Second Destiny
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
LORD LUCIUS MALFOY DEAD!
MALFOY HOUSE NOW LED BY LADY POTTER!
By Rita Skeeter
Lucius Scorpius Malfoy, Lord of the House of Malfoy, has died by magical judgment, according to a statement from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
John Dawlish, the head investigating Auror assigned to this case, issued a statement to the Daily Prophet, which is reprinted in full here:
"At 1500 on the 23rd of December, one-thousand, nine-hundred and ninety-one, magic-detecting runes at DMLE Headquarters at Diagon Alley, London, detected a massive surge of energy at or in the vicinity of Malfoy Manor in Wilshire. As is standard DMLE operating procedure where a possible breach of the International Statute of Secrecy is present, Director Amelia Bones ordered a party of Aurors to conduct a full investigation. I was assigned to lead said party.
Upon arrival at Malfoy Manor, we observed the body of Lucius Scorpius Malfoy, 38, which bore no physical marks or other indications of what had happened to him. Madam Narcissa Black, Widow Malfoy, testified that her husband had died when Lady Hermione Potter-Dagworth-Granger-Ravenclaw-Malfoy, Heiress Malfoy, declared a No-Confidence Oath against Lord Malfoy and called upon the will of Lady Magic to determine who was worthy to lead House Malfoy and to punish the unworthy one as Magic saw fit.
Upon pensieve observation of the memories of the declared oath and its execution as provided by Lady Potter's husband, we determined that the oath was declared legally and under the traditions set forward almost a thousand years ago by the original founders of the Wizengamot. As such, Lady Potter-Dagworth-Granger-Ravenclaw-Malfoy's right to lead House Malfoy will not be challenged, no charges will be filed, and the matter has been declared closed."
Lady Malfoy has stated that she will be declaring a proxy to sit on the Malfoy seat in the Wizengamot at its next meeting, which will be held on 10 January.
10 January 1992
Chambers of the Wizengamot
Harry and Remus sat in the Potter box while Hermione sat with Narcissa in the Malfoy box. Dumbledore called the meeting to order and asked for new business. Hermione raised her wand. "The Wizengamot recognizes Lady Hermione, Head of the House of Malfoy," Dumbledore said.
Hermione rose to her feet and curtsied toward the Chief Warlock's box. "Thank you, Chief Warlock," Hermione said. "Members of the Wizengamot, I am sure you are aware of the circumstances behind my assumption of the Ladyship of House Malfoy. I swore at that time—and I swear to you all now—that I will lead this house with honor and humility."
"However," Hermione continued, "as I am—like my husband—a first-year student at Hogwarts School, I must hand the seat of House Malfoy over to a proxy until such time as I am old enough to sit on it full-time. I therefore turn the seat over to Narcissa Black, Widow Malfoy. Madam Black has an intimate understanding of House Malfoy's financial and business dealings and has vowed to me that she would use that knowledge to assist me in running the House until my majority. So Mote it Be."
The tip of Hermione's wand glowed, signifying Magic's acceptance of Hermione's selection. "Thank you for your statement, Lady Malfoy," Dumbledore said. "We welcome Proxy Black to this chamber and wish her many years of service in the name of the House of Malfoy and this chamber. Lady Malfoy, Lord Potter, you are free to leave this chamber. I look forward to seeing you back at Hogwarts tomorrow."
Harry and Hermione rose to their feet. Harry bowed to the Chief Warlock's box, while Hermione curtsied. Then, they left the chamber.
Later that day, in their quarters at Hogwarts, Harry and Hermione were eating dinner provided by Potter elves when Hedwig swooped through the window and landed on a table next to where Harry and Hermione were sitting. Harry noticed that Hedwig held an envelope from Gringotts in the satchel she held.
Harry reached for the letter, but Hedwig pecked at his hand. "Ouch," Harry said. "The letter must be for Hermione, then."
Hedwig shot Harry a "Ya Think?!" expression, then hopped over to Hermione. Hermione reached into the satchel and withdrew a letter in a Gringotts envelope. Hermione opened the letter. "Harry, listen to this," Hermione said before beginning to read the letter.
Lady Malfoy-
The locator spell Goldcrown created from the Horcrux in Lord Potter's scar has detected another Horcrux in Malfoy Manor. As Lady of House Malfoy, we require your permission to access the premises. Please contact us as soon as possible.
Steelfang
Account Manager for the House of Malfoy
"We need to go see Professor Dumbledore," Harry said. Harry and Hermione left their quarters and went to the door to Dumbledore's office. "Sugar Quills," Harry said. The stone gargoyles parted, allowing Harry and Hermione to enter Dumbledore's office.
"Professor, we know where one of Voldemort's Horcruxes is," Hermione said, handing Dumbledore the letter from Steelfang. Dumbledore read the letter, then stood and threw a handful of floo powder into the fireplace. "Gringotts Bank, Office of Steelfang, Account Manager for the House of Malfoy," Dumbledore said.
Dumbledore then gestured for Hermione to stick her head into the green fire. On the other side of the fire, Hermione smiled at Steelfang. "Master Goblin Steelfang, I am sorry to bother you this late in the evening, but I would like you to come to Hogwarts as soon as possible to discuss your letter regarding the Horcrux you discovered on House Malfoy property," Hermione said.
"I will be there momentarily," Steelfang said. "We'll keep the floo open for you," Hermione said before pulling herself back into Dumbledore's office.
A few moments later, Steelfang walked through the fire, which extinguished behind him. "Professor, this is Steelfang, Gringotts' account manager for House Malfoy," Hermione said.
"I'll get right to the point of why Lady Malfoy has asked me here, Headmaster," Steelfang said. "Some time ago, utilizing means we cannot share with non-Goblins, we were able to extract a soul-shard...or Horcrux, as Lord Potter referred to it...from his scar. Lord Potter then suggest the creation of a locator spell by which other Horcruxes could be found."
"That was how we discovered Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem, which had been turned into a Horcrux by You-Know-Who," Hermione said. "Ah," Dumbledore said.
"By using that spell, we were able to track a soul-shard to Malfoy Manor," Steelfang said. "I am here to arrange for a team to access Malfoy Manor in order to retrieve and destroy the soul-shard."
"You can handle things tomorrow, for safety's sake." Dumbledore said.
"Agreed," Hermione said.
"Then I will return here tomorrow to retrieve Lord and Lady Potter," Steelfang said.
"Very well," Dumbledore said. "May the blood of your enemies become the gold in your coffers."
Steelfang nodded, then took some floo powder and threw it into the fireplace. "I will see you tomorrow morning," he said before stepping into the fire before it faded.
::TBC::