Lost and Found...Love

Chapter 24

Draco's Decision

"Now, Mister Malfoy, tell us what has happened that you feel such as urgent need to talk with us." Dumbledore asked.

"Mother has gone into hiding."

"What!" Snape gasped, but Albus held up his hand.

"Did she say why she has taken this rather unusual action?"

"Yes. Apparently she's under the impression that she's about to be kidnapped and held as a hostage by the Dark Lord. To be used by him to blackmail me into becoming a Death Eater. Here," shoving the letter at Dumbledore, "read it yourself."

Draco started pacing as Dumbledore read through the letter and then handed it to Severus. Turning, he watched Draco stalk the length of the room and back.

"What is it you would have me do, Mister Malfoy?"

"The question is, sir, what am I supposed to do? She's out there, somewhere, alone, pregnant and scared to death; for herself and for me, apparently. And she dumps this whole mess in my lap! What do I do now?"

"It would seem your mother is safe at the moment and she obviously wanted to remove herself as a part of any decisions you must make about your future. However, beyond her reasons, the fact remains, you will soon be of age and because of your father's death, you will also be the head of the Malfoy family.

"Voldemort's interest in you and your family's wealth are a factor you will have to consider when you make any decisions about yourself and your family: those living and those still to be born.

"Narcissa is doing what she thinks is right for her and her unborn child's safety." Dumbledore looked at him, and smiled slightly. "She is, necessarily therefore, forcing you to grow up and assume your rightful position; rather abruptly, to be sure, but also inevitable."

X # X # X

"Mister Malfoy." Snape turned to him, letter in hand. "You mother says Lucius made it clear he would have taken you to your marking ceremony the night he died. Professor Twigg-Jones was to be the victim of your first killing spell. Were you aware of this?"

"No, I had no idea of his plans, I only heard about it afterwards." Draco returned to pacing the floor. "I hadn't seen Father since his trial. I was sick when Mother went to visit him at New Year's and didn't accompany her. She was with him again when she was summoned to Voldemort's hideout right after the escape but she was port keyed and doesn't have any idea where she was."

Snape and Dumbledore exchanged glances.

"I only found out he had been to the Manor when she regained consciousness and told me who had attacked her. You were there, Professor, you heard her."

"Yes."

"Draco, I must ask you...are you thinking of joining the Death Eaters?" Dumbledore said quietly.

Draco stopped, turned and faced them both. He looked confused and shook his head.

"I don't honestly know, now. It seems so far removed from here, from everything I'm used to: school, the Manor. I don't understand why the Dark Lord would want me right now; I'm just a kid. Would he want me as a follower or as just another body to fill my father's empty space?"

"It's your family name and fortune he wants, Draco," Snape explained. "I was recruited for my abilities with potions. Your father's name, family history and connections in the Ministry, and of course, your family's resources, were his entry into the inner ranks."

"That's another thing." Draco ran his fingers through his hair, distractedly. "I don't know how my father's business dealings work. I'm supposed to meet with his solicitors at Gringotts right after school ends, to find out the details and make some decisions that I probably won't understand. I was assuming my mother would be there to help me."

"Has anyone contacted you; your Aunt Bella, perhaps?"

"No. Just this letter from Mother."

"They may not even be aware Narcissa has gone into hiding...yet."

"Hold on! If she's in hiding, who's her Secret Keeper? I don't know of anyone she'd trust. It's not you, is it, Professor?" Draco spun to face Snape, who shook his head no. "Maybe she's just gone somewhere, without doing a 'Fidelius' charm and then could be tracked down and caught. SHIT! Now what do I do?" Draco was looking frantic, then, suddenly, his face turned into a furious mask. "Damn him! It's all his fault!"

"Who is at fault?" Dumbledore asked gently.

"My Father!"

"I think you'll find it goes further than that, Draco. The source of all this death and suffering is Voldemort."

"Trying to influence me, Headmaster?"

"No, just stating a point of view for your consideration."

"I knew you'd say that." Draco smiled slightly. "Still, that puts it all back in my lap. And I don't want it."

