Chapter Fifty

The owl arrived, tapping at the kitchen window about mid morning on the 29th. It was Kreacher who let it in, accepting the letter for me, and delivering it, before fetching a snack for the owl as it waited for my reply. The packet was not unfamiliar to me, it was hard to mistake the heavy vellum and scarlet wax seal as anything but Hogwarts stationary. A chill seemed to run up my arm as I took it from Kreacher's wizened little fingers and I just knew then that whatever was in it couldn't be good news. Draco's countenance had gone similarly pale as he watched me in silence, break the seal and unfold the note.

'Dear Harry and Draco,' it read, in a feminine script I recognized from my Astronomy assignments. Professor Sinistra.

'I am so sorry to have to be the person to write this letter, but it is imperative that you both return to Hogwarts with some haste. There has been news from Draco's extended family, which cannot be properly conveyed in a letter, and must be delivered to him in person. Hagrid will be waiting for you both with a carriage outside the Weasley shop. He will be dispatched as soon as we receive confirmation of your arrival.

Please believe that the Headmistress and I thought at length before deciding to summon you, as it was not our wish to disturb your well-earned holiday. For whatever it is worth, we all look forward to seeing you again shortly, and accommodations have been prepared for you both in the guest wing.'

She had signed it, but I didn't bother to read past the last line, I handed it over to Draco, feeling the dread rise in me as I did so. Kreacher appeared with a quill, ink and blank vellum for my reply.

"Are we going Draco?"

"I suppose we had better." His whole body seemed wooden as he clutched at the paper, but I gave him credit for not succumbing to panic.

I wrote a quick reply, handed it to Kreacher and followed Draco up the stairs to grab up my bag. I found him in the bedroom, stuffing things into his bag without much rhyme or reason, all except his new sweater, which I saw had been bundled quite carefully and tucked to one side of the duffle.

"I'm sure it's not so bad as Professor Sinistra makes it sound Draco." I put my arm around his shoulders, expecting to find him trembling, but he wasn't, he was stiff, as if frozen.

"Anything to do with my family is bad Harry." I couldn't really argue with him. "The sooner we go, the sooner we can sort this out."

"It'll be alright." I gave his hand a squeeze, "It's nothing we can't handle together Dragon."

He sighed, and it sounded so sad.

"Why do you suppose they have guest rooms made up for us Harry?"

That part of the letter had bothered me too, but I didn't have a guess as to why.

"They want us together for some reason Dragon, and I'm not going to complain about that."

Hagrid was waiting for us, and the carriage was warm, with thoughtfully provided blankets against the wind. He didn't speak very much on our trip up to the castle, but he wasn't unfriendly either. I don't know that he had much more of an idea as to what was going on than we did and I imagine that he assumed the worse, which, as I've said, wasn't a terrible stretch when it came to all things involving myself and Draco.

The headmistress, and Professors Sinistra and Alonso were waiting on the front steps for us, which did nothing to calm my fears. I told Hagrid thanks, and Draco and I joined the somber looking welcoming party who said nothing at our arrival, but ushered us indoors and out of the cold with sweeping gestures of arms wrapped in winter cloaks.

"Why don't we go to my office gentlemen?" Was the first thing anyone said, and of course it was Minerva who had made the offer. There were no other overt greetings, just a feeble smile from Aurora and a slightly more genuine one from Daniel, who placed a hand on both our shoulders as we walked, just ahead of him, down the quiet stone hallways. I had never thought I would miss the activities of the castle ghosts who used to swoop up and down the corridors, even Peaves who had been a general noisy pain. None of them had returned after the war, and I craved their noises right then, any noises besides the clicking of heels and swishing of robes.

Minerva's wand set teacups in front of us, and pulled up chairs for everyone around a ridiculously small parlor table, considering the broad shoulders of at least three of its guests.

"Professor Sinistra received an owl this morning from Romania."

I didn't say it, I didn't want to interrupt, but I had no idea who might possibly be writing from Romania. I was a bit of an idiot apparently.

"She had the presence of mind to bring it to my attention, and that was when we sent the missive this morning asking you two to return to the school." I presumed that Aurora had figured out that Draco and I were together, or perhaps Daniel had told her?

"When I found out you two were on your way, I asked if I could be present." Daniel said quietly, out of character for the presence he normally projected at the school. "I had hoped neither of you would mind if I offered my support."

