The train had just left Hogsmeade for London.
.oO On the train Oo.
- Mirus?
- Yes, Luna?
- Are you spending the holidays with your godfather?
- Yes and no. Officially, I'm staying with him since he got my custody. Unofficially, I will divide my time between his house and the village where I spent last summer. What about you? What creatures are you looking for with your father?
- We still hope to find a Crumple-Horned Snorkack but we will mainly focus on Palomguettes this year.
- Palomguettes?
- Biform creatures. They are often mistaken for chickens or rabbits, depending on the shape they take, and their cry resembles the ringing of a bell. What is interesting is that we meet them in Europe one day a year, in the spring. Muggles think they're bringing chocolates to the kids, but Dad is sure they have another purpose. So we want to find them to ask them the reason for this short annual migration.
- Oh, the Easter bunny, I heard about it. My cousin spends his day scarfing down on chocolate until his stomach hurts. But I think he is developing resistance, he needed more and more every year to get there. But, one thing is certain, it is not the Palomguettes that bring the chocolate. I've spent enough dawns hiding the chocolates myself to know that. To think I tasted chocolate at Hogwarts for the first time...
Luna placed a sympathetic hand on her friend's shoulder. She hadn't wanted to bring bad memories to the surface. Harry felt the hand squeeze his shoulder for a second before the girl spoke again.
- Oh, Mirus, in a few minutes, a duo of fire and an ice prince will pass. Don't say anything, it will be more fun.
Harry made himself comfortable, opening a book and pretending to be engrossed in reading it. He only had a few minutes to wait, as his friend had said, before the door to their compartment opened to reveal the two younger Weasleys. He suppressed a growl. Would the two redheads finally realize that he didn't want their company any more than he wanted that of a moody Snape.
- Hey, Harry! You feel better?
- Mmmhmmm, answered the brunette, keeping his gaze fixed on the page.
- Aww, those Ravenclaws, Ginny simpered, once they're captured by a book… Is it good?
- Mmmhmm.
- Hey Luna, will you make room for me? There is no more room anywhere and it's only the two of you in this compartment.
- Oh! As if, weasel!
The two redheads turned around suddenly and came face to face with Draco Malfoy.
- What do you want, Malfoy? You don't belong here!
- In the train? Are you serious? I thought you knew that ALL the students took the train home. And that there were enough compartments to easily fit double the number of students. The emptiness of your mind is decidedly unfathomable.
Ronald nearly choked on his saliva in indignation.
- Your family is a disgrace to Purebloods. Not only are you sprouting more children than you can afford, but you're also hanging out with… that, he added, pointing to Harry and Luna, a Half-blood and a weirdo.
Harry raised an eyebrow staring at his brother. He knew Draco was trying to be hostile so as not to lose favor with his Death Eater father, but the boy had never really interacted outside of venomous looks. Strangely, Harry had the impression that this attitude came from his own initiative. It was unlikely that Marvolo had asked the blond to change his mind so much.
Thoughtful, Harry was surprised to see the Gryffindor throw himself at the Slytherin with his fist raised. An ominous crack sounded as the fist in question made contact with a nose. Instantly, Crabbe, who was standing in the hallway out of their sight, entered the compartment and attacked Ronald. Ginny entered the fray throwing herself on the back of the gorilla who let go of his brother and turned from left to right to get rid of the parasite he had just acquired.
The foursome were finally stopped by Percy who, in his capacity as Prefect, immobilized them and levitated them towards the compartment reserved for the troublemakers.
As soon as the door closed, the two friends looked each other in the eye before bursting into laughter.
- Thanks for the advice Luna. Do you think I should thank Draco for saving us a miserable ride?
- Nope. However, you're going to have to see him this summer, I hope it goes well?
- What? What do you mean I'll have to see it?
The only response he got was a mysterious smile from his friend.
.oO In the staff room Oo.
- Sit down, sit down. Ah, Minerva, a little drop of Brandy?
- No thanks Albus. If we could finish the meeting before tonight, that would be good. I think we all can't wait to finish tidying up our classes before enjoying a well-deserved vacation.
- Hmm, yes. Oh, okay, everyone here?
- Where's Cuthbert?