"Now, maybe, you'll have a better understanding of the reality Harry Potter deals with on a daily basis."

"Don't bring Potter into this! That's all I need; Mister Goody-Two-Shoes held up as an example for me to follow."

"And that would be a bad idea because...?" Dumbledore smiled at Draco.

"Because...being who he is might get him killed and that's one good reason not to follow him. I'd rather not be there when it happens." Looking at Severus, Draco smiled. "'Self preservation is a strong instinct' isn't it Professor Snape?"

"Too true, Mister Malfoy, too true, and touche." Snape gave him a small smile.

X # X # X

"You asked for my opinion and advice, Mister Malfoy, so here it is:" Dumbledore calmly began.

"First, send your Mother an owl, telling her that you understand her position and her reasoning. Tell her you will stay in touch, but only at odd intervals, to prevent the owls from being traced. A 'no news is good news' policy, if you will."

Draco nodded.

"Secondly, tell her you have informed me, and Professor Snape, of the situation. We will be here to help if you need our assistance. More importantly, if she should want help, tell her I am extending an open invitation to her to come here to Hogwarts, if her circumstances should change."

"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore, that's very generous of you." Draco answered, looking a little startled.

"Narcissa is a former student, who might require our help. We wouldn't refuse her. And thirdly; tell your mother that you are finishing the school year and will send word of your summer holiday plans in the next month. That buys you some time to mull everything over."

"Yes, sir."

"Can you think of anything else, Professor Snape?"

"No. But, I do have to ask one question; your opinion, actually. Do you think Narcissa is just out there, hiding on her own, or has she indeed found a Secret Keeper?"

"I venture to guess that, from the tone of her letter, she has indeed had a 'Fidelius' charm performed, as I doubt she would take any chances of being found. Don't you agree, Draco?"

"I think you're right, but who? That's going to bug me, that is!"

"Indeed," Albus chuckled. "Well, while we think about the endless possibilities, shall we return to our breakfast?"

"Thank you, Professors, for listening to me and...for caring." Draco put out his hand and shook first Dumbledore's and then Snape's hands.

"Anytime, Mister Malfoy...anytime."

X # X # X

Anna had finished her breakfast and was standing behind Dumbledore's chair, looking over an article in the Daily Prophet with Professor McGonagall, when the trio emerged from the anteroom. Draco walked back to his place, said a few words to Pansy and they walked out together.

Professor Dumbledore, followed by Professor Snape, walked up and Minerva McGonagall could contain herself no longer.

"Albus, what is going on?" she hissed.

"Narcissa Malfoy has gone into hiding."

"NO! Whatever for?"

"She believed she was soon to be kidnapped, by Voldemort, to be used to force Draco Malfoy to join the Death Eaters."

"What is Mister Malfoy going to do?"

"Nothing for now; except to send his mother an owl, telling her he understands."

"Well, Albus, you...well, we'll all be there for him, won't we?" Minerva looked around and Anna nodded in agreement. "That's all we can do, I suppose."

Snape was watching Anna and as the Headmaster and Professor McGonagall walked away, he stepped closer and asked her quietly, "You're being uncharacteristically quiet. Do you know anything about this?"

"No," she shook her head, looking down at the folded newspaper in her hand, "I just saw the shock and confusion in his eyes when he looked at me. I feared the worst, but if Narcissa is safe somewhere, that's something, don't you agree?"

"Hummm," Severus replied, brows knit.

"See you at lunch?" She still hadn't raised her head or looked at him.

"Yes."

"Ditto" She gave him a small smile and turned to leave.

Severus took his seat and watched as Anna walked out of the Great Hall, greeting various students along the way. His forehead was wrinkled in a frown. Then he shook his head.

No, he thought, that's not possible. What an absurd idea.

X # X # X

Draco Malfoy sat alone at the Slytherin table. His house mates, including Pansy, had been avoiding him for the past week or so, as he had shown no interest in company. He stared, unseeing at his breakfast.

"Knut for your thoughts, Mister Malfoy."

Draco looked up from his plate to find Professor Dumbledore smiling down at him.

"I doubt they'd be worth even that much, Professor."

