Chapter 42

A/N Thank you, thank you Maria for making the time to beta this, particularly given how late I managed to get that last part out to you.

Wergild is 'man price.' Part of the Old English code of kinship, traditionally each rank of society was evaluated at a definite monetary value. The price had to be paid to a dead man's kinsmen by the killer wishing to avoid vengeance. Money wasn't really the point as much as the proof that the kinsmen had found a way to satisfy their grief. This is the traditional meaning which is mentioned in an earlier chapter. In this chapter we will be exploring a few other options on how to exact compensation for the loss of a kinsman.

#### Change in narrator

**** elapse in time

Admittedly yesterday's visit with Minerva had ended a bit more abruptly than he had hoped, but Albus Dumbledore had never been one to give up. However, peeking into Kettleburn's office today he found an obstacle that hadn't been there yesterday; Professor Kettleburn.

"Hello Albus."

Fortunately the young professor seemed to find his presence here much more tolerable than Dippet would have.

"Kevric."

It was clear by his tone that Kettleburn already knew the answer before asking his question. "So Dumbledore, what ever brings you here?"

"I had a free moment and thought I would stop in to say hello to Miss Grindelwald."

Kettleburn seemed amused. "A free moment? That's funny, I thought you had a class this hour?"

Dumbledore offered up a slight smile. "Odd that you should mention it, I was under the impression, apparently mistaken, that you had a class this hour too."

Kettleburn shrugged. "No point in holding the fourth year Hufflepuff class with all the fourth year Hufflepuffs gone."

Regrettably that much Dumbledore knew was true. Since the revelation of the girl's presence at Hogwarts, most classes had decreased in size and a few, like fourth year Hufflepuffs and the first year Ravenclaws, had been eliminated entirely.

"So what did you do, let your class out ten minutes early so you could beat Riddle to getting here?"

Slightly abashed, Dumbledore admitted the truth. "Fifteen minutes. Tom can run quite quickly." As if it made it somehow more acceptable, he added, "I gave them extra homework."

Kettleburn no longer seemed amused as he responded. "That he can. Particularly when he is running off to Dippet to snitch on you. If you haven't been there already, expect to be called to the Headmaster's office sometime today for a reprimand. Really Albus, did you think neither Tom nor Dippet would notice the present you left?"

Now that Kevric mentioned it, it probably wasn't the best thought out plan he had ever had.

"I must say, your present certainly caused quite a row last night. Tom threw quite the fit trying to get the box away from Kitten. When I came in the doll was all in little pieces."

Not wanting to interrupt, Dumbledore allowed the other professor to go on speaking rather than explain what had actually happened with the doll. He found it incredibly odd that the other professor continued to refer to the girl not by her real name, but by the one that had been made up by the family of muggles who had briefly taken her in.

"Repairing it would have been easy enough, but Tom insisted on bringing it to Dippet. Dippet did not want you 'leaving any mementos for the girl' and got rid of it. Kitten was not at all pleased. I tell you that little girl has got quite the temper. She sent Tom packing and refused to speak to him for the rest of the night.

Now that Kitten has a pet of her own, she is transferring some of her attachment to Tom towards the puffskein instead. Though I'm sure they will patch things up in the next day or two, I think a little separation will be good for them."

Dumbledore felt more than a touch of anger and frustration to learn the present he had devoted so much time to picking out had been taken away from Minerva. He added to that further disappointment as Kettleburn continued.

"Sorry to let you down, but you dismissed your class early for nothing." Kettleburn nodded in the direction of the other door. "Kitten is still asleep."

Looking through the other doorway for the first time, Dumbledore could see what Kettleburn said was true. The girl was indeed still sleeping. Even in her slumber, her arms were wrapped lovingly around the puffskein from the day before. Though had it been any other creature, it would have been too tightly, the puffskein didn't seem to mind. Puffskeins were fond of being handled roughly and he could hear a happy hum emanating from the creature.

It was almost ten and the girl was still sleeping? "She seemed to be doing very well yesterday. Is she feeling poorly again?"

Kettleburn shrugged awkwardly in answering. "Oh, you know, she has good spots and bad spots."

