The Eye Of The Gazer
Chapter 23
The following afternoon, when Bryony's lessons were finished, Draco Malfoy came to collect his sister from the room she and Jane Currer had been using as a classroom. He had promised to teach Bryony how to play croquet, and had spent part of the morning conjuring up a selection of miniature croquet mallets for her, in order to see which size would suit her best, for the full size mallets were too long and heavy for a small child to use. When Draco entered the room, Miss Currer was there alone, tidying away her books and parchments. She looked up and said, "Hello, Mr Malfoy. Bryony is in her room. Nanny is dressing her for outside; she won't be long."
Draco sat down, initially prepared to wait in silence for his sister, for his experience of Miss Currer was that she was exceedingly timid, and he did not expect to find a conversation with her particularly stimulating. Bryony's cat Nudge came over to him, and Draco stroked her white fur absentmindedly.
He had been idly watching Jane out of the corner of his eye as she sorted through her materials, but now Draco suddenly looked at her more carefully, and said neutrally, "We have not really spoken at all, Miss Currer." She agreed that this was so. He continued smoothly, "I expect my father is the one who has seen much more of you than anyone else." Draco watched her face surreptitiously to see how she would respond to this apparently innocuous remark, that was also capable of quite another interpretation. He thought he saw a fleeting uncertain expression and heightened colour, but she recovered well, and replied calmly enough, "Yes, your father is very interested in Bryony's education. He visits Gildenford Hall often, both to see her, and to speak to me about her progress."
Draco kept his tone light, and pretended not to be paying Jane undue attention; but really, he was scrutinising her carefully as he continued the conversation, and began to feel secretly pleased to have caught her alone.
The previous evening, following their return to Malfoy Manor, he and Gabrielle had discovered that his father had retired early. The couple had followed suit eagerly enough, each looking forward to the other's night time company, but they had not been in bed long before they had heard the sound of a scream in what was undoubtedly a female voice. Gabrielle had been startled, but after listening for a further while to somewhat quieter sounds from the same source, Draco had confirmed his initial suspicion that the sound came from his father's room. He too had been surprised, but remembered the days when such sounds had been frequent, especially when his mother was absent.
The question was, who was his father's companion? The only other adult female in the house was Jane Currer: it could not possibly be her. But where had Lucius found another woman, especially as he had been both celibate and exceedingly unapproachable for so many years? However the presence of a naked Gabrielle in Draco's own bed had soon distracted him from such thoughts.
Now, tickling Nudge under the chin, Draco remembered the woman he had encountered on the night of his return from France. Something had suddenly struck him about Miss Currer: he was unsure what had made him think so, perhaps it was the way she held her head, but he became convinced that he had identified Lucius' nocturnal companion of the night of his homecoming. Jane Currer was small in height, as that woman had been. Draco could not see her figure in her unflattering robes, but he felt that the shapely female of that evening could easily be hidden underneath. The long, light brown hair, worn today in a more flattering ponytail instead of Miss Currer's usual severe bun, also seemed to fit with what he had seen in the semi-darkness.
If he was right, he realised this would explain the governess's reaction when he had first met her formally at Gildenford Hall, as well as that blush from which she had just recovered in an admirable manner.
Draco was slightly bemused if this should all be true, for Lucius had always chosen the most beautiful of females, and here he was consorting with a mere governess, who was pleasing in some ways, but definitely rather plain in her everyday appearance. What on earth had made Lucius pay her any attention in the first place, and then how had he arrived at a situation where he had been able to tell that she would be very pretty indeed unclothed?
Draco pondered this new revelation. He felt the desire to confirm his suspicions, but if he found he was right, what would he do with the information? His father's love life was not his affair. However, Draco surprised himself a little: he wondered if Cho knew, and if she did not, what would she think if she found out? For he was aware there had been a recent reconciliation between them following their years apart.
Why should Draco care about Cho's feelings? In all honesty, he had not until now; but having learned that another female was sharing his father's bed, he realised that he had accepted Cho more than he realised. She was Bryony's mother, and Draco was very attached to his little sister. Also, Narcissa's portrait had told him shortly after her death that Cho was good for Lucius: her cornflower blue eyes looking deeply into her son's grey eyes so that there should be no doubting her sincerity, she had said that they loved each other, and she gave the union her blessing.
Draco decided to be bold. "Have you been to Malfoy Manor before, Miss Currer?" he asked innocently, as Nudge curled up on his lap.
"Oh, yes, Mr Malfoy," she replied immediately. Was that a slightly pinkish tinge to her face? "Miss Chang went to Hong Kong on business for a week once, so Bryony and I stayed at the Manor while she was away then too."
"You slept at the Manor overnight then?"
"Yes, as I said, for a week."
"I see. So you are familiar with the Manor?"
"I believe a lot of the rooms are not in use. I have only seen those rooms I need to know, and the grounds. On fine days, Bryony and I walked around outside, as we did yesterday. Your father came with us too sometimes."
"And what did you do in the evenings?" Draco persisted.
