Ch 32 The Magical Quill

The second week in January everybody was at the dinner table when Astoria walked in and snapped, "The midwife confirmed it. I'm pregnant." She turned to Draco. "I let you in my body, so I have to share the blame, but I'm not happy. I'll bear this child, because I have to, or I can be denied income from the estate now and when you die, but I'm not going to raise it. You are going to have to raise it, and let me get back to my life."

"I hoped you could finally learn to enjoy the marriage bed," Draco pled.

"Forget it," Astoria sneered. "I thought I was through with sex and all that mess after I became pregnant with Scorpius, and I'm sure not going to have you in my body again." She looked at Draco and Narcissa and snapped, "Men! That's all they want!"

"I still miss that part of marriage," Narcissa reflected, ignoring Astoria's horrified look and Draco's look, somewhere between anger and frustration. "Lucius and I had a good marriage the first few years. I think he loved me, before the black mark, before he became involved with Riddle and the death eaters."

"Romantic love and all that tripe," Astoria snapped with a turned up nose, as she sat down at the dinner table to eat.

Friday January twenty Draco slipped into Knockturn Alley and stopped at Borgin and Burkes. He waited impatiently for the clerk to return from the back with his package and when he did, he picked up the magical quill, rolling it between his fingers. "How will I know it is the correct quill?" he asked.

"We do not know what it does," the clerk at Borgin & Burkes told him with a shrug. "We just had to let it soak in some long ago prepared liquid."

Draco took the quill home, and gingerly put it in his office, locking it in a drawer of his father's desk. His father's desk. After all these years it ought to be his desk and his office.

He made arrangements to see his father the next Monday.

Draco didn't like that quill. He didn't know why his father wanted it, and everything from Borgin & Burkes was a little suspect. Draco was frustrated that he still felt he had to obey his father in things like that. He wished he could have just told his father that there was no way he needed a one-hundred-and-fifty Galleon special quill.

Monday January twenty-third Draco came into Azkaban with the special quill, a piece of parchment, and a receipt for the two, and presented them to the guards. They examined both the quill and the parchment with a number of spells, but finally allowed him to bring the quill and parchment to his father. They copied the receipt on Muggle paper with a Muggle copy machine, and let Draco bring the copy in. He was told that his father could write with the quill on the parchment, but no one could bring either of them back out once they were given to Lucius.

"If the document needs to be presented to someone else we will copy it and give you a copy," the guard told Draco. "Nothing Lucius touches is allowed to leave the prison."

Draco went into the usual meeting room, and saw his father chained by his feet on one side of a desk. "I have the quill you wanted, father," he announced, showing it and the parchment to Lucius and placed them on the desk.

"How much did it cost?" Lucius asked, studying the quill.

Lucius had a scowl on his face, and Draco sighed. Was he ever going to be able to please his father? "One-hundred and fifty galleons, father," Draco replied. "It took about a month prepare it."

His father took the quill and parchment and started to write, "Draco has been a failure at every major task I have ever given him." As he started to write "him" the ink turned from black to red. When the ink turned to red Lucius took the quill and stabbed it hard into Draco's hand.

Draco looked in shock at the quill and immediately guessed that the quill was poison, and his father was in the process of killing him. Draco was enraged, grabbed the quill, and with the quill in his right hand grabbed the back of his father's neck with his left hand and stabbed his father in the neck. When Draco stabbed his father the quill turned into a sharp object and severed his father's carotenoid artery, and blood started to spurt out all over. There was some magic involved, because Draco could not let go of his father. "Damn you, father," Draco screamed. "You gave me all these impossible assignments. You treated me like dirt, wanted me to do your dirty work. I hate you."

Lucius was alive just long enough to hear Draco say Draco hated Lucius. As his father died Draco snapped, "I'll see you in hell. Just like Oedipus, I've killed my father. I'm cursed. Nothing is fair. My wife is an ice maiden. I hate her. I should have had a wife who gave me sex and love, and she just used me. My son marries the daughter of a Mudblood and a blood traitor. I hate you Scorpius and your half-breed wife and her arrogant Mudblood mother and traitor father. My mother lies for Harry Potter and all the pure bloods hate me. I hate her. I hate everybody."

Draco started to struggle, trying to get away from his father, but the more he struggled the more the two of them seemed to flow into each other. Soon Draco was on the other side of the table, standing up and holding his father's dead body upright, frantically pulling, both hands somehow flowing around his father's partly severed head, blood spattering everywhere.

