Chapter Text
Since that fateful day in the end of May, Draco's summer seemed to go by more quickly than ever. His mother had immediately begun teaching him more about muggleborns, and why they were so looked down upon in wizarding society. After she had exchanged several letters with her sister, Draco finally got the chance to meet his Aunt. Andromeda looked very much look her baby sister Bellatrix had. Draco had only seen her in photos. She was in Azkaban for the rest of her life, and from what he understood, she was there for a good reason.
But Aunt Andromeda was nothing like Bellatrix. He had heard all kinds of stories from his Mother. Aunt Bella was obsessed with pureblood supremacy, and more disturbingly, you-know-who himself. She had done many bad things in his name, and from what Uncle Sev had said, he believed she was in love with the deranged man, though for the life of him Draco would never know why. But Aunt Andie seemed to be very kind. He sat and talked with her for several minutes before her husband and daughter came through the floo, both stumbling. He watched them both quietly for a few moments.
Looking at the happy family, you would never know that Edward, or "Ted" as he requested draco call him, Tonks was a muggleborn. He looked like any other wizard, dressed nicely with his deep navy robes hanging open over a white button down and black slacks. Draco was shocked by his cousins bright pink pixie hair, and watched in further shock as her features began to transform.
“Dora, don't scare the poor boy!” Aunt Andie said, scolding her daughter before turning back to Draco. “As you can see, my daughter Nymphadora is a Metamorphmagus. She can change her features at will, which makes her excellent at disguises. That's part of why they wanted her to be an Auror so bad.”
Draco nodded and extended his hand to each of them. They shook it gently and he turned back to his cousin. “An auror? You seem too young!”
She chuckled at him. “Just finished my last year at Hogwarts. I was accepted into auror training, though it is likely that I will always be the clumsiest auror to ever exist. How old are you? I haven't seen you around Hogwarts.”
“Today is my eleventh Birthday. I start this year. What house were you in?”
“Hufflepuff.” Draco struggled to keep the grimace off his face, but obviously failed. “Now, now, don't tell me you hate all of the other houses. I understand that all of the Malfoy's and most of the Blacks have been Slytherin's, but that doesn't mean all the others are bad.”
“I don't hate them. I guess... well I guess I really don't know that much about them. Not properly at least. Father always says that Gryffindor is for the stubbornly brave and courageous, Ravenclaw is for the insufferable know-it-all's, and Hufflepuff....”
“Yes?”
“Well, promise you won't be mad for repeating what he said.” She nodded, so he continued. “He says that Hufflepuff is for the people who are overly emotional and not bright enough to be anywhere else.”
To his surprise, the girl laughed. “I had the top Defense and Charms marks in my year. Don't worry, it is a common stereotype. Hufflepuff's are incredibly loyal people. They keep their secrets close, never outing a friend and jeopardizing their confidences. We are not afraid to tell you how we feel, no matter what it is that we are feeling. We don't mask ourselves. I've tried it- have to some sometimes for work -and outside of the office, it's not for me. But let me tell you, it is an incredibly freeing feeling to be able to express what I feel instead of hiding it. In being completely genuine."
Draco thought about this for a long moment before nodding. He noticed his mother and his aunt talking quietly by the fire, and his uncle standing awkwardly in the middle of the room, obviously unsure of what to do. Draco decided to approach him. “What do you do, Uncle Ted?”
The man smiled down at him. He had dark brown hair and expressive blue eyes with had a strong jawline and broad shoulders that gave of an aura of authority. “I work in the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes as part of the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad. We help cover up any incidents of magic in the muggle world, whether they are caused by children or otherwise.”
Draco kept his face mask, despite his confusion. He thought briefly before he spoke again. “As a muggleborn, wouldn't you want muggles to know about us?”
Ted simply smiled back at him politely. “No, I don't think they should. They would expect us to fix every little thing for them, and there simply are not enough Wizards for us to be able to make a great impact on their society without it being the end of us entirely. I still have many friends in the muggle world, but they do not know what I am.”
Draco thought about this too before nodding. He was learning to think before he spoke, as he now had to think everything through more thoroughly. Dobby appeared with tea and biscuits, setting them on the table before disappearing. Draco politely served his guests tea before himself, asking how they liked it, then seated himself on the sofa. His aunt and mother soon joined them.