Something about Dumbledore's concerned expression must have softened Kettleburn's resolve. Reluctantly he made an admission. "She stayed up half the night trying to make more snots for the puffskein." Kettleburn shook his head, amused. "Don't ask."

Kettleburn paused a moment. To Dumbledore he seemed to be internally debating some point. At last he came to a decision and again spoke.

"Dippet said he will be stopping by to see the girl some time later this morning. Why don't you try to stop back by after lunch? You can say a quick hello then. I'm actually glad you stopped by now. I could use your help with something."

Maybe he had been spending too much time around Dippet. Briefly, Dumbledore wondered if this was to be quid pro quo.

"I stopped giving Kitten the mandrake potion. I…I don't think it's good for her."

Dumbledore nodded his understanding. He too had found the girl's lethargic reaction to the potion troubling. Still, there were other worries that had to be balanced. As Kettleburn kept talking, they were addressed.

"I've spoken to her about not transforming, and so far, she hasn't. But she doesn't always listen well and that auror, Moody, has been sniffing around like a niffler lately. I know you are friends with him, I was hoping you could help in getting him to back off, at least a little."

Dumbledore nodded. "I'll see what I can do."

###########################################

Kevric Kettleburn was surprised to see Tom wander in shortly before lunch. He would have thought the boy capable of holding out at least a little longer.

"Hi Kitten."

By Kitten's glare, it was clear she wasn't ready to forgive and forget. After a moment she returned her attentions to the puffskein.

When Tom sat on the bed next to her, Kitten turned to face away from him. Tom sighed. His exasperated command got her to face him again.

"Stop being angry with me!"

Listening from desk in his adjoining office, not for the first time Kevric wondered about the level of Tom's emotional maturity. Did he really think it was possible to command other people's emotions?

Kitten eyed Tom, assessing him before offering him a way to get back into her good graces. "Give my puffskein your bogies."

Tom looked disgusted by the notion. "That thing is disgusting! I can't believe you like it!"

That was not the response Kitten was looking for. Again turning away from him, she clutched the puffskein protectively. "If you cannot say nice things about my puffskein, you will need to leave."

Tom looked ready to pitch a fit, but kept silent. After a minute of silence, Kitten tried again in her slightly demanding tone. "Let him have your bogies."

Kevric expected Tom to again refuse, to yell, or to leave. Surprisingly, Tom came up with something of a compromise. Looking very fed-up, he blew his nose, wadded up the tissue and threw it at the puffskein.

Personally, Kevric thought the boy was missing out. Having your nose cleaned out by a puffskein might not be the most dignified looking thing, but it was a fun experience. Kitten seemed okay with the compromise. She petted the happily humming puffskein as it devoured the tissue.

Tom really didn't like the puffskein. He seemed to be trying to get Kitten away from it. "Come to lunch with me in the Great Hall."

His plan didn't work.

"Okay, but my puffskein needs to come with us."

Tom shook his head. "Puffskeins aren't allowed in the Great Hall."

"If my puffskein is not allowed than I do not want to go."

Tom sighed and transfigured Kitten's nightdress into robes. "Just this once."

As Kitten, clutching the puffskein possessively, scrambled out of the bed, Kettleburn rose from his desk to intercede. That auror had been poking around again earlier today and Kevric wasn't sure if he was still floating around somewhere. He really couldn't allow the auror to see Kitten out and about.

"Sorry Tom, but Kitten needs to stay here and rest."

Kitten disagreed before Tom had a chance to. "I feel okay."

Kevric shooed her back to the bed and untransfigured her robes. "I know, but let's play a game. Let's make believe you still aren't feeling well. Just for a few more days."

Kitten looked a little confused and disappointed. Kevric conjured an assortment of lunch items from the kitchens and went on talking. "You can still have lunch with Tom, but you need to stay here to do it."

Still looking confused at what was going on and looking more disappointed given the foods he had conjured, Kitten climbed back into bed. Unlike Dippet, Kevric refused to let the girl eat just sugar. From the first he had made it clear that she couldn't just fill up on deserts, she had to eat a normal diet. Well, almost normal; he had eventually given up on trying to get her to eat vegetation of any kind.

