Chapter 19: Familias Concilio
"Lucius," his wife put her hand on his arm as he wrote at the parchment. He did not react and continued writing. "please take a break and come and have dinner with us. It is Draco's first day back for Easter break."
"In a moment, Narcissa." He said, scribbling feverishly.
She waited for him by the fireplace. Lucius had always been a handsome man. He was tall and had gray-blue eyes like his son. His silver-blonde hair was tied back with a black velvet ribbon. She remembered when they had been at Hogwarts, he had given her her first kiss on the night of the Yule Ball in their sixth year. He had looked much the same then, the best looking boy in the whole school, much as Draco was now. He had been full of passion, of ideas and yet, conflict. I fell in love with you she thought. You did make me happy for some years. Even though things have changed and I do not understand you anymore. Come back to me.
She watched sadly as he sealed the envelope with the black wax seal with the skull design. It was to the other Death Eaters. Her husband put everything away and stood up.
"Come," he said, walking out of the room. At the door, he stopped and waited for her to catch up. He hesitated, then offered her his arm.
At the dinner table, two pieces of parchment were waiting for Lucius by his plate. One was Draco's school report. The other was an official sealed letter from Hogwarts.
"I am pleased to see that you are top of the class for once, Draco" said his father, reading Malfoy's report. "I see the Mudblood girl is second."
"Yes father." Draco replied, knowing that Hermione had only dropped behind because she had been in the hospital wing so much and had morning sickness from her pregnancy.
"This bodes well, you are coming into your own."
Narcissa smiled at her son.
"I see you have done particularly well in Potions."
"It is my passion, father. And the letter by your plates confirms it."
"Oh?" said Lucius, tearing the second letter open. He scanned it quickly. "Well, well." he handed the parchment to his wife who read it and raised her eyebrows. "Assistant Potions Master, eh?" said Lucius eyeing his son.
"Oh Lucius, I think it is a wonderful opportunity for Draco. And the pay is much higher than what he would get at the Ministry." Said Narcissa, looking hopefully at her husband.
Lucius turned to his son, "I take it this is not the first you have heard of this matter?"
"No, father." Said Draco, "Professor Snape spoke to me just before the Easter holidays. He said that Hogwarts would be in need of an Assistant Potions Master in the near future as he expected to be away from Hogwarts for some of the time during the school terms."
Lucius looked hard at his son, "And do you know the reason for his absences?"
Draco met his father's eyes steadily, "He told me he would be here at Malfoy Manor assisting you, in some…ministry research."
"That is correct," said Lucius, taking the letter back from his wife and reading it again. "It does not say here the length of your appointment. That is just as well as I can only allow you to be there for one year. They want you for the summer holidays as well- Snape says you need to do some teaching preparation before the next term. Hmm.." a glint appeared in his father's eyes, "in fact that may be very useful to have you at Hogwarts. Snape may have an idea there.…In any event, you have my permission to take up your duties at Hogwarts for one year. After that, I require your presence back at Malfoy manor."
"What for, father?"
Lucius put down the letter and looked up at his son.
"You know very well, Draco. Time is running out."
Narcissa just managed not to throw up her dinner; a cold knot of fear had formed in her stomach.
After dinner, Lucius said that he wished to meet Draco in his study in the dungeons the next morning. He would be going out shortly and would not have time to speak to Draco that day so he left Draco alone.
When Lucius finally apparated to the Ministry to continue his day-job, Draco finally found the moment he had been waiting for…time alone with his mother for a private chat. There was something he needed to talk to her about. He made his way to the sitting room where his mother was seated in front of the fire, a book open in her lap. Her eyes were not on the page of the book but focused on the fire place, with a sad look in them.
"Mother, dearest" he sat down gently beside her and took the book from her unprotesting fingers. Narcissa turned tear filled blue eyes to her son.
"Draco, oh my son- he has not forgotten. After all these years…I thought it would pass, but he remembers still."
Malfoy nodded. "I think we all remember mother. This is from Professor Snape" he handed her a letter. "Burn it after you read it." Narcissa quickly tore open the envelope and read the letter.
"Severus Snape," she murmured and smiled "you never change." She held the letter a moment longer before she threw it into the fireplace where it soon turned to ashes.
"What did he tell you mother?"
"That he and Dumbledore have not forgotten me. That they have told you of the details of the Malfoy prophesy. That they believe now, more than ever before – since Lucius has gotten hold of pure cinnabar- that the prophesy is in action. And that they are working to stop it… and I am not to give up hope."
"Have you given up hope, mother?" asked Draco, looking into his mother's eyes.
