Stairway to Heaven

Misty tied off the final ribbon on her family's gifts with a flourish. Sighing, she observed her work; a bit messy, but nothing noticeably wrong.

Kneeling on the window seat in the tiny room adjacent to Blaise's, Misty cranked open her window and released the warm tawny owl into the silver sky.

"Sorry, little fellow," she crooned sadly. She couldn't help feeling a bit guilty at sending the creature into the cold December weather. But it was for a good cause--to deliver the only gifts her small amount of pocket money could afford--and it just might return with a few gifts for her.

Misty nearly laughed at her false hope. After all that her family had lost, Christmas was just another stupid holiday; just another day full of regrets.

Then again, hadn't her father sent an answer to her letter? She had wished more than anything for a letter, and then it had come. Squinting out at the dull sky, Misty hoped for at least one gift to show that her family cared for her.

I just end up hoping for everything these days, Misty thought to herself sadly, standing up from the window seat. First Draco, now this.

She had once been the closest friend of one Draco Malfoy. Now what was she to him? A little Welsh servant, unworthy of attentions from anyone as high-and-mighty as he was. Anger rose in Misty as she remembered again who was at fault for the broken bond. Though Draco was, certainly, slightly to blame, it was mostly his father, Lucius Malfoy.

After all, Lucius raised Draco to rely on no one. Draco ended up as an unstable young man, unsure of his future and of himself. Lucius raised Draco to show no emotions or weaknesses. Now, Draco felt nothing, not even the tentative waves of care and friendship Misty was trying to send to him.

Lucius had raised Draco to be a person of darkness. Draco wasn't turning out to be a person at all.

~*~

The Malfoys and Blaise had gone out to a Christmas Eve party at the Parkinsons' manor, leaving Misty with a free evening. Though she had hoped to confront Draco again and see if her carefully chosen words had provoked any thoughts, Misty was more relieved to be rid of Blaise for a night than anything.

Making her way down the main staircase to the first floor of the manor, Misty meandered down the hallways, exploring a part of the manor that she no longer had to clean for. Old, barely familiar rooms popped out at her, their notoriously dusty curtains or toughly stained carpets springing to her consciousness first.

Then, abruptly, Misty stopped and realized that she had reached the corridor that led to Lucius' study. It was strictly forbidden to servants, seeing as there were many secret things in that office.

A wry, mischievous grin split Misty's features as the thought of just how many secret plots lay ready to be discovered in Lucius' office. She was still feeling a slight animosity toward him for the whole Draco problem, and strange things had been happening to her of late.

Her mind made up without much thought as to the consequences, Misty hurried off down the hall and reached the study in moments. The doors were ajar, and it would be easy to shove in and look around, as long as she didn't mess things up to badly...

But Misty paused at the door as a distinct young woman's voice rose through the air.

"...and there's a note from the Welsh girl's father. I think they're up to something."

Davina. The voice registered in Misty's mind with a shocking jolt. What was the servant girl doing down there? It didn't make any sense... but then...

Misty had heard from the other servants that something very traumatizing had happened to Davina when she arrived at Malfoy Manor. Since that occurrence, the young woman held a particular hostility toward Lucius Malfoy specifically and Death Eaters in general. Exactly what had happened, Misty was dying to know, but until she found out, she could only guess that Davina would be desperate to get revenge on Lucius.

And, obviously, that's what the girl was doing. But whom was she talking to? A quick inspection of the slight opening in the door told Misty that no one else was in the room. Davina was only holding a little silver mirror... was that some new way of communication? And Misty realized the young servant's last words. Why were she and her mysterious companion talking about her?

"I don't like it, Harry, I don't like it at all," Davina said, speaking directly into the mirror.

Then, Davina shifted and raised the mirror slightly higher, and Misty got a glimpse of just who Davina was speaking with.

Harry. Harry Potter. The only wizard to face the Dark Lord's killing curse and survive.

And that same wizard, that very Harry Potter, had been the cause of the Tewdwr's downfall.

Seething, Misty turned her eyes back to Davina. Traitor, she thought angrily. What a traitor she is, letting even the image of that disgusting prat into Malfoy Manor. The very idea of it was mortifying.

"What does the note say?" Harry's deep, gentle voice drifted across the room.

Davina held the same note that Misty's father had sent so many weeks ago. "She is in your hands now. Prepare her well. The others suspect nothing."

Misty fumed. That note was supposed to be secret! While Misty herself had violated the rules her father had laid down and read the note, she was his daughter. For a stranger to invade upon this study and read that note was inexcusable.

"What do you think it means?" Davina asked carefully, her wide eyes flicking to the mirror again.

"It's from this girl--Misty's--father?" Harry asked. Davina nodded. "Well, then, it could only be about her."

"And the rest?" Davina asked, egging him on.

"The others... probably us, don't you think? The Aurors? He thought that we knew nothing of their plan. But what is Lucius preparing her for?"

Davina's eyes glinted with a sudden excitement. "Harry! Harry, I think I know!"

