Letter from Kate Baylor to George Weasley
"Dear George,
First, I hope you are able to decipher what this says or know a spell that will make it easier to read. I'm not very good with quill and parchment, but I guess I'd better get used to it! I'm still amazed that the wizarding world hasn't moved beyond writing this way. I'm sure I'll be covered in ink before I finish half of this letter.
Second, I wanted to write and thank you for all the wonderful stuff you wouldn't let me pay for at the shop. The Wonder Witch items are great. I'm looking forward to trying out everything else. The tour of the store was amazing too. I can definitely see why your store is always so busy!
And thank you for Blinky. I thought since you were so kind as to buy me an owl, you should get my very first letter sent that way. Your mom will be getting the second, for being so nice to me at the Burrow when I arrived. It is kind of nice to be writing a letter out by hand for once. I'm so used to my computer and email. I hope you have an idea of what those are because I'm not sure I'd be able to explain them without confusing you more.
Remus teased us when we got back to Hogwarts, asking if we'd left anything behind at Diagon Alley for anyone else. We really did have a lot of stuff. Hermione told him we wouldn't have if Harry hadn't started whining about his feet hurting. He got all put out and was like, "I did NOT!"
Remus liked the stuff that I picked out for Teddy, joking that now his son has yet another person to spoil him. I can't help it, he's such a cute kid.
Oh, before I forget (and before this letter gets so long that Blinky can't fly with it) I wanted to tell you that the Headmistress showed me a picture of when your parents and my parents graduated Hogwarts. I've only ever really seen a couple pictures of my mother before and I've never seen a picture of my father from before I was born except the one Hagrid showed us. I was always told that they came to the US after a house fire destroyed everything they had. In reality, it would be kind of hard to keep the idea of magic a secret with moving pictures. I'll have to show you the one that Hagrid had. There's an amazing story behind it.
I'm going to ask the Headmistress if she can do Hermione's copying spell on it for you. Or have you seen it? Your dad and my dad are standing on either side of your mother and my mom is standing next to my dad. Now I can really see why everyone has been saying how much I look like her. My dad was such a handsome guy. He looks really happy in the picture.
Anyways, thank you again for today. You are quickly becoming the one person guaranteed to make me smile and I really appreciate that.
Say hi to Ron for me! Don't work too hard!
Your favorite American,
Kate Baylor
Letter from George Weasley to Kate Baylor
My dearest darling Kate,
How are you? I'm feeling ever so special to have gotten your very first letter by owl. Don't worry about your handwriting with a quill, it was just fine love. That is after I used a book about Egyptian hieroglyphics my brother Bill left hanging around to decipher it that is.
Kidding. (but really, the book came in handy)
I have a vague idea about the computer thing but I'll spare you trying to explain it. Fair warning, my father will probably bug you from now till forever with questions about muggles. Just ask Hermione and Harry. He's been bugging them for almost 15 years now.
Teddy is a great kid, isn't he? I think everyone looks after him to help out Remus and out of memory for his mum. Tonks was a fantastic witch. A bit clumsy, but a great lady.
That's nice of McGonagall to show you that picture. I didn't realize you hadn't seen many pictures of your mum or of your dad as a young man. I'm sure if you ask her, Minnie will have more pictures for you to see. Do me a favor and tell her that her favorite Weasley sends his undying love and devotion for her. If you could get a picture of the face she pulls when you say that, it'd be even better.
I'll ask Mum to see what pictures she has that include your parents. I'm sure there are tons. My mum is a bit of a pack goblin. She doesn't like tossing anything away, which is why she kept Ron around instead of letting the garden gnomes take him away like Fred and I kept trying to coax them to do when he was a baby.
Be sure to come visit the shop again when you can. Of course, if you just want to see me, let me know and you can floo straight to my flat above the shop.
Good luck with your studies. Don't let Hermione bog you down with too much! Remember to have fun!
