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August 6, 1993
"You said that you want to reevaluate the way you and your family think in our letters back and forth. You also mentioned righting any wrongs that you did to me, but I can't exactly recall anything aside from events at Hogwarts with Lacerta… what did you mean when you said those words?" Harry paused, then continued after another few seconds, wanting to get out one more question for the older woman to answer whilst he still had the confidence. "Lacerta told me how important it was to your family, but she didn't have to. None of you had to say anything about it and I wouldn't have wanted anything in return. Why did she tell me about it and why did you insist on writing to me during the summer?"
You both didn't have to come here either, it could've waited or we could've used our owls like we've been doing, Harry added mentally, unease filling him as he looked between the two Malfoy women.
He had heard many stories regarding them, mostly from Ron or the other Weasley siblings, but also a fair number from those who shared a house with him. Gryffindor was ripe with anti-Slytherin stories and whilst that certainly made sense on account of their behaviour, he did sometimes wonder how true those stories were. Like the one that mentioned Malfoy wanting to get him stuck into a marriage contract — that hadn't happened, it never would happen, the girl disliked him far too much and always sought to bring up their differences in blood.
"Interesting questions to start with, but important ones nonetheless if this friendship is to stand on sturdy ground," Narcissa said, smiling amiably at him, her sharp features and friendly face setting him at ease, at least partially so before she continued on. "We fought against your family in the first war, albeit thanks to the Dark Lord ensnaring my husband's mind. It was truly unfortunate and whilst it was directly outside of our control, the fact remains that we're not allies, nor have we been such in well over a few centuries. We would see that fixed on account of your recent heroics regarding our continued existence, as my Lacerta likely explained. Now, for your second question, the answer is much simpler my dear, honour and knowledge."
"Honour and knowledge?" Harry parroted back to the older woman, curious and hoping she'd elaborate on her answer.
"Exactly right. Our family prides itself on fighting for traditions, honour and family values. We've done so since the start of the Ministry and a good bit of time before even they existed, at least in a formal sort of way. Honour would dictate that we hold ourselves to the standards our family once did, though only to those we deem worth honouring," Narcissa smiled brightly at him, one of her hands coming to pull Lacerta closer against her side in what he assumed a motherly hug was like; it was all in the eyes, he'd seen it with Missus Weasley and he knew for a fact it wouldn't be a coincidence if Narcissa was doing it. "As for when I said knowledge, it's a far more straightforward answer and dare I say, one that's less altruistic than it would make us out to be. Suffice to say, my husband and the three of us are not the only ones who know about your having saved Lacerta. Should word get out to the general public that you did just that and we're seen avoiding you, or worse, actively opposing you, some of our own allies who lean towards neutrality would see it as a reason to remove us."
"So it's all for politics that you're helping me and offering me whatever I'd like?" Harry asked, suddenly back to his earlier nervous, vaguely hostile appearance as he looked between the two girls he was seated with enjoying a hot cup of sweetened tea.
Lacerta finally piped up, that dusting of red still on her face but she didn't seem to care. "We're helping you because we decided it was the right thing to do for both us and you, Potter. Our reasons are our own save for what I told you in the hospital bed, so do you want our assistance or should we say we've tried and go home?"
"That'll be quite enough of that, daughter," Narcissa said immediately, waving her hand as a magical light glowed on Lacerta's lips, the younger girl rolling her eyes and huffing silently as her mother turned to look back at Harry. "My apologies for her outburst, this change of plans and the potential for it to harm us politically and economically are rather stressful, as you can imagine. Many of our friends, those that were hardline supporters of the Dark Lord, would consider our meeting you alone like we're currently doing, as a form of treachery."
Harry wasn't sure what to say to that specifically and so he chose to say nothing. He wasn't raised with politics in mind like Lacerta was, he barely even paid them any attention in the Muggle world unless the Dursleys brought something up. Even then, he would usually stay well enough away from the stupidity that resulted in different groups of people shouting at each other for no good reason.
As if she could see it on his face, Lacerta snorted. She didn't try to speak, he doubted that she could, based on whatever Narcissa did, but she picked up on his lack of care towards anything political. It was too bad that she didn't share the sentiment, or else they would have likely gotten along far better than they currently did; he remember old teachers of his saying that it was one's views more often than personalities that got in the way of people making friends or amends with one another.
"Were those your only questions, dear, or do you have more that you'd like to ask without my Lacerta cutting you off?" Narcissa glanced over at her daughter, one eyebrow raised as she looked at the skulking younger girl who suddenly found herself unable to speak. "If you're ready and willing to behave like me rather than your father, I'll remove the inhibitor spell placed upon your mouth. Do you agree, daughter?"
