Cyrus Greengrass was stared at the letter from one of his daughter's friends. Now he wasn't a person that acted rashly, he was, after all a Slytherin, but this particular instance perhaps required some bold actions. His daughter had received a letter as well it seemed and judging from her reaction in front of him, she clearly had a very good idea of what was going on. His wife had read the letter over his shoulder before she did same to her daughter and currently had a drink in hand, trying and failing to hold her laughter.
"So..." started Roxanne
Cyrus raised his eyes to his wife; Daphne was still reading through hers, a frown on her face growing worse and worse. She turned to face her father, big green eyes pleaded with him, she looked distraught. What exactly did the boy write to his daughter?
"Father you have to do something... Malfoy kidnapped him," spoke the young girl.
Roxanne almost spurted her drink out at this before she started laughing.
"Dear, Malfoy it seems helped the boy out when he found his home missing," spoke Roxanne, failing to calm down her daughter.
It had taken a few seconds before the adults scoffed at the idea, Malfoy more than likely burnt that place down himself.
"We can't act rashly without any information darling," spoke the head of the Greengrass family. Daphne's face dropped at this. Roxanne raised an eyebrow at her husband.
Cyrus stood up, getting both of their attention.
"Which is exactly why we'll be heading to the ministry right now, get yourselves dressed."
Daphne raised an eye at this before a grin festered itself on her face and she grabbed her father into a hug.
Roxanne merely stared at this with a twinkle in her eye.
...
The group of four had floo'd themselves into the Ministry of Magic, ahead of them they saw what they were looking for. Lucius Malfoy with Rodrick stood to his left. They'd been expected.
Daphne had to restrain herself from running forward, Astoria made no such qualms before she walked up to the boy and held out both her hands. It had taken a moment before Rodrick pulled her into a hug. The girl squirmed slightly before stating she was asking for sweets, not a hug. Rodrick and Daphne chuckled, The adults were staring off Lucius Malfoy.
Cyrus noticed with some concern how the look of the man's eye glinted; something was going on. Cyrus called out to Rodrick before asking him for a private chat. Taking him away from the others around him, Daphne looked on slightly put out. Roxanne was making idle chatter with Lucius.
"Did something happen?" Cyrus questioned the boy.
Rodrick set off a privacy charm, earning a thankful look from Cyrus, he really should've done it himself.
"I am 90% sure Lucius is responsible for my missing orphanage."
Anger had flared in Cyrus before he pressed on for more.
Rodrick noticing the look quickly tried to calm the man stating it was a welcome change for him.
Cyrus raised an eyebrow at this. After the boy had explained his surroundings in that place, he felt compelled to agree, but it still didn't explain Malfoy's sudden interest.
This was the moment Rodrick was afraid off; he'd contemplated the next part so much. At the end of the day, it was possibly both the best and worst answer he could give.
Rodrick looked up before answering, "He knows my family name."
Cyrus hitched a breath, Lucius Malfoy was going this far because of relations? He stared at the boy in front of him wondering just what kind of name could bring about such a reaction from Malfoy. The boy didn't look comfortable saying it; it most likely meant Malfoy had figured it out. Cyrus looked back up and saw the man's unflinching gaze and the hint of a smirk. That was a red alert for the Greengrass patriarch. He looked back down onto the boy before asking.
"I won't ask you what it is, I will, however, ask for my daughter's sake on whether Malfoy was right in going so far to help you."
Rodrick was a little surprised. "Who knows? I don't have any plans to follow in my family's footsteps, but that isn't the only thing Malfoy could get out of helping me."
Cyrus couldn't help the chuckle; the boy was speaking like this after a morning with Lucius. He looked back down, a kind gaze on his face.
"Don't worry, I have no intention of leaving you with him, my daughters would most likely make my life hell if I tried," Cyrus stopped for a second. "I won't ask you now, but I do hope you'll tell me sometime in the future what the big deal is."
Rodrick nodded thankfully, he was confident he'd mention his name at some point, but there was no way in hell he was telling him about the killing curse.
Another thought popped into Cyrus's head. "The ministry might be a problem on its own, no offense but if Malfoy had such a keen interest in your name... The ministry won't make it easy to let you go."
A small smile showed up on Rodrick's face before he stated Malfoy took care of that already. Cyrus frowned slightly at the idea of manipulating the ministry but remembering particular Death Eater cases in the past figured it was for the best. Some hadn't even got a trial.
The two made their way back to others, Malfoy stared at the two with a smirk and questioned whether the interrogation was done. Roxanne and Cyrus narrowed their eyes slightly but kept their cool. The three adults made their way inside; they decided it was best the children stayed out of it, it wasn't a particularly difficult process of taking guardianship of an orphan, especially one without records. Malfoy had stated it for the best in case someone decided to check up on him there and then.
He had taken out a record of more than likely falsified information on the boy and handed it over to Cyrus to read through.
As soon as the adults were out of sight, Daphne grabbed Rodrick into a hug. One Rodrick that made him stiffen completely.
"I was so worried when you sent me that letter, telling me your house was destroyed, Malfoy's wife kidnapped you to replace Draco. Lucius was threatening you to open your vault with the Killing Curse. It was only after my father opened his letter did you explain the situation properly. The sarcasm was not funny!" she was currently wriggling her finger in front of Rodrick's face, her own inches away with a scowl and a glare on it.
Rodrick stared the girl whose breath he could literally feel.
"Well?" Daphne crossed her arms as she moved her head back. A moment later and she just sighed and turned away.
Rodrick grabbed her into hug from behind.
"Thanks for worrying," He whispered before pulling away.
Daphne stood still for a few seconds before she moved towards her sister.
Astoria dropped her ice cream cone.
...
The three found a bench to relax into, Astoria currently had her head on Daphne's lap napping. Rodrick was explaining his plans for the summer. He already mentioned, in the letter to Cyrus, that he was hoping to buy a place for himself to live in.
"Devon?" she questioned, slightly annoyed. "That's quite far from us you know."
Rodrick raised an eyebrow at her before he told he intended to have a floor set up.
"That's quite expensive you know," she stated worried.
"Which is why I want a cheap place, Rodrick replied.
Daphne lowered her gaze slightly before she told him her parents would be okay with him living with them.
Rodrick raised an eyebrow, stating that she was the one who was ok with it, not her parents exactly.
Daphne let out a disappointed sigh; there was some truth to it.
Rodrick patted her shoulder, he smiled at her and told her it would be a while before everything was ready, he'd need a place to stay until then. The girl brightened up after that.
...
Rodrick was officially made a ward of the Greengrass family. He turned and noticed the missing Malfoy.
The man had presumably left as soon as all the files were given over. He looked around the four people surrounding him before he sighed. He smiled his thanks to the parents, at which he received a hug from Roxanne, stunning him quickly.
"I am so sorry you had to endure Malfoy Manor a second time," she mocked, eliciting laughter out of Cyrus. Astoria woke up at that moment and demanded more sweets. Looks like they were going to Diagon alley.