What If Series: The Black Prince

by Miss Mysteria

Chapter Twelve

22nd of July, 1988.

Dining Room, Ravenswood House.

"No."

Lorcan snorted into his cereal and ignored Remus as he shot him a glare. The man turned back to his partner who was stuffing bacon haphazardly into his mouth as though he would never eat again.

Remus frowned at Sirius. "I am aware of how much you dislike her, Sirius, but she sent a request that Lorie and her son meet. To be honest, it's only right as she is a daughter of House Black-"

"Was!" Sirius called out, waving his fork at in Remus's direction wildly, eyes wide, "She's a Malfoy now." His grey eyes darted over to Lorcan who was busy trying not to look at Remus and he grinned before shoving his nose into the air in a pompous gesture. "Lady Narcissa Druella Malfoy, Queen of the Court, High Mistress of the Well-Bred World and-"

"And your cousin, Sirius. Which means that Lorcan and Draconis are related-"

Lorcan's eyes went wide and a spark lit up in them, "Draconis? Is that his name? Draconis? I thought it was just Draco, like 'Dragon'. Not Draconis."

"Sounds like some sort of drape Melania would want hung in her bedchambers. 'Only the best material. Draconis that is, Sirius. Oh, you wouldn't know of course, the underprivileged rarely do.'"

Remus sighed and shook his head as Sirius and Lorcan shared a mirth filled, smirking look over the dining table.

There was quiet over the three of them for a few minutes, with Lorcan and Sirius eating quickly like their lives depended on it and Remus slowly but surely finishing his toast with jam and drinking Earl Grey tea whilst reading the morning newspaper.

Lorcan pushed his bowl and spoon away from him and it disappeared into thin air instantly. He leaned back into his chair. "I've already met him though, Moony. At the introductions."

Sirius groaned. "'Cissa means to have a formal meeting, Lorie. Where she can introduce her son and make him seem like the best thing since the Comet 260 and Lucius...oh Merlin, Lucius!" He turned to look at Remus, pointing a finger in his face. "Stuff the rules, Lucius Malfoy is banned from Ravenswood!"

Rolling his eyes, Remus folded his newspaper in half and placed it next to his empty teacup. "You can't ban anyone from Ravenswood, Sirius. The rules state-"

"Rules are made to be broken!"

"They are not. Nothing is made to be broken, Sirius, Merlin-"

"Uh," began Lorcan, "Piñatas?"

"Glow sticks." Sirius said triumphantly. Lorcan grinned at him.

"Kit Kats."

"The 'In Emergency Break Glass' on the Knight Bus!"

"A-"

"Enough!" Remus stood from his chair, staring menacingly down at them both. Sirius and Lorcan swallowed and immediately controlled their grins. "The Malfoy's will be coming to Ravenswood as I am going to invite them to Lorcan's birthday party. They will arrive here and you two, as well as Neville, will be nothing but polite! Am I understood?"

"Yes, Moony."

"Of course, Remus."

Remus let out a breath and nodded in finality, "Good. I will be in the Library. Lorie, Neville is coming by Floo at three o'clock so make sure to tell him about the Malfoy's. Sirius make sure that the elves have prepared some tea and nibbles for Augusta, would you?"

Even as Sirius nodded, he mouthed over at his son, 'Nibbles?'

"Nibbles mean teacakes and shortbreads. Sirius Black how you ever survived this long I will never know." Remus said, shortly, before turning and leaving the room, his light brown robes flourishing behind him.

"Its a mix of being incredibly handsome and having a scary werewolf husband!" Sirius called out after him and then collapsed into giggles with Lorcan across from him, his empty breakfast plate disappearing.

22nd of July, 1988.
Master Bedroom, Ravenswood House.

His bedroom was the absolute best in the house, Lorcan knew. Remus could never sleep in a room too lavish and Sirius couldn't sleep with his back to a door in any form (bathroom or otherwise) because of the residing effects from the War and if he did then what happened was what he had described one night a few years ago as a sinking feeling like he was slipping through the mattress and an itch he couldn't scratch in the back of his mind. So they slept in what was supposed to be a guest bedroom and that left the Master for Lorcan to have.

