Atlas Malfoy and how history repeats itself

Part 6

I sit with Hermione at breakfast the next morning and I groan as Severus calls me over.
"I'll be back Hermione. Also, Harry, I need to ask you about your quills!"
I walk over to Severus and he says, "I see you making friends."
I glare and reply, "Well I was, but I seem to be stuck having a conversation with someone I had been avoiding quite successfully."
"You are advanced for your age."
"I try to be, Sir." Nothing he says is truthfully what he means. He just wants information. Don't listen to him.
"Anyway... I would recommended finding new friends."
"Sir, I'm not dropping them. I actually have friends for the first time in my life and I feel truly happy and you and my Father want to take that away from me. I'm not leaving them because you and my Father can't see passed your ignorance."

With that, I walk back to the table and Harry flicks round the paper, pointing at the picture. He says, "That's the vault me and Hagrid went in. Hagrid took out a tiny parcel, said it was important and for Dumbledore. We need to figure out what it was, and why Dark Wizards want it. Any clues at your house?"
I roll my eyes before saying, "Well, actually... I don't know. What if I say this and I completely ruin the entire flow of things."
"Can't hurt." Ron shrugs, stuffing another mini pancake in his mouth. I lean in and say, "Well, in Knockturn Alley or however you say it, there is a shop my father goes in often. He took out a tiny package, and I heard him saying it was for Severus Snape."
"Your dad likes Snape?" Harry scoffs and I reply, "I know, but my Father likes some messed up people. Honestly, Severus is probably one of the most okay people my Father has in the house. I mean, dunno if you lot know, but my dad was apparently 'under the imperious curse' while working for He Who Must Not Be Named."
"Volde-"
"SHUT UP!" I scream. People look over and I snap, "Nothing to see or hear over here."
Hermione says, "You don't want to start accusing people of being Death Eaters with no proof."
I say, "But, Hermione, we do have proof. If you roll up their sleeves then you'll see the proof. I try to be open-minded but you have to think, Severus Snape is a prime suspect."
She says, "Eh, I don't know."
"Hermione," I say, breathing deeply, "When I say my Father is friends with people, I'm not saying that lightly. I don't think my Father has any real close friends, other than my mother, but they are married and my Father hates me mother's sister..."
"Isn't your mother's sister a murderer?"
"That's beside the point," I say, wafting my hand in the air like I'm trying to waft away Harry's point, "The point is, this year is not going to be easy, and we are going to suffer if we don't figure this out. Anyhow, enjoy your flying lesson. My Father wrote ahead and now I can't come for them. Something about being a young girl in the Black family. Honestly, you'd think I come in wrapped in bubble wrap with hazard tape around me."
"Black family?" Harry asks.
"Yeah... I mean, all purebloods are loosely related and so, well, I guess we are somehow? I'm not quite sure, but it's weird." I say, biting into another slice of toast. Harry shudders and Ron says, "How can you be so sure?"
"We have a tapestry in our house. Mother says that her aunt- my grandma I think- had a tapestry of the Noble House Of Black and she would burn peoples names out of it if they disgusted her enough," I dust my hands off and continue, "Mother refuses to burn off names. It angers my father, but sometimes people don't get what they want. My dad isn't used to that. Oh, you should get to class. Bye guys."

I wave as they walk off, and head to my dorm. There is a package with two envelopes. I open Father's first.
Atlas,
I got you this, and I was going to give it to you when the time was right, but having it in my possession anymore feels ridiculous. Your mother wanted me to give it to you.
-Lucius Malfoy

At least he still calls me Atlas. I open Mother's next.
My Dearest, Atlas
I hope you are doing okay. If I knew what your father's letters said to you, I wouldn't have let him send them. There is an envelope on Hermione's bed from me. I'd like her to read it if she is comfortable enough. Before you open the package, I need you to know who it reminded me of and the backstory. My sister, Andromeda, married a muggle-born. I personally could never see the problem, but I was in too deep. You have the ability to get out of this. Spend the holidays where ever you want.

Now, my sister's husband and Bella never saw eye to eye. In fact, they hated each other. But, Andy ran off with him before I could tell her how little his raising meant to me. This is the last thing that I can really imagine Andy liking. She has a daughter too. I hope you meet her. I know I wont as I have left it too long to make amendments.
Let me explain the actual package. This is something I took from a house many years ago after a death of someone whom I loved very much. They were a good member of the family, even when people didn't see it.

I love you very much Atlas.

Mein gefallener Engel.

Mum xx

Okay then. I prize open the package, revealing a little watch. It's silver, and every tick looks perfect from it. I turn it over, and I rub my hands across it. Suddenly, I feel something. R.A.B... I assume the B probably stands for Black, but who is the R and A. Or maybe they are three people. Maybe two people who share a last name... No, it has to be one person. I reread the letter multiple times, until Hermione's voice shocks me. I spin round and she says, "Are you okay Atlas? You look sad."
"I'm alright... just got some mail." I say, clicking the watch onto my wrist. Hermione looks at it and says, "Is that new?"
"New to me, but I think it's got a lot of memories attached to it. How was lesson?"

We walk down to the hall as Hermione says, "Harry is on the quidditch team! The youngest seeker in a century. And you wouldn't believe what I found out. His dad was on the team! I mean, he has it in his blood to be a good seeker. The apple doesn't fall far from the... Oh, sorry Atlas."
I shake my head as we join Harry and Ron at the table saying, "It's okay, Mum and I are close still. I just don't think Father will welcome me home for Christmas. Or summer for that matter."
"Harry, come see what I found out!" Hermione says suddenly, jumping up, "Come on Atlas."