Merlin, who could have thought that the word 'daughter' could sound so threatening… only the Malfoy's could make it be like that, Harry thought as he watched them hold a silent conversation filled with gestures and sharp looks before, ultimately, Lacerta hung her head and gave a small set of nods to the older woman. Narcissa shortly thereafter flicked her wand and nodded over to him, satisfied that Lacerta was seemingly over her random annoyance.
"What would we do if we went around Diagon and Knockturn Alley together? It's a bit early to shop for Hogwarts supplies, isn't it?" Harry asked, moving on rapidly from politics in the hopes that he could ask more about what they aimed to do with him now that they were here and discussing it in person instead of over a piece of parchment.
Narcissa grinned at him, a flash of something going across her face so quickly that he couldn't make out what it was if even it existed. "We would wait and gather Hogwarts supplies when it's closer to the start of term, correct. That doesn't mean we'd stop ourselves short, not when we could further our knowledge, practical especially, about what it is you'll be going over in a general sense of the word for this year — I'm aware that your marks are mostly average, slightly above so in many of your classes and nearly perfect in one. Wouldn't you like the chance to reach a far better, deeper understanding of all that you've learned?"
Had he been just a touch more impulsive, Harry would have answered with a firm yes. As it was, he waited, reigned in his sense of urgency and opted to ask a question for clarification. The last thing he needed to do, was something illegal… all things considered. "If it's allowed, how would that work? I didn't think we were supposed to, uh, well, I didn't think we were legally allowed to use magic outside of Hogwarts' walls."
Lacerta giggled for all of a second before that turned into a short bout of coughing and Narcissa, for her part, only smiled charmingly at him. She was the picture of what he imagined Lacerta wanted to be when she grew up, only far nicer. "You'd be right to assume that magic outside of Hogwarts is illegal for nearly all of her students, fortunately for you, we're one of the families on the Hogwarts board and for that very reason, our household is allowed otherwise. I should mention that most Pureblood families still practise regardless of the laws, albeit in secretive ways that aren't likely to see them in trouble whereas House Malfoy has the luxury to do whatever we'd like so long as the magic itself isn't illegal. Ah, I was being forward again by way of assuming that you'd stay with us for the remainder of the summer."
"Stay with you for the remainder of summer… but what abo—" Harry was cut off with one raised eyebrow and inclined look from Narcissa, the woman stopping his series of hesitance and word-fumbling far easier than anybody else ever had.
"You would be more than welcome in our family home and for as long as you'd like. There is no time limit on this figurative debt, nor is there any reason that you, the last Potter, shouldn't be afforded the same rights as those with such powerful family names currently are," Narcissa said, finally rising from her seat and casting a discreet spell behind her back, one that made him feel another surge of nervousness before she moved closer to him, until, she held out one hand that was well in reach of his own. "This place doesn't suit a boy as handsome and renowned as you. Come with us, enjoy your own wing of our manor and make the best possible use of that time as you possibly could."
Harry stared at her hand, the events were happening far too quickly and he knew for a fact that Malfoy's father didn't like him. Speaking of Ma— Lacerta, she was strangely quiet. He would have figured her disapproval would have been made very quickly and readily apparent. For whatever reason, she didn't seem all that bothered by it, her face was only slightly hostile rather than outright and that reddening of her cheeks seemed ever-present.
What would the Dursleys say… what would the Dursleys say… please, Harry, think for once in your life before you act. He swallowed and looked up at Narcissa's face, the older woman appearing as the vision of matronly love despite the cunning behind her eyes and the sharpness of her tongue… or so he'd been told.
"Can I make my decision tomorrow?" He asked, a nervous glance cast around the room before his eyes resettled themselves on the older woman's face. "I've got a few errands I need to complete and I'd like to get them done before, well, before I make up my mind."
Narcissa glanced down at Lacerta, then back to him and that went on for nearly half a dozen times before the older woman raised her hand so that it now rested on his shoulder ever so gently. "I would feel horrible if I learned that I rushed you or worried you, Harry. This offer of ours isn't meant to make you feel uncomfortable nor is it meant to make you feel endangered. I'd like to begin our service for your benefit, in our library and call it maternal instincts, the thought of you staying in this… quaint room doesn't sit right with me."
