"Attention students!" McGonagall addressed the students at breakfast the next morning. "A few announcements before the bell rings. Those of you taking Care of Magical Creatures will have class in the main courtyard until further notice. Also, class will be taught by Hagrid until Monday." She paused to let the murmurs settle. "Third years, make sure you have your permission slips turned into you Head of House if you wish to visit Hogsmead next weekend." As soon as she finished the bell rang. The students all started to file out and head to class.
"Ready?" Draco asked Amethyst as they stood.
"Yes, I just need to find Scorpius." They headed out into the main entry. "You don't have to stay with me the whole time if you'd rather not."
"I plan on seeing this through with you. You've been there for me plenty of times, let me be there for you now." He squeezed her shoulder. She nodded.
"Dad, what's going on?" Scorpius looked between Draco and Amethyst, noting their muggle clothing.
"Professor Abbott and I have some business to take care of in London. We will be back on Sunday in time for dinner." Draco answered.
"Scorpius, can you do me a favor?" Amethyst looked at him. He nodded hesitantly. "Keep an eye on Ember. She is more than capable of taking care of herself, but she doesn't usually spend nights alone so she may come to you in the evening and then head back out in the morning."
"You can count on me, Professor." Scorpius smiled. "Be careful, Dad."
"Stay out of trouble, Son." Draco teased. He had enjoyed being able to see Scorpius a lot this school term so far. At least he wasn't alone in Malfoy Manor anymore. Scorpius winked and then headed off to class with Albus.
"He's a good kid, you did well raising him." Amethyst smiled and they headed outside. They started the walk to Hogsmeade.
"Astoria was right in the end. It's been easier with Scorpius. Thought he did try my nerves last year…" Draco said as they walked. He summarized the events of the previous year where Scorpius and Albus kept changing the course of time and when Draco and Harry had to fight side by side to defeat Voldemort in a different timeline.
"He seems to have learned his lesson though." Amethyst has heard bits and pieces but never the whole thing. "It really all started when Harry told Albus not to be friends with Scorpius?" Draco nodded.
"Yeah, he learned his lesson, especially when one timeline erased Albus' existence." Draco shook his head. "He is a good kid… so different from who I was at that age."
"That was the plan, though, wasn't it?" She looked over at him.
"Yes, it was." He smiled. "Here is a good place as any to disapparate. Leaky Cauldron?" She nodded. She placed a hand on Orion but then decided to hold him instead. Draco placed his hands on her shoulder so they would apparate at the same time and not get separated. They appeared in the back of the Leaky Cauldron close to the entrance to Diagon Alley. They made their way to the front to book a couple for rooms for the night. While Draco took care of the rooms, Amethyst texted Harry that they needed to see him as soon as possible at the Leaky Cauldron.
"Draco Malfoy?" Amethyst groaned at the sound of the woman's voice. Pansy Parkinson. Draco turned and, for a moment, wasn't sure who she was.
"Hello, Pansy." Draco said rather cooly. He hadn't stayed in touch with her after Hogwarts.
"What brings you to London and Leaky Cauldron?" Pansy didn't even acknowledge Amethyst standing right next to Draco.
"We're here on business." Draco motioned to Amethyst who was holding a very tense Orion.
"The half-blood, Hufflepuff? Ew." Pansy wrinkled her nose at Amethyst. "I'm meeting Goyle, maybe you'd prefer our company to that?"
"Not likely." Draco replied and spotted Harry walk through the door. "There's Harry, come on." He practically shoved Amethyst toward Harry. He could feel Pansy's glare on them.
"Is that Pansy?" Harry asked noticing the woman now fuming near the bar.
"She hasn't changed…" Amethyst nearly growled. "I wonder if she ever looked up the nature of a badger like I told her to…"
"What?" Draco looked at Harry who only shrugged. "Anyways, thanks for coming so quickly."
"No problem. What's going on?" Harry looked from Draco to Amethyst. She explained about the acromantulas attack and then the issue with her wand.
"Andrew Roberts has had dealings with my father. He is either a dark wizard or is, at the very least, known to associate with them. I also wouldn't be a bit surprised if the muggle police want a word with him…" Draco said after Amethyst finished.
"Chances are he knows what my father was up to and whether or not the house in Godric's Hollow is safe." Amethyst added. She was not looking forward to meeting with her father's solicitor.
"I'll one with you, but let me call Ron before we leave." Harry said.
"Why?" Draco asked cautiously.
"He's not easily recognized by most wizards at least not as having connections to the Ministry anyways." Harry replied and then called Ron. "He'll be here in five."
"Except that he's married to the Minister of Magic…" Draco pointed out.
"Okay, there is that, but most don't know he used to be an Auror." Harry admitted. "Still not as noticeable as me." He pointed to the faint-by-still-visible, lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead.
"True." Amethyst looked at Draco who threw his hands up in mock defeat.
"Were you three aware of the intense glares you've been getting from Pansy and Goyle?" Ron had noticed the death glares as soon as he walked in.
"Well aware." Amethyst shrugged.
"Bet she didn't looked up the nature of badgers then." Ron smiled at Amethyst.
"Harry, I think we missed something." Draco looked between Ron and Amethyst.
"Seems to be the case." Harry agreed.
