This is in response to a prompt I saw on tumblr and I just couldn't help myself: So it basically implies that Draco Malfoy has no siblings right? Only child supremacy? Well, what if he had an older sibling, or even a younger sibling that was favored by his parents, and said sibling died because of something the Malfoys consider to be Draco's fault? Now he has to compensate for everything and is trying to please his parents so they may someday love him. But they can't. And they won't. It's not as simple as the dead sibling anymore though…. Now it's everything else that makes his parents despise Draco.
The beginning of the story is just about the brother's growing up though.
So, here goes.
It was a warm night as summer was approaching when Herculen's baby brother was born. Draco, they said his name would be. It meant dragon, apparently, and Herculen's father expected his second son to fit the title. He appeared mildly excited to have a second heir.
However, Herculen had overheard his parents arguing, and he knew different. There was, apparently, only supposed to be one Malfoy heir, lest the estate be split up or the money be divided. Lucius did not want this second son, this Draco, but Herculen did.
It was many the time when Herculen felt hopelessly lonely. He had only the house elves to play with, for his father was almost always 'away on business' and his mother wasn't one for playing. However, if he was ever caught playing with the house elves, he would get in a whole lot of trouble, so he was never, ever caught. He had learned the first time that being caught would lead to trouble, so he simply made sure he never was.
To be honest, he had a feeling that his parents knew he played with the house elves, but the fact that they were never able to catch him in the act made them only prouder of their sneaky son. A perfect Slytherin, his father proclaimed. He didn't know about all of that yet, it was years before he would be at Hogwarts (Where his mother insisted he attend). He would be attending there in approximately seven years, and even now he was excited. He was only just beginning his education, taught by a man named Severus Snape, and it was fascinating. The potions and spells were wonderful to watch, and one time when Herculen had been spying on their conversation, he had heard Professor Snape tell his parents that he'd never seen a four year old pick it up that fast.
Of course Draco would be no different, Herculen told himself. Why would he be different? It was the Malfoy way to be perfect. He didn't see any reason for his parents to be worried about a second son, they would be the best of friends he was sure. This waiting, however, was killing him worse that an Avada Kedavra!
A healer was inside his mother's room and had been for what seemed like forever. House elves were running to and fro, in and out of the room as he played with his tin soldiers across the way, watching the proceedings nervously. He hoped his baby brother would make an appearance soon.
His father had been locked away in the study for hours now, but suddenly he appeared at the door to the hallway. He glanced at Herculen and smiled broadly.
"Have you been waiting out there this whole time?" He asked, and Herculen nodded. "Well, why don't you come in the study and I'll read you The Tales of Beedle the Bard?"
"Okay father," Herculen agreed cheerfully, running into the room and placing himself delicately upon one of the chairs, just like his father.
And so his father spun him a tale of wonderment as a clock upon the wall ticked the time away. Finally, however, a house elf appeared at the door an announced that they may come see Draco.
Herculen patiently followed his father into the room, and was immediately delighted by the tiny baby wrapped in green blankets and his mother's arms.
"My little brother," Herculen breathed, hoisting himself onto the bed and sitting at the edge near his mother to get a better look.
"Why's he so small? He's a runt," Lucius spat, but his older son shook his head.
"No, father, I think he's wonderful. He's absolutely perfect."
"Well…" Lucius hesitated. "If you think he's perfect, then maybe there's more to him than it seems at first glance. He'd better grow a lot, though, he's too skinny. He's a runt of a Malfoy. But, Herculen, perhaps there's more to him than that. You may be the judge of that."
"He's perfect," Herculen insisted, smoothing the green sheets. "He's just perfect. A baby brother for my birthday, thank you mother and father."
And his parents smiled at their two tiny sons.
As it turned out, Draco wasn't much fun to play with because he spent most of his time asleep either in his cradle or in his mother's arms. He got little love from his father, although he seemed to be growing on him. Each time Herculen came to oodle over Draco, Lucius approached the baby and gave it a pat on its head, saying that perhaps there was more to him than it seemed. Time passed, and soon Professor Snape also met the baby.
