Arriving at Malfoy Manor was interesting. Really, the Malfoy's themselves were interesting. At least they were to Harry who had thought of them as more evil than an actual family, with Lyra being the exception of course. Now, alone with them, he was finally able to observe the dynamics.
Narcissa Malfoy clearly ran the house even though Lucius seemed to do what he wanted when he wanted. Draco was doted upon by both of his parents while Lyra seemed to be left to her own devices most of the time. That last bit Harry didn't understand. Why would they leave Lyra to do what she wanted when she wanted? Lucius Malfoy seemed like a man who enjoyed control.
He got the answer to as soon as they all stepped through the floo and into the entrance hall. They were greeted by house elves in pillowcases with the Malfoy Family crest stitched into them. There was something endearingly sweet about the floppy eared, bug eyed, big nosed little creatures.
"Did little miss be enjoying Hoggy warts?" asked one of the creatures. Harry turned and found that it was speaking to Lyra while taking her robes.
"It was fine, I suppose. Nothing like Beauxbatons, the classes are so much easier." Lyra said.
"Well, little missy is being very smart." The elf said.
"If you miss France so much, why not go and visit?" Lucius suggested.
"Really, father?" Lyra asked, sceptical.
"Of course. You'll go tomorrow. I'll make arrangements with our cousins. They would love to see you." He said.
"How long would I be away for?" she asked.
"How does three weeks sound?"
Lyra smiled in delight. However, throughout the conversation, Harry watched Narcissa's face. Gone was the warmth she had when greeting her children and the glow she had when arriving at the manor. Now her face, while still beautiful, was cold. If anything, Harry would say that she was angry. He watched as she turned and walked away.
Lyra watched as well then turned her attention back to her father. "It will be absolutely delightful to see the others again. Why just last week I received a letter from cousin Atria asking about visiting once the school year was up. I wrote her back to tell her that I didn't know if I would be able to make it. It's so nice that I get to surprise her. She and cousin Didier will be so pleased! You know, she told be about a dress she bought for the Imbolc celebrations next year and I can't wait to see it."
Lucius stood and listened to his daughter prattle. Harry watched him. It was very clear why Lyra was left to herself. She was very capable of talking a lot and yet saying nothing of substance. Small talk really. Harry watched as Lucius Malfoy took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
"I'm sure your cousins will be thrilled." He turned to Harry. "When you're finished looking around and you've found your room, I'd like a word. Have Flopsy bring you to my study."
He nodded to them. Then he turned and strode out of the room in the same direction as his wife. Lyra watched him go with a smirk.
"You're surprisingly sneaky, Lyra." Harry said.
"Whatever do you mean?" she asked, the picture of innocence.
Draco snorted. "Why do you really want to go to France?"
"I don't, not really. Cousin Atria is lovely and I really do want to see her dress but it can wait until Yule. No. Father has something planned and I want to know what that is." Lyra said.
Draco shook his head.
Harry frowned. "Wouldn't it make more sense to be here?"
Lyra shook her head and her dark curls bounced. "If I'm here, he'll be more secretive and it will be harder to find out."
Draco narrowed his eye. "You want me to spy on father?"
"No." Lyra said. "I want you to distract father. And mother to a lesser extent. Potter would make a much better spy."
"What's in it for me?" Draco asked.
Lyra narrowed her eyes. "If you don't help me, I'll tell Weasley about that time you were eight and found a dung beetle."
"I'll do it of you polish my Quidditch gear." Draco said quickly, flushing red.
"I'll give you half of my allowance for the new school year and I wont tell Weasley." Lyra countered.
Draco nodded. "Half of your allowance and be my partner duelling partner for the summer."
"Your duelling is atrocious! Potter's here, partner with him. Merlin knows you both need the practice. No deal. I'm telling Weasley."
"Fine." Draco said, crossing his arms. "Half of your allowance and I want in."
"In?" Lyra asked.
"Yes. I want in on whatever it is you're planning, now and in the future. No more secrets." Draco said.