There was a Kingsize bed fit with black quilts and pillows with golden accents, a dark mahogany set of wardrobes and chest-of-drawers that had silver handles, and a bathroom bigger and fancier than anything anyone could imagine. The wallpaper had been charmed to show players from the Puddlemere United Quidditch Team flying around; the three Chasers (and his personal idol, Joscelind Wadcock, who at seventy years-old was officially the oldest player in the league and in her last season. He was not ashamed to admit he had cried when Sirius and Remus had taken him to a game and he had met her and the other players on the team), the two beaters, the keeper and the seeker. When Lorcan had been younger he had loved playing Seeker, but once he had reached a certain height and weight it made all the sharp turns and quick dives slower and less fun and Neville and Remus had actually began to beat him and Sirius in their mini-games in the gardens so he had switched to Chaser pretty quickly.

The carpet of the Master Bedroom was dark silver and soft and there were double doors that opened up and onto a small balcony. In the far right corner was a mahogany desk and chair where at this very second, Neville was sat writing away for his assignment for their shared tutor while Lorcan was lounging on his bed.

"What did you put for the last question? The one about if there was a fire what would you do, in theory." Neville asked, chewing on the end of his quill. Lorcan screwed up his eyes in concentration.

"Aguamenti. It's easier to conjure compared to a bucket of water and easier to control unlike the extinguishing charm."

Neville nodded as thought the answer was obvious. "Thanks." After a few more seconds of silence being filled by the scratching of a quill, Neville finally threw his quill down onto the desk and massaged his hand as he sank back into the chair. He gestured to the gardens with his head. "Want to go and play?"

"Yeah, sure. You'll be Beater again and I'll be Chaser. Oh, but first Remus told me to tell you that the Malfoy's are coming to my-"

"To your birthday!?"

Neville's eyes had bugged out of their sockets and Lorcan rolled his eyes. "I know. I was actually looking forward to it but every time I think about it now all I can think is the how I'm going to have to be polite to Malfoy!"

"He was a right prat at the Introductions." Neville said solemnly as he picked up his quiz on the desk and shifted the parchments in his hands as he stood. Lorcan followed him from the bed, swinging his legs over the side and standing before walking over to the door.

"And now he's going to be a right prat in my house. Remus said that Sirius can't even ban his dad from coming so that means that Lucius Malfoy is going to be in my house."

Mouth falling open, gobsmacked as they made their way down the corridor, Neville whispered, "Do you think he'll-"

Lorcan rolled his shoulders. "Sirius reckons he will try something. Either being just getting on his nerves or insulting House Black in general but not enough for Sirius to call for an apology. He told me after Remus left breakfast this morning." He shot his friend a look. "Remus said for us to be on our best behaviour."

"'Us' meaning you and Sirius or 'us' meaning me and you?"

"Me and you." He snorted as Neville groaned loudly, the plan of irritating the younger Malfoy flying quickly out of the window. "He probably meant Sirius as well but that sort of goes unsaid."

Neville grinned, recalling all the times he had seen Remus glaring as Sirius made a joke that wasn't funny to stuffy old board-members at Ministry balls and at Christmas parties in Black Manor. "Yeah it does. Well, at least we've still got my party on the 30th."

"True. We'll have to make the most yours. Anyway." Lorcan's mouth split into a wide smile. "Did you know that Draco's name is Draconis Abraxas Malfoy?"

"You're lying."

"Nope."

"This is going to be so great."

31st of July, 1988.

Entrance Hall, Ravenswood House.

Lorcan scowled as Remus moved once again to tuck his tie under his collar and he glared daggers as Sirius grinned at him.

"I don't see why I have to wear this thing." Lorcan muttered under his breath as he knocked Remus's hands out of the way as they reached up again to touch his black tie.

Remus rolled his eyes. He was wearing a dark blue outer-robe with a pressed white shirt and dark blue slacks underneath and smart shoes, apparently for Remus a tie was optional. "Because it makes you look smart." His eyes cut to Sirius. "Sirius, tell him he looks handsome will you?"

Sirius's grin was quickly removed from his face and he nodded solemnly. "Yes. Very handsome, Lorie. Almost as good looking as me. Almost, not quite." Sirius was wearing a full black robe with black slacks just visible underneath. The robe was pressed with the House Black coat of arms in silver on his right breast and matched the soles of his black Oxford shoes.

Lorcan scoffed. "I'm not sure what you mean 'almost', Padfoot. I'm much better looking than you are."

"Never heard something more untrue in my life."

"Well, coming from someone as old as you that means something."

