Disclaimer: JK Rowling presented seven years of a school which was supposed to have existed for centuries. Hogwarts 1835 had little from canon besides location. Hogwarts 1940 could serve as a prequel to the canon books. This sequel to 1835 has little from canon but a few family names and a location or two, but those are from Rowling's books. Similarities to any person, living are dead, with the characters in this story is an amazing coincidence.
My parameters for what constitutes canon are defined at the end of chapter one.
Chapter 4 – Hamlet
Miss Kestrel found a falcon perched on her window sill the next morning with a note on its leg.
Viv,
We leave Hanover tomorrow. The delay in
plans caused by my marriage to Charles gives
us time for a trip to Durmstrang before we
travel to Moscow. Some professors there wish
to see Professor Potter, and he will look for
information in their library. I may be under
scrutiny myself. Now that I am married to
Charles, his father declared that I will be
in charge of herbology for the expedition. One
of the witches scheduled to study herbology has
refused to accompany the expedition under
the new circumstances - which throws an
even greater weight of responsibility upon me.
If I were not so grateful to Mrs. Pilton for
making this all possible I might think she was
trying to teach me a lesson in humility, for I feel
quite overwhelmed. But I am far too happy to
learn lessons at the moment. Bless you again
for the potion to stop snoring. I will lay in a
supply of ingredients while in Moscow since I
can not be certain of their availability when we
reach our destination. I pray you and Kitty
enjoy your stay.
Lizzy.
Kitty was eating breakfast, with both of the Malfoys and Mr. Prewett, when Vivien came downstairs.
"I have one tenant I need to check with my steward this morning," Titus apologized, "but hope to be home in an hour or two. I suggest Claudius–"
"Strongly suggested, quite imperious actually," Claudius yawned, "that I go riding with you this morning. I suspect there is no tenet and he merely hopes to improve my civility towards you by forced familiarity."
"Doesn't seem to be working," Kitty muttered.
"I do have work," his father assured him. "But if I thought such a ploy might improve your manners I would use it. However, Miss Kelly needs some practice riding in a skirt before we go to the Whitleys."
Claudius looked puzzled, "How does she usually ride? Like Lady Godiva?"
Matthias coughed softly, "She was wearing trousers yesterday."
Claudius laughed, "I'd have gotten up early to see that. Why didn't you wake me?"
"Claudius will show you some of the paths in our park this morning. Matthias and I will show you around the house in the afternoon. He takes justifiable pride in the work he has done in organizing the dark arts collection."
In the stable Clarence gave Kitty a black glare when she wasn't looking, and didn't speak a word as he saddled Sparta for her.
The morning was beautiful. Claudius would have preferred his cabriolet to horseback, but he rode well and enjoyed showing his knowledge of the property. He also enjoyed trying to make the ride slightly uncomfortable for the two women in the name of preparing them for the hunt by his choice of paths.
Kitty, knowing her mount needed exercise as much as she needed practice riding in a skirt didn't mind the pace or trail and actually drew a compliment from Claudius for a tricky jump. The redhead said nothing and congratulated herself on the fact how dangerously close she had come to being unseated going unnoticed.
Vivien endured some mild ridicule from her intended husband as she avoided all jumps and began to realize the truth of Kitty's warning about her need for practice the previous day.
Despite his amusement at Vivien's horsemanship and his father's all too transparent machinations in inviting the two witches for a visit Claudius regarded Vivien as the closest woman friend he had. Without his father there to read more into the exchange he chatted with her about news of Hogwarts students. Claudius did not like Charles Potter and expressed the opinion that Elizabeth could have done better. Vivien wondered if that was an indication Claudius might have considered Miss Gray a suitable marriage prospect.
"She says the two of them are quite happy," Viv told him.
Claudius sighed and stared off into the distance, "I suppose... Being able to spend time with... I... You heard Turk married that great cow from Hufflepuff during Spring Term?"
"Yes, Turk told Lizzy. The only other soul who knew was Brigid's sister, Erin."
"And Lizzy didn't even tell you?" he laughed. "I didn't know there was a woman in the world who could keep her mouth shut."
