As Draco made his way home, rampant thoughts were swirling in his mind but the most persistent of these was the fact that he wasn't sure how in Salazar's name his choices kept getting taken from him in such spectacular fashion.

The truth was none of this made a lick of sense.

How in the fuck had his life come to this?

As he barreled his way through the Manor, and rushed into the library, he was immensely grateful for the fact that neither of his parents were anywhere to be found at the moment.

Moving towards the back spiral staircase that led to nowhere, he hastily waved his wand and muttered 'obsucuro invertum.' He smirked as the small decorative staircase, much like the one in Borgin and Burke's, elongated and widened just enough for him to move up its narrow confines. When he reached the top, there was a singular portrait of Armand Malfoy—the progenitor of House Malfoy.

"Ah, young Draco," Armand gave his descendent a considering look, "what brings you to my portrait?"

"Sir, I require entrance."

"Password?"

"Le début est la fin." (The beginning is the end)

Armand chuckled as he walked away from his portrait and the the wall shimmered and fell away...opening up a small alcove into which Draco entered. There was a small sconce on the wall that just barely lit up the room, which wasn't much bigger than a generous-sized broom closet. He glanced at the shelves of items...there were some old books, scrolls, figures, weapons, chests, and in one case a glowing orb. None of those things caught his eye, however. It was a small bound animal skin book, that was sitting under a stasis spell that drew his eye, so he closed the alcove opening and placed a bubble head charm over his mouth and nose, before waving his wand and erecting a large stasis spell over the entirety of the room. When that was done, he dropped the stasis spell over the item of interest and then watched in awe as the book shimmered, before a marking on the book's cover appeared.

He glanced down warily, and then his eyes widened at the inscription.

There was a singular word...Ardante.

In old French it was the term for 'the burning'...but in the magical world it had an even deeper meaning.

The enjoining.

In ages past, during the time of the Druids and prior, when magic was at its most primal, mates were not determined by wealth or blood status, but by raw magical compatibility. The highest order of magical enjoining was that of a triad. Triads were so rare however, that they weren't even practiced anymore, nor considered possible. This was because all three of the separate entities magical powers, had to be for all intents and purposes—equal.

In the olden days of magic, a triad bond was also called the Alpha bond.

The highest order.

Even higher than a soulmate bond...

Werewolves had Alpha's, but unlike a triad bond, a werewolf Alpha bond was based on subservience. This was likely a byproduct of the ancient bonds of magic. It wasn't something they taught in great detail at Hogwarts, because Magical creatures were always seen as lesser than, to witches and wizards. A Werewolf Alpha; had Beta's and Omega's in his pack. Each, was part of the larger structured hierarchy. The Alpha led, the Beta's worked, and the Omega's bred future pups for the pack. This was done, so that there was one sole leader. A Beta could challenge an Alpha for the right to lead, but in all cases, only an Alpha would mate with the Omega's.

Greyback had been an Alpha. He had used his bond to enslave those he'd turned. The only person that he had ever heard of, who had broken from Greyback's pack, was his third year Defense Teacher, Remus Lupin. It had been a touchy subject amongst the Death Eaters, especially those who enjoyed taunting the werewolf about his Alpha status—stating his Alpha bond must not be all that powerful, if it could be broken by a half-blooded wizard.

It wasn't something he had ever really considered, as he'd loathed Greyback and had rejoiced with he'd found out Granger had killed him in the final battle.

But this?

This was something else entirely.

Something ancient...

...something more...

A triad bond was such, that all parts of the whole shared in each of these bonds simultaneously. All three members had the ability, at any given time to be a magical Alpha, Beta or Omega dependent on the need of the triad. At this point, it was clear from their little experiment that Potter was likely the more powerful of the three of them, but he suspected that had to do with his ability to defeat the Dark Lord and becoming Master of the Elder Wand.

Would that hold true over time?

He simply didn't have enough information to be sure about any of it.

He himself, had been the rightful owner of the Elder Wand, and even though he'd never taken full possession of it, the fact that the most powerful wand in the world had accepted him, obviously wasn't a fluke.

Hermione...she was a powerful witch too. Bright, cunning and clever with magic to spare. She'd need to be, to balance both he and Potter.

He shook his head as he placed on a conjured a pair of gloves, and then opened the book. After a moment of perusing through the old French—he found the passage he was looking for.

The moon, the sun and the Istar dwell in the abyss, and announce to the world what they are to expect. Their magic is enjoined, from ages undone and triumph over all to claim their rightful place as the one.

When he finished reading the words aloud, he gasped as the one solitary orb in the room started to glow. He moved over and reached for it, feeling it calling to him. As he lifted it, the mist inside started to swirl and then a disjointed female voice spoke...

Alpha and Omega...the first and the last shall be

It's power unrivaled

Passed through shadow and death

Marks each as equals

A hallowed triad

The moon, the sun and the Istar

Dwell together eternally

Setting the orb back in its rightful place with shaking fingers, he gingerly closed the book and replaced the stasis spell over it, before dropping his charms and heading out of the small room. As he made his way downstairs, he was met by the curious stares of both his parents.

Fuck!

His Father had probably been notified when he'd gone into the sanctum...as it had been called since who knew for how long.

