Soaring reputation and Daphne's birthday

Winter melted away from England's memories with its snow and its wind, leaving behind a remembrance of the bitter days.

The month of February shied away, clutching the winter's cloak.

When March came, it brought the first colors of spring, livening up the entire country's sulky mood. Days became longer, warmer, and soother. Even in the wizarding community, all knew how to appreciate the weather and the thousands of colors of spring, like countless faces.

Southern England welcomed less snowfall in March and April than northern. Still, rainfall remained an occasional sight. Chilly winds kept sweeping the nights, misting the wet mornings.

April passed by in these drizzles, cold shivers, and refreshing breezes.

It's been 5 months since Darcie had begun her training under the stern, watchful, and praising tutelage of two ghosts. Those two ghosts were — Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Mr. A. E. Waite. They were the Chiefs of the two Circles of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.

From Mr. Waite, Darcie learned the basic concepts of Hermetic Kabbalah. The mystic expert taught Darcie how Kabbalah was connected with Alchemy, how the Classical Elemental influenced Kabbalah, the Tree of Life, and, in turn, the Alchemical properties of substances.

Darcie also learned the basic principles of astrology from Mr. Waite, and how to combine its theories with Alchemy, too.

Then there was Mr. Waite's specialty. Divination.

Darcie learned both tarot card divination and Geomancy, but only in the latter did she make significant progress. Geomancy was based on markings, patterns, and calculations, rather than interpretations (as with tarot cards), leading to Darcie's favoritism toward the former divination art.

With Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Darcie spent most of her time learning Herbology's basics. She had already learned enough of elementary Potioneering. Even then, when the old ghost taught her how to connect the concepts of Potioneering with Alchemy, it was as if a new door had opened itself to her.

Darcie's mastery over Runology and ancient texts stumped both ghosts, leaving them incapable of gauging her true capabilities in that regard.

If there was something that had occupied most of Darcie's time in these last few months, then it was the Magic Circles.

Magic Circles not only combined the fields of elemental geometry, runes, sigils, glyphs, and magical principles, but they were also inherently needed to do Alchemy. Some Magical Circles let one bring out a specific property of an ingredient, and some let one use the natural magical force in the world to destruct and construct ingredients, creating a finished product.

When combined, 5 months felt just too short for Darcie to even cover the basics. It was especially so when she only visited 221B Baker Street 3 days a week.

Even Darcie, with all her intelligence, wasn't as ridiculous as that.

Darcie had already memorized and familiarized herself with most of the subjects of Hogwarts' first and second years. But it was only so because these two years dealt with the most elementary content of the magical studies, and there was much more theoretical than practical work involved with them.

Not to mention, Darcie didn't have a Wand, leaving her incapable of practicing certain spells. Sure, with her Wandless and non-verbal magic, she didn't need a wand much. It didn't mean that she didn't want a Wand altogether, though.

It all had put a pause on her further studies into the 3rd year's subjects according to Hogwarts' curriculum. Darcie didn't mind it. Not at all. Her knowledge was growing vaster and vaster, her basics getting cleared at a rate that even she felt slow to keep up with it.

Darcie even believed that till her admission into Hogwarts, she would never have time to advance her regular curriculum studies. Not when the entire World Tour was awaiting her at the end of her training with the two ghosts.

But this all was a side of Darcie's life that only a few knew.

To others, Darcie Malfoy was becoming a greater mystery with every passing day, her entire life and existence shrouded in a thick veil of magical mist.

Darcie published two more papers during this time.

One paper was on how to combine Runology and Arithmancy, leading to countless distinct possibilities based on the system of runes used during certain divinations. Arithmancy was already a subject well-known and well-researched by the wizarding community. But few possessed the vast wealth of knowledge in runes for them to pry into its secrets.

This paper, in itself, had shocked the scholars.

Of course, this paper had been published under the care of Ms. Esmeralda Willow, the Headmistress of the London branch of the Euro-Glyph School of Extraordinary Language, giving it much more weight.

The second paper Darcie published was on combining the 16 geomantic figures of Geomancy with the four Classical Elements, using the principles of eight trigrams of I Ching (-a Chinese classical text-) as the basis.

When one read these papers, they all felt like just anyone could have drawn these inferences based on the data available. But only when one actually attempted it did one get to know how wide the scales of knowledge it would need to come to the same conclusions.

At last, all, at least those who were wise and intelligent enough to know, came to understand that Darcie possessed a magnificent memory, as already mentioned by the minister of magic.

And it was the Malfoys who enjoyed the direct results of Darcie's soaring reputation.

Darcie spent only her Sundays at home, but she devoted her entire time to her family, putting aside her training.

She and Draco catching snitches occupied Darcie's Sunday mornings, enjoying the cool spring wind on their broomsticks. In the afternoon, she attempted light Potioneering using her mother's wand, giving an excuse of teaching her brother a few things.

Then there were her parents.

A small smile remained on Lucius' lips, like an ever-present smirk. Whenever the owls brought letters, mentioning Darcie and her papers, his chin pointed itself up as if it was alive.

Before, Narcissa had kept chiding Darcie to attend her parties. But, in the last few months, she had begun taking pleasure in mentioning Darcie's lack of indulgence in ordinary meetings, taking an amusing pride.

