10 June 2008 A/N: What on earth is a "C2"? (Sorry, I really can't tell) Anyways, thanks to:
-mpc797
-demoneyeskyoko
-spacecatdet: Thanks for the info. I had no idea, since I've never needed a beta before.
-jabarber69: I thought it would be easier if there was a magical addressing book that would take care of all the first years—imagine if you had to write all of those letters! Also, Harry is unimportant in the eyes of Dumbledore at the time, so I suppose no one would look into his location.
-Blob no. 1
-Wauzi
-pacific.coast: XD
19 June 2008 A/N: Hello! Last week was finals, and this week was a bunch of graduation fluff. (Sorry about not updating). Summer's coming, but I'm leaving for Taiwan in a couple days and I'll have limited internet access...I'll probably handwrite it out on the plane, though. :) I handwrote this chapter while in class (I always finish tests early) but got lazy and didn't feel like typing it. XP Anyways, here it is--I made this chapter a little longer to try and make up for the long wait. Thanks to:
-haroonangel
-Wand of Destiny
-mooglething: Thanks for your amazingly long and well-thought-out review--it was very much appreciated. I made Severus Draco's godfather because in many of the Slytherin-Harry stories I've read, that's his role...and it's a nice way to connect them. Can't have the Head of House hating him, can we?
Chapter Five: Adoption Letters
Sunday morning, Harry and Draco excitedly bounded out of bed to get dressed and rushed through their breakfasts in order to get ready to go off the Diagon Alley.
"Lucius, are you ready to take us now?" Harry said, unable to keep the anticipation out of his voice.
"A bit longer, dear," Narcissa said to Harry. "Lucius will be ready in moments. He does need to look presentable to the public, you know. For that matter, so do you. What are you wearing? Draco! Get over here!" Narcissa gibbered on, scowling at Draco and Harry's casual attire. "You two! How could you even think of going out in those plain looking clothes? There is a Malfoy reputation to keep, you know. I can not believe you. And I thought I had raised you well. Who knows what Lucius did to corrupt you…Come now, it's back upstairs to change for you tow!" Narcissa ranted, pulling the two boys upstairs.
About twenty minutes later, Harry and Draco reemerged from their rooms, fully changed and looking very aristocratic indeed. Both boys wore neatly pressed black robes. Draco's had a tiny "D" embroidered in silvery thread on his left sleeve while Harry had a similar looking "H" on his.
The two shared a silent and sullen look before sighing resignedly and stomping (gracefully and quietly, of course, so Narcissa didn't notice) dowstairs. There, they met Lucius (who by this time was all ready to go) who was wearing black robes just like theirs, except Lucius was also wearing a striped silver tie.
Right as they were all prepared to floo into Diagon Alley, a tinkling bell chimed throughout Malfoy Manor and a shabby-looking House Elf apparated into the living room.
"Mr. Malfoy sir, a guest is here sir! Guest says her name is McGone-gall, sir!" the House Elf squeaked nervously.
Lucius scowled. "Let her in, Dobby."
The House Elf apparated away with a pop.
"Who is 'Mcgonegall', Father?" asked Draco, looking up at Lucius with a confused expression.
"One of Dumbledore's minions," Lucius replied with a sneer, "and the Deputy Headmistress as well as the Transfiguration professor. I believe she is also," Lucius paused with a look of distaste, "the head of Gryffindor."
"Oh no!" Harry exclaimed, a look of horror on his face. "She's the one who wrote me that letter, remember Draco?"
"What letter?" Lucius cut in, looking annoyed. (Harry couldn't tell whether Lucius was annoyed because of McGonagall's presence or because of being left out of the loop).
"Here," Harry said, thrusting McGonagall's letter at Lucius.
After scanning the letter quickly, Lucius scowled and muttered, "stay here and wait. I'll deal with McGonagall and take you to Diagon Alley when I'm done."
