Disclaimer: Much as I'd like to, I don't own Draco Malfoy, or any part of the magical world that J.K. Rowling has all the copyrights to ... please don't sue me. There are some parts of this story that are quotes from the book - it can't be helped - events are the same as in the book, but Draco's opinion of these events may vary from Harry's.
Author's Notes: Kendra's in this one ... and there's something about Kendra that I based off something I read in Slytherin Rising ... SR fans should know it when they see it. Also, introducing another Auror you might find familiar, even if it's only a brief meeting.
LenaLovely12: Big thank you for betaing this and last chapter. I've mentioned you now :P
snape's kidney: Is this long enough?
Elizabeth: Thanks - glad you like it.
dstrbd chlid: Glad you liked it too.
Princess of Darkness6: Uh, yeah ... the only reason that wasn't mentioned here was because this is a PG-13 fic. And as for Draco defending his dad - glad you approve. I don't do as much research as I think I should - I kinda memorised the real books, but I'd have done that either way.
Druscilla Black: Sorry for being snappish. Although you will be pleased to know I have no plans for D/Hr to have any sort of real relationship.
Akuma-sama: Huh? What comment with the Veelas? And why do people suddenly start calling my Draco "nice"? Just because he's not the next Voldemort in training doesn't mean he has to be nice! I like your writing, keep it up, please.
Devi: I can't really do D/H in this - I am keeping to canon - but I do like the pairing. Well, I was basing Draco's parents' behaviour on what most normal teenagers don't wanna see - it seemed natural. Well, why weren't Crabbe and Goyle there to back Draco up? Until JKR says otherwise, I will forever believe what I wrote here *nods*.
Loony Lunas: Ah, my favourite characters are Draco, Sirius, and Severus - I like the ones that come across as bad but probably aren't really. Although I do like Bellatrix - I picture her like Drucilla from BtVS, and she's my favourite female character in the HP books (Luna is the one I see myself as most like, though).
Exodia Himself: Thanks - I will.
duochang97: Thank you - thank you very much *bows*.
Hrei-siesn: Thanks.
Starre: Sorry no one else is updating ... if I could fix that I would. Ah, well - glad you liked.
angelkas: The Veela human-like form is an illusion - they did look like women when Harry first saw them, remember. And yes, people are sick - it's a fact of life.
"The world did not explode because my father is an ass-hole" "You do not know that" -Odyssey 5
Chapter 3 - The Dark Mark Flies Again
I watched the 'show' for about half an hour, after that - they seemed to be circling the campsite. When another girlish shriek, this time from the Death Eaters themselves, drew my attention. A few of them were pointing up, over the forest, and most others were running away or Disapparating, as fast as they could.
My eyes widened, and I looked up, expecting to see a dragon, or some such thing, if it had scared them all so much ... nope ... dragon fire is never green ... that looked a hell of a lot like a Dark Mark to me.
Meep.
"Oh shit." I muttered, reaching to draw my wand, and backing away from the forest, much more afraid of the Dark Mark than the Death Eaters.
And they'd almost all Disapparated, anyway.
I looked around at the campsite, the ruined tents, and the frightened people, and decided I ought to try and find the Portkeys, to get home. Better than hanging around any longer with that Mark there. I shuddered, just thinking about the Mark glowing in the sky behind me, and started walking a little faster towards the Portkey station.
* * *
"Young master Malfoy? What are you doing here?" a harassed looking wizard, who I remember seeing at the Ministry once - I think his name was Basil - asked.
"Looking to get the hell out of here." I said coldly.
"The first Portkey isn't for another hour, I'm afraid." he told me, sounding as if he'd said it a hundred times already.
I gave him my worst 'I hate you' look, and stalked off, to where a group of Ministry types were discussing what had happened.
"He's not back, is he?"
"I hope not."
"First they're torturing Muggles, now this? What is this world coming to?"
"Who would conjure that?"
