Buried Secrets

Chapter 4 - Malfoy Manor

A loud, gloomy ringing echoed through the house after Cho rang the doorbell. There was the sound of shuffling footsteps, and the large front doors swung open. A butler in his late twenties with impeccably smoothed blond hair looked out.

"Hello, I'm here to see Mr. Draco Malfoy." Cho said, putting on a friendly smile.

The butler regarded her with a fixed gaze, perhaps trying to recall her image. At last he said, "Mr. Malfoy? But he isn't expecting visitors today."

"I know," Cho replied, and clasped her hands together. "It's an emergency. Please tell him that Cho Chang wishes to see him; he'll know!"

The butler shrugged and disappeared. A moment later (which seemed like a century to Harry), he returned. "Follow me."

Cho stepped into the large entrance hall. Everything appeared to be the same as she visited two years ago. The walls were still an ugly grey, with uglier (in Cho's opinion) gilt-edged portraits of the Malfoy's ancestors. The carpet was the same old Turkish one with intricate designs and patterns on it. The atmosphere was yet frigid and uninviting. She wrinkled her forehead at the unpleasant thought of seeing Draco again. Every time she was with him, he'd give her hints of her family's plight and that he, Draco Malfoy, was stooping from his position to help her. She'd always felt like boxing his ears since then.

The butler led Cho to a large sitting room, handsomely furnished. A silvery blond head bobbed up from a big armchair. "Well, isn't it a pleasant surprise to see you." the voice of Draco Malfoy drawled.

Somehow, Cho felt horribly lonely and insignificant. The last time she had been here, it was his birthday party, and there were a lot of people, though the majority consisted of sneering Slytherins. It was rather shuddery to be alone with him in this immense area. She had forgotten about Harry for a while. "Hello, Draco." she said stiffly.

"Come on here, sit down. We've known each other too well for courtesies." He indicated a crimson couch opposite him. "It's ages since you've visited, Cho."

The young girl tugged at a lock of her hair, crossed over to the couch, and sat down. "Draco, I'm sorry, but I don't have much time."

"Dear, dear. What could be troubling you, Cho? Not about him, I hope?"

Cho bit her lip. She did her best to look very anxious instead of trying to punch his face. "My--my grandmother is very sick, and we have to make a healing potion for her."

"Oh, I'm really sorry to hear that." He didn't sound sorry at all.

Hot anger surged up in Cho's heart. "I'd never dream of asking you a favor," she snapped. "But the ingredients required for the potion are extremely expensive--and you know--well, my mother wanted me to ask."

"And why should I do you this favor without any--repayment?" Draco raised his eyebrows.

Cho folded her arms. He was snotty and arrogant, then she would be the same. "Because a lady asks you."

Draco let out a derisive laugh. "You call yourself a lady?" he jeered. "Whose mother was complaining, 'Cho, not like girl. She climbs tree and rides broomstick. No respect for her mother, and--' "

"Stop!" Cho yelled, which was pretty unladylike. "Draco, this is not the time to tell me who I am!"

"Chill down, there's no need to get angry." Draco Malfoy smirked, apparently finding the whole situation very amusing. He leaned forward from his chair, his cold grey eyes fixed upon her. "Wish granted, Chang."

"Thanks." Cho prepared to stand up, when the pale-faced boy suddenly reached out, brought her face to his--and kissed her.

Harry witnessed the scene with horrified eyes. Without thinking, he lunged forward to pull Cho away, but she had recovered her wits. Smack! went her hand, and Draco Malfoy rubbed his cheek, on which five red finger marks were imprinted.

"Draco Malfoy." Cho was beet-red with anger. "What do you think you're doing?"

"What--can't I get a little payback for my help?" He sounded hurt, and a bit angry, too. Not many people have laid their hands on him. The last time he was slapped was in his third year--by Hermione.