Lucius turned on his heel and with a whoosh of his cloak, swept out of the room.
Harry and Draco ran up to the door to peek at the confrontation they were sure would ensue.
Minerva McGonagall started for a moment upon seeing Lucius enter the parlor where she had been waiting.
"Good morning, Mr. Malfoy," she said with a tiny trace of disgust as she quickly regained her composure. "Our owls returned with the information that one Mr. Harry Potter is currently residing in your Manor. Regardless of the reason why he is in your manor, as a magical orphan of eleven years of age he is the responsibility of Hogwarts, the closest wizarding school. I am here as a representative of Hogwarts and now ask that you relinquish the boy to me."
"Good," Lucius sneered, "morning to you as well. However, I can not comply with your," Lucius coughed, "request. My family has been caring for Harry for three years now, and he has no objections to where he is As a perfectly capable and law a biding," Minerva snorted, "wizard, I will take responsibility for his care until he has reached adulthood."
Minerva scowled, obviously finding more resistance than she had expected.
"Now, now, Mr. Malfoy. Only Ministry-recognized parents or guardians are permitted to do what you have suggested," Minerva said in a patronizing tone. "And as you are neither of the above, I will ask that you give Harry Potter to me."
"I see," Lucius replied, the hint of a smirk on his face. "Well, I have just the perfect solution for that."
Minerva raised a eyebrow.
Lucius smirked knowingly.
"Yes...well, like you said, the problem is merely that I am not Harry's parent of his guardian, am I correct?" asked Lucius, still smirking.
"Yes..." replied Minerva slowly, feeling as if Lucius were a large predator closing in on her.
"And even though I am sure you would not consider this...guardianship...a problem for certain other families, like the Weasleys," Lucius scowled briefly, "I have just the perfect solution. As you said, Harry is an orphan. His official guardians are, according to him--who I am undoubtedly sure is correct--his Muggle Aunt and Uncle. Surely the two," Lucius sniffed in disgust, "Muggles wouldn't mind relinquishing their guardianship on him."
Minerva twitched.
"What exactly are you suggesting?" asked Minerva warily, though she knew very well what Lucius was about to say."
"Why, for Potter to formally become a Malfoy, of course." Lucius smiled smugly. "Surely you don't have any objections. I will have the forms ready for you," Lucius paused, "and Dubmledore within an hour. Thank you for giving me this wonderful idea, and have a nice day."
Lucius ushered Minerva outside and slammed (well, not really slammed, more like shut very quickly--how could a Malfoy slam a door?) the door on the face of Minerva McGonagall.
Harry and Draco scampered away from the living room door as Lucius returned, pasting innocent smiles on their faces.
"So Harry," Draco said in an overly loud and fake voice, "what pet do you want to buy today?"
"I know you two were watching, so stop sounding like an telemarketer, Draco," Lucius said wearily. "So Harry, what do you think?"
Harry paused fidgeting a little.
"Honestly?" Harry began, trailing off, "I think it's a brilliant idea!"
Lucius let out a ragged sigh of relief.
I'd love to be a Malfoy!" Harry beamed.
"We're going to be brothers," Draco said with a smile, nudging Harry with his elbow.
"Wonderful," Lucius said, letting out a held breath. "Harry, you should be able to consider yourself a Malfoy by the aend of the day," Lucius remarked, giving Harry a rare, sincere smile.
Lucius nudged Harry and Draco to the fireplace.
"Don't forget to speak clearly," he reminded them.
Draco stepped forward first, and lifting a pinch of floo powder before tossing it into the fireplace's roaring fire and clearly stating "Diagon Alley", Draco put a foot into the green flames and whirled into disappearance.
Harry was next led to the fireplace.
He repaeted the process and felt a sucking, spinning feeling as the green-tinged fire spat him out at Flourish and Blotts.
Harry stumbled out and fell on his face, a little puff cloud of ash and soot following after him and covering him with a find layer of dust.
