Chapter Eleven
A thin dusting of snow had begun to fall from the heavens, as silence reigned amongst the tombstones. the chill whistle of the winter winds making a keening cry as it swept past the open entry way of the Black family crypt.
Callian found himself staring tiredly at the dark robed forms of his friends and family. The warmth of the weaves used to keep them from freezing nearly lulling him to sleep as his feet splashed in the wet slosh of melt water.
He found his mind wandering as he sat there upon the gravestone, his tired mind seeming to float away from the cares of the world.
He knew he should be scared by the fact that he had effectively been possessed by whatever it was that held sway over his amulet, but the fear just did not seem to find purchase within him.
He did not know if what had happened was the act of some Divine being or just powerful enchantments that he could not sense, but whatever it was he knew with a certainty that it was still affecting him.
He had seen the Temple of Delvaryn, and the priests as they had appeared in life almost as if he had been there before.
What was more, he seemed to have a growing understanding of the Old Dwarvish tongue. He knew only the Noble families and Loremasters of the Dwarven people ever retained any knowledge of it, and few could speak it with any fluency. Yet he was finding it increasingly hard not to slip into it even within his own thoughts.
In his half asleep state, he thought he began to dream as he could almost see the ghostly image of an ancient Dwarf, hooded and cloaked standing behind his father. With a beard as white as the snow falling about them, yet bearing a strength and power of a Dwarf in their prime he watched as the figure appeared to lean in to whisper in Belor's ear.
He felt someone's hand upon his then and he jolted awake as if electrocuted.
Looking up he could see the concerned face of his mother, he found that Amerytha seemed to be studying him intently. He could feel a gentle flow of Magic running through his body from his mother's hand, in its wake he began to feel more alert that he had any right to be. He shot a quick look back towards his father and could not see the figure standing there, nor did any probing threads of Magic reveal anything. He assumed he must have truly dreamt of the figure whispering in Belor's ear, however, the warm tingle of the amulet put a sliver of doubt in his heart.
He could feel her give his shoulder a reassuring squeeze as she turned to stare at the rest of their party.
"Magthen named the boys the Arbiters of Fate, now you know something about this Father. More than you have been letting on. You are going to tell me just what this all means, or so help me. I will ensure these boys are kept as far away from this mess as it's possible to be."
Denevan was silent for several moments before he eventually gave a reluctant sigh as he nodded his assent, with a wave of his hand he reinforced the weave about them. The air grew noticeably warmer, before he pointed towards the crypt and the marble sarcophagus that held the body of Arcturus. "I promise I will give you all the answers that I have been able to piece together, but for now we have our duty to perform."
Quickly they set about moving the heavy stone sarcophagi into the crypt. Denevan took the lead as he began the procession, behind him floated the encased body of Arcturus.
One by one they followed him down into the dark, with Harry and Callian bringing up the rear.
Callian was lost in thought as his mind churned over recent event, although he did not have long to dwell within his own mind as Harry's awed exclamation brought him from his thoughts.
"Damn!"
Harry's small outburst pulled Callian back to reality as he found himself descending through chamber after chamber of stone sarcophagi. Each resting upon their ends, so that the carved stone faces of previous Lords and Ladies of the Houses stared down at all those that walked past.
Lit by the flickering balls of flame his grandfather had conjured to light their way, the carved stone faces seemed almost alive as shadows danced over their features.
Calllian found himself studying the faces carved in the likeness of his ancestors, he tried to find some similarities that the ancient worked stone held to his own features but gave it up as a lost cause.
Harry however, stopped before one when they had nearly descended halfway through the crypt. Looking ahead it appeared as if his family had already journeyed on, joining Harry he followed his friends gaze as he had his cocked while looking at the lid of a sarcophagus.
"I can see a resemblance in this one." Harry said at his unspoken question.
Callian could only smile as he recognised the name carved into the base of the lid. "Caldus Black. I told you about him when we first met."
Seeing his friends confused look, Callian explained. "Caldus Black was the brother of Savin Black. It was thanks to this man and his fear and jealousy that my House even exists." Callian finished as flicked the stone figure with finger.
