I own only unrecognize characters, the rest belong to J.K. Rowling.
Author: Appearantly, it ate some my words so there are missing words.
Chapter 2: Malfoy manor
Author: Milkycat147
"He was just worried. He loves you Mariann." A voice from a wall spoke to her. It was a huge portrait of her grandmother, Addiena Dechaprode.
Addiena was a beautiful woman, she died when Marianna was 2 years old.
"I know, grandmother. I wasn't blame him, I just feel bad that I'm not good enough." Marianna stopped thinking about you-know-who and came near the portrait.
There was a room full of the Dachaprode's portraits, but she was almost forbidden to go there, only several portraits of Addiena was placed in the villa, as her grandmother liked to walk around.
"You are still young." Addiena didn't object. She said with an understanding expression, "Why don't you open the box and see what your grandfather gave you?"
Marianna stopped, she knew what it was, probably a wand. She slowly opened the box, tried not to compare it to the pine wand earlier. There was a black wand with a silvery decorated. She could see her family symbol and her name, a designed 'D' with a small 'M'.
"C'mon, try it dear. Acacia wood, Siren feather. Just perfect."
Marianna gave it a wave. Nothing happened. It wasn't gave her the same feeling. The wand was something more powerful, trickier, it refused to do magic.
Marianna lowered her eyes, she squeezed the wand.
Addiena seemed to be disappointed, she drawn a small smile, "Practice more, Mariann. Now, I'll go to comfort your poor grandfather. He wasn't seemed to be in the right mood."
Marianna bit her lips, she took a deep breath, she grabbed the box and wand, walked to fireplace.
"Incendio!" She pointed at the fireplace, nothing happened.
Marianna calmed herself down, she tried hundreds of times until a female house-elf approached, "Young master, the dinner is ready."
"Does grandfather come out to eat?"
"Master wasn't answered Ona's call. He stayed in his room…It must be Ona's faults…" The female house-elf suddenly cried.
"Enough. It was not your fault." Marianna commanded, she was tired, she neither raised her voice nor comfort the house-elf. Those creatures were always blaming themselves and young house-elves never stopped crying." Prepare the food in dining room. I'll eat later."
"Thank you for forgive me young master. Ona'll do her best to please young master." The female house-elf sobbed.
"Just go, Ona." Marianna sighed. She looked at the fireplace. She did it. It wasn't stable, but she did it. The flame was right there, burning the woods.
Marianna smiled a little, she knocked her grandfather's room. He wasn't opened the door, Addiena said he wanted to be alone.
Marianna ate her dinner alone, as usual and walked back her room.
Draco sent her a letter with his father's owl.
[Dear Gem,
After we parted today, I asked my father if we can fly to the station with a new broomstick but father said no.
"There is too many muggles there and too far away." He said. I still cannot believe Hogwarts does not allow first year to bring their own broomstick. I heard there will be flying lessons, what do we suppose to fly with now?
Anyways, father seems bothered by something. We headed home right away. I overheard he told mother that Harry Potter was back. Can you believe that? The boy-who-lived is back and it, somehow, bothering my father. He told me that that boy's parent died to protect him, nothing special about the boy. And all the world believed an 1 year old boy defeated Lord Voldemort… I hope father will not come up with something like 'Be friend with Potter'.
When are you going to Malfoy manor? There is a month left, you are not planning to go here on sep 1 morning, right? I got a surprise for you. You will love it.
You should give me another spell necklace for my owl, it can't even fly near the Dechaprode's manor.
Ps: Father bought me an owl, come here and I'll let you name the thing.
Talk to you later,
D.M]
Marianna started to think about you-know-who again. Lucius and Narcissa hardly ever talked about him. Marianna once read an article which said how cunning was Lucius Malfoy, proved himself was under the influence of the Imperius Curse to not be imprisoned in Azkaban.
