Let's Get Real Shall We
A seventeen year old Nymphadora Tonks was sitting on the balcony of a hotel in Pairs where the Tonks family was taking their holiday. She had been bored all day because her parents had been dragging her to one museum or another to look at art. It was ok but she would have fancied a run on the beach more. He had taken to wearing her hair gray that day and when asked about it she said she might as well look old because the day was aging her greatly. So when they finally got back to the hotel she headed straight to the balcony to soak up what little sun there was left to be had. While lying in a chair with her eyes closed she suddenly felt a beak pecking at her hand.
"Hey Winglet." She said opening her eyes and noticing the owl. "Why didn't Draco just mirror me for a talk," She said untying the not from the owls leg. "I could've used the distraction today." She opened the letter and began to read.
Wotcher Nymmie,
Usually I am not one to complain but everyone is on holiday and it is ridiculous! You, Neville, Cho, Susan, Pansy, Blasie, no one is around. But I knew even though you were on holiday you wouldn't mind a letter from your favorite cousin.
If it wasn't for Dobby I don't know what I would do, but I know I can always count on him to be around, that elf is fantastic. With all of you gone I just stay in my room most of the time but Dobby does keep me company, we have been working on my wandless magic. He taught me some really stellar new magic. Did you know elves don't use incantations? We have been working on magical flow instead and it is really cool, it makes me want to have elves teach me magic instead of going to Hogwarts in the fall.
Nymphadora laughed to herself if anyone as close to her cousin as she was it was Dobby. She also knew that Lucius Malfoy was not going to take his family on holiday because he never took them on holiday. But she was glad Draco was working on his wandless magic, since the family and any kids that were born to Warder parents started learning wandless magic before they started school. It was much more handy than using wands and could save your life should you ever be disarmed, the art sadly was dying out among the new families and those who were too lazy to keep it up. Plus Hogwarts did not teach it anymore and the ministry put far too much importance on wand involved magic to keep up wandless standards. Tonks was the daughter of a Warder and Draco was the nephew of one and godson of another so they both learned and were still learning to master the art. So she read on.
Speaking of which father really scared me three nights ago, he called me into his office and yelled for an hour about how I had better be a Slytherin when I go off to school. He said I need to go to school and make only pureblood friends and assert my superiority over all the half breeds and mudbloods. Man that's a terrible word mudblood it makes me think about Uncle Ted, he is just as good a person as I am, I really do not understand the blood thing at all. Father said that I need to learn that some blood is better than others because very soon blood will be all that matters again. I said that it wasn't my choice to what house I went into that I would have to go to whatever house I was sorted into. He hit me Nymmie,hard. He went on about how I better "make the hat put me in Slytherin or else." He said the only reason he married mum is so he could have an heir and the only reason I was alive was to make sure his name lived on. He said if I couldn't pass his name on honorably by pureblood standards he would get rid of me and try again. He was about to hit me again but Dobby popped into the room and knocked him back. He told father that he would not let him hurt me anymore then he brought me back to my room. I'm worried, Uncle Severus told me there is a good chance I could end up in Ravenclaw, what if that happens what will father do to me?
It is starting to get bad here Nymmie. Father has been on a war path the last few days. He and Mum seem to argue all day. I see him rubbing his left forearm a lot lately, there is no way HE could actually be coming back right? I haven't heard much more about it from father even when I've tried sneaking around to hear but I have Dobby keeping an eye on him. Dobby has been suspicious of father for a while. He has been staying in my room at night because he said father has been walking around late at night waving his wand and talking to himself. Dobby wants to be with me should anything happen. I think father might be going mental and he's already bad enough now.
I can't wait until you and Aunt Andy get back home so I can come see you. I wrote to Uncle Sev about what I think, he said if anything else happenes that makes me feel in any real danger to mirror him immediately and he would come and get me. He has been gone to the continent to get ingredients for the school and is supposed to come get me this weekend.
I really hate living here they fight all the time, he barely notices me unless he needs to yell at me for some reason. Get back soon and come see me as soon as you do.
Love,
Dragon.
By the end of the letter Nymphadora was just as worried as Draco was, as soon as she finished she yelled for her mother.
"MUM! Come here fast!" she screamed getting up and running into the room meeting her mother half way.
"Dora what is wrong sweetheart? Did something happen?" Andy asked as she had a letter shoved in her face.
"Dragon sent me a letter, I just finished reading it, I'm worried" She said it with a genuine look of fear in her eyes that made her mother immediately take the letter seriously.
Andy sat down on the bed in the room and read over the letter her eyes got a tab bit larger as she reached the end of the letter.
"We have to go get him mum we can't leave him there with that psycho." Nymphadora was clearly ready to apparate away holding out her hand for her mother expecting her to take it and leave immediately.
"Calm down Dora." She grabbed her daughters hand and pulled her down onto the bed. "We can't just go over there and take Draco away."
"But he said he hit him surely…"
"He is the head of house Dora," Andy tried to explain, "Wizard law is different, head of house can punish according to how they see hit short of serious injury or murder. We would have no right to just go there and get him." She put up her hand to quiet her daughters protest.
