Chapter 7
Answers
Harry was woken by the sound of arguing downstairs and then his cousin storming out of the house. He heard his aunt screaming in frustration then the popping of Dobby returning to the bedroom.
"Dobby, what is going on?" He asked as he slid his feet into his slippers, something he had never before owned. Once seated at the table, he suddenly realized something. While he had never been in his aunt or uncle's bedroom, this being the only room she cleaned herself, he was rather sure that it was larger than it had been.
Shocked to realize that it had taken over three weeks to notice this, he shook his head and began to pay attention to what the small house elf was telling him.
"...bes upset yours lazy piggy of a cousin won'ts bes helping hers do whats she used to makes you dos, Master Harry," Dobby said as he sat down at Harry's feet.
"Dobby, the chair please?" He asked pushing out the chair across from him and refusing to speak until the elf got off the floor and was seated across from him. Once he had, Harry grinned at the house elf and asked: "Aunt Petunia really thought Dudley would lift a finger to help around the house?"
Dobby nodded in a rather serious manner before a grin came on his face as he said "Piggy boy escaped. Yours bad aunt was angry withs him."
A few minutes later a house elf delivered the morning meal and Dobby requested he stay so that he could go speak to his mistress. The house elf left the room and the other elf named Rosen asked if he needed anything.
Harry simply answered no then thought about what Dobby had told him about the other house elf. "Rosen, do you know about my future teachers?"
The house elf gave him a nod then said "My sister serves as a house elf at Hogwarts. She says that they answer to the castle, not the teachers so she could tells me about them. She says Professor Hufflepuffs really really likes her tea with lots of sugar and that the students in her house are really messy with the inks. That Professor Ravenclaw is very nice untils hes angry and then his Goblins side comes out. His students tends to hoard books, and are toos worried about rules. Professor Snakes isn't allowing house elves cleans his lab, he only lets them do his quarters and his two faces.
"Two faces?" Harry asked.
"Professor Snakes is really really means outside of his quarters and his house, but nicey and protective to his kids. He's really stern, and doesn't like pranks. And Professor Lions is worked too hard by Headmaster Longbeard. Headmaster Longbeards is away too much and Professor Lions is doing too many things and doesn't know that her young lion cubs are messy, ill-mannered and doesn't behave."
Dobby popped back into Harry's room and with him came the wizard who had been helping him. Rosen bowed to her master and then with a shy smile at Harry popped back to the manor house.
"Young Harry, how is everything?" Lucius asked as he saw the boy seemed a bit flustered. "Is everything alright?"
"I just have too many questions." He said with a sigh. Looking at the older wizard, he asked "I have read the books and am still confused. How will I know what house I will be in? What if the hat doesn't put me in a house? Why did this man Black betray my parents? Why does the headmaster of a school have the right to put me with my relatives? Why has no one looked into how they treat me? The books say I should have had someone checking in on me but there has been no one. Am I losing my mind or is this room bigger on the inside than the outside like the TARDIS?"
"Slow down," Lucius said amused as he began to realize that the young boy he had always seen as so self-assured every time he had met him in his previous life, had been as insecure as his own son had. "Let's go through these one at a time. The hat will decide, sometimes your family's choice ends up being yours. Your parents were Gryffindors, but your paternal grandmother was a Ravenclaw. And there is always a house, even if it isn't always a perfect fit."
"Regarding Black, I am going to look into it but I have to be careful how hard I dig into certain matters." Lucius knew that Black was innocent, but he was also sure that the rather impetuous idiot would be the first to understand why he had left him there when it protected the boy. "Same thing in regards to how Albus stuck you here. I have gotten a few leads but have to be careful in digging too deep."
"Oh." Harry said as he went quiet then he looked at him and asked: "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Yes, but it isn't going to seem like it. There is a book I would like you to read, it's about meditation and clearing your mind. There are wizards who can look at your thoughts and before I tell you how you can help, you must be able to secure your memories."
"Sort of like putting them in a locked diary and throwing away the key?" Harry asked.
"Yes, or sort of like putting them in your Gringotts vault and using a blood-protected key to keep things inside it safe," Lucius said reminding the young boy of what he had done the day before. "I will send the book over with Rosen. Now, don't expect too much at the beginning. This is a very difficult branch of magic, Harry."