And so as he headed back to his desk, Kevric was quite surprised to hear Kitten actually ask Tom for one of his vegetables.

"May I have your pickle?"

Tom smiled and immediately held out the pickle.

Maybe it was just Dumbledore's warnings making him suspicious, but more and more Tom's behavior was beginning to make him uneasy. At the moment it wasn't so much what Tom did, but his words to Kitten as he did it.

"You know I would give you anything that you want. If it is something that I don't have, I will get it for you."

Tom wasn't being entirely truthful anyway. Kitten immediately found a request Tom would not fill.

"I want my box back."

Tom frowned. "I don't want you accepting anymore presents from Dumbledore. Besides, it was broken."

Still holding the uneaten pickle, now Kitten was frowning too. "I liked it the way it was. I liked the noise it made."

"If you want a doll, I'll get you a one."

"I do not want a doll. I do not like dolls and dolls do not like me."

Kevric found that last statement odd and from the look of it, Tom did too. He seemed to be about to question her on it, but became distracted when Kitten, still scowling at him, handed the pickle to the puffskein.

Tom looked incensed. "I thought you wanted the pickle?"

Kitten readily nodded. "I did. I wanted it so I could give it to my puffskein."

Tom didn't seem to find that an acceptable response. "You took my pickle just to give it to that silly puffskein?"

Kitten didn't seem to see what the problem was. She shrugged. "My puffskein wanted it."

More and more it looked like Tom was going to be finding the puffskein to be a serious competitor in the contest for Kitten's affections.

###########################################

This time before peering into Kettleburn's office, Albus Dumbledore had the foresight to turn himself invisible. Already today he had encountered the Headmaster and though Dippet had been too busy at the time to formally and properly berate him, Dippet had scheduled a meeting in his office later for just that purpose. To be again found trying to see Miss Grindelwald would no doubt add to Dippet's fury, but Dumbledore was no longer concerning himself with following Dippet's orders. At least on this particular matter. However, that was no reason to be careless and to needlessly get Professor Kettleburn into trouble as well.

Seeing that Kettleburn was the only occupant of the office, Dumbledore appeared with a slight popping noise.

Kettleburn looked up from the essays he was correcting, startled. "Knowing you can do that is very unsettling. Did someone in your family mate with a Demiguise?" Kettleburn looked apologetic as he went on. "Something came up and Dippet changed his plans. He'll be here in ten minutes for his visit with Kitten so I can only give you five minutes before you'll need to leave."

That was very disappointing. Five minutes wasn't long, but Dumbledore had no desire to argue with his fellow professor. Kettleburn was not yet tenured at Hogwarts and Dumbledore was well aware that the young professor was putting himself at risk by disregarding Dippet's orders.

Dumbledore simply nodded his appreciation. As he knocked and pushed open the door to Minerva's bedchamber, he pulled out his watch to mark the time.

He offered her his warmest smile. "Hello again."

She momentarily took her concentration off of the puffskein in her lap to look up at him. "Hi."

"How are you feeling today?"

She shrugged noncommittally in response. She looked very uncertain. Surely it was not at the question, so it must be at him. It would appear yesterday was yesterday and today was a new day. He had gotten an opening greeting, so if most of his progress with her yesterday had been forgotten, at least it had not all been lost. Looking down at his watch he calculated that already one of his minutes had elapsed.

Looking back up at Minerva he saw her gaze too had gone to his watch. Smiling, he held it out towards her by the chain so that she might get a better look at it. "Yes, it is most interesting, isn't it? It has been in my family for generations."

She looked up from the watch to meet his eyes before extending her hand to the watch. He released the chain as she took the watch part into her hand. As she brought it closer and examined the twelve hands and the little planets, he again spoke.

"It is really quite fascinating. It looks very complex, but in actuality it is very easy to understand. You see…" He trailed off in his explanation as having apparently finished examining the watch, Minerva snapped it shut and placed it in the pocket of her dressing gown. "What are you doing?"

She smiled at him. "It is a pocket watch, is it not?"

