Chapter 10. Uprooted
A crackling fire dimly lit the drawing room at Malfoy Manor, its dancing flames casting their fluid light on a frail figure draped in faded black robes. The figure stared out of a large arched window, casting their beady eyes over the moonlit grounds of the manor. A knock at the door drew their attention.
"Come in… Lucius," The figure called out, their voice raspy and wheezy. The timid caricature of Lucius Malfoy slipped into the room; head bowed.
"My lord," Lucius greeted the waif like man, who in turn twisted his form around to acknowledge his disciple.
"You have news Lucius?" They asked, Lucius nodded his head slowly, keeping his eyes low.
"I do, My Lord," Lucius croaked. The figure before him slowly glided across the room to his arm chair by the fire side and lowered their slender frame into its leather seat with a creak. Lucius cautiously approached the arm chair, his cheeks growing hotter and hotter as he neared the fire.
"Go on, Lucius, is it the girl? Or have you finally infiltrated the department of mysteries?" The Dark Lord asked, Lucius hesitated to answer, he swallowed hard before answering.
"It's the girl My Lord," Lucius answered.
"You have been successful?"
"I have My Lord," Lucius closed his eyes for a second and focused on his breathing. "She is right where she needs to be,"
"I see…" The Lord Voldemort whispered; a small wicked smile suddenly turned up a single corner of his thin lips. "You bedded her?" Lucius inhaled deeply at his master's question, he ran his tongue across his teeth, his jaw tensed.
"I did, My Lord," Lucius answered obediently. The Dark Lord let out a low chuckle.
"Do not pretend it was a chore Lucius, I've heard of her beauty, I bet she was quite the treat, was she not?" Voldemort mused. Lucius clenched his fist, his knuckles turning as white as his master's skin.
"She was… pleasant," Lucius breathed, down-playing his night with the girl. Voldemort tutted at his response.
"Did you learn anything from her?" Voldemort asked, leaning his elbows on the arms of his chair and intertwining his bony fingers.
"She is strong in the art of occlumency; however, she lets her guard down when she's asleep. I found that she's been acting as a spy on her father's orders, her mark is… Severus," Lucius revealed. Voldemort snorted in reply.
"If the Order do not trust him then he is useless in that role," Voldemort sneered.
"Not the Order, just old Mad-Eye, his opinion means nothing without evidence." Lucius did his best to protect his old friend, "And she will find no evidence of Severus' true loyalty, he is meticulous,"
"Was there anything else?" The Dark Lord asked, Lucius hesitated before nodding.
"The girl…" Lucius gulped, "She has a heart condition,"
"Why would her health interest me Lucius?" Voldemort scolded, he was sick of being fed non-information, useless drivel that was of no use to him.
"It's an inherited condition My Lord, passed down from her mother." Lucius informed the frail man whose eyes widened with realisation at his loyal followers' words.
"A blood malediction?" Voldemort wondered aloud as he stared into the dancing flames inside the green marble fireplace.
"I suspect as much My Lord,"
"Interesting… Avery's wife had the same affliction… a terrible coincidence…" The Dark Lord tutted, "Or perhaps the unravelling thread of a conspiracy, Lucius find out more of her parentage, you've piqued my interest,"
After a long day of teaching Astrid finally took a seat at her desk with a sigh, Mondays were always the worst, the students were out of routine from the weekend, still buzzing on happy vibes. It made teaching them a headache, Astrid had deducted fifty points from across the four houses, most of them from Slytherin. She rubbed her temple as she stared down at the letter parchment addressed to her father, no words had been written yet, she couldn't find them.
A knock at the door brought Astrid out of her writers block, with a sigh she went to the door, pulling it open with a big heave.
"I'm sorry Lucius I can't-" Astrid started, "Oh Mr Filch!"
Astrid was surprised by the dishevelled man stood in front her door; a distasteful look plastered on his face.
"Evening Professor." Filch addressed the girl, shooting her a distasteful look. "I have orders to bring you to your new chambers," Filch spat, narrowing his eyes on her.
"My new chambers?" Astrid furrowed her brow, visibly confused.
"That's what I said, new chambers," Filch grumbled. "Are your things ready?" He asked gruffly.
"No… I wasn't aware I was changing chambers Mr Filch, I'm quite comfortable here, honestly its fine," Astrid explained.
"It's not my decision," He said blankly, "Your new chambers have been sorted by the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Professor." A cheeky glint flashed in Filches eye as he watched realisation wash over the girl.