Harry gave a quiet chuckle as he looked down the long lines of Blacks that had followed after this man, "Something tells me that your family crypt is no way nearly as filled as this place."
Calllian could only let out a surprised bark of laughter at that, he knew with just how long his grandfather had lived the man had probably known many of the occupants of the sarcophagi.
"Not even close and if I am lucky, it will be a long time before another Blackwood is put into the ground."
Harry just grinned as he made to follow after the rest of their party. "I have to say the Blacks seem to be overly fond of holding onto the past."
Callian just snorted at that, he knew it to be a massive understatement and said as much causing his friend to laugh quietly.
"Your family is weird, Cal. There's no two ways about it."
Callian found himself smiling widely as he turned to Harry. "You're forgetting something, Harry."
"Oh yeah?" He asked with a grin.
"They're your family as well, Cousin."
Harry stopped in his tracks as he stared at Callian, his face a shocked mask of disbelief before an ear to ear smile quickly replaced it.
"Cousin." The word slipped from Harry's mouth as a whisper, but Callian easily caught it in the quiet of the tomb. "It still seems like a dream."
With a laugh the two of them hurried to catch up to the rest of their family, they reached the last chamber just as Denevan lowered the Sarcophagi into position.
Denevan waved for Callian to step forward, "Once, it was tradition for the next Lord Black to stand vigil for their predecessor. I know Arcturus wished that you would do this, but I will not force you. The choice is yours, my dear boy."
Callian was silent for several heartbeats before he gave a slight nod of his head. "I will keep the Vigil and return tomorrow. I will respect his last wishes if I can."
He could see Belor and Ironmane shooting proud smiles in his direction, the Dwarfs often held Vigils for their dead or recently interred and it cost him nothing to do so.
Harry stepped forward then, "If you will allow it sir, I would like to stay too."
Callian just shot him a grin as he spoke up. "You just do not want to face the boredom waiting for you in the ballroom."
Harry gave a nod of his head as grinned at them all. "Can you blame me, I think even Binn's lessons were more captivating than listening to those old men yammering on about the great friendships they shared with Arcturus."
That got a laugh from everyone and Amerytha and Denevan easily agreed to the request.
"I think I shall bring Lady Malfoy and young Draco here after I have seen everyone off, it shall be interesting to hear what they have to say regarding their little show earlier." Denevan said to the room at large.
"More importantly we may find out just what Arcturus' last missive contained, I have never known Narcissa to let anything show in the years that I have been acquainted with her." Amerytha added as she shot a look back up the stairs that led to the surface. Callian raised an eyebrow, he knew that his mother had a wide network of friends and associates that she kept a regular correspondence with. It had been a valuable advantage in the War against the Dark Lord, able to lead the small force she had commanded to victory after victory before her near fatal injury.
With a few final words the two boys were soon left alone before the sarcophagus of Arcturus Black, the quiet steps of their family receding into the darkness as they remained alone within a pool of flickering light.
The only sound, the soft crackle of flames as they began their Vigil.
Time seemed to become meaningless as they stood surrounded by the dark and the dead, Callian quickly lost track of the slow passing trickle of the sands of time.
He had begun to instruct Harry in the basic weaves of light and fire, having only just awakened his Arcane sight Callian had assumed that Harry would struggle with the initial weaves.
However, after a slight fumbling over drawing out power from his Reservoir Harry had quickly gained the hang of holding onto the Magic before almost instinctively forming the beginning of a Weave.
Watching the flows of power as they folded into themselves, Callian only had to reach out once to correct Harry's latest attempt at a spell.
"Good, now remember not to push too much Magic into the weave. It can only handle as much as the spell structure will allow…good, now remember to seal the Weave or the Magic will be expelled from the spell before it even completes."
At his words he watched as Harry meticulously closed the threads of Magic, slowly knotting the Weave off until it glowed to his sight.
Harry was breathing deeply as he focused on the task at hand, "Ok, now what?" He asked with a furrowed brow.
Callian offered him a small grin, as he indicated the small stone sphere he had transfigured for Harry's impromptu lesson.