Suddenly Dumbledore wasn't feeling quite so sure about what was going on. Kettleburn chose that moment to stick his head in. "I'm sorry, Dumbledore, but you really need to go."

Dumbledore nodded to the other professor, "Just another moment." He turned his attentions back to the girl. "May I have the watch back, please?"

Minerva looked at him in a way that in someone older he might have called almost appraising. She seemed to sincerely consider his request before responding. "No. No, I do not think so. It is mine now. You gave it to me."

It was true, he had handed it to her. But his intention had only been to let her look at it, not to keep it. "I'm sorry, but I didn't really mean to give it to you. I would like it back now."

This wasn't going well at all. Now she looked almost offended. Her lips were twitching. "No, I do not think so. You gave it to me so it is mine now. I have grown rather fond of it and I am going to keep it."

Dumbledore looked to his colleague for help. Kettleburn was coughing and faced in the other direction, no doubt checking the other door, concerned about Dippet's impending arrival. He would have to come back later or tomorrow and reason with the girl.

As he headed out the door she called out to him. "Thank you for the watch!"

As he exited the office he thought he heard laughter, but surely it was coming from the other direction. Surely.

##############################################

Kevric Kettleburn smiled and shook his head, amazed and amused at what he had just seen. The great Albus Dumbledore, Wizengamot member and Order of Merlin, First class, had just been hustled out of a family heirloom by a child of no more than eight.

Kevric paused in the doorway a moment, watching Kitten. Now that Dumbledore was gone, the watch had come back out and she was examining it intently. Walking into the room, he held out his hand. "Alright, hand it over."

Kitten gripped the watch tightly. "It is mine now. He gave it to me."

"No, he really didn't. And it's not nice to lie."

Kevric blushed at the girl's retort. "But it is okay to pretend to be sick and collect presents?"

It took him a moment to realize she was genuinely confused. As Kevric moved to sit next to her on the bed, Kitten quickly returned the watch to the shelter of her pocket and gathered the puffskein into the safety of her arms.

"Well, no, but sometimes the answers aren't that cut and dry. Sometimes people have very good reasons for not telling the whole truth or for pretending."

Kitten didn't look convinced.

"It's complicated, but that's not what we're talking about right now. That watch has been in Professor Dumbledore's family for a long time. It is important to him and he wants it back. You and I both know he didn't really mean to give it to you."

Kitten still didn't look at all convinced. "Maybe you think that, but I do not. If it was important to him, he would not have been trying to give it away."

Kevric was about to interrupt, to point out Dumbledore hadn't really been trying to give the watch away, but Kitten went on speaking solemnly.

"He did not really want it anymore. If you really love something, you do not offer it to someone else."

She looked so earnest. Kevric stared at her for a moment before coming to a few decisions, one of which was to let Dumbledore worry about getting his own watch back.

"Make sure Tom and Headmaster Dippet don't catch sight of that watch."

He shook his head, but couldn't help but smile at the way her eyes lit up now that she was getting her way. Everyone always giving in to her was such a very, very bad idea.

"And you are going to class tomorrow."

###########################################

Armando Dippet sighed as this time the blasted puffskein snatched a red checker right out of his hand. Had he been allowed to make his move, he could have done a double hop and captured two of the girl's pieces. As it was now, he hadn't any pieces left.

"Why doesn't he ever eat yours?"

The girl petted the happily humming puffskein while responding. In the beginning, Dippet had been horrified to learn Master Kettleburn had given the girl a puffskein as a pet. He had angrily inquired if he had given it to her on a dinner plate or just with a fork stuck in it. Quite honestly, he was amazed the puffskein had lasted a day given the way the girl regarded Mr. Keys.

But perhaps it was time to admit Master Kettleburn was correct. While the girl knew cats readily consumed frogs and mice, the puffskein would remain safe so long as the knowledge that they also ate puffskeins was kept from her. Certainly the girl seemed rather involved with it.

"I think he only likes the red ones."

"I see," Dippet replied dryly.

Observing the girl at long last take a sip of the milk he had conjured, Dippet felt no small amount of satisfaction. He had outwitted her.

