Chapter 8 – Elves, Bad Faith, and Orphans
AUTHOR"S NOTES
teedub chapter 4 . Mar 9
I'm curious as to who bound Petunia's core. My suspicion is some pureblood racist in the Ministry that monitors muggleborn accidental magic, swoops in when he see's an alert, obliviates the fuck out of everyone, binds the core of the "mudblood" and then goes home feeling all sorts of good about himself for keeping the WW pure.
It will come out soon that Petunia was not the first nor the last this was done to. There was a reason behind this, just not a nice one.
teedub chapter 7 . Mar 9
*snicker* I loved the discussion on the last proposal. I also commend you for realistic politics. Neither side always gets what they want. Right now, Lord Black and Lady Augusta are ascendant but that won't always be the case. I'm sure Malfoy, his cronies, fudge and DD will get together to oppose them at some point.
Also, I just adore when a character that has been hosed by DD is able to use his words against him. Double adoration if those words are also used to get one over on DD. It's just so delicious!
Thank you. I was afraid people would not like the Wizengamot session.
Potter Mansion
Friday, 13 December, 1985
Lillian had seen Jessa and Harry off to school. They were both at the top of their class. Their control of their magic was continuing. They both were happy. She was surprised at how easily Petunia became Jessa. She was concerned that Petunia would have issues being in the body of a five-year old. However, the age regression of her body seemed to have regressed her emotional age. This worked well for both children. Harry had issues of his own, what with Lily's soul tied to him. Shaking her head, she moved to the office.
"Mimsy?" She asked for the elf as she sat at the desk.
With a pop, Mimsy appeared, "Yes, Mistress Lillian?"
"I have some questions about house elves." Lillian started. "Please don't take any of these wrongly. I simply want to understand."
"Okays," Mimsy was a little confused.
"As a muggleborn, I never really understood the relationship between elves and wizards." The animate stated. "Do all elves have to be bonded?"
"Yes, Mistress, wes all has to be bound." Mimsy answered.
"Why? Why do you all have to be bound?" Lillian followed up.
Mimsy appeared aghast, "It bes not done. No self-respectin elf bes unbound! Wes needs to have a family to serve."
"What happens if you don't have someone to serve?" Lillian questioned.
"Unless wes can find someone or someplace like Hogwarts, wes end up starved." Mimsy shivered. "Wes makes no money."
"All it takes to lose your bond is to receive clothing from your mistress's hand." Lillian mused. "Why don't any elves simply catch some clothing when their mistress takes theirs off?"
"No ones be bondin free elves." Mimsy sadly answered. "Wes could free ourselves, but without a new bond wes die."
"I know some elves are mistreated. What would happen if they knew they would be accepted by another family?" Lillian ventured.
"If'n they knew for sure," Mimsy allowed. "Mimsy knows some that would switch. That be the problem. Who be first?"
"Mimsy, I know there are many elves that are being mistreated. Sirius told us how his family's elf Kreacher was treated." Lilian continued. "Would it possible to let mistreated elves know that they would be accepted, if they broke their bonds?"
"Yes, Mistress Lillian." Mimsy grudgingly admitted. "But if'n they be badly treated, they would be a'feared."
"Would any elf tell their mistresses or masters of the offer?" Lillian asked.
Mimsy thought for a moment, "Mimsy don't be thinkin' they would. Bad Masters and Mistresses would be hurtin' them for knowing of it."
"If what I've got planned pans out, there'll be a lot of work for any house elf that comes to us." Lillian countered. "If we can get one or two now, then let's hope that they'll trust us when we are ready for them."
Mimsy bobbed her head. "Would Mistress be wantin' Mimsy to put out the word?"
"Yes, but only for elves that work at the homes where they are mistreated." She warned. "We don't want to anger well treated elves."
Harry and Jessa ran into the house that afternoon. "Yay! It's Christmas Break." Harry yelled as he ran into the sitting room, looking for Lillian. Jessa trailed behind.
"Do you have your end of term reports?" Lillian smiled at the two.
Jessa spoke up as they moved towards Lillian. "We both got top marks. We're tied for best in class." She moved to hug Lillian. "I can't wait for Christmas!"
"Me, too!" Harry agreed. He joined the hug. "When will we get a tree?"
"Soon, Harry." Lillian answered. "We need to review your magic tonight."
"Aww" Jessa and Harry said in unison. "It's the break!"
"You know we have fun with magic." Lillian teased. "Let's have dinner and then go to the training room."
After dinner, the three and Mimsy went to the training room. "Let's see what you've managed to learn."
Both children were able to perform a Lumos wandlessly. Harry then proceeded to levitating a feather with a Wingardium Leviosa. Jessa's core still being small and immature, didn't have the strength to do more than make the feather shift from side to side.
"You're doing great, Jessa!" Lillian encouraged her, seeing her get irritated. "You need to remember that most witches cannot perform any magic at your age. Harry can only because of how large his core is."
"Harry, why don't you begin trying to transform a match into a needle? We've gone through it. You're very close. Jessa? Let's play the Hide and Seek game." Lillian looked to Mimsy. Mimsy moved to Harry and began to oversee him. Her oversight wasn't needed as Lily was overseeing his work. Lily found that Jessa did better when she felt both were being taught.
"Okay, Lillian." Jessa ran to a corner and pulled out a mat. She promptly sat down and began to prepare.
"I'm coming in in five minutes." Lillian let her know.
"Okay." Jessa mumbled.
Lillian watched the girl. As she settled into her preparation, her breathing slowed and her body relaxed. At the five-minute mark, she began. "Legilimens." She cast.
Lillian's probe went slowly at Jessa. The girl was learning how to defend her mind. There was no reason to destroy her defenses. As Lily worked with Harry, she found that making the practice a game worked extremely well.
