Chapter 9

Long, black locks met short, ginger ones as George pulled his date into a friendly hug. She smiled as she hugged him back, before they both turned her to face his friends. "Everyone, meet my lovely companion for the evening, Perseph-."

"Please," she stopped him, flashing a sweet smile at Ron, Hermione, and Harry, "just call me Seph."

"Right, Seph," he corrected casually before continuing, "this is Ron, Hermione, and Harry." George motioned to each person in turn with a smug smile. He was feeling thoroughly proud of himself for having snatched up such a dazzling date for the evening. George was convinced she might even be the prettiest woman in all of Diagon Alley, especially since Harry was nearly spitting up his drink at the mere sight of her, and was now attempting rather pathetically to steal glances at her every couple of seconds without being noticed. Ron stared dumbfounded at the black haired girl until Hermione smacked him coldly on the head. Seph seemed to be oblivious to the scene her appearance had caused, and George was more pleased than ever. "Now that introductions are through, shall we have us a round of drinks? I'm afraid you missed our celebratory round of shots, Seph, but that's not to say we can't have more." He directed at the doe eyed girl beside him.

"I'd love a drink. I'm sorry I missed the first, though, what were you celebrating?" She asked looking between the four friends.

George made to answer but Harry cut him off before he could, "Hermione's been hired for a new job."

"Oh yes, it's a very good job, too," Hermione interrupted proudly, "at Curiosa Inc. I don't know if you've heard of them or-"

"Oh, off course!" Seph exclaimed. "Curiosa Inc. is renowned around the world. After all, Erenwin's research on time sequence disturbances is what led to our understanding of irreversible paradoxes, which, of course, led to the approval and thus perfection of the time turners of today. I find it funny, though, that after all of Erenwin's work, he was unable to use the knowledge he gained to prevent his own untimely demise. Maybe he simply realized the need to allow room for fresh, young minds to enter Curiosa's depths in order to truly expand on the vast banks of knowledge we already have. Don't you think? I mean where would we be if stuttering Steven Spangleburg hadn't stumbled on the six basic rules of Rune magic? Just think, people all over Tepexpo wondering why their incantations wouldn't summon their bird-overlords! It's just a good thing Spangleburg's stutter kicked in when it did, or we might be speaking a very different language right now." Seph finished with a little laugh; clearly she found her own comment rather humorous, but her audience appeared utterly dumbfounded.

Hermione, not accustomed to being shown up, was visibly bothered now and only responded with a nod of the head. Harry was bothered too. When the girl first entered the pub he had instantly recognized her as the same girl he met while visiting the Giant's Causeway, and the more he looked at her, the more certain he became. Her face was striking, sharp yet somehow alluring, and Harry knew he couldn't be wrong. Yet something was different. The girl, Seph, as she called herself, made no sign that she recognized Harry from any previous encounters, nor did she carry herself with the mysterious self-assuredness of someone who seemed to know more than you, as she had when he met her on the Northern coast. Instead she was playing the part of an innocent, intelligent, young woman who was simply out on a date with a boy.

It was an act. Harry was sure of it. But he was not going to be the one to spoil George's first night out since before the war ended. And anyway, her motives for the deceit could be innocent. After all, although he hated admitting it, he was rather famous, and had a plentiful following of fan girls who would be mental enough to stalk him in just such a way as this.

Deciding that he had spoiled enough days and nights by rushing into plans without enough information, he resigned himself to passively monitoring the situation all night.

And when he did, it was decidedly uneventful. After Seph's initial demonstration of knowledge to Hermione, she did little to draw attention to herself, although if she wasn't already hanging on to the arm of another man, her good looks would have easily drawn the attention of every man in the pub, and some women too.

The five of them took round after round of Dragon's Breath, Troll Funk, and, after a period, straight fire whiskey. Seph gladly participated in drinking all night, much to George's delight, and Hermione's disapproval (she was now being shown up in her drinking tolerance too). They stayed until the room began to spin and Harry found himself stumbling up the stairs to his flat, not entirely sure how he had arrived at that point.

He kicked off his boots and headed for his sofa, his mind returning to the strange appearance of the strange girl. Though he wanted to believe she was harmless, something tugged at the edges of his mind, warning him to be cautious of her. But he collapsed onto the cushions, and before his head hit the pillows, he was asleep.