"Let me be the judge." The Headmaster countered, as he sat down on the bench across the table from Draco.

Draco was astonished. In his six years at Hogwarts, he'd never seen the Headmaster sit anywhere but at the staff table, in the center chair.

"Now, what's troubling you?" Dumbledore folded his hands and put them on the table, his expression showing his rapt interest in what Draco was about to say. Draco heaved a sigh.

"My birthday's in a few days and I'm trying to sort everything out. I've been putting off making any decision, but I can't any longer."

"I've always found that when faced with a decision as monumental as yours; it is best to think of the advantages and disadvantages of both sides of the argument and pick the one you would be most comfortable with. That's not to say it would necessarily be the easiest course of action, or the most popular, but what you, in good conscious, can live with."

"So flipping a coin is out, then?" Draco smiled weakly.

"I should think so."

"I keep coming back to the fact that my own mother doesn't want anything to do with....Voldemort."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled at Draco's saying the name instead of 'the Dark Lord' and he nodded.

"I'm not sure she was ever really a supporter, but had to follow your father's dictates. You did as your father told you, also, until you saw Lucius' true nature, at his worst."

Draco nodded. Students were giving the two wide berth, so Draco knew he was not being overheard.

"She wants me to decide for myself."

"Yes, she does."

"The war is about to start, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is."

"So... in reality, no matter which side I'm on, I will be fighting for my life."

"Yes, you will."

"Well, if that's true, then I'd rather be on the side where, when the war is over, I can live my life and take care of my family the way I want. Not worrying about somebody controlling my life. Voldemort promises power, but it's his power, not mine he's talking about. I won't be a slave, to anyone. I've seen what that life style has done and I'm not about to wind up like my father.

Dumbledore nodded sagely, then smiled and leaned forward.

"Having made your decision, what, exactly, will be your first act as a free wizard?"

Draco looked at the Headmaster for a few seconds and then down at his plate.

"Finish my breakfast and then go out and enjoy my Saturday." He looked up at Dumbledore and smiled. "Then I'll work up the courage to go and talk to Professor Twigg-Jones. She needs to know. And write to Mother. Not necessarily in that order."

"Very good, Mister Malfoy; your priorities are in order."

"But...if you don't mind, Professor, this is just between you and me for now, ok?"

"Certainly, Mister Malfoy." Albus rose. "Enjoy the beautiful weather. We can talk again, later, if need be."

"Yes, sir and thank you."

"That's quite alright, Mister Malfoy, part of my job, you know." He winked. "Well," he straightened up and looked around, "my breakfast will be stone cold if I don't hurry."

With a wave of his hand, he turned and swept to the front table of the Great Hall, greeting other students as he passed. Draco took a big mouthful of eggs. Breakfast had never tasted so good.

X # X # X

"When I get my hands on that sister of mine! How DARE she!" Bella paced the floor, watched with a flicker of amusement by Voldemort and with outright glee by Peter Pettigrew.

Not the high and mighty bitch anymore, thought Wormtail. No more teacher's pet. HA!

"I'll deal with your sister later, Bella. Just because she fled, doesn't mean that Draco won't come to me as soon as he finishes his school year."

"Tell him to leave Hogwarts, now, Master. Join you as soon as he comes of age!" Bella was on her knees in front of Voldemort's chair.

"Patience, Bella, patience. If I start demanding he come, he won't. He has to want to come. Narcissa's abandonment of him will steer him right to us. We're the only family he has left."

"Yes, Master."

"The prey I'm after is Anna Twigg-Jones. I think it would be a nice surprise for Draco to see that his father's plans for his marking ceremony are carried out. She shall be his first victim. But we must maneuver her carefully before we spring our trap. She'll not be easily caught, as Lucius and those other fools found out. Wormtail!"

"Yes, Master."

"Go to his hiding place and bring Nott here to me. I have work for the two of you, in the near future."

"Yes, Master."

It's a Girl!