Harry understood and looked around the old-style place one more time, mainly at his belongings on the bed. "Could I join you for a meal and decide to leave if I'd like? What about… well, I don't rightly know how to ask. Uh, sorry, I mean…"
"Lacerta, to the hall, I'd like to speak to Harry without you making eyes at him. You've clearly not been entirely forthright with me if the boy's this nervous to speak in your presence," Narcissa said sharply, semi-accurately guessing his hesitancy to speak and only making him feel minorly — majorly — awkward due to the scowl Lacerta shot him before doing as her mother bid her.
"You didn't have to do that, Mi— Narcissa," Harry said, dipping his head when the woman raised a brow at him.
When she saw him do just that, she smiled and rolled her eyes in a manner that instantly made him recognise where Lacerta had gotten the gesture. It certainly wasn't from her father's side based on how like her mother she was… the dislike, however, as well as the arrogance, had to come from her father. The only way it came from her mother was if Narcissa was expertly hiding all of those emotions whilst she stood right in front of him; he wasn't stupid enough to think that she couldn't, but he liked to think the woman wasn't horrible if Lacerta seemed nervous to build her ire.
"Say what you'd like to say however you think you're able to say it, Harry. I'm not your guardian, Minister or Professor, thus, I can do nothing regardless of what you say, should that be the cause for your hesitance," Narcissa said, one hand resting on her hip as she shot a quick look over to the door in the event that her daughter was peering back into the room. Lacerta wasn't, though he suspected that wasn't due to a lack of trying.
"How do I know I'll be safe?" Harry questioned, his head raised so that his eyes could stare directly into the older woman's. "I'm sorry if that's a horrible question to ask, Missus Malfoy, but Lucius isn't all that fond of me and Lacerta… she's never been truly wicked towards me, but you can guess that we don't get along all that well. You yourself said earlier that our families used to fight too."
Narcissa looked at him curiously, her eyes blank of any real emotion as she seemed to be thinking. He couldn't read the many emotions as they went across her face, nor could he begin to guess what was going through her mind. Truly, he hoped his words hadn't been too bold and if they had, he reckoned he'd gone and thrown against the walls any hopes of having the Malfoys as a friend. That would be horrible, Lacerta would likely be worse to him an—
"If I were to speak honestly, which I shall out of the affection I hold for you on behalf of your actions, then I would tell you that I'm unaware of any way that I could assure your safety in my family's home. Whatever I say or swear to, short of an unbreakable vow, would be pointless on account of words being nothing more than exhaled wind," Narcissa smiled faintly at that, perhaps recalling a person that had said that to her, but Harry barely took notice of that as the woman advanced slowly, one hand extended towards him. "Lucius won't try anything out of fear of my turning Lacerta against him. Ever since the incident in which we speak, Lacerta has been far too upset to spend time in the same wing, let alone the same room as her father. Should he wish for their relations to resume, he'll do as I say regardless of what that is. As for that other point, history need not play a part in the future so long as both parties are aware of it."
"Righting the wrongs of the past, like your letter said?" Harry asked, the question more for his understanding as he finally thought about what she had meant instead of him actually asking it.
Still, Narcissa felt the need to respond by way of a singular nod and not a second after, she summoned his belongings to her. "Allow me to take these for you. They can be shrunk for convenience and then we'll restore them to their original size afterwards when we reach Malfoy Manor — fret not about my husband, he's away on a business trip for the next four days and Lacerta, I'm sure, would enjoy the chance to speak with you in a comfortable setting."
I doubt that very much, Harry thought, but he didn't say that aloud to the older woman. Instead, he smiled and nodded at the older woman. If she wanted him to come that badly, he would do just that… but he'd send an owl before he did so in the event that something happened to him or he found himself in trouble. Hedwig was a smart girl, if he gave her a condition to deliver a letter rather than just telling her to do so immediately, she could keep to it easily enough.
Professor Dumbledore, for all of his mistakes, was still a man Harry looked up to. He would come to his aid if the Malfoy's tried to hold him hostage or murder him when he visited their home, not that he thought they'd do such a thing… well, only a tiny bit of him actually thought that.
To say that Harry felt horribly awkward in the Malfoy ancestral home was nothing short of an understatement. The place was horribly gaudy, screamed of their wealth and had numerous busts or statues that seemed as if they were crafted centuries earlier. He could appreciate the historical appeal of the building, but Merlin, there was such a waste of money in the building and furniture alone that it made him feel… small?
