Disclaimer: All rights belong to J.K. Rowling
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This chapter will cover the Hogwarts letter and Diagon Alley. Hope you enjoy!
Morning 30th July 1991, Malfoy Manor
Narcissa smiled serenely, as Draco bounced down the beautifully carpeted staircase of Malfoy Manor, a letter in-hand. "Mum! Mum! I got it! I got it!" he shouted joyfully.
"Now, now sweetie," she calmed him. "What did you get?" Narcissa knew full well what he got, for it was all he talked about, him and Corvus. The Hogwarts Acceptance Letter. She had been equally excited, nearly bursting from anticipation.
"My letter, mum!" he responded ecstatically, before trying to clarify, 'my acceptance letter to Hogwarts."
"That's wonderful Draco, your father will be so proud!" she told him. Draco beamed at the praise, his smiled widened impossibly. Whatever she told her son, her husband was not pleased. He would mutter something about how it should have been Durmstrang. For the past year, he had gone on about nothing else except 'Durmstrang this and Durmstrang that', how Karkaroff had not forgotten the values proper wizards kept, unlike the 'senile, old fool' that Dumbledore was. They had fought over sending Draco to Durmstrang for a very, very long time. Narcissa had won out. Hogwarts was the school of Britain's wizarding society; it had taught generations of Malfoys and Blacks. Hogwarts was simply the best. Only the best would do for Draco! And Corvus of course. If the price of an education so prized was to have to bear the presence of certain filthy elements, then so be it.
"Now sweetie, don't you have something to do?"
"What mum?" he asked in an exasperated tone.
"Read the letter Draco. You must respond by a certain date, the 31st I believe it is? It's the 30th today."
"Merlin's beard, what if my letter won't make it in time?"
"If you respond now, I'm sure all will be well! Run along now!" she told him with false urgency in her voice.
"Thanks mum!" As soon as the words left his mouth, he started to bounce away to the owlery.
"Draco!" Narcissa cried out after him. Draco turned.
"Yes, mum?" he asked with a tinge of annoyance.
"Where is your cousin? Did he get his letter?"
"Corvus is still upstairs, probably looking at the textbook list. What a bloody bore!" he shouted back, before continuing his way to the owlery.
"Language, Draco!"
"Sorry mum!" he said quite insincerely. Narcissa ignored it. It was a special day, and besides, she could not stay mad at her Draco.
She decided to check up on Corvus. She walked up two flights of stairs to get to his room, which she found, surprisingly, open. Her nephew sat on is bed, attentively reading a piece of parchment.
"Corvus dear, good morning." She greeted him. His electric blue eyes darted up from his letter and focused in on her.
"Good morning, aunt." He replied in a quiet voice and handed her the paper. "My acceptance letter, it came this morning."
"Congratulations nephew, you did well. Your father and mother would be so proud!" she almost regretted saying those words, as Corvus' face saddened. His parents were a sore subject, one best avoided. Narcissa tried to approach him about them, but he never liked it.
"Would they?" he asked sceptically. Narcissa's heart throbbed at the sadness in his voice.
"They would be nephew. You look so much like them. Rod and Bella both. You look so much like them. Your eyes are so much like your father's, you're as tall as he was at your age. Yet your hair, your face, it's as if it was my sister, in male form of course, in front of me!"
"Is that a good thing?" he asked dejectedly.
"Corvus, you are not your parents. Even if you were, why would that be a bad thing? They loved you fiercely. They fought for a better world, for you! If they would see you know, they would be so, so happy." He smiled at that, sniffling a little. She quickly changed the topic.
"Have you written back yet?"
"I have. I wrote my response to it a month ago. I just sent Darkwing with it." He explained.
Darkwing was his raven, a gift from his parents on his first birthday. It was large and black, magically breed to live for as long as its master. Corvus loved the bird. It was a sign of his heritage. He used it as a surrogate owl, he seemed to enjoy the way it frightened people, how it reminded all which family he belonged to.
He enjoyed reminders of his parents specifically a lot less. That is why Narcissa barely brought it up. Only Lucius talked about them to Corvus.
"When will we go to Diagon Alley, aunt?" he inquired, "The letter says we need: robes, a hat gloves and a coat. Have you seen the textbook list? 8 books. I need a wand as well!" he listed dutifully.
"We will go with your uncle and cousin tomorrow. We will want to avoid the crowd, the mudbloods will arrive later, we will at least be spared of their presence for a while longer."
"The letter says that only an owl or a cat or a toad can be taken. Will Darkwing be able to come?" he asked with slight fear.
