And... here's the penultimate chapter! With sweet, sweet scene breaks *angels sing*!
I felt exhausted too. The tether had weakened to the width of a hair, but it was all I could do. The strange power was gone, and I felt even weaker and emptier than I had in the living room after using the green stone's energy.
The candles snuffed out all at once, as if a giant had spoken. Yet, the air in the room was as still as a tomb.
"Stay back!" someone shouted, and I stumbled back, dropping the candle in my hands.
"James?"
"Look."
There was a loud, rushing sound, and and of the darkness in the basement seemed to gather above Morgan's prone, flickering form.
I see the future of all things... I see the end of this world...
Suddenly, the wind was rushing up, and a raven made of shadows circled the basement.
Then, with one last gurgling croak, the dark bird disappeared.
Chapter 22: The Malfoy Problem Resolved
I stared down at the cup of tea between my cold, trembling fingers, then tentatively took a small sip. I nearly spilt the tea all over myself and the blanket Mr. Malfoy had given me as someone sat down beside me.
"Dad?"
He turned to me, looking tired. Dad put his hands up. "I'm not going to yell. I promise."
"Yeah, leave that to Mum." James sat down on the other side of me with a loud sigh, and was quickly joined by Albus.
I scooted closer to James, who put an arm around me. "How are you feeling, Lil?"
In fact, my head was still spinning from overusing my magic earlier, but I didn't want to make anyone worry; I'd feel better soon anyway.
"I'm fine," I said, but James didn't look convinced.
Dad sighed. "Well, I was hoping I'd never have to bring this up, but—" He gestured vaguely at the chaos around us. Scarlet-robed Aurors were flitting to-and-fro across the ballroom, Teddy and Mr. Malfoy were in a deep discussion, and Scorpius and Aurelie Malfoy both looked ready to pass out from exhaustion. Astoria was handcuffed and stood in a corner looking impassively regal and glaring daggers at the Aurors surrounding her.
"What?" pressed Albus, craning his neck to see around me and James. "What, Dad?"
Dad shook his head slightly before answering, as if he was afraid that what he was about to say was something that should be kept secret at all costs. If it had been any other situation, I would have been intrigued, but as it was, I wanted to curl up in a ball next to James and fall asleep for a thousand years.
"We're descended from the Peverells."
"Dad, that's a fairytale—" I stopped as I took in his serious expression.
Albus gaped. "So, the Invisibility Cloak —it's legit? It's the Invisibility Cloak? Death's Invisibility Cloak?"
Dad nodded.
"And Morgan is legit Morgan, as in Morgan le Fay, the ancestral witch?" asked James. "So what the hell did Astoria—"
Dad put a hand up to stop him. "I know you all have questions, and believe me, I want answers, too. However, that's going to have to wait—" He gestured at Astoria, "—until the trial is over."
"And when's the trial?" asked Albus. There was a lot of bite in his tone, I noticed. He clearly hadn't gotten over Scorpius lying unconscious on the ground, and to be honest, nor had I. I kept glancing across the room at Scorpius to ensure that he was in fact alive, and I saw Albus doing the same.
I looked up as someone approached us from across the ballroom — Mr. Malfoy.
"Hello, Harry," he said stiffly as Dad got to his feet. I watched as they shook hands awkwardly.
"Trial's tomorrow," said Dad. "Are you sure that you're feeling up to it, er, Draco?"
James sniggered, and Albus elbowed him in the ribs, causing him to yelp into my ear. I winced.
Mr. Malfoy straightened the front of his robes. "Certainly. Auror Lupin was most helpful, especially in providing that dose of Wiggenweld Potion. The effects of the Draught of Living Death have completely worn off, I believe."
"That's, er, not what I mean," said Dad. "Regardless of what she's done, Astoria is still your wife — you've raised two children together — are you sure you feel comfortable testifying?"
Mr. Malfoy drew himself up to his full height, looking strangely offended. "Of course," he said. "I am testifying for the sake of my children's safety, not to mention her endangerment of the Malfoy line."
Dad nodded, as if unsure how to respond to that assertion.
