Snow pressed against the high panes of the Durmstrang office and turned the lake to pewter. Igor Karkaroff studied the black wax on the envelope before he broke it. A ramping hound on a field in open sky with stars. Minister Arcturus Black never wasted seals on pleasantries.
He read fast, then once more for the taste of it. Request for permanent transfer for three names inked with a steady hand. Vinda Rosier, Master of the Dark Arts. Yelena Morozova, Master of Transfiguration. Horatio Greengrass, Potions Master. There was courtesy in the grammar. Igor knew enough about Arcturus Black to read the expectation in the marrow.
He summoned the professors.
They came as the light shifted from iron to late pearl. Vinda first. Hair pinned with the practical sense of a duelist. She stood where the carpet border met the boards and gave the room a silent stare. Horatio followed with ink at his cuffs and the dry scent of crushed asphodel. Yelena closed the door without a sound and took the chair as if it had been promised to her.
Karkaroff lifted the letter so the broken seal can be visible. "The British Minister requests your permanent transfer to Hogwarts. Terms are flexible for your comfort. He notes his heir, Corvus Black, has removed certain 'obstacles' to make sure of it. I can vouch for that from my own channels as well." The young man is a source of continous pride. He chuckled.
Vinda's eyes did not flicker. She already had her own letter from Arcturus. "I agree. I will transfer my classes and mastery students to other professors."
Horatio's mouth eased into a slow smile. "A proper stockroom and a 'few more vials' of tears from Master Corvus will be nice." A thumb brushed his forefinger as if he could feel the the vials in his hands already.
Yelena watched the mantel clock. "Hogwarts," she said, dry as chalk. "A school that denies tradition and excellence for the sake of being fair."
Vinda turned a fraction. "It will change. We will have our way and many changes to follow. We will set the standards."
Horatio tipped his head. "I will start my perparations. Many things to do." He started to murmur and stood.
"An Institution without discipline raises idiots and monsters." Yelena tapped the chair once with a nail she was still not convinced. Vinda on the other hand was bringing her along. One way or another.
"Then we bring that discipline." Vinda looked back to Karkaroff. "We depart within the week."
"You depart within three days." Durmstrang mentality was going to shape what Albus coveted for so long. "Including the three of you, Hogwarts will have four of ours." His smile was not a friendly one. If members of Durmstrang faculty raised Hogwarts, he would be known not only as the headmaster of the institute that raised the youngest master but also as the one who raised the standard of another. "I will write the answer." He turned to Vinda. "Kindly deliver it to Minister Black, Professor Rosier."
Yelena's mouth softened by a breath. "I will see what my pupil has done for his Transfiguration mastery."
Vinda turned for the door already decided. was already gone. Karkaroff watched them go and let legacy sit on his shoulders like a fine cloak.
He wrote at once. Minister, Durmstrang stands with Hogwarts in her hour of need. The quill scratched. He sanded the page, sealed it, and set it by the lamp where the wax could dry in the heat. By the time the runner came, Igor already had a second sheet open with names of pupils to advance early and offices to release.
--
Britain refused to stay quiet. The Daily Prophet's headline ate half a page.
MALFOY DIVORCE SHAKES SOCIETY
by Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent
Society's most polished union has snapped like spun sugar. Lord Lucius Malfoy, that paragon of not so spotless cuffs, confirms that he and Lady Narcissa Malfoy (née Black) have parted. Readers may place a hand to the heart. I did.
Lord Malfoy assures me he has devoted himself to law making. How noble. He further confirms he has deeded the Manor to the ever capable hands of Narcissa Black with select vaults for her trouble. A gentlemanly gesture, he says. One might almost forget a certain Lord Rosier paid a visit to Malfoy Manor after the eventful sitting. Pure coincidence. Of course.
"Marriages are events we celebrate. From time to time some decide to move along," Lord Malfoy tells me, voice calm as polished silver. He adds that to avoid distraction from his passion for studying the laws he has appointed Lord Rosier as his proxy for the foreseeable future. This reporter finds it sensible. Some men are simply better compared to others. At least, dear readers, we can be sure of that vote will be used for the good of our beloved realm now.
She signed with a flourish that pretended to be kind.
The paper lay across Narcissa's knee like a cat that had brought her something. Corvus sat with a cup in the same room he had entered a short while ago.
Narcissa's fingers let the sheet slide to the cushion. A small smile found her mouth and stayed.
"Thank you, my lord." Warmth lived under the words. Freedom lightens the bones after all.
"No need for titles, cousin Narcissa." He glanced at the line about proxy and let it pass. "Have you finished your work with the wards."
"I have. Only you, Grandfather, I, and Draco can pass by Apparition or by Floo. All the other permissions are removed."
He nodded once. "Do not rename the Manor. A new mansion goes up as we speak. If you dislike the Malfoy name, choose one you can live with for this place." He crossed to the window. Snow wrote thin lines down the leaded glass. The house listened as if it knew it had a new master and did not dare complain.