Draco and I both nodded our ascent that he could remain; obviously the ladies hadn't filled him in on the letter's contents either. I had to admit to being surprised about all that, Hogwarts didn't keep many secrets, especially from the professors.

"The letter came from your Mother's people in Romania Draco." Aurora took up the story. Draco remained mute. "Narcissa has disappeared. She's been gone for several weeks now and they have been unable to find her." I let out the breath I had been holding.

"She left her child behind."

"Her name is Delphinia." Draco added, voice completely flat.

"They find themselves unable to care for her."

"Or unwilling." I muttered out loud. No one said a thing to admonish me. I knew they were all thinking the same thing.

"They intend to place her in an orphanage. They are not convinced your mother will ever return, though they made no mention of fearing for her safety. Delphinia is your half sister, they thought you should know."

Draco nodded stiffly, looking more mechanical than human right then, and I have to admit I felt much the same in those first few minutes, unsure of what to feel. Draco was facing the possibility that his mother was dead at worst, or at best, and I hesitate to actually use that word, that she had abandoned another child. Every miserable feeling that he had survived when she had run off on him had to be welling up in his soul again; and selfishly I worried about how hard it was going to be to bring him back out of the renewed depression.

"We all understand how difficult this news must be for you to hear Draco. Is there anything we can do for you?" Aurora leaned towards him, trying to look matronly, it didn't work out too well, but the effort was appreciated; at least by me.

"No." Draco was looking solidly at his teacup as he spoke, but his voice wavered.

"Perhaps we can have one of the elves fetch you and Harry a drink?" I was quite surprised to hear Minerva offer that, though I suppose we were of legal age, and school wasn't in session.

"I think perhaps the boys need some time to talk. If I might," Daniel stood, "I can show them to their rooms and perhaps we can all meet again in a few hours for dinner?"

"An excellent idea Professor Alonso. A few hours to think and digest this news is likely what we all need." Minerva seemed quite relieved to my eyes at being given a way out of dealing with the problem herself, I don't suppose I could blame her right then. As much as I knew that she held no ill will towards Draco, I could not assume the same estimation of Lucius and Narcissa, and while I am sure she didn't wish death on either of them, sadly I wasn't sure that she felt a great deal of sadness at the possibility.

Daniel led the way, even though we had a fairly good idea where we were headed. Hogwarts didn't often have guests anymore, but there was always the chance of a Ministry visit or a visiting Professor so a few rooms were maintained. They looked much like Snape's quarters had, except that they had windows to the outside being that they were above ground. They had prepared adjoining ones for us, but we both heaved our bags onto the same bed; I had no intention of playing any part that day, or that night. The last thing Draco needed was to be alone because of some ridiculous convention.

"Can I get you boys anything? I have some decent scotch in my quarters, I could fetch it?"

"I think that would be an excellent idea Daniel, if you don't mind." Draco was staring out the frosted window at the snow-covered grounds. Somewhere out there the smoke was likely billowing from the chimney of Hagrid's hut, and the wind was whipping flakes around the tress the bordered the forest. I went to stand beside him, and slipped an arm around his waist as Daniel left in pursuit of the alcohol.

"Are you going to be alright Dragon?"

"Aren't I always?"

"So far, but it'll never stop me asking." I laughed a little, he'd accused me once of asking after his health far too often, it was a good memory.

"Do you think she's dead Harry?"

"Honestly, no, I don't. And forgive me if it seems cruel, but your mother has a habit of running away from things."

"Not cruel, I was thinking the same thing lover."

The epithet made me smile.

"I feel strange being here all of a sudden Harry."

"I don't blame you."

"But doesn't it seem wrong somehow, or changed? I don't know how to describe it. Maybe it's me that's changed?"

"How so Draco?"

"I don't feel like a child anymore, or a student, something's missing."

"You've had a shock."

"It's more than that I think Harry. It's not really a bad feeling I don't think." He turned around to look at me, back to the window. His eyes did look oddly blue then, and they looked terribly deep, like there were a thousand things running around behind them, none of which I was party to just at that second. Before I examine him further Daniel returned with the scotch and three glasses. He shut the door behind himself and we gathered around the fireplace on conjured chairs to share a drink.