Your ever devoted ginger love slave,
George Weasley
PS. Tell Harry and Remus that The Prophet wankers are up to their old tricks.
Kate's POV
"Should we be worried about this?" Kate asked quietly, watching the movement in the photo repeat itself, showing herself with George, Harry and Hermione after they left the restaurant where they had had lunch. Somehow they already knew who she was and why she was with Harry and Hermione. Even the wizarding world had paparazzi. Go figure. It was strange to see herself titled as Lady Kate Baylor. Apparently even though her family left the wizarding world, the title didn't dissolve. Remus explained that it gave her a seat on something called the Wizengamot which Hermione explained was the legislative and judicial body of the Wizarding World in the UK. To her it sounded like some weird kind of disease. I'm sorry Mr. Johnson, you have wizengamot.
"I don't think so Kate." Remus spoke up from his seat, having joined the trio for breakfast in the apartment versus having it at the faculty table in the Great Hall. He'd commented that he would barely get to eat because most of the time was spent keeping the students in line. The students would be arriving the next day and this would be his last bit of peace and quiet for a while. "No one would be so foolish as to attack Hogwarts or to attack anyone in the care of these two." He gestured at the couple across from them. "Or even do something that might draw the pranking genius of George upon them."
"Or a Molly Weasley howler." Harry said with a half smile on his lips. "I think even Voldemort was afraid of one of those!"
Everyone laughed.
Suddenly, the voice of the portrait spoke into the room. "Visitors are present. Are they able to enter?"
Harry looked to Remus and Hermione before he spoke. "Who are they?"
A moment passed.
"Madam Malfoy and her son."
Kate wasn't prepared for the three sets of eyebrows that went up. "What?"
"Not someone we would've expected, that's all." Harry said. "Let them enter." He stood up from the table and took one last wipe at his mouth before tossing the napkin to his empty plate and leading the way to the common room.
Kate watched as a rather elegant older woman entered the room in what looked like dark blue silk robes with impossibly pale blonde hair tied back and a look of both hope and apprehension on her face. Behind her, a young man with the same pale hair in a smart black suit, just apprehension on his face. Who were these people?
The woman spoke first. "Oh Hecate! It's true." She clutched her hand to her chest and her son put his hand on her arm, looking at her in concern. She took a moment before she gave a shaky smile. "Hello Miss Baylor. My name is Narcissa Malfoy. This is my son Draco. I was a close friend of your mother."
Kate blinked. Someone who knew her mother? From what she'd gathered from people she'd met so far, her mother hadn't been close to most of them like her father had. Maybe this woman would tell her why. "Hello."
"Narcissa, you are looking well." Remus spoke up, sounding rather formal and uncomfortable. "Mr. Malfoy." He gave her son a nod.
"Thank you Professor. And my young nephew is well?"
Now Kate was really confused. Was this woman related to Remus or related to his late wife? Why did it seem like there was tension in the room?
"He's doing very well, thank you."
After a few more awkward moments, Harry spoke up and suggested that everyone sit down in the common room. Draco sat at his mother's side on one couch while Hermione took an armchair, Harry and Remus choosing to sit on either side of Kate on the opposite couch. If she didn't know better, she would think it was a protective gesture. A flanking maneuver. She couldn't see why. This woman and her son didn't feel like a threat. Besides, if they were, Harry wouldn't have let them in, right?
"You knew my mother, Madam Malfoy?" Kate asked finally.
The woman gave her a soft sad smile and nodded. "Yes, Rosie and I grew up together. We were very close." She paused. "You can call me Narcissa if you like, or Cissy. That's what your mother called me." She paused, sniffling a little. "You look just like her."
Kate nodded. "That's what I'm told. Until recently, I'd only ever seen a few pictures of her. I'm sorry to say she passed when I was very small in a car accident."
That made Narcissa's head rise sharply and confusion take her eyes. "Car accident?" She looked to Remus. "Who told her that?"
Kate spoke up, not understanding the offense in the woman's voice. "My father and brother did. A drunk driver hit her car and she was killed instantly."