- Come on, Sibylle, Cuthbert NEVER comes to teacher meetings.
- Oh? Maybe…
- Sibylle, don't tell me you've started drinking in the morning now.
- No of course not. Ahem, the reunion?
- Oh yes. Well. Thank you all for being present. Here we are again at the end of a year full of twists and turns but above all of passing on our knowledge. Once again, we had to welcome new students to our honorable institution and say goodbye to...
-Albus. We were all there last year. I think we can skip the speech and start working. I have a potion waiting for me.
- Oh. Hmm. Yes, you are right Severus. So, we do as usual, we start with first-year students and go up from year to year. First year students to watch out for? Difficulties in certain classes? Any particularly promising students? I'm listening to you.
Each in turn, the teachers pointed out the weak points and the strong points of their different levels, indicating the students to watch and those to encourage.
Albus Dumbledore wore a look of interest that redoubled when the subject of third year students came up.
- Good, third year. Who starts?
- I'll start, Pomona Sprout replied. For the students at the top of the class, a Gryffindor student, Neville Longbottom, and a Ravenclaw student, Harry Potter, are the two most proficient. No mistakes in their manipulations of the plants and their homework is always of very good quality. The main difference is that Longbottom seems to literally worship plants while Potter does everything very mechanically, as if he feels tending to plants is a chore.
- No wonder, the kid never had to put his hands in the dirt…
- Severus.
The headmaster's curt tone cut the professor off.
- For weak points, Draco Malfoy is the worst this year. He completely refuses anything that can be vaguely dirty and his homework shows a total lack of interest in the subject.
- Thanks very much.
- My turn, intervened the Charm professor. The top of the rankings undoubtedly goes to Harry Potter and Justin Finch-Fletchley from Hufflepuff who show great abilities. In general, the level is quite good. I noticed a great lack of seriousness in two Slytherin students, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. Their homework is sloppy and they don't apply themselves in class.
- Good, noted. Severus, you will speak to these two students at the beginning of the school year.
- My turn, continued Minerva McGonagall. This year is the best I've had in a long time. But if I had to choose, I'd say Messrs Potter and Malfoy are the two best. For the most in difficulty, I agree with Filius on Messrs Crabbe and Goyle but I would add Ronald Weasley who lets himself float without making much effort.
The three house directors then turned to the fourth, it was his turn and all knew that hypocrisy would be in order.
- They're dunderheads. Apart from Draco Malfoy, no one knows how to brew any potion.
- It seems to me, however, that one of your students has rather good grades. Poppy even told me that she uses the healing balms and potions that you have this student brew in class.
- Hmpf. If I had the choice, they would have gone into nothingness. If the nurse at our facility stoops to using these potions of dubious quality, that's none of my business.
- Severus? Who is this student Filius is talking about? Dumbledore asked.
- …Potter.
- I see, so he still has some potionist qualities?
- It's just average. Just because you treat him differently from other students doesn't mean I have to. Listening to you, it's Merlin himself.
- We never said that, Severus, Professor Flitwick said indignantly. Harry Potter is a very serious and hardworking student. We recognize that he is good, not that he is exceptionally good. He applies himself and makes efforts but he is not superhuman. He is just a level above his comrades.
The only response he received from the Potions professor was a snort and a dismissive face.
The meeting continued and consisted for several hours of seeing the students again year by year. When that subject finally died down, Dumbledore stood up, his eyes heavy.
- To end this meeting, I would like to remind you that a teacher died this year in front of several students including Mr. Potter who showed signs of trauma. The presence of Peter Pettigrew within the confines of this establishment is an event that must not happen again. I decided to strengthen the wards around Hogwarts for Animagi. Minerva, it won't change anything for you who are already registered by the school. We will see together what this will change for the seventh graders to whom you will teach it. In addition, I managed to recruit a competent Defense teacher for next year. You will no longer have to provide this material in turn, as was the case after the death of Professor Lupin.
The teachers sighed in relief. No one had posted an application following Lupin's murder and each professor had had to do a few hours of Defense. The teaching of this subject had been difficult and chaotic and the presence of a teacher at the start of the following school year reassured the teaching team. They had feared that the murder of a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor would be the straw that would boil over the cauldron when it came to the curse of that position.
