Chapter 4: Disguised Lies
DISCLAIMER: HP belongs to JKR. The story line and all new characters, new character development, new developments are my intellectual property.
A/n We see a multi-layered Lucius, running hot and cold. He is obviously able to love those he choses. He doesn't know to feel about Hermione, no surprise there.
He is like many others, unable to acknowledge feelings for one he considers his equal intellectually but inferior to him otherwise. He is not all bad, above all, he is fair and values family, his own. Oh, well. :)
Disguises and Lies
Earlier- Prior to Traveling
Adrian arrived with company, Harry Potter, Ron and Bill Weasley. He had gone to the healer with them. The test was fast, and the healer insisted that he would rather send a report to Mr. Malfoy.
He gave Bill a vial of a fluid containing a nail, hair, and saliva that he had collected from Adrian. He wouldn't look at Adrian on the eye. Bill also received a closed report, that could only be opened by Lucius.
"Adrian, let your friends go and see Miss Granger, Axel will take them. She is not well, instead of improving she has worsened. Muctis thinks the shock made an ongoing problem worse. I'm so sorry."
Lucius meant that he was sorry with all of them.
"Adrian come with me, we will open the envelope together. And Mr. Weasley, get ready. Talk to Ted, he is waiting for you with a business proposal, please follow Mipzy."
He held on to Adrian's arm, he felt very cold and very hot, his world had fallen apart.
Whose fault? Nobody else to blame but you, you should have listened, the nosy narrator interjected. Maybe he should have.
At the library's office, Lucius asked Adrian to sit by him. He pointed his wand, and the decanter poured two glasses of cognac, one kept in charmed caskets down in the dungeons; the former dark place was transformed into food storage and cellars, lit with soft illumination.
"We will need it, I am certain. It is over 100 years old, from a vineyard in an island we will visit soon, I suspect."
Adrian raised an eyebrow, questioning, but Lucius didn't expand.
He sat by him, took a deep drink,before going thru the usual ritual of warming it. He made a grimace, "Very good, smooth, yet fire down my throat. Please read it," he pushed the envelope addressed to him after tapping it with his wand, the scroll came out and unrolled in front of Adrian.
He was nearly sure that he should have a drink, and he followed Lucius example. He almost coughed, "100 proof?" He joked but Lucius did not smile.
"Read it," he pressed the glass he held to his cheek.
Adrian started reading but words wouldn't come out. He looked at Lucius as the scroll fell out his hands, "Why, how could you?" He sounded bitter, his eyes dulled.
Lucius sighed and read it, he could deduct the contents, he dried a couple angry tears with the back of his hand.
"I didn't know for certain. Adriana hid it from me. I have done some looking, the Dark Lord threatened to kill her young brother. He kept him hostage and had already warned her parents." He drank more.
"It was Bellatrix's doing. Voldemort wanted Bella and she made it a condition that I had to marry Narcissa; both sisters had an unnatural affection for each other."
He paused, trying to figure out how much to say.
"There were rumors flying about them, sharing a wizard as an excuse to be with each other. They'd kill for the other. I begged Adriana to run away, my mother said she would help."
He looked at Adrian who sat unmoving, "What made you do this today, why wait all these years. My parents have been dead for several years, you…"
"Stop, I anticipated this," he stuck a hand in his robe, "These are scrolls that I wrote to your mother that first year, all returned, and the one scroll where she told me that she loved your father and I was nothing but a mistake." He couldn't stop the tears, it hurt so bad.
"I also found out the Dark Lord threatened to kill you if she ever told me anything, or if she tried to come back to me. Narcissa made sure to tell me the later, and unwisely she put it in writing; it was a day when she was angry after a ball."
He stopped gain to dry more runway tears. "During that ball, I saw your mother, a vision in her robe, I just couldn't take my eyes away from her. Narcissa went crazy, she screamed, "I saw the two of you, everyone did as well. If she thinks you will leave me for her, the Dark Lord will kill her son, the one you like better than yours." Anyway read them later. So you know, I never stopped loving her."
He drank more, "As to why wait until now, it's simple. I had asked Muctis to verify if Draco were my son. After this morning I had questioned my paternity, blood that is, because he is my son even I didn't father him."
Adrian's eyes were dead but he listened.