"Now, Dobby used magic to make this room larger so that you would be comfortable here, but to the last half, I have no idea what a TARDIS is, so I can't accurately respond to that part of your question," Lucius answered.
"It's how the doctor travels between adventurers on a show my cousin dislikes. Ms. Figg, the batty woman who my aunt sometimes has to watch me when they go away, likes the show."
"Ms. Figg, wouldn't be a bit overrun with cats, would she?" Lucius asked. When he saw Harry frown but nod yes, he replied. "I saw her the first night I arrived, she was lurking nearby, almost like she was eavesdropping. I think you need to be careful around her."
"I will. I am not so sure I like her, she kept showing me photos of her dead cats." Harry said shuddering in remembrance.
Lucius looked around then telling Harry to be sure to get some fresh air when he could then asked where his owl was.
"She flew off last night and hasn't returned." He admitted.
"If she doesn't return by this evening, have Dobby call for a house elf so that he may let me know," Lucius replied as he apparated home. Locating his son spending time with his friends Greg and Vincent, he invited him to spend the day at his office and the two loutish pre-teens quickly left to return home.
Draco hurried to change into formal robes, while Lucius went to locate his wife. Not finding her anywhere in the house, he eventually located a note from her in the study.
"Lucius, am going to have brunch with my sister as was previously scheduled. Please remember to return home early from your office as we are expected at the Greengrass house for dinner this evening."
The note was signed Narcissa.
Hearing Draco returning, he moved towards the floo network and was soon at his office. Letting Draco explore while he updated his memos to his staff, he finished as soon as possible and then went to show his son around.
Narcissa was seated across from Andromeda, her sister had been very determined to speak to her when she had tried to cancel her lunch plans, so the blond witch had pulled herself together and had apparated to the Tonks house.
She had arrived just as her niece had been leaving to go to work. The newly training auror quickly waved to her and then apparated out of the back garden just as Andi arrived. "Oh good. I was worried I would have to go and drag you out this morning."
Narcissa looked around then asked, "Is your husband at home today?"
"No, he is off playing golf today," she announced as they sat down at the patio table set up for their mid-morning meal. Seeing her sister's confusion, she said "It is this dreadful muggle game that he plays with his father. The entire purpose of the game is to hit this little white ball around a large garden filled with strange hills, sand dunes, and water hazards. The odd part is that as you get better you play less to get a low score."
"He does this regularly?" She asked. "Why?"
"I have tried to understand, Dora goes with him every once in a while when they play on public property as she has been banned from the private club they play at after she lost control of the club they use and managed to give someone a concussion," Andi replied. "Ted and I have reached a deal. He doesn't give me a hard time about reading my novels, and I don't give him a hard time about his little game of golf."
"Men do the strangest things," Narcissa said shaking her head. The topic of men had her smile fading as she reached for her teacup. When her sister stopped her, she noticed the probing look and said: "I don't want to talk about it."
"About what?" Andi asked.
"Lucius. Last night was the end of the summer quarter," she said struggling to keep her lip from trembling. "He left so quickly, I just don't want to talk about."
Andi had planned on bringing up the Pureblood witches guide to a fruitful...etc. But looking at the miserable expression on her sister's face said: "Well eat up, we have things to do today."
Narcissa didn't want to eat anything but knew that her sister would chide her into doing so, so she ate half the bowl of fruit and almost a third of the muffin before lying and saying she had already eaten something before coming over.
"Now, I have a great plan today," Andi replied as she quickly changed plans on the fly. She knew just what her sister needed and that while it might take some convincing to get her to agree to the entire package today, she was sure that a girlie girl like Cissy would enjoy at least part of the afternoon plans.
Four hours later, Narcissa was regretting every bad thing she had ever said about a muggle as she sank deeper into the massage table and looked over at her sister. "Muggles really do this all the time?"
Checking the door to make sure that the two female masseurs had left, Andromeda nodded. "It's one of the finer things in life, but yes. Muggle women do this quite regularly. Up next is someone who does your hair, gives you a manicure and a pedicure."
"They don't consider this demeaning?" Narcissa asked as she slid off the table like her sister and being very careful of the towel wrapped around her, slipped into a robe.
"Narcissa, very often they have trained for years to be able to do this," Andi replied. "By the way, I would like to point out that in spite of your fears, you didn't die when the masseur gave you a massage, with you only wearing a towel."
