Author's Note:
Sorry for lack of update... Okay, so I have procrastinated to no end and found that all my
summer work consumed me!!! Hehe... Well, obviously I've also had a pen name change.
Damn. Okay, so now I'm Narcissa Black (wonder where I got that from... :) ) Anywho,
here are two chapters, the first of which is pretty pointless, but oh well... I'll upload two
more chappies in the next couple of days (and that should be the end of this story)...
Enjoy:
Chapter Twenty-Nine: An Interesting Conversation
Severus and Dumbledore, with the help of Hagrid, led Lucius Malfoy out of the Great
Hall, and away from where he could cause harm to students easily. The former Governor's
icy eyes stared at them all with the deepest loathing, but looked particularly menacing at
his former Death Eater comrade.
After tonight, Severus knew that he could no longer return to the Dark Lord, as word
of the incident would surely spread, and Voldemort would know before the sun rose the next
day. He felt horribly that he would no longer be able to aide Dumbledore, but at the same
time relieved, as he knew that they had already gathered enough information...
The bitter words of Lucius took him from his thoughts. "I'll get you too, Snape. The
Dark Lord thought we were on the same side, but I had feelings otherwise. I tried to
convince him, but he would pay me no mind. Well, here's the proof, Severus Snape has
switched sides. But I wonder, Severus, what led you to such a decision? Was it the fact
that you now saw your opportunity to take Narcissa? You know she's far too good for you—"
Severus raised an eyebrow at him, and muttered a few words. From his wand
sprung several thin ropes, which tied themselves around Malfoy's wrists, ankles, and mouth,
resembling snakes. The man lost his balance, and fell to the floor, struggling furiously.
"Well, I think that should hold him until the Ministry arrives," he paused. "Tsk, tsk,
Lucius, you should know that using the Cruciatius Curse is punishable by a life term in
Azkaban. But you always did have a terrible temper..."
Narcissa sat across from Dumbledore in the headmaster's office, unsure of what had
just happened. The entire night just seemed like one great blur. They had dragged her
now ex-husband away, as he screamed about revenge. She shuddered. There was no way
of knowing what Lucius was capable of. He had even used one of the Unforgivable Curses
there, in front of most of the staff and students of Hogwarts.
She sighed, trying to get her thoughts off the subject, and looked around the circular
room, portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses staring back at her with a degree of
curiosity. It had been ages since she had been in this office. She looked at wisps of smoke,
emanating from curious silver instruments scattered about here and there, propped on
various tables, and noted the peculiar noises that seemed to come from them. The famed
Sorting Hat was also there, and near it, the sword of Godric Gryffindor, and Fawkes the
phoenix was perched not too far away.
"Is he going back to Azkaban?" she finally asked.
The usual twinkle was gone from his eyes. "Lucius managed to persuade some of
the governors and the Minister that he should be allowed to be free, albeit under some
supervision, I'd imagine, until his trial." He paused and looked at the blonde witch.
She did not need this explained. Lucius would try to bribe his way out of everything
-- she knew that -- and if that failed, he would use other, more sinister means.
The headmaster then continued, "I think, however, the fact that he was most unable
to control himself, and used one of the Unforgivable curses, in front of scores of witnesses,
should be enough to ensure he will no longer pose a threat to anyone."
"Oh Albus, but what am I going to do? He'll somehow manage to suborn his way out
again, I can assure you. I can't go back to Malfoy Manor this winter, or next summer, and I
certainly won't send Draco there..."
"You not need worry. The two of you can stay at Hogwarts as long as need be. He
is now in the custody of the Ministry, until they can find a way to keep tabs on him, after
which he will, monitored, of course, await trial for his use of the Cruciatius curse on your
son. My only concern is that he may attempt something before the vacation." There was
seriousness in his voice that she had seldom heard.
She nodded, unable to say anything.
Just then, a voice came from one of the portraits, breaking the tension. "Narcissa?
Is that you?"
She looked around, until her blue eyes met the dark ones of the Hogwarts's least-
popular headmaster. Phineas Nigellus was an unpleasant, acerbic fellow, who had precious
little patience for the sentiments or troubles of others, based on what she had always been
told. Honestly, however, he had never been truly sardonic to her, likely because she was
his great-great-grandaughter, and far less a prat than her sister Bellatrix, though at the
same time not exactly a bloodtraitor like Andromeda. He had once said that she was the
only one that was not useless in her generation of Blacks, as he detested her sisters, and
deceased cousin Regallus, although he managed to somehow find Sirius acceptable, if only
in memory. He had been especially contented with her marriage to Lucius Malfoy. She
sighed.
"Hello, Phineas," she greeted, trying her best to sound warm and cheery, as a means
of avoiding his interrogation, if at all possible.