Draco's legs were starting to become numb. "Nobody here is even trying to help me," Draco protested. "I hate all these guards! No one helps me when I need them! I hate the world! IT'S NOT MY FAULT!"

There were a couple of guards standing around, but with a cursed weapon and Draco yelling and shaking his father, with perhaps cursed blood flying off the pair, there was nothing they could do without risking their own life. Draco could still not take his hands off his father, although he was trying, and the red from the blood was sticking to his hands and spreading up his arms like some cursed thing.

Harry Potter was at his desk in his office in the ministry when the phone outside his office rang. "I'm sure he will want to talk to you," Harry heard, and then, "Harry, there has been a death, two deaths, at Azkaban. I'm sure you want to take this call."

Harry picked up the phone and asked, "What happened?"

Zeek Zeller, the warden of Azkaban, explained, "Draco Malfoy brought his father a new quill. It just looked like an ordinary quill. The guards checked it for curses, and there was nothing on it that they could tell. Lucius only wants to write with a quill, but if he needs to get any document out, we copy it on a Muggle copy machine so there isn't any way there could be magic writing smuggled out.

"Lucius started writing something, and then the ink turned to red and Lucius stabbed Draco in the hand. Then Draco grabbed the quill and stabbed his father in the neck, but the quill turned into some sort of knife and cut Lucius's artery, and Lucius bled to death quite quickly. I was told that it looked like Draco could not remove his hands from his father, and he, Draco, was yelling and squirming. Well, we knew we were dealing with some dark magic, so we did not want to get close, and it took almost an hour, but finally Draco stopped moving.

"When Draco stopped moving we brought in a couple of guards who have experience in cleaning cursed areas, and with spells they cleaned up the blood but, well it's like this. We took the shackles off Lucius's feet and levitated the bodies to a room we use as a mortuary when needed, but no one wants to get too close to the bodies. The quill is still in the neck and it is cursed, and there is something not right about the bodies. It's like Draco's hands have become permanently fastened around Lucius's neck. We'd like to cremate the whole mess together, or at least put them in one large casket."

"Keep a guard on the bodies," Harry told the warden. "Wait for my instructions. I need to do a few things, call on the family, but also check a few things out."

Harry walked over to Hermione's office. Hermione's secretary saw Harry, and asked, "Important?" When Harry nodded yes and insisted, "Very," the secretary went in to Hermione's office and gave a little note to his boss. About ten minutes later a couple of people left Hermione's office and Hermione herself waved Harry in.

Harry closed the door as he entered. "Lucius and Draco Malfoy are both dead, killed each other."

"Does anyone else know?" Hermione wondered.

"No one except some staff at the prison," Harry thought. "I'm going over to Malfoy Manor and then up to Hogwarts to tell the family. There is a lot of magic associated with who is Lord of that Manor, and a seat on the Wizengamot too. Can you find out what we are dealing with?"

"Give me a few minutes," Hermione replied. She made a few quick calls. Within fifteen minutes, Hermione had given Harry a copy of the wills and legal documents. "It looks like the Manor and Wizengamot seat goes to the oldest surviving son. Second sons are not really encouraged to stay around, and daughters are married off. Scorpius is Lord of that Manor. It also looks like Scorpius needs to formally take possession as soon as possible.

"I will take these documents," Hermione told Harry. "Scorpius and Rose need to read this, and spend the next few days at the Manor. Do you want to come with me?"

"Please. I know Rose has been to Malfoy Manor," Harry reflected.

"She spent the week after her marriage there, but she was eager to get to Hogwarts," Hermione agreed. "Malfoy Manor is an unbelievably uncomfortable place. It will be interesting to see Rose's decorating skills at work on that house."

Harry and Hermione told Kingsley what was going on, and, with their Elf and Auror escorts went to Malfoy Manor. Harry was met at the front door by TJ the Elf. TJ observed, "Elves can feel big changes. Who do you need to see?"

Harry replied, "Everybody."

They were led into the formal living room, and a short time later Narcissa and Astoria Malfoy, plus Druella Black, were seated in the living room. The Elves sat behind the Magi.

