Lacrimula Aurarius

Chapter One

The firelight was dimming in the library at Malfoy Manor, casting faint shadows of dancing flames on the walls. Draco Malfoy was seated in a comfortable chair by the fireplace reading a book. It was perhaps the tenth book he had opened that night and he was getting tired.

Heaving an impatient sigh, he tossed the book aside, getting up quickly. `Everything in here is the same!´ he thought, striding away from the fireside. `When will I find something new? Something more interesting and informative than these old books on Dark Magic. I need to find something good. Something to prove myself. Something to show my loyalty.´

Draco walked across the vast library, glancing at the shelves, looking for something worthwhile. Spells of the Ancient World, Dark Magic for Advanced Readers, and a book simply called Curses looked the same as the other hundred books he had been researching during his holidays.

`Might as well leave,´ Draco thought. `I mean, it doesn´t look like I´ll be finding anything new here. Maybe I´ll try again tomorrow, `cause I´m dead tired right now.´ Draco began walking towards the doors exiting the library when a cold voice called to him.

"Draco? Leaving so soon?" Lucius Malfoy´s unpleasant drawl jeered. "You will never become a Death Eater. Not enough strength and will-power. Too much time on your hands yet never wanting to do anything more than lounge around during the holidays."

Draco stiffened. He knew his father was taunting him, hoping he would retort. But Draco knew better than to take Lucius seriously. The older Malfoy was jealous because the Dark Lord was clearly upset with him and thought his son could amount to more.

"No, I was just going to get another book, Father," Draco said through gritted teeth.

"Good, get on with it!" With that, Lucius left the library.

Draco walked to another shelf and picked up a new book. Leafing through it, he found nothing of interest. He did this many times, throwing aside several books. Finally he found one that might be somewhat informative, even if it wouldn´t provide anything useful on the way times were back when Voldemort was rising into power.

`Artifacts of Old. This sounds interesting,´ he thought.

He had always been interested in the history of magic. Too bad that old coot of a ghost Binns never taught them anything appealing, it was always the same goblin revolutions or some nonsense.

Draco was about six feet tall, the same height as his father, but he could not reach the top of the bookcases. Grabbing a stool, Draco reached to the top of the bookcase and pulled a few books from the topmost shelf. They were all very dusty and worn looking. `Hexes for Young Readers, Dark Arts for Dummies, and Dismembering Body Parts: A Guide.´ Draco thought. `No, nothing interesting here.´

He was about to replace the books when something fell out of the Hexes book. It tumbled to the floor and Draco stepped off the stool to pick it up. It was not dusty like the other books, probably because it was neatly concealed in the hollow center of another book. For Draco opened the book on hexes and found it to be empty, only with a hollowed out middle big enough for the other book.

Absentmindedly, Draco placed the other texts away on the bookshelves, but stared at the smaller book. He walked to his seat by the fire and sat down examining the leather-bound book. It was crafted handsomely, of maroon leather, and was engraved with some writing in gold. It was sort of faded, but as Draco held it up to the light, he could plainly see the name Emma Bluster in script written on it.

`Emma Bluster? Who could that be?´ he thought. `And what is her book doing in this library?´

He slowly opened the book, afraid that if it was too old he may tear the pages. It wouldn´t open.

Spells, he thought. `It must be something of importance, to be locked.´ Then he sniggered. `I know enough Dark Magic to do this... You probably don´t even need Dark Magic.´

"Adaperio!" he whispered softly, pointing his wand at the book. It trembled slightly, glowing and iridescent hue of red then settled in his hand again.

Draco tried to pull the two sides of the book apart again and this time it opened.

It was a journal. The pages were dated, beginning on January 1^st, 1985, but the first page was blank.

In fact, as Draco flipped the pages lightly he found the pages to all be blank! That is until an entry on June 22^nd, 1985. Here, the book didn´t allow him to turn the next page.

"Another spell," he moaned. "Patefactio!"

Nothing happened.