"Now, focus on the sphere. You will have to overlay the Weave onto the stone, in a sense you are forcing the world to bend to your whims. Your Weave are those whims given form, now focus and direct the spell with your mind."
Harry's face did not change but Callian could see the Spellweave languidly moving through the air.
"Good, do not rush it. Just breathe and focus on holding onto the Weave until you are ready to let it go."
Harry gave a slight nod as he slowly placed his Weave over the stone sphere, once it was in place Callian gave him the go ahead to release it and they both watched as the stone seemed to flow like water.
The Weave guided the stone as it was forced to take a new shape, where a ball of hard, smooth stone had sat before now rose a two foot figure of a vaguely humanoid shape.
Callian cocked his head as he studied the pitted and cracked stone, he gave an approving nod as walked around the stone.
"Not bad for a first attempt, but I can see you let the image of what you wanted slip from your mind."
Harry ran a hand through his already wild mop of hair, "Yeah, it was hard to focus on what I wanted while keeping the Weave together and moving it."
Callian just gave a nod at his friend's words, he had gone through the exact same problems during his first few attempts at transfiguration.
"Don't worry about that, I will teach you the same mental exercises that Jastor gave me when I first started Weaving. They are fundamental for nearly any sort of Magic, and will allow you to split your focus with enough practice. Why the school doesn't teach them I do not know, it is a great aid when casting spells, even those cast with a wand."
Harry shot him a questioning look at that. "That sounds like the Mind Arts your mother wants to teach me."
Callian shook his head at that. "My mother wants you to learn how to shield your mind, basically teach you to do what that ring does now." He pointed at Harry's right hand where the blood gem in its iron band glimmered in the firelight. "That is one of the more basic abilities of Mind Arts, but what I am talking about is the ability to effectively partition your ability to focus so that you can do more at once. In a sense it's a meditative state that becomes second nature after a while."
Harry just gave him a nod before he grinned at him, his eyes alight with excitement.
"Enough of that. What Weave are you going to teach me next?"
Before he could say anything in response they could hear the quiet mummering of voices that were slowly growing louder.
A quick wave of his hand dispelled the transfigured stone, and they found themselves staring up at their guests. Denevan was first into the chamber quickly followed by Amerytha and Lady Malfoy who looked about her in distaste, her icy blue eyes not missing out a single detail as they swept the room.
She offered an elegant curtsy to Callian once she had come to a stop within the chamber with Draco following at her heels. "Lord Black, I thank you for taking the time to talk in private."
Callian merely waved a hand in her direction, "Rise, Lady Narcissa. There is no need for such formalities here."
The blonde Witch gracefully rose to her feet as she stared down at him.
"You asked to speak with myself and my grandfather, is there something that we need to know?" He said while turning back to stare at the stone face of Arcturus Black. Out of the corner of his eye he could see her give a small nod of approval at his actions, he remembered his mothers lessons well and how he was always to portray himself with strength and grace so as to appear above those who came before him.
"Your mother has taught you well Lord Black, but if you will permit me I would like to ensure our conversation is private. There is no way to tell who may be listening."
Giving a nod to her we watched as the Witch pulled forth her wand, the black wood seeming to shine with polish as she waved the ebony wood in an intricate pattern. He could feel the privacy wards spring into being and he carefully studied the rigid Magic that made them.
He could see Harry doing the same, and could almost hear his cousin's thoughts churning away as he carefully reached out to poke and prod the spell structures.
The rigid spell forms that a wand using Magi used were inherently static, they were unable to be altered or changed the way a Spellweave allowed. As if to emphasise his thoughts his grandfather's own privacy wards layered themselves over the top of those created by Narcissa, to his mind it was like comparing the work of a sculptor to that created with a mould. One a work of skill and artistry, while the other was copied and repeated with little thought or care.
That was a wand's greatest assets yet also its greatest weakness. While any with the power and understanding could replicate with ease what Narcissa had created, to do the same with a Weave took time and effort but also a greater understanding of the very nature of Magic.
Giving a nod to the woman, Callian waited patiently for her to get to the point of her visit.
"I have come to beg a favour of you my Lord." Callian just blinked in surprise as he shared a brief look with his family.
