Chapter Text
Uncle Vernon was stone-faced as he drove Marry back to King's Cross, just three days into the summer.
"And why," Uncle Vernon said, "Can't you just stay the whole summer?"
Marry answered, "I'm not staying long. Just a week. Then I'll be back."
Uncle Vernon growled.
Marry was in a dress (which the Dursleys hate when a boy wears a dress) to meet the Malfoys.
He wondered what the Manor was like.
Draco bragged about it a lot.
Uncle Vernon pulled over and said, "Get out!"
Marry rolled his eyes.
"Yes, Uncle Vernon."
He grabbed his trunk, and off Uncle Vernon went.
This was fine by Marry.
He didn't want the Malfoys to meet his family.
Or vice versa.
Marry could only take so much bigotry in one place.
He made his way to the station.
Mr. Malfoy was there already.
"Potter, there you are. Come, we are apparating to the Manor."
"What's that?"
Mr. Malfoy explained, "It's to disappear and reappear in different locations."
He took Marry to a shaded part of the station.
"Grab my arm. Don't let go."
Marry held on to Mr. Malfoy's arm.
No one noticed as the two departed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Marry was heaving.
Mr. Malfoy patted his back.
"First time is always unpleasant."
Marry took in big gulps of air.
He righted himself and looked up.
"Wow!"
The place was huge!
Mr. Malfoy smirked.
"Yes, it is quite the marvel."
He walked Marry up to the gate.
"There are powerful barriers around the house. You will be completely safe inside these walls."
Marry bit his tongue before he could say, What's protecting me from you?
He wasn't stupid.
Mr. Malfoy thought Marry was the next Magica Lord.
To take over for Voldemort.
He was twelve, soon to be thirteen, years old!
Marry did not like or trust Lucius Malfoy.
Mr. Malfoy levitated Marry's trunk, and they walked up the lawn's pathway.
Peacocks were strutting around.
Mr. Malfoy said, "Do not go near the peacocks, they are very territorial."
They made their way up to the door, where Mr. Malfoy opened it for Marry.
Mrs. Malfoy and Draco were there to greet them both.
Draco grabbed Marry's hand.
"Let me show you around!"
Mr. Malfoy coughed.
"Let us show Potter to her room first."
Marry blinked.
"I'm not sharing a room with Draco?"
The Malfoy's laughed.
Mr. Malfoy said, "Let me guess, you had to share at the Weasleys. No. We have plenty of space for you."
Marry was shown to his room.
It was big.
"Wow. It's so spacious."
Draco took Marry to show his room.
Which was bigger.
Draco was going over some of the stuff when Mrs. Malfoy knocked to inform them that dinner was ready.
Dinner was huge.
Was everything in this Manor bigger than necessary?
Mrs. Malfoy asked, "How do you like your food?"
"It's delicious, Mrs. Malfoy."
"So polite. You are a treasure."
She said those words while eyeing Mr. Malfoy.
They talked about Hogwarts.
"I heard you're quite the pianist. You will be starting your Iris Piano training?"
"Yes, sir."
"A beautiful instrument, I look forward to seeing your images."
This is not so bad.
Marry was expecting them to ask if he was ready to take his place in high society or some garbage like that.
At dessert, that's exactly what happened.
"I have a surprise for you. You will be attending a Gala with us on Saturday.
Marry blinked.
"What kind of Gala?"
"The Ministry is having one for the summer."
Draco said, "All the bigwigs will be there."
"Draco, language. All of the affluent people will be there. It is a good time to introduce you to the wider world."
Mrs. Malfoy asked, "Do you have dress robes?"
"No."
"We have some that should fit. I can think of three that would look wonderful on you. We will need to fix your hair."
"Good luck on that! My hair is untamable!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Marry was asleep with a Clementine doll in her arms.
Narcissa smiled as she closed the door gently.
She checked on the children to ensure they were sleeping and not staying up past their bedtime.
Narcissa liked Marry.
She had the potential to become a Magica Lady.
That would be a good ally for Draco.
She would see him treated right.
Narcissa went to the lounge where Lucius was.
He was sitting, swirling a glass of wine.
"How are the children?"
"Asleep. They must have worn themselves out from all the excitement."
Lucius stared into the fire.
"What do you make of Potter?"
Narcissa felt like this was coming.
Her husband's doubts.
