Chapter Fourteen: Responsibilities
The next morning at breakfast, Mr. Malfoy scowled into his goblet, which Edana suspected his contained something stronger than the orange juice she and Draco were served. She focused on her plate and pretended to be still somewhat sleepy in order to avoid attracting attention. This turned out to be surprisingly simple, with Mr. Malfoy in irritable as a bear with a thorn in its paw, no one made any real stab at small talk.
Edana had good reason to fear Mr. Malfoy. Days earlier she eavesdropped on Mr. Malfoy as he conversed with a cloaked figure about a Death Eater attack. The Death Eaters planned to kidnap and interrogate Auror Frank Longbottom, then place a memory charm on him afterwards to conceal their questioning without alerting the Ministry to their continued activity. Usually an Auror would be suspicious if they lost track of time, but by scheduling the attack for late at night Longbottom would likely to attribute his dizziness, lack of memory, and disorientation to a bad night's sleep, a common occurrence in his profession.
To prevent this, Edana sent warnings off to Longbottom and Professor Dumbledore, carefully composed so that they could not be traced back to her. Lucius Malfoy had been able to evade even the flimsiest of criminal charges stemming from his involvement in the Dark Arts and Edana did not doubt that he could wiggle out of a murder indictment just as easily.
She chanced a look at Mr. Malfoy and for the first time wondered if she had done the right thing after all. If he discovered what she had done, he would kill her himself. Then he would dispose of her body and dutifully report her missing to the authorities.
Of course, that would create problems for Mr. Malfoy. From the overheard conversation, Edana learned that he wanted something that was stored in her family Gringott's vault. As Edana was not yet of age, she was bound by her mother's will which prevented anyone from accessing the vault. Mr. Malfoy had no choice but to wait. An inconvenience, but one that would eventually pass.
If Edana died , however, her Gringotts vault would be sealed pending the designation of an heir. Since she was not yet of age and could not dictate a will, inheritance would be decided by the courts, and it had never taken less than seven years to settle an inheritance matter.
Of course, Mr. Malfoy was capable of waiting until she came of age, forcing her to write a will leaving him everything, and then killing her.
"Lucius, dear, are you all right?" Narcissa ventured without a hint of anxiety smudging her collected demeanor. Edana was grateful for the distraction as her thoughts became more and more morbid.
"I'm tired, Narcissa." Lucius grumbled into his goblet. "A business venture went awry and I was up half the night tending to complications."
"What kind of 'business venture', father?" Draco asked eagerly.
The pale wizard froze, when he spoke a moment later his words were measured. "I was hoping to purchase the controlling share in the Daily Prophet, but the share holder decided at the last minute not to sell."
"Oh," Draco said, dropping the matter and returning to his breakfast. Mr. Malfoy's answer either satisfied his curiosity or the boy knew his father well enough to know not to inquire further.
* * *
After breakfast, Edana was forced to join Draco and his tutor in the library. Thankfully she was able to effect a swift retreat to her room with a promise to read the book Mrs. Pembergast assigned cover to cover by the next morning. She had neglected to inform the older witch that she had already read The Withering Spoon before Hogwarts at her mother's insistence. She remembered enough of the plot to prove she had indeed completed her assignment without having to open the book. The Withering Spoon was a depressing moral tale about a witch who falls in love with a Muggle-born wizard, but ultimately rejects him to marry the pureblood her family wants her to wed.
She always hated the book, though her mother and most witches in her age bracket raved about it.
To Edana, the flobberworm spined heroine of the tale, Lissette, had about as much sense as a pixie and her two suitors were not any better. Henry, the Muggle-born, had each and every line of his dialog written in an almost comical interpretation of a working class Muggle accent. Reading those sections gave Edana a headache. Preston, Lissette's eventual husband, who was supposed to be an example of fine breeding came across as a stuffier male version of Lissette. All the characters save Henry used flowery language best left to melodramatic Victorian bodice rippers, even though the book was supposed to be set in the modern era.
Edana placed the book on her night table, instead perusing through a book she received by owl order but had not yet had time to examine: Charms and Curses of the Ancient World by Heroditus Mumbly. She found herself fascinated by the variety of charms the ancient Egyptians used on mummies and temples. They were so complex.