"Watch your mouth or I'll shut it with my fist," Kitty threatened. "Women are better than men in knowing how to keep a secret."
"When it is important," Viv said in a soothing tone, "women know the importance of discretion and secrecy. Lizzy gave them her word, and that was always inviolate to her. She says both their families were upset with them and they've been forced to stay with one of his relatives in Edinburgh."
"Then I have more recent news. Turk's family agreed to receive them and the visit went very well. There is a rumor of an overture from the O'Shaughnessy tribe toward the newlyweds also... You say Erin knew her sister was married?"
"That was what Lizzy told me."
"I hope her parents don't discover that fact or Hufflepuff will need a new seeker next year while Erin languishes in exile on some barren rock."
"Anything seem odd about gossip with Claude?" Kitty asked as the women returned to their rooms to change from their riding clothes.
"You mean Turk and Brigid? I imagine by now everyone has heard they eloped – but I am surprised by how current his news on their families is."
"He didn't mention Peter once. He spoke of everyone else in our class in Slytherin – he even talked about Charlotte's wedding plans, and I don't think he ever cared a fig for her. But not a word on Peter."
Vivien hesitated, it did seem peculiar, but she refused to give Kitty any credit for the observation. "Maybe Peter is traveling somewhere and–"
"And hasn't sent an owl to Claude?"
"You're too suspicious."
"You've got your eyes closed."
"Closed to what?" Vivien demanded.
"I don't know," Kitty admitted.
The pretty witch laughed, "There seems little difference between having one's eyes opened or closed. You really should learn to curb your imagination.
After luncheon Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Prewett took the young women on a tour of the less visible parts of Malfoy Hall.
"Originally there was a castle," Matthias, explained to the two women as Titus Malfoy tapped a wall with his wand and it slid back – revealing a broad, curving stairway. "The original castle, or at least those portions that would have been above ground disappeared over time – torn down or incorporated into the hall. I suspect nothing of the original building, or at least the above ground portions, remained visible by the end of the Jacobin period – but this would have been the original dungeon."
"Jacobin?" Vivien asked. "The Manor looks newer."
"Oh, the present facade is Georgian," Mr. Malfoy assured her. "A few rooms are still Tudor. There is always work to be done. I plan new glazing in the near future."
The four lit their wands and proceeded down the stone steps, worn smooth over the centuries.
There was a large open space at the bottom of the stairs. "The family and retainers would have been safe here during attack," Mr. Malfoy explained. Much of the room was taken with display cases and shelves containing a variety of objects associated with the dark arts.
Along one wall were instruments of torture. Mr. Prewett pointed to them, and then indicated one of the two visible doorways leading off the large room. "These would have been in there. There were cells for keeping prisoners."
"I've no idea how long it has been since there was a captive," Mr. Malfoy explained. "That was where the dark arts collection was originally stored, but it quite overgrew the space and was moved out here by my grandfather."
"What's in there?" Kitty asked, pointing at the other door.
"I don't know what it might have been originally. But when the weather is dreadfully hot I come down here to read. There are a few comfortable chairs and a small number of books there."
"You can read with some of this stuff," Kitty gestured at the display before her, "out here?"
Their host looked puzzled, "Why should it cause me any unease?"
"Some of these… things… are evil."
"These are objects. Some of them were obtained by evil means and some of them may have been used to commit evil deeds, but they are incapable of any sort of evil themselves."
"May I show her Yorick?" Mr. Prewett asked.
"In a moment. Miss Kestrel has spoken of her ability with charms. I am wondering if she would be able to find any of the secret rooms."
"Secret rooms?" Vivien asked nervously. She suspected a test would be administered that she desperately wanted to pass – but was uncertain about what it would take to pass. Perhaps not finding a hidden room would be best – a tribute to the magic of the Malfoy family. But perhaps not finding a room would cause her to be seen as possessing very limited ability. Perhaps finding a room would show she was a very powerful witch.
"There are at least three more doors leading off this room, with a rumor of a fourth. One leads to my family's crypt and a second was used to hide the family treasure before there were banks. The spells used to hide them are so powerful the Malfoys have always boasted they could never be discovered by an outsider – although what one wizard does can always be undone by a wizard equally powerful and boasts should not be confused with facts."