Her probe hit Jessa's first defense. Lillian saw an ivy-covered brick wall. It was about seven feet in height. It looked as if it had been taken from a country estate. Not wanting to climb the wall, she went around the perimeter looking for an entrance. She found one. The gate had two doors that latched together in the center of the gap. It was made of wrought iron that arched to ten feet tall in the center. The ironwork was covered with stylized Petunias and Jessamine flowers. Over the arch, letters wrote out, 'Jessamine's Estate'. Lillian tried the gate and found that the lock was locked and that an extra chain with a padlock wrapped around the lock mechanism. There was no space for her to slide through. She smiled. This was a good first defense.
Smiling, she tried to climb over the gate. As she reached the top, she was shocked and fell back. 'The little minx', she thought to herself. She chided herself she had underestimated Jessa. She may act like a child, but she had a grown woman's knowledge and experience. This would be more difficult than she expected.
'I guess I'll have to go over the wall.' Lillian created a broom in the mindscape. She jumped on it and flew over the wall.
"Hey, no fair!" She heard Jessa whine.
Laughing, Lillian said, "Ready or not, here I come!" She landed the broom. Looking around, she saw tht she was in the middle of a flower garden. There were petunias, jessamines, lilies, roses, and tulips in various areas each separated by grass and walkways. She saw butterflies and bumblebees flying around. Making a note to watch the bees, she started walking towards the center of the garden. The bees seemed to ignore her as the flew from bloom to bloom.
She never noticed the mass of butterflies that swarmed behind her. Suddenly, she felt a rush of wings hit her back. The next thing she knew she was being lifted across the wall and dropped. She rolled and looked up. She saw the insects flit over the wall. Lillian made her way back to the gate. There was a sign on it. She laughed as she read it. It said, "No Salesmen or Cheaters Allowed. Press the buzzer for admittance." There was a post with a speaker and a button on the wall to the right of the gate.
She pressed the buzzer. "Yes?" Jessamine's voice came through.
"Let me in, Jessa!" Lillian asked nicely.
"Never! Not by the hairs on your chinny chin chin." Laughter followed the statement.
With a humph, Lillian murmured, "I don't have hairs on my chin." She knew the reference, but still didn't like it.
She reformed her broom. She started to fly over it. As she went, the wall in front of her started rising.
"Ha, you got by me once. Not a second time!" Jessa happily shouted.
"We'll see." Lillian kept going up to about 100 feet. She turned, diving to her left. The wall hadn't grown on both sides. She quickly passed the wall. This time, she stayed on the broom. She viewed the landscape. "Jessa, you've made this a beautiful place."
"Thanks!" Lillian felt where the sound came from and turned towards it. The center of the garden had a large mansion. She could see three above ground stories. However, the sound did not originate from there. There was a greenhouse to the right of the home. That was where the response came from. She flew to it, landing in front of it.
Before she took two steps three alicorns landed. They all had white coats. Their manes, tailes and wings were all a pink fuchsia. One in front of her, and one on each side of her. The one in front said, "Lillian, you need to leave. If you don't we'll be forced to make you. We don't want to hurt you."
"I'm not going to hurt you, either." Lillian answered. She started to take a step back and then ran forward. The alicorn in front of her shifted its horn. When it touched her, Lillian was stunned. The next thing she was aware of, she was again outside the wall. The alicorns flying away.
"Good job, Jessa!" Lillian beamed. "You win tonight." She cancelled the spell and was back in the training room.
Jessa's eyes opened. "I won!" She jumped up and hugged the animate. "You went easy on me."
"Of course, you're learning. As you get better, I'll be pushing you harder." Lillian hugged the girl back. "But really, white and pink alicorns?" she teased.
"I happen to like white and pink. And Alicorns!" Jessa harrumphed. "Just because I remember being grown, doesn't mean I don't like girly things."
"Absolutely!" Lillian answered with a smile, "I thought they were the cutest things ever."
"I know, right?" Jessa excitedly answered.
Giving the girl a quick hug, Lillian steered her to more practice. "Let's see how long you can hold a Protego."
"That's hard." The girl whined.
"Yes, but it like doing anything hard." Lillian urged her. "The more you practice the better you get. Once you can hold the shield for five minutes, I'm going to start throwing things against it."
"Okay, here it goes." Jessa threw up the Protego wandlessly and wordlessly.
"Good job, I'm starting the counter." It was Lily's goal to have both Jessa and Harry through as much of the Hogwart's curriculum as possible before they enter it. If she can, she'll have them through the NEWT levels. They will be able to concentrate on having fun and making friends then.
On the other side of the room, Harry had finished his game of "Hide and Seek." It was his turn to seek. Lily had guided him through the library where her and most of Tom's knowledge had been stored. There was only one way to enter the library. To gain initial entrance, one had to have either Harry's or Lily's magical signature. In order to get to anything within, there were several more obstacles through which to go through. Lastly, Lily herself had to agree to the usage of the area. More than anything, this evening's game was to get Harry to understand where his main source of knowledge was. She still made him fight through a jungle.
"Harry, let's practice you metamorph abilities." Lily started the next phase of the training for the evening. "I want you to find your default image. Let me know when you've found it."
Harry sat down and closed his eyes. After a few minutes, he let her know he found the spot. Lily had followed his progress. "Good job, now I want you to think of someone. Imagine them from all sides. Once you have a firm image, place it over your normal image. Make sure that your image has clothes on. Otherwise, the clothes you are wearing won't change with you."
She saw him think of Jessa. It made sense, she was closer to him than anyone else. "Okay, that's a good image." Harry was imagining Jessa in a pink top with an image of Paddington Bear on it and jeans. "Now, slowly, place that image over your own." As it settled in, the two images tried to merge together. "Keep a strong hold on Jessa's image. Good job." Lily watched as the image overlay the original default. "Now, all you need to do is to push a little magic into the image to make it yours. You'll be able to revers it any time you want to." She felt his magic flow. She could feel the changes flow through their shared body.
