A/N : My first offering to the voracious readers of fanfiction. Please be kind and generous and I shall reciprocate.

Disclaimer : I own nothing but a deep affection for all things magical.


Chapter 1 - Revelations

The centaurs gathered in the clearing, as Bane spoke to the sole wizard amongst them,

"Dumbledore, we must not change what is written in the skies, yet the skies show danger to the One."

"Which is the One of which you speak?" Dumbledore asked, gazing intently at the centaur who puffed up indignantly at the question.

"The One for whom all magical kin await! The One who will shall end not only the one who calls himself the Dark Lord, but who will mark the end of the strife that has plagued wizardkind for centuries!"

"The one marked by the skies?" Dumbledore's question seemed to calm Bane down, as he suddenly gave a snort which seemed to relay amusement and impatience, "So you are not ignorant of the happenings in the sky, then."

"No, of that I am no more wiser than any other wizard, but a certain Prophecy has been called to my attention only earlier this day, which makes your revelations all the more interesting, Bane"

Bane appeared both troubled and intrigued.

"Of what Prophecy do you speak, Albus?"

Dumbledore pointed his wand to his temple and lifted out a silvery strand which he deposited in the pensieve in the center of the clearing. The pensieve swirled with the addition and the memory began to play, like a puppet show for the benefit of the Elders of the Centaurs...

Dumbledore was sitting at his desk in the Headmaster's Chamber at Hogwarts when suddenly a regal looking owl flew in and deposited himself on the arm of a chair. Dumbledore leaned forward to relieve the bird of it's burden and unfurled it, looking thoughtful as the small roll of parchment appeared blank. He muttered a few words and waved his wand over the parchment, which glowed a bright blue "Ah, of course." He murmured. "Identification." He touched his wand to the parchment and said clearly, " I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Withcraft and Wizardry" The parchment seemed, at first, to disregard this proclamation. Then slowly, black letters etched themselves over the blank sheet in a elegant flourish.

A. Dumbledore,

A certain piece of information has made me reconsider my current affiliations and I write asking if you would allow me to enlighten you with regard to this new development. Those who I consider most dear to me are in danger and I value their survival greater than the cause which I now have abandoned in their favor. If it does not inconvenience you, I will be at the gates of Hogwarts this evening at 8.

L. Malfoy

"How very interesting. A new development indeed." Dumbledore waved his wand and conjured his patronus. " Please inform Minerva that Mr. Lucius Malfoy will be arriving at the gates at 8 and to see him to my office when he arrives." He turned back to his desk as the silver phoenix flew past.

The pensieve swirled and then grew clearer.

Dumbledore was again sitting at his desk when a brisk knock caused him to look towards the door, which opened to reveal a quite grim looking Minerva McGonagall leading Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape.

"Good evening, Lucius. How nice of you to come as well, Severus. It's always a pleasant surprise to see one's students. Though it seems the elves were aware of your arrival." Dumbledore motioned to the platter in front of him on which sat a pot of steaming tea and three cups.

"Forgive me, Headmaster." Lucius spoke with a calm politeness that seemed more suited for a garden party then a covert meeting between members of conflicting sides of an impending war. "Severus is the one who came to me with the information I mentioned in my earlier letter. I thought it more agreeable to you if you had more evidence. I regret that I did not owl with the change as I thought you might not be as receptive to welcoming two Death Eaters into your office as you would just one."

"Death Eaters, still?", Dumbledore queried, "Forgive me, I was under the impression that you have re-evaluated your allegiances in that regard."

"The Mark is for life, regardless of allegiances." Snape drawled, looking impassively at the Headmaster's piercing gaze. Dumbledore seemed unperturbed at the cold reply.

"Please, make yourselves comfortable" Dumbledore said as he rose and ushered them into the circular room. "Minerva, will you be joining us?" He asked with a small questioning glance in her direction.

"If only to even the odds." she replied sharply with a stern look at the two guests as if they were errant school boys.

"I hope that is acceptable to you, Lucius?", Dumbledore asked mildly.

