Pansy had always known Draco was different. Even before her parents had groveled and almost sullied themselves over Mr. Malfoy, she had known that blond little boy calmly sitting by the ducklings' pond, hand idly playing with the water, was someone she would follow blindly for the rest of her life.

"Hello, I'm Draco," he had greeted, his smile as blinding as the summer sun.

"Pansy," she replied, feeling unfit and weird to be in his presence.

"Nice to meet you, Pansy!" Draco had beamed, gently holding her hand in his own.

It was smaller than hers, paler. Infinitely more precious.

"He's a star," Gregory whispered in her ear one day. "He told me he is the Draconis star."

"Makes sense, all things considered," Vince nodded, his chubby cheeks preventing him from imitating his father's stern expression. "No one can be that blond and that bright, other than a star."

Pansy had no heart to tell them Draco had, in all probability, told them he was named after a star. Not that he actually was one.

So she left them to their fantasies even as they grew older and wiser. As she stood witness of Draco's engagement with Daphne's baby sister and ignored the way Greg's hand tightened on her shoulder and the shudder that seemed to consume him whole as they watched.

Together they grew, orbiting around their little star, their own pale sun, and jealously guarded him from those who wished him harm.

They kept him from a dark eyed boy who would constantly chase Draco through the gardens, declaring himself the one true Knight and they taught their prince to keep a straight, if altive face when older suitors for the title of Protector of the Land reared their greedy eyes and tried to approach him.

"You can't show yourself open to anyone!" Pansy had hissed at him as she dragged him away from his over-zealous wannabe-knight.

"But these are the people of the land!" Draco protested with a stubborn purse of his lips.

"They are thieves and fiends who want to take advantage of you!" she replied, eyes narrowing. "They are trying to manipulate your affections! Sway your fancy!"

Draco had stared at her with his wide silver eyes and Pansy instantly knew that his heart would be his undoing.

So she talked to the Prince Heir himself, begging him to teach caution to his trusting son.

"Just wait until Harry Potter returns to the Wizarding World," Greg assured them all with eyes full of certainty. "He is The Boy Who Lived and he's the most suited to be Draco's Knight."

Vince nodded his agreement, his own posture strengthening.

"We will be His Highness' knights until then."

Draco had nodded at them, his own face unsure and nervous and Pansy understood him a little. She knew her friend was reluctant of the devotion he inspired in them all, of the position they were so sure he was going to take one day.

To them, Draco was one day going to be Prince, but to him, the burden meant only a heavy weight of expectations he wasn't sure he wanted to take.

And sure enough the years and experience would probe Draco's reservations right as first that mask he had perfected during childhood drove Harry Potter away from his reach and into the one family Lucius had forbidden him from associating with.

And then The Dark Lord had demonstrated himself quite alive, despite what the Ministry wanted them to believe and the weight and the burden only worsened on those slender shoulders she so ardently wanted to protect.

"Forget about Harry," the ever present over-zealous knight wannabe told him as they met in a darkened corridor. "He has forfeited his right at your side by rejecting your company, my Prince."

Pansy had rolled her eyes then, her arms crossed over her chest.

"You also avoid His Highness in broad daylight," she had pointed out, nose wrinkling in distaste.

"I am but a humble servant," the boy hissed. "I'm doing as my liege requested."

Vince narrowed his eyes.

"Draco?" he asked.

The blond shrugged his shoulders.

"The Dark Lord is approaching, and all association with me and my family would be dangerous," he said simply. "I don't want any harm to fall on you all."

"Too late for us, though," Greg said confidently. "Don't worry, Draco. We are not as powerful as Potter or as smart as Pansy..."

"Don't say that, Greg!" Draco interrupted, his eyes wide.

Vince placed a hand on the blond's arm.

"We know our limitations, Your Highness," he said gently. "So please, allow us to be your knights in Potter's stead. We will keep you safe until the danger has passed."

"Don't," Draco whispered. "Please."