"Ostendo!" This time he was right. The journal´s pages unstuck and allowed him to leaf through them easily. One June 23^rd, 1985, the first entry began.

Dear Journal,

I will soon be starting at a new job. I am to be working as a housekeeper for the Potters, James and Lily, a prestigious wizarding family. Lily is expecting a baby next month and I have been hired as a live-in housekeeper to help cook and clean as well as help care for the child.

Draco stopped abruptly. The Potters, Lily and James. Harry Potter. The Boy Who Lived. `This should be good.´

I am to begin at work next week, on Monday. I think this job should be fun because I adore children. One odd thing, though, was the Potters told me I was to keep silent about anything that I would hear in their house. They are currently working against the rise of The Dark Lord. Everyone fears even to say his name. James and Lily are in league with Albus Dumbledore the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in trying to find all of the Dark Wizards who are roaming around. These are dark times so it is no wonder I had to take an oath like this to work with the Potters.

It was quite a ceremony, for this oath. Sort of a Fidelius Charm for secrets. Professor Dumbledore head it and made me swear upon my life that I would keep everything the Potters dealt with in secret. I am to tell no one any of the goings on of the Potter household.

The first secret I was let in on is quite a large one all in itself. The Potters are under the Fidelius Charm. The real Fidelius Charm. So under the care of their Secret-Keeper Sirius Black, the Potters can live safe of harm from The Dark Lord. Professor Dumbledore wanted to be their Secret-Keeper, but they insisted on using Black because he is James´s best friend. Best man at the Potters´ wedding, too. Quite a fiery young man he is, always getting into trouble. But that´s off the subject.

The entry ended there. `I knew it, this has proved interesting. Draco, you are right again!´ the young Malfoy praised himself. `I bet if I read this woman´s journal, I should be able to find something good. Very good. Especially on stupid Potter and his stupid parents. Oh how I love when I´m right!´ he smirked.

Turning the pages of the journal, it was empty until July 29, 1985.

Dear Journal,

Today is the Monday when I begin my work. I have just moved in with the Potters. They are quite a lovely couple and are very sweet. Lily is very much a dear and I am so happy to help her.

"A dear?" Draco asked aloud. `This woman seems mad!´ he thought. `Anyone who gives birth to anyone like Potter is definitely not a dear. Besides, who in their right mind calls someone a dear? Bluster´s probably ancient!´

I cooked dinner tonight as well as cleaned up afterwards. The Potters are wonderful people, however, and James even asked me if I needed help in the kitchen! Of course I declined...

Draco groaned. `Important?? This is nothing more than a stupid housekeeper´s journal! When will all of the good information come in? What´s all this about keeping an oath if there´s no secrets to tell?´

He skimmed the remainder of that entry and found nothing of use to him. `Wait, Potter´s birthday. July 31^st, everyone knows that. Gods, how he bothers me...´

July 31^st, 1985

Dear Journal,

Oh gracious me! Lily delivered her baby today! They named him Harry. What a sweet child he looks like, too. Beautiful green eyes, like his mother´s, and the same black hair as his father. I will be surprised if it doesn´t turn out as unruly as James´s.

`Ew, disgusting!´ Draco thought. `Sweet child? Potter? Emma Bluster really is off her rocker! Can you get any more annoying or ugly as that midget? His parents must have been hideous, too. Never could see why all the girls liked him... And that Weasley girl! Infatuated...Sickening.´ But Draco couldn´t forget the fact that Harry was now only an inch shorter than him, if not the same height. `An inch shorter, definitely. That prat...And nowhere as good-looking as me --´ he looked across the room at the mirror and smirked. Yet he continued reading.

Young Harry is very adorable. He hasn´t cried too much yet, and he has smiled a little. But then again, babies don´t usually smile when they are first born and he was born only this morning. He has immediately taken to his parents, and was ever a dear when I was holding him.

`There she goes with the "dear" again, the old fool.´ Draco thought, revolted.

You know, I don´t think I´ve seen a lovelier child. He will most certainly grow to be ever the gentleman, like his father.

