Chapter 5: Rejection

When Harry woke up, it was still halfway dark, and he realized how early he'd fallen asleep. After tossing and turning for a while, he gave up. He wasn't going to get any more sleep. He still wore the clothes from the previous evening.

Rolling out of bed, he peeled off the old clothes. After taking a shower and getting dressed again, he stepped up to the window. The sky was turning red. Harry tried the balcony door and was surprised when it opened. Thoughtfully, he brushed his fingers over the necklace he was still wearing.

He stepped out onto the balcony, breathing in the cool morning air. A warm wind blew past. It was still summer.

He leaned onto the balustrade and watched the sunrise. There was something calming about the garden in front of him, with the birds slowly beginning to wake. No matter how twisted his own life might be, the world was still alright.

Harry smiled briefly, but it faded when he thought of last night's events. While he had listened to Lucius Malfoy's explanation, he was far from accepting it. He was supposed to be his son? The son of a loyal death eater? Ridiculous.

Or was it? What were they trying to achieve? Was it a game? Harry sighed, tugging absentmindedly on the necklace. He was a prisoner, unable to even use magic. This crazy story… It was unnerving. His eyes wandered over to the vial on the table, but something within him resisted the urge to drink.

Harry didn't truly believe that it would do anything. But what if it did? Would he look like Draco? What then? Did they expect for him to toss all his beliefs out the window and start acting like all arrogant, pureblooded Slytherins? Harry laughed hoarsely. Absurd. It would never come to that. If Malfoy thought he'd suddenly share his stupid opinions after coercing him into thinking he was his son, then he had made a mistake. Harry angrily shook his head.

He spontaneously decided to take a stroll through the house. The room suddenly felt far too cramped. Harry opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. The house was silent. Apparently, the rest of its inhabitants were still asleep.

He followed the hallway in the opposite direction of the stairway. To his left and right, more doors led into what he assumed were more rooms. At the end of the hallway, there were narrow stairs leading upward. Harry wanted to follow them up, but grew dizzy. With every step, the dizziness increased until he had to sit down.

From there, he heard fluttering and faint hoots. Apparently, these stairs led to the owlery. Since he couldn't manage to walk any further, he returned to the previous hallway, and the dizziness disappeared.

Harry angrily grabbed the pendant around his neck, fingers clenching around it. Of course he wasn't allowed in the owlery. He tugged at the necklace, but it wouldn't come off. Apparently, it had been magically sealed. Muttering a curse, he followed the hallway in the other direction and past the stairs. On the other side, it was larger, with wide doors on either side.

He walked toward a set of double doors, larger than the entrance to the dining room. It was flanked by two marble statues, possibly legendary wizards or ancestors of the Malfoy family.

The aloof-looking woman on the left wore a Roman tunic, carrying a book and quill. On the right was a man in Greek clothes, holding a rose and a staff with a snake coiled around it. Both stared straight ahead with pride.

Numerous carvings adorned the mahogany door, a round symbol dominating the center - the same sword and two snakes with sapphire eyes as on Harry's pendant. Curious, he tried the door.

It opened silently to reveal a spacious hall with tall Gothic windows made of colorful mosaic. The floor was lined with green carpet. Besides a white grand piano at one end of the room, it was empty. This hollow room unsettled Harry, so he shut the door again. What was this? A ballroom?

Harry went back and opened the door to his left. It led into a sprawling library. The bookshelves reached to the ceiling. Ladders on rails ran along their sides. Harry beheld the library with awe. It seemed larger than the one in Hogwarts. Between the shelves, he found tables and armchairs.

He took a few steps into the room and inspected some of the books' spines. The small sample showed that almost every kind of book was represented here. Every type of scientific literature, magical as well as non-magical. Harry was surprised to see books like "An Introduction to Genetics" or Tipler's "Physics". Opposite them stood Buglebig's "The Realm of Magical Creatures" and "Nobility of Nature: Genealogy of Wizards."

