A/N- I know! It's been ages. The world opened up again and that means lots and lots of catching up on job and adulting all that nonsense. I do hope you haven't given up on me. There is good stuff ahead. Make me smile with a review. Love Lark
Objects of Beauty Chapter 16
Dumbledore's private rooms were a profusion of bright colors each one decisively at war with the hue next to it. The walls were lined with books and objects that whirred and ticked of their own accord. Family photos were notably absent.
Fawkes the Phoenix sat on his perch preening his fiery feathers. A large grandfather clock chimed ten times. Dumbledore got up from a comfortable chartreuse arm chair and walked to stand in front of the large marble fire place. He clasped his hands, one blackened and one healthy in front of him and waited.
Snape's head poked out of the fireplace first. Noting that Dumbledore was alone he stepped through and reached back to assist Narcissa Malfoy. She came to stand and blinked her silver eyes as she scanned the room. "So these are your rooms? How quaint." She murmured.
"Hello Narcissa, lovely evening isn't it?" Dumbledore twinkled at her, ignoring the slight on his rooms.
"Thank you for having me." Narcissa nodded her head and sat gracefully into the cheerful orange chair that Dumbledore indicated. A look of surprised pleasure stole over her face. "This is quite comfortable isn't it?" She said sinking into it blissfully.
"Why thank you, it's a small household charm I created in my spare time. Makes all my chairs positively hug their occupants." Dumbledore looked pleased.
"Yes, as fascinating as this all is, can we get on with it?" Snape interjected. "We've only just got away undetected. He brushed a strand of oily hair from his face.
"What happened in the meeting?" Dumbledore asked.
"We can get to that afterward. First tell me about my son. Is he recovered?" Narcissa wanted to know.
"You'll be happy to know that his scars are almost healed. You will only be able to truly see them in direct sunlight when this is finished. He has grown withdrawn. I believe he has already fixed the cabinet but is reluctant to take the next step." Dumbledore picked up the fire poker and stoked the flames and looked extremely uncomfortable. "Severus has agreed to strike the killing blow when the time comes. However, the question is whether or not Draco will side with us."
"He will if I tell him to." Nacissa gripped the arm of the chair.
Snape raised an eyebrow. "Yes, he might, but when did a teenager ever do what their mother told them? You know he adores and fears Lucius. And the attack on Miss Smith alone should tell us that he's already imbibed more than enough Pureblood propaganda to be dangerous to the Order.
Narcissa's lips turned down into a grimace. "I'll speak to him and try to feel it out. I have no care for muggleborns. I only need for my son to survive this. As the Dark Lord's power grows, Lucius becomes ever more unhinged." Tears stood in her eyes and she looked away in order to compose herself. "Much as I hate to say this, I want Draco away from him. He's likely to be driven mad."
"How can we go about getting the boy to our side?" Snape wondered. He glanced at Narcissa. "You know he positively worships Lucius."
"Yes, but I think things changed for him when we were both struck with the Cruciatus. I think, he worries for me. I'll speak with him tomorrow at the Hogsmeade visit."
"You must put it in a way that does not endanger yourself." Snape told her. "You must be prepared for the fact that Draco may choose to side with his father."
"Don't you think I know that?" Narcissa hissed. "Bellatrix already suspects something."
Dumbledore made a sad sound. "In the end, it must be Draco who chooses. You cannot force these things. He must be absolutely sure of his own conviction. Only make suggestions and appeal to the softer side of his heart. He holds a great deal of affection for you does he not?"
"Of course he does." Narcissa crossed her legs. "I know how to handle my own son. He will come around." She glanced at the two men. "What I want to know, is what kind of protection will you offer us? If we are able to both come to the side if the Order. Surely no one will trust us? What reason have we ever given? It will take us several months I imagine to transition for his side to yours."
"I assure you, we will take every precaution." Dumbledore began.
