Chapter Eleven
"for charity shall cover the multitude of sins."
1 Peter 4:8
Hermione knew it was none of her business really but she felt she had to write to Luna and tell her a bit about Draco's history and what had been happening in his life recently. Luna had been in France during Voldemort's reign of terror and although his network had spread to France at the time of Harry's parent's death, it was obviously well before Luna was born. The most recent campaign of the Death Eaters had been contained to Britain and Luna would have little knowledge of it and the Malfoy family connection.
Hermione knew she was interfering but she had a funny feeling about Luna. She suspected that the girl could be good for Draco in a way none of his previous girlfriends could have been. She was his equal in family background, wealth, attractiveness and brains. It was rare for Draco to encounter someone like that. It would be a pity for their relationship to end before it began simply because Draco was struggling to get over a series of profound shocks that Luna knew nothing about.
Hermione had a bad feeling that if she didn't write this letter, Draco would be nursing his wounds from the previous day at Azkaban and would not be able to put a good face on to fool Luna anytime soon. He would avoid her and she would not understand. Hermione also suspected that Draco did not have the inner strength after all his recent emotional bashing to tell Luna himself what had been happening to him. He would let Luna go as a result and probably regret it for a long time.
Hermione hesitated for a moment but then pulled a quill and parchment towards her and began to write.
* * *
Luna read Hermione's very long letter that evening after lectures had finished. The story it contained sounded almost unbelievable, like something out of a novel. She knew about Voldemort and the Death Eaters although English news had been of minor importance amongst the French wizarding community. Her parents had often discussed it as they were up to date with English news in their role as diplomats. However, it had not touched greatly on Luna's life as a French schoolgirl at the time.
She did not know Draco very well as yet. He was an intensely reserved person for all his lack of shyness in asking her out and flirting with her. She knew that Hermione had written to her because Draco himself would never speak to her about these things, at least at this tenuous stage of their friendship. She was unsure how to proceed with this information. Luna was not brought up to arrive unannounced on Draco's doorstep to talk to him about it and she was sure Draco himself would prefer not to face her at that point if he was trying to overcome the previous day's horrible experience. However, she did not wish to ignore what she now knew either and simply allow things to drift.
In the end, Luna decided that what she wanted most was what was best for Draco. She didn't believe a girl he had been flirting with like herself would be of any use to him but a friend might. Finally, late that night she picked up a quill and began a short letter.
Draco,
I have recently heard from one of your very kind friends about the terrible tragedies you have recently suffered with regard to your family. I wanted to let you know that I have been very sorry to hear of it and I think your actions are remarkably courageous.
To be honest, I feel as though even this small note is an intrusion on your grief so please forgive me for that.
I know we don't know each other very well but if you ever need another friend, let me know.
Luna.
Luna looked at her note and sighed. She had a feeling even this small note may be an imposition but she really didn't know what else to do. She attached it to her owl and sent it off. Draco probably would not get it until breakfast.
* * *
As it was, Draco was not asleep. Once again, he was unable to. The previous day's horrors were still too fresh in his mind. He lay on his bed, staring unseeingly out at the night sky over Snape Manor and tried to blank out the memory of his parent's vacant gaze. In the early hours of the morning, a beautiful tawny owl flew in the window and landed on his bedside table. He had never seen that particular owl before. He untied the message and quickly scanned the note. He frowned. He could lay odds on which 'kind friend' it was who spilled the beans about his private life to Luna. He would throttle Hermione. He threw the note on the bedside table and curled up on the bed again. The tawny owl, seeing there was no reply, spread its wings and flew off again.
He felt too numb and distracted to know how he felt about Luna's note. The last thing he wanted was to think about having to try and impress a girl who made such a strong impression on him. It was too much on top of everything else.
He sighed and kicked off the covers and got out of bed. He quickly changed into his Quidditch gear and grabbed his broom. The only thing that may tire him enough to make him sleep was a long fly on his Nimbus 2001.
* * *
Draco was scanning the papers later that day when he noticed an article about the Gillamoor survivors. They were all still in hospital over a month later. He frowned as he read on. Apparently they would all need at least another 3 months in order to be well enough to leave and their rehabilitation may go on for years if there were complications from the malnutrition and other abuses they suffered.
The reporter had interviewed some of the survivors and their families. Some of them were from disadvantaged backgrounds and were already unable to meet the medical bills. One survivor said he would go home at the end of the week rather than put his family into any more debt.
Draco bit the inside of his lip as he thought. He got up suddenly as he made a decision and apparated to the hospital where the survivors had been sent. He went directly to the hospital's administrator.
"You want to pay all the survivor's medical bills?" the hospital's financial manager said a bit faintly, not at all sure he had heard correctly. The thin young man before him barely looked old enough to be out of school himself.