"Only They ever knew how - it had to have been one of Them."
"But They scattered. Why'd They do that?"
"Cowards?"
I smiled faintly, at that one, and tuned out the idiotic droning around me, looking for anyone I recognised. Not expecting to find anyone, as most of the adults I knew had been Death Eaters, and would have Disapparated by now.
"Draco Malfoy?" I turned round quickly to see two Aurors standing nearby, one of whom I recognised. Kendra. "What are you doing here?"
"Trying not to get lost ... and failing miserably." I replied coldly.
"Well, where are your parents?" Kendra asked.
"Don't know. Mother went home earlier, and I can't find my father." I answered, in all honesty.
"I see." Kendra said frowning slightly, "Do you have any idea where he might be?"
"No." well, honestly, I didn't know where he Disapparated to, so that's not a lie.
"Hmmm." Kendra looked up and groaned loudly, "Tonks, take care of this boy, I have to break up that." she pointed over my shoulder, and when I looked, I saw Vincent and Gregory in a fist-fight with Percy Weasley ... and somehow managing to lose to him, too! Kendra then rushed past me, and proceeded to break up the fight, with Leg-Locker curses.
I looked at the other Auror. She had short royal-blue hair, and a scrawny look to her. "Hello." I said, warily.
"Hi. My name's Tonks." she said brightly.
"Draco Malfoy." I said coolly, "Is Tonks your first or last name?"
"Last." she said shortly.
"What's your first?" I asked, trying to sound polite.
She glared at me, "None of your business."
"Nice name: None Of Your Business Tonks." I joked.
Her lip twitched, then she smiled, she looked like if it weren't for the green fireworks overhead she might have laughed. "You've got a good sense of humour, Malfoy."
"Thanks. I try." I said, smiling.
"You're here on your own? How old are you?" she asked.
"Fourteen."
She scowled, "Where're ... wait, you're a Malfoy ... forget it."
"What?" I asked, kind-of offended.
"It's nothing. Really."
After a moment's awkward silence, "I've never seen you at the Ministry before."
"I just graduated from Auror training last year." she said brightly.
"Oh." I glanced around the field ... most of the chaos was dying down a bit.
"So ... you're starting fourth year, right?" she asked, trying to keep up the idle chit-chat.
"Yes." I replied automatically.
"What's your best subject?"
"Potions."
"Oh ... I was never too good at that ... kept knocking things over ... making a mess ... Snape wasn't the nicest teacher, either."
"What house were you in?"
"Ravenclaw."
"He's fair to Ravenclaws ... you must have been really clumsy."
"I am."
I sniggered. Then at that point, Kendra returned, looking none-the-worse-for-wear, and practically dragging Basil by the ear, towards us. "Now, make a Portkey, if you have to ... I'll get the authorisation from the Minister himself, for you, if you want, but you will send this boy back home right now. The fewer innocent bystanders around, the better." she was saying to Basil, who looked more than a little put out by this.
"I can't. I don't have the authori-" Basil started.
"I do. I am giving you the accursed authority, now give the boy a Portkey!" Kendra snapped, interrupting him.
"She's so cool, isn't she?" Tonks muttered to me, "I read in her records that once, two Death Eaters turned themselves in when they heard she was on their case, because they were more scared of her than of Azkaban."
I raised an eyebrow at that ... with a temper like hers, I'd not be surprised, "Good thing she's on the right side, then." I noted.
Tonks smiled, and Kendra turned around, handing me a crumpled copy of a Muggle newspaper, "Ten seconds." she said, smiling.
I turned to Tonks, "Nice to meet you."
"You too." she replied, and that was all the time I had, as the Portkey pulled me back to Malfoy Manor.
* * *
I looked around, and almost immediately Mother swooped in to hug me tightly, "Oh, Draco, are you all right? How did you get back so quickly? You're not hurt, are you? Did you see what happened?" she pulled back to check me over, to make sure I wasn't injured, then hugged me again, "Oh, Draco, I was so worried!"
