Just wanted to say a massive thank you to those of you who have followed, favorited and continue to read the story, it means a lot to me as this is my first fanfic and have had the idea for a long time, but not the courage to post it. So thank you for your support!
With lessons suspended, and examinations postponed there wasn't much to do at Hogwarts, so I had returned to the Ministry. I had heard that some students were hurried away from Hogwarts by their parents, and to be honest I didn't blame them.
I had Apperated into Hogsmeade to find it packed with people preparing to attend Dumbledore's funeral.
I made my way to Hogwarts not really taking in anything and it seemed almost immediately that I found myself seated in my usual chair at the staff table. Rufus Scrimgeour was now occupying Severus' spot next to me, and was scanning the room, talking to me every now and then about Ministry affairs. I wasn't really paying much attention, my mind elsewhere. I wasn't sure if I was in shock, but I felt disassociated from my body and nothing really felt real or that it mattered.
I noticed Draco's absence from the Slytherin table and felt a stab of concern for my cousin. I had no idea where he was or what was happening to him, but I knew it couldn't be good. I wondered briefly how different his life could have been if he wasn't the by-product of my Uncle.
'It is nearly time,' Minerva's voice broke through my thoughts. 'Please follow your Heads of House out into the grounds. Gryffindors, after me.'
I remained seated as I watched the students file out from behind their benches in near silence. The Minister rose from his seat and walked away from the staff table and towards the entrance hall. I figured there was no use in delaying the inevitable any longer, so I stood up picking up my Wizengamot hat from the table and placing it on my head as I too, walked towards the entrance hall to meet the other members of the Wizengamot.
We filed in a line towards the chairs at the front and I took my seat next to Griselda Marchbanks, who was looking extremely grief stricken. I felt with a jolt in my heart that I would have usually sat next to Amelia Bones.
The funeral was over quite quickly, in a haze of the Merpeople singing, people crying and a long speech from a short officiant in black robes. It was only after Dumblebore's body had been laid to rest, I felt a certain finality in the air. I stared at the tomb for a few moments before I stood up, looked around at the other attendees and sighed sadly. I had a horrible sense of foreboding that I couldn't shake and my mind kept jumping to the next couple of pressing things that needed my attention.
I bade farewell to the other members of the Wizengamot, bowing my head to them before turning my back on them and made my way back to Hogsmeade, making the most of the warm sun on my face.
It was a couple of days after Dumbledore's funeral and, after an uneventful few days at home, I was back at the Ministry shut up in my office.
I had refused to speak to him but the one message Severus had gotten through to me warned me that my parents were asked to locate my whereabouts. I wasn't afraid but, I should have known this would happen sooner or later.
I glanced down again at what I had written and reread the clause that I had just written.
"I leave the entire contents of my vault at Gringotts to Remus John Lupin, and if he does not survive me, then equally to any child or children he may have. I also leave any real property registered in my name at the time of my death to Remus John Lupin, and if he does not survive me, then equally to any child or children he may have."
Yes, I thought that should do it.
I knew he was too proud to take anything from me but, I figured he couldn't deny it if it were one of my final wishes. I finished reading my Will through once again and signed my name at the bottom of it, folded it into 3 and placed it in my out tray with instructions to my intern to file in the Will register.
The next thing I figured I needed to do was to make sure that my residence at Eaton Park was actually in my name. I knew this was fundamentally stealing from my parents and in basic terms, fraud, but what did I have to lose at this point?
I went along to the record keeping room which was located just down the corridor from my office and found the deeds to my parents properties. I broke the enchantments placed upon the deeds with considerable ease and quickly conjured a paper trail that transferred the property from my parents to myself. I redid the enchantments that prevented this exact situation (making sure they were a lot stronger than they were before), and wiped any magical fingerprint left from my magic. I placed the deeds back where I found them and paused, trying to think if I had missed anything. When nothing sprang to mind I made my way back to my office.
I glanced at the clock on my office wall, it was close to 5pm and I sat at my desk pulling towards me a pile of paperwork I had been ignoring all day. A single piece of paper fell from the pile as it moved and I looked down at it, my heart clenching painfully as I watched Sirius blinking up at me from his wanted poster. I touched the picture affectionately, as though I could somehow be absorbed into the picture and with him.
Someone sneezing loudly outside my office made me jump and I spotted the newspaper next to me, which was folded onto an article by Elphias Doge, remembering Dumbledore. I began to read the article which was thoughtfully written and a great insight into Dumbledore's life. I didn't exactly feel like I missed Dumbledore but I did feel as though another part of me died with him that night. Dumbledore was such a constant in my life and I had never imagined a world without him.
After I finished reading, I turned my attention to the window of my office which overlooked the Atrium. A group of people wearing dark robes caught my attention and I realised with a sinking stomach that one of those people was my father. I looked down at Sirius' wanted poster again and sighed, I knew this day had been coming but it did nothing to stop my heart from thumping hard in my chest in apprehension.
The door to my office opened with a bang and I felt a wand being pushed into my neck hard. I didn't look around, instead keeping my eyes glued on the sunken eyes of my husband, wishing more than ever that I was with him.
"Hometime!" my father breathed into my ear.
My father and his Death Eater entourage marched me out of the Ministry through groups of workers whispering and staring. Can't wait to see the Daily Prophet tomorrow I thought to myself as I became quite self aware of all the muttering and stares. I knew my father was doing this on purpose, parading me out of the Ministry with known Death Eaters was the perfect way to ruin my reputation at the Ministry.
Once we were outside, the entourage steered me toward a deserted street in Muggle London.
"Where are we going?" I asked my father who was flanking me on the left while another Death Eater I didn't know was on my right.
