"First: I don't own the Harry Potter universe or characters, I do own however any OC's.

Quote: Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

"Contrariwise, if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic."

Chapter: Uncorrupted innocence

31st January 1977

This wasn't how she'd planned things to go.

Narcissa sat waiting for his reaction, but Lucius just stared at her, looking white as a sheet. The only other noise was the sound of taps and people around them babble in the background of the coffee shop.

"Pregnant?" he repeated in a strained voice. She nodded stiffly. "How far along?"

"Two weeks, I went to St Mungos for a check-up," she whispered. "The healer told me. I had to threaten to kill her if she so much as uttered a word of it to anyone," Her voice cracked.

He swore under his breath.

"Does anyone...?"

" No." She shook her head, a large lump stuck in her throat.

There was a tense silence.

Lucius licked his lips. "Should we...dispose of it?" his voice was barely audible.

Narcissa's eyes widened in horror.

"No! Lucius, this is our baby," she hissed, appalled that he would even think such a thing. "Please, Lucius, I'm scared." Tears started to form in her eyes.

"Oh, no, shhh, it's alright." He held her hand gently, gaze full of concern. "I'll figure out something," soothed Lucius softly, wiping away a stray tear.

"Really?" She squeezed his hand. "You'll stay with me?"

Lucius straightened up in his seat and grasped her hand tighter. "Of course I will," he reassured warmly, kissing her hand, but he didn't meet her gaze. "...This isn't any old baby, Narcissa. You're carrying a Malfoy heir..." he muttered, grimacing faintly. She bit down on her tongue and nodded. "Now, we'll have to keep this hushed." His gaze became stern. "The press would have a field day. I'll have to tell my parents, but it's all right they'll, sort of, understand..."

Narcissa nodded, she smiled a watery smile at him.

"Thank you.I love you, Lucius."

"...I love you too," said Lucius, giving her a strained smile.

She pretended she didn't hear the faint hesitation in his voice.

2nd October 1977

A soft cry, passed through the newborn's mouth, as the baby snuggled closer into Narcissa's chest. Its breathing becoming more peaceful, with scrunched up eyes, looking like a little prune with its chubby wrinkled face.

Narcissa Malfoy gazed down at the pink face that peeked out from the blanket. She hummed, smoothing her damp blonde hair back as she relaxed. She smiled fondly at the sleeping baby, when the baby murmured softly, nuzzling its head closer into Narcissa's chest.

She felt her lips arch upwards, gently stroking the baby's soft blonde hair. She was glad the pain was finally over, she'd thought she would pass out from exhaustion. Lucius had refused to be present, flinching when she had started going into labour like she was some hysterical beast.

Narcissa sighed, shaking her head, well at least it was over, and she most certainly didn't want to go through it again — how people did this five times, she'd never know.

She looked down at the quiet baby and smiled, all that was left to do was to pick a name...but Lucius hadn't helped her much in that area, so...she knew the name had to be something interesting, something people would remember, her smile dimmed as she frowned.

She linked her pointed finger in the baby's fist, the tiny fist clenching around the finger, a brief smile flashed on Narcissa's face before she tried to get back to focusing on a name. What would be suitable for my son? Phineas-Nigellus...? It is good to honour your ancestors... she thought, sighing in exasperation.

"Star constellations..." she muttered, considering her family's traditions. "Draconis." She thought the name over. "Draco for short." She smiled down at the baby. Her child started to wriggle around.

She tried to sit up straighter, repositioning the baby, but she froze when the blanket caught and was moved away, revealing the sex of the baby.

"You're not a boy..." she muttered, looking at the sleeping baby, everything beginning to process, this was not what she had expected. Her brow creased anxiously, her parents-in-law would not be pleased, but then again they never were.

The Malfoys and Blacks never did really agree on much, old rivalries and all. She had been fortunate that her father hadn't cared much for the petty dispute, and Abraxas hadn't minded that much. The same couldn't be said for the rest of the Malfoys.

She remembered her and Lucius' wedding, at the altar, the wretched ghost of Vesperius Malfoy burst in and interrupted them when they were about to finish their vows.

He proceeded to give a speech on how Narcissa Black wasn't worthy of becoming a Malfoy and that the Black family had a substantial amount of blood-traitors within them, that had poisoned their once pureblood; which would thus taint the Malfoys if they were wed and produced an heir. His other argument against them was that she would likely never produce a male heir, following in the footsteps of her mother Druella Black.

