"You sent for me, Severus?" Lucius asked, stepping up to gaze into the room through the transparent wall, only giving those within it a passing glance. It was the middle of the night; Severus had said that this was important.
"Indeed I did. Take a look at this young man and tell me what you think." He suggested, gesturing to the blonde boy.
Lucius was instantly irritated and angry. "You may be an old friend, Severus, but I don't take kindly to being dragged out of my nice warm bed so that I can look at some child!" he growled, but he allow his eyes to slide over the room full of children out of simple curiosity. When he saw the boy, his voice cut short, his anger melted to nothing at all. "Well… I'll be a muggle lover…!" he murmured in shock.
"You see it too." Severus commented quietly.
"I can understand that he should have Draco's looks, as my son is his father, but… who is the mother…? He does not look like Draco's offspring; he looks like Draco stepped out of our photo albums and into life. Was he from a male pregnancy?"
"We don't know all the details of his… creation. We only know for sure that he was not listed with the records of the others. It was mere happenstance that they found this boy. I will run the hereditary spell on him as soon as it is feasible."
"Have the other heads of family been notified? These children must be with their true families…"
"Yes; Arthur Weasley should be here shortly. Crumb, Li, and McDougal have been notified as well. We have been unable to reach Zematis, and a message has been left at Beauxbatons for Lefevre. Your son has four children here, and Potter has four children and one unborn baby. The other two unborn children belong to Lefevre."
"I will represent Potter; he is with Draco at the moment and does not need to be disturbed." Lucius said aloofly. "What in Merlin's name happened…? I was informed that Parkinson escaped…"
Snape nodded. "She believes she got what she wanted when she escaped as well; but little does she know she hasn't anything at all."
"She did not?"
Snape smirked. "No. I provided all of them, including the younger Weasley, with sterilizing potions to ensure there would be no 'essence' to steal… just in case this happened." He said. "They will be 'shooting blanks' for the next three months."
"For that, Severus, I owe you a great debt." Lucius smiled, watching the little boy slowly pace. "He holds himself with great dignity." Lucius mused. "Whoever has taught him this far has taught him how to behave very acceptably."
"And beyond simple manners, I think." Snape agreed thoughtfully. "As angry as he was at being taken from his home, he has yet to even raise his voice. I believe he may have witnessed a duel between those he called parents and his rescuers, but he has not cried at all. Several of the others have already gone through multiple crying fits…"
"As a proper Malfoy, he should never do that. Crying fits!" he snorted derisively. "Not one of MY offspring."
Arthur Weasley joined them at that moment. "Lucius…" he greeted shortly; there was still little love lost between the two men, though they had come to an understanding and usually agreed to disagree nowadays. His eyes went to the children in the room and looked like they were about to pop out of his head. "Merlin's beard…!" he whispered. "Look at them all…!"
"Yes." Lucius said quietly. "Look at them; all stolen dreams; my son's and yours as well…"
"How in the world…? I mean; I can see where my boys, easily enough, but… but not Draco and certainly not Harry!"
"This entire situation is nothing – if you will pardon the pun – conceived of our normal wizarding world, Arthur." Lucius answered.
"But how did they get Malfoy? Your son?" he asked in a whisper.
"Pansy Parkinson is a very devious, self-centered, and ultimately quite inventive witch…"
"Muggle science and wizardry, combined with clever minds created all of these babies…" Snape answered.
"What's going to happen to them…? The little darlings need families…"
"Yes; they will be going to their true homes, with their fathers." Lucius answered calmly.
"That's good, I… oh…" Arthur's next sentence vanished from his mind as he spotted the blonde boy, quite obviously NOT part of the crowd of 'babies'. "Yours, Lucius…?"
"Yes, I do believe he is my grandson." Lucius agreed.
"Poor boy… looks like he hasn't had a moment of love in his whole life." Arthur murmured sadly.
"Indeed; many of the wizards who would steal children like this would not care if there was love involved. Love is seen as a weakness…"
"Love is power." Arthur countered immediately. "Weakness is simply the inability to understand love and its true power." he said, looking at the children. So many of them!
"Well put, Arthur." He agreed, surprising the wizard with the faintly red hair shot through liberally with silver.
Arthur glanced at him and responded with a bit of a smile. He felt a tug on his pant leg and looked down to see a child with bright blonde hair and tears oh his cheeks. "Want mama!" The child murmured, his lip trembling and new tears rolling down his cheeks as he spoke.
He scooped the child up, cuddling him and stroking his soft fine hair. "Hush now…" he soothed. "It's all right…" he carried the child as he walked toward the other children. The boy clung to him, sniffling.
The young blonde looked over at the crying child and frowned with clear disapproval. He walked with carefully measured, graceful steps to the table where snacks and drinks were available. Picking up a small piece of dried fruit and a cookie, the boy moved to a corner that was unoccupied, actually not far from the grownups at all. He clearly did not consider himself a child and did not wish to associate with them.
Lucius frowned, thinking of the implications of such behavior. The child had been found in the house with another child, but lived completely separate. "I do believe that I should have a word with that young man…" he murmured.
"Please do." Snape made a mock-bow and gestured grandly. Lucius shot him a sardonic smirk as he moved to the door. He took a moment to compose himself then stepped into the room, looking elegant and regal; his face calm, a mask of deadly yet carefully reigned-in power. He had known he was coming to the ministry so had taken his usual pains to ensure that he was looking his absolute best, even if he had only had two or so hours of sleep.
The young blonde stopped eating his cookie, his eyes riveted on the fair-haired wizard. Cookie forgotten, he walked toward him, silently gazing at him and halting just outside of arm's reach. Lucius watched him, though he appeared not to; a smirk on his face.
"I'm not like them, sir. I don't miss my mother." He said in a quiet, proud voice. "I want to be strong; like you are."
Merlin… he even sounded like Draco had as a child. It gave him a strange pang of sadness; he had not really known Draco when his son had been this age. He had avoided him to avoid treating him with the same cruelty he had been raised with. "Do you know why I am strong…?" Lucius asked him, still not looking at the boy.
"Yes sir…" he nodded. "You got power, sir…" he said in a much more grown-up voice than a lad his age should have.
"Yes, indeed. But I have more than simple power. I had a mother who supported and loved me, as I support and love my son. He, in turn, is a strong wizard as well." He explained, finally lowering his eyes to look at him. "Was your mother cruel to you?"
The boy looked away quickly but Lucius saw a brief moment of the hurt little boy inside that child's eyes. "I… yes, sir. I don't want anyone to feel sorry for me. I'm stronger now." He said with his jaw set resolutely.
"You need not be concerned about her; she will be punished for her deeds." He answered, glancing down at the child who looked very confused for a moment.
"Why would she be punished?" he asked softly. "She did what was needed."
Lucius considered his answer, gazing at the child. "She will be punished because she has done wrong, young man." He answered, and then paused for a moment. "Do you have any idea who I am…?"
"No, sir. I do not know who you are, my lord, but… are you one of the people who will decide where I will go now? They told me I couldn't go back home to my bower."
"I am much more than simply a man who has a say in your placement, child. I am Lucius Abraxus Malfoy. And I am your grandfather."
The boy was going to face a very confusing evening; it seemed he had been told nothing of his heritage. "I already have a grandfather, sir… Lord Father McNair is my grandfather…"
"He is, through that woman that birthed you." Lucius said with a sneer upon his lips. That woman had abused this child purposefully. "But he has no claim upon you, as you are my son's child. Therefore, you are and will always be a Malfoy." Lucius added with a smile.
"I am…?" he said, eyes brightening as he gazed up at him. "Will I live with you, Lord Father Malfoy…?"
