After Dumbledore gave Narcissa and Bellatrix the list of suggested tutors he wasted no time in returning to Hogwarts. He needed to look at the Hogwarts registry. He quickly used his fireplace to summon Minerva McGonagall who was the keeper of the registry.
Professor Minerva McGonagall had been teaching at Hogwarts for many years now and caretaker of the registry for the last twenty years or so. She took her responsibilities rather seriously and was less than thrilled when Albus Dumbledore, firstly her friend and secondly Headmaster, asked her to break one of her own rules against looking at the registry before September the first. What was so important that he needed to look at it? Straightening her robes and tightening her grip on the magically enchanted leather bound book she briskly made her way past the gargoyles and up the winding staircase which lead to Dumbledore's office. She didn't bother knocking since she knew he was waiting for her. "What is so important that you must consult the registry?" She demanded to know at once.
"Two names have recently been brought to my attention and I wish to see if they are indeed on the registry." It wasn't a lie but it wasn't the complete truth either. "Now if you would Minerva?" Dumbledore motioned for her to sit the book in front of him.
"What names could be so important that you must confirm them before September the first?" Minerva wasn't easily swayed nor dismissed but she did grant him access to the registry but she didn't move to give him privacy .
Dumbledore flipped passed the upcoming year, due to start in several weeks, and the year after that stopping at the following year. Aged eyes searched through the magically added names and he frowned. The boy had indeed been telling the truth when he said that he wasn't the only Lestrange child.
Minerva scanned the page wanting to know what had brought about such a heavy frown. Archimedes Mortimer Regulus Lestrange and Eldeos Josias Altair Lestrange. "I wasn't aware that the Lestranges had any children." She mused aloud. "They certainly do not belong to Bellatrix do they?" She asked almost fearing the answer. Having taught the eldest daughter of Cygnus and Druella Black she could honestly say with certainty that that girl was too insane and devoted to the dark arts to successfully reproduce and not harm the child.
"Archimedes is Bellatrix and Rodolphus' son. Eldeos is Archimedes' cousin and the son of Rodolphus' younger brother Rabastan." For some reason this unnerved Dumbledore greatly. Why hadn't he known not only about Archimedes but Eldeos sooner?
"This is most distressing news." Minerva said with a frown as she scanned the other names. "Malfoy, Nott, Crabbe, Goyle, and Greengrass." She could have continued to list names but decided not to. "I remember another year when such names showed up at the same time. Add in the two Lestrange boys and you have a recipe for disaster."
Dumbledore silently agreed but didn't voice it. "Eldeos Lestranges' attendance has yet to be confirmed. He is, as of now, not even living in the country. He could very well end up attending another school." He had doubts because where there was one Lestrange there were others. The Lestrange family seemed close regardless of their dark dealings and had they been one of his light families he would have admired their ability to stay that way.
Minerva lowered her voice before voicing her next question. "You don't think You-Know-Who had anything to do with it do you?"
"I do not." Dumbledore answered without hesitation. "Voldemort hasn't been seen in a little over eight years. I imagine the sudden influx of pure-blooded children is a direct result of their parents returning to their normal lives after their Master disappeared." It was only a theory but a darn good one in his opinion.
"If that is indeed the case then far more than we'd ever imagined had been in You-Know-Knows service." Minerva said grimly.
Dumbledore seemed to consider Minerva's words. "Perhaps or its possible that even the Most Noble and Ancient families were living in fear of the Dark Lord. If that is so then that gives me much to consider."
Archimedes and Draco didn't join their mothers in the sitting room until they were sure Dumbledore was gone; choosing to visit the library. It wasn't until much later that they made themselves known.
"He's simply dreadful mother." Draco started to complain the moment he entered the room.
"Very creepy." Archimedes agreed as he flung himself, unceremoniously, down onto one of the sofas. "He was acting like my very existence was some sort of miracle. He even admitted to having other reasons for wanting to meet us, me, other than offering names of tutors." He frowned. "Perhaps Draco's desire to attend Durmstrang isn't so outlandish after all."
Bellatrix wanted to glare at her sister for having put her son in this position to begin with but she refrained. "Dumbledore is a meddling old fool nothing more." She insisted as she joined her son on the sofa and placed his head on her lap so that she could run her fingers through his hair thus calming him; it was a trick she had used when he was little and woke from horrific night terrors. "Did you tell him about Eldeos like we had planned?"
Draco chose to stand at the window and stare out at the quickly darkening grounds.
Narcissa sighed and knew that she'd be getting a earful from her sister later on. "Keeping the children from him would have only increased his desire to see them. Now he has no excuse for further contact." She explained as she joined Draco at the window.
Archimedes immediately felt himself begin to relax and for a moment he just enjoyed the attention his mother was showering him with. "I told him of Eldeos." He confirmed.
"Do you think the rumors are true about Dumbledore being a poof? Would explain why he so enthralled with Archi." Draco asked as he turned to face his Aunt and cousin.
"Don't be crude Draco." Narcissa warned. "Its unbecoming of your status. And I'm sure his interest is pure curiosity and nothing more. Dumbledore isn't a man that likes surprises and Archimedes along with Eldeos and two of the biggest ones."
"Poof or not his interest is unwanted." Bellatrix seemed to take Draco's question more seriously than her sister had. "He'll not have contact with any of you boys until you start Hogwarts and even then I want any contact to be supervised or scheduled ahead of time."
"We haven't even started Hogwarts yet mother. I don't think we have to worry about him again for a good two years." Archimedes seemed certain of this. "Besides you won't find me associating with the muggle loving fool on any occasion."
Draco looked at the floor perfectly chastised. "Sorry mother." He apologized. "Muggles." He made a face. "Not good for anything except sport." And with that the seriousness of the day had been broken and the subject changed to something more light-hearted; muggle hunting.