Today before coming to her chamber, he had gone to the kitchens. There he had, with the help of the elves, prepared her beverage of milk and mandrake potion. Once in her chambers, he had conjured the glass and presented it to her immediately, with no apparent opportunity to have tampered with it.

Still holding the glass, the girl stared at him. "It needs sugar."

Dippet frowned. "No, it doesn't."

Still staring at him, the girl repeated herself. "I really think it does."

Dippet knew if he didn't give in she would just continue harping on it. He sighed and conjured a dish of sugar. He shook his head watching her mix the contents of the two containers together. She took another sip and smiled. Dippet smiled as well, pleased with his deception.

With a newfound confidence, he implemented another idea. Conjuring replacements for the not precisely missing red checkers, he tilted the board. "Let us change sides. You play red this time."

Not entirely surprising, the puffskein's tastes switched sides as well. The girl shrugged impishly in response to his questioning glance and went on patting the puffskein proudly.

Dippet was more than ready to leave by the time Mr. Riddle arrived. Returning to his office, he took pride in having at least achieved his primary objective of getting the girl to drink the mandrake potion.

It was several hours later that he discovered even in that he had been wrong. After sitting down to dinner, while taking a drink from his ornate goblet, he discovered the girl's mandrake potion waiting for him.

After dinner Armando Dippet had summoned Master Dumbledore to his office with the intention of in no uncertain terms making clear his position regarding association with the Grindelwald girl. As the girl's Head of House, Master Binns had also been requested to attend. Binns, always eager to listen in on one of the other faculty members being censured had readily agreed. Dippet had finished mentally collecting his thoughts and was about to begin, when he was interrupted.

Standing, Dippet turned to look, along with everyone else, as Mephistopheles Malfoy entered his office. It wasn't that the man entering was important that caused everyone to rise to attention, though he did sit on the school Board of Governors. It was the loud banging noise as Malfoy used his wand to open the door with such force that it hit the stone wall on the other side. The action and resulting noise were entirely deliberate. It was the only way that Mephistopheles Malfoy could command the attention of a group. Certainly, the people present had no respect for the man.

"Where is she?"

No one had any doubt as to whom Governor Malfoy was referring. Unlike his late brother, the briefly reigning Minister of Magic, Mephistopheles Malfoy had no subtlety. No subtlety at all.

"Hello Governor Malfoy. You know Masters Dumbledore and Binns. We were just sitting down to tea. Won't you join us?"

"Armando, surely you people aren't foolish enough to be drinking tea with that girl running around? Where is she? I wish to see her."

Ignoring the presumption of using his first name uninvited, Armando attempted to continue being civil. "Governor Malfoy, I don't believe I have yet had an opportunity to personally extend to you my condolences on the loss of your wife."

He knew the appraising look Malfoy turned on him was an attempt to detect sarcasm or ridicule. Not yet able to discern any clear sign of it, Malfoy nodded his head slightly in acceptance.

"Yes, another tragic misfortune for my family. Perhaps it was for the best though. My wife was rather despondent since our son's death."

Dippet nodded his head politely, leaving unsaid his true thoughts. Dumbledore was not so willing.

"Tell me, Mephistopheles, if the subject does not pain you too much, how exactly did this one die?"

Malfoy didn't flinch or even blink before responding. In fact, he wore an almost smile. "This son or this wife?"

Dippet saw Master Dumbledore bristle at the other man's callousness. Governor Malfoy paused only long enough to allow for that reaction before explaining.

"My son fell down one of the staircases at our estate. Broke his neck in the fall. Died instantly. A pity really. And the timing! Do you know he would have been getting his letter and coming here in only a few months?"

Dippet knew for a fact that this was not the truth as the Book in his office had held no Malfoy name in over three decades. However, he held his tongue as Governor Malfoy went on.

"My wife, she didn't take the news well. But then really, do they ever? She blamed herself." Governor Malfoy's eyes traveled over the assembled men. His eyes twinkled as if having a secret he longed to share. "May I tell you something in confidence? I blamed her a little too."

Malfoy's lips twitched as he seemed to fondly reminisce. "There is a small uncovered walkway on the third floor. It connects the balconies outside our separate rooms. She was there one night and, I can only assume, the guilt was too much. The house elves didn't find her on the ground below until the next morning."