Gwen drove up to the 'Little Lodge' and parked at the edge of the gravel drive. Turning off the engine, she glanced at the house. It certainly looked as if no one was there, but Anna had told her that as soon as she entered, the spell would lift and she would see everything as it really was. Gwen also had to fight the effects of the anti-Muggle spell which was telling her mind, even now, that she was late and should really be somewhere else. Where, precisely, didn't matter, just anywhere but here.

No wonder no Muggle has ever seen Hogwarts, she thought, if it's this strong a spell for this little house.

Sighing to herself and ignoring the voice whispering to her in her mind, she opened the trunk and removed the two small crates and the aluminum suitcase, which she loaded onto the small, fold up luggage trolley. Wheeling it up the front walk, she unlocked the door and upon entering the front hall, felt the effects of the protective spells lift.

"Dobby?" she raised her voice, although she suspected he was watching. "Where are you?"

"Missy Gwen!" The grinning house elf emerged from the kitchen, spoon in hand and ran to greet her.

"You is here already!"

"Yes, the traffic wasn't too bad, and I made good time. How are you doing? Find everything you need? Any questions?"

"Yes." A voice came from the parlor and Narcissa Malfoy walked into the hall. "How do you stop that little light from blinking?" She pointed back into the room at the entertainment center and the LED clock on the VCR which was flashing 12:00 with determined regularity.

Gwen laughed and walked over to give Narcissa a hug.

"How are you Narcissa? It's good to finally put a face with a voice."

"Feeling fairly well, thank you, Gwen. I enjoyed our conversation on the telephone. I like watching your 'telly', also. It's been a real education about Muggle life, I'll say that. You are just as Anna described."

"Well, Anna told me all about you, too."

"Lies, all lies." They both said and then laughed.

"Her ears will be burning."

"Pardon me?" Narcissa looked puzzled.

"Old Muggle superstition; if your ears burn, someone's talking about you."

"Oh, I understand. Well, serves her right, too. Come in and sit down, won't you?"

"Dobby is just making lunch, Missy Gwen. You and Missy Narcissa sit and talk." Dobby headed back to the kitchen.

"Splendid. A quick chat before lunch sounds like just the ticket. Shall we?" The two women went into the parlor.

X # X # X

Settling on the sofa, Narcissa could contain her curiosity no longer.

"Any news from Anna about Draco?"

"Yes, I have a letter for you. I don't know what it says, as Anna did a charm on it so only you would be able to read it." Gwen pulled the small parchment scroll from her purse and held it out to Narcissa.

"Oh, thank you so much. We have been very careful about sending owls, as they can be traced, but it's been hard, waiting. I've been so anxious to hear about what's happening." Narcissa took the parchment and tapped it with her wand. "You don't mind do you, if I read it now?"

"Not at all; I have a few things to unpack. I'm going to give you a quick check up and I've also brought a portable sonogram, so we can check on your baby."

"Sonogram? What is that?"

It's a Muggle medical devise. We will use it to see your baby. Even take a picture, if you'd like, or a video, so you can watch the baby move."

"Really?" Narcissa's eyes were wide in wonder. "Does it hurt?"

"No," Gwen was quick to reassure her, "but the gel is cold."

"What?"

"Nothing. Read your letter and I'll get set up in the bedroom."

"Oh! Right." Narcissa smiled, looking down at the letter in her hand. "I'm almost afraid..."

"Don't be; Anna told me to tell you that Draco is fine, but read," Gwen pointed at the letter. "It'll put your mind at ease."

Narcissa nodded and lifted the letter and began to scan the tightly written script. Gwen went out, quietly, lifted the metal suitcase off of the trolley and started upstairs.

X # X # X

"It's a girl."

"Oh, my stars! I'm so glad. How can you tell?" Narcissa twisted her head to look at the monitor.

"Look...see, there're her arms and legs and oh, she flipped over. There's her bottom...roll over sweetie... that's it, show mummy your pretty little face."

"Oh, oh, look...I see her," cried Narcissa.

X # X # X

Gwen pushed a button and a readout appeared. She ripped off the piece of paper.

"Here you go; her first picture. Sorry it doesn't move; it is a Muggle snap shot, after all. But I'm also doing a video of this exam, so you can watch her, again, later."

