Chapter 22: Malfoy No Longer
Lightning cracked across the gloomy skies. An icy wind was howling loudly. A dark house of gothic architecture stood on a rocky peak between tall mountains, surrounded by trees. The trees danced in with the blasts of cold air. The house was silent, eerily so. A man in a black cloak stared off into the distance, noticing the first raindrops splatter on the windowsill. He could feel his magic. It was unmistakable. He was getting close. A few cauldrons bubbled and hummed in the messy kitchen. He would need sustenance and mending. His core was sure to have taken a beating.
The man walked towards the kitchen table, he put his hands in his pockets, took out rosary beads on his right hand and a silver necklace with a pentagram pendant decorated with a detailed Baphomet face in its center. He removed his cross necklace and his ecclesiastical ring and put them on the table. He then knelt in front of an upside-down crucifix, the only object that decorated the peeling walls. It was time to pray. They would need guidance and strength.
The Grangers had been working on reorganizing their lives to function from Potter manor. Sirius and Remus had been very helpful in suggesting things they would need to research. Emma now had a few stacks of books that were older than her. Daniel noticed they would have to dust off their Latin knowledge. Martin offered to help them beat the language barrier. In the following weeks, they decided for Harry and Hermione to be homeschooled. The children were joyous to learn from their family and friends.
Augusta had been determined as the right person to teach them all they needed to know to take the mantle as Lord and Lady Potter eventually. Lady Longbottom was very experienced in etiquette and the old ways. She had kept the title of Lady of the House because Bellatrix had incapacitated her son and daughter in law in the last war. They now resided in the mental ward of St. Mungos. However, the matron visited them every week with Neville and refused to lose hope that nothing could be done.
Minerva McGonagall loved teaching. This was a golden opportunity to get her new cubs started early. As soon as Emma contacted the Deputy Headmistress, she had called a meeting with Filius so that they could create a child-friendly curriculum. It wouldn't do to overwhelm them and make them turn away from learning instead of having them jump into the lake of knowledge. Having lost her beloved husband had been a devastating blow for the woman. Elphinstone had been the love of her life. She sometimes did regret not trying to rebuild a life and have children, but she only ever wanted that path with her husband. Now, she would love Harry and Hermione as her own.
Remus decided to keep his cottage so the priest could be there, but he would spend almost every other day at Potter Manor. Emma kept hinting at them that they should just get married already. Harry and Hermione were very supportive of this. They wanted to help choose things for the wedding.
King Nagkrat was seething with fury. Albus Dumbledore was going to pay for the humiliation of his nation. The warrior who had allowed him to escape had been stripped of any honors as a warrior and was relegated to work in the mines. The king had assembled a task force with the best warriors of all goblin nations who were working tirelessly to find the Deceiver. Nagkrat was standing by the fireplace in his office, listening to another fruitless report. He growled a simple 'Enough' at the warriors who bowed their heads in shame and left.
Nagkrat was ashamed. He should have taken care of Albus himself. Damn wizard with his damn sarcastic runes! That was the worst part. Dumbledore had made sure to leave a mocking message within the runes. Runes were like wands. The being who created them would leave behind a magical signature of sorts. Albus' mark was teasing. He was laughing that he managed to escape. He was rubbing King Nagkrat's face in his success.
The goblin's anger made him lose control of his magic for a second, and the room shook. He had to pen a disgraceful apology to his allies. They were less safe with Dumbledore on the loose. The man had no wand, but Nagkrat knew that with mind magic, the wizard would get Ollivander to do his bidding. He would protect the houses he offered an alliance to; his word was worth gold. He would redeem himself and his nation by bleeding Dumbledore out slowly. He would rejoice in mounting the bastard's head on the wall of his office, just like he and many wizards had elf and goblin heads on their walls. This thought calmed his magic somewhat. He had connections to build, vaults to audit, and an old goat to find.
Albus Dumbledore was exhausted. He just had to be strong enough for a few more miles. The wizard was sure that the protocols they had designed to the last detail had been set in motion. He was certain that, by now, he would be ready and waiting for him. Albus had bridges to rebuilt and others to scorch. He wanted nothing more than to end the entire goblin race. Nagkrat would rue the day he dared cross, Albus. He could see the smoke in the distance, and he could almost taste all the potions that awaited him. Dumbledore had had a horrible weaning from his usual liquid aids. He almost felt bad for Severus. If he had trouble from taking frequent dosages, he could only imagine the Potion Master's detoxing had been gruesome at best. Served him right for being such a sappy lovesick fool.