Cho was still very red. Cedric had kissed her before, but that was with her permission. Draco Malfoy had did this to her all out of his own will. Payback indeed! However, considering that they were the ones in need, she couldn't let her temper get the better of her. He could get infuriated and refuse her plea right away. She stood up, a sign for them to get moving. "Draco, what will Pansy say? Don't you care for her?"

"I've broken up with her long ago. She was awful at the Yule Ball--dancing like a toad." Draco said, also rising slowly from his comfy armchair. "Besides, I figured you'd need some comfort after Diggory--"

"Shut up! I'm warning you, Malfoy, any mention of Cedric--" Cho almost slapped him again, but this time she forced her hand to stop, before she touched his face.

Draco Malfoy laughed. He closed his fingers over her wrist and forced it downwards, smirking at her. "Beautiful," he murmured. "In case you haven't realized, you're more beautiful when you're angry, Cho. But do not take things too far--or you will regret it."

Cho snatched her hand back, but didn't say anything. She could only shut her teeth and clench her fists. Harry was boiling silently in his cloak behind her. This definitely went on top of the list of the nasty things Draco had done to him. To see the girl he liked insulted by his worst enemy--he could have killed Draco if it were not for Sirius.

Draco Malfoy strutted ahead, leading them through corridors and down two flights of stairs. Cho secretly prayed that Harry was keeping up, and not trip over his cloak or something. She couldn't help looking back a couple of times, but of course, she saw nothing visible. The truth be told, Harry had plenty of experience of sneaking around Hogwarts in his Invisibility Cloak, and did not find the walk difficult at all.

"Here we are." Draco drawled, as he opened a heavy door with some effort. "Ladies first."

It was a large room that resembled Snape's dungeons remarkably. It was dismal and dreary. Candles flickered on the stone walls, illuminating the place with an eerie light. It was quite empty except for two huge cabinets standing at the back.

Numerous drawers in the cabinets were labeled with names, arranged in order from A to Z. Cho approached the cabinets, and started scanning furiously. She pulled out a little piece of paper that Mrs. Figg gave her. On it the old lady had written down the ingredients they needed. "Cyclamen leaves...skin of Mexico Moccasin...spindle shrubs..." Her heart sank. Not one single ingredient on her list was in the cabinets.

"Well, pick what you want, Cho." Draco Malfoy crossed his arms over his chest, and tapped his foot on the floor.

"Er--" Cho began. What was she to do now? She was spared the time to react, though. Another voice had interrupted the stock-still silence.

"What are you doing here, Draco?"

Cho whirled around and froze completely. Lucius Malfoy was standing in the doorway.

* * *

"How could you let them go, Arabella?" Celestine Foster protested, but her mild tone showed that she wasn't defiant in her words. On the couch near her, Sirius slept peacefully, but the signs of poison by no means lessened.

Mrs. Figg had brought out dinner in a tray. She set the food on the table and ladled steaming hot stew into a bowl. "It's the only way," she said.

"But they're children--what if Lucius Malfoy is home?"

"He won't be. He's working for the Ministry--well, everyone thinks so. He can't be home on Monday, can he?" Mrs. Figg bent over to check Sirius's pulse, while waiting for the stew to cool.

Celestine smiled; a small, hopeful smile it was. "I believe you're right, Arabella. After all, that little girl is old friends with the Malfoy son. It should be all right."

" 'That little girl' is a year above Harry. She seems to be trustworthy, even though she isn't that close to him."

"Harry seems to fancy her." Celestine touched her mouth with a slender white finger, her lips involuntarily parted into a knowing grin. She paused, and added, "Just like his father. They both have a liking for pretty, athletic, and smart girls. I bet she is very popular too--like, like Lily was." There was a quiver in her voice.

"Yes, I think so." Mrs. Figg felt it necessary to change the subject. "Celestine, do you have any idea?"

"Wh--What do you mean?" The young woman's lovely face was confused.

"About how the Death Eaters found out Remus's place. I'm sure Dumbledore had arranged a very secluded spot, didn't he?"

"Yes, but I just don't know--"

"And why did Lucius Malfoy poison Sirius with a stupid arrow? Why didn't he just use his wand?"