Her attempts failed however, as he saw right through them. "What are you doing
here? What happened?"
She sighed again. "I teach here now. You didn't know?"
The man in the portrait shook his head. "I had no idea." He paused as he shot
Dumbledore a look of antipathy, for not being informed of her hiring, and then proceeded to
ignore the present headmaster. "Defense Against the Dark Arts, correct?"
"Of course."
"It's bewitched, you know, that job is," he said, looking at her skeptically.
"I don't think so, and I plan to stay on quite longer." Her meaning was clear.
His eyebrows furrowed at this. "Have you gone mad? What will your husba--"
"Ex-husband, Phineas," she interrupted. "I left Lucius."
"Why would you leave the man? He comes from a good family. And I thought you
were different from the riffraff that--" he stopped mid-sentence, looking at the doorway,
gaping.
Severus Snape stood there, and had likely been for the last several minutes.
Nigellus had a puzzled look on his face, as the Potions master's eyes glittered dangerously,
in a manner that would likely cause any of his students to start to cry, or take flight from
the vicinity, and he put an arm around Narcissa.
"You were saying, Phineus?" she asked.
The man looked from one professor to the other, and shook his head in frustration.
He then went off, likely to visit another portrait and confirm what he had just heard.
"What was that all about?" asked Severus.
"Oh, I don't think my dearest great-great-grandfather approves of my leaving my
husband. But it doesn't matter. I couldn't stand being with him another moment."
Severus nodded, and then turned to Dumbledore, who had watched the entire
exchange looking rather amused.
"Headmaster, I believe Lucius may well attempt something before the winter break."
Narcissa interrupted him. "I have no doubt that he will."
Dumbledore nodded. "Then we must start to prepare for such an event," he paused.
"Because in a week both Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy will be playing in the Quidditch match,
and that would present Lucius a most excellent opportunity, if I'm not mistaken."
Draco sat outside Dumbledore's office, holding Hermione close. He was numb. His
father had gotten out of Azkaban, and come all the way to Hogwarts to hunt him and his
mother down.
He looked at the girl sitting next to him. His father's words ran through his mind.
"With a mudblood? What have I told you of such foolishness? You are a Malfoy, above such
things... I will simply not stand for it."
He saw her look up at him, meeting his eyes, and suddenly his fears and doubts
seemed to melt away. How was it possible that he had actually listened to his father,
idolized him as though he were some sort of superior being? How was it that he had never
been able to see the wonderful girl resting against his shoulder for who she was, a witty,
beautiful young woman, likely the brightest witch in all of Hogwarts? How could he have
ever imagined his life without her?
She closed her eyes, and he his, and their lips met, though somewhat inconveniently
at the very moment that the door to Dumbledore's office opened.
Professor Snape stood at the doorway, smirking at the display before him. The two
teens sitting in the waiting room had not noticed their Potions professor, and it wasn't until
he cleared his throat that they looked up, both unable to meet his eyes and looking rather
embarrassed, as they both turned beet red.
"The headmaster wishes to speak to you," he said, in a voice he seldom used, as
though he were somewhat amused at the display.
Draco stepped into Dumbledore's office, gripping Hermione's hand tightly. The old
man looked serious, the well-known glimmer absent from his gaze. Narcissa was seated
there, in front of the headmaster, biting her lip. It was something she always did when she
was nervous, and there was no doubt that the evening's events had been upsetting.
When all those in the room had been seated, Dumbledore spoke.
"Mr. Malfoy, your father is now in the custody of the ministry. However, pending his
trial, he will be free to roam about, though under some, I'd imagine limited, supervision."
Draco's eyes opened wide. Had he heard right? His father had surely bribed his way
out of Azkaban the first time, and now he was trying to do it again. He had used an
Unforgivable Curse, in front of numerous witnesses, and the Ministry was going to allow him
freedom until his trial? He should be getting a life sentence, at least. There should be no
trial. And now, they were giving him special privileges? It was absurd!
Dumbledore watched the expressions that passed across the face of the young man
sitting before him. Once he had regained the façade he normally wore, the headmaster
continued.
"What we wish to discuss right now, is how to prevent an incident prior to the trial,"
he said, looking at all those in the room.
Hermione started, "but Professor, surely he wouldn't--"
"He will try, Hermione," came Draco. "If I know my father, he will try."
"The only thing we can do is try to prevent it," came Dumbledore.
"And the most likely time is a week from now," said Professor Snape, "at the
Quidditch match."
Draco took a breath. "Okay, so what's the plan?"
The headmaster nodded, and turned to the Potions professor, "Severus, would you
please fetch messrs. Potter and Weasley? I do believe their help will be most useful..."
Author's Note:
Uh-oh. What is Dumbledore planning? Hmmm... Read on to find out (Next chapter:
Quidditch Homecoming... Enjoy!)