When Darcie reached the Great Hall, she found her parents looming over the Daily Prophet with their noses almost pressed together.
The family must have experienced a broken sleep last night, but a part of the tension between the mother and daughter seemed to have vanished. The concerned expression on her parents' faces was still visible, like the pale blue sky outside.
"Good morning, father," Darcie greeted. "Good morning, mother."
Her mother left the newspaper, neared her, and hugged her. The embrace felt warm and cozy, and she smelled of lavenders and tiredness. "Look at this," her mother said, taking the newspaper out of her father's hands. "Things have gone out of hand, Darcie."
Darcie took the newspaper and sat down.
— WHO IS DARCIE MALFOY? —
The headline read the question with its own mysteriousness, and below it, there was Darcie in her birthday gown, making people uncomfortable with her eyes even from the realm of papers and images.
The article started with the details of her published paper in the journal Magical Today.
Some of the noticeable sentences ran something like this —
…
—… In her paper, Miss Darcie also cited historical examples, stating how the results of some of the most neutral spells had turned out to be worse than Dark Arts. One such example was the famously known use of the Shield Charm from the 15th Century which took place in the town of Poppleton.
There, the tyrannical Earl of Paunchley held a jousting match. When a young Edmund Gaddlegate couldn't attend the event because of falling out of a tree and breaking his leg, the Earl dragged Edmund and his mother to the castle. He said the mother had to watch while her child was tied to a horse and forced to compete in the jousting. (-a sport where knights run at each other with lances in their hands on horses-)
But as the Earl was racing towards the poor boy, both on their horses, a witch in the crowd named Hannah Cockleford cast an extremely strong Shield Charm between the two. The Earl was "squashed flat in his armor" when the Shield Charm knocked him backward and his horse landed on him. The Earl of Paunchley did not die, but when he woke up, he was under the impression that he was a donkey named Hairy Cyril.
Miss Darcie here has emphasized the use of the defensive spell with pure intentions for harming a muggle mortally. Though the Earl deserved it, if only results are taken into consideration when performing Dark Arts, such use of Shield Charm must be counted as Dark Magic as well.
This was just one of the spells which the author has cited. She has also included the most common and neutral spells like Summoning Charm, Hovering Charm, and Shrinking Charm in her quest to expound on the nature of Dark Arts and Magic with examples, repeatedly claiming that it is Intention that matters, not the Process…—
…
The article then moved on to describe Darcie's personal life, focusing on the name Malfoy. That she had just turned 6 last June was mentioned many times in different formats.
By the end, the article had turned into an interview, now bringing the minister of magic in light and her hand in this article. The former Ravenclaw of Hogwarts had much to say about the article itself, and her comments on the article.
On questions regarding Darcie, Miss Millicent Bagnold said —
…
—… Oh, she is brilliant, of course! Darcie Malfoy has the most singular mind I've ever witnessed. Her determination is extraordinary, to say the least, and the girl has an uncanny knack for deriving acute inferences based on a set of data.
I met her during a chance visit, and we have been in contact since then. She has also shown interest in starting her education earlier than the children of her age and based on the published paper and a few classified results, the ministry has deemed her fit to pursue elementary education…—
…
The remarks from the minister of magic were followed by the singular event from her birthday when she had suffered the injury.
Speculations were made about her mental prowess, relating it to an unknown effect of the injury. Somehow, the reporter had unearthed the visit of Mr. Jaxson Warris, Head of the Mind Healers from St. Mungo's Hospital to Malfoy Manor the day next to her birthday.
When questioned about the same speculations, Mr. Jaxson Warris said —
…
—… I think that's the right load of old codswallop! I checked her myself, and there's nothing wrong with her, let me tell you. The girl's a natural…—
…
The article then moved on to questions at the end.
Questions not about the article, Malfoys, Darcie's education, or the minister of magic, but Dacie's background and the whispers and gossip. It said —
…
—… Is it as simple as it seemed? Or is it just the ministry's way to keep an eye out on the little prodigy from a House with a shady background? Is there some truth in the gossip surrounding the girl, or are they just hogwash?
Read further comments on Page 10… —
…
Darcie put the newspaper down. She didn't need to go to the Comment Section to know what these gossips were, for she knew it must be the same whispers about her being the daughter of you-know-who.
Darcie had seldom given thoughts of those whispers, but a part of her Will to prove herself had stemmed from burying such gossip in her heart.
"It's a mess," her mother said, slumping down beside her. "We…"
Suddenly, a distant cry woke them out of their slumbering thoughts. An owl screeched its way into the Great Hall through the open entrance, dropped a letter in front of Darcie, and flew away.
Darcie had reached for the letter when another cry came. One more owl found its way to her, and flew away, dropping another letter.
This was just the beginning of an incredibly hectic day.
Owls after owls, and letters after letters, kept coming for Darcie, some openly contrasting her theories, and some in her favor. But almost all admired her Correspondence and her perspective to look at things in a different light.
By the time evening approached, the family had received and replied to so many letters that had left a vivid trace on them. Her father had a hint of a smile on his lips as he read letters from a few wizards who held prestigious positions in and out of the ministry. Her mother, though still worried and concerned, had seemed to have accepted the unavoidable fate that was to come as well.
Just before dinner, the last letter came, which Darcie had been waiting for. It was from the minister of magic.
She approached her parents and handed the letter to her father.
…
The letter mentioned that, if approved by the parents, the ministry would allow Darcie to work in the Flourish and Blotts Bookseller in the Diagon Alley with an Assistance Occupation five days a week as per her request, letting her pursue an elementary education under the guidance of the Manager.
The minister would also allot an Assistant Manager of the ministry's choosing in the Bookshop who would oversee Darcie's education.
The same Assistant Manager would also be responsible for her safety during her five days of stay in the hostel-cum-restaurant, Brews and Stews, in the Diagon Alley itself.
Said arrangements would be put into effect from 1st December if so signed and stamped.
…
Lucius and Narcissa looked at Darcie as if it was the first time they were realizing what was happening around them.
Darcie knew how difficult it was for them. She understood his father's aspirations, and her mother's attachment; their love. But this was something that needed to be done.
"Father," Darcie said slowly, "you told me we Malfoys have always remained in the shadows, didn't you? Would it be that wrong for even one Malfoy to step out of the shadows?"
Lucius looked at her daughter, his cold gray eyes softening at her sight. He sighed.
"What other choice do we have left?" he asked, picking up the quill.
One stroke of black ink, and the M stamped over melted wax, opened the doors to an unprecedented fate for Darcie.
If there was a path to Greatness, then Darcie knew that this was her first step towards the destination.
***************
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