Lily excitedly crowed, "You did it, Harry! Open your eyes and look at yourself! Ask Mimsy to transfigure a mirror for you."
Harry opened his eyes and looked down. He saw the top and jeans he'd imagined. Feeling more weight them normal on his head, he reached up and was able to pull some hair in front of his face. It looked like Jessa's. "Mimsy, I need a mirror!"
With a snap of her fingers, Mimsy had a mirror in front of her charge. Harry stood up and looked into the mirror. Jessa was looking back. He turned around quickly and stumbled slightly. Jessa's hips didn't work the same as his. "Jessa! Look at me! I'm you!" Harry jumped up and down.
"What?" Jessa dropped the Protego. "How'd you do that? Is it permanent? Did it hurt? This is great! We could be twin sisters! We can share clothes and have tea parties and be each other's best friends!"
Harry became quickly overwhelmed by Jessa. His "sister" was scaring him. He could almost see her eyes glowing in excitement. "This isn't permanent. I'm not going to stay this way. I'm a guy. I don't want to be a girl." He frowned when he said this.
"What's wrong with being a girl." Jessa's hands were placed on her hips.
"Nothing. You're a girl. I'm not." Harry answered back.
"You are a boy." Jessa paused. "Where'd you get that top? Can I have it?"
"I thought it up." Harry looked down at it. "When I changed, I changed my clothes too." Shrugging, he started to take the top off. "You can have it."
"Stop!" Jessa waved at him. "Girls don't take their clothes off just anywhere. What if Boro or Grov saw you without the top on?"
Harry shrugged, "They'd just see my chest. No big deal."
"Girls don't let guys see their chests." Jessa lectured. "Even boys transformed into girls."
Lillian and Mimsy both started laughing. "Don't worry, Jessa. Harry, keep the top on. Okay?"
"Sure, Lillian. Lily just told me the same thing." Harry pulled the top back down. "She also told me to run around the room a bit. I need to get a feeling for this body's movements." He took off.
The Maternum, Lilas, stood outside the Malfoy estate. In the night, the estate was englobed by its' wards. The base color of the wards was a light golden color. The globe had patches of other colors floating within it. She studied them. She determined that each separate color was tied to an individual that could pass through the wards.
She knew that Patronum's can go through wards. However, based on the ward, there was a possibility that the wards would trigger that something passed through them. She did not want Lucius to have any warning.
Like most spells, wards could not pass through physical barriers. This meant that they were hemispheres. The property was protected from anything approaching from the ground or air. If something came through the ground, they would not be seen. She dove into the ground. Moving forward, she went the distance she felt would be needed to come up in the basement of the estate. When she slowly came up, she found that her estimate was off. She was twenty yards from the front of the estate. She made her way to the master suite. She found Narcissa and Lucius asleep in the bed. Knowing her time was limited before a house elf would discover her, she transformed Lucius pillow case into a portkey and activated it. Lucius was transported to the Potter Estate.
With his departure, Lilas changed her appearance. Her form shimmered and became that of a unicorn. She nudged Narcissa. Narcissa murmured something and shifted. Lilas nudged her a little more forcefully with the horn. Narcissa awoke.
"Wha?" She opened her eyes. She saw what she assumed was a Patronum. Her sleep addled brain knew something was off, but couldn't grasp what it was. She instinctively reached for Lucius. His side of the bed lay empty. The shock of this brought her sharply awake. She sat up looking at her night stand. Her wand and holster lay on top of the table.
She looked at the glowing image in front of her. "I assume that your creator has a message for me?" She asked bravely.
"Lady Narcissa Malfoy, you are requested at Gringott's at no later than 09:00 in the morning. When you arrive, tell a teller that you were sent to Orevein by Lilas." A faintly familiar voice spoke to her. "You will be given a choice at that time. If you do not appear, you will lose everything."
With that said, the golden unicorn in front of her dissipated. Narcissa called, "Dobby!"
"Yes, Ladys Narcissa?" Dobby popped next to her bed. "What cans Dobby be doing for you?"
"Where is my Lord husband?" Narcissa stood up from the bed putting her wand holster on.
Dobby squirmed with unease. "Dobby not be knowin', Lady Narcissa. He not being in the manor."
Standing looking at the house elf, she followed up. "Do you know when he left?"
"Dobby thinks hes gone just before Lady Narcissa calls Dobby." He answered nervously.
Narcissa moved to Draco's room. She looked in, the little boy was sleeping with his stuffed dragon in his arms. She breathed out in relief.
"Dobby, I want you to stay in Draco's room for the rest of the night. Keep him safe. Do not let anything happen to him." She gave him the order with nervousness in her voice.
She went back to the master suite. In the room, she decided to get ready for the day. There was absolutely no way she would get back to sleep. Her husband was missing and she had an appointment at Gringotts.
Lucius Malfoy's body appeared in the Potter porting room. Even as he was awaking, he was stunned.
He was rennervated in a small room. Standing in front of him was a familiar woman. "What am I doing here?" He drawled. He moved to stand up, but was restrained. Looking at himself, he was strapped in a chair. He had his pajama pants, but his top had been removed. His Death Eater Mark was clearly visible.
"What are you doing here, Lucy?" the red-haired woman in front of him asked.
"Yes, and when I leave here, know that I will destroy you and everything associated with you." Malfoy glared at her.
The woman laughed at him. "Oh, you won't be leaving here, Lucy. Your Lord is in a feud with mine. Do you know what this means to you?"
He glared. "Nothing, this so-called feud is between Lord Voldemort and your Lord. It has nothing to do with me. As everyone knows, I took the dark mark while under the Imperius." He began to sweat as he now recognized the woman as Lily Potter. The woman was supposed to be dead.
"You and I both know that is utter rubbish." The woman leaned forward. "The problem I've been facing is how to remove you. You see, I do not care to kill you. However, you do not deserve to live. So, I will give you three options. Relive your initiation, but as the victim. Be turned into a muggle baby boy, growing up as an orphan. Be turned into a muggle-born baby girl, growing up in the muggle world as an orphan until your invitation to Hogwarts."
