A Blast From the Past
Narcissa entered the kitchen early the next morning and found the Snapes hovering over The Daily Prophet. They looked up as she entered, appearing slightly guilty.
"Hello, Narcissa," said Zelda. "I hope you slept well. There's a nasty article about your husband in the paper, which makes me think something will happen soon."
"How bad is it?" she asked, dismayed.
The headline screamed:
COMPASSION ABUSED! RELEASED DEATH EATER MALFOY KIDNAPS FORMER ASSOCIATES!
There was a picture of Lucius Malfoy from his trial many years earlier, sneering defiantly. Narcissa sank into a chair and read the paper while Zelda poured her a cup of tea.
"We expect to hear from Shacklebolt soon," said Severus, working at the stove.
"Does Draco know yet?" she asked, feeling despair begin to seep into her.
"If you want, we can wake them up," offered Zelda.
Narcissa sighed. Draco was so good to her, but he'd been apart from his wife too much since Lucius was released.
"No, let them have a little more time."
"I expect the girls down next," Zelda said bracingly. "I never knew a one-year-old who had the sense to sleep late in the morning."
Brightening, Narcissa recalled the presence of little Alys. It was good to be with others while this grim plot unfolded. Her normally solitary life seemed cold and barren now, and this situation would be unbearable if she were alone.
Thudding was heard on the floor above them and Zelda said, "Right on schedule."
A few minutes later Beattie appeared first, then Emmie. The older girl was holding the bright-eyed toddler, who stared at the adults and then buried her face against Emmie's shoulder.
"She's so cute," exclaimed Emmie. "We changed her nappy."
"Good job," said Zelda. "Now let Alys see her grandmother and we'll make her some breakfast."
Narcissa held out her arms and took Alys. Zelda brought some toast, bits of fruit and sweet porridge, and when Alys was seated in a high chair, her grandmother enjoyed feeding her. When Draco and Victoria came through the back door, looking relaxed and happy, they found their tiny daughter eating breakfast for the amusement of an audience.
"Good morning," exclaimed Victoria, going to kiss her daughter's silky head. "Are you having fun, baby?"
The child bounced happily and reached for her mother's face. While Alys's admirers were occupied, Draco went to Severus, who was nearly finished cooking breakfast.
"Any news?" he asked quietly.
"The front page of the Daily Prophet," replied Severus. "On the table."
Draco took the paper and retreated to the corner, near the stove. He scowled as he read the article.
"It reminds me of the propaganda they used to print in Voldemort's time," he said, glancing worriedly over at his mother.
"Kingsley is escorting several Aurors to search Malfoy Manor this morning. Weasley will head the team and see if anything has been tampered with. Kingsley will be here shortly."
"Good. Thanks for letting us all stay. Mother seems better for having company."
Severus smiled faintly. "Since Emmie is quite infatuated with your daughter, it works well. It's odd to see my child playing mother to a baby."
"I thought her maternal instincts were reserved for frogs and eels," said Draco ironically.
"Please make yourself useful and set the table," said Severus, rolling his eyes. "Breakfast is ready."
&&&&&&&&&
Kingsley's arrival brought more disturbing news.
"Theydiscovered an elaborate collection of poisons in the floor under your bedroom," he told Narcissa. "Since I was present for the first sweep, I saw that compartment and it was empty then. Someone within the Ministry is playing games, in fact someone within our own office. So I have a very short list of people I can trust."
Draco and Narcissa looked at each other unhappily.
"Is it safe for me to return home? What happens if they return?" she asked in a low voice.
Kingsley grinned. "If you can wait until this evening, I'm going to switch the poisons with harmless potions and replace the bottles in the compartment. Then we'll watch to see what happens."
Severus and Zelda had watched quietly, after sending the girls upstairs with Alys and Victoria.
"Narcissa, I'm worried about what will happen to you, alone at Malfoy Manor," Zelda told her. "Why don't you set up wards around the place and come back to stay here until you know it's safe?"
"I don't want to impose on you," she said. "You've been so generous."
"Mother, Vic and Alys are staying here until I know it's safe for them. Aside from his obvious bigotry, if Father is under the Imperius, he is capable of anything."
"It can be arranged that only Lucius can enter the Manor, and an alarm will tell us if he's there. We shall Apparate there immediately in that case," said Severus.
"Is it safe for me to go home to collect some spare clothes and things?" she asked, finding it easy to concede.
"We'll go now," said Kingsley. "Then I'll be off to see if there are any clues to be found. Draco, will you come along?"
"Gladly," he said, relieved to know his entire family would be safe as they sorted out this mess.
They put on winter cloaks and left immediately, while their hosts watched them leave.
"She lives a lonely life, doesn't she?" asked Zelda, moving to put her arms around her husband's neck.
Their eyes met as she rubbed her nose against his. They had both lived long, lonely years before they found each other, and they could never take their marriage for granted.
"Though I despise socializing, I can't regret having her here," he said softly. "I doubt that her marriage gave Narcissa one hour of Lucius's complete attention. He was a wicked fool. I, on the other hand, was lucky enough to be taught what matters by you, my sweet girl."
