Fallen & Risen 28. Let's Start From the Beginning Again Together
Previously…
Heley remembered a lesson Dumbledore had taught to Harry.
'Most of the time, you find a diamond underneath many thick layers of dirt. That's why you must learn to see beyond what your eyes can see. A sinful man can hide behind the face of a holy man, as well as a virtuous man can be found underneath the mask of a criminal.'
Harry had always been puzzled by why Lucius Malfoy wouldn't do anything to safe himself from Azkaban when he could, but now, Heley understood. For his son, Lucius Malfoy was prepared to do everything, even give up his own life. Heley perfectly remembered the sincerity in Lucius Malfoy's voice and eyes after the short conversation he had with Harry. He had been truly grateful that Harry kill his Lord.
'Draco is so lucky to still have a father like Lucius,' Heley thought. She also understood that Draco would be devastated if he lost his loving father now, at this point of his life. 'But after everything Lucius Malfoy did to me…'
After the episode at the Department of Mysteries, Lucius's attempts to harm Harry had increased drastically in number and in life-threatening potential.
'Yet, you cannot blame him. His son's life was endangered and he knew it. All Lucius Malfoy did was solely to protect his son's life,' Heley's inner voice said.
"Please Heley, help me," Draco implored. Heley bite her lips, torn between Draco's plea and her own memory.
'And remember Heley, at the Winzengamot, Lucius was truly repentant to his faults. You admitted it yourself just a moment ago. Harry forgave him. How can you not?' the inner voice asked.
"Please Heley…" Draco supplicated. Heley closed her eyes, making Draco lost his hope.
'Professor Dumbledore didn't want to have Draco kill him, in order to spare Draco's soul. If you don't help him for his father, Draco's soul would partially be broken, thus making Professor Dumbledore's effort vain. Can you really do it and not feeling remorse later?' the inner voice asked again.
Heley bite her lips again. She knew her answer - she knew the answer.
'I cannot…' Heley responded to the voice.
'Then you know what how answer to Draco,' the voice finished their conversation.
"Heley…" Draco whispered her name, on the verge of desperation. Heley opened her eyes to met with Draco's anxious one. "Heley…?" Draco hesitated.
Heley took a breath, then succumbed.
"I accept…" she trailed. A light of hope lit in Draco's eyes. "I accept to help you."
Draco's features illuminated in a smile, the same smile Lucius Malfoy gave to Harry Potter.
'Both father and son had the same kind of expression when they smile,' Heley noted.
"Thank you," Draco whispered.
Draco took Heley's hands in his and pressed them. He looked in her eyes.
"Heley, I'm not my cousin Sirius. And certainly, I cannot do anything like he did for you. It's a shame to say that despite being relatives, I don't know anything about cousin Sirius, except that he was an eccentric Black - for being sorted into Gryffindor," Draco said.
"When I was informed that I might become the new Lord Black, as well as your new guardian, I decided to fully take on the responsibilities of my new role. I will do everything in my power to give you everything you need and desire so you won't ever regret having me as your warden. This is not only a new start for you, but it is for me as well. I would very much appreciate it if we started from the beginning again, together, so our new ward-to-warden relation will be on a good base. Do you accept?"
Heley didn't answer. She only glared at him (hardly). Then, she chewed her lips, brainstorming about his proposition – waging the good and bad sides of it. Then, she groaned to show her frustration because the balance of the good side won over the bad side. The bad side was consisted of solely her pride and prejudice, which weren't winning points at all. And finally, she mumbled some baffling, grumbling words between her teeth for answer.
"Mnn grum schrump blmblm…"
A little smile twitched Draco's lips corner. He didn't know how he did it, but he could read everything she was thinking in her head from the moment she'd stopped talking and her (incomprehensible) answer. At least somehow, she accepted his proposition to start from the beginning with him, even if she hadn't openly admitted it. So Gryffindor of her!
Draco released her hands and took one step back from her. Puzzled by his actions, Heley frowned, wondering what he was doing. Draco only smiled. He readjusted his somehow crooked tie and straightened his jacket. When he judged himself pristine again, he raised his hand towards her.
"I am Draco Malfoy, Lord Draco Lucius Malfoy-Black, and your warden. Pleased to meet you, Miss Heley Potter," Draco said. Heley didn't respond first. Draco patiently waited for her.
Finally, Heley raised her hand and put it in Draco's. "My name is Heley Potter. I am also pleased to meet you, Lord Draco Malfoy-Black," Heley said. Draco smiled and shook her hand.
"But that still doesn't change you from being a Malfunctioning frolic…" Heley mumbled, unaware that Draco had heard her.
"Eh?" Draco blinked.
Heley clasped her mouth with her hand. "Oh!"
But it was too late. Draco had already heard bite his lips to restrain himself.
"Pfffft-…!" But inevitably, he gave up because the temptation was too strong. "Hahahahaha!" His warm rilling laugh echoed in the room. Heley blushed, feeling some (nice) shivers running up her spine at the rich and deep sound of his laugh.