Early morning had never been the boy's favorite time of day. Early morning was the time of day when only birds and worms ought to be awake. A time when dew ought to cling to shadowed grass and leaves, waiting for the sun to emerge and burn it away. A time when lovers ought to be entangled in each others sleeping bodies, warm under the covers. Early morning, before dawn, was not the proper time to stand shivering, half naked on a balcony staring off into space, yet that's exactly what Draco Malfoy was doing. Although the air was freezing and the wind smelled of coming snow, Draco hardly noticed a thing. He closed his eyes and listened to the wind howl through the trees surrounding Malfoy Manor. The sound revitalized him better than any sleep, for when he dreamed all he heard was pain, all he saw were nightmares.

No, now he would just listen to the wind. Feel the sky slowly change into lighter shades of gray. Soon the sun would betray him and rise above the horizon, and he would have to start his routine; caring for his father, so traumatized from the abuse inflicted upon him by the Dark Lord that he was no longer able to care for himself. And his mother was so damaged herself that staying busy by purging the house of everything that reminded her of the man that tore her family apart was all she could do to keep from following in her husband's footprints. And Draco was there to keep everyone on track.

He breathed in shards of cold air, letting the feeling distract him from his thoughts. He heard the sound of a tiny fist knock on his bedroom door and knew his time was up. That would be one of the house elves coming to alert him that his father had awoken. Draco opened his eyes and scanned the vast property below. That was the real world, the one where his father, once so proud, was slowly losing his mind, and his mother did anything she could to ignore it. His predawn dream world had ended.

He followed his morning routine. He helped his father clean away his sleep, helped feed him breakfast brought up by a house elf, and helped his father brush his teeth and change his clothes.

"I'm not taking you outside today, father. It's going to snow, and it's just too cold. I've had a fire lit for you though, in the big fireplace in your study. Let me take you there." He explained to his father, though he wasn't sure what difference it made explaining anything anymore.

Lucius mumbled agreements as he allowed himself to be led out of his bedroom into the study. "Indeed… Far too cold… big fireplace 's… "

Leaving his father with a house elf in case something was needed, Draco headed downstairs for a cup of tea. But just as he sat down to take a sip his mother waltzed into the kitchen with an envelope in her hand. "Good morning, dear, how are you?" She sang to her only son. Draco responded simply. "How is your father this morning, dear?" she asked, and a twinge of sadness crept into her voice as she spoke.

"Worse," Draco answered seriously, "I don't think we will be able to keep him here forever, mother."

"I am not sending your father to live out his existence in some horrible white room in St. Mungo's. He is a Malfoy. He is not some commoner."

"He would like to see you, he misses you."

Narcissa gave her son a sad smile before responding, "And I miss him. But you know I can't see him like that, and I will not remove him from his own home, I don't want to hear anything more on the topic." She declared, and then continued, "An owl brought this in this morning. It's from the ministry."

Draco looked up in surprise. "What would they want with us?"

"Oh dear, any number of things, I can't even imagine what it could be about." She stated uninterestedly. "I've been waiting for you to open it."

Draco took the rolled up piece of parchment from his mother who took a seat beside him. He unrolled it and squinted at the words suspiciously. After a few moments his mother urged him to reveal what it said. "It appears we have been summoned to the ministry." He spoke through tight lips.

"A summons? But what could they want to summon us for? We've all been pardoned for our crimes." Narcissa said, hardly hiding the worry in her voice.

"I'm not sure it's about us. They seem to believe we have information crucial to an ongoing investigation."

"Have they summoned all of us?"

Draco looked at his mother and realized what she meant. "Well that's too damn bad for them. He's not going. He would never allow himself to be seen like that if he were in his right mind, and he's far from being in his bloody right mind. No. Absolutely not."

"It's a summons Draco. You can't tell the ministry no. Especially after their generous offer to us-"

"Generous!" Draco laughed bitterly. "Accepting an exuberant donation from our vaults in Gringott's after leaving father in the condition he's in is hardly what I call generous. And those fucking half-bred- !"

