Soon after several guests had heard Mr. Rosier barking orders at his guards, they began whispering. That was the moment when Lucius Malfoy grabbed a glass of red wine and called a toast to the health and prosperity of the Rosiers, while also suggesting that they continued the ball at their Manor 'where no ghosts taunt promising young ladies, soon to be of age', as he put it.
That statement had enraged Rosier beyond belief, but he couldn't allow himself to act so gracelessly in front of such esteemed members of the wizarding society. They were as close to royalty as they could get - most of them, at least. He found himself forced to agree to Lucius and his suggestions. His suggestions! Ha! He praised himself as a great mastermind, a bright strategist, but it was Rosier who was associated with the most well-known game and sport of strategy. It should have been Rosier who had been named the Dark Lord's right-hand-man, not a young and inexperienced Malfoy with his... suggestions.
Rosier had excused himself as a caring and protective father, claiming it was his daughter's distress that caused him to remain behind. After Evans Rosier's death at the end of the Great* Wizarding War, he couldn't stand to see as much as a hint of fright on his daughter's face. He tried hard to paint himself as a perfect patron, but several Death Eaters could see right through him. They were in the back, whispering and exchanging sarcastic smirks among themselves, very likely joking.
Regardless, the Malfoy Manor had opened its gates that cold December evening to the most powerful figures of the Wizarding noble class. Their house-elves could be seen in action as their ballroom was prepared right before their guests with incredible accuracy and speed. The kitchen was alive with movement, whispers about ingredients and recipes, pots clashing together, plates being spread on the side, waiting for their contents to be arranged precisely. The guests had no trouble entertaining themselves and playing the piano and the two violins placed at their disposal, each willing to show their instrument mastery and how far they had come down the path of perfection in the study of one of the most respected of noble class hobbies - classical music.
Receiving word from her husband, Narcissa waited to make eye contact with the children and subtly signaled them to join her in a different room. Katherina and Draco were inseparable - they danced together, and drank together, and went outside together. They joked and shared whispered remarks among themselves, which for Narcissa, was the best Christmas gift she could have received. She had always hoped her son would marry for love, just like she had married Lucius.
Catching his mother's subtle but watchful eye, Draco took Katherina for a quick dance across their enormous ballroom. They were less worried about respecting any strict steps, rather enjoying themselves.
"What is it, mother?" he asked with a smile that Narcissa hadn't seen in a while.
"Draco, Katherina, Lucius believes it is time that you learned about something," she said in a solemn voice, while still wearing her usual warm smile that used to give Katherina trust issues.
She was the first of the couple to drop the joyful attitude. "Is this related to what we've spoken in the car?"
"It is. Have you told Draco?" Narcissa asked as she led them upstairs to the floor reserved for themselves and those closest to their family if they were ever to spend the night.
"In passing. I'm not sure what was I supposed to observe, perhaps you could shed some light on the matter," the girl asked as they followed the woman into their private quarters.
"While we're at it, mother, what exactly happened at the Rosier house? That matchbox is no manor," he ended his question with a remark intended to be funny. It wasn't his first time into his parents' bedroom, but Katherina had never seen it before.
The luxury in that room would have put a royal to shame. Every single detail was chosen so carefully and with so much taste, that it created the image of timeless elegance and supremacy. The room itself was larger than her parents' entire house from Florence, the bed was sheltered by partly transparent curtains of what looked like lotus silk, while the frame had platinum accents. The sitting area consisted of exquisite nailhead furniture finished with velvet, set around an enchanted crystal table with flowers encrusted into it that seemed to flow into the wind - precious English roses.
The furniture was sculpted so realistically, that one could break off the leaf of a rose if they weren't careful enough when passing it by. As she looked up, Katherina recognized the undeniably Renaissance influence of the ceiling's design. Around the crystal chandelier were cherubs playing among the clouds, lazing around, or provoking one another in a playful manner for a chase. On a shelf, she noticed a sculpture of Hades and Persephone that made her heart flutter with the joy of recognition.