"I have ample room if the kids want to stay here for the night — of course, they might want to sleep in their own beds after such a trying experience..." Mr. Malfoy trailed off.
Dad turned around, raising an eyebrow, and Albus nodded his head fiercely. I gave him a thumbs-up, and to my shock, James did not protest.
"Yeah, I think they'd like that," said Dad.
Fifteen minutes later, the four of us were in Scorpius's bedroom, the door shut and what felt like the last of our worries behind us.
"House pride, much?" asked James as he stared up at the green-and-silver hangings.
Scorpius offered him a wry grin. "Not my fault Slytherin's got the best color scheme."
I snorted. "We can have a proper girly sleepover! I can paint your nails, Al, and Malfoy can braid my hair—"
"It's not even a joke!" James interrupted. "Do you know what it's like, living with her? When Al and I were in primary school and our friends came over, she used to sneak downstairs when she was supposed to be in bed with her dolls, and Mum would— shite, Malfoy, sorry, didn't think."
Scorpius's face fell slightly as he sat cross-legged on the bed. "It's nothing, really. Mum and I weren't close — it's Aurelie you should be worried about."
"Where is she?" I asked. I hadn't noticed her disappear.
He shrugged. "Dunno, probably sleeping. Wanted Dad to read her a bedtime story — sleeps with all her teddy bears and shit still, surprised she's lasted this long at Hogwarts without her house-elves and her mummy to do everything for her."
"You're being an arse, Scor," said Albus, but his tone was soft.
"I know," said Scorpius. "Can't help it. She's like a mini-Astoria, and as soon as she was born, everything was about her."
"Enough about your bratty sister, more about me," said James, launching himself onto the bed. The three of us glared at him.
"Conversations don't have to revolve around you, James," I said, rolling my eyes. "D'you have any clothes I can change into, Scorpius? I want to take a shower."
He stared at me for a minute. "Yeah," he said slowly. "I'm sure I've got a t-shirt from when I was five, somewhere."
"Very funny, Malfoy."
Scorpius got up and shuffled over to the giant armoire and started shifting around dress robes and other silken finery. I followed him, acutely aware that he was Scorpius Malfoy, whatever that meant, and that my brothers were staring at me.
"Here," he said, and I noticed that something in his voice had gotten rather cold as he thrust a pair of old-fashioned pyjamas at me. "There are towels and stuff in the bathroom. Second door down on the left."
"Right." It was as if we were back at school again. "Thanks."
I was almost glad for the excuse to get out of the room. I returned to say good-night to the boys, but retreated quickly into the bedroom that Mr. Malfoy said I could sleep in. Like most of the rooms in the Manor, it was altogether too gold-encrusted and ornate for my taste, but all that I cared about was the large, comfortable bed, so I crawled under the covers and, tired from the ordeal of the day, went straight to sleep.
I woke up with a start. Where were the crimson curtains of the Gryffindor dormitories? Where was Nisha, who was usually curled up at the foot of the bed? Where were Carla and Maddie?
Oh, wait. The events of the day before slowly began to come back to me. That means the trial is today.
Someone knocked on the door.
"Come in!" I said, sitting up and putting my glasses on. Dad came in, still wearing his Auror uniform, with what looked like a pair of plain black dress robes folded over his arm.
"Morning," he said, but he sounded and looked as if he hadn't slept. "Draco lent me these. You're underage, so I doubt they'll call you to testify, but I suspect that you'll want to be there."
I nodded. "Look, Dad, I'm sorry—"
He shook his head. "I don't want to focus on being angry. I want to focus on convicting Astoria, and I need to be calm to do my job. I'm sure she has excellent legal defense."
"Okay." I did feel slightly afraid of what was to come, after the trial. Without saying anything else, Dad got up and left.
Suck it up, Lil. Stiff upper lip. They'll be taking pictures at the trial, it's very high profile.
After getting dressed, I drifted down the stairs, and met Albus and Scorpius on the landing.
"Oh, you're awake," said Albus, looking me up and down. Both of them were wearing dress robes, too.
"Are you okay, Scorpius?" I asked. He nodded curtly, then turned his back to me.
"Dad and James are in the dining room with Mr. Malfoy," said Albus.