"Is that your wish, child?" he asked, raising an elegant eyebrow.
The boy flushed and bowed his head. "I… I cannot say sir…" he murmured.
Lucius realized this boy had indeed endured a very strict upbringing and would have been punished for trying to assert his will with an elder. He wondered what this little innocent had been forced to endure in his short life. The stories that this boy could tell could rival his own stories of suffering. "Tell me, child. What is your name…?"
"Alerick Salazar McNair, sir…" the answer was very quick and clear.
"Not McNair. Malfoy." Lucius corrected.
"Oh… yes sir. Alerick Salazar Malfoy." He repeated, adding the correction with a bit of a shy smile.
"Your name means ruler of all…" Lucius said with a soft smirk. "And you have indeed been named well." Alerick glowed with the praise even though it was not directed at him. "Have you begun any training…? Have your powers shown…?"
"Oh, yes sir… I've been training a long, long time…" he held himself proudly.
The elder wizard wasn't sure he liked the sound of that. This boy was much too young for training. "And what have you been training for…?"
The boy looked very proud as he recited, head held high. "I have been given the highest honor in all the land; I will be the Dark Prince's right hand, the one he turns to with all his problems, his advisor. I am the consort for the Dark Prince." He answered.
A slight frown touched Lucius' face for only a brief moment. Consort? The child was only four! "Indeed…? And do you know, young Alerick, what a consort is…?"
A scowl appeared on the boy's face as he thought hard for the proper answer. "I'm… I'm to serve him, to help protect him, and to help him. And to give him everything he needs to be happy?"
"In a way. You have many years to learn what a consort is, and you will be given the chance to decide if this is what you truly wish to do with your life." Lucius told him.
The boy's expression clouded. "It's what I was born to do. I HAVE to be the consort. I couldn't be anything else…"
"If that is your wish." Lucius repeated. "Then that is what you shall do. But first I will have you understand everything that is involved, then you shall make your decision."
"Yes, sir, Lord Father Malfoy…"
Lucius allowed his gaze to wander back to Arthur, who was seated on the floor with two children already cuddled in his arms and a third clamoring for his attention. That man did truly have a way with littles… He pulled his mind back to the subject at hand. "Have you met this so-called Dark Prince…?" Lucius asked, doubting the existence of such a person.
"Oh yes sir; but he's still a baby…" he started, then closed his mouth and flushed, biting his lip.
Obviously Alerick was not supposed to speak of him. Lucius pressed further. "Is he here in this room?"
He hesitated, then lifted his eyes and scanned the room, looking carefully at each of the other children in the room. "No, Lord Malfoy… but… but I'm not supposed to even talk about him…" he said, flushing deeply, expecting a harsh reprimand.
"I am your lord, am I not?" Lucius asked. "I wish for you to tell me. I am, after all, the Dark Lord's commanding officer…"
He looked up at him with wide, slightly unsure eyes. "Yes, but… he's not here, Lord Father Malfoy…" he said in a quiet voice. "But his hair is really dark, like theirs…" he pointed at two of the children who were clearly Harry's offspring with his unruly shock of black hair. "All crazy like that and dark…"
"Where have they hidden my lord?" Lucius asked. "Who is keeping him from his rightful home?"
Alerick frowned, his young face screwing up in concentration. "He's a long ways from here, very far away." he said, and then looked at Lucius. "The others are much closer."
"Others…?" Lucius asked. "Tell me what you know, my grandson." He encouraged.
"You don't know, Lord Father…?" he tilted his head questioningly.
"I wish to hear what you know, young Alerick." He answered evasively, and his evasion worked.
Alerick smiled proudly, thinking he was being tested. He knew the proper answer to this one. "We are the Dark Prince and the Inner Circle. I am the consort, and they are the guardians and the enchanter…"
That sounded ominous. "Guardians…? Explain, Alerick."
He glanced at the others as if fearing someone. "We must not talk of all that here, Lord Father… the others… someone else will hear who should not and they will hurt the Dark Prince…" he said worriedly. "Please… do not ask this of me, I must never do anything that will harm my Prince…"
"Then we shall retire somewhere more private… there is a room right over there…" Lucius gestured to one of the doors and led the child across the room around the sleeping and milling children being tended by the nurses. He opened the door with a gesture of his wand and walked in, pleased to see that Alerick had followed him dutifully and entered the room with him, glancing about. It was a small office.
Lucius spoke a spell and transfigured the two worn out chairs into more appropriate furniture for himself and the child. The dumpy purple thing turned into an elegant chair with ornate woodcarvings covered in what looked to be watered green silk. He moved to take a seat, gesturing with his wand to shut the door behind them. "You can speak here; there will be no danger to you or anyone for revealing information to the wrong ears."
Alerick looked very relieved and obediently took his seat. "What do you wish me to tell, Lord Father Malfoy?" he asked, gazing up at him.
"The guardians?" He prompted.
"They are to protect the Dark Prince and me too." He answered. "There wasn't supposed to be two but he was a twin. They live…" he frowned a moment, then pointed due north. "They live that way." He said.
"You know where they live?" he asked the child.
Alerick frowned slightly, shook his head. "No, sir. But I know they are in that direction." Again he pointed due north.
"And the other? The enchanter…?"
"She lives that way…" he pointed southwest.
"What is her job, Alerick?"
"She makes friends." He smiled at him. "She's really good at it."
"Hm…" Lucius said, very careful to keep his face clear of expression though his mind was racing. If Alerick was not on their list these others would not be… and all must be rescued. These would be the most important of all to rescue: the Dark Prince and his full entourage. "Very good, my boy. You have an excellent memory, indeed." he said.
Alerick beamed at the praise, head held high. "Thank you Lord Father Malfoy."
"Tell me; where is the Dark Prince? Where have they taken him?"
"Its' very far; it always snows there and its very, very cold. There were two babies before him but they weren't the real Prince. The real Dark Prince got born just before spring last year, we waited and waited and he finally got born…" he explained, though he didn't understand exactly what he was telling. "I went there a lot of times but I can't understand anyone there they talk all funny…" he said, his face now screwed up in concentration as he sought for the right words to explain.
"Who is holding him? Who dares to keep the Prince away from his rightful family…?"
"The man had an odd name and awful looking teeth… Cara-rac-a-coff…?" he said, stumbling over the name and looking irritated at himself. "I can't say it; I'm sorry Lord Father Malfoy…"
"Excellent, Alerick." He corrected firmly and the boy smiled for only a moment, then his smile faded. "But… they won't take him too, will they Lord Father? They mustn't take him away from his home."
"Who shouldn't take him?"
"These… these PEOPLE…!" he whispered, looking over at the door. "They took me from my home, from my bower. I don't belong here, Lord Father Malfoy, but they won't let me go home. If they take the Dark Prince he won't be strong enough. He has to… they… they will kill him!" he said, looking very worried.
"They are not going to harm the child. You see; the Aurors work for me." Lucius smirked.
Alerick gazed at him, his worry draining away. "Truly, Lord Father Malfoy?" he whispered. "The teachers and servants watch him all the time to keep him safe, he can't ever be alone because he's in so much danger."
"Well, I shall find a way to retrieve our little Prince. Do not fear for him." He assured the boy, rising. "Now, it is time to get you out of here and properly housed. You will come to my home for the night. In the morning you will meet your father and his husband."
The boy looked hesitant. "I… I don't have a father… only Lord Father McNair… and you, sir…"
"Not only do you have a father, you have a family." He clarified.
"I can't have. Its not… I mean… Lord Father, family makes you weak." he said, clearly repeating what he had been taught by repetition.