"What? Assign me subpar wizards as security? Ones that I can easily lose in a crowd?" Narcissa raised an eyebrow. "Yes, I've know about them for months. Now, I've an idea. Let's not beat around the bush. I'm aware of the prophecy and what it contains or at least the half that the Dark Lord knows about. I know that the Potter boy is believed to be the boy who will bring about his downfall. There is another person in this prophecy I assume? One of the same bloodline as Potter?" She looked to Dumbledore's shocked face. "Oh come now. My husband has always been in the inner circle. Grindlewald was most disturbed to hear about it. So disturbed in fact that he attempted to killnHarry Potter." She sniffed. "Obviously that didn't go as planned."
"What do you know Narcissa. Please stop wasting our time." Snape grumbled.
"The Potter boy spends a lot of time with Miss Smith does he not? It's interesting he has his mother's eyes." She glanced at the two men slyly. "While she, has her father's"
Dumbledore gripped his wand with his blackened hand. "How long have you known?"
"That Miss Smith is not a muggleborn foundling? A few years. Or are you speaking to the fact that she's Hector Granger's daughter?" Narcissa smiled and withdrew a scroll from her bag. "You see, the Granger estate borders ours. It shares a sacred circle. As the political divide between the two families grew so did the tensions. It began to break down the magic of the circle. This cannot happen for the sake of both estates." She waved the scroll.
"Is that..." Dumbledore paled.
"A betrothal contract promising to unite the house of Malfoy and Granger the next time the heirs were of a compatible age? It is indeed." Narcissa smiled beatifically. "Now, as Miss Smith is a half blood we owned the right to refuse." Narcissa withdrew a gleaming black box with an ornate crest on its cover. She opened it to reveal a small ring with a deep, smooth red stone that glimmered and swirled in the firelight.
"A bloodstone?" Snape was aghast.
"Yes, they've rather gone out of fashion haven't they?" She touched it gently with one manicured finger. She looked steadily at Dumbledore. "I'd like to hear the rest of the prophecy. I've a feeling what it's about. I've already take the vow of secrecy." Nacissa sat and crossed her legs daintily.
Dumbledore and Snape had a silent battle of wits between them and then Dumbledore sighed and summoned the pensieve and the silver vial containing the memory. Pouring it into the silver surface he invited her to watch.
After watching the memory carefully three time Narcissa stood up and looked to the two men. "And, you think these two children are able to take on the Dark Lord? I've heard the Potter boy is an impulsive sort. Smith is lovely and intelligent, I grant you, but I have seen how he works. He does not love. He uses and he destroys." She swallowed hard at this, her features haunted.
She reached for the box. "This will buy safety for both my son and for Miss Smith." Narcissa told them.
"A bloodstone will bind them for life." Snape was appalled. "Surely you don't want them bound. Draco has already tried to kill her. It would be disastrous."
"We agreed that was an impulsive mistake on his part. As to the bloodstone it need not be for life." Narcissa shrugged her shoulders.
"You think to do a handfast?" Dumbledore mused. "Yes, I see it. Until they mutually decide to part ways with a free heart." He nodded thoughtfully. "This could work."
"Need I remind you both that the union, however temporary would need to be consummated?" Hissed Snape.
"I do no think that will be a problem." Dumbledore twinkled knowingly.
"I'm not going to even begin to think of it. But, if it will keep us safe Draco will do his duty." Narcissa said. She looked revolted at the thought.
"And what if one of them were to fall in love? It would complicate things immensely. Especially if and when one wants to be free of the other." Snape worried.
"Oh I don't think we need worry on Draco's behalf and as for Miss Smith, she cannot stand him." Narcissa sniffed. "Though I will say having her as a daughter in law should we win this war would be advantageous." She acknowledged.
"Oh how times have changed." Snape sounded disgusted. "I'm sure Lucius would be delighted.
Narcissa raised a delicate eyebrow at him. "Lucius lost his say in anything I do the moment my son lay screaming on the floor. I'll never forgive him that. Never! And if that means I welcome the likes of Miss Smith into my family I'll do it in a heartbeat." Her conviction was firm.
Dumbledore rose and went to her extending his hand. "Well done! I always knew there was so much more to you than you let on. We have a deal, dear lady. You are now under the protection of the Order and Draco, if he will bear it."