"In the mean time, I would like you to accompany me to the Ministry. There is someone who will be happy to see you."
Narcissa rose in one smooth move. "I will fetch my cloak."
She returned with a dark cloak that drank the light. The brooch clicked home. Her gaze passed along the portraits on the wall. Names looked back. Some smiled, most judged. None mattered anymore.
"Ready."
The Floo answered at once. Green light lifted and took them. For a breath the room held only the quiet of a house that had changed its owner and future.
--
The Ministry atrium gave them polished stone and winter light. Narcissa kept her chin level as they moved towards DMLE. A hush grew in their wake. Wands rose for form and dipped when the Black crest caught the light.
Ignatia Travers met them at the lift with a folder balanced on one palm. "Minister is in with some foreign guests. He left word for you to visit him before leaving the Ministry." Her eyes moved to Narcissa and softened. "Miss Black."
Narcissa inclined her head. "Miss Travers."
The lift hummed down to DMLE. A healer in plain robes came out of a side office and stopped as if a tune had changed.
"Miss Black, Heir Black." Thalassa Penrose set her hand on the door plate. "Bellatrix will be glad to see you two." She turned to Corvus. "She was asking for you in particular."
Narcissa's glove tightened once on Corvus' arm and eased. She had not been told Bellatrix was here. "Lead the way, please." Urgency lived in her tone. It had been over a decade since she had last seen her sister.
Penrose walked them through the warded doors. Oswin waited inside with a tray of vials and a book open to a page that had been read many times. The cell beyond had a bed, a chair, and a woman who sat straight without a wand.
"Miss Black." Penrose kept her voice even. "You have visitors."
Bellatrix and Narcissa turned at the name. The eyes were sharp. The face had more life than it had last week. The air in the room shifted as if someone had opened a window.
Narcissa stopped in the doorway. Her breath left and came back in a smaller shape. "Sister."
Bellatrix stood. The first step took will. The second took less. The third brought her to Narcissa. The sisters hugged and stayed that way for a while.
Corvus chose to stay back to give them an illusion of privacy. "Sit if you tire," Penrose said, and left with the other healer.
Narcissa and Bellatrix crossed the threshold. Corvus chose to enter at that time. Bellatrix turned to him, stepped close, and hugged him hard. "Thank you, my lord," she whispered. "Thank you for freeing me."
Narcissa raised an eyebrow. "It seems, Heir Black, you are in the habit of rescuing damsels in distress." Her tone carried gratitude and amusement.
The sisters took the bench. Corvus sat across from them and watched. Bellatrix looked better than he expected. She had already gained some weight. Her stance was straight. Strength had returned to her grip.
"You look like Mother when she had things her own way," Bellatrix told Narcissa. A ghost of a smile touched the corner of her mouth and stayed.
"You look like yourself." Narcissa checked the tray and the notes on the table. "When will you come home."
Bellatrix listened to the words as if they were a draft to be checked for dose. "I will come home when the law says I may. And when Corvus and Grandfather tell me."
Corvus stood after a while and looked over the healer notes. "You will keep the schedule your healers set, cousin Bellatrix."
Bella smiled. "Please call me Bella. You saved my life by convincing that monster to release the contract." Her eyes darkened at the name of Rodolphus and cleared again.
Corvus nodded. "Focus on healing, Bella. The contract is gone. The construct is dying. The mind healer will rebuild what it gnawed. You are not alone in this."
"I am not." Bellatrix kept her eyes on Narcissa. "Tell Draco he is to mind his grades. I will not return to find a lazy boy."
Narcissa breathed out a sound that might have been a laugh if the day had been kinder. "I will tell him."
Corvus stepped out to give them a last few minutes alone and looked over the occupied cells in the DMLE wing. The ward hum kept steady time with the lamps. Order lived here now.
After around half an hour Narcissa rose first so Bellatrix followed suit. "I brought nothing today. Next time I will bring some books. And proper tea."
"Bring news as well," Bellatrix said.
Narcissa nodded and stood clear. "I will come again."
They left to the muted hum of the ward. The corridor gave them back its smells. Penrose nodded to the pair and returned to Bella's side. A clerk slid a parchment into a file and stamped the corner without looking up.
They went to the Minister's floor. They hoped Arcturus had finished with his meetings.
He had. "You chose a good day," he told Narcissa. "Britain is almost behaving." His eye moved to Corvus. "Bring your calm face. We see the Muggle Prime Minister in two days."
Corvus nodded once. "Did you send to Durmstrang."
"Of course." Arcturus' mouth found a dry line that passed for a smile. "Are you sure Karkaroff will agree."
Corvus let a soft smile show. "When have I ever misguided you, Grandfather." He let the door close on the lift and the three of them rode in silence for a floor while the lamps ticked and the building breathed. Outside, the snow kept its work and did not ask anyone's opinion.