- Albus, who is this savior?
- Ah, Minerva, you know him well. Alastor was delighted to accept my job offer. It would seem that retirement bores him deeply.
- Mad Eye?! Albus, is it really safe?
- Yes, don't worry. Alastor is quite capable of teaching Defense and given the events scheduled for next year, the safety of the students will be all the more ensured.
- The events?
- Sibylle, weren't you with us at the last meeting?
- She was dead drunk when she arrived, grumbled the Potions professor.
- Hmm… The Triwizard tournament will be reinstated next year and we have the great honor of being the school chosen to host it.
- Ooooh, those are the signs I got! Albus, there are going to be deaths, I tell you, the signs don't lie.
All the teachers shook their heads slightly. Trelawney's predictions were always the same.
- On a happier note, Professor Sinistra will be back with us at the start of the next school year.
.oO At Malfoy Manor Oo.
(Note: For readability, Voldemort's accented [s] will not be transcribed. Keep in mind that he pronounces "Lusssiusss" if you wish)
In a richly furnished office, the walls decorated with portraits representing all men with almost white blond hair, stood three people.
On the couch facing an impressively large hearth sat a couple who looked extremely tense, judging by the stiffness in their backs and shoulders. The woman was clutching a handkerchief to keep her hands from shaking and betraying her nervousness while the man was clutching the knob of his cane in his right hand to the point of turning his knuckles white.
Facing them, in a large black leather armchair, sat a tall man, with brown hair in soft waves and red eyes. Unlike his interlocutors, he exuded ease and relaxation.
- Lucius, Narcissa.
- Master, you asked for us.
- Don't worry, Lucius, I didn't bring you here for a punishment. I think you have understood that you should not separate yourself from what I am entrusting to you in the future.
- Yes Master, I again apologize to you, replied the blond, lowering his head.
- Master, without being presumptuous, can I ask you why you wanted to see us?
- Narcissa, I discovered something… disturbing a few years ago.
- Disturbing, Master?
- Lucius, Narcissa, you suffered an alteration of your memory many years ago.
- Master? How is it possible? Who? When?
- Calm down, Narcissa. The spell was cast on you fourteen years ago now. More exactly between July 15 and July 31, 1980.
- How? But we were in St Mungo during this time! Draco was so weak that we couldn't get home until the middle of August!
The woman twisted her handkerchief so hard that a creak of torn fabric was heard.
- Draco! Does it have to do with our son?
Marvolo sighed. It was not going to be easy to make them regain their memory but it was a necessary evil for the rest of his plan.
- The subject of the spell was not Draco, no. That said, he is indirectly concerned. I'm going to ask you to trust me, Lucius, Narcissa. I'm going to have to get into your minds, find the memory that was altered, and attempt to reform the original memory. It can be painful.
- Never mind, we trust you completely, Master.
Marvolo looked at the two Malfoys and nodded. He pointed to the patriarch first, knowing that he would be best able to remain calm once the truth was revealed. He didn't want to face a mother whose newborn baby was kidnapped alone.
He had Lucius kneel down in front of him, stared into his eyes, and dove.
He had no trouble finding the wrong memory, his servant's mind being very tidy.
The two Malfoys were sat in a room in which there were several cradles. A healer approached them with a big smile.
- Lord and Lady Malfoy, I have good news. Draco is getting better and better and you can take him home in two weeks at the most.
- Thank you, healer Iustus.
The memory was shaky, as if peripheral vision was being stirred by something. Marvolo focused on the healer's face, noted that the edges of her head were shaking in time with the edges of the memory, and thrust his hand through it, right at the nose. The memory exploded and was replaced by another, located in the same place.
The room was the same, but the healer's face didn't show the smile of memory from before. Instead, his face wore a hateful and malicious look.
- My daughter died because of people like you. By what right would you have two sweet babies? You don't deserve such a blessing. When I think a perfectly honorable couple lost their only two weeks ago and you have the audacity to have healthy twins. They haven't even left their room or accepted visits since they are so devastated.
The couple were visibly stunned and didn't move an inch. The healer stood just behind the two infants huddled together in a cradle. They wouldn't have time to act if she decided to hurt their babies.