Harry started out, "Draco somehow brought a cursed quill into Azkaban, and presented it to Lucius. From what I understand, Lucius used it to stab Draco, and then Draco went for his father's neck, and cut an artery. Lucius bled to death very quickly. It took Draco longer to die, but he is also dead. I am sorry."

Astoria wondered, "Am I still stuck with this Merlin forsaken parasite in my womb, or now that Draco is dead can I get rid of the nasty thing."

Hermione explained, "From my reading of both the marriage laws and the documents connected to the Malfoy family, any attempt to abort this baby will cause you to lose any claim you have on the Malfoy properties or name."

Astoria snapped, "Damn those curses connected to Cleo and that Merlin forsaken wedding. I should have made sure after Scorpius that I could never have another child."

"It is illegal to abort this magical child, Astoria!" Hermione insisted. "It is because of the documents you signed when you married Draco. Any attempt and you can be confined to St. Mungo's and under observation until you deliver, and you will lose any claim as if you had succeeded in aborting the baby."

Narcissa stood looking at Harry and Hermione, and tears started to come, and it was obvious that she was having a hard time controlling her emotions. Hermione went over to hug her, and Narcissa and Hermione hugged for a few minutes, Narcissa silently crying. Finally, she asked, "Draco too? I'm ashamed to say I am not all that upset about losing the man that Lucius had become, but Draco too?"

"I am so sorry," consoled Harry. "Maybe we should have had a barrier between Draco and Lucius, but denying a prisoner any human touch is its own form of torture.

"I remember telling you at the funeral of Lupin and Tonks that you could probably never make up for the evil your family has done. After all you have done, risking everyone and everything to take down the Pirate Witch Queen of the Caribbean, raising a hero like Scorpius, I would say you have made up for any evil you have done many times over. Thank you."

Narcissa asked, "Who knows about the deaths? What do we do now?"

Harry replied, "Very few people know now, although we are going to have to tell some of the story and have a formal announcement in the Prophet tomorrow.

"The first thing we are going to have to do is tell Scorpius and Rose. Narcissa, would you please come with us?"

Narcissa replied, "Yes, of course."

Speaking to Druella, Narcissa told her, "Mother, I think this trip will be too hard on you. I am sure we will be back with Scorpius and Rose shortly."

Everyone pointedly ignored Astoria.

Harry used his magical/muggle mobile to contact Minerva McGonagall. She answered, "Harry, is it that important, that I answer at lunch? I am at the head table right now."

Harry told the headmistress, "Yes, it is that important. Have Scorpius and Rose come to your office after lunch. We will meet you there.

"Draco and Lucius are both dead. They killed each other. Scorpius and Rose have to know, and they will have to be out of school for a few days. Hermione and I are coming to Hogwarts to tell them."

"We can leave lunch to bring them up to my office in about ten minutes," Minerva replied. "Give us another ten minutes to get there. Then you can come into my office by the Floo. I will have it opened for you and whoever you bring with you."

"Thank you," Harry replied. When the mobile disconnected Harry explained, "We are going to go the Professor McGonagall's office in about twenty minutes. Meanwhile Hermione has some information about what has to happen next."

"You are going to have to bury Lucius and Draco," Hermione remarked. "Do you have a family plot?"

"Here on the property," Narcissa told the group.

"Because of the curses, no one wants to get too close to the bodies. They want to levitate the bodies into a single casket, and then cremate the whole mess," Harry indicated.

Narcissa shook her head 'no.' "There is no tradition of cremating bodies in the Malfoy or Black families. Just put them in two caskets."

Harry looked embarrassed. "I was told the bodies look like they are fused together and cursed, and no one wants to get too close to them."

Narcissa put her head in her hands, frowning, trying to take in this news. "I guess we are just going to have to bury them together, with gravestones next to each other. It is really tragic, that Draco cannot escape his father even in death."

Albus and Cleo were just finishing lunch with Scorpius and Rose when Professor McGonagall left the head table and went over to them. Professor McGonagall told them, "Mr. and Mrs. Granger-Malfoy, I need to see you in my office. There is some information I need to tell you privately."

After they were gone Cleo asked Albus, "I wonder what that was about? Did you notice the tension in Professor McGonagall's voice?"

Albus replied, "Yes, I did. There is nothing we can do now but wait."

When Scorpius and Rose arrived at Professor McGonagall's office she told them, "Please sit down. We need to wait for your grandmother, and some other people."