Celestine sat up, her beautiful features were visibly disturbed. When she spoke, her voice shook badly. "Arabella, what--what is your point? Are you--suggesting--no, I wouldn't believe any one in the Order--would do such a --dreadful thing. As for Lucius Malfoy--"

"Hush, Celestine, I didn't mean to put it that way--"

"Lucius Malfoy hates Sirius! Is that what you wanted to know? I'm not sure, but I can tell you, he had a secret hatred for Sirius. You see how Sirius is now? He didn't want to just finish him off, he wanted him to die a painful, agonizing death!"

Celestine was out of breath, and she started coughing up blood again. Mrs. Figg was alarmed, and quickly made some hot, strong tea for her. Then the elder woman ordered Celestine to calm down, and get some dinner in her stomach.

Celestine lay back against the sofa, after taking a few spoonfuls of stew. She did not watch Mrs Figg bustle around, concocting a magical drink for Sirius, considering his condition. Her thoughts drifted to the past, when she was still a young girl in Hogwarts. Being Lily Evans' best friend. And Sirius Black's girlfriend.

* * *

Cho's heart stood still. She had never liked Lucius Malfoy, even when she was a child. He always treated her with cold civility. It seemed that he could flame up with a fire that was frosty, if she said or did anything not suitable to his liking. And this manner would increase since she became poor. If Draco hadn't insisted, or if they hadn't been neighbors for ten years, she might not have been allowed to Draco's thirteenth birthday party.

"Father? Why are you home so early?" Draco sounded genuinely surprised.

"Never you mind," replied his father. If Cho weren't so nervous, she could have detected an uneasy flicker in his cold grey eyes. "And Cho--what're you doing here? Haven't seen you quite a while, girl."

Cho forced herself to speak. "I--I--my grandmother--is very sick."

"And?"

"We--we need to make a--healing potion. It's expensive--the ingredients--you know." Cho wished to run away. Her smartness as a Ravenclaw had crumbled before the guileful Slytherin. Heck, this must be the first time she spoke with a lisp. She waited with bated breath, her heart beating wildly in her chest.

Lucius Malfoy didn't seem to suspect anything, though. He merely said in an irritated tone, "Well, then take what you need, Cho."

Cho heaved a sigh of relief; she couldn't help it. Draco glanced at her with a curious look, but Lucius Malfoy crossed his arms. The latter appeared to notice nothing; he just wanted them to get out as soon as possible.

However, even if Lucius Malfoy was being cooperative, the situation wasn't much better. Cho numbly pulled out a few drawers (she hardly read the names), scooped up some stuff, and put them in her pocket. She was annoyed with herself--why couldn't she come up with some idea instead of heeding Lucius Malfoy's orders? But she was too scared to put a coherent thought together. Perhaps that's why I'm not a Gryffindor, she thought grimly.

"Come out, both of you," Lucius Malfoy moved aside, his back against the door. "Draco, I have warned you, not to come to the dungeons without permission. This time I will be lenient, for your little friend's sake. Next time...I trust there won't be a second time.¡¨

Draco walked briskly out, and after a moment's hesitation, Cho did the same. After all, the ingredients weren't there, that's for sure.

As they went up the stairs, Cho glanced back at the dungeons. Lucius Malfoy had closed the heavy iron door and used his wand to cast some magic on it, probably to make things more secure. He looked up, and caught her eye. A light like a sword flashed in his eyes, and Cho immediately turned away, almost tripping on the stairs.

Thoughts raced through Cho's head, once out of Lucius Malfoy's sight. Should she just say thank you and leave? No, they didn't get the ingredients required. Sirius was still in danger. But now she fervently wished to get away from this horrible place. She was trembling slightly from the shock of Draco's Death-Eater-Father. No, you can't back out now. She told herself. Use your brains, Ravenclaw!

"I wonder why Father came home," mused Draco, as they passed a corridor.

