Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Prelude
Virtue and Vice is the story of the Malfoy family set in the Renewal Universe. It shall be snippets and chapters full of stories about the Malfoy family and their closest associates that cannot make it into the Renewal Writing for various reasons but mostly due to pacing. In this story we shall see Lucius's siblings and their families as well as focus on the main branch of the Malfoy family - Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco. I hope readers will enjoy the story.
Prologue: Broken Bonds
Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire, England
December 1, 1985
It had been a little over five years since it had happened, and yet there were nights when he awoke gasping, his body trembling in remembrance of the effects of the curses that he had been subjected to that fateful night. His Ardenvraar, his beloved brother-in-arms had turned on him, had tried to destroy him and with him his son and his grandson. His dear Orran had attempted to wipe out the House of Malfoy, had turned on his Ardenvraar and in so doing had damaged their bond beyond a chance of repair.
Did Orran regret it?
There were too many nights when Abraxas found sleep elusive and he felt the faint tingles of pain and despair coming to him through the remnants of the bond. The pain and despair belonged to his Ardenvraar and he longed to send him soothing grace but he could not do so, their bond was too damaged and in that besides Orran had earned his place in Azkaban right enough.
Did Orran regret it?
The question often plagued him when he looked upon the precious son, the child of Orran that now resided under Abraxas' own roof. Abraxas had been adamant that Lucius should obey the will of Helena Nott nee Greengrass and take Theodore Nott into their household to raise. He needed to look upon the little Lord Nott and he needed to watch over the boy as he grew. In this perhaps he could achieve some penance before the end of his own life.
He had failed Orran as his Ardenvraar. He had failed to realize just how addicted to Riddle's power his brother-in-arms had become. He had always known that Orran had looked up to Riddle, had idolized him. The signs were there that Riddle could easily win Orran over should he choose to do so, but Abraxas had thought the situation well in hand. He never dreamed that Orran would become a marked follower of the madman. He never could have, even in his worst nightmares, dreamt that Orran would turn upon him with the intent to kill.
Did Orran regret it?
Orran would have killed his precious grandson. Innocent little Draco whom was just a babe at the time. The child had been born just a few months earlier in the early days of the month of July. He didn't understand how Orran could ever believe that killing a baby was justified. Orran was a Pure-blood the same as Abraxas was. The two of them had been raised with the proper understanding that children were sacred and not to be harmed under any circumstances. The days of decimating whole families was long over. Yet it seemed that Voldemort had chosen to bring it back. The McKinnon family had been wiped out down to the daughters. None of that family remained. The Bones family was decimated except for a baby daughter and the estimable Madame Bones of the Department of Law Enforcement.
How could Orran have thought to murder Draco when his own son was an infant several months older? Orran had longed for his son and heir. Abraxas had held Orran and comforted him after the death of his first and second wife. Orran's first wife had died due to a tragic fall down the stairs. The fall had broken her neck. Orran's second wife had died during the birth of Orran's first child. The poor woman had developed an illness while pregnant and the healers could not treat it while she was still pregnant. The illness had taken a toll on her body and she had passed away without ever holding her child. The little boy, Thomas Orran Nott, had died just two weeks later. Abraxas had done all he could to comfort Orran during these times of great loss and grief. He had failed to see that Orran had been damaged by his losses, far too damaged. He became easier prey for the likes of Riddle.
Did Orran regret it?
His ice-blue eyes tracked the blonde-haired child that raced across the room to where a small area of pillows had been set up for him to play comfortably. He watched as the boy laughed when the House-Elf gave him a toy to play with. It was a simple little toy horse, a flying horse that resembled the Abraxan's that the Malfoy family owned and bred.
Theodore. His name meant "Gift of God" and he had thought that the boy was properly named by Orran. Theodore was the great son that his best friend had longed for. He was the gift. Now though, Abraxas could no longer see the child as Orran's gift. He smiled gently as he watched the little boy play. Theodore was not Orran's gift. He was a gift to Abraxas. He was a gift that Abraxas would treasure and cultivate. He had somehow failed to protect Orran, but he would not fail to protect Theodore.
Our prologue began with a little insight into the Malfoy Patriarch and how he felt years after the betrayal of his Ardenvraar and how he felt about the young son of his Ardenvraar. Next Chapter: Narcissa Plots against those who harm her little ones.