Heley turned red from head to toe. What brought her to blurt that out? He wasn't supposed to know what names she had for him. And she felt even more mortified that he was amused and not angry at her.
"W-would you stop laughing please. It's not funny," Heley said.
"Hmn! Hmn! Hmn! Sorry, sorry," Draco muffled, miserably failing to stiff his laugh. "Hahahahaha!" Heley was now crimson.
Eventually, Draco's laugh subdued, much to Heley's relieve. When he finally took control over himself, Draco spoke.
"Let's go back to my Mother and Mr. Wingston, shall we?" he asked. Heley reluctantly nodded. "But first," Draco pulled out his silk handkerchief from his breast pocket, "let me clean your face."
Gently, he dabbed at the trace of tears on her face, and Heley was too tense from the softness of his gesture to protest. She sniffed, making Draco thinking that he was comforting a five-year-old little girl who just went through a bit sadness.
'Oddly, I feel like being a big brother or an uncle when I do this, which is very close to being her warden,' Draco thought, smiling fondly.
"There. Let's go now," he said as he finished cleaning her face. Putting the damp handkerchief back in his pocket, he took her hand and led her back in the next room where his mother and Mr. Wingston were waiting. Mrs. Malfoy and Mr. Wingston turned towards the door as Draco stepped in with a puffy-faced Heley behind him. They heard her outburst and crying through the door. Seeing the slight worry on their face, Draco spoke.
"It's alright now, Mother, Mr. Wingston," Draco reassured them.
"Are you really, Miss Potter?" Lady Malfoy asked, slighty worried.
Heley chewed her lips, but nodded nonetheless. The two adults sighed out of relief.
"You can continue what you were talking before. I know that you have little time, and I don't want to make you wait any longer," Heley said to Mr. Wingston. Mr. Wingston smiled to her, appreciating the young girl's delicacy.
"Then I shall proceed," he said.
Over the next hour, Mr. Wingston explained to Heley everything she must know relating to her new status of Lord Black's ward. Heley carefully paid attention, so she wouldn't waste time asking for it to be explained again. Now that she had accepted her new role (finally), the meeting went smoothly for everyone. Soon, Mr. Wingston finished what he had to do. He gave to Draco a file he had prepared beforehand and closed his briefcase. Before leaving, Mr. Wingston spoke to Heley.
"Miss Potter, it was a real pleasure to meet you," Mr. Wingston said. "I knew your grandfather from when we went to school together. Though you didn't know him, I can tell you that he was kind and highly respected by his peers. And I am sure that, right now, he's up there puffing out his chest in pride from having such a wonderful granddaughter."
Heley gasped at Mr. Wingston's word, then her face lit and her lips stretched ear to ear into a shining smile. It was her first real and genuine smile of the night.
"Thank you, Mr. Wingston," Heley smiled. Mr. Wingston returned her smile.
Mr. Wingston gave them his New Year's best wishes and left after a last greeting.
Once Mr. Wingston left, lady Malfoy turned to Heley and smiled. "Miss Potter, there is still something else I wish to discuss with you now, if it's ok by you?" Lady Malfoy said.
"Er, yes, lady Malfoy," Heley responded.
"Thank you. Please, take a seat."
Heley sat on the sofa facing the Malfoy châtelaine, while Draco chose to stand beside them.
"Miss Potter, with this new turn of events, you are now a part of our family," lady Malfoy said. "Through Sirius, as well as through Draco, I am now your aunt. From now, you will call me Aunt Narcissa. I shall call you Heley as well."
Heley's eyes popped out. For a few seconds, she lost the ability to speak. Her guardian angel residing inside her forced her to recover by kicking her – hard. Heley recovered her ability to talk and spoke the word her not-so-angelic guardian angel had put in her mouth.
"Er, yes… A-Aunt Narcissa…" Heley stuttered.
Lady Malfoy smiled and nodded approvingly. Heley blushed, embarrassed by the sudden familiarity. Lady Malfoy's demeanor, even though kind and sweet, was so grand and compelled deference, so Heley couldn't stop herself from obeying to the châtelaine. The mistress of the Malfoy estate commanded respect in every way. At the same time, Heley felt happy.
'You are now a part of our family,' lady Malfoy's words echoed in Heley's heart. How many years had she longed to hear those words? Probably all her life. And though they came from Narcissa Malfoy, a person she never expected, Heley was happy.
'Happy even being family with the Malfocus-Frog?' Heley's inner voice asked.
'. . .' Heley hesitated. 'Well, lady-… Aunt Narcissa is not a frog, even if her son is a Malodorant one…' Heley argued.
'Seriously, you should stop calling him names since he is your warden now.'
'No. I have too much fun calling him names to stop now. Besides, I have to make up all the years he called me names!'
'Heley, don't you remember anything that Professor Dumbledore taught you about revenge?'
