Chapter 36-The Love of a Mother
(Harry's POV)
Since I had no family, and it was deemed that I would be in too much danger anywhere else, I was exiled to Grimmauld Place for the holidays, but considering all my volatile emotions right now, for once I did not mind.
After I spent the entire first day back sleeping I proceeded to tour the old place and see how the renovations were going. My wing had been completely furnished in a deep burgundy and pale gold leaving a bright but classical feel to the place, unlike the sickly green that had been everywhere earlier. I ran into Dobby who had just finished opening all the curtains in Hermione's wing and was wandering with a pile of linens.
"How did Hermione's wing turn out Dobby?" I asked
He jumped excitedly, "Well Master, the last of her long-awaited books were just delivered this morning from Alexandria and Dobby's friend is arranging them now, would you like to see?"
"Sure, lead the way." I replied
He opened the mahogany doors to reveal the light blue and purple scheme Hermione had been so intent on, it was interspersed with silver giving the overall feeling of having entered some ethereal place. It reminded me almost of pictures I saw of the Marie Antoinette's rooms, except Hermione's were all in good taste and by no means garish. I was amazed at her interior decorating skills, and made a mental note to have her do the rest of the house.
Then Dobby opened a door to reveal Winky dusting a giant bookcase. Who was I kidding? It covered the wall from floor to ceiling and then transversed the entire room. What was most impressive though was the giant tree of bookshelves that sprouted out of the center of the floor and extended to the ceiling with a winding staircase to the top. The thing that puzzled me was that it didn't look new, it looked old.
"Is this original to the house?" I asked placing my hand on the trunk.
"Yes it is, but Winky and I cleaned and scrubbed and repolished it to make Miss Hermione happy." Dobby said cheerfully. There was even a swing on some ancient ropes attached to a branch, I suppose Hermione thought that would make an excellent reading spot.
As I examined the rope though I noticed it was beyond old and fraying in places. "Dobby, I want this rope replaced before someone gets hurt, make sure whatever it is replaced with won't break anytime soon."
"Yes master of course!" Dobby hobbled over, "I am sorry to have missed it before!"
"No worries, just make sure it gets fixed, now how about you show me the whole rest of the house, especially the parts that need work?" I knelt to his level
"The whole house?" Dobby's large eyes went even wider, "That could take days sir!"
"Well what better time to start, someone needs to inventory this place and figure out what needs fixing. Dobby is there too much work for just you and Winky here? Do you need anyone else?" I thought suddenly
Dobby shifted uneasily, "A good house elf does not like to admit that any work is beyond him-" he stopped unsure of himself, I nodded reassuringly, "this house is much larger than any Dobby has ever worked in before, and Dobby has never worked with fewer than four other elves."
I thought about hiring more elves, but in the times we were in I couldn't necessarily trust one of the elves not to be a deatheater spy, and decided to bring up the matter to Lupin or Dumbledore. "Well Dobby, we'll see about getting you and Winky help, but first we need to inventory and close off rooms that are not in use."
So the next three days Dobby and I fell through rotted floorboards, discovered a rather creepy dungeon dripping in some greasy black liquid, got covered in dust and soot and discovered some of the strangest contraptions ever invented by man or wizard.
The worst parts of the house we cordoned off, but only after inventorying the entire room for later. Each door was posted with a copy of its contents and more serious problems, then locked away and the information added to our master ledger.
It would take me either years or a whole army to restore everything to its former glory. Right about now, I had run out of patience. I heard an owl hoot in the distance and looked out to see the sun had set yet again. My sweater was covered in soot and some unnamable sticky yellow goo. I decided a good shower was in order, and then I would go to see what Winky had prepared for dinner, and meet whatever Order member was posted on duty for tonight.
Finally after thirty good minutes of scrubbing I made my way downstairs fully clothed and fresh.
I met with a tired Dobby (who was clean) and a cheery Winky bearing potholders and a giant quiche smelling divine and Lupin smiled at me from behind his newspaper. "You have a letter Harry." He motioned to a thick creamy envelope addressed to me in an unfamiliar hand with spidery green ink. "First eat your dinner though, it's nearly nine o'clock and I've got a wolfish appetite." He grinned and I laughed.
