Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns all public characters, and the world of Harry Potter. There is no intention to violate copyright.
Lingering Traces II
Sunday, February 20, 2000
Malfoy floo'd to the manor without asking for an invitation, and arrived earlier than anyone expected. I finished the last of my tea, and rose to greet him. "Lucius, I assume your wife is unaware of this visit?"
The wizard brushed soot from his cuff and glanced towards the exit. "Indeed." He looked over my shoulder, and back at me. "When will Mr. Potter awaken?"
"Not for another hour." My left brow rose, and arms crossed my chest. Did Malfoy wish to involve me in one of his schemes?
Lucius stared at me with a determined gaze. "Severus, you understand our situation, but they are not strong enough to do what must be done. Order the elf to give me the baby." Potter did not issue a command, but he forbid the child's murder.
"You have a plan, do you?" Lucius nodded, but I had my doubts. "How do you intend to remove the baby without Mr. Potter ever knowing?"
Malfoy lowered his voice and spoke in a hushed whisper. "You are thinking like a Gryffindor." My gaze hardened at the insult. "Command the elf to leave and never return. How will Mr. Potter know we had anything to do with it? The infant will cause shame for both houses, but my plan will prevent that."
"You do not understand." He gave me a disdainful sniff, and turned his head to the side. "Mr. Potter will ask questions, and my bond forces me to give him an honest answer. He will discover the deception. Our Master does not agree in giving the kiss to those deserving. Can you imagine his response to our causing the death of an innocent?"
Malfoy gripped his cane and huffed in frustration. "Gryffindor cowardice has etched itself into your heart. There was a time, Severus, where you were not afraid to do the needed work."
We stood in silence and glared at each other. It lasted two minutes before Malfoy broke eye contact, and I continued the conversation. "Death never bothers those without a reason to live, but that no longer describes me. Go home Lucius, and return later with your family."
Malfoy hissed through clenched teeth. "Is that an order?"
"Indeed."
Lucius became rigid and stormed towards the fireplace. He glowered at me over his shoulder, and vanished into the floo. Malfoy never enjoyed taking orders, and I wondered if he struggled against mine.
He returned two hours later with his family. Prince elves served tea to everyone, and set out trays filled with various sweets. A basket appeared on the table between Gedion and McGonagall. The healer lifted a blanket and smiled at the baby while his wife stared with a blank expression. Did she have maternal nightmares?
Narcissa tugged on Lucius's sleeve, and walked him closer to the table with the baby. He was not interested, but he tried to hide that from her. The elf prevented them from getting closer, and growled in anger at Malfoy. Did she know what he had planned?
Potter approached the child, but the elf hissed at him and refused access. "Why does she do that?"
"Perhaps, you should ask her." A cheeky grin accompanied my answer, and the youth glared at me in annoyance.
Potter leaned forward to speak with the overprotective elf. We watched their exchange, and then he stared at me with a shocked expression. "Severus, you will not believe this."
Was it good, or bad? I hated not knowing. "What?"
Potter conversed with the elf, and turned mystified eyes at me. "All bonded house-elves believe you are their highest authority. You could have an army of elves!"
Arms crossed my chest, and I frowned at the youth. "You cannot believe a deranged house-elf." It was never my intention to tell anyone, and I wondered at the Master's wisdom. Our enemies would slaughter their bonded elves, and their not knowing worked to our advantage.
Rosmerta glanced at the infant, and shrugged her shoulders. "What does that have to do with the baby?" She accepted our powers for what they were, and didn't give them much attention. Her nonchalance surprised the others, but it did bring focus back to the child.
Potter had a short conversation with the disfigured elf, and turned his head to stare at McGonagall. His eyes flicked to Gedion, and he did not suppress his amusement. The youth quietened after a minute, and pointed at me. "Severus gave the infant to Gedion."
McGonagall turned from the basket and stared at Potter. "What do you mean?"
His shoulders began to shake, but he managed to suppress another bout of laughter. "Congratulations, it's a girl."
Minerva sat on the closest chair without a word, and accepted a cup of tea from Binky. She held the saucer in one hand, and the cup in another while she took a slow sip of the hot beverage. "Mr. Potter, I have no wish to engage in this tomfoolery."
Rosmerta stepped away from the table and motioned to herself. "That explains why she let Minerva approach, but what about me?"
The elderly elf bowed before Rosmerta, and rested her forehead on the ground. Potter watched the interaction, and explained the obvious. "The Dark Princess never needed permission." My wife gaped at me in shock, and I suspected she would have many questions.
