Chapter 18
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The excitement level in the manor had peaked over the last few days, with all the flurry of preparation for the naming ceremony. After all, the Malfoy family would, in one evening, increase by three. The joyous occasion would by no means,erase the pain and sadness of losing the original heir for reasons of dishonor and mental illness, but it would help in the healing process.
Everyone involved had been successfully contacted, and everything had come together seamlessly, which didn't fail to amaze all involved. Harry had even been seen smiling a few times, when he thought he wasn't being watched, the anticipation evident in the verdant eyes.
It was now, midmorning Saturday, the day of the ceremony. Lucius had received all the legal parchments from the solicitors, as well as the certificate of authorization from the Ministry to perform the blood adoptions. Narcissa had received all the ceremonial robes from the clothier's in Hampton Court.
Neville had sent over all the live arrangements from his personal greenhouses, and Rosselini's was delivering the food that afternoon. All the invitations had been delivered by secured OwlPost, and the guests would be arriving by Special Portkeysprovided by Kingsley Shacklbolt; authorized by the Ministry, of course.
Molly, Luna, and Hermione had arrived that morning to help Narcissa with the final touches, and to help with the twins' Cleansing Rituals for the ceremony. Hermione also multi-tasked, by taking care of Harry's checkup for that day, pronouncing him more than fit to become an official Malfoy that evening. Sirius and Remus arrived a little later. They would be helping Harry with his preparations for the ceremony.
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Sebastian peeked around the door into Harry's room. Miss Hermione was just finishing up looking at his Harry. She closed her bag, kissed Harry's cheek, and walked to the door.
"Hello, Sebastian. You may visit now that I'm finished. I believe it will help Harry with the waiting for tonight." She whispered, as she ruffled the golden curls.
Huge dark eyes looked up. "T'ank you, Miss Moine. I take cawre of my Hawwy."
"I know you will, dear." She replied and was gone down the hall.
Sebastian closed the door quietly, and walked to the bed, crawling up onto it from the end. Harry was sitting in the middle of the bed, holding a twin in each arm, as they tried to stand, pulling on him for balance.
"Look! It's Sebastian, come to play with us!" Harry smiled as Zoe' and Sasha turned and squealed at the sight of Sebastian on the bed. "Hello, Sebastian."
"Hello, Hawwy! Hello, Zoe' an' 'asha!"
Sebastian wrapped his arms, as best he could, around all three of them and gave each a big wet kiss. Harry leaned back, against the headboard and rearranged them so they were all sitting with the twins in the middle. Harry summoned some magical toys from the table in the corner and set them to Levitating to entertain the twins, while Sebastian told Harry all about everything happening downstairs.
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Narcissa swept out of the huge ballroom, into the hall and looked around, smiling when she spotted Lucius coming down the hall. She moved to meet him.
"Is everything ready, My Darling?" Lucius asked after he placed a light kiss on her cheek. Looking over her shoulder, he could just see through the large doors.
She grabbed his hand and led him into the huge room. "Come see, and tell me if you think anything else is needed?"
Lucius' mouth formed an 'O' as he entered and looked around him. "Cissa darling, this is... this is perfect!"
It wasn't what he had expected--no--it was better. Cissa had worked her magic again. Midday sunlight poured in the floor-to-ceiling windows, and the marble floor shone--where it could be seen. For, the room had been filled with plants and flowers, with small mounds of green grass around each arrangement. The circumference of the room was filled, other arrangements placed randomly around the room, leaving only the very center, and a wide path to the doors, clear. In the center of the floor lay an ancient, round, black tapestry rug, woven with the ancient circle and runes required for special rituals. In the center of this rug, sat a very old, hand-carved altar table, that was a weathered and polished oak, it's patina dark and rich from many decades of use and loving care. In a circle, around the outside of the tapestry, at the points of the pentacle, sat five tall floor candelabras, each holding five white tapers. There was enough room between them so the participants and guests would be able to move freely, and they would cast enough light, along with the charmed ceiling, so everyone would be able to see clearly.
Lucius trailed a light finger along the edge as he studied the items carefully arranged on it. The table was covered with a crisp white linen runner woven through with more runes and ancient symbols of family and bonding. Centered atop this was a large wreath of twigs and leaves of oak and rowan, interwoven with meadowsweet and lavender. In the center sat one tall white pillar candle, wrapped in cords of pink and deep blue, surrounded by three smaller white pillar candles, and three long straws of hay. To each side of the wreath, sat a large pillar candle; gold for the Great Father, and silver for the Great Mother. To one side of the wreath, were a engraved silver bowl, three smaller bowls of like design, and an Athame'. The other side of the table held bowls of sliced apples and fresh honey, and a goblet of fresh milk sprinkled with powdered lavender flowers, both under a stasis spell, and five folded linen serviettes, arranged like a fan. At the front of the table sat a new quill and inkpot, beside a space where the legal parchments from the Ministry would be signed. During the ceremony, it was where the wands and roses would be placed, when indicated.