Stupid Lily Potter had almost ruined his plans from the grave. Couldn't she just rest in motherfucking peace!? Damn her! And damn James Potter too! Idealistic suckers. It took him a lot of convincing and a little liquid encouragement to get Black to beg to be excused as Secret Keeper. The Potters had been so shocked by Bellatrix's attack on Frank and Alice and its consequences, that they hadn't been present of mind enough to see Black's behavior as strange. Everyone was a little on edge from all the murders and tortures. Lupin had been gathering intel on Greyback's pack on Dumbledore's orders so that he would not be present when the switch was made. His werewolf senses would have known Black was under the influence of something, and he would have talked some sense into the Potters. By the time Lupin realized what had happened, the Potters had been killed, and Sirius had stupidly tried to protect his boyfriend by leaving him behind and unable to follow him.
Albus sighed. Everything had worked according to plan until the bloody Dursleys had to ruin things. Dumbledore needed Harry to grow up without love so he would be a willing sacrifice, and Albus could sweep in and save the day once more. But now, now that Nagkrat had stuck his disgusting nose in the wizard's business, he was out for stinky goblin blood. He wanted the King's head to decorate his bedroom, ancient crown included.
In a tattered looking, impossibly tilted wizarding home, a small pet rat expertly escaped his cage and went out into the garden. It kept moving until the trees bordering the land provided enough covering for him to morph back into his human body. The ugly balding man stretched as far as his body would allow. He had felt the strange pulses and energies for the past few months. He heard that Black had been cleared. He and Lupin looked quite chummy in the Prophet's picture. He could have thrown up. Peter Pettigrew hated that he had morphed into a rat. Couldn't he have morphed into something stronger and faster? But no, of course, it was his friends who got the cool forms. They always got everything. James got the most beautiful woman who happened to be also the smartest and kindest. Potter did not deserve her. Black did not deserve Remus either. How could Lupin ever forgive that… dog? It was beyond Pettigrew's understanding.
How he wished his master would call him home. He knew the Dark Lord was alive, but where? How could he find him? He was sick and tired of playing pet to that disgusting family. At least Percy was clean… that annoying brother of his was the worst. He was uncouth, selfish, petty, and downright disgusting, and that was coming from a man living as a rat with all that entailed. He hoped the baby girl would take after her oldest brothers and just ignore him entirely. He waited in the tree line until he was positive all the Weasleys had gone to sleep. He went into the house and helped himself to leftovers. He was sick of pet food. He wanted real human meals. Once he was satiated, he took the week's newspapers and immediately felt sick. Dumbledore had escaped the goblins. That could mean trouble for his master. He needed to find his Lord before anyone else did.
Narcissa Malfoy was suspicious. Getting an anonymous request to buy her house-elf was strange at best, ridiculous at worst. Malfoy Mansion employed more than ten elves. She would not miss Dobby. After the mission that her husband had sent him to do which the creature had somehow managed to defy. But it had cost him dearly. But then again, if she sold him, her husband would not be happy, and she knew how that ended. She was still a bit sore from the last time she visited him in his holding cell of the DMLE. Somehow, she wanted to sell the elf, just because she could, and because it would infuriate her husband. He couldn't force her to visit, and she was sure he would be in prison for a long time. The anonymous buyer had offered a large sum. It was enough to support her and her son Draco for months. If she restricted her purchases a bit, it could even last her a year.
A vase broke. The sound made her jump and reach for her wand immediately. Draco came in staggering with a smile. He was just now learning to walk again. The woman left out the breath she was unconsciously holding. Her son had also been beaten by Lucius. They had been taken out of the visiting quarters by Aurors, who heard the commotion and abuse charges were added to Malfoy's list of offenses.
"Look, mother, I am walking!" the little boy exclaimed excitedly.
She took her son in her arms. "I am so proud of you, Drakey."
If it wasn't for Draco's existence, she would have regretted ever marrying his father. She would have loved for her son to be a Greengrass, but she wouldn't risk losing her family for her infatuation. Sometimes she wished she would have cheated on Lucius and gotten pregnant as a result, but Greengrass loved his wife. He would have never cheated.