Grasping his chest in fake heart-break, Sirius gasped. "I am not old, you-" He stopped when one of the two Floo's in front of them was brought to life in a flame of green and Neville and Augusta Longbottom stepped out, Neville only not tripping over due to his Grandmothers firm hand on his shoulder. "Neville! Tell Harry that I'm not old!"

Neville pretended to think as Remus took Augusta's cloak off of her shoulders and handed it to a nearby house elf who was waiting patiently. "I don't know, Sirius. Not sure I can. That'd be lying, y'know?"

Lorcan laughed and Sirius sent Neville a vicious glare.

"Stupid rascals." Sirius muttered fondly and he turned towards Augusta. "Augusta, lovely to see you again."

"And you, Sirius. Lorcan keeping out of trouble?" The Longbottom Matriarch asked as Sirius kissed both of her cheeks.

"Of course." Lorcan replied, smiling as innocently as he could. "You know me, Madam Longbottom."

Augusta narrowed her eyes on him. "Yes. I do."

Remus turned back to face them all and ushered Augusta quickly into the Main Hall where the party would be held. Overall, there would be around fifty to sixty people coming to Lorcan's birthday and most of them were adult witches and wizards who either were curious about both Lorcan and Ravenswood House, or ones that Sirius and Remus had been friendly with during or before the war. It was the first time that they could have a proper big birthday and invite people, now that Lorcan was introduced to the world.

They stood in a line, Sirius being the nearest to the Floo's as he was Heir Black and Lorcan's guardian which meant that he was the highest ranking in their household. Then it was Lorcan, and then Neville, who Lorcan would introduce as his friend. The announcement of an alliance between the Houses of Black and Longbottom meant that they were unofficially family now, so Lorcan would introduce him as it was his home. At Neville's party the day before, Neville introduced Lorcan whilst Sirius was led to the Main Hall as the first guest by a house elf of Longbottom Manor.

Sirius grinned at them as both Floo's turned green at the same time which indicated people coming through. "Ready boys?"

"No."

"Not in the slightest."

It was an hour later and the party was in full swing, not only that but Lorcan and Neville could officially say that they had never hated being a part of their families more than they did at this very moment. Due to both their status's as Longbottom Heir and Black Heir, they had been forced to stand by the fireplaces all night so far, welcoming guests who had figured that being 'fashionably late' was a good idea. Sirius had left half and hour ago, leaving the newly arrived Arcturus to deal with the new arrivals and supervise Lorcan and Neville. Amusing as it was to see late people wander through the Floo with smiles which immediately vanished at the sight of the Black Patriarch, both boys wanted nothing more than to go into the gardens and join in with the other children their age in the game of Touch-Quidditch.

In fact, they had been stood in the same place so long, Lorcan's legs were beginning to cramp. It was almost heaven on Earth to hear the words his Grandfather cleared his throat and said, "Alright, boys, I think these are the last people we need to see through before it gets impolite to not spend time with our already arrived guests."

"Thank Merlin," Neville rubbed the back of his neck where it ached from bending over to kiss ladies hands and bow to gentlemen, "I wasn't sure how much I could take."

Arcturus's slight scruff of greying moustache twitched as he hid an amused smile. He turned to face the fireplaces once more when it went up in bright emerald flames and Lorcan's stomach dropped. He heard Neville groan quietly beside him and did his best to hide his grin.

The Malfoy's stepped out of the Floo with nothing but grace and they looked just as Lorcan had expected them to; Lord Lucius Malfoy wore a sneer as though everything and everyone was beneath him, paired with a black outer-robe and grey slacks. In his left hand was a cane that seemed to have a silver skull on the handle and Lorcan tried hard to not frown over the obviousness that this man clearly was, if not a Death Eater, dangerous. Lady Narcissa Malfoy, Lorcan's first cousin through his dad, stepped out easily with a light hand on her sons shoulder wearing a silver dress and a black cloak thrown over her shoulders that one of the house elves waiting took eagerly. Draco Malfoy was wearing an ensemble close to Lorcan's with a grey tie, black shirt and black outer-robe. His hair had been gelled back and Lorcan heard Neville snort next to him.

Lucius Malfoy's eyes dragged over the empty Entrance Hall with a purpose, landing on Lorcan and Neville which had his sneer increasing, before finally reaching Arcturus. His sneer slipped from his face like butter.

Arcturus gestured to the Entrance Hall. "Like what you see, Malfoy?"