"Right, okay then… erm just let me get my things together, two minutes Mr Filch," Astrid breathed, closing her door abruptly on the man. Astrid let out a frustrated growl before grasping her wand off the side and waving it. Without even a word her suitcase levitated out of the armoire and onto the floor, followed by her belongings picking themselves up and packing themselves into the leather case.
Something quivering out of the corner of her eye caught Astrid's attention, she looked over to the bed to find her pillow shaking and rolling side to side. Astrid approached carefully and lifted the pillow. The handkerchief with the monogram LAM flew out from where it had been trapped and whizzed itself into the trunk.
With a large sigh she closed the lid and buckled the straps once everything had nestled itself in.
"I thought I was finally done with packing suitcases for a while," She muttered to herself sadly.
As annoyed as she was at the unexpected move, Astrid had to admit Lucius had done good by her. Her new chambers were quite luxurious, a large tower room with a sweeping staircase leading to a wooden mezzanine. The room itself had a stunning fireplace, taller than she and hand carved with intricate patterns. A deep green velvet chesterfield sofa sat opposite the fire, a small wooden coffee table separating the two. Two brown leather arm chairs guarded the sofa either side. On the floor lay a large brown fur rug, Astrid couldn't tell whether it was real or not, and to be frank she didn't want to know. A tall, broad bookcase filled with various texts filled one of the stone walls, the odd ornament and trinket breaking up the sea of books. A door near the fireplace led to the bathroom. A large room with a walk-in shower, clawfoot bath, twin sinks and a separate room for the toilet. It's floors and walls were white marble broken up with a black tiled border.
Up on the mezzanine was the sleeping space, a king-size four poster bed adorned with green luxurious sheets and plump feather filled pillows. White delicate voile curtains hung from the four-poster bed and tied at each corner. A large stain glass window filled the exterior castle wall, its picture depicting a knight surrounded by roses.
Astrid ran her hand across the sheets, admiring the quality when she was caught off guard by a familiar voice.
"Is it to your liking?" Asked the velvety voice of Lucius Malfoy.
"It's a beautiful room but… I didn't ask for this," Astrid furrowed her brows as she turned to see the man at the top of the wooden staircase. His hair was tied back out of his face with a black velvet bow, showing off his bone structure beautifully. Astrid tried to remain serious, pushing back her admirations of how handsome he looked in the light of the setting sun.
"I know, but you deserve it, that old room, it was not fit," Lucius stated, clasping both hands on top of his cane.
"Wasn't fit for me, or for you?"
"Now, now, ungratefulness doesn't suit you Astrid," Lucius scolded, his face becoming hard.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound so thankless, it's just… I had no quarrels with my old room, it had almost started to feel homely. I'm just tired of being uprooted every time I get comfortable," Astrid sighed as she approached the man.
"You don't have a place you call home?" Lucius asked, almost shocked, he couldn't imagine not having Malfoy Manor. The feeling of growing up there, having it passed down to him and then raising his own children in that very same house was a great comfort to him. It was his home, he had many houses across various cities, even countries, but Malfoy Manor would always be where his heart laid.
"No, my father raised me in fear, paranoia, we never stayed in the same place more than a month, we hopped house to house. The longest I stayed anywhere was with my grandparents… or Beauxbatons. Neither of them felt like home," Astrid explained as Lucius raised a hand to the girl's cheek, he caressed away a stray hair as he stared deep into her eyes. Astrid hated what she saw in his, pity.
"I'm sorry, little one, I never realised, if you want your old room back I can-"
"No!" Astrid cried out a little too loud for her liking, "I mean, it's fine, just promise not to relocate me again anytime soon," She smiled. "Besides, moving about wasn't all bad, I got to see some beautiful sights,"
"Which sight was your favourite?" Lucius enquired silkily. Astrid didn't even mull over her answer, she knew instantly.
"Porthcurno," Astrid smiled, "We stayed in a little cottage on the cliff above the bay, tropical blue waters right outside my window, I wanted to stay there forever," Astrid reflected. Lucius smirked at her answer, shaking his head slightly.
"What's so amusing?" Astrid asked curiously, wondering whether to take insult from his sly smile.
"Nothing, just… I hoped to take you to Malfoy Manor one day, I thought it might… impress you, juvenile I know, but now I think it would probably have the opposite effect," Lucius mused.
"I can appreciate architectural beauty you know, Beauxbattons was a grand palace, I felt like a princess everyday whilst I was there." Astrid chimed.
"Then why is it not your favourite sight?"