"After Bryony was in bed, your father and I sat in his study, and talked. We learned much about each other. Mr Malfoy is of course well-known here in England, but I lived in Brussels for a long while, and the Malfoy family are not as famous there. I had much to learn about England, even though I am English by birth. Your father also liked me to tell him about my life in Belgium."
Draco listened and wondered. Jane Currer was younger than him, younger even than Gabrielle, yet she had a certain self-possession far beyond her years. If she was indeed the female he had met in the dark, her calm, firm replies to his questions seemed to belie the shock and embarrassment she had shown when she was semi-naked. He thought about the likelihood of Lucius being attracted to her, and perhaps he could begin to see it: her voice was pleasant to the ears, and Lucius had always enjoyed talking to women. What was more important, Draco had begun to realise as he matured, was that Lucius actually listened to what the women had to say. They responded to him naturally because of this, and coupled with his undoubted good looks before the fire, in the past this had given Lucius his pick of female company. He could imagine his father initially being merely polite to Miss Currer, but her voice and her confident manner were attractive in themselves. Lucius could be fearsome when he chose, but this woman would not be afraid of him.
As Jane spoke, answering Draco's queries, her face became animated, and she seemed much less plain. Draco became distracted by thoughts of what Lucius might have been doing to make her scream that way last night, and images of a naked Jane filled his head. He was sorely tempted to ask her if she had seen the inside of his father's bedroom.
But his questioning was halted by the appearance of Bryony, who greeted Draco noisily, rushing up to him and hugging him tightly. She then firmly took his hand to lead him outside, and they left the room together, followed closely by a small white cat.
Gabrielle Delacour entered Narcissa Malfoy's bedroom, and silently closed the door behind her. She was certain she was alone upstairs in Malfoy Manor except for her visitor, and perhaps a house elf or two, for Bryony and Jane Currer were busy with lessons downstairs, and Draco and his father were both out; but Gabrielle was taking no chances, and remained alert. She saw that Narcissa was awake, and already watching her keenly, so she lost no time in going to stand before her. She spoke to the portrait urgently in French: "Madame Malfoy, I must speak to you. I have heard something that concerns me greatly, and I believe you can help. Please, Madame, would you agree to see someone? I know you do not approve of her, but it is better you should hear it from her lips."
Narcissa raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Who is this person?" she asked suspiciously, also speaking in French.
" 'Ermione Granger. I am aware that she is out of favour with the Malfoys, and I would not ask you were I not convinced of the importance of the matter."
She received a very hard stare from the late Mrs Malfoy, who then said, "Very well. I dislike the witch, but I trust your judgement. Bring her in."
When summoned from the corridor where she had been waiting, Hermione entered the boudoir, glanced briefly around the room, and then went to stand in front of Narcissa Malfoy's last portrait. Gabrielle noted the instant antagonism between the two women: Narcissa stared down her nose at Hermione almost contemptuously from those brilliant blue eyes, and Hermione's hazel eyes stared back defiantly from her inferior position.
"Please, 'Ermione, tell Madame Malfoy about ze pendant."
Hermione then told Narcissa the same tale that she had so far recited firstly to Dumbledore and then to Gabrielle, about Lucius' visit to Transpires University library, and his conversation with Godric Gryffindor's portrait. As this story concerned Lucius, Narcissa listened carefully, her sneering expression soon replaced by one of interest. Hermione then explained about Voldemort's creation of the horcruxes many years before, and told how she had consulted Dumbledore's portrait. When she reached the part where she had discussed Bryony's Parseltongue abilities, Narcissa gasped.
"I did not know that Bryony is a Parselmouth! Nobody came to tell me."
When Hermione mentioned Crookshanks' attack on Bryony, Narcissa at first looked as if she would like to hex Hermione, for she had been informed of the attack by Lucius, and shared his view that the young woman in charge of such a dangerous beast should have been punished with a Crucio curse. But when Hermione explained about her beloved pet's ability to spot evil, and illustrated the point by describing his earlier recognition that Ron's pet rat Scabbers was in fact a Death Eater in animagus form, the portrait's expression changed to one of growing horror; it became apparent that both Narcissa and Dumbledore had separately reached the same conclusion from the evidence. Narcissa listened and nodded silently as Hermione recounted the old Headmaster's deduction that Bryony Chang was now hosting whatever remained of Lord Voldemort.
Hermione stopped speaking, and Narcissa said to her, "Is that everything, Miss Granger?" When Hermione agreed that it was, Mrs Malfoy then said, "Miss Granger, there has always been ill feeling between you and the Malfoys. However, I would like to assure you that you have done the right thing by telling me all this. I believe that you have Bryony's best interests at heart, and because she is Lucius' daughter, so have I. Now, I would ask you to leave. You would not wish to meet Lucius or my son here, and also I must now speak to Gabrielle alone; there are matters here that concern only she and I. But I thank you. Now, please go."
When Hermione had disapparated, Narcissa turned to Gabrielle, speaking in French once more: "Where is Lucius?"
"He is with Draco at Cho's Chic. They are being measured for their wedding suits."
