on any of the items you could take that with you too!"
Harry nodded his agreement. They heard someone calling for "Noiro" echoing in the hallway, so he handed the glass Lumos ball to Narcissa and morphed into his kitten form. Mewing, with a nod to Narcissa, he ran out of her closet and into the hallway seeking the owner of the voice.
"There you are my silly kitty," Draco said relieved. "Were you visiting mother?" Harry just mewed while batting the wiggling fingers that drew his kitten like attention.
"He was sleeping in my closet, son," she said in the doorway. "It is strange that he's comfortable in confined spaces."
"I think it's because he knows the dimensions of the smaller spaces and it's easier to control any given situation, should anything bad happen. I'm just guessing, of course," he said. "I'm going to my room to study."
"Very well my son, I will see you at dinner." She said, watching him stride away. Then she called forth a couple of her most trustworthy elves, they helped prepare the furniture and hope chest for shrinking and travel.
Once everything was completed she cast the detection spells and shrank them. She then placed the shrunken furniture into the hope chest and shrank the chest. She carried the chest with her for the rest of the day, until it was time to retire for the evening.
A tiny scratch was at her door at the end of the day, opening it she saw Noiro bound into her room. He ran to her closest and morphed into himself. She walked into the closet and saw the transformation. "I only have a moment, Draco's in the bath," Harry said. "Do you have it?"
Smiling she handed him the small chest. He took into his hands and then touched it to the fluttering snitch bell on his collar.
"One question Noiro," she asked. "How are you going to get there?"
He gave her a friendly yet very sly smile and just said, "Now, now. I can't be giving away all of my secrets, can I?" He morphed into his kitten form once again, dashing between her legs and ran out the door, as she let out a startled sound followed by true laughter.
He ran back to the room he shared with Draco, hopping onto the bed he waited for him to come out of his bathroom. This was his favorite part of the day because Draco was so comfortable in his own skin that he walked about his room in the nude air-drying most of the time.
Harry never once stopped to wonder why he wanted to watch, but it was something about the light of the setting sun colouring that pale skin that had him fascinated. He was always riveted by it and there were times when Draco would pick him up and let him rest on his stomach while he remained undressed.
It was times like these that Harry really listened to everything that Draco talked about. Draco had a strange habit of talking to the black kitten and eventually Harry learned some things that he never knew about Draco.
The most startling of all was the fact that Draco truly regretted his comments to the hippogryph, Buckbeak, back in third year and that he was forever grateful when he heard that that beautiful creature was able to escape. He was of course very curious about how the creature got away and Harry promised himself that this was one story he would one-day share with the Slytherin.
Finally when Draco was dry enough, he would lay down and go to sleep. Harry would lay curled up on his own pillow next the blonde head and watch him sleep for a time before he would fall asleep purring contentedly.
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TBC...