Ch57. The slight against the honor of House Black

Draco Malfoy was called into the office of Headmaster Dumbledore, unknowing what to expect or even the reason.

Professor Sinistra, the new head of House Slytherin, told the password to the gargoyle and Draco could only watch in awe as the entrance appeared.

Who knows, maybe Dumbledore finally admitted Malfoys are his betters and want to beg his way into servitude...

Sinistra, on the other hand, was annoyed. Extremely so. Now, at eight in the evening, she had to escort the little arrogant ingrate and even be polite about it! Why did she take the position of head of the house again?

...

Narcissa, sitting opposite Dumbledore, looked the man straight in the eyes, plainly inviting him to use Legilimency while playfully presenting only thought in front of her mental shields again and again.

'I know about your mind-raping escapades Twinkly!'

The smug smirk on her face only widened every time Dumbledore's frown deepened.

Her fun was interrupted when the hearth's flame changed to green and Lucius Malfoy stepped into the room.

"Narcissa." He coldly greeted, trying to appear calm and collected while his hand strayed towards his wand in anger. After starting to manage the Malfoy Estates, he found out that...

The bitch stole hundreds of millions of Galleons during her management of Malfoy businesses! Now she even claimed fifteen percent as hers and completely decimated another thirty-five percent! But she didn't stop there! Oh, no!

Lucius had to use every waking second to salvage the businesses in order to keep the remaining fifty percent working since 'somehow' 'suddenly' their clients and suppliers started changing sides, canceling the contracts through some blasted inbuilt back-doors in them! Oh, Lucius was not angry. He was downright furious at her when he realized these clients and suppliers changed over to Blacks!

"Now, now. You wouldn't want to be taken by aurors... again, would you Lucius?" Narcissa quipped with a mirthful grin. "After all, there would be no wife to bribe you out of there anymore."

Lucius glared at her as she took great pleasure in taunting him.

"Children, please." Dumbledore's voice immediately broke the impasse as both turned to the old coot with deadpan looks.

They were about to rebuke him when the door flew open and Malfoy Jr. walked inside as if he owned the place.

When Draco saw his mother his expression lit up! She was always the one who bought him costly presents!

Narcissa rolled her eyes as she recognized that gaze. Honestly, she did so because she cared at first. In the later years though when Draco became Lucius-mini it was only to keep him out of her hair.

"Mother!" Draco exclaimed and Dumbledore smiled at the 'family' interaction. "You finally returned from your world tour!?"

Narcissa looked at scowling Lucius while Sinistra looked in bemusement at the situation.

"World tour... Really?" She sighed in indignation. "That's pathetic even for you, Lucius."

"Let's skip the formalities and come to the matter at hand. Why did you orchestrate this little gathering." Lucius coldly 'ordered' as he was not about to be belittled by some whore.

Narcissa shrugged uncaringly at him.

"Well, let's do this, then. I, Narcissa Black swear on my very life," She started making all four occupants of the room widen their eyes when they heard her declaration. "that I say the truth in the following statement. Heir Draco Malfoy slighted the honor of Lord Black with his words."

As she uttered her oath and accusations Lucius instantly paled as he realized the implications.

"Wait! When did I insult him!?" Draco witlessly uttered in confusion. "Who is Lord Black, anyway!?"

Narcissa rolled her eyes at Draco but didn't answer. If they wanted her to give an oath on where, when, how it would be impossible for her to provide. It was better to keep quiet now. She couldn't just tell them that it was when he called Potter barmy in the Great Hall, now, could she?

Sinistra gasped as she also understood where this was going and suddenly she cursed her luck even more for becoming the head of house Slytherin as it would most likely send the 'house politics' into chaos while she would have to glue the pieces back together!

"Narcissa, is this really necessary?" Dumbledore grandfatherly asked and added 'sorrowfully'. "You are his mother."

Narcissa thanked her luck as the change in topic completely diverted everyone, making them lose interest in Draco's question. After all, Narcissa did swear on her life. Meaning Draco indeed DID insult Lord Black and it was TAKEN as an insult. Who cares when and where?

"Yes, it is necessary. An heir of Noble House insulted my Lord." Narcissa threw him an impassive stare.

"It's just some words. Let it go." Dumbledore coaxed.

"I will not let it go you goat-fucking imbecilic old meddling retard." She barked at him as everyone in the room gaped at her.

Hearing the insults, Dumbledore's gaze hardened.

"Narcissa, you were raised better than tha..." He started.

"See? You DID NOT let it go." Narcissa interrupted him nonchalantly. "Hence, shut up."

She turned back to Lucius, knowing well that Dumbledore would have no guts nor political clout to threaten her the same way she now threatens Malfoys. And if he did... oh, would she have a field day!

"What do you want." Lucius grumbled knowing he had to compromise. If she went in front of Wizengamot with such an oath on her life of all things... Their House could be very well ruined!

"I am generous... I only want twenty-five percent of your businesses." Narcissa declared, and everybody in the room dropped their jaws to the floor.

What generous! Bullshit! That's basically the most Lord Black HIMSELF could win in front of Wizengamot for slight on his honor! And even then it would be very unlikely to get the full penalty!

"Narci..." Lucius condescendingly started and tried to bargain as he coldly stared at the hated woman in front of him. She was really pushing his patience with her ridiculous actions.

