A/N: I don't know when the next time i'll be able to update will be. I started College on Thursday, so i'll be busier than when i started the story.
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Chapter Thirteen: The Acceptance letter
The next day the Malfoy family and the children's two godfathers' were sitting down, enjoying their breakfast when three owls arrived with the morning's edition of the Daily Prophet. Lucius, Sirius and Severus took one of the offered papers and unfolded it. Their eyes widen at the headline that graced the front page.
"Seer- the source that presented new evidence in the case of Sirius Black,"
The smile that was present an all of the men's faces disappeared as they began reading the attached article.
"Yesterday afternoon an anonymous source arrived at the Ministry of Magic and headed to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement where they presented the Head of the Department, Amelia Bones, with sixteen memories that proved the innocence of Sirius Black.
(Sirius Black has been serving a life sentence in Azkaban Prison for the murders of Peter Pettigrew and Twelve muggles for the past seven and a half years.) A Ministry official, Ewan Baxter age 24, went to Azkaban Prison and released Mister Black before he brought him back to the Ministry for his wand. It is reported that after retrieving his wand, Sirius Black was then taken to Lucius Malfoy's office. Not long after Sirius Black entered his office, Lucius Malfoy was reported leaving the Ministry after locking his door.
This reporter is wondering why a wizard of the light would willingly enter the office of a wizard that supports the Dark Arts. Could they be planning something? Could Lucius Malfoy have been the mysterious source that brought the evidence to the Ministry?
One thing that is known is that, despite who brought the information to the Ministry, it is clear that the evidence was in fact, memories from a Seer. This Seer had several visions about the night of October 31st 1981 and then gave the memories of such visions to a trusted friend to turn into the Ministry.
Who is this mysterious Seer and why are we just now learning about them? Trust this reporter will do her best to find out.
Faithfully Reported by,
Rita Skeeter,"
In three fluid motions Lucius, Severus, and Sirius through down their papers and glared at their plates. Narcissa picked up one of the discarded newspapers and read the article. "How could they know this?"
Lucius looked up, "I have no idea Cissa," Sirius tore his gaze away from his plate, since his paper was the one Narcissa was reading, to stare at the two Malfoys. "What do you mean? This load of rubbish can't be true,"
Narcissa stared at her cousin, "Of course it's true Sirius, but the matter that interests me is how Skeeter found out about her," At Sirius' confused face Severus leaned closer to Sirius and whispered, sneer evident in his voice.
"Valora is the seer that gave Lucius the information he used to get you freed," Sirius's eyes widened and his breathing hitched. "That… that doesn't make sense," It was Lucius that turned his head and glared at him.
"It's just, there hasn't been a true seer in over two hundred years," Sirius said with a wave of his hand; down at the other end of the table Damien, Draco and Valora shared a look.
"Black, I don't think…" Severus started to say but stopped short at the arrival of a large eagle owl. All conversation stopped as the black owl landed in front of Valora and stuck out his foot. Valora looked around before she reached forward slowly and untied the letter that was being offered to her.
Once the owl felt its message leave its claw, it turned and stared at Valora with one yellow eye before flying off the table and back out of the Manor. Valora stared down at the heavy blue tinted envelope in her hands.
"Open it 'Lora," Damien said from beside her. Valora looked up at her brother's voice and met his green eyes. She nodded and turned back to the letter. Across the front of the letter, written in a royal blue ink was her name.
"Miss Valora J. Malfoy
The Third Largest Bedroom
Malfoy Manor
Wiltshire"
Valora stared at her name before turning the envelope over and looking at the baby blue wax seal bearing a coat of arms; two crossed golden wands were on a powder-blue field, each emitting three stars.
Valora looked up to her mother, "It's from Beauxbatons Academy," Narcissa nodded and waited for her daughter to actually open the letter. From across the table Severus allowed a small smile to grace his face, Sirius saw this and stared at him in shock.
By now Valora had carefully opened the envelope and was reading the letter.
Beauxbatons Academy of Magic
Headmistress: Olympe Maxime
(Order of Merlin, Second Class)
"Dear Miss Malfoy,
In light of your current situation we have agreed to grant you special acceptance to Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. Please understand we do not grant this privilege lightly, so we expect you to work just as hard as everyone else while at the Academy. You will find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on August 15th. I will come to pick you up personally in three days time.
Yours Sincerely,
Anais Goshawk,
Divination Professor"
Valora let out a squeal of excitement and jumped up from the table, "I've been accepted! I've been accepted! Oh Daddy, we have to go to Diagon Alley and get my things," Valora said as she bounced around the table. Lucius smiled and took the letter from her as she past by him.