Dobby had also been ordered to keep a copy of the Daily Prophet, with Darcie on the front cover, on the table in the Main Hall of the Malfoy Manor. Obviously, it was the one thing that the house-elf did with a wide grin on his face.

And such copies of the Daily Prophet were growing week after week, with columns of praises and criticisms kept appearing now and then.

Of course, the copies with criticisms got burned by the combined wrath of Narcissa and Dobby.

In these endless familial bondings, reading and learning, and her Page duties in the Flourish and Blotts Booksellers, even the month of May almost ended.

But there was one special day in May that forced Darcie to break her over four-month-long routine.

*

*

Sunday, 24 May 1987

Greengrass Manor, Oxfordshire

The flames in the fireplace roared green, and Darcie walked out covered in ash and soot.

She was wearing a light green frock, richly embroidered in silver and gold. Her long, white-gold hair was spilling down to her waist, as smooth as silk, and tied behind her back using a black headband. The headband kept rippling, caressing her hair as if it was breathing.

Darcie's skin had gained a whiter hue in these last months, giving her an enchanting, fatal appearance. It was as if the most beautiful princess from ancient times had awakened from the dead, without losing an iota of her noble presence.

Not to mention, because of the dozens of columns on her papers in the Daily Prophet, and the gossip surrounding her mind-boggling intelligence, one just didn't help but feel stifled upon approaching her.

None in this Manor were among those, though.

Darcie swatted away the ashy coating over her frock and smiled at the girl standing in front of her. "Happy Birthday, Daphne," she greeted, approaching her. "Sorry, I got late. Mother didn't let me come without putting up makeup."

"It's all wasted, anyway," Daphne replied. She rubbed Darcie's left cheek, clearing the leftover soot. "Let me tell mum that you have arrived. We shouldn't dilly-dally anymore."

When Daphne had gone, Darcie cast a wiping spell to cleanse her frock thoroughly.

The birthday party was in the evening, but Darcie had come ahead to help with the preparations. However, this was only a lie; a little one.

By now, Darcie had already told Daphne everything, from the Hall of Portkeys to the Avalon, and from the Six Seats to the Familiars. Everything. Of course, as per the Six's warning, she hadn't revealed their identities.

When Daphne returned in February, Darcie also told the truth about her training. Both girls since then had been getting together in the first half of the week, revisiting the last week's lessons, and learning together.

It didn't need to be said that the matter of Lethifold had scared Daphne the most. But when Darcie tossed, turned, and pulled Lilith in front of her several times, the fear on Daphne's face became a rueful smile, making her even pity the dark creature.

"Darcie!" a shrill shout rang in the hall.

Darcie turned to look at the three ladies entering the grand hall. "Good Morning, Mrs. Rachel," she greeted Daphne's mother. "Hello, Astoria."

Astoria was two years younger than Daphne. Unlike her older sister, who had blond her like their father, she had black hair and blue eyes. She was a spitting image of their mother, Mrs. Rachel Greengrass.

"Will you take care of the things here, mum?" Daphne asked, her tone icy, matching her best friend's appearance. "We will return before evening."

Mrs. Rachel smiled. "It's OK," she told them. "Do bring the little girl you mentioned before if you can. I will handle your father."

"Her name is Ginny, mum!" Astoria shouted.

Yes, in the guise of preparations for the birthday party, Darcie, Daphne, and Astoria were going to the Burrow to spend an afternoon among the Weasleys.

Darcie and Daphne had already visited the Weasley's residence once in late March. But they hadn't stayed there for even half an hour for it to be called a proper visit.

Today, they had planned to spend an afternoon at the Burrow secretly, and invite Ginny to the birthday party.

There was just one problem.

Mrs. Rachel glanced at Darcie, her gaze full of sadness. "Dear…" she mumbled, pinching Darcie's cheek. "What if someone was to know that you went there? It would truly be a great scandal."

None could deny that Darcie's reputation had outgrown her age. She was but a child. Not even 7. And yet, her visit to a blood-traitor family could topple the entire Malfoy's reputation among their circle.

Darcie's mind was filled with countless things for her to care about such meager things. If she feared anything, then it was her mother's scoldings. "Just don't let my mother know," she said, rubbing her cheek. "I'll be fine, otherwise."

Mrs. Rachel burst out with a giggle as she heard Darcie's response. "Hehe! Well, go on, then," she said, pushing the children to the fireplace. "I've had it connected to the Weasley's fireplace already. Enjoy! And Astoria, I am warning you. Don't be mean."

Astoria hid her face from her mother, but she grinned mischievously when Darcie looked at her.

Darcie took a handful of floo powder from the pot seated over the mantel shelf and threw it in the fireplace.

The fire instantly became green, soaring mightily into the fireplace.

"Me! Me! I will go first!" Astoria shouted, ran, and then, under the shocked gazes of the rest of the ladies, she lunged into the fire. "THE BURROWW!"

With a puff of green flames, the little Greengrass vanished, spinning round and round.

Darcie was gobsmacked. "Did she…" she asked, looking at Daphne, "… Did she just say The Brow?"

"I think she did," Daphne answered, her face paling. "Hurry! Let's go!"