The Lesson Learned

Malfoy Manor

The next few hours were a blur for Olivia to say the least. As soon as she had finished packing, which was quite strenuous since she had no idea where they were going or how long they would be gone, she and her father took a Muggle train to the small Wizarding Community of Solvang. Its entrance was behind an old coffee shop in the downtown district. They spent the night in an odd little room on top of the shop whose window looked down upon both, the Muggle part of city and Solvang. The two cities were separated by a dark and dingy narrow strip of back alley, which Olivia supposed no one would dare walk through. It was interesting to watch the people of either community go about their busy lives without any knowledge of what was happening on the other side. In the short span of time that had elapsed after their arrival, Olivia had hoped that her father would reveal the purpose of their surprise trip, but he had remained as quite as ever. Apart from asking her what side of the bed she preferred, he had not spoken to her at all.

The next morning during breakfast Olivia worked up the nerve to ask her father about their sudden trip. He was stirring the contents of his bowl but had not taken a single bite. He set his unused spoon down and clasped his hands together on the table, resting his head upon them.

"I have some things to tell you before you read the letter," he said. "I have never told you anything about my life before you or your mother came along. And being the good person that you are, you never once asked me. But considering the present situation, there are a few things I am going to have to let you in on. I once told you that your grandparents had passed away; the truth is that until recently that was only half true. Up until a few days ago your grandmother, my mother, was still alive." He looked up at Olivia, waiting for her reaction.

Olivia sat still, looking at her father. It seemed as though time was standing still. For a split second her mind was completely blank. Then the reality of the situation finally set in. Her father had lied to her. The one person in the world whom she thought would never fail her had kept her from her family, her life, her reality. The anger welled inside her. It was too much.

"What! Daddy, how could you? A grandmother? A family?" She rose angrily from the table, spilling the contents of her goblet across the wooden table. "I don't understand. How could you?"

"Listen Oli, I had my reasons for keeping the truth from you. Believe me when I say that I only did it because I felt it was for your own good. Of course I had my reservations. I felt guilty about keeping you from your own history. But watching you grow up into a happy and beautiful young girl, it was easy for me to keep lying, to keep you that way. I now know that it was a mistake. In keeping you away from your grandmother I was keeping you away from a family and for that I am truly sorry."

Olivia walked over to the window and leaned her head against the cool glass. She was so angry that her eyes burned. She couldn't believe what her father was saying. She watched a bird hop across the lawn in the garden beyond the window and tried to control her breathing. It was a trick she used when she was worked up or stressed out, but right now it wasn't working. "May I see the letter please?"

Draco reached into his back pocket and handed the letter to Olivia. She sat down, bracing herself for what she was about to read. The writing was sprawled and messy. It seemed as though the letter had been written in a hurry

Master Malfoy,

I do not know whether or not this letter will reach you. I have had a hard time tracking your whereabouts, since you have gone so out of the way to remain hidden. Malfoy manor needs you. It is with the deepest sorrow that I inform you that your mother, Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy, has recently passed away. The estate and all its belongings have been bequeathed to you, as was stated in the misses will. Since you are the last of the Malfoys, it is your duty to return to the Manor as its master. If you refuse, then the manor will boarded up and abandoned.

I request you to return as soon as you can.

Your most faithful servant,

Bascos Crowe

P.S. The thing that you dread will happen not. No one has remembered.

"What does this mean?" Olivia asked, wondering what it was that her father dreaded so much. Why had he kept himself hidden from his mother for so long?

"It means, Oli, that after eighteen years I am finally going home."

****

"Come on. It's this way."

Draco was walking towards the back of the Wardwik Transportation Station where there was a row of fireplaces connected to the floo network. Being unsure of whether or not Crowe would still have the fireplace at the manor connected, Draco had decided that they were to floo into the nearby village of Willow's Creek and then send an owl to the manor announcing their arrival. The Station was busy with commuters. Olivia had never seen so many Wizards or Witches gathered together in one place before. Of course there was her school and the neighboring magical village, but it was nothing compared to this. She supposed this was the magical equivalent of a big city. The station had a variety of fireplaces to choose from. Some were only big enough for an average sized person and some, Olivia noted, were as big as a station wagon. She stared as she passed these, wondering what type of 'thing' would require the use of such a humungous fireplace. Finally they arrived at an empty, standard size fireplace and Olivia watched her father untie a dark green pouch (purchased at the front window for twelve sickles).

