"Why not go through the ballroom?" Narcissa's voice raised, and it did exactly what he did not want. Other eyes now watched the two of them.
She rarely resorted to an audience. Did she truly think he was attempting to hide something malicious? And, even if he was, didn't she realize an auror was among them - did she want him arrested? That thought chilled him. His mother had been on his side for so long, well, at least she had tried. Perhaps it was just that her mind was frayed. She obviously didn't consider this was for her benefit.
"Why else would you lock the ballroom, besides to house a dark artifact?" That damn auror. Did he really think he'd be so foolish?
Draco kept his emotions in check. "Does it occur to you that I was unaware of the canceled ritual and preparing. And since it is now pointless…" He felt it, a pang of regret. At least Potter felt guilty about the accusation, although his stern expression gave nothing away. How interesting, the detection of emotions through magic. He wondered how long the sensation would last.
"There should be no harm in us entering, right?" Severus asked.
Draco gave a side glance at his mother, which she immediately noticed.
"Do you think I'm incapable?" Her void raised a hitch. His mother would never have dared to challenge a subtle look before an audience. No tact. No happiness. The panic swarming inside of her when she wasn't occluding. Her mind, near snapping.
Draco turned to Severus, "I don't think involving my mother, after her stay in Azkaban, is a good idea."
"I am not some-" the woman almost began to scream.
"You should be recovering, not being exposed to this unnecessarily."
"I demand to know what is going on in this house. I will not turn a blind eye. Not again!"
As far as Draco was aware, his mother had been fairly involved in any schemes of his father's. And as far as he knew, she wasn't aware of what she was not aware of. At least, he told himself that. Not that she would have been able to do anything against death eaters anyways.
He dipped his head in consent and against his better judgment. "Please, follow me."
He led them down the hallway and then opened the doors at the top of the stairwell to the ballroom. The others were quick to discern the difference, eyes going directly to the coffins. His mother's eyes quickly tried to absorb the entire room, but then she too stared. He was right, of course. Her hands twisted with such violence, he thought they were close to coming off.
They walked down the staircase to the center of the room. While the others inspected the griffin, his mother's hand reached out and touched the child's coffin.
"How did I not know…" her voice was quiet.
Ah, that is what she was aware of now.
There was an unsettling look of fear in her eyes. Just like the Dark Lord was before her again. Her hands touched the dragon and she jolted backwards when it came to life. It gave a low trill lowering its head back down, but its eyes never left hers.
She was the one that broke contact. She looked to him, an unspoken question. What the other's hadn't cared to ask; she would. She opened her mouth, but words seemed to escape her. Her hands trembled and she then wrapped her arms around him in a jarring motion. The touch, her fear, made him sick to his stomach.
But he endured it. Just like he always endured it. For her piece of mind, safety and happiness. He didn't return the embrace, instead she was left clinging to him. Nothing could quite change the horrors either of them had been through. No matter how desperately he wished. He would protect her though, any more surprises or unknowns - her own sister's crimes - would truly kill her.
He kissed the top of her head. Bile rose in his throat. "Should we continue to the library?" he asked.
Again, her mouth opened. And then it closed. She backed away, looking back at the small coffin. "Only a few months?" It came out like a gasp of breath.
He acknowledged with a small nod. Another swarm of panic, of fear, of sadness and then, guilt.
She looked to reach for him again, but Vega intercepted. He rested his head upon her hip and then curled its tail around her like a small child. It distracted her and she smiled. She stroked its head with care and the dragon made a humming noise as if attempting to purr.
"The artwork is beautiful," McGonagall said.
"Hermione would love this," Potter said.
"I asked her opinion before starting. Although, I think she's been too busy to come back in."
"Busy?" Severus asked. Why was the man so suspicious of everything, surely his spying days were over.
"She's been teaching Antares to read."
They all just blinked at that.
"This way," Draco motioned.
Vega made a coughing gag, that made all jump and stare at him. Immediately his mother started crooning at it.
Vega had nothing to choke on. They didn't really have lungs. While Draco shuffled them out of the room, he scanned. Solstice's tail flicked and Draco followed its stare. It wasn't his girl. It was his grandfather's portrait attempting to flag someone down. Without a motion Draco let one of the wall hangings slide over and cover the portrait. They were all out of the room anyway, but it was better to be safe. He locked the door behind him.
They made it to the library without any more incidents. His mother was still stroking Vega, but Draco was beginning to get the feeling that the dragon - with its backwards glances - was merely tolerating her for his sake. The strange sensation, of almost distaste, seemed to come from Vega.
They found Hermione teaching Antares a children's book, forcing the poor creature to sound out the words. Well, perhaps forcing was off the mark - the devotion of attention Antares gave to the book and to the ghost was quite the striking sight. He smiled a bit at how they interacted and the joy the cat had at being congratulated. He could feel the pleasure of success from the ghost. Interesting that the emotional awareness he now had, he could feel from the animations and ghost as well. It reminded him of Vega and his bond.
