Persephone Black

Chapter Twelve: N.E.W.T.

Persephone woke early the next morning, glancing around her surroundings before familiarizing herself with her own bedroom. She knew she had been sent home, there was no other reason her uncle would have brought her here. Sighing, she leaned back on her pillows and stretched her limbs before sitting up. On her bedside table sat a note with small, slanted writing littering the page. She picked it up, recognizing the penmanship as Snape's, and began to read:

Miss Black,

Your school items were collected by your uncle's house elf after you departed yesterday evening. Per the headmaster's last request, you are not to return to the school unless another culprit is caught opening the Chamber of Secrets. As your head of house, I have been given permission by your other professors to pass along homework and end of year exams, which are quickly approaching. Any end of year exams will be proctored by me during our usual private lesson time.

As for your N.E.W.T., your uncle will be taking you to the Ministry of Magic, where you will be professionally proctored by a chosen delegate from the Board of Governors. I expect you to study for all your classes with the intent of returning to Hogwarts next year. You should expect to stay on your revised academic plan, which will also help you when you are cleared to return.

I will be visiting the manor the night before your N.E.W.T. for dinner with your family. If you have any remaining questions, please have them prepared for me then. I will be keeping in touch with your aunt and uncle.

Professor Snape

She sighed again and set down the letter, stepping out of bed and dressing quickly. Pulling on a sweater as she walked, she gently pushed open her aunt and uncle's door. Persephone approached the bed, noticing her uncle laying on top of her aunt. Both were naked, and with the whisps of blonde hair everywhere, it was hard to tell which strands belonged to which person.

"Auntie?" She whispered, finding Narcissa's ear.

"Mmm?" She replied, shifting under her husband's weight.

"Can we go to Diagon Alley today and get ice cream while I study?"

"That can be arranged," she mumbled.

Opening her eyes, she immediately jolted, realizing the position she was in, with Persephone smiling at her.

"Lucius, wake up," she hissed, pushing her husband.

"What time is—"

"—It doesn't matter, Persephone's in here!"

"Perseph—" he opened his eyes and stared from Narcissa to Persephone, "Persephone!"

"Go into the bathroom for a second," Narcissa said, shooing away her niece.

"Okay," and she rolled her eyes, walking into the bathroom as she listened to her aunt and uncle dress themselves hurriedly.

"Persephone, come here!" It was her uncle's voice, and when she came out of the bathroom, the couple were sitting with their bodies against the headboard, "we apologize if you saw anything, Persephone."

"It's alright, I didn't see anything."

The sexual education provided by the Malfoy's to their children was thorough. It had come about when Draco, at the age of nine, had awoken from a nightmare and heard his mother screaming in the other room. Alarmed, Draco had run down the hall, only to find that Narcissa was screaming in pleasure, not pain, and after that night, the children learned about intercourse and sexual health. It had never bothered Persephone, and she liked that her aunt and uncle displayed affection so prominently. Some of Draco's friends had parents who barely even looked at each other, which she found more disturbing than her aunt and uncle kissing.