He sneered. "There is no choice. I will relive my initiation."
Lillian smiled at him. "Thank you. That is the choice I wanted for you." She looked at him. "This will not do. If you are to be the victim, you need to look the part." She waved her hand. He felt magic wash over him. Lillian conjured a mirror in front of Lucius. "Now you look the part, Lucy." She smiled.
His stomach dropped. He had been transformed into the likeness of the muggle girl he tortured to death. He heard, "Legilimens."
His perspective dropped as if he was entering a pensieve. Instead, he found himself being drug crying into the presence of the Dark Lord during an initiation. The initiate stood awaiting the sacrifice.
"I don't care to see this. I will be leaving you to your punishment." Lillian left.
Thirty minutes later, Lucius' transformed body lay broken and dead. Lillia reentered the room. She transformed the body into logs. Lillian called for Boro.
"What can Boro do for you Milady?" He popped in and asked.
"Can you burn this for me?" She asked him. "This is one of the Death Eaters of Tom's. It does not deserve a funeral. Burn it and disperse the ashes into the sea. I do not want one ash left on Potter lands."
"Boro can dos this." He and the logs popped out.
Lillian sagged. She knew that the Death Eaters must die. Personally, killing them was torturous. All Lily Potter had wanted in life was to be a mother and practice her magic.
Gringotts Lobby
06:00 hours
Saturday, 14 December, 1985
As Lady Narcissa Malfoy entered the lobby, she paused. Seeing a goblin free, she made her way to his window.
The goblin ignored her for a short time. He had been writing into a ledger. When he finished, he looked up. "State your business." He sneered at her.
Narcissa held herself erect. Showing the goblin the same discourtesy he had shown her, she looked around the lobby. Her gaze slowly returned to the teller. "Ah, I am here to meet with Orevein. My appointment is at the bequest of Lilas. I am told he knows of whom I speak."
"I will have him alerted that you are here. When he is ready, you will be escorted to his office." The goblin grinned at her.
He left his post, nonchalantly walking to the private offices. Lady Narcissa schooled herself. She was the Lady Malfoy, a woman from the Black family. She would show no nervousness or fear to these goblins. She retreated behind her occlumency skills. The worry for her missing husband and the heart stopping fear that Draco could be next sat behind a wall where it could no longer impact her. She felt eyes upon her. Her gaze stayed upon the teller's gate.
After what felt to her like hours, the teller returned. "He is ready for you. Follow me." The goblin motioned to a gate. She walked to it and it opened in front of her. She followed the goblin. He showed her not into an office, as she had assumed, but a small meeting room. It held three chairs, a table, and a bowl she recognized as a pensieve. Sitting in a chair facing the door was a goblin. She entered, stopping beside the chair nearest the door. "Orevein, I presume?" She asked without intonation. She knew this was a time not to let any possible weakness show.
"Lady Narcissa, daughter of the Black." The goblin acknowledged her. He insulted her by not standing. "I am Account Manager Orevein. There is business we need to conduct this morning. However, I have been tasked with showing you a rather distasteful memory. After you have viewed it, and had a short time to recover, we will get to the business at hand."
He motioned her to the pensieve. He pulled a vial from his pocket, uncorked it, and poured the contents into the bowl. She looked at him. "Will you be joining in this memory?"
The goblin shook his head, "No, Lady Narcissa, this is your journey." Did she hear a note of pity in his voice? She focused on his face. It betrayed no emotion.
"Very well. How long will this take?" She asked.
"I don't know, milady." He honestly answered. "If you last to the end, it will take four hours."
She nodded her head to him. Without any further hesitation, she entered the memory. She found herself surrounded by Death Eaters. Lord Voldemort sat on a throne. Her stomach dropped and her breath froze when she recognized the man in front of him. It was Lucius. Lucius as he was at eighteen, fresh from Hogwarts. She fought an urge to exit. She was a Black and a Malfoy. She would not fail her family, she would see this through.
Four hours later, she collapsed beside the pensieve. If she had eaten breakfast, it would be on the floor. Never in her life, had she seen such madness. Tears were falling from her face unnoticed. She was thankful seeing that Orevein was not in the room. There was a calming draught sitting on top of a parchment. Next to it, a silver bell had been placed.
She sat down and read the missive as she took the potion.
It read:
Lady Narcissa,
What you have seen was Lucius' initiation and branding into Lord Voldemort's service. We know that Lucius never let you see his evil. Ring the bell when you have composed yourself.
Orevein.
Narcissa was heartbroken. The man she had married and learned to love, was not the man she had just seen. When the poor muggle had been transformed into her likeness, any love for him was gone. The depravities the woman underwent, Narcissa was unsure she would have lasted as long.
With the help of the potion, Narcissa steadied herself. She conjured a mirror. Looking at it, she performed the minor spells removing the evidence of her crying. Once completed, she rang the bell.
Moments later, Orevein opened the door and walked around the table to his chair. He was carrying several folders. "Are you ready to conduct business?"
Nodding, she answered, "Yes, Account Manager, I am."
"First off, there is an ongoing feud with Voldemort and one of his victim families. As a vassal to Voldemort, the Malfoy family has fallen. The Malfoy family assets, titles, political rights now belong to the Voldemort's enemy. You and your son, Draco, have nothing." He paused watching her.
She flinched when he used the Malfoy name. "I no longer wish to be known as a Malfoy. If my family will take Draco and I back, we will be Blacks."
"If you are willing to take an oath binding yourself and Draco, I have been authorized to extend an offer to you." Orevein pushed a parchment to her. "By agreeing to this, you will take the Malfoy seat in the Wizengamot. In addition, you will remain living in the Malfoy manor. Seeing as you no longer wish to be associated with the Malfoy name, we will work with the Black family to have the two of you recognized as Blacks."