"Yeah." Cho replied listlessly. She was trying to think of some other plan, so intent she was, that she hardly paid attention to what she was saying. This led to a dreadful mistake.

"Cho, are you all right?" Draco stopped in his tracks. There was concern written on his pale, pointed face. "Suppose I tell our butler to escort you back? I could call a carriage or something."

"No, I'm just wondering if Harry--" Cho clapped a hand to her mouth. How could she have let it slip?

"Harry?" Draco looked at her suspiciously. "Harry Potter?"

"Er--yeah." Cho gave a nervous laugh. "You know--I was thinking of last year, and--"

"You're thinking of him instead of Diggory? Or your dear, sick granny?" There was an icy note in Draco's voice. He took a step to her. "Tell me, Cho, why did you look away, at least twice, when I was talking to you?"

"Did I? I--" Cho stammered, wildly trying to come up with an excuse. Draco seemed to bearing down at her, his gaze penetrating into her mind.

Just then, a female voice rang out. "Draco!"

"Mother!" Draco Malfoy turned away, but before he left, he gave Cho another icy look and said, "Stay here. Don't move, or I'll come looking for you."

He walked away, leaving a miserable Cho behind. She held up her hands, wondering what to do now. "Harry? Sorry I blew it--what shall we do now?"

No answer. A sudden dread daunted on her. "Harry? Harry? Oh Harry, please, just tell me that you're here." She even raised her hands and felt around. Just a simple touch or a reassuring word--but no response. Harry was gone.

"Cho!"

The petite young witch was forced to hide her fear, and put on her prettiest smile for the newcomer. Stay cool, stay calm, she told herself. Draco was coming her way, accompanied by a tall woman with fine features, dressed in expensive robes. It was Narcissa Malfoy, Draco's mother.

"Cho dear, hello. Oh, I'm so glad to see you, child. Draco's told me everything." Cho almost dropped her jaw. Narcissa Malfoy seldom smiled at her, since her family went into poverty. Now the stately Mrs. Malfoy was looking at her so fondly, as though she was a long lost daughter or something. She soon figured out the smile was fake.

"Hello, Mrs. Malfoy." She answered in an equally sweet voice. "I'm sorry to have troubled you."

"Oh no, not at all, dear." Narcissa Malfoy glanced at her son, and continued hurriedly, "You've grown into such a beautiful young lady, Cho. Really, you must come and visit us often. Draco's usually so lonely. Since you've come a long way from home, why don't you join us for tea?"

"But I--I have to get back." Cho fumbled her pocket and fished out some brown, mouldy roots.

"Oh, don't worry about that. We'll use our eagle owl to carry them to your grandmother, Cho." Draco Malfoy smirked beside his mother. "Won't that be quicker?"

"Um..." Cho hesitated. Maybe it was better to accept, or then she'll be escorted out of the house, and Harry was missing, not to mention that they had to get the right ingredients too. "All right. Thank you, Mrs. Malfoy."

Narcissa Malfoy led them up another staircase, carpeted with red velvet, and onto a landing as big as the Transfiguration classroom. A large porcelain vase filled with exotic flowers stood on a tall mahogany table close to the wall, serving as an appropriate decoration for the landing. Two corridors diverged from the porcelain vase, and Mrs. Malfoy took the right-hand one. There was a large parlor at the end. In it was a pretty display of glass tables and brocaded chairs, oil paintings that stretched from the ceiling to the floor, and a huge brick fireplace stood in place, with numerous ornaments dominating the mantelpiece.

"Sit down, children. Draco, show your manners."

Draco Malfoy obligingly took out his wand, muttered, "Orchideous!" A dazzling bouquet of pale pink roses burst from the his wand. He handed them to Cho with a mock bow before sitting down.

"Thanks." Cho had to say, taking the roses rather awkwardly. She laid them on her lap. Mentally she chided herself. Just a few moments ago she had been brave, and now after the encounter with Lucius Malfoy and his wife, the confidence she had had vanished.

"Hey Cho, give me those ingredients. You said your grandmother needs them."