"They're right." their hated wannabe said then, serious. "We will set a web on both sides of the conflict. Them on the Dark Side and I on the Light. No matter which side wins you will protected."

All three boys nodded their agreement while Pansy held Draco's hand in her own, knowing her Prince would feel this new pressure deep inside himself. Would grow to resent himself for the danger he was exposing his friends to.

...

"These are all the possible culprits I can come up with," Pansy sighed as she allowed herself to fall backwards on the couch, her hands stained black with ink and cramped from writing.

Harry eyed the parchment with determined as his lips slowly mouthed the names on it.

"Minister Shacklebolts would never kidnap Malfoy!" he snapped, glaring at the young woman.

"He could have," Pansy retorted, her own face mirroring Harry's. "If not for the Ministry for his own personal gain. Many would want His Highness to themselves, Potter. The power he will wield once this is over is nothing you and your puny Gryffindor brain can comprehend."

"The Minister is not from a family close in line of succession, is he?" Luna asked just as Harry was about to wrap his hand around Pansy's neck and she was about to claw her nails into his eyes.

The two of them turned to the blonde.

"No," Pansy admitted. "There are at least seven or eight families in succession before Shacklebolts, you are right."

"Which is why I'm the brains on this operation," the other woman beamed absently at them, slowly crossing the Minister's name from the list. "I also think we can count Madame Bones out, she would never hurt His Highness."

"She could hold a grudge against him," Harry said hesitantly. "After what Draco did to Susan during the war."

Pansy nodded.

"Madame Bones could be trying to take Draco out of the picture," she said, more confidently. "Don't cross her out."

"Then again if it was someone out to harm Malfoy, he would have struggled," Harry reasoned, his eyes going back to the fireplace and the sooth encrusted walls. His Auror training taking over. "And the dust is the same as it was. Whoever came over didn't use force."

"Draco did set the wards to only allow in those he authorized," Luna said the, idly crossing names off the list. "So he is with someone he trusts."

Pansy rolled her eyes in dismay.

"You two don't know Draco like I do," she snapped. "He takes his duty really seriously, even more so than he did when we were children. He trusts everyone who comes to him for help, damned Hufflepuff in disguise he is."

Luna and Harry stared at her.

"Malfoy? Trusting?" Harry asked.

"It does sound hard to believe..." Luna added. "Considering his overall attitude in school."

"Blame Potter for that one," Pansy scowled. "He brought Voldemort back to Hogwarts and thus forced Draco to hide his real allegations. Any sign of weakness could be exploited in an environment of war."

"You are telling me he acted like an utter prat because Voldemort was after me?" Harry scowled right back at her.

"His father and him were key players to overturn the Ministry," Pansy hissed. "Thank Morgana that snake-faced bastard had no idea who he had in his grasp. That fucking mudblood."

Harry's eyes narrowed to slits, his hand reaching for his wand even as Luna placed a gentle hand on his arm and delivered a solid smack to the back of the other witch's head.

"What?!" Pansy scowled.

"Please stop using that word or Harry will be forced to hex you, Pansy," she said airily. "And right now we need your expertise far too much."

The dark haired witch sighed, eyeing the tense way Harry held his wand.

"Sorry," she muttered under her breath. "Habit."

"A habit you'll need to get rid of soon enough if you don't want to know why I'm still considered –"

"Oh, shush you," Luna interrupted once more, her hand tightening on his bicep. "We are all tense and on edge, but please remember His Highness is somewhere out there, with someone who took him against his will."

Pansy's shoulders slumped just as Harry lowered his wand.

"You are right, Lovewood," the witch said, her lips pursed. "Sorry, Potter."

Harry nodded at her.

Luna beamed.

"Back to the list, then," she said, hand reaching back to her quill. "We know Draco's kidnapper is a pureblood, at least, someone that within a day knew who to target and how to find His Highness."

Harry leaned forward.