"Why?" She interrupted.
Orevein grinned showing his teeth. "Part of the fight against Voldemort and his vassals is to remove the financial resources and facilities he had used. Lucius Malfoy was the richest and most politically connected of the vassals. The Malfoy estate is to be turned into an orphanage. If any magical child is found and is without parents, they will be brought to the estate and raised. You will supervise the running of facility. All children will be treated equally. Questions of blood purity will not be tolerated. These children will be shown nothing but love."
"What of my Draco?" Narcissa asked.
"He will live with you." Orevein answered. "You and Draco will be given a suite of rooms to live in. He will be allowed to interact and play with the other children as much as you allow."
"I have been known as a staunch Blood Purist. May I ask why I am being asked to do this?" Narcissa drawled.
"You are wanted because of your stance on Blood Purity. When you begin treating all children equally, your position will be changed. It will cause ripples throughout Britain." Orevein then continued, "Additionally, my client understands that you were unaware of how Lucius received his mark and your love for your child. My client does not want Draco to suffer for his father's deeds."
Being a realist, Narcissa began, "I see that I have no choice. If I don't take this vow, Draco and I will be penniless and begging Lord Black for our names and succor. What is the vow?"
Orevein looked at her. She should have been a goblin. She never flinched, except with the mention of the Malfoy name. "Very well, make the vow as stated on this parchment."
She pulled her wand out. "I, Narcissa Malfoy nee Black, hereby swear on my magic that I will serve the," she paused as her eyes widened, "Potter family. Neither by action, spoken word, nor written word will I or my children betray them. Henceforth, my line shall be vassals to the Potter family until such time as either we are released or the Potter line ends. So, mote it be." Her wand still held up, she cast, "Lumos." The wand lit up showing that the oath had been accepted by her magic.
She put her wand away. "It is thought the Potter line extinct. The story of Harry Potter's death must be false." She mused. "When will I meet Harry or his Guardian?"
"You will be meeting his Guardian today." Orevein answered her brusquely. "You must be briefed on what will be happening in the next few weeks. Tomorrow a crew of goblin warders will begin reviewing the ward system at your estate. It will be modified to exclude any carrying the Dark Mark. If any try to apparate, portkey, or floo there, they will be redirected to a holding cell. It will be keyed to allow the house elves, Draco, yourself, Harry, and his Guardian. As orphans are found, they will be keyed in. Any staff working at the estate, will be given badges that will allow them to get onto the property. Each badge will work only with the person it is given. If it is stolen, it will not work."
Orevein rang the bell. "Our business is done. I have sent notification to the Potter regent. She will be entering momentarily." He gathered his papers and stood up.
The door opened. In came a witch Narcissa never imagined seeing, Lily Potter strode through the door. Her control almost slipped. Her lips parted, but the gasp was held. Narcissa stood and bowed her head.
"Lady Potter," she curtsied as one should to a superior Lord or Lady.
"I am so happy that you took my offer." Lillian smiled at Narcissa. She wasn't ready to share any secrets with the woman, but hoped that in the future they could be friends. She moved to sit in the third chair. As she sat, she addressed Orevein in gobbledygook, "Our gold flows more strongly and our enemies run this morning."
He bowed his head towards her, answering her similarly, "Aye, it does. My business is done. I must be off. Gold does not refine itself, after all. May our gold flow eternally and our enemies fall." With that he took his leave.
Narcissa still stood. "Please, sit down." Lillian smiled at her and motioned for her to sit.
Once the soon to be former Lady Malfoy sat, Lillian apologized, "I fear an apology is due to you. It was by my direction you witnessed Lucius' marking ceremony. It was cruel. It was necessary. Would you have taken my oath had you not witnessed it?"
Narcissa inclined her head, "I would not have believed anything else. Lucius never showed that side of himself to me or our son."
Lillian nodded. "When I watched it, I was astounded that there are women who bear the mark. How anyone could be that evil to another's child is beyond me." She then changed topics, "Would you like some tea?"
"Yes, I would love some."
"Can we have some morning tea brought in?" She smiled. "This room is fully warded. Orevein has an attendant outside that is alerted when we ask for food or drink. What is said here is completely between the two of us."
A knock on the door heralded the entrance of a goblin bringing a service of tea. When it was set on the table. Lillian spoke in gobbledygook, "Your service is prompt and professional. I will let Orevein know."
The goblin simply bobbed his head and left.
Narcissa poured a cup of tea for them both. Lillian tasted hers and smiled in appreciation. "Thank you, Narcissa. Is there anything you would like to know? There are some things I cannot yet let be known, but I will tell you what I can."
"What happened last night? How did Lucius get kidnapped?" Narcissa asked.
"What I am about to tell you is confidential. I created a spell similar to the Patronum. The difference being that It can cast spells and is intelligent. It entered the mansion, created a portkey, and activated it sending Lucius to a hidden location." Lillian answered the woman.
"I assume he is dead?"
"By his own deeds, he is dead. He was three options to take. Of the three he chose to relive his initiation. He experienced what he did to his victim." Lillian carefully looked at the other. "He lasted just thirty minutes before succumbing."
Narcissa felt her hold on her emotions breaking again. "I loved him. I never knew he could do those things." She broke down. Sobbing into her hands, "What do I tell Draco? That his father was a monster?"
Lillian reached out, putting her hand on the other's right arm. "No, when Draco asks about his father, tell him about the good man that you knew. Draco needs to remember having a good father, not a monster. I know it will be hard. It's been hard for me. James was murdered four years ago last Halloween. He was no saint. When Harry wants to hear about his father, I tell him how good a man his father was. How he loved the both of us."