"Good question…" The girl pouted her lips slightly as she arranged her thoughts for a second. "Beauxbatons was unreal, like a fairy-tale, I have great memories there, but it just wasn't a piece of me, you know?" Astrid tried to explain. "But that little house in Porthcurno was, to me anyway, so authentic, so beautiful yet so simple, I actually pictured a life there. It sounds so silly to say out loud but it gave me hope for a better future, even after we left it still gives me hope, like maybe I'll live there one day, raising my children, baking cakes, taking walks by the sea," She hummed, mostly to herself. Suddenly Astrid felt quite silly, her dreamy outburst embarrassing her, she was talking to a man who had everything he could ever want, how could he relate?
"It's not silly to find comfort in things, even if they are… small, especially when you've lived a turbulent life," Lucius said simply. Astrid didn't reply to his words, she simply smiled and nodded. "I must go now my dear, I have a meeting at the Ministry, I will be back this week at some point, I just wanted to check in with you before I left," Lucius informed the young woman, placing a kiss on top of her forehead delicately. She smiled smally as she felt his lips press into her skin.
"See you around, I guess, thank you for getting me this room, it really is beautiful," Astrid said sweetly.
"I'm glad you like it. This chamber was mine up until recently, but I decided a smaller room near the governors' offices would be… more convenient," Lucius smiled, a hint of sadness on his lips, Astrid noticed how his cheek almost twitched a little as he spoke.
"I'm sure you won't find yourself a stranger to these chambers Mr Malfoy," Astrid smiled cheekily, raising her brows. Lucius raised his brows, a little shocked at her boldness, he sent the girl a knowing smirk before turning and retreating down the stairs and out of his former chambers.
"I can't believe I just said that, what is wrong with me," Astrid cursed herself as she ran her palm over her face rubbing at her blushing skin.
Things at Hogwarts got more intense by the day, more rules, less freedoms. Even the staff were feeling more and more pinched every day, even Professor Flitwick was on the edge of a breakdown.
Astrid left breakfast at the Great Hall to find the students rushing towards the courtyard. She followed the direction of the crowd, pushing through students.
"Excuse me, excuse me!" She called as she weaved through the sea of students, eventually coming across Cho Chang and Harry who were also pushing their way outside.
"Mr Potter!" Astrid called as she approached the pair, "Do you have any idea what's going on?" Astrid asked, her voice quivered with concern. Harry looked at Cho expectantly, who eventually spoke up.
"It's Professor Trelawney," Cho said sadly. Astrid needed no more information, it was clear to her Umbridge had got her way, the woman hadn't been subtly with her contempt for the Divination professor.
"Thank you," Astrid muttered as she was already pushing her way through the crowd out into the courtyard.
There, students gathered around, hovering on the perimeter as they watched Professor Trelawney shake with fear, her trunks piled up around her the professor was lost for words, she just stood there, frail and shaking like a leaf. Filch skulked out of the great doors, the professors last bag in hand.
Astrid, now at the edge of the courtyard, attempted to interject, she wanted to run over and put a stop to the ridiculousness, but a black robed arm wrapped around the professor's waist, pulling her to a firm chest.
"Don't do anything stupid Astrid, I implore you," Lucius whispered into the professor's ear as he released her waist, running his fingers delicately over her baby blue silk dress as he retreated.
"I can't sit back and let Umbridge do this," Astrid hissed over her shoulder. Lucius placed a strong hand on her upper arm, gripping the girl into place in front of him.
"If you act, I cannot help you, even my influence has limits," He whispered into the blonde waves that fell by her ear. Astrid sighed and bit her lip as she watched helplessly from the side lines. Lucius relaxed his hold on the girl and ran his hand down passed her elbow, over her forearm and enveloped her hand in his, wrapping his fingers around her tightly, giving them a reassuring squeeze. A small gesture that would go unnoticed in the sea students surrounding them.
Just as Sybil Trelawney began to look around at the sea of people, Umbridge made her way out of the castle, her little pink heels clacking and clicking against the stone like an ominous tune. Her head was high, her face smug, she wore a hideous pink check cape that billowed behind her as if she thought herself the queen of the castle.
Trelawney approached Umbridge clumsily, tears in her eyes.
"Six… Sixteen years I've lived and taught here, Hogwarts is my home," Trelawney sniffled. The professor sobbed as she gripped her bag to her chest, "You can't do this," She cried. Astrid's heart strings were pulling, she wanted nothing more than to run over and give the woman a hug, Astrid wondered if Umbridge even had a heart, her face wasn't just cold, it looked as if she was enjoying Trelawney's pain, and it made Astrid's blood boil.
