Magic of Malfoy Manor
Harry's sleep was troubled by dreams. Quirrell loomed over him, his eyes glowing scarlet. Then there was a flash of green light and a high, cold, cruel laugh. Harry awoke, sweating. He wanted his mother and was about to call, but then realised he was in Malfoy Manor. He slipped out of the luxurious bed. The moonlight streamed through the diamond paned windows. He went over to Sadie's bed. The moonlight shone off her green nose and forehead and the eyeholes in her mask were shut.
He shook her gently. "Sadie."
She murmured, but didn't wake. He shook her again. "Sadie?"
Her eyes snapped open? "You OK, Harry?"
"I had a nightmare. The Avada Kedavra nightmare. Can't sleep."
"Aw. Hop in."
He slipped into her warm bed and she wrapped her little thin arms around him. "S'alright. I'm here," she mumbled.
He hugged her very tight and she made a squeaky noise and wriggled. Oops. He'd forgotten. She wasn't as physically strong as his mother. He shouldn't hug her with all his strength, just some of it. Her cold, plastic cheek rested against his. He felt better with her there. The rest of his sleep passed without dreams.
The next morning, Harry woke bright and early, still used to the Hogwarts schedule. Part of him wanted to roll over and luxuriate in a world where he could sleep in, but another part of him was vibrating with energy, even this early in the morning.
A distorted green face loomed close to him.
"Morning, dear. I thought you might like something to eat."
It was Sadie. She brushed the cold lips of her green mask against his cheek and then thrust a tray with tea, porridge and honey at him. She was already up and bathed and had even done her hair dying routine. He could smell the pungent reek of whatever magical dye she used emanating from the en-suite bathroom.
He smiled at her. "Thanks. Isn't it great here? Isn't this the life? How rich are the Malfoys?"
She sat on the side of his bed. "They're the richest magical people in Britain. Lucius is the titular owner now and his assets are $1.3 billion dollars in Muggle money. The Muggles are most obsessed with the US dollar. The dollar is about 2/3 of a pound sterling. The magical economy is parasitic on the Muggle economy, so really their money is what we use. It's something like five pounds to the Galleon."
"The Galleons aren't real gold then?"
"Nah, they're just gold coloured. They're fiat currency."
He stuck out his tongue at her. "Fiat currency? You're trying to sound like Tracy."
She smiled at him with the lips of her mask.
He spooned away the porridge and swallowed the tea. After he had finished, she took the tray away.
"Don't you want to spend Christmas here, Sadie?"
She sat herself down on the bed. "Certainly not. I'm only here for the Solstice – tonight. Christmas is special. I look forward to helping Mum heal the sick Muggles. It's the one day of the year that there's a loophole in the stupid secrecy law. And it's when I get to do stuff with her. That's important." She said the last two words in an oddly pointed way.
"I bet Draco would say luxury is important too," said Harry.
"Look at me." She sounded serious. He looked through the eyeholes in her mask into her blue eyes. "Your mum was looking forward to spending Christmas Day with you. She said she was saving up all her money for it."
"Good point, but I'm afraid I'll still have to clear it with Draco," he said in a mischievous tone.
She gave a half-exasperated laugh. "Shall I tickle some sense into you?"
He stuck out his tongue. "Don't care what you say. I just wanna spend Christmas in luxury!"
"Right, that's it." She put her small arms around him and tickled his sides.
"That's not how to tickle, Sadie. This is how you do it." He grabbed her and tickled her so that she screamed with mad laughter again.
"Stop! Gerroff!" She kicked her arms and legs wildly until he stopped.
He let her push him onto the bed and wrap her arms and legs around him. She was breathing hard on his face and her purple hair was all dishevelled and spilling onto his face. Her eyes gleamed through the holes in her mask. "You'd really do what Draco tells you, you naughty boy?"
"No."
"Good." She touched her finger to his nose.
"I'll send an owl to ask Crabbe, and then that Ron Weasley, what they both think."
Her tiny body shook with laughter. "I never thought you could be that dumb. I'm not letting you up if you don't wise up."
Her laughter was infectious. "I surrender. I'll trust you instead of my good buddy, Ron Weasley"
"Better."
She rubbed her cold, plastic nose against his. They gazed into each other's eyes. "Love you," he blurted out suddenly.
"I love you, too."
Draco barged in at that moment.
"Morning, Draco?" said Sadie, grinning and waving with one hand while keeping Harry pinned down with the other.
Draco stared nonplussed. "What in Merlin's name are you doing?"
"Sadie was lecturing me, and things escalated," said Harry gravely.