Vivien licked her lips, "Has anyone found the doors?"
"I've heard of several, but have not witnessed any success myself. As I said, what one wizard does can often be undone by a more powerful wizard."
Vivien decided that to find something, anything, would be tribute to her ability and a confirmation she deserved to be Mrs. Malfoy. She began with basic revealing charms, doubting any would be efficacious but unwilling to overlook any chance. On her third time around the room she attempted the most advanced charms she knew. She thought she might have detected a possible door or two, but feared it might simply be her own desire which made her imagine a positive result.
She paused, frustrated. "Anything?" Kitty asked.
Vivien thought hard, there was some sort of charm associated with dead bodies or body parts. She had found it in an old tome and discussed it briefly with Professor Ogden in terms of how the charm might be used. Neither of them had suggested using it to find a family crypt, but discovering a body after a battle had been a theory they discussed. She concentrated for a moment and took a deep breath, trying to remember the details.
As Vivien finished the spell the room grew brighter. Many of the objects in the dark arts display glowed brightly, along with the number of the torture instruments. Three large spots shone on the floor, and to Vivien's delight a large rectangular section of wall emitted a pronounced light.
Titus Malfoy nodded his head in approval. "Well done. I've asked some very powerful wizards to take the challenge and none ever had as much success."
"What did you do?" Kitty demanded.
"A death charm I remembered seeing once."
"A death charm?" Mr. Prewett asked. "I thought those were all nonsense."
"I've always heard that the charms to predict death don't work," Titus Malfoy told him. "This was something else."
"What are these glows on the floor?" Kitty demanded, tapping the nearer one with her foot.
"I would assume there is someone buried there," her host remarked – and Kitty quickly moved away from the spot where she had been standing. "I am somewhat surprised there are only three."
"Your ancestors would be in the crypt," Matthias reminded him, gesturing to the wall whose hidden doorway still glowed.
"True, but sometimes even I believe the legends of evil ancestors. If they had been the monsters some claim one would think there would be more bodies buried under the floor."
"An interest in the dark arts, even if it is only for the sake of knowledge, will always cause some to think a person is evil."
"And jealousy," Vivien added, in part to flatter her host. "When you are wealthy some will spread slanders without any evidence."
"True," Mr. Prewett nodded in agreement.
"Quite the home," Kitty muttered, staring at the glowing spots on the floor.
"We have been living here a long while," Mr. Malfoy reminded her.
As the glow from Vivien's spell began to disappear Matthias called the attention of the two women to the shelves holding the dark artifacts. "Here is the one I find especially interesting," he said – gesturing to a skull on a stand inside a crystal dome. The bones of the head still glowed faintly from Vivien's charm. He lifted the dome. "I call him Yorick."
Vivien smiled and Kitty looked puzzled. "A play by Shakespeare," Vivien explained.
Kitty looked even more puzzled. "Shakespeare was a muggle playwright," Titus Malfoy told her. "In a play called Hamlet the skull of a jester named Yorick is discovered by grave diggers."
"Leave it to the Malfoys to make fun of death," a sepulchral voice intoned.
The startled Kitty noted the empty eye sockets of the skull now glowed a green very different from the light produced by Vivien's charm and the lower mandible moved as the words seemed to issue from the skull. The Irish girl stepped back and Vivien stepped closer and stared at the curiosity.
"Not to make too fine a point of the matter," Mr. Prewett commented, "but I was the one who applied the name – since you refused to give me a real name."
"You're a toad working for the house of Malfoy – you eat the scraps from his table and so I blame their cursed house for all the evils under their roof."
"He's not very cooperative," Matthias explained.
"And shockingly rude," Vivien added.
"Who are these two bitches?" the skull demanded.
Kitty, now outraged and with curiosity out-weighing her revulsion, stepped closer, "You keep a civil tongue in your head, you…" Realizing what she had said she stopped and giggled nervously.
"Aye, mock the dead. I would expect no more in this hell hole."
"It's not a ghost," Vivien said slowly. "I've never heard of such a thing."
"I suspect it is the head of some old enemy of the house – kept as a souvenir of a now-forgotten victory in a wizard's duel," Matthias suggested.
