XXII.
The following morning found the castle abuzz with gossip about the duel last night. As expected, the stories ranged from the demonic to the ridiculous. An older Gryffindor actually tried to corner Dorathea on the way to breakfast to demand if Theo had really summoned a basilisk to attack Draco. Help came from an unexpected corner. Morag, who had waited for Dorathea as she got dressed that morning and had followed her like a lanky shadow to breakfast, spoke up and crossly told the boy that if he thought Dumbledore would allow Basilisks in the castle, he should have his head examined. The boy had the good grace to blush and retreat back to his friend group.
Dorathea gave the morose looking girl a grateful smile as they resumed their walk to breakfast. "What's a basilisk?" She asked as the silence stretched between them. Little did Dorathea know that this question was the key to unlock a positive torrent of information rivaling any of Hermione's lectures of Hogwarts history or Ron's rants about Quidditch. As they descended the final stairs to the Great Hall, Dorathea learned that basilisks were hatched from special eggs that required, not as the muggle myths suggested, toads to nurture them but salamanders. As Dorathea greeted a very well rested Theo with a quick hug, Morag explained that even muggles had reference to Basilisks in their myths and that their Champion George had fought one to reduce a princess. As Dorathea tugged Theo to the Ravenclaw table, as she did not want to deal with Theo's housemates that morning, the twins were informed that the last basilisk in England had been from the founder's time and was believed to have been killed by Helga Hufflepuff.
Theo tried to interrupt once, but Dorathea laid a quieting hand on his arm. Morag was clearly desperate to open up to someone about her favorite subject and Dorathea knew all too well how hard it was to be lonely. Plus the lecture on magi-zoology drowned out all the other gossip that flowed around the Great Hall that morning. Dorathea would rather not know what was being said about them that morning, especially once Parkinson and Greengrass came into the great hall. Then she became doubly glad of Morag's conversation since Pansy didn't stop studying her once that morning.
Draco, however, did not come down to breakfast and Dorathea couldn't decide if she was grateful or disappointed. It would have felt lovely to have pointedly ignored him. Still, this breakfast passed much more peacefully than the previous day's.
If Dorathea had been heartened by the lack of drama in the morning, her hopes for a carefree day were crushed that afternoon.
"Miss Nott?" One of the Ravenclaw prefects knocked on the door of the second year study room where the girls had gathered to go over potion homework. Dorathea was grateful for Padma and Mandy's help, even if was a touch heavy-handed. For all her new ability to concentrate, Dorathea had avoided cracking a potions textbook based on Harry's dislike of the teacher. Now she found herself woefully behind her housemates. Luckily, they expected as much and she was quickly brought up to speed about proper base creation, stirring form, and cutting techniques. Still, when the older boy peeked his head into the room, she was grateful for the distraction.
"Yes?" She asked, "Is Theo alright?"
The boy rolled his eyes, "I wouldn't know. I was told to find you and inform you that you have a visitor."
"A visitor?" She repeated stupidly, "We can have visitors?"
Maybe it wasn't a surprise that Harry hadn't known about this. After all, there wasn't anyone in the Muggle world who would miss him or want to see him and everyone he really cared about was already in Hogwarts. But, from the curious glances of the other Ravenclaws, it seemed like visitors were pretty rare.
The Prefect gave her a twisted smirk, "You can if they have pull with the board of governors." Dorothea closed her textbook and tucked her supplies back into her new work station, then and rose to follow the Prefect out of the tower. He led her to a wing of the school she normally associated with the Headmaster's office and other administrative centers and ushered her into a well-appointed room.
Lady Malfoy rose as she entered. The Malfoy matriarch was dressed exquisitely, as always. Today she was wearing a beautifully tailored set of grey traveling robes and had her hair pulled back in a severe, but elegant bun. The effect should have made Lady Malfoy look wan and pale, but it only highlighted the healthy color of her cheeks and the deep blue of her eyes which were deeply troubled. Dorathea hesitated on the doorway, unsure of her emotions at the sight of the woman who had been more a mother to her in two weeks than Petunia Dursley had been in ten years.