"It is Friday night. He said Severus would be coming to get him on the weekend so by tomorrow he will be gone."
"But Mum!" Dora protested, "He needs me!"
"If it were really urgent Dora he would've mirrored you and talked to you directly, he would've done the same thing to Severus and he would have gone and gotten him immediately." She could see she was not making any headway with her daughter.
Since Draco came into the world Dora had taking a very protective sisterly role over him, they were as close if not closer than she and Narcissa had been as children. Andy was wounded in the first war and because of the wound was not able to have any more children; Narcissa only had Draco because Lucius only wanted one child and no more so the two kids only had each other to call family. So Andy tried a different tactic to calm her daughter.
"This is our last night in France and we will be back home tomorrow night. I promise you can go and see him when we get home. I am sure Severus won't mind you spending the night at his manor." Dora wanted to protest again but she knew it wouldn't help much. She begrudgingly agreed took the letter and went back unto the balcony.
Andy went into the other room took out her mirror and called Severus just to make sure they both knew what was going on.
Later that night at Malfoy Manor Draco and Dobby were once again alone is his room practicing magic.
"You is doing very well master Draco, your mum woulds be proud." Dobby said smiling as the young Blonde haired boy was levitating a book in front of him.
"Dobby I have told you millions of times you do not have to call me master. You are my best friend you can call me Draco." He chastised the elf lightly as he did every day because every day Dobby would still call him master.
"It's a weird feeling letting the magic flow through your body like this." Draco commented as he strained to keep the book up.
"Magic be in your core Draco." The elf said placing a hand on his midsection. "The magic will do what you tell it to as long as you can feel your core and will yourself to do something. But yous should be putting the book down now you do not want to use all your energy." Dobby lowered Draco's hand causing the book drop to the floor.
"I suppose that is enough for the night. You think you're up for me beating you in a game of exploding chess." Draco asked in a pretentious voice trying his best to sound confident.
"Draco has not beaten Dobby yet, I do not sees why tonight would be different." Dobby smiled at the now put out looking young boy. "But yes, I wills play"
As the two were setting up the game, Draco heard a loud yell coming from the other room. He knew the voice; it was the voice of his drunken father. It was the voice that made him want to run and hide in a corner every time is rang out, he visibly stiffened at the ring of it. Dobby also knew that voice and the affect it had on his young master.
"It bes ok Draco I'm is here with you." Dobby reassured him but the yelling was getting louder.
He seemed to be yelling at Narcissa and she being a classic Black in nature had no qualms whatsoever about yelling back.
"I should've asked for your sister Bellatrix instead at least she knows how to follow orders." Lucius yelled he speech somewhat slurred. "You, you never do what I say. I AM THE HEAD OF THIS HOUSE!"
"Some head of house." Narcissa retorted. "Drunk at night, not much better in the morning, a terrible father and a right rotten husband, I'm sure you make your father so proud."
"Well at my father didn't have to disown one of us for family disgrace." He sneered at his wife. "Your blood traitor sister married a filthy mudblood man and together made a halfblooded freak. And what is worse you bring our sob around that filth." He hammered on Draco's door trying to emphasize his point.
The pounding on the door put Draco on a higher alert and he decided it was time to get his godfather.
"Dobby, go and get uncle Severus and bring him here fast." Dobby stood up nodding at Draco and disappeared.
Back outside Narcissa was trying to pull Lucius away from the door knowing the pounding was probably scaring the boy. "Excuse me Lucius if I try to face my son as a person who loves people and cares about people for who they are. I want him to grow up around people who don't use fear and intimidation and murder to gain control. What difference does it matter to you anyway you barely even know that boy in there."
At that moment Severus appeared in front of his godson.
"Uncle..." Severus put a finger to his own lips to quiet him.
"Be quiet Dragon I don't want to alert them outside. You and Dobby go to the wardrobe and pack for about a week then we will go home." Draco got up and did as he was directed. Severus then turned back to the door and listened to the ongoing argument.
"You and your whole family are worthless filthy traitor. My father should've demanded even more for a dowry." He pointed his cane at her; she in turn took out her wand and pointed it at him.
He laughed, "Remember your place Narcissa and remember mine as well. You have been an abysmal wife and I will not let you ruin my only heir. You have raised that boy to be a blood sympathizer and I'm telling you the time is coming soon were if your allegiances are not correct you will be killed. I will not lose the only one able to carry on my name. I am going to teach him his place even if I have to beat it into him."
With that he bore through the door into his son's room but stopped as he came face to face with the death glare of Severus Prince.
"Prince!" he yelled in an indignant manor trying to hide his brief moment of fear. "What are you doing in my house you were not invited and you certainly aren't welcome."
Severus never took his eyes off Lucius and the disgust on his face was growing. "Oh but I was invited and my presence was requested immediately."
He turned and looked at Draco who had just finished packing and was standing behind him. "You realize I formed an unbreakable bond when I accepted being his godfather. My duty and concern is for him and him alone. You are another matter entirely."
