Draco Times Three

Draco Times Three

By: Prongs and Padfoot

Chapter 2: The Truth

"Well, what does this mean?" Drea asked Mrs. Lafayette. Both girls were staring expectantly at her, with Desirea twirling a loose strand of hair around her finger and Drea rubbing her elbow. Mrs. Lafayette had read the letter several times before glancing at the girls and smiling fondly. Mrs. Lafayette was pretty when she smiled, and she always smiled. She was a plump woman, but not so big that it looked un-natural. She had dark brown hair and hazel eyes, and she was a kind-hearted.

"There's only one thing it can mean," she started. "Desirea. Drea. You are witches." The twins just stared before Desirea finally spoke. "We're what?"

"Witches," Mrs. Lafayette repeated. "You see, right before your mother went into labour with you two she told me she was a witch. I dind't believe her at first. I thought being pregnant and homeless had got to her head and she was turning mental. But then she proved to me that she was, indeed, magical. She told me to take extremely good care of you both, and to ensure that you went on to start your training at Hogwarts as soon as you could. Of course, I had no idea what she was talking about, but now it's all clear. You're both witches. And you will be starting at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this September first."

Both girls stared absently, taking in all this information, when finally Desirea spoke. "Witches. Huh, who would have guessed? So, when do we start?"

"Des, she could just be pulling our leg. It could all be some sick elaborate joke and we're the targets of it. Calm down and think rationally, will you?" Drea said.

"You talk like you're eleven going on forty-five. Besides, if it's a joke let's play along! Can't we think, at least for once, that something good is actually happening to us? Please, Drea?" Desirea pleaded.

"I assure you both, it is not a joke. You are witches, you are going to this school and you will not argue with me on this. It has already been decided, by me, that you will go to King's Cross on September the first. This means that we will need to get your school supplies, within the next few weeks I suppose," Mrs. Lafayette said clearly. Her voice held no room for rejection and both girls knew the matter was settled.

"Okay. But where are we going to get all this stuff?" Drea asked, walking over to glance at the second letter, which was a list of all the supplies for "First-Year Students". "I mean, honestly. I don't think we'll find a cauldron at any old cooking supplies store. And I'm pretty sure Old Navy doesn't stock pointed hats or black work robes."

"Your mother gave me a small, silver ornament shaped like a dragon. She told me that when it was time for you to attend this boarding school, we are to all touch it with one finger while one of you yell out, 'The Leaky Cauldron!'"

"Oh," said Drea, trying to sound as if she knew this already. "Okay."

"And how are we going to pay for all of this?" asked Desirea. "We only have a few pounds and no account. This would all cost a fortune!"

"Your mother saw to it that you'd be taken care of. I am in the possession of two keys, one in each of your names, at an account in a bank called "Gringotts". Your mother said that there was enough to last you all seven years at Hogwarts and a little while after that. No need to worry. She planned ahead of time for this. She knew you'd be witches."

"How come you never told us before?" Desirea said. Mrs. Lafayette shrugged.

"It didn't seem important. Besides, I didn't know if she was telling the truth or if my eyes were messing with me. Would you have believed me anyways?"

"Well... maybe not," Desirea admitted.

"And that, my dears, is exactly why I didn't tell you. Now, on with you. Tell no one of this letter or conversation. Prepare yourselves for the trip to collect you school supplies. I think we should make it on, say, August first? Yes. That would be good. It's this Tuesday. That's the only day I can spare any time," Mrs. Lafayette spoke this last part more to herself than to the twins, who had started to walk towards the door.

"Good night, Mrs. Lafayette," the girls chorused.

"Good night, dears," she answered as they left.

"Oh... and one more thing, miss: What was our mother's name?" asked Drea. She at least wanted to know her name, so that she could possibly talk to the Headmaster, this Albus Dumbledore character, about her when she got to the school.

"Narcissa. Narcissa Maloy," Mrs. Lafayette told her.

"Thank you, miss," Drea said.

"Oh, and Drea. Give this letter to the owl to deliver to the Headmistress. It's just the reply stating that you have both accepted your place as students at the school.

"I will, miss. Thanks," Drea said before turning on her heel and running to catch up with her sister. She looked deep in thought, which was something new for Desirea. "Mrs. Lafayette told me that mum's name was Narcissa. Cool name, huh?" Drea asked, hoping to make her sister leave her drunken stupor. It must have worked, because Desirea was her old, thoughtless self again.

"Narcissa Maloy? Sounds like a name a stuck up bitch would have! But, since she's our mum, I'll say nothing more..."

"You're really evil, you know that?" Drea asked.

"Only to family, dear sister. Only to family," Desirea answered while draping and arm over her sister's shoulder and steering her towards their room.

"Mother? Father? Where are you?" Draco called through the house as he searched for his parents.

"In the study, Draco," came the reply of his father's voice down the hall. Draco walked slowly, hoping his father wouldn't make a snide remark about him while he was in his presence. He knew his father never really cared for him and that he criticized him at every chance, but he hoped that for once he could act like Draco didn't need to be perfect. He checked his hair in a mirror and straightened his back before striding into the room like he owned the place.

"What is it, darling?" his mother asked, looking up from a scroll of parchment on which she was writing.

"My Hogwarts acceptance letter," Draco stated proudly while brandishing it at his mother.

"Good. I was starting to think that you were a squib by the course you were taking," his father said. 'So much for hoping he wouldn't say anything,' Draco thought bitterly. His mother glared at his father.

"Well, father. I'm happy to tell you that I am not a Squib and will hence forth fulfill my role as the next generation in the Malfoy pureblood wizarding family," Draco said. 'Ha ha, Lucius. You old man! I've got the upper hand in the war now!' was his only thought.

"Yes, well, congratulations. Go down to dinner. Your mother and I will join you momentarily," his father said blankly. Draco fumed, but stormed out of the room. Right before he left, he distinctly heard his mother say, "We'll go to Diagon Alley and get you things on Tuesday, darling!"

As soon as Draco's mother was sure he was out of hearing range, she spoke to her husband. "Lucius, you shouldn't be so hard on him. He's only a boy. It's not like he can be perfect. He looks up to you. At least show him some affection."

"Narcissa, I'm only trying to toughen him up for the world. Besides, he needs to be perfect. I can't have riff raff like that bearing the Malfoy name," was Lucius's retort.

"Yes, but if only the two others had survived--"

"I told you never to speak of them again. Do you understand?" Lucius cut his wife off, glaring at her menacingly.

"Yes, dear," she replied obediently.

Regaining his soave composure, Lucius said, "Now come, Narcissa darling. We shall go down and accompany our only son at dinner." He extended one velvet-robed arm to her, which she linked in her own. But, if he had been looking at her properly, he would have caught her facial expression that lasted only a few moments. It was the look of guilt, hurt, pain and sorrow that Narcissa felt every time she thought of them, and how she had lost them. But, even though it only lasted a few moments, Lucius hadn't recognized it. He never did.