So the four of us dug into Winky's delicious quiche two nights before Christmas. I forgot about the envelope until long after dinner when Lupin and I snuck back in for thirds. At that point it was nearly half past eleven.
"Oh I should probably open this." I said grabbing the envelope, Lupin appeared over my shoulder with two plates of quiche.
The seal on the back in thick green wax was one I did not readily recognize, but Lupin did and froze. "Don't open that Harry!" he shouted dropping the plates and whipping out his wand.
I looked curiously at it, "Why not?"
"That's the Malfoy seal. Though why they would be so stupid as to send you a cursed letter and sign it I don't know." Lupin said
I shook my head, "It's probably from Draco, I asked him to write me, he's on our side, but I didn't expect it this early, and this isn't his handwriting." I replied confused turning it over.
"All the more reason not to open it, let me get Dobby he used to work for them maybe he can figure out whose writing this is." Lupin returned his wand to his pocket and clapped his hands.
"Dobby!"
The elf in question appeared out of seemingly nowhere, "Yes Mister Lupin?" he said sleepily, and I felt some remorse at waking him up after a hard day's work.
"Your master wished to know whose writing this is on his envelope. It has a Malfoy seal on the back." Lupin stated
Dobby froze, "I do not like the Malfoys." was all he said
"All I need is you to tell me who addressed this," I said softly extending the envelope to him, he flinched noticeably but took it from me to peer at the letters, then his eyes started to tear up.
"It is from the missus Sir, and she's afraid. Mrs. Malfoy would never write you otherwise." He handed it back. "Missus was so nice to me, not like her cruel master, he beat us all, Missus, Dobby too-even young master." He mumbled, "Might I go now?"
I nodded as I opened the flap, Lupin peering over my shoulder the whole time.
Mister Harry Potter,
I shall dispense with the normal niceties that I customarily open a letter with seeing both you and I know only the most extreme of circumstances would incline me to ask you for help, as it is I only do so because of my son.
My only child…I know you and Draco have never been friends, but he said you were the only one who could help him now, and so I beg of you please do. I hope you have your mother's charitable spirit that I so well remember from school, and take pity on another mother's son.
My husband has beaten my son nearly to death, and I'm not sure why. He has locked him in our dungeon and forbids me to see him, or any of our servants either. Without medical attention and sustenance he is likely to die. The wounds were grievous. (A tear smudged the page here.)
He was imprisoned this morning around ten in the morning, and he managed to tell one of my faithful elves that I needed to contact you as he was imprisoned. Please respond quickly, I do not know how long he will last I shall wait at the Leaky Cauldron for you until dawn tomorrow in hopes you shall come, after that I shall try to find other means of which I know not.
Do not worry about me, I shall survive, but Draco has angered his father beyond repair and I fear he means to kill him soon.
Narcissa Elaine Malfoy
I was too stunned to say anything, and looked at Lupin. He looked grave, "Whatever we do we don't have much time to act." He said quietly
A desperate thought flitted into my mind, "Lupin can you find us some heavy cloaks? Meet me here in ten minutes." I took off before waiting for his answer, and raced up the creaky winding staircase to my tower where I had dumped all my Christmas presents from my friends. I threw open the door and tossed the boxes until I found Hermione's gift and prayed that it had a name on the list that I thought it might.
The large moonstone seemed to laugh at me when I took of the lid and snatched up the list. I scanned the list until I found the century I was looking for:
Malfoy Manor c.1908 Chelsea, London, England
I hoped it might work for modern times even if it had last been there in 1908. I slammed the door behind me and flew down the stairs with the stone and the list, I ran panting into the kitchen where Lupin awaited me with two firebolts from the quidditch closet and two black capes, one looked strikingly familiar.
"So what is your plan Harry?" he asked, "I needn't remind you that neither of us is supposed to leave this place tonight, so it better be good."
"We'll send word to Dumbledore," I said offhandedly, my adrenaline racing as I uncrumpled the list and plopped the rock on the table, "Do you know what this is?"
"Of course, but where did you get one? Nevermind. Does it have the Malfoy Manor? 1908? Should still work, but we'll be dead if we're caught." Lupin replied with a large intake of breath as he scratched the back of his head.
