Hey all! Here is another chapter for you! I hope you enjoy it :)
Comments/questions/constructive criticism is always welcome!
Without further ado, enjoy!
Chapter 2
After finishing the last of their shopping, the trio found themselves standing in the middle of Diagon Alley, staring somberly at the destroyed shop of Ollivander's. It was a shame. Everyone got their wands there. It was a rite of passage for every 11 year old. Now, this year, that wasn't a rite that this incoming class of first years will be able to do. It was truly depressing, but, Hermione couldn't dwell on that thought; Ron's voice had pulled attention away from the blown up show. She looked towards the red haired boy and noticed him looking, narrowly, at something in the distance. Following his line of sight, Hermione found the forms of Draco Malfoy and his mother, Narcissa, slinking down into the darkness of Knockturn Alley. "Is it just me or do Draco and Mummy look like they don't want to be followed?" Harry instantly agreed and suggested—or in Hermione's opinion, more like demanded—that they do just that. And with that, the trio followed the duo, behind enough to not lose them, but far enough to not be seen.
The Malfoy duo traversed the Alley with ease and swiftness, and the trio kept pace but with Hermione trudging behind reluctantly. She didn't really care for the Malfoys' behaviors or business. But, she couldn't leave the boys on their own. She knew they would get themselves into trouble. Let's be honest, there was a reason why they were meant to be in Gryffindor. They were true to the characteristics of their house. They were brave, but they were also very brash, and not at all cunning or intelligent enough to be able to properly sneak around. They were rather loud. Hermione was surprised that they weren't already caught by the duo.
Then suddenly, Draco and Mrs. Malfoy came to halt in front of a rather small, shabby shop. Hermione saw that it was named, Borgin & Burke's. Wanting to spy further, Harry had the three of them climb up the side of a roof, hoping to see what was happening in that shop. They couldn't really see anything except for a tall, burly man standing in front of the tall window, blocking their view. The hairy man then turned around as if he felt their eyes boring into his back. The three instantly ducked their heads behind the top of the roof. When they looked back up, the window's curtain was pulled to a close—preventing any more possibilities of curious onlookers discovering the happenings within the shop. Discouraged, the trio made their way back to Diagon Alley, with a paranoid Harry coming to the conclusion that Draco Malfoy was a newly inducted Death Eater.
A lowly lit hallway's silence was disrupted by a soft pop. Two bodies were suddenly standing in the middle of the corridor in front of a pair of dark cherry double doors. Narcissa Malfoy quickly assessed her attire and then her son's to make sure they were presentable. Content with their appearances, the blonde witch lightly, but firmly, knocked on the door and entered when she heard a soft 'come in'. The two entered another dimly lit room where a long rectangular table sat in the middle. The room was occupied by four other bodies: their Lord, Bellatrix, Lucius, and Beckett. They were seated at the far end of the room and with two seats available between Narcissa's sister and husband.
"Ahh, yes. Narcissa, Draco, you arrived just in time. Please, come and sit. We were just listening to Io's report on her work in her department." Draco went and sat beside his father, while Narcissa sat beside her sister. The blonde witch took notice of her niece's usual business-like cold expression. Though she was much younger, Beckett was very much like her Aunt. Where Narcissa Malfoy was the Ice Queen of the social scene, Beckett Blackwood was the Ice Queen of the Ministry of Magic. Despite her age, the purple-haired witch was not to be trifled with. She was very good at her job, and she wasn't one for silly business in the workplace. "You may continue, my dear."
Beckett wanted to scowl at her Lord's usage of her real name, but she resisted and nodded her head instead. "Of course, my Lord. Everything is going according to plan. As you know, a major aspect of my job is to create future major networking opportunities and cultivate any current alliances with the other countries and their ministries." The Dark Lord nodded. "Rufus has been urging me to reaffirm our unions with the Slavic Regions, namely Russia. He hopes that these connections can continue on as per usual to ensure an allegiance with the Ministry, rather than you, my Lord. It is common knowledge that they tend to be more liberal with the dark arts than most other countries. After my recent visit to the Russian Ministry of Magic, our sanguine association will continue on as usual. And the Minister was elated to know the peace between our two countries will continue." Beckett smirked before she continued one. "But, what he doesn't know is that their allegiance is not with Cornelius, but with you, my Lord." The Dark Lord smirked at this. "Nikolas will play along with the charade until you are ready to take over the British Wizarding World. When the war comes to a head, they will fight with you."