"Bill is looking into how it was done. He is doing the same for you, something from the Black library, he's asked Mr. Potter. He can temporarily remove yours, however we think it might not stay, he has only known of a couple cases. Please believe me, I would had gone with your mother," his voice broke. "I damn the day Narcissa wanted my money."
He stood in front of Adrian and pulled a small book; he pointed the wand, it was a photo album, "Inside there are a few Pensives, I have loved you since I first laid my eyes on you. Your father made me your godfather; we were very good friends."
Adrian looked terribly sad, it broke Lucius'heart. But he continued,
"He apologized more than once, but he was also forced to marry her. Most of the Blacks are poison, but for Andromeda. The album are pictures of you and your mother, I kept them hidden. I realize now that I must have known. Ah, why now? I remember today that you were 'premature,' and I did make the observation that you were quite big."
opened the album, it showed a young Lucius holding baby Adrian, the love was obvious, "This was you one week after your birth, a strapping lad," he chuckled remembering.
"I should have questioned, but your mother had made it clear, I was a mistake. So after hearing about Draco, suspicion settled and wouldn't let go." Adrian flipped the pages.
Lucius continued, "I remember your mother's sudden friendship with the Blacks. I imagine they forced her. My parents died that year from Dragon Pox, probably murdered, and Voldemort couldn't risk to lose his greatest financial backer. I have always treated you like my son, just for being your mother's child. Son, please allow me to be your father."
Lucius stood rigid in front of Adrian, full of strong emotions. That is when he smelled burnt wool, the sofa had caught on fire, right by the place where Adrian had been holding the couch.
He is your son, can't you see?
Yes, he certainly did. The heat rushes were one of the things that Lucius had never been able to explain, neither had his father. He was certain that he had more 'episodes' than his father.
The family books had been damaged at the end of the 18th (century, many pages had just disintegrated, entire sections of each book, so much history had been lost. It were pages at the beginning of each book, where their 'gifts' and ancestry had been discussed.
Who did it and why? Nobody knew. As for Draco, he lacked the the heat, and he had already wondered.
Lucius couldn't help it, and he started laughing, nervous laughter he guessed. He pointed at the small fire.
Adrian blushed, put it out with the cognac and joined the laughter, "This started the day I turned 19, I thought I was going crazy plus the voices inside. Sorry." He looked at Lucius, the narrator was telling him that he was telling the truth. And yes, he had loved Lucius all his life. He stood and opened his arms.
The moment they closed their arms around each other, a small tornado started around them, "I love you son, always, I used to tell you that when you were little."
"I've always loved you as well, I used to call you godpapa; remember the time I pitched a fit when I wanted you to have a sleepover with my poor Mom because my father was gone? I said it wasn't fair that you had to go home to Draco that you should share my Mom's bed."
Adrian chuckled, "I was always jealous that you took Draco instead of me when you left. I remember that I would scream at the top of my lungs whenever I wasn't allowed to accompany Dad and you; and that day when I Floo to see you, I was five and hid under your desk. My mother nearly died thinking that I was alone in the Floo…"
Both acknowledged they had always loved each other, but neither had noticed that at the words and recognizing kinship, Adrian's face rearranged. He was still as tall as Lucius and built like him. Their bodies were carbon copies, amazing that nobody had noticed; they had the same mannerisms, body language, now they became aware.
"Draco was the name your mother and I picked for our first child. I was angry when Narcissa announced her chosen name, Draco."
He looked at Adrian and blinked, "Ad, Dra… what is going on?"
He pulled Adrian to a mirror, he was a young Lucius, his hair, or better a taller wider Draco, "A perversity of the Blacks, they even stole your face."
He was really Draco, the mouth, Lucius could see now that it was Adriana's. His mind was in turmoil, he wanted to kill Narcissa.
The face flickered and he was Adrian again, but his eyes were no longer brown but steel gray.
Both were speechless.
"Why, how? "
"Not sure, something we did, they, the Blacks stole it all from me, my beloved, my son, your name, and even your appearance. Draco's smaller frame is the father's." He recalled Cygnus, he was smaller, but no, it wasn't his build, although the Rosier were smaller.
"But Draco's tests, why is the father not identified?"
"Because it is part of the glamour, it says Narcissa is the father and mother."
"Can Draco's glamour be removed?"