"This is what I wanted to show you," Narcissa said as she took out a large and wide book from a locked drawer. She placed it on the crystal table. "Please," she gestured towards the sofa as she chose an armchair.
Draco nudged her on with a smirk before joining by his mother's side. "The family tree?"
"In a way." Narcissa opened the book and showed Draco the Malfoy family tree which he knew too well. On the other page was the Black family tree, showing her own noble heritage. Much to Draco's surprise, there seemed to be a third page to the album. It showed names of different people with lines connecting them, much like a family tree, except they had no immediate blood connection to one another more often than not.
Katherina lowered her eyes on the page out of respect, although she didn't really understand it either. "What kind of tree is this, if I may?"
"Before we continue, I don't know how much Draco has told you about our family. You see, according to the Ministry and to the legislation, there are some spells called Dark because of the effects they produce on the human body or mind - sometimes permanent. Hogwarts teaches its students Defense Against the Dark Arts."
The girl nodded, her green eyes meeting the pale blue ones of Narcissa. "Yes... Draco mentioned that some from your family practice the Dark Arts."
"I told her aunt Bellatrix is going to tutor me at some point," he continued her answer.
Narcissa smiled bitterly. "Yes, she is very... skilled in the Dark Arts, and very close to the Dark Lord. Everyone here is close to him, but nobody quite as much as her," the woman said as she ran her hand over the album. "Those from the Dark Lord's inner circle, his most esteemed followers and allies have received the Dark Mark and are known as Death Eaters."
The two exchanged a brief glance before taking a look at the names in the book.
"Are there more levels to this title?" Katherina asked as she noticed several main rows.
"There are a few generations," Narcissa informed her. "These are Lord Voldemort's first Death Eaters, and then, each row represents one generation."
The two widened their eyes as Draco pointed out one familiar name. "He's a Death Eater?!"
"Like your father," Narcissa answered her son while showing the Malfoy's name on the tree.
Katherina pursed her lips. "...Somehow, Professor Snape doesn't surprise me much. I heard he's been trying to apply for the Defense Against the Dark Arts post for years, but Dumbledore turns him down every time. There's even a rumor that the, um, Dark Lord has cursed that position."
"He is well respected among the Death Eaters. He has been Lucius' protege for as long as they had been at Hogwarts together."
"Alright..." Draco frowned in confusion. Why would Snape need someone's protection? Well, whatever, it wasn't the main topic, anyway.
Katherina traced a line from the generation of Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape to a name that drew her attention - Evan Rosier. Narcissa moved her arm to allow the girl to trace the lineage. "Siberius Albus Rosier? That's Anna's father, isn't it? Then who is Evan?"
Draco leaned closer. "He... has a son? That ridiculous caricature of a man has a son?"
"Draco, let's not speak this way... Evan was his son from his first marriage. He was murdered by an Auror towards the end of the Great Wizarding War. After that, Siberius Albus Rosier remarried and had Annelyse."
"What happened to his first wife?" Katherina asked.
Narcissa took in a deep breath. She had her own very strong opinions about the man and his life, but she didn't want to influence them. "It is assumed that she had been captured by Aurors, interrogated, and either killed in the process or committed suicide in order to maintain her loyalty to the Dark Lord."
Draco threw himself into his seat. "That's-!" he stopped himself, remembering his mother's preferences. "...a lie. It's a flagrant lie! His wife was no Death Eater, why would anyone capture her? That gnome is much easier to chase - I bet he can't even run!"
"There have been voices questioning his story," Narcissa admitted. "What I told you is the official version of events. It's not wise to speak without evidence."
"Was there no remaining body to examine?" Katherina asked. "If the Aurors had killed her, or if she truly died in their hands for whatever reason, wouldn't the legists be obligated to perform an autopsy?"
Draco hadn't thought about that, but he did see the logic in her argument. He nodded towards her as he waited for his mother to come up with an answer.
"The Aurors denied being involved in her disappearance. It's been many years since... there's no need to go over the events again. The case has been classified, which means it can't be reopened for fifty years, or if somehow, a body is found, which is highly unlikely."