“So Draco, from what you mother told me, you are trying to learn more about half bloods and muggleborns? Why?”
“Because I am not sure if I can believe everything my father says. I would rather see both sides and decide for myself.”
All of the adults nodded. His Aunt grinned at her sister. “You're raising a smart young man, Narcissa.”
“That is the goal.” He was glad his mother had not told his Aunt about the time travel. He wasn't sure if it was safe. They talked for a while, catching up on family events. He watched as the sisters got to know each other again. There were many similarities between them. Though Narcissa was blond and Andromeda was a brunette, there hair fell in identical waves past their shoulders. They both sat up straight with elegance and poise, and showed practiced manners that were more refined than was necessary in most situations. They had similar facial features, the high cheek bones and pointed chin that was prominent in the Black family, along with the bright blue eyes.
After a while the floo chimed and Narcissa stood. “This should be Lucius. I will apologize in advance for any rude behavior from him or other guests. Some of Draco's friends and their parents should follow shortly."
Lucius strode through and kissed his wife on the cheek before turning to their guests. Andromeda gave him a formal hello, and Ted stood to shake his hand. Instead of accepting it, his father simply glared down his nose at the offered hand, sneering all the while. Ted simply glared right back at the man.
“Come over here, Draco. We do not associate with his type," father said coldly.
“You may not, but I have every right to get to know my Uncle.” He was surprised at the calmness of his own voice, and the sheer boldness of his words. In the past month, he had thought critically about his father and decided that if he would never truly please him as his future self had said, it wouldn't hurt for him to be truthful.
“You dare disobey me?”
“You're rarely here anyway. I find it would make little difference.” He watched as Ted, Dora, Andromeda and Narcissa all struggled to hide their smiles. His voice had been identical to his fathers lazy, threatening drawl. He watched as Lucius' face turned red and his eyes widened in shock before the floo chimed and out popped a girl, slightly smaller than Draco, with her dark brown hair in a high Ponytail. Her face was just as round and flat as ever, but she rushed through the crowd of adults to hug Draco.
“Draco! I haven't seen you in months! Happy Birthday!”
He grinned at her enthusiasm. “Thanks, Pansy. Although, when we end up in Slytherin, you are not allowed to attack me like that.” She released him and grinned back at him slyly.
“Of course not. I have to get it out of my system now.” She pulled a small box from her robe pockets and set it on the table, where it promptly grew to full size. Her parents flooed in after her and exchanged pleasantries with the others, being much more civil than his father had been. Lucius spent his time in the corner with the Parkinson's while the others returned to their tea. Soon, Blaise came through, and he greeted his friend with a sturdy handshake. He was glad these two were here. They had always been his closest friends, and he hoped they would all be together at Hogwarts.
It wasn't long before the Crabbe, Goyle, Greengrass, and Nott families had come through, and all of the families chatted quietly while the children discussed their upcoming arrival at Hogwarts. Severus came through and made polite conversation with the Tonks family, who seemed conflicted by his presence, though Draco wasn't entirely sure why. He knew his family had been Death Eaters, and that his friends families had too. He knew that his Godfather also had the mark, but as he watched Severus speak with Ted in low tones, he began to wonder how the two knew each other. Severus caught his eye and made a motion that indicated they would talk later, so he returned his attention back to his party.
The house elves wandered through with snacks and tea, until after a while they brought in an enormous cake. After they had spent their time eating cake, opening presents, and playing several games of exploding snap, the families began to floo away. After a few hours, he promised to write his friends, and ensured them he would see them on the train. Blaise and Pansy were the last to go, cornering him for a quiet conversation.
“Draco, my parent's think it's best if no one at school thinks we are close, and Blaise's mother agrees. Apparently all of the families have talked, and your father has asked for Goyle and Crabbe to follow you everywhere as your body guards. They're brighter than they look, and they aren't too happy about it. When we are out in the school, we are to seem as if we rarely associate aside from house activities. But in the dorm we can be as we are.”
Draco sighed a Pansy's statement. He wasn't very surprised. “Alright, but please know that I don't really care what my father wants. If you need me, feel free to approach me, wherever, whenever.”