"Mother, is father ever coming back?" Draco asked, his grey eyes glistening.
"Why, darling? Do you miss him?" she asked, smoothing the boy's platinum blonde hair back.
"I…"
"Remember our little motto: speak your truth, son…" Narcissa smiled encouragingly.
"Can we leave? G-Go live somewhere else… I don't want to see him again… He will hurt you," Draco said, looking down.
Narcissa was profoundly touched by the boy's concern for her. He shouldn't have to be thinking about that. He should only worry about playing and learning. She sighed.
"I will do my best to make sure we can leave, and he can't touch us," Narcissa replied. "I have no clue how, but we will find a way. I promise, my brave dragon."
"Thank you, mummy," the boy said, hugging his mom.
"Go wash for dinner, Draco. I need to write some letters."
The boy staggered out of the room.
What now? Narcissa was decided, but how was she to do this? Damn it to hell. She should have never stopped working. She needed to talk to her Head of House. But who was that these days? Suddenly, it hit her. Sirius Black must have taken the mantle. Could she talk to him? She doubted he would want to help her. Still, what other option did he have? Bellatrix was in Azkaban, and she loved her husband. She would never support her choice. Perhaps Sirius would help her if only to stick it to Lucius. She had no idea where Sirius could be, so she decided to write to Gringotts. She subtly inquired about her ability to sell the family property and things without Lucius' permission and requested an emergency conciliatorily audience with her Head of House in Gringotts. Additionally, she let the goblins know she would only sell Dobby if she could meet the buyer. She wanted to see if he could charm the person into offering more money.
"Remy?" Sirius exclaimed from the writing desk.
"Yes, love?" Remus replied from the bathroom as he shaved the muggle way.
"You will not believe this…"
Remus cleaned the remaining bits of shaving foam, hastily applied aftershave, and went into their bedroom from with a towel wrapped around his waist. "What is it?"
"Narcissa… She wants an emergency conciliatorily audience with her Head of House, meaning me, in Gringotts."
Remus was surprised. He never thought Narcissa would turn to Sirius. "And what about Dobby?"
"She said she wants to meet the buyer… Probably to get more money… What do you think we should do?"
"We? She wants to meet with you…" Remus lifted a quizzical brow.
"True, but I want you to come with me. You can always keep me level-headed, and I need my head as cool as I can have it. You can go in and disillusion yourself…."
Remus smiled, "I'll be there, love. I appreciate that you want me there…. 9 am tomorrow?"
"Yes… Do you know what I appreciate?" Sirius asked, looking down Remus' chest slowly.
"What?" Remus replied with a lopsided grin and putting his hands on his hips.
"That aftershave," Sirius said, pushing his boyfriend back onto their bed and pulling off his towel.
Narcissa smiled. She would be at Gringotts looking her best at 8.30 am. She wanted the anonymous buyer to be impressed by her wealth. She would have to wake up early to do proper magic makeup and spells to cover her bruises and scratches. Narcissa decided to bring Draco along. Dobby was in no state to travel.
Later that afternoon, the Grangers were watching in awe how Sirius and Remus played Quidditch. What an amazing sight! People zooming by in brooms and different balls used for the same sport. Harry was in love with the sport. Hermione looked a bit queasy. After much begging, Emma and Dan agreed to let the kids sit on the brooms hovering the ground. Hermione was scared, but Harry pushed his excitement and calmness through their bond, and this helped her be a bit more comfortable. Even Daniel and Emma got on the brooms for a bit. Sirius had told them about the meeting. He had invited them to tag along. The married couple had agreed if they could be kept invisible. They would dine as a family and discuss the strategy to deal with Narcissa Malfoy nee Black.
The following morning, the clock read 8.45 am. Sharptooth was ready to start. Narcissa had been pacing back and forth in his office for fifteen minutes. Her son sat still. He looked scared. The Grangers were once more on the sofa on the corner of the room with Harry and Hermione sitting between them. The kids were listening to music in separate walkmans while reading the same book. Emma had prepared these distractions in case the meeting got too adult. Remus looked tense. He was sitting in the other corner of the room. The doors opened, and Sirius went in. He was impeccably dressed, as was Narcissa and her boy.