Narcissa blinked rapidly and almost looked angry. "No darling, that's not true. Not in the least! Your mother was a powerful witch. She did not meet her end in such a muggle fashion."
Kate was confused and looked to Remus. What the hell was this? "I don't understand. She didn't die in a car accident? Why is she the first person who seems to have been close to my mother? What is it about her that no one is telling me?"
She felt Harry take her hand and she turned to the raven haired wizard. "Kate, I understand how confused you are. I was told something very similar about my parents. You need to calm down though. Remember, getting upset isn't good for your magic until you have better control. Alright?"
She nodded, taking deep breaths at his instruction till he gave her a smile and a squeeze of the hand. "Narcissa, perhaps you could enlighten us? Keep in mind, Kate knew nothing of her magical heritage till the night her family was attacked."
Narcissa nodded, her ire calmed as well. "I'll try to tell you what I know. Your father was a good man, for a Gryffindor. I understand he had his reasons for keeping you from your heritage. You shouldn't be angry with him. He was trying to protect you."
Kate nodded. "My mother wasn't a Gryffindor?" The different houses and the traits that led to a person being sorted into each was explained to her on her first day. She knew her father had been of the same house as her new roommates and the Weasleys. No one had even mentioned her mother's house. She'd just assumed.
"No Kate. Your mother was of Slytherin House." Remus spoke up.
That made Hermione gasp. "A Slytherin and a Gryffindor?"
"Why is that shocking?" Kate asked. She was still a bit confused about the whole thing about the houses of Hogwarts. Apparently it was a big deal as to what house someone was in. Maybe she would take up the Headmistress' offer to have the Sorting Hat tell her what house she would have belonged to if she had attended Hogwarts.
"The two houses were and no doubt still are, arch nemesis's, Miss Baylor." Draco spoke up for the first time. His voice was quiet and very cultured. Were they apart of the wizarding aristocracy? If they were, why hadn't they been announced with titles?
"Oh. Why?"
"How do I say this diplomatically?" Remus said, scratching at his chin.
"No need, Professor Lupin." Narcissa spoke up. "Slytherin House, for the most part, is a pureblood elitist house. Believing that muggleborns are undeserving of their magic and that they should not be allowed to mix with those of pure magic family lines."
"But I thought houses were decided based on personality traits?"
"They are. You'll find those who are prejudiced against others they believe are below them have similar personality traits."
"You're talking about bigots."
Narcissa nodded sadly. "Yes."
"My mother was a bigot."
"Your mother was conflicted." Narcissa spoke quickly. "Your father was able to show her that many of the beliefs that she had grown up with weren't quite the truth."
Kate took a deep breath trying to take all of this in. Just how far down the rabbit hole was she? Her family were all magical and now she's finding out her long lost mother was a supremist of a sort? Like Voldemort who'd forced them to leave the wizarding world? "My father said they met on an excursion boat."
Narcissa smiled softly, almost wistfully. "That does sound like Liam, don't you agree, Professor?"
Kate turned so see a similar soft smile on Remus' face.
"Yes it does." He paused. "The boat he was referring to Kate, is the boat ride across the Black Lake that all first years take upon their arrival at Hogwarts."
"He always said that the moment he saw her, he knew she was the one." Kate said softly, remembering the look of sadness and love in her father's eyes whenever he spoke of her lost mother. "How could he know that at 11 years old?"
"Your father was a very intuitive man. Part of what made him such a model Gryffindor. He was always able to think very quickly on his feet."
She turned back to Narcissa. "And you were in Slytherin?"
Narcissa nodded. "As was the man who would become my husband and as my son was."
"And you believe that pureblood stuff?" She couldn't help but look at Hermione who had explained that she was muggleborn. Even if this woman had known her mother, she wasn't going to let her speak badly of Hermione.
"We did." Narcissa said but her son finished for her.
"We don't anymore. We haven't for a long time. Not since the war. Maybe even before that."