But he also found non-scientific works, obvious novels and biographies (Harry shuddered at Lockhart's "Magical Me"), even children's books. Harry paused at "Dumbledore: A Life for the Light" which stood right next to "The Rise and Fall of Grindelwald". He was tempted to take one of them, but got distracted by the thick and worn volume next to them. "From Taliesin to the Witches of Salem: A history of wizards and muggles from antiquity to present". Harry took the book without thinking much about it, deciding to read it later. He was starting to get hungry and wondered what time it was. He left the library to return to his room.

Harry turned a corner when he saw Draco heading in his direction. They both jerked to a stop. Draco mustered him before frowning in disgust.

"I see, you already feel right at home, brother."

From his mouth, the word sounded like an insult.

"It's not like I have a choice, is it, Malfoy?" Harry answered. "Your father didn't exactly ask me nicely whether I wanted to come here."

Draco grimaced grudgingly.

"What, do you think you're above us, Potter-boy? Not that I'd be upset if you jumped out of a window."

The reply surprised Harry a little. He was used to Draco's insults and provocation, but this time, he saw pure hatred in the other boy's eyes.

"What's wrong, ferret? Do you have an issue with my presence here?"

Draco took a step forward, hands balled into fists.

"Better shut up, golden boy. You aren't my brother, no matter what Father says. Even if he doesn't want to, I'd take you out with pleasure. I'm sure the Dark Lord would be grateful."

Draco leaned towards Harry, eyes narrowed.

"It's never enough, is it? You weren't content with the entire wizarding world at your feet and with Dumbledork kissing the ground you walk on… You had to chase me all the way here, to my family and my inheritance."

"That's what this is about?" answered Harry, nonplussed. "You're jealous? Merlin, Malfoy, if I had a say in it, you could keep all of it."

Draco shied away from him. "You're so arrogant. You make me sick. If I had your life, I wouldn't be wasting it like you are."

"You don't know anything about my life," hissed Harry, irritated. "You vain, spoiled Jarvey… Would you want for your parents to have been killed by a crazy megalomaniac while you were still a baby? Would you have wanted to be raised by muggles who despised even the idea of magic? For the same crazy person to try and kill you since you were eleven, and to take out everyone dear to you on the way? For the entire wizarding world to believe you are their savior, staring at you wherever you go?

"You want my life? I'd love to give it to you, Malfoy!"

With that, he shoved Draco to the side and stormed past him into his own room. Harry tossed the book onto the desk and threw himself onto the bed, suppressing tears of anger. How dare Malfoy blame him for being here? He would've left a long time ago if he could! That damned, conceited idiot! Harry boxed his pillow.

After a while, his door opened and Draco entered the room.

Harry glared at him.

"What do you want?"

"I don't believe you're my brother."

"Great. That makes two of us!"

"You're so pathetic, Potter. Crying about how tragic your life is when the entire wizarding world is at your feet. You can do what you want, but no… Look at me. I never had that choice. My life was predetermined from the start."

"You believe I had a choice? Think, Malfoy. There wasn't a single moment in my life that wasn't manipulated by that old man. He was controlling everything from the start. I'm nothing but a pawn in his little war…"

Harry clenched the corner of his blanket. "He clings to his secrets like a drowning man. No price is too high. Sirius could still be alive if he…

"Now scram!" he added hoarsely. "Get out!"

Draco crossed his arms.

"I want you to drink that potion."

"What?" Harry angrily got up.

"I want you to drink that potion," Draco repeated. "I know you aren't my brother. Father is wrong. He said the potion would prove it, so drink the damned thing so that they accept that."

Harry stared at Draco. Then, he slowly grabbed the vial and held it out to him.

"You first."

"Excuse me?"

Harry gave Draco an ugly smile. "Your father said this is Resacro Serum. He claimed it won't do anything unless you're under a spell. So if he told the truth, and this isn't one of Voldemort's twisted schemes - which I believe it is - it'll be completely harmless for you. You want me to drink it? I repeat: you first."

Draco studied the vial with uncertainty. Then, he visibly pulled himself together.

"Fine." He took the vial with shaking hands and took a sip. Nothing happened. Draco grinned. "Your turn."

Harry snatched the vial and hesitated. IT WON'T DO ANYTHING. IT WON'T DO ANYTHING. Closing his eyes, he drank the rest of the vial's contents in a single gulp. It tasted vile, too sweet and too bitter. He opened his eyes and grinned triumphantly.