"Lord Black, welcome," Sharptooth said, bowing his head.
"Thank you, Sharptooth," Sirius bowed.
"Mrs. Malfoy," Sirius said in a neutral tone. He inclined his head. He hadn't seen Narcissa in almost ten years. They were cousins, though, and he wanted -inexplicably- to hug her tight. She flinched at him, calling her that.
"Lord Black," Narcissa replied, bowing over Sirius' hand. Her hand was cold as ice. Her face was unreadable. "I hope you remember my son, Draco."
The boy stood and bowed as stiff as his mother had.
"Nice to meet you, Lord Black," Draco stammered.
Sirius could have laughed. The boy had impeccable manners, but he was clearly scared. "Likewise, scion Malfoy."
"Thank you for coming, but please don't call me Mrs. Malfoy," Narcissa knew she had to be grateful he was there. After all, she could have lost everything had another Black been Head of House.
"Why did you summon me, Narcissa?"
"I need help and protection… I mean, we do," she replied hanging her head down, putting her hands on her son's shoulder. She was doing this for Draco. She had to remind herself that he was worth everything.
"Do you mean financial help?" Sirius asked. Then, he heard Remus's mind voice in his head and added. "Also, what do you mean protection?"
"I mean both legal and financial help. I want- no, I need to find a way out of my marriage contract," She looked down to hide the tears that were threatening to fall. She would not crumble. It was beneath her.
"Why would you want out? Are you embarrassed that your husband is a criminal?" Sirius asked with a frown. He intended to help her, but they didn't part very amicably.
"L-Lord Black, p-please…" Draco began speaking, with his eyes full of tears, but his mother cut him off.
"Draco, no. We will not beg. It is beneath us," she lifted her face with pride.
"Mother, I will beg anyone if it makes you be safe," Draco replied. "Lord Black, please. Father hates us."
Sirius nodded. Remus told him to encourage the boy. "Go on, Draco. How do you know he hates you?"
The boy closed his eyes and looked to be straining with effort. He was trying to use his budding magic to force his mother's spells off. "Mother, take them off, please."
Narcissa complied with a sigh. Draco said in a small voice, almost a whisper, "He did this when we went to visit him in prison."
Sirius looked down at the boy, and his eyes widened in surprise. His hands balled into tight fists. Draco winced as if expecting to be hit but bravely stood in front of his mother in a clear defensive posture. Lord Black felt Remus' hands on his shoulders. His boyfriend's touch could always cool him off. Remus pushed a simple phrase to Padfoot's brain: "Treat him as you would treat Harry."
"Sharptooth,"
"Yes, Lord Black?" the goblin was angry. He had always hated Lucius. Abusing young ones was never okay.
"Please let us have the room. We have family matters to discuss."
"Of course. Call me if you need anything from me," Sharptooth replied.
"Please get one of your healers here in about half an hour," Sirius said in a firm tone. Sharptooth nodded and swiftly left.
Draco was terrified. Was Lord Black going to hurt them? Was that why he called for healers so they would fix him and his mom? He puffed his chest and said with bravery he did not feel. "Whatever you have to do, do it to me. Leave mother out of this, Lord Black."
Sirius took a few calming breaths. He looked into his cousin's eyes and saw the carefree young girl she was once, but she was broken now. "Draco, step aside. I do not intend to hurt either of you."
"Narcissa, please lower your shields," he requested in a soft tone, trying to keep his face from showing his anger. The woman nodded and opened her mind to her cousin. She, however, refused to remove her glamours. Her son hadn't seen the worst of her scars, and she wanted to keep it that way.
Sirius was shaken by what he saw. Narcissa was not close to him. Not like his favorite cousin. But still, she was family. The humiliation, the degrading comments, the abuse, the manipulation, the beatings, the rape… her husband giving her to men to do with as they saw fit, the cheating, the mistreatment of Draco, their beatings in the DMLE, Narcissa deciding to leave her husband. Sirius saw her crying in her bathroom so many times. The more memories he saw, the less shine her eyes held. He was beating the joy of living out of her. The only thing that made her eyes shine now was her son. He was able to see Malfoy imperiusing her several times so she would do debasing things and act like a Death Eater. "Please stop!" the woman begged, falling to her knees. A splitting headache pierced her.
