Midnight in the Manor Pt. 1
APOV
"Mr. Malfoy?" I asked sheepishly. "I know it breaks tradition to exchange presents before Christmas day but seeing as though I would feel strange giving this to you in front of your son, would you permit me to give it you tonight?" I finished nervously. Draco looked up from his papers to regard me curiously as I stood in the threshold of his study.
"I had heard Scorpius mention that you had been secretive of late" He said smiling "I can't honestly say the thought of Harry Potter's son sneaking about doesn't genuinely amuse me so I won't pretend otherwise." He finished smiling at my Slytherin colored pajamas.
"..." I didn't quite know what to say to that.
"I am surprised at the level of friendship you have shown Scorpius and am grateful to you for… overlooking the past. You may present your gift to me now if you wish. I'm just finishing up here anyway." Draco offered. There was so much formality wrapped around the truth, that I could barely make neither heads nor tails of his actual intentions. I decided to merely give him the gift, handing him the small lightly wrapped box as my heart began pounding into my head.
Draco turned it in his hands and removed the card reading it silently:
I have been aware of our families' prior history since as early as I could comprehend my uncle's obscenities, yet I hope in this you find some measure of my personal sentiment if not my family's. I have found a truly remarkable friend in your son and cannot express profoundly enough how grateful I am for the kindnesses he has shown me. I can only say I would risk the wroth of each Weasley in our remarkably large circus troupe to preserve that bond. (I merely hope fate will not see fit to use Christmas as an opportunity to test that sentiment).
Although my youth leaves me with much to learn I have found purity to lie not in blood but in character. I return this to you in thanks for your incomprehensibly astounding son whose character I'm certain will lead him on to do enormous credit to his proud family name.
This has taken me some… 'difficulty'… in … acquiring… but I hope you understand its meaning… I found the absurdity of its'Theft' distasteful and so had no qualms about 'repossessing' it from the ministry. I sincerely pray I haven't overstepped.
Thank you so much Mr. Malfoy, Merry Christmas.
- Albus Severus Potter
Draco's expressions turned from humor to surprise to contemplation as he quickly scanned down the note. Finally he lifted his eyes to regard me. He was starring at me so intently for so long that I was forced to look down at my feet in my embarrassment.
"You wrote this by yourself?" He asked.
"Yes Sir… I hope… um… the letter wasn't too presumptuous Sir." I stumbled, speaking too nervously to even consider making eye contact.
I looked up at the sound of the wrapping paper being torn. Draco stopped again at the sight of the Malfoy family crest on the lid of the small box, pausing a moment to consider its contents. He opened it and darkness fell across his face. Draco pulled the small object from its velvety tomb and ran his thumb over the polished surface of the design etched into the gold.
After a moment Draco spoke without looking up from the golden ring.
"This ring belonged to my Father… it was passed down for generations since before Septimus Malfoy turned this family into the powerful name that it was before the war and even before Armand Malfoy came to Britain. It was supposed to be passed down to me … but it was finally confiscated as a dark object during this second post war purge… how did you?" Draco stopped looking up at me with complete astonishment.
"Well, half my family work at the ministry… and I… do… um tend to sneak around … " I offered blushing.
"Slytherin Indeed" Draco said breaking out into laughter.
Such a weird thing to find so wonderful. That a simple laugh could be so full of meaning. He paused to regard the note once more.
"I am surprised someone so young wrote this. You have more of a Ravenclaw's brain, that or you spend too much time around your aunt. Or my son." Draco finished smiling. Scorpius really only smiles around me. He's getting better around Rose and Lou but I somehow never imagined Draco Malfoy being capable of smiling. It really suited him.
"You look like your son when you smile." I said without thinking. I apparently have the same inability to control my speech around you as well. He stopped at that, frowning as though he had been stumped by some crossword. I doubted Mr. Malfoy even knew what crosswords were.
"You really aren't at all what I imagined… you have that way Scorpius does though. He seems to peer right into your very soul. And sometimes he says things completely out of place." Draco said off into space. That far off look made me doubt he had meant his words as criticism but more as observation of an oddity. Something he couldn't understand but still seemed able to respect.
Supramodular Praxia.
After a moment he snapped back to reality sliding the ring onto his slender fingers and shifting to regard me again.
"This is truly a remarkable gift young Albus. It would seem Scorpius has found an equally remarkable friend. I never expected to see this again… I will cherish it, as he should cherish you... You have my sincerest thanks." he finished making me blush again. Why do I always bring out the strangest elements in people. I don't imagine Draco Malfoy has ever spoken so openly to anyone in his life. I have that effect on Scor too… and aunt Mini and Cyrille.