The once lively blue eyes looked tired. "I must not Draco. For your sake and Lucius'- I must not. Though I am close to it."
Draco nodded.
"Oh yes, and Severus says that you have good news for me. What is it?"
Draco smiled. I wish you were here my beautiful, brave, Hermione. Mother would love you too. "Mother, I found a girl- a woman- that I love. I'm in love with her."
"Draco! That's wonderful! It's about time- who could resist my handsome Draco anyway?"
"Mother."
"All right all right, who is this lucky lady?"
Draco smiled as he thought about her, her brown eyes and beautiful smile. He felt a warmth rush through him as she said her name, "It's Hermione Granger, mother. The Gryffindor Head Girl."
Narcissa's eyes opened wide in amazement, "B-but, I thought you hated her Draco!"
"Father hated her, mother. I was jealous of her grades and happiness, but I never actually *hated* her. I hardly knew her before this year."
Narcissa looked shrewdly at her son. His eyes still had that warm, dreamy look. He really meant it. She felt a thrill go through her- her son's first love! He was truly no longer a boy.
"Congratulations, Draco." She said, kissing her son on the cheek. "I will support your decision. I'm sure Miss Granger must be quite a remarkable woman, after all, your father never fails to point out how clever she is every single year."
Draco laughed. "Now, there's one more thing mother. Normally, the school would have told you but because she's a mudblood and you know how Lucius' is, they thought that my parents should not be informed at once. In fact, I was told by Dumbledore and Snape to only impart this information to you. And you must *promise* me you will not tell my father."
Narcissa nodded. "Of course I promise, what is it?"
"You will be a grandmother in September."
Narcissa's mind took a couple of seconds to take in the meaning of Draco's statement. Oh my goodness, she thought. Is that really what Draco was telling her? He was going to be father? Oh, but he surely was entitled to a chance at a happy family! Perhaps this was the start of it! Even if only for such a short time! True happiness, Narcissa knew, was worth it no matter how short a time it lasted.
"Draco…you have been a very bad boy." Said Narcissa sternly. Draco began to blush and looked subdued. "How dare you make me grandmother at such a young age! I shall have to throw away all my nice dresses and start buying knitted shawls!"
Draco looked at his mother and saw that she was smiling.
"Is it a boy or a girl?"
"A boy."
Narcissa drew in her breath. "A grandson. Me a grandmother! I never thought I would see the day!"
"Neither did I" said Draco hugging his mother.
"Well, we must certainly not give up hope now." Said Narcissa. Her voice filled with determination suddenly.
"No…there are a few more things I must tell you before father's return. I want to know more about what Lucius has been doing here at the manor. And I have a lot to tell you about the real reason for the Assistant Potions Master position and what is going to happen to my son…"
Narcissa glanced at the clock. "Take your time Draco" she said "And leave nothing out…I want to hear all this very carefully."
**************************************
"Hermione!" her mother ran towards her on Platform 9 ¾., followed closely by her father. Katherine Granger was a sensibly dressed woman in a cotton dress and pretty shoes. She wore her hair in a twist held back with a pin. Guy Granger was a slightly plump man in a smartly cut grey suit, his hair whitening above the ears.
"Mum! Dad!"
Mother and daughter ran into each other's arms. Her father gave his daughter a quick kiss and picked up her hand luggage.
"Oh darling, I was so worried about you after I received that owl. Oh, but you look wonderful! You're glowing!"
Hermione laughed. "I *feel* wonderful, mum. Don't worry."
As they led her to their car, her mother didn't seem to want to let her daughter go even for a moment. Their arms were firmly linked. Her only child, her only daughter- going to be a mother!
"Daddy and I were shocked when we heard of course, but your headmaster is such a wise man, and he had such good things to say about the whole thing that we soon calmed down. I hear that this young Mr Malfoy is a most admirable young man. Oh darling, there is so much to talk about!"
"Oh he's lovely, mum. You'll love him- and I know he'll look after me. Harry and Ron really like him too. Do you know, he took me to the Yule Ball …"
The two women chatted all the way home in the car and Mr Granger could hardly get a word in. In the end, he gave up and just listened to the chatter of the "Granger Girls" as he called them with a bemused smile on his face.