Lucius walked neatly out of the fireplace and stopped at Harry's feet.
"Scourgify," Lucius said in wry amusement, waving his wand over Harry lazily. "Someday, I'll have to teach you how to land properly, won't I?"
Lucius lifted Harry off the floor.
"Gringotts first, Ministry second," Lucius muttered, walking forward. Harry and Draco followed him obediently.
Harry and Draco had both, of course, been to Diagon Aleey. Yet Harry, having lived the earliest part of his life as a muggle, would never cease being amazed by the magical world.
Harry and Draco arrived in front of Gringotts' massive bronze doors. The squat goblin bowed deeply to Lucius, and nodded to the two boys. Harry was about to bow back when Lucius stopped him, saying that goblins were inferior creatures and didn't need any bowing to. (Meanwhile, the goblin glared viciously at them, but none of the three noticed).
"We tolerate the goblins only because they are such great gold keepers," Lucius said.
They stopped in a wide hall with lines of people leading out of several high counters, each with a goblin behind it. Harry saw goblin weighing gold pieces against massive rubies on a scale, and another counting out round and shiny galleons.
Lucius walked right to the front of a long line and, smiling 'warmly' at the people in the line, said, "Please excuse me--I have rather urgent business to attend to. I'll do my best not to hold you up."
Most of the wizards nodded their understanding (while looking slightly annoyed), but a red-haired fellow stepped out and glared at Lucius.
"Malfoy! Get into line just like the rest of us!" he hollered, glowering at Lucius.
"That's Weasley, he's dirt poor and has too many kid," Draco whispered to Harry, knowing that Harry had never bothered with paying attention to their politics classes.
"Ah, but I'm not 'just like the rest of you', now am I?" Lucius replied under his breath so only Weasley could hear. "My business is much more important than yours--for all you know, I could be arranging for you to have a raise," Lucius said, smirking. "Merline knows you need it."
Lucius turned away from Arthur Weasley, completely ignoring whatever the red-haired man was about to say. Staring at the goblin behind the counter, Lucius nodded curtly.
"Malfoy Currency Vault," he said, handing the goblin an ornate key with a green emerald set into it's handle.
"Griphook." the goblin said clearly (and impatiently).
Another goblin waddled out to face Lucius and made a beckoning motion.
The three (led by Griphook the goblin) stopped in front of a fireplace-like arch-thing. The fireplace-like thing was a large arch decorated with many runic symbols. A thin sheet of flame stretched out across its surface, flickering in the light. The goblin tossed a bit of something into the flame and nodded to Lucius.
Lucius stepped into the flame and disappeared, even though there was nothing behind the arch.
Harry stared at the arch suspiciously as Draco, too, disappeared through the flames.
The goblin then nodded to Harry and, feeling slightly apprehensive, Harry stepped through the fire.
A prickling, icy sort of chill pierced his skin and sent him into involuntary shivers. The coldness slowly faded as he found himself in a dimly lit corridor.
Another goblin stepped out from behind a column and stared at Lucius, Draco and Harry. He then frowned and pointed somewhere into the darkness, and Lucius somehow managed to understand what the goblin was trying to say.
Lucius inserted the same small, golden key into a seemingly invisible hold in a wall Harry hadn't noticed before. Suddenly, the wall dissolved into dust, revealing the smallest of the Malfoy vaults.
Mound and mounds of neatly stacked galleons, sickles and knuts filled the cavernous vault. Though there was barely any light, it was reflected off of every shiny, polished surface, making the vault's interior light up with glittering metal.
Lucius reached in a levitated a good-sized mound, dropping it into his charmed dragon-hide wallet. He then picked up a sickle and gave it to the goblin with a thin smile.
"Thank you for your services," Lucius said to the goblin.
They then made their way out of the vaults and flooed to the Ministry of Magic.