"Oh this is great, Damien, Draco come on," Valora said as she reached her brothers and grabbed their hands, pulling them out of their seats. "We have to get ready to go to Diagon Alley," Damien and Draco looked back at their father while they were being pulled away from their breakfast, Lucius smiled at them and nodded. Draco and Damien sighed before they turned back to their sister and picked her up before they ran out of the room.
As the children ran from the room, Lucius looked down at the second page of Valora's letter that she had neglected to read.
Beauxbatons Academy of Magic
Uniform
First-year students will require:
Ten sets of fine silk work robes (blue)
Two sets of hats (blue) for day wear
One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
One winter cloak (Blue, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags
Course Books
All students should have a copy of the following:
Le livre standard des charmes (catégorie 1) by Miranda Goshawk
Le Seer' ; s guident à comprendre la vue by Anais Goshawk (Only required for you, Miss Malfoy)
Une histoire de magie by Bathilda Bagshot
Théorie magique by Adalbert Waffling
Un Beginner' ; guide de s de Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
Mille herbes et mycètes magiques by Phyllida Spore
Ébauches et breuvages magiques magiques by Arsenius Jigger
Les forces d'obscurité : Un guide de l'autoprotection by Quentin Trimble
Other Equipment
1 Wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 Set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat (exceptions will be made for familiars)."
Lucius handed Narcissa the letter before he started in on what was left of his breakfast. Three hours later Lucius, Narcissa, Damien, Draco and Valora were heading out to spend the rest of the day in Diagon Alley; Severus and Sirius decided to forgo the family outing, both claiming they had research to do.
Once all of the Malfoys finished arriving at the Leaky Cauldron through their reserved fireplace, Lucius led the way out of the bar and out into the small courtyard where he tapped the right brick and allowed his family to pass by him as the archway opened.
"Mommy, I want to get my robes first," Valora said as the archway closed behind them. Narcissa inclined her head and led her children in the direction of Twilfit & Tatting's clothing store while Lucius headed for Gringotts.
As they made their way down the long cobbled street, Valora, Draco and Damien took in the sites of the various shops that littered their path. An Apothecary and a cauldron shop caught Draco's eye while Damien was drawn to the store front of Quality Quidditch Supplies. Valora was staring at all the shops, the Magical Menagerie and Flourish & Blotts were places she especially wanted to visit.
Narcissa stopped walking as they passed Gambol & Japes causing the children to run into her back. She turned around and gave each of them a look before gesturing to the store on their left. Valora looked up and smiled at the large looping letters that spelled out TWILFIT & TATTING'S ROBES.
Narcissa led them inside and in a matter of seconds a small man with graying hair was at her side. "Welcome Madam Malfoy, to Twilfit & Tatting's Robes for the Pure, how may I help you?" Narcissa easily slipped into her pureblood facade and raised her nose up at the man.
"My daughter Valora needs robes for Beauxbatons Academy," the small man ignored her cold voice and nodded as he looked around for an eleven year old girl, but he saw none. Narcissa saw him ignore Valora, who was standing right next to her, and she immediately grew angry.
"Excuse me Edgar? But what are you doing?" She growled out, Draco, Damien and Valora closed their eyes before opening them slowly, it was never a good idea to anger their mother.
Edgar looked up at Narcissa before taking at step back at the energy she started to give off. "I'm… I'm looking for your daughter," Narcissa took a step forward and motioned for Valora to follow. "What does she look like? A troll? This is my daughter and I suggest you get started on her robes before we take our presence to Madam Malkin's,"
Edgar nodded quickly and gently took Valora's arm and led her over to a ornate raised dais where he lifted her up briefly to place her on. He left the room and when he returned he set his wand upon the task of measuring Valora while he draped a silky robe over her.
Narcissa gestured for Draco and Damien to follow her as she walked to the back of the store to get Valora her winter cloak and hats. Draco and Damien followed and quietly talked with one another while Narcissa shopped.
Once they walked back to the front of the store, Valora was standing next to the register waiting on them. "All done Madam Malfoy," Edgar said as he put the last robe into the box. Narcissa nodded and handed him the rest of their purchases. Edgar thanked her and rang up the total, eight hundred galleons.
Narcissa handed him her Gringotts card before taking the bags and leading the siblings out of the store; Lucius was waiting for them outside.
"Where to next 'Lora?" Draco asked as they walked away from Twilfit & Tatting's. Valora looked around before her eyes landed on the Magical Menagerie. "I would like to get an animal," From beside her Lucius looked thoughtful before he nodded and watched as Valora raced Damien and Draco to the store front that was littered with various cages inside and outside.