"Stop it!" Draco said, hugging his mom, shielding her with his body. "Hurt me instead!"
Sirius staggered two steps back. No child should ever say something like that. Ever. He pushed a "Remy, help me" to his boyfriend, who immediately canceled the disillusionment spell on himself and cleared his throat.
"Narcissa, scion Malfoy."
Both Malfoys had jumped at the throat clearing.
"Who are you?" Narcissa asked hastily, standing up and pushing her son behind her.
"I am Remus Lupin," he began.
The werewolf, she thought but said, "I remember you. Why are you here? What do you want?"
"I want to help you, and I am here to support Sirius," Remus replied, taking his boyfriend's hand in his.
Narcissa looked pointedly at their joined hands.
"Cissa," Sirius said with a shaky voice. He expected her to reject him. "Remus is the love of my life. I brought him because he, like you, is my family."
The woman looked genuinely shocked at this. "S-Still?"
"Famille avant tout, Cissy," Sirius said, opening his arms. Her eyes widened in recognition. She remembered. [A/N:*Family above all]
The woman jumped into her cousin's embrace and wept. Her sobbing was so uncontrolled that her body shook with her crying that Sirius lowered them both to the ground. Draco looked very out of sorts. He seemed split between wanting to hurt Sirius and run away and hide. Remus removed the disillusionment on the Grangers and the kids. Emma walked swiftly towards Draco and gathered the shaking boy into a fierce motherly hug. The boy froze but then melted into the hug. She smelled lovely. Her arms were warm and soft yet firm, and he felt loved. This struck him as weird because she was a stranger. But it was such a good feeling. The stranger kept telling him that he was safe and that no one would hurt him or his mother again. He wanted to believe her.
"W-Who are t-these people?" Narcissa looked at the woman holding her son so tenderly and at the two kids holding the hands of a man. Was that boy…? It could not be… Sirius helped her stand up with Remus' help.
"Cissa, this is Daniel and Emma Granger, their daughter Hermione, and this is Harry Potter," Sirius looked at his family with a smile. Draco sniffed and took out a handkerchief for his mother, but Mr. Lupin had beat him to it, so he used it to dry his own tears. Mrs. Granger had let the boy go.
"Nice to meet you," said Hermione with a tentative smile.
"You are a mudblood," Draco said without thinking.
"Excuse you?" asked Mr. Granger, taking a step forward.
"Sorry, I just… I," Draco stammered, looking at his mother for guidance.
"We are very sorry. My son heard that word too many times and was also forced to use it. He does not understand all the implications yet…" Narcissa explained, pulling her son close. At Hermione's tearful eyes, she added: "But I will teach him better."
Daniel looked less tense at that. Hermione steeled herself and grabbed Harry's hand.
"Everyone, this is my cousin Narcissa and her son Draco. They have had a rough time with Lucius Malfoy. He has hurt them both in many ways. I will be acting as Lord Black to make sure they are safe."
"Hello Draco, I guess we are kind of family… I want you to be our friend, but if you offend Hermione again, I will not want you around," Harry said, crossing his arms.
"I am sorry. I didn't mean to upset her," Draco said, lowering his head. "Any time I said muggleborns instead of that, he would hit me with his cane."
"I forgive you. Please don't call anyone that ever again," Hermione offered her hand. The blonde shook it and then shook Harry's.
Sharptooth came in after knocking with a healer who swiftly took care of Narcissa and her son. The healer complained when she refused to lower her glamours and spells but worked where he could. After the healer was done
"Sharptooth, did you look into what I asked?" Sirius said, sitting down and crossing his legs.
"Yes, your grandfather was smart enough that he included an abuse clause… But it is a weird one," Sharptooth said, taking out a long scroll.
"Weird how?" Narcissa asked. Sirius had requested for her marriage contract to be reviewed.
"Well, we called our best legal recourse…" the goblin left it at that. Sirius understood he meant Tonks. "He went over this extensively… anonymously, of course. The clause does not say anything about emotional or physical pain. It has, however, a very clear sort of important above all rule. A husband may strike, beat, bite, and ra-" Sharptooth coughed, there were children present. "cause all sorts of harm to his wife as she is his property."
Emma Granger looked ready to kill at this. "His what?!"