Lyra mulled it over. Harry watched the two siblings haggle with one another in awe. It was a bit strange to him that Draco wouldn't dote on his little sister the way he'd seen the older Weasley boys dote on Ginny. Instead, he actively took part in pushing her buttons but at the same time, Harry could tell that he was fearsomely protective of her.
"A third of my allowance, I tell you my plans and Weasley never finds out your deep dark secret." Lyra said. She put out her hand.
Draco eyed the hand, nodded and then grasped it. They shook hands.
"Tell me everything." Draco said.
Lyra told him almost everything.
-(INSERT LINE HERE)-
"How dare you." The words were almost whispered. They were cold and weighed heavy in the silence of the vast room.
Lucius Malfoy's study was grand. Somehow, it suited him. Books lined the walls, the fireplace roared and crackled with life. In one corner stood an antique oak table with a plush, red, high backed chair and a circular animal skin rug. In front of the desk was a long, maroon leather couch.
Lucius sat behind his desk pretending to work while Narcissa loomed in front of the desk, staring down at him.
"Please sit down, Cissa." He said.
"Not until you provide me a plausible explanation for why you're sending my daughter away, again." Narcissa replied.
"I need her out of the way for a while." Lucius said, still not looking up.
"Out of the way?" Narcissa repeated. "Did you even want another child?"
At this, Lucius looked up. "You know I did."
"Then why do you continue to send her away from us? From me?" Narcissa asked.
Lucius stood. "I thought you had forgiven me for that."
Narcissa shook her head and looked away from him. "I thought I had as well."
Lucius came around the desk and embraced her. She stood stiff in his arm, still angry. He kissed her hair, then her forehead and finally her lips. It was a chaste kiss. "You know why we had to send her away. Why I had to send her away. If anyone had found out how she came to be, both you and I would see the inside of Azkaban leaving Draco without parents and Lyra dead. We couldn't risk it."
Narcissa pulled away. "And now?"
Lucius pulled away as well. "Now? Now she'll get in my way."
Narcissa took a step back, composed herself and regarded her husband with a cool, level stare. Then she nodded.
"Your way." She repeated. "She had better be back before her birthday."
Narcissa turned and left the room. Lucius let out a sigh, returned to his desk and picked up a piece of parchment.
-(INSERT LINE HERE)
Malfoy manor was huge. Harry, who actually liked exploring, got lost quite a few times. Lyra had gone off to pack and Draco left shortly after not wanting to be around him. That left Harry alone to try and find his room.
After nearly an hour of searching and being wrong, he managed to find a library, the kitchen, two bathrooms and a duelling hall but no bedrooms. Finally he caved and called Flopsy.
She was the same house elf that greeted Lyra upon their arrival. She was small and a greyish green colour. Her ears were large and floppy and her eyes large and bug like. She was kind of cute in a wrinkly sort of way, and nothing like Dobby.
"Little Miss' Potter be wanting something?" she asked.
"Yes. Thank you. Could you please take me to my room? I can't seem to find it." Harry said.
The little creature smiled and snapped her spindly fingers. Harry felt a weird pull, the room spun and then he was in a bedroom. He stumbled a bit and fought with the lightheaded feeling.
"Thanks." He said.
The little creature nodded and popped away. The room was lovely but a bit muted. The colour scheme was a lot of dark greens, silvers, browns and blacks, expected really. The bed was a canopy with frills and lace, a bit feminine but very chic and expensive.
In one corner stood a large armoire, and in another, a floor length hanging mirror. The room even had a large, ornate vanity complete with a cushioned chair and torches. Near the bed was a Victorian style chaise lounge in the same colour scheme as the room. Muted, but very nice. Still, the room felt warm and welcoming.
Beside the bed sat all of Harry's things in a neat pile. He put his things away and eventually, sat on the bed and took in the room.
Flopsy popped back into the room. "Is Little Miss' Potter be ready to see Master?"