"Actually, I can," Umbridge announced smugly, holding up a piece of parchment for all to see. The woman in pink shot Professor Trelawney a wicked smile. Lucius squeezed Astrids hand harder, his thumb tracing circles into her palm.
Thankfully Professor McGonagall pushed her way through the crowd, she rushed to Sybils side, pulling her into a hug. Trelawney was in pieces now, sobbing into Minerva, her words muffled by her sniffles and cries.
"Something you'd like to say dear?" Umbridge addressed Minerva smugly.
"There are several things I'd like to say!" Minerva scolded the woman in pink as she hushed the crying professor. Umbridge's eyes burned into McGonagall and just as it looked like hell was about to break loose the castle doors opened ceremoniously to reveal Professor Dumbledore. The headmaster approached swiftly, his robes fluttering behind him graciously.
"Professor McGonagall, might I ask you to escort Sybil back inside?" Dumbledore addressed his deputy, ignoring the pink clad woman completely.
"Sybil dear, this way," McGonagall whispered as she guided the woman back towards the castle doors.
"Thank you," Trelawney sobbed, grasping for Dumbledores hands as she was escorted away. Everyone's attention turned to Umbridge now, her face full of contempt for the headmaster before her.
"Dumbledore, may I remind you, that under the terms of the educational decree, number 23, as enacted by the minister-" Umbridge started, her squeaky voice tight with disdain.
"You have the right to dismiss my teachers, you do not however have the authority to banish them from the grounds. That power remains with the headmaster." Dumbledore told the pink woman firmly.
"For now," Dolores said smugly. Albus narrowed his eyes at the woman in disbelief. Dumbledore eyed the crowd of students and staff around the courtyard, he looked almost as if he wanted to say something, but didn't. Dumbledore turned dramatically, his robes swishing behind him as she stalked off towards the castle.
"Don't you all have studying to do?!" Albus shouted, and just then the crowd began to disperse, students and staff trickling away in every direction.
"Professor!" Harry called after Dumbledore as he ran in search of the headmaster. Lucius released Astrid's hand quickly now they were no longer shielded by the sea of students, he took a step back from the girl and straightened himself up. Astrid looked over her shoulder to the man with shining eyes that looked ready to burst.
"I'm sorry, I have to go to class," She whispered before dashing off into the castle. Lucius watched her petite form navigate itself elegantly around the students and disappear from sight.
"Bold of you Lucius," Severus uttered from behind the man.
"No one was watching us," Lucius tutted, he expected nothing less than negative drivel from his old friend Severus.
"I was, as was another," Snape declared, his head subtly nodding to a stone pillar in the courtyard where the blonde head of Draco Malfoy leaned against it, arms crossed firmly across his chest, eyes staring daggers in his father's direction. Lucius cursed under his breath as he left the Snape to stride over to his brooding boy.
"Draco," Lucius addressed his son. Draco's face twisted with disdain.
"I saw you father, holding her hand," Draco spat as he avoided his father's gaze. The courtyard was empty now bar the three Slytherins, Draco, Lucius, and snape who watched from a distance.
"Whatever you think you saw Draco is-" Lucius face was hard now, his top lip quivered as he scolded the boy.
"I'm not stupid father, at least give me that respect, I know you and mother are not on best terms, but her?" Draco hissed, shaking his head in disbelief.
"You dare speak to me like that boy?" Lucius scoffed; he gripped his cane so hard he thought it might snap.
"You dare shack up with my professor, the daughter of that fool Mad-Eye Moody, tell me, did you fuck her already or are you still wooing her?" Draco snickered. Lucius without a thought raised his hand and slapped his son across the cheek, a ping of guilt hit Lucius as he saw his sons shocked face.
"Just look how far you've fallen father, Grandfather will be turning in his grave over your foolishness," Draco whispered, his face twisted in hurt, tears threatened to fall from the boys' eyes.
"Go," Lucius growled. Draco didn't move. "Now!" Lucius shouted through gritted teeth, his son eventually relented and stalked off into the castle, not even giving his father a second glance. Severus approached his old friend slowly, his hands clasped in front of him,
"You handled that well," Snape's monotonous voice almost sounded half amused.
"Shut up Severus," Lucius spat, not even giving his friend a glance he stalked off towards the governors offices, where he would bury himself in paperwork the rest of the day.