Disclaimer: See chapter 1.

Correspondence

Draco Malfoy sat alone in the Slytherin common room, staring at the green flames burning in the fireplace. He found himself doing this more and more often as the year progressed. All of the Slytherin students whose parents were secretly Death Eaters avoided him at all costs. He knew who they were, and Dumbledore and Snape had asked him several times to divulge the information. But he knew better than to do something like that. As it was they just ignored his presence, but if he were to tell their secrets his life would become a living hell. It didn't matter much to him anyway. His two most faithful henchmen Crabbe and Goyle were gone. Their entire families had disappeared during the summer, and Draco knew not what had happened to them. Pansy Parkinson, who had been trying to get him into a relationship since their first year was the only one who really talked to him anymore, but the mere thought of it disgusted him.

Over the summer when Valissa had come to stay at Hogwarts he had been very hopeful at the prospect of having his sister to talk to again. She had always accepted him, no matter what he had done, and he had needed the comfort she offered after his mother's death. His mother had never shown him an ounce of true love, but still she was his mother, and she was dead because he could not kill Dumbledore. That had been a hard blow to withstand, and Valissa had understood how he felt without him even mentioning it. She had helped him to withstand those first few months, and for that he was extremely grateful.

So how had everything gone so wrong between them? She was a Gryffindor. She was friends with Potter and his freaks. And Draco was alone. He could not fathom why she would want to be friends with Mudbloods and Blood Traitors.

His thoughts turned to the last time they had spoken. He had used her mother's memory to hurt her. Why had he done that? He had loved her mother as if she was his own. And she had loved him too. He hated the fact that he had used her against Valissa. He knew how much she missed her mother. They had had so little time together. And then his mother had treated her no better then a House Elf. It wasn't right, and he knew better than to behave as he had been. Snape kept telling him that he was an adult now, and it was time he started acting as one, and for once he had to agree with him. But how could he fix what he had already screwed up. "Damnit, Val. Why can't things be as simple as they were when we were children?" He finally whispered in frustration.

At that moment he heard a squawking noise from one of the common room windows. He looked up and saw his owl, Pemberly, sitting at the window. He had seen little of the animal that year considering he rarely received post. But to his surprise the animal had a package attached to his leg.

Draco immediately stood and retrieved it. "Go on, Pem. I'll find you if I need you." He said to the irritated bird, whom apparently felt neglected by his owner. Pem flew from the window squawking in outrage.

Draco sat again and looked at the package. It was wrapped in plain brown paper, and he began to open it when he noticed the writing on the front.

Draco Malfoy

Slytherin Common Room

Hogwarts School

The words were written in the sharp heavy marks that he recognized as his fathers. His father had not written him since he entered Azkaban, and his fingers started to tremble as he finished opening the package. Would his father hate him for his failure to kill Dumbledore? Would he blame him for his mother's death? These questions rushed to the forefront of his mind.

The package contained a small leather bound book and a letter. He opened the letter and started reading.

Draco,

I'm sorry I have not written sooner, my son. It is difficult to find a way to send post that has not been searched. I have learned of the events from last school year. I cannot say that I am not disappointed that you were unable to perform the task given to you by the Dark Lord.Honestly you were not ready for such a task, but someday you will be.

I was very upset to here of your mother's fate, but I also do not blame that on you. She trusted Severus Snape, and that was her own mistake. But he will get what he deserves some day also.

But on to the most important reason why I have written you. There are those among your classmates that have passed information to me through their parents, and I was extremely surprised to hear that Valissa had been brought to Hogwarts. And it was very disturbing to hear of the alliances she has made while there. She has always rebelled against our ways, but this time she has gone too far. Therefore I have asked a friend to retrieve something for me and send it to you with this letter. You should have in your hands a very interesting private journal. Read it and use it well.

My son, I know that things look bleak for our family at the moment, but have faith in your father. I am working on something now that should restore us to our former glory. In the future, I may need to call on you to help me in this. I trust that I can count on you. Do not send a reply to this post. It would most likely be intercepted.

L.M.

Draco read the letter several times. He thought he would be elated that his father did not despise him, but it didn't seem to mean that much to him compared to the problems he was bogged down with. He pulled the journal out of the package and opened the first page. His eyes grew wide as he saw the name on the page.

This is the private journal of Helena Maxwell Malfoy. If this journal does not belong to you, continue reading at your own peril.

He swallowed hard at the name. Helena was Valissa's mother. This was her private journal containing all of her most private thoughts, and he held it in his fingers. In the case of most journals they were hexed so only the owner could read them, unless the owner was dead. So he knew he could open the journal and read it. But a thought had occurred to him. If he were to give this journal to Valissa, would she not see it as a peace offering? It was the perfect opportunity to repair the damage he had caused. But his father had told him to read it and use it. What did he mean by that?

Draco stood and went up to his dorm room and lounged comfortably on his bed. It was too late to find Valissa and give her the journal, so what would it hurt to read a few entries? He opened the journal again somewhere near the middle and picked a random entry.

Today was the most wonderful day I have had in such a long time. The children were playing in the garden very early and I was watching them. They are so wonderful to watch. Val at three years old is such a dainty little miss. Her beautiful dark hair seems to get longer every day. And Draco, dear little Draco at four years old has decided to become Val's greatest protector. They play games imagining that she is being held prisoner by an evil dragon, and Draco rescues her. They are so very different in both appearance and attitude, but they love each other beyond all others.

But I am getting away from what I meant to write. We were picking flowers in the garden this morning, and Draco decided that he must get me a flower from that horrible flesh-eating plant that his father wanted. He said it was the most beautiful flower in the garden. I tried to explain to him that it was bait for animals that got too close. I was sure he would not disobey me. But while I wasn't looking he tried to pick the flower. His scream made my heart freeze. The plant had bitten him, making a large gash in his small hand. I did my best to comfort him as I mended the cut with a spell. But I could tell how upset he was. After he finally calmed down, he whispered something I had never dreamed to hear. He said, "I love you, Mommy." He was so afraid afterwards. He knew his mother would be very angry with him for calling me that. I promised him that I would never tell a soul, and so did Val.

I have to admit that even though I had been afraid for him also, my heart soared when he called me Mommy. I know he is not my son, but I love him more than I could ever have, even if he had been mine by blood. My one prayer, knowing that I could be gone from this world at any moment, is that he and Val will always remain as they are now, and will never be alone as long as the other is alive.

As Always,

Helena

As Draco read the last line he swallowed hard, feeling an uncomfortable knot forming in his throat. His hand flew to his eyes and he wiped away the tears that had started to fall. Why did it have to be that passage? He remembered that day, as if it had only been yesterday. Helena had been the mother that Narcissa would not be to him. She had kissed away his hurts and fears, and every time he looked into Val's emerald green eyes, that were identical to her mothers, he felt the same overwhelming love that he had felt for Helena. He closed the journal and slid it under his pillow, knowing then that he would not be able to give it to Val. He wanted to share it with her, but he could not bear to part with it, not yet. "I'm sorry, Val. I need it right now." He whispered to the quiet room.