Solace in the Scent of a Rose

Chapter 3 The Gasparo Family

It was a sprawling, four-story rustic Italian villa. A feeling of wealth and bucolic warmth was created for the family and their guests inside, as it was decorated with Renaissance artwork and sculptures.

On the perimeter, the wrought iron magical gates and enchanted gargoyles guarded it fiercely.

A little over a year ago, upon his daughter Bianca's tenth birthday, Leon Gasparo arranged an encouraged marriage between her and Draco Malfoy at the behest of Lucius Malfoy. As pure-blood tradition dictated, between five and seven matches were made for both males and females at age ten, with both families declaring a semi-formal promise. Once pure-blood children grew to adulthood, they chose one of the arrangements made for them.

The day that Lucius and Narcissa visited Leon to formalize the agreement, they reviewed the arrangements in his study. The study was a tribute to everything Italian. Halfway through, they heard a loud squeal of enjoyment from the living room where Draco loitered. "That would be my daughter returning from church."

Immediately, Lucius and Narcissa rushed out to Draco with Leon following, to find Bianca in her Sunday finest tightly hugging Draco. The girl with her olive complexion and long straight black hair in pig tails that hung to her waist clung to the pale silver haired boy who looked slightly alarmed. Bianca turned to her much older brother Vico, who shook his head laughing. "I told you God answered prayers. He gave me a brother the day I started praying again for a brother or sister my own age. Papa, can I keep him? I promise to take care of him."

"I need to discuss the matter further."

"While they're talking, I'll show you the art gallery. Maybe we can swim later?"

Instantly, the adults sequestered themselves back in Leon's study. "I do apologize, but my daughter has wanted a sibling her own age for some time because of the fourteen year age difference with her own brother. Since they are children, maybe we should let them believe this, instead of trying to explain an encouraged marriage? Perhaps stronger feelings will come about in the future. Draco is welcome to stay here this summer."

Lucius' brow furrowed a moment. "I agree, but realistically Draco can't stay here all summer. I have planned several family outings as well as Father/Son time with him."

"If I may be so bold, perhaps he can stay half the summer and return weekends?"

Lucius smiled. "That is most acceptable. Bianca may stay in our home as well. Draco has been moping a bit, and I think a sibling of sorts might help him."

"That is excellent. As long as Draco is here, he will be treated as part of the family. We can try it and see how things go for a month or so."

"Within my home, your daughter will be treated as if she were family as well."

Proudly, Narcissa looked at her husband because of the progress in parenting he had made over the years. Despite Lucius' abusive childhood, he never harmed Draco, and took her advice regarding their son. "Since I don't have a daughter, Bianca will be treated as if she were my own."

"Thank you. Often I feel so much regret that she doesn't have a mother." In the corner of his study, Leon turned the trident of a Neptune statue. A door to a secret passageway opened. "Please come this way, if you would like to see how the children are getting along before we finalize our arrangements."

From a hidden vestibule, they observed the children slowly walking through the gallery, looking at all the renaissance paintings and sculptures. "Why do you act so formal? I am your new sister, so you should treat me like family."

"Malfoys are dignified. Public affection isn't dignified." Draco looked at all the unfamiliar artwork. "Is all this artwork Muggle?'

"Yes, Muggles are masters of painting and sculpture." They walked to another painting. "But we're not in public, and you are my new brother." They stared at an Impressionist painting of several ballerinas. "This is a Degas. The ballerinas are beautiful, aren't they?" Draco studied it a moment and nodded. "Why else would you be here on the very day that I prayed for a brother or sister my own age?" Draco looked at her cynically. "We can let fate decide. Close your eyes spin around and point. If you point to a painting of a family, it will mean that we're brother and sister now."

Draco spun around several times until he seemed dizzy. They walked to the painting he pointed to. Two children waded in some shallow water. "I almost feel like I'm there."

"That painting is called Brother and Sister. It's a sign."

"Well, I can't deny such a sign. I guess that's why I'm here, but I know my parents wouldn't get rid of me." Draco thought for a moment before he hugged her. "Maybe it's just for summers since I don't have a brother or sister either?"

"I'm going to a birthday party next Saturday. Will you come?"

"I guess I will, as long as my parents say I can."

"Everyone will love your silver hair since they mostly have dark hair like me. You just have to be careful of this wizard named Antonio. He's a bully who swung me by my pig tails one time. If you tell on him, it only gets worse."

"I'll make sure he leaves you alone." Draco held Bianca's hand to reassure her. "Brothers take care of their sisters like that."