"Yes, Mr Misfud. My family can afford it," he said grimly, thinking he'd sell the family home if that's what it took.
"That could run easily into a million sickles over the course of their lives," the administrator said, as though he thought Draco was mad.
Draco shrugged. "That's fine. That's a drop in the ocean of my family's wealth," he said quite honestly. If it were only that much he wouldn't even miss it, he thought.
"Well, I'm sure the families will be very grateful," Marvin Misfud said, his watery brown eyes wide at the boy's casual attitude to such a sum.
"I don't want them to know who I am," Draco said, his pale head snapping up suddenly as he realised the kind of publicity it would create if anyone found out.
"Of course, if you would prefer," he replied respectfully.
"How much has already been spent?" Draco asked, running one hand through his fine hair restlessly.
"In the region of 200,000 sickles," Marvin replied.
"Fine, I'll have Gringotts transfer that amount into the hospital's account. Please send me a bill at the end of each week so that the hospital is paid regularly for their treatment," Draco instructed with impressive authority. For the first time in his young life, he was beginning to realise the real power of wealth.
"Of course, Mr Malfoy" Marvin said.
"Thank you," Draco replied with a nod and left to send his instructions to Gringotts.
Marvin got out a parchment and quill, and composed a confidential owl to Dumbledore.
* * *
Weeks passed with Draco busy with his renovations to the Manor. He avoided Hermione for a few weeks after the note from Luna but Hermione cornered him eventually and made him have it out with her. He argued that it was up to him when he told people about his life and Hermione's argument was that as he was too proud and stiff-necked to do it himself, someone else had to. "At least Luna understands now!" Hermione had yelled. "If you'd just started ignoring her and she didn't know what was happening to you, she would have just assumed you were an arsehole!"
"It was still none of your business!" he'd said back with icy fury. In the end they had had to call a truce and make pax as neither would agree with the other.
Draco spent Christmas at Hogwarts at Dumbledore's invitation. Hermione and Snape were there too. Harry had gone to the Weasleys for lunch but showed up afterwards for the afternoon with Ron, Ginny and Padma in tow. All of them exchanged Christmas gifts with Draco and he was pleased that he'd enlisted Hermione's help in choosing gifts for them that they would all like.
He had received a Broom Care Kit from Harry and Ginny, a book on the Kent Knights from Ron and Padma, a silver tipped quill from Snape and a pair of ice wash jeans from Hermione. Dumbledore and the Hogwarts teachers there that day had given him a Slytherin green pullover which he put on at once.
Hermione was glad to see him relaxed and having a good time for once. As the weak winter light waned, Dumbledore pulled Draco aside for a chat. "A little bird told me that you have generously offered to pay the Gillamoor survivors' medical expenses," Dumbledore said kindly.
"Mr Misfud said he wouldn't tell anyone!" Draco objected, his jaw clenched and the relaxed expression on his face suddenly disappearing.
"He only told me and I haven't told anyone else," Dumbledore said reassuringly. Draco relaxed again marginally.
"I wonder if I would ask you to be generous in another way?" Dumbledore asked. Draco looked at him questioningly. "I wonder if you would donate your time next term to helping restore some morale in the ranks of our Slytherin House?" Dumbledore continued, gesturing to the currently empty Slytherin table that Draco knew so well.
Draco was taken aback. "What would you want me to do?" Draco asked cautiously.
"Oh, act as a mentor for them for a while. As a Prefect last year, a lot of those kids looked up to you. I think the idea is just to help them realise that they can overcome the bad name that the events of last term gave their House and help them find a new, positive identity," Dumbledore said. "Maybe you could spend some time helping with Quidditch coaching and just talking to them one on one or as a group about what happened last term. I think they would open up to you if you gave them a chance," he suggested mildly.
Draco nodded slowly. He could do it certainly, particularly next term as he would still be deferred from Uni until the term after. He really had no idea how he would go about it but something in the idea appealed to him. He did care about his old House and it had been disgraced by recent events, as his own family name had been too. Maybe he could help, who knew?
"I'll try," Draco said finally, with a shrug.
"That's all you need to do," Dumbledore said approvingly with a nod. "Thank you, Draco. I appreciate it greatly."
Dumbledore's approval of Draco was a rather new feeling to the boy and he decided that he liked it. His parents had hated Dumbledore and worked against him. They had thought he was a barmy old has-been and Draco had adopted their judgment. What Draco now understood was how deeply afraid his parents had been of the powerful old wizard.
"Well, how about we go and see if we can find some more of that tasty mulled wine?" Dumbledore suggested and smiled. Draco smiled back and the two headed back to the main group gathered around the Christmas tree close to the main fireplace.