They named Sirius Black Harry´s godfather, for which I´m thankful. I completely agree that he would make a fit godfather! He is almost like a second father to Harry already. He cares for the boy as if he was his own and being the Potters´ Secret-Keeper makes this easier for him.

Professor Dumbledore sent a letter to the Potters earlier this afternoon. He congratulated them on the birth of Harry and also informed them that Harry´s name has been placed down for Hogwarts. So on his eleventh birthday, Harry will receive the letter of admission. Lily and James both attended Hogwarts so it will be a matter of family honor for Harry to go there.

`Well, it´s more than family honor now,´ Draco thought. `Potter, famous Potter, at Hogwarts. That´s what it was.´

This ends a good day for I am quite weary. Tending to a newborn and his mother can be quite tiring. Good night.

`Took her long enough! Who cares about stupid Potter? Everyone making a fuss about him being born...´ Draco grumbled, running his slender fingers through his silvery-blonde hair. `When will this get more interesting? Come on, we need more about the times... The Dark Lord.´

The next entry he found somewhat worthwhile was dated for August 14, 1985.

Dear Journal,

Harry is as cute as ever. He rarely cries still and smiles so often! His tiny sounds of laughter truly brighten up the household.

`Gross. "Tiny sounds of laughter"?´ Draco shuddered. `That´s despicable. How could he be so "cute"?´

For it is quite hard these days. With the doings of the Dark Lord and his followers, things are getting very serious around here. Everyday there is news of the new horrors caused by him.

`There we go, keep talking. This is what I´ve been waiting for,´ Draco thought, eagerly reading onwards.

The Potters are very stressed at work and I feel that my working for them has helped them tremendously, especially with the baby. Though little Harry is generally quiet, all babies have their needs. And Lily and James are working hard these days. Murders everyday! Killings of innocents, especially Muggles. Pure terror being seen through everyone´s eyes. His Supporters are very numerous. In fact, the Ministry itself is infested with many Death Eaters as they are known. Some in very high places, too. Oh, dear, Harry is crying. Must go ~

`That blasted baby! Why´d he have to go crying now? This woman may have revealed something! So it seems idiot Potter has always been a hindrance,´ thought Draco, his steely gray eyes flashing with obvious annoyance.

September 30^th, 1985

Dear Journal,

Harry has grown so big! Well, he has grown, even if not big. He two months old now, how lovely. His eyes are so beautiful and deep they can mesmerize anyone.

`Mesmerizing? I think she needs glasses.´

And when others are talking, he looks attentive, as though he is listening and understands everything! He is quite cute. Sirius and Remus Lupin are often visiting the house, if sometimes to see Harry or other times to discuss the latest goings-on here.

They are blatantly against the Dark Lord as well. Another one who visits often is Peter Pettigrew. Can´t say I like him too much. Seems a bit weak and not too bright either. But that is only my opinion.

`Hah, she´s right about that one! Though Wormtail, if stupid, has proved to be useful in some sense to the Dark Lord,´ Draco admitted to himself.

Anyway, I must go put the water to boil before dinner, and change Harry´s diaper.

"Oh, that´s just rich. Thanks for sharing, you old hag. I´m going to have lovely dreams about Potter and his diaper. Fantastic!" drawled Draco, nauseated.

October 2, 1985

Dear Journal,

Harry is so sweet! He makes the most adorable attempts to speak, and he´s only two months! Though my grandmother would turn over in her grave if she heard me say this, I must say Harry´s fanny is rather cute. Well, this is only my journal and no one else will see it.

`You´re wrong there, lady! I´m reading it and that was gross! I didn´t need to know about Potter´s fanny. Add that to my list of nightmares.´

I know that one day he will grow up to be a great wizard like his parents. Truly amazing people, and so kind. The greatest witch and wizard of their time, no doubt. Aside from Dumbledore of course. I´ve heard that Dumbledore is the only wizard that Vol- the Dark Lord was ever afraid of. While he is on our side, we cannot lose...

At this point Draco´s head drooped onto his shoulder.