Narcissa and Lucius shared a smile as they watched their children acting like children. It wasn't everyday they could go out as a family, and actually act like one.
Valora pushed open the door and walked around the dimly lit room, the smells of different animals assaulting her nose. Damien squeezed her arm as he walked past her so he could look at the snakes while Draco walked over to the owls. Valora pasted by the owls, snails, snakes and even the cats. Nothing seemed to call out to her.
As she rounded the corner of the last aisle her eyes landed on a small white and brown kneazle, who was staring at her with large yellow eyes. Valora walked over to it and knelt down, not noticing she was getting dirt on her gray robes.
"I see you have found our latest arrival," Valora jumped up at the sound from behind her. She turned around and glared at the offender, which was an elderly woman with graying black hair. "She's a three weeks old pureblooded kneazle," The women said ignoring Valora's death glare.
Valora softened her gaze as the woman walked past her and over to the kneazle kitten and opened the cage. The kitten walked forward and into the woman's hands, who then stood up and walked to Valora.
As they got closer the kitten's eyes widen and she jumped from the woman's arms onto Valora, who let out a surprised gasp and wrapped her arms around it before it fell. The woman gave Valora a smile and nod, "Well, I can't charge you anything for her now. Her cage will be ten sickles though,"
Valora looked up in shock but before she could say anything she was joined by Draco and her parents. "Found something yet darling?" Narcissa asked as she walked up to her daughter, whose back was to her.
Valora nodded and turned around to show her family her new familiar. "How much does it cost?" Lucius asked the women behind his daughter. "She's free since she already bonded to the young Miss; her cage is ten sickles and she'll be needed food and toys, so make it 5 galleons,"
Lucius nodded and paid the elderly shopkeeper before he shrunk the food, toys and cage and put them in one of his pockets. The woman thanked them before leaving them alone in the back of her shop.
Draco looked around a few minutes later and noticed that Damien wasn't with them, "We are missing someone," Narcissa and Lucius looked around, and sure enough Damien wasn't anywhere in sight.
"Last time I saw him he was with the snakes," Valora said as she petted her new familiar. Narcissa turned her head back to look at her daughter before she turned around and made her way to the snake section, where she found Damien standing next to a large glass cage.
"Damien, we're ready to leave," Narcissa said upon nearing him. Damien turned to face his mother with a grimace. "It won't get off," Wrapped around Damien's neck was an orange and black runespoor.
Narcissa took a step back once she realized that a highly poisonous snake was in biting distance of herself and her family. "Damien sweetie, have you told it to get off of you?" Narcissa asked him as she stared at the three headed snake coiled around her son's throat.
"Yes but it says it's my familiar and that it must leave with me," By now Lucius, Draco and Valora had arrived. "Well then that's settled, Damien get its cage and let me pay for it," Lucius said as he walked over to his youngest son. Damien nodded and carefully picked up its cage before he handed it over to his father.
Lucius took the cage and walked to the front of the store where the elderly woman stood behind the counter. "Found another familiar?" She asked upon seeing the empty snake cage. Lucius nodded and paid eleven sickles for the cage before he turned around and left the store where he joined the rest of his family.
"I believe you need to get your wand next Valora," Lucius said as he walked beside his wife. Valora nodded and turned around and headed in the direction of Ollivander's, as Draco and Damien followed her; Draco staring in wonder at the three headed snake wrapped around his brother's neck.
As they neared the small store front Valora could see a single wand lying on a faded purple cushion in the window. Now above their heads, sat the sign in peeling gold letters, "Ollivander's: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC" Right when Valora went to open the door to the dusty shop, her mother stopped her.
"Make sure you get the perfect wand sweetie, if nothing feels right from here we'll go to Gregorovitch tomorrow," Valora nodded and once again began to push open the door, but her father's voice stopped her.
"We'll see you when you get out darling," Valora dropped the doorknob and turned around, "You're not coming in?" Lucius shook his head.
"No, your mother is going to get your school books while I get your potion ingredients and cauldron," Valora nodded slowly before she turned back around to see her two brothers smiling at her, "We're not leaving you 'Lora," She smiled back at them before finally pushing the door open and entering the tiny shop.
The siblings felt a slight tingling on their backs as they walked further into the store while Draco shut the door behind them. A bell rang in the back of the store that caused them to jump slightly before they laughed at themselves; really, it was only a bell, nothing to be scared of.
"Good morning," a soft voice said, causing them to jump again. Where had he come from? An old man was standing beside them, his wide, pale eyes shining through the gloomy, dusty shop.
"Er, Hello," Valora said while she adjusted her grip on her familiar. Mr. Ollivander turned his gaze away from Damien to look at her; sure she was small and frail looking, but that didn't give him a reason to stare so intently.
