Chapter 11: Birthday Disaster

The kids were having a great time. Harry was busy playing knight to the youngest Greengrass. Fred and George Weasley had decided to join in playing the evil wizards who kidnapped the princess. Little Astoria was having so much fun. Daphne, Susan, and Ginny were all chatting pleasantly. Bill, Charlie, Dora, and Percy were all grouped under a tree talking about Hogwarts, giving Percy the low-down of the way things were done at the school. Draco, Neville, and Ronald were being told interesting stories by Sirius of when he was at Hogwarts.

After a while Minerva called everyone together to eat. All the kids rushed over to help them selves to the meal. They were all having fun when Minerva once again notice Ronald Weasley was eyeing Draco who was sitting next to Harry. She was alarmed to see the expression was quite malicious. She decided to talk to Molly about this once the party ended.

After they ate, it was cake time! Dobby, Harry's personal elf, tottered out of the house carrying a big rectangle cake. The little elf placed it before him on the table. Written across it was in red icing was, 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY'. Harry grinned excitedly as the candles magically lit themselves and everyone began singing the Birthday Song. At the end of the song Sirius placed his hands on Harry's shoulders, "Make a wish Harry." He told his godson.

Harry smiled closing his eyes, he made his wish then opened his eyes and took a deep breath and blowing out the candles. Everyone cheered loudly and clapped. Harry grinned happily as Sirius moved the cake aside and they moved on to presents. First up was Minerva's present, Harry opened the long thin box and smiled seeing a standard training wand. "Now you can practice all those spells Severus has taught you."

"Thank you Nana!" the boy said excitedly and hugged her waist.

Minerva giggled, "You're very welcome my sweet boy." She petted his head.

The next present was from Sirius, he received a child sized broom that would only go a few feet off the ground but would allow him to practice flying techniques. "Whoa!!! So cool!" Harry exclaimed, "Padfoot you're the best!" he said.

Sirius grinned at Minerva who narrowed his eyes at him. Next came Remus, It was a large box, Harry unwrapped it to find a small trunk that had HP engraved on the top. "Look inside pup." Remus told him.

Harry opened the trunk to find an assortment of books on defensive magic. "Whoa!" he said as he grabbed a couple of the books, "These are rare titles…some of them are first editions!" He looked to Remus with stars in his eyes, "Uncle Moony you are so cool!"

Remus smiled looking proud of himself, Minerva and Sirius both pouted they should have known the boy would get even more excited by books than anything else, he was Lily's son after all. "The trunk is charmed as well Harry." Remus told him, he stepped up closing the trunk and latching it, "Now look here." He points to the combination lock under the handle, "Turn it to the numbers to 0130." Harry excitedly did as he said and the trunk locked and immediately shrunk down to the size of a wallet the combination lock was the only part that stayed its usual size.

"Whoa!" All the kids at the table said in unison.

"Now its pocket sized." Remus said, "You can put what ever books you want in it and take them anywhere." He said, "And to turn it back turn the numbers to 0327."

"You're seriously the coolest Uncle Moony!" Harry said.

Minerva sighed, "Well he definitely won with the coolest present." She said to Sirius.

"Yea I should have know he was planning something like this when he wouldn't tell me what he was getting Harry." Sirius said.

The rest of Harry's presents couldn't top Remus' gift. Severus got his a standard potions kit, Harry had an excited look on his face to tinker with it. The Greengrass' had gifted him a book on Wizarding Nobility which the boy did find fascinating. Amelia gifted him a pocket watch that had a rune on it. She told him should he ever be in danger to touch the rune and it would immediately alert his guardians and her self of his location. Neville and his grandmother gifted him a magical flower that would attune itself to Harry's emotions and produce the fragrance he found most comforting at that time. The Lovegoods gave him a book on something called the Deathly Hallows. Harry had been intrigue by this and was excited to read it. The Tonk's gave him a charmed bracelet that would allow him to change his hair and eye color since he had always been jealous of Dora's metamorphmagus abilities. He tried it on and changed his hair to platinum blond like Draco's.