Despite the fact that she slept through each and every one of Professor Binns' lectures on the subject, Edana enjoyed history, though she was drawn more to the ancient rather than the modern. Her interest had proved the salvation of her History of Magic grade.
* * *
After dinner, which was just her and Draco as Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy were attending a charity ball in London, Edana returned to her reading. She was engrossed in the middle of a section on charms used to keep sand out of temple carvings when she rested her eyes for what seemed just a moment. The next thing she knew, she was being shaken awake by a Malfoy family house elf and the colors of sunrise streamed through her window.
This particular elf was a rather pitiful specimen to her eye. The Rosier family elves always dressed in clean pillowcases with a floral pattern, the Malfoy elf wore a dirty and stained tea towel draped around this bony form toga fashion. Edana was amazed Mrs. Malfoy permitted the creature in her house.
"Mistress Malfoy wants you downstairs," the elf warbled at her.
"Why?" Edana demanded as she stretched and yawned. She wanted to roll over, curl up with her sleepy cat on the bed, and go back to sleep.
"You has a visitor. Missus Malfoy wishes you dress." The elf said, then vanished to give her privacy.
Surprised at the news, Edana hauled herself up and hurried to dress. She could not imagine who would come to see her here without giving her ample warning.
Edana was not as concerned about her looks as most witches her age, but she liked her appearance to be neat and tidy. There was not time for a shower - and she was forbidden to use magic over the summer - so she had to make do. She shucked the clothes she had slept in, pulled on fresh blue robes, splashed a little water on her face, and ran an brush through her sleep tousled hair. Then she checked her reflection.
"Not too bad, dear, for such short notice," her mirror announced after a moment. "Not suitable for a society ball, but your are presentable."
"Thanks," Edana muttered. She returned to her bed to kiss Shadow between his ears. The cat was quite asleep and did not stir. His mistress envied him at that moment.
* * *
The elf - whose name Edana could never recall - was waiting for her outside her room. She was grateful to him, without assistance she would never be able to locate the entrance hall. Malfoy Manor was designed to confound visitors and prevent thieves from reaching the family's inner sanctums, which it did all too well as far as Edana was concerned, she still counted herself lucky to arrive at meals without having to retrace her steps.
In the entrance hall, Mr. Malfoy stood by a suit of armor in slightly rumpled black robes with an expression of utmost annoyance peeking through his veneer of cultured civility. Next to him was Mrs. Malfoy in a far less ornate ensemble than Edana was accustomed to seeing her in. This was the first time Edana had ever seen her without shoes that exactly matched her robes and her wedding ring the only jewelry visible on her person..
And opposite the Malfoys in both the room and philosophy was Albus Dumbledore.
Edana halted in mid step at the sight of the elderly wizard. Of all the possible early morning visitors to Malfoy Manor, Professor Dumbledore was the last one she would ever expect to see.
"Good morning Miss Rosier," Dumbledore beamed. Unlike the Malfoys, Dumbledore was dresssed exactly as she had last seen him from his combed beard and sparking eyes to the boots on his feet.
You can tell he's a Gryffindor, Edana thought irritably. No true Slytherin could ever be a morning person.
It was a challenge not to yawn. "Good morning Professor."
"I was just telling Mrs. Malfoy the most interesting joke I heard the other day about three witches from Madrid, but I suppose it is not really suitable for young ears." At this Dumbledore's gaze flicked up to the second floor balcony where Draco Malfoy was watching the proceedings with great interest. As the headmaster's focus returned to Edana, the sparkle in his eyes dimmed and his manner became more somber. "I need to speak to you - alone - on a matter pertaining to your mother's death."
"The east drawing room would be suitable," Mrs. Malfoy offered.
Edana suspected the east drawing room contained a covert method of eavesdropping and made a note to herself to be more careful of her activities within the Manor.
"I will have to decline your generous offer Narcissa," Dumbledore said in his kind but firm tone. "There is something for Miss Rosier that I left behind at Hogwarts. If you would be so kind as to direct me towards your fireplace, I will return your ward after our conversation."
The Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy were less than happy at that suggestion, but eventually agreed to show Dumbledore to a fireplace and allow him to take Edana with him.