Waving her to continue, he listened as she described her arranged marriage to Lucius Malfoy as soon as she had graduated from Hogwarts. "All for the good of the House" as her father had told her on the day of her wedding, and while she held no true affection for her husband he had still given her a child.
"My Lord husband has changed in recent years. He has grown desperate to further House Malfoy at any cost, I believe he is trying to fool himself into thinking that prestige and position will safeguard him from the shadow cast by the Dark Lord."
The sneer that twisted her lips as the mention of Voldemort raised more than one brow, but they remained silent as they waited for her to continue.
"I do not believe my grandfather's illness was natural, I suspect someone had a hand in his death and the one that would benefit the most from Arcturus' death would be Draco and through him Lucius. Of course he had no way of knowing that there was already an heir apparent for House Black." She finished with a nod of her head in Callian's direction.
Callian remained silent as his mother stepped forward then, "Yet you knew, did you not Lady Narcissa?"
The Lady of House Malfoy offered them a small knowing smile as she bowed her head in acknowledgement.
"I chanced a visit here a few years prior, before Lord Black came down with his sudden illness. Grandfather had left me alone in his study while he dealt with a few last minute changes to some deal he was orchestrating, I stumbled upon a missive from yourself, Lord Blackwood. It detailed young Callian's training and his desire to meet with Arcturus."
Denevan frowned as he seemed to be searching his memories. "Yes, it was just after Callian's eighth birthday. He had not long gained control of his gifts and I had begun to instruct him in the beginnings of Spellweaving. I thought that Arcturus destroyed all my missives."
Lady Malfoy just gave a small shake of her head. "My grandfather was many things, but above all he held pride in the Black Family. You are his hopes for the future of our House and he took pride in your achievements I am sure. I saw him place the letter in a strongbox he kept within his desk in his study."
Callian filed that little nugget of information away as his mother slowly walked towards Narcissa Malfoy. "And a single letter was enough to let you know of a secret we have made sure to keep to only a few trusted souls."
There was an edge to his mother's voice he had never heard before, it seemed as if it could cut steel as she slowly began to walk around the other Witch.
For her part the Lady of House Malfoy gave very little outward sign in response to his mother, but he could see the slight nervous hunch that had fallen over her normally straight back.
"No, but it did pique my curiosity into why grandfather would show interest in the heir of another House. It also reminded me of rumours that had arisen among my husband's former compatriots, of the several times you had been sighted besides my estranged cousin, Lady Blackwood."
His mother had stopped just out of Narcissa's line of sight, but Callian could see the cold mask that had fallen over her features.
"Conflict often has a way of bringing the most unlikely of people together, it is said."
At first Callian was uncertain as to just who had spoken, for he had never heard such a cold and chilling voice before. It took him several seconds to realise that it was his mother as she stood close behind Lady Malfoy.
It was a startling change to witness, and he imagined this was the voice of the Mage that had led others into some of the most bloody conflicts of the last War.
Lady Malfoy seemed to realise it as well as she tensed, her shoulders hunching even more.
"I meant no offence, Lady Blackwood." Narcissa was quick to mollify.
Without acknowledging the placating tone, Callian watched as his mother ordered the woman to continue her tale in that same cold and unforgiving voice.
Narcissa did, quickly explaining how she had slowly pieced together fragments of conversations and rumours she had heard, until she had come to the conclusion of just who Callian's sire actually was.
"When I had found enough evidence to prove my speculation, I knew that should Lucius find out he would do all within his power to ensure that Draco would be able to inherit the title of Lord Black."
Belor spoke then, his voice a rumbling baritone that matched Amerytha's own. "The longun' would be minced under a thousand Dwarven axes if I even heard a whisper of it, no one will harm my boy!"
He sensed his mother's Magic as it seemed to bear down on the woman and Callian watched as a tremor passed through her, for the first time that he could remember his mother's Magic no longer held the comforting feel to it that had always been there. Now it seemed almost oppressive as it seemed to grow ever more terrible, hanging about Amerytha like a miasma of promised pains.