Slowly controlling herself, Narcissa lowered her hands. "Thank you." She paused, "I should hate you. You are the cause of my husband's death and the loss of my family's security." Narcissa's anger showed a little, "Yet, you made sure to provide for Draco and me. After seeing Lucius' initiation, my love for him is gone. You and I may never be friends." She looked Lillian in the eye. "Draco is my number one priority, as Harry is for you." Lillian nodded. Narcissa continued. "As one mother to another, I hope that we will. Know this, it will not be easy."
Lillian showed a sad smile, "I know. Truthfully, I expected you to hate me."
"I am a Black. We are trained to protect the family. Voldemort destroyed families. The Black family was almost wiped out. I see you helping save my family."
Lillian again changed the subject. "Do you have any issues or concerns in running an orphanage?"
"My number one concern is how to handle the announcement and the Ministry." Narcissa said after a moment's thought.
Lillian leaned forward, "You are the expert. What do you think of Lucius making an announcement decrying the evils he did under the "Imperius"? He left the country seeking absolution and a means to remove the dark mark. He directed the goblins to turn his estate into an orphanage run by you. He being the Lord of the family, you would be bound to follow his orders. The note could state that he remembered killing muggles, muggle-born, half-bloods and pure-bloods. No distinction being made between them by Voldemort. Lucius would be told to go and kill a family and he would be forced to. Rejecting Voldemort, Lucius will open the orphanage to any magical child. With so many family lines being exterminated, we will have a full lineage of each child performed. His hope being the reestablishment of any family extinguished by his actions."
Narcissa nodded, "Most of his friends won't believe it. Politically, it will play very well. Fudge will be beside himself to be seen helping. Dumbledore will also want to 'help'." She sneered at that. Narcissa was surprised the Lillian also sneered. She wondered what caused the rift. "No one will be seen as against orphans. We may have problems down the road. Imagine what would happen if a child was found that would inherit a large fortune or a hereditary seat on the Wizengamot. The Ministry will attempt to take and control the child."
"How can we preemptively prevent that?" Lillian asked.
Narcissa sniffed, "The easiest would be to pressure the Wizengamot to pass a law stating that any orphan residing in the home must stay there until their majority or they are adopted by orphanage approved parents."
"How hard would that be?" Lillian queried.
"It depends on how much good will is generated with the announcement." Narcissa allowed. "The Light side, will inevitably support this. We would need to garner the support of either the Grey or Dark side."
"I see that." Lillian smiled at the other woman. "You will be joining the Wizengamot soon. How would you go about this?"
"The Greys and the Darks will need to be shown the consequences if the Ministry takes control." Narcissa was thinking hard. "It would not take much to sway them."
"Can I trust you with making the announcement and working the Wizengamot?" Lillian asked.
Narcissa nodded, "I am not a daughter of the Blacks for nothing, Lady Potter. This will be an enjoyable challenge." This time Narcissa changed the subject, "Do you have a plan as to bringing Draco and I back into the Black family?"
"Yes, I do." Lillian nodded. "I plan on meeting with Lord Black and Sirius within a few days. Sirius is Harry's godfather and would love to see Harry. I will broach your situation as we are negotiating bringing Harry to them for a visit."
"How Slytherin of you, Milady." She smirked. "No offense,"
"None taken and thank you." Lillian smiled.
Black Manor
Saturday, 14 December, 1985
Lord Arcturus Black finished his breakfast. He looked forward to Sirius' homecoming. It was scheduled for the following Monday. The mind healers were ready to release him. He was still fragile, but they felt being in a less sterile environment would help his recovery. Arcturus had hired a healer to work with his grandson daily for the next several months. His family had failed Sirius as a child and an adult. He would not be failed again.
He stood and walked to his office. As he entered, he found a Gringotts owl awaiting his arrival. "Puri." He called for his personal elf.
"Master Lord Black?" Puri appeared next to the old wizard.
"It seems I have some correspondence. Would you be so kind as to get some assorted meats for our guest?" Lord Black smiled at his elfin friend. "Don't you think it would like to choose its' own treat?"
"Puri does, Master Lord Black." Puri popped out and back in with a tray of bacon, sausages, salami, ham, and sliced roast beef. Each separated for the owl to choose.
Arcturus moved next to the owl. When he was within reach of the bird, it stuck its' leg out. He quickly took the parchment.
He sat down at his desk and read the document.
Orevein
Potter Accounts Manager
Gringotts Wizarding Bank
Lord Arcturus Black III,
The party that supplied you and one other certain memories and other legal papers wishes to meet with you. You understand the security that must surround this event.
Gringotts will supply a private portkey that will transport you into a private meeting room within a Gringotts facility. If you deem him well enough, your grandson, Scion Sirius Black, is welcome.
Gringotts is extending this same invitation to the other individual also. If you wish to meet privately or at a location of your choosing, reply with your wishes.
If you approve, the meeting shall take place at 09:00 this coming Wednesday. This parchment is the portkey which will take you to the meeting. It is keyed to allow you and your grandson. If any other individuals attempt to use it, the transport will fail.
The honor of a response is patiently awaited.
Yours In Business,
Orevein
Lord Black smiled. He would get to find who was behind this mystery. He quickly penned an acceptance. If he was a betting man, he would wager that Augusta had just received a similar letter.
He looked forward to seeing her on Wednesday.
Unknown Gringotts
Windowless Meeting room
Wednesday, 18 December, 1985
Orevein and Lillian sat at a round oak table. There were five chairs placed around it. They were also made of oak. The walls and ceiling were painted white. The floor was lain with granite tiles. The only decoration in the room was a Gringotts sign on a wall with the landing zone for the port keys. The room was rectangular thus allowing for the transport to be completely secure.
At precisely 09:00 Greenwich time, Lord Arcturus Black appeared. He politely moved towards the table. He saw a nametag on the table showing his seat. He moved towards it, but continued standing.
"May I assume Lady Longbottom will be joining us?" His face belied no emotion, but an undercurrent of surprise and amusement could be heard in his voice.
Orevein nodded. "She should arrive in two minutes." As he said, at 09:02 Lady Augusta Longbottom appeared.
