Around the Alley
Draco Malfoy stood behind the center counter at his business, the Borgin & Burke Gallery, LTD. The great mechanical bronze pile of an old muggle manual cash register held down the right end of the showcase, to Draco's left as he faced the door to Diagon Alley. The Daily Prophet was spread out on top of the case.
Draco was disappointed in that day's Prophet. The rag was consistent. Most days, around eighty percent of the time, Draco found the content insipid, lacking insight, impact and useful information. The editorial page had never had nor used the word gravitas. The Prophet was about to join its close relatives in the magical recycling bin, whence it might be retrieved to wrap or pack a sale for a customer. Magical publications had so many quirks, such as photos whose subjects moved around in the frame or waved a cheery 'HELLO!' to readers, they had to be carefully managed throughout their lives or risk falling afoul of the International Convention on Secrecy. If Draco slipped the Prophet to a customer as packing material, he passed on responsibility for disposal along with the purchase.
Draco looked up at the ringing of the street door bell. It was early for the serious buyers who often wished to make appointments for evening viewings. Draco never understood their reasoning. He accommodated them because the majority of his biggest sales, and he had managed some big ones, derived from those evening appointments. Draco prepared to greet some provincials in from the north country for a sip of London sophistication until he recognized his visitor.
"Theo! Good to see you," said Draco, folding the Prophet over, then in half again. He had a pretty good idea why Theo Nott was stopping in on a weekday morning but he added, as a formality, "What can I do for you today?"
Theo and Draco traded the stylized wizard chitchat in a truncated version. Draco let Theo take all the time he wanted. Wizards' stylized chitchat could fill hours, were there a truly dicey issue to settle, both parties dancing about because neither wanted to get to the unpleasant business. Some wizards found paralyzing indecision preferable to facing interpersonal issues.
On this occasion the dancing was truncated. Draco couldn't ask after Theo's family because they were dead. Theo knew Daphne, Draco's sister-in-law, had been killed by his brother Llewellyn. Cut out trading pleasantries and nothing is left but the raw business at hand.
"Draco, I apologize for my brother's behavior," Theo began.
"Nothing to apologize for, Theo," said Draco. "You had nothing to do with it. Llewellyn would have attacked you, given the chance. You had left them all years ago."
"True," said Nott. "I still feel obliged to make amends."
"Llewellyn did it, Theo," said Draco. "Iere was a witness. Given the choice, Daphne would gladly give her life for Iere's, I say it with complete confidence. Astoria sees Iere every day. She is managing with a lot more grace than I would be. I am sorry about your parents. They should have had the chance to live out their days."
"Llewellyn always was a psycho," said Nott. "He made my life miserable. Mother and Father didn't do anything about it. Maybe he had them trained or intimidated. I don't know and it doesn't matter. I'm out of it now."
"I received a notice about the succession," Nott went on. "Why I don't know. I renounced my claim which I thought was irrevocable. You'd have thought someone would have written that down. My name is all the legacy I care about. It has no monetary value, can't make money, isn't an asset. All I can do with it is work hard to try and make it mean more when I die than it did when I got it."
"Theo!" Draco protested. "You're a prominent member of the magical community, you run a successful business, don't put yourself down that way."
"Yeah, you're right. Maybe I don't need to make a speech, at least not in here, to you," Nott agreed. "The sentiment stands. Look, whatever Iere wants is fine with me. If she wants to rebuild, fine, cash out and live in Monte Carlo, fine, turn it into a foundation to spread Daphne's name and goodwill in the world, that's fine, too. It's all fine. I don't know anything about her. I guess Daphne wanted to keep her away from the Notts."
Draco looked at his old schoolmate.
"Got time for a cup of something?" he asked.
They sat in the little lounge. Draco listened for the street door but no one was out shopping for unusual collectibles so early. The curtain behind the sales counter hid a hallway that connected to an office with a rolltop desk and the paperwork Draco had to keep to document the acquisitions and sales in case a dispute over provenance arose. Besides, squeaky-clean records still came in handy when a Dark object caught the aurors' attention.
