An End And A Beginning

16: Birds Dream in Trees

'You didn't tell me that!' Draco said, looking up from the article on the front page of the Daily Prophet.

The headline declared in big bold letters: YET ANOTHER MINISTRY SCAPEGOAT? Then in a slightly smaller font, it said: Saviour of Wool's Orphanage and Muggle Lover: The secret life of Lucius Malfoy unfolds during his funeral. The article took up the majority of the front page under a large photograph of the coffin being carried into the Chapel of Rest and Draco and Narcissa walking behind it with Angelina and Harry respectfully behind them. Next to it was the photograph of his father that was used on the front page of the Order of the Farewell Ceremony.

'Didn't tell you what?' Harry said as he helped himself to a piece of toast and buttered it.

'That reporter—'

'Andy Smudgley—' he said before taking a bite.

'Yes, him,' Draco said, glancing at the name under the headline. 'He says "when asked about the suspected case of murder, Assistant-Head Auror Harry Potter said it was confirmed by medical professionals that Mr Lucius Malfoy had indeed been poisoned whilst in Azkaban by Digitalis. A copy of the Death Certificate confirms Auror Potter's statement and that the poison caused heart and kidney failure leading to Lucius Malfoy's death on the 26th November 2002. Auror Potter also said, 'someone has come forward claiming to be the perpetrator of the crime, however, investigations are still underway and the evidence is not currently conclusive. I cannot discuss the case in further detail and request you provide the Malfoy family with the privacy they need at this difficult and sad time'.". Who's this person whose come forward?'

'Oh, one of the prisoners. Nothing serious. They're just laying down a claim in hope of some glory. Four more felons have come forward claiming responsibility since I spoke to Andy. I have no doubts that we'll have several more claims in the same vein before the week is out.'

'Really?' questioned Narcissa as she poured herself another cup of tea. 'People do that?'

She hadn't questioned why Harry was having breakfast with them some five days after the funeral, or that he was wearing one of Draco's Slytherin Quidditch jumpers, or that the Wards were supposed to have changed and he wasn't supposed to be able to get into the Manor. Or that both young men had a slightly flushed and satiated appearance and her son was happier than he'd been for a very long time. It went without saying that over the last few days, Draco had quickly learnt how to cast strong silencing and cleaning charms, even with a restricted wand. He was very determined to make up for a lot of lost time.

'Constantly. It's all about a supposed kudos,' dismissed Harry. 'The claims are being investigated, but I'm not taking them seriously, mostly because the claimant was in isolation at the time. It was nigh on impossible for him to administer any poison to anyone, let alone get near Lucius who was in a different part of the prison. Plus, he got his dates wrong, he said he'd administered the poison on the 12th November but Lucius was already in the hospital wing by then. Still, he's extremely adamant he did it. They all are.'

'Oh,' said Narcissa softly.

Draco said nothing. He was in two minds whether to tell his mother that Lucius's death had been the ultimate sacrifice on his part. Similarly, she didn't know about the money in Lichtenstein. He was in a quandary about it all because he didn't keep secrets from his mother but nor did he feel comfortable about telling her the truth over both matters. Not yet anyway, not until things were more certain.

He momentarily watched Harry lift his coffee to his lips and blow on it to cool the liquid. The surface of Tiger's Eye ring shimmered as he moved. Draco turned back to the paper and nobody spoke for a moment as Draco continued to read about his father, the orphanage, and his Uncle Etienne, who, it appeared, had underplayed exactly how much he'd done to help Muggles during the war.