"But what sort of spell would animate it in such a manner," the blond witch asked.
"Well… I can't answer that. One of the things I hope to find in the books I'm cataloguing on the dark arts is an explanation."
"I have offered to let it sit on a shelf in the library," Titus Malfoy mentioned. "It's seems infinitely more charitable than letting it—"
"I need no favors from the damned house of Malfoy," the skull swore.
"Of course he would need to be put away if there were guests in the house – especially any muggle guests," Matthias mentioned.
"My own theory," Mr. Malfoy explained, "is that a wizard made the error of trying to turn his own head into a horcrux."
"Horcrux?" asked Kitty.
"A nasty piece of dark arts," Mr. Prewett told her. "You divide your own soul so that, if your body dies, a portion of you remains on this plane. I can show you books in the library that talk about it. The theory makes some sense, but there is no record of anyone having done it – at least the using your own skull for the horcrux. Yorick here is not cooperative when asked about his own history."
"Curses mean nothing to me," the skull boasted.
"Has anyone tried charms on it?" Vivien asked.
"I have not," Mr. Malfoy admitted. "Other than offering to remove it to the library and leaving it out of its case to see the seasons through the windows I've done very little with it. I can not speak for any of my ancestors." He turned to the other man, "Any success with charms?"
Matthias shrugged, "The truth is, I was never very good with charms. History and astronomy were my strong subjects. He looked at Vivien, "You appear to be very good with charms. I would like to think of a short list of questions to ask Yorick here if you would do me the favor of trying to charm him another day."
Vivien turned to Mr. Malfoy, "You heard Kitty and me tell the portrait of our strengths at Hogwarts, and Mr. Prewett has told us that history and astronomy were his fields of study. In what classes did you excel? Dark arts, I dare say, must have been your best subject."
Their host smiled at the recollection. "I took firsts in the dark arts. I think my father might have disowned me if I had not. Runes was my favorite class. I—"
"Runes?" Kitty asked in disbelief.
"And why not? Pictish runes hold a fascination for me."
"I'm sorry," Kitty apologized. "You simply don't look like my mental image of someone who loves runes."
"And what is your image of someone who studies Pictish runes?"
"I'm not… certain…" Kitty hesitated, then pointed at Mr. Prewett, "Probably someone who looked more like him."
"Matthias," Mr. Malfoy smiled as he addressed the younger man, "having insulted me for my interest in runes I believe she has just insulted you for your appearance."
The secretary gestured, pointing down the length of his boney frame, "Sadly, she may have simply been telling the truth."
"T'wasn't meant as an insult I… I just want fresh air and out of this dungeon with all its ugly, I—"
"And now she insults me," the skull complained. "A woman who knows neither her place in the world nor sense of gratitude. A fitting guest for the damned house of—"
"And put the dome back over that thing," Kitty ordered Matthias, "Send it back to sleep or back to hell or whatever happens when you do that."
"Sorry," the scholar apologized, placing the dome back over the skull. "I just find these things so fascinating that—"
"I don't. Get me out of here, please."
"Certainly. Would a ride in the gig help?"
"It would be lovely. Thank you. I just want out."
"Escort her out now," Mr. Malfoy suggested when Mr. Prewett looked like he might ask permission to leave the group. As the two disappeared up the stairway he mused, "I believe there is some term for people who don't like enclosed spaces. I'm surprised she survived Slytherin."
"I'm not certain if the problem was the space. She seemed quite repulsed by some of your collection."
"Having grown up with it, I sometimes forget that others find it shocking. Good or bad this is part of my heritage. You are not repulsed?"
"I mostly curious about it. Dark arts was one of my better classes, I am seeing things here that I have only read about. As you said, these are exhibits rather than being used to harm anyone. Looking at them, with that understanding, I can find them fascinating. Can you show me more?"
"I would be happy to do so, but it might look inappropriate for the two of us to remain alone in the dungeon."
She nodded in agreement, "You are right."
As they emerged from the hidden stairway into the house she decided to approach her host directly on the subject of importance to her. "With Mr. Prewett giving Kitty a ride it in the gig it would be an excellent time to discuss why you invited me here. I believe the library would be suitable for the conversation."
