Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter's world. That is the property of JKR, a most talented woman. So don't sue me.
Plot: Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger are normal talented wizards who, on their 16th birthdays, learn otherwise. They are now burdened with family secrets that no one can ever know. They return to Hogwarts and struggle to get their lives back on track. However, when they notice something different about each other, both vows to find out one another's secret.
Author's Note: I got bored with reading vampire fan fics. No offense to those who have vampy fics up who are reading this and/or whose stories are on my faves list. It's like listening to one type of music for too long. There has to be something different for a change. I tried to cut and sew the mythology and history to fit this story. So read it and enjoy.
The Moon's Call
Chapter One
July 2nd
"Father, what is wrong with me?"
Lucius Malfoy stared at his edgy son. They were in his—oh, dare he say it?—cell in Azkaban. He was flattered that Draco had come all the way just to see him, even though obviously he had come for information.
He moved slightly on his cot of a bed, nearly wincing as the rough fabric of his uniform rubbed against his skin. Lucius cleared his throat, pleased to find he still had that imperious ring to it.
"Draco, sit down." He gestured to the rickety chair next to the cot. His son took one look at the chair and sneered at it in disgust.
"You call that a chair?"
Lucius was pleased. It seemed Draco needed a lesson before he was told what he is.
Gathering his inner strength to allow himself to change just a little, Lucius lunged forward and growled, "Sit down!"
Draco sat immediately. His already pale eyes and face went even paler.
Lucius knew how he must have looked. His blonde hair went shaggy and white as fresh fallen snow. His eyebrows came together, thick and burly. His teeth were long and sharp. Then he had returned to his normal self. The change was quick as a split second and very effective. Lucius had longed to do such a thing when Draco was just a toddler.
"Listen to me, Draco. What you are experiencing is very natural and to be expected," he began. "As you likely suspect, this began on the day of your 16th birthday, which was yesterday."
"Why do I hear things I can't possibly have heard? I can even see in the dark! I smell things I shouldn't be able to smell!" burst Draco.
"Silence."
"No! What the hell is wrong with me?"
"I was getting to that." Lucius settled more comfortably. "You have heard of werewolves all your life. If you are bitten, you turn into a werewolf. This is all common knowledge, but what many do not know nor suspect is that there are two kinds of werewolf."
"What—"
"THIS is a secret that must never get out, Draco. It is a secret that we pass on to the next generation when they come of age and take to our graves."
"You're mad." Alarm shone in Draco's eyes. Lucius did not doubt the sincerity of his son's eyes. For once, they were clear and unguarded. "You're saying I'm a werewolf? I'm not. I wasn't bitten by anything!"
"Calm yourself, boy. I'm not just saying you're a werewolf. I'm one as well as your mother. Our family is not pureblooded wizard, but also pureblooded werewolf. Once our children reach their 16th year, their blood becomes…active. Their blood changes."
"Father, I don't understand. How did we become werewolves?"
Lucius smirked. "Family legend says it happened when the Sumerian civilization was at its peak, but I daresay our family contracted its gift when the Greeks came into existence. Either way, you and I are still wolves by blood, by inheritance."
Draco shook his head as if to deny his heritage. "This is madness."
"It is not, Draco. What I say is true. Had I not been captured, you would have known of your heritage yesterday, but as things stand…well." Lucius shrugged. "As I cannot give you all the answers, Draco, you must see my brother, your uncle Lucien."
"What? You have a brother?"
"Yes. My older brother. He and I have…lost touch over the years since I came into the Dark Lord's services. He did not approve." Lucius briefly remembered Lucien's fit of rage over his direction of loyalty. "You must get in touch with him. He, too, has the gift of change."
"Father…will I…turn into a werewolf?"
Lucius considered his only son. Draco was spoiled, yes. He could be petulant, but he was also loyal to the family. He followed orders albeit with a little 'help' from him, but he was a good son. Smart, ruthless, ambitious…yes, Draco was a good son.
"Most assuredly, yes. On the night of the full moon, you won't be able to resist the call of the moon. Why should you, in fact? This is a gift of power. You will turn. Make no mistake about that, Draco."
Draco gulped visibly. "Will I kill?"
"It's in our blood. We're killers by nature. Write Lucien. He will be of more help than I at this moment." Lucius smiled grimly. "Do not worry, son. The full moon isn't for another three weeks."
"Father! What about you? Will you be able to change without being discovered?" asked Draco, his eyes now full of worry.
"I'll be fine. With the dementors gone from Azkaban, it is fine. I know the guards already," he lied smoothly.
"Oh."
"Go on now. There's no sense in you staying any longer, Draco," said Lucius brusquely.
Draco rose from the chair. Lucius gazed at it. It did not break. It's a miracle.
"Guard!" called Draco. He glanced at Lucius. "I guess I'll be seeing you."
"I don't think so. Don't come back, Draco. It's looks suspicious."
"Very well." The guard came and opened the door. Draco nodded at Lucius. "Good-bye, Father."
"Good-bye, son, and do take care. Remember what I said." Lucius watched Draco leave and sneered at the guard.
"Fine boy you got," said the guard, undaunted.
"Yes."
"Hate to see him die because of who his father is."
"Are you threatening my son?" asked Lucius quietly.
"Nope. Just lettin' you know how people feel about you Malfoys." The guard finished locking all the locks on the heavy oak door. He grinned at Lucius through the tiny barred window. "Have a good day."
The guard turned away, whistling a merry tune. It drove Lucius up the wall. Figuratively speaking, of course.
"Someday I'm going to rip his throat out," promised Lucius.
Not very long, but it will have to do. The first few chapters are kind of short because I wanted to move the story along so the whole school thing will come into the picture. Now, if people like this story, I'll continue it, but if I get no reviews for it, I'm dumping it like my other story Blood Will Show. There's no use in having something up if no one reads it, right? So please, please review.
- TG