Vega pressed its head up and into his hand. Glancing up at him, the creature made a gentle hum.
"Hermione," McGonagall called out. The woman walked forward and towards the girl.
"Professor!" The ghost smiled at the visit. But then she seemed to see the grief in the faces of those around her. The smile faded. "What is the matter?"
McGonagall then proceeded, in a low no-nonsense voice to tell the ghost the news. Draco could feel the acute pain the woman had at the action. That the stern tone was fraying with sadness. "I am so sorry, my dear."
And of course, the ghost asked many questions - different theories, different tactics one could use without parental blood. Draco was surprised at how she was basically lying to them with such ease. He could taste her mischievousness from his magic.
"We'll keep looking, Hermione," Potter said with such conviction that Draco knew the man would do so. The loyalty Draco had always admired in Potter's followers, was directed right back at them.
The ghost bobbed her head but quieted as if resigned to her fate. She felt a bit guilty now. "It will be ok, Harry."
Harry shook his head, "No, we'll make sure you get out of here." There was a glare directed at him then, in accusation of her predicament.
Draco gave a placating nod in acknowledgement. Vega moved to stand directly between him and Potter.
The auror blinked at the action, and Vega let off a bit of smoke from his nose.
McGonagall was quick to intervene, putting a hand on Potter's shoulders to turn him back towards the ghost.
"We will continue to keep our ears open for new advancements," The old woman said. But her tone relayed a different message, there was likely to be little change. The words were mostly for the man whose hand had tightened into a fist.
The ghost nodded solemnly at the words. "Thank you."
The others didn't know what to do after that. They seemed to twiddle their thumbs, having delivered the news they wanted to. Why not have him do it at this point, to satisfy her questioning?
This silence was sick rendering, so he broke it, "Have you been enjoying the books, Antares?"
The tiger popped up its head from the cushion he'd been laying on, hidden from view and immediately began chatting away at whatever had attracted his attention. He was attempting to explain some deeper meaning to the children's book - likely the ghost's doing. Maybe having her entertain Antares was a bad idea.
His mother slowly made its way over to the cat. "This is one too?"
"Yes," Draco said.
The cat looked over at his mother and she lowered her hand to let it sniff her. The cat had no interest in breathing her in, again, his creatures really didn't breathe. Instead, it looked at her closely, looking up into her eyes. Then, every single hair on the tiger's back rose and he gave a low hiss, taking two steps back away from her.
Draco quickly began moving towards them at the strange interaction. The eyes of the tiger immediately found Draco's and it glanced back and forth between him and his mother.
"What is she doing here?" the voice came out like a hiss as well. "She let that woman in," the pitch in the tiger's voice rose.
That woman? At first Draco took a moment to remember what Antares was talking about. But then he realized what memories the tiger must have. Memories the tiger would have gained outside of the bedroom in the southern corner of the house. Bellatrix. His mother had let Bellatrix in. And the cat was fully aware of his memories. He'd absorbed them whenever he'd bent and scratched the creature in his pain. How foolish he'd been. He quickened his step.
Vega's tail whipped around his leg stopping him.
In a panic Draco sought Vega's gaze, it was calm, just as calm as when he'd pretended to cough.
His mother quickly deduced whom Antares spoke of. "The only woman I let in would be my sister, Bellatrix." His mother lowered herself to be equal eye level with the cat. "How do you know her?"
Antares was displeased by the interaction and the lips went up showing fangs and discomfort. It backed a few more steps away. Before Draco could intervene, it growled even louder. "You let in the child killer."
His mother was still brilliant - even after all this time. The question she'd wanted to ask him was no longer needed. And the answer escaped her own lips. "Bella killed her own daughter."
His mother turned to him, her dark eyes with the same intensity Bella's always had. He looked away, seeing the rest of the questions his mother would follow up with. Why had Draco known? When did it happen?
However more worrying is this brought the load of questioning he did not want. And of course, the potions master was already making everyone else aware of it. "Lestrange is still missing. There is a possibility that we'd be able to get his blood, should we find him. Not all is lost," Severus said softly.
So if he was successful, it would look like he was collaborating with ex-death eaters.
With the look Severus now shot at him, it was clear as day as to why he thought he hadn't mentioned it.
But it was Greg that spoke then, "Well, assuming Bellatrix wasn't as whorish as my father claimed."
His mother bolted into a standing position at the accusation, causing the tiger to back even further away. "Bella would never have cheated on Rodolphus." She glared at Greg, and Draco could see the man curl in on himself.
He could feel the flush of his skin, as getting himself out of this mess would be admitting many details he'd made sure to leave far behind him. He'd omitted much from his brief discussions with Greg. "Rodolphus and Bella had the same taste in…" he hesitated at his mother's wide eyes. Pain, pleasure, twisted torture and mind games. They had been perfect for each other. "Many extracurricular activities, mother. Rodolphus was sterile. The child was not his."