"He's bigger than you are."

Draco grinned mischievously. "Don't worry. I have a few tricks up my sleeve."

After they overheard that conversation, the adults agreed to alternate the children's stays. Leon also refused an offer of an encouraged marriage to the bully Antonio. During the birthday party Bianca mentioned, the wizard named Antonio had a spell cast on him, which made it look like he wore heavy make-up for an hour or so.

For that summer, the year that followed and the summer before school, they alternated the children's stays every two weeks with short breaks throughout. Both summers, the children got along famously together and bonded as siblings. Because neither family minded the other's child, a month before school started, the families agreed that if anything should happen, they would take custody of the other's child.

Now, dutifully and sorrowfully, Leon took custody of Draco. A week had passed since Draco's parents had died. Leon prayed for them each day, even shedding tears. Draco remained stoic, while Bianca cried several times when she learned of their deaths. Since everyone grieves differently, Leon let Draco mourn in his own way, figuring he cried in private. Bianca remained at school, while Leon wanted Draco to have another week before starting Durmstrang.

Everyday Leon and his son Vico would speak to Draco, who merely replied with a few impassive words. Soon Leon learned just how Draco's grief manifested, when he heard the child vomiting after each small meal, due to bottled emotions. While he could have Vico use his voice enchantment to command Draco to express his grief, he didn't like the idea of using such influence on a child.

Instead, Leon brought Bianca home for a week. "Bianca, you know how you always want to look after Draco?" She nodded. "He's having a difficult time letting out his emotions over his parents' deaths, because he hasn't accepted Vico or me as family. Will you help?"

"I will Papa." In her room, Bianca grabbed a silver and black four inch braided cord, before running to Draco's room. She knew Draco only liked to show emotions in front of family.

Upstairs, Bianca knocked on Draco's door. "Enter."

Draco lay in bed facing the door, but turned away from her when she entered. She climbed on the bed with him so they faced each other. Seeing her brother who looked paler and thinner than normal, Bianca could tell that he wanted to cry very badly, but he had just enough control not to, so she showed him the braided cord. "Last summer I made this from our hair. It means that we're brother and sister for real." Solemnly, she thought about his parents, how much she missed them and the pain her brother felt. "They sent me home because I kept crying every time I thought about your parents." As her bottom lip trembled, she saw Draco losing control. Once his first tear broke, she let hers flow.

Likewise, his did as well. "Why? I did everything I was supposed to. Why were they taken from me?"

"I can't give you answers, but I can be here for you." For the entire time he cried, she clasped his hand while they both held the cord.

Over the next few days, Leon overheard more tears followed by Draco screaming frequently about how unfair life was. Bianca stayed at his side the entire time. At the end of a few days, Draco could eat full meals without getting sick: a sign that the healing had started.

After completing his first year at Durmstrang, Draco entered Leon's study, looking a little nervous. "May I call you Papa as well, like Bianca and Vico, or do you want me to call you ...Father?"

"I would be honored if you call me Papa just like Bianca and Vico do. I love you as if you were my own son, but I could never replace your parents. Your Mother and Father live on in your heart and that will always be your terms of endearment for them. Even though I have adopted you, you will always be a Malfoy and carry on the name and traditions, just as your parents wished." Draco smiled and hugged him. "I'm proud of your grades in school. You were at the top of your class. Have you created any new spells?"

Sheepishly Draco grinned and nodded. "Mother taught me the basics before I started school and told me how proud she was when I mastered them. However, Father always liked to see me create my own spells. He found my creativity amusing, as well as my talent in finding loopholes in the rules."

"In honor of their memory, you should keep that up. I feel the same way. As to loopholes, no matter what, I do not tolerate rudeness to anyone from house elves to Mudbloods. Manners are a sign of class."

"Yes, Papa," Draco replied. "After I escort Bianca to dance class, I'll show you my new spells."

Life continued forward for Draco Malfoy, who excelled at Durmstrang and continued his creativity. Since he didn't have his parents, Draco upheld all the Malfoy traditions that didn't deem outdated. Draco and Bianca bonded as siblings, often banding together to achieve their own objectives. They even debated with Leon about how outdated arranged marriages were, citing Vico's ever so brief marriage and subsequent divorce as proof. As a result, he nullified all their arrangements.

After achieving so much, Draco looked forward to his last year at Durmstrang, and to having Bianca join him; something they convinced their Papa to allow. Leon hoped he wouldn't regret that decision since together they became a formidable force to achieve their objectives.