"What is it, then?" He asked, curiosity and impatience evident in his voice. Rude little git, he is, Misty thought, irate.

"Misty," Davina replied, licking her lips as if enjoying the importance of the information she had discovered, "has Domination Legilimency."

Misty's knees buckled, sending her sliding down the wall and landing on the floor. Harry said something, but she wasn't listening any more. She was thinking instead of all the things she had done without knowing or trying.

The letters from her father in reply to her own note... the way she had controlled Galleon, Alaric's kneazle... and now, she knew, a Christmas present from her family would be arriving soon, simply because she wished for it.

So Owain Tewdwr was my ancestor! Misty thought wildly. He really did pass his power down to me!

"What are they planning with her, then?" Harry's voice cut through Misty's confused and excited thoughts.

Davina shrugged. "I can only guess. Merlin knows it's something to do with the Death Eaters and their filthy little code."

"She's working for them? Has she joined?" Harry asked, now sounding nervous.

Good, Misty thought, be scared.

"I don't think so," Davina answered. "But her family has been good friends with the Malfoys for ages, she'll do anything for them. Lucius must be planning some way of using her power to his advantage."

"So the 'prepare her well' part is to Lucius, asking him to teach her how to control her power?"

Davina shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine."

Harry's weary sigh drifted to Misty at her place outside the door.

"Thanks a million, Ton--er--Davina, is it?"

"Yeah. Just until I'm done with this job, though, thank Merlin. That's almost worse than 'Nymphadora'."

So she's an undercover Auror. Probably under a Glamour or something. Misty glared daggers at the offending servant.

"Hardly," Harry replied, half-laughing. "Now, I'll look into a raid for Malfoy Manor, okay? They're long overdue for one anyhow."

"Yeah, that'd be great. Meanwhile, I'll try to find out more about this guy in Wales, shall I? And I'll inquire as to just what they've been cooking up over here."

"That's be fantastic. Keep in touch, all right? And if there's ever an emergency, don't hesitate to call me on this."

"Right. Bye," Whoever-she-was replied, before sticking the little handheld mirror into her pocket again.

Misty saw her heading for the door and hastily rose from her seat. The passageway was long and straight... she's have to sprint to make it out without being seen...

Fortunately, a crash of wood and paper toppling resounded from inside the room. Apparently, the young woman had knocked over a chair stacked with important papers, giving Misty the time she needed to escape.

Misty hurried up the stairs and back to her room, her head spinning with new information.

~*~

Misty sat at her window seat once again, her head pressed to the cool, soothing glass. She stared out at the tranquil gray clouds, although she knew that soon all the peace would be broken when the rain came crashing down.

Just as her thoughts had come crashing down in her head. All the careful barriers of strength, pride, and determination had faltered and broken at the discovery she had made earlier that evening. Chaos ensued in her mind, and only one thing was certain above all else.

Misty's father and Lucius had made some sort of scheme, and she wasn't going to let them con her into involvement. Not until she was sure exactly what they were planning, and not only in the weeks to follow. In the distant future as well.

She was distracted yet again from her deep thoughts when an owl came soaring to her window, carrying a package and a letter. Cranking open the glass to admit the bird, Misty hastily pulled off the package.

It was from her family, as was expected. Avoiding the thoughts of her strange power that sprang immediately to mind, Misty peeled back the brown paper to find a beautiful velvet box, probably containing jewelry.

Startled at its elegance and obvious extravagance, Misty slowly opened the lid with wide eyes. She gasped loudly as the top clicked open.

Lying atop the soft, expensive fabric was an exquisite emerald circlet, carved from the finest green gemstones. It must have cost a fortune to make, and even more for her family to purchase... Misty's head ached just thinking of all the Galleons spent on it.

It was perfect in every aspect--color, size, weight, and shape. It fit onto her head like a person fits into their skin. She felt as if she had been born to wear it as she put it on. Her chest tightened and her body tensed as the cold emerald brushed against her forehead. Misty felt as if Fate's thirst had been finally quenched in her wearing of the beautiful circlet.

Hands shaking with amazement, wonder, and happiness, Misty placed the circlet back into its box. Setting the velvet case onto her bureau, she moved onto the letter, still riding the euphoria that came with her previous gift.

Her father had written careful instructions for her to pass it to Lucius and NOT to read it, but she ignored those and ripped open the letter. Too much had happened that day, and she had heard too many things for her to care.

Lieutenant-

Bring her out on the first day of the New Year. Be cautious, but do not hesitate to prove to the world just WHO we are replacing. Make our goals known, if need be, and scare them all into obedience.

-Major

Misty blinked at the page and read it again. What would she be expected to do on the first day of the New Year? Who was being replaced, and was she the one doing the replacing? And just what goals were being made known?

Misty felt her head swim with weariness and anxiety and yet another wave of questions filled her mind. So many things had been happening over the past few months and all of them without her suspicion. Could she stop it now, or had it all spun too far out of her control?

~*~