"Shall we?" Amethyst stood up. Orion draped himself across her shoulders and remained completely still. Any passerby would not be able to tell he was breathing. The four headed out onto the streets of London. Draco walked beside Amethyst with a hand lightly on her waist. Ron and Harry were a few feet behind them. They approached the office building and Harry ducked into the coffee shop next door. Ron followed Amethyst and Draco; entering the lobby a few minutes after them and sitting on the couch in the waiting area. He picked up a magazine and pretended to read.
"Can I help you?" The young, blonde receptionist looked up from her magazine when Amethyst cleared her throat. The receptionist completely ignored her the moment she saw Draco.
"We're here to see Mr. Roberts. We don't have an appointment but it's urgent." Amethyst said which caused the woman to look briefly at her. Clearly, she didn't think much of Amethyst as she turned her gawking back on Draco.
"Mr. Roberts is quite busy, but I'll be sure to tell him you stopped by." The receptionist kept her attention on Draco. He snuck a side glance at Amethyst and smirked when she rolled her eyes.
"Call him. Tell him Mr. Malfoy is here to see him." Draco said and then winked at Amethyst.
"Okay." She reluctantly picked up the phone. "A Mr. Malfoy is here to see you, Sir." She nodded a few times and then hung up. "Take the lift to the fifth floor. Second office on the left." She, again, only looked at Draco. She'd been so preoccupied with Draco that she hadn't even noticed Harry walk in and sit down.
"You still seem to draw female attention." Amethyst teased as they headed into the lift.
"I don't think she'd handle our world very well. She probably doesn't even know Roberts is a wizard." Draco leaned against the back of the lift. "Besides, she's not my type."
"You didn't give your first name?" She changed the subject.
"I figured he'd be more likely to clear his schedule if he assumes it's my father. Not the method my father would have used though…" He answered and they stepped off the lift. Orion shifted a little but remained draped across Amethyst's shoulders. "He's good at that." He smiled. He knocked on the office door.
"Come in." A man's cold voice said through the door. They entered the office and Amethyst froze for a split second, only Orion and Draco noticed. The man stood up and walked towards them. His dark hair was greying and he stood eye to eye with Draco. His dark brown eyes swept over Draco and the landed on Amethyst. He reached his hand out to Draco, but Amethyst shook it first. Something flickered in his eyes as she did. "I was expecting Lucious Malfoy. What brings you by, Ms. Abbott?"
"When have you ever known my father to use normal means of meeting with you?" Draco retorted rather cooly.
"Quite right." Roberts motioned for them to sit. "May I offer you a drink?"
"No, thank you. This shouldn't take long." Amethyst sat down in one fo the chairs in front of the desk. Draco took the other. He heard movement just outside the door as he did. "It's about my father's wand."
"What about it?" Roberts narrowed his eyes at her.
"Why did my father place curses and hexes on it?" She returned the glare. She wasn't afraid of him, especially with Draco in the room and Harry and Ron just outside.
"Seeing as your father is dead, there's not reason to hide the truth from you." Roberts leaned forward and rested his elbows on his desk. "Your father owed people a lot of money. He went to his in-laws knowing they were wealthy. He knew his family wasn't going to help him - he'd already tried. His father-in-law said that if he agreed to kill you - or, at least, have you killed - her would cover all of your father's debts. Mr. Abbott said he readily agreed, but after a while changed his mind. He hatched a plan and found a couple of wizards to maim you. He figured you traveled so often that he could make his in-laws believe you were dead even if you weren't." Roberts took a deep breath. "Mark and Anthony - didn't catch a last name - were brothers, I believe. I'm not sure how the plan went down, but Mr. Abbott did manage to convince his in-laws that you were dead. His debts were cleared and he paid the brothers for their part. The wand was a back up plan at first. Then he decided he wanted to cause you pain."
"Why?" Draco asked. He looked at Amethyst who looked as if she were about to be sick.
"He blamed her for her mother's death." Roberts replied as though it were obvious. "The house in Godric's Hollow is clean if you were wondering."
"…" Amethyst looked at Draco, tears on the verge of overflowing. He stood and pulled her with him.
"We thank you for your time, Mr. Roberts, but I do believe there is someone outside who would like a word." Draco said and as he did, Harry entered the office followed by Ron.
"Andrew Roberts, you are wanted for questioning by the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. I suggest you come peacefully, we wouldn't want a scene." Harry has his wand raised.
"One more question." Amethyst turned to look at the man. "Where's my wand? The one you took?"
"I have no idea what…" Roberts started.
"Don't lie. You were the one who disarmed me that day. Where's my wand?" Amethyst gritted her teeth.
"Destroyed. Your father didn't want to leave anything to chance." Roberts looked at Harry. "I won't put up a fight. I've done nothing wrong." Draco escorted a very shaken Amethyst back to the Leaky Cauldron along with Ron. Harry and Roberts went to the Ministry of Magic, escorted by a couple of Aurors.
"I don't feel well." Amethyst said as they entered the Leaky Cauldron. She stumbled and Draco steadied her. Ron helped him guide her to her room upstairs.
"Something's not right." Draco said as they sat her on the bed. She suddenly collapsed and was in a deep sleep.