"I will go in alone to find Draco." I said sternly, "and you and Narcissa will be backup or distractions as needed, there's more chance of success that way."
"You can't expect to fly him out on a firebolt with you, it will slow you down too much."
"I don't have a choice, do I?"
Lupin frowned.
"Go to the Leaky Cauldron, and meet up with Mrs. Malfoy explain everything and then head to the Manor. Before you go, contact Dumbledore and tell him you tried to stop me, but I wouldn't listen to you."
"DOBBY!" I bellowed wishing circumstances were otherwise.
Both houseleves popped in startled at my demeanor.
"Good." I said, "Winky find me a large silver dish and pure rainwater-must be only rainwater and be back as quickly as you can. Dobby draw me a map of Malfoy manor with the quickest route to their dungeon where someone would be imprisoned."
The elves scurried, Lupin yanked on the unobtrusive but large tassel cord that I had never noticed before hanging in the corner by the window. Dumbledore fell out of seemingly thin air complete with chaise lounge and purple pajamas.
"Remus, really I hope this was a good interruption" he grumbled good-naturedly then caught sight of me and he rush of activity. Winky tearing apart the kitchen, and Dobby scribbling on a napkin.
Lupin appraised Dumbledore as Dobby nervously explained his map to me. Winky plunked a large plain silver dish in front of me and three minutes later returned with a porcelain pitcher of water.
After I was satisfied I knew the map I poured the water into the dish.
Dumbledore approached me, but did not interrupt. "You have come into your element Harry, be careful." I was dimly aware of him snapping his fingers then he handed me a small leather pouch. "It contains a bezoar stone and one of Nimue's crystals. The stone is to make Malfoy functional nomatter his injuries for a fraction of time, and crystal can be used to blind someone in the dark. Do not worry we shall back you up."
I grabbed the cape from Lupin's hand realizing it was my old Invisibility cape and let out a sigh of relief, "This will be useful." Next I snatched the broom, and deposited the stone in the dish of water, I thought of Malfoy and white marble hoping the stone would figure it out since I had no idea what the exterior of his house looked like.
Apparently it did, because after feeling like I nearly drowned I was deposited outside the very grate Dobby had described lead to the main dungeon chamber. My cape was in place and the broom tucked awkwardly next to me, the pouch jammed into my belt. I looked around at my surroundings.
There seemed to be no guards apparently Lucius Malfoy was too arrogant to think he needed them, and sure enough the house was purely white marble for an exterior making it look beautiful, but eerie in the moonlight. The grating I needed to get into was cast iron and covered in rust, it was dark beneath it for at least 10 feet according to Dobby.
Not wanting to waste time I simply vanished the grate, amazed at how easy it was to get rid of my first obstacle with such an elementary spell. I slide down the stones till I landed unceremoniously on the hard floor. I stood up quickly and made sure I was concealed under the cape in case I had made too much noise. I heard a snore, and ventured a peak around my left corner to see a guard passed out with a bottle lying on the floor next to him.
This is far too easy.
I looked to my right and saw a line of cells. I crept around the corner and started my search. There must have been a dozen cells down there, and at least one of them still had bones from its last occupant in there. I shivered and not because of the cold. What kind of person does this to their own son?
After I had passed several doors I glimpsed platinum hair, which was matted with a dark substance, which I quickly concluded must be blood. He was shivering uncontrollably. "Sss-so cc-colld," I heard barely above a whisper.
He's going into shock. I looked at his door; it was quite sturdy with three separate locks, one at the top, middle and bottom of the doorframe. Lucius meant business; none of the other cells were outfitted that way. I took another glance at the passed out guard and slipped to the corner of Malfoy's cell where it met the wall just barely out of sight of the guard. I whispered.
"Hey ferret" Only I would call him that, and only I would dare think to call him that. His beaten brain must have registered that, and his eyes flickered open and went wide.
"I'm going to die Potter, leave now while you still can." He coughed spitting blood on the floor and closed his eyes with a groan.
"Your mother sent for me, and I won't let her down, I know what it's like to lose family." I said softly. I reached for the pouch and pulled out Dumbledore's stone.