"Right." I chewed the inside of my lip, then turned to leave. I looked back at Scorpius sheepishly, but all that I could see was platinum hair and black robes, his shoulders set rigidly.
I felt a hot flash of indignation, then stifled it quickly. He's just been through a lot, I told myself. You're being selfish, Lily.
"Morning Dad — Mr. Malfoy," I said as I walked into the enormous dining room, where Dad and Mr. Malfoy were sitting, to my surprise, next to each other. I noticed that the chair that should have been opposite Mr. Malfoy had been removed.
Astoria's chair, I realized. He must see it as a betrayal.
"James has made himself comfortable in the kitchen," said Dad with a wry smile. "Said that you have lovely strawberries, Draco."
Mr. Malfoy gave a disapproving sniff. "I told him that the house-elves were well-equipped to handle—"
"Who wants pancakes?" came a sing-song voice. I turned to see James levitating several plates of piled high with enormous stacks of pancakes.
I suppressed a laugh as James sat down beside me.
"Where's Aurelie?" I asked.
"The house-elves will attend to her," said Mr. Malfoy coldly. "It's not kind to her to force her to see her mother like that, especially after what she's been through."
Albus and Scorpius wandered into the kitchen and sat down opposite us and next to each other. About a half-hour of awkward small talk ensued, then Dad stood up, placing a rusty metal teapot on the table.
"The Portkey should activate in three minutes," he said. Somberly, we all stood and shuffled towards it, reaching a hand out to touch the teapot. I shut my eyes as I felt the sickening feeling of a hook somewhere behind my navel — and then I was falling, until I landed painfully on a hard pavement, stumbling into the person in front of me. Whispering a quick 'sorry', I brushed my robes off, and looked around. We were in a familiar alley — not far from the Ministry of Magic.
"Everyone's got all their limbs attached?" That was Dad. "Right, then. Let's go."
I swallowed and followed him out of the alley. A few Muggles sent us curious looks, but shrugged our style of dress off as an odd fashion choice.
I waited outside the telephone booth as Dad and Mr. Malfoy, then Albus and Scorpius disappeared, feeling slightly nauseous from both the Portkey and my own anxiousness about the trial.
"Us next," said James. I shut the door behind us as he dialed the passcode.
"Cheer up, Lil," he said. "They won't ask you to testify, it'll be fine." To the telephone, he said: "James Potter and Lily Potter, here to attend the trial of Astoria Malfoy."
He passed my badge to me, and I had to grip James's arm as the telephone box hurtled down.
We stepped into the Atrium, where Dad and the others were already waiting for us. Scorpius had gone pale, Mr. Malfoy looked as implacable as ever, Albus was sneering at anyone who looked in our direction, and Dad was pacing in agitation.
He looked up. "Great, you're here. Come quickly, it's starting soon."
Dad rushed us into a lift and punched the number nine button, swearing under his breath.
"Department of Mysteries," said the cool female voice of the elevator. "Level Nine."
"Stairs," said Dad as we hurried out, his scarlet robes billowing around him as he strode quickly towards the end of the hallway, people scurrying out of his way and muttering 'Good morning, Head Auror Potter.'
James started walking faster, too, and I had to jog to catch up with him. We went down a flight of stairs, emerging on a floor that I'd never seen before, with rough stone walls, lit poorly by torches set into alcoves.
"Level Ten," Dad quickly explained. "This is where all the courtrooms are. Kids, you'll be in the upper viewing levels, Teddy will show you — Draco, you're sitting with me."
"Excellent," said Mr. Malfoy placidly. It was the first time he'd spoken since we arrived at the Ministry. Scorpius and Albus had been whispering to each other in the elevator.
"This is Courtroom Ten," said Dad, pushing open a heavy wooden door with enormous iron bolts and keyholes. "Many of our criminal cases are held here — look, there's Teddy."
The aqua-blue hair was hard to miss, even in the dim light of the courtroom. He was sitting at the far end of the room, wearing the same grim expression as Dad; but he was still Teddy, and he was still comforting.
About fifty wizards and witches, all dressed in plum-colored robes, began to flood into the room — the Wizengamot.
