When Lady Narcissa Malfoy entered the Ministry of Magic that morning, she expected it to be a quick visit, which is why she had also brought her children to the Ministry with her; her plan was to have a quick word with Minister Fudge about the attacks that had been going on at Hogwarts, demand he send in a host of Aurors to deal with whatever was responsible, and then quickly apparate her family to the train station, where the Malfoy family house elves were waiting with her children's luggage.
Lucius had elected not to come, stating that he had 'other responsibilities to attend to;' what other responsibilities could be more important than his children's safety, Lucius had refused to say, something that had infuriated Narcissa beyond measure. Indeed, Narcissa had already decided to have a firm word with her husband about priorities when he returned home that evening.
"I don't understand why we had to come," Draco sighed as he entered the Ministry elevator alongside his mother and sister, "We risk missing the train."
"We're not going to miss the train, Draco," Rhea replied, rolling her eyes at her little brother's petulance. "It's not even nine o'clock yet…"
"Indeed," Narcissa replied, "And to be honest, I'm not even sure I should let you both go back, be grateful I'm allowing it at all."
"What?" Draco demanded in shock, "Whyever not!"
"You cannot honestly be this dense…" Rhea replied, causing Draco to turn to her with an affronted expression. "There's something attacking students, Draco! Of course, Mother wants to ensure that we are safe before she sends us back! Honestly, the fact that the headmaster has allowed the attacks to continue for this long without informing the Ministry should also be investigated."
"Indeed," Narcissa sniffed, "The Ministry should have been informed upon the first attack. The fact that such was not done is clearly indicative that Dumbledore has entirely too much control where Hogwarts is concerned."
As the elevator continued to rise, Draco leaned over to his sister and asked softly, hoping their mother wouldn't hear,
"Rhea, do you think we should tell Mum about Dobby? You know, what he heard father say, and what he tried to do to… To Harry?"
"No." Rhea hissed back, staring at her mother's back for a moment to ensure that Draco hadn't been overheard, "We have no proof that father is responsible, and we cannot risk our family's reputation on the word of one mad elf. Especially when House Malfoy is already viewed with scorn and hate due to father's role in the previous war."
"But… What if father is responsible? We can't just let him get away with this!"
"Oh? And since when did you care about Muggle-borns and half-bloods?" Rhea asked with a raised brown.
"One of those Muggleborns happens to be my friend!" Draco hissed back angrily before he realized what he had just said and blushed, looking away in embarrassment.
"Well, well, well…" Rhea smirked, "Perhaps our father hasn't corrupted you as much as I thought. A surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one. And to answer your question, little brother, there isn't much we CAN do. Lucius Malfoy is all but untouchable politically, and if someone were to bring charges against him, the multitude of favors owed to House Malfoy, as well as the amount of gold our father would pay to ensure justice is perverted, would all but guarantee he will be acquitted of any wrongdoing."
"But what about Dobby…?" Draco whispered back, "He heard father's plan, he could testify…"
"Ignoring the fact that you're suggesting we betray our father," Rhea replied softly, "We both know how most of the Wizengamot view creatures such as house elves. His testimony would already be under suspicion due to what he is, and that's even assuming that father would chance Dobby going before the Wizengamot. The reality is that father would most likely order the elf to kill himself, and poor Dobby would be forced to obey. And, again, our father would walk free, except in this scenario, we would have made ourselves his enemy. Never forget, little brother, that our father is a ruthless man; on top of that, he is the head of our family and could very easily have us thrown out or worse."
"Father… Father wouldn't do that…" Draco whispered back, though from the way his voice shook, it was clear he didn't believe his own words; the boy still remembered when he was six and was forced to watch as Lucius brutally punished a servant for daring to spill tea on Lucius' new shirt.
"Don't be a fool, Draco…" Rhea sneered. "We both know what our father is capable of. The only difference is that you still believe there is good in him. I overcame that illusion long ago…"
"What are you two whispering about?" Narcissa asked, finally turning around to face her children and staring down at them with a pointed look.
"Nothing, mother," Rhea replied coolly. "I'm just giving Draco some tips on life and how to survive it."
"I see…" Narcissa replied skeptically as Draco stared down at his shoes so that his mother would not see his red face.