"Isn't he perfect?" Herculen had questioned his tall, dark tutor, and Professor Snape had given a small head tilt in consideration of this statement.
"He is very small," Professor Snape murmured. "But I do believe he will grow up to be an adequate brother."
Snape then gave Herculen a warm smile to tell him that he was just joking in his usual serious manor, and Herculen gave a small giggle.
"Just adequate, Uncle Snape?" He asked in a very serious voice, and his tutor smiled slightly again.
"Perhaps he will be, er what was it you said? Perfect."
"Yes, he will," Herculen nodded, then he turned back to his perfect little brother, Snape watching them both with the smallest of happy, warm smiles.
Professor Snape came twice a week to see how the studies were going, often leaving with Lucius to go to their 'business meetings', as his father called them. Narcissa always fussed over them before they went, although Herculen didn't understand what the big deal was. Of course, he supposed that if they were business meetings, they didn't want to lose their jobs. Once his mother had told him that there was a possibility that he would work when he grew up, and he had to always be good so he wouldn't lose his job. He didn't think that'd be a problem; he never lost anything.
The year passed, and finally it was Christmas. As usual, the house was adorned by a Christmas tree that reached from the floor to the ceiling of the gigantic entry hall, and it was filled with sparkling white lights and huge silver ornaments. On Christmas morning, a scattering of presents appeared under the tree, and Snape showed up to deliver a present to both boys. As it turned out, Herculen didn't really need any more presents, for his parents had showered him in dozens. Draco, on the other hand, got far fewer; most of them were clothes. Of course, what was someone going to give a baby anyway? Herculen received some clothes, but mostly there were a whole lot of magical presents.
Snape's presents turned out to be the best off all, however. Herculen received a little plush animal that Snape called a 'teddy bear', and Draco received a similar toy, only his was a dragon. Herculen's parents didn't seem to quite approve of the suspiciously 'muggle' presents, but the baby giggled as the stuffed animal was placed into his crib, and Herculen loved his, and so they made an exception.
"Thank you Uncle Snape!" Herculen told Snape firmly as he was leaving, and the dark haired man spared him a warm smile before he disappeared out the door.
More time went by, and baby Draco could actually 'do things', as Herculen put it. Herculen would make the stuffed animals talk to each other, making the tiny baby smile. Lucius still said he was too tiny to be a Malfoy, but it seemed that he'd finally warmed up to his second son, and occasionally he even gave him a small hug. Herculen was quite proud that he'd made his father like his baby brother; finally they were a real family! Draco even said his first word sometime after his first birthday. His first word, much to his brother's joy, was Herculen. Soon he could also say 'my big bwother' and 'let's pwlay, Herculen!' Even his parents were impressed that their tiny son could talk at only a year and two months. Snape was also proud when Draco quickly learned to say, 'Una Snape'. Much of the rest of the babble that Draco mumbled didn't make much sense, but Herculen didn't seem to mind.
It wasn't until the festivities for Hallows Eve that something strange happened. Snape didn't come to tutor Herculen for a whole week which was odd because he'd never missed even once before. When he asked his father about the oddity, Lucius dismissed it easily and tutored his son himself. It grew odder and odder when Lucius had to go away on a long business trip not very long after that, and Professor Snape never made an appearance. Even when Lucius did finally return, Professor Snape didn't show up. Lucius himself seemed different after his long business trip, so Herculen had asked what was wrong.
"It's not your concern," Lucius sighed, running a tired hand through his long hair.
"Draco and I know something is wrong, father," Herculen had insisted, holding the hand of his brother who was still trying to learn the art of walking.
"Nothing is wrong."
"Okay, then can you read me the Beedle Bard book, father, please? You haven't read that to me in a long time."
"Well," Lucius hesitated, then he gave a tired nod. "All right, I'll read it. Come on, let's sit on the couch."
