Chapter 21

"Draco?" Andromeda whispered, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and confusion. "What on earth-"

Draco held up his hand. "I can explain myself. I have broken ties with my family, and I no longer associate with them."

Andromeda looked almost stricken, and then hesitantly, she looked around.

"Would you like to come in?" she ventured finally, as if assuring that no one was seeing her do this.

"Yes," Draco said. "I want to talk to you about a family member."


Andromeda had them sit at a small coffee table in the tiny but comfortable sitting room. She brought in a tea tray, and served them with nervous shaking hands.

"Now," she started, folding her long hands in her lap, as if she was afraid they would get loose. "Why are you here?"

Draco took a sip of his tea, as if he wanted to avoid the subject.

"I was hoping you knew something about Marissa Malfoy," he said finally, setting down his tea-cup.

"Marissa?" Andromeda said, seeming slightly surprised. "Let's see. Marissa was a second cousin on your grandfather's side, and a third cousin in your grandmother's family."

"Double cousins?" Hermione exclaimed. "Is that possible?"

Andromeda shrugged. "Pure-blood families are interwoven like a blanket, we are all related. Marissa was one of Talfryn Malfoy's children. Her brother, Mihangel, was very sweet. Bellatrix was to be married to him, but he died. Marissa married a Lestrange, I believe it was Ronan, a cousin of Rodolphus and Rastaban."

"She was married?" Draco asked, leaning forward. "Did they have any children?"

"Yes," she replied firmly. "Twins. Arianrhod and Asenath, a girl and boy. They're about your age now."

"Do you know where Marissa is now?" Draco asked intensely, leaning forward, his eyes locked on his aunt's.

Andromeda looked away. "Yes, I do."

"Where is she?" Draco asked. "I need to know."

She shook her head. "I can't tell you, she would kill me. She has been trying to escape your family her entire life, she would not want to see you."

"I do not represent my family," Draco said, anger edging into his voice. "I need to know more about Natalya Malfoy."

Andromeda nearly dropped her tea-cup.

"What did you say?" Andromeda asked.

"I need to know about Natalya Malfoy," Draco repeated almost tersely. "It's vital, terribly important."

Andromeda shakily put her cup down, and looked at Draco icily. "I have not heard that name since I was young." She set her mouth disapprovingly. "Do not wave that name like a banner, young man. Those who are dead should keep their secrets, and Natalya Malfoy's secrets should not be disturbed. Whatever her portrait has told you, you should keep to yourself."

"Please," Draco said desperately. "I need to know more about her."

Andromeda closed her eyes, and then opened them again slowly. "If you are searching for your siblings, do not. They do not exist."

"Siblings?" Hermione repeated. "We've only found one."

Andromeda shuddered. "I shall direct you to Marissa, but beware the consequences of unearthing things long dead. The Malfoy family has made a very good effort of burying all traces of those children, they should remain buried."

"They have a right to know," Draco argued. Andromeda smiled, sending a shiver down Hermione's spine.

"We know about our families," she said. "And, don't we both wished we didn't?"


Hermione and Draco stood on the quiet muggle street staring at the piece of paper Andromeda Tonks had given them.

"Number 21 Zenith Drive, Ipswich," Hermione read aloud. "Well, let's go. It's only one o'clock, we've got plenty of time."

With that, they vanished into thin air with a crack.

A little old lady crossing the street at that moment nearly gave herself a heart attack seeing to seemingly nice young teenagers vanish. Presently she decided that it had been her imagination, and that her medicine must be wearing off.


Hermione and Draco appeared on the doorstep of a pretty cottage on the outskirts of Ipswich.

The house was that of someone who has plenty of time to fix up their garden and work on the house itself. At one point it had been a real dive, but the family who had bought the house dedicated a good five years to it's recovery.

Draco rang the doorbell. The door swung open, and a teenage boy with very dark hair stood staring at them. Hermione once again found herself staring into the very pale grey eyes of a Malfoy.

"Hello," he said. "Can I help you?"

"I'm looking for Marissa um…" Draco said, desperately trying to remember her married name. "Malfoy?"

"Sorry, no Malfoy's here," the boy said. "But my mum's named Marissa, perhaps you're looking for her?"

"Yeah," Hermione said. "We just want to talk to her a minute."

"I'll get her," the boy said, and vanished into the house.

Moments later a very pale blond woman appeared.

"Hello," she began, but her words died on her lips as her eyes roamed across Draco's face.

"Hello Aunt Marissa," Draco said tentatively.

"Good lord, get out of here," she said angrily, moving quickly to slam the door shut.

"No wait," Draco said, putting his foot in the threshold. "I can explain myself."

"Who gave you my address?" Marissa snapped. "Who?"

"Andromeda Tonks," Hermione said soothingly.

"Well, Lucius," she snapped furiously.

"I'm not Lucius," Draco interrupted quickly.

She paused. "Oh, dear me. I'm dreadfully sorry, I suppose I was just getting carried away. You are too young, but you do look awfully like him."

"Awfully is right," Draco quipped nervously. Marissa broke a smile, and traces of her old beauty came back.

"I'm so sorry about the whole door thing," she said weakly, opening it wide. "I got carried away. Before I let you in, though, who are you?"

"I'm Draco," he said. "But I've cut ties with my family. I'm here because I would like to ask you a few questions about my half-siblings, and Natalya Malfoy."

Marissa looked shocked for a second, but after a long pause of awkward silence, she motioned for them to come inside.

"Forgive me," she said quietly. "But I do not think you should be worrying about this. Let the dead keep their secrets."


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