"Draco?" His Father drawled, noting his son's ashen face.

He however, didn't speak as he melted bonelessly into the nearest couch—immediately dropping his head into his hands.

How in the fuck was this his life?

"My Dragon?" His mother's voice was laced with concern and he lifted his head gradually, his grey eyes locking with hers.

"Kill me now." He bit out, and wasn't surprised by the matching expressions of horror on both his parent's faces.

"That is not humorous, Draco!" His Mother's admonished, with a firm shake of her head.

"I wasn't being funny, Mother." He whined unattractively. "I was in fact, being quite serious."

Lucius sighed, his expression now his disaffected one as he drawled out in exasperation, "Must you always be so dramatic, Son? Would it be too much to suppose, that you might just get to the point of the issue, without all the inherent theatrics?"

"So sorry, Father!" He sneered angrily. "Next time I discover a life altering Prophecy that unequivocally lets me know that my choices once again, are bereft of agency, I'll be sure to put a happy smile on my face, whilst you stab me in the back!"

"Draco!" His Mother's elevated voice had him wincing, as she rarely if ever, raised her voice to him in such a way.

"I hate my life." He deadpanned, ignoring the scathing looks from both his parents.

"Draco," his Father's aggrieved voice grated on him like lionfish spines being poked into his eyeballs... "why must you behave in such a fashion? I'm sure whatever has caused you to react in such an unseemly manner, is not as life-ending as you're making it out to be!"

"Oh no, Father? Well, let's just disabuse you of that notion right now, shall we? You're familiar with the orb in the sanctum?"

Lucius nodded. "I am. It's an old family Prophecy that has been in there since the founding of our House."

"Yes, well?" He cleared his throat and then grinned malevolently, "Apparently yours truly, is the subject of said Prophecy."

He almost laughed out loud at the genuine identical expressions of absolute gobsmacked horror on both of his parent's faces.

And he would've laughed too, had his Father not done so first.

His Mother however, turned and smacked his Father upside the head, which startled the Malfoy Lord out of his untimely bout of histrionics...

"Cissy!"

"Shut it, Luc!" His Mother snarled, and Draco's mouth quirked up pleased, but the stern look from his Mum, had him backtracking a bit. "Explain, my Dragon!"

So, he did.

He shared about his visit with Hermione...and Potter...

He shared about what he'd read in the Ardante...

When he got to said Prophecy, however, both of his parents now looked like they were going to be sick...

Once done, he sat back smugly, glancing down at his nails and waiting for the proverbial shite to hit the fan.

"This is unexpected..." His Mum was the first to voice her thoughts, and he just scoffed at that understatement of the fucking millennia.

"Ya think?"

"Enough, Draco!" Lucius sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose for effect. "While this is unexpected, it does make sense, in a roundabout way."

"Oh?"

"Yes!" His Father hissed in warning, which caused him to flinch at the dark look being sent his way. "The fact that the three of you were able to use each other's wands, is unprecedented. Being the Master of the Elder Wand, even though you've never wielded it, the wand was sentient enough to sense your magical power, and felt you worthy of such an honor. As Mr. Potter has proven, his own capabilities with magic, were equal to that of the Dark Lord. Miss Alphonse, would likely be the bridge between the two of you, her own Magic substantial enough not only survive Bella's cursing relatively unscathed, but also survived Dolohov's signature curse before she was even of age. That alone, was simply, unheard of. He was quite obsessed with the witch."

He sneered at the mention of the Russian Death Eater...

That wizard was vile...

"It's a good thing he's dead, then."

"Quite." Lucius drawled out arrogantly. "However, if this is true, then I'm unsure how this might affect your betrothal contract, outside of the obvious."

"What do you mean, Father?" He leant forward, his eyes gleaming with open curiosity.

Was there a possible out for him?

"Get that hopeful expression off your face, Son!" Lucius admonished, with a sneer of his own. "You are blood bound to the Alphonse witch, and there is no breaking such a blood oath. However, it would appear as if Mr. Potter may, however unwittingly, inserted himself into this scenario whether prophesied or not. It would also appear as if the young wizard is once again, destined to have his choices stripped from him."

He blanched at that...

Had Potter really been placed in the same scenario he'd been?

No!

That git had relished in his fame and good fortune.

"Are you telling me, Father—that I'm going to be stuck in a triad with Potter?"

"It certainly seems that way, Draco. I don't imagine this is going to sit well with Pierre either."

"Are you going to tell him?"

Lucius sighed again, and a single glance at his wife let him know that she was likely thinking the same thing he was. "If I know anything about Miss Alphonse, it's quite probable that your hurried departure and subsequent theatrics, has leant itself to her seeking out answers from the only available resource she has."

"Her Father."

"Yes. I don't suppose it would hurt to invite them here, if for no other reason to explain the particulars of the Prophecy?"

"Great!" Draco scoffed, leaning his head back in pained defeat. "Granger hates Divination! Something tells me she's going to hex first and ask questions later!"

"Perhaps." Lucius smirked. "If nothing else, take comfort in the fact that this will likely obliterate the consort clause in your betrothal contact, Son."

Tilting his head down, he sneered openly at his Father, who was sitting back eyeing him with amusement...

His Mum however, just appeared contemplative.

He fucking hated his life!