"Draco Malfoy, watch your language when you speak to me." Narcissa warned with fire in her eyes. "Your father is more responsible than most men for the condition he is currently in. And seeing as I am at home sipping tea with my son rather than rotting away in Azkaban at the mercy of the dementors, I would say that their offer was indeed generous." She stared at Draco daring him to protest her, but he was wise enough to drop the subject. The thought of his mother crumpled in a cell surrounded by the haunting mist and hanging despair of dementors was not something he wanted to dwell on.

"I'll owl the ministry and tell them that father can't travel. Maybe they'll accept just the two of us."

"Offer them to send their investigators here instead. I would be much more comfortable in my own home than in that ministry so soon after our 'change in lifestyle'." Draco scoffed at her delicate choice of words, but she continued as if she didn't hear him. "Plus, it's been so long since I've hosted guests, and I do love to entertain."

"They're not guests mother. They're going to interrogate us."

"Yes well send the owl right away. It's best not to leave them waiting."

Draco rolled his eyes, and grumbled something about 'bloody ministry filth", but Narcissa seemed not to notice.


Harry knelt behind a large oak deep in Briar Woods. His legs ached from traversing the rough terrain. A nettle branch stuck in his side where he crouched. And despite the cold wind, beads of sweat gathered on his face. His muscles started to burn, but he didn't move from his spot. While hardly taking a breath, he stayed perfectly still, then he heard what he had been listening for. A twig snapping under someone's foot was all it took for Harry to spring into action. But he thought of his training, of taking things slow. Constant vigilance.

He concentrated on what he wanted to do, then in a moment he swung around the tree coming up behind his opponent. Without as much as a whisper, he cast his spell and ropes of light laced around until his opponent was completely encased in shining magical bindings until he collapsed on the ground. Harry made a final motion with his wand and the target disappeared with a loud "whoosh". As soon as he was through, all he wanted to do was collapse on the ground and sleep forever, but the woods were not yet safe.

An instant later Harry heard the muffled sounds of a wand cutting the air, and he instinctively turned on the spot jabbing his own wand towards the sounds he heard and focused on the spells he intended to use. In the blink of an eye, he stood staring at his second downed opponent, disarmed and bound by light on the forest floor. With a final movement of his wand, the captive disappeared with a swoosh of wind just as the previous one had. The moment it was gone, Harry heard a great rumbling and the ground beneath his feet started to shake. The trees all around him quaked and sunk into the earth and disappeared. Harry watched in dazed amazement as his world continued to tremble away until he stood in a large room in total darkness. Then, finally, light burst through an opening, and filled the room until every corner was lit, and following the light came a tall man with dirty blonde hair and a wide grin exposing his large teeth. He entered the training center where Harry now stood motionless.

Once the man was close enough to Harry to touch, he spoke, still grinning, "If I wasn't already impressed by your performance during training, this would have definitely convinced me that you're perfectly capable to enter the field."

Harry let out a relieved sigh that he hadn't realized he had been holding in. "Thank you, sir."

"Of course, I don't think I've ever seen anyone perform so effectively in the practical portion of the exam, not anytime recently that is. But I'm sure you want something to drink and a nice soft place to sit. Come on." Vince Blackwood motioned for Harry to lead the way out of the door through which he had entered.

Harry marched towards the dining room, grateful for Blackwood's perceptiveness. While Harry was in action, it was easy enough to ignore his pains and discomforts, but now that the threat and adrenalin was gone, all his mind could focus on was the dryness of his mouth and the way his body ached.

"The test is really something impressive. I think I might be sore for a week after that." Harry joked with Blackwood as they walked, with Blackwood now leading the way.

"Right you are. We don't send just anyone out to catch dangerous criminals. Sure, anyone could study enough about using spells and what you should do in a life and death situation, but until you've really been through it, you'll never truly know."

Harry looked down, thinking of all the times his life was in danger, and he knew that Blackwood was right. "To tell you the truth, though," Harry chuckled as he spoke, "I was mostly just worried about passing the written portion. I've never been the top of my class when it came to the reading and essays and all that school work. That was usually Hermione's sort of thing."

"Yes, I guess you would have learned by now the cruel lessons of being faced with death. But now you've got some expertise to go with it, eh? Some fine tuning, as they say." Blackwood commented, and Harry noticed that he never lingered on the topic of Harry's colorful and violent past, a trait for which Harry was much appreciative. "As it happens, you did just fine on the written test, and I've got to tell you, you did absolutely brilliant on the practical one. Once the report starts circulating-"

"Oh, you think I'll be famous? Perhaps people will want my autograph." Harry teased. Just what I need, he thought, something else to draw attention to myself.