Sadie kissed Harry's forehead. "I'd just got him his breakfast too."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Why? That's what the house-elves are for."
"Cos I wanted to do it, that's why," said Sadie, releasing Harry's other arm.
Harry wrapped his arms around her and sat up. "Yeah, Draco. Would you make the house-elves wrap your presents for you?"
Draco scoffed. "You don't listen at all, do you? The house-elves do everything menial. Get yourself moving and we can see more of the Manor before breakfast. We can't be late, though. Father would be annoyed."
00O00
When Harry had washed and dressed, the three of them ran around the upper levels of Malfoy Manor. Draco was practically vibrating with excitement over being able to share the home he loved with friends, which was probably the reason he was up such an early bird this morning. Harry was fascinated by all the interesting rooms the Malfoys had. There was one with old, medieval tapestries and objects, kept looking new by charms. Another led to what appeared to be an indoor garden, under a glass dome.
Sadie pointed at what looked like a massive, purple Venus flytrap plant. "You've got a Hecate gripper plant growing here, Draco? That is so cool." Her blue eyes shone through the holes in her mask. "Wish I could experiment on its venom. Bet it has all kinds of magical properties."
"I suppose it does," said Draco. "We've got the only domesticated one in England."
There was a pair of comfy looking benches for sitting around and enjoying the view. Fairy lights dashed about, ducking and weaving within the bushes and flowers. Sadie's masked face stretched into a grin as a fairy flitted around her head.
The biggest hit was probably the library. Draco, knowing their passions, showed Harry a section on the strategy of Quidditch, and Sadie a section on controversial Healing. Harry browsed the titles excitedly. "Cool. The Evolution of Quidditch. I bet this'll give a history of the different moves."
"Even cooler… Stopping Death At All Costs – Modern Medean Magic." Sadie ran her dainty hands over the leather of the large volume. "I soo want this. I even call it 'MMM' for short. You're so lucky you get to read mmm, Draco." Her voice was so wistful. She actually pronounced the title, 'mmm,' as if in anticipation of something tasty.
"Oh please, who cares about such creepy stuff?" said Draco.
Sadie's face moved weirdly underneath her mask as she pouted as best she still could despite her disfigurement. "Not creepy. Open your mind a little. There are cases where it's in the patient's best interest to replace a lot of organs all at once."
Harry glanced at the Potions section. "A copy of Advancements in Potion Filtration! From the way Professor Snape talked about this, he would kill to read it."
"That would be unnecessary, considering that he already has." Lucius Malfoy's voice told him, and the trio whirled round to see him watching them through the library's open door. "That very copy, in fact." His cold eyes lingered on Harry. "Breakfast will be ready shortly. Take care not to be late." With that he swept down the hall.
Harry glanced at Draco, who puffed up his chest. "Mother and Father realize the importance of keeping up proper manners, even at home. A mask that never once slips."
"Ouch," said Sadie, touching her own mask.
Draco shrugged and grinned. "That's what they say, anyway. Let's get going. I'd leave that book here. It'd just get dirty at the table." Harry nodded they all followed Mr. Malfoy down to the dining room.
They washed their hands before sitting down to breakfast, which was served at a large table, but they sat together at a grouping near the head. Narcissa was sipping from a delicate mug, and from the scent, it was strong coffee and not tea. She was dressed languidly, still in her nightdress, which was very elegant indeed. Her hair was smoothed back from her face and piled on top of her head, kept in place with a series of pins and curlers and further secured with a snood. While Harry was sure there were charms that could be done to fix hair, he was pretty sure Narcissa liked the put together look of doing it herself.
Lucius sat at the head of the table, Narcissa was off to his right and the kids sat side by side at his left. Unlike his wife Lucius was dressed in a fine pressed suit, with shining buttons, his long hair was fastened back in a simple black silk ribbon. One of the strange little house-elves appeared along with a partner, the two handed off their plates to respective people at the table. Harry took his with a gracious smile and set it down in front of him.
Each person's plate was arranged with different foods. Draco's, for instance, was fitted with black pudding, over-medium eggs (the only type Draco would eat), tomato, and toast. Narcissa had eggs Benedict atop crumpets with smoked salmon and potato. Lucius had the simplest, a side of toast, fresh fruit, and cereal, along with piping hot, strong dark coffee. Harry, however, had hot cakes with strawberries and treacle. How they knew his favourite breakfast was beyond him, but it was served along with orange juice and Earl Grey, the perfect mix.
Sadie just had milky porridge with fruit. She took care to wipe her mask regularly with a napkin. She could not feel if anything was stuck to it.
"Do you have to go to the Ministry today?" Asked Draco.