Sirius said, "We know, Em…"
Emma grabbed Narcissa's hand in silent female support. Narcissa was surprised but held tight.
"However, the husband has to restrain himself to parts of the body that can be concealed…. Here, let me read this to you:
"The husband must show proper restraint in not harming the beauty of his property. No Black property can be defaced. If the husband causes malformities and ugly scars on his woman's face, neck, shoulders, décolletage, upper back, hands and feet, the marriage contract will be null and void. The same applies to any offspring the marriage produces. The Lord of the family may demand retribution fitting of the crime as to be determined in a family council that will include the male family members of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black that the Lord seems fit."
"Cissa, did he do any of that? Please tell us, I know you did not show me everything…" Sirius crouched in front of Narcissa and held her hands. Narcissa dropped her head in shame.
Draco looked at Lord Black in surprise. The man was being kind to his mother. He was treating her with care and respect. Draco realized how his mom reacted to this treatment. She liked it. Draco was right. He had told his father that if he treated his mother better, she would be happier. That earned him his first-ever black eye. He was just four then.
"I don't want Draco to see me like that," she whispered, but her son heard her. He stood up and hobbled to her. The Grangers stared at the way he still limped after the healer treated him
"Mother, I have to. I want to remember what he did to you every time things are difficult when we are on our own," Draco stood next to Sirius who had straightened up.
Narcissa looked shocked. Her son should not have to go through this. She looked at Emma in a questioning manner.
"What would you do, Mrs. Granger?"
"It is your choice, but he will eventually have to know the extent of what happened. He is a brave little boy. We will help you both heal, not just the outside, but the inside too…" Emma squeezed Narcissa's hand. Narcissa stood. She walked a couple of feet away from the occupants of the room, facing away from them. She removed her glamours and spells. Emma braced herself and held her kids. Narcissa turned. There was a collective gasp. Draco's eyes filled with tears. The paintings on the walls began to shake. Sirius put a hand on the boy's head. This calmed him enough to react, and he ran to his mother and held her tight. Luckily Remus had been holding Sirius tightly by the waist or he might have exploded.
Narcissa was defaced property indeed. Emma immediately began going over all the best plastic surgeons she knew. She would help this woman, no matter what. Narcissa's once almost too pretty face was bruised, swollen, and had several different scars.
"Mother, I'm sorry! I-I… S-so sorry," Draco's anguished sobs pierced the Grangers. Harry and Hermione moved on autopilot. They pulled Draco gently. The boy looked at them in confusion with red-rimmed eyes. Harry and Hermione carefully held the woman's head, and a blueish light went under her skin. It erased the bruises and healed the cuts. It also reduced the swelling. The scarring remained. A third of her hair, around her right ear, did not grow anymore. Her ear looked burnt, but the ear canal was open. Half an eyebrow was missing. Her left cheekbone looked like it had been bashed against something that made it cave in slightly. The most hideous part of it all was that there was a scar on her forehead that looked to have been burnt in place; it read 'LM.'
"What did you do?" Narcissa asked the children. "I feel much better."
"Can we try to help Draco?" Hermione asked, dubious.
"Please do."
A few seconds and some blueish glow later, Draco tried walking and felt no more pain. He thanked the kids. This erased any doubt he had. He wanted to be their friend. They had helped his mom and him.
"Cissy, why didn't you go to St. Mungo's? You could have avoided the scarring…" Sirius said, kissing both Harry and Hermione's head. When he noticed Draco looking away wistfully, he kissed the boy's head as well.
"They would have filed a report, and that would have only made him angrier. Bella was living with us… She would have never allowed me to."
"I hate her," Draco whispered.
"I hate her too," Sirius said, winking at the boy. Draco smiled.
"Narcissa, sorry to butt in, but… we are non-magical healers. I don't know if wizards or witches do cosmetic surgery, but in our world, we do. We could help you get rid of the scars like that."
"Thank you, but I don't think I can afford that at the moment," Narcissa sighed. She placed the glamours and spells back in place.
"Mrs. M- No, Narcissa, you could ask Lord Black to demand your dowry back. I know it will not last forever, but it could help you start over. Scribe!" Sharptooth commanded, and a secretarial goblin appeared.
"Sirius…" Narcissa began.