--
Stepping out of a massive fireplace (after stumbling and catching himself), Harry looked around at the inside of teh Ministry curiously. Lucius had never brought him to the Ministry before, and it was a lot more...boring...than he had thought it would be.
On the inside of the Ministry, there were lots of ordinary-looking wixards and witches in very ordinary-looking offices. It almost resembled a muggle office building, except for the flying paper airplanes (Harry tried to catch one to see what it was for but he missed) and the people walking out of fireplaces.
Lucius took Harry and Draco to the fourth floor, labeled 'Social Security', and walked up to the secretary.
"Good morning," Lucius glanced at the name card, "Donna. I have an appointment with Beetil Raveli."
"Mr. Malfoy!" Donna explained, jerking upwards. She fumbled over her desk to cover the book on muggle customs she had been reading. "Ah--please go to the second room on your right."
Lucius, Draco and Harry ended up in a smallish office room that was mostly filled by cabinets overflowing with papers. A smallish man sat before then behind an oversized desk, looking at them.
"Mr. Malfoy, how nice to see you again," Raveli said. "What can I do for you today?"
Lucius smiled coldly.
"I'm here to adopt Harry here," Lucius replied, nudging Harry forward.
Beetil Raveli gasped in a breath and stared at Harry with wide eyes. Adoption?
"There are an extra ten galleons in it for you if you keep this quiet," Lucius said, hiding his scowl quickly.
Beetil smiled. "Of course, of course," he replied, beckoning Harry over.
"Full name, age and parents?" Raveli asked Harry, falling into the steady, mundane rhythm of his career.
"Harry James Potter, eleven years of age, James and Lily Potter," Harry replied.
"Birthdate, birthplace, current guardians?" Beetil questioned further.
"June the thirty-first, Potter Manor in Godric's Hollow and Vernon and Petunia Dursely." Harry said. "They're muggles," he added.
"Perfect," Raveli said, pulling out a thin file. "Mr. Malfoy, you are planning to make this boy a member of the Malfoy family, yes?"
"Correct."
Raveli took out a stamp and pressed it down on Harry's papers. He then added the thin file Harry assumed was his own to a much larger one labeled 'Malfoy'.
"That's all! Wasn't that easy? Thank you for your time. Harry is now officially Harry Potter-Malfoy," Raveli said happily, thinkin about the ten galleons (200 USD) he had earned today for not saying anything.
"Thank you," replied Lucius, relieved that that meddling Dumbledore hadn't 'pulled some strings' and made up an obstacle so he couldn't adopt Harry. 'Take that, McGonagall', Lucius thought in his head.
"Alright. Now that we're all done with that, where would you two like to go next?" Lucius said, turning to Draco and Harry.
"Florean Fortescue's?" Draco suggested, his mouth watering at the thought of ice cream.
Harry nodded in a greement.
"Florean's it is, then," Lucius said, taking their hands and apparating with a nearly silent clap.
--
Harry sat at a booth in the ice cream store eating a massive pinkish blob of frozen and mashed cream and sugar. Harry Potter-Malfoy munched happily on his scoop of strawberry ice cream.
Next to him, Draco was easting an equally large blob of pale, off-white ice cream with rainbow flecks scattered throughout. The colorful specks flickered and shot off spakrs that faded into the air.
Lucius sat patiently waiting for the two to finish, a mug of what looked like a soothie in his hands. He watched Harry and Draco eat their cold treats happily, and listened to their random chatter. Lucius nodded in acknowledgement of other powerful wizards and witches, sometimes talking with them about things like their latest project, the best investment on the market, and the Minister's newest policy. Thus, Lucius made people think he like him. (Not that he disliked them--he just couldn't quite bring himself to say that he liked the superficial, mindless, Ministry-obeying lemmings.)
"Lucius, how are you doing?" exclaimed a rather rotund woman as she plopped down onto the chair next to Lucius' at the booth.
"Fine, and you?" Lucius responded cordially, inwardly grimacing.