"I'm fine, Mother." I said calmly, squirming so the fact she was hugging me wasn't affecting my ability to breathe.
Unfortunately, as soon as I said that, she tightened her over-protective grip on me ... oxygen was becoming an issue, now. Just before I said that out loud, Father's voice came from behind me, "Narcissa, don't forget the boy needs to breathe." he said coldly. Mother let me go, reluctantly. I turned around to look at him - considering the fact that he was drunk, and had just been out causing a riot at a Quidditch match, he looked surprisingly unruffled, "Are you all right, Draco?" Father asked in a detached way.
"Yes, I'm fine. I think I saw the Ministry catch Vincent and Gregory, though." only time you say their first names is when you need to distinguish between them and their fathers.
Father snorted. "They're underage ... they'll get off fine."
"And why do you care if I got caught or not, then?" I asked, somehow managing to make it not sound impudent.
"It would tarnish the family's good name. The Crabbes and Goyles already have a bad name."
I nodded slightly. That much was true. "Well, I didn't get caught ... I played the innocent bystander very well." I noted.
"Good, good." Father said sounding like he wasn't much paying attention, or caring what I said, "Now, go up to your room, Draco. It's late."
I sighed, briefly contemplating making a fuss over that order, but decided against it - it really was late. I nodded, "Yes, Father." and I walked up the stairs, in the direction of my room, pausing to glance over my shoulder, just long enough to see my father whispering something to Mother, and her face lose what little colour was visible in it. That's not encouraging ... not at all. I decided to make myself scarce, then.
* * *
The next morning, I came down for breakfast to find my mother shooting nervous looks at something on the table, and my father acting like nothing happened. That is to say, just as cold as usual. I took my seat, and started eating the food without even registering what I was eating ... you could cut the tension with a knife. I mean, so what if he was acting like nothing had happened, I could still feel the bad atmosphere. After a few minutes, I sneaked a peak at whatever it was that Mother had been glancing nervously at ... the Daily Prophet, face down so all we could see was the sports pages. Another few minutes passed in tense silence, and then I glanced up again to see that both my parents had barely moved an inch. Then, as I watched, Father threw down his knife and fork, and stalked out of the room towards his private study. I then looked at Mother ... she sighed, and gave me a sad look.
"What's wrong?" I asked quietly, a little bit paranoid that he might be listening through the door.
She didn't say anything, just nodded towards the Daily Prophet. A bit nervously, I picked it up, and looked at the front page.
'SCENES OF TERROR AT THE QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP
Last night, for the first time in thirteen years, the Dark Mark
- the infamous and feared symbol of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named -
was seen in the sky. The Dark Mark has always previously been
seen at the site of a murder committed by You-Know-Who, or one
of his followers. A few hours after the phenomenal Quidditch
World Cup final, a group of Muggle-torturers, several of which
were reported to be wearing the masks associated with Death
Eaters - the followers of You-Know-Who. Minutes later, the Dark
Mark was cast into the sky over the nearby wood into which
terrified match attendees had fled from the attackers.
With dozens of on-duty Aurors on site, it must be one of the
greatest Ministry blunders in history that the culprits were
not apprehended. Were the Aurors perhaps too busy celebrating,
along with the Irish? It seems that the only Ministry workers
who even tried to search for the source of the Dark Mark were
older officials, with no connections to the Department of
Magical Law Enforcement, Dark Arts Eradication Division. With
the sort of lax security that allows Dark wizards running
unchecked like this, especially in front of foreign delegates,
is a national disgrace.
If the terrified wizards and witches who waited breathlessly
for news at the edge of the wood expected reassurance from the
Ministry of Magic, they were sadly disappointed. A Ministry
official emerged some time after the appearance of the Dark
Mark, alleging that nobody had been hurt, but refusing to give
any more information. Whether this statement will be enough to
quash the rumours that several bodies were removed from the
woods an hour later, remains to be seen.