Blackwood was hardly bothered by the comment, he let out a thundering laugh that was absolutely contagious. "I dare say they might, Potter." Then he opened a door along the hallway they had been walking and went inside, Harry following behind.

Inside was a kind of break room for the department of Magical Law Enforcement. One wall was lined with a buffet style set up, mostly fruit, sandwiches, and salad. Another wall had a large opening with a counter top which allowed access to a simple café. Most people left the office for any food more substantial than that.

Harry rushed to the buffet table needing no invitation. He snatched up as much sandwiches and fruit as would fit on his plate and filled a large glass of water before finding himself a table. It wasn't until he took a seat across from two fellow auror trainees, both with their eyebrows high on their foreheads, did he realize that he was being stared at by most of the members of the lunch room. It took him only a second more to realize why, when he heard the howling laughter of Vince Blackwood pierce through the whole room. The laughter had a contagious effect.

One of Harry's fellow students, a young, stocky wizard with a heavy build and a strong jaw by the name of Cameron, spoke first, "Are you sure you should be eating, Harry? You look like you need a doctor."

"Or a bath" chimed the witch sharing their table winning another round of laughter from those nearby enough to hear.

"Er, sorry. I forgot I hadn't washed up yet." Harry tried as his cheeks started to burn.

"How could you forget? You're filthy!" Cameron gaped, "and bloody too. You look like you just- just- "

"Just took the practical portion of my auror's exam?" Harry offered innocently.

The other boy's jaw dropped as he absorbed Harry's words. "Did you really? But the test isn't for another, let me see, 5 weeks!"

"It's sort of a personal favor, mutually. I needed to get in the program, and Kingsley needed my help-"

"Kingsley needed- ? But, as in Kingsley Shaklebolt? The minister of magic? You're on a first name basis with the minister of magic?" He demanded, looking between Harry and the witch, as if trying to find them joking. When he found none he seemed to resign himself to the truth, "I wish I were famous." He said, sitting back in his seat.

Harry snorted in response, but before he had any time to speak, Blackwood joined him at the table.

"You did well today, Potter" He congratulated again. "Your work here today is through. Head home and we'll contact you with the results of all your tests. Maybe wash yourself first, though." He teased, and the girl giggled.

"Yeah, thanks." Harry looked down at his hands holding a sandwich, realized that they too were heavily soiled, and considered washing them before eating. But his stomach growled and he immediately changed his mind, tearing into the sandwich.

The girl sitting at their table looked at him with mock amazement, "You've really worked up an appetite haven't you?"

"Wull yeah, 's pretty diffigult y' know?" he answered with his mouth full.

"Go on then, give us some tips. How was it?" she asked eagerly.

"No chance," he said gulping down his food, "part of the agreement."

The rest of the meal was spent with Harry's two friends trying to probe him for information, and then, when it was unsuccessful, they resigned to imagining what difficult trials lay in store for them. Harry listened in amusement as their theories ranged from dueling with a senior auror to increasingly dramatic events until the girl suggested they would have to battle a dragon.

Finishing his meal, Harry excused himself from the table and exited the lunch room, planning to make one stop before heading home. He found the office of auror's affairs and walked towards one of the desks.

"How's it goin', Ron?" He asked casually to the bored looking red-head occupying the desk. But after one look at Harry his expression became one of utter shock.

"Oi! What's happened to you, then?" In an instant, though, he inferred what Harry's appearance must mean. "So you've done it? Did you pass?"

Harry shrugged, "I suspect I did. Blackwood said I performed well. Kept going on about it, actually."

Ron leaned back in his chair and rested his hands behind his head. "I suppose that's it, then. Do you feel ready?"

"I didn't really feel ready to go searching the country side for horcruxes, but that didn't stop me then."

"Oh that reminds me, we contacted the Malfoys to arrange an opportunity to ask them some questions about their family history, and they've requested that investigators go to the manor for it. I don't know who they'll send now, but I mentioned that I was interested."

"Is that typical? Meeting them at their house?" Harry asked.