He suggested' that his great, great, great grandson, Lucius, should marry, his widowed cousin Antonella Malfoy (much to Antonella's disgust). To say the Black family were upset about this was an absolute understatement, to say Narcissa was embarrassed and angry was like as if commenting that a giant's footsteps were as quiet as a water pixie.

Now she had a female heir it would be more 'evidence' for Vesperius' speech in many of the Malfoy family members eyes. She wondered why she was the one who always had the worst of luck, then again she Andromeda had given birth to a girl as well. Narcissa's stomach churned, maybe Vesperius was right...

She was taken out of her train of thought by the resounding echo of footsteps, coming closer, and closer. She froze as she listened, but the footsteps stopped outside the door, a few muffled voices from outside before the footsteps resumed, becoming fainter and fainter. She breathed out a sigh of relief.

The Malfoys hadn't had a first-born girl in generations, a rare number of second or third born at best. When they had, they tended to be found dead weeks later. Desna Malfoy being a good example, the story of how in 1812, barely a month old, she was abducted by political opponents who murdered her to try to threaten the Malfoy family into resignation. Something which would conveniently have the said political opponents sentenced to Azkaban; after admitting to their 'crime', once receiving Veritaserum, a secret courtesy of the Malfoy family. The story was slightly different each time, yet it still managed to benefit the Malfoy family in some way.

She was taken from her musings by the door abruptly opening. "Narcissa," came the voice belonging to her husband Lucius, as he walked towards her, a faint smile on his lips, his eyes warmed more after staring at the child in her arms. The blanket quickly pulled back over the girl's body fully. "Good afternoon dear," he greeted, affectionately, a grin attempting to edge itself over the dignified expression. He was silent for a few moments; further inspecting what he expected to be his son. "So, how is he?"

Narcissa felt a lump begin to form in her throat, as she noticed him edging closer to get a closer look. "Yes..." she began, unsure how he would react, swallowing as she hesitated. "Well, our 'son' is quite different from other boys..."

Lucius interrupted. "Well, he is a Malfoy, why wouldn't he be special?" A smug smile formed on his face.

Narcissa was glad he either hadn't noticed her strange behaviour or was kindly ignoring it; though she was slightly irritated at being interrupted. "As I was saying, our son is quite different from other boys... like the complete opposite," she anxiously said, forcing a smile.

Lucius raised an eyebrow in puzzlement. She gave him a pointed look, he frowned, before his eyes widened in realisation. "A girl? Are you sure?" Lucius looked at the drooling baby in confusion.

Narcissa didn't speak, but merely lifted the blanket away, so Lucius could get a better look at his child. He paused, Narcissa frowned at him worriedly, it seemed like an eternity before he spoke again.

Lucius smiled charmingly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Well... what a wonderful surprise. I had wanted a son..." Narcissa bit her lip, her face downcast. "...But I think a daughter is far more...better," he added quickly. "So what should we name him - I mean her?" he corrected, hastily, his smile twitching.

A giggle erupted from the infant's mouth, causing them stared down at their daughter. Her eyes squinted, revealing two dark, brown eyes; which shimmered in the flickering candlelight. Her eyes switched between her mother and father.

The baby lifted her chubby arms in the air, attempting to grab dust particle. A warm smile spread across Narcissa's face, holding out a slender finger in the air, her daughter clumsily caught the finger with her small hand, her eyes locking on it with fascination.

"I hadn't considered any girl names, I was so sure she'd be a boy," Narcissa stated absently, continuing to dote on their daughter.

Lucius smiled faintly, stroking his wife's hair back. "I hadn't considered it either..."

Narcissa began to mull names over in her head for a while, before giving a satisfied smile. "Lyrisadora?" Narcissa suggested, she had wanted the name to be interesting.

Lucius arched an eyebrow. "I haven't heard of it."

Narcissa blushed slightly. "Oh well, I sort of created it— I loved the name Lyra and the name Risa and...Dora— it's different, unique." She smiled up at him brightly.

"It does sound like an a...peculiar name," he commented slowly. he paused, his brow furrowing. "Are you sure?"

"Well why not, hmm? It's a nice name and sounds lovely," she reasoned.

He gave her a perceptive look before rolling his eyes. "Lyrisadora it is then," announced Lucius.

Narcissa smiled brightly, feeling a swell of pride for her child. "She's perfect," she said gently, already imagining her daughter's future, she'd have the best of the best. Lyrisadora would be eloquent, poised and beautiful, she'd be Narcissa's darling girl, always.