Mariana remembered she and Draco asked them about you-know-who and Harry Potter when they were 7 years old. Lucius and Narcissa showed a little sympathy for the boy but it couldn't be more clearly that Harry Potter was just a normal boy.
About you-know-who, they didn't say much, their expression was hard to read, even know, Marianna could only say that the rumor wasn't true. Lucius Malfoy hated the Dark Lord.
Marianna went to reading room. It wasn't hard to find all those old articles about you-know-who. But it all said he was dead. Marianna eyebrows frowned, she suddenly searched for something.
"Here is it." Marianna opened a text book, she mumbled the text on her mouth," The Dark Mark is placed on Death Eaters' inner left forearms. It delivers a burning sensation to anyone Voldemort want to summon…It faded to a scar after he died and no longer burn or hurt….Written by Egbert Dechaprode." Marianna touched the hand-writing text on the paper with her finger, "Father…" She said, sighed and took a deep breath, then continued to the next page.
"The boy who lived, there was a lightning-both scar on his forehead. I can sense great power in it. It gave me the same feeling as Dark Mark, but there was also something else, something doesn't belong to Voldemort. They took the boy before I can go near. Only the 'GREAT' Dumbledore can think of leaving a wizard in muggle world. "
Marianna chuckled a little, she tried to focused on the information.
She couldn't find out the connect between you-know-who and Harry Potter. She sighed, went back her room and got her quill to write a response letter.
[Dear Draco,
I'm sorry to hear you didn't have chance to take a look at the new Nimbus 2000. I guess it's just changed a little since the last version, Nimbus 1999, which you already have at home.
And did you say 'us' when you asked uncle Lucius? I'm actually glad that he said no. I don't want to sit on a broomstick for an hour. No, Draco, just no, I just can't stand it.
We shouldn't talk about him. Let's wait to see what the adult say. I doubt that uncle Lucius will ask us to hang around with the Potter. As far as I know, he stayed with his muggle's relative.
You know my grandfather, he doesn't like anything related to 'muggle'.
What was it? Why don't you tell me? It still need a couple days for me to come to your house. I have a lot of book to read. You should start reading your book too. I'll send you a book about controlling wand. Hawthorn is a stubborn company.
My grandfather gave me a wand today. It was made of Acacia wood and Siren feather. It doesn't listen to me at all.
I'll send you the book with this letter. About the necklace you asked for, I afraid that you have to wait until we meet in person.
What's your owl look like? Which breed is that? I wonder if it looks like my Opus.
Best,
M.D]
It was funny that their signatures were almost alike. It was one afternoon that they both decided to think of a signature of their own.
Draco liked to use first letter of his name while Marianna only focus on the word 'M' because she always stamped her family's symbol next to her name.
Marianna put the letter and a small book into an envelope. She poured just enough glittering wax and pressed with her family's stamp to seal the package.
Marianna called for her owl, it was a Eagle Owl. She had bought it several months ago, Draco seemed to like the female owl a lot.
Marianna gave her a cookie, "Take this to Draco Malfoy, Opus. You can stay a night there if you want. Draco has a new owl, be nice to the little thing, Ok?"
Opus made a small sound, ate that cookie before leaving.
Draco sent another letter the next day. He didn't reveal his 'surprise'.
Draco wasn't like the idea of staying at home to study but he did stay at home to study until the last day of august.
Marianna had been studied the whole month. She could do some simply tricks, she was relieved when her wand stopped refusing to perform magic. Her grandmother was gratified and her grandfather actually drew a small smile on his face.
Marianna couldn't be happier that day.
Edgard Dechaprode was busy with something, he wasn't left his room for days. He only showed up again on August 31.
"Give it to Lucius." Edgard Dechaprode gave Marianna a letter, "Use the fireplace to go to Malfoy Manor. You know how to do it."
"Yes, grandfather." Marianna used both of her hand to receive the letter, she looked at her grandfather, hesitated, "Are...you not taking me to Hogwarts Express?"
