The Emerald Manor

Chapter 4

A rare light from the sun shimmered in the window pouring over her bed. Outside a robin was making a cooing noise. Cora woke up, struggling to get herself out of bed. She has not been sleeping well, captivated by her work on the Malfoy case. The history of Draco and the Malfoy family had been too intriguing.

She rolled herself out of the bed and wrapped a throw blanket around her as she ambled into the kitchen. She plopped herself down at the table, giving her wand a graceful swish. "Accio." She muttered as her coffee floated over to her. She sipped it while reading over Draco's file again.

Cora assumed that she combed through more of Draco's history than perhaps Gawain had intended her to do. But the family history was fascinating. It was like a good book she couldn't stop reading. The more research she did the more charmed she became.

Draco attended Hogwarts and was sorted into Slytherin. Based on what Gawain had told her about the Malfoy's respecting power it wasn't shocking that Draco was a Slytherin, it looked like their whole family had been in that house for centuries.

All the research Cora had done into Hogwarts had said that Slytherin's were cunning and resourceful. He was an above average student but nothing exceptional. Although, it was noted that he was a gifted duelist and a talented occulems. Cora stored this information away, in case she ever had to duel Draco, although she was hopeful it wouldn't come to that.

Occlumency on the other hand was an ancient talent. She wondered where and why he had learned it. It wasn't much practiced anymore and the need for it seemed unnecessary.

Draco was a member of an ancient pureblood family; one of the sacred 28. She paused for a moment; she had never felt a reason to hide her blood status before. But delving more into the Malfoy family history, she determined it would be best for Draco think she was at least Half-Blood.

She wasn't certain if he shared his parents' pureblood views. But if Gawain was right about Draco respecting power, he may not be impressed that she was a no-maj born witch.

Cora had observed this since moving to London; blood status among the wizarding community in Britain was more prevalent than in America. It was less talked about there and no one seemed to care about who was pureblood, half-blood or no-maj born. That was not the case here.

It made more sense as to why Voldemort was able to get such a strong foothold in England. He had exposed an already prevalent weakness.

Cora had sent an owl to Draco Malfoy confirming that she would be visiting Malfoy Manor on October 1st. She had speculated that a surprise visit would be the best. It seemed proper to introduce herself; at least at first.

She had trodden a well beaten path through her apartment. Flicking her wand, cleaning up messes as she went. Her home was small with only one bedroom and one bathroom. Cora preferred it this way, she didn't want a large place that she had to maintain or clean up.

She couldn't understand why Draco Malfoy would live all alone in such a large home. No wife, no children. She assumed he had a large army of servants who maintained the manor, but how lonely would that be? Why did he seem determined to lock himself away in solitude. He was never spotted out in public more than one or two days a month. And that seemed to be limited to Diagon Alley. He'd visit Gringotts and perhaps a couple of other shops but nothing more.

While her mind wondered, her barn owl Onyx flew through the window and dropped a note in her hand. With a soft pat and a treat Onyx flew up to her perch, Cora reading the note:

Miss DuPont,

I received your owl and have noted your visit on October 1st.

Do not apparate inside the manor.

Draco Malfoy

His response was curt and demonstrative. Draco clearly wanted nothing to do with her or the Ministry. He accommodated out of necessity per his clemency agreement.

No matter Cora thought. If he complied there was nothing else to it. There was nothing in Draco's history that suggested he was going to be overtly difficult. It was more likely Cora was going to have listen to him drone on about family importance, money, and power.