InsaneJournal

RP: Reunion
Date and Time: February 5, 2008 - afternoon
Characters: Draco Malfoy, Severus Snape
Location: Malfoy Manor
Private/Public: Private
Rating: TBA
Warnings: TBA
Summary: Draco discovers a portrait
Completion: InComplete



After receiving Daphne's owl earlier, advising him on the progress in France regarding Lynus' disappearance, Draco had sent out inquiries after Marcus. It was odd that Marcus hadn't contacted Daphne, particularly since it was obvious by all how close the two had become.

Since Draco's return to England, he had meticulously carried out improvements to Malfoy Manor. Over the years many of the rooms furnishings had been left in thick layers of dust and the fabric disintegrating. As well, most of rooms required updating thought there had been some rooms Draco had left to update until later.

On the second floor of the Manor, in the west wing, there was a pair of locked doors at the end of the main hallway. It had been Narcissa's own study - a place where she took meetings with guests and spent long hours reading in leisure. At least, that was Draco's main recollection of the room.

Deciding to finally open the study, Draco unlocked the doors when the Manor was quiet. He wouldn't have done so while Daphne was about. He didn't want her feminine curiosity exploring certain rooms without his expressed permission. So far, she had been courteous to this simple demand.

Whoever had taken care of the Manor following Narcissa's murder - thought it had been documented as an 'accidental death' - had made sure the furnishings and paintings in her study were covered appropriately. Draco swallowed as he stepped inside, millions of tiny dust particles caught in the sunlight breaking through the separations of the heavy velvet curtains.

The one piece of furniture that Draco had always been curious about since he was a young boy was Narcissa's desk. He had always been told to never go through his mother's desk, and Draco, even though he hated being told what to do, did obey that request. Now, Narcissa was dead and she wouldn't be here to chastise him.

Draco pulled off the large sheet which had been a pristine white at one point, but was dirtied by many years of grime. In a small cloud of dust, the dark, rich wood of the desk appeared. He tried to open it, but of course the desk was locked. No matter. Not bothering to search a key, Draco took out his wand and performed the necessary charm to unlock the drawers and covered nooks.

He rifled through the fragile parchment, some of it crumbling under his fingertips. Most of it was frivolous nonsense - no secrets there. Draco pulled open a drawer, which contained a fabric covered box. His brows furrowed as he took the box out of the drawer, his fingertips feeling the smoothness of the fabric which covered it.

A press on the little clasp, and Draco heard an audible click. He lifted the lid and peered inside. What he found was strange indeed.

Draco lifted the blank miniature picture frame, the gold aged on the edges. He wondered why his mother would have kept a blank frame in a box like this - and who was the frame supposed to be for?