Kate could see the sadness and the regret in the young man's eyes and noticed a look of guilt and shame in his eyes as they flicked toward Hermione. She asked the only thing she could. "Why?"
"We realized blood doesn't make the wizard or the witch." His eyes flicked toward Hermione again who had remained silent. "That hating someone for their parentage was a fool's errand."
The room was silent for long minutes.
"Narcissa, how did my mother really die?"
Narcissa took a deep breath. "Your mother was pregnant with you during the First Wizarding War, during.." she stumbled "…during Voldemort's first rise to power. Because of her family and her pureblood status, she was expected to join Voldemort's side and take the Dark Mark if He so asked. As was your father though most knew that he never would."
Kate blinked but didn't say anything. It was amazing how much influence Voldemort still had, that even all these years later, people still hesitated over saying his name.
"Your father was a founding member of the Order but had kept it a secret from her, knowing that her views on blood purity weren't quite like his. It was one thing to disagree with the Dark Lord, another to actively fight against him. Your mother wanted to choose a path of non-involvement. You have to understand that like my cousin Sirius, your father had cut ties with his family over the ideas of blood purity. They only reconciled when your brother was born and your grandparents realized that they would never see their own grandson because of their distaste for people they didn't even know."
Kate looked at Harry. "The same Sirius who was your godfather and a Marauder?"
"The very same." Remus spoke up. "Sirius was actually inspired by Liam. Your father was a mentor all of us but practically adopted Sirius and myself."
"Oh. He never told me, not that he could." She said, thinking of the picture the half-giant had shown them and turned back to Harry who had small smile on his lips at the mention of his father and nodded back toward Narcissa. "Then what happened?"
Narcissa looked down at her hands. "When your mother found out that your father was one of the founding members of the Order, she came to me in a rage that he'd kept something like that from her. She feared that his affiliation with the Order would put your brother and you, still in the womb, in danger. Unfortunately, my husband, who was quite skilled with spells allowing him to hear the conversations of others, overheard and informed the Dark Lord."
Kate gasped. Her mother had been betrayed by the husband of her best friend. Worse, it alerted them to her father's secret. "Then what?"
"To send a message…" Narcissa's voice choked, her hand rising to her chest as if she could hold back her emotions physically and she shook her head unable to speak. She gave a pained nod to Remus to continue the story.
"To send a message, Voldemort had your grandparents, your father's parents, tortured and killed as blood traitors." He said in a soft sad voice. "It was what made Liam make the decision to run. He wasn't willing to risk that Voldemort would come after your brother or anyone that he was a known acquaintance of. Before leaving, he encouraged Harry's parents and the Weasleys to go into hiding as well. They all chose to stay in England, to continue the resistance."
Kate blinked, utterly shocked. Not only was she finding out that her mother had been a bigot but she had inadvertently gotten her grandparents murdered. She'd always been told that her grandparents had died before she was born. How much more did she not know?
Narcissa regained her voice, though it was strained. "Your mother was overwhelmed with guilt. She begged me to join your family, leaving my husband and taking Draco, who was still a newborn infant at the time, with us." She paused. "There isn't a day I don't regret telling her no."
"Why did you say no?"
Narcissa sighed. "Your father insisted that in order for us not to be found, we would have to have our magic stripped and live as muggles. I was unwilling to do so or to take away my son's magical birthright." She paused. "Because you were still in the womb and were showing strong magical potential, all that could be done was a binding on you. Your mother's magic was supposed to be stripped after your birth."
"It wasn't?"
Narcissa sighed. "After you were born, your mother tried to contact her parents. She'd hoped that with your birth, they'd agree to flee to America as well. They hadn't taken the news of your father's involvement with The Order well and had refused to leave their home because of his actions. The Dark Lord had been enraged when he learned of not only your family's escape but of the disappearance of the Potters and the Prewetts and Weasleys. He took your grandparents hostage."
"My mother's parents."
Narcissa nodded.