"Um--" Cho decided to give them to him, after all, they were useless to her.

Narcissa Malfoy had summoned a servant, and now the servant wheeled a little trolley laden with cakes and drinks in.

"How's your mother, Cho?" Narcissa Malfoy inquired, as she poured out red currant rum in two goblets.

"She's fine." Cho could only reply. Mrs. Malfoy then began a more detailed conversation, chatting incessantly. When she paused for breath, she would urge Cho to take another sweet or sip, and find another topic. Cho had the idea that she was keeping her in the room. But why? What did Narcissa Malfoy have on mind?

* * *

Harry Potter stood in the dungeons, doing his best not to panic. He did follow Cho when they were ordered to leave, but in his caution not to be caught by Lucius Malfoy, the door had been shut a second too soon. He couldn't bang on the door and yell. He tried the Alohomora Charm, but of no avail. Lucius Malfoy had locked it up from the outside to make sure no one would enter. It wasn't even fully twenty-four hours since he left Privet Drive, yet so many unexpected things have happened. To think of running into Cho and his mother's best friend--well, it really was a good thing, but Sirius's condition had wiped out all the sudden joy. He would have given anything in the world to let his godfather live. The thought of Sirius just out of Azkaban after twelve years, name uncleared, and now death approaching?

And to think that Mrs. Figg was actually a witch protecting him from Voldemort! It was lucky she was there to take care of Sirius, and that she recognized paraplegia. It was even luckier that Cho knew the Malfoys--Harry wondered where she was now. He desperately hoped she was safe. Sometimes when he thought of her during the summer, he would make a silent vow to forget her, because he wouldn't allow himself to go after Cedric's girlfriend, especially when he blamed himself for Cedric's death. It wouldn't be that difficult, he thought--it was only a crush, and besides, he didn't know her well.

But when she turned up two streets away from Privet Drive, and volunteered to help him save Sirius--the feelings he hoped that would die down and never return had been stirred up--stronger than before. When she teased him, comforted him, pillow-fought with him--Harry shook his head, trying to get her out of his mind. He shouldn't be thinking of her--probably he was the last person she would date, as he was famous Harry Potter, 'murderer' of Cedric Diggory. But what could he do now except to let his thoughts run riot?

He looked at his watch: it was exactly eleven o'clock. The next second he heard the sound of a bolt removed and a deep voice mutter, "Expositus!"

The heavy iron door was pushed open, and Lucius Malfoy entered, muttering, "That little brat--nearly ruined everything--"

Harry quickly backed up against the wall, his heart pounding. He watched as Lucius Malfoy shut the door and bolted it again with his wand. What business had Lucius Malfoy in this gloomy dungeon?

Suddenly there was a slight popping noise, and a cloaked figure appeared; Harry recognized him as Walden Macnair, the executioner for the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures.

"Macnair, you are first to arrive," Lucius Malfoy said.

Macnair bowed. "Got a day off--told the Ministry my wife was sick."

"It's a good thing you didn't come earlier."

"Why do you say so?"

"My son had brought a friend here--ah, Rosier!"

Another person had appeared, but this one Harry hadn't seen before.

"Lucius. I am willing to help as long as I can avenge my father's death."

"That will not be impossible, as long as you serve the Dark Lord faithfully."

There were more popping, and before Harry's amazed eyes, Death Eaters he had seen at the graveyard Apparated one by one. There was Avery, who was the first who pleaded for forgiveness but was tortured instead; Crabbe and Goyle, looking as clumsy and stupid as their sons; Nott, another Death Eater who claimed to be faithful, and a few others that Harry didn't know. However, he received a major shock when he saw Bartemius Crouch, the younger one who impersonated Moody last year, appear with the Death Eaters. All the other Death Eaters seemed to regard him with respect.

Lucius Malfoy swept over to a set of candlesticks that were nearest to the two cabinets. He picked up the candle positioned in the left, and turned it upside down. He then stuck the flaming end into the candlestick it belonged, and the next moment another surprise happened.