"Look at her!" Narcissa was holding the readout of the ultra sound for Dobby to see.

"Yes, Missy Narcissa. She is very small."

Gwen laughed. "That's not life size, Dobby, but you can see her clearly, can't you?"

"Yes, Missy Gwen." Looking at the humming equipment, Dobby inched closer. "Dobby is wondering how it is working."

"One day, Dobby, I'll sit down and explain it all to you, but basically it's a picture of the baby taken with sound waves."

"Oh." Dobby was thoroughly confused, as was Narcissa, who went back to gazing at the bay's movements on the monitor.

"Here, Dobby, here's a printout for you."

"Thanks you, Missy Gwen." The house elf took the small piece of paper and studied it intently. "I am seeing her fingers!" he exclaimed, and then he turned the paper around to show Narcissa, who nodded, smiling.

X # X # X

"Well, Narcissa, from my measurements and this sonogram, I'd say you were right on schedule for your October due-date."

"She's alright?"

"She looks just fine. Steady, strong heartbeat, all ten fingers and toes in place." Gwen smiled. "You're doing very well, so I don't foresee any problems. She's eating well, Dobby?" she asked, turning to the house elf.

"Oh, yes, Miss. Missy Narcissa is getting very good foods, Miss. She is liking Dobby's cooking." He puffed out his chest.

"Excellent!"

"My cooking skills are sadly lacking, Gwen, I admit," smiled Narcissa. "Dobby has full authority in the kitchen."

"Well, lunch was superb, Dobby." Gwen leaned over and patted him on the back as he blushed scarlet.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you; Winky sends greetings, as do the other house elves at Hogwarts."

"Thank you Miss, and could you be telling them Hello from Dobby, also?"

"Of course, I'll pass the greeting along."

X # X # X

"How is Anna?" Narcissa finally asked the question that had been lurking at the back of her mind.

Gwen finished wiping the gel off of Narcissa's belly before she answered.

"She's lonely. Even with most of the students and staff trying to bolster her spirits, it's the fact that she's lost Severus as a friend that upsets her most, I think. She's been talking about everything with Dad."

"Her husband? But he's a Muggle and he's dead isn't he?"

"Yes, but Anna had his portrait done magically, before he died. He's in residence at Hogwarts."

"Amazing." Narcissa sat up on the bed and swung her legs over the side.

"Yes, he's been helping her work through her feelings about...what happened last month and that's finally starting to ease the guilt and shock of...killing your husband. She really was terribly upset about having to resort to that, but..."

"She had no choice, Gwen." Narcissa took hold of Gwen's hand. "Believe me; I know first hand how Lucius could be. I will admit, now, that many a time I harbored thoughts of killing him myself, but I knew that wasn't an option. Anna saved two, no, three lives when she shot him: hers, mine and my baby girl's. Tell her that. Tell her I said thank you. She'll understand."

"That's very generous of you, Narcissa. Having seen too many victims of domestic violence in my practice, I have to agree with you. She saved more than herself that day."

"What happened to me happens to Muggles, too?" Narcissa was flabbergasted.

"Yes. Unfortunately, cruelty and violence knows no bounds: social, economic, religious or it appears, magical or Muggle. And too many times it ends tragically. What I don't understand and you don't have to answer if you don't want to talk about it, was why did he physically beat you? Why didn't he use magic to hurt you?"

"Actually Gwen, I have thought about it and I think the physical action of hitting or pushing or kicking me was a thrill for him, a physical pleasure. Doing it himself, with his own hands, seemed to make him more powerful, I suppose; actual physical control as opposed to flipping his wand and throwing me across the room.

Narcissa shuddered and Gwen sat down next to her and put her arm around Narcissa's shoulder.

"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to upset you, just my professional curiosity coming through. But...you're here, safe and you and the baby are healthy, so, let's be thankful for that, shall we?"

"You didn't upset me, it's just a fact in my past life, now, and I also need to thank you, Gwen, for doing this; for saving me and my baby girl, and giving her, especially, a chance at life. I couldn't believe Anna and you would be that generous. I'm still not over it."