Scorpius and Rose sat down on chairs next to each other, and held hands, quite concerned. A short time later Scorpius's grandmother came through the Floo, followed by Mr. Harry Potter, Mrs. Hermione Granger-Weasley, and a couple of Elf guards.

The three adults sat down, and then Narcissa looked at Harry.

Harry told the young couple, "This morning your father, Scorpius, somehow managed to sneak a cursed quill into Azkaban prison. He gave it to your grandfather, and your grandfather stabbed your father, apparently poisoning him. Enraged, your father took the quill and cut your grandfather's artery, causing him to bleed to death quickly, and then your father died.

"Scorpius, your grandfather and father are both dead."

Scorpius looked at his grandmother, and muttered, "I'm sorry, grandmum."

Rose sat there awkwardly, not knowing how to feel.

There was a modest pause, and then Hermione continued, "The order of death may be important. Draco was alive long enough to inherit the Malfoy estate from his father. Now that he is dead the estate passes on to you, Scorpius. There are provisions for taking care of other relatives, but you are now lord of Malfoy Manor.

"The documents we have, the will and other documents attached to the estate, say that you need to take possession of the estate as soon as practical. Reading through the documents, and the history, that means that you and your wife need to go to the manor today, and spend at least a few days there.

"As I understand it, there are two master suites in the manor. You need to take possession of one of them."

Narcissa continued, "You should take possession of the one your father and mother have been in. That is the one with a nursery connected to it, although Astoria has been living in the room that was a nursery.

"The other thing that has been traditional is a certain amount of redecorating, the new Lord and Lady of the Manor making it their own."

Hermione told Scorpius and Rose, "Please go to your rooms and collect any clothing and other things you will need for about a week. Narcissa and I will go with you. Harry needs to go back to the Ministry, but I will stay with you until we have an announcement ready for the Prophet, and have taken care of some other necessary items."

Scorpius, Rose, Hermione and Narcissa went to the rooms where Scorpius and Rose were staying, and packed clothes and other necessities. They then took the Floo in Minerva's office back to Malfoy Manor.

Astoria and Druella were waiting by the Floo. Narcissa told the group, "We should probably meet in my private office." Narcissa invited Hermione, Scorpius and Rose into her office, but pointedly did not invite Astoria. Druella was invited in, but she declined and sat outside as well.

Once in Narcissa's office, Hermione suggested, "I think the first thing we need is an announcement for the Prophet and other news media. I will make sure the announcement is read at Hogwarts tonight as well. I think the announcement should read:

Lucius Malfoy passed away at Azkaban this morning, followed soon after by his son Draco Malfoy. The Head Auror Harry Potter believes it may be a double murder or murder suicide. No further details will be released due to security concerns. Funeral arrangements are pending.

"According to the wills and traditions of the Malfoy family, Scorpius Hyperon Granger-Malfoy has inherited the title of Head of the Malfoy family and all its entitlements including the Malfoy seat on the Wizengamot.

"The Granger-Malfoy family request privacy in their time of grief. More information will be released within the next few weeks."

Narcissa thought, "It sounds good enough to me. Scorpius?"

Scorpius asked, looking startled, "Me?"

Narcissa explained putting her hand on her grandson's shoulder, "You are head of the family now. I am willing to help you, as I know there are secrets that your father hid from me, that you will find out about very soon."

"I'm not ready for this," Scorpius protested, putting his head in his hands, both his grandmother and Rose comforting him.

Hermione countered, "Harry, Ron and I were not that much older at the Battle of Hogwarts. You really do not have much of a choice, Scorpius. Ask a lot of questions, listen to good advice, and do your best. You ARE the head of the family right now, even if you do not feel ready.

"I am glad that you do not feel arrogant and ready. There are a lot of people who will help you, if you ask."

"What do I have to do now?" Scorpius wondered.

"Tell your mother she has to move," Narcissa told her grandson. "I will go with you. I do not expect it will go over well at all. She can have Grandmother Godiva's old quarters. I've cleaned out her office, and the Elves took care of everything else."

Scorpius sneered, "It's not like anyone likes her, even if she is my mother. Let's do it!"

The group went to the living room where Scorpius's mother was sitting, and Scorpius told his mother, "Mum, Rose and I need to be living in one of the master suites. You are going to have to move upstairs to the rooms Grandmother Malfoy was living in."

Astoria countered, "You can have your father's old room, but I am not going to move."