"Absolutely wonderful!" the woman said happily in an annoyingly girly and high pitched voice.
"How is your daughter, Pansy?" Lucius asked, secretly hoping that the only child of Violet Porskoff-Parkinson had died or been rendered a vegetable so the woman would stop pestering Narcissa and himself about 'marriage plans' for Draco and Pansy.
"Perfectly, as always," Violet Parkinson replied, smiling in what she thought was a charming manner. "A little lonely, you know, being an only child. Draco would know--they have so much in common!" Violet squealed happily, "They would totally be the perfect couple, wouldn't they?
Violet Porskoff-Parkinson looked very excited at the prospect of having Malfoy in-laws. (No doubt plotting how to raise the standing of the Parkinson line).
Lucius stared at the woman, trying to hide his revulsion.
"Ohhh, and who is this?" Violet asked, turning to face Harry. She stared at him oddly, and looked about. No other parents. Obviously they weren't related--the boy had black hair and green eyes. Or...possibly a very distant cousin?
"My son," Lucius replied flatly, thinking of the freaking-out moment that was sure to ensue.
"What do you mean he's your son?" Violet asked, her voice suddenly two octaves higher while looking twitchy and disbelieving.
"I meant what I said. You know, how your son is an heir? Yes?" Lucius explained slowly, nodding sarcastically as he spoke.
Violet stared at Lucius in horror.
"You-you," Violet gasped for breath, and reached into her bag (an enormous one, though there was no reason for a large bag--it was called an expansion charm) to grab a towlette, which she covered her face with as she hyperventilated. (She probably thought hyperventilating with a silk cloth made her look delicate or something of the sort, but when she tried it she simply looked mentally challenged). "You had an AFFAIR??" Violet shrieked, after returning to breathing normally.
Lucius, this time, stared at Violet in horror.
"Where would you get that sort of idea?" he demanded, looking furious.
Violet opened and shut her mouth a couple of times, gaping like a fish.
"The black hair is obviously not yours or Narcissa's, and the last Malfoy or Black to have green eyes was killed with no heirs!" Violet said haughtily, looking scandalized.
Lucius scowled at Violet.
"He's my son, but not biologically," Lucius said, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"Oh," Violet said, her eyes widening curiously. "Oh!" Staring at Harry, Violet grabbed something in her bag again. "I simply must tell everyone about this! A new Malfoy!" Violet said, a smile lighting up on her face. She was practically bouncing in her seat at the prospect of new gossip.
"Stop," Lucius said, scowling at her again. He quickly took her handbag. (Well, more like her enourmous sack of fabric, but let's call it a handbag to be simple). "I'm...trusting...you with this...special...information," Lucius came up with on the spot, hoping it would keep the woman quiet. "I'll...see how well you can keep a secret, yes?"
Violet nodded quickly. "Yesyes, I can most definitely keep a secret. No need to worry about me!"
Lucius let out a small breath.
Violet's bag let out a small stream of red sparks.
"Oh no! I'm afraid I must excuse myself. It was nice talking to you!" Violet said, jumping out of her booth chair and fleeing out the door.
Lucius 'slumped' (more like relaxed a miniscule amount) against his chair, glad Violet Porskoff-Parkinson hadn't thought of asking who the boy was (not that he expected an airhead like her to ask...).
Looking over at the boys and seeing that they were finished (and now sat staring into the shallow puddles of melted ice cream, drawing designs and each trying to out-draw the other), Lucius placed a sickle and two knuts on the table (as a tip) and led his sons out of Florean Fortescue's.
20 June 2008 A/N: So much for a long chapter...I thought I should end it here, because my next section will be Diagon Alley (and I'm expecting that to be long, so here's the split). Sorry for making you guys wait so long--I hope you guys enjoyed it. Oh yeah--have you guys read Stephenie Meyer's "The Host"? If you haven't, you definitely should. I think it's better than the Twilight series. XP