Ron just shrugged, "it's not totally unheard of. Of course we prefer to have them here so we can ensure honest response, y' know, make sure there's no charms or anything. There's even been a person who sent someone else in as them before, polyjuice potion and that. But the Malfoys happen to be a large contributor to ministry funds, as it so happens, so they're usually allowed to make such requests." Ron explained, and Harry noticed the edge of bitterness to his voice. "Anyway, I guess the request was made because Lucius is too ill to travel."

"I can't imagine being hunted by death eaters and tortured as a traitor is particularly good for one's health, though, is it?"

"If they do choose us to go, it'll be weird being back in that house…" Ron declared, ignoring the comment, his mind obviously on other things.

"A lot has changed since we were there last, including the people who hosted us." Harry offered, but Ron didn't respond. His mind was already wandering into old memories.


Draco sat on the sofa in Malfoy Manor's main foyer with his elbows across the sofa back and his feet perched on a beaded ottoman. He was watching his mother with an amused expression. She busied herself with tidying up the area in preparation for her "guests". The room was, of course, already immaculate. Even if Narcissa allowed an area of her home to slip her mind while cleaning and redecorating, the many house elves they employed would ensure that everything got done to Narcissa's satisfaction.

Nonetheless, Narcissa couldn't help obsessing over which tea pot to bring out when the investigators arrived. She loved to entertain, and it had been so long since anyone had come to visit this house. Draco knew that it made her happy to fuss over such little things so he let her be, and just watched her run about the room. He himself found it amusing to watch her agonize over the placement of the throw pillows when he knew that it surely didn't matter.

"Draco dear, why don't you go put on something more appropriate before the aurors arrive." She suggested while rearranging the photographs above her mantle. She didn't spare him a glance while she spoke, and therefore didn't see the offended look he shot back at her.

"These are the robes I chose for today. I think they are perfectly appropriate." He said with a scoff.

Narcissa stopped to look him up and down, then continued her reorganization and said, "No dear, you must go change. A Malfoy must always look the very best when meeting with other witches and wizards. I won't have you seen looking that way as someone who represents this family. Now go change and do it quickly."

Malfoy rolled his eyes, "what would you have me wear, mother? Dress robes?"

"Don't act like a child, Draco. You know how to dress yourself. Unless you think you need me to follow you up there and choose something suitable for you?" She threatened coldly. But Draco was already on his feet and heading up the stairs. He knew better than to enter into such a battle of will with his mother.

In his room he found robes that he was sure his mother would find more appropriate for public witnesses. He changed quickly and headed back downstairs. As he reentered the foyer, his mother gave him a satisfied nod just as the fireplace lit up green and a man stepped out onto the rug, then another, right on time. Draco stared in a mild state of shock from seeing the two men in his home, two men he had not expected to see in his home ever again since the last time they were here. But his mother, without batting an eye, greeted the two guests warmly. "Good morning! It is so lovely to see you both. Harry, Ronald, please take a seat." She gestured for them to sit on a sofa across from which was another where she took her own seat

"Thank you, Mrs. Malfoy, and good morning to you." The three of them sat, and Draco stood fixed to the spot like a dumbfounded statue. He knew that Weasley had become an auror, but he never suspected that the ministry would send him to question the Malfoys, considering their history. And the last thing he heard about Potter was that he was staying out of the spotlight, living in some horrible flat, drinking too much and pursuing women. No doubt this was some sort of favor to the golden boy. Getting his nose into matters that didn't involve him, just like old times. The thought made anger begin to boil up. But this was official ministry business, and he had to keep his cool. And everyone was staring at him now. Feeling a bit stupid, he cursed at himself and took a seat beside his mother. Leaning back and crossing his arms, he resigned himself to quiet observation

A house elf brought tea in Narcissa's carefully chosen fine china and she poured, sparing no time to jump into conversation. "Harry, I must admit I am surprised to see you here. Forgive me for saying this, but someone of your social standing is often a victim of the limelight, yet I haven't heard anything about your entering into the ministry's employ."

"Something I'm grateful for," he responded calmly. "I have entered the Auror Department recently, but it seems that Rita Skeeter has had more important things on her mind lately than my employment."

"Yes, of course. That story about the muggle towns she published recently. Absolutely horrible." She paused to sip her tea before continuing. "A woman like her must have been very excited to get her hands on such tragic information. I was surprised to see it in the prophet, though, even with its history of fear mongering. The ministry must feel rather comfortable with the case to allow it to go public. Surely they realize the fear that this sort of thing could stir up among the public so soon after the war."