"Severus, Mr. Potter, I will make it well worth your while." Lucius stretched an elegant arm towards McGonagall, and motioned to the infant. "You will have much wealth, Headmistress. I will see to the child's every need." Could he survive on what he had, or did he plan to cancel his muggle investments?
The stern matron stiffened at hearing the man's comment, and set her tea on the table. "You belong in Azkaban, Mr. Malfoy. What makes you think I will consider this preposterous idea?"
Gedion ran a hand over his wife's, and glanced into her eyes. "You always wanted a daughter."
"How can you suggest that?" McGonagall asked with an annoyed huff, and pressed her arms at the sides. "Do you want the girl thinking she exists because of an atrocious act? Gedion, what are you thinking?"
The elder healer ushered McGonagall to a chair, and he took the one beside her. He held her hands, and spoke with a gentle voice. "The infant deserves a better background story, but that isn't the issue. We have a few options to consider. She dies if we do nothing. We can revive the baby, and allow the Ministry to find it without any associations to our family. They will discover the oddities with her lineage, and they will view her with suspicion. Her mother's close alliance with Voldemort will cause concern. Will they consider her a threat when she speaks Parseltongue?"
Potter shook his head at the healer. "They could trace the child to us through Malfoy. He married her parents, and the ministry would ask him about the discrepancies. They would discover the connection to Voldemort, and that would give them enough suspicion to detain Lucius."
McGonagall struggled with her husband's words, and swallowed. "Why trouble ourselves with Malfoy's problem? I don't see that it concerns us."
"It does involve our family," Potter said. "We have an official alliance, and his vows make me responsible for House Malfoy."
Lucius's lips curled into a grin, and he walked towards the table with the basket. "Severus, give the child to me, and I will resolve this issue."
Ginny bounced from her chair, and screeched at Potter. "Harry, you can't let him have the baby! He will murder her!"
The Malfoy patriarch leered at Ginny, and his lips curled into a deceitful grin. "My dear, adults must make difficult decisions. The child will suffer. People will despise her parentage, and they will not trust her. Leave her to me, and I will make things right."
Ginny's hands balled into fists, and she glowered at the elder Malfoy. "You don't know the difference between right and wrong, Mr. Malfoy! You won't get that child!"
Lucius stiffened his back, and offered the woman a condescending smile, "Unfortunately for you, Mrs. Potter, the decision is not yours."
"Nor is it yours," Harry growled at the senior Malfoy.
Lucius scowled at Ginny, and turned to Potter with an insincere smile. "You must see reason."
Potter folded his arms in anger, and glared at the elder patriarch. "I see an evil git who will do anything to stay out of prison." He glanced between me and the scowling Malfoy, "I don't understand why you believe murder is the only way, but I will not allow it. Lucius, you will not harm this child. Do you understand?"
Malfoy's lips curled in disgust and he sneered at the young Master. "Yes, Sir. I understand."
Narcissa sat back surprised by her husband's response, and I suspected she would have many questions for him. Draco narrowed his gaze at Potter, but he said nothing about the matter.
Potter folded his arms and glared at Malfoy. "Lucius, the wards told me of your earlier arrival this morning. What were your intentions?"
Malfoy adjusted his cloak and spoke without hesitation. "I wished to handle the situation before you awoke."
"Did you intend to harm the child?"
"No."
"Tell me the truth."
"Yes." Malfoy's jaw slackened, and he turned to me with a knowing glance. I warned him against lying to the Master. His stance became rigid, and his glare hardened on the youth. "Mr. Potter, I do not appreciate your using the vows against me."
The youth stepped towards Malfoy, and spoke in a low voice. "You threaten an innocent child to hide your disgrace. I can't accept that." Lucius looked annoyed by Potter's speech. "Malfoy, I know we will run into problems from your past, but we expect that. Don't worry about making excuses, or hiding things from me. I won't punish you for anything you did before the vows."
Lucius blinked several times, and took a hesitant step. He glanced at his wife, and returned his attention to the youth. "Mr. Potter, am I correct to assume that you will use the vows to sanction retribution?" Did he just realise that?
"Yes."
Narcissa gazed at me with a contemplative frown. It felt awkward, and I wondered at her thoughts. Did the youth's authority anger her? She glanced between the Master and me before returning her attention back to Lucius. Was that a smile?
Malfoy cleared his throat, and held his cane with a firm grip. "I see." He glanced warily at me, and tried to strengthen his emotionless mask. The startled patriarch tried to disguise his shock with righteous indignation, but we knew better.