"If you insist, Headmaster, though, as I stressed in my letter, this is a matter which I would like to keep from as many ears as possible. I hope that is understood." The polished veneer shook slightly as he said this and Dumbledore gave a sharp nod as he sat down. Lucius seemed to be fighting an internal battle as he looked first towards McGonagall, then Dumbledore. Snape gave a small exhale of impatience and turned to the Headmaster.

"I was in the Hog's Head the day before yesterday and the pub was quite empty except for myself and a witch who I later found out was the great grand daughter of a famous Seer, named Sybil Trelawney. She is somewhat of a..", Snape paused as he thought of a way to refrain from being too insulting, "..curious character. Though she seemed, well, to be frank, a fraud, earlier in the evening, I have reason to believe that she may indeed possess some of the gift of her predecessor. Later in the evening, she relayed what I assume to be a prophecy, which, on deliberation, I believed concerned my godson, Lucius's son. She has no recollection of the event." he paused as he looked at Dumbledore and added, "Which was not my doing." at the scandalised look on McGonagall's face. "If you will allow me, I will show you the memory." Snape drew out his wand slowly in what he regarded to be a non- threatening manner. McGonagall immediately retaliated by drawing hers out in an obviously threatening manner.

Lucius looked taken aback at the sudden turn of events and turned to Dumbledore,

"We shall not disrespect your hospitality, Headmaster."

"Then we shall have a look at this memory. Minerva, if you would lower your wand, please." Dumbledore raised his own wand toward the cabinet which housed the pensieve and slowly levitated it towards the table.

Snape, looking quite unmoved by McGonagall's hostility, raised his wand to his temple and deposited a silver strand into the pensieve. Dumbledore gave the surface of the pensieve a prod with his wand and the figure of a woman with untidy hair and large glasses rose. She sat on a wooden bench in a small dreary looking pub, leaning against the wall with a bottle of sherry resting on the dingy table in front of her. Snape sat in the corner nursing a small glass. Suddenly, the woman seemed to go rigid and gasped out in harsh, ominous tones,

"The wizard with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches, born as the sixth month rises and marked by starlight. He will possess power beyond the Dark Lord's reach. Borne of Serpents, of one who is loyal to Lord and one who is loyal to Blood, his heart will be of both Lion and Badger, his mind of Eagle sharp and the Serpent shrewd and to Lion's blood he shall be joined. Bound by the skies, Lion and Serpent shall spell the Dark Lord's downfall."

She gave a violent shudder and collapsed onto the table.

The four members in the circular room silently stared at the figure as if it were they who had suddenly lost consciousness. The two guests seemed slightly apprehensive at the reception of the revelation, although they hid it well.

"Where is this woman now?" Dumbledore asked thoughtfully as he peered into the now silent pensieve.

"She has been staying at the Hog's Head for the past few weeks and shows no signs of changing her current residence. I have been keeping a watchful eye, of course." Lucius answered. Dumbledore gave a nod and seemed again to fall deep into thought.

"You say this refers to your son?" McGonagall looked towards Lucius with an expression that could have been described as sympathy. Lucius, finding this sudden change in McGonagall's demeanor slightly insulting, straightened his already rigid posture and looked towards the Headmaster as he answered,

"The individual the prophecy refers to can only mean my son. I have followed all other possibilities to no avail. The time of birth, the description of the parents, the mention of the mark.."Lucius paused as Dumbledore smiled encouragingly .

"Ah, yes I did find that part a bit obscure. Your son was born, I believe, on the 5th of June, 1980? A Headmaster's privilege, to know the birth of all magical children in the country." Dumbledore gave a small chuckle and continued, "The one loyal to blood, I think, refers to Narcissa? I remember her sister Andromeda's marriage was not well received by the family. Narcissa though, I seem to recall, was more bereaved by the cutting of ties with a dear sister , which her family insisted upon. I was very gladdened to hear they still correspond, though in secret. It would not due for your acquaintances to hear of such conduct from the wife of such a highly respectable individual such as yourself."

Lucius seemed affronted and slightly apprehensive, at which Dumbledore added, "Andromeda is a dear friend. A very private person. I am quite flattered to be one of the privileged few to be in her confidence." Dumbledore then turned suddenly stern and continued, " And you, Lucius. One of the first to stand by our new and rising star, I remember. Are you still loyal to your Lord?"

