Happy Monday y'all! UK is in the middle of a heatwave and I'm melting.
Enjoy,
LM xxxxxxxx
Finally Belonging Somewhere-Part 17:
"Where will our room be?" Narcissa asked the Headmaster.
"In the staff area with room for Aurora to stay if she needs to which I'm guessing will be probably tonight," Dumbledore said.
"Lucius has probably gone to make sure that retraction is printed in the Evening Prophet," Narcissa said before looking at Aurora, "hard to believe something so fragile and precious has managed to break through into our family."
"They say the most beautiful are also the most damaged," Dumbledore said, "you should know that Narcissa after everything that's happened in your family."
"I will tell her everything when she's old enough Dumbledore. Right now I have to figure out a way of telling her that Rita Skeeter gets her kicks out of hurting people and being untruthful," Narcissa said softly before pushing Aurora's hair out of her face as the young witch finally began to wake up.
"Narcissa," Aurora said softly as her eyes began to open.
"Hey little Flower," Narcissa said softly helping Aurora to sit up. She passed her a glass of water and waited until she'd drank it before speaking again, "Lucius is sorting everything out."
"The woman said I'm insane…a lunatic…" Aurora said, "am I?"
"No! Of course you're not. You're just a girl who bad things have happened to," Narcissa said softly, "but you really did scared me as you answered the mirror and nobody could find you."
"I didn't mean to scare anyone. I had to get away before they locked me up…"
Narcissa's heart broke and she pulled Aurora onto her lap and held her close,
"Nobody is going to lock you up Aurora. That's in the past now darling," she said as the doors opened and Aurora whimpered before she saw it was Lucius and relaxed.
"It's all in hand. A retraction will be printed be printed in both the Evening Prophet and the Daily Prophet tomorrow morning," Lucius said, "has she been checked over?"
"Of course she has Lucius. She hasn't long woken up. That was a powerful enchantment on that room," Narcissa said before smiling as Lucius stroked Aurora's cheek.
"Where will our room be?" Lucius asked.
"In the staff area with room for Aurora," Dumbledore said, "Narcissa doesn't want her to go back to the dorm tonight and I don't blame her. Once the Evening Prophet is out things will change yet again."
"We wish to be shown to our room and Charlotte Lewis, Draco and the Greengrass Sisters to know where it is," Narcissa said, causing Dumbledore to call a House Elf who took the Malfoys and Aurora to the assigned room.
As soon as they'd entered the room Aurora went over to the window and instantly sat down in the seat before Narcissa found Lucius's arms around her and the two stood there just watching Aurora as she looked out of the window.
"Why have you suddenly decided to show me more affection?" Narcissa asked.
"Because I want to show Aurora that we do love each other and there is love in our Manor," Lucius said before kissing his wife's cheek softly, "we'll be having dinner in here with Aurora as we need to spend time with her as her foster parents."
"What about the Evening Prophet?" Narcissa asked.
"It will be delivered here to me by a speedy owl," Lucius said.
"You really have thought of everything haven't you?" Narcissa asked.
"Of course I have my flower," Lucius said before going and unpacking his things, "we'll be backwards and forwards so I only have the basics here but it's better than nothing," he said. Narcissa took a quick look and saw Aurora reading a book so she went to help Lucius unpack their things.
"I'll probably stay here for a few days," Narcissa said, "it's not ideal but she has to come first," Narcissa said, "everything we do now we have to think about her and how it affects her."
"Yes we do but once she gets help and matures a little she will be able to understand things more and cope more on her own. When are you going to tell her?" Lucius questioned.
"Dumbledore asked me the exact same question. He also said that the most beautiful can often be the most damaged," Narcissa sighed, "I know that's true for me…but Aurora…?"
"Is exactly the same as you and that is why she has the connection with you Cissa," Lucius said kissing her forehead softly and letting her unpack some of her stuff.
A while later and Aurora was laid on her stomach on the window seat, Lucius was at a desk working through some Ministry work and Narcissa was organising more Winter Ball bits and bobs when a noise from the window disturbed Aurora. She looked up and opened the window and the owl flew straight over to Lucius.
"Stay there Aurora," Lucius said as Narcissa hurried over to Lucius and they looked at the newspaper. Clearly the Evening Prophet had arrived.
Public Apology to the Malfoy Family from the Editor in Chief:
The editor in chief wishes to apologise to the Malfoy family and Miss Aurora Edwards for the damage and distress the article by Rita Skeeter in this morning's Daily Prophet has caused.
As soon as the Prophet had been distributed I was personally visited by Mr. Lucius Malfoy himself and he was rather unhappy. I can't blame him actually after learning what I did.
I was shown young Aurora's medical report that was compiled during the recent visit to St. Mungo's and it does make for rather horrifying reading. This young witch, who was at Mrs. Davis' orphanage for witches based in London, had been severely let down by the very system that was in place to protect young witches like Miss Edwards. She was clearly let down by the system and was telling the truth about everything that has happened.
I personally contacted St. Mungo's for any comment and a spokeswitch replied with:
"Miss Aurora Edwards was indeed here with Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy and was seen by the Malfoy's family healer a few days ago. It was an emotional and tough visit which was treated with the upmost confidentiality and sensitivity given how young Miss Edwards is. Both physical and mental reports were made and both will be used as evidence against the orphanage."
Mr. Malfoy confirmed that they will be seeing lawyers' advice and will be suing the orphanage for their clear failings in protecting Miss Edwards from the bullies that clearly had her targeted out from the start of her time at the orphanage.
So I am personally sorry for any damage and distress that was caused to Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, their son Draco, Aurora and their friends. Rest assured the matter will be severely dealt with at the Daily Prophet.
Aurora watched the two adults and wondered what was going on before she saw Narcissa beckoning her over so she went over and Narcissa wrapped an arm around Aurora and let her read the article and then smiled softly.
"They apologised," she said softly.
"I told you Lucius would fix it. Now we'll be having dinner just the three of us and you'll be staying here in that bed overnight," Narcissa said, "so carry on reading and I'll call you when it's time." Aurora nodded and headed back to the window seat and resumed her reading as Lucius and Narcissa both carried on with their work. One problem dealt with and no doubt another one would follow no doubt.