"Nonsense. Come along; you have been taught much and will need to unlearn some things. You will have the best of families; for you, my boy, are a Malfoy." Lucius said proudly, his hand resting a moment on the boy's soft hair for a moment.
The child stiffened at the touch, then looked up at him confused when the hand was drawn away without striking him. "Yes of course, Lord Father Malfoy…" he murmured.
"Severus…?" Lucius moved out again into the main room.
Severus and Tonks were standing near the door talking; the room had emptied in their absence and only a dozen children remained. Even the pregnant young ladies had been whisked off somewhere. Those remaining had blonde, brown or spiky black hair; the redheads and most of the dark-skinned children were gone. "I will be taking the Potter and Malfoy children to the manor; they will be staying with us." He said firmly. "And young Alerick here will have a special room until our little Dark Prince is found and returned to us…"
"Dark Prince…?" Tonks repeated, hoping she was just tired and had heard wrong. "What…?"
"You heard me. The Dark Prince has not been found; neither have the guardians, nor the enchanter."
"Four more." Tonks murmured, glancing at Snape.
"Exactly as Mrs. Weasley stated we needed to find." he commented.
"Three of them live near us; the fourth, the most important, is in Bavaria. Somewhere near Durmstrang, I believe."
"Merlin…" Tonks said thoughtfully.
"And they may have been alerted…
"We have to move immediately to get them all…"
"You do and the child will vanish. Don't be a fool." Lucius snarled.
"He's going to vanish if we don't!" she snapped back at him.
Lucius took her by the arm and led her forcibly out of the room. She shook her arm free, glaring at him. "Don't you treat me like a child, Lucius Malfoy!" she snapped.
"Then stop acting as one! I would have thought that Severus would have taught you to use your head!"
"We took twenty seven children out of their homes tonight! What makes you think that they won't spirit these other four out of their happy little nests and hide them from us…? Or, what the hell, why do you think they won't KILL them?!"
"Because they are their chosen ones. The Dark Prince is the one who survived. He is the one they have waited for. They will never do anything to harm him." He sneered.
She fell silent a moment, struck by that news. Hermione had said they were killing the children who did not survive their tests… that they were trying to make a perfect child. "We have to go in covert and get them… damn it all! I know we didn't miss anyone on the list…!"
"No, you did not. These children are not on those lists. You heard Kingsley; it was mere coincidence that they found Alerick at all. They were hidden from the very start."
"How will we find him, then? How will we find any of them? We don't even know the age of these children, much less where to find them beyond the country that they live in…"
"The Dark Prince is a baby, so I have been told…"
"Ought to be really simple to find; a dark-haired baby in Romania." She said sarcastically. "How in the bloody hell is that supposed to help find him?" she asked caustically then sighed. "I do have some contacts there." She said thoughtfully. "I don't want to wait on this, Lucius. If what Hermione said is true, we can't afford to lose track of him or any of the others…"
"I agree; we must work with haste but we must also move quite carefully."
"Then we will work together and get this done. I don't want to leave a single child in their control."
"We will not be able to do anything tonight. These children need to go home and be tended and cared for. A warm bed and good meal in the morning is in order for all of them."
"And they need to be safeguarded as well." She agreed, though she was clearly unhappy with the delay. "Severus told me that he thinks that the young boy who looks like Draco has had rites performed upon him… they'll want him back for certain."
"Oh; this I know. They will try to retrieve their second." He agreed. "They will stay at the manor. I have special protections upon my home that have been reinforced generation after generation; no one will reach them without my consent or knowledge."
She sighed. "All right, I know he'll be safe there…" she said softly.
"Does Severus know what rites were performed upon the boy?"
"No; he didn't… but he has ways to find out. All the rites leave their mark upon the body somewhere. Shall I send him to see you?"
"In the morning." He nodded. I think it is time we get these children home and settled… I will leave you to find proper quarters for the children of the other fathers." He said, turning back into the room.
Alerick gazed up at him with worry on his face. "Lord Father…? Is something happening to my Dark Prince?"
"Not yet, young one. Tonight we sleep. But soon we will go and rescue your Dark Prince and bring him home where he belongs."
"I get to live with my Prince?" His eyes lit up. "I feel so happy when I'm with him!"
Lucius smirked. "Yes, young Alerick. You will be living with him and with me as well. Come now; it is time we go to our home." He stated. "Mimsy!" he called out sharply. With a muffled 'bamph' a house elf appeared at his feet, bowing low.
"You is needing Mimsy, Master…?"
"Yes. Gather the Potter and Malfoy children. Have them fed if they wish food, bathe them and settle them into rooms in the manor. Use the east wing rooms, they should be more than suitable. And prepare my son's old room."
The house elf gazed about, eyes wide. "Many children… yes, oh yes Master Malfoy…!" he agreed.
"Very good." He said sighing with weariness. "Come, Alerick. It is time for you to see your new home."
"Yes, Lord Father Malfoy." Alerick answered, moving to his side.
Angel was curled up in Lucius' favorite armchair before the fireplace, dozing lightly when Lucius stepped through. The soft noise of the roused her and she opened her eyes sleepily, pushing herself upright slightly. She sat up sleepily, smiling when she saw him, reaching out her arms to him. "Nonno!" she murmured.
He gave her a soft smile and reached to scoop her up, holding her in a hug for a moment. "Hello, my little Angel…"
She settled against his shoulder with complete and innocent trust. "I had a bad dream… Nona said it was all right if I waited for you out here…" she murmured, half asleep on his shoulder as kissed her hair tenderly.
"Everything is all right, little one. Let's get you to bed…" he said, glancing at Alerick.
The boy gazed up at him expectantly, clearly exhausted but willing to do whatever was asked of him. Lucius indicated with a nod that the boy should simply follow. He carried Angel back to her bedroom and settled her in her bed, murmuring soft and soothing words to her as he tucked her back in, giving her a gentle kiss on the forehead. "Sleep now, little one. Sleep deep and peaceful." He said, straightening. She was already asleep by the time he stood. He watched her a moment then turned to see Alerick standing by the door, looking unsure.
"Is something wrong, Alerick?" he asked as he moved out the door and led the boy onward.
"No, Lord Father, of course not. But… who is that girl?"
"You will learn all in the morning, lad. Now is not the time for long discussions and conversation; now is the time to rest." He said. The boy followed him silently through the quiet entryway to the east wing, turning right into the first door. "Here is the room you will be staying in." he said, opening the door.
Alerick stepped into the room furnished in a very ornate, traditional style. The furniture was dark-toned carved wood complimented by rich green velvets and silks. Heavy drapes hung on the windows; there was a tall bookshelf full of books and nicknacks and other items. Centered between the two windows sat the bed; it was the most unusual thing that Alerick had ever seen. The mattress was circular and clearly feather and silk made up its covers. The headboard was no mere board; it was the form of a protective guarding dragon. It lay curled about the bed with its head low over its foreclaws on the right side and its tail curling about the left. One wing was folded behind it, but the forward wing was extended and made a sort of canopy over the mattress. The carved creature was silver-white and scaleless with huge blue eyes that seemed to sparkle and swirl. Lucius smiled as he gazed at it; he had paid an artisan specially to design this bed for his son; Draco had spent many peaceful nights sleeping in the protective dragon's embrace. Lucius had reinforced its perceived protections with real protections; anyone who the bed was not tuned to could not even reach a hand over the mattress without the carved beast keening an alarm loud enough to wake the dead.
"Is this my room, Lord Father Malfoy?" he asked softly, gazing about.
"It is. Do you like it?"