Scorpius insisted, "According to the will, and the traditions of the Malfoy family, you will move. We need your room for a nursery."

"What if I will not move?" Astoria snapped.

"Then we will have the Elves take everything of yours out of the rooms and dump it into Grandmother Malfoy's old rooms," Scorpius insisted.

"I'll move when I am good and ready to, and not a moment sooner," Astoria insisted.

"You will be out of the room tonight," Scorpius snapped, beginning to get irritated. "I do not think you ever loved me, but you will obey me. I will not order my loving Grandmother Black around, but you will obey me."

Astoria looked right at Rose, and yelled, "IS THE HALF BREED GOING TO NURSE THE WHELP I AM CARRYING? I'm not going to, bitch."

"Of course!" Rose yelled. "That baby deserves a loving mother and father, and it is rather obvious that you are incapable of loving anyone."

Rose felt up to her breasts, tight from growing in response to her pregnancy, and then down towards her womb where her and Scorpius's baby was growing. She looked at Narcissa.

"I would if you would rather not," Narcissa told Rose. "I raised Scorpius."

"You did a magnificent job, Mum Malfoy, but I think this is my job," Rose replied, her face betraying less confidence than her words."

"I will support you in whatever you decide, Rose," Narcissa responded, and she hugged Rose.

Scorpius called, "Elves, please."

The Elves of the household appeared. Scorpius told them, "My mother is to be out of the nursery and in the rooms last used by Godiva Greengrass Malfoy as soon as possible. Work with her if she lets you, or move everything if she does not."

Astoria stomped away, with the Elves following.

Rose had been looking on in awe. She finally asked, "Mum, Mum Malfoy, what is my position now? Can Scorpius's mother order me around?"

Narcissa looked at Hermione, and asked, "Do you have any guidance?"

Hermione surmised, "The documents are not clear. From a little of the history I have been able to find out, and the documents I have read, I would guess that some mothers dominated the household, and other wives dominated their mother-in-law. I would strongly suggest that if at all possible you should try to run this household as three equal people. Scorpius has the legal power, because of the paternalistic way the Malfoy family has been run, but I think it would be best if you tried to agree on things."

Scorpius asked, "Did I do the wrong thing, ordering my mother to move?"

Narcissa replied, "I think love is critical to having a family work together, and I never felt Astoria ever really loved anyone but herself, and I am not sure she even loved herself. I think you did the right thing, Scorpius."

Hermione agreed, "I do too. Rose, I would never suggest you order Narcissa around, and I would not think you would want her to order you around. I think Astoria is a different case. You need to be in charge, not Astoria, loving and respecting Narcissa."

Narcissa added, "I would love to see how you would like to redecorate Malfoy Manor, Rose. It would be fun to be involved, but you have more talent in that area than I have."

Rose grinned, "I would like to see our bedroom. I would like to make it OUR bedroom."

Hermione concluded, "I will be back tomorrow with more documents. Meanwhile, Rose, enjoy your new home, and make it a home."

Hermione took her leave.

Harry went home and told Ginny, "Lucius and Draco killed each other today. Lucius had Draco bring in a poison quill, and stabbed Draco. Draco then used the quill, which turned into a knife, to cut his father's neck and quickly kill him. The Malfoy estate passed on from Lucius to Draco to Scorpius.

"Hermione and I told Narcissa and the family, Astoria and Druella. We then went over to tell Scorpius and Rose. We only took Narcissa along. Scorpius and Rose need to spend about a week at Malfoy Manor taking possession of the house and estate."

"How did everybody take the news?" Ginny inquired.

"I think Narcissa was very upset that Draco was killed. I don't get the impression that there was much love left for Lucius. Astoria seems mostly concerned about her place in the family. She was upset that she could not abort the baby she is carrying, so she must have been another one of the unlikely females charmed, even if ever so briefly, by Cleo at the wedding. Druella was sad. I do not gather that the Black family has been much for showing emotions, but it was hard on her."

"You ought to tell Mum, Harry. She is friends with Narcissa, and I think she may want to see if she can help."

Rose sat in the small office with Scorpius and his grandmother.

"What now?" Scorpius wondered.

"I would like Grandmother Black to come here," Rose suggested. "She did save my life, and I do want her to feel like this is still her house too."

"Once my mother is here, we should go out to the graveyard," Narcissa proposed.