"A diamond in the rough. A bit of practice and she will shine."
Lucius snorted.
"She's too nice for our purpose."
Narcissa said, "I think she has been good for Draco."
Lucius said, "The other purpose."
"There is no other purpose."
Lucius looked at her.
"Nar-"
"No. No more. You put our son in danger for this 'purpose' of yours."
Lucius said, "The Dark Lord-"
"Is gone. Hopefully for good."
"Narcissa! Hold your tongue! Do not say that."
"He was a horror. Powerful, yes, but he was a tyrant. With Marry I think-"
Lucius set his glass down.
"She is but a child blinded by Dumbledore's light. She might be talented, but she will never have what the Dark Lord had. The desire for a better world for us. For our son."
Narcissa shook her head.
"You are wrong. Yes, we will most likely not see a world where we wizards are finally free from secrecy. I don't care anymore. We almost lost our son because the Dark Lord is selfish. He will suck us dry. Marry will let us flourish. Let Draco grow into a man who can stand by a Magica's side without fear."
Lucius looked thoughtful.
"What if he returns?"
He pulled up his sleeve to show the Dark Mark.
Faded.
"It is still there. Barely, but there."
Narcissa said, "Then we choose."
"I choose the Dark Lord. He already has power, where Potter is just coming into hers."
Narcissa said, "Marry is close to Dumbledore, he could-"
Lucius shook his head.
"I know the winner of that fight. Dumbledore is too good to use the power of the Dark Arts. It is a weakness."
Narcissa folded her arms.
"I see there is no changing your mind. Can we at least form an alliance with Marry for now? If the Dark Lord does come back... We will return to his side."
Lucius nodded.
"Yes. We can do that."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Marry was having more fun at the Malfoys than he thought he would.
Sometimes other children would pop by to play with them.
He had a tea party with Pansy.
Played some broom games with Crabbe and Goyle
Had Blaise help with his homework.
And Theodore recommended some books for Marry.
Some of those Marry knew Hogwarts had in the restriction section.
Marry and Draco were in the library reading when Mrs. Malfoy came in.
"Marry. Let's pick out your dress robes!"
He got up.
So did Draco.
Mrs. Malfoy said, "Girls only."
Marry had not been alone with Mrs. Malfoy before.
She didn't make him as on edge as Mr. Malfoy.
Marry picked a dress robe in slate blue.
Mrs. Malfoy helped adjust the robe.
"So regal! I know what would go perfectly with this."
She waved her wand.
A small glittery tiara appeared.
Marry gasped.
"Mrs. Malfoy, that's lovely, but I couldn't wear that!"
Mrs. Malfoy smiled.
"I will let you borrow it only for the Gala."
Mrs. Malfoy handed it over.
Marry thumbed it.
"Thank you."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The Gala was boring!
It was just a bunch of adults trying to warm up to Marry.
They smiled, shook hands, and introduced themselves.
There were too many to remember.
One old lady asked, "Have you thought about marriage?"
"I'm twelve!"
"Never too early for an arrangement! I have a few grandkids who would go well with you. Do you like wizards or witches?"
Marry was saved by the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, clicking his glass for a toast.
"We, at the Ministry, are so grateful to have you all here. Especially young Marry Potter! This is her debut Gala!"
There was applause.
Marry curtsied like Mrs. Malfoy taught him.
"Such a dear! We hope to see more of you Miss Potter!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Soon, Marry's time at Malfoy Manor would be over.
Mr. Malfoy had asked for a private talk.
Marry sat across from him.
"I wish to make an alliance."
Marry asked, "What's that?"
"An alliance is where two or more families help one another when times are tough. They have each other's back."
Marry did not trust Mr. Malfoy.
He would likely stab Marry in the back.
Still...
"You help me and I help you? That doesn't sound too bad. What happens if the alliance fails?"
Mr. Malfoy frowned, "What do you mean?"
"I mean, there might be something I can't do."
Mr. Malfoy waved a hand.
"You are still a child, so I don't expect much from you yet. It's as you age and become a Magica that I feel you would be more useful."
At least he's honest.
"Okay. I guess that's not a bad deal."
Mr. Malfoy nodded.
"Usually, we would write up a contract, but as I said, you are still a child, so we will keep that on hold for now."
Mr. Malfoy smiled.
It was a tiny smile that reached his eyes.
"It was a pleasure having you here, Marry."