Maybe that wasn't the right word, but it was certainly intimidating when he compared it to the Dursleys, a family that was quite well off on account of Vernon's position. He supposed there was a reason that they fancied themselves as Lord and Ladies though, and if all of them had houses like this with seasonal homes too, he could understand why that was.
One thing he knew for certain, was that he was a fool for agreeing to visit the Malfoy's home. It was an incredibly stupid choice that he'd been tricked into making by Narcissa and if they wanted to get him out of the way regardless of what she claimed, it was the perfect time to do just that.
"Nervous, Potter?" Lacerta asked, smirking to herself while Narcissa had gone off in the direction of the main office, her reason being to ensure that his 'wing' of the building was prepared. Harry didn't particularly buy that, but he had his wand on him and was ready to defend himself if necessary.
I really shouldn't have come regardless of my Dursley troubles… the Malfoy's have never been my friends, he thought silently, his back against a soft chair which itself was pressed against the wall in nearly the corner of the room. It was an odd place to sit but it did allow him the greatest view and a good position if Voldemort suddenly burst through the doors with his face on the back of Narcissa's head.
He obviously didn't think that would happen, but it was the Magical world for a reason, innit?
"Harry, Lacerta," Narcissa's voice suddenly said, startling him as his head snapped towards the source of the noise which was at the direct opposite side of the building that she'd initially gone through. He didn't have a chance to ask why that was before she started speaking upon seeing both the teenagers looking at her. "Lacerta, show Harry to the Junior Wing, it'll be his for the duration of his stay should he choose to use it and if not, his for however often he'd like to visit. You'll avoid the unsavoury portions of our home and Harry, dear, please do call for Sunny if you need anything."
"Sunny?" Harry repeated, ensuring that he got the name right and accidentally summoning the aforementioned house-elf, one that looked a lot like Dobby, only without as expressive a pair of eyes.
"Hush," Narcissa said before the elf could speak. "I would like to speak with you privately, within the hour. Lacerta will provide you with a tour of your portion of our manor until you decide that you're ready. If it pleases you to know, we're due to have a guest this evening, one that I believe you'll find most beneficial in our attempt to change course so late in the game."
He wasn't afforded the chance to ask who that guest was before Narcissa was off once more and at that same point in time, Lacerta advanced on him. There was a strange look in her eyes that made him feel decidedly nervous, one that wasn't the typical dislike or annoyance that he so often associated with her. In fact, the closer she got which allowed him a better view, the closer that look came to the one that she had given him in the Hospital Wing.
It was indescribable and when one of her dainty hands seized his on account of his standing still, he didn't mind. Lacerta was allowed to lead him around all the while he looked around the entire building; the place was large, with many a side door or hall that made for a perfect ambush point. Each corridor passed or broom closet walked by would have made for a perfect place to snag him, but Lacerta kept them moving at a quick pace, her hand tightening around his all the while. It wouldn't have been too bad, walking with a vaguely pretty witch who had her hand in his, had that witch not been Lacerta, the girl who'd bullied him throughout the years.
The silence, well, it was more uncomfortable than it had ever been before. He didn't know why, he didn't care to figure out the why, but Merlin did it suck.
"You look weird," Lacerta said off-handedly, her head still straightforward enough that he couldn't tell if she was side-eyeing him or not. "Here we are, the entrance to the wing my mother has decided to give you for the evening — we both already know that you won't decide to stay, so there's no point in saying otherwise."
Harry blinked, her initial comment about his apparent weirdness completely lost on his mind as he registered her final remark, that being his likely refusal to stay at Malfoy Manor. She wasn't totally wrong, it was rather weird of him to stay regardless of how he felt. The Malfoy's, well, Lucius was a Death Eater even if the court ruled that his mind hadn't been his own. Narcissa, Lacerta's mum, he didn't know all that much about her but she didn't seem horrible; on the other hand, she had married Lucius, which meant she couldn't be all that good either.
"I don't need a tour," Harry said, nearly snorting when Lacerta dropped his hand and moved away. "I would like to ask you something else though, something I've wanted to ask you since I got you out of the chamber if you'd allow me to."
Lacerta didn't look all that pleased, what with how she narrowed her eyes at him and settled both hands at her hips. Still, she stayed nearby and motioned for him to speak in a manner he could only describe as not entirely rude.
"How did you end up getting that journal? I mean, you were very convinced it shouldn't have gone after you on account of your blood status, but that wasn't right. Do you or your family even know where it came from or if there're more?" Harry swore he saw something come across her face, he swore that he saw her wave her hand too, but she wasn't given the chance to answer and he wasn't allowed to continue before a house-elf appeared before them, his high-pitched voice already speaking the very second he was visible to the two teens.