They looked shocked by his admission about his father but he shook his head. “Not here. Maybe on the train.” They nodded and agreed before hugging him and disappearing through the floo. He said goodbye to his Aunt's family, and was left standing in the room with his Mother, his Father, and Severus. Lucius turned to him, anger roiling behind his eyes.
“And just what would you like to call that little display before your dear friend Pansy arrived?”
“The truth.”
“How dare you? I am your father, Lord Malfoy. You will do as I say.”
“And I am his Mother, and he as every right to know my family as equally as he knows yours, Lucius. You may not agree with my sisters choices, but Ted is a nice man, and their daughter is quite charming. Draco is getting old enough to make is own decisions of the world, Lucius. We will teach him what he needs to know about being an Heir and eventually being a Lord, but you will leave your bigotry and hatred out of it.” Narcissa was staring at her shocked husband, fire raging behind her eyes. Her posture was stiff, arms crossed over her chest, but she did not back down. “You may be Lord Malfoy, but I am your wife, and what is Rule number one of being the Lord of the Home?”
Draco piped up, for he knew this one. “The wife rules at home, The Lord rules in public. They are equal parts of a team, a united front.”
His mother smiled back at him. “Correct, my Dragon. Now, please go to your room with Severus. Your father and I have much to discuss.”
Draco never did find out exactly what had happened during that conversation. And while his father continued to glare at people he thought less of in public, and occasionally made rude remarks about them in front of Draco, he made much fewer attempts force his beliefs on his son, for which Draco was immensely thankful, as it would have only left him more confused.
Once they had reached his room, Severus closed the door and put up several privacy and soundproofing charms. “You are old enough to know, so long as you can keep it a secret. However, I will have you swear a vow that you will not speak of this without my permission. Is that okay with you?”
Draco nodded and took the wand Severus handed him. It felt strange in his hand, foreign, but knew it would do the trick. “I swear on my magic to keep this conversation to myself without the express permission of Severus Snape to speak about it.” The wand glowed a bright blue in color, sealing the deal on his magic before he handed it back. If he tried to speak about it, even by accident, his magic would stop him.
Sev nodded. “Good. You may speak about this with your mother, but no one but us three for now. I know you know about the Death Eaters, but there is another force, a force for good, that you should at least hear about. They are known as the Order of the Phoenix. While I was a young man, I took my mark to the Dark Lord. However, I quickly realized what a huge mistake I made. No,” he said, cutting Draco off as he opened his mouth, curious as ever. “I will not tell you why. Not until you are older. But when I realized the mistake I made, I went to Dumbledore, the leader of the Order, for assistance. In exchange for his assistance, I spied within the Death Eater ranks. I continue to associate with both sides, neither knowing which one I truly support. Voldemort believes I am his spy, and I do give him some information, which is approved by Dumbledore so that he continues to believe my charade and keep me in his ranks. He is not back to full strength, but there are rumors that he is hiding in Albania. He will return, as you know, and until he is defeated, I must maintain my facade, or it would mean my death.”
Draco thought for a moment. “So... Ted and Andromeda are in the Order?”
“So is Dora, and I believe that once the Dark Lord returns, your mother will also seek Dumbledore's protection. It is up to you to decide which side you take in this war. But as we have seen, the more informed you are, the better choices you will make.”
“This is all so complicated. What if I can't do it, Sev?”
His godfathers eyes, a brown so dark they were nearly black, looked at him softly. “You do not have to make any decisions right now, Draco. For now, learn all that you can, and think on it later. Right now, you need to remained focused on how to befriend Harry Potter. Now, think back to that pensieve memory. What was the first thing the other you did wrong?”
He though hard, before his face visibly brightened. “I should have asked for his name immediately instead of waiting. And now I know how not to offend him. How to not act like Father.”
Severus smiled back at him. “Precisely. Now, I have much to do, and I may not see you again before school except for your Dragon trio. Study hard, and remember, even if you are not placed in Slytherin, my door is always open to you.” Sev ruffled his hair, which made Draco pout and scramble to fix it, before he removed the wards and left.
Before he knew it it was July 31st and he simply could not wait for the following day. Tomorrow he would go to Diagon Alley. He would get all of his school supplies. He would get his wand. He would get his own owl, which his parents had insisted he did not need until he went to school since he adored the large eagle owls they had at home. And most importantly, tomorrow, he would meet Harry Potter.