Long, delicate fingers wrapped themselves about Narcissa's arms and Callian watched as his mother leaned in close, her words were little more than a whisper and he had to quickly weave a spell to hear her.
"No one will harm my Son. Should your husband try such a thing I will destroy House Malfoy, root and stem if need be."
He felt a cold shiver run down his spine at his mother's words and shot a glance at a nervous looking Draco. He doubted his year mate had heard his mothers quiet words, but even a blind man would be able to sense the terrifying presence that had filled the room.
"Mother?" Draco asked in alarm as Narcissa dropped to her knees.
"Hush, my love." Was all that the Witch would say at his pleading tone.
Callian found himself looking down at the woman as she prostrated herself before him, he could clearly sense the fear that had finally broken the woman's notorious pride. "Please, My Lord. I have come to beg that whatever happens in the years to come that my Son is kept safe. I could not bear it if anything were to happen to him."
The woman finally raised her head to look at him with eyes that revealed the true depth of her fear. He watched her eyes that were swimming with unshed tears, as if some vestige of her pride refused to allow them to fall.
Unsure of how to proceed he looked to his father for guidance. Belor was already looking at him, almost as if he had known that Callian would be uncertain of the path to take.
He watched as his father mouthed, "Mar Manz ars Arcgan."
My mind is open, in the Dwarvish tongue.
Callian wasted no time in sending forth a mental probe, he instantly found himself within the Void of Belor's mental defences.
He found the Dwarf's mental avatar waiting for him, he was easily able to manifest his own avatar and found himself smiling as his father embraced him.
"Yer control is gettin' better, lad. Give it a few years and it won't matter if I bury my mind in the dark or not."
Calllian smiled at that, his Dagün was proficient enough at defending his mind from the mind arts that it would take a considerable time for any to breach his mind. He did not have long to dwell on the thought, he felt another presence pushing its way into his father's mind. Belor grimaced as his grandfather's mental avatar appeared at his side, Belor offered the man a grim smile. "Let's make this quick Den, my head feels like it's splitting."
Denevan gave a bow of his head as he looked down upon Callian. "Cal, I will be quick. Narcissa is scared right now and that gives us an advantage. We need a way to stop Lucius making any retaliatory moves-"
In the material world Callian watched as Belor gritted his teeth as his face darkened in pain, his mental avatar wavered dangerously as his father desperately resisted the urge to push them from his mind.
"Foster him." Belor growled around the pain.
Callian watched his grandfather's avatar flickered with surprise, before he nodded his head in acceptance of the Dwarf's words.
"It could work and give the boy an opportunity to learn away from his father's influence."
Denevan turned to look at Callian once more, the man's eyes alight with a thousand thoughts. His avatar shimmered and nearly faded, a tell-tale sign that the man's thoughts were elsewhere. To Callian it was almost as if the man was trying to recall something, like a fluttering dream that had nearly passed from memory.
Abruptly the man's form stabilised and his eyes bored into Callian with an intensity that was almost frightening.
"Do it. Put forth the notion to Foster Draco, with Lucius cowed after your display in the cemetery and Narcissa desperate they will not resist for long." Denevan instructed him, and before he could say anything his grandfather had flung him from Belor's mind and back to the material world.
He watched as his father wobbled dangerously before he put an arm on Tyrna's shoulder to stabilise himself, but he did not have time to check upon the Dwarf as he listened to Narcissa Malfoy pleading behind him.
Conscious of every eye being upon him, he straightened as he cast one last look about the room before his eyes fell upon a worried looking Draco. He tried to picture himself as his the same noble and powerful figure that his grandfather often portrayed himself to be, tried to emulate the same forbidding look as stared at him year mate.
"You once came to me talking of the bonds that bind you to this House, are you willing to accept all that comes with it?"
Draco seemed to hesitate before he straightened his back before he dropped to one knee with his head bowed, holding his hand aloft to reveal the silvery scar across his palm.
"I swore to serve you upon my very blood. I am and will always be faithful to House Black."
Callian found himself frowning as he took a moment to boggle at the ridiculousness of the situation, he was a child standing in a dark crypt about to completely destroy another child's life. All of it was so very wrong, but the memory of red eyes flashing through his mind hardened his resolve.