"Ahhh yes, I thought I would be seeing you here soon, Axel Potter," Valora almost fainted. Damien steadied her while Draco walked right up to Mr. Ollivander. "This girl is my sister Valora Malfoy and she has been for her entire life; I advise you to never refer to her as Axel Potter again or will get my father in here and he might possibly close your shop," Mr. Ollivander stared at the small boy in front of him, and brushed his threat aside.
"You have your mother's eyes. It seems only yesterday she was in here herself, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work," By now Valora was back to normal and was listening to his every word, she never knew much about Lily except for her falling in love with Sirius when she was in fourth year and her marrying Potter after Graduation.
Draco moved to the old wand maker again but Valora gave him a look, slowly and uncertainly Draco back away. "Your father, on the other hand, favored a mahogany wand. Eleven inches, Pliable, A little more power and excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say your father favored it- it's really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course,"
Mr. Ollivander had come so close that he and Valora were almost nose to nose. Valora stepped away nervously. "And that's where…" He turned back around and touched Damien's hidden scar, the teardrop on his stomach; with one long, white finger.
"I'm sorry to say I sold the wand that caused this," he said softly before he raised his hand and touched the lightning scar on his forehead, "and this," Damien stared into the silvery eyes before he tore his gaze away.
"Mr. Ollivander, we're here to get my sister a wand, not to have you scaring her and touching my brother," Draco said from behind the wand maker. Ollivander stood up straighter and nodded, more to himself than to appease Draco.
He pulled out a long tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket. "Which is your wand arm?" Valora stuck out her right arm and allowed him to measure her from shoulders to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and around her head. Draco and Damien watched curiously.
As he measured, he said "Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Miss Malfoy. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, heartstrings of dragons, and on rare occasions, demiguise hairs. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, phoenixes or demiguises are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand,"
Mr. Ollivander was now walking over to shelves and taking down boxes while the tape measure continued its task, which was now measuring between Valora's eyes. "That will do," he said and the tape measure crumpled into a heap on the floor.
"Right then Miss Malfoy, try this one. Rosewood and unicorn hair, Ten inches, nice and swishy," Valora took the offered wand but nothing happened and Ollivander quickly took it away before handing her another.
"Maple and dragon heartstring, Twelve inches, springy," Valora tried but it was no good. Over and over she tried wands and as the more wands were rejected the happier Ollivander became.
"Tricky customer, eh? Not to worry, we'll find the perfect match here somewhere- I wonder, now- yes, why not- very unusual combination- willow and phoenix tears with a demiguise hair, nine and a quarter inches, pliable,"
Valora took the wand and felt a sudden warmth flood through her fingers. She raised the wand above her head and brought it swishing down through the dusty air and a stream of blue gold shot out like a water fall. Draco and Damien cheered with large smiles as Mr. Ollivander cried, "Oh bravo! Yes indeed, oh very good. That will be eight galleons,"
Draco reached into his pocket and paid Ollivander before he led his brother and sister out of the dingy shop and into the sunlight.
They didn't have to wait long for Narcissa appeared shortly after they exited the shop and called them to her. "I've bought all of your books and your father has gotten your potion supplies, is there anything else you would like to do today Valora?"
Valora looked up at her mother and shook her head. "No Mother, I believe we should head home now," Narcissa nodded and led the way back to the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron where they picked up Lucius, who was having a shot of firewhiskey, and headed back to the Manor via the floo network.
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Later night Valora told her parents goodnight and waited as Draco and Damien did the same before the three of them walked up the staircase to their bedrooms. At the doors they said goodnight to each other before entering their separate rooms.
Draco took a shower before he crawled into his silver bed covers and fell asleep. Damien changed his clothes, made sure that Seifer, his runespoor familiar, was comfortable before he climbed into his emerald covers and fell asleep.
Valora took a nice bath before she dressed for bed. She made sure that her kneazle Persephone had food and water before she pulled her blue blankets around her and fell asleep; the acceptance letter to Beauxbatons Academy sitting proudly on her nightstand.
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A/N: This chapter was intersting to write. I will admit (as i have to) that most of the scenes with Ollivander were taken out of Sorcerer's Stone.
Valora's book list is (English version)
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)
The Seer's Guide to understanding The Sight (The one only for Valora)
A History of Magic
Magical Theory
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi
Magical Drafts and Potions
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection
Please Review. Please Review. Please Review.
Did you like it? Did you hate it? Got any suggestions for later chapters?
What should Draco's familiar be? Should Sirius and Remus met again and if they do should Remus apologize?
Who should Draco date? Who should Damien date?
Please Please Please Review!!