"The Missus Narcissa would like words with you, Mister Potter. I will be taking you to her, sir," the small creature said in far better English than Dobby spoke and in a far less energetic manner of speaking.
Lacerta pouted at him, her bottom lip stuck out as she turned towards the door they'd only just walked through. "That's so very unfortunate, I suppose I'll have to answer your question next weekend on account of my going to Pansy's home for personal matters. You understand I'm sure — have a good evening, Harry. My mother will keep in touch now that I've done as required."
Like that, Lacerta was gone and he was left in the company of the elf.
Merlin, if he had hoped his saving Lacerta would make her change, he had been wrong. There was likely no helping that girl, at least not that he could see.
Harry was in front of a rather ornate set of doors flanked by a pair of statues that looked equally as expensive. The place never failed to impress him, nor did it fail to let him down on account of the squandered wealth. There was so much wasted money within Malfoy Manor, he reckoned they could have doubled the already far too large building's size. It would have been pointless, sure, but as far as he was concerned the current decorations and nearly one-hundred rooms were already on their way to being wasteful enough.
I mean, Merlin, they gave me a whole wing to myself. It was meant for a whole family, a cadet branch I think it said, and yet here I am with the whole damn thing to myself. Ron would be jealous right about now, I reckon… maybe not, actually. Don't think the bloke could deal with spending any amount of time in private with the Malfoys.
"Come in, my dear. I'd very much like to prepare for our guest and the eventual return of my husband, speaking with you would prove most beneficial in both regards," Narcissa's voice rang out from beyond the doors, the left one slightly ajar as if it'd been opened for him and he'd missed the first chance to enter… which he assumed was correct.
Harry stepped forward quickly enough that he nearly bumped the door, but he stopped short before he made a fool out of himself. Too many people already whispered about him or flat-out avoided him, he didn't need this one chance, as unlikely as it was to work out, to be wasted. Professor Dumbledore, the man would be pleased beyond belief if the Malfoys were suddenly a friend of Harry's and by extension, the Headmaster.
It would certainly mean a lot less interference at Hogwarts and far less bullying for Harry if any at all. As thick as he could sometimes be, he knew that the Malfoys were amongst the most powerful families in the wizarding world. It was very apparent to anybody with working eyes, and that was coming from somebody who needed glasses to see.
"Mi— Narcissa," Harry said, dipping his head respectfully to the older woman as soon as he burst through the doors to see her lounging behind a large, wooden desk in an equally large, comfortable-looking chair. "I thought you had stuff to do, Lacerta, sh—"
"Lacerta does as she pleases, as any daughter of mine would so long as it's within what I allow. If you'd like to have a longer conversation with her as I suspect, then you'll have to show her that you're not half as arrogant as she thinks you are, amongst other traits that she foolishly believes you possess," Narcissa nodded towards one of the seats across from her desk. "Please, do sit down, my dear. As unfortunate as it is, we have a limited time to make our preparations and I'd like to give you a crash course, as it is, on how to deal with my husband."
Lucius has never liked me. I don't think he ever well, but I'll do whatever humours Lacerta's mum.
Harry took a seat as quickly as he could without running or sprinting and as soon as he was seated, he looked over at the older woman expectantly. "I'm ready, but could you allow me one question? I'm sorry."
Narcissa waved away his apology. "Inquisitive people need not fear questions, how else will you learn about our world?" she shook her head and summoned her house-elf with nought but the tap of something on her hand and with nought but one command of 'Refreshments', the little creature was off and she resumed her speaking. "Had we the time, I would tell you to ask every single question that's lingering within your mind. As it is, unfortunately, we can't afford such a luxury and so I'll tell you to ask the one before you wait for me to finish. Please," she gestured to him, finally, with an eyebrow raised.
"The guest… you said earlier that he'll help you on the change of course that you're taking and that it'll make it easier for me, but you haven't said who the person is. Is there a reason for keeping their identity a secret, or are you doing so to keep me interested?" Harry swallowed when he finished, he hoped his question wasn't seen as rude, but he could see it if that were the case.
As for Narcissa, she shook her head with a smirk on her face. "If my daughter managed to get one trait of yours right, it was bravery. I don't believe I know a single young wizard or witch your age that would dare ask it, but yes, you're correct. I had planned to keep their identity a secret so as to entice you but now that the cat's out of the bag; Professor Dumbledore."
I don't believe her, Harry thought at the revelation.