Before Narcissa could say more, the elevator doors opened and she turned around to step out, only to gasp in shock at the chaos going on around her. It almost looked to her, at least, as though she had stepped into a war room in the midst of preparing for battle; dozens of people ran past her as she stepped out, clutching rolls of parchment or else shouting orders to one another.
"What is Merlin's name…" Narcissa said in shock as she tried to make her way through the mob of people; behind her, Draco and Rhea were equally surprised at how chaotic things appeared to be.
As she approached Minister Fudge's office, Narcissa saw the man's secretary quickly writing one message after another, so fast that the poor woman had smudges of ink spots across her face. Once she was done writing one message, the woman waved her wand over the parchment, causing it to fold itself into a paper airplane and fly away, while she immediately began to write another.
"Hem hem," Narcissa politely coughed, causing the woman to momentarily pause in her writing and look up in annoyance, the look disappeared instantly, however, once she saw who was standing before her.
"Lady Malfoy, always a pleasure to see you," the woman replied, quickly rising to her feet and smoothing down her somewhat rumpled purple dress, "And you brought your children as well, how delightful."
"Good morning, Deirdre," Narcissa replied, staring at the frazzled-looking brunette. "I wonder if I might have a quick word with Minister Fudge. I realize that I don't have an appointment, but I was hoping that…"
"Minister Fudge is not taking visitors at the moment," Deidre replied quickly. "There's been a series of attacks at Hogwarts that Headmaster Dumbledore just made him aware of a short time ago."
"Dumbledore told the Minister about the attacks?" Narcissa replied in surprise, "That's why I'm here as well, as luck would have it. I came to demand the Minister take action before any more students are hurt."
"Dumbledore has already made the Minister aware of the Basilisk," Deidre replied, causing Narcissa, Rhea, and Draco to pale instantly.
"Basilisk!? You mean to tell me the creature responsible is a Basilisk!"
"I take it you were not aware," Deidre replied,
"No, I bloody well was not!" Narcissa cried out, "How the bloody hell did a Basilisk get into Hogwarts? The wards should have disintegrated it before it got within a mile of the school!"
"Minister Fudge asked the same question; according to headmaster Dumbledore, the creature is the former familiar of Salazar Slytherin. Apparently, it's been asleep beneath Hogwarts this entire time, and somehow was awakened."
"Beneath Hogwarts…" Narcissa replied in confusion before realization flashed across her face, "The Chamber of Secrets… It's real…?"
"Apparently so…" Deidre nodded, "Dumbledore's already in hot water for waiting so long to inform the Ministry, especially since one of the future lords of the Wizengamot has become the creature's newest victim."
"What?" Narcissa gasped, "Who?"
"Harry Potter," Deidre replied, causing the three Malfoy's to gasp in horror,
"Harry's been attacked?!" Rhea and Draco cried out,
"But I was just there! I was just there a week ago!" Narcissa replied in horror, "When did this happen!"
"A week ago, apparently," Deidre replied solemnly, "The same day another student was petrified, a Ms. Hermione Granger, I believe her name was."
"Is he alive?" Narcissa demanded, slamming her hands down onto the desk before her and making the secretary jump in surprise.
"I wasn't aware that you and the young Lord were so close, Lady Malfoy…" Deidre replied in surprise, making Narcissa scowl at herself for publicly losing control.
"Harry is a family friend," Rhea growled. My mother was his escort to our family's Yule ball. So, naturally, you can understand our feelings regarding the boy's safety, I hope."
"Of course, Lady Malfoy," Deidre replied in embarrassment. "My apologies for worrying you both so much!"
"Is. He. Alive?" Narcissa demanded through grit teeth as Rhea fell back,
"Thankfully, yes. According to Dumbledore, there was an altercation between Lord Potter and another student; Lord Potter was returning to his dormitory after a severe scolding from the headmaster when the boy encountered the Basilisk and was injured. He wasn't petrified, thank Merlin, but the beast did leave the boy in a severe state of injury. Minister Fudge is furious about this, let me tell you! He told Dumbledore that the headmaster should have informed the Ministry immediately after the first attack, and I couldn't agree more, if I'm being perfectly honest with you, Lady Malfoy. The fact that no one has died yet is a miracle!"
"Indeed…" Narcissa whispered back before slowly closing her eyes and whispering a silent prayer of gratitude to Merlin that Harry was still alive. Unseen behind her, Narcissa's children were both showing very different expressions; while both showed relief at Harry having survived his encounter, Draco had an expression of horror that his former friend had been put into a situation where Harry had to encounter the beast in the first place.