Lucius stared at the small child warmly, of whom was snuggling further into her mother's chest, trying to get more comfortable. "Lyrisadora..." he repeated slowly, testing the name out."A rare name for our pure child," he murmured softly, hesitantly leaning down to kiss his daughter's forehead. The baby stirred, mouth wide as drool stained her chin. He looked at the baby curiously as he caressed her forehead, using the blanket to wipe the drool from Lyrisadora's chin.

Narcissa smiled warmly at her husband's display of fondness for their daughter, thankful he seemed to be taking the news well and was accepting it, looking happy.

Lucius looked up when he heard a faint noise, glancing at the door, Narcissa frowned, following his gaze as the noise grew. "Madame...!" She heard. "...Afraid... go in... sorry... clearance... needed!" exclaimed a male voice, muffled to such an extent that they couldn't hear the full sentence and the ones they could hear were barely coherent.

They both heard an all too familiar and dreaded voice. "...Dare...don't….Basilia… yes, a Malfoy... is my grandson!" The voice seemed to be getting stronger and the hurried footsteps louder. "Now open this door this very instant," the voice demanded sharply, perfectly coherent.

Both parents felt a rush of dread fill then as the door swung open, being greeted by the sight of three people standing in the doorway.

Basilia Malfoy, stood in the middle of the doorway, herself a sickly sweet smile plastered on her pale wrinkly face, causing what regal beauty she had to become distorted; her light brown hair had streaks of grey running through it, eyes cold and a grey-blue, thin and back ever so visibly hunched.

To the left of the woman, stood a proud, sharp-faced man, whose appearance was strikingly similar to Lucius, with a thick moustache and greying blond hair.

There was also the male staff member that the woman appeared to have been arguing with; he certainly appeared like he wanted to leave the room as soon as possible obvious due to the dreadful old woman.

"Hello, mother," Lucius greeted civilly, moving slightly away from his daughter.

Narcissa hid a grimace. "It's good to see you," she said, forcing her tone to be pleasant.

However, they soon realised that the elder Mrs Malfoy was fixated on the baby in Narcissa arms, clearly taken aback. Narcissa cursed herself for not covering the baby in the blanket when she heard her mother-in-law coming in. Lucius prepared himself for the impending explosion and his wife quickly followed suit; whilst Abraxas merely groaned in irritation.

"Well, well, well!" she sneered, trying to think of what to say, still quite in shock from her discovery concerning her grandchild's gender. Narcissa groaned in annoyance with Lucius; they knew when she continuously repeated the word 'well' she tended to be furious. "Well, young lady, congratulations! You have managed to disgrace the name of the Malfoys further," Basilia snapped.

Narcissa frowned, wrinkling her nose in distaste. Elder Mr Malfoy shook his head in exasperation. "Calm down, Basilia." Abraxas sighed, although he was quite hesitant. "I am sure they'll conceive a son eventually. We'll just have to be more patient," he assured profusely, but the frown on his face made it apparent he was also disappointed. He shot his son a pointed look.

Lucius pursed his lips. While Narcissa held back a sigh, leaning back more in her pillow. The last thing she wanted was to go through labour again, and the pregnancy had been awful, swollen feet, stretch marks and unpredictable mood swings. Not to mention how it had ruined her figure, she'd have to start a new diet regime, maybe apply a few expensive skin potions. It would be a nightmare.

Basilia snorted in a quite unladylike fashion. "Ha! Really Abraxas, do you actually believe she can produce a male heir. Have you seen what her mother produced, all girls; that's why the Black Family is dying out," she growled. " And it looks like we won't be far behind," Basilia snarled, pointing accusingly at Narcissa "...Since she's married Lucius, she'll contaminate our bloodline with that horrible curse." Wrinkling her nose in disdain. "The family name will soon die out."

Abraxas sighed, shaking his head. "I do have a brother you know—"

"That's not the point, Abraxas," Basilia snapped.

The eldest Mr Malfoy frowned at his wife. "Dear, calm down...remember what the counsellor said," Abraxas advised calmly — but it had the opposite effect on Basilia than desired. She just looked even more enraged.

Abraxas sighed like an old man who'd given up trying.