It was Master Binns who snorted, breaching the appearance of sincerity. "You might want to put an enchantment on the staircase and enclose the walkway. Those who refuse to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. What with similar accidents happening to your first two sons and wives, one would be inclined to think you were making it happen on purpose."

Rather than seem insulted, Governor Malfoy gave a smile to the History of Magic Master that clearly showed his teeth. "Ah, the gift of hindsight."

Malfoy was no longer to be distracted from his original goal. "Now tell me, where are you keeping the girl?"

"My apologies, Governor Malfoy, for your having traveled here needlessly, particularly in your time of grief. The girl will not be granting audiences tonight. Perhaps, next time you might send an owl in advance."

Governor Malfoy's teeth were still bared as he responded. "Surely, you will make an exception in my case."

"I'm afraid that won't be possible, Governor. The girl has been ill recently. She is resting right now and cannot be disturbed."

Governor Malfoy's eyes again held a glint. "Yes, I had heard something about that. Still, I had hoped to meet her today." With a false sigh of disappointment, Malfoy went on. "No matter, I will simply see her tomorrow after I file my petition with the Ministry."

By the slight tightening of Dumbledore's face, Dippet could tell he was not the only one alarmed by the Governor's words. Dumbledore inquired, "Petition?"

Malfoy drew out his next few words, clearly enjoying the suspense the others in the room were being kept in.

"Yes, you see now that I have become aware of the girl's existence, I am repetitioning regarding the wergild."

The sense of dread in Master Dumbledore's voice matched well with what Dippet was feeling. "The wergild? I was under the understanding you had already been given one of Grindelwald's house elves, Dibby, as payment of the wergild."

Governor Malfoy appeared to be attempting to give the impression of being highly insulted. "Surely you do not think my brother's life had the same worth as some lowly house elf? I will not be bought off so easily. I am demanding a life of equal value."

Clearly even the experiences with Minister Augustus had not opened Dumbledore's mind up to the absolute degradation of some people.

"You want to kill the girl because of something her father did? Actions she had no control over, no part in?"

Governor Malfoy's eyes still held too much of their malicious sparkle for such a simple answer. Again his words came out slowly, prolonging the other man's sense of foreboding.

"Not kill her. You are too simple minded, Dumbledore. There are other ways to fulfill the wergild. I want my family's loss not avenged, but replaced."

Dumbledore's voice now held a weary suspicion, a disbelief. "You want to take Grindelwald's daughter in place of the debt for your brother's life? You want to adopt the girl?"

The glint was still alive in Governor Malfoy's eyes. "No, Dumbledore. Being as there is only one other way to fulfill the wergild, I will allow you one more guess."

Now everyone in the room, with the exception of the Governor, held the same sickened look. The wergild was an ancient way to prevent needless revenge killings amongst wizards.

If the slain witch or wizard's family so chose, they could decline the monetary option. In its place were three other options. There was of course the most obvious choice - the killing of the murderer or a close relation of the murderer in revenge.

The other two options were more complex. As Wizarding life was so precious and valuable, not only in sentimental terms, but in their potential in this world of dwindling magic, the needless slaying of one was highly discouraged. Instead, in earlier times, it had been an accepted practice to take a member of the offender's family, generally a child, in payment. The one taken would then be considered dead to their original family. As when a child was adopted, all ties, loyalties, and responsibilities to the family of origin would end. They would be accepted into their new family with full status and be expected to be fully devoted to their new family. All the Wizarding World would be expected to treat the one taken as if they had been born and always were a member of their new family.

Of course, this was easily said, but harder to accomplish. Old loyalties and prejudices were hard to overcome. Unless the child was extremely young it was difficult to fully ingrain them into their new family. This led to the third option, the one Mephistopheles Malfoy wished to exercise.

The temporary transfer of a breedable female until a new life had been conceived and safely delivered. The woman would then be returned, unharmed, while the infant remained behind.

Dumbledore's expression and tone were incredulous. "You want the girl to produce you an heir?"

