Father

Year Seven: Part 1

It's an awkward scene at the Malfoy manor. Narcissa doesn't want to touch the new baby. Lucius has had to tend it for the last couple of months. For once, Lucius can't understand his wife. She's always wanted a daughter. He'd arranged for her to get a girl. He had not expected her to love the child like she did Draco, but he had hoped she could at least pretend. In public, he can't let it be seen how Narcissa recoils from the newborn, so he finds himself once more forced to over balance. She avoids. He coddles. She ignores, and he indulges. And since he really isn't given much choice in the matter, he tries to pretend the child is his.

Harry is oblivious to Narcissa's discomfort. He's used to loving adopted family and enjoys the novelty of the new baby. He doesn't care she's Muggle-born. She's fresh and untainted with sweet smiles and tiny fingers. Lucius has never been good at pretending without becoming. He loves his little Licinia now, though he hadn't planned to. And seeing the baby smile back at Lucius makes Harry think he's done the right thing.

Draco isn't oblivious. He sees his mother show more interest in a magazine than the infant. He remembers Dumbledore's suspicions. He doesn't want to ask, doesn't want to consider, but he knows this child doesn't belong. Her eyes are green. Her wisps of hair too dark. He knows his father has done something awful. He knows Harry is party to it. But he can't turn in his parents. He can't betray his brother. He must try to save them from themselves. But how?

He does ask for his grandmother's ring and gets it. No one asking what it's for, though his mother gives him a wary look and sighs. Lucius and Harry are too busy with the new baby to pay much attention. Draco is eager to escape and tells them he's going to visit Sirius. Permission is granted, but "Why don't you and Harry have your parties here this year? You can bring Miss Granger if you like."

Draco can't answer but floos off to Sirius's to hide his confusion. At Grimmauld place, the Order has moved in. Lupin is now a permanent resident. Neville and Ginny are there already and Hermione too. Draco's determined to keep her as far from Malfoy Manor as possible, but he tells them of the sudden infant and invitation. Moody won't listen to any nonsense about them being too young. He inducts them into the Order, Ron too. Molly tries to keep Ginny out, but she's over ruled.

They're still at Grimmauld Place when Fudge comes to read them Dumbledore's will. Most things go to Hogwarts, but Draco gets Dumbledore's wand, Hermione his Invisibility Cloak, Neville the broken ring, and Ginny an old copy of Beedle the Bard. They're touched to be remembered, but not sure what the gifts mean. The wand goes on a mantle, the ring into a jewelry box, the book on the shelf, and the cloak in Hermione's pocket. The Deathly Hallows are where they belong, shelved.

Draco returns to the Malfoy Manor for his coming of age party. All his parents' friends are there, all of Harry's. He remembers when they used to be his friends too, but that seems long ago. He receives two proposals, one willing, one clearly an arrangement. He's tempted by neither of them. Rita Skeeter was on stand-by in case he accepted and instead asks how he feels about the new baby. He mutters something less than enthusiastic and does his best to dodge her.

In the evening, he escapes back to Grimmauld Place and offers Hermione his own proposal. She accepts and that is that.

Cho is out of school and back with Cedric. It gets Harry's photo in Witch Weekly, so he's not too fussed about it. Pansy brings over her new little brother for play dates with Harry and Licinia. She's determined to demonstrate her mothering skills to Harry. She put his time with Cho to good use, dating other boys, bolstering her own popularity, upgrading her wardrobe, mastering every magical aide to beauty she can find. Harry knows what she's doing and nearly resigned to it. It is nice to have someone who backs his politics.

The Prophet runs one story on the mysterious disappearances of young Muggle-borns, before Voldemort's agents put a stop to it. The Order is stretched thin trying to guard the other unwitting parents and children, unaware of magic or the danger. The Death Eaters position themselves in the paper and the Ministry. Moody tries to warn the Minister, but everyone knows Moody is mad.

And that's what the Daily Prophet says. Moody is mad, Draco Malfoy is jealous of his parents' new heir, but charming Harry Potter loves the new baby. See how nicely he poses outside the fancy restaurant with his new almost-sister and the lovely Ms. Parkinson.

But Voldemort feels more public examples are needed. Percy Weasley is swayed by Harry Potter's argument that it's the wizarding world's obligation to take care of Muggle-born children. It's hard to say whether or not he really believes the car accident was in fact accidental, but he marries his girlfriend Penelope so they can take in the new Muggle-born orphan.

Harry believes it was an accident. Lucius gives him no reason to think otherwise. He's glad to see Percy and Penelope's picture splashed across the Daily Prophet. Tisks over Arthur and Molly's grim faced disapproval.

The mood at Grimmauld Place is increasingly somber. As the children disappear, it's easier to guard the ones remaining. But where are they going? Ron's ashamed of his brother and every time the twins ask to disown him, Molly cries.