"It seems Narcissa is not the only one who is loyal to her own blood." Lucius coldly replied. "My interests now are at crossroads and there is no doubt to which path I shall choose."

Dumbledore watched the proud man gravely and paused, before querying, "The is still a question of the mark. Would you care to enlighten me?"

Snape stepped forward at this and with a nod from Lucius, began to speak,

"My godson was named Draco, after the constellation, in keeping with the Black family tradition, as, at the time of his birth, the sky became aflame with the Draconids from the mouth of the Dragon. Several meteorites found their way to the lawn of Malfoy Manor. It was taken as a sign by us at that time and we began the naming ceremony in accordance with wizarding tradition. As we began the Cleansing in the Elixir of the Ancestral Trees, I noticed on palms of the child the constellation of Draco, between the lines of Fate, clearly visible to those who know the sky. This of course, I did not reveal until later to Lucius and Narcissa, in private, but the rest of the prophecy alone is enough to condemn the child."

"Quite remarkable." Dumbledore looked intrigued, but then his face again grew somber, "You know what you must do, Lucius. If your Master were to catch wind of this, then it is not only the fate of the child at stake. You have the resources to disappear and that is what you must do. You know this. I fail to see what my counsel could add. There is only so much protection the Order could give you, and wizards such as yourself, Narcissa and Severus surely know the Fidelius Charm and other protective enchantments. So, I must ask, what is it you came for, Lucius?"

"We cannot hide forever, Headmaster. How long must we live in the shadows waiting for the Dark Lord to be vanquished? I have discussed our options with my wife who is already in hiding.."

"Very prudent." inserted Dumbledore.

"The Dark Lord only grows in power with each passing day. I have come to the conclusion that while the Dark Lord lives, my son shall never be free from this curse, and so, I must take matters into my own hands. I only ask that none know that it is by my wand that...what I wish is for you to be the face of the deed. You, after all, are used to such attentions. The Bulgarians remain hostile to the Dark Lord's cause and are loyal to you. They still remember."

"I assure you, I have not petitioned for any loyalty but only to do what is right. Surely you, Lucius, have never been one to shirk from the spotlight. I never knew you were so modest." Dumbledore smiled wanly but kept his eyes fixed on the man seated in front of him.

"My son shall never know peace if I were known as the one responsible for the Dark Lord's end. In the confusion following the demise of their leader and in the face of the Order and the Ministry, I am sure many will turn traitor. It will be expected of me, even. I do have a family to protect. I ask only that when the time comes, you vouch for Narcissa, Severus and myself. If you want any information regarding the Dark Lord's plans, we shall give it. Do I have your word, Albus?" It was only then that Lucius let the mask of indifference fall as his eyes pleaded silently with the Headmaster, whose face bore the weight of his thoughts.

"May I ask when you plan on enacting your scheme? It would be rather odd if, at the time I was to be dueling to the death, I was seen having dinner at The Three Broomsticks."

"We shall, of course, keep you informed of any action we may take or plan on taking." Snape interjected smoothly, aware of the other man's struggle to check his relief at the Headmaster's reply. "If it is not asking too much, though i'm sure it would also clear your mind of any further doubts to our loyalties, a little assurance?" Dumbledore's gaze was met with one equally as unyielding.

"Minerva, if you would?"

McGonagall stood with her wand raised towards the three men, as the brilliant flames of the Unbreakable Vow wove round their arms.

...

The clearing was silent, the faces of the six centaurs and the lone wizard illuminated by the flames in the memory before them. "So now you see." Dumbledore's voice broke the peace.

"Now what was this danger that you spoke of?"


A/N: Yes, really an alternate universe. I won't be neglecting Harry, though. He is and always will remain my darling, but yes, Draco will be the main entity in this story. I don't know if any readers have realized, but this means all the Marauders remain alive and free from incarceration, so that will be fun. Even though it includes the aptly named Wormtail...I'll have to do something about that..

Well, hope you enjoyed the first chapter..i'm not sure how many will be receptive to reading a fic with such a drastic change from canon, but i will continue if this story has at least 1 follower.

Also, Draconids are actually a meteor shower that originates from the constellation Draco, and so is named after it.

Good day, readers and don't let the muggles get you down!