He looked to Severus then attempted to keep his breathing calm. "I saw no reason to drag my family's name through the mud when I had enough knowledge to assess the situation."
Severus blinked at that, and Draco could see the man reviewing memories in his head. He finally gave a nod, as if putting something together. "I see."
"I don't see," his mother hissed back. "Bella loved Rodolphus," she was determined, her jaw jutting out.
"And I am saying Rodolphus gave his consent."
"But."
Draco's heart hammered. His mother's denial of her own sister. How could his mother believe that wretched creature over him? "Do you want me to give you a list of the men she was with and when? Even the muggles from the revels. I'm sure I could describe what they looked like before the two of them 'loved' and after when they burned them alive."
"How would you know?" His mother asked.
His nostrils flared. "I was her apprentice, at your begging, wasn't I? There are only some curses that can be applied 'in the moment' - and you were determined that I learned everything from her. So I learned everything, including her and her husband's indiscretions. You may have seen a school yard girl with Black madness, mother, but she was vile creature who knew horrors you cannot fathom. Had you, you would have died in Azkaban."
His mother's face became drawn and gaunt. Her eyes seemed to sink further into her skull. At once he felt ashamed of losing his anger, at blaming her. "Understand that I would not accuse had I not proof. Had I not seen it. Leave it be."
His words seemed to have a different effect than intended. Her back straightened, her nose sniffed in. Her fingers balled into fists. "Leaving things be, is exactly what was my problem to begin with. I shall not make the same mistake again."
Was this the reason she heckled him at every turn, that all subtle cues were thrown aside? She thought the solution to her issue was to pull all the past to the surface. If it wouldn't kill her, he'd be tempted to leave her in the pensive room and let her witness her sister in her vile madness.
He reigned in his anger and his emotions then, bottling them like potions, labeling them and locking the cupboard tight. If there was one thing he'd perfected over the years it was occlumency.
Vega shifted at the action.
He could feel the manor's heated breath then - with some mild concern he realized how closely the damn building had been following all the conversation. This entire time, his emotions and everyone else's had gotten in the way of feeling the manor. It wasn't happy, far from it. And he could feel the wards almost pull away from where his mother's feet stood. Antares was merely angry; the manor was furious, and Vega was keeping them both in check with some sort of leash of tranquility.
The tail on his leg tightened its hold in warning, and the leashes of magic tightened as well.
He looked at his mother. The way her narrowed eyes looked at him now, she knew he was occluding. She'd trained him after all and knew the nuances that had escaped the Dark Lord. He turned his attention to Severus then, "I think you all ought to leave. My mother is obviously unwell from her time in prison and will require proper rest and care, none of which she'll be able to acquire here in a house where she witnessed so many horrors."
"Do not attempt to speak of me as if I'm not in the room. I am not some fragile lady who-"
Draco continued, "Since I assume you helped her leave her cell, I give you full responsibility for continuing her care. I'm afraid at this time I am unable to house her in her current state of mind."
"If you think this ends our conversation, Draco," she was going to take steps towards him, but then seemed to notice she couldn't move her feet. The wards were keeping her in place.
He looked at her then, looked at the determination in her stance, the black lividness in her eyes - wild and angry just like Bella's. It struck a chord of terror in him. "Out of all the people whom I thought could walk into Azkaban and walk out whole again, I thought it would be you. But it seems like I have lost you mother. You've gone mad, just like all the other Blacks." Just like me, he wanted to add. "I insist that you leave and get rest. Maybe years of rest if that is what it takes."
Her mouth hung slack; her pureblood training lost. Perhaps of all the things she imagined, she wouldn't have seen this coming. Likely because he hadn't allowed her to. Perhaps if he'd written her some truths, she'd have an easier time of it.
"I'm afraid that isn't possible, under the law of the court, she must be taken in by a family member," Severus said quickly.
"Well," Draco then said with a cruel smile he hadn't used since fifth year, looking to Potter, "It's wonderful my cousin has a kind and generous heart and will offer her his house in exchange for the life-debt he owes her."
And with that, he was about to sweep from the room and demand their departure. But instead, a resounding knock rang throughout his bones at the front door. The door to the library slammed shut. With trepidation, Draco looked up at the ceiling, feeling the manor locking the doors. He braced himself and fought the manor attempting to bring up the anti-muggle wards that had been down since the war.
"The coffin has arrived," Vega said almost wistfully. "It isn't going to let it anywhere near the ballroom." It being the manor.
Draco had expected this, but the coffin was supposed to arrive in two days, not today. He flicked his wrist and his wand jumped from his holster in his sleeve to his hand.
"Stay here." His voice came out tense, but it was a lot calmer than he felt.
Vega and he had discussed what it would take to fight the manor. They had not planned on Vega having to control Antares and the manor at the same time.
Antares hadn't dropped his steely gaze and Draco was certain that if Vega lost control the cat would lunge for his mother.