"We know Malfoy followed this person without a struggle so it's someone he knows," he added, lips sinking into his bottom lip. "Could a Slytherin be behind this? Crabe or Goyle's family?"

"Absolutely not!" Pansy shouted ardently. "Vince and Greg were Draco's most loyal! They made sure no one with any sort of bad intentions approached Draco, they took Potter's place during the war and also ran off W-..."

The woman's eyes widened.

"Ran off?" Luna asked, tilting her head.

"Parkinson?" Harry asked when Pansy fell silent.

"Oh, Merlin," she whispered, frantically reaching over the dusty table for Draco's golden charms. "Potter I need a drop of your blood."

"What?" Harry asked, leaning over to see what she was doing.

"Your blood!" she repeated, holding the four charms in her hand. "I need you to place a drop of your blood onto the Gryffindor tag."

Harry looked unsure, his eyes slowly straying to the ruby-incrusted locket on Parkinson's hand.

Luna nodded at him, her eyes set.

He sighed.

A quick flick of his wand and a drop of blood slowly sliding down his finger probed nothing that he could interpret, that is, until the blood bounced off the tag with an audible cackle of heat and the tag lit up violently.

Luna gasped.

Pansy's eyes narrowed.

Harry stared in shock.

"What does this mean?" he asked.

"It means you are not the Knight appointed," Luna explained, her hand perusing the list once more. "Draco did not summon you through court as he did Parkinson and myself, so the court is still looking for the Gryffindor Knight."

"He said I was his Knight because he came to me first," Harry said, his frown deepening.

"That damned fool," Pansy hissed. "I know where he is now, and it's not going to be pretty."

With a flick of her wand, Pansy was by the fireplace, her free hand reaching to hold Luna's just as Luna reached for Harry, pulling him into the green flames as Pansy's shrill voice called a name Harry hadn't been sure the witch had known.

…..

"When Harry came to he was standing in the middle of the already familiar sitting room at The Burrow with its faded cushions and old carpets. For once, the smell he had come to associate with the place - the smell of home-cooked meals and wild flowered bouquets - was absent, as was the usual lively chatter that usually filled the house and made its walls cackle back.

Pansy wrinkled her nose at her surroundings, muttering a soft: "Fucking Perverts," before following Luna as the scanned the room.

Harry did the same, having the advantage of being more familiar with the setting, he was quicker to find the slightly opened door a few feet from the kitchen, hidden mostly by a large bookcase he remembered from Percy's old room.

He grabbed his wand tighter, motioning with his free hand to his companions.

Together, all three entered through the secret passage and Harry felt his faith and resolve crumble at his feet.

He had expected Percy, in all honesty. As soon as he realized he was at the Burrow, he had thought Percy's power-hungry tendencies had returned with a vengeance.

Hell, he could have even forgive Bill, as his more animal instincts could have been affected by Draco's silver - moonlight colored - burst of magic.

What he had not expected, however, was to find Malfoy tied up to Mr. Weasley's favorite chair, his eyes downcast and full of pity, as Mrs. Weasley screamed at him at the top of her lungs, her face red and her eyes wild.

"YOU FILTHY LIAR!" she cried. "YOU AND THAT MONSTER FATHER OF YOURS! I WON'T LET YOU TAKE MY CHILDREN FROM ME YOU SCUM!"

Pansy's jaw clenched as she listened in, even Luna's eyes started narrowing as the woman continued her rant.

"YOUR FATHER SWORE TO ME, BRAT! HE SWORE YOU AND YOURS WOULD NEVER ASK ANYTHING FROM US!" Mrs. Weasley said, tears brimming in her eyes. "YOU WERE NOT EVEN SUPPOSED TO LOOK AT MY FAMILY."

Draco shook his head lightly, his neat ponytail swaying as he moved.

"I didn't cause this Madame Weasley, I can promise you that," he said, his voice small. "I've tried my absolute best to never be too close to your children."

"As if your word was any worth," the old witch spat."Your father swore to me, boy. He swore that the spell would never be used, that none of my children would be asked to submit to your family."