Special report, from Rita Skeeter.'
And it had a black-and-white picture of the Dark Mark as well. "Oh," was all I could say.
"Your father told me about that last night, after you went to bed." Mother said, pointing sharply to the picture on the front of the paper.
"Hmm ... can I keep this?" I asked.
"Why would you want to?" Mother asked, scowling.
"I just want to cut out the written part of that article ... I'd throw out the rest of the paper."
"I suppose so. Give the rest of the paper to Kitty, to throw out, when you're done." Mother said, sighing.
I nodded, took the paper, and left the table, "Thank you, Mother."
Kitty is another house-elf ... I don't like Kitty much - she's old, and always looks at me funny. She was the elf who took care of my mother when she was a child, in the same way Dobby had taken care of me when I was younger. But considering we lost Dobby, we've only got Kitty and Ferris left. They're Dobby's parents ... and you've guessed it, Ferris was Father's personal elf-servant when he was a child. There were other house-elves in the Manor, once ... but that was before my time ... and before the Magical Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to House-elves took most of them away from our family ... I wonder why (sarcasm).
I got up to my room, locked the door, and walked over to my desk. This article is more than just an amusing rant against the Ministry, it's the first public sign of the inevitable, and while everyone else who reads it probably thinks it was just some trouble-making stunt, I'm sure it must be more than that.
I took out a blank hard-backed black-covered book, a pair of scissors, a quill and ink, and sat down with the paper. Someone needs to keep track of this sort of thing - the Ministry won't care much. I cut out the article, including the picture, and pressed it into the front page of the blank book ... it stuck there, which it's supposed to do - this book is a magical scrap book, which I got when I was nine. It was supposed to be for Quidditch magazine clippings, but I never used it ... until now. I added the date in, above the article, with a few notes about what I saw in the forest - Veela, a mad house-elf that called itself Winky with an invisible and quite solid shadow, the boy-who-lived-to-annoy-me. Now, which of those is the most suspicious? You do the math.
I underlined the mention of the house-elf in my notes.
* * *
End of chapter 3
Author's Notes: Kendra's in this one ... and there's something about Kendra that I based off something I read in Slytherin Rising ... SR fans should know it when they see it. Also, introducing another Auror you might find familiar, even if it's only a brief meeting.
LenaLovely12: Big thank you for betaing this and last chapter. I've mentioned you now :P
snape's kidney: Is this long enough?
Elizabeth: Thanks - glad you like it.
dstrbd chlid: Glad you liked it too.
Princess of Darkness6: Uh, yeah ... the only reason that wasn't mentioned here was because this is a PG-13 fic. And as for Draco defending his dad - glad you approve. I don't do as much research as I think I should - I kinda memorised the real books, but I'd have done that either way.
Druscilla Black: Sorry for being snappish. Although you will be pleased to know I have no plans for D/Hr to have any sort of real relationship.
Akuma-sama: Huh? What comment with the Veelas? And why do people suddenly start calling my Draco "nice"? Just because he's not the next Voldemort in training doesn't mean he has to be nice! I like your writing, keep it up, please.
Devi: I can't really do D/H in this - I am keeping to canon - but I do like the pairing. Well, I was basing Draco's parents' behaviour on what most normal teenagers don't wanna see - it seemed natural. Well, why weren't Crabbe and Goyle there to back Draco up? Until JKR says otherwise, I will forever believe what I wrote here *nods*.
Loony Lunas: Ah, my favourite characters are Draco, Sirius, and Severus - I like the ones that come across as bad but probably aren't really. Although I do like Bellatrix - I picture her like Drucilla from BtVS, and she's my favourite female character in the HP books (Luna is the one I see myself as most like, though).
Exodia Himself: Thanks - I will.
duochang97: Thank you - thank you very much *bows*.
Hrei-siesn: Thanks.