"I told you," my father muttered without looking at me.
I rolled my eyes and continued to walk until someone spoke from behind me.
"The coast is clear, sir"
I looked at my father who remained silent but gave a stiff nod of his head and the Death Eater in front of us stopped so suddenly I nearly walked into the back of them.
My father grabbed my arm roughly and said "Give me your wand,"
"Why?" I asked, stalling for time. The thought of handing over my wand made me feel extremely vulnerable.
My father glared into my face for a beat before letting go of my arm, grabbing my hand and fumbling around at my wrist before pulling out my wand from my sleeve.
Smiling triumphantly, he placed my wand inside his robes as I glared back at him, mentally cursing myself for being predictable. I should have known he would know I consistently kept my wand up my sleeve.
"Don't fuck around with me," he spat before grabbing my upper arm again and turning the Death Eater behind him.
"We go now," he said and the Death Eater nodded and Disapperated without a word.
I felt my father's hand twist as he Disapperated pulling me along with him and before I knew it, we were standing outside the gates of a handsome manor house silhouetted against the setting sun. I recognised it instantly as Malfoy Manor and I turned to look at my father who had not let go of my arm.
"Well, this isn't home," I said, raising my eyebrows as he looked down at me.
"Home is wherever your family is, Meghana." my father said as he smirked and I scoffed at the idea that he would use the word "family" when I was certain he didn't know the definition of what that was.
My father looked away from me and raised his left arm at the gate as the other Death Eaters copied him and whilst dragging me along with him, passed through the gate as though it were smoke.
The gravel crunched under our feet as we walked in silence down the driveway and to the front door, which opened on its own accord. Only when we were inside the dimly lit hallway did my father let go of my arm. The drawing room door opened and my mother stepped out with her brother and Narcissa. My Uncle looked rather ill and I frowned at him as his sunken eyes met mine. Aunt Cissy did not even look at me, she just stared blankly ahead of her as though there wasn't a group of people in her hallway.
"Meg!" My mother cried softly, wrapping her arms around me and kissing my cheek. "Darling, we've missed you,"
I did not reciprocate her hug nor did I believe a word she just said.
"Really?" I asked flatly, raising an eyebrow.
"Enough!" My father said loudly, making everyone look at him and my mother stepped away from me, her head bowed.
My father glared at her before turning his glare to me.
"We need to talk," he said in a low voice to me.
"Fine," I shrugged, trying to act as though being here surrounded by some of the most evil people in the country didn't bother me in the slightest.
I gestured my hand down the hallway "After you," I said smirking at him.
I could see a muscle in his jaw ticking as he looked at me for a beat before raising his arm and pushing me towards the stairs "Up" he commanded.
Once I reached the top step, he grabbed my arm and guided me towards a closed door on which he knocked, waited for a moment and then opened. The room inside was dark, save for the roaring fire in the fireplace. A tall silhouette of someone standing in front of it watching the flames instantly caught my eye.
"My Lord," my father dropped to one knee, trying to pull me down with him.
The figure spun around and I looked up into the face of Lord Voldemort.
"Ah Max" Voldemort said, stepping closer to us "I see the collection of your daughter was successful," he looked closely into my face and I instantly slammed up the barriers in my mind, knowing exactly what he was attempting to do. Sensing this, Voldemort's lip less mouth turned into a twisted smile.
"Well, aren't you all grown up," Voldemort said venomously.
I remained silent, focusing all my energy on keeping my mind shut.
"Are you wondering why you've been brought home to your family?" Voldemort asked me.
"Not really," I said, although I was more than curious.
Voldemort looked at my father who was still kneeling.
"Max, why don't you show her to her room?" He said as my father stood up.
"My room?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow.
"Well of course," Voldemort said looking back at me. "Nothing but the best for the Megera family."
He turned back to the fire.
"I expect you to attend our meeting tomorrow night, Meghana."
"What meeting?" I asked curtly.
"Meghana," my father warned.
"Calm yourself Max," Voldemort said softly "She will find out in due course. You will be glad to know you won't be our only guest from Hogwarts."
"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked, panic rising in my chest.
But Voldemort ignored me as my father grabbed the top of my arm once again and pulled me out of the room and into the hallway again.
He marched me to a room the end furthest away from the staircase and tapped his wand on the door lock and it swung open immediately.
He pointed his wand at the ceiling and a dim light came from the small chandelier, bathing the room in a yellowish glow.
He pushed on my back as an indication for me to go inside, which I supposed I had no choice but to do. He walked in behind me, the door closing behind him.
"Dad, what the fuck is going on?" I said spinning around to face him, my temper flaring.
My father looked at me, for a second I thought I saw fear flash over his face but it vanished so quickly I couldn't be sure.
"You need to tell me where that diadem is," he said to me, his jaw ticking again.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I lied, turning slightly to look around the room. It was big, decorated magnificently with a huge carpet covering most of the stone floor. Bookcases stood around most of the walls and a large four poster bed sat in the middle.
"You're a liar." my father said dangerously "And you will not be able to conceal its location for long."
"What did Voldemort mean, I'm not the only one from Hogwarts here?" I asked conversationally, looking back at my father.
He flinched at the name and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Voldemort's so-called greatest and most loyal Death Eater can't even bear to hear his name.
My father stared at me for a beat before smirking malevolently. "Hope you like this room Meghana, you'll be in it for as long as you keep lying about what you stole from me,"
"You can't keep me in here," I said, fully aware that he most likely could.
My father chuckled, stepped over to me, grabbed my face in his hands and kissed my forehead. "Welcome home sweetie," he murmured as he turned his back on me and strode out of the room.