Narcissa Malfoy waited impatiently in her sitting room for her husband to return from his summons. As a young witch and a Black, she had welcomed the Dark Lord's rise. Mudbloods were useful in their place. Servants and shop keepers had to come from somewhere. But they were entirely too uppity, especially the ones that got into Hogwarts. That great institution should be reserved for only the elite of Magical Society.
And now, as an older more experienced witch, she still agreed with the concept but disapproved of the violence that went with it under the Dark Lord. Her beloved husband stood just out of the centre of power if only that old fool would just die already. They owned Fudge outright. With both positions under their control, they would be able to bring all their wishes to be without the messy and inefficient violence. The fighting was too random and had too much chance of causing loss to one of the great bloodlines. The elder Malfoys had been concerned with the growing darkness of the Dark Mark and hoped they were wrong. Where the young Malfoy had accepted being the lieutenant of a great wizard, he now saw himself in that role and did not truly wish to step back into a subordinate position.
Her thoughts turned to her precious child, Draco. It had been hard for Draco to be conceived due to an injury Lucius received while on a raid for the Dark Lord. They knew he would be their only child and took steps to protect him all his life. Then his name came out of that vile Cup and he'd been forced to participate in the wretched Tournament. Now he slept in a bed in the Hospital Wing under a Calming Draught. He'd been raving about giant spiders and being swallowed by eels.
Narcissa was furious about the Third Task naturally but also oddly grateful to her 'black sheep' cousin. She knew Sirius and young Potter were behind the terror her Draco had gone through but they had also allowed him to get far enough through the task to make an honourable showing. She doubted it was an accident that Draco was the only Champion to be released by the eels. She was not so grateful through that they would not pay for the embarrassment at the end. Lucius always hated the elf that had been his father's personal valet. After Abraxus's death from Dragon Pox (subtly assisted by his doting daughter-in-law's potions), Lucius took great joy in torturing the elf in his father's place. Now the elf supported by Potter had obviously taken the chance to get his own back by humiliating her son. All three of them would pay for that.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the snap of Apparition announcing Lucius's return home. To her surprise instead she found another man lying in the middle of her sitting room floor that she recognized instantly. That man was holding a gash in his throat that was bleeding profusely. Only one man could access Malfoy manor directly into this room; a room that had once been his private planning room.
"My Lord?" she said in a tremulous voice.
"Potter…. beast… poison!" the Dark Lord gasped out.
Narcisa quickly pulled her wand and with a nod of permission from the Dark Lord started casting healing spells on husband's Master. It seemed he'd only received a little poison into his blood but the damage to the throat even then was significant. Whatever the poison was it was a strong one. Finally a bezoar was given to counter any lingering effects. The Dark Lord had passed out from the blood loss so she levitated him onto a nearby couch she'd transfigured into a bed fit for royalty.
The Dark Lord taken care of, Narcissa's thoughts turned to personal concerns. Where was Lucius? Was he hurt too? Killed? Taken by the Ministry? She had to know.
The Malfoy Lady walked quickly to the floo to start making calls. But then she stopped and let out a scream at the sight of the mangled, bleeding bodies that littered her entryway floor.
....
Harry woke the next morning to find the sun had been up for several hours. As he sat up he felt a twinge on his side where some type of magical fire spell had burnt him. Madam Pomfrey had helped a lot but it was still tender. He glanced around the room expecting to see his roommates asleep in their beds. He did, but he also laughed at what else he saw.
Ron was curled up under a blanket at the foot of his own bed. Based on the long blonde hair on the head lying on the pillow, it seemed Ron's Slytherin girlfriend had managed to claim his bed. Curled up at her feet Harry wondered if Ron's animagus form would be a dog.
To his other side, Hermione and Ernie were asleep on a conjured futon. They were spooned together and seemed to be very comfortable together. Harry wished for a camera to capture the sight. Padma was in the chair that was normally his desk chair but was currently transfigured into an easy chair like Vernon had in the living room of Privet Drive. Asleep in Neville and Dean's beds were Sirius and Remus.
Harry felt a sudden burst of warmth in his chest. This is what having a family was really like - not what he'd grown up with at the Dursleys. He quietly got up and made his way to the loo and his normal morning routine before waking his friends and family.
...
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