"I'm going to go first to make sure everything is alright. Put on your cloak before you step in and remember to speak loudly and clearly."

She watched as her father threw the floo powder into the fire, stepped in, and cried, "Willow's Creak Tavern." She turned away as the bright green flames shot out and her father disappeared. She quickly put on her cloak, wondering why her father had asked her to do this since she hardly ever wore it outside of school. Reaching for her own pouch of powder Olivia remembered the countless stories her father had told her about the wizards who'd ended up in remote and desolate places because of their incorrect usage of the powder. Olivia found some of these stories hard to believe; especially the one that had involved a particularly forgetful witch who'd sent herself back in time. Laughing to herself she grabbed a handful of powder and threw it inside the fireplace. She stepped into the fireplace and spoke loudly and clearly, "Willow's Creak Tavern." In an instant she was engulfed by bright green flames that swirled around her at immense speeds. She watched a number of fireplaces fly past her and then, before she knew it, it was over.

Her father was waiting for her in what seemed to be a deserted corridor. "Through here," he said, pointing the way. "The owners of the tavern got tired of so many witches and wizards disturbing their customers, so they decided to add this fireplace just for floo transportation. How about we get a couple of Butterbeers and then send Boscos, an owl?" And without waiting for Olivia's reply he pushed open a huge oak door and held it for her to enter.

She found herself in a large room filled with round wooden tables. There were tall windows on one side of the tavern, facing a busy street. On the other side there was a long bar where two bartenders in crisp maroon robes were serving a few costumers. Draco led the way to the bar and ordered two Butterbeers. The bartender looked at Draco. It seemed as though he was about to ask something, but apparently he waved it off and simply said, "Sure thing sir, right away." A few seconds later two sparkling bottles of Butterbeer appeared. Draco took them and led the way to the exit. As soon as they stepped out into the morning sun and onto the street, Olivia knew that Willow's Creak was a rich village. The buildings looked as old as most of the buildings in the magical world but were much more ornate and had a more vibrant palette of colors. Even the witches and wizards that walked by were dressed in fine looking cloaks and some of the witches wore the most dramatic hats she had ever seen. Now that she was here, Olivia understood why her father had asked her to put on her cloak. Every single person who was making their way through town had one on. Not one of them was dressed in jeans or t-shirts. If she'd not had her cloak on, Olivia would most certainly have felt out of place.

"This is Willow Road," said Draco.

"Down that way is the bank, and up that street over there is Creak Ridge Hospital which has the best pediatrics ward in the country. And this is the way to the Owlery." Draco pointed up and down the main street as he spoke. Something in the tone of his voice made Olivia believe that he was doing more than just giving her a tour of the city; it was almost as though he wanted her to start memorizing its layout. Olivia shook the thought from her mind as they crossed the road. She had just taken a final sip of the Butterbeer and was about to ask her father if the city recycled the waste bottles, when the bottle dissolved into thin air. Shocked, she looked up at her father who'd turned just in time to watch it happen. "It's the way the tavern gets their bottles back," he explained. "There's a charm on them. When the bottle is empty it returns."

Olivia was silent as she thought about the efficiency of the magical community. When they stepped into the Owlery, Olivia again realized how rich this community was. Instead of an old wooden building with heaps of bones and droppings on the floor like the Owlery back at her school, it was a huge circular white room with small openings embedded into the walls in which the owls waited. There were many owls in the room and just as many wizards who seemed to be there not only to help guests with there postal needs, but also to keep the Owlery tidy. The open room (as there were a fair amount of windows) was also missing the strong stench which is characteristic of an Owlery. Draco walked over to a counter and gathering a quill and parchment, scribbled a note. When he had finished a tall willowy wizard appeared from behind the counter and asked a few questions. After a few moments Draco handed the wizard a few coins and watched him call down a small bird from one of the openings. He tied the parchment to its leg. Soon after it zoomed so fast out the window that Olivia almost missed it, she realized that her father had paid for an express owl.