"Yes, Lord Father. This is even better than my bower." He said, moving over to the bed. "Is this a real dragon?" he asked innocently, reaching up to touch the intricately detailed headboard.
"No, nor is it designed after any dragon ever seen in our wizarding world." He answered. "But I can assure you; it will protect you while you sleep."
Alerick gave him a soft smile. "Thank you, Lord Father Malfoy." He said.
"Toodles!" Lucius called.
Almost before he had finished calling for her, the energetic little house elf appeared before him, bowing low. "Master Malfoy is needing Toodles…?"
"Yes. This is Alerick. You are to tend to him tonight and ensure that he is comfortable." He ordered.
"Yes master, Toodles is doing." The elf looked at the young boy who was easily two inches taller than she, looking quite eager to get to work.
"I will see you in the morning, Alerick." Lucius said, turning to leave.
"Sleep well, Lord Father." The boy said with a perfectly executed formal bow.
"You as well, young man." He said, moving out. He knew that Toodles would take every precaution to protect the young 'consort' and would ensure his safety for the remainder of the night.
He glanced out a window as he made his way to his own room; false dawn was lighting the sky. He sighed wearily but did not go directly to his bed. He moved into the nursery and went to check on the infants. He could not help but smile as he gazed down at the two sleeping so peacefully there. Their little faces were softly illuminated by the streams of moonlight still filtering through the window. They were such beautiful babies…
Severus Snape stepped out of the fireplace, dusting himself off fastidiously. It was early, but he wanted to get a better look at these children. Especially that little doppelganger of Draco; what was his name? Ah, yes. Alerick. He suspected there was something more going on with that boy than met the eye. He called for a house elf and sent it off to find Lucius and alert him to his presence if he was awake.
It was not long before Lucius moved to join him. Severus found it extremely irritating how Lucius Malfoy could look resplendent with every hair in place even with only three or less hours of sleep. "Here rather early, aren't you Severus…?" he asked, glancing out at the sky. It had the faintest pink glow of impending sunrise.
"I don't think we should delay in the search for the other 'special' children." He said quietly. "Dora has only just now fallen asleep; she has worried herself to exhaustion about them, although I doubt she will sleep more than an hour or two. I could not convince her that there was nothing we could do as we had no leads."
"What has she done to begin the search?" Lucius asked.
"Mrs. Weasley is certain that Pansy's father is deeply involved in all of this. The appearance of your grandson looking so similar to Draco sent her into motion to see if perhaps Parkinson had returned to her home. She sent a team to the Parkinson's home and it turns out there is no one living there. They had bewitched the lights to continue to turn on and off at random times, so those watching the house were certain someone was home. It has been very recently abandoned with very little of value left behind." Snape said, slowly pacing as he spoke.
"Somehow that doesn't surprise me." Lucius said sardonically.
Severus frowned. "The trouble is, now we have no lead."
"On the contrary, my old friend. We have a very solid lead."
"We do…?"
"Yes. Alerick."
He scowled at him. "That boy…? What can that boy know?"
Lucius smiled softly. "Plenty, it seems. He can, for example, tell us which direction each of the others of the 'inner circle' resides." He replied.
"And when did he reveal this to you?"
"Last night." He answered, moving to get both of them a cup of very strong tea. "There seems to be a bond of some sort between them. Alerick is to be the consort, and he may well be the perfect one to use for an old-fashioned scrying to see if we can locate the others."
"Old-fashioned is right... I'm not even sure I have the supplies necessary to do such a thing…" Snape frowned softly.
"Between my galleons and your knowledge, we will have everything ready to perform by luncheon." Lucius smirked, sipping his tea.
Harry and Draco stepped out of the fireplace, arm in arm. "Terry is sweet as can be, but it really is good to be home." Draco sighed contentedly. "I truly do hope he's with child."
"That would be absolutely brilliant." Harry agreed. "Do you think your father brought the children home last night…?"
"Of course he did. He would never have allowed them to remain there." Draco said firmly.
"Where would he have put them?"
"In the children's wing, of course."
"You have a children's wing? But you were an only child, what did you need a children's wing for?" Harry wondered aloud.
The blonde laughed. "The manor has been in the family for generations, love. Just because mother and father only had me doesn't mean every generation of Malfoys have had only one child." He reminded. "I have been told at one time that there were three full families living here."
"And this place is so big they probably never ran into each other unless they intended to." Harry smirked, walking with him through the halls. Draco chuckled as he led him through the great entrance hall and to the east wing. The distant sound of children's voices became clearer.
"Young sir, it is time for you to dress…" one of the nurses stood in the hallway beside the door of a bedroom. "You must dress for breakfast…"
"I will not wear such childish things!" a young voice said insistently, arms folded. Draco smiled softly as he watched a moment.
"You must change to be properly presented to your grandfather for breakfast and to meet your grandmother…"
"I will NOT wear that! There is nothing you can do to make me wear such a silly looking thing! I want my robes!"
"They are being cleaned…"
"Then I will remain in my room until I can wear them!" he scowled at her and the nurse took a step back as an unmistakable wave of power came from the young boy. "I will NOT wear that!" he repeated.
"And you should not wear it, if it is not to your liking." Draco said, stepping forward. "Never settle for second best." The power waves dissipated and the boy looked over at him; Draco was immediately struck by the boy's likeness to him. Alerick gazed at him, silent, and bowed formally to him.
"I'm just trying to get him dressed, but he won't wear what we have on hand." the nurse explained. In her hands was a simple button-down shirt and pair of shorts. "He doesn't have anything else."
"I will take care of this; you may go." Draco told her. The nurse nodded, gave a quick bow and hurried off to help take care of the other children.
Draco returned his gaze back to the child. "I am Draco Malfoy. I am your father." He said then noticed he was staring at Harry. "Is something wrong?"
"I'm never supposed to see him." Alerick said quietly, slipping backwards into the room.
"Things will be changing for you, many things. One of those is that you ARE allowed to see your father, and you are allowed to see my husband." Draco assured, moving to the doorway to watch the boy.
He stood beside the dragon bed, directly under the head of the creature as if seeking shelter. "Yes Lord Malfoy." He said quietly, and then took a deep breath. "I'm ready to do my reciting…" he said.
"Reciting..?" Draco asked.
"Yes, Lord Malfoy. I must recite my duties as consort every morning to be sure I never forget, and then I have to practice my spell words to be sure I can say them right." He said, looking a little confused. These grown-ups knew nothing of his regular routine; he'd surely fall behind if he remained here. "Won't I have my old Nursemaid here? She knows what I must do."
"You will be tended by our house elves and nurses here, Alerick." Draco answered.
"You will not be returning to your old home nor will you see any of those you used to be surrounded by." Harry told him quietly.
He frowned, looking down. "I haven't any proper clothing here. I cannot go to meet my grandfather and grandmother dressed in this… this nightshirt that house elf made me wear."
"I will get you something more appropriate for a young wizard." Draco assured. "You shall have one of mine; I will use a sizing charm to make it small enough to fit you."
He looked up at him. "You will…?"
"Of course." Draco assured, turning to the closet. He opened it and moved into the expansive walk-in closet, looking around. He picked out one of the first sets of wizard's robes that his father had purchased him, when he was nine years old. "This should do. We will see about getting you a proper wardrobe purchased very soon." He said, turning back and showing the boy, who eyed it with a little hesitance, then nodded.
"All right, thank you Lord Malfoy." He said, turning his back as he stripped off his nightshirt.