"And we tried our best but someone outside of our reach casted the spell," Draco argued, doing his best to shrug his shoulders despite his restrains. "Believe me Madame, this is no more than a coincidence."

"Then do the right thing!" the witch hissed. "Cease your claim at once, abdicate in favor of the Ministry."

Harry watched in no short awe as Draco's whole frame finally tensed, how his eyes shone and colored and his lips tightened until the sneer of disdain that he had grown accustomed to seeing from his childhood was once more adorning that matured face.

"No," he said, eyes narrowing. "Never."

"What?" Molly snapped.

"I might have done that when I returned to Britain, Madame Weasley," the young man replied, his back straight and his pose regal. "But if there is something my Father taught me, was my responsibility to this land and its people come before any other personal feeling I might hold. I can feel them now, feel the way the land feels and how much the magic needs a change. I can feel how strained the pureblooded lines are and how scared the creatures live, the way muggleborns come unprepared and half-bloods are torn between two worlds that should coexist despite their differences..."

Harry's throat moved as he forced himself to swallow, the intensity of Malfoy's gaze, the way his words seemed to resonate with truth and echo over the butterfly of his power inside Harry's core.

It was magnificent.

"You..."

"So, I'm afraid I cannot leave this land and its people I adore to continue their lives and possibly spiral into another civil war in the next century when I know I have a chance to help them now, it would feel like spitting over the sacrifices of those who have died believing in me, in what I could do," the blond continued, undaunted. "I am most sorry, Madame Weasley, but I can't, I won't abdicate."

Pansy smiled from her place behind Harry, feeling a tear roll down her cheek.

Their star was shining his brightest.

Molly took a step back, her eyes wide and lips tight as she realized there was no way she was going to force the young man's hand on this matter. Her words would never make him see her reason.

Her eyes narrowed.

Her wand raised in the air.

"Cru…" she began, determination set in her every movement.

Everything happened in a second.

Harry sprang to action, Luna cried in surprise and Pansy jumped to protect her Prince's body with her own.

A pale hand reached to wrap around Molly's wrist tightly, tightening until the older woman released her wand and it clattered on the ground.

Harry stopped, shocked.

Luna sagged in relief.

Molly's eyes widened once more.

"Ron…" she whispered and then blinked as she realizes she wasn't as alone as he had first believed. "Harry."

"I was napping upstairs when I felt the wards being breached," Ron Weasley said, his flushed face displaying his concern. "What is happening here? What were you going to do, Mum!"

"You don't understand, son!" the woman argued, tugging her hand in order to release her son's hold unsuccessfully. "I need to protect you and your siblings, you can't be dragged back into a war!"

"A war?" Ron frowned. "What are you talking about!"

"Pansy," Draco said urgently, his shoulders shaking as he tried to free himself, completely ignoring the drama unfolding for a moment in lieu of making sure his friend was alright.

"I'm fine," the witch replied, slowly removing her arms from around Draco's shoulders, her smile small. "Were you hurt?"

He shook his head.

"Don't ever do that again," Draco hissed. "Don't make me order you."

The witch shook her head. "Yes, your Highness."

"Highness?" Ron asked, his eyes widening. "The core I've been feeling, the magic that has been brushing with mine… it's you?"

Draco raised his eyes, locking them with Ron's.

He nodded.

"As I was trying to explain to your mother before this happened, I didn't cast the spell myself," he said, nodding gratefully to Pansy as she started to release his bindings. "And even if I wanted to, I can't stop it, or my cousin Theodore would be targeted in my stead."

"But then, your crazy-ass mother decided to kidnap Draco and force him to abdicate," Pansy growled, her wand cutting the ropes biting into Draco's wrists and scowling at the angry red marks on his pale skin. "And what were you thinking by going with her, Draco? You were never this stupid before!"

The blond scowled back at her.

"Her claim was legitimate," he defended himself. "My father swore we would never court the Weasley clan and that the children of Prewett would never come in close contact with the heirs of Malfoy."