"Draco wants to sit on your lap, just like I used to," Herculen said decidedly, but his father shook his head.
"He may sit on your lap if you so desire. I- I'd rather just read the book."
And so once again Herculen smiled as his father read him his favorite stories, and by the end even Lucius cracked a smile at his favorite sons' happiness.
It wasn't until Christmas that Herculen and Draco saw the Professor again, but he was completely different than the occasionally smiling man they'd previously known. Dark circles underlined his eyes, and he didn't smile. However, he did dutifully give them wonderful presents that were again suspiciously muggle, but the happiness that they brought Herculen excused their muggleness in Lucius's mind. However, when he told his Uncle Snape thank you for him and his little brother, he received little more than an exhausted nod. Snape didn't come again until June. At that point, Herculen had Draco talking almost fluently (almost), and finally Lucius smiled when Draco toddled into a room without clinging to his brother's hand.
"He's still too small," Herculen heard his father occasionally mumble, but there was a smile in his voice as he said it, and Herculen knew that his father finally loved his second son.
"Come on, Draco! I'm about to leave, where are you?"
"I'm right here, you don't have to yell."
Herculen grinned at his younger brother and put the magical finishing touches on his suitcase so that it wouldn't fly open sometime during his journey to Hogwarts.
Hogwarts! Finally! He'd waited 11 years for this; finally he would be sorted into his house and get a chance to show off his skills in front of someone other than his family, Professor Snape, and the occasion son of one of his parent's friends that would visit the manor. Finally, free to use magic all the time, wherever, whenever.
"You know you aren't supposed to do that," Draco referred to the magic binding the suitcase closed, but Herculen only rolled his eyes.
"Pishposh," Herculen replied, and he agilely floated the handle of his suitcase into this hand.
"So, are you excited?" Draco asked, and his brother laughed out loud.
"Of course, who wouldn't be? I'm thrilled to finally be at Hogwarts. This is what I've been preparing for, little brother. Quidditch, Dark Arts, Potions, I'm ready for it all. You better keep studying, after all you'll be there before you know it too, and I can't have my little brother bringing down my good reputation!" Herculen took on the voice in which Draco could never determine if his brother was serious or kidding, but either way Draco shook his head.
"I'm studying hard! The new tutor may not be as good as Uncle Severus, but he's still good!"
"Professor Snape, dear brother, or Uncle Snape if you must," Draco was corrected, but he did his best impression of his brother's eye roll, receiving a nod of approval.
A knock on the door interrupted the brothers, and Herculen told whoever it was to come in. Moments later the door was open to reveal Narcissa, who smiled gently.
"It's time to go. Your robes look lovely, Herculen."
"Why thank you," Herculen smirked.
Moments later, their father also stood at the door, surveying the room quickly before frowning at Draco.
"What are you doing bothering your brother when he's supposed to be getting ready? Come out of there."
"Oh he couldn't bother me if he wanted to," Herculen grinned as his brother scampered out of the room.
"Well, come on then. You don't want to miss the train," Lucius smiled adoringly at his elder son, who snatched his owl's cage, and then reached the door in three big strides. "Come, let's apparate."
Moments later, the family was in the station crowded with both smiling and crying families.
"So this is it," Herculen murmured. "The train to my future. It'll be perfect."
Turning, Herculen gave his mother a hug, then shook hands with his father.
"Make me proud," Lucius spoke sternly.
"You know I will," Herculen replied, and his father couldn't hide his adulation.
"G'bye," Draco told his brother, who gave him a nod before marching toward the train, his suitcase in one hand and the cage for his great grey owl in his other hand.
"One day it'll be you," Narcissa told her son, who beamed at the acknowledgement. Glancing at his father, Draco hoped for his acknowledgement as well, but his father was far too concerned with watching his precious elder son disappear into his compartment.
"Goodbye Herculen," Draco whispered to himself. "Have a good time at Hogwarts."
Please review and tell me what you think so far! Remember, reviews mean a faster update! :)