'This is not such a bad one! Besides, you heard him! He wasn't mad when I spat out one of his names!' Pause. Thinking again. Argh! 'Bloody hell! I have to come up with something that'll make him angry!'
'Ha . . .' the voice sighed. 'You're so stubborn and childish! When will you finally grow up?'
'Grrrr! Oh shut it! You're no fun!' Heley ignored the voice for the rest of the night, resentful of its last comment.
"Mitzy," lady Malfoy called. Pop! A house-elf popped in, next to her.
"Yes, Milady," Mitzy said. "How may I help you?"
"Please, bring me the Black jewelery case," she said.
"Yes, Milady." The house-elf popped away, then returned with the requested item in hand.
"Here it is, Milady," Mitzy said, putting the case on the table.
"Thank you. You can leave now," lady Malfoy said.
"Yes, Mistress," Mitsy said and popped away.
"Heley," lady Malfoy called.
"Er, yes Aunt-…"
"Heley," lady Malfoy said, cutting her off, "a lady must never stutter nor show any elocution problem. From now on, speak when you are ready to speak and don't speak if you haven't finished thinking of what you want to say."
Heley bite her lip, red in the face from being reprimanded like a preschooler.
"…Yes, Aunt Narcissa." Lady Malfoy nodded approvingly.
"Now, open the case," lady Malfoy said.
Heley did as she was told – inside the precious wood box, on a green velvet cushion, laid a emerald and diamond necklace. The necklace was made with a strand of diamonds consisting of small but long, oval shaped diamonds arranged in a star-flower form. Nine vivid, drop shaped emeralds surrounded with small diamonds hanged from the diamond strand. A drop shaped diamond separated each of the nine emeralds. The emerald stones were of various sizes. Similar sizes were arranged in symmetrical position on the brand, while the large emerald laid alone in the heart of the necklace. The frame was made in platinum. (A/N: See the link below for the picture.)
"This necklace has belonged to the Black family for decades. The emeralds were a gift from Salazar Slytherin himself to our great grandfather Orion Draconis Black for years of loyal services. One of the gemstones was used to make the ring of the head of the Black, which Draco is wearing, while the remaining were set in this necklace," lady Malfoy explained. "Every woman in the Black family must wear this necklace at least once in her life, regardless of whether they were born in the family or if they married into the family. When a woman wears this jewelry, everyone knows that she is a member of the Black family. Heley, I want you wear it tonight, so everyone knows of your place in our family." Heley gasped, ready to protest, but lady Malfoy continued to speak. "Stand up, Heley."
Immediately, Heley's legs sprang to obey to lady Malfoy's command before Heley's head could register anything. Once again, Heley thought about how Narcissa Malfoy was a very intimidating person, who you didn't want to cross. The châtelaine was even more intimidating than Minerva McGonagall or Augusta Longbottom, Neville's grandmother.
"Draco, as her warden, you shall put the necklace on Heley," lady Malfoy said. Both the young people looked quizzically to her, but they didn't say anything against it. Draco turned to Heley.
"Heley, may I?" he asked her permission.
Heley chewed her lips, but nodded nonetheless (because the Malfoy mistress was watching). Draco moved behind her and, after a "My apologizes", he pulled off the ribbon adorning Heley's neck. Blood furiously rushed up Heley's head, making her burning red. She just had the impression that she was being unclothed by her old-enemy-but-now-warden. Draco pocketed the green ribbon and took the necklace from the case. He slid the necklace around Heley's neck with slow gestures so the girl wouldn't feel afraid. Draco could tell that Heley was extremely tense, and his mother watching them wasn't helping the girl either. Heley shuddered when Draco's fingers touched the sensitive skin of the back of her neck. Meanwhile, Draco was also having a hard time. Even after locking the clasp of the necklace, he had to fight with himself and not let his desire to touch her skin again take control of his hands. He took a deep breath and the fresh air cleared his clouded brain. For the great effort he accomplished, Draco was rewarded with Heley's lily, flowery scent shampoo soothing his mind.
With the necklace rested on Heley's throat, lady Malfoy critically examined the girl's whole appearance. Satisfied, she smiled.
"You look gorgeous, Heley. Your grandmother Dorea, who was a Black lady, would be proud of you if she could see you now," lady Malfoy said. "You carry beautifully the glory of the Black women." Lady Malfoy made three steps towards Heley and closed her arms around the girl. "Welcome to the family, Heley," Narcissa said, kissing Heley on the forehead motherly. Heley blushed but felt herself smiling. She felt… welcomed.
"Now, we should join the guests," lady Malfoy said.
Heley nodded and followed lady Malfoy downstairs, with Draco by her side.
A/N: Link to the emerald necklace. Remove all the spaces.
www . jewelry4millionaires 00450-00499 / 00474b%20NK%20Emerald%20Diamond%20Necklace / IMG_4467 . jpg
Update on Saturday September 25, 2010. Beta'd by (the awesome) Elusivetruth.