Narcissa stood with a grim expression and shook his hand. The red stone of the ring glinted in the firelight. Snape looked sorrowfully on, the ghost of his lost love hanging heavy on his shoulders.
...
Draco pulled his cloak closer to him against the bitter cold as he trudged into Hogsmeade. His mother had summoned him and he was less than eager to see her. He thought she was wanting a progress report on the cabinet. In truth, he had repaired it weeks ago but had chosen not to tell anyone. He was aware that his actions would start a war. Once again he damned his fate and cursed his father for his obstinate hatred of muggleborns and political power.
"C'mon then." Theo Nott turned to look back at him. Crabbe and Goyle continued to trudge through the news no to the village. "Get this meeting with your mum over with so you can meet us at the Hogshead for some fire whiskey." He dropped his voice and added. "And don't leave me too long with those two." He indicated Crabbe and Goyle. "It'll make my intelligence level drop." They snickered.
Draco waved his friends off and trudged towards the Three Broomsticks. Madam Rosemerta nodded at him when he entered and indicated the stairs to the private rooms up above the pub. "First room to the left." She told him.
"There you are my love." Narcissa was sitting in front of a crackling fire. Draco bent to kiss her and let the warmth deep into his bones.
"Hello Mother. You look well." He murmured.
She eyed her son critically. "And you, look like hell. Aren't you eating?"
Draco rolled his eyes. "I'd think you'd realize I've other worries at the moment."
Her eyes softened. "I know you do." She reaches out and actresses his cheek. "The scars look better." She noted.
Draco shrugged. "How are you really?" He implored her, the fear naked on his face.
"Oh you know. Bella is growing more obsessed by the day. Roddy would annul the marriage if he could. He's too scared of The Dark Lord to oppose him of course. Your father continues to walk on eggshells and when he fails it's...not pleasant." She finished and let tears slide from her eyes.
"What have they done? Is it the cabinet? I've fixed it. You can tell them and they'll leave you be." Draco pleaded.
Narcissa grasped his hands in hers. "So smart. I knew you would figure it out." She smiled at him through her tears.
"I'll tell them shall I?" Draco asked.
"And then what? You let your father and his cronies in to kill your school mates? Let me ask you, do you want to kill your headmaster?" Narcissa's manner was offhand belying her oppositional words.
Draco drew back as if she had struck him. "Do you realize what you are saying?" His eyes darted wildly about the room.
"That I don't wish for my son to turn into a cold blooded murderer for the sake of a mad man?" Narcissa was perfectly calm. "Close your mouth dear, that look is most unbecoming. No, I do not. The moment he harmed you was the moment I no longer stand for what he does."
"You want muggleborns overrunning our world then?" Draco was appalled.
Narcissa leaned forward. "I want you alive."
"Alive and a coward? Living in fear? Mother be reasonable. We are on the side of the right." Draco nearly shouted.
Sighing Narcissa folded the bell sleeves of her robes back. A criss cross of scars had been sliced into her arms. She pulled up the left sleeve and revealed a bruise in the shape of a hand on the bicep.
Draco's sharp intake of breath sounded through the room. He raised his eyes to his mother's, horrified. "Did father?"
"No, your father tried and failed again with the prophecy. I was punished by Him, while your father stood by and watched, saying nothing." Narcissa said quietly.
"I'll kill him." Draco seethed. "I'll..."
Narcissa flipped her sleeves back and put a soothing hand on his arm. "Nonsense darling, you wouldn't make it past Nagini." She let him take a few steadying breaths. "What if I told you there was a way to take him down while ensuring our family does not drown in shame? What if I told you that you did not have to murder Dumbledore?"
Draco's nausea at the sight of his mother's arms had passed. His thoughts warred with one another. Everything his father had taught him flashed past him. He thought of Smith and he bleeding the same shade of red blood on the class floor. The image of his mother screaming in pain at the end of her own mad sister's wand came to him. He thought of life before the madness. It had been beautiful. Draco realized in that moment that he would do quite a lot to never come face to face with Voldemort again. He met his mother's gaze. "What did you have in mind?" He asked.