When the blond flushed red, Andi said "Let's shower and then dress back our clothes. They will give us a slightly different robe for that part."
Andi and she were soon dressed, coiffed and painted. Exiting the spa, Andi had debated speaking to Cissy but seeing her sister notice the time, she said: "What is it?"
"I am supposed to be meeting Lucius in fifteen minutes, so that we may head over to the Greengrass home for dinner this evening." She replied.
"Let's go. I will show you a spot you can apparate from." Andromeda replied. Once there, the sisters hugged and Narcissa thanked her for the day spend relaxing. Soon the blond had disappeared and Andromeda arrived home to find her husband had cooked dinner and that her daughter was once again seated in the parlor, reading Cissy's book and laughing hysterically.
The next month passed, Harry kept reading the books and attempting to understand the book on protecting his mind. He was more than ready to head to Hogwarts after listening to the Dursleys arguing.
The truth about who was doing the chores had come out and Vernon had attempted to force Harry once again, only to spend the weekend locked up in the basement. Dobby had released him then had told him that was his only warning about attempting to attack his nephew.
Dudley had been furious to caught out by his mother in some of his bad behavior and his father had refused to listen to his wife until he had caught his son stealing cash from him. Dudley had tried to blame Harry but Vernon had been being nagged by his wife to do the lawn because it wouldn't do for the neighbors to see her doing it.
Vernon had attempted to order his son to mow the lawn as there was no way he himself was doing the work, only for his son to not only refuse but to throw a temper tantrum in PUBLIC! The scene had had the eyes of the entire neighborhood on them and Vernon was not pleased.
Now, a mere forty-eight hours before Harry was to leave for Hogwarts, he found himself worried about his schooling and what would happen to his things when he left the Dursley residence.
Dobby had assured him that all would be fine, but Harry still had a small voice at the back of his head telling him that this was too good to be true. He had seen his rescuer once a week for the last month, the man with the long blond hair had regularly sent books and letters answering his questions as well.
He was expected that afternoon to visit and Harry had written down a series of questions he hoped the mysterious man would answer before the beginning of September.
Hearing the Dursleys having yet another session of shouting and doors slamming, Harry looked out the window to see Dudley was storming off and his father was glaring up at the window Harry was standing in front of.
When Harry heard the sound of the mower a few minutes later, he began to hear the other man cursing loudly as he was forced to mow his garden for the first time in years by himself.
Noticing that his aunt seemed rather quiet, he asked Dobby if he knew what she was doing. "Yes, Harry Potters aunt is pacing back and forth makings threats against yourself and complainings about doing works, saying thats the only reasons she kepts you was revenge against..."
Dobby had puffed up and was now glaring down at the floor. "Bad Aunties must be punished."
"Dobby?" Harry saw the elf turn a darker shade of crimson for a moment and then the house-elf called out in an angry tone for Rosen. "Dobby? What is it?"
"Dobbys be returning momentarily, Harrys." Dobby announced when the second elf arrived. The small young elf popped out and then reappeared moments later with his master who nodded to the boy then opened the door and exited the bedroom, inviting Harry to join him.
Harry took in the strange outfit the older wizard was wearing and longed to ask if it was something he would be required to wear at some point. When they were on the stairs, Lucius suggested to Dobby that he take Harry to the park and watch over him while he dealt with the situation at the house. He told the elf he would call him when it was time to return and to remember to remain invisible.
Lucius entered the lower level for the first time since he had dealt with the muggles. Walking towards the sound of the shrill female voice ranting and raving, he was considering just killing her, when the voice of his reaper reminded him that he couldn't do that.
"Would you please cease your whining?" He drawled as he entered the room that appeared to be the kitchen. The woman in it went silent for one blessed second of complete peace and quiet and then took a deep breath and began to harangue him in regards to Dobby.
Lucius let her run on and on, amused at how creative the annoying house elf had been in regards to forcing the muggles to do as he wanted. When she moved on to her litany of complaints regarding the boy, he held his wand in front of her nose and watched as she went silent.