"Dude!" Draco said wide eyed, "Now we look like brothers!" he said.

"Right?!" Harry said laughing along with his friend. Minerva noticed the youngest male Weasley was once again glaring at Draco during this exchange.

'What is going on with that boy?' she thought.

Narcissa and Draco gifted him a mithril quill with a phoenix feather. Finally the last gift was from the Weasley's, they gifted him a charmed wall clock that had multiple hands with pictures of his loved ones: Minerva, Sirius and Remus, Severus, Dora and her parents, Draco and Narcissa, and even two hands with pictures of his parents. The ones of his parents were on the opposite side of the other hands which were all sitting at the 'Home' marker while his parents hands were at a marker labeled 'Always With You'.

Harry smiled at this a single tear rolling down his cheek, "Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Weasley…I love it." He smiled.

"Oh no I'm so sorry dear! We didn't mean to make you cry." Molly said worriedly.

"No Mrs. Weasley its ok." He said, "It's a happy cry. It'll be a great reminder to know they are always with me."

Minerva hugged him from behind, "Indeed they are lion cub, and we are here too." She told him. Harry leaned his head against her arm and rested it there for a bit happy his life was filled with people who loved him.

After that touching moment, which had caused many of the ladies at the table to tear up a bit, they cut the cake. Harry got the biggest piece which put a genuine smile back on his face, and everyone was chatting happily. After everyone had had their fill of cake all the children had broken up into groups again and were enjoying themselves. Harry was sitting in the grass with Astoria, Neville, Luna, and the Weasley twin. Harry was showing them his bracelet making his hair change multiple different colors. The older Weasley children were once again talking with Dora this time about Quidditch. Percy had no interest in this so he was currently talking with Amelia. Susan and Daphne were once again chatting about girly things.

But the most surprising grouping was that of Ginny and Draco. Ginny had asked Harry if she could play with his new broom and he had agreed, so she and Draco had been standing near a fountain taking turns going circles around it. They were having fun laughing together and enjoying each others company. They hadn't noticed Ronald was watching them.

The adults were all at the table chatting amongst themselves when Minerva approached Molly and Arthur. She was just about to ask them about their youngest son's treatment toward Draco when the adults suddenly heard some one shout, "Get away from my sister!" everyone in attendance looked in the direction of the voice and gasped as the saw Ronald push Draco causing the boy to fall backward and landing in the fountain.

Narcissa gasped, "Draco!" she got up quickly and rushed to her son with Andromeda and Severus on her heels.

Molly Weasley was gaping at her youngest son while Arthur was marching over with a stern look on his face. "RONALD WEASLEY!" the Weasley Patriarch bellowed, "What on earth is the matter with you! We are guests in this house! How dare you make us look like fools!"

Ronald was looking at his father defiantly, "He's the son of a Death Eater! He shouldn't even be here!" Ronald stated flatly.

Arthur Weasley face became as red as his hair, "Who put this nonsense in your head?! Hmm?!" he grabbed the boy by the back of his shirt, "Bill!" he barked at his eldest son who rushed over, "Take your brother to the Floo he's going home, and mark my words boy you better be prepared for punishment when I get there."

Ronald was dragged off by his older brother who was looking down at him sternly. Draco had been collected from the fountain by his worried mother who was looking him over thoroughly for and injuries. Aside from being sopping wet he was fine. Harry and the other kids had rushed over worried for their friend. Ginny was standing by Draco with a worried expression, "Are you ok?" the younger girl asks him.

"Yea." He said but he looked to be thinking about something.

Molly Weasley rushed over to her husband's side as Severus was escorting Draco inside to change. "Oh Ms. Black I'm so sorry this is all my fault."

"What do you mean?" Narcissa asked as all the adults and even Arthur was looking at her curiously.

"Well…it happened after we received the invitation." She said looking embaressed, "I was reading over the guest list and saw yours and you son's name. Then I recalled the article in the Daily Prophet about you divorce years ago. I believe I said to myself, 'Its good she got herself and her son away from that bastard Death Eater ex husband' that was it…I thought I was alone I never imagined he had over heard me."

