Armor of Truth part 2

Part 2 – Pureblood Oaths

Disclaimer – read first chappy!

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: Draco:

The skies outside are looking good today. The sun is shinning brightly down upon the land. Little puffs of clouds going by at a leisurely pace. A light breeze caresses my family home making for warm but not overly hot temperatures; which is a relief after that three day storm half of Britain seems to have endured. I know not what caused such a storm but my father had said that such storms are caused by a powerful being coming into their inheritance. The race didn't matter; all that mattered was the power flowing through the being at the time of their birth. Supposedly such storms were created to siphon excess power given off by the child/adult and in return the storm will hold all promises made as well as help soothe the inheritors' body. Father also said that this only applies to extremely powerful beings. That it was Mother Nature's way of maintaining a balance of forces in the world. Considering how powerful the storm had been and for how long it had raged, the being was indeed VERY powerful.

Such things didn't matter to me though; all that it meant was that I couldn't go outside. I became very bored during the storm. So bored in fact that I had completed half of my summer homework, yet I was still bored out of my skull. Yesterday the storm hadn't been raging like it had been; the thunder and lightning had died down but the winds and rains still made things impossible to do outside. So I went and explored the Malfoy mansion. Yesterday's discovery had nearly undone me. I had been exploring an area of the place that not even House Elves had been allowed near. The corridors had been riddled with dust and wood splinters from wooden wall panels; the paint on some of the walls was pealing off. Many of the paintings where asleep, some of them where so faded and near dead that their charms would have to be reapplied. I had walked down what seemed to me a dead end corridor.

Flashback

At the end of the hall hung a blue cloth covered painting. The cloth covering the painting was billowing in an unseen magical wind. The feel of it had given me goose bumps. The hand I raised wasn't shaking, honestly! I grabbed the cloth cover and pulled it off the painting. The landscape inside the painting was storming as angrily as the storm outside my home. In the middle of the storm stood a young man in his who looked to be in his mid twenties. He had long silver blond hair done up in an elaborate braid. Silver blue eyes that where the same hue as my own. He also wore cloths that where obviously three thousand years out of fashion. He held the much prized Malfoy Heir's Sword in a two handed salute. According to family history the sword had been lost and never found again. Suddenly the man's eyes locked with my own, magic swirled around me. The magic held me to my place in front of the painting of my very distant ancestor. I tried not to panic much, thinking that I had triggered some sort of trap. Needless to say that was not the case.

"I am Silvanus Octavious Malfoy. My descendent, are you oath sworn?" He asks in a low smooth voice.

I start in slight shock then frown in puzzlement at my ancestor. He looks at me expressionlessly as he awaits my answer. I reply, "No I have not." I didn't add that I was soon going to join the Dark Lord's service. Silvanus nods once. He brings down his sword, the tip resting on the grass and both of his hands fold on the pommel.

"Then you have not foresworn yourself. Good."

I frown at him. Dozens of questions flitting across my mind, "What do you mean by 'Good'? How can I foreswear myself if I've never sworn an oath and none have been made for me?"

Silver eyes narrow, his lips crease in a slight frown, "Know you nothing child? Do ye not know anything of the rite thou must now perform?"

I shook my head in the negative. I'm beginning to feel annoyed. I know the important facts about my family. How dare a dead man tell me otherwise! Yes, I honestly don't know what the hell he's talking about.

Silvanus sighed in slight aggravation, "The listen child. Long before my time, the Head and founder of our Family had sworn an Unbreakable Vow and that this vow would be tied to the Malfoy heir sword. To serve until the bloodline was no longer of pure magical lineage or until the line died out completely. Which ever was to come first. When an heir of the Malfoy line ascends to his Lordship The Oath is sworn anew, the Sword given and ancient powers unveiled. Our Black magic is to be used only on behalf of our Lord and Master.

I gap unmalfoy like at my ancestor. I've never heard of this, "A Dark Lord?"

Silvanus frowns in disapproval at me. Now I'm offended, "What? It's a reasonable assertion, after all only a Dark Lord could desire our magic.

Pale lips curl up into a snarl of hate. Damn but that look was impressive, "Fooling child! No Dark Lord is even worthy of our might. Especially not that nauseating half-Blood your sire serves!" he growls at me.

I'm surprised, according to my father, serving a Dark Lord is the greatest honor my family could be bestowed with. The honor extends one thousand years to Salazar Slytherin himself. Yet this painting makes if sound like the most vulgar of insults.

"I don't understand. What other kind of lord is there?"

"A Elder Dragon Lord." He replied with a Malfoy smirk.

I gasp, now understanding why serving a Dark Lord would be an insult. Elder Dragon Lords are said to be the most powerful of all magical races. It is said that to serve one is to serve the universe. Wild magic, any type of magic rests at the finger tips of an Elder Dragon.

I then frown, "But they are extinct."

"No, one yet lives and it is to this one ye must swear and Oath." Silvanus replied, "In Blood, in Soul I do so swear upon my magic to serve so long as thy Bloodline is pure." He recites softly.

I inhale a much needed breath. Those words! Those words awake something deep inside me. I know if I don't swear the ancient Oath, I'll never be whole again. With a solemn emotion I did not know I could feel I ask, "To whom must I swear?"

Silvanus gives me an approving smile, "Elder Dragon Lord Harry James Potter."

Potter… It figures, I'd bet the entire Malfoy fortune that the blasted storm was for him. Yet I cannot deny that my family is attracted to power and now Potter has it in abundance. With all that I have learned in the last few days I figure the Dark Lord is now living on borrowed time.