"Perhaps, wait, Bill is knocking." He could smell people at several meters, he needed to ask Adrian if he were the same.
Bill looked at them, Lucius looked at Adrian.
"Bloody hell son, you are you again, hair changed as well."
They talked to Bill. "Not sure, it seems to be tied to you. Mr. Malfoy, what are we missing?"
"Well Bill, an unbreakable first."
By the end, Bill knew everything.
"Muctis got me what I needed from Draco, we need to either locate Narcissa or continue looking. What about Adrian?"
"I personally would like to announce him, but it is up to him."
Adrian was conflicted, he had a younger brother, who should now be the heir, "Let's fix the glamour, do the removal for now."
He looked troubled, "Livia, she is waiting for me." He looked down at his feet.
Lucius realized, ah, the young witch, Hermione, he could guess that Adrian'd never stopped loving her.
"Maybe you should call it off, for now. Have you signed the contracts?"
"This month, before the engagement ball. I wanted you to look over them."
"Great, it is less messy. You need to Floo without a visual, it is too risky. Tell her you have to leave, you will have zero communication access. Tell her because some recent changes you are conflicted and need to think before you can commit. I cannot do it for you; it would be unfair; you must do this yourself before we go."
"Yes, I 'll do it, I will use your office's Floo." He seemed relieved. Lucius had guessed right. How ironic, his son had nearly lost his witch thanks to the Blacks. What a sad situation.
Now he wondered if the Pucey's accidental death had been a murder, Narcissa was going to leave him, and she didn't want Adriana to have a chance. They needed to find her.
"Son, bef…"
Harry and Ron knocked.
Lucius sighed.
Adrian whispered, "Harry and Ron," he winked his eye and pointed at his nose.
Lucius grinned, he was 100% his son.
"Come in. " Adrian was Adrian when they entered the room, as he was leaving he flicked back momentarily making them jump.
Before they could ask Lucius explained, "An old crime, very dark blood magic. Yes, he is my son, actually the original Draco. The punishment used to be death in some cases; it was done to put a bastard's child as the heir. You wanted to see me for?"
He felt an unavoidable headache.
Harry tried to look away, it was disconcerting. He cleared his throat, "That type of blood magic carries long sentences. Anyway, sir we like to come along, we both have time coming. Nothing romantic, we shouldn't have abandoned her. So you know, he lied to us, and she didn't even know."
"What did he say? I assume you mean Draco." What else did Draco do?"
Harry didn't want Lucius to know, "It is best forgotten. Suffice to say that we shouldn't have believed it. Sir, please allow us to come. She needs us, she has no one," Harry pleaded.
"That cannot be. Of course she has, how about her parents?"
"No sir, I thought that you knew, they aren't her parents, they are her guardians, much older, in their mid seventies."
"But they have the same last name."
"Yes, they are Granger, the last name of Hermione's father's mother. They thought it would be better to change her last name. They also thought that it would be easier for Hermione."
"Why?"
"Because there was bad blood between her dead parents, and their family. The Granger wanted to hide her a little. They come from an aristocratic family, half French. She laughed when she found out that an old relative, a Muggle, had been married into the Lestrange family."
"Adrian did you know?"
"Of course, why Draco didn't mention it?"
Lucius sounded exasperated, "He probably could care less, I think he never went there."
Ron laughed, "The old couple are teeth healers, not for lack of money. They take care of her parents house but their house is almost as grand. They are so much like you the Muggle version. Err. They are well, kind , err." Ron made a grimace.
Bill laughed, "He means, they are a version of Purebloods. Err, rich Purebloods."
"Ah, I see." Lucius looked at the four of them and wondered why all the chuckles. He shook his head.
"So who were the parents? By any chance magical?"
"I don't think so. We all thought there was something off but not sure what. As for Hermione, she thought that they might have been magical long ago, hmm they were?" Harry was trying to recall.
"L'orc that is and L'argent, Granger was an an anagram, her house is full of Muggle portraits of curly hair relatives, some looking like her."
Lucius looked in wonderment. "L'orc, hmm, fancy that." He remembered something, "Wait."
He pulled out the same tome that he had shown Draco.
Ron grinned ,"Yes, she is one from the hot Librarian's portraits in her house, we laughed looking at all the pretty relatives; she was a little peeved. I am nearly sure that it was her picture. What is most ironic was that her relatives thought we were beneath her. They looked at us like rubbish."