His arms tightened around her and she sighed comfortably. They stayed in that embrace, savoring their closeness and knowing there would be little time for them to be alone that day.
&&&&&&&&&
The sound of a key in the lock gave Goyle and Malfoy the warning they needed to feign sleep, Malfoy having reluctantly removed his cloak form the comatose Crabbe. The door opened with a faint creak.
"Ah, they're still out cold," said a man's gravely voice. "Do we really need to wake them?"
"They must keep up their strength," cooed a woman's voice that was strangely familiar to Lucius. "When it is finished, if they are alive, they'll be left with evidence of their crimes and no memory of us. Set it all in the corner and step to the door. I shall revive them."
Looking cautiously, through nearly closed eyes, Lucius saw a tall, burly wizard's back as the man set down a large tray and then moved away.
"By tomorrow they'll be strong enough to do our work," said the woman, in a sweet, mock-compassionate voice. She pulled a small vial from her robes and poured the contents into Crabbe's slack mouth. Then she moved to the door and waved her wand.
There was a brilliant flash, the door slammed and Lucius felt a jolt that moved him to sit upright He stared over at Goyle, who had been similarly affected, but a groan from Crabbe drew their attention.
"Crabbe!" exclaimed Goyle, going to kneel by the wizard.
Lucius paused only to grab his cloak before joining them, and he was pleased to see that Goyle was conscious, although swaying perilously. His formerly heavy face was drawn and ghastly.
"Lie down again, Crabbe," he commanded, placing his cloak over the man.
"Where are we? What's happening?" he mumbled, looking dazed.
"We're trying to find that out, but you were near death, so you must regain your strength," said Lucius, putting his cloak over the man again. "We were released from Azkaban to be used as pawns, but we must fight it."
"I was at home," muttered Crabbe. "It was so long… I was sick, can't remember…"
Goyle was investigating the tray, which held a generous meal for three men, but he hesitated, saying, "Is it poisoned? I can't tell if potions are in it."
The smell of hot food filled the cold room, making Lucius more ravenous than he had been. He remembered the good meals that Narcissa had served to him and longed to be at home with her, safe. Then furious at his weakness, he joined Goyle.
"We need to eat if we are to try to fight this," he said firmly, dipping a finger into a bowl of hot soup, tasting it, and finding it savory and spicy.
"Strengthening Solution," he muttered. "They want us fit, so they believe their Imperius Curse is strong enough to control us. Did you recognize the witch, Goyle?"
The wizard shook his head, frowning. "She's a squat little thing, isn't she? No idea."
"Dolores Umbridge," said Lucius. "I've dealt with her before, long ago. She cares only for her status within the Ministry. I have no idea who the current Minister is, but she'll use us to gain power."
"What can she want us for?" asked Goyle.
"I assume we are to commit some crime and she will help to capture us after we have proven ourselves to be vicious criminals. Since she is unaware that we know, she thinks we'll be unable to explain our actions."
"Or that no one will believe us," snapped Goyle. "Do you think we can eat this? It might help Crabbe get stronger."
Lucius groaned, realizing he was right. Things were worse than he had believed and he doubted that Crabbe would be able to resist the Imperius Curse, even if he and Goyle could manage it.
"Give him some soup," he growled.
He began pacing irritably as Goyle brought food to Crabbe and helped him to eat. The whole damned world, as he'd known it was changing. Here was a former Death Eater showing compassion for a dying man who could only hold them back in their bid to escape. And he, Lucius Malfoy, was a pawn in a game of political intrigue, rather than the master of the game. He was penniless, wandless and barely recovered from prison fever himself. Having mulled over his plight, he realized that for the first time, Goyle had reached the only logical conclusion before he had. They would both fight this and return to their wives, holding on to what was good in their lives.
"Eat something, Malfoy," Goyle said softly. "Whatever comes, we must fight this."
Lucius paused to remember who he was and suffer a moment of complete outrage at this indignity. But he carried the entire tray of food over to where Crabbe lay, and sat down on the floor to discuss what was to come with his companions.
&&&&&&&&&
Narcissa prepared for bed that evening, feeling more comfortable than before about being in Severus's home. The day's activities had been a complete change from her normal quiet days. Once Draco and Severus had left, it was a house full of women. Zelda Snape had been a teacher for years and was schooling her own daughter as well as Harry Potter's. Narcissa was startled to learn that Severus and his wife were godparents to the little girl. Draco used to tell her how Severus and young Potter hated each other, when they were student and teacher. Things certainly turned out differently as time passed, she thought. The children were lively and little Alys was adorable.
As she drifted toward sleep, Narcissa wondered where Lucius was, if he was all right, and if he was thinking of her. She sighed. It was too painful to recall the dreadful years of her marriage. Blinded by status and her own naïveté, she had married a man who rarely saw who she was, who was completely absorbed by his relationship to the Dark Lord. But only since her years in counseling did she realize perhaps she'd deserved better. Now, well over fifty, she wished she had someone to love, who loved her as she was. The old Lucius was not capable of it. This new Lucius… She didn't know, but unless he returned, she never would know.