Ron shifted uncomfortably in his seat at her words, "Actually that's what we're here to discuss."

Narcissa looked between Ron and Harry in confusion, then at Draco who only shrugged. He didn't know what they were getting at, but he wasn't overly concerned. They were no longer criminals, and he wasn't afraid of the ministry. And he definitely wasn't afraid of Potter or Weasley. He wanted his mother to have her fun, but after that was satisfied, he wanted these two "investigators" out of his house as soon as possible.

Draco remained silent while his mother spoke, "I'm afraid I don't understand. Why would you want to discuss such a thing with us?"

Ron and Harry looked at each other as if deciding who should explain, then Harry spoke. "The ministry has received new information regarding this case, information that was not included in the article that Skeeter submitted to the Prophet." He paused and glanced at Ron before continuing. "All of this information is strictly confidential of course."

Narcissa affirmed that she would share nothing under penalty of the law, and Draco's ears perked up a bit. What could make Potter so uncomfortable? He hadn't taken much of an interest in the case before, but he suddenly felt that he should have.

"Well, we have reason to believe that the wizard behind these attacks is somehow connected to the Black family."

It took Malfoy a moment to understand Potter's meaning, but his eyes widened once he did. "We've got nothing to do with such a thing!" He exclaimed, "What sort of reason do you have for drawing this conclusion? My family isn't involved in anything of that sort." He was surprised by his own outburst, but he would not allow his family to slide back into poor standing with the ministry, not now that their wounds from the war were still healing.

"We're not implying that either of you two are responsible for these attacks. But you understand that the Black family has all but disappeared, and we just need some information about family history. Who is still left?" Ron asked quickly.

"If you don't mind me asking," Narcissa said, "What evidence do you have to suggest that the Black family is at all involved in this? As you pointed out, there are not many of us left, and I must insist that I know before I disclose anything."

Ron paused for a moment before responding. "The Black family crest was used to sign a letter from the suspect."

"And you're sure of its implication? That it's not a fake, or something designed to send you off of the correct trail?"

"Those possibilities are being considered," Ron explained, "but we have reason to believe that the letter is genuine."

Narcissa looked down, unsure of how to proceed. Draco was sure she would say that she couldn't help them, that she didn't have any information that could help them and they would have to leave, but to his surprise, she didn't.

"You must understand, I hold family to be of utmost importance," she began. "Family is everything. And as it happens, my family's name has already suffered great shame in the public eye due to recent events, therefore you must understand that what I will tell you, it is only because I think that my family's name would end up involved in all of this regardless. I would rather have you hear things from me where they will be told true. " Draco was staring at his mother, totally unaware of what secret she was about to reveal. She continued, "Bella, my sister, my sweet sister, she used to be very different. When we were younger, before- before the first war, long before any of that nonsense began, she was so different. She and I had always been close. And as we grew older, we stayed close, but she began to change. Blood purity had always been important to our family, but she took it much more seriously than I ever did. And Andromeda, well you know what happened to her.

"After our sister was disowned, it only brought Bella and me closer together. She used to say that it was up to us to save the family. Sirius had been disowned long before, and Regulus met his untimely death. Of course we had some distant relatives, but she never seemed to remember them. It was all up to us, she would say."

Narcissa's voice trailed off and she paused, seemingly overwhelmed with emotion. No one else spoke, they just waited for her to continue. Draco had never heard his mother tell a story like this before. She rarely spoke of her sisters. And Harry considered it a rare opportunity to hear about the closest thing to family he had ever had.

Finally she continued. "You see what she meant, right? About saving the family? It's blood. It's all about saving the blood, preserving it. And there needs to be children to carry the blood line or the family dies… She urged me to have children, many children. She insisted that we both marry and have many children as soon as possible. Well, I had Draco…" She looked him in the eyes and he was stunned. This was all new to him. "But what about Bellatrix? She became positively obsessed with the whole idea of children. The blood lines must be continued on and they must be kept pure. This is what she believed. And not enough of us were having enough children. Don't you think it's odd, then, that your aunt Bella never had children?" She asked directly to her son.