After he began managing the business and noticed the pattern of significant sales opportunities paired with evening showings, Draco did a little renovation. The lounge was added, even though there shouldn't have been room within the building footprint. Draco kitted it out with comfortable chairs and a love seat, polished walnut and lots of brass. Draco kept a variety of libations and didn't spare the expense. The lounge was where the serious wheeling and dealing went on and generous hospitality always paid back tenfold in good will.
"It's early but I've got most of the favorites," Draco said, opening a cabinet door.
"It's early, as you say. Coffee?"
"I can do some coffee," Draco said.
"What are you up to these days, Theo?" he asked as he measured out the coffee.
"Oh, I'm an import-export tycoon," Theo said. "A fancy name for broker. A shipment of the goblins' brandy for Toulouse. One of the veelas' cordials for Bath. A few points each direction. It adds up."
"Bath?"
"I know, I said the same thing," said Theo. "I didn't want to look too closely. If the veelas have a little cordial-sipping going on in Bath, who am I to judge?"
"All strong beverages or do you have other product lines?" asked Draco.
"We have a secure courier service for legal and financial things that have to be hand-carried and delivered," said Theo.
"That is a business? I had no idea."
Draco waved his wand, poured boiling water over the coffee and pushed the plunger of the French press. Then he put two coffees on the little pedestal table between their chairs. Theo looked at his coffee cup, his eye moving on to the marquetry set into the dark wood.
"Is this for chess?"
"Anything you want to play, but that's a chess board," said Draco.
They picked up their cups and saucers so Theo could see the entire table top.
"Late eighteenth century, from one of the shops that spun off from the royal factory Louis XIV used to furnish Versailles. The masters who wanted a change of scene spread out all over Europe, one or two ended up here."
"Is it enchanted?" asked Theo.
"Probably not originally. Then someone got creative."
Draco pointed to the wall and the unburdened little table folded its hinged top over ninety degrees and sidled over, out of the way.
"It's good to be careful and check or there will be cups and teapots and little bowls of mints all over your floor. I can make you a very special offer, if you have just the right location for it in your home or office."
"Of course you can, Draco," said Theo.
Draco crooked his finger at the table in a 'Come back, please,' gesture. The table tottered back to the place between the chairs and reset its top so Theo could put his cup down.
"Well," Draco said, "Iere. Daphne had good reasons to keep a low profile. You know Iere's origins?"
Theo sat, silent, eventually nodding. Yes.
"No one from the Notts got in touch. She finished sixth year, two bulkier robes obscuring her developing bump. Iere was born around start of term. Daphne came back for seventh year. She could sign herself out on weekends so she went to the Greengrass' and was a mother for two days, came back to school, and so on. The strength it took! It still intimidates me. She never knew if the Notts made the connection. Iere says they denied it, when Daphne took her to Nott Hall. Then—"
Draco stopped talking and looked up at the ceiling.
"Llewellyn made his appearance and it went downhill, fast. It isn't hard to conclude Iere feels there is business that will forever remain unfinished. She's doing remarkably well, in my opinion," said Draco.
"She knows very little about titles or responsibilities. She's just turning fourteen. Kind of glides along. Sue bonded with her. Was she there when you were still…" said Draco.
"Still a Nott?" said Theo, rueful grin showing.
"Here's a thought," said Draco. "I'm not interfering in your life, but if you feel a need, Iere is your niece."
"You're not interfering," said Theo. "She is my closest relative, now. I don't think I have any aunts or uncles left. If nothing else I feel I should man up and apologize, face to face, for Llewellyn. He can't anymore, not that I think he would."
"Offer my support, in person," Theo finished.
"I'm sure it can be arranged," said Draco. "Got a card?"
Draco put in his usual work day and went home. Astoria had dinner ready. Afterwards, Draco helped clean up while waiting for Scorpius to go outside or take a book into the living room. Scorpius, though, brought his book to the kitchen and read while his parents washed and wiped dishes. Cleanup didn't take long at all, with magic, and Astoria was soon ready to take the floo to Owl Cottage to spend the night with Iere.
