NOVEL NEXT Chapter 199: Malfoy Manor
Volume 9: Harry Potter - A Unique Timeline - Begins!
Now that I am discussing the Original Fanfic, let me also clarify the lack of Images.
While writing Multiverse Systems, it had been my greatest joy, and habit, to upload images and stuff related to that chapter on Discord (All the material is still available on the Discord till a certain Chapter 500 something, I guess).
However, I have abstained from that practice with the revamped version. First, it had brought no significant rise in readers for the Original. Second, the extra effort I had put in the fanfic, letting the readers enjoy a real-life experience with the images, failed to reflecte by the number of Patre0ns, in turn, my earnings. It would be shame to lie that I have no monetary objectives. However, what I aim to achieve is the basic minimum, i.e. at least those who can support the work, should support the work.
Because of this, I had dropped the novel a year and half ago as I was getting 0 returns from it. Only recently I had picked the Fanfic again and then later decided to work upon the revamped version.
So, in the end, its my humble request to those who are financially capable of supporting authors to support this work as well. If not now, then when the revamped version has caught up with the Original plot.
Also, I have a Ko-Fi account as well, where you can donate any amount, starting from 1 USD. Any and all support will be much appreciated.
Links of Ko-FI and Patre0n are available in Synopsis of the novel.
Thank you
droopyauthor
Chapter Begins:
07:00 pm, 5 June 1986
England
Somewhere south of Swindon, in the largest town in the Wiltshire County of South West England stood an ancient country house with bays that came forward and turrets that broke the skyline.
At the height of the gray, cloudy evening, its weather-beaten sandstone looked dark. Its elevated position had left the mansion exposed to elements with wind and water continually taking a toll on it.
Strangely enough, unlike similar cases, this manor had never needed the masons working on it constantly since it had been built. Any other building in its place would have been too deteriorated to leave unchecked by now.
Gatehouse and heraldry walled and battlemented the courtyard; an echo of its feudal traditions, as the manor was not needed to be fortified and defended.
Through the gatehouse, there went a gravel-paved alley to the main entrance of the manor, tall yew hedges towering on either side like green-armored sentinels.
Somewhere afar, the cry of a peacock echoed, dying away slowly, and marking the true beginning of the night.
In place of a small porch at the entrance, there were stumpy banded tuscan columns, resulting in an impressive italianate colonnade. Alabaster and black stones were used in the columns' capitals for finer carvings.
Each tower of the manor was crowned with a balustrade, and each of the 3 main stories had a ceiling higher than the one below, increasing in height per the status of the occupants of the rooms.
The ground floor contained the Great Hall and service rooms, and the first floor, higher by a third, housed the family rooms. The second floor had great windows reaching from floor to ceiling, holding the state apartments. These windows provided the boldest views of the several hundred acres of the lands and sceneries surrounding the manor.
The entire manor seemed to have a symmetrical layout full of dramatic adjustments. It spoke of diverse architectural traditions and elements, creating an effect of grandeur not through its size and scale but the sophistication of its planning.
If there ever existed words that could describe the mansion, then they were — Splendid extravagance.
This was Malfoy Manor.
And it belonged to one of the most ancient pure-blood wizarding families and one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, the Malfoys.
Today, the tall windows of the manor were letting out bright pillars of light, and the sounds of laughter and music were seeping out from the untended cracks and corners.
Wizards and witches with their children were coming in through the fireplace at the gatehouse connected to the Floo Network. Those who were alone were apparating directly into the alley before walking off the rest of the length.
The doors of the main entrance opened to a Great Hall, whose ceiling reached the roof of the first floor. Unlike the traditional placing of the hall at a right angle to the entrance, this Great Hall was along its axis and in line with the alley leading to it. It was placed symmetrically behind the entrance and stretched across the entire width of the building.
And much of the decoration of the Great Hall comprised its wall hangings and embroideries.
The hall was strewn with wizards and witches in lavish doublets, suits, overcoats, cloaks and cowls, and even stranger attires. One could even spot a few tall, pointed hats on the heads of some old witches.
In the center of the hall, on a low, polished table of german origins, lay a many-layered cake with fairies and little men made of candies dancing around its edges.
There was a magnificent fireplace in the great hall over which the coat of arms of the Malfoy family was carved in splendid colors of green, black, and silver, paying homage to the ancient wizard, Salazar Slytherin. It comprised the letter M in silver over a green-black shield with two winged-serpentine creatures on either side. Three spears with blades at each end were crisscrossing each other behind the shield. And inscribed in Latin on a silver banner were the words, Sanctimonia Vincet Semper — Purity Will Always Conquer.