"Very good, Dumbledore. Though, I must say, I don't quite understand why everyone seems to think you are so ingenious and quick thinking. Exactly how many tries did it take you to figure that out?"

Dumbledore was clearly revolted. "You cannot be serious! The girl is eight years old. She is only a child. Surely you-"

The Governor interrupted Dumbledore indignantly. "What kind of a man do you take me for?"

Himself still revolted and apprehensive, Dippet watched as Dumbledore's entire person seemed to relax, welcoming the other man's indignity and outrage as a sure sign he had been wrong about the depths of the other man's depravity. He was once again mistaken.

"I am not a fool, Dumbledore! I know she is too young. It could cause irreparable damage at too young of an age. I assure you, though I am not usually a patient man, I am aware of the benefits and the occasional necessity for delayed gratification.

After all, while one child would suffice for the wergild I would not be opposed to siring more. Once the first child is born, if she should so desire, I could be won over to allowing her to remain as a consort with access to the child, supervised of course."

Dippet found the twinkle in Malfoy's eyes while speaking his next words especially foul. "You know, I never was one to see a mother and child separated for long."

The plans for the girl that Malfoy related were so vile as to momentarily silence those assembled. After a brief pause, Governor Malfoy again appealed to Dippet.

"I am making my petition for custody of the girl at this time. Minister Augustus has assured me he sees no real challenge to my claim. After your little debacle, he seems disinclined to entertain any more of your requests and eager to dispose of the matter quickly. However, I have no set plans for her for the next few years besides allowing her time to mature. While I am certain I could find a pleasing use for her that would result in no lasting damage, I might also be persuaded to indulge the girl and allow her to remain here.

Now again I ask you Headmaster Dippet, would it be possible to have an audience with the girl, tonight?"

Dippet closed his eyes in disgust. It would appear Mephistopheles Malfoy had finally found a way to restore his family's failing bloodline. With three sons, by three different wives, all born squibs, there could be little doubt as to where the fault lie. No doubt the words Malfoy spoke regarding Minister Augustus would prove true. Governor Malfoy's claim through the wergild had some validity to it and after his rather smug dismissal of the Minister the other day, the man would be keen to find a way to prove Dippet wrong. That the girl would be caused to suffer as well would be seen by the Minister as either a matter of no concern to him or, more likely, an additional benefit.

Though he knew that if granted custody Governor Malfoy would under no circumstances allow the girl to remain, lacking any counter ideas at the moment, Dippet acquiesced. "Miss Grindelwald is currently staying in Master Kettleburn's office. I can escort you there myself."

Though it was entirely unnecessary for all three of them to escort the Governor to the Care of Magical Creature Master's office, Binns and Dumbledore nonetheless made the journey with them.

Upon their entering Kettleburn's office, the young Master looked up surprised. "Headmaster, what's going on?"

Governor Malfoy could clearly see the girl was not in the room. His face was briefly marred by a look of anger before his eyes settled on the other closed door in the room. Dippet nodded in response to Malfoy's glance, but Kettleburn stepped in the way to intercede.

"You can't go in there. Kitten is sleeping."

Malfoy gave the young Master a disdainful look. "I assure you, I have no intention of disturbing her." Kettleburn gave up on his attempts to block the other man's progress only after a look to Dippet. Malfoy brushed past him and opened the door.

Miss Grindelwald was indeed asleep, curled up with that awful puffskein held close. Malfoy approached the sleeping child's bed with a look that Dippet found most disturbing to be seen directed at a child. Almost reverentially Malfoy spoke. "Dark hair, gray eyes, pale skin….the last of the true purebloods and yet capable of creating more. Have you ever seen anything more lovely?"

Governor Malfoy had never been a man of his word. Despite his earlier assurance not to disturb the girl, Malfoy attempted to wake her. Kettleburn attempted to ward him off. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Malfoy did not heed the warning in Master Kettleburn's words or tone. Kitten foggily opened her eyes to regard the strange man in her temporary quarters. The smile with which Malfoy rewarded the girl did nothing to disarm Dippet's fears, but the girl did not seem particularly troubled by it.

"Hello, my dear. I am so relieved to see you are feeling better."