Starre: Sorry no one else is updating ... if I could fix that I would. Ah, well - glad you liked.
angelkas: The Veela human-like form is an illusion - they did look like women when Harry first saw them, remember. And yes, people are sick - it's a fact of life.
"The world did not explode because my father is an ass-hole" "You do not know that" -Odyssey 5
Chapter 3 - The Dark Mark Flies Again
I watched the 'show' for about half an hour, after that - they seemed to be circling the campsite. When another girlish shriek, this time from the Death Eaters themselves, drew my attention. A few of them were pointing up, over the forest, and most others were running away or Disapparating, as fast as they could.
My eyes widened, and I looked up, expecting to see a dragon, or some such thing, if it had scared them all so much ... nope ... dragon fire is never green ... that looked a hell of a lot like a Dark Mark to me.
Meep.
"Oh shit." I muttered, reaching to draw my wand, and backing away from the forest, much more afraid of the Dark Mark than the Death Eaters.
And they'd almost all Disapparated, anyway.
I looked around at the campsite, the ruined tents, and the frightened people, and decided I ought to try and find the Portkeys, to get home. Better than hanging around any longer with that Mark there. I shuddered, just thinking about the Mark glowing in the sky behind me, and started walking a little faster towards the Portkey station.
* * *
"Young master Malfoy? What are you doing here?" a harassed looking wizard, who I remember seeing at the Ministry once - I think his name was Basil - asked.
"Looking to get the hell out of here." I said coldly.
"The first Portkey isn't for another hour, I'm afraid." he told me, sounding as if he'd said it a hundred times already.
I gave him my worst 'I hate you' look, and stalked off, to where a group of Ministry types were discussing what had happened.
"He's not back, is he?"
"I hope not."
"First they're torturing Muggles, now this? What is this world coming to?"
"Who would conjure that?"
"Only They ever knew how - it had to have been one of Them."
"But They scattered. Why'd They do that?"
"Cowards?"
I smiled faintly, at that one, and tuned out the idiotic droning around me, looking for anyone I recognised. Not expecting to find anyone, as most of the adults I knew had been Death Eaters, and would have Disapparated by now.
"Draco Malfoy?" I turned round quickly to see two Aurors standing nearby, one of whom I recognised. Kendra. "What are you doing here?"
"Trying not to get lost ... and failing miserably." I replied coldly.
"Well, where are your parents?" Kendra asked.
"Don't know. Mother went home earlier, and I can't find my father." I answered, in all honesty.
"I see." Kendra said frowning slightly, "Do you have any idea where he might be?"
"No." well, honestly, I didn't know where he Disapparated to, so that's not a lie.
"Hmmm." Kendra looked up and groaned loudly, "Tonks, take care of this boy, I have to break up that." she pointed over my shoulder, and when I looked, I saw Vincent and Gregory in a fist-fight with Percy Weasley ... and somehow managing to lose to him, too! Kendra then rushed past me, and proceeded to break up the fight, with Leg-Locker curses.
I looked at the other Auror. She had short royal-blue hair, and a scrawny look to her. "Hello." I said, warily.
"Hi. My name's Tonks." she said brightly.
"Draco Malfoy." I said coolly, "Is Tonks your first or last name?"
"Last." she said shortly.
"What's your first?" I asked, trying to sound polite.
She glared at me, "None of your business."
"Nice name: None Of Your Business Tonks." I joked.
Her lip twitched, then she smiled, she looked like if it weren't for the green fireworks overhead she might have laughed. "You've got a good sense of humour, Malfoy."
"Thanks. I try." I said, smiling.
"You're here on your own? How old are you?" she asked.
"Fourteen."
She scowled, "Where're ... wait, you're a Malfoy ... forget it."
"What?" I asked, kind-of offended.
"It's nothing. Really."
After a moment's awkward silence, "I've never seen you at the Ministry before."
"I just graduated from Auror training last year." she said brightly.