"Really dear, you are far too naïve," she began icily and rather condescendingly, making Abraxas scowl. "The therapist of which you speak was a buffoon, who was certainly not adept in his line of work at all-"

Lucius decided to interrupt his mother's jabbering. Narcissa noticed how his jaw had tightened and his hands clenched into fists. "Yes, mother we're all aware, now let's return to the subject of the baby. As you can see, we have produced a healthy daughter-"

Basilia smirked deviously. "Thank you, son… for proving my point!"

"What?" Lucius spluttered.

Basilia either didn't hear what Lucius said or merely ignored; her attention was drawn to the healer who was attempting to sneak away. "You," she addressed with a superior expression; stopping the Healer dead in his tracks. "Get me a drink of cold water with ice," she demanded, a snarl in her tone. The healer groaned in frustration. Her hawk-like eyes narrowed, a leer forming on her lips. "You should be honoured to serve someone of my status. Lucius, how much money are we donating to this hospital again?" She sneered, shooting the healer a warning look.

The healer flinched, forcing a smile. "I'll get right on it, Mrs Malfoy!"

Basilia smiled snidely, examining her nails. "And don't dilly dally," she ordered chillingly. Causing the man to hastily exited the room and most of the room's inhabitants were not even sure if he would actually return.

Once he saw his mother refocusing her gaze on him, her son decided to speak. "Mother, what do you mean by that?" Lucius asked again.

Basilia raised an eyebrow at him. "Well, you see, dear, I need the glass of water -" She was quickly cut off by Lucius, who looked like he was about to blow a gasket.

"Not that, mother, about me proving your 'suspicions'?" he questioned through gritted teeth.

"Well dear, I suppose I should elaborate. It appears your sharp mind is dulling - marriage can do that," Basilia began; earning an outraged glare from Narcissa. "You said daughter.... therein lies the problem. There hasn't been a first-born female in generations until dear Narcissa, here, came along," she ground out, glowering at Narcissa with disgust; as if she had suddenly made the girl change from a boy to spite her. "So if there hasn't been a Malfoy girl in generations… then there is only one likely reason for why there is one now," she stopped for a moment, seeing whether they were listening to her, before continuing to speak. "It means your dearest Narcissa has no doubt been spreading her legs for the whole of Knockturn alley to see," she snarled hatefully.

At this Narcissa felt a powerful rush of hate and anger, feeling the need to strangle the deranged hag then and there.

It wasn't even like Narcissa had done anything awful to warrant such hate...well she had gotten pregnant before marriage, but like that mattered! She and Lucius had married before the baby had been born, so everything should be resolved...oh who was she kidding? The bitch would never let her live this down.

Lucius struggled to keep his anger at bay as his jaw tightened."Mother, it's clearly ours," he began icily, his tone at a dangerous low. "Just look at her—"

"Her eyes are brown," Basilia interrupted sharply.

"My eyes are brown!" spat Narcissa in frustration, feeling her gut twist.

Lucius shot his wife a placid look, squeezing her shoulder reassuringly, before glowering at his mother. "And she has her mother's eyes," reasoned Lucius forcefully, his tone holding a clear level of warning to it. Meanwhile, Abraxas merely stared at his wife in frustration.

"I want a blood test," Basilia murmured to herself, being loud enough for the rest of them to hear.

Narcissa looked like she was going to explode, but Lucius kissed her cheek tenderly, gradually calming her down. She held Lyrisadora tighter to her chest, kissing the baby's forehead when her daughter wriggled in her grasp, Lyrisadora scrunched her eyes up and let out a low wine; the poor thing was probably upset by the arguing.

Basilia stepped closer to the baby, her eyes narrowing in disapproval. "What's its name then?"

Narcissa certainly did not like her child being called an 'it'. "She has a name," she corrected, her teeth gritted.

Her mother-in-law merely raised an eyebrow. "I know, that is why I asked," Basilia responded, quite annoyed and also slightly confused.

Narcissa sighed in annoyance. "Her name is Lyrisadora Malfoy-"

"That's a stupid name only befitting of a common simpleton. You will name her Vesperius Malfoy," demanded Basilia authoritatively to the young parents. Narcissa and Lucius were in disbelief.

Vesperius Malfoy…VESPERIUS MALFOY! No oh no! I'll honour that bastard over my dead body!Narcissa fumed in her head, completely stupefied. "Why would we name her a boy's name?" questioned Narcissa coldly, choosing to not point out the apparent namesake.