"But I thought they were pureblood elitists. Why would he go after them?"
"To get to your mother and hopefully to the rest of your family. They weren't vocal about their feelings on blood, unlike my husband and my sister. You have been told about the Phoenix Potential that runs in your family?"
Kate nodded. "My father left a letter in the vault at the bank. It's why I did what I did." She paused. "When those men killed him and Jimmy."
Narcissa's eyes watered and she silently took a handkerchief from her son, looking up as she carefully dabbed at her eyes. "Little Jimmy. Your brother was such a beautiful boy. So bright. So very bright."
Kate didn't know what to say so she didn't say anything.
"When Draco was born, your mother brought Jimmy to the Manor to meet him. It was just a few scant weeks before they left forever." She paused. "I was your brother's godmother and your mother was the mediwitch who helped me during Draco's rather difficult delivery as well as his godmother."
"Mediwitch?"
"Like a magical doctor, like Poppy." Remus spoke up. "Your mother was very skilled in the healing arts."
"It's thanks to your mother that I even have my son. She was there for every stage of the pregnancy." Narcissa beamed at her son who quietly put his hand over hers on his arm. "Lucius and I had feared we would never have children. We doted on Jimmy like he was our own. When Rosie brought him to the manor, he brought a book he'd been reading about constellations. Your brother was always talking about the stars."
Kate smiled a little. "Yeah. He used to take me outside and point out the different constellations." She swallowed, thinking of being so small that Jimmy could wrap a blanket around both of them while pointing up at the night sky, the way he praised her when she got a question he posed correct.
"My family had a tradition of naming children after the stars. My cousin, Sirius and his brother Regulus, my sisters Andromeda and Bellatrix. Myself as well." She shook her head. "Your brother look at the crib and then put the book in my lap and pointed. 'He looks like a Draco, Aunt Cissy!' He told me." She smiled softly and a tear escaped and went down her cheek.
"You never told me that story, Mother." Draco said softly, gently brushing away his mother's tear. Kate could tell he was very close to his mother and she was devoted to him despite having a name that would make one think that she only cared about herself.
She gave her son a smile and dabbed at her face again with the handkerchief. "Your father didn't approve of me speaking of the Baylors in any regard after the Dark Lord had declared them all blood traitors. Even Jimmy who was only a child."
It was quiet again. Hermione got up and returned with a tray of tea. She offered a cup to Narcissa who looked at her in shock and nervously nodded. Kate wondered what the history was between Hermione and the Malfoys. Did something happen during the war because of what they used to believe and Hermione's blood status?
After a few more minutes, Kate spoke. "What did my mother do when she found out about her parents?"
Narcissa put down her tea cup and took a deep breath. "She did the only thing she thought she could. She came back. The Dark Lord threatened if she didn't, they would meet a worse fate than death. And your mother knew he was more than capable of following through on such a threat." She paused. "When she was captured at your ancestral home, she was brought before Voldemort who demanded to know where her husband and children were. He was especially interested in you, in the potential you had for great power. When she refused him…" She closed her eyes. "The first time, he cursed her. The second time, he killed her mother before he tortured her again. The third time, her father."
"Jesus." Kate gasped.
Narcissa's voice was trembling now. "The Dark Lord was skilled at Legilimancy. Very skilled."
Confused, Kate looked to Remus who simply tapped the side of his head with two fingers. Then she understood. Mind reading. If he couldn't get her to tell him what he wanted to know, he'd take it from her mind. The bastard must have gotten off on misery and had tortured her just for the enjoyment of it rather than just take the information from her mind to start with. Or maybe he had to weaken her first.
"Then what happened?"
"Your father…your father was a skilled duelist. Did you know that?" Narcissa said, blinking. "One of the things he taught his students as well as Rosie was to be unpredictable." She swallowed. "Somehow even though her wand was taken from her when she was brought before the Dark Lord, no one thought to check for a second hidden one." Her voice cracked with the words.