Upon Alerick's right shoulder there was a very clear and very familiar tattoo; just seeing it sent a chill of dread running down Draco's spine. A skull, with a snake twining around and through its mouth opened as if to scream… This boy bore the Dark Mark! He looked back at his husband, eyes wide. "Harry!" he whispered, his face losing all color.
"I see it." Harry responded in a quiet tone. Draco had backed out of the room and Harry called for a house elf to come and adjust the sizing to make the robes properly fit the boy.
"Thank you, very much sir." he said formally.
"You're welcome…" Harry assured. "The house elves will be along shortly to show you to the breakfast table." He told the boy, who nodded and moved to the window, sitting down in a chair there to wait in a quiet and unruffled manner.
Harry turned from Alerick's room to find Draco was nowhere to be seen. He frowned, worried. Draco had been so pale when he had hurried away, leaving Harry to take care of Alerick. He moved to their room, looking around in the adjoining restroom before he moved on to check both the library then the den. "Toodles?" He called, knowing it could take him quite a while to locate his husband in all of these rooms of the mansion.
The little house elf appeared instantly. "Yes Master Harry…?"
"Where is Draco?" He asked.
"Master Draco is gone to the greenhouse."
"Thank you." Harry said, moving quickly on his way. "Draco…?" he called as he moved into the building. He spotted a bit of off color down in the area where the larger plants were cultivated; he moved closer and found Draco there, pale and shaking. "Oh, Dray…" Harry moved to him, pulling him into his arms.
"The Dark Mark, Harry…" Draco whispered, voice shaking. "My… my son… why…? How…?"
"He's just a child… Voldemort is dead. It can't be the real Dark Mark, the Dark Lord is long dead, baby…"
"You're sure… You're sure he's gone…?"
"Yes, Dragon; I swear to you. He will never return to harm you again…" Harry held him close, soothing him with his soft speech and gentle caresses. "This is just one of Pansy's sick, twisted jokes or something… he's only a child, much too young to have the true mark… he's an innocent, caught up in a sick game. It's all right…"
Draco trembled in his arms, clinging to him. Seeing that mark again on such an innocent child had shaken him to the core… "It's not a game, Harry; not a joke… there's more to it, I know there is…" he whispered.
"He's gone, Dragon… he is NEVER coming back…!" Harry said softly, gazing at his husband in concern. "No one is going to hurt you or our children…" he reassured, then, seeing that he was having no impact upon his husband's level of anxiety, he called for assistance once more. "Tootles…?"
The house elf appeared, looking rather worried. "You is needin' Toodles…?"
"Yes. Can you have Severus Snape come..? Draco is upset and needs a potion…"
"Oh yes, Master, Toodles is fetchin' him right away!" She said and vanished immediately.
"Come on; let's get you to our room…" Harry said gently.
"What's going to happen to Alerick, Harry…? What's father going to say…? What's he going to do…?"
"He's just a normal child, Dray…"
"But he has the Mark, Harry… Do the other children have the mark too…?"
"No one knows about the mark; as far as anyone is concerned, he's a normal child..." he gently led him toward the house. "You'll see. Severus will check him; he will know for certain if the mark is real or a fake…"
"Could it really… could it be a fake…?" Draco asked hopefully as Harry led him into the bedroom.
"Of course it could. I'm fairly sure it is… Pansy's sick way of making fun of what's happened in the past…" he reassured, having Draco sit on the edge of the bed.
There was a loud bang and Toodles reappeared with a rather startled Severus Snape. The sallow-faced wizard held a basket laden with various spell components. The house elf looked very proud of herself. "Master Draco, Master Harry, I bring him for you!"
"Someone will have to explain to the shopkeeper why I did not pay." He scowled at the elf, who scowled up at him.
"Master Draco be needing you NOW! We is not waiting to pay!" she retorted, standing her ground.
"The Mark… Uncle Sev, the Mark, the Dark Mark is back!" Draco whispered, eyes wide and skin pale.
"What are you talking about…? Here, you need to be lying down…" he frowned, setting the basket aside and moving forward to assist his godson to lie back on the bed. "What in Merlin's name has you so upset…?"
"Alerick! Alerick has the Dark Mark!" Draco whispered.
"What…?" Snape's frown deepened as he glanced at Harry.
"On the back of his right shoulder. It's a tattoo some mad person put on the boy. It does look like the Dark Mark… but it can't be. He's far too young…" Harry clarified, more shaken than he would show anyone at this point.
"The Dark Lord is no more, Draco." Snape said calmly. "You must calm yourself; this has to be a fake. Why someone would do this only Merlin knows…" he settled Draco onto the bed and pulled his wand, doing a few scans. "You must calm down…" he repeated, pulling a potion. "Your stress is affecting your son…" he said, pulling out a potion.
"I would have given him something but I didn't know for sure what would be safe…" Harry said softly, watching worriedly. "So I sent for you…"
"Please Uncle Sev… please look at it… I swear it looks so real…" Draco murmured, hands shaking as he took the potion.
"I will take care of it, Draco. I want you to try and rest now. I'll send up some breakfast for you, but I want you to stay off your feet."
"Yes, Uncle Severus…" Draco murmured, allowing himself to finally relax as the potion did its work, relaxing tense muscles and easing the level of panic, muddling his mind and helping him to rest.
Harry covered him gently, sitting beside him on the bed. He tenderly brushed Draco's hair back away from his face. "Everything is going to be fine…" he said softly, reassuringly as he watched Draco's eyes slowly close. "We'll take care of it. You have nothing to fret over…" he stayed by Draco's side until he was certain that his husband was sound asleep. "Toodles…? You stay here with Draco. Tell us if he needs anything." He instructed.
"Toodles is caring for Master." She bowed low to him.
"Where is Alerick?" Severus asked. "I need to see this mark."
"He's most likely at breakfast." Harry walked out with Severus. "The mark is hardly bigger than a Galleon but it really does look like the real thing… this is just mental! Why would anyone want to mark a child this way…?"
"The mark was never placed on any child of his age; it was never put on anyone younger than their teens. The Dark Lord had absolutely no use for children." Severus answered quietly.
Harry was struck with a thought and memory of the uses the Dark Marks were utilized for by the Dark Lord. "Merlin." He murmured, looking at the older man. "Severus; they can't call him with it can they? They can't find him here?"
"I don't think they could call him by using it, if the mark turns out to be real." Severus answered. "The Marks were used to call the servants, not to drag them unwilling to his side. If they had been usable that way Karkaroff and those who did not show up to his reappearance in that cemetery would have been dead the very first night. I doubt they could even use it to call the child, if it is real, anyway. There are many generations of protections on and about the Manor that would prevent any type of summons from getting through…"
"We need to be sure of that… I don't want to take any chances someone might show up here. I want Draco and Angel safe…"
"Morning daddy." Angel smiled as the two moved into the dining room. All the children were seated about the table; Lucius at one end watching the nurses tend to the children as they ate their breakfasts. Angel sat at Lucius' left side, and Narcissa sat on her other side. Opposite Angel at the table sat Alerick at Lucius' right side. Of all the children, only Angel and Alerick were displaying proper manners expected of someone much older than they were.
"Good morning Angel…" Harry moved to give her a kiss on the head. Alerick watched him kiss the girl, then looked down at his food, a faint look of envy on his handsome young face. He picked delicately at his meal and took another bite.
"I missed you last night… is papa okay…?"
"Yes, love. He is resting right now; we had a very late night last night…" he reassured her.
"But Papa needs to eat too…" she said worriedly.
"Don't you worry, Angel, we're taking care of that. He will eat when he wakes…"
"Severus, I didn't know you had returned…" Lucius said. "Join us, won't you…?"
"I've eaten. I was actually out shopping for what we needed when I was called to come here today…" he said with a smirk in Harry's direction.