* * *
Edana had never had cause to visit the headmaster's office before. She was hardly a discipline problem and in her entire Hogwarts career only received a handful of detentions. The room with its silver contraptions and sleepy portraits reminded her very much of Dumbledore, so much so that she felt confident that had she been shown the room and asked to guess to whom it belonged she would have immediately named Dumbledore.
"Please, take a seat," Dumbledore insisted, gesturing to a small silver chair in front of his desk. The cushions of the chair were green velvet and very comfortable. When Edana was seated, the older wizard settled into his desk chair.
"What do you want to talk to me about?" Edana asked, trying her best to appear unruffled.
Dumbledore smiled, amused. "Every Slytherin student who has ever occupied that chair has asked a version of that very question. Quite telling of the nature of the house."
"Every Slytherin student?"
"Each and every one." The headmaster confirmed as he reached into his robes and handed her a letter. "Still, there is something to be said for cutting right to the meat of a matter."
Edana recognized it straight away as the very letter she owled to him about the attack on the Longbottoms. She managed not to allow her nervousness show through. "It is not addressed to me." Edana noted carefully. She turned the letter over and opened it to read its contents as though she really had never seen it before.
"You sent it," Dumbledore said blandly, waving away her protests to the contrary before she could utter a sound. "Don't bother to deny it. An off duty Auror was behind you in line at the owl office. He was among those who had been assigned to watch your family after your brother's death and recognized you. He wondered why you would write to me and Mr. Longbottom, we are not among your usual correspondents. He contacted me over the fire even before your owl left London."
"Oh," said Edana. Her cheeks burned and she felt very foolish. She thought no one could connect the letters to her. She wondered who else would be able to duplicate that feat. For the second time in as many days the idea that Mr. Malfoy might find out fluttered through her mind, causing her entire body to grow cold.
"You need not be concerned about anyone else discovering your warning," Dumbledore told her, guessing the direction of her thoughts. "The only ones who know are the Auror and myself."
"You will pardon me if I remain a touch concerned," Edana replied tartly. "Three can keep a secret if two are dead."
"Three can also keep a secret if they seldom encounter each other." Dumbledore countered. "Undisturbed locks seldom weaken, it is only when there is much tugging and pulling that they break allowing secrets to spill out and roll around like loose marbles."
Edana sniffed, still not convinced but at the moment she had no choice but to trust Dumbledore. She could hardly use a memory charm on him. "I assume you want to know where I got my information."
"I did not summon you here to interrogate you as to the identity of your source, though I am confident I already know. I called you here to inform you of two thing. First, the outcome of events."
"The Longbottoms were attacked, but survived," Edana replied. "I read about it in the Daily Prophet."
"They are indeed alive, but not all the information has been made available to the Prophet. Mr. Longbottom shored up the wards on his house, but the Death Eaters detected this and altered their plan. They abducted him when he went to meet with an informant. The informant was acting under the Imperius curse when she sent him an owl requesting an emergency meeting. With Mr. Longbottom in their possession, the Death Eaters were able to cross the wards and enter his home." Dumbledore's voice grew weary, not from simple physical tiredness, but of having to witness the suffering of others. "They tortured him in front of his wife, then threatened to place the Cruciatus curse on his wife if he did not give them the information they sought. He did not yield."
"He is all right, isn't he?" The words tumbled out of her mouth before she could think about them. It was really a stupid question, one she thought more worthy of Lissette Stulte of The Withering Spoon than Edana Rosier of Slytherin.
Dumbledore shook his head sadly. "The Longbottoms are at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies. They are insane."
Edana gasped in horror. The human body could not withstand the Cruciatus curse forever; sooner or later the victim's mind would retreat from the horror of the situation. No one knew for certain how long it took to drive someone insane that way, there had been rumors that Voldemort knew after having experimented on captured Aurors and Ministry officials.
"Is there any hope?" Sometimes, but not very often, a person driven insane could be restored to a degree of sanity. They would never be quite as stable, but they could function in society.
"It is too soon to be certain, but from what I have heard the prognosis is not good."
Edana slumped into her chair. "I should not have interfered."