It was a rather long walk to the graveyard. The Malfoy property was sizable, and the graveyard was a long way from Malfoy Manor. Narcissa lead the way, her posture and the slow speed of her walk showing how hard walking to the graveyard was for her. Rose walked on one side of Druella, and Scorpius on the other side, to catch her if she lost her balance and Druella was a little unsteady walking, having lost her arms.

There was a new grave for Godiva Greengrass Malfoy. She was buried next to her husband, and the common gravestone gave only her name, and the dates of her birth and death.

There was a logical place for Lucius and Draco, with room for Narcissa next to Lucius and Astoria next to Draco. Narcissa did something with her wand to indicate where the bodies should be buried, Draco and Lucius next to each other, with space for Astoria next to Draco and for Narcissa next to Lucius.

The somber group walked back to Narcissa's office.

"I think we need a new family crest for the Granger-Malfoy family," Rose proposed. "I want to do something about all the snaked themed decorations, but not ignore the Malfoy family history."

She summoned a small suitcase, and opened and unfolded it until she had a small artist studio. She took out several drawings of what was obviously a family crest, with a snake and a griffin smiling at each other. Surrounding the two animals were sheaves of grain. Rose showed the drawings to her new husband and mother-in-law.

"I love the grin on that snake!" Narcissa exclaimed. "I do not know how you did it, but that smile is at the same time pleasant and a little ironic."

"I think it should still be Malfoy Manor, but it will be the home of the Granger-Malfoy family," Rose indicated. "There is a world of irony in that, considering the Malfoy history and the position and reputation of my mother as a witch with Muggle ancestry. I wanted to show that in the new family crest."

"I've watched, and commented, as Rose has been working on this," Scorpius responded. "I think it is fantastic!"

Narcissa turned to her mother. "Mum?"

"You want my opinion?" Druella wondered.

"Of course!" Rose exclaimed. "You saved my life! You are a most loved and honored member of this household, and of course I want your opinion!"

Druella broke out in tears, and she and Rose hugged, and hugged, and hugged. Rose finally led her over to a chair, and helped her sit down.

"I am eager to see how you redecorate Malfoy Manor to make it a happy, child friendly place," Druella indicated. "That family crest is fantastic." She wore a wistful smile as she added, "I will be buried in a Black family plot next to my late husband, but we could add to the gravestone 'An Honored Member of the Granger-Malfoy family' with the new crest on the gravestone."

"A few of the old pure blooded Blacks will be horrified," Narcissa observed.

"That is rather the point," Druella wryly indicated.

"Do we have time to look at the bedroom?" Rose wondered. She indicated by her gestures that she was including everybody.

"Do you really want all of us in your bedroom?" Narcissa kidded.

"Not tonight!" Scorpius protested. "I gathered that we need to do the same thing in the master bedroom tonight that we had to do to consummate our marriage, and I have no intention of doing it in public."

"Is that a problem, having to christen the bed in that room with your love?" Narcissa wondered. "I miss sharing," she sighed. "It is so much more than sharing a bed. It is sharing your life. That was starting to die when Lucius became more in love with Voldemort than with me. Maybe I should be sorry he is dead, but …"

"Draco?" Druella wondered.

"I often felt sorry for Draco," Narcissa sighed. "He was always torn between what his father wanted and … and I do not know what. I think if he had been raised differently he might have been a good person. If he had married the right person. So much could have been, should have been, different after the war. So many 'ifs'."

Scorpius arose, took Rose's hands, and they went up to the Master Bedroom. Narcissa and Druella followed, curious to see what Rose would do.

Watching Rose redecorate the bedroom was fascinating to Narcissa and Druella. Rose was a great visual artist.

At Hogwarts that evening at dinner Minerva McGonagall announced, "This morning Mr. Lucius Malfoy and Mr. Draco Malfoy died within a short time of each other. Mr. and Mrs. Granger-Malfoy are at Malfoy Manor, and it may be several days before they return."

Jesus and Ginny were sitting with Albus and Cleo. Jesus wondered, "How long do you think they will be gone?"

Cleo surmised, "I think there is way more going on with the Malfoy Estate than we know about. I am worried about what happened to Scorpius when he disappeared with his father, and he cannot remember. I'm not counting on them coming back quickly, and I am very worried about Scorpius."

None of the others had any comforting words. Cleo had grown up in that household, and if she was worried, they were.