"Ah, excellent. Were you able to acquire everything…?" The elder Malfoy asked, taking a sip of his tea.
"Most of it… I shall have to return to pick up the rest…"
Alerick nudged his plate back and sipped his juice, watching Severus out of the corner of his eye.
"I'm all done, Nonno… can I feed the babies now?" Angel asked.
Narcissa smiled. "I think that Nonno has business to tend to, so you may help me to care for the little ones after you wash up."
Angel's eyes sparkled. "Can I be excused? Please?" she asked, so eager to go she was wiggling in her seat.
"Of course you may." Narcissa laughed softly. Angel bounced out of her chair, paused to push her chair in and scurried off to wash up.
Alerick watched her with envy clear on his face now. He had not really been allowed to act like a child… and seeing adults who doted on the behavior of a child was a little confusing and disconcerting. He would have been beaten for sure if he had dared to act as that girl just had… He looked down and sighed softly, waiting to be properly dismissed from the table.
"Alerick, you will be coming with us." Severus ordered. The boy looked at him, then turned and looked at the elder blonde wizard. "Lord Father Malfoy…?" he said as if asking permission.
"You are excused, Alerick." Lucius said, nodding to the boy.
"And you should come with us as well, Lucius." Harry said softly.
Lucius raised an eyebrow at that, but rose nonetheless. "I think I shall…" he agreed. Alerick looked up at him and smiled, clearly relieved. He moved to fall in step behind the elder blonde wizard.
Severus led the group to the lab.
Lucius glanced at Severus, then Harry. He was beginning to worry; something had to be extremely wrong for these two to call him in as well. "What is the trouble, Severus…?" he asked, preferring to inquire of his friend, keeping his tone calm.
"There is something that I need you to look at. Both of you…" Harry said softly. "Alerick…? I need you to take your robe off your shoulders."
He looked up at Lucius. "Must I, Lord Father…?"
"If it is something that these two believe that I should see then yes, you must remove your robe, Alerick." Lucius said with a nod.
The boy nodded and obediently undid his robes, allowing them to slip off his shoulders to the floor.
The shock of seeing the Dark Mark, so clearly and perfectly inscribed upon the pale skin of the little boy hit Lucius like a physical blow. Even Snape, who had been expecting to see a mark, was shocked by seeing the actual thing upon the boy's shoulder. It was on the back of his right shoulder, and an inch tall. It was a perfect representation as both older men knew; they had copies of it permanently engraved up on their forearms that, with years of dormancy, had faded over the years but would never be gone. Both of them felt a tingle and warm sensation from their own Dark Marks; they knew at that moment that this was no joke, no sick attempt to try to make people fear. This Dark Mark borne by this boy of only four was definitely the real thing.
Lucius' eyes held a dark fury as he looked at Severus. "My son has seen this?"
"Yes." Harry said softly. "We put him to bed and sent for his healer…"
Alerick looked over his shoulder at them, confused. "What is wrong, Lord Father?" he asked, trying to see what was making them all so upset.
"Nothing for you to be concerned with, my boy. Just a simple birth mark." Lucius answered.
"I don't have any birthmark, Lord Father, I…Oh!" the boy's face lit with a smile and he held himself quite proudly. "You're talking about my Dark Mark."
"Yes, indeed. You are quite a clever child. What does this mark mean to you, Alerick?"
"It means that I belong to the Dark Prince." He answered. "It means that I am his to command."
"So the others will have this mark as well…?"
"One of the guardians doesn't." He said, shaking his head. "They didn't really want her but he was so strong they marked him and let her stay too."
"But how was it placed, if this Dark Prince is but a babe…? Who controls it…?"
His smile faltered at that memory. "There was a ceremony. I was very strong… it hurt but it didn't stop me, I was born to be the consort. My Dark Prince had to be tested too and he went through a ceremony but he was very strong and doesn't have to have a mark…"
"Alerick, how was it placed upon you?" Snape interrupted the boy.
He frowned at Snape. "I told you. The ceremony…"
"Who was the head of the ceremony?" Lucius asked.
His frown deepened. "I… I don't know his name, Lord Father Malfoy… I was not allowed in the room when they would talk. And Lord Father McNair called him lots of things that I'm not allowed to say when he wasn't around. When he was he called him… um… Parks…?"
"You may put your robes back on, Alerick." Lucius instructed, then called for a house elf. "Take the young lord to the nursery with the others."
"Yes, Master Malfoy."
"Lord Father Malfoy? Must I be with the babies?" Alerick asked softly as he obediently picked up the robes and slipped his arms into the sleeves.
"Angel is not a baby. She is your age; actually a bit older than you are. She will be a companion to you."
"She is different, I am no like her…" he said, looking down. "She is not trained, I…"
"Trained or not, Alerick; she is my granddaughter and your sister. I expect you to treat her with respect as is befitting a Malfoy."
"Of course, Lord Father." He said, bowing to him, continuing to fumble with the catches on the robes meant for someone much older than he. "I will treat her as I have been taught, I would do no less…" the house elf moved up to assist him and Alerick stepped back from the elf, giving it a distasteful look. He was the Consort; he should not be sullied by house elves. Last night was bad enough… he looked up at Lucius. "I can't… I'm sorry, Lord Father, its much more complicated than my own robes… help please…?"
Lucius knelt to fasten the robes with a quirked eyebrow and no smile. "You must allow the house elves to assist you; that is their job here, Alerick." He instructed.
Alerick looked ashamed, looking down. "Forgive me Lord Father…" he murmured.
"Forgiven. But you need to learn how to live in our home." He said, brushing Alerick's hair back and smoothing it in place. "Things will be all right now that you are home, my boy. It will just take some getting used to for you."
"I miss my things, Lord Father. And I miss my servant." He said softly.
"You had a servant?"
"Yes, Lord Father. He dressed me and bathed me and took care of all of my needs… I am unused to doing things for myself though I did try to learn."
"You will adjust, Alerick." Lucius assured. Perhaps he should look into hiring someone to tend to the children… just to assist, of course…
"Why can't we get my clothes, Lord Father…?" Alerick asked innocently, gazing at him.
"They were left at the house you came from but you need not worry of that. I will arrange for a tailor to come today and fit you for all new clothes."
"Really…?" he gazed up at him, his eyes and hint of a smile the only giveaway that he was truly excited. Lucius found this rather sad; this boy could not really express joy… he had so much to learn. And Angel could teach much of it to him, if he would allow her to.
"Only the best for a Malfoy." He answered, straightening. "Now go on, enjoy the day. Soon enough schooling will begin…"
"But… what do I do…?" he asked softly, gazing up at him again. "I'm supposed to study, and to recite and to work on wand movements…"
"Be a child." Lucius answered simply. "That is what you can do. Allow Angel to show you the joys of simply being young…"
Alerick frowned thoughtfully and then nodded as he took a deep breath. "I shall try, Lord Father." He said in a very serious tone.
"Come little Master…" the house elf said and led the boy out.
"That mark isn't just a joke, is it?" Harry asked softly.
"No. It's very real, Harry." Lucius answered in a soft growl, one hand moving to unconsciously rub at his still tingling mark.
"Can it be removed…?" Harry asked.
"Don't be a bloody fool Potter. You know the answer to that already." Lucius grumbled, giving the younger wizard a momentary glare. "If the damned things were removable without losing the entire arm, neither Severus nor I would still have them."
Harry sighed. "I know. But he's just a baby; he shouldn't have to bear such a thing…"
Severus, quiet until now and quite thoughtful instead of angry, spoke up finally. "You know, Lucius; we could use this to our advantage." He said quietly
Harry looked at Snape as if he were mad. "What are you talking about?"