Lucius looked to his left, to a smaller table placed just out of the way. Atop it lay three brand new cloaks, one each for Harry, Zoe', and Sasha. Beside them lay, under a Preservation Spell, two white, long-stemmed roses, just barely opening from bud.
He turned to pull his wife into a hug and kissed her lightly on the lips, before looking into her pale blue eyes. "Everything looks wonderful! You've done a splendid job!"
"Thank you, Luc. Albus will cast the circle when he arrives and all will be ready by the time everyone else arrives. The elves are just finishing laying out the food in the diningroom. It will be ready under Preservation, Heating, and Cooling Spells, until after the ceremony. I am heading there now to make sure everything is just so."
Wrapping arms around each other's waists, they strode from the room, and Narcissa charmed them closed and locked behind her.
"Cissa, we have the best elves. You've trained them yourself. You worry too much, Darling."
"I just want everything--perfect. I-I just wish..."
They stopped halfway down the hallway, and turned to face each other. Lucius cupped her face with both hands and looked into her eyes, seeing the sadness he knew she was trying to hide, knowing he felt the same. He pulled her to him and held her tight, burying his face in her hair, as he felt her body tremble.
"SShh... Luv. I know. As much as I wish it too, it cannot be. Draco must live with the results of his actions. It is Wizarding Law. Maybe--maybe, after all the legal proceedings have concluded, we can see if there is any possible way to treat the Black Madness."
Narcissa pulled back, and looked up at her husband, tears on her face, but a look of hope in her eyes. "Oh, could we, Darling?! If there is anything that can be done to keep him from suffering as Bella did...Please!"
"I have already set our solicitors to make inquiries, as well as my contacts at St. Mungo's. Severus has already determined that current potions have no effect, but, he is eager to assist in the development of one, if enough information can be gathered to allow him to begin research."
Narcissa wiped at her cheeks and gave him a watery smile. "Yes. He will no longer be your heir, but he is still our son, and we cannot abandon him."
"No, my Darling, we cannot..." Lucius whispered as they resumed walking.
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It was now late afternoon, and the elves had come to take the twins to prepare for the ceremony. Sebastian had been gathered up and taken an hour earlier by his father. Harry sat in the large soft chair near the windows and watched as one of the elves busied herself laying out everything that would be needed for that evening.
He reached up and rubbed his hands up and down over his face. It felt odd without his glasses again, but Severus had brought him a potion that morning, he'd been working on with Poppy and Neville, to fix his eyesight in his damaged eye. It was only temporary, but still an acceptable resolution until more advanced magic could be tried to hopefully repair the damage permanently.
He'd been sitting there, getting steadily more maudlin, as he thought of his natural parents, James and Lily. How would they feel about their son being blood adopted into the Malfoy dynasty? A family who, in their time had been thought to be faithful Death Eaters; not knowing Lucius had turned to the Light and become a spy, after James and Lily had been killed.
He didn't want to appear to be abandoning his own ancestry, that of the Evans and the Potters, but at the same time, he desperately wanted a true family, one he belonged to--in every way! Would they be angry? Would they be hurt? Maybe he shouldn't go through with it. But then he would hurt Lucius and Narcissa, who had already been like parents to him. He groaned and buried his face in his hands.
Just then the door opened, and he could hear feet moving across the carpet, to stop in front of him, but he didn't move or look up.
Sirius walked through the doorway into his godson's chambers with his husband and best friend, Remus, behind him. He stopped when he saw Harry's shoulders shake. "Harry?"
Sirius. And probably Remus too. Both of them here to help him prepare and ready himself for tonight. How was he going to tell them he wasn't sure if he could do this?
"How--How do I--can I--replace my parents? They gave their lives for me. Now look at me? Jumping at the chance to replace them."
Sirius and Remus shared a shocked and confused look, before looking back down at their godson. They both dropped to a crouch at the same time, each resting a hand on one of Harry's robe-covered knees.
"Pup. Look at me, please." Sirius voice was calm and soft, as he waited for Harry to raise his head.
When he didn't move, Remus tried. "Please, Harry."
Harry raised his head slowly, fixing both men with red eyes and tear-stained cheeks.
"Your parents died for you, yes. But by the Gods and Goddesses, they loved you with every bit of their being. Now Fate has brought us all full circle, and you have a chance to have two very loving people adopt you. Call you their son and be part of their blood. But You will always be son of James Potter and Lily Evans Potter. You are their one piece of immortality. They live forever in you. And, in any child or children you will have." Remus choked back a sob as he gathered the boy... no, young man, into his arms.
"Pup," Sirius began, "You're not loosing James and Lily. You're gaining Lucius and Cissa. And even more family. Somewhere, both of them are smiling down at you and giving their blessings."
Harry leaned back and looked at Sirius. "Are you sure? They won't be mad? I just wish I could tell them how much this means to me."
Sirius held his arms open. "I'm sure they will approve. And, I'm sure they know how important this is to you."
Harry moved into his arms and hugged Sirius tightly.
Sirius stood easily, with the smaller man still in his arms. "Off you get, now. There's still the Cleansing Ritual to get through before we dress for the ceremony.
Tbc...