The whole room went silent for a moment, "No, Marianna. The Malfoy'll take you there. I'll be leaving the country tonight. I have to take care of our family's business in France." Edgard Dechaprode slowly answered, his expression was not changed a single bit.
"I understand, grandfather." Marianna lowered her eyes, tried to hide her disappointment. She was happy to go with the Malfoy but she also wished to go with her grandfather. Edgard Dechaprode patted her head before he used the Floo network.
Marianna sighed, she prepared her stuffs.
It was afternoon that she arrived to Malfoy Manor.
The family was waiting for her. Narcissa ordered house-elf to place her luggages.
"You should have come here earlier. Draco was just about to eat all your favorite candies." Narcissa hugged her and wiped away those dust on her dress.
"I'm sorry, aunt Cissa. I didn't prepare my stuffs."
"You should let house-elf do their job, Mariann." Lucius said, his voice wasn't as fierce as his words.
"Don't worry uncle Lucius. I can do it myself." Marianna took out a letter, "My grandfather told me to give this to you."
"Did he say anything?" Lucius asked, scrunched his eyebrows together.
"No, he didn't."
"I see…" Lucius nodded his head, he and Narcissa weren't stayed long. They left after a few minutes.
'There is something about the letter' Marianna thought.
"Hey, Marianna, since when 29 days is a couple of days?" Draco stood with arms folded, stood one meter away from her, his voice was plummy, exactly like how he spoke to stranger.
Marianna stepped one step nearer, the boy stepped one step back, stared at her and said nothing more.
"Are you mad?" She rushed to him, didn't give him a chance to move. Marianna held his arm, relieved when he didn't push her away, "You know I can't go anywhere without my grandfather's permission. And I have to practice. My wand doesn't let me to do any magic."
"Then don't use it."
"…Excuse me?" Marianna froze for a second.
"Then don't use it. I bought you the Pine wand." The boy gave her a mischief smirk,"Mother said it suited you perfectly."
"You did what?" Marianna raised her voice, it sounded penetrating.
"You heard me, little Gemmie. I bought you a wand and we both know which is the best wand for you." The boy grinned, his grey eyes were sparkling as he thought he did something right.
Marianna didn't know what to say. She didn't even know how to react. She liked that pine wand. It gave her that special feeling. But she loved her wand as well. It was something her grandfather gave her. He hadn't done such thing in a while.
'And now she doesn't response' Draco thought, grabbed her hand and walked to his room, "C'mon Gemmie, give it a try."
He put it in a drawer of his table, the box was replaced with white and silvery decorate details instead of its black color.
"I did it myself, with Transfiguration Spell. Even mother loves it." Draco let go of her hand, gave the box to her direction, "C'mon, Gemmie."
Marianna took the box with both of her hand, "It's beautiful." Her voice was brittle, it frightened Draco a little bit.
"Hey, you aren't crying, are you? It's just a box, the wand wasn't changed much. Even though I wanted to but mother said it is best not to transfigured it." Draco scratched his head, tried to mislead her from her current state.
Marianna suddenly laughed, "I mean it, Draco. It's beautiful." She stopped, her face was dead serious, "Colovaria!" She wanted to change the moment so she used the new wand, pointed at the wall, it turned to pink.
"Don't you dare!" Draco couldn't believe his own eyes, he pointed his wand at the pink wall, imagined the blue color in his mind "Colovaria!" He forgot that she looked like she was about to cry a moment ago.
"Colovaria!"
"Colovaria!"
The two kept saying the spell until Narcissa came in and stopped them, "Look at what you two have done. No more deserts this evening." She said and took their wands, "If you enjoy it that much then just leave the wall like that."
"I'm sorry, aunt Cissa." Marianna apologized, looked like a sad puppy.
"It's ok dear…" Narcissa's voice soften, "I know you didn't start it."
"But mother…" Draco tried to defense himself but Narcissa glared at him. The boy gulped, decided to remain silent.