"I don't know what you mean."
"I believe you know very well what I mean. You are considering a match for Claudius and that was why the invitation was extended to Elizabeth and me."
"Miss Kestrel. I believe you are suffering under a grave misapprehension."
"I don't believe that I am. Shall we continue in the library?"
His mouth tightened, but he agreed. "Yes."
He gestured to the wing chairs in front of the fireplace and they each took a seat.
"I invited Miss Gray, and you, to the Manor," Titus Malfoy told her, "because you were friends of my son in Slytherin and expressed concern for his well-being."
"And that was the only motive?"
"What other motive could there be?"
"I believe you invited us to secure Claudius's happiness through marriage."
"Had I considered such a motive I would not consider you a potential prospect. I am exceedingly disappointed in the manner in which you misrepresented yourself and your family to me – which I perceive as as attempt to secure an engagement through deceit."
"When did I misrepresent myself? I passed over questions you asked, and you optimistically interpreted them as you wished. I've not lied–"
"You were certainly less than forthcoming about your mother's shop."
"And was the investigation of my family an example of the purity of your motives?"
"I do not misrepresent my position."
"Do you investigate all your house guests? Tell me, what do you know of Miss Kelly's family?"
"I know nothing of Miss Kelly's family."
"Which suggests a special interest in me. If I have an interest in marriage to your son, the accusation you throw at me, it seems equally clear that the subject was on your own mind as well."
"Miss Kestrel, may I be clear on one point. Regardless of whatever motives may or may not have existed in my mind at the time you and Miss Gray were invited I will state with a certainty now that you will never marry my son."
"And pray tell me, who would you have him wed? Any woman who would marry him, knowing his tastes, would marry him for the Malfoy name and what it represents. In this I am no different. Any woman who marries not knowing his tastes and hoping for wedded bliss must discover the truth and then you risk the threat of scandal to the Malfoy name."
"You will not marry my son."
Vivien smiled, "Mr. Malfoy, in the short time I have known you I have become aware that you are an intelligent man who is forward looking and strives to do what is best for your heritage. You will recognize that I am the best hope you have in regard to Claudius. I will do my duty and bear an heir by one means or another. I will allow him to pursue his own interests without ever a threat of public scandal. I will bear the name Malfoy with the dignity it deserves."
"Miss Kestrel, that will never happen."
"I do not possess second sight, but I have learned that those with the gift are few and far between. The rest of us should be wary of trying to predict what will happen. You may not like me. But you are too wise to send me home. You will realize you cannot do better for your son."
"Miss Kestrel," he told her coldly, "this meeting is at an end and the subject is most emphatically closed."
"Mr. Malfoy, the meeting may be at an end, but the subject remains open. You will come to me."
"Miss Kestrel, I remind you of your own words. Those who do not possess second sight should be wary of predicting the future."
"Tell me, Mr. Malfoy, have you ever in your life changed your mind on a subject?"
"Only perfect men and perfect fools never change their minds. I know I am not the former and hope I am not the latter."
Vivien smiled, "While I have not known you for a long period of time I am certain you are no fool. And since you are no fool you will realize I am correct."
"And tell me, Miss Kestrel, do you recognize that you have ever been incorrect in what you imagined would happen?"
"Never."
He gave her a sharp look and she laughed. "Frequently," Vivien admitted. "Especially if there were a wager involved. Were I to bet you three knuts that the sun would rise in the east tomorrow it is distinctly possible that all the laws of astronomy would be violated as it rose in the north or west."
"You will discover you are incorrect in your plans for my son. You will not wed Claudius."
"I will be mistress of this home, and you will welcome me to the position."
There was no whist that evening. Titus Malfoy excused himself by saying he had a headache and retired early.
Vivien lay in bed that evening and imagined the luxuries and respect that would be hers when she became Mrs. Malfoy. "I will be mistress of this home." she told herself before falling asleep.
Jacobin Period - The Stewart kings: James I, Charles I, Charles II, and James II who (with the daughters of James II - Queen Mary and Queen Anne) bridged the time between the end of the Tudors and the rise of Hanover and the Georgian period (Georges I – IV).