"It's impossible! I can't swear to Potter. He is a half Blood like Voldemort."

"He is not. For the late Lady Potter was a full blooded Veela of royal stock." Silvanus replied in amusement.

Well shit, there goes my last chance to side step this war. I don't know why I'm not fighting this more fiercely. Perhaps I innately believe everything will come to an end if I don't. I know my father became weak magically since he entered You-Know-Who's service.

I look up at my ancestor, "What must I do?"

"Take off thy shirt young Lord and kneel before me."

I do this and stare as Silvanus leaves the painting becoming a ghostly presence in front of me. My entire being is focused on him as he gently touches my bare shoulder with the flat of a very real blade. I dimly hear the clap of thunder. The storm seems to be reaching a fevered pitch the mansion rattles with its force.

"Swear your Oath young Lord."

"I, Draco Damian Malfoy, do so swear upon my magic to serve and protect Lord Harry James Potter and his issue so long as his bloodline is pure. I make this Oath full knowing the consequences." With my right hand I reach up and run my hand along the edge of the blade, cutting my hand and smearing my blood along the ornate flat of the sword, "I swear this Oath in Blood, in Soul. So mote it be!"

"So mote it be." Silvanus acknowledges as a loud roar sounds out, magic swirls around me. My distant ancestor reaches a ghostly hand towards me and touches my pale chest. To the right of my heart he traces out a pattern which I recognize as the Malfoy family crest, an heir mark. That doesn't matter to me at the moment. Right now, every nerve was singing and seemingly on fire at the same time. When all of the sensations had receded, I was surprised to find myself still kneeling on the floor. The Malfoy heir sword was now being held in my hands. I look up at the painting of my ancestor in bemused astonishment. I had felt an acceptance of my Oath from Potter/

Silvanus smiled down upon me, "Young Lord, there are two things you need to know. The first is the sword that you now carry. No other but thee may lay their hands upon it. Should you wish to take the sword with you out into public, just will the blade to become a ring and place the signet ring on your right hands' middle finger. The Second is a boon. Since your Lord has acknowledged your Oath, your ancient Veela blood has awoken, making you a half Veela. You have a mate to find."

I stare at my ancestor is shock. A mate…

: Metallic Voice:

At that time, I had partially realized that something was just plain wrong. I don't believe that it was the Array that Brother and I had set but to summon the Gate. Nor was it the Military who had burst in on the ritual. I think it might have been either the Gate it's self or the conflict of wishes made by brother and I.

He wanted my body returned and my Soul back in my real body. I wanted the return of his limbs. The Automail was so very hard on Brother. I remember now. Something had gone horribly wrong. The Gate had wanted us to choose. One for the Other but not both. I had an epiphany then. Brother would have died either way in his bid to get my body back. I had thought fast as my brother cursed the Gate in a raged induced fit. I had grabbed my brother by his automail arm and slugged him making him unconscious. I gently lay my brother on the floor and turned towards the Gate. I step forward, I crossed the threshold and into an abyss.

I don't look back. I know that Ed's arm and leg will be returned to him. I know that Colonel Mustang, Lieutenant Hawkeye and all the others will take care of him. If I had been capable of making a face I would have then. I have been around Brother far too long if I can rush headlong into a situation without thinking every thing through. I hadn't bargained with the Gate and now it could extract any price it wanted for the return of Ed's limbs. It decided that I wouldn't see my Family and Friends for one thousand year and after words it would be up to me to find a way back home.

I had wandered the new land I found myself in. I came upon a group of people who I later learned where Wizards. They don't practice much alchemy. I had fascinated them though because they thought that I was a haunted Suit of Armor. They're theory was sort of true I guess. I wondered the magical land for another five hundred years making friends and allies. A war had broken out at that time and I went to help the school that my long departed friends had built. With a great deal of pain and loss the war was won and the then Dark Lady defeated but I was busted up. They put me in a room where they could get to me later but I know I had been forgotten. As time passed I had been slipping in and out of a conscious state. I don't know how long I've been at Hogwarts.

I do know that I remember more now.

My name is Alphonse Elric. Alchemist from another world.

:Harry:

Somehow I had found the strength to get up from my small bed and kill someone. Actually, there had been several someone's' to kill. My Uncle had run from my room only to return with a gun in hand. Does he really think that will help him now? He should have been nicer to me in the past. I was not amused at his not so surprising stupidity. He had actually fired at me! The bullet had bounced off of my shields but I was still angry with him. With a growl I knocked away his gun while with the other hand I split him open from neck to navel. The wound gapped open, spilling his blood and other offal on the dirty floor. Vernon stumbled back, landing on the floor with a dull thud. I growled in a animalistic fashion as I step toward him. Vernon was frantically trying to scoop his insides back into his body. His efforts where all for nothing as I tore out his throat.

I walked out of my bedroom and encountered my dear not so loving Aunt. She screams at the sight of me in mindless fear. I snarl at her as I grab her at her twiggy throat, crushing her windpipe as I break her neck. She may have been family but she had betrayed me in mind and body. Tradition demands that I deal with her. I would have liked to have tortured her some but it was not meant to be. Betrayal is a heinous crime in the Clan, punishable by death. Dudley soon joined his parents in hell. They were so weak; none of them had put up a decent fight.

Out of no where I feel an electric current in the air. The storm seemed to be bringing me something. That is when I hear Malfoy's Voice.

"I do so swear…" He was swearing his Oath to me. With instincts born on this very night, I listen intently. By now I had reverted back into my original human form. I look into the raging storm.

"I accept your Oath Draco."