He blinked. He had never thought much about his aunt in that way. She had been locked up in Azkaban for as long as he could remember, he figured that was the reason for her lack of childbearing. He still wasn't sure what his mother was implying. Ron and Harry watched the two of them, beginning to understand where Narcissa was leading them.

"I'm sorry, but I don't understand." Harry blurted out. He thought he knew, but he couldn't wrap his head around the idea that had formed in his brain. He needed to hear her say it.

Narcissa turned her gaze back to the opposite sofa and spoke softly, as if worried that someone might overhear. "It was a lie… " she hissed. "In secret, Bellatrix bore children."

Draco blinked. No way, that doesn't make any sense. The information didn't seem to fit into his current understanding of the world.

"Unfortunately I know very little about them." She rushed on. "Around the time of her pregnancy Bellatrix became incredibly secretive. She and Rodolphus left their home and stayed somewhere else. A vacation home I presume. She didn't want to be seen, and I found it very strange considering her previous excitement about the whole affair."

"I don't understand. How could she have kept this a secret?" Ron interjected.

"Like I said, she became very secretive. She disappeared without telling anyone her whereabouts. I believe I was one of the few, if not the only one, that she owled during that time. It appeared she didn't want anyone to know about her pregnancy. Perhaps she felt threatened. By then the war had already descended upon us and she had been an active member from the start."

"Yes, but I mean, what happened to the child? How has she kept it hidden all this time?"

Narcissa only shook her head. "I don't know."

Harry leaned back on the couch absorbing this new information. It was too strange.

"You've told us all this, revealed the secrets of your late sister, because you suspect her children could be connected?" Ron asked.

"I suspect nothing. Until now, I presumed the children dead. But you are correct that the Black family has suffered many losses, and these things that are happening. Such terrible things. If there is some connection here, I want it removed at once. I will not have my blood slandered any further."

"All we can promise is that we will do our best to keep this case confidential." Ron offered.

Narcissa smiled sadly, "a futile promise with that animagus still around, I'm afraid. But I appreciate the gesture. Now please, I assure you I've told you all I know about the matter. If that is all, I must call an end to this meeting."

Reluctantly, Harry and Ron rose and said their departing remarks, knowing that Narcissa wouldn't tell them anything else. With licking green flames they were gone


Harry and Ron stepped out of the fire into the large atrium of the ministry. For a moment they walked in silence side by side. Could Bellatrix's children be alive, Harry thought, and not only alive, but perhaps responsible for the chaos that's broken out around Britain?

"We've already contacted Andromeda for a meeting," Ron said, finally breaking the silence, "though based on what we've just heard I'm not sure it will do us any good."

Harry shook his head, he didn't know what to think now. "Hopefully she has something to tell us, we haven't really got anyone else to question."

They made it to the lifts when Harry spoke again. "Narcissa said she thought they might have stayed in a vacation home while Bellatrix was pregnant. A rich family like that, I bet they had property all over the country. I think we should take a look at those properties. If we find the vacation home she was staying in, there could be something there to point us in the right direction."

"I'll put in an order for those records. Shouldn't take 'em long to get to us. This investigation's taken top priority."

Harry smiled a bit. He always had a knack for solving mysteries, but now he had the resources to back him up. How much easier would it have been to find the Horcruxes with a whole department helping him along? Surely, they could figure this out.


Draco stared at the fireplace as the green flames swept Potter and Weasley away. He heard his mother's words ringing in his ears. But what did that mean? Aunt Bella had kids. Where had they been all this time? Why hadn't his mother ever mentioned them before? The way he figured it, they probably were dead.

His mother's voice broke his pondering, "Draco, come with me. You must help me with something."

Her voiced seemed tense and urgent and it was making Draco feel the same. "With what? To where?"

She was calling house elves over now and directing them to tend to Lucius with utmost care because she and Draco would be out of the house for some time and she didn't know exactly when they would return. Then she turned to Draco, "we need to speak to Andromeda."

Draco didn't understand. His mother and aunt hadn't spoken in years. "What do you need me for?"

"My sister would never receive me without you. But she has always loved you and I believe she will let me in if it means seeing you."

"Fine," he agreed, "but what do you need to see her for? What is this about?"

"The children, Draco, Bella's children. I think I know what happened to them, and if I'm right, they're still alive."