Harry wants to know where the children are going too, and the Dark Lord shows him. They've started their new world in Little Hangleton. There are too many Muggle-borns to place them all with pure-blood families, so Riddle House has been converted into a children's home. The small village in the valley is now under Death Eater rule, erased from the maps and memories of the outside world. Harry is shown happy, well fed children who refer to the Dark Lord as "Father Voldemort". Muggle women have been recruited to change diapers and wash bottles. They dress in neat uniforms and cast their eyes down when the wizards pass. "You see, everyone with a purpose. Everything in its place."

Lucius seems to approve, so Harry does too. The children are entertained with magic and charm Harry with shy smiles and not so shy tugs at his legs. A playground has been added to the yard, and Harry watches them play until Lucius tells him it's time to go home. Yes, surely he's done the right thing.

The horcrux squad needs to get out for fresh air. A walk in Diagon Alley leads to a discovery of a magazine full of conspiracy theories about Crumple-Horned Snorkacks, kidnapped Muggle-borns, a Dark Lord returned, and Harry Potter in league with him. Who publishes this Quibbler? This bizarre mix of the absurd and the insightful. They must meet them. Turns out the editor is just over the hill from the Burrow. Ron with them, they go to meet this Xenophilius Lovegood and find a kind eccentric with a daughter their own age.

She's eager to help them. This girl Ginny knows as Looney Lovegood is full of insight and sharp as a tack. She has a few funny ideas about Snorkacks and nargles, but they're so glad for allies, they don't care. Besides Draco sees in her a weapon to rescue Harry. She's pure-blood, so his parents can't object to him bringing her to the Manor. In fact, he's pretty sure she's a second cousin on his father's side and her mother's.

She's brave enough to go, to see for herself, to try reasoning with Harry. Draco gets Ginny to give her a quick makeover before they do. No orange turnips, cork bottle necklaces, or frumpy hand-knitted jumpers allowed at Malfoy Manor. Ginny finds a nice set of lavender robes that once belonged to Luna's mother and insists she wears them. Luna's bemused but rather enjoys the attention.

Draco returns to Malfoy Manor the next day with a girl who isn't Hermione Granger. His mother couldn't be happier, until she hears the name, does the math and realizes second cousins are too close to match even for pure-blood families. As Narcissa slumps back into her chair, her attention returning to her copy of Witch Weekly, Draco tries to formally introduce Luna, but she's already drifted over to the bassinet. "May I?" she asks, and Harry nods.

"Father," Draco continues. "This is our cousin, Luna Lovegood. I discovered her in Diagon Alley, and thought she ought to meet the new addition."

Lucius gives his son a curious look and tries to remember why they had disowned the Lovegoods. "Oh, yes, that Quibbler rag."

Luna doesn't seem to hear him. She's holding tiny Licinia tenderly with sad eyes and speaking to her in a soft, musical voice. "Hello, little one." And there she is sweetness, light, and motherhood. Harry's never met anyone like her.₁ Her river of blonde hair twists and curls and beckons Harry to swim in it.

Lucius sees this and ponders it. She is a second cousin to Draco but not to Harry. No, this fine. Splendid in fact. Lucius has no daughters of his own to offer his ward, and this could bring him closer into his family.

Luna kisses the baby's head like an apology. With the greatest reluctance places the child back in the bassinet. Outside, she tells Draco. She would like to go outside. Draco escorts her out like a gentleman, and Harry follows as though compelled by magic forces.

They stop beside the reflecting pool. Draco leans against the wisteria. Luna sits on the bench, and Harry beside her. The silence hangs long, and Harry's about to ask her about his coming of age party when she speaks. "Don't you feel sorry the parents?"

And Harry's caught with his mouth hanging open. "Pardon?"

"The kidnappings. Those children being taken away from their parents. I would think you of all people would understand what it means to lose your family."

And Harry's never felt so wrong footed. "I have a family," he says, looking to his brother for support and getting none.

"How would you feel if Licinia was taken?"

And Harry squirms inside and swallows. He feels like she knows, but he can't be sure, and he can't admit. "We're protecting her. We love her."

"Love?" Luna lets the word hang there as she stands and walks to the water.

Harry's left alone on the bench. He doesn't like this conversation, doesn't like it at all. He needs to get away from it. "My coming of age party is at the end of the month. Do you want to come?"

Luna's arms have crossed and her eyes say no, but Draco says "Yes, I've already asked her."

"I'd like to go home now."

Draco is swift to offer his arm again and walks her back to the floo. He brings her back to Harry's coming of age party, but if Harry tries to talk to her, Draco leads her away. If Harry tries to dance with her, Draco cuts in. And where this tactic utterly failed on Draco, it's working too well on Harry.

