The Last Horcrux

Eileen's Memory

Draco was standing at the counter having a hurried breakfast before leaving for work. Coffee and toast. Dudley was in the bedroom, dressing, whistling tunelessly under his breath. Draco had just rinsed his plate and put it in the drainer when an owl rapped at the kitchen window.

Draco unscrolled the parchment and read it. He read it again. When Dudley emerged a few minutes later, fully dressed, Draco was sitting at the kitchen table, staring at the note.

"What's that?" Dudley asked. He grabbed his thermos and started filling it with coffee from the pot.

"Here," said Draco, handing the letter to him.

"Who's this bloke?'' asked Dudley. "Here-on-im..." He struggled to pronounce the unfamiliar name.

"Heironymous Crouch," Draco said. "My family's solicitor. He wants to meet with me."

"How come?"

"To discuss the management of the Manor. He says that since my parents have been missing for more than three years, stewardship of the property goes to me."

"Is that so?" said Dudley.

Draco shrugged. "That's what it says. He wants me to come to his office Wednesday afternoon at three."

"Are you going?"

"I suppose I have to."

"You don't sound too happy about it."

"It's....complicated."

"I know,'' said Dudley. He put down the thermos, walked round the table and put his arms around Draco and the world righted itself.

"Come with me," Draco said, resting his cheek against the rough fabric of Dudley's work shirt, inhaling. Dudley's clothes smelled of winter air and sawdust, an oddly comforting smell.

"All right," said Dudley. "I can get off work early and meet you there." He found Draco's mouth and kissed him and for a moment that was all there was.

"Thanks," mumbled Draco.

"No worries, love."

He picked up his steel lunchbox from the kitchen counter. "See you tonight," he called. Draco heard the door open and shut and Dudley's heavy work boots descending the stairs.

He picked up the piece of parchment and read the words again. They seemed to blur in and out of focus on the page. He couldn't form a cohesive thought. He took another sip of coffee. It had gone cold. Even though he was late to work he kept sitting there staring at the page

********

Sev stood outside Madame Marples' waiting for Oakley to emerge. He heard a whisper of air behind him and knew, without having to look, that the black carriage with the thestrals had arrived. A moment later Eltanin von Wold was standing beside him. Sev sensed his presence like a magnetic field. He shook himself and tried to stay focused.

"Good evening," Eltanin said in his formal way.

"Good evening to you," Sev replied and forced himself to look at the man. He was handsome as ever, his eyes electric blue, high forehead, black cloak, the wind whipping his white blond hair back. He smiled at Sev, a tight knowing smile. Sev shuddered inwardly.

The front entrance opened and the children spilled into the front yard. Oakley and Delphi were the first to emerge. They came running over to where Sev and Eltanin stood by the fence.

"Papa!" Oakley cried. "We did clay!"

Indeed both children clutched misshapen grey lumps which they held onto carefully.