Younger Siblings
Draco had discovered that an idle little sister was a writing little sister. It seemed that Julie lacked any friends she wanted to visit anymore, and her homework wasn’t taking much time, so he and Victoria were getting letters from Julie every other day. Today was his day. He’d been warned by Victoria that her last letter had been rather gloomy on the subject of Fenton. He took his sister’s letter from what might as well be her personal owl, given how much she used the eagle owl she called “Liberty.”
Draco carefully broke the seal on the family arms, in lozenge with an ermine spot denoting that it was from the second daughter. It was extremely unusual that a girl her age would have her own wax stamp with appropriate arms, but Julie had quickly become a favored daughter. It only took his father’s sudden use of certain phrases from Julie’s favorite show on the telly to show that.
Opening it, a quick glance at the rather neat handwriting told Draco that this was a letter that Julie had put some thought into. He read it carefully, not skimming or skipping over anything. This was not a letter of complaint, or rejoicing, either of which he’d expected in the aftermath of Fenton, or as Julie called him in her letters, He-who-should-not-have’s sentencing. No, this was a letter written once the euphoria was over, when her thoughts and words had sunken in.
Draco was of the opinion that there was no punishment enough for the man who had despoiled his oldest sisters. Word that the muggle had received life in prison, and was going to be transferred to Azkaban had brought a feeling of satisfaction that he knew that was shared by Victoria.
Julie, however, didn’t find it satisfying. She wanted him suffering until death. Draco was sure that if someone actually could make her believe what the Dementors of Azkaban did, she might change her mind, but he didn’t think he could do that via a letter. Plus he had no real experience to lend validity with her on it. Judith would believe just about anything that Draco told her, a trust that as her big brother he was trying to live up to, but Julie wasn’t as trusting.
He really needed advice on this, and he didn’t want to put anything more on Victoria. In fact he suspected that Victoria wasn’t getting as open of letters as he was, because Julie didn’t want to put that stress on their pregnant older sister.
Draco hadn’t even noticed that Daphne Greengrass had taken a seat on the same small couch, being so engrossed in thought. “Another letter from your little sister?” Daphne asked.
“Yes.” Draco said, looking down at the letter again, before looking back at Daphne. “I’m not sure how to reply.”
“Well, I may have a little sister, Astoria will be in your sister’s year, but I think her are an entirely different level,” Daphne said. “My little sister’s last letter complained about having no one around.”
“Julie’s got that issue,” Draco replied with surprise. He was aware that his fellow first years in Slytherin knew some things about his changed family. Victoria was obvious, but Julie, he didn’t really know how much they knew about her. Of course there were some things that he didn’t intend to share. One of them was exactly what Fenton had done to Julie. It was nice, however, that at least one issue Julie had was one that other younger sisters had.
“They can’t live with us, they can’t live without us,” Daphne groused.
“I know,” Draco said. “I’ve lived in that wing alone since I was six. I guess it might be a bit different for Julie, as this is the first time she’s had her own room, let alone had a whole wing to herself. It was different when I was in the adjoining room and Victoria was across the hall, apparent.”
“Is she being smothered by your parents?” Daphne asked. “Astoria’s complaining about that. Apparently Mum won’t let her alone.”
“My parents have a little more distractions,” Draco replied. “Three more younger siblings, and I think my mother is trying for a second. Mother Erlene and Father apparently did a fertility rite before they took their NEWTs.”
“Fertility rite?” Daphne gasped. “Which one?”
“You think I really want to even think about my parents doing that?” Draco asked as he tried to get the image of his parents doing that out of his head. Just before his return to Hogwarts he’d come his father kissing his mother, pressing her up against the wall. He’d quickly retreated.
“Point,” Daphne said. “We’re all the result of immaculate conception, any other way is too troubling to think about.”
“Exactly,” Draco said. “Got any idea how I can reassure my oldest little sister that she hasn’t been abandoned?”
“Let me know when you figure that one out,” Daphne replied, her gaze going upwards. “She nearly made me late for going back to Hogwarts by locking me in my room and somehow putting a wardrobe in front of my bedroom door. I had to go out via the balcony.”
“Okay, I need to make sure that your sister doesn’t give my sister ideas before Easter,” Draco said.
“That should be easy unless your sister happens to be going to school in Houndslow,” Daphne said.
“She does,” Draco said.
“Is she in a class with a Winston-Henke?” Daphne asked.