"I am sure they will make an exception for your pet, Corvus."
"That's good." He spoke relievedly. For such a mature child, he could be worked up quite easily. It was the Black in him, the passion. The anger, the madness too, but she hoped he would not be like his other ancestors. The Lestranges were known for their fiery temper as well.
"I will leave you know, come down when you wish, breakfast will be served in a couple of minutes, get dressed."
"Yes aunt." With that she left him.
Late Afternoon 30th July 1991, Malfoy Manor
The day had passed fairly quickly after the letters had been received. The boys had gone to play quidditch after a short breakfast, before coming back to eat lunch. During both meals, they, or rather Draco, had pestered her for stories from and about Hogwarts. She told them about the different classes, the magic staircase, the endless library.
She talked about Lucius' time at Hogwarts, then finally about Bellatrix's. That caught Corvus' attention for a short while at least. Everyone retired for an hour, Draco went to play a few of his toys, while Corvus went to read a book. Narcissa read her own book, The Complete Codex on the Healing Arts by Hippocrates. It was her speciality, healing.
It was three more hours after, that Lucius returned home. He flooed into the flooing fireplace in the small house situated at the gates of the manor. He apparated to the front door and went inside.
"Welcome home, husband." She greeted him with a light kiss to the cheek. "Draco, Corvus come, he's home!"
Two figures rushed towards them, one stopping a couple of feet away, while the other ran up and embraced Lucius.
"Father," he started, looking up at Lucius, "We got our letters today father!" Lucius paused for a moment and his face soured a tiny bit, but before he could say anything, Narcissa sent him the smallest of glares, which immediately schooled his expression.
"Good job, Draco." He muttered a bit awkwardly, before a smile sprouted on his face. He ruffled Draco's hair, who cried a little indignantly and went over to Corvus.
He stretched out his hand and Corvus shook it. "Good job, Corvus!"
"Thank you, sir."
"Mum said you would take us to Diagon Alley tomorrow." Draco said, slightly questioningly.
"We will go, Draco, don't worry." Lucius responded calmly. "Now, I have barely eaten anything, the Minister was a bit troublesome today, Scrimgeour had a problem as well." He sneered the last name. "Is there anything to eat?"
"So soon darling?" He did not often eat so quickly after coming home.
Lucius smiled at her, "As I said, it was a long day. I am sure the boys could use something to eat as well." She nodded and sighed a happy sigh. It was good like this, with everyone together.
31st July 1991, Diagon Alley
The next day had finally come, and everyone was up, bright and early. A rare occasion for Draco, less so for Corvus and Lucius. They had flooed into the Leaky Cauldron, it was the same small, dingy place it had been for as long as she could remember.
"Mr. Malfoy, Mrs. Malfoy, young masters, welcome to the Leaky Cauldron!" a jovial voice called. A large, pink-faced man with a large, bulbous nose, while wiping his hands into a dirty apron sauntered forward, sweat pouring down his brow from the hot summer weather. He bowed a deep bow towards the group.
"Tom." Lucius responded measuredly, "What a… pleasure to see you again." He said with a slightly sinister tone.
"I do say so meself, m' boy. How long it 'as been since I've seen you. Five years it must be. Merlin, you never come by here." Tom said in a what seemed a deeply sad voice.
"A shame. It would do us good to visit such a… glowing place." Lucius' voiced dripped with barely disguised sarcasm. Lucius did not appreciate being called anyone's boy, she remembered his annoyance when Slughorn did it. It seemed so long ago.
"Ah! M' boy, you're making an ol' man blush!" Tom replied, ignoring the sarcasm, or maybe just not noticing it.
"It was certainly a pleasure to see an old friend, but we must be going. First year's shopping, you know…" she trailed off.
"Of course, of course, beautiful little flower. You're as sweet as the first day you came here. I remember it well, you and your sisters…"
"Yes, yes, but we really must be going, Tom. I hope we are fortunate to bump into each other another time." She told him gently, placing a hand onto his shoulder. He smiled at her with an old man's smile
"Ignore an ol' man's ramblings, as time passes, I find meself having more and more memories, but fewer and fewer people willing to listen to 'em." He chuckled sadly. The four of them soon exited the inn to find a large crowd already streaming down the main street of Diagon Alley.
"Cissy dearest, I have business at Gringotts to settle, let's meet up in four hours at- "he paused to think, "-let's say at Flourish and Blotts, its close enough to Gringotts." And with that he promptly left.