"Let's be clear. I do not give a damn about your wants. Harry Potter is not your bloody house elf. He is a wizard, you are a mere muggle and not even a muggle worth anything. Now, the only reason I didn't kill you when I showed up and saw how you were treating your nephew is that you share the same blood as him." Lucius announced. "DO NOT MAKE ME REGRET THIS GENEROUS ACT."
"Generous?" She shrilly retorted. "You consider what you have done, generous?"
"Are you still breathing? Is your son still breathing and not having been turned into ham and or pork chops? Is your worthless husband still breathing in spite of my dearest fantasies?" He inquired with a raised eyebrow. "So that we understand each other, your husband shares no blood with young Harry, I could end his life without a second thought. Now, just a reminder, you only need to be alive, not conscious for Harry to still share your blood."
The muggle turned a rather interesting shade of green for a moment then shut her trap so Lucius suggested she sit down, that they were not finished speaking.
It looked like Petunia Dursley was considering not doing this, but common sense seemed to have prevailed as she was soon seated at the dining room table. "Now, let's talk about the funds you have been receiving to house young Harry."
"I don't know what you are talking about." Petunia said in a stilted tone.
"Strange, according to my house elf, you were overheard ranting about how if it wasn't for that money stopping you would let that fat slob you call a husband just end the boy. Now, you have never been a very intelligent woman, Petunia, but even you have to know that I would believe Dobby over yourself."
The woman looked in pain but eventually, she began to sputter out the truth and Lucius was furious as she confessed to having been given funds to support the boy. "How much? Oh, and not only the funds your government has been handing over to you but like James Potter, I am from an old magical family and I am rather positive that funds were put in place for Harry's support."
"Two hundred and fifty pounds a month." She said not mentioning the special funds for clothes and school supplies. Lucius who had hired a muggle to do research in regards to the Dursleys and Harry simply raised his eyebrow and she spilled the rest.
"How much have you actually spent on your nephew?" He inquired. When she muttered all of it, he asked "Really? I run a rather large magical corporation, Mrs. Dursleys, care to revise that answer?"
"As little as possible." She admitted. When he inquired where the rest of it went, she began to list all of the extras she had purchased for her son and husband over the years.
"Interesting," Lucius said knowing he had to rein in his anger. "From here on out, you are to set up a bank account in your nephew's name. Half of those funds are to be placed in his bank account. If this isn't done, just remember, your husband is of no use to me and in truth, I only need either your son or yourself and being conscious isn't a requirement."
Petunia gulped and said "B-but Vernon..."
"Vernon Dursley is no longer in charge. I am." Lucius said in a silky tone. "In fact, call him in from outside."
"No...no, I uh, I will, I will figure out what to tell him." She said nervously as she looked out the window towards where the loud cursing could be heard.
"Petunia, I told you, I am in charge. Now call Vernon." He said in an almost kind tone. When it looked like she was about to refuse, he snapped "NOW!"
Petunia went to the doorway and called her husband into the house. When he came still muttering threats against the boy, herself and even their own son, she was terrified at what the freak might do.
"Well well, I see the axiom is correct. A little hard work never killed anyone." Lucius announced from where he was seated at the dining room table. When the fat slob rushed towards him, Lucius simply placed a chair in his way and watched laughing as the hot and sweaty man bounced when he hit the floor. "Now, I suggest you have a seat, Dursley."
Lucius watched as Petunia muttered something to her husband and then did as ordered. "Good piggy."
"Now, let's talk, shall we," Lucius said. "Harry is leaving for school in two days. At that time, his bedroom will cease to exist. Whatever idiotic plan you had thought up, will not be happening. Your wife and I just had a long discussion regarding the theft of funds the two of you have been perpetrating against the Muggle government in regards to money set up for Harry Potter's welfare and schooling."
"Petunia!"
"Let me be very clear, she didn't want to tell me, I have my ways of making anyone talk, including a very helpful bank president at the Bank of England. I have copies of all of your transactions going back to the month after Harry was handed over to you." Lucius said grimacing as he recalled what he had learned about the boy being dropped off in a basket on the front stoop in the middle of the night.
Vernon looked as if he had been punched in the face at that news and Lucius took pleasure in telling him. "Yes, I know about your rather unorthodox method of securing yourself bonus funds from your job. Now, what I am rather curious about is what has been happening to the funds you have been receiving from the Potter estate?"