"He's generally so formal…" Draco resumed of Scorpius, silently filing my note into a small drawer of his elaborately decorated desk.
"I guess i'm to blame for that. But he has this way of wandering… his mind is always elsewhere… you seem to remind me very much of him that way in fact." Draco mused. "I was actually surprised to learn he had placed Slytherin."
"In that we resemble each other even more closely." I whispered. "The levels of torment we would unleash on those who would deign to hurt the people we…" I started darkly forgetting entirely who I was speaking to. "I'm sorry… that was… not." I started… before breaking off to stare at my surroundings. I had suddenly realized how grand the study looked…
"This is truly an amazing collection." I started without realizing I hadn't finished my original statement.
"Thank you Albus we've been adding to it every generation." Draco said still regarding me too intently for comfort.
"These books look centuries old… Is that…? A First edition 'Mastery of Potioneering' by THE Nicholas Flammel!" I squeaked giddily.
"It is… and its signed."
"NO WAY that must have cost a small fortune!… the first editions have three entirely exclusive chapters that weren't published in the regular copies! One goes into deep Alchemical prep theory utilized during the founders era, and another is rumored to expound on Slytherin's hypothesis that the art of potion brewing was really an extension of internal magic and could be changed with complex spellwork!" I said nearly bouncing.
"Maybe you should have been a Ravenclaw after all. Its no mystery why you're first in your year." Draco mused smiling. "I was quite the potioneer in my day, but nowhere near your level in my first year. I take it you like potions?" Draco offered chuckling.
"Do I? I love potions!" I poured over excitedly. "Professor Slughorn's a fool but he says I have my Grandmother Lily's talent, and that Scor and I should take extra lessons from Headmaster Snape's portrait if he was willing to take us on again…" I broke off… realizing that I was acting like a giddy clown in front of Scor's father. "erm I'm sorry… I get carried away sometimes" I finished feeling warm again.
"Not at all, you are most entertaining company… but now that you mention it, it has gotten late and I wouldn't want to monopolize you away from my son. Besides you both must get up early to make the return to your family's home" Draco said smoothly.
"I guess you're right" I said turning away crestfallen. Just as I made to leave I noticed it. From a distance it appeared to be nothing more than an old weatherworn tome that had been filed out of sight by virtue of its age, but the symbols engraved on its spine were unmistakable. I reached around the open door and plucked the book from its secluded shelf without even asking. The second I touched it the mirage faded and instead of worn leather was a moving tapestry of stars set on a field of night blue sky. The book itself was locked shut and I could tell it had also been sealed with countless layers of binding spells. The symbol on its cover...
I looked up at Mr. Malfoy slightly afraid both of his reaction and the nature of what I now held in my hands.
"Why… How, do you have one of these?" I asked terrified.
"Maybe your aunt has been teaching you too much. I would request that you put that back where you found it Albus, Immediately. It is very dangerous…"
"I know exactly what it is!" I spat angrily, at ounce angry, disgusted and excited. "I would give my eyes to be able to read it just once."
"It would most likely take more than your eyes Albus."
"For all his curiosity and skill he never tried his hand at that one did he?" I asked after a moments silence, referring to Lord Voldemort and the riddle of the Goddesses song.
"No. I doubt it's even solvable Albus."
"It is. It has to be." I offered barely audibly. Something deep inside of me shifted as I replaced the book on its shelf and I suddenly felt very unwell.
"If one day, when you've studied enough you still think so, I will let you examine it, but now I think it is time to resume my work. I wish to speak to Scorpius before you two return to your fun. Could you fetch him for me?" Draco asked dismissing me. I was suddenly very afraid.
A few chapters from now is where the plot really begins!
NEW RULES. Finals have ended. And while honestly normal people are less busy after classes end... the opposite holds true for me. I will be flying around the world starting at the end of June. This summer is going to be absurd.
While i would love to simply upload everything i have already prewritten... something tells me that that would interrupt my momentum going forward and kill my story right here.
From this point on i will wait until I get 5 reviews per chapter before even considering posting new material on a weekly schedule.
Ten reviews = a timely update
Ten or more reviews = an IMMEDIATE update + bonus content for one of the extra people who leave something nice.
Sorry i have to do it like this. WOOT FOR VACATION. Hope you guys like the story enough to respond, if not enjoy the summer sun and i'll be back in the fall! XD