Lucius shook his head lightly, stirring in some fruit to his cereal and taking a bite. "St. Mungos."
"Mum will be there. Very busy. Like always." Sadie gave a little sigh.
Draco nodded his head and took a bite of his black pudding and a sip of his orange pekoe. He shifted in place, dressed down from his usual robes, and dress clothes in a pair of jeans and a loose t-shirt. He looked far younger than his usual self, even his hair was messily styled.
Breakfast was eaten mostly in silence, save for the occasional talk about school, or what they were going to do about the holidays. Narcissa discussed shopping. That meant a trip to Diagon Alley – by Floo.
00O00
Harry shook himself off when he came through the vent, crashing hard into the floor of the Floo Port in Diagon Alley. He could taste soot and ash and he was pretty sure he was covered in it. A loud noise sounded behind him and Draco landed half on top of him, rolling off onto the floor of the station.
"Thanks for the soft landing," said Draco.
Sadie arrived in the fireplace next, her long purple hair blowing about her. She helped Harry to his feet. "You OK, dear? Here, let me get that." She reached up wiped a smut from his cheek with her little hand.
"Come, come," Narcissa Vanished the soot from each of the kids in turn. "Time to shop."
It was strange, Harry thought, watching as Narcissa moved effortlessly through the crowds of people with a haughty air about her that was mimicked less severely by Draco, to see the witch in modernity. The regal nature of her attitude seemed so out of place. Sadie and Harry kept close to her, a little nervous of the attention they might draw.
They all agreed to meet in front of Flourish and Blotts in an hour. Narcissa strode off towards the Apothecary and the kids headed off to look at shops.
Various gift stores that sprung up annually, and shared a look before splitting up. Harry made his way to a rack of various winter accessories. What should he get for the girls? Jewellery was kind of a personal taste kind of gift, from what he'd seen, and he didn't want to spend a lot of money and time on something they'd hate. Clothes seemed like the next best thing, but he didn't know all their sizes, beyond the facts that Sadie was tiny, Milly big and the others sort of medium sized. So something like scarves seemed right for the four girls besides Sadie - friendly and useful. His best friend would need something more special though.
He pawed through the various scarves and matching hats. There were different designs to suit the character of each of girl
Pleased with himself, Harry ducked back farther into the store. He passed a display of candies and grabbed a couple of boxes, figuring Crabbe and Goyle would probably like them. They were edible, after all. This area was filled with more ornamental type items, and Harry passed through them idly, not really expecting to find something worth-while.
A glint of light caught his eye, and Harry turned and froze. On the shelf in front on him was a fancy hourglass - the kind that sat on a desk or shelf as decoration. The dark wood encasing the glass housing looked freshly polished, and the sand within it was coloured in shades of dark grey and black. A silver, metal dragon wrapped itself around the entire thing, shifting and slithering about, eyes watching Harry.
The dragon decided it for Harry, and he grabbed the hourglass, shivering slightly as the metal beast slipped over his hands as it made its way around. It was colder than he had expected. He stashed that in his bag and set off back towards the front, looking forward to Christmas just a little bit more now.
Harry finished before Draco - the other boy was fussy and he understood girls liked spending time shopping. Harry doubted that Sadie would be an exception. He started poking around the various displays. One in particular caught his attention. It was filled with fancy looking mirrors. He picked up one, using it too look behind him at the other customers. When he looked up, Harry noticed his own reflection in one of the mirrors that was facing the wrong direction. He blinked at it for a moment, then looked around for a sign.
Two-way mirrors! It declared. Keep in contact no matter the distance! A slow smile spread across Harry's face, and he grabbed a particularly regal looking set. He was certain that Mr. and Mrs. Mal- er, Narcissa would appreciate a way to keep in contact with their son at Hogwarts. And if it kept down the number of times Draco complained about being away from home, all the better.
For Sadie and Cora, he went into the Apothecary, where Narcissa was shopping. He didn't distract the blond lady. He followed Narcissa out of the Apothecary. She managed to look regal and unaffected, despite being followed by flying bags full of no doubt disgusting things.
He got distracted watching the various witches and wizards come and go, and so was startled when Draco suddenly appeared and dug him in the ribs. Harry let out a highly undignified squeak and nearly dropped his bags, then glared at the blonde as he smirked.
Sadie came trotting up to them, staggering under the weight of several bags. She grinned at Harry as he took one for her.
"Are you three ready?" Narcissa asked, arching an eyebrow at them. They nodded and Narcissa led them along to the Apparition spot. With a crack, they were standing at the gates of Malfoy Manor.