"How does he even know what a Death Eater is?" Minerva asked.

Arthur sighed, "That one is on me…" he said. "I sat the children down once when they were all old enough to understand and told them if the ever met someone with the mark of a skull and snake on their arm that they should get away from them as fast as possible. Fred had asked me why and I gave a brief albeit detailed explanation of what Death Eaters were and the things they have done in the past."

Narcissa sighed, "I understand warning your children to keep them safe," she paused, "Merlin I didn't want to have this conversation with Draco for a few more years." She started rubbing her temples.

"Well I think its time we wrap this up." Minerva said, "Everyone thank you for joining us but we will have to end this early today."

"Again I'm so sorry Ronald will be reprimanded I assure you." Arthur says as he and his wife give Narcissa a small bow. "Come along children." He called to the rest of the Weasleys.

Harry had walked up to Minerva as everyone else started to leave. He tugs her sleeve to get her attention, "Nana, What's a Death Eater?"

Minerva sighed looking to a conflicted Narcissa, "We might as well go ahead and tell them both."

"Yes you're right." Narcissa responded and turned heading inside.

After Draco had been cleaned up, he and Harry were sat down in the sitting room. Sirius, Remus, Minerva, Severus, and Narcissa where all looking at each other wondering how to begin this explanation. Remus finally stepped forward and kneeled in front of the boys, "Okay boy listen. You both have been told about how a very bad man killed Harry's parents yes?" they both nodded in response. "Well that bad man had lots of followers and those people who followed him were called Death Eaters."

"So they were bad too?" Draco asked.

Remus frown, "Yes. They were bad. The did everything their boss asked of them, very bad things. They hurt people, people who were like Harry's mum, muggleborns. They didn't like them."

"But you said Harry's mum was the smartest witch in Hogwarts. Why would they hate her if she were smart?" Draco asked.

"Because they thought her blood was 'dirty'." Remus continued to try and explain this so the young boys could understand, "You see in our society there are: Purebloods, those who are born from two magical parents. Then there are half-bloods, which are people who have a one pureblooded parent and one parent who has muggle blood, then there are the muggleborns, they are rare witches and wizards born to muggles with no magical ancestry. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir." The two boys said at the same time.

Remus continued, "Now the Death Eaters didn't like Muggleborns at all. They claimed the muggleborns stole their magic, which has been proven to be completely impossible, but they wouldn't listen. They were sure that the muggleborns had stolen magic and since almost all of the Death Eaters were purebloods they thought they had the right to punish the muggleborns. They thought they were superior to everyone because their blood was 'Pure', but that did not make them better." He said.

"There were many purebloods in our year at Hogwarts." Severus said stepping up, "And your mother Harry was smarter and stronger than all of them even your dad."

"Mum was a muggleborn though…so they didn't like her being better than them." Harry stated.

"Yes and it nothing but a bunch of Hippogriff shite." Sirius said.

Minerva popped him in the chest, "Language!"

Remus sighed at his lover before turning back to the boys and continuing, "The Death Eaters started trying to kill the muggleborns and their families."

Draco looked horrified, "Why?"

"Because they believe muggles had stolen magic." Remus explained, "So they wanted to subjugate the muggles to make sure none of them could do it again. That's why we fought them. Me, Sirius, Harry's parents. We fought in that war to stop the Death Eaters from hurting Muggles and muggleborns."

"Uncle Sev too right." Harry looked at the dark haired Potions master.

Severus looked down on him with a pained expression before knelling next to him, "Harry the bad man who killed your parents wasn't the only bad man hurting people. There was another, but this bad man made everyone think he was a good guy. In truth he was just as bad as the man who killed your parents. He put spells on me made me take potions so I would do exactly as he said. He even made me take a potion that made me not like you mother, even though she was like a sister to me."

"Why'd he do all that to you?" Harry asked him.