"Reputation, Lucy." Narcissa interrupted him calmly, stopping him short. "Think about your reputation."

Lucius instantly knew he was in the corner and she was not about to negotiate her demands. If this came in front of Wizengamot...

Everybody would KNOW that Narcissa was given to Lord Black by him and he would not be able to create some elaborate story about her betrayal because of the secrecy contract he signed over the matter. It would be the height of shame for House Malfoy.

Everybody would KNOW that Malfoy Estates are in tatters. It would hurt his political position and his ties with the Minister.

But most of all, everybody would KNOW it was Narcissa Black, formerly Malfoy who was RESPONSIBLE for such a humiliation to her former husband and son. They would start to ask questions and would be prone to find out the truth!

Narcissa, of course, also didn't want to go in front of Wizengamot because the public would become aware that she was not a Malfoy anymore. They would find out her affiliation with Blacks and her scheming would become harder.

Even Dumbledore didn't know yet. He thought she had 'protection' of Lord Black and was currently in a dispute with her 'husband' Lucius. At most, he saw her as a woman selling her body to Lord Black for benefits. As for her actually being an active part of House Black? He had not even an inkling she was actually allowed anywhere near anything important by Lord Black, much less managing the House!

Only Lucius knew the truth as it was him that made her into Lady Black. And then... the misfortune followed. He was made aware quite fast of her new place in the House Black, Narcissa supposed with glee.

Anyway, for anyone without insider knowledge, this was seen only as a grab for easy money by using Lord Black and Draco's supposed blunder. At worst, they would now think Narcissa was a very vicious and heartless woman. Something she could live with.

"What kind of mother are you." Sinistra asked, disgust palpable in her tone. "How could you use your own son's actions to blackmail your husband. That's disgusting." She blurted out at Narcissa, not even thinking about her position or that her opinion right now didn't matter.

Now that the black-skinned teacher asked her about her intentions and made this so much easier? She grinned.

"Oh, I am not Draco's mother." She said lightly.

Lucius wanted to faint as he heard her words so casually spoken in front of Albus freaking Dumbledore! By the next day, half of the Ministry would know that he had a dispute with his 'wife' but now they would also get it into their ears that she was not actually the mother of his Heir!

'Oh, shit!' His eyes widened at Narcissa as he finally understood her true angle.

People would start questioning Draco's mother. Her identity. Her blood status. Her family line. But even if they discovered she was magically powerful, pureblood, and... Lucius's cousin. They would always see Draco as a child out of wedlock. It would hurt the political position of House Malfoy even more than revealing Narcissa's marital status! Moreover, any and all connection to House Black would be disproved!

"What!?" Sinistra shrieked and even Dumbledore widened his eyes.

"That's a family secret." Lucius coldly demanded and put his hand on Draco's shoulder to prevent him from asking more questions.

"I will make sure to punish anyone who reveals it!" He glared at Sinistra who gulped but his magic was more threatening towards Dumbledore.

"Of course." The old coot knew it but Lucius's glare didn't cease when he 'reassured' him. With an audible sigh, Dumbledore took his wand. "I, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, swear on my magic to never reveal the secret I just heard."

He could not make an enemy of a man close to the Minister for something as petty as this.

Sinistra was not made into the head of Slytherins for no reason. She also whipped her wand and gave the same oath. This way, she won't have to look over her shoulder due to knowing too much...

Narcissa's empathy registered the shift in Lucius from infuriated to calm and gave him a sweet smile, making him infuriated yet again.

"I am sure you will provide generous donations to me for keeping that secret, won't you?" Narcissa innocently asked.

"We will sign a contract. Magically binding contract." Lucius gritted out.

"Sure." Narcissa agreed but then she pulled out a contract from her purse. "Here."

Lucius gaped at that because it meant she aimed for exactly this result from the start.

He read through it and his head spun. The contract was for fifty percent of his PROFITABLE businesses. He could not even give her those in near-bankruptcy! He had to give her those that earned actual money! His income will be cut in half!

But the contract stated that neither Narcissa nor Lord Black would bring up this particular insult and Narcissa would never reveal the secret of Draco's birth.

To add insult to the injury, the contract also stated that half of Malfoy house-elves, three in total, would be given to Narcissa. The only stipulation being, Dobby was not to be one of them.

Lucius signed. He had no other choice. This... was a complete defeat for House Malfoy.

But... he will rise again! And when he does, Narcissa will suffer! Lucius swore it!

Narcissa looked at the fool. For all his smarts and cunning Lucius had one fatal weakness. He couldn't keep a tight grip on his emotions. That's why he studied Occlumency to appear impassive and cold. But inside? He is always raging inferno of various emotions. It... clouds his judgment. It did so when he signed over her contract and it did so yet again now.

Narcissa wondered if he was actually calm, would he realize that while she can not reveal the birth circumstances of Draco to the public, she could always tell to, say, her sister who was already in the know anyway, and have her reveal it?

She shook her head in bemusement.

"Well, thank you." She strutted towards the table and took the contract, rolling it up.

"You were all so forthcoming!" And with that, she left the bewildered fuming idiots to their own devices.

Draco could only stare in shock as his apparently not-mother just scammed half of their properties from his father while the man just fumed and glared, unable to do anything. The view of his father's invincibility, shifted slightly that day.