Adrian agreed, and they all laughed. "They have an old butler that made me feel most unwelcome. Every time he told me, to my face that I was magical riffraff, and how sad it made him that his young mistress associated with rubbish like me." The other three nodded, all had experienced the same.
"I told him that he needed to meet Kreacher," Harry guffawed at Ron's remark.
"You never said what happened to the parents?"
"Not sure, she's never been clear. We assumed they were dead. Ah, she said most of the Hot Librarians came from a branch she hasn't found yet."
"I'll be, why did I never tell her?" Lucius asked.
Four voices asked, "Tell her what."
Now it was time for Lucius to be mysterious, he made a sign with his hand probably meaningless to anyone but him.
"Later, go get your things. Be back in an hour. I'll not wait. The two of you will have to sit by Drexel, bring a heavy cloak," he left the room.
Now, three days layer they were waiting for Hermione to wake up. To pass time, Adrian first, and then the others started to investigate the island, and were fixing to leave on their daily expedition.
Mipzy came in, "Master the Missy Grangy is up."
They all followed Adrian who took the lead. He sat by the bed and took her hand between his.
"Who are you?" she asked, "Adrian, no, Draco, I don't understand." She didn't pull her hand, he was a Malfoy for that moment.
"Kitten, it is I Adrian, by the way my middle name is Draco, more later, my mother called me Dragon; too bad that you never met her. There is a lot you need to learn. Mostly that Draco lied to you and to each one of us, we can talk about that later. But now, how are you, you have worried us. Your 'boys,' are here. Harry, Ron, "he pointed at them.
Her face lighted and she grinned.
Hermione was about to say something when Axel pop in the room.
"Master, Braxar came with an urgent message for you." Axel was worried until he saw that Hermione was awake. He went to her.
"Missy Grangy I is happiest you are back, I'll have Perdu cooks yous a minestrone."
L'roy, the demon owl, went about untangling her curls with his beak, while his wolfhounds sat with their heads on the mattress, banging their tails.
Lucius shook his head; a bit put out. Ha, none of his employees or pets had ever made such a big fuzz over him, and he paid their salary and upkeep; never mind, he was also happy to see the young witch awake.
He opened the message and raised his hand. "Everyone needs to hear this, it is from Greg, my security chief. "Mr. Malfoy, I have bad news for you, but first let me assure you that everyone has been alerted. The guards we had sent to move Draco, were severely injured when trying to stop him. Although, they were under orders not to let anyone get close to him, we don't know what happen but Miss Parkison helped Draco escape, she brought him a wand. One of the healers who jumped in was also injured. He tried to break into both the Manor and then the office, and Axiom was able to detain Pansy. She is not talking. Draco is at large…"
"We are safe for now, but he knows of the Island. Without one of the brothers, Drexel, Axiom or Braxar, it will be difficult, but maybe not impossible. Pansy didn't plan this alone, I hope to be wrong. Adrian come with me." He turned towards Hermione.
"What is going on with Draco? I'll not let him hurt you; he has already tried to kill you. All this is my fault for alllowing his bad treatment. I need to get up." Hermione was rearing to go.
Lucius and all the others heard her. It was good, the warrior witch was coming back.
"Draco is not well. Not if we all work together, he will not hurt anyone. Welcome back Miss Granger, you get up when you feel stronger." He grinned, yet his eyes remained worried.
Fooool, the Narrator screamed, you are going to leave her alone with those who seek her embrace. First you let them take sweet Adriana along with the babe, and now you will give away the one who can free us all. The one who I may add, makes your rod stiffen?
Lucius had never heard such nonsense spew out the narrator, yet, he turned to look, and yes, Harry and Ron ran to her and held her in a tight embrace. "Our Hermione, we miss you so."
It was a three way embrace. The wizards truly cared for her, unbelievable, Adrian-Dragon was smiling, pleased.
Like father like son, bring the thiefs into your home. The narrator pointed out.
The two wizards were embracing her. Did he care? Well, honestly, he wanted to break their arms. He stood there frozen unable to move.
Adrian was looking at him funny. "Are you all right? Smoke is coming out of your nose. Your fingers, wow they are glowing."