"Yes, Lord Black. A-" Lucius managed after a moment, pulling a firm neutral mask over his face.

"Ravenswood was always a favourite of mine." Arcturus announced loudly over Lucius's attempt at sucking up, no doubt. "Which is why I am glad I could gift it to Sirius. He will make a fine Lord Black."

Lucius looked as though he had swallowed a lemon, Malfoy didn't look much better. Narcissa, however, had been raised a Black and plastered on a polite smile though Lorcan could see a clear fire burning in her blue eyes. She stepped forward, hand leaving her sons shoulder empty until Lucius's took her place. "Uncle, thank you so much for your hospitality." She kissed both of his cheeks and he let her, a small smile shining through. Lorcan knew from Sirius and Remus that Arcturus had always had a soft spot for both Narcissa and Andromeda. Never Bellatrix, unsurprisingly.

Arcturus's smile fell when his grey eyes landed on Malfoy. "This is your boy, is it?" He glanced to Lorcan and nodded harshly. Lorcan didn't roll his eyes but he fought against the nerve every second as he approached his cousin. He knew Neville was right next to him.

Lorcan held out his hand to Malfoy and the other boy took it somewhat warily. Lorcan took an interest in that. "Heir Lorcan Hadrian Black."

Malfoy swallowed and gripped his hand tighter. "Heir Draco Abraxas Malfoy."

Nodding, Lorcan released his hand and gestured to Neville, who extended his own. Malfoy took it.

"Heir Neville Frank Longbottom."

"Heir Draco Abraxas Malfoy."

Arcturus rolled his eyes as a short silence stretched on for a few seconds. His hand came down on Lorcan's shoulder. "Go on then, Lorcan. I'm sure young Malfoy is desperate for a tour of the House. Neville I believe I see your Grandmother headed this way with Lord Abbot. Make yourself scarce, boy, before she marries you off before dessert."

Neville's brown eyes widened and he looked over his shoulder to indeed see Augusta slowly making her way over to them with Lord Abbot by her side, talking amicably. Neville quickly grabbed Lorcan's elbow, dragging him into a corridor that lead down to the kitchens and with a last stern look from his Grandfather, Lorcan sighed and just as quickly latched onto Malfoy's wrist, ignoring his protests as he was pulled away from his parents.

"I can't believe this. I mean, she said she wanted me to have options before Hogwarts, but that's years away at this point! Years, Lorie!" Neville said as he sped down the corridor and then took a sharp turn right.

Malfoy's eyes widened gleefully. "Lorie?" He asked with large amounts of mockery in his tone. Lorcan glared at him even as Neville pushed open a door to reveal around ten hardworking house elves happily slaving away as they cooked the main courses and desserts for the people in the Main Hall. He dropped unceremoniously into one of the seats that Sirius had brought down here one night when he realised that the elves didn't mind people sitting and watching them work.

"Not like you can say much, Draconis." Lorcan sneered in a perfect rendition of Lucius Malfoy and from the blush that made its way up Malfoy's neck, he thought he had done quite a good job with it. He and Malfoy both followed Neville into seats next to him and opposite each other.

Neville slapped his palms down on the table just as Malfoy went to retort. "Please! We have more pressing concerns now than which one of us hates the other more! My Grandmother is trying to marry me off!

Malfoy rolled his eyes and leant back into his seat. Lorcan copied him, much more amused at the sight of his best friend nervously worrying his lip than annoying Malfoy for the time being. "Oh relax, Longbottom. It's almost as though you've never been threatened with a marriage contract before."

"I haven't!"

"Merlin." Both Lorcan and Malfoy said at the same time in surprise, and both instantly narrowed their eyes at each other.

Lorcan, ignoring Malfoy for the moment, tried to smile assuringly at Neville. "I'm sure she wont 'marry you off' anytime soon. She's just looking at all your options."

"Surely it's better to have options than not, anyhow. I'd rather have a contract than not, personally." Malfoy said and Lorcan desperately wanted to disagree, but couldn't.

So instead he nodded his head. "Sirius has already mentioned some families to me. I thought he was joking the first time, but when he told me that Grandfather wanted to make sure that whoever I married was a 'good match' then I sort of guessed that he wasn't. It's serious business, Nev. All about the 'future of our House'."

Neville looked heartbroken. "We're not even at Hogwarts yet!"