Dumbledore looked at her sharply. "You warned the Longbottoms. They sent their son to stay with relatives because of your warning. And I will tell you this - though you cannot repeat it - the Ministry was aware that the Death Eaters planned such a strike on an Auror though they were not certain which. Frank would not have been caught unawares as his enemies had hoped, but without your warning, his son might be now with his parents at St. Mungo's."
Edana digested this. It eased a little of her guilt but by no means all.
"Some would call you a hero."
Edana shuddered. "I don't wish to be a hero. They all die alone and miserable."
"As do many who are not heroes. The difference is that the passing of a hero is noted."
"Yes, but I plan to die of old age with by loads of cats and grandchildren to spoil."
Dumbledore chuckled. "I hope you attain your goal, Miss Rosier."
"What was the second thing you wanted to tell me?"
For the second time in less than an hour, Dumbledore reached across his desk to hand her a letter. This one was a Hogwarts letter, though rather lumpier than she was used to receiving. Edana broke the seal and found a shiny silver prefect's badge nestled within the envelope along with her book list.
"I'm a prefect?" Edana whispered. She looked up at the headmaster. "Why?"
The old wizard shrugged. "The Sorting Hat chooses prefects as well as Head Boy and Head Girl. I have never had cause to question it's choices."
"I can't believe it," Edana said staring at the badge as though she thought it made by leprechauns.
"Why not? Your marks are excellent, you work hard at Quidditch and none would ever describe you as a discipline problem. You are a credit to Slytherin, the sort of student who should lead your house."
"I'm not exactly the kind of person other Slytherins look up to," Edana pointed out, unable to keep all the bitterness out of her voice.
"You have never been in a leadership position before. I think you will surprise yourself."
Edana was still doubtful.
"I think it best if you returned to Malfoy Manor. If your guardians ask, we discussed your mother and your new position."
Edana started to leave, but stopped after half a step. "Why did you tell me about the Longbottoms?"
Dumbledore sighed. "You are in a position to hear many things...and you deserved to know."
"I assume you want me to owl you if I stumble upon anything else."
"I hope you will."
A strange recklessness filled Edana. She was tired of being tossed about like a Quaffle by events and having to search long for crumbs of truth. "I'll be taking a big risk and I want something in return. I want - no, need - to know something. It's about something called 'The Binding'. What is it and how does it apply to me?"
Dumbledore pierced her with his searching eyes, then nodded. "Fair enough, I will tell you all I know and some that I have guessed."
Edana returned to the chair.
Dumbledore looked out the window at the horizon as he began to speak. "Your year is rather unbalanced, is it not?"
Edana had to agree. There were only two Slytherin boys in her year, and in addition to lower numbers there a higher percentage of Muggle-born students than usual. At one time in her life that bothered her, but Edana prided herself on espousing only logical causes and beliefs. She arrived at Hogwarts having only known pure-bloods, accepting of the myth of superiority, but in her time at the school she met talented Muggle-borns like Illiana's friend Sabrina. By the time she met Sabrina, she had known ostracism and was willing to revise her opinions of someone who was kind to her without an ulterior motive.
"The Binding is part responsible for that. Two who might have worn the green and silver of Slytherin are dead." The ancient wizard sighed like a leaf rattling on a tree branch. "Any unnatural end is a tragedy, but when the victim is an infant the sorrow is magnified. An infant is without defense, they cannot object to what is done to them. That is the responsibility of the parents, but the parents of those unfortunate children sacrificed them to their ambition and blindness. It was your father who objected, and that was why he was murdered."
* * *
Next Chapter: Edana learns what really happened to her father and the details of the Binding. She is also given advice by Professor Snape, and determines the direction of her future career.
* * *
Chapter Thirteen Reviewers:
The Face of Evil: What do you think about this chapter and the answers on the Longbottoms? I had a horrible time with it because it stitches a bunch of stuff together. Had to scrap my outline and early drafts four times. Its still not my favorite chapter, but like SW episode 1 it is needed for the next part.
Iniga: Flattery will get you somewhere. I hate characters who are always on the ball, so Edana is not always going to figure things out right away. She could also do with some serious therapy and help on her peer relation skills.
googoo4you: Lucius is, isn't he. As for Narcissa, think iron hand in an embroidered silk glove. I'm hoping to fit a Quidditch game between Edana and Draco in the next few chapters.