As Draco and Rory entered the Great Hall on the bleak morning of November fourteenth, other students began to whisper, stare and point.

"What do you think has happened?" Draco asked as he looked around the room.

"You mean... You don't know, Malfoy?" interrupted Theodore.

"Know what, Nott?" questioned Rory. "What's been going on?"

"It's all over the newspapers. Your parents..." Theodore turned to Draco before gulping.

"What about my parents, Nott?!" Draco demanded.

He leaned in to whisper. "They're dead. Murdered yesterday by your father's wand. Nobody knows who did it. Some say that the Dark Lord was angry at them and killed them in revenge but you and I both know that's not it. The lot of you are practically family to him."

"But that's impossible-"

A tall fifth year Slytherin prefect tapped Draco's shoulder. "You the Malfoy boy?"

Draco seemed to be petrified. Rory nudged him.

"Yes."

"Snape's expecting you in his office. Don't be late. You too, Riddle. The password's fudge pasty."

He nodded in response. The boy's normally pale skin seemed to become a shade of deathly white.


The pair trudged down to the dungeons. They barely knocked on the door before it was hastily opened by the potions master.

"Come in and sit." Rory stared at his shoes while his friend seemed to be on the verge of vomiting. This couldn't be happening. Aunt Cissa and Uncle Lucius were surely still alive.

"I expect that you have some sort of an idea as to why you are here, hmm?"

"Yes, sir."

"No matter. Mr Malfoy, it is my duty to inform you that your parents had stipulated that your aunt Bellatrix should be your guardian. However, Mrs Lestrange's current status as a criminal prevents your being given to her. Be that as it may, your other aunt, one Andromeda Tonks, shall take full custody of you. She shall come to pick you up at King's Cross. Being that I am currently a professor at Hogwarts, I cannot fufill my role as your godfather. Your parents' will shall be further discussed at a later point." Uncle Snape hesitated before speaking again. "Mr Riddle, you may not be aware but your female guardian was actually your godmother. You were told that Bellatrix was your godmother for your protection and to prevent the truth from being known. The Malfoys, in addition to being your surrogate family, acted as your protectors. Your father cannot be publicly acknowledged as your father for obvious reasons. It was not for nothing that Narcissa was chosen as your mother for the adoption potion."

Rory's vision blurred. That certainly couldn't be correct.

"Professor, what do you mean she was his mother?!" Draco all but shouted. He had remained silent thus far but seemed enlivened by this revelation.

"Now, now, Mr Malfoy. Please, do sit down." That was not a request. The boy complied.

"Yes, Mr Riddle, Narcissa was your mother. Unlike Mr Malfoy here, your godfather has been awarded guardianship. Both of you will be excused from classes on Monday and Tuesday for the funeral and wake. You are to leave with young Theodore and his father when you arrive at station. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir." Rory automatically replied.

"Then, I expect that you two to head towards your first class. I've already written out a note for you. Here." The boys took the note and left for Transfiguration.


Lunch was a weary affair. Though still in shock, Rory began to read the Daily Prophet.

"THE MALFOY MURDERS: IS YOU-KNOW-WHO TO BLAME? by Noel Wiles.

Last night, Mr and Mrs Malfoy were murdered in their home. There is no clear suspect as of yet but it seems obvious that You-Know-Who tired of the couple. Did they mess up or did they disaffect? We shall never truly know. The Malfoys had one son, Draco, who is currently in his first year at Hogwarts. Sources at the Ministry say that the boy shall go to live with his eldest aunt. Whatever your opinion was of the Malfoys, it is fair to say that they did not deserve this. Continue to page 4."

Rory lowered his newspaper. "Have you even met your... erm, our aunt?"

Things had been slightly awkward ever since their discussion with Professor Snape earlier that day. Perhaps, he would have been ecstatic at discovering this yesterday but today, it was a nightmare. Rory found that he had nothing to say to Draco to comfort him. Instead, all he could do was offer to play Exploding Snaps in the common room later. His... friend didn't seem to mind.

"No. According to Mother, she was kicked out of the family for marrying a Mudblood. Speaking of Mudbloods, here's Granger now."

"I'm sorry to hear about your parents, Draco."

"Thanks." he said stiffly.

"If you need anyone to talk to, I'm always here."

"Shut up, you insipid Mudblood." he barked. "Your parents are alive. How could you possibly help me?"

A hurt look crossed her face. She seemed as if she were about to say something in retaliation but thought better of it. Her lips formed a grim line. Rory glanced between them and earnestly hoped they wouldn't start a food fight.

"I'll ignore what you said to me but I expect that you'll treat me better when you're less upset." Hermione said in a rather snippy voice and proceeded to return to her table.

"Just what I needed." Draco groaned into his hands.


On their way to Charms, Potter and his sidekick Weasley stopped them.

"What do you want, Potter?" Draco sneered.

"My sympathies about your parents, Malfoy." Draco looked at Potter suspiciously. Potter held up his hands in surrender. "I'm not here to make fun, honest. I've lost a family member myself, you see."

The blood seemed to be rushing in Rory's head.

"My family never paid much attention to him after You-Know-Who attacked us. When he left, my mom was never the same. Some days, she just sits and stares for hours."

They felt guilty? They actually had the nerve to feel guilty?! Rory was outraged.

"What's your point? Draco doesn't need to hear your sob story, Potter."

"I wasn't talking to you, Riddle. But I wouldn't expect a Death Eater like you to have manners." That was it. Potter was going down. Rory pounced onto to Potter and began to beat the living daylights out of him.

"Stop! Stop this at once! There shall be no fighting in the corridors! Gentlemen, cease and desist!" After a quick spell uttered by Professor Flitwick, the two were separated.

"Who started this? Tell me."

"Riddle, sir."

Rory was taken aback. His own best mate had ratted him out.

"Well then, Mr Riddle, you shall be serving detention tomorrow night at seven sharp." Rorryk turned to Draco in confusion but his friend ignored him and walked into class. First, Aunt Cissa and Uncle Lucius died. Now, he had lost his best friend. His world was crumbling underneath him and there was nothing he could do.


A.N.: I realized that I did not properly explain or the whole godparent drama, so I added a bit more detail. Since anybody would be in shock after learning about so many revelations, I opted to not to add more dialogue from the boys at that point. If I didn't explain anything else well, please, let me know!