A processional route was created which began in the hall, followed a corridor, and reached the grand, winding staircase that rose through the entire building, linking all the important rooms on each floor.
Tapestries were hanging along the walls beside the staircase in rich vibrant colors, depicting a forgotten time and the valor of ancient wizards and witches.
Going beside the first floor, the stairs continued to the upper story on the second floor, containing the most important state rooms in the house, which included the High Grade Chamber, the Long Gallery, a withdrawing chamber, and many velvet rooms.
The high grade chamber had been redesigned under the order of Lucius Malfoy I when he was pursuing the hand of Elizabeth I. The pursuit had turned out to be an unsuccessful one, but the redesigned chamber became the finest elizabethan ensemble of its time. Now it was furnished with tapestries, plastered works, a chimneypiece, Turkish and Persian carpets, and French and German furniture.
The intended effect on the visitors was of regal splendor.
Generally, this chamber was used to host a feast for high-class guests. Today, the most important friends of the Malfoy family, holding top positions throughout Britain's wizarding community, were being served wine here far from the hubbub of the Great Hall on the ground floor.
Among these collections of a few wizards and witches, standing upright, and holding an ornamental cane coated in shiny black lacquer, was Mr. Lucius Malfoy, the patriarch of the Malfoy family.
He was dressed in a dark green doublet with a silver serpentine design embroidered over its edges. He had a pale, pointed face, with pale blond hair and cold gray eyes. The man, who was the embodiment of wealth, power, and influence in the wizarding world, was laughing merrily today, his eyes gleaming with a touch of both arrogance and pride, but pride the most.
Today was the sixth birthday of his children, Draco and Darcie, and what better time to let the others see how noble and stately both of them were and would be in the future?
Suddenly, Lucius spotted someone, excused himself from the party of wizards laughing along with him, and hurried off, his walking stick tapping on the carpet. "Severus!" he exclaimed, beaming. "A pleasant surprise. I thought you would be too busy to come."
"I am," Snape said slowly, his large black cloak lying listlessly on the carpet. "The letter said it would happen at 07:00 pm."
"Of course," Lucius replied oddly, but still kept a smile on his face. "Dobby!"
With an audible pop, the house-elf Dobby appeared near Lucius, his shoulders slouching, and his long-snouted head pointing at the floor. "Master Lucius called?"
"Go ask Narcissa if the preparations are complete and everyone has come," Lucius said, his lips twisting in visible disgust. The house-elf disapparated with another pop immediately, his shoulders sulking even lower than before.
"Where are they?" Snape asked as if he had seen nothing, his dark, penetrating eyes looking around at the crowd.
"The children are playing in the long gallery," Lucius answered offhandedly. "Let me introduce you to my friends at the ministry in the meantime. It wouldn't take long, I promise."
The winding stairs leading to this High Grade Chamber culminated into a Long Gallery that shared a door with this Chamber as well. The long gallery was stretched across the entire length of the manor. Two tables, three grand chairs, three stools, two benches, and two mirrors completed its furnishing.
The gallery also had over 40 pictures, depicting a mixture of kings, queens, and ancestors of the Malfoy family, staring hard and high at the passersby and judging all who dared not bow in front of them. This vast place was heated with two elaborate fireplaces carved from local stones.
Today, a group of small children had claimed this gallery, and at the center of attention of this group was a slender boy with sleek white-blond hair, cold gray eyes, a pale complexion, and rather sharp features. He was holding a broomstick with a polished black handle and sleek bristles ending in a soft, pointed end.
"Nimbus 1500," Draco proclaimed with arching lips, looking at the broomstick. "Father gifted it to me. It's not even out in the market yet."
It awed the boys, but not all. Two particularly were standing out of the group, unimpressed. "Flint," Draco said, looking up at a boy with a trollish mouth. "You are going to Hogwarts next year, right?"
Flint tore his eyes off the broomstick. "Yes," he nodded. "Why not have a go at it?"
"Yes…"
"Come on, Draco…"
Goyle and Crabbe added, and even Zabini and Nott looked expectantly from the distance.
Draco, now feeling the brunt of the pressure, looked away from the group towards the opening at the center of the long gallery which led into the withdrawing chamber.
She was standing at the threshold of this opening.