Chapter 4 – An Evening Invitation

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and its characters do not belong to me, otherwise there would be a LOT of changes...like, dragons?

Later that night, Hannah was curled up on her bed, reading through Hogwarts, A History, when there was a 'tap' on the window. Curious, she headed over and pulled back the curtains to reveal a very regal-looking eagle owl.

"Hello there! Who are you, then?" she asked, opening the window.

Letting out a soft hoot, the owl flew in to land on the desk, before offering its right leg, complete with attached parchment.

"Oh! Who would be writing to me, I don't know anyone in the Magical world yet, and I highly doubt Professor McGonagall would be writing already," she mused while carefully untying the string.

The difference between this and the Hogwarts Acceptance letter was immediately obvious. The parchment was a heavier, higher quality. Instead of green, the address was written in a dark blue (almost black) ink in a beautiful flowing script.

Turning it over revealed a green wax seal featuring a large letter 'M', flanked by a pair of dragons, and a snake curled up on top. Upon opening, carefully ensuring she didn't break the wax, she found a delicate sheet of parchment, with a floral design running down the sides based on daffodils. At the top of the parchment sat another coloured version of the wax seal. The parchment itself bore the floral scent of daffodils, mixed with a soft rose.

From the Noble House of Malfoy to the Most Esteemed and Most Ancient House of Caerleon, is sent Greetings on this, the 21st day of the Seventh Month, in the year of our Lord, 1991. May this missive find you well.

Greetings, My Lady Caerleon, myself and my husband would invite you to our manor for afternoon tea and negotiations, on the 23rd day of the Seventh Month.

We are, as always, your humble servants and vassals,

Lady Narcissa Malfoy née Black

Hannah blinked.

"Well, that's a surprise, isn't it, Kurama? Can you fetch that 'Who's who' book I got today, please?"

The cute little fox sneezed, before jumping down off the bed and padding over to a pile of books, Hannah not having had the time to properly sort her new belongings yet. Meanwhile, Hannah opened a drawer and lifted out a small, wooden chest with a golden clasp.

"Now, then, let's see," she hummed, perusing the chest's contents. "Yes, Raven's tail-feather quill," before she could start choosing ink, Kurama returned with the requested self-updating book. "Ah, thanks, Kurama! Let's see who the Malfoys are." Accepting the book, she quickly found the right page.

MALFOY, Lord Lucius Abraxas; Head of the Hogwarts Board of Governors, Leader of the Dark Faction, Senior Ministry Barrister; b. 15th December 1954; Lord Abraxas Malfoy and Lady Tosia Malfoy (née Adlord); Graduated Hogwarts with High Honours; House of Affiliation Slytherin; Pure-blood Wizard; m. Narcissa Malfoy (née Black) September 1975.

MALFOY, Lady Narcissa Druella; Current Keeper of the Black Family, Head of the Spell Craft and Injury Ward of St. Mungo's; b. 1st January 1955; Cygnus Black and Druella Black (née Rosier); Graduated Hogwarts; House of Affiliation Slytherin; Pure-blood Witch; m. Lucius Malfoy September 1975.

"Well, now, that was...interesting?" Hannah hummed, returning to the chest and retrieving a suitable roll of parchment.

In virtually no time, a reply was winging it's way across the night skies, carried in the capable claws of Goldie the Golden Eagle (sadly named by a younger Angharad, where the name stuck, and said eagle wouldn't respond to anything else).

The Malfoy family were just sitting down to breakfast, when a regal-looking bird flew in and perched on the back of the chair next to the Lady of the Manor, extending his right leg towards her, almost delicately.

"Cissa, dear, you know this bird?" the Lord of the Manor asked, running a cursory glance over it, before a flustered house-elf hurried in, carrying one of the oak perches from the Mail Room.

"No, I can't say I do know such a lovely avian, however, if I were to guess, I would imagine this is the Lady Caerleon's bird, I did after all invite her for tea tomorrow." She mused, watching the bird completely ignore the offered perch, it's gaze tracking between her and a nearby plate of kippers.

Taking pity on the poor bird, Narcissa lost no time in making it a plateful of kippers once she'd removed the letter.

"Oh, How interesting!" she exclaimed, tilting the letter in the sunlight.

"Cissa? What is it?" Lucius asked.

"Look! The ink isn't black, it's a very dark green!" Narcissa exclaimed in delight. "I must remember to ask where she got her ink from." Narcissa nodded to herself, before turning the parchment over to find a purple wax seal depicting a dragon, holding a pair of crossed swords, set on a shield. "Well, it's definitely from House Caerleon." Narcissa hummed, carefully opening the letter.

From the Most Esteemed and Most Ancient House of Caerleon to the Noble House of Malfoy, on the Eve of the 21st day of the Seventh Month, Greetings.

Lady Malfoy, I would be delighted to join yourself and your husband for afternoon tea on the 23rd. I look forward to making your acquaintance.

Lady Kathryne Caerleon.

The letter was written in the same flowing script as the address, the dark green ink glinting in the sunlight.

"Well, it looks like I need to prepare for tomorrow's tea, and send a reply with our address." Narcissa was already starting her metal checklist, as she sent the house-elf off to fetch her parchment, quill and ink.

By the end of breakfast, the eagle had flown off with the Malfoy's reply.

And so, after lunch on the 23rd of July, one Draconis Lucius Malfoy headed off to spend the afternoon at a friend's, and one Lady Caerleon arrived, precisely at 3 o'clock, for tea. Once pleasantries had been exchanged and tea poured, they settled down for the negotiations.

The negotiations were mostly a formality, as the Goblins had provided the original agreements, however they did need to be read and formally accepted again by both parties.

While this was happening, a small, brown owl carrying a letter made it's way south, heading for Surrey.