AN: Sorry for the long delay, but RL tends to change one's priorities occasionally. I hope to update more regularly in the future.
April 2006
Ch15: Malfoy Manor
"Will you join us at Easter?" asked Lillian.
"I don't think so. Mom wants me to visit Malfoy manor and become closer with Draco and his wife. She has divorced my father, but not my brother, you know. Maybe you could visit us there?"
"I'm not sure your brother would really like a Potter to visit there, and even if he does, I know Mom and Dad have some very bad memories concerning that place."
"I didn't know they ever visited the Manor."
"Not really visited. It was during the war. They were captured, I don't really know how, and were brought there. Dad and Uncle Ron were put in the dungeons while Mom had been tortured by your Aunt Bellatrix. Eventually they managed to escape, but it took Mom quite a while to recover."
"I'm sorry. I didn't know. I've never read about it in any of the books about the war."
"That's OK. My parents hadn't told quite everything about what had happened to them during the war. It looks like there are some things they would rather not talk about – they probably hurt too much even now."
They could still stay together on the train to London, but once there, Lillian just apparated home while Dianna and her mother Floo'ed to Malfoy Manor.
Dianna floo-called Lillian that same evening. "It's really magnificent here. Everything is shining in gold with green tapestries and drapes. All rooms are huge! Yet I like it better at your home, or even at Potter Manor. It is just as elegant but much friendlier."
"It's nice to hear that," replied Lilly.
"I asked my brother to invite you here. He wasn't very glad about it but said you may come and he promised to act nicely. I think his wife, Astoria, is quite eager to meet you and maybe your parents as well. Will you come?"
"I'll ask my parents. They have accepted you and your Mom and made you family, but it doesn't mean that they like your brother."
"I'm not sure he even likes himself, yet he can be very well-behaved if he wants to. Please talk with them and let me know."
Hermione was still at work at the hospital, so Lilly couldn't yet ask her, but agreed to ask as soon as possible.
She didn't really have a chance. A few minutes after Hermione returned home, the floo flared again. Mrs. Astoria Malfoy asked to talk privately with Lady Potter. The conversation took almost half an hour. When Hermione joined the rest of her family she looked quite confused.
"What is it, darling? She didn't insult you, I hope," Harry asked concernedly.
"Oh, she didn't insult me at all. She was as polite and even as warm as you could expect. It's just... She surprised me."
Hermione sat down, still deep in thought. Harry brought her a cup of tea, knowing she would tell him everything in her own way. She just smiled at him thankfully. It took her some more time to start talking again.
"Astoria called in order to formally invite us all on a visit to Malfoy Manor. Draco has already told her of our experience there during the war. He wasn't proud about it or about whatever he had done during that time. Astoria told me that he is slowly getting out of his father's shadow and starts thinking on his own, realizing how awful his behavior had been, though he still has a long way to go."
Harry raised a brow, but said nothing,
"Astoria also wanted to emphasize that neither she, nor her sister, ever took part in Draco's activities during our school years. Their parents opposed the dark lord and tried to secretly help his opponents without attracting his attention. They left for south America soon after the war, as they felt that their actions were not appreciated and many still considered them a dark family, despite their documented deeds."
"I didn't know about them. I've not found any documents concerning them – neither good nor bad," commented Harry.
Lilly thought it was a good time to ask. "Dianna wants me to come and visit her there. Do you think I should go?"
Both her parents looked at her. "Do you want to go?" Hermione asked her tenderly.
"Dianna is my best friend, and now she is my sister as well. She believes there is no danger in going there, so yes – I want to go."
"Fine. I'll talk with Astoria and make sure she is ready before you go there, and we shall join you for the festive meal the next day."
Dianna was waiting at the Floo when Lilly arrived. After hugging her and then straightening her clothes Dianna took Lilly to the study, where Astoria was taking care of some business.
"Astoria, this is my friend and my step-sister Lilly Potter!" Dianna introduced them.
Astoria stood up and walked towards the girls. She grabbed Lillian's hand and welcomed her. "Dianna wanted so much to have you here that I was also looking forward to meeting you."
Lilly smiled, somewhat nervously. "I'm glad to meet you, Lady Malfoy."
"Oh, just call me Astoria or ever Stori, except on formal occasions. We are practically family now and I feel that first-name relations are the best."
Lillian smiled, no longer as nervous. "Then you should call me Lilly, I believe."
Astoria smiled at her. "Of course, Lilly. Has Dianna shown you around?"
Both girls shook their heads. "Well, you should take a tour of the manor and its gardens. They were practically destroyed during the war and we are very proud of having restored them to their previous glory."
She then added in an afterthought: "My husband will only be home for dinner. I believe he will behave nicely. His sister has already taught him a few lessons..." It was clear what kind of lessons these were.
