A pot of Scented Illusion Grass sat by the windowsill, supposedly so endangered that it was nearly considered extinct. It had been Pomona's birthday gift.
Only upon seeing it did Pomona remember that today was June fifth. Though she had missed her own birthday, she had happened to wake up on Draco's.
For the moment, she could not think of a suitable gift. As she combed her hair before the mirror and agonized over what to give her godson, Severus placed a dagger before her.
"This is..."
"Wrap it up." Severus kissed her temple. "Let it be a gift from both of us."
Perhaps he truly felt warm. Severus was no longer wearing that black outer robe, only a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up slightly, just enough to cover the Dark Mark on his arm. Then, looking utterly relaxed, he left the bedroom.
Pomona looked at the dagger before her. Of course she recognized it. It was the one she had dug out of Dobby's grave.
Dobby was not like Kreacher. Though he was a House-elf of the Malfoy family, he longed for freedom. He was not a loyal servant.
If Dobby had anyone he was loyal to, it was Harry Potter.
Apollo had sent a crow to report his wife's whereabouts. The crow had arrived late because it had been lazy, and it made a clumsy lie to conceal its mistake. Yet that lie caused an even greater error, leading to a tragedy.
It only needed to tell the truth. Apollo might have forgiven it. Instead, one lie not only led to Coronis's death, but cost it its own life as well.
Harry was heartbroken by Dobby's death, but Draco might not have been. From Draco's perspective, a traitor had been dealt with by Aunt Bella. He