"I knew it. Nothing is…"

Harry paused when his hands and feet began prickling. It spread across his entire body, growing more intense. Finally, the prickling turned into a stabbing, nagging pain. Harry gasped and crumbled to his knees. Then, he convulsed. Everything grew blurry. As the pain increased, he screamed.

The triumphant look on Potter's face gave way to surprise, then shock. He began shaking and gasping, and fell to his knees. Horrified, Draco watched as he convulsed and screamed. It was as if shockwaves were running through his body. Draco assumed that this was what someone under the Cruciatus curse looked like. He quickly repressed that thought.

Instead, he watched the twitching body with morbid fascination. Potter's skin faded and stretched - he was likely taller than Draco now, almost as tall as his father. His hair smoothed out and turned into a light gray, as if it couldn't quite decide between black and white. His facial features changed dramatically. His cheekbones rose and his lips became thinner as his entire face grew more mature, aristocratic. He showed shocking similarities to Draco's father, but there were also traits of his mother's. The eyes, the lips. Not enough to make him seem androgynous, but instead making him look cold, and maybe a little softer at the same time.

Finally, the screams subsided. Potter had curled up into a tight ball. Now, he lifted his head and pushed away his glasses. Draco almost flinched. His eyes were a grayish blue. Frosty.

Once the pain receded, Harry found himself balled up on the floor. The world was still blurry, so he took off his glasses, pausing in surprise when his vision became clear. Draco stood in front of him, watching him with a mix of bafflement and horror.

Harry slowly stretched and sat up despite his protesting muscles. His hands seemed slimmer, he noticed. He froze and looked down at his own body. He was pale. He refused to think any further.

Instead, he crawled over to the large mirror next to the bed. Instead of his reflection, a stranger stared back. It could have been Lucius Malfoy, except for the short hair, but then again… no. It couldn't…

"No…" whispered harry. "It can't be… this is a trick…"

He began shaking, hugging his knees to his chest. The figure in the mirror did the same. It was crazy, seeing something that looked so much like Lucius Malfoy behave like that. Harry wanted to turn away, but felt compelled to keep looking at the same time. He shook his head, vigorously, as if that would drive away what he saw.

He heard the door close and knew that Draco had left.

Draco knew he had to leave at that moment. He couldn't look at that even a minute longer. He refused to accept it… It was impossible… There had to be another explanation… Draco stormed from the room and ran without caring where he went, never turning back.

Harry had calmed down a little by the time the house-elves appeared to remind him that it was time for breakfast. Apparently, it was expected of him to join the others in the dining room for meals from now on. He stood up, hesitated, and straightened his robe. This morning, Harry had decided on a dark red robe… maybe out of subconscious protest. It didn't fit his new appearance at all.

Absent-mindedly, Harry smoothed down his hair. For the first time in his life, his hair actually cooperated. He stared into the eyes of his reflection and sighed. The sight of his face sent shudders down his spine. Harry abruptly turned and made his way to the ground floor.

As Harry walked to his seat, Draco briefly looked up before avoiding eye contact. Narcissa studied him with astonished admiration, but didn't say anything. Mr. Malfoy examined him and smiled, exceptionally satisfied.

"Good morning, Tigris," he said as Harry said down. "Apparently you and Draco aren't identical twins. Very good. That does make things easier."

"Makes what easier?"

Lucius regarded Harry with an unreadable expression. Harry couldn't tell if he had offended him with his aggressive tone.

"To explain your presence, of course. We can hardly admit that you're Draco's brother openly. My Lord would be… upset… to say it mildly. With your current appearance, we can pass you off as my nephew… we should talk about that later."

Harry opened his mouth to object angrily, but decided against it. Instead, he turned away and began eating his breakfast. From the corner of his eye, he noted how Malfoy and his wife exchanged glances. He felt her measuring stare, but ignored her. As soon as he had finished eating, he left the table to return to his room. Before exiting, he saw Draco's indignant glare directed at him – which he also ignored.

Back in his room, Harry stepped onto the balcony and observed the sprawling garden below. Petunia would've fainted from jealousy if she could've seen it. A number of twisting gravel paths led around a pond. Everything was artfully arranged to offer a harmonious view.