"Lucius must be told. There are things both he and I know that have a bearing on this matter, and also convince me that Miss Granger and Albus Dumbledore are correct. This latest revelation of the Dark Lord prolonging his existence by the creation of horcruxes also helps to clarify certain events that occurred immediately before my death.
"Gabrielle, I know that you came to me because of the Subtle Knife. You realised that the Knife is a perfect way to destroy this last horcrux, did you not?"
"Yes, Madame. When 'Ermione first described a 'orcrux to me I was astounded to learn that such evil could have been performed, even by Voldemort. I was so worried about Bryony, at first I could not think properly. But then it came to me: the Knife, it can cut anything, n'est-ce pas? Therefore we can at least destroy the final 'orcrux. That will also weaken Voldemort, I think – do you not agree?"
Narcissa nodded. "You are right. But it will also make him very dangerous indeed. We must not let him suspect that we know anything, so you must be sure to behave normally around Bryony. Once we have destroyed the horcrux, she must be watched day and night in case the Dark Lord decides to try something desperate.
"But Gabrielle, I must tell you that I cannot share all I know with you. Firstly I must speak to Lucius, for he knows everything I know. You must not be offended, it is not my secret to share, it is his, and he keeps it not only to protect himself, but because there is another who must never know the truth, because of the harm it could cause. If need be, would you, while remaining ignorant of the whole truth, help him with the task of freeing his daughter from the clutches of evil? For I think I see a way it may be achieved."
"Of course, Madame. She is an innocent child, and soon to be my sister. If I can help, I will do it." Gabrielle paused awhile, thinking, then she took a deep breath, and said, "Madame, I do not know why I should think this, but I have a feeling that this possession is connected with Bryony's near death, and our rescue of her from the World Beyond."
Narcissa gazed out of the window for a long time, clearly thinking. Gabrielle sat on the ottoman at the foot of the bed opposite the portrait, and waited, trying to hide her impatience. Finally, Narcissa's golden head turned towards her, and her cornflower blue eyes looked searchingly at the younger woman as she asked her, "Gabrielle, do you remember exactly what happened when you rescued Bryony?"
"Yes, Madame, I think so."
"Describe it to me in detail. Leave nothing out, anything may be important."
Gabrielle described her journey to the World Beyond: the terrifying abyss, her Veela guide, the crane Ba bird escaping through the window she cut into the World of the Living.
"Then I nearly fell into the abyss. I did fall part of the way, but Lucius rescued me. He was the god Thoth. He caught me in his arms."
Narcissa had been paying close attention to everything Gabrielle said. "Did you obey the Veela guide in all things?" she asked. "Think hard, what were her instructions to you?"
Gabrielle concentrated, trying to recall the words of her guide. "She told me to cut using the supernatural blade. I must not let the Knife slip, else I would cut myself, and the wound would not heal: then I would be trapped in the World Beyond forever. She said I must close the window when the Ba bird had been set free – but she could not tell me how to do it! And then I began to fall into the abyss!
"Madame, I did not close the window! I did not know the way to do it, and then I nearly died myself!"
Narcissa nodded, as if she had been expecting something of this kind. "So, there was a way from the World Beyond into our world in St Mungo's? Bryony remained in the same room, did she not? Lord Voldemort could still feel the connection between himself and that last horcrux: once the window was cut, it finally permitted him to re-enter the light, and to take possession of Bryony.
"Leave me now, Gabrielle. I need to think. Tell Lucius to see me when he can. I am sorry to ask you to keep it from him, but Draco must know nothing of this matter. I will tell Lucius everything."
Much later the same day, Lucius sat on the ottoman and stared at Narcissa. She had told him to sit, and recounted the whole tale to him. She had thought it prudent not to mention that Hermione Granger had been to the Manor, and made it seem as though she had learned everything from Gabrielle, although there was no way Narcissa could hide Miss Granger's part in the matter, and her spying on Lucius at the university. When he had first learned of this, Lucius had been furious, but Narcissa had calmed him by speaking in an even voice, pointing out that in spite of his animosity towards the Granger woman, she was in fact very concerned for Bryony, and had she not thought to check up on Lucius, they would now still be in complete ignorance of the danger in which they all stood.
Lucius was stunned for a while, digesting all that his late wife had told him. He thought over what she had said, and nodded slowly. In a low voice, he said, "Miss Granger and Dumbledore are right. You are right. There is something else that fits the picture;" and he told Narcissa of Bryony's furious and apparently prescient reaction when he had returned the amulet to her room.
"It was as if she were possessed; she was not herself. Her eyes even appeared red, just as his were red. Then suddenly she became her old self, and it was as if she then saw me for the first time."
"Oh, Lucius," said Narcissa's portrait wearily, "I thought I had killed Voldemort forever with the Subtle Knife: removed him permanently from our presence, so that you who remained could begin to rebuild your lives again. The Knife was strong enough to kill any normal man, however evil; but that last horcrux has allowed him to return.
"Voldemort killed me and he tried to kill you. He once tried and failed to make our son into a murderer. Now the Dark Lord has his final revenge on his once faithful followers the Malfoys, for turning on him at last: he has invaded the body of a six-year-old child with Malfoy blood in her veins."