She quickly scanned the room. "Lord Black, Orevein, and is it Lily Potter?" She asked.
Seeing Lord Black standing, she moved forward to sit down. He pulled her chair for her as a gentleman and Lord should, then took his own seat.
"Good morning, Lady Longbottom." He inclined his head towards her. They both turned to the goblin and a woman that was known to be dead.
"May I introduce Lillian Potter?" Orevein waved a hand at the animate.
"Lillian?" Lord Black began.
Augusta frowned, "I was unaware of Lily having a sister with such a name."
Lillian smiled tentatively at the two. "I will be more than happy to tell you the story. Before I do, would the two of you be willing to swear an oath to never divulge anything discussed today to any other?"
"Why should we?" Arcturus asked.
"You both know why." Lillian proposed. "Sirius is free based on the information already given to you. My son is at risk from both a self-proclaimed Dark and Light Lords. There will be secrets divulged today that could lead to my son's death. Without your oaths, we can go no further."
"If you would like some time to discuss your options, you may place privacy charms as we leave the room." Orevein offered. "When you have your decision, drop the charms and ring this bell." He pulled a bell from an attache next to him.
Augusta looked at Arcturus. With a nod, they both nodded. "There is no need." Lord Black said carefully. "Your information has saved my family. I will agree."
Lady Longbottom followed, "We thought Neville a squib. You have saved the Longbottom future."
Both quickly took the oath.
"Thank you both, for taking the oath." Lillian gratefully started. "What I am going to tell you is, frankly, unbelievable. On the night that Voldemort attacked us." She told them the story of Lily's physical death, her soul's connection to Harry's magical core, and the fight between her and the fragment of Voldemort's soul.
Lord Arcturus Black paled when she told of the attachment of Riddle's soul fragment and the wraith's flight. "Have you heard of the concept of Horcruxes?"
"Yes, Lord Black." Lillian paused. "In going through Tom's memories, I found that he created five and was planning on creating one more. That would have given him seven pieces. Six in various horcruxes and his primary embodied portion. He successfully used the Gaunt family ring, Salazar Slytherin's locket, Helga Hufflepuff's cup, Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem, and Tom Riddle's teenage diary. He planned on using his familiar Nagini as the sixth." Lillian replied. "When the Avada Kedavra rebounded upon him, his prepared soul piece attached to Harry. It was a miracle that I was between Harry and the piece of Riddle."
"Who is Riddle? I thought you were facing He Who Must Not Be Named?" Lady Longbottom was mildly confused.
"That's right, you don't know. Lord Voldemort is a half-blood son of a muggle, Tom Riddle and a hedge witch, Merope Gaunt. His true name is Tom Marvolo Riddle. When rearranged, it spells I Am Lord Voldemort." Lillian spat out. "What I don't understand is why this never came out. He would have been abandoned by most of his followers if this was known. I know Dumbledore knew this."
"That smug," Augusta cut herself off before she said something she would prefer not to.
Arcturus muttered, "So many died being led by a fraud."
Changing the subject, Lillian continued, "There are many things going on right now. I have declared a blood feud against Tom Riddle and his vassals. By taking the Dark Mark, each Death Eater became a vassal to the false lord. I have acted against the Lestranges, the Barty Crouch Jr., Peter Pettigrew, and Lucius Malfoy. The Potter family now controls the hereditary Wizengamot seats of the Crouch, LeStrange, and Malfoy families. In addition, their estates are now under Potter control."
Arcturus and Augusta were struck silent. This was quite aggressive.
"To what purpose?" Augusta asked.
"If possible, I want to send Riddle to hell before he can find a way to get a new body. That requires the destruction of his horcruxes. The LeStranges were given the Hufflepuff Cup to store. Bellatrix put it into their Gringotts vault. The goblins are looking at ways to destroy a horcrux without harming the vessel. Lucius was given Tom's first horcrux, his Hogwarts diary. He kept the other three. I know where they are hidden and plan on retrieving them. If we can destroy them while he is still a wraith, he will lose his tie to Earth. On the other hand, by removing his vassals, Harry will be protected. You both know the Imperius alibi is complete rubbish. If the Death Eaters are allowed to remain, our country will rot from the inside."
She paused looking at the two. "I plan on changing our society. I am currently turning the Malfoy estate into an orphanage for magical children and eventually a safe haven for first generation children and their families. If someone like Voldemort starts up again, they will not be able to pick individual families off on by one. They will face strong opposition."
"What do you mean?" Augusta was unsure how to address the woman in front of her.
Turning to Lord Black, Lillian asked, "Lord Black, the name Malfoy is ending with Lucius. I will not allow Narcissa or Draco to inherit the name. Would you be willing to bring them back under the Black family as a brevet branch?"
"I cannot let them have the same surname, if they are to be a branch," Lord Black mused. He smirked, "They shall be the Blackett family. The little Blacks."
"Thank you," Lillian bowed her head slightly towards him. "Narcissa has agreed to run the orphanage. She and Draco will live on the property. There will be announcements stating the Lucius has decided to travel the world seeking absolution for his crimes. With your approval, he breveted his family to yours, changing its' name. When the facilities are ready, the orphanages and foster systems will be searched for magical children currently placed with muggles. Once the orphanage is well established, I plan on building homes for muggle-born children and their families. This will give us the chance to teach them about us before they begin Hogwarts."
"It sounds as if you have everything well in hand. While I appreciate your trust, what can Lady Longbottom do to help you?" Arcturus asked.
"I want Dumbledore kept on the defensive. Riddle and his Death Eaters are my primary concern. Once he is gone, Dumbledore needs to be taken down." Lillian told them. "He has an agenda. As much as he says that he is a Lord of the Light, his actions speak otherwise. He allows laws restricting everyone but purebloods. He let the Marauders harass Severus Snape a half-blood. He never said a word to them. He sent Snape and other non-pure blood students to detention several times when they pranked them back. He let Sirius go to Azkaban. If he didn't do the binding of their cores, he had Harry's and Neville's magic bound. Lastly, he ignored James and my wills and placed Harry where he was abused for four years." She paused, "He needs to be thrown off his throne and into disgrace."