"Oh." I glanced around the field ... most of the chaos was dying down a bit.
"So ... you're starting fourth year, right?" she asked, trying to keep up the idle chit-chat.
"Yes." I replied automatically.
"What's your best subject?"
"Potions."
"Oh ... I was never too good at that ... kept knocking things over ... making a mess ... Snape wasn't the nicest teacher, either."
"What house were you in?"
"Ravenclaw."
"He's fair to Ravenclaws ... you must have been really clumsy."
"I am."
I sniggered. Then at that point, Kendra returned, looking none-the-worse-for-wear, and practically dragging Basil by the ear, towards us. "Now, make a Portkey, if you have to ... I'll get the authorisation from the Minister himself, for you, if you want, but you will send this boy back home right now. The fewer innocent bystanders around, the better." she was saying to Basil, who looked more than a little put out by this.
"I can't. I don't have the authori-" Basil started.
"I do. I am giving you the accursed authority, now give the boy a Portkey!" Kendra snapped, interrupting him.
"She's so cool, isn't she?" Tonks muttered to me, "I read in her records that once, two Death Eaters turned themselves in when they heard she was on their case, because they were more scared of her than of Azkaban."
I raised an eyebrow at that ... with a temper like hers, I'd not be surprised, "Good thing she's on the right side, then." I noted.
Tonks smiled, and Kendra turned around, handing me a crumpled copy of a Muggle newspaper, "Ten seconds." she said, smiling.
I turned to Tonks, "Nice to meet you."
"You too." she replied, and that was all the time I had, as the Portkey pulled me back to Malfoy Manor.
* * *
I looked around, and almost immediately Mother swooped in to hug me tightly, "Oh, Draco, are you all right? How did you get back so quickly? You're not hurt, are you? Did you see what happened?" she pulled back to check me over, to make sure I wasn't injured, then hugged me again, "Oh, Draco, I was so worried!"
"I'm fine, Mother." I said calmly, squirming so the fact she was hugging me wasn't affecting my ability to breathe.
Unfortunately, as soon as I said that, she tightened her over-protective grip on me ... oxygen was becoming an issue, now. Just before I said that out loud, Father's voice came from behind me, "Narcissa, don't forget the boy needs to breathe." he said coldly. Mother let me go, reluctantly. I turned around to look at him - considering the fact that he was drunk, and had just been out causing a riot at a Quidditch match, he looked surprisingly unruffled, "Are you all right, Draco?" Father asked in a detached way.
"Yes, I'm fine. I think I saw the Ministry catch Vincent and Gregory, though." only time you say their first names is when you need to distinguish between them and their fathers.
Father snorted. "They're underage ... they'll get off fine."
"And why do you care if I got caught or not, then?" I asked, somehow managing to make it not sound impudent.
"It would tarnish the family's good name. The Crabbes and Goyles already have a bad name."
I nodded slightly. That much was true. "Well, I didn't get caught ... I played the innocent bystander very well." I noted.
"Good, good." Father said sounding like he wasn't much paying attention, or caring what I said, "Now, go up to your room, Draco. It's late."
I sighed, briefly contemplating making a fuss over that order, but decided against it - it really was late. I nodded, "Yes, Father." and I walked up the stairs, in the direction of my room, pausing to glance over my shoulder, just long enough to see my father whispering something to Mother, and her face lose what little colour was visible in it. That's not encouraging ... not at all. I decided to make myself scarce, then.
* * *
The next morning, I came down for breakfast to find my mother shooting nervous looks at something on the table, and my father acting like nothing happened. That is to say, just as cold as usual. I took my seat, and started eating the food without even registering what I was eating ... you could cut the tension with a knife. I mean, so what if he was acting like nothing had happened, I could still feel the bad atmosphere. After a few minutes, I sneaked a peak at whatever it was that Mother had been glancing nervously at ... the Daily Prophet, face down so all we could see was the sports pages. Another few minutes passed in tense silence, and then I glanced up again to see that both my parents had barely moved an inch. Then, as I watched, Father threw down his knife and fork, and stalked out of the room towards his private study. I then looked at Mother ... she sighed, and gave me a sad look.