"Well boys, our first stop will be at Madam Malkin's, the best and only supplier of Hogwarts uniforms." This elicited a groan from both. They wafted through the large crowd with as much dignity as possible, before arriving at the purple shop, with bright letters spelling out the place: Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.
They stepped inside the store; they were greeted by a smiling witch dressed in mauve clothing standing behind a counter.
"Hogwarts, dears?" she asked in a kind voice, though she looked a little startled after looking at Corvus. Draco and Corvus gave a quick nod. Madam Malkin gestured at Corvus to come first. She stepped away from the counter. Both boys had confused looks, as she temporarily disappeared before a much shorter Madam Malkin came forward. Draco looked like he was about to snigger and even Corvus was smirking. Narcissa shot a glare at both.
Madam Malkin slipped a dark robe over Corvus and began to pin it to the right length. She did not have to do too much, Corvus was tall for his age. It was ten minutes before she finally finished. She flicked her wand daintily, rolling the uniform into packaging. She began to fit Draco.
"Aunt, could we go to buy cauldron's now. We can buy one for both of us, it'll save time surely." Narcissa looked at Draco and asked, "Is it fine if we go to Potage's and leave you here sweetie?"
He scowled at the nickname, he did not appreciate it in public, "I'll be fine, mum. I'm not two."
"Very well then." She turned to Madam Malkin, "How much for the two robes, two hats, two pairs of gloves and two coats?"
"It'll be ten galleons ma'am."
"Very well, thank you" She handed her the coins from her purse.
"Draco dear, Potage's is a block to the right. Come Corvus." And the two of them left.
It was a quick quarter an hour visit. They had gotten two pewter cauldron's, size two, two scales, brass and four phials, Narcissa had insisted on both of them having a spare. She sure broke her first one!
They left the shop with hands completely full. Narcissa summoned Dobby to take away a cauldron and some other things, but they still had their hands full. She looked to her side to see Corvus levitating his cauldron with a gesture with his hand. Impressive. He had always had great control. Lucius said often that he was very powerful, with a lot of potential. His accidental magic was less accidental than it should be. It was sometimes frightening.
She suspected that the books he read were behind it. They were gifts from her father, Cygnus Black, after he had learned of his special abilities. He had done other things secretly. It was illegal to use underage magic purposefully. Not that the ministry could detect anything inside Malfoy Manor, and the Ministry tracked wand usage, not magic. A flaw in the systems design few could exploit, wandless magic was very, very rare.
The bumped into Draco, who had just exited Madam Malkin's. "Did you get your robes alright sw- Draco." She quickly corrected herself.
"Yes mum." He showed her the package. "I met a boy in the shop, didn't catch his name, black hair, green eyes. He was a little shy, wizard parents though."
"That's all-good Draco. Corvus and I got you your cauldron, Dobby took it home."
"Thanks." He paused before asking, "Where to next?"
"Now boys we go to Flourish and Blotts, your father will be there by the time we finish." So, they began their trek to the bookstore. They entered the nice, freshly painted shop stacked with books. She let the two look around, while she methodically went through the list, getting all the books they would actually need. The Malfoy and Lestrange libraries held many more books of interest than the bookstore, filled with magic much darker, dangerous, and arcane, but she forbids them to access them. The Hogwarts Library held thrice-fold as many books as this bookstore and all other British collections, public or private. Only the Department of Mysteries could match it, but its contents were a mystery to all except the Unspeakable.
She left with sixteen books, which Dobby quickly took from her after being summoned, as well as the last cauldron and Draco's robes. They met Lucius outside the shop a few minutes later. He looked not too tired, so she assumed his business went well. Goblins often left people tired, nasty little creatures.
"What have you gotten so far?" he asked her.
It was Draco who responded in a rather proud voice, "We have been everywhere father, robes, cauldrons, and books. We have pets at home, and our telescopes are better than whatever they sell here!"
"Good." Came the curt reply, "Ollivanders will be next then."
Ollivanders was narrow and shabby, fading gold letters spelled: Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC. A bell tinkled as the four of them entered the decrepit store. Shelves stacked with curious cases and boxes reached the ceiling, and little dust clouds floated through the air. An old man stepped out from a door at the back of the shop and greeted them. "Good afternoon," said a soft, silky voice. He had big, beady silvery eyes.
"Good afternoon, sir." the boys spoke in unison. They had both been well-behaved throughout the day. She was proud.