Augusta nodded, "I agree Dumbledore must go. That is in the future. Can you tell Arcturus and I why you are called Lillian Potter and look like Lily?"
"I am a magical clone of Lily Potter. When the fight with Riddle was won, I, or Lily, needed a way to be separate from Harry. He needs to grow up, not be possessed by his mother." Lillian saw Augusta and Arcturus followed. "Lily discovered two new spells. The one to clone her that I am. She also created a version of Expecto Patronum. This version also clones her mind and can act independently. Both are now Potter family spells. When either spell ends, everything the clone said or did goes back to Lily."
"If you were to sign a legal document as Lily, would she be accountable?" Lord Black asked.
"She would. Everything I do as Lillian, she is aware of and will back. I am animated by her magic and will." Lillian answered.
"How is Sirius doing?" Lilllian asked Lord Black.
"He is doing better. The healers say that he is physically fine now. Mentally, it will be another six months or more." Arcturus frowned. "He asks about Harry every day."
Lillian smiled, "Let him know that Harry remembers his Pa'foo."
"Where is Harry?" Lord Black asked. "Could Sirius visit him?"
"Harry is safe." Lillian smiled. "He's safer than he was. Dumbledore thinks he is dead. When Harry was rescued, his and his uncle's deaths were faked."
"I will be happy to let the two meet once you can ensure that Sirius will be strong enough to resist a Legilimens attack. I do not want anyone to know that Harry is alive or where he is." Lillian answered.
"That is fair." Lord Black agreed.
Lillian turned to Augusta, "Has Neville showed accidental magic now that his core is unbound?"
Augusta smiled, "Oh yes, he grew a plant from seed to fruit in one hour last week. That boy can grow anything."
"I have been tutoring Harry and one other in magic. They already can cast most first year spells wandlessly. They've also learned Occlumency well enough to stop the average attack." Lillian smiled proudly. "Would you like Neville to be trained?"
"Isn't he too young?" Augusta said surprised.
Lillian smirked, "I've found, Lady Longbottom, that once accidental magic starts, the child is ready to start learning. I've been amazed at how well Harry and the other have learned."
"I would like to think on this." Augusta said slowly. "We would need to work out all of the security issues."
"Of course, Lady Longbottom."
Saturday Morning Edition of the Daily Prophet
Saturday, 28 December, 1985
MISSING MALFOY MYSTERY EXPLAINED
Lord Lucius Malfoy missing since Wednesday the eighteenth, issues a statement yesterday. His statement reads: "Since the death of Lord Voldemort, I have suffered from the memories of the atrocities I performed while under the Imperius. I know that one cannot be held accountable for actions controlled by others. I thank the wisdom of our justice system for its mercy. Though I am not in a physical prison, I find that I reside in a mental prison. Each time I close my eyes, I see the victims of my wand. It was not my will that killed. It was my wand and magic.
Therefore, let it be known that I will be leaving England. I will begin travelling the world seeking ways to redeem my magic. I reject my name and my family's name. If you must give me a name, call me Seeker. I will not answer to any other.
Lord Black was petitioned and agreed to remove the Malfoy name from my wife and son. They are now a brevet Black family. Their surname is to be Blackett. He has also agreed to allow a divorce based on my breach of the marriage contract.
Lastly, the Malfoy estate is to be turned into an orphanage for magical children. There will be a safe home for any orphan or foster magical child in our country. My former wife, Narcissa, will remain and oversee the running of the orphanage. It is my wish that the facility be named the Safe Haven Home.
The Minister of Magic was stunned with the news, "Lucius is one of the best men I know. I never knew he was so haunted by what he went through."
The head of the Magical Children's Protective Services was also asked for a comment. Madam MacMillan stated, "We've been asking for a facility such as this since the Grindlewald war. While I am grieved that Lord Malfoy, sorry, I mean, the Seeker feels such a need for redemption, I am overjoyed with the hope that he has given our most at risk children.
WIZENGAMOT ACCEPTS LADY NARCISSA BLACKETT, FORMERLY MALFOY, AS NEWEST MEMBER
In procedural moves in yesterday's session, several notable seat changes were noted. Lady Narcissa Blackett, the former wife of the former Lord Malfoy, was instated into the Wizengamot. She took the Malfoy seat. It was renamed the Blackett seat. Many in the chamber applauded her in acknowledgment of the Seeker's actions. In other news, the LeStrange proxies will be controlled by Lord Black. The Crouch proxies will be controlled by Lady Longbottom.
SIRIUS BLACK, GODFATHER OF HARRY POTTER, DENIED CUSTODY BY CHIEF WIZARD
In a heated debate, Lord Arcturus Black asked for the wills of the Potters to be unsealed and the custody of the Boy Who Lived Harry Potter go to his Godfather. The Chief Warlock Albus Dumbledore refused. He stated that the concerns that caused the sealing of the wills still held as the Potter family has no Lord. In replay to the question of custodianship, the Chief Warlock stated that Harry is very happy where he is. It would harm the child to be moved from the loving environment he is being raised in. When asked for proof of this, Albus Dumbledore, the defeater of Grindlewald, stated that he would bring proof forward soon. He also thought it would be selfish of Sirius Black to take Harry from a loving home.
AUTHOR'S END NOTE
For those wondering why Narcissa played nice with Lillian.
a) She is a Black and was raised to be politically astute;
b) She watched Lucius' initiation where she saw him transfigure his victim into her likeness and then degrade her before killing her;
c) If she didn't play nice, she had no assurance that she would be welcomed back by Lord Black. That would leave her and Draco penniless;
d) She was still in shock.