"The Mark. It feeds both ways, Harry." Severus said, pacing to the window and pulling up his sleeve to look at the mark he had hated for so many hears. "The Dark Lord used these to call to us, that is true. But we could also use this mark to call to him."
"Call to him?" Harry was confused now. "What the bloody hell are you talking about? The Dark Lord is Dead!"
"The Dark Lord may be dead, Potter, but the Dark Prince has been born. He is the Master now."
"Dark Prince…?"
"There was more to Pansy's scheme than simply making money, it seems." Lucius explained. "There are five children who were not on her lists…"
"I'm not even sure that Miss Parkinson knew or cared of these children." Snape put in. "These children aren't like the others, according to Mrs. Weasley."
"What does she have to do with this? Damn it, I want to know what is going on!"
"They're trying to recreate the Dark Lord with their Dark Prince. And since the Dark Lord's main failing was he had no true support system, they are starting our little Princeling off with a support system bound to him magically. He has a consort, guardians, and an enchanter…"
"This is madness. These are children!"
"Child or not, Alerick is quite proud of the fact that he is destined to be the Dark Prince's consort." Severus retorted.
"Consort?" Harry looked to his father-in-law, stunned by this news. "But he's just… Lucius, you don't think they've trained him in…" he could not finish his sentence, the thought abhorrent to him.
"Sex magic?" Lucius finished for him. "No, Harry; I do not believe that the phase of his training involving that would have begun at least until he reached puberty." He reassured. "But there is definitely a bond related to the Mark. I am not certain if the bond itself can be removed from him without harming the boy, and I will not harm my grandson nor allow any harm to come to him…"
"This is madness! Why would anyone wish to recreate that psychopath? And make him stronger?"
"There are those who had power during the Dark Lord's reign who would give anything and do anything necessary to return themselves to positions of power. Surely you could think several who would enjoy a return of their status."
"One or two." Harry agreed quietly, subdued now. Draco's fears were quite justified, it seemed.
"This is precisely why we must retrieve the children." Severus said firmly. "Most dark rites will need to be performed when the children are older, near puberty. We must have them in our hands to prevent any such thing from occurring to them. We may be able to undo most of what has been done to them with time…"
"And it may be possible to use Alerick's mark to call to the Dark Prince, and follow that link to find the child."
"We might even be able to use our own." Lucius said softly, thinking now of how his had reacted.
Severus shook his head. "Although they reacted I do not think we are included in their circle or every past Death Eater would know where they exist."
"But the potential of controlling us lies there, if the child grows in power." Lucius said softly. "So the onus lies upon us to take advantage of their rash mistake and follow the bond. That will lead us to the little Prince, who then can show us the precise location of the other children." He finished with a smile.
"I want them stopped." Harry growled. "This has gone past the point of letting the ministry take them. I want them gone. I want them dead!"
"Agreed." Lucius said. "But for now, we must focus on the children. Those who are sheltering them and raising them to be monsters are, as far as I am concerned, dead men."
LATER…
"One at a time, one at a time!" Tonks snapped, and the room quieted. Before her in the room that had held the children the night before were at least three dozen adults demanding the return of their children.
A woman stepped forward, her face a mask of fury. "You have no right to steal our children away from us in the middle of the night!" she snapped. Her statement set the others off once more in an outraged roar of agreement.
"SILENCE!" Tonks snarled, using the sonorous charm to magnify her voice and drown the others out. It worked; she was rewarded by total silence from the parents. She allowed the charm to lapse and glared at them. "We will be interviewing you, one at a time… YES ONE AT A TIME!" she repeated loudly to head off the rumblings of protest once more. "And each case will be seen by the Wizengamot and considered BEFORE any child is returned!" She snapped.
"Why did you take them?!" the first woman demanded.
"All will be explained as you are interviewed! Now if you will kindly assemble yourselves into a queue, you will be seen as soon as we can get to you."
There was much protesting and complaining, but the witches and wizards did form sort of a queue… and some seemed to simply fade out of view. There were only twenty-five or so in the room now.
Tonks glanced at the fellow he was working with; a rather nondescript wizard she had been told worked in the Department of Mysteries. She didn't remember ever seeing him before… but she knew she could depend on what Shacklebolt told her, and he had stated this fellow was powerful, quick, and quite skilled. Not to mention highly trustworthy.
Nymphadora rose and escorted the first parent into first room. All three of the little connecting office rooms had been adapted according to her specifications as a simple interviewing room with two witnesses present. She escorted the woman to a seat and gestured for her to have a seat, then closed the door behind her as she slipped out of the small room.
The witch was in her forties and looked very nervous as well as angry as she moved to the seat hesitantly. "What is this…? Why am I being treated like a criminal? I just want my child returned…!"
"Your child; perhaps. But not your husband's child." The first interviewer said, pouring half a teaspoon of veritaserum into a cup of tea. He was narrow-eyed with an olive complexion and was glaring at the woman. "We will be administering you a strong dose of veritaserum; do you consent to this?"
"What do you mean not our child…? Of course she's our child! And why would I have to consent to Veritaserum?" she asked, looking frightened.
The second witness in the room was a witch, round and sweet-faced with friendly eyes. Her blonde hair was bound in a bun at the nape of her neck but it did little to control the wild little curls that surrounded her face. "We only want to ensure the safety and well-being of the children, Mrs. Harper."
She hesitated, glancing at the man then gazing at the woman for a long moment. The blonde witch smiled and nodded encouragingly and the mother reached for the glass. "I would never do anything to harm my little Trillby…" she said,
"Drink it all. We are bound to ask you questions only about the children, and a particular clinic." The wizard growled.
She paused a moment more, then drank the potion. The two watched, and waited for it to take effect. Two minutes later they began the questioning her directly about what she knew of the purchased sample at the clinic and the treatment she had given the child who had resulted from that insemination.
"She thought the samples were voluntary." The man said, looking particularly sour at the thought of not having caught one of the ones they wished to stop. "And her testimony and memories tested through Legilimens show no mistreatment whatsoever of her child. She is not who we want."
The sweet-faced woman rose to her feet and dosed the woman with the antidote which was also laced heavily with sleeping potion. She opened a door to the other side of the room that had been hidden behind a panel and levitated the body, taking the woman out.
Tonks glanced at the door and gestured the next one forward to be interviewed.
"We will be administering you a strong dose of veritaserum; do you consent to this?"
"You have no right to insist that I do any such thing. Do whatever testing you wish; my child is my child!" the young woman in her early twenties stated, eyes narrow, arms folded. "You have no right to take my child from me!"
"On the contrary, we have every right to take back stolen goods." The witch countered, eyes narrowed. She got to play the 'bad cop' this time.
"Stolen..?! I have stolen nothing!"
"No, but Miss Parkinson did! Just because you paid her for the goods does not make it your property; it was taken without consent!"
"What?!"
"Pansy Parkinson is a wanted criminal and you purchased stolen goods from her!" She snapped.
"I'm not culpable for what she did! I will go to the Minister of Magic himself! I want my child returned!" she countered.
The blonde witch smirked at her. "The Minister of Magic has approved our whole operation… a refusal of veritaserum testimony from you means you will NOT have possession of any child taken in last night's raid returned to you! The true father of the child will have taken possession and following the rules of custody for wizarding families, they will keep custody of your child unless you comply with the testimony requirements!"
"My father is going to have your heads on a platter for doing this!" she growled, glaring at them.
