Draven looked up from his Charms homework when he heard a familiar voice out in the hall. He rolled up his parchment and set it along with his Charms book and self-inking quill onto his bedside table. He knew, from experience, that if he wanted him homework to make it through this visit, it had to be out of the way.
With a loud bang, the door to Draven's room flew open and Bellatrix Lestrange stepped into the room. "Draven!" She rushed to his bed and gathered the teenager into her arms. Pushing him back slightly, she gave him a once over. "You're way too thin. Are they starving you?" She demanded to know then, not waiting for his answer, turned and headed for the door.
"Wait! Where are you going?" Draven questioned, head reeling from his Aunts abrupt release from her arms.
"To give those inept Healers a piece of my mind. I shall enjoy cursing them for starving you!" Bella exclaimed while rubbing her hands together in insane glee at the thought of cursing someone so early in the day.
Draven smiled, fondly. "Bella, they are not staving me. I get three adequate meals a day. I choose not to consume the food provided." He explained. "I haven't been very hungry these days." He shrugged. "So no cursing the Healers. I would not enjoy having to arrange your esc...release from Azkaban." He stressed.
Bella seemed to consider his words before turning and sitting down in one of his visitors chairs. "Really, little serpent, how are you doing? 'Cissa told me that she caught a woman, old enough to be your grandmother, sweet talking you." She raised a perfect eyebrow. "My wittle Draven is all grown up and being courted by the Hags." She sniffed and used the edge of her traveling cloak to dab her eyes.
"I'm fine, Bella." Draven frowned. "And Lily wasn't sweet talking me nor was there any courting going on!" He sighed. "You know how mother likes to exaggerate things. We were only talking and she left shortly after mother arrived. And I hardly think Lily is old enough to be my grandmother. I believe she is younger than mother." It was his turn to raise an eyebrow. "Can you believe that she didn't know Dumbledore was Headmaster at Hogwarts?"
"Who? Your mother?" Bella intentionally misunderstood and corrected herself upon receiving a glare that the boy had to have learned from his father. "Lily?" She tilted her head to the side. "I thought everyone knew that the meddling old goat was Headmaster." She shrugged. "I suppose if someone lived under a rock..." She trailed off.
Draven rolled his eyes then smiled. "I have missed you, Bella." He whispered, suddenly. "This year had been a disaster." His voice sounded tired and strained. "I long for the days when you would take Draco and I out amongst the muggles and cause panic. Remember the riot of nineteen-eighty-eight?"
Bella smiled. "How could I forget?" An insane gleam appeared in her eyes at the memory. "They still don't know where all those eleqants came from."
"Elephants." Draven automatically corrected. "That was a good day." He sighed.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Bella was worried for her surrogate son and nephew. He didn't seem like himself.
Draven shrugged. "I'm fine, Bella. You worry to much." He dismissed her concern.
Bella shook her head. "I worry because the others won't, little serpent."
"The others do not worry because they know I can take care of myself." Draven asserted firmly. "Enough of this. Tell me what is to become of Orion? Mother told me is he is facing expulsion."
"He is." Bella wanted to argue but knew the subject of his health and well-being was closed. "He had a row with everyone's favorite traitor. That greasy git cursed my son and it is Orion who is facing punishment!" She snorted at the injustice of it
"What of Finnigan?" Draven inquired, calmly. He had nothing, as of yet, to say about Snape.
Bella sat back in her chair and smoothed the wrinkles from her robe. "They half-blood is being protected by Dumbledore, which was expected. But his influence isn't what it used to be. He saved the little heathen from an Azkaban sentence but he has been, thus far, unsuccessful in getting the Board of Governors to reconsider their expulsion ruling. If all goes well, the boy will be out of Hogwarts by the weekend." She happily reported.
"Dumbledore should have left him go to Azkaban, he would have been safe there." Draven fell silent for a moment. "Once he is away from Hogwarts and Dumbledore's protection, I want you to lead an attack against him and his family." He spoke freely, knowing all rooms in St. Mungos were warded and charmed for privacy. "I want the entire Finnigan bloodline eliminated." His voice was cold. "Severus will be taken care of as soon as I return to Hogwarts, is that understood?" He knew his Aunt well enough to know that she was probably planning revenge against the Potions Professor for attacking her son.
"I..." Bella didn't know what to say. "I'd be honored!" She felt tears well up in her eyes. Draven was trusting her with an attack. He was basically showing the others that she held his favor. "The Finnigan's will be destroyed, little serpent." She was loyal to the boy more so than her other master, whom had been silent for far too long. "And Severus will not be harmed." That was harder to say since she wanted the traitor to suffer but she did trust Draven to take care of his family and all those who threatened and opposed them.
Draven nodded his head and looked towards his door, lost in thought. "Lily told me her daughter turned eleven last year and never received her Hogwarts letter." He began, working something out aloud. "She didn't know Hogwarts was still an active school or that Dumbledore was still around." He looked at Bella. "Someone lied to her then went to a lot of trouble to make sure she never found out the truth." He tapped his chin with a finger. "I want to know who she is and why someone would go to so much trouble to keep her in the dark about Dumbledore and Hogwarts."
Bella nodded. "I'll see to it immediately." She rose and leaned down, kissing his forehead. "I'll see to it." She turned and exited his room heading towards the Healers room. She had some questions that needed answered and some unknowing Healer was going to tell her everything she wanted to know.
"You do that." Draven spoke to the empty room and leaned back against his pillows. A genuine smile spread across his lips. He felt better than he had in days. Yes, this year was definitely looking up.