Forest Creature
It was a crisp Fall night as the dwellers of Malfoy Manor began their nightly bed time routine. Hermione was in the bathroom adjacent the kids room giving baby Lyra a warm bath while Draco was tucking in their four year old son, Scorpius. "Daddy tell me the story again of Lucius I and the black cat!" The little blonde asked excitedly. Draco chuckled.
"Again buddy, okay, get under the covers." Draco replied. "All tucked in? Let's see it all started when our ancestor Lucius Malfoy I was a boy walking in the forest behind the Manor gardens. He came across a little black cat that was cold and hungry. Taking pity on the little cat he brought him back to the Manor not bothering to look back. When he appeared in the kitchens the elves seemed to be very wary of the creature feeling the magic the cat possessed. One of the elves told Lucius I to give the cat some of the fresh chicken meat they were preparing for that nights dinner. Lucius took their suggestion as well as giving the cat some warm milk and a cozy place near the hearth in the kitchen. While in the kitchens he heard the elves whisper about a 'Matagot', curious as to what that meant he went to the library to research it.
Later that evening, Lucius I set up a place setting on the table with a little plate and a wide mouth cut glass crystal. Curious as to what his son was doing, his father Nicholas Malfoy asked. "Son, whom is that place setting for?"
"It is for my new cat, Ash, he is a matagot, he will give me gold coins when I give him my food and drink." Replied Lucius I matter of fact, adjusting the glass and plate just so.
Nicholas frowned, "This is a great undertaking Lucius, you must promise me you will be careful and you will take very good care of your new ... cat."
"Yes Father, I promise I will." Lucius I said running off to bring Ash to dinner.
After giving Ash the first bite of his food and his first sip of drink, Lucius I then asked the elf to serve the little black cat some more chicken and milk. Later that evening, Lucius I laid his most plush cushion close to the fireplace for Ash to sleep on. The next morning Lucius I felt under his pillow, when he brought his hand out from under it he opened his hand to reveal a shiny gold coin. Lucius I shrieked in delight. "Oh thank you Ash! I knew you were a good one. Thank you!"
Lucius I, as promised, kept Ash happy and healthy until one day in late Autumn. He was now one hundred and twenty-five years of age having seen his Father pass on and the births of his son and then later on grandson. Sitting quietly in the solarium watching the leaves flutter in the wind, he was gently stroking the soft black fur of Ash.
"Ash, I hope you know that you have been a great companion. I have appreciated your gifts over the years, but the real one is your friendship. I feel that my time is near so before I move beyond the veil I want you to know you are no longer bound to me. You are free to leave at any time. I thank you for your time with me." Lucius I said slowly, still petting his cat until the fury creature could no longer feel his hand. Lucius I quietly passed on.
"And that is the end of our tale." Draco finished his story smiling down at the sleepy eyed youngster. Scorpius let out a big yawn. Hermione stood next to Draco after putting down the baby to sleep. Just then a loud meow broke the sweet familial scene as a pure black cat with a shiny coat curled up next to Scorpius.
"Ash, good night boy. Goodnight Mum and Dad, love you." Said the little boy.
"Good night bud." Draco said tussling Scorpius' hair. "Sleep well Ash."
A/n: A matagot or mandagot is, according to some oral traditions of southern France, a spirit under the form of an animal, mostly undetermined, frequently a black cat, but rat, fox, dog or cow types are said to exist too. Matagots are generally evil, but some may prove helpful, like the "magician cat" said to bring wealth into a home if it is well fed. Traditionally, a wealth-bringing matagot must be lured with a fresh, plump chicken, then carried home by its new owner without the human once looking back. If the cat is given the first mouthful of food and drink at every meal, it will repay its owner with a solid gold coin each morning. In Gascony traditions, you must not keep the matagot all your lifelong: if the owner is dying, he will suffer a long agony, as long as he doesn't free the matagot - Source Wikipedia