He had been worried and upset when he first heard the news, but each time he wanted to panic he thought of the final words of Dumbledore's letter to them: ...a brave and sensible girl, willing to shoulder the responsibility and yet not blind to the difficulties of the future. I assure you, the young man Mr Malfoy, loves her deeply but circumstances which will be explained to you by your daughter, and which I fully sympathize with, prevent their being immediately wed or from being with her child in its earliest infancy. With the wisdom of my years, I foresee that your daughter and her child may have an important part to play in ensuring the continued survival of her magical world, and perhaps, your world as well. I will not elaborate further at present, please listen to what Miss Granger has to say and should you wish to contact me, Miss Granger will assist.
It was at dinner that night that that Hermione explained the situation to her parents. The Grangers, solid, sensible people, were not entirely able to comprehend or believe everything she told them- but they grasped the basics of the situation: that unfortunately, Draco's father Lucius Malfoy was working for the revival of an evil wizard and was a ruthless, cruel man. And, that should he learn of the relationship between his son and their daughter, her life and the child's would be in great danger. That was enough for them to be willing to co-operate fully in the plans of Dumbledore, for whom they had developed enormous respect throughout the years.
That evening, her mother knocked on her door and entered her room. Mrs Granger was a little red-eyed but smiling.
"Mum! What's wrong?" asked Hermione in concern as her mother sat on the bed next to her.
"Oh nothing, I'm just being so silly" said her mother. "You're my only child, my dearest little girl and you have to go through so much."
Hermione put her arm around her mother. "Don't be scared, mum. I really need you and dad to be strong for me."
Katherine Granger nodded. She took out a opened box and put it on her daughter's bed. "A few of your baby things" she said. "I threw away almost all but I saved these all these years for when you would have a child."
Hermione looked in wonder at the small assortment of things – there were two tiny pairs of knitted booties, a tiny silver bracelet, a small rather tatty looking toy turtle, and a beautiful white baby's gown covered in lots of crochet lace. She held it up in wonder. "I used to be so tiny!" she said.
Katherine laughed, "Yes, that was your christening gown. But you were a big baby you know, about 9 pounds."
"Oh mum!" Hermione felt all choked up.
Katerine patted her hand. "I wanted you to give these to the baby before he's fostered out. These are for use in his earliest months and it's always been a fancy of mine that my grandchildren should use them. Just because he will be with another family doesn't change anything."
This time Hermione really did start to cry.
"I don't want to give him up mum. I dream about him in my arms already- nearly every night."
"I know darling." Said her mother, trying not to cry for her daughter's sake "But hopefully it will only be for a very short while. Dumbledore mentioned only two years in his letter, and I'm sure he will go to a very loving family where he will be safe."
The two women sat side by side for a while.
Hermione pulled the photo frame to her from her nightstand. "This is Draco Malfoy, mum."
It was a picture taken for her by Harry when the three of them, and Ginny had gone for a walk one day. Draco and Hermione were sitting on a rock by the great lake and he had put his arms around her. Her brown hair was being tossed about by a very strong wind but his blonde hair was perfectly slicked back as usual. His eyes were the same steel blue as the lake. Even through his thick robes, you could tell he was well-built. Hermione was smiling and Draco was smoothing down her hair with one of his hands, the other arm was round her waist. He was whispering something into her ear.
Hermione felt a rush when she remembered what it was.
"Oh my goodness, well he's a looker for sure!" said her mother peering at the picture. Her mother was used to wizard photos by now and showed no surprise at the slight movement in the picture. "You two look wonderful together."
Hermione nodded happily. She tugged at the Dragon under her sweater and felt it move again. She had already shown her parents the wonderful diamond pendant.
Hermione put the picture carefully back on her nightstand and saw her photo-self blush as photo-Draco kissed her ear gently.
"Have you thought what you are going to be doing in those two years? Draco will be Assistant Potions Master at Hogwarts, you told me, and helping Dumbledore defeat that evil wizard, but what about you darling? Are you going to college?"
"Dumbledore seemed to think it best for me to lead a very low-profile sort of existence out of the wizarding world. I was going to do a course in Mediwizardry at St Mungo's Magical Hospital but I think that right now, I will train as a nurse at that community hospital near our home. At least then I won't forget the basics of healing."
"But darling, you could be a doctor, get a degree in Medicine!"
"I don't have the qualifications mother" said Hermione, patting her mother's hand, "I doubt Oxford would take me in based on my OWLS and NEWTS"
Her mother laughed. "I suppose so."
Hermione closed the box of baby things and put them away in her cupboard. "I'll be here in the summer mum. But I have to go back to Hogwarts to have my baby so that Dumbledore can put his plan into action."
"I know," said Mrs Granger. "Is there anything you would like us to get you for the summer when you come back?"
Hermione thought for a moment and smiled, "Lots of wool and knitting needles."