"Because he wanted me to be his spy." Severus told him, "He made me join the Death Eaters so I could spy on them for him." He rolls up his sleeve and shows the boys the faded mark on his arm. "This is the mark of a Death Eater. If you see someone who has one of these then they are someone who worked for the man who killed Harry's parents."

Harry looked at his uncle with worried eyes, "You didn't want to though right? That other bad man made you."

"No I didn't want to but I had no choice." Severus said, "Under those spells I too did very bad things, but I didn't want to. I tried to fight it off but every time I got close to succeeding he'd put another spell or potion on me."

Harry got up and hugged Severus, "Its okay Uncle Sev you're all better now." Severus hugged the boy and cried softly. Harry's forgiveness made him feel a weight lifted from his shoulders. Remus helped Harry escort Severus out of the room to collect himself. Leaving Narcissa and Sirius with Draco

Draco looked to his mother, "That Ronald boy said my dad was a Death Eater too. Was he like Uncle Severus? Was he under a spell?"

Narcissa had tears welling up in her eyes as she slowly shock her head causing the boys eyes to widen, "You father chose to be a Death Eater Draco…willingly." She told him.

"But why?" Draco asked his face full of confusion, "They were bad and hurting nice people why would he want to do that?"

Narcissa took a deep breath, "Draco your father was not a good man. He was very bad. He didn't just hurt muggles and muggleborns…" she paused and bit her lip for a second before pulling the collar of her dress to the side showing a large scar on her shoulder, "He hurt me too."

Draco eyes widened in horror at the sight of the scar on his mother, "My father did that?!"

Narcissa nodded, "Your father didn't like that I wanted to see my other family. He wanted me to belong to him and do everything he told me to. When I would protest or refuse…he would hurt me." She explained with tears running down her face, "This," she pointed to the scar she was showing him, "was after he poured scalding hot water on me after I asked to see my sister, Auntie Andy. He didn't like her because her husband Ted was a muggleborn."

Draco's face was scrunched in anger tears welling up in his eyes, "What's his name?" he breathed out.

"Lucius Malfoy." She told her son.

Draco was horrified once again, he shared his middle name with the man who hurt his loving mother, his lip trembled, "Can I change it?" he asked.

"Change what dear?" Narcissa asked.

"My middle name." he said as tears started falling down his face, "I don't want the same name as the man who hurt you mummy." He started crying.

Narcissa rushed over and hugged her son tightly, "Of course baby if you want we'll get it changed." She told him rubbing her sons head, "What do you want to change it to?"

"You chose mum." He said his face buried in her chest.

"Alright. How bout…" she thought for a second then smiled, "Arcturus."

"Who's that?" he asked looking up at her.

"That is your great grandfathers name. He was a very good man who I loved very much." She told him as she wiped his tears from his face.

"Ok. I like that one." Draco said as he reached up and gently kissed his mothers cheek.

Narcissa turned to Sirius, "Is that alright with you Sirius?"

"Of course." Sirius said, "as head of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black it is my honor to rename you, Draco Arcturus Black. So mote it be." The ring on Sirius' finger glowed for a moment then Draco felt a rush of magic around himself.

The boy could feel as if a piece of something cold and horrible was being peeled off of him then replaced by something warm and strong. He looked at his mother with a proud expression, "I'll make sure never to shame Great Grandfather's name. Thank you for choosing it mum."

"He would be very proud of you." Narcissa cupped the boys cheeks into her palms, "Oh I wish he could have met you. My sweet brave boy." She then hugged him tightly.

A/N: Did Ron's behaivor strike anyone else as odd? At this point in time he shouldn't have any prejudice right...something isn't right there. Harry giving Severus his forgiveness was something I belived Severus truely needed to move forward. Draco has grown to become such a sweet boy. After learning the awful things his father had done, especially to his own mother, he wanted nothing to do with him and even asked for them to change is middle name. So it is with great pleasure I introduce to you all, Draco Arcturus Black! I hope you all enjoy his character progression as the story moves forward.

Up Next: Severus makes and important break through. Minerva gripes about having to find a new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor every year.