"Oh, well, that's our Anna. Never could resist a lost puppy or an old friend in trouble. Me, either, truth be told."

"Give her my thanks, again, when you see her."

"Don't know when that will be, actually. When I saw her the other day she said that she's really busy at Hogwarts, what with end of term and what are they called, O.W.L.s. and N.E.W.T.s exams?"

"Oh, yes, those are the qualifying exams for further studies. Yes, she'll be busy alright."

"Personally, I think it'll get her back on track. Oh, that reminds me; Anna sent something for you to do, to help her out with her preparations."

"For the war?"

"Yes, come with me."

X # X # X

"Thank you, Dobby," said Gwen, as she took the second crate from the house elf and put it on the kitchen table next to the first, the contents of which Narcissa was emptying.

"What does Anna want me to make with all of these potion ingredients?" Scanning the labels quickly as she worked, her eyebrows shot up as she read the contents. "Some of these are really rare. What on earth?" She held up a packet which rattled with a metallic sound. Narcissa shook it tentatively, read the label and shrugged.

"She's enclosed a letter and instructions, somewhere, in one of these crates."

Gwen began unloading the second crate. The surface of the table was rapidly filling up with the contents.

"Ah ha, here we go; a packet." She pulled a large manila envelope out of the crate. "It's got your name on it, so here you go."

Handing the envelope to Narcissa, she continued unpacking; reaching down into the crate, pulling out boxes and vials and odd shaped bundles. Narcissa sat on a nearby stool and opened the flap and peeked inside.

"There are a lot of pages in here. I'm in trouble."

Gwen laughed as Narcissa pulled the entire stack of paper out and put it on the table.

"Ah, the letter."

She picked up the top page with two fingers, shook it and then held it up and read aloud.

'Dear Cissa and Gwen,

Enclosed, please find the first stage preparation instructions and supplies for a potion I think could be deciding factor in the coming war. And yes, Cissa, Draco will have his ration of this potion, so don't worry about that.'

Narcissa looked up. "She knows me too well."

"Tell me about it." Gwen nodded. "Not much gets by our Anna."

Smiling Narcissa continued.

'It will take about three weeks for the prep work and then six months of brewing.'

"Six months!" Gwen stopped, aghast.

"Oh, yes, a lot of potions take months to brew correctly. Most take two or three, but six months isn't that unusual."

"Hummm, read on."

"Right. We'll be making a big batch of Felix Felicis," Narcissa looked up at Gwen. "My god, that's brilliant! But dangerous, too. This potion is toxic in large amounts, but used correctly, in very small doses..."

"What does it do?"

"Gives you good luck, for a short period of time. Three - six - twelve hours, tops. It's tricky to make and I'll really have to go over the instructions several times to make sure I don't miss anything. Goodness, where ever did Anna some up with this idea?"

"Maybe she says in the letter."

"Oh...let me see." Narcissa scanned down the letter and then continued from where she's left off.

'I'll bring the final ingredients to you in time to start the brewing at the end of term. You should be able to finish all the prep work by then. Take your time, you're going to have to do lots of chopping and grinding, but I find that really satisfying work.'

Narcissa looked up. "So do I."

Turning the page over, she read the end of the letter.

'I remembered the potion when I was thinking about the duel I had with Lucius fifteen years ago in my parents' garden. Actually, it was something Mad-Eye Moony said to me, after I regained consciousness in St. Mungo's. He said he guessed I had taken some Felix Felicis, otherwise he wouldn't have been talking with me. I told him, no, it had been sheer dumb luck. He never believed me, but the thought stuck in the back of my brain.'

"Let's hope Voldemort doesn't think of this potion." Gwen sighed.

"If he does, he'll reject the thought, as he doesn't believe in luck, just his own brilliant plans."

"A little bitter, there, Narcissa?"

"You noticed? Yes, and I'm going to do what ever I can to help Anna and Professor Dumbledore ...and Harry Potter and Draco, if he decides to join in the actual fighting against Voldemort. SO...let's get started sorting all these ingredients and get them ready for chopping and grinding."

"Right."