He knew that the Dark Lord was still out there in some form that allowed him to cling to life, and he, Harry and those he cared about would be made to stand between the people and that evil. He had glimpsed a fragment of the vile Magic that the Dark Lord had wielded and it still dwarfed his own abilities, he doubted if even his grandfather could measure up to that power.
So if he had to force Draco to abandon his mother to foster with his family, then he would if it denied the Dark Lord a powerful and wealthy servant in Lucius.
He knew his grandfather and father's intention behind the Fostering, Draco would effectively be a hostage. With the Malfoy's heir within their grasp, it would be a constant reminder to any and all that the Blackwoods were a House that was not to be toyed with.
"Then from this moment onwards you will be a Ward of House Blackwood. To Foster with my House until you come of age."
Draco reared back in alarm as he sent a desperate look towards his mother.
From her position upon the floor Narcissa let out a low keening moan, looking at her Callian felt his stomach clench at the look of loss and pain that sullied her once prideful beauty.
Stepping forward, Callian watched as his grandfather came to a stop beside him. A thoughtful look upon his unusually calm features.
"What we do is for the betterment of House Black, but," Denevan paused as he turned steely grey eyes towards the woman. "You are a Black and as such also our responsibility. As such, Lady Narcissa. We have a task for you."
The woman's cries slowly died away as she looked at him with eyes that revealed the depth of her pain.
"Your connections and friendships far exceed that of my family's own in certain circles, as such you are to be the eyes and ears of House Black. I would have you report on what you find in person, a weekly dinner will be held with my family under the guise of reforging your ties to the new Lord Black. This will allow you to report on the machinations of the other Families and it will be a chance for you to spend time with Draco, should you need it you will of course have a place to stay within my home."
The kneeling Witch was speechless for a moment, but she seized the opportunity presented to her with both hands and Draco helped her back to her feet.
"It will be done, Lord Blackwood." She said with a courteous bow of her head.
Callian knew that his grandfather did not have to offer such a thing, but it would allow Narcissa to spend time with Draco. Something that would only act as a reminder to the blonde Witch as to just who held the power.
Things passed swiftly after that and Denevan escorted Draco and Narcissa back to Malfoy Manor to collect his belongings and school supplies, soon only Callian and Harry were left to continue their vigil before the sarcophagus of Arcturus.
Silence reigned between them for several long minutes before Harry eventually spoke.
"So…are you hoping to get a collection of heirs from all the old families?" His sarcastic tone earned a snort from Callian as Harry grinned at him, in response Callian just flicked a small bolt of force at his friend making him yelp in surprise.
As had become common for them in the few months since they had met, Harry was able to pull Callian from dwelling too long within his own thoughts and their vigil passed with simple conversation and more Spellweaving practice.
The last few days passed quickly, Callian spent the vast majority of his time sequestered in the library alongside Harry while a somber looking Draco rarely left his quarters. He could understand the Malfoy heir's reluctance to interact with him and his family, who were for all intents and purposes holding the boy hostage to prevent the Lord of House Malfoy from making any attempts to usurp the Lordship of House Black. While he had tried to pry the boy out of his self imposed solitude, it had never worked for long and the Malfoy heir had quickly retreated to his rooms. Left to his own devices he was soon burying himself in various books and scrolls on Enchanting and Warding, and he found that Harry was engrossed in his mothers journal.
Harry had barely put the book down since he had received it and Callian knew that he was struggling to understand even a fraction of what his mothers notes detailed, yet that did not stop him from doing his best to learn the secrets the book held. It had the benefit of forcing Harry to broaden his knowledge of Magic as a whole and as such he had seen a marked improvement in his friend's Spellweaving, it was almost scary how quickly his friend was improving.
Harry was so driven that he was already able to summon things to him and send them levitating with a thought. The actual weaves were still poorly structured and fell apart easily, but they were still a marked improvement over what he had been able to do only a few weeks previous.
Soon the day to return to school came and it was the first time that Callian had seen Draco show any expression other than the blank stare that had become the norm, when he had got to travel via one of his grandfather's portal circles.