Harry stared at them, confused.

"Children of Prewett?" he asked.

Ron turned to him, his confusion evident in his stare.

"It's my mum's maiden name," he explained, shaking his head. "The rest of the Prewett family died during the war."

"Which is why your mother was so desperate I kept my Father's oath," Draco nodded, his eyes downcast.

Harry approached the blond to help him to his feet, noting how Pansy refused to step from her place between Mrs. Weasley and the young Malfoy Prince – even despite the way Ron continued to hold his mother back – and how Luna was slowly making her way to them, flanking Harry and holding onto Malfoy's other arm.

He had still a hard time believing Mrs. Weasley had been the one to take Malfoy away, and that she had been desperate enough – capable enough – to attempt to cast a 'Crucio' at the blond was mind boggling enough to set him cold.

He could only imagine what Ron was feeling, suddenly fearing for his mother's safety only to find her about to cast an unforgivable on someone unable to defend themselves. To suddenly realize your mother could be capable of such cruelty.

He sighed when the redhead turned to him.

"You know what's happening here?" Ron asked him, instantly turning to the one person who had never led him astray as his concept of the world he lived in was about to fall apart.

"Kinda, the part where your family was involved is new to me," he said, shrugging his shoulders to make himself relax and failing miserably when Ron's eyes narrowed.

"Harry," Molly tried again, still struggling against her son's hold, her hand itching for her wand. "You are a good boy, you would never place Ron or Ginny in danger! Please help me make sure they are not dragged into this!"

"Mrs. Weasley," he said, pained.

"For Merlin's sake," Pansy scowled, waving her wand and binding the struggling older witch to the same chair Draco had once been held in, her eyes narrowed in distaste. "And be thankful I don't do worse, traitor."

"Hey!" Ron protested, moving to intervene, only to be stopped by Luna's hand on his arm.

"You are a wizard that values truth and honor among all," she said evenly, her gaze clear. "Then allow me to explain this situation to you before you allow your temper to blind your judgment."

"Ron, don't!" Molly cried. "Please."

The redhead turned to Harry, searching an answer in him the other man knew he couldn't give.

He turned away.

Something cold and repressed settled on Ron's face, something dreadful and fierce.

"You have five minutes," he hissed, his wand held tightly in his hands. "And I want the words from Malfoy. If I believe the little rat did something so help me Merlin I'll-"

"Very well," Draco replied, stepping forward before Pansy and Luna could stop him, taking his arm from Harry's support and weakly standing on his own.

Ron locked their gazes.

"That thing against my core is your magic, isn't it? You are the Prince that magic wants to rule instead of the Ministry," he said, eyeing the blond from head to toe.

Draco nodded.

"I did not cast the spell of succession, though," the blond repeated. "It was mostly coincidence I came back to Britain when I did, but the spell had been active before my arrival."

The redhead's eyes widened.

"Is that why Teddy was sick, Harry?" he asked, turning to his best friend. "Because he's Malfoy's only living relative?"

Harry nodded.

"Malfoy came to my door and told me the spell was taxing Teddy's core," he explained. "He took over the spell and released the strain on Teddy."

Ron turned to Malfoy once more.

"Why the Prewetts then," he asked. "Your closest other relative is Neville."

Draco nodded his head.

"The Prewetts were originally the Knight Clan of the Kingdom," he whispered. "All knights of the realm, all protectors and soldiers were born Prewett for as long as the monarchy ruled."

Harry felt a small tinge of relief as he could easily see the pieces of the puzzle fitting together inside his best friend's brilliant mind, and yeah, Ron would never be as clever as Hermione, but in Harry's humble opinion he was far from stupid and always reliable with logic.

"So, if the spell was casted, and you were the Prince, it would only be logical that a child of Prewett would become your Knight," Ron said finally, his scowl deepening when the blond nodded.