Harry nodded and once again, Flopsy snapped her fingers and the odd pulling sensation came and went. The room swirled and then he was in Lucius Malfoy's study.
Once again he stumbled but this time he fell.
"I don't like that." He said from his knees.
"It is an odd feeling." Lucius Malfoy said from behind his desk.
Harry hopped up and fought with the swaying in his head. He brushed himself off and fumbled a bit.
"Oh, um. You wanted to see me, Mister Malfoy?"
"Hm." The sound was casual but Harry, being very familiar with Malfoys, could hear the disdain and disapproval in the tone.
Lucius Malfoy sat behind his desk looking like the aristocrat he was. Everything on his desk was neat and well organized. He sat, leaning forward slightly with one hand folded a little near his chin and the other resting on the desk. He seemed comfortable but one could never accuse him of slouching.
Even though he knew he was safe for the time being, Harry could admit to being very nervous and intimidated. This was a man that tried to kill a student last year and got away with it.
Harry fidgeted under that direct and assessing gaze.
"I'm afraid I must apologize, Mister Potter. We seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot when last we met." Lucius said.
"Huh?" Harry asked.
"I am issuing you an apology, Mister Potter." Lucius said again, this time slowly, like one would to a particularly dense child. Harry frowned at that.
"You don't owe me one. It's the Weasley's you should apologize to. After all you did almost get their only daughter killed." Harry regretted the words almost the instant he uttered them but it was too late to back down now. So, he stood his ground, jutted out his chin and maintained eye contact.
For his part, Lucius' countenance before Harry's world could have been considered warm, at least for him. Now, his eyes were like arctic ice sheet and his face was glacial. There was no trace of warmth in this expression or his posture.
"Why, Mister Potter, I have no recollection of the event in question." The words were sub-zero. Harry flinched but he did back down a bit and lowered his eyes.
Lucius leaned forward, expression still cold, maybe even a little angry. He stared at Harry's face until finally Harry fidgeted and looked up.
"I'm sorry. Sometimes my mouth runs away and my head has to play catch-up." Harry said.
Lucius stared a bit longer before he nodded. Nothing about his countenance really changed but the room felt warmer and Harry was no longer as nervous.
"Hm." This sound was more an acknowledgement of words than anything else.
Harry averted his eyes and fidgeted more.
"Tell me about your godfather." Lucius said.
Harry looked up. "I only just found out about him."
"Yes. How did you find out?" Lucius was fishing for information.
Harry opened his mouth to respond and then stopped. Thanks to getting to know Lyra and even to a certain extent Draco, he could see that any response given could be an opening to a minefield. He knew that with Lucius Malfoy he would have to tread very carefully.
"It was Hermione." He lied. "She's very clever."
"Ah yes, the mu- muggle born girl."
A frown flitted across Harry's face as he caught the slip up but wisely, and he'd like to think that it was due to Lyra's influence, he kept quiet.
"Yes sir." He said.
"The trial is in two weeks."
Harry couldn't quite keep the smile from his face but then frowned as he remembered Lyra wouldn't be there to coach him.
"So soon?" Harr asked.
"Yes, Mister Potter. The minister was quite adamant that this be done as soon as possible. You're a celebrity and the our world owes you a debt." Lucius said with a curl of his lips.
Harry frowned harder. He didn't like the way Lucius said those words but he wisely kept his misgivings to himself.
"Now," Lucius continued. "I know this will be difficult for you and you likely have questions. Being raised by fi- muggles is unfortunate but rest assured, if you have any questions or concerns, my door is always open."
Harry felt relieved and at the same time uneasy at hearing that. What could Lucius Malfoy's end-game possibly be?
"Thank you, sir." Harry said, suspicious but grateful.
"Think nothing of it, Mister Potter. You're family." Lucius said.
Harry took that as his queue to leave the office. He had a lot of tell Lyra before she left. Plus he would need to get her advice on how to handle the trial. He'd never been to court before. Still, he had a feeling that once Lyra left, things would get very tricky.