He watched as the blonde stared about the portal chamber in open-mouthed awe as they appeared in a flash of purple light.
Harry, grinned at the slytherin. "Careful Malfoy, or you're gonna catch flies."
That caused Draco's jaw to snap shut with the clack of teeth on teeth as he glared at Harry, Amerytha and Narcissa who had been allowed to join them for the day quickly had them filing from the chamber as they stepped out into chaos.
However, Callian could not help but notice the looks of terror that had apppeared upon the faces of the people about them once they had noticed their party in their midst.
Where before it had taken his grandfather to send the crowds scurrying, they now scrambled over themselves to get away.
He shared a worried look with Harry who could only shrug his shoulders in return, a quick glance behind revealed that even his mother was caught off guard by the crowd's reactions.
Silence spread out across the platform as every eye turned to follow them as they made their way towards the train.
It was only as they were climbing into one of the carriages that Callian began to figure out just why the people were acting so strange.
He began to hear the hiss of whispers behind him but the one that lingered in his ear was when he caught a woman's shrill voice calling him the 'Spawn of Sirius Black.'
He turned to see who it was that had spoken but found that the majority of them refusing to meet his gaze, they whispered and pointed but seemed reluctant to actually match his stare.
Despite the cold weight he could feel in his stomach he found a ghost of a smile flittering across his face, it seemed that word had already spread of his relationship to the House of Black.
Offering his mother one last wave they settled into wait for the train to depart. Outside he could see students and parents alike craning their necks to try and peer into the compartment, a few young children had even shoved their way to the front of the platform and were pointing and whispering without any hint of subtlety.
Deciding to be cheeky he closed his eyes as he began to weave a spell into being. Along the edges of the window thin tendrils of flame had begun to take shape, sparking to life with a hissing crackle before he began to give them shape and form.
Before long he had begun a silent puppet show of the tale of "The Warlock's Hairy Heart,' opening his eyes he watched as the children clapped and laughed as they pointed at the dancing flames.
Even a few of the adults had given up on their attempts at watching him to enjoy the show.
He tied his weave off letting it continue without his attention as turned back to look at his two companions, Harry seemed to be studying the Magic with his Arcane sight if the gentle questing threads he could see were any indication.
Draco though was staring at him in awe, he had noticed the boys interest in his and Harry's spell practice on the few times he had decided to leave his rooms. Noticing his look Draco pointed at the flames.
"How do you do that? I know the Blackwoods' practice Spellweaving, but I have never been able to figure out how." He asked with clear interest upon his face.
Harry gave a snort at that as he focused back on the others in the compartment. "It's not easy, let me tell you. I've been practising for months and the most I can do is conjure a few wisps of flame or levitate my books."
Draco looked at Harry in alarm. While he had known that the two of them practised with their Magic safely hidden under the Wards of the Castle, the fact that Harry was learning to Spellweave had seemed to have slipped his notice.
Wait! You can Spellweave?!" He blurted in shock.
Callian watched as Harry gave the blonde Slytherin a smug smile. "What's the matter, Malfoy? Jealous."
Draco quickly schooled his face into the calm facade that he had taken to wearing of late. "I believe you mean envious, you muggle-raised pleb."
There was no true heat behind the words and Callian found himself laughing at the surprised look on Harry's face.
His friend shot him a wounded look which just made Callian laugh all the more, however, before a bickering match could start between the two across from him the compartment's door opened to reveal two very familiar smiling faces.
Adria and Hermione joined them with a chorus of belated seasonal greetings, they shot Draco a few odd looks which led Callian to explaining the situation with the Slytherin and his fostering with his family.
Draco merely gave a very slight nod of his head in greeting before he made his excuses and left to find his friends, Callian could only watch him go with a smirk. He knew that the Malfoy heir found his family's stance on blood purity abhorrent, that as long as one had the gift and drive to further their understanding of Magic they were welcome within the walls of Blackwood Castle.
The four of them settled in, quickly falling into the familiar rhythms that had become the norm for them over the past few months. It was only a short wait before the locomotive slowly started to pull from the station and they were once more on their way north.