"When I was a child I was approached by one of your elder brothers," he explained. "He said he had heard the whispers of discontent in the Ministry and that the age of the Kings was coming fast, he wanted to take his place as my Knight and for us to grow together, but when your parents and mine refused, he grew… dissatisfied. Last I heard of him, he had abandoned the country and is now a Romanian citizen."

Ron's and Harry's eyes widened.

"Charlie?" the redhead asked, taking a step back. "Charlie was to be your Knight?"

"The firstborn in any clan cannot be asked to go to war, as he is the head of the family and expected to continue the blood line," Draco explained. "It is only logical for the second son to be the one."

"Charlie didn't understand what a war meant, he was a child and you! You and your magic turned him against us!" Molly hissed from her chair. "He believed those fairy tales of adventures and riches and he grew apart from us!"

The blond winced.

"After a while, my Father and Mr. Weasley started fearing your brother could cast the spell himself in his naiveté, so the two families made an oath of never crossing paths, never engaging eachother," he explained, taking a deep breath. "So none of you would feel compelled to come to my side if the spell was indeed enacted."

"And you broke your word!" Molly sobbed. "You still took my boy away from us and now you want to take another! How can you and your family be so cruel!"

Draco lowered his head, and Harry could finally see how Mrs. Weasley had dragged him out without leaving any sign of struggle in their safehouse.

Despite what any of them might have believed in the past, Malfoy did not want his title or his responsibility. The sole thought of the consequences of his actions was almost physically painful for him – and Harry couldn't blame him, knowing how his parents had died to keep him safe, he could relate – and therefore, it was easy to believe the blond had followed the older witch on his own will out of guilt and obligation rather than by force.

He scowled.

"Malfoy never broke his oath," he interrupted, his shoulders squaring and his jaw tightening. "He came to me when he needed a Knight and he never even mentioned your children, Mrs. Weasley, he was doing his best until you interfered."

Molly's eyes widened.

"Oh, Harry," she whispered. "You can't go to him too, you are part of our family! He can't have you too!"

Harry blinked at her.

"Wha-"

"So this all happened because you wanted to shy away from a duty set upon us generation after generation ago?" Ron asked, finally pulling the attention of those present to himself.

Molly gapped.

"Ron, you don't understand!" she tried to plead.

"I don't understand what, Mum? War? Duty?" he hissed. "The fact that you were about to torture a wandless wizard because you didn't want to believe he could do the right thing, even if he was doing it already?"

"Ron, please," Molly whispered, knowing her son's temper was set against her.

It was too late, however.

With a flick of his wand and a set determination to his movement, Ronald Weasley grasped Draco Malfoy's hand in his own – definitely not noticing how pale his hands were, how small compared to his own, that would come later – and locked their gazes.

"My family has grieved you in ways I am most ashamed to contemplate, Your Highness," he said, his brows furrowing. "I can only offer my most sincere apologies and use my own self as compensation for my mother's mistake."

Without even pausing to gauge Malfoy's reaction or the horrified paleness that was slowly setting on his mother's face, the redhead fell to his knees before the blond prince, his forehead lowering to the man's pale fingers.

"Weasley…" Draco whispered, shocked.

"RON! DON'T!" Molly cried, struggling.

Ron swallowed, closing his eyes.

"As the ancient contracts that were forged centuries ago between your blood and mine, I swear I shall follow you on this quest as the humble knight you so deserve, My Prince," he continued, wondering whether he had heard the rote before in life – from Charlie, from his father, from Bill – or if it was magic itself forcing his lips to act as punishment. Idly, he realized he didn't care. "From now on my life is yours to command, for I will be your sword and your shield, so mote it be."

Harry noticed the way Luna relaxed and how Pansy's smile turned wicked and vindictive.

How resignation filled Malfoy's silver eyes and light enveloped his hand to form a gold and red ring of pure energy that slowly seeped into his skin.

"So mote it be," he whispered back, his own head lowering in respectful acknowledgement. "Welcome to my court, Knight Protector."