Narcissa who was on the side watching both men moved towards Draco to guard him from whatever might happen between the two men.
"He called you here to guard him?" Lucius asked. "From who? From me? If that's the case you are here for no reason I have not harmed him and if he said I did he's a dirty little ly..." His words were stopped at the point of a wand that was pressing directly between his eyes.
"Listen to me Luicus, Narcissa and Dobby do what they can to protect that child from you but they can only do so much because they are pledged to this house." He dug his wand deeper. "I am not pledged to this house and I will do whatever I need to do to keep my godson safe. You hit him because he didn't understand why he had to be a Slytherin and you about to beat him to teach him about blood status?"
"The next time you have a thought about raising your hand to this child realize it will have to come by me first and I assure you it won't make it passed."
He turned to Draco and grabbed his hand. "I out rank you in name, in wealth, and in ability Lucius so do not think that I can't make my threat a reality."
He then turned to Narcissa, "My flow is open to you if you need it. As agreed Draco will be with me for at least the next week." With a curt nod to her, he and Draco disappeared.
As soon as they arrived at Prince Manor Severus let go of Draco's hand but found himself latched onto by the child in a vice grip like hug.
"Thank you so much for coming to get me uncle." Draco cried into his chest.
"I will always be around to protect you Dragon and you will always have a place here to come whenever you need to." He unlatched himself and looked at Draco. "Call Winky and you two go put your stuff away then we can have some tea and talk ok?" Draco nodded and called for Winky. He and the female elf went to Draco's room to get him situated.
Severus went to his office took out his mirror and called Andromeda Tonks. When her face appeared in the mirror he spoke.
"Andy you might want to come over here and bring Dora with you I had to go get Draco tonight. I was just in time too; Lucius might have done some major damage had I taken my time."
Andy's look showed her extreme displeasure. "If I didn't feel the need to come check on my nephew and didn't think my daughter would kill me if I didn't come right away, you and I would be going to deal with Lucius. Open your flow."
Severus opened the flow channel in his office and a few minutes later he had two new guests.
Dora almost bull rushed Severus when she exited the fireplace. "Where is he?" she demanded.
Severus smiled at the concern on her face. "Hello to you too Nymphadora."
"Uncle I am not in the mood to hex you," she sneered, "I am sooorryyy, Helllo." she mocked him in her greeting. "Now can you please tell me where Dragon is?"
"He is upstairs in his room getting situated." He pointed to the door. "Please do go see him."
She didn't need to be told twice and she left the room in a flash.
Severus turned to Andy who had a sad but angry look on her face. He nodded to a chair on the other side of his desk. She sat down and looked at him waiting for him to explain.
"Dobby came and got me. He demanded that I come immediately and that Draco was in trouble. It was I could do to grab my wand off the desk before he took me away."
He sighed, "Lucius was of course drunk again and making the usual arguments an threats. I arrived right when it appeared he was going to attack Draco and try to as he put it 'teach him his place.'"
Andy rolled her eyes. "He was just going to try and teach him to be scum like his father. Did he hit him again?"
"Certainly not I was there to stop him. He almost lost control of himself when he saw me." Andy smiled at the thought of seeing her weak Brother- in- law shrink in the presence of someone better. "I threatened him and took Draco away, But we have more pressing matters."
"What is it Severus?"
"Lucius was drunk and said some things he shouldn't have." He rubbed the white ring on his right middle finger. "He mentioned blood becoming supreme again and things changing soon."
Andy's eyes widened as he continued. "I think it is time to call the Warders to order."
She nodded in confirmation.
A/N: Want More Don't Ya? Yeah I know. How do I know? Because I am the Knower. Anyway let us clear up a few things. Being a voluntary guardian in the wizarding world is different than the muggle world. Godparents take unbreakable vows and tie themselves to their godchildren for the duration of their lives. Also marriage contracts are old and extremely restrictive, which is why they aren't used much anymore. Man and wife under contract cannot do severe damage to one another at the risk of permeate damage to their own magic. Also the contract cannot be broken for any reason except by infidelity in which case the child would go to the party that was wronged. However, Lucius is head of house which means that no one under his family name can purposefully cause and substantial harm to him or he is given leeway to aside from death impose any punishment he deems fit. This is why Narcissa could not stop him forcefully from going after Draco because the result would be the loss of her name and most likely the loss of her son. This is not to say she didn't do what she could to keep him safe but you must understand that her hands were tied. Now you say, well Dobby used magic to protect Draco so what is up with that? It was not very damaging magic and Dobby is pledged to protect all his masters even if one is threatened by the other. Dobby also obviously has a bias.
Also the matter of the mirror. Yes, wizards do still send letters by owl but that as you can gather is more of a novelty. Nothing of real importance or urgency is sent by owl that would take too long and is very impractical. Now there are different modes of communication, some people use their patronus, some use mind speak with anyone they have made that connection with, and some use two way mirrors so when I make reference to them that is what I mean.
That's about all I can think of to make clear at the moment, so if any question please do not hesitate to ask.
Until next time,
Knower.