They spent most of the day just touring the manor and the gardens. Lilly understood why the Malfoys were so proud of the garden. It was more magnificent than any garden she had seen before. She didn't like the manor that much, though. While extremely elegant and decorated in the best taste with no unnecessary extravagance, it was too formal even in the living quarters. It lacked the warmth she has always associated with "home" wherever it might be. She missed that feeling which made her feel at home at Potter Manor, Granger house, Potter house at Godric Hollow and even at Hogwarts. Malfoy Manor felt cold even where the temperatures were high.
They were already sitting at the dinner table when Draco arrived. He looked at Lilly and seemed to wince slightly, yet his welcome was polite and even a bit warm. "When looking at you I'm reminded immediately of your parents. We've had our share of conflicts, yet they saved my life." He seemed to want to say more but he stayed silent.
"Thank you. Mr. Malfoy," Lilly responded.
"I believe you should call me Draco while here and I'll call you Lilly. I like it better than 'Potter'."
The girls only smiled.
Draco paid no more attention to the girls, which was perfectly OK with Lilly. She spent the evening getting to know Astoria and chatting with Dianna and Narcissa as well.
She didn't see Draco the next morning either. He was busy at the study most of the day while Astoria was making sure that dinner would be a memorable event. She seemed to be very excited of having the Potters as guests and was doing her best to make their visit successful.
The Potters arrived using the Floo just on time. Harry, Hermione, James and Rose were all dressed in elegant robes. After being welcomed by their hosts they all went to the dining room, where Narcissa, Dianna and Lilly were already waiting.
"I hoped you'd bring Teddy as well," commented Narcissa.
"His grandmother wanted him with her for dinner," explained Hermione.
"We should have probably invited her as well," said Astoria pensively, "but we wanted to first get to know you better before expanding the group."
There was little talk during dinner, as the food deserved undivided attention. Harry and Hermione praised the food wholeheartedly and Hermione insisted on going to the kitchen and thanking the cooks personally. Astoria, wearing a bemused expression, escorted her while Narcissa showed Harry and the children to the living room.
Harry looked around, as if searching for something that wasn't there. "We've changed this room completely," Draco told him. "It held some very bad memories for Mom and for me. I'm sure that you and your wife don't have fond memories of this room either, so the change is welcome for you as well."
Harry only nodded. He could still hear in his mind Hermione's cries of pain in that same room, yet it looked completely different. It now resembled a muggle living room, with a large TV set and a stereo system on one wall and a personal computer on a dedicated table at the corner. He couldn't find the stairs leading to the dungeons. Draco noted his searching gaze.
"We made the whole cellar into wine and food storage area, directly connected to the kitchen. We had to demolish and rebuild parts the north wing, where too much dark magic has been absorbed by the walls. It is not yet finished, though..." he said.
Harry could finally relax. He knew that Hermione would not feel threatened in that room. He could finally try to talk with Draco as members of the same family.
"How come you installed such muggle technology in the manor?" he asked, pointing at the TV and the computer.
"It is really due to Astoria," replied Draco. "She traveled with her parents when they decided to leave England and she became acquainted with muggle technology. We spent quite a lot of effort before we managed to make these work in the manor, yet we can now enjoy television, radio and even internet. Yet I had to hire an office in a muggle environment in order to fully enjoy the benefits these technologies can give to my businesses."
"What are your businesses, actually? I hope I don't bump into some secrets, though."
"It's no secret at all. We've always used to breed peacocks. While the market is not big, there are very few competitors and Malfoy peacocks are the most beautiful you can find. Using magic, we can even supply peacocks with any tail pattern one likes, which is a big advantage with some rich customers.
"There are also some commercial firms in which we have considerable shares, some even in common with Potter, yet these demand very little of my attention.
"My newest venture was actually inspired by the garden. When we had to restore it, I started learning all that I could about the different plants and flowers needed to make a garden look its best throughout the year. I'm now using the knowledge and the experience I gained from this to design gardens for my clients. This seems to become my most lucrative venture."
While Draco and Harry were discussing the merits of different businesses, Rose was escorted by Scorpius – the only Malfoy child, who was somewhat close to her age – into the playroom adjacent to the living room. It had taken the shy boy almost the whole dinner to start talking with his guest, but now he was already very happy to show her around. James followed, partly to keep an eye on the younger children and partly of boredom.
Astoria and Hermione needed a long time to join the rest of the family. They had started a conversation with the house-elves at the kitchen, which eventually became a very interesting study of their origins, their history and their beliefs. Both women were enchanted by what they learned. Hermione was so preoccupied that she didn't even think of the room she was sitting in before they finished the visit.
A few hours later, when the Potters were heading to the Floo, Hermione invited the Malfoys for dinner in three weeks. Astoria was glad to accept and even Draco was no longer reluctant about it.
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