"Threaten all you like, Miss Urqhart; it hasn't a chance in hell of changing your current situation." The blonde witch answered acidly. "Either drink the veritaserum or leave." The dark-haired witch glared at her, challenging her to make her do it. "No? Then get out; we have plenty of other parents who wish to regain their children."
"This isn't right! You can't do this!"
"It's being done. Leave, or take the serum." She ordered coldly.
The woman took the cup, glaring at them, then drank it down in one shot. Her eyes closed as the effect swept over her.
"You purchased sperm from Pansy Parkinson…?"
"No. I did not." She said with a sneer.
"You knew the sperm was being purchased?"
"Of course I did. All the sperm in that establishment is for sale; its what they do…!"
"Did you know the sperm you purchased was Draco Malfoy's?"
"I chose him specifically, yes." She answered easily.
"And were you aware that the sperm was attained without his consent or knowledge?"
The woman fought to keep her lips shut, paling slightly as the effects of the veritaserum forced the truth out. "Y…yes…" she stuttered, face twisted with the effort to try to prevent that truth from escaping. She pressed on, trying to cover herself with some truth that lay in her favor. "But I had no hand in its taking! You can't hold me or an innocent child responsible for what someone else did!"
"Why did you specifically choose Draco Malfoy?"
Again she tried to stifle the truth and keep it from escaping. "P… power…" the word dragged itself out of her gritted teeth.
"And the child… I understand you have a girl…?"
"Yes." She hissed, still trying to resist but the triple dose of veritaserum drug every answer out they required.
"How are you raising this child? Is she getting proper education or is she being groomed for something…?"
"She… she has a right to her inheritance as a Malfoy! She is being trained in the Malfoy manner and will someday take her place…"
"And this training? What does it involve…?"
Before long the woman was silenced, and being taken away out of the room under the effects of a Petrificus Totalus spell.
The blonde witch looked perfectly disgusted. "Who would use the Cruicatus on a child to 'toughen' them…?" she murmured.
"Several of the old wizarding families, believe it or not." Her partner responded in a quiet tone. This is not the first time I have heard of such a thing…"
"Madness. Simple madness…"
Tonks watched the line in the room slowly dwindle; she knew they were being taken out the back doors of the rooms as their interviews were completed. Tiny scraps of paper flitted to her from the rooms as each of the interviews was completed; this child would be returned, and that child would not. She had to present her evidence before an emergency assembly of the Wizengamot before she would approach the heads of the families involved and let them know what the decision of the council had been.
She watched three more of the waiting adults slip out of the room by the entrance door without being interviewed; she smiled faintly to herself. None of them were going to get out of the Ministry of Magic without some sort of an interview, whether they liked it or not. Aurors were waiting by the lifts and would escort them to where they would await their interviews in front of the Wizengamot this afternoon. She reached for her drink, fighting off a wave of weariness. She hadn't slept at all and it was starting to catch up with her. Dora rubbed her eyes wearily.
"You should go and get some rest before this afternoon." Kingsley Shacklebolt said, moving up behind her.
She looked up at him, then realized she was going to have a VERY long day still ahead of her. "Will you take over for me here…?"
"You didn't even have to ask." He said, limping forward to take her chair. He was more than up to the task of handling the few waiting for their own interviews. Dora left him to the task, moving out briskly with the information gleaned so far in her hand. Out of the children that had been Draco's sperm had been used to create, all but one would be returned to their parents. From those that were Harry's children, one so far would be returned. Most of the other children, except three of the Weasley and one of Professor Lefevre's would be returned to their mothers.
Pansy walked into the hotel, glancing about. She had never been here but she knew that it was where her father had told her to come were there to be any emergencies. She turned once inside and headed to her left to the restaurant. She walked right on by the other patrons and the restaurant staff, ignoring them as if they weren't there.
Her father sat where he had said he would be, in a private room in the back. He was scowling when she came in and shut the door behind her. He had his wand out, and spat a silencing charm, locking charm, and a confundus charm toward the door in case she had been followed.
"Ugh; what are you wearing…?" she asked, wrinkling her nose as she looked at his khaki pants and simple shirt. "You look like a muggle…!"
"I don't plan on being hunted down…!" he scowled at her. "I'm dressed this way because of you!"
"Because of me?" she moved to take a seat, her gown swishing about her feet. "You're being ridiculous."
"Am I? You had to go and attack not only Harry Potter, but Blaise Zabini and the Weasley boys as well! Don't you pay any attention? Potter and Zabini are INVESTIGATORS, Pansy!"
She looked distinctly disinterested. "Why should I care?"
"You nearly killed Blaise!"
She rolled her eyes and sighed. "Am I supposed to feel guilty or something? Why? My entire future was snatched away from me and you didn't do anything about it! I was supposed to be Mrs. Draco Malfoy, remember…?"
"Merlin, you're still on about that? It was out of my hands; Malfoy isn't exactly interested in women!"
"I didn't care then, father, and I don't give a damn about his preferences now." She said, scowling at him. "He could have been just like his precious father, with lovers on the side to keep him happy. I would have been quite satisfied with a marriage of convenience!"
"Well it will never come to pass now; you need to leave the past behind you!"
"I think I will father. You're the one who's stuck in the past, not me." She said with a sneer.
"My project is important! It will save the wizarding world!" He snarled at her angrily.
"I don't give a damn what your project is. But I want you to know that I'm not financing it anymore. Nor will I work one second more with that little leech, Bebel. He's thoroughly disgusting and I can't stand how he looks at me. He's not even pureblood and he's a squib to boot!"
"We have to use who we have to, in order to achieve what we need! I told you that…"
"Over and over and over, yes, I know but I don't have to listen to you anymore…!" She said, rising. "You look like you're going to go hide in the muggle world… I won't be joining you."
"Oh, yes you will! You're my daughter, and…"
"And I'm of age! I don't care if you never had a son; I don't have to take over any 'family' business!"
"You could have at least provided me with an heir…!"
Pansy's eyes turned hard and she looked hurt and angry. "That wasn't my fault! I tried, you know I did!"
"Your child does not have to be Malfoy's!"
"As if that was any of your business…" she scoffed.
"Of course it was my business! I don't want Lucius Malfoy having the right to take away my only heir!" He growled at her.
"He never would have known…!" she snapped. "I hate that I lost the babies!" she said, too angry to even think of crying. "The second one was a boy, too…!"
"It would never have mattered. If Lucius even suspected he could claim family rights you would have lost them anyway!"
"I'd have left the country! He would never have found them…"
"You would have done whatever I told you." He retorted. "You know your place is by my side, Pansy…"
"Oh, no; I'm finished with you and your mad schemes…"
"What…?"
"You heard me!" She said, rising. "I'm done with you. I won't have any more of your commanding me about and spending my money for any more of your schemes…"
"You don't have any idea what you're throwing away!"
"I don't CARE, father!" She said, turning her back on him to leave.
"Petrificus Totalus!" he snarled and she froze, body and clothing seeming to be sheathed in ice as her body went rigid and she fell to the floor. "You aren't going anywhere, my daughter. You are my property and I will never allow you to leave me, Pansy my dear." She stared at him, unable to move or speak. "You will forget all about any sort of dreams of having a child with Draco. As you eliminated his child with Harry, so I eliminated your children with Draco." He told her, taking a sadistic delight in the shock and disbelief in her eyes. "It was idiocy to waste his sperm on such an attempt. You will have a baby to give me an heir, but that heir will be with someone of my choosing. Now; we have to get into hiding immediately…!" he said, pointing his wand at her again. "Only one way to ensure you cooperate… sorry about this, my love…" he smiled sweetly at her and said in a firm voice "IMPERIO!"