"Oh Dora," Lady Malfoy sighed, reaching her gloved hand towards Dorathea. "Don't tell me that you hate me now. Especially when I have come all this way to apologize?" At her throat, she wore a brooch of purple spinal and her traveling skirt was resplendently embroidered with white tulips and purple hyacinth. The flowers represented apologies and hope for a new beginning while the gemstone represented a desire to repair differences. Lady Malfoy had been the one to sit down with Dorathea and explain how even the most subtle details- small changes that might be overlooked by someone without the right training- could work together to tell a complete story.
"Apologize?" Dorathea took a step into the room, "You mean you knew about- about-" she hesitated on the question- realizing in a moment that she had hoped against her better intellect that Lady Malfoy had somehow overlooked the significance of the hairstyle and her instruction.
"Which hairstyle I taught you? What the necklace Draco gave you signified?" Lady Malfoy took a seat on the sofa and picked up a pot of tea to pour two cups, "Of course, I did, darling. We live in a very small, very cloistered world. Had you grown up in your proper position, you would be aware of all the intricacies as well."
Dorathea felt tears rise again, shocked by the frank admission, "But why?," She demanded, crossing the room until she could stare the woman in the face, "I trusted you! You and Draco. Why would you make it seem like Draco and I were engaged-"
"To protect you, Dorathea." Lady Malfoy said sharply. The clink of the teapot on the table was a deliberate echo to her words. "It's a small world, but that doesn't mean it's safe."
Safe. The word hit Dorathea like a blow. A dozen thoughts that had been coalescing in her subconscious suddenly broke through. The world wasn't safe. It hadn't been safe with the Dursley's- not with the constant threat of punishment or worse. It wasn't safe at Hogwarts- whatever Dumbledore might believe. Dorathea had only to look over Harry's memories to realize just how tragically unsafe his first introduction to magic was. And now-
"Bu-but I'm a Nott." She whispered, hands bunching in the sharp-edged pleats of her skirt.
Madame Malfoy assessed her with cool eyes.
"While it is true that your name and blood afford you a level of protection lesser wizards lack." She said, "It also paints you an even greater target for the political players in our world."
"But-"
"The Nott's aren't well-liked, Dorathea." Lady Malfoy interrupted. "After the war, none of the true families were trusted. But while some families- the Malfoy's included- worked hard to reestablish their reputations and influence, many others retreated to their manors to stew in bitterness and regret. Your father, however clever he may had been in his youth, was one of the latter. He abdicated his right to the narrative and his standing in society.
"Your family has few allies, fewer friends, and done little to redeem themselves. Theo, for all his good qualities, has only succeeded in not worsening the Nott name."
Seeing the alarm writ clearly over the girl's face, Madame Malfoy relented and held out her arms. This time Dorateha allowed herself to be drawn onto the couch and into the comfort of Lady Malfoy's embrace. The tears threatened and she fought to keep control over her emotions.
"Now, I wasn't lying when I said I always wanted a daughter, my dear. And though I have only known you a brief few weeks, my fondness for you has grown as though you were my own blood. My hope with the show of engagement was only to prove that you have the absolute Malfoy support."
"You should have told me," Dorathea mumbled into the crook of her shoulder. Lady Malfoy sighed and leaned a soft cheek on her head.
"Yes, I see that I should have. I had assumed, incorrectly apparently, that you would be pleased with the idea- any other witch would be. But if Draco has offened you…"
"It's not Draco!" Dorathea pulled herself from the embrace and stared up at the woman, "Draco's been nothing but lovely. It's just that-" She hesitated, glancing down at her hands, twisting her fingers around themselves. How could she explain to Lady Malfoy all her hesitations? She'd have to confess everything: the polyjucie accident, her real identity, everything. She bit her lip.
"it's just that…. He's engaged to Pansy. I thought." She glanced up at Lady Malfoy, surprised to see the shadow of pain and irritation cross her clear brow. The woman leaned back against the couch but didn't release Dorathea from her embrace. She ran a comforting hand over Dorathea's hair.
"Of course. I shouldn't be surprised considering who revealed this whole mess. I am sorry, but Miss Greengrass talks far more than she should." Lady Malfoy stared out the window and Dorathea could practically feel the calculations taking place.
"After the War, Dorothea, well- I don't have the skill to describe the horror of those days. The feeling of betrayal when all your ideas and hopes crumble around you. The threat of punishment at the hands of vicious, vindictive wizards who not only wanted to avenge their lost friends and family but also hold you accountable for all the suffering from generations of living under an unjust system.
