Disclaimer to JK Rowling
Interlude II
"Ask me no more: thy fate and mine are seal'd:
I strove against the stream and all in vain"
Alfred Lord Tennyson from 'The Princess'
Dear N,
The Portkey has been planted. It is an instrument of Apollo. It will be activated at midnight of the Winter Solstice and the recipient will arrive a mile North of the property.
My contact has been notified.
Yours,
Zjart.
PS. Please take good care. Enclosed is a list of items required for this calendar year.
x-x-x-x-x
Z.
She is home. I cannot express my gratefulness.
Merry Christmas,
N.
x-x-x-x-x
Dear Narcissa,
If you thought for one moment that I will be joining you for Christmas, you would have another thought coming. Did you really think that after the fiasco that was Christmas dinner last year, I would feel comfortable in that environment again? As much as I value my long-term relationship with Lucius, I did not like the tone he took to Lacerta. No matter how upset he is, I am assured, he was taught better manners.
Then again, who am I to lecture Lucius Malfoy on etiquette?
As for Draco, your precious son is safe and has been. No one has considered he was the Heir for one second… well, some of the Gryffindors did… and maybe some teachers, but everyone is caught up in the idea that Potter is the Heir. Can you believe it? A second Parselmouth appearing in the short space of fifty years? Of course, I would not have believed it myself, but I was there. He was really speaking to that snake, just like the Dark Lord and… well, I, er… I digress. Your son works hard when he needs to work hard, and provides excellent marks. That is all I have to say in regards to his schoolwork. And no, I do not believe he has Theodore Nott doing his work for him, in terms of schoolwork. Believe it or not, Draco is quite intelligent but is often overshadowed by Miss Granger.
As customary, I apologise for declining your invitation. I also apologise for any snide comments you found offensive. Lucius is not the main factor of my absence, but rather, Dumbledore wishes staff to remain behind during the holidays due to the incidents. Although many students have returned home for the holidays there are a handful that could be at risk.
I hope you a good Christmas,
Severus.
PS. Am I correct in assuming that a certain… girl is to return to Hogwarts, not merely just a Christmas holiday jaunt? Is this true? Are you mad to defy…? I suppose you thought of every outcome, and I-… you are a very good friend, Narcissa, but this time… I suppose it is your head, and you may do what you wish.
PPS. Again, Merry Christmas.
x-x-x-x-x
Dear Severus,
I refer first to your first postscript, I am not mad. I know you may disagree considering the madness of my family lineage, but I assure you, I know what I am doing. I am not defying my husband. He loves his daughter and he loves me. I could make him… never mind, that is for another letter. I admire your rushing sentiments, and your hasty splotch of ink near it. Were you going to scribble over it? Oh, Severus! We have been friends for decades; you can call me a friend if you wish. Alas, I guess this is the best I shall get. However, could you not be more… kind in future? After all, I did - … never mind again, that too is for another letter.
As your 'good friend' I will not rush to admonish you on your impertinence upon Lucius' manners. Lucius has a traceable lineage to the dawn of the wizards, and maybe some Gods. We shall not rush to judgement on his etiquette, and we accept his manners because of his blood status. I hate that, I really do, but it is necessary for me to remind you where your place is in our social circle, Severus. Don't make me remind you again as it leaves a sour taste in my tongue for a week.
As for your refusal to attend a beautiful Malfoy Christmas, I guess it would be a lonely three-person dinner, what with Draco deciding to stay behind for the winter months. He writes fervently to his father but only simple notes to me so many times that I see green. I do not like to snoop as to see what he is saying to his father, but what I have heard from Lucius' colleagues from the school board, it looks very grim and he believes his father to know all the answers. It is sad, considering now the spotlight will be on Lacie at Christmas dinner too.
Yes, she is back. For good. I will make sure of that.
I am glad that Draco is flourishing in his studies. It is always nice for a mother to hear such news. I am even happy that Hermione – and I would prefer that you call her that too in context, Severus, she is a family friend after all – is challenging him. It only makes him a better academic in the end, considering how he always wishes to better her.
I hope that the situation in Hogwarts evens out. From the whispers I have been hearing during High Tea, the last time something similar happened a girl… a Muggle-born died, is this true? Oh Merlin and above, I dear hope that this abhorrent being dare not bring harm to Hermione. Please, if it is not more of a bother – please see to it that she remains safe and sound. It would bring me peace of mind to know that when Lacie returns to Hogwarts, her best friend is still well.
Your good friend,
Narcissa.
PS. If I may be so bold to say, you too, Severus, for all intents and purposes, are too a good friend.
x-x-x-x-x
Dear Draco,
I am home, and I shall be starting back at Hogwarts during the spring term.
Lacie.
x-x-x-x-x
Dad lost the inquiry, I knew that it would happen and it wasn't even his fault. It was Ron's fault, not really Harry's because he wasn't driving the car. Ron knew what would happen, and it wasn't like he was Fred and George. Ron was probably showing off for Harry.
He was probably just trying to get to Hogwarts under the circumstances.
No! You don't know Ron! Ever since he was little, he was showing off to anyone who would look. Showing off to Harry is just the cherry on top of everything he had ever done.
Sounds like you're jealous.
I'm not!
Anyway, I thought that Harry Potter was the type of person who everyone showed off to, even Draco Malfoy.