Draco rose from the couch, and approached Lucius. "Father, this was the best alternative." The elder glared down at his son, but it did not dissuade the youth. "Harry wanted to protect us, but he insisted on removing you as our Head of House. It would disgrace you, and I did not want to do that. It pleases me that he chose the vows." Lucius's glare did not soften.
Potter smiled at his friend, and glanced at the angered patriarch. "Lucius, don't blame your son. He always defends you." Draco gave him a cheeky grin, but everyone knew Potter spoke the truth.
An agitated redhead flew to her husband's side. "Harry, he tried to kill me! Why do you protect that evil git?" Did Gryffindors believe Malfoy would offer his servitude for nothing in return? Potter insisted on knowing what Lucius wanted, before he accepted the vows. Did he forget to tell his wife? The conversation became much more interesting, and I sat back to enjoy the entertainment.
"Mr. Potter, have you considered the consequences." Minerva rose from the chair, and huffed at the fireplace. "You cannot trust that man." Gryffindors knew nothing of cunning, and it didn't surprise me to see their open hostility. Slytherins would keep their doubt hidden until after Lucius left. She turned a sharp eye to me and asked, "Severus, whatever were you thinking?" Trust Minerva to drag me into the conversation.
McGonagall never listened when I tried to reason. Once she formed an opinion, it did not matter what anyone said. Dumbledore was the only exception. My shoulders shrugged in response. It made little sense to argue with an infuriated Mother.
The elder matron responded with a stern, and disapproving frown. She had nothing else to say, and avoided further conversation by joining Gedion. He moved to the side, and allowed her the distraction of checking on the infant.
Potter placed an arm over his wife's shoulders. "Ginny, we agreed on the alliance to protect House Malfoy, but it worked to our advantage. Ministry officials discovered our new union, and they sent me owls to complain about Lucius's past behaviour." Gryffindor's had no sense of propriety. Why would he discuss that in the open?
Malfoy blinked in stunned silence, but he did not interrupt the Master. Did he believe his activities would stay hidden? "Lucius was claiming an alliance with us long before it became official. He pulled favours in our name without anyone telling me. We had no control over his activities, but now we do. The ministry reports everything to me, because he is an official representative. It will also help Severus, because Lucius gets him into trouble."
Did the youth intend to humiliate me? "Sir, have you forgotten the problems caused by you and Mr. Weasley? Perhaps, we need a vow from him."
"Ron doesn't use our name to gain political favours."
Ginny smirked at my question and gave her husband a playful nudge. "Yeah, but you two get into trouble. Mom still hasn't forgiven you for the botched de-gnoming incident."
"Do tell, what did they do?" Rosmerta asked, but I too wanted to know.
Potter flustered at his wife's comments, and shook his head at me. He couldn't expect me to believe his innocence. "Ginny! Hush... it wasn't that bad."
Ginny coughed into her hand, and tried to quell her laughter. "They decided to use a charm that would sense when a gnome stepped into the garden, and another that would launch it into the sky." Memories made her break into hysterical laughter, and tears rolled down her cheeks before she could continue. Potter tried to protest, but we stopped listening to him. "They didn't set a weight limit for the charm, and when Mom went out to garden..." The story ended in hysterics, but we didn't need her to finish. How far had Molly flown?
Rosmerta wiped the tears from her eyes, and laughingly teased Potter. "You talk about Severus getting into trouble, and you do things like that."
Potter ran a hand through his hair and gave me a sheepish grin. "The pond broke her fall." His statement brought more laughter, and caused his cheeks to redden. "Yeah, well... that's why I never stopped you from hanging out with Lucius. I guess... we all have that friend that gets us into trouble."
"You said it," Rosmerta stated, and the others agreed.
Ginny lowered her voice to a whisper, and glanced in Minerva's direction. "Who do you think she... "
Nobody wanted to answer.
Minerva and Gedion returned to the conversation, and brought the sleeping infant. The baby wasn't going to move or do anything. Why did it hold their attention? It just slept! McGonagall coo'd at the little girl, and snuggled the blanket around her near-lifeless form. "Do you think we should name her?"
Rosmerta smiled at the elderly witch, and sat on the other side of the basket. "It won't hurt. So, does this mean you want to raise the baby?"
Minerva's eyes widened at the suggestion, and she stared at Gedion for support. He said nothing. She gave my wife a hesitant shake, and pulled back from the basket. "I know nothing about babies. Rosmerta, I am too old to raise an infant."
