Miss Malfoy

Chapter 5

     The curtains parted, and Minerva McGonagall stepped out. Trixie immediately felt more at ease. No offense to Dumbledore, but he was a bit mysterious and unsettling, while McGonagall, strict as she was, was a figure of unshakable support.

     "I had Minerva wait to join us so that you would trust us on our word, not on our company." Dumbledore explained.

     Trixie pointed at Snape. "You still haven't explained how he fits into all of this."

     The Slytherin boy had been silent and watchful throughout the entire exchange, twisting the skull ring he wore on his right hand.

     "Severus was indeed truly Sorted into Slytherin. However, he is the example that proves that Slytherin is not a house of evil. Severus and Lucius became close, as you may know, in their first year at Hogwarts. Lucius and I confided our plans in Severus, and the four of us have been working together ever since. 

     "Lucius and Narcissa continue to be model pureblood children, while Severus works to gain the trust of our budding Hogwarts Death Eater's club, untrusted as he is by them because of his bloodstatus. Although," Dumbledore laughed. "he does seem to be flaunting it to his advantage. Really, Severus? 'The Half-Blood Prince'? You are quite clever, my boy."

     Severus' face stayed indifferent, but his eyes revealed his pride.

     Trixie's head was whirling. Everything was happening so fast, and she still had so many questions. "Why did you go to Dumbledore in the first place, 'Cius? What made you do it?"

     Lucius was silent for a moment. "I found some pieces of Dad's old journal, 'Celia."

     Abraxas Malfoy had died when the twins were very young, with Lucille Malfoy following soon after, leaving Lucius and Trixie to be raised by their grandfather. Brutus Malfoy was a stern, chauvinistic man, firmly fixed in his pureblood ideals. Trixie was still reeling from the fact that she had been able to convince him to allow her to transfer from the 'ladies' school' (Beaubatons) to Hogwarts.

     It worked in her favor that boys also attended Beaubatons, as well as that Lucius attended Hogwarts instead of Durmstrang, Brutus' first choice. From a young age, the twins had been taught that purity of blood was everything, and that the Malfoy family was practically Wizarding royalty. 

     This had never made much sense to Trixie, but she had quickly learned not to mention this around her grandfather. She didn't mention her muggleborn friends from Beaubatons to Brutus, either. Luckily, he approved of Apolline.

     Trixie had often wondered how different her life would have been if she had been raised by her parents. She had been too young to even remember her parents, so Lucius finding even pieces of Abraxas' journal was incredible.

     "What did it say?" she asked eagerly.

     "There were only a few pages." Lucius cautioned. He slid a scroll of parchment off Dumbledore's desk, and held it out for his sister. "But it was enough."

     Trixie took the scroll reverently.

     Dumbledore's eyes twinkled at her. "Well, Miss Malfoy, it's been quite the exciting evening, but I think it's time for bed."

     Trixie nodded, still clutching the scroll like a lifeline. She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep until she had committed the scroll to memory.

     "We'll take you down to the Gryffindor Common Room." Lucius got to his feet, flashing McGonagall a smirk. "We wouldn't want my sister to get a detention for wandering the corridors at night."

     McGonagall's eyes betrayed her amusement.

     "See you in the common room, Sev." Narcissa smiled at her housemate as she and Lucius escorted Trixie out.

     "So." Lucius said as soon as they were out in the corridor. "are we still shallow, evil gits?"

     "No." Trixie said thoughtfully. "just good actors."

     Lucius laughed, his mirth echoing down the stone hall.

     They reached the portrait hole, and Trixie turned to her brother and one of her closest friends. "We have to pretend to hate each other, don't we?"

     Narcissa smiled sadly. "Yes. We can meet in secret sometimes, though."

     Lucius wiped away an imaginary tear. "We'll write to you!" he pretended to sob.

     Trixie rolled her eyes. "I love you, both of you."

     "Goodnight, 'Celia." Lucius blew her a kiss.

     Trixie waited until they had rounded the corner to say the password, and then, the Fat Lady eyeing her reproachfully, entered the common room. She flopped down onto one of the soft couches and unrolled one of the scrolls with trembling fingers.

     Then she paused.

     This would be her first and last view into her father's life. She wanted to read it so bad, her stomach was twisting, but maybe she should save it, to draw out the experience.

     Trixie closed her eyes and gritted her teeth, and then opened them and began to read.