The two cabinets, which originally seemed nailed close to the wall, rotated slowly around in a 90-degree angle. A large space behind them was revealed. Harry saw a second room beyond the space. So Lucius Malfoy had a secret chamber that he kept from his son's knowledge.

"There." Lucius Malfoy seemed to be very pleased with himself. "No one will find us here."

He then proceeded into the chamber, and the Death Eaters did the same. Harry wondered whether he should follow--it seemed pretty dangerous. But eventually his curiosity got the better of him, and he crept in just in time. The cabinets were closing in behind him.

The secret chamber was small, unlike most of the rooms in Malfoy Manor. There was a round table in the middle of the room with tall chairs around it. Lucius Malfoy politely asked Crouch to sit down first-at the head place of the table. The latter accepted without saying a word. The rest of the Death Eaters took seats, and Harry crawled to a corner, his Invisibility Cloak wrapped tightly around him.

"Rosier, you're the one working in Azkaban. What's your opinion?" Lucius Malfoy said.

Rosier hesitated a moment. "The problem lies with the dementors. As soon as we obtain their support, Azkaban will be ours."

"When does Master wish us to do it?" Nott asked.

Harry heard Crouch say in a cold voice, "The sooner the better."

"I have an idea!" Another Death Eater said. "Cornelius Fudge's birthday. Imagine his face when his 'faithful' dementors turn against him on his happiest day!"

There was a murmur of approval from the others.

"When is the date?" Lucius Malfoy asked.

Avery answered, "November 5th. Perhaps it is a little late, but in another sense, we will have sufficient time to prepare."

Lucius Malfoy looked at Crouch. The latter gave a slight nod. Relieved, Lucius Malfoy went on to discuss further details.

Harry crouched in his corner, doing his best not to make any noise. His palms were clammy with sweat. He couldn't believe that his quest to rescue Sirius had turned out like this. Death Eaters, plus a mysterious and high-ranked one, were holding an important meeting in a secret chamber of Malfoy Manor. And they were discussing about breaking into Azkaban and recruiting the dementors. He shivered, not daring to imagine what may befall him if he was caught.

"--and the Lestranges--" Rosier was saying when Crouch suddenly held up a hand.

"Silence! I hear something."

Harry shrank back, his whole body quaking with fear. Had they heard him?

"Lucius--there seems to be someone outside the door." Crouch and all the other Death Eaters, looked toward Lucius Malfoy.

"Indeed." Lucius Malfoy stood up. His face wore a contrite expression. "Very sorry for this interruption. I will go at once to see." He Disapparated.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief. However, little did he know disaster was coming. Soon.

A minute later Lucius Malfoy reappeared. He looked greatly alarmed. "My son--he is outside--he says Harry Potter has sneaked into this house in an Invisibility Cloak! And he might be RIGHT HERE!"

That caused an uproar among the Death Eaters. Several Death Eaters stood up, including Nott, Avery and Rosier. Crabbe and Goyle, however stupid they may be, could not ignore this breaking news. Both of them turned pale. Lucius Malfoy breathed hard and whipped out his wand. Crouch remained seated, but he was looking around with a piercing, glittering gaze. Harry felt as though Moody's Eye was on him when those horrible eyes met his. He froze on spot. There was no means of escape.

"Search the room," Crouch ordered. "If that boy is here..."

The Death Eaters brought out their wands and began firing hexes and curses about the chamber. Jets of blazing sparks zoomed and showered in the air. Harry found it more and more difficult to dodge them, for the room wasn't large and the Death Eaters had their wands pointed in all directions. He narrowly missed a nasty Cruciatus Curse that was heading straight to his stomach, but in doing so, his foot accidentally trod on the hemline of his cloak, and the hood slipped off. Harry's head was exposed in midair.

"Petrificus Totalus!"

In an instant, Harry fell to the floor, his whole body rigid and stiff. He heard the satisfied cackle of a few Death Eaters as he hit the ground.

He was caught.