Ginny nodded, but McGonagall didn't notice. Potter decided not to join the woman's conversation, and I agreed with his decision. Rosmerta took the matron's hands in hers, and smiled. "Minerva, you are a powerful witch. You can live another hundred and fifty years, and you worry about the seventeen needed to raise a child?"
Gedion squeezed Minerva's shoulders, and tried to convey his support. "We have a story that will work. We can claim that Ando wanted an heir, but he could not father children. He discovered a muggle method to help her conceive; they needed a donation from me. Ando never introduced me to the woman he wished to marry, and he died a few weeks later. She fled after Ando's death, and I never knew of the pregnancy. She died giving birth, and the elf brought my daughter to me."
"That isn't possible!" Ginny spluttered. "You had to meet her. How else could she get pregnant?" The redheaded youth smiled flirtatiously at her husband, and returned her attention back to the healer. It always amused me how Gryffindor's eagerly volunteered to ask the questions that others avoided.
Gedion ran a hand through his hair and shrugged. "Muggles give their seed to a bank for anyone to use. The men and women never meet, but they found a way to make it work."
Ginny's mouth opened in outraged horror, but no words came out. Rosmerta's fingers tightened around my arm. "That explains the muggle population. Will you claim a non-magical process, or Ando using a potion?"
"All muggle," Gedion admitted. "I do not understand their process, but we know what must happen for it to work." Several people glanced around the room and sat in an awkward silence. The youth seemed unaffected, but Narcissa looked mortified by the conversation.
Ginny flattened her hand against Potter's chest, and grinned at her husband. "I prefer our methods." The girl glanced at Minerva, and sudden realisation flowed into her mind. Her cheeks became flaming beacons, and she hid her head in Potter's chest. Gryffindors never thought before they spoke.
A soft rumble escaped my throat, and earned an elbow in the side. Rosmerta had no sense of humour, nor did the young Master who glared at me. How was any of that my fault? I was blameless. A bright green flare interrupted Ginny's erotic confessions, and we turned with interest to the fireplace.
"HARRY! Harry, are you there. Oh, Hello." Longbottom's head bobbed in the flames. The shy young man radiated with enthusiasm."I've got great news!"
Harry grinned at the other youth. "What is it?"
"I'm Gryffindor's heir!"
"Brilliant! Congratulations Neville! That explains a lot." Harry sounded equally enthused, but I hesitated to believe that nervous little boy was Gryffindor's heir. Obviously, the blood diluted over several generations.
Many congratulated Longbottom, but he needed to disconnect. The boy had more calls to make.
Potter glanced at the basket, and rubbed his scar. "I forgot about the heirs. She is Slytherin's, and it will interest the ministry to know everything about her. I think Gedion's story works best, and they can verify everything. That little girl will have a seat in the Wizengamot for being an heir, and her house will become official. We need to decide what to do, because many families will want a pureblood infant with an extra vote."
Malfoy approached his wife, and the two engaged in a quiet conversation. The other couples followed their example, and I assume they had similar discussions. Rosmerta and I hoped someone else would take the child, but we could if they didn't.
Lucius lovingly brushed Narcissa's cheek, and waited for the others to end their conversations. "Mr. Potter, my wife and I wish to adopt the child."
Ginny huffed at the elder's offer, and folded her arms. "You wanted to kill her. Harry would never allow it." She turned to her husband. "Tell him."
Occlumency kept me from guffawing at the youth's predicament, but the link told him everything. It earned me an irritated glance, and I responded with a grin. Potter tried to ignore me, and turned his attention to Lucius. "I appreciate your offer, but the decision isn't mine." He motioned to Gedion. "The girl will become his daughter, and the choice is theirs."
Ginny smirked at Malfoy. "Yeah, good luck with that."
The cheeky redhead earned a murderous glare from the offended patriarch, but it lasted mere seconds.
Gedion offered McGonagall a small smile, and held her hands in his. "I do not wish to force you into motherhood, and I will accept your decision. Minerva, do you want to help me raise my youngest daughter?"
We stared at McGonagall, and waited for her response. The elder matron thinned her lips and gazed at the infant. Silence filled the room while we waited for her answer. Would she agree to raise the child?
Minerva sat on the chair and watched the sleeping baby. She leaned forward while hugging herself, and hesitated to speak. "I need time."
Gedion brushed his hand lovingly down her arm. "I understand, Minerva."
The healer had more patience than me. They retrieved the basket, and the McGonagalls left for their room. Narcissa always wanted a daughter, and I planned to speak to Gedion on their behalf. She would spoil her niece, as she did her son. The angered redhead had no say in the matter, and I would not allow her bigotry to harm an innocent child.