On the other hand, Rhea looked enraged and had her hands clenched so tightly that her knuckles were white. Having spent nearly her whole educational career in Slytherin, Rhea knew the story of the Chamber of Secrets like the back of her hand, but never in her wildest dreams would she have believed that the chamber was actually real, nor that Slytherin's monster, a Basilisk no less, was still alive within it! Rhea didn't know how her father could have possibly discovered the secret to awakening the beast. Still, she knew without a shadow of a doubt that Lucius Malfoy was responsible for the attacks at Hogwarts. It was because of her father that Harry had nearly died.
"So, I take it all of this is Fudge's response?" Narcissa asked, opening her eyes and waving an open hand at the chaos going on around them.
"Indeed," Deidre nodded, "Minister Fudge has already alerted the Auror Department and the Beast Division and ordered them ready to leave for Hogwarts within the next two hours. Also, Aurors are already standing by at the Hogwarts train station to inform the students returning from holiday break that they are to return home until the situation is resolved. The students still in the castle are being told to remain in their common rooms."
"Are they being told what the situation is?" Narcissa asked,
"No," Deidre replied, "Minister Fudge doesn't want to start a panic; all anybody who doesn't already know is being told is that there is a situation at Hogwarts and that the Ministry is dealing with it. Hopefully, with the help of the goblins, the beast will be quickly found and destroyed."
"Goblins?" Narcissa asked in confusion, "What do those vile little creatures have to do with this?"
"Apparently, Dumbledore has reached out to Gringotts for aid; he's offered Gringotts full rights to the Basilisk's carcass in return for their help in finding its lair and destroying it."
"You cannot be serious!" Narcissa cried in shock, "If this is indeed the familiar of Salazar Slytherin, the beast would be over a thousand years old! It belongs to Hogwarts, not to a group of greedy creatures like the goblins! Why the devil would Dumbledore make such a deal!"
"I can't say, but it caused more than a few headaches here, I can assure you! The Minister nearly blew an artery when Dumbledore told him, and I'm afraid it's too late for poor Cornelius to do anything about it. Gringotts has already sent word that it will be sending one hundred of its best warriors to Hogwarts within the next few hours. Its why Minister Fudge is trying to get there first."
"He figures if the Ministry can find and kill the beast first, then they can claim the carcass before Gringotts…" Narcissa mused,
"Exactly," Diedre nodded.
Slowly releasing a weary sigh, Narcissa brought her hands to her head and began to rub her temples, her eyes closed in annoyance.
"Just when I think that Cornelius Fudge cannot possibly show his incompetence any more than he has already done, he surprises me… Shame on the House of Fudge! Shame!"
"I beg your pardon?" A voice behind Diedre barked, causing the secretary to turn around and gasp in shock. Minister Fudge had apparently heard the commotion outside his office and came out to discover the cause, arriving just in time to hear what Narcissa said about him. As the noise dropped away, Rhea and Draco looked around and saw that the entire floor had apparently stopped what they were doing and were listening to Narcissa, who was now glaring angrily at the Minister.
"Four children have been injured, Cornelius," Narcissa said in a voice as cold as ice, "Four. Including an heir to an Ancient House which has sat on the Wizengamot since its founding. That is what you should be concerned with! But instead, all you're worried about are the galleons you will lose if Gringotts kills the Basilisk before the Ministry does. Shame!"
"Lady Malfoy, I can assure you that the safety of the students is my top priority," Fudge blustered, aware that every eye was now on him.
"I hope that is the truth, Cornelius," Narcissa hissed, causing the man to take a step back from her rage, "Because if one more student is harmed, or Merlin forbid, killed, because of your greed, then I promise you I will bring the full weight of House Malfoy down on your head!"
Fudge paled at that and visibly paled as Narcissa levelled a glare on him for a moment before grabbing her children's hands and storming back to the elevator as those watching began to whisper to each other.
"What are you all doing standing around?" Fudge demanded, glaring angrily at those still staring at Fudge and whispering, "Get back to work!"
As chaos once again began to unfurl around the office, Fudge nodded once before turning back to his secretary,
"Ms. Rollings, kindly remember that this is an office and not a social club," Fudge sneered at the paling woman.