"Ah yes." the man said, "It is good to see you both, young boys. Draco Malfoy. You come first." he beckoned Draco forward. "I remember your mother's wand well, a fine creation of mine, nine and a half inches, willow and unicorn hair, stiff, well-made for the healing arts." He looked at her for confirmation and she nodded. "Your father's wand, however, is much older. My grandfather made it for your great-grandfather, Brutus, was it?"
"No, his grandson, Callistus." Lucius corrected.
The man nodded before continuing, "Yes, well, it's a powerful wand, my grandfather wrote a bit about it in his books. Elm and dragon heartstring, 16 inches, pliable. Lots of power can be channelled with this one. A fantastic piece truly." Ollivander seemed very excited about the wand, though he was that way with most wands. Lucius smirked proudly, obviously liking the praise.
"Now onto you Draco. Well, let's see, I will have some measurements done and I'll get a few wands for you to try!" he said eagerly. A tape measure sprung up from a small desk and began to take measurements of Draco, from his height to his nostril width. Ollivander returned with a stack of boxes, and asked, "Which is your wand arm?"
Draco looked confused for a moment, so Narcissa quickly responded, "Right."
"Very well, try this, Blackthorn with dragon heartstring, 9 ½ inches, slightly bendy. Give it a wave." Ollivander said as he passed the wand to Draco. Draco gave it a quick wave, but nothing happened. Draco's face portrayed a slight annoyance.
"Fine, don't worry young man, it's uncommon for even me to take just one try." the man said comfortingly. Narcissa knew this well, she had four tries before she found her match.
"Try this, ebony with phoenix hair, 8 ¾ inches, swishy." Draco grabbed the wand from Ollivander, gave it a wave, but only a sparkle or two came from the wand. "Now that won't do, I think we may need to try a different angle, perhaps a rarer wood-hum- yes, yes. Here, gives this a try. Hawthorn with unicorn hair, 10 inches, reasonably springy." Draco gave it a bored swish, but his face brightened when large red ang gold sparks flew in numbers from the tip of his wand.
"Fantastic, a match, we have a match." Ollivander shouted excitedly. Draco beamed happily and Narcissa gave him a quick kiss on his cheek, while Lucius patted him on the back with a large smile on his face.
"Now young Corvus, it is your turn. I remember young Bellatrix and Rodolphus when they first came here. Your mother was very confident, I got her wand on my first try, very rare. Walnut with dragon heartstring, 12 ¾, what I would describe as unyielding. Your father was trickier, but he favoured an ebony wand, though its less the wizard who favours the wand and more the wand who favours the wizard! Well, that wand was dragon heartstring as well. 11 inches, suited for combative magic. Your parents reflected their wands well, perhaps too well..." he trailed off, but Narcissa knew what he meant and Corvus seemingly did too. He clutched his hands to his side angrily.
Ollivander took his measurements quickly, before coming forth with boxes of wands. They tried Hornbeam with unicorn hair first, but Corvus managed to blow up a whole shelf. Walnut with unicorn hair came second, then Beech with dragon heartstring, which did not even shoot sparks. Another two wands followed, both with unicorn hair. Ollivander then concluded surprisedly, "It seems I judged you incorrectly Mr Lestrange, I tried to steer away from wands similar to your parents, but it seems that is where we will end up." The words angered Narcissa deeply. Many would have suspicions about Corvus, they would either try to equate him with Bella and Rod or push him as far away as possible. Ollivander went back into his larger inventory and came out with just one box.
"Now what we have here is quite similar to your parents' wands, a combination of the two with slight changes. Here, take it." he urged Corvus. Corvus waved it and a firework of red, gold, blue and black sparks from his wand. "Perfect, Mr Lestrange. This is one of my newer creations, I made it a year ago after obtaining quite a few scarcer components. Ebony with phoenix hair, 13 ½ inches. It is rare for ebony to make such an unyielding wand. It is suited a broad range of magic, though you must take the time to understand your wand, phoenix hair cores are hard to master. You have a great wand young Lestrange, but how will you use it?"
"I will keep that in mind sir, sir." Corvus bit out.
"That will be thirteen galleons, Mr Malfoy." Ollivander said, turning to Lucius. Lucius gave the man his charge and they all quickly left. Corvus was very quiet on the way home, he seemed to ponder on the man's words. It was a question she thought of often. What was her son's and nephew's future? Few mothers would want their child to follow the path Lucius groomed the boys for. She could curb some of his activities and lessons with Draco, but not with her nephew. Lucius would always say: That's what Bella would want. He was right, her sister was one of those few mothers.
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Thanks for reading!