Secret Garden

                                    

                                          
Draco sat in his room, glancing at the ring. "Hello?" He whispered, listening closely for anyone to come in. "Sal?"
                          
"I'm here, Draco," Sal replied appearing before the boy. "What seems to be troubling you?"
                          
"Mummy," Draco mumbled. "She's been sick for nearly a month... she says she's nearly better... but she's still in pain..."
                          
"And you want there to be a way for her to be healed?"
                          
Draco nodded.
                          
"Well," Sal replied. "There could be a way to heal her."
                          
"Really?" Draco said, perking up.
                          
Sal nodded. "Tell me, what do you have in the garden?"
                          
"Roses," Draco listed. "Father has a small collection of daffodils toward the west side of the manor... I think tulips... A weird plant called a Christmas Rose..."
                          
"Christmas Rose?" Sal mused. "If I remember correctly, those are known as Winter Roses. They have healing properties. Take two petals and crush them into a fine powder. Then put it into her tea later."
                          
"Petals?" Draco questioned.
                          
"Yes, they have the most potent properties."
                          
"If you're sure..." Draco murmured, remembering that his father had reacted rather angrily for him going near the flowers. "W-what if I get caught?"
                          
"Then don't," Sal said harshly. "But then your dear mother will be lingering in pain for all eternity."
                          
Draco grew very pale, then put the ring down. His father had stayed home today, and he was sure he was in the parlor with his mother, that would make it very easy for him to slip outside and get the petals.
                          
Putting the ring in his pocket, he quietly walked downstairs, and slipped out the front door. The path was easy to find, as the alcove was so close to the manor. He felt uneasy as he walked to the flowers. He was once again wondering why they held charms around the petals. One held twelve, one held nine, and the final one held three. He went to the last flower, since it had the least amount of charms. Hesitantly, he reached out to take a petal...
                          
"Draco..." a gentle voice called behind him. He turned to see a middle aged woman with a blue aura around her.
                          
"Who're you?" Draco asked.
                          
"It doesn't matter," the woman replied, kneeling down next to him. "Why are you trying to take the petals?"
                          
"I want to help Mummy," Draco mumbled, still glancing at the flowers. "Sal said this would help."
                          
"I wouldn't listen to him if I were you," the woman replied. "His intentions are not what you believe."
                          
Draco frowned. "How would you know?"
                          
"I'm a ghost," the woman replied, smirking a bit. "I know everything."
                          
"Then why isn't Mummy getting better?" Draco asked.
                          
"She is, Draco," the ghost replied gently. "Slowly, but surely. I should think she would be completely better by Christmas." She then leaned close to his ear. "I would give your father the ring back as soon as possible."
                          
"Draco?" A new voice called, causing the boy to turn and see his father push his mother into the garden. "Why are you over there?"
                          
"I... I... I was told..." he stuttered, flinching a bit under his father's gaze. His mother's hand went up, and gently squeezed her husband's, which was resting on her shoulder. His gaze softened as he leaned down to listen to her whisper. "I was told... that taking these petals would help you... get better..."
                          
Lucius's face contorted a bit, but quickly reverted when his mother squeezed his hand again. "Who told you this?" She pressed.
                          
"S-Sal..." Draco muttered, averting his gaze. "He also told me to take this ring..." he pulled the golden ring out of his pocket. "So... I could communicate with him."
                          
"Draco!" Narcissa gasped, her eyes widening at the ring before glancing at Lucius.
                          
Lucius held out his gloved hand as he strode forward; Draco slowly handed his father the ring, and he returned to his mother. "Your father and I will discuss this later," she said firmly, glancing at her husband. "Is this Sal someone we know?"
                          
Draco shrugged a bit confused. "Maybe... he knew who father was... why?"
                          
"Because, if you had succeeded in your little endeavor and somehow got me to ingest those petals, you would've poisoned me."
                          
Draco's eyes widened for a moment, glaring at the flowers. "I wanted to help you ..."
                          
Narcissa held out her hand to him and he slowly pulled him closer. "If you want to help, perhaps you should ask us how," she said smiling at him.
                          
Draco was silent for several moments, nodding as he hugged his mother. "How did you know I was out here?"
                          
"We didn't," Narcissa replied, glancing up at Lucius. He leaned down to whisper something in her ear. She whispered something back, and he nodded.
                          
"Each of these flowers represents one of your siblings, Draco," Lucius spoke softly, helping his mother out of the wheelchair and walking her toward the flowers. "Siblings we're sorry you never met."
                          
"I had siblings?" Draco demanded, confused. He had never seen any portraits, but maybe there was a reason why they didn't have any. Maybe they were blemished or deformed.
                          
"You would have," Narcissa murmured, placing a charm on the second flower's petals. 
                          
Lucius wrapped his arm around her shoulder as tears came to her eyes, and he pulled her close. "We lost your older brother and sister before you were born," he spoke, rubbing her shoulder and back, "and your younger brother after."
                          
"What were their names?" Draco asked, walking closer to his mother.
                          
"Leo was your older brother," Narcissa whispered, Lucius wiping the tears from her eyes. "Mira your sister... and Algol was your younger brother..."
                          
Lucius kissed her head comfortingly. Draco shifted a bit, and Narcissa reached out to Draco. The boy walked forward and hugged her tightly, and she smiled. "You know, Draco," she said quietly. "You make me feel better just by hugging me."
                          
Lucius shook his head; and his mother shot him a glare. Pecked her lips and she smiled. "It's odd," Narcissa said softly. "Whenever we come out at this time of year... I always feel like  they're with us..."
                          
Draco looked over his parents' shoulders, and he swore he saw the ghost he had met earlier surrounded by three children. One had long blond hair, the other two had brown hair; the smallest one was being held by the tall ghost. When he blinked again, though, they were gone. "I wouldn't be surprised if they were, Daffodil," Lucius murmured softly.
                          
Draco looked up as he said his mother's nickname. She smiled up at him, resting her head against his chest. "Shall we go in for Supper?"