These news pleased the serpentine wizard greatly. His power was spanning rapidly across Europe, and now he confirmed an alliance with one of the biggest ministries in the wizarding world. Beckett has already secured majority of Europe, but there were still a few major power houses that needed persuading.
The Dark Lord has been very pleased with the accomplishments of Beckett, herself as well as the Malfoys and the Blacks have been pivotal players and contributions to His cause. And because of their successes, the Dark Lord had been wanting to repay them in kind. Their already elite statuses and their power has increased tenfold, but there is one thing He still needs to do for Beckett and her family. And that is to bring the little girl that was taken from them 14 years ago. "Thank you, Io. You have done splendidly for me and our cause. And when this all done and over, you will get everything you desire."
The Dark Lord, then, trained his attention on the recently arrived duo. "I assume everything is in Order, and the shopkeeper is compliant with our plans." He raised an eye brow, intently waiting for an answer.
Draco spoke up confidently, "Of course, my Lord. I have finished mending the cabinet there, and I am now able to continue my mission at Hogwarts. I am confident that I will have it completed by our intended deadline. And as for the shopkeeper, Borgin is quivering in his skin at our constant presence within his shop. But he will continue to comply." Draco finished, but his mother knew that she needed to inform her Lord of what happened.
"That is excellent to hear, Draco. But, Narcissa, you look like you have some news, yourself," he assumed correctly.
"Yes, my Lord," the blonde witch responded. If she was nervous, she didn't show it. "As we made our way to the shop, we were followed by a certain trio of teens." This caught the Dark Lord's attention; he nodded for her to continue. "They followed us to Borgin's and hid behind one of the rooftops. They were trying to see within the shop. I had informed Greyback of their presence, and had him close the curtains to ensure our secrecy. But I'm sure they now suspect my son of being a Death Eater."
The Dark Lord contemplated this. "Hmmm….this changes nothing. Draco will continue his work," he looked to the aforementioned boy. "You will have to be more cautious, however. Potter will become more and more suspicious of your actions as the months pass." He turned back to Narcissa, "is that all, or do you have more to report?"
"There is, my Lord." She flickered her gaze over to her niece before resting them once more on the serpentine wizard. "It seems that a certain little witch was rather reluctant to participate in the actions of the other two. It was quiet, but I could hear her soft sighs of irritation at the dramatics and antics of Potter and Weasley. It seems that she was aware of the boy's inability to be quiet, but I imagine that she only stuck with them to keep them out of trouble."
The Dark Lord smiled sinisterly. He knew that this was the perfect time to reach out to the girl and persuade her over to their side, where she rightfully belongs. He was glad that they don't need to worry about any real strong ties to those two, for the boys were slow cutting them, themselves. But, they still need to be cautious about their approach to the girl. If they push her too hard, it may scare her. "That is excellent to hear. And speaking of the girl," He shifted his attention back to the witch sitting to his left. "Io, how is she doing? I imagine you had a good conversation with your little witch." He asked with a knowing smirk.
"Not as good as I would have preferred," she mumbled, earning her raised hairless eyebrow from the patsy wizard. "My Lord, I only mean that I wished to have had more time to speak with her," she amended. "Simply speaking with her was perfect," she held a wistful smile. "But, we were not able to truly finish any real conversation. Though, she is everything I knew her to be. Beautiful, with her soft hazel eyes and that radiant smile. I could tell that she was a little disappointed too—not as much as I—when she had to leave. And to top that off, a part of her remembered me. She asked me if we had met before." The purple haired witch gave another wistful smile, one full of longing.
Chuckling, "that is wonderful, dear child. She is remembering you, if only a little. Take this time to build on that. Use that bond and remind her; get close to her. Help her discover her true identity and bring her home. This is my gift to you, Io. It is time for you to get your little witch back."