"Swallow this, it will help." I slide my hand across the floor and through the grate to his mouth. He opened his eyes confused.
"Why are you still here?"
"Just swallow this you bloody fool!" I whispered as loudly as I dared.
Malfoy gingerly grabbed at the stone and pushed himself up to swallow it properly without choking, at least he still knew that much. The effect was instantaneous. His color returned and he stood up, the wounds were still there but he didn't seem affected at the moment.
"These locks are too strong Potter, my father literally just put them on, not only are they new they're enchanted and cursed to the ninth circle of hell and back."
"Malfoy, if I have a power, you must as well. Think of your mother, how she needs you." I reasoned, "Close your eyes." I coached drawing on my memories of when I had unleashed the storm. "Think of how you hate your father for what he did to you and your mother. Let that anger run through your veins. Think of how your mother risked everything to get me here, think of her love and let it flow through your veins."
His eyes twitched and suddenly the ground shook, the ceiling began to fall in on us, and the grating snapped under some rocks. Malfoy slide through the opening faster than I thought possible.
The floor was starting to cave beneath us, but the drunken guard had finally woken up and raised the alarm. Lucius appeared from nowhere, his face seething in anger.
Just then the floor from above let go and a giant beam blocked the path between us followed by cascading marble blocks and furniture.
"I WILL GET YOU POTTER AND THAT USELESS SON OF MINE!" roared Lucius from behind the rubble. Malfoy wasted no time and leaped on to the beam and began to shimmy up it motioning me to follow. I did quickly.
Once at the top it was complete chaos. Malfoy lackeys and low-level deatheaters raced about trying to find a way to get Lucius out. I thought I saw Lupin put one in a body-bind but I was not sure. Narcissa was ducked behind a large table that found a chandelier in the center of it. Draco darted for her, despite it being out in the open. I cursed him and followed.
His mother was weeping at the sight of him, and Draco was hugging her as if his life depended on it.
"Come with me." He plead
"No dear. I am of more use here." She smiled through her tears, then glanced at me. I ducked a purple jet of light as it wizzed by my head, "Thank you." She grabbed my hand.
"No go, both of you! I shall distract him." She said stoically.
Draco was about to object, but I grabbed him and made a dash for a hole in the wall. Lupin was on the other side with another broom, luckily I still had mine.
"Fly Harry, and don't stop we will follow you." Lupin shouted above the din
"This was your broom!" I protested
"I have another way back, take it!"
I turned to jump on the broom, only to see what had distracted Draco
Behind a fallen column looked like the adult version of Crabbe emerging, and of course his buddy Goyle was just behind him.
They were between us and the clearing, and were coming at us in a full sprint. "Cover your eyes!" I shouted
I unleashed the crystal Dumbledore had given me, and even through my closed eyes covered by the back of my hand I could see the bright flash and felt an intense heat for a split second before it dissipated. I opened my eyes to find the two giants knocked out on the floor, Lupin laughed, "Never thought I'd see one of those again."
Draco looked at me, and I jumped on my broom, he did the same. "Whatever you do, don't fall off or stop for anything." I shouted as I took off.
The wind rushed through my hair and tore at my face as we sped off. Malfoy hot on my tail. The lights below rushed by in a blur and the cold air bit into my clothes. Snow began to fall, and I prayed I would not lose my way. The ride seemed to take forever, but in reality could not have been more than thirty minutes.
Then there was the monument at the end of the street, I began to slow, and then took my customary dive in between 11 and 13, and Grimmauld place materialized behind me as I skidded to a halt on the parquet floor. Malfoy slammed into me and knocked me over.
I turned to yell at him for being clumsy when I saw why, he had passed out and crashed into the floor.
The house elves came running.
Dobby when he saw who it was started shaking uncontrollably. Winky burst into tears.
"Help him!" I roared
Winky knelt gently next to him and cradling his head materialized a stretcher beneath him.
Tonks flung open the door, "What is all this racket?"
She blanched, "Harry?"
"We can trust him, but he needs help before he dies…"
Dumbledore appeared from behind Tonks, "Nymphadora, please bring Professor McGonagall here immediately with my bird."