Marianna giggled at the boy and stopped as Narcissa turned to her.
A moment later, Narcissa left their room. They both laughed hard, "Did you see her face?" Draco held his stomach, "Mother was so angry."
"And so did our deserts. Did you actually listen to what she said?" Marianna sat down his bed, covered her mouth laughing, she teased.
"Well, I have a box of chocolates and lot of candies here. Including your favorite." Draco sat down next to her, stared at the wall, "Beside, it doesn't look that bad." His wall was painted in blue and pink, the color mixed well, a perfect picture of sunset, "It looks like your eyes, Gemmie. It wasn't that bad."
He said, stood up all of sudden, "Wait here, I forgot."
He ran somewhere and went back with an owl on his left arm and a kitty on his right arm.
"This is my owl, a Eagle Owl as you can see." He let it down the floor and pointed another, "And this is your car, Scottish Fold, black fur, best symbol of luck." He put the cat on her lap and sat back on bed, "So, what do you think?"
The cat was small, it was completely black, with two large widely opened grey eyes. Its face was absolutely stupid.
Marianna stared at the cat and looked back at the boy next to her. 'Seriously?' She didn't even have to say a word, her face's expression told it all.
"What?"
"…Where on earth did you get the idea of buying me a cat come from?" She spoke in a very suspicious tone.
"I just did." Draco answered, tried to convince her, even though his voice sounded somewhat unsure, "They said Scottish Fold is one of the smartest cat breed on the world…"
"Yah…right…" Marianna replied, they both stared at the cat. It looked back at them, totally innocent.
"What do you want to call her?" Draco tried to break the awkwardness.
"Uhm…" Marianna carefully petted the cat, "How about Diamond? Her eyes is beautiful. It's sparkling and its grey color almost transparent."
"…Name her Diamond then." Draco spoke, his pale skin somehow redder than normal.
"Are you ok? Your face is red?" Marianna worried reached his face, "Becareful you may catch a fever."
"Im fine." Draco said, turned at the owl on the ground, "Anyway, this is my new owl. Any idea for the name?"
"We can call him Marble then."
"What? He looked like a real warrior eagle and you decided to call him Marble?" Draco couldn't believe it.
"Little owl, will you fly next to the marble dragon statue on the table for me?" She gently asked the bird, "I'll give you a cookie."
The bird looked Draco, as its owner didn't say anything, it flight and stood next to the statue.
Marianna smiled, nodded her head, "Couldn't be more resemble."
Draco's face turned even redder than before, "Fine, Marble, then. Whatever you want."
Marianna giggled, she took out a small necklace and gave it to Draco, "You know how to use it, cast unlocking charm and put his feather in, then wear it to him."
Draco did as she said and give the necklace to Marble. He tried to look down his neck, curious and happy because he was given something.
The Dechaprode was famous for spell creating. There was an invisible fence around their mansion. It confused any living creatures approached without given item.
The necklace was casted a specific spell, eternal sticked to the owl until it dead, allowed him to fly into Dechaprode's mansion with only his owner's delivery.
Noone but the one who put the owl's feather in and wear it for him can send anything to the Dechaprode's.
Draco used to ask his mother to send his letter to Marianna. Because even when he used the 'allowed' owl but he wasn't 'allowed', the owl still couldn't find the mansion.
Even though all those weren't allowed deliveries will be kept in a small house near the Dachaprode and will be checked and collected by house-elves.
Marianna still didn't learned how, but it was the same with her house's floo network. 'You don't know the spell, then you can't use floo power to go to Dechaprode's.'
Egbert Dechaprode, her father, helped Lucius Malfoy with the fireplace in Malfoy manor. But it was an updated version, Marianna read about it. The floo network in Malfoy Manor informed the owner who were coming and only locked or allowed the person when it had been ordered by house's owner.
As Malfoy manor always had visitors. Lucius had never been bored of its informed, "It's better when you know what's coming ahead." He said.