"I can't believe it..." Katherina sighed as she looked at Draco.
He nodded. "...Mother, Annelyse is against the Death Eaters. She won't even read on the Dark Arts. I've heard her scare Zabini with a threat about the Unforgivable Curses, but it was just a bluff. Once he was gone, I called her out and she admitted to it."
Narcissa took a moment to think. "That is very unfortunate for her... Siberius should have probably introduced her to at least the past of her family; if not the Dark Arts. What you and a few others have heard at the Rosier Manor was your friend Annelyse trying to avoid Balthazar Blackwood," she said as she pointed his name on the book. "Siberius wants her to marry Balthazar, which would grant the Blackwood family everything they need to replace the Avery among the Sacred Twenty-Eight."
Katherina was on the edge of her seat. "Anna would never accept that! Balthazar Blackwood is from the generation of Siberius Rosier and Abraxan Malfoy! This is ridiculous!"
The name of his grandfather made Draco check the Death Eaters tree. Indeed, the gnome man, Blackwood, and his grandfather were close enough in age to have gone to Hogwarts together. "Disgusting, even... That man is old enough to be her grandfather!"
"This is one reason I wanted you to marry out of love, my dear," she smiled softly towards Draco. "Siberius has been asking for Annelyse to marry into our family since you were three years old, but I strongly advised your father to deny his arrangement."
That made him cringe. "Heavens! I would never marry her! That annoying know-it-all with her superiority complex and that attitude! Ew! Just the thought of living under the same roof with her makes me cringe."
Although she tried to stop, Katherina found herself laughing before Draco was done ranting. "Ew! I can't marry her! Of course!" she mocked him.
"It's different, okay?" the boy tried to defend himself. "I can talk to you without losing my temper!"
"I can see that," Katherina kept laughing. When he sighed in frustration and leaned with his elbows over his knees, the girl inched herself closer to his ear. "I still haven't heard it..."
Draco rolled his eyes. That's when he noticed his mother smiling at them. "I was just saying that man is too old to marry someone our age. Isn't there a law against these things?"
"She can marry at the age of fifteen with a written agreement from her father, sadly," the woman answered his question.
"What was all the commotion from before, then?" Katherina asked. "I think we've seen Anna leaving the ballroom, right?"
"It is rumored that Annelyse was found with a stranger's coat over her shoulders. Her father ordered the guards to look for her admirer, whom she supposedly met in the garden. It is likely that he is a Death Eater, as this happened right as their most recent meeting had ended."
The children fell silent once more and remained in thought over the possibilities for a long time. That was the missing link they couldn't identify earlier, the reason why all of those rather different men were in the other room at once.
"Is Bellatrix Lestrange the only woman among the Death Eaters?" Katherina asked eventually.
Narcissa sighed softly. "Yes, she is. Most of us are supporters or at least tolerant of the Death Eaters, but my sister is one, herself..."
"I don't see Selwyn..." Draco said as he skimmed the diagram again.
"He collaborated at the end of the Great War, I believe," his mother replied. "He's not a Death Eater, but helped hide many."
Author's notes:
A little bit of history, although I think I'm bending the canon with this. I feel like Draco's parents would have prepared him in some way, but I don't think it's mentioned anywhere (at least I'm not aware of it if it is).
Speaking of which, Katherina's mother knew her identity and told her about her blood ties to the Avery family, had her learn classic literature, music, and ballet, so I didn't think it'd be such a surprise for her to fit right into the higher class. I considered this context one reason why the Malfoys would pull the strings to clear her name - who would suspect anything? Without suspicion, you have no investigation, and without an investigation... no uncoverings and no culprits.
At the same time, this is mostly a filler for Anna's story. Sort of... But it will come into play later. Talk about parallelling stories, right?
Anyway, I am approaching another exam session very fast, so I plan on updating these once a week for a while because of this. I hope that's fine with you, and I'll be waiting for your thoughts on the story and the characters in the review section, as usual.