Miss Grindelwald fixed him with a dark look for awakening her, but suddenly brightened considerably. She glanced at the stranger's hands before asking excitedly, "Where is my present?"

Governor Malfoy looked if anything amused or pleased at the question. He chuckled before responding. "I haven't a present for you now, my dear, but soon you will be coming to live with me. Then I will have many wonderful presents for you."

The girl was not one to be put off so easily. She frowned. "What did you bring me today?"

A rather dark look again crossed her face as Governor Malfoy ignored the question. Now that it was clear he had not awoken her to give her a present she was no longer at all pleased at the interruption. "It is not wake up time yet. Wake up time is when the big hand is on the six and the little hand is on the eight and not a moment before."

"You are so very lovely."

As the Governor reached out to touch the girl's face, Kettleburn again tried to warn him off. "I really wouldn't do that."

Malfoy paid no more heed to that warning than he had the other. "So very lovely." As two of his fingers brushed across the girl's cheek and began to caress towards her lips, the girl gave a demonstration of her disapproval of him.

Rather than try to immediately pull his fingers away from her mouth as everyone she had previously bitten had done, Governor Malfoy forcefully pushed his fingers further into her mouth in an effort to make her give in. "We do not bite!"

Not easily intimidated either, Miss Grindelwald bit down harder rather than release. A small amount of Malfoy's blood could be seen to be coming out of the girl's mouth as the member of the School Board of Governors twisted his fingers within her mouth. Miss Grindelwald reached up and began to rake her fingernails down his face, concentrating on the weakest point, his eyes. Malfoy had to extract his fingers to use both hands in an attempt to try to grab hold of the girl's small wrists as she persisted in trying to gouge out his eyes. Out with his fingers came one of the girl's teeth which Malfoy had apparently taken hold of.

It wasn't that the four other men in the room stood by watching and doing nothing, though actually that was what open mouthed Master Binns did. It was simply that it all happened so quickly. As soon as they could find their wits, Dumbledore and Kettleburn quickly moved to try to pull Malfoy off of the girl and out of the room.

The tooth that Malfoy had extracted from the girl's mouth had been released from Malfoy's fingers as he had gripped the girl's second wrist. It had not the chance to land as the puffskein's tongue darted out. As soon as the puffskein's tongue brought the tooth into its mouth, two ranks of teeth emerged.

Despite everything else going on, the girl gave a delighted cry. "My puffskein's teeth came in!"

Malfoy finally gave up struggling with the girl and the two young Masters as the puffskein sank its jagged teeth into one of the arms grasping the girl. Minus a mouthful of his flesh, Governor Malfoy was forcefully ejected from the girl's chamber.

Straightening his robes, the Governor did seem somewhat put out by the experience, but his enthusiasm for the girl had not been diminished. "You can keep that monstrosity she calls a puffskein, but once I have her declawed and the rest of those teeth taken out, I am really going to enjoy breaking that one!"

tbc

A/N I've warned a few times now that a particular narrator's perspective and expectations can influence what they choose to see or how they interpret what they do see. If some of Moody's characterizations of Kitten in the last segment of chapter 41seemed a bit off to the reader, it might be worth comparing how others interpreted the same body language. I've tried to be fairly consistent in other character's interpretations of things like the habit of tilting her head in the chapters before and particularly in the segment immediately before Moody's. This isn't to say that all of Moody's interpretations were incorrect, but "her eyes glinted maliciously" is a rather simple misstep from say, 'her eyes sparkled excitedly'. Similarly, "her next words came out slow and demanding" might be coming out slowly due to confusion.

Redwoman There will be skipping back and forth from the present (Harry's time) to the past. The shifts to the past will happen in response to certain comments overheard or events seen by Harry in his time. Scenes from the past will be arranged in chronological order in regards to each other, with two exceptions that I will explain in the a/n preceding those parts. This section of flashbacks is only meant to answer the one question Harry actually posed to Dumbledore and is only a small, but very important part of the overall story.

Once this particular question of Harry's is resolved, he will get to run loose for a while collecting more questions. Then you get more flashbacks to answer those. Then more Harry. Then flashbacks, etc, etc.