Vernon didn't want to answer, he saw the way that his wife's eyes narrowed as she looked at him and knew that she would be no help when she found out that he had been squirreling the funds away with his sister's help.
"Let me help you out by telling you that there is no such thing as a crime without a paper trail," Lucius said. "You should know, I have taken the liberty of returning those bonus funds to their proper owner. Harry's funds are now in his name. Your wife has agreed, not willingly I admit that from here on out, that unless you would prefer to spend the next ten to twenty years in a muggle prison to place half the government funds into a bank account for Harry. Now, I suggest you tell your son the reality of his school education."
Vernon made an attempt to stand and Lucius saw his wife's hand tightly grasp his arm. "I would let your wife guide you in this, Dursley. She is more aware of what I am capable of than yourself. Oh, and while we are having this moment, let me be clear. Your wife is of use to me, your son, less so. You, you are of no use to me. So, so much as think another single violent thought about your wife or nephew and I will kill you."
Standing, Lucius looked at the obese man and said: "I also don't make idle threats."
With that, he called for Dobby who reappeared with Harry. He saw Dursley's face turn puce as he struggled with the effort not to attack his nephew, "Harry, let's go speak in private."
Upstairs, Lucius explained that Dobby was going to take him to Kings Cross station and then about how he was well known in the magical world. "It would be best if you were to act if you have never heard of me. Also when you meet my son, who greatly resembles myself do not react to the resemblance. Harry, I might be able to make a few changes while you are at Hogwarts, but this will only work if you trust me. This might prove difficult because you are going to be hearing some rather disparaging things about myself and my family."
When the boy nodded, Lucius asked if he was ready for him to press against his shields. Harry smiled and said, "I think that I have created a great wall, sir."
Lucius nodded and when they were both seated, he began to press against the boy's shields and to his surprise, a man he didn't know appeared in his mind and told him he was the doctor.
Lucius pulled back and decided to try to access a different memory only to run into a different man who told him he was the doctor. A few different approaches had him meeting several different men who all told him that they were the doctor. Noticing that Harry was growing a bit tired, Lucius pressed again, this time he got passed the doctors only to run into a locked blue box labeled Police Box.
Nothing he tried allowed him to maneuver through that box and Lucius pulled out, then asked: "Who is the doctor and what is that?"
"That is the Tardis and the men were actors who played the doctor. There have been seven of them." Harry said then a bit more uncertain, he asked: "I know it's not what the book says to do, but..."
"No it doesn't, but I think this might work better for you. It certainly is a unique manner of protecting your thoughts and emotions." Lucius said as he realized the boy would be able to hold his own against the Headmaster and maybe even Severus in spite of his time in the muggle world.
"Sir, that one book you sent me, it said I had relatives, just not close ones, right?" Harry asked. When Lucius agreed, he said, "Why didn't the Headmaster send me to one of them?"
"I am not sure, I suspect that he wanted you in the muggle world for some as yet unknown reason," Lucius stated. When the boy yawned, he said "I think you need to head to bed earlier. Is your owl still flying tonight?"
"Yes, he normally arrives about nine," Harry replied.
"Tomorrow, I suggest that you keep him in his cage as you will be leaving very early for London the next day. Dobby, be sure that Harry has his trunk packed and that he has a picnic basket for the trip. I rather fear that the train only has sweets and other unhealthy snacks." Lucius stated. "Dobby will pop you to Kings Cross early, more than likely around nine. Don't worry, the muggles won't be able to access anything you leave behind as this room will cease to exist for them. If you forget anything, Dobby who will be checking in on you once a day will bring it to you at Hogwarts."
"Sir, thank you," Harry said quietly. "Without your help, I doubt I would be going to school."
"All I am doing is ensuring that you are doing what your parents would want for you, Harry," Lucius said feeling awkward as he saw the young boy seated across from him not as a chore or a pest, but as an innocent boy who was about to be caught up in a world that in spite of all of his work would want a piece of him. "Harry, just be yourself on the train. You will make friends, I promise."
With that, Lucius struggled with himself as he reached over and messed up the already messy hair and then needing to end the maudlin feelings in the room said: "And for Merlin's sake, try to fix your hair so that no one thinks you're an escaped Azkaban prisoner."
"I will do my best, sir," Harry said with a cheeky grin.