Hermione knew it was none of her business really but she felt she had to write to Luna and tell her a bit about Draco's history and what had been happening in his life recently. Luna had been in France during Voldemort's reign of terror and although his network had spread to France at the time of Harry's parent's death, it was obviously well before Luna was born. The most recent campaign of the Death Eaters had been contained to Britain and Luna would have little knowledge of it and the Malfoy family connection.
Hermione knew she was interfering but she had a funny feeling about Luna. She suspected that the girl could be good for Draco in a way none of his previous girlfriends could have been. She was his equal in family background, wealth, attractiveness and brains. It was rare for Draco to encounter someone like that. It would be a pity for their relationship to end before it began simply because Draco was struggling to get over a series of profound shocks that Luna knew nothing about.
Hermione had a bad feeling that if she didn't write this letter, Draco would be nursing his wounds from the previous day at Azkaban and would not be able to put a good face on to fool Luna anytime soon. He would avoid her and she would not understand. Hermione also suspected that Draco did not have the inner strength after all his recent emotional bashing to tell Luna himself what had been happening to him. He would let Luna go as a result and probably regret it for a long time.
Hermione hesitated for a moment but then pulled a quill and parchment towards her and began to write.
* * *
Luna read Hermione's very long letter that evening after lectures had finished. The story it contained sounded almost unbelievable, like something out of a novel. She knew about Voldemort and the Death Eaters although English news had been of minor importance amongst the French wizarding community. Her parents had often discussed it as they were up to date with English news in their role as diplomats. However, it had not touched greatly on Luna's life as a French schoolgirl at the time.
She did not know Draco very well as yet. He was an intensely reserved person for all his lack of shyness in asking her out and flirting with her. She knew that Hermione had written to her because Draco himself would never speak to her about these things, at least at this tenuous stage of their friendship. She was unsure how to proceed with this information. Luna was not brought up to arrive unannounced on Draco's doorstep to talk to him about it and she was sure Draco himself would prefer not to face her at that point if he was trying to overcome the previous day's horrible experience. However, she did not wish to ignore what she now knew either and simply allow things to drift.
In the end, Luna decided that what she wanted most was what was best for Draco. She didn't believe a girl he had been flirting with like herself would be of any use to him but a friend might. Finally, late that night she picked up a quill and began a short letter.
Draco,
I have recently heard from one of your very kind friends about the terrible tragedies you have recently suffered with regard to your family. I wanted to let you know that I have been very sorry to hear of it and I think your actions are remarkably courageous.
To be honest, I feel as though even this small note is an intrusion on your grief so please forgive me for that.
I know we don't know each other very well but if you ever need another friend, let me know.
Luna.
Luna looked at her note and sighed. She had a feeling even this small note may be an imposition but she really didn't know what else to do. She attached it to her owl and sent it off. Draco probably would not get it until breakfast.
* * *
As it was, Draco was not asleep. Once again, he was unable to. The previous day's horrors were still too fresh in his mind. He lay on his bed, staring unseeingly out at the night sky over Snape Manor and tried to blank out the memory of his parent's vacant gaze. In the early hours of the morning, a beautiful tawny owl flew in the window and landed on his bedside table. He had never seen that particular owl before. He untied the message and quickly scanned the note. He frowned. He could lay odds on which 'kind friend' it was who spilled the beans about his private life to Luna. He would throttle Hermione. He threw the note on the bedside table and curled up on the bed again. The tawny owl, seeing there was no reply, spread its wings and flew off again.
He felt too numb and distracted to know how he felt about Luna's note. The last thing he wanted was to think about having to try and impress a girl who made such a strong impression on him. It was too much on top of everything else.
He sighed and kicked off the covers and got out of bed. He quickly changed into his Quidditch gear and grabbed his broom. The only thing that may tire him enough to make him sleep was a long fly on his Nimbus 2001.
* * *
Draco was scanning the papers later that day when he noticed an article about the Gillamoor survivors. They were all still in hospital over a month later. He frowned as he read on. Apparently they would all need at least another 3 months in order to be well enough to leave and their rehabilitation may go on for years if there were complications from the malnutrition and other abuses they suffered.
The reporter had interviewed some of the survivors and their families. Some of them were from disadvantaged backgrounds and were already unable to meet the medical bills. One survivor said he would go home at the end of the week rather than put his family into any more debt.
Draco bit the inside of his lip as he thought. He got up suddenly as he made a decision and apparated to the hospital where the survivors had been sent. He went directly to the hospital's administrator.
"You want to pay all the survivor's medical bills?" the hospital's financial manager said a bit faintly, not at all sure he had heard correctly. The thin young man before him barely looked old enough to be out of school himself.