- You know what? It's really too unfair. Two for you and none for them? No. It will be one each. You only need one heir, and at least I'll save one of the two angels. He will be loved as their own son because they will not know he is not their son. I'm pretty good at memory modification, you see. He will live in a family of Light, surrounded by a love of which you, dark families, know nothing. Hmm, which one to choose? Ah, I'll give them the most robust. You can keep the skinny one.
Lucius and Narcissa didn't have time to raise their wands in their befulddment and fatigue when they heard "Obliviate".
Marvolo slowly emerged from his servant's mind. This one had eyes shining with tears but stood up straight and slowly sat back down on the couch. It was visible that he was using all his strength to hold back the flood of emotions he was feeling. He had forgotten one of his sons. He remembered now the joy they had felt at the birth of their twins, as he had fallen in love with his two little angels who already had a tuft of light hair on their heads.
Lucius didn't even realize his wife was going through the same treatment as him until he heard a scream.
- NOOOOO! MIRUS!
Narcissa collapsed to the ground sobbing. Lucius knelt beside her and took her in his arms, gently stroking her back as she cried on his shoulder.
- Master… How did you know?
- Your second son told me himself.
Narcissa lifted her head and stared at Marvolo. Her tears had not dried up but her eyes reflected great determination.
- Mirus? Have you met him? How?
- Mirus took an inheritance test at Gringotts when he went there when he was eleven years old. This test showed not only his adoptive family but also his biological family. This is how the truth came out. He entered Hogwarts which I had managed to infiltrate thanks to Quirinus and we came into contact that way.
- Why didn't you tell us, Master?
- Ah, Narcissa… Simply because he asked me not to. He did not grow up in a loving family, contrary to what this healer thought. His adoptive parents died during the war and he was placed in the care of his mother's muggle family. He did not go into details but I know he was outrageously mistreated there. If not physically, at least emotionnally. And I sincerely believe that the abuse did not stop at neglect or cruel words.
- What? My son! My Mirus!
The woman's mouth opened and closed repeatedly, she couldn't find words strong enough to express her rage and pain.
- Why tell us now, Master?
- Simply because it's part of my plan, Lucius. Mirus doesn't want to be who he is right now, and his "disappearance" will come in very handy. So he must become Mirus again. But for that, I will need your blood for the ritual that I will have to perform on him and you must give it voluntarily and knowingly. If you didn't know he was your son, the ritual would backfire on your entire line. You must be present.
- Yes, Master, of course we want to find our Mirus, exclaimed Narcissa.
- I have to warn you that he does not want parents. Mirus is extremely independent and will do everything in his power to stay that way. He views Draco as a spoiled brat and holds you in low esteem for raising him like this. If you want any relationship with him, you will have to be patient and put in a lot of effort.
The three continued to discuss the upcoming ritual for several hours. Lucius and Narcissa wondered how Draco would react to the fact that he not only had a brother but it was his twin who had been kidnapped when they weren't even two months old.
.oOÔOo.
The train finally arrived at King's Cross.
For the first time since discovering the wizarding world, Harry was enjoying the fact that the holidays had arrived. He quickly spotted Sirius standing upright on the platform. Being free had done him a lot of good. No more thinness, no more haunted look in his eyes and no more shaggy hair. He looked the part of a Lord, both in dress and in posture.
As soon as the two youngsters set foot on the platform, Harry was grabbed by his godfather who hugged him to his chest.
- Welcome, Harry.
- Thank you Siri. Are you doing well?
- Hmm. How are you. It would be better if Peter hadn't killed Remus but hey… Like you told me, Remus would never have accepted who you really are so I'm going with it, he answered low enough to be heard only by his godson.
- I'm sorry for you, Siri.
Sirius released Harry so he could say goodbye to Luna.
- Where are we going now?
- I bought a house in the country. We could have lived in the house I grew up in, but I honestly don't want to. No one has lived there for at least ten years and the old house-elf hasn't maintained it. I went there, to see, and there is a lot of work before the place is livable.
- Ok, but we're going to see Fenrir this summer, huh?
- Don't worry, kid, of course we'll go. For now, grab my arm, we're Apparating. It's unpleasant, as you know, but it's fast.
With a "pop", the duo disappeared from the station.