Tonks nodded and left, meanwhile Winky and I moved Draco to the kitchen by the fire. Dobby overcame his fear and found blankets and pillows for him.
Professor McGonagall popped in with a snap Dumbledore's phoenix on her shoulder.
She took in the situation within seconds and laid her hand on Draco's head.
"He's not going to make it." She whispered
"Of course he must! We all just risked our lives for him!" I yelled
"Which is why Fawkes is here," Dumbledore replied serenely stroking his bird as he removed it from McGonagall's shoulder, "my dear friend, I must ask a favor of you again I am afraid." He said sadly as he laid the bird on Draco's chest.
Fawkes understood, gazing up at his master with his dark beady eyes, he blinked and dipped his head with a soft crow. His eyes teared up and the tears fell on to my classmate's skin illuminating it with a pleasant yellow glow. Fawkes rubbed his head against Dumbledore's hand affectionately before he stepped back and raised his wings over his head, and burst into flame, disintegrating into a pile of ash on Malfoy's chest.
Even though I had seen Fawkes go into flames before, it still shocked me, but not as much as seeing Malfoy's color return and he started coughing uncontrollably as he sat up.
He looked startled when he saw all of us, "Where am I?" he said in a raspy voice
"The Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix," said Lupin rather dramatically he had just returned and was dusting off his cape, "and by the looks of it you owe our namesake your life." He rubbed his head, and I noticed it was covered in fresh blood.
I gave him a worried look, and he shook his head.
Malfoy looked at his chest, there was a phoenix-shaped burnmark on his sweater and ash all over it.
"What in the name of Merlin?!"
"Please Merlin does not like having his name used that way." Dumbledore replied with a wink at me.
Dobby couldn't take it anymore and burst into tears and dashed forward to Draco with wide arms. "Oh Mister Malfoy, I was so afraid for you!"
Draco now looked completely confused as he awkwardly hugged his old house elf.
"Am I hallucinating?"
"No, but you should be sleeping to recover." Professor McGonagall replied tersely.
"Really Albus, surely this can all wait, he needs his sleep." She crossed her arms
Dumbledore waved his hands in mock exasperation, "Very well Minerva, do take our guest to decent rooms for his rest." Professor McGonagall industriously followed his word and whipped out a tiny brown bottle..
"Mr. Malfoy this is a concoction of basilisk tears and willow bark to make you sleep. Do not fear we will wake you when you are rested and explain the rest."
"But what about my mother?" he asked
"Later" she replied and nearly force-fed him the entire bottle. After laying his head down she motioned to the elves, take him to the green room adjacent to the study and "make sure the shutters stay shut nomatter the time of day, we can't risk anything." The elves bore him off and finally Lupin sat down and allowed Professor McGonagall to tend him, "Where is Moody?" she asked
"On other business up north." Replied Dumbledore mysteriously as he turned his back towards us and I could have sworn I saw a little baby chick's head pop out of his hood before he turned around again.
"Now what happened Lupin?" he asked
The werewolf sighed. "Narcissa is dead." He shook his head sadly, "I just didn't have the heart to tell the poor boy after his own father tried to kill him."
"How?" asked Professor McGonagall asking the question on all of our minds. Lupin paused again, looking at all of us.
"Of all the crimes that Lucius has been and ever will be accused of, from the time I knew him as a schoolboy until now I would not have believed the story I am about to tell you unless I had witnessed it myself. I would have thought that there were some depths that even he would not stoop to, but I guess the taste of power is corrupting him beyond what I thought capable."
He reached for a flask of firewhiskey and took a swig before continuing, "Lucius was enraged beyond belief when he found out Harry and his son escaped, and he began by killing the lower-level death-eaters for 'failure to complete their assigned duty,' Narcissa was trying to help me escape, but Lucius caught up with us." He paused again, "I tried to grab her hand before I grabbed the portkey to save her, I was just a second too late though-Lucius got her first. He yelled at her, called her a traitor, slapped her and kicked her as she staggered back, then he killed her with a flick of his wand. It was all I could do to get away."
He took another swig and shook his head again, "The man is a monster." He concluded.
A/N: Sorry for the tardy update, but I am still working on this one I promise!