"Somehow, I suspect you won't succeed." He muttered as he apparated back home. Locating his own son, he stood in the doorway and said "Draco, might I suggest that you would have more room in that trunk if you removed that broom you aren't allowed to take this year."
"Father." Draco looked his way and saw that he was frowning and standing there with crossed arms. With a heavy sigh meant to guilt his father into changing his mind about the broom, Draco slowly removed it from its spot in the trunk.
"Why don't I put that back in the broom shed, just so that we are sure that it remains there," Lucius said in an amused tone. When Draco pouted, he said "Son, nothing you try, I haven't tried myself. I even convinced one of the house elves to bring it to school for me. When my father caught me, he took the broom away and I was horrified to admit the next year that I was the only second-year Slytherin who didn't have his broom at school."
"Your father took your broom away?" Draco asked looking suitable scared enough for Lucius' peace of mind that he told him the rest of the story. His son was laughing as they walked together to the broom shed and placed his new Cleansweep on the correct shelf.
On their way back inside, Draco once again inquired about the poor pureblood wizard stuck living with muggles. "He is doing fine, Draco thanks to you and all of the help you gave me."
"I was thinking about what you told me, about muggles not being all bad," Draco stated as they arrived in the main family parlor. Sitting across from his father, Draco explained his plan to his father who was struggling with his shock. "So what do you think?"
"How do you intend to search out such a group?" His father asked.
"Well, I just had the idea. I haven't figured out all of the angles yet, father." Draco replied. "Do you think it would work?"
"I have to admit, I would have never come up with such a plan, but it does have its merits. Look around, come up with a list of names and I will do some research into their families. One thing, make sure it is a diverse group, don't just include those with an interest in Quidditch, Draco." Lucius warned.
"Of course not, what if, as horrifying a thought as it is, he doesn't like Quidditch," Draco said. Lucius chuckled and guided his son over to the chess set. They had been playing every evening for the last month before the evening meal and Lucius was coming to understand his son in ways that he hadn't in his other life.
When Narcissa arrived, the two Malfoy males stood to greet her. Once seated while waiting for six o'clock, she inquired about their days. The family moved to the dining room while Draco told his mother his plan and then about how Greg Goyle had been hexed by Pansy Parkinson.
"The Parkinsons are going to have a hard time marrying that hot-tempered young lady off," Narcissa said with a shaking of her head. That brought to mind another of her husband's old compatriots and she requested that Lucius join her after dinner in her study.
Draco grinned because this would just about give him enough time before bedtime to return to the shed and try to rescue his broom.
Narcissa saw the knowing look on Lucius' face at Draco's glee and wanted to laugh. Over the last three months, her husband and son had gotten so much closer but Lucius had also managed to hold onto his role of authoritarian with him. Something told her that a certain Cleansweep broom was about to end up locked in his study and that their son was going to be unhappy.
Draco had no sooner seen his mother standing which would signify that the meal was over then he called out goodnight to his parents. "I believe that our son is not going to heed my words of caution earlier this evening."
Narcissa saw the smile Lucius was trying to hide and said: "Why don't you let him think he succeeded and then let Severus inform him that he hasn't."
Lucius held out his arm for his wife as they walked towards her private area and asked: "You don't think that rather cruel?"
"No, I think that it is a lesson our son needs to learn." She said as they entered her study and were soon seated. "Thank you for joining me. I have a lot I need to speak to you about. Most of it I was going to wait until Draco had left for school, but I rather fear you might be busy for a while once that happens if the rumors I heard are true."
"My dear?" He asked.
Narcissa hid her surprise at the endearment but carried on. "Firstly, once Draco starts school, I have a small project of my own I would like to begin."
Narcissa explained what her sister had mentioned. "I was thinking I could throw a Halloween ball to help fund the new wing."
"Might I suggest a Christmas ball?" He suggested. Seeing her looking his way, he said: "Greengrass mentioned that the Ministry has chosen to end its traditional New Years Eve Ball due to the events of the last two balls."
"A brilliant idea, husband," she said as she recalled how the last two balls had ended with people, none she knew of course, but several attendees had ended up charged with violating the muggle secrecy act after those events.
Narcissa then explained the rest of her plan and to her relief, Lucius told her he was in complete agreement. As she discussed her committee choices, she said: "It is going to be rather challenging due to the recent events."