"Every day we heard horror stories about the tortures of prisoners at the hands of the so-called light. They suffered torments that made the Dark Lord's worst days like playful by comparison. I will spare you the details Dorathea. You already know how cruel the small-minded can I be I think,"
Dorathea nodded unwillingly, thinking about all the various 'games' Dudley devised to harass Harry growing up.
"Now imagine if such a mind had access to the nearly limitless potential of magic," Lady Malfoy said softly and Dorathea shuddered. If Dudley had only applied a fraction of that ingenuity to his classwork, he could have been top of his class. If he had had magic- she didn't want to think what would have happened to her former self.
"Now, they had called Lucius in for questioning about some so-called crime in the war." Narcissa continued, "He had nothing to do with it, of course, but we just didn't have an alibi that would satisfy the judge and we obviously couldn't submit to the horrors of truth serum.
"Lord Paragrin Parkinson heard of our plight and offered us his aid. He had a second cousin- practically a squib and of no use to anyone. He was willing to claim that this lesser Parkinson had committed the crime and thereby freeing Lucius from such accusations. We agreed, but he had a price…." Lady Malfoy's voice trailed off bitterly.
"Draco." Dorathea breathed as she pieced together the story together. "He would save Lord Malfoy, but in return, Draco would have to marry Pansy."
Lady Malfoy looked at her approvingly. "Exactly, my dear. It was a coup for the Parkinsons. Normally, they could not hope to ever marry into a family as great as ours. And now their youngest daughter would one day be Lady Malfoy."
Lady Malfoy paused for a moment, "We had hoped that Pansy wouldn't take after her parents so much - I even tried tutoring her. But unfortunately, blood breeds true."
Dorathea didn't like the sound of that, but she knew better than to air her disagreement at this moment. If what Lady Malfoy had told her was true, and for the moment Dorathea had no reason to doubt the woman, then the Nott family was in danger and needed every friendship they could make. So Dorathea only sighed and settled closer to the woman. Lady Malfoy's embrace was comforting and her fingers in Dorathea's hair were soothing in a way that Dorathea had never experienced before. Aunt Petunia had never hugged Harry after all and she couldn't remember her mother's affection at all. Now neither Harry nor Dorathea would know their mother's touch. The thought made her feel small and sad.
"You should have told me," She repeated. Perhaps Nott's did need allies, but Dorathea needed them to be friendships, not those of player and pawn. "If you had told me, I could have come up with a plan with Draco. Now Theo and Draco have dueled and Pansy and Greengrass hate me."
Lady Malfoy laughed and pulled Dorathea upright. Cupping Dorathea's cheek in her gloved hand, she smiled down at the girl, "Duels are good training for young wizards and you are far too clever to let the likes of those girls get the better of you, Dorathea. If you don't have them both well in hand before Beltaine break, I shall be very disappointed."
You have no idea, Doreatha thought sadly. The poly juice potion would absolutely be done by spring and then it wouldn't matter what Pansy and Greengrass thought about Doreathea Nott. But she allowed herself a small smile which Lady Malfoy returned.
"Now, I have a present as an apology," The woman said, slipping a small, light green box out of her bag. Dorathea accepted the gift with some trepidation. She untied the soft ribbon and slipped off the lid of the box. Inside, nestled on a bed of silk, lay a silver bracelet depicting four closed lilies. Dorathea gave the woman a shocked look. Did she really think Dora was about to accept another piece of jewelry from the Malfoy family?
As though reading her thoughts, Narcissa held up a placating hand. "I swear on my magic there is no untoward meaning or attachment to this bracelet. It's a common pureblood apology bracelet. If you accept this, it means that we, the Malfoy's, accept our role in offending you and are committed to correcting the fault. Each flower represents a favor that you may ask of Draco. When he completes the task, the flower will bloom indicating the rebirth of a hopefully very long friendship."
"And when they are all bloomed?" Dorothea asked, trying to think of any pitfall she might have overlooked. Lady Malfoy shrugged elegantly.
"Then you have a lovely bracelet to wear. This will hardly be the first you receive; I've received twenty-seven over the years. Just try not to wear multiple of them at the same time- it's the height of poor taste. Now, drink some tea and tell me all about your first day at Hogwarts."
A/N: As always thank you all for the follows, faves and especially reviews. I absolutely love reading your suggestions as they often help push the story in new and interesting ways.