The next morning Narcissa, Astoria, Scorpius and Rose sat in what had been Draco's office and was now Scorpius's for the reading of the will, and to do all the things necessary for the legal inheritance of the Malfoy estate. Because there was a Wizengamot seat involved, and because of the delicacy of what was being discussed and decided, Hermione was at the meeting.

The legal witch, Edie Evans, explained, "Inheritances of this type have a lot of very old, very critical information that can drastically change how properties are distributed. Witches early on insisted that if they agreed to the marriage, even if the husband treated them poorly or raped them, even if he left for another, they would receive their inheritance. Wizards insisted that if the witch did not want to be married, but just wanted the estate, that any inheritance would pass to the children and not to the witch or her family.

"A marriage certificate between a witch and a wizard is signed, and then put in this special envelope. After the death of one of the partners, or before if circumstances dictate, we can open the envelope, and see if the marriage has been freely consummated. If it has not, we can see who is at fault. In most cases the marriage is not valid because the wizard has raped the witch instead of making love to her, but in some cases the witch never willingly gave herself in any way to the wizard."

Edie opened the first envelope, the one with the marriage certificate for Narcissa and Lucius. There was only one compartment in the envelope. There was what looked like a chart, with different length lines of different colors, on the back of the certificate. Edie told Narcissa, "There is no question that your marriage started out well, with you giving yourself to Lucius, and he at least giving himself to you enough to be validly married."

Edie opened the second envelope, the one with the marriage certificate for Astoria and Draco. The marriage certificate was in the first of two pockets. She looked a little startled, and looked on the back of the certificate. There were ten lines on the back, in red, with tiny writing.

She then asked, "Ten times? You allowed Draco into you ten times. From this record it looks like you never did it voluntarily, because you loved or even liked him."

Astoria sneered, "I married him. I bore him a child, and then when that overripe bitch of a fertility goddess convinced me that I should think about having another one I let that man into my body again. I regretted it almost immediately. The only reason I did not abort that thing in me is to hold on to MY inheritance."

Edie looked at some additional paperwork that had appeared, and asked for some additional documents. "I see you never said the marriage spells for Scorpius and Rose," she noted, looking at some documents. "You signed the betrothal contract, but did not sign it again at the wedding. As Scorpius's mother you are expected to do that." Edie looked at some additional documents. "The will reflects certain documents signed when you married. One of them gives you the responsibility, along with your husband, to provide a newly married couple an allowance from the estate, a certain level of support. You can do it if your husband is not able to, or he can do it if you are not able to, but not doing it when you are able to comes with certain penalties.

"Not signing the marriage certificate and not saying the wedding spells is evidence of not supporting your child's marriage. And it is too late to do it now."

Edie informed Astoria, "You will be entitled to a modest level of support, as long as you do everything in your power to carry this child to term. You never loved Draco or the family, from what these documents show, so you are not entitled to be an official heir or to control anything having to do with the Malfoy estate."

"I WAS MARRIED TO HIM!" Astoria shouted.

Edie replied, "You pretended to be married to him. What do the rest of you say?" She looked at the rest of the family.

Scorpius admitted, "She was never much of a mother. Grandmum Narcissa was really the one who raised me. Astoria never demonstrated any love for my father either, at least that I saw."

Rose declared, "She hates me."

Narcissa argued, "She should have nursed Scorpius, instead of leaving it to me. She should have spent more time than me taking care of him, and instead she left it all to me and to Draco. As far as I am concerned she never loved any of us."

"Usually in cases like this the unwilling witch is allowed to retain her married name, to shield the child or children from scandal," Edie informed the group. "That is, if she wants to."

Narcissa and Scorpius looked at each other, and nodded in agreement.

"I was married to the raping bastard," Astoria muttered.

"The spells and documents are quite specific," Edie responded. "There is no indication in any of the documents that Draco ever raped you."

"I want MY portion of the estate," Astoria insisted.

"Scorpius, you and the others are responsible for the modest level of support that Astoria is entitled to. There is really no reason for Astoria to be involved in the estate issues," Edie informed the group.

"I want one of the Elves to accompany Astoria when she is not at Malfoy Manor," Scorpius told the group, "I do not trust her." He called the house Elves, and they arranged to have an Elf shadow for her. One of the Elves led a furious, sputtering Astoria out of the office.

2022