"I sent an owl letting Boscos, know that we are in town. He'll probably be here in a few minutes. It's a nice day. Why don't we sit outside and wait for him?" he asked her.

They walked out of the Owlery and found a bench nearby. Olivia was glad that she had put on her light summer cloak since the sun was shining rather brightly and it was already quite warm. All around them witches and wizards were bustling in and out of buildings. She noticed a small park a few yards down the road with a few benches surrounding a large fountain. It was a very nice village and even though she'd been there for only a little while, it felt comfortable.

"This is where you grew up, isn't it?" she asked.

"Yes. The manor is only a few miles to the north."

"It's not a bad place," Olivia said. The comment was sincere, yet elusive. It seemed as though what she really wanted to ask was, 'Why would you ever want to leave such a place?'

Almost as if he read her mind her father said, "Oli, sometimes people can grow up in the nicest of places, but it does not mean that they will have a nice life." She noticed the finality in his voice and understood that it was best not to ask any more questions.

She turned and stared at the park once again. There were a couple of children flying around on broomsticks, their feet barely leaving the ground. After what seemed like a quarter of an hour Olivia heard the sound of wheels, and turned to see a small but beautiful carriage park a few feet away from the curb. It had an "M" carved into the side of it with a small crest underneath. The man who was sitting up front (he could not have been steering since there were no horses) leapt down and looked up at her father. The look on the man's face was hard to read. He looked frightened and ready to cry at the same time. He was struggling to come up with the proper words, when Draco stepped forward.

"Hello Boscos. It is good to see you," said Draco, holding out his hand in a friendly gesture. Boscos was an older man, with balding white hair and dark, deep set eyes. Olivia would later find out that Boscos was a squib and had been hired her grandmother.

"M-master Malfoy. I-It has been so long," answered Boscos as he grabbed her father's hand and shook it vigorously. He was watching him carefully.

"Yes it has Boscos, too long." Turning to Olivia he said, "I would like you to meet my daughter, Olivia."

"Merlin's beard, a daughter! The young master has a daughter!" Boscos laughed. There was sincere joy on his face as he shook Olivia's hand with just as much vigor as he had her father's. He continued staring at her, with a smile on his face, even after the carriage had been loaded.

The ride in the carriage was surprisingly smooth. And even though there were no horses to guide them, Boscos was up on the front panel holding on to something that looked almost like a Muggle steering wheel. Olivia amused herself by wondering what type of magic was being used to make the carriage run by itself. The best solution she could come up with was a type of homing device that would direct the carriage back to the manor. Looking out of the window Olivia noticed the scenery change. First they were in the city, passing numerous buildings that her father pointed out to be the shopping district. They passed a dress shop, a toy and hobby shop, and several little cafes. Soon the buildings were replaced by houses. Most of these sat on top of big tracts of land, as indicated by the long strips of fence that separated their lawns. Finally, after a few minutes, the houses became fewer and less frequent. They rode by what appeared to be a small forest. It was here that her father broke his silence and drew Olivia's attention to the front of the carriage. A few yards ahead of them was a giant iron gate with the same "M" marking that was on the side of the carriage. In the distance, off to the right, Olivia could see the top of what seemed to be a massive building. It was hard to see because it was covered by the large trees that lined the brick wall running along the front. The carriage passed through the gates and up a long winding path. And then, as they rounded the corner, the entire building came into view. Olivia gasped as she looked up at the enormous brick house. There were hundreds of windows sparkling in the sunlight. A huge fountain spouted chutes of water into the warm summer breeze. And a series of magnificent steps led up to what she could only assume was the main entrance. In one word, it was magnificent.

"Welcome to Malfoy Manor, Oli."