Astoria returned to Jasper Farm in the morning, bringing Iere and Sue. Scorpius went out for some solitary wandering after breakfast, giving Draco a chance to talk to the concerned principals together.
"Someone came in yesterday," Draco began. He noticed Iere perk up, slightly, and wondered how far ahead of him she was.
"Theo? Nott?" Draco went on. He slid two fingers into his shirt pocket and removed Theo's business card.
"I always liked Theo," said Astoria. "He had a kind of air around him. What is the word? Draco?"
"Equanimity?" Draco tried.
"No, but that's a good one," said Astoria.
"Serenity?" asked Iere.
"That's it," Astoria said, looking at Draco, who shrugged a response.
"He believes it would be a good idea to call on Lady Nott, to apologize for his brother's appalling behavior and express his good will and support."
"Sure, why not?" asked Iere. "Bring him over to Owl Cottage."
Draco had theorized, to himself, that Iere would not want to meet Theo so soon after the tragedy. Furthermore, if she did agree, he thought she would want to see him at a neutral spot or Jasper Farm.
"She's strong," Draco said to Astoria.
They were in their room, upstairs at Jasper Farm, where Astoria and Iere were spending the night.
"Layered, too," he added.
"She's bound to be," Astoria said. "Everyone around her is a witch or wizard, she looks like a squib to them but she has an ability she has to conceal because the bigots wouldn't leave her alone if they knew about it. All through her formative years she worked in partnership with Daphne, who knew how to smooth out the bumps and potholes. Now she has to work all the things Daphne did out for herself. She's managing quite well, I have to say."
"I agree," said Draco. "She learns fast, doesn't she?"
"She does," Astoria agreed.
The following day, Draco sent Theo a note by owl post, inviting him to Jasper Farm for lunch on Saturday.
The note was disingenuous, a bit. The plan was to have Theo come to the farm then floo to Owl Cottage, where Iere and Sue would have a nice lunch of sandwiches and salad ready. Lady Nott wasn't in the mood to begin throwing big dinners to celebrate the presence of callers, although she did confide to Astoria that she wasn't opposed, simply holding the big to-do's in abeyance.
The party—Theo, Draco, Astoria and Scorpius—arrived at Owl Cottage, exiting the living room fireplace. Sue stood ready and had the soot and ashes cleaned up from the room and the travelers with a few finger snaps.
Iere stood next to Daphne's obsidian image, wearing a full skirt made of a beige cavalry twill fabric, a long-sleeved silk blouse with a lace stock and black ballet flats. Iere wore an Alice band to hold her hair back that she had pulled just so, putting a modest wave above her forehead.
"Iere, may I introduce my classmate, Mr. Theodore Nott?" asked Draco as he got straight to the day's business.
Theo appeared to be recovering from a stunner as he looked between the obsidian Daphne and the real-life Iere.
Iere stepped forward and extended her right hand.
"You are my Uncle Theodore," she declared.
"Y-yes, feel free to address me as Theo, or, ah, anyway you like, I suppose," Theo managed.
"How nice," said Iere. "Iere Greengrass. You were my mum's classmate?"
"Yes, Miss Grengrass, Daphne, Draco, me…" Theo said, before his voice trailed off.
"Please, Uncle Theo, it's Iere," she assured him.
"Ah, as you wish, Iere," Theo recovered. "With your kind permission…"
Theo stepped back, glanced once more at Daphne, put his heels together and bowed from the waist as he began to speak.
"Iere, Lady Nott, I come before you to apologize on behalf of the Nott family for the behavior of my brother, Llewellyn, to beg your forgiveness, and assure you of my sincere wish to make amends."
"Please stand up, Uncle Theo," said Iere. "I accept your apology as sincere and assure you all is forgiven. I would like to extend an invitation to you to discuss reconciliation and reinstatement at some future time, if you so desire. Take all the time you need to think about it and you can let me know."
Iere extended her right hand once again. This time Theo pulled out all the stops, dropping to one knee as he inclined his head, just brushing the back of Iere's hand with his lips.
Ceremonies concluded, Iere smiled at everyone but only truly lit up for Scorpius.
"How are you doing? Ready for a sandwich?" she asked.