"What's wrong?" I asked quietly, a little bit paranoid that he might be listening through the door.
She didn't say anything, just nodded towards the Daily Prophet. A bit nervously, I picked it up, and looked at the front page.
'SCENES OF TERROR AT THE QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP
Last night, for the first time in thirteen years, the Dark Mark
- the infamous and feared symbol of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named -
was seen in the sky. The Dark Mark has always previously been
seen at the site of a murder committed by You-Know-Who, or one
of his followers. A few hours after the phenomenal Quidditch
World Cup final, a group of Muggle-torturers, several of which
were reported to be wearing the masks associated with Death
Eaters - the followers of You-Know-Who. Minutes later, the Dark
Mark was cast into the sky over the nearby wood into which
terrified match attendees had fled from the attackers.
With dozens of on-duty Aurors on site, it must be one of the
greatest Ministry blunders in history that the culprits were
not apprehended. Were the Aurors perhaps too busy celebrating,
along with the Irish? It seems that the only Ministry workers
who even tried to search for the source of the Dark Mark were
older officials, with no connections to the Department of
Magical Law Enforcement, Dark Arts Eradication Division. With
the sort of lax security that allows Dark wizards running
unchecked like this, especially in front of foreign delegates,
is a national disgrace.
If the terrified wizards and witches who waited breathlessly
for news at the edge of the wood expected reassurance from the
Ministry of Magic, they were sadly disappointed. A Ministry
official emerged some time after the appearance of the Dark
Mark, alleging that nobody had been hurt, but refusing to give
any more information. Whether this statement will be enough to
quash the rumours that several bodies were removed from the
woods an hour later, remains to be seen.
Special report, from Rita Skeeter.'
And it had a black-and-white picture of the Dark Mark as well. "Oh," was all I could say.
"Your father told me about that last night, after you went to bed." Mother said, pointing sharply to the picture on the front of the paper.
"Hmm ... can I keep this?" I asked.
"Why would you want to?" Mother asked, scowling.
"I just want to cut out the written part of that article ... I'd throw out the rest of the paper."
"I suppose so. Give the rest of the paper to Kitty, to throw out, when you're done." Mother said, sighing.
I nodded, took the paper, and left the table, "Thank you, Mother."
Kitty is another house-elf ... I don't like Kitty much - she's old, and always looks at me funny. She was the elf who took care of my mother when she was a child, in the same way Dobby had taken care of me when I was younger. But considering we lost Dobby, we've only got Kitty and Ferris left. They're Dobby's parents ... and you've guessed it, Ferris was Father's personal elf-servant when he was a child. There were other house-elves in the Manor, once ... but that was before my time ... and before the Magical Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to House-elves took most of them away from our family ... I wonder why (sarcasm).
I got up to my room, locked the door, and walked over to my desk. This article is more than just an amusing rant against the Ministry, it's the first public sign of the inevitable, and while everyone else who reads it probably thinks it was just some trouble-making stunt, I'm sure it must be more than that.
I took out a blank hard-backed black-covered book, a pair of scissors, a quill and ink, and sat down with the paper. Someone needs to keep track of this sort of thing - the Ministry won't care much. I cut out the article, including the picture, and pressed it into the front page of the blank book ... it stuck there, which it's supposed to do - this book is a magical scrap book, which I got when I was nine. It was supposed to be for Quidditch magazine clippings, but I never used it ... until now. I added the date in, above the article, with a few notes about what I saw in the forest - Veela, a mad house-elf that called itself Winky with an invisible and quite solid shadow, the boy-who-lived-to-annoy-me. Now, which of those is the most suspicious? You do the math.
I underlined the mention of the house-elf in my notes.
* * *
End of chapter 3