They return to school. Luna's voted into the horcrux squad. They can use a fresh set of eyes and some wild theories. When he can get away from Pansy, Harry tries to talk to her again, but she looks at him so sadly. Her words are soft but pull no punches. "Voldemort really is back, you know. I would think you'd want to stop him."

Harry shrugs. "Maybe you can defeat someone without killing them."

"Yes, maybe he can."

Harry retreats back to Pansy for reassurance. He feels like there's a conspiracy against him now, and there is in a way. He remembers when Draco, Hermione, Neville, and Ginny were his friends too, not so long ago, and he can't understand why Luna hates him so much. He can understand why Hermione did, but he's never done anything to Luna.

Lucius has used his influence with the board of governors to get Snape the headmaster's position. Sirius Black is asked to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, mainly so Snape can keep an eye on him. Lucius and Snape are on a campaign to replace Divination and Muggle Studies with Magical Languages and Practical Lore.

They have supporters. "Just as long as they don't do it during our N.E.W.T. year."

The horcrux squad is busy re-examining evidence and re-examining what they know of Lord Voldemort. They dig into Tom Riddle's school records, discover his award for the capture of....Hagrid? Hagrid is questioned, and as they're far more inclined to believe him than Lord Voldemort, they decide it's more likely he's telling the truth. What was the girl's name? Myrtle? Moaning Myrtle? A bathroom examined, a small snake found on the facet. Could this be it? If I were Voldemort, I'd hide my Horcrux in the Chamber of Secrets.

This seems to make sense but how to open it? Slytherin was a Parselmouth. Voldemort is a Parselmouth. Myrtle heard a different language, with a hissy sound to it. Could it have been Parseltongue?

Ginny sighs and leans against the sink. "We need Harry."

It's Halloween. Draco catches Harry on the way to the feast and pulls him aside. "Come on, we think we've found another horcrux." Harry's intrigued but worried too. He follows Draco wondering if he can interfere without revealing himself.

Luna and the rest of the horcrux squad are there, and he's still rather intrigued by her hair but worried what she'll say to him this time. "Come on, Harry, talk to the sink."

"What?"

"The snake, on the sink right there. Speak Parseltongue to it. Tell it to open up or something."

Harry's confused, but since everyone's staring at him expectantly, he does it. And the sink does open up to reveal a large pipe. "Thanks, Harry," says Ginny. She lights her wand and down she drops.

When she calls up that she's okay, the others follow. "Good job," Luna tells him, and Harry follows too. Which was a good thing, because they needed him to open a second set of doors. Behind the second set of doors a fearsome sight greets them. A Basilisk, coiled in an enchanted sleep, quietly hissing to itself. No one but Harry can understand it, but it does nothing to reassure him. It dreams of murder and death.

Sshhh! Where should we look? Where would you hide a horcrux? Under the Basilisk. Bother, I knew you were going to say that.

Now while fighting an angry Basilisk with nothing but a sword is a difficult task for anyone, much less a twelve year old, killing a sleeping Basilisk is rather quick work for six talented Wizards who can summon a rooster. The creature is quickly killed and with magic lifted, but there's nothing to find under it. At first they're discouraged, but then Hermione smiles and begins using magic to extract the teeth.

"Decided to be a dentist after all?" Draco quips, and before Harry can ask what a dentist is, Hermione's rolling her eyes. "Basilisk venom is one of the few things that can destroy horcruxes." She summons a trunk and fills it with fangs, then sticks a couple in her pocket.

Snape has noticed Harry and Draco's absence and meets the bedraggled sextet in the hall way. In minutes, the story of the basilisk is out, and Snape confiscates the trunk full of fangs. The students are happy to leave the giant snake corpse to him, and Snape spends many a merry hour harvesting potion materials from it.

The story soon circulates around the school. Harry's the Heir of Slytherin but killed the Basilisk. What a joke on old Slytherin, hey? And this too gets Harry's picture in the paper, though he's not enjoying it quite so much. He wants to spend time with his brother and Luna and the squad again, but he can't do it without feeling the ripping stab of Luna's soft words. Draco and Hermione speak less softly. Sirius will barely look at him. Harry can't stand it. He needs to win them over, but how?

The horcrux squad is stumped again. They still suspect a horcrux at Hogwarts, but where to look? What to look for? Ravenclaw had a diadem. Luna draws them a picture of it, which is better than nothing, but where?

Dobby stops by to visit Draco and Hermione before exams. He's about to go when Draco seizes on an idea. "Dobby, can you get the house-elves in the kitchens to help with something? We need to find this diadem."

"Dobby will try, sir," the elf says happily. Two days later, he pops up with the blue stoned head piece. "You was practically on top of it, sir." The diadem is tested. Yes, definitely a horcrux. Luckily, Hermione thought to pocket those two fangs. Stabbitty, stab, stab! And the horcux is no more.

Unfortunately Dobby can't find Hufflepuff's goblet. They go home for Christmas with a little more hope, but a larger mystery.