"Where is she?" whispered Scorpius. Something in Teddy's face softened.
"They held her overnight," he explained. "We decided she was a flight risk. They'll bring her up here in a minute."
Astoria did indeed enter, her hair and robes slightly unkempt, but with the same regal posture that she'd had at the Ministry Ball. Purebloods must really drill that into their little girls.
She sat gracefully down on the chair in the middle of the room, but did not flutter an eyelid as the restraints clamped down around her arms. Scorpius flinched as if he had been slapped.
"I'm fine," he hissed in response to our worried looks.
I leaned closer as Minister Shacklebolt cleared his throat and began to speak.
"Disciplinary hearing of the second of April, into offences committed under the Decree for the Use of Dark and Forbidden Ancient Magic by Astoria Cordelia Malfoy née Greengrass, resident at Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire. Interrogators: Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minister for Magic; Gawain Robards, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Harry James Potter, Head of the Auror Department; Anthony Benjamin Goldstein, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister. Court Scribe, Lucy Arabella Weasley—"
I hadn't noticed Lucy when I came in; but sure enough, she was sitting at the front in the main gallery, her auburn hair cut in a severe bob and her lips painted a vicious red as she sneered at Astoria, a black swan-feather quill propped elegantly between her delicate fingers.
Astoria tilted her head up, and I wondered if she was looking at her husband.
"—and witness for the defence, myself," she finished scornfully. "Oh, my, another Weasley. Do you people ever stop breeding?"
"You can't do that!" James whispered. "You can't!"
"Convict me if you want," she continued. "My life is forfeit in my service of the true Queen, the ancestral witch. My life means nothing. We are worth no more than ants — all of us."
"Astoria Malfoy!" said Minister Shacklebolt, rising to his feet. "You plead guilty to one count of unauthorized summoning, one count of illegal mind magic, and four counts of attempted murder?"
I nudged Teddy. "I didn't expect it to be this easy."
He shrugged. "Perhaps, she really does believe what she says."
"Are you aware that you will be drained of your magic and committed to Azkaban, for the rest of your natural life?" Shacklebolt's voice seemed to shake the entire room.
"It would be like — like suicide!" I stammered. "Witch suicide! How can she?"
"I wish only," said Astoria, "to deliver a message. The Morrígan is coming, false ones! It is time for magical blood to be cleansed of the stain it holds; I summoned her for that reason only. Follow her and give her your blood, the blood she craves, lest she tear the world apart in place of her revenge. Beware the crows, little girl. She is watching you. Until she bathes her hands in the blood and magic of those who denied her, she shall not be sated, and sorrow and war shall be your fate."
I saw the mass of blonde curls tilt backwards as she laughed.
"Harry Potter. She is coming, and you cannot save everyone. Your children... or your world... which one is more, dear, I wonder—"
"Take her away!" That was Dad's voice, and colder than I had ever heard it. "She will make no more mockery of this court."
"And if her Morrígan comes, we'll be ready," said Albus as we watched Astoria struggling to maintain her dignity as she was hauled away. "Won't we, Scor?"
"Yeah," he said shakily. "We can find them. The stones."
"There's a ruby on the pommel of the Sword of Gryffindor," I said, remembering how Dad and I had used it to summon fire. "There's the green stone that summons ice, but that's broken. So we need two more, probably wind and earth?"
Scorpius frowned as we filed out of the courtroom. "Yeah, yeah. We've got one, and a half. We've got to find the rest, before Morgan gets a chance to come back and cause more havoc."
This isn't a victory, I thought. Everyone around us looked unsettled and unhappy, even though Astoria had been convicted successfully and easily, and I found myself loathing the battle that would surely follow.
"We're going to find them," said James. "We've got to—"
"Go on a fetch quest to find these jewels of whatever?" Albus yawned.
But for now, I wanted to spend one last moment of peace with my brothers and Scorpius.
"Yeah," I said as Scorpius unexpectedly slung an arm around my shoulders, and I felt my heart go all happy and light. "Starting tomorrow."
Thank you so, so much for reading~
Chapter 23 will be the last chapter of Unremarkable (with maybe a sneak peek at Underestimated)