"Yes, Mr Misfud. My family can afford it," he said grimly, thinking he'd sell the family home if that's what it took.
"That could run easily into a million sickles over the course of their lives," the administrator said, as though he thought Draco was mad.
Draco shrugged. "That's fine. That's a drop in the ocean of my family's wealth," he said quite honestly. If it were only that much he wouldn't even miss it, he thought.
"Well, I'm sure the families will be very grateful," Marvin Misfud said, his watery brown eyes wide at the boy's casual attitude to such a sum.
"I don't want them to know who I am," Draco said, his pale head snapping up suddenly as he realised the kind of publicity it would create if anyone found out.
"Of course, if you would prefer," he replied respectfully.
"How much has already been spent?" Draco asked, running one hand through his fine hair restlessly.
"In the region of 200,000 sickles," Marvin replied.
"Fine, I'll have Gringotts transfer that amount into the hospital's account. Please send me a bill at the end of each week so that the hospital is paid regularly for their treatment," Draco instructed with impressive authority. For the first time in his young life, he was beginning to realise the real power of wealth.
"Of course, Mr Malfoy" Marvin said.
"Thank you," Draco replied with a nod and left to send his instructions to Gringotts.
Marvin got out a parchment and quill, and composed a confidential owl to Dumbledore.
* * *
Weeks passed with Draco busy with his renovations to the Manor. He avoided Hermione for a few weeks after the note from Luna but Hermione cornered him eventually and made him have it out with her. He argued that it was up to him when he told people about his life and Hermione's argument was that as he was too proud and stiff-necked to do it himself, someone else had to. "At least Luna understands now!" Hermione had yelled. "If you'd just started ignoring her and she didn't know what was happening to you, she would have just assumed you were an arsehole!"
"It was still none of your business!" he'd said back with icy fury. In the end they had had to call a truce and make pax as neither would agree with the other.
Draco spent Christmas at Hogwarts at Dumbledore's invitation. Hermione and Snape were there too. Harry had gone to the Weasleys for lunch but showed up afterwards for the afternoon with Ron, Ginny and Padma in tow. All of them exchanged Christmas gifts with Draco and he was pleased that he'd enlisted Hermione's help in choosing gifts for them that they would all like.
He had received a Broom Care Kit from Harry and Ginny, a book on the Kent Knights from Ron and Padma, a silver tipped quill from Snape and a pair of ice wash jeans from Hermione. Dumbledore and the Hogwarts teachers there that day had given him a Slytherin green pullover which he put on at once.
Hermione was glad to see him relaxed and having a good time for once. As the weak winter light waned, Dumbledore pulled Draco aside for a chat. "A little bird told me that you have generously offered to pay the Gillamoor survivors' medical expenses," Dumbledore said kindly.
"Mr Misfud said he wouldn't tell anyone!" Draco objected, his jaw clenched and the relaxed expression on his face suddenly disappearing.
"He only told me and I haven't told anyone else," Dumbledore said reassuringly. Draco relaxed again marginally.
"I wonder if I would ask you to be generous in another way?" Dumbledore asked. Draco looked at him questioningly. "I wonder if you would donate your time next term to helping restore some morale in the ranks of our Slytherin House?" Dumbledore continued, gesturing to the currently empty Slytherin table that Draco knew so well.
Draco was taken aback. "What would you want me to do?" Draco asked cautiously.
"Oh, act as a mentor for them for a while. As a Prefect last year, a lot of those kids looked up to you. I think the idea is just to help them realise that they can overcome the bad name that the events of last term gave their House and help them find a new, positive identity," Dumbledore said. "Maybe you could spend some time helping with Quidditch coaching and just talking to them one on one or as a group about what happened last term. I think they would open up to you if you gave them a chance," he suggested mildly.
Draco nodded slowly. He could do it certainly, particularly next term as he would still be deferred from Uni until the term after. He really had no idea how he would go about it but something in the idea appealed to him. He did care about his old House and it had been disgraced by recent events, as his own family name had been too. Maybe he could help, who knew?
"I'll try," Draco said finally, with a shrug.
"That's all you need to do," Dumbledore said approvingly with a nod. "Thank you, Draco. I appreciate it greatly."
Dumbledore's approval of Draco was a rather new feeling to the boy and he decided that he liked it. His parents had hated Dumbledore and worked against him. They had thought he was a barmy old has-been and Draco had adopted their judgment. What Draco now understood was how deeply afraid his parents had been of the powerful old wizard.
"Well, how about we go and see if we can find some more of that tasty mulled wine?" Dumbledore suggested and smiled. Draco smiled back and the two headed back to the main group gathered around the Christmas tree close to the main fireplace.