"Oh no, no, no, no, and hell to the no. We are not asking for that," Sirius crossed his arms with an angry scowl.
"B-But, I thought-" Narcissa was cut off by Lupin.
"If you think that is all Sirius will demand as retribution, you are very wrong. We want everything we can get away with!" Remus smirked.
"Sharptooth, I don't need to meet with anybody. This is a unilateral, unquestionable, permanent, executive decision of the Head of House. I demand her dowry back. Additionally, I want all the items in Malfoy Manor that are property of House Black. I also want to get Dobby the house-elf and any other elves in the property. Given the damage he did to Narcissa and Draco, House Black demands 50% of Lucius' assets that he acquired after his marriage. He can keep the manor and all the furniture that is not hers. Anything else, Cissy?"
"Yes, the Malfoy library books, the grimoire, and Draco's-"
"No, mother. I don't want anything from that place," the boy said resolutely. Narcissa nodded.
"So, you were the anonymous buyer… I thought that was weird."
"Yes, but I will need you to unbind your elves so they can be bound again. What happened to Dobby?"
"Lucius sent him to hurt someone, I don't know who. No one told me anything. The elf managed to resist the order, but he was ordered to punish himself within an inch of his life… He did exactly that. The rest of the elves managed to save him, but they put him in stasis. We don't know if he will wake up."
"Damn it. Hopefully, being in a different place will help him… That and a new bond."
"I hope so. Sirius, I want to apologize for not being proper family to you. You have given me compassion that I do not deserve, but I thank you for my son's sake. I feel I am unworthy of this. But I want you and your b-boyfriend" she said the last word in a questioning tone. Remus nodded, so she continued, "to know that I will do better. I am very grateful for this."
"I appreciate your apology. We will offer you what we did to someone else… Tabula rasa? What do you say? Are you ready to be Narcissa Black again?"
She nodded enthusiastically with a broad smile. "I, Narcissa Malfoy, soon to be Black, swear on my magic that I will be an ally to Lord Sirius Black and his family on my magic, so mote it be," Narcissa glowed for a couple of seconds. Sirius was shocked. He was not expecting her to swear an oath. She went on, "I will take this opportunity to become a better person, a better mother, and a better witch, oh and a much better cousin," she added with a chuckle.
Sirius hugged her and kissed her forehead. "Welcome back, cousin,"
Narcissa laughed. Draco smiled. It was the first time in weeks that she had laughed like that.
"Ms. Black," Sharptooth said.
"Yes?"
"Where will you be staying? So, we update your address in our records…"
"Um… I don't know, the Leaky Cauldron… or perhaps a muggle place," she said with a confused expression. She had not expected any of this.
Harry stepped forward, "Ms. B-Black?"
"Yes, Harry?"
"Why don't you and Draco just stay with us? We have a lot of space…" the boy blushed. He never knew what to expect of new adults.
"Oh, I appreciate your offer, but I wouldn't want to intrude," Narcissa replied with a soft smile.
"Nonsense, cousin. After that oath, that you didn't really have to do, you are welcome anywhere we are staying. Isn't that right, Prongslet?" Sirius asked, picking Harry up and ruffling his already messy hair.
"Yes, uncle Padfoot!"
"Wonderful!" Sirius put Harry back down and took his boyfriend's hand. "Shall we?"
"Are we going to Grimmauld?" Narcissa asked, trying not to sound deflated. She didn't like the place, but beggars can't be choosers.
"Oh, no, Cissa… We are off to a different place. Potter Manor," Sirius exclaimed with a smile. Narcissa looked uncertain but took Draco's hand and nodded.
"Are you sure we can be in there?" she gestured at herself and Draco
"You made an oath, don't worry…"
"Lead the way, then," she replied. Remus dropped floo powder into the fireplace and stepped in. He offered his hand to Narcissa then to Draco. Luckily the fireplace was wide. The Grangers took their kids and stepped into the fireplace. In unison, everyone but Sharptooth said a firm "Potter Manor," and they were gone.
A/N: As always, thank you for reading. This was a wild ride to write. I had a lovely anonymous review from the last chapter. I just hope I could reply to it, but if you are reading this one: Thank you! You made my day. We are almost reaching the conclusion of this part of the story. I hope you will join me for the next one. Thank you for your patience. :) -Lux-