"Are you speaking of the arrest of Walden Macnair?" He inquired.
"You didn't hear? I guess the rumors about Fudge are also true." She asked and when he said he had worked from the manor house that day, she said "As you know, an auror was found dead with the dark mark on his arm. Macnair was caught with it on his arm when he was arrested, what you might not be aware of was that he was killed while being transported to Azkaban by trying to escape. He was killed by a muggle boat."
"Interesting," Lucius said. He had arranged for someone to kill the moron in Azkaban, it looks like it wasn't needed. "Now, what do you know about Cornelius Fudge?"
"He is under a healer's care after his assistant, that Delores Umbridge woman attacked him. The rumors are spreading that she was in love with Macnair. An unrequited love."
Lucius almost choked as he tried not to laugh. His anonymous note to his former comrade had only suggested that it might be time for Umbridge to be replaced. He had left how up to them. Clearly, they had issues with both the Toad and Macnair.
Narcissa didn't even bother hiding her laughter. Andi and she had all but fallen off the sofa when her niece had informed the two of them what had been happening that day. When she had regained control she said: "Arthur Weasley and his youngest son was caught in the middle of Umbridge's barrage of hexes and they were taken to St. Mungos as well."
Lucius was thrilled with that news, it played into his plans for young Harry. "I am rather surprised not to have been summoned."
"For now, Amelia Bones has been required to step in to help run things, but I heard that Dumbledore was at the Ministry when Andi's daughter was heading home for the evening," Narcissa stated.
Arthur Weasley was feeling rather queasy as Molly, their son Ron and himself returned home from the hospital. Seeing his family minus his two eldest sons waiting for them, he let Ron take the lead and tell them his version of the story, only stepping in when his son's story stretched a bit.
Ron showed off his bandage near his jaw and was bragging how he would have to return to St. Mungos the morning of September first so the older wizard let his wife pour him some pumpkin juice. "Boys, no, Percy, please be sure to supervise as Ron makes sure he has everything packed for school. Fred, George, double check your own trunks as your mother is not going to be able to tonight."
The twins rushed off with Ginny trailing behind, determined to spend as much time as possible with them before she was left alone at the house.
"Arthur, are you sure you are alright?" Molly was fretting over him.
"I am fine, Molls. Have a seat." He suggested. "I only have a few bumps and bruises."
"That woman!" The squat woman was about to rant about Umbridge when her husband stopped her. "She is..."
"Fired. It's fine, my dear." Arthur said. "Now, I doubt it has occurred to Ron, but this means he won't be riding the Hogwarts Express to school this year. He will need to be flooed there after his appointment."
Molly froze, she had not realized herself what Ron needing to be at his appointment would mean. "Dear, maybe we can arrange for an appointment tomorrow so that he doesn't have to miss his first Express ride?"
"Healer Lipswit insisted that he wait forty-eight hours, Molly. Now, I will take him to his appointment, I know how much Ginny and yourself look forward to seeing the children off at the beginning of the school year." He said as he hugged his wife. "I will speak to Ron later tonight. Now, I do have some good news. Due to the attack, I am going to be getting a small payout. I was thinking that maybe we should take it and go visit Charlie at Christmas time."
"Oh, wonderful news!" She said. "I have been so worried about him and his insistence on living so far away in Romania."
Upstairs, the Weasley children were shouting back and forth between rooms, the twins ignoring Percy's demands that they leave their pranking supplies home while he also insisted on Ron repacking his trunk, saying it was a mess.
When Ron groaned and played too ill to do so, Percy smacked him with his pillow and said "Ron, your injury is to your mouth, not your arms. Move it."
"But Mum..."
"Mum is too busy taking care of dad. It won't kill you, Ronald." He said as he watched his brother slowly obeying his directives. Noticing that Ron's robes were a little short, he frowned and went to the closet where extra robes were kept and found some that had belonged to Bill during his third year. "Here, Ron try these."
When the robes worked a little better, Percy removed the smaller robes and placed them in the pile for his mother to take to sell like she usually did when things were outgrown and or wouldn't work for the next Weasley.
When the twins and Ginny arrived and Ron's trunk was packed to Percy's standards, their sister once again asked Ron about his adventure that day and he was thrilled to be the center of attention as he repeated his story.
TO BE CONTINUED
