Summary: A new law results in the Malfoys to take in an orphaned deaf-mute witch. Aster Dahlquist soon learns that the walls of Malfoy Manor harbors the family's own horrifying secrets beside her own, and she unknowingly becomes the key that frees them from it. — - Inspired by the movie The Quiet. - — Rated M: Violence, Language, Graphic/Sexual Scenes, Incest; Dub/Non-con.
Rated: M
Genre: Family, Suspense
Warning Tag: Rated M: Authorative Figure Abandons Child
Competition/Challenge Block:
Written For: Monthly Challenges for All (Year 3); Hogwarts (Term 14)
Hogwarts: Ravenclaw; A.9 - Archaeology #3: Write about someone making/changing a law.
MC4A: Tr Bingo (Deal with the Devil); Hunt (Sp WD - Deaf/HoH; Full Moon; Scarf); Short Jog (Y); Neurodivergent (Y); Rian-Russo Inversion (Y); Disabled (Y); Claimed; Lunar Era (Y); Slytherin MCx3; Hufflepuff MC; Old Shoes (Y); FPC (Not a Lamp; Ladylike; Bechdel Test; White Dress; Persistence Still); BAON (Found Family; Nontraditional); ToS (Spinning Plates; Unwanted Advice); Fence (Rediscovery); T3 (Toad) Demo (A Long Dog;Most Human Bean; Muck & Slime; Professor's Torment; Morrigan's Tentacles; Uncivil Obedience; Where Angels Fear; Esbat; ); Demo ( Creature Feature; Abandoned Ship; Sitting Hummingbird; Some Beach; Hot Stuff; Tert Demo ((SHoE) Oblique; Onus (O3) Oust; (Mea) Bisect; (TY) Enfant)
Word Count: 1,101
Author's Note: I will tell you right now that this is not going to be a pretty story. If anyone knows the movie this stems from you will know exactly why that is. Now, I love the movie The Quiet, it is a very spine-chilling story and it is definitely not something for the faint of heart. Do not ask me why I like the movie because I will not care enough to answer. I am writing this fucked story for myself because, like most writers out there, I have a creepy dark cellar under my house. Sometimes I indulge in it and sometimes I just want to share what's in it because why not? I like to feel ballsy sometimes and trust me, there are far, far worse things out there.
Also, I want to make it strictly clear that I do not excuse any behavior that goes on in this piece by any stretch of the word. I know very well what is right and wrong and where my morals lie, so I don't need to hear the preachings of how twisted and gross it is because yes, I do know. I am very much aware of it and am not glorifying it. Thankfully there are no limits to writing and fictional worlds.
Enjoy, or not. Please use your discretion and heed my very clearly labeled warnings that WILL be on each chapter.
Chapter 1
Narcissa scuttled around the foyer, snapping orders at house elves to make sure everything was perfect. The family was expecting someone from the ministry, and the witch wanted to make absolutely sure they knew they weren't stepping out of bounds.
"They are almost here! Hurry up, you two!" she hollered at the base of the stairs.
Moving to a mirror nearby, Narcissa smoothed her hair and pursed her lips to make sure she looked proper for the authorities. No one knew who to expect, all the ministry told her and her family was that they were going to be taking in a child for a while.
The Malfoys had come out of the war with granted amnesty, bruised egos, and emotional scars, but that didn't mean they were completely set free. The Minister for Magic made sure that the family knew that what they had done was wrong, and ensured that they were always reminded whenever Kingsley summoned Lucius to discuss the various rebuilding projects that needed proper funding. It wasn't enough to humble them knowing their limitless wealth was being put to good use, so the minister sought other ways to continue to keep the message clear.
Operation Recovery was a slow process. There was only so much a recuperating government could do for its citizens before the dust of the War even fully settled. Shelters and orphanages were filling up fast before homes and complexes were fully restored or rebuilt, so the minister did what he thought was best, and that was to assign guardians to children who no longer had a family to those who were able to care for them.
Kingsley knew that the Malfoys had more than enough room to house several stranded families, but his authority could only go so far without using force or blackmail against them to accept anyone into their home. The thought of mandating them to take a child in didn't cross his mind until he stumbled across a girl who had Narcissa listed as a godmother should anything happen, and of course the Malfoys couldn't refuse without risking backlash. And so Aster Dahlquist was put into their care.
It didn't matter if it would be impossible for them to communicate with her, they would have to learn as they went.
The family of three gathered in the foyer with Narcissa. She straightened Draco's tie and smoothed out Lucius' wrinkles from his shoulders before turning to face the door with the best smile she could put on for their new guest of honor.
.oOo.
The mansion towered in the distance as Aster Dahlquist and her escort, Auror Cindy Skyler, approached the large ornate gate surrounded by a wrought iron fence with tall hedges and the full moon hanging high in the air as its backdrop. Swallowing hard, she looked to Cindy for some sort of reassurance, but the witch held a passive expression when she turned to face her. Aster struggled to read her lips as Cindy spoke quickly.
"Here you are, Malfoy Manor," she said, a sour expression on her face. "My elf will bring you your belongings shortly. Here." She shoved a heavy pouch into the girl's hands. The weight and shape of its contents inside hinted it was filled with currency. "This is yours, not like you'll need it. Good luck to you."
Cindy turned on a heel and was gone as fast as they had appeared. Aster stared at the spot the other witch was before she jumped back when a small yellow elf appeared with a trunk and suitcase in Cindy's place. Its large eyes stared at Aster as she stared back. She wasn't accustomed to house elves and wasn't sure if the creature was waiting for something that she should do. Pulling out a knut, she offered it to the elf, who immediately panicked, looked around, then vanished without the offered coin.
Perplexed, Aster adjusted the book bag at her side, placing the pouch of coins inside before grabbing the suitcase and putting it on top of the trunk the elf had abandoned, having it easily rest against the bars of the handle. She turned and pulled her luggage closer to the gate. A small gargoyle-like creature rested in the center. As she approached it came to life. Black eyes blinked down at the witch, gazing into her own icy blue eyes, a snarl on his face. She felt herself shudder at the eye contact.
"Name?"
Aster swallowed and signed out her name with her pale hands. The gargoyle tilted its head, not comprehending the gestures she was making. Not knowing what else to do, she placed a hand over her mouth to signal she could not speak. The gargoyle leaned toward her, obsidian eyes appeared to glint against the moonlight. "They are expecting you, miss. You may pass."
The gates did not open, but instead they blurred in front of Aster. She hesitantly passed through as if it was made of a hazy mist. She could feel the twinge of enchantments placed at the edge of the gate, an involuntary shiver crawled through her again as they allowed her to pass through. Glancing back, the gates quickly became solid once again. Whispers of moving water could be heard nearby, and as she got closer, the mansion loomed overhead with its pointed roof peaks touching the night sky. She couldn't help but take in the large covered porch lined with pillars so carefully carved, complementing the dark oak doors that now stood between her and her new home.
It was the very description of what she would call a haunted mansion, and it thoroughly freaked her out at who resided within its walls.
Raising a closed hand, Aster hesitated. The family she was about to formally meet are practically strangers to her. She had only briefly met the woman once back when her custody was being arranged, and even then the two barely made any contact. The ministry claimed that the Malfoys knew her parents at some point in her short life, but it didn't help matters now. She had no faces to their names and rumors that said they were part of the cause that killed her parents. This alone made her very nervous. There was no choice to go back, however, and it had to be better than staying in an orphanage, she hoped. She stalled by fixing the scarf that wrapped around her neck and draped over her shoulder, only to follow the gesture by pulling her auburn hair behind her hair. She raised a shaky hand knocked gently upon the doors.