"I'm… I'm sorry, Minister. Lady Malfoy wanted to talk to you and…"
"I don't want excuses, Ms. Rollings," Fudge interrupted, "What I want is for you to do the job you were hired for! Unless, of course, you no longer need your position?"
"No, sir!" Diedre cried in panic, "I'll return to work immediately, sir!"
"See that you do," Fudge sneered again, "And kindly inform me when Madam Bones arrives."
"Yes sir…" Diedre replied meekly as she began to furiously write out messages again; Fudge stared down at her imperiously for another few seconds before spinning on his heel and storming into his office, slamming the door behind him.
XXXX
An hour later, Rhea walked into the Malfoy library to find her little brother staring out of the nearby window, his hands clutched tight behind his back.
"Here you are, I've been looking for you, little brother."
"I needed some time alone," Draco replied softly, his eyes fixed out the window at the grounds beyond, "Where's Mother?"
"She's gone to Hogwarts," Rhea replied, causing Draco to turn to her. "She said she wanted to check on Harry and have a serious conversation with Dumbledore."
Draco smirked at that. Narcissa had been in a rage ever since coming back from the Ministry. Her temper had only grown worse with her inability to reach her husband, who had seemingly disappeared.
"You want to talk about it?" Rhea asked softly, sitting in one of the comfortable chairs and crossing one leg over the other.
"About what?" Draco asked, turning to face his sister. Rhea wore a Slytherin green turtleneck and black skirt, and her long hair was elegantly braided down her right shoulder.
"About whatever it is that's making you behave like a sullen teenager," Rhea sneered, "I thought I had a few more blessed years before you entered that miserable stage of life..."
"What would you like me to say?" Draco replied, taking the chair next to his sister, resting his elbows on his knees, and clasping his hands together in an almost prayer-like manner. "That I allowed my fear of our father to cost me the only true friend I've ever had? That I threw away a true friend because I was too cowardly to say no to our father? Harry could have died, and if he had, I would never have been able to apologize for how horrible I've treated him..."
"So, you've decided to go from sullen to self-denigrating?" Rhea sneered, rolling her eyes, "Merlin, you really are turning into a teenager..."
"It's not funny!" Draco spat back, "Harry almost died! Hermione too! And it's all our father's fault! And I... I was too much of a coward to stand up to him when he ordered me to turn my back on Harry! What kind of person does that make me, that I would so easily toss away a friend like that at the mere word of another!"
"Yes, you were a coward..." Rhea replied softly, clasping her hands together and resting them on the knee that was crossed over her other leg, "Yes, you threw away a true friend, all because you still desire the approval of a man fueled by ignorance and the idiotic belief that blood determines worth. And yes, Harry almost died, and if he had, you would have been left alone. Just like before."
"Don't stop now..." Draco sneered, "I'm sure you have more castigations you can levy."
"Oh, loads," Rhea smirked back, "But I'd rather save them for when you actually deserve to have them used upon you. Draco, you're my little brother, and I love you, but sometimes you can be such a fool. For years, I've watched you follow behind father like a puppy, copying everything he said or did. I'd long ago resigned myself to seeing you become father's mirror copy, even as I found the prospect disheartening and loathsome. But then, a miracle occurred; you met Harry and finally began to do the one thing I always hoped you'd do: think for yourself."
Draco looked up from his knees in surprise at that and saw Rhea smirking at him.
"Now, you must decide for yourself what kind of man you truly wish to be," Rhea continued, uncrossing her legs and rising to her feet, "Do you wish to be like Lucius Malfoy? Powerful but alone and despised. Or do you want to be someone else?"
Without another word, Rhea walked out of the library, leaving Draco to stare after her in shock; in all the years that he had known her, Rhea had never talked to Draco like that. Ordinarily, Draco's sister was cold, seemingly uncaring about anything that went on around her, but since Harry had entered the Malfoy's lives, Draco had noticed a change in his sister, just as Draco had noticed a change in himself.
Did he really want to be like his father? In years past, Draco would have said yes in an instant, but now? Now, Draco wasn't so sure; Lucius may have been everything that a Pureblood could aspire to be: powerful, feared, wealthy, and above all, respected. But he was also cold, conniving, vindictive, ruthless, and cruel; honestly, if Draco had to pick someone he wanted to be like, the answer was... Harry.