Basilia narrowed her eyes at Narcissa. "Alright, fine then, Vesperia Malfoy. It doesn't really matter as long as it's named after dear Vesperius the Valiant," announced Basilia sharply, glaring at anyone who she believed would disagree with her, namely Narcissa.

Lucius closed his eyes and counted to ten as he tried to keep his patience with his mother. "Mother, you're aware he was the ghost who tried to split Narcissa and I apart, aren't you?" His voice was painfully light.

"A pity he failed," Basilia examined her nails; earning herself a number of angered glares, which she ignored. "Anyway, she is a Malfoy, she must receive a proper name befitting her bloodline."

"You didn't seem to believe her a Malfoy earlier," muttered Lucius, bitterly.

Basilia appeared to not have heard. "Vesperius Malfoy, was a courageous man, who valiantly tried to protect the pureness of our world, dying a true hero. He was named Vesperius the Valiant, for his noble deeds" she 'elaborated' her reasons firmly.

Narcissa had a look of complete disbelief. "He wasn't called Vesperius the Valiant, he was Vesperius the Vicious. He would kill anyone, no matter what their blood, if they were a threat to him or if they were in his way. He manipulated people as if they were puppets until they became useless and he killed them. He was eventually caught after secretly killing forty-five people, but pleaded insanity and was admitted to a High-Security Asylum. He even killed his own mother..." Narcissa trailed off, her eyes widening— it took all her might not jump off the bed and curse the wretched bitch.

"All we can do is hope your dear daughter is influenced by her namesake's deeds then," Basilia responded nastily.

Lucius stiffened, having managed to understand what his hag of a mother was trying to hint at, anger flashed in his eyes, hand twitching to his cane. Narcissa wouldn't bother to stop him.

Abraxas, however, decided to play mediator. "Basilia! That is enough, don't be so horrid! This is a happy special occasion, so everyone calm down," ordered Abraxas sternly, his tone fierce, laced with anger, clearly repulsed at what his wife was saying, he smiled at Narcissa pleasantly. "Now, let me see my granddaughter," he instructed calmly. Narcissa looked a little surprised, but maybe her father-in-law was just trying to prove a point, so she handed her daughter over to him. "I'm sure she'll make a fine wife someday," Abraxas praised them both, cradling the newborn in his arms, examining the babe critically, as if looking for some blemish or imperfection.

Narcissa strained a smile. "She'll be beautiful," she replied softly, smoothing her hair back; she really did need a bath, she could feel the sweat cling to her hospital gown. "She'll make a wizard very happy one day," she added brightly, holding her husband's hand, smiling up at him proudly.

Basilia smiled thinly. "We can only hope," she commented sceptically, arching an eyebrow at the quiet baby before her nose wrinkled. "Fine then, her first name is Lyrisadora," she said snidely, earning herself a glare from Narcissa and Lucius, with a groan from Abraxas. "...But what of her middle name? It should be a proper Malfoy name of course, it is only fair. Perhaps Vesperia... maybe?" suggested Basilia, earning herself an annoyed glower from the rest of the room.

Abraxas shot Narcissa an almost imploring look, handing Lyrisadora back to her mother.

Narcissa gritted her teeth. "Fine. Her middle name will be Vesperia. Happy?" exclaimed Narcissa, not bothering to put up a further argument against it.

Abraxas looked relieved, while Basilia looked vaguely satisfied. "Now only if you would change Vesperia to her first name..." Basilia suggested slowly, a smirk sliding onto her face.

"Basilia!"

"Mother!"

"Where is my water?"

"Will all of you just leave!"

The little baby girl, Lyrisadora Vesperia Malfoy, stared at her squabbling family in front of her with curiosity and confusion. She was far too young to realize just what kind of family she had been born into.

10/Sep/2015

Please forgive the spelling, punctuation and grammar errors — they've never been my strong point.

Well I hope you folks like this fic, I admit the following chapters fade in and out a bit quality and detail wise, also being a tad generic in some areas; you can blame writers' block for those ones.

I originally started this fic when I was sixteen and have come a long way since then (four damn years).

So buckle in and get ready for a coming of age journey.

Also, warning, there is a reason this story is rated M...this story isn't for the faint of heart.

I've tried to make my characters as human as possible, which means they are very flawed people. I've done my best to stay loyal to canon (with a few small tweaks) and everyone should be in character (but if they're not, tell me).

So expect murder, torture, manipulation, personality disorders, dysfunctional families, Mafia, Veela, conspiracies, alchemy, war and cats.

Enjoy.