Kate was confused. "I thought the wand chose the wizard or witch. My mother had two?"
"No Kate. The second one was your father's." Remus said. "Oak wood with a dragon heartstring core. Some couples are able to use each other's wands. Like Harry and Hermione and like your parents."
"So she tried to attack Voldemort with my father's wand?"
"No darling." Narcissa said with tears in her eyes. "She…she used it to take her own life."
Kate gasped loudly, jerking backwards and covered her mouth with both hands. Her mother killed herself? Then she realized. Her mother had killed herself rather than betray her family to Voldemort. She'd died to protect her baby daughter. The woman she'd never got to know, that she had thought had simply died in a tragic car accident had valiantly taken her life to protect her remaining family, no doubt blaming herself for them being put in danger in the first place. "christ!"
She felt Harry wrap his arms around her and she didn't fight the urge and let him pull her against his chest, holding her tightly. Her chest felt tight as she felt Remus move closer and gently rub her arm with one hand.
She didn't cry. She had never known the woman who'd died to protect her family. She'd always just been just the woman that Daddy and Jimmy told her about. A stranger who just happened to have given birth to her. The woman who had taken her own life rather than reveal where her family had escaped to the monster who had killed not only her parents but her in laws as well. She'd never grown up knowing what it was like to have a mother. And now she found out that the woman had given the ultimate sacrifice for her and had died like her father and Jimmy had, but at her own hand.
"She was a Gryffindor at the end." Harry murmured into her ear, holding her tight. "She died to protect you, like my mother did for me. She loved you Kate."
She nodded dumbly against his chest and took another few moments of comfort from him before she pulled away but let one hand stay in his, giving Remus a nod as he put his hand on her shoulder in a show of comfort. Looking over to Hermione, she could see the sensitive witch had tears in her eyes at the tragic story that had unfolded. Then she looked to the opposite couch where Draco was still comforting his mother, much like Harry had comforted her, holding her tightly and murmuring to her.
Kate wondered. Did this woman feel guilt for what happened? Wonder on sleepless nights that if she hadn't married her husband or if she'd thought to meet her mother somewhere other than a place where he could potentially overhear, that they'd all still be alive? That she could've found a way to protect her mother's parents and deny Voldemort the ammunition to lure her mother back?
Taking a deep breath and a final squeeze of Harry's hand, she stood up and walked around the coffee table that was between the couches and sat on the other side of Narcissa. She looked at Draco over his mother's shoulder and the look in his eyes was one of profound grief and sadness. He'd never known the boy who'd given him his name. Never known that his father had betrayed the family of that boy that he'd once spoiled. Never knew the woman who had been his godmother for such a brief time. She gave him a nod which he returned.
It took a few more moments for Narcissa to both calm down and realize that Kate had moved to sit next to her. Wiping at her face, she gently grabbed Kate's hands. "I can't tell you I'm sorry enough. It's all my fault. Your grandparents. Your mother. All my fault. All of it."
Kate was right. Narcissa blamed herself. "I don't blame you, Narcissa." She paused. "Aunt Cissy." The words were strange and foreign. An aunt, albeit not a blood relation. She'd referred to a few friends' mothers as Auntie back in Hawaii, but there it was a common term for a close woman friend who was older. "I don't. And neither did my mother. Deep down, you know that." She'd never known her mother but from all the stories that her father had told her, there was no way that she would have blamed her friend. There was no way that she would have known that her husband was listening in. Or that he would betray them to his lord.
That made Narcissa's eyes tear up again but instead of letting her son comfort her, Kate tugged on the woman's arms and hugged her herself. This woman had been living with the guilt of her best friend's death for 25 years. It had to be crippling. "I loved her so much. I never stopped." Narcissa managed to murmur as she pulled back. "I'm sorry you never got to know her."
Kate squeezed the woman's hand. "I'd like it if you could tell me about her. Daddy's stories never talked about magic or anything."
Narcissa gave a weak smile. "I'd like that too."