Scorpius was ready. He didn't answer but headed straight for the kitchen table.
Iere waited for everyone to follow Scorpius and found herself standing next to Theo, who was lingering, looking up and down at Daphne.
"That's Daphne?" he asked.
"It is, just the way she ended up," said Iere. "She toppled over and shattered. St. Mungo's could put her back together but they couldn't re-enervate her. Her arm broke off in one piece. That's her actual wand in her hand. She almost got the shield charm off."
"Oh, Merlin," said Theo. "Apologies, no offense meant. Your mother was an…an exemplar of a Slytherin witch, Iere. Dignified. Scholarly. Tried her best in everything. And she was kind to me even after Llewellyn was so rotten to her. And there she is, right there."
Theo, who seemed to be talked out, shook his head and turned toward the door to the kitchen. Iere gave Daphne one more look and followed her uncle.
Lunch was a real success, according to Astoria's assessment, delivered to Iere later in the day.
"Theo was never the aggressive Slytherin type, unlike your Uncle Draco," said Astoria. "He seemed to be focused on something beyond house rivalries when so many of the others were seeing competition for dominance in the simplest things. One-upping. Quidditch."
"James likes competition," said Iere.
"Does he leave it on the field?" asked Astoria.
"So far," Iere said with a giggle.
Later that same week, a package arrived at Owl Cottage, appropriately delivered by owl. The return simply said 'Gringotts' in an elaborate goblin script. Iere didn't have a wand and couldn't perform any security checks herself, but she had an elf.
"Sue, I need to know if this is safe for me to open," said Iere as she handed Sue the package.
The elf turned the package this way and that, shook it and held it up to the light.
"Sue believes Miss Iere's package is safe to open," she said as she handed the package back. "Would Miss Iere like Sue to…"
Sue held up her hand, fingers ready to snap.
"Please," said Iere.
Sue snapped her fingers and the wrapping unfolded and flew away. A black leather box lay in Iere's open hand. There was a crest stamped in gold on the cover, a shield with a cord held on the ends by two hands, the middle a figure-eight knot, well-known to everyone familiar with cordage as a very useful knot for securing the end of a length of line. Beneath it was a banner that said simply, "Hold Fast."
Iere raised the cover and gasped when she saw what the box held. A gold signet ring lay on a bed of red velvet. It didn't wobble or slide around so Iere assumed there was a charm at work to keep it stable. The cover held a piece of folded parchment with 'Lady Nott' in script on the page.
Unfolding the parchment, Iere began to read.
"Miss Iere Greengrass, Owl Cottage," the note began.
"As you are Lady Nott, attested before witnesses by the instrumentalities of Blood and Magic, it is appropriate that you have at hand the symbols of your position and responsibilities. Lord Barclay Nott's signet was all but destroyed in the fire at Nott Hall and the goblin firm that has served the family for generations crafted this for you. Gringotts forwards your signet with best wishes for long life and happiness. May your power grow and your gold flow. Anvil"
"Sweet," said Iere. She picked the ring up and turned it over, admiring every detail. The crest was the most spectacular feature, as it should be, an inset version of the crest on the box. It would be very dramatic on a lady's finger but the wax impression on her envelopes' closures ought to inspire awe.
"Do you think you could take me to Jasper Farm?"
She knew it was a silly question before she asked because Sue's only complaints were about the lack of challenging tasks to give her house elf magic a proper workout.
"Auntie!" Iere called from the dooryard.
"Iere, come on in," answered Astoria.
Iere handed Astoria the box with the note from Anvil on top, under her thumb. Astoria read the note and flipped the box open.
"Morgana, bless you and keep you!" said Astoria. She reached for Iere, pulled her close and kissed her on the cheek.
"Are you going to wear it?" Astoria asked.
"I think so, sure," said Iere. "I think it merits a dinner or something. What do you think?"
"Yes, with guests? Theo? Plus one? I wonder if he's married or has someone special? Your ally, Lord Harry?" Astoria stopped to give Iere a chance.
"I think, perhaps, at Owl Cottage? If we ate in the kitchen, Mum would be right around the corner.