"Well your Grandmother can hardly want you to marry a mudbloo-"

Malfoy yelped in pain as Lorcan kicked him in the shin. "Careful. My mother was muggleborn."

Malfoy's face morphed into a scowl. "It's unbelievable that the Houses of Black and Potter will be laid to rest with a half-blood Lord one day. Completely-"

"Merlin, Malfoy. Do you even have your own opinion? Or are you just a carbon copy of your father?"

"Merlin, Black. Are you sure you're not a muggle? There is sure to be enough dirty blood running through your veins for you to be."

"Well at least my parents aren't Death Eaters!"

"My parents aren't Death Eaters!"

"Are you sure? You seem to hold a lot of the same ideas, and I know they don't come from you, considering how they all are from the same shite your father explodes with!"

"Don't you dare say a word against my father!"

"I can say whatever the bloody hell I like! You're in my house, my rules. Just because you don't have enough of a brain to be original, doesn't mean I don-"

"MERLIN! JUST SHUT UP!"

Both Lorcan and Malfoy turned to see Neville, half risen in his seat, staring at them incredulously. "You are both infuriating."

"How am I-"

"How dare-"

"Again! Be quiet! Lorie, you say you don't like it when people become their parents but let's be honest, when you get angry you are Sirius Black. All that 'bloody hell' and 'shite' stuff is all things that Sirius says, even when he's not angry. Y'know I love you, but stop being so hypocritical. Also, if you had been stuck in a house with Lucius Malfoy for seven years, don't you think you'd be speaking whatever...shite he says too?"

"No. I like to think I'm more intelligent than that."

"Newsflash. You're not." Malfoy sneered, though it was less pronounced than before.

Lorcan held a hand to his chest. "Ouch." He said, deadpan.

Neville rolled his eyes and sat down fully again. "And by the way, Malfoy, before you take this the wrong way I'd like you to know that I don't hate you. I don't even dislike you." Lorcan's mouth hung open in surprise and even Malfoy looked confused. "I pity you. You've got no mind of your own and everything you say is all 'my dad this' and 'my dad that'. Well newsflash we don't care about your dad. No one cares about your dad anymore. Not since Sirius and Arcturus came back with House Black. House Malfoy might be Ancient and Noble, but not nearly as respected as House Black. Even despite the fact that we're family, especially you two, you should be at least trying to be become friends with us, or at least Lorcan. Stupid of you not to, really."

There was a patch of red on Malfoy's cheeks and he seemed stunned into silence, which Lorcan thanked the Gods for. He looked towards the elves and took note of the absence of a few before realising what likely was the time. Lorcan stood from his seat and both boys looked up at him in confusion. "Some of the elves are gone which probably means food is being served. I'm hungry."

"Yeah, me too." Neville stood from his seat and and walked over to the door.

When Malfoy stayed sat down, Lorcan rolled his eyes heavily and sighed, hanging his head. "Coming, Malfoy?"

They started down the corridor and by the time they reached the Main Hall, Malfoy's shoulders were once again straightened and the blush was gone as though it had never been. "I despise you, Black." He muttered under his breath, either to avoid another conversation with Neville, who was keeping his eyes peeled for his Grandmother, or to make sure no one else heard him.

"Trust me, Malfoy," Lorcan said loudly, with no such qualms about invoking the wrath of Neville Longbottom, as he led Neville and Malfoy over to where the food was laid on a long table, "the feeling is definitely mutual."

As Malfoy picked up a plate of iced fingers and stared at them warily, Lorcan piled up his own with a mix of liquorice wands, jelly, jam tarts and chips and Neville quickly nicked one of his jam tarts, Lorcan whispered to his friend. "Where'd that speech come from? Thought you hated Malfoy?"

"Hate is a strong word, I guess. It's annoying when I try to talk and nobody listens because their too busy shouting at each other claiming each other is the problem, that's all. Malfoy's annoying but he's probably going to be around a bit now, huh?"

Lorcan shrugged. "Guess so. He's family."

"Not like we have to be nice to him, but Gran did sort of give me a speech before we came about how I'd 'better be nice-enough to the Malfoy Heir because who knew what kind of damage growing up with Lucius Malfoy can cause' but she also told me not to be too nice."

Lorcan grinned and shoved him gently. "Ever the Hufflepuff."

Neville rolled his eyes but then stifled a grin behind his hand as Malfoy placed the iced fingers back down on the table and picked up some chips instead.