That's right, I understand it. I understand wanting to draw Harry's attention, the way that he would look at you with those green eyes…
x-x-x-x-x
Lacie,
So I guess you want to know what happened in the 'Draco Malfoy Heir Knowledge Coup' of tonight. Well, I can definitively say that a lot of things were discovered. Namely that your brother despises me so much that he would like me dead. I very nearly revealed who I was because of how calm he was when he said it, I mean, I didn't mean to be that upset about it. I thought after Lauren that I had developed some form of thick skin, but I suppose hearing that someone wants you dead, tears even the thickest skin back a few layers, I suppose. I don't even know, the strangest thing that I can't fathom is that he gave me a present (saying it was from you, but I know you haven't sent a letter to him since… well, I don't think you have really sent him a letter), for Christmas. Surely… ah! It's Malfoy and I guess I'll never be able to begin to understand your brother, I will just assume it was you. I bet even if you did come back that you'd not be able to understand him, and he's your twin!
I do wonder what Christmas is like at Beauxbatons and I suppose if I could ask you in real life, and if you could send me letters, I'd know. I suppose it's every elegant, with ice sculptures handing out drinks, and tinsel and snow. In any case, you didn't miss much. Not many people stayed this Christmas and I don't know if that is a regular thing or because everyone is too frightened to be at Hogwarts and wouldn't want to be here longer if they didn't have to be. I'm not scared though. Even if whatever it is attacking Muggleborns, attacks me and kicks me, well… I won't go down without a fight. I wouldn't with Lauren, and I suppose any Dark Creature who Petrifies can't be too much worse.
Your best friend,
Hermione.
x-x-x-x-x
Stop it!
I'm not doing anything.
I keep… forgetting things, I remember talking to you and everything goes fuzzy. What are you doing, Tom? Tom? What…
x-x-x-x-x
Dear Lacie,
I am glad that you're home. I am also surprised you had nothing to pass on to Granger, as well as write to her instead of me. My guess it that Father is watching your every move. I wonder what favours Mother had to pull in order to get you back, or whether you should be back at all. I do not suppose that you know but Mudbloods are getting attacked.
Don't worry though, as your precious Granger is safe from the Heir of Slytherin. For now. Mother must be mad to have you return (because Father would not want you back) and put you into this pit of snakes, when other parents are thinking of ways to pull their children out of the school. In any case, I shall not comment on Mother's sanity. I know how tetchy she can get on that topic.
Looking forward to seeing you,
Draco.
x-x-x-x-x
Lacie,
Sorry I haven't been writing much, I've been in the library. See, what I don't understand is how Harry heard voices in the wall on the night of the Deathday Party. That voice said it wanted to kill, but instead it left Mrs Norris Petrified. Harry was positive that it said it was hungry, and that it had been for so long.
The problem is that Ron and I couldn't hear the voice. I even tried pressing an ear against the wall several times after that night. There's nothing but the faint knocking and whine. I remember what you said about the voices in the wall, but Harry wasn't even pressing his ear against the wall until after he heard it the first time. He says that before that, he had heard the same voice during detention with Lockhart. I guess if I crack that riddle, a million other riddles will appear, but it's the only thing that I can solve, seeing as Malfoy doesn't know anything more than we do at the moment.
Your best friend,
Hermione.
x-x-x-x-x
Dear Draco,
I am going to pretend that you never sent that last letter. Yes, I will agree that Father was less than pleased to see me, and yes, Mother and Father have been in a series of loud arguments since my arrival, so for once in the past year or so, could you be more of a brother rather than a scorned woman?
Your sister,
Lacie.
x-x-x-x-x
I'm scared. Why can't I remember breakfast, or dinner? Why do I look so tired? There is blood under my fingernails still. Tom, what is happening to me?
Nothing, my dear sweet Ginny. I wouldn't do anything to ever hurt you. You are my best friend, if I hurt you, who would I talk to? It's not like people are lining up to talk to me.
You're right Tom, I must just be drifting out. Percy says it may be the stress, and you do help with my schoolwork quite a bit. You're ever so clever Tom.
x-x-x-x-x
Why aren't you talking to me?
No reason.
You're drifting away from me. It's because I'm just writing in a book isn't it?
No, no. Tom. It's just I'm so tired. It's the strangest thing. I didn't write in you for a day…
Is that how long it has been?
Yes, a day. It's odd because for that day, I didn't feel as tired. Even Gina said that I looked healthier.
Oh, so are you saying that I tire you? My friendship tires you?
NO. Of course not, Tom! It's just, for one day since I came to Hogwarts I didn't feel as worn out.
So you're saying you're better off without me?
I am not saying that! Please, Tom! Oh, Tom, please don't ignore me. I promise, you're my best friend! Please, please, please don't ignore me. I was just writing about my feelings. I felt really lonely when I don't talk to you, and you know that. Oh, Tom, please don't do this. You know I need you.
Good, because I need you too, Ginny. You and me, against everyone else, one day we'll be someone that even Harry Potter notices.
Oh, Tom. You understand me so well. I'm glad you're talking to me again.
A/N: Updated a day early (as I update every Tuesday and Friday) as I am waaaaay too busy tomorrow to update as usual. I will still be updating the next full chapter on Friday as usual.
CS xo