The wind carried the scent of the privet hedge up to him. Harry may have hated the room he was in due to it being a prison, but it was impossible to hate that garden. It was too peaceful, too ideal. Ironic, how such a nice house could belong to such a dark family.

Harry braced himself on the balustrade and stared down, forgetting time.

He didn't move until the Malfoys left the house. They were obviously discussing something, Malfoy having wrapped his arm around his wife. From time to time, he gesticulated to underline a point. Narcissa nodded from time to time. Malfoy seemed as aristocratic and distanced as ever. Still, the way they interacted had an intimate air about it. They strolled through the garden, stopping occasionally to observe some animals or plants.

This was completely different behavior from what they showed in public. It seemed as if they actually cared for each other. Harry watched them, confused by the feelings this evoked within him. Longing? No, he didn't desire to call those two a family. He had heard them talk. They were loyal to Voldemort, through and through. Every time Malfoy said "My Lord" Harry felt the pressing need to choke him.

They were without a conscience, evil… Harry's hands clenched around the balustrade. They sullied the beauty of the garden simply with their presence. Then, he noticed that Narcissa was looking up at him. At her gesture, Malfoy also turned. Harry abruptly left the balcony.

Narcissa listened to Lucius' words, but wasn't really paying attention. Instead, she was ruminating on Tigris and his behavior. He scared her. She almost sighed.

He had only been here a short time, but already, she felt like he'd always been with her. Narcissa remembered the time when he had been a baby. He had been so strong and willful, she had immediately loved him dearly.

But she had only been allowed to hold him in her arms for a few hours. Then, she had to give him up. Draco… Draco was different.

He had been a weak child. In the first few weeks, they had feared he wouldn't make it. Terrible weeks. Of course, she still loved him. He was her child. And he had quickly grown stronger. Still, she never felt the same way she did when looking at her oldest son. This pride and admiration for so much power in such a small creature. She had never fully gotten over the feeling of loss after he had been taken from her. Draco couldn't fill this void… sometimes, she had a feeling that she was doing him an injustice. He tried so hard, she knew. But he couldn't be what he never was.

Today at breakfast, when she saw Tigris' true appearance for the first time, Narcissa had remembered those old feelings. He was a teenager now, almost a man. He looked alarmingly similar to Lucius. Surely, he didn't realize the charisma he radiated. So much strength and power. He reminded her of Lucius when he was young. Their families had them betrothed at birth, but it hadn't been hard for her to fall in love with the man. He had drawn her in from the first time they met. She knew that many people felt like this. Also, he had been gentle towards her, understanding… back in the day… Yes, it hadn't been difficult to love him. She still did, but he had grown colder… especially after Livia's death and the loss of Tigris. Her son had inherited his father's charm. His charisma may almost be stronger, even… but maybe it only seemed that way due to his youth.

On a whim, she turned around and there he was, on his balcony, hands braced on the balustrade. The sight took away her breath. He seemed so noble, as if everything below him was his. Yet, this didn't feel wrong, but rather like his rightful place. Narcissa took a deep breath and gestured to Lucius.

"Look…"

Lucius turned and frowned. Tigris noticed them now, for he left furiously, disappearing back into the house. His robes fluttered behind him in an impressive display. Lucius stared after him. His frown smoothed over after a while, but the thoughtful expression remained.

Responses to Comments:

EloImJosh: Coming from the parents who named their kid Draco, I'm not surprised lol. Fun thing: I was pretty sure the German community had already figured out the reason for why he's named Tigris, but when combing through old reviews and responses to these reviews, I didn't get a definitive answer. Maybe I missed something, but I just kinda assumed that it's because both are constellations and both translate to animals (albeit one of them not being a real animal). But Livia doesn't fit that pattern...All three of these names at least have Latin roots, however, like Lucius.

Other theories include both Draco and Tigris being names of Actaeon's dogs, and someone from our translation team just noticed that both the dragon and the tiger are part of the Chinese zodiac.

Maybe we'll get an answer some day, or if it's already out there, maybe I'll stumble upon it again while translating!