Sadly I own nothing, all rights go to our Queen JKR.
September 15TH, 1985.
"Tom, do you need me whilst you visit Durmstrang today?" Lucius asked as he walked into the Library where Tom had been.
"Are you sending Draco to Durmstrang?"
"No, Narcissa is adamant they are all educated at Hogwarts."
"Stay home with your family then Lucius and thank you for the offer."
Lucius bowed his head and left the room Tom had been sat in. He had taken three weeks leave to help Narcissa although he was not needed, as always she completed everything with poise and grace from nappy changing and feeding to hosting the Yule ball. His wife could well and truly manage on her own. Deciding he was not going to let his thoughts bother him he walked outside to find Harrison and Draco fighting with swords in the fort. Hermione was sat on a blanket with Aurora who was now nearly 9 months and enjoyed crawling to anything that she clearly thought was edible, Hermione's hair is one of them. Lucius could see Hermione was trying to read with Aurora, he whipped his wand out and swiftly charming Hermione's hair into a bun. That way she could read to Aurora and not have baby drool all in her curls.
"Daddy, will you come play?" Draco shouted over the top of a turret.
Lucius grinned up at his very happy Son and charmed a flower breathing Dragon to gently attack the boys. Both boys giggled and announced an attack on the magical Dragon.
Yes, his family may be large with many names and houses but it was a happy one. Lucius sat on the sun chair nearest the castle to keep a 'lookout' for the boys, Aurora was now sat on his knee chomping a biscuit when a pile of leaves was dropped on his head.
"Rabastan I swear I will hex you if you ever do that again!" Lucius growled before turning around to see the youngest of the Lestrange men.
"How did you know it was me?
"You wear enough cologne to drown a ship."
"Fine have it your way spoilsport."
William tapped his arm gently in warning to stop antagonising the Malfoy Patriarch. To which Rabastan had.
"Lucius, congratulations on the birth of Regulus, we did floo ahead of time and I spoke with Narcissa who said we could visit. How are they both?" Bas asked as William handed over a baby gift basket.
"They are both doing really well thank you." Lucius took the basket and spotted an expensive bottle of Bourbon he had once tried in school and had never seen it since.
"Dolphus told me you two had been searching for this for a while. We thought with three children as well as holding the Minister of Magic position, you could do with a good bottle for stressful nights."
"Thank you very, very much." Lucius shook each boys hands and asked Tink to keep an eye on the children whilst he showed the men inside to visit Regulus.
"Darling are you awake?" Lucius asked gently knocking on the door.
"You may come in." Narcissa called back.
"How are you feeling today?" Lucius asked as he walked in. "Bas and Bill are here." Lucius chuckled at his own names for them.
"William, Rabastan, How was the Honeymoon?"
"It was great, thank you Cissa."
"It was wonderful, thank you for everything you have done." William countered the thanks.
Both men spoke as they entered the room, Rabastan walked straight over to the crib and peered in.
"Oh Regulus is a beauty, one day he will break hearts." Rabastan whispered as he peered into the baby's crib.
"Would you like to hold him?"
"Can I?" Rabastan's eyes lit up, just as they did the day he held both Draco and Aurora.
Lucius smiled at the man's enthusiasm. As long as Lucius could remember Rabastan was always fun and loved children, he would make a brilliant Father and Uncle.
"William look at him, he is scrunching his nose up." Rabastan gushed to his Husband.
"He is beautiful, he looks just like Sirius."
"Sirius and Regulus looked very similar growing up." Lucius informed William who may not have ever seen family photos.
"Have you visited Amelie? Who does she look like?"
"Unfortunately no, not yet, they are in Spain visiting with Rosmerta's family until tomorrow, I can not wait to cuddle with her either though!" Rabastan spoke however, he never took his eyes from Regulus in his arms.
Meanwhile at Durmstrang Tom and Severus had arrived to speak with Thoros's younger brother, Cantankerus Nott.
"Cantankerus, thank you for meeting with us." Tom offered his hand to shake. The boy shook it immediately before sitting down.
"My friends call me Tank."
"May we?" Severus asked once he shook his hand.
"Of course Sir."
"We would like to ask you a few questions, Thoros mentioned you would openly tell us all you know."
"Thoros did? How is he doing? How is little Theo?"
"They are doing better. Theo is now making friends."
"That is good, he needs friends."
"He does, now then, do you know of an Igor Karkaroff." Severus asked.
"I believe I may."
"Will you tell me?"
"I will tell you everything if you can do one thing for me?"
"You want to trade favours?" Tom asked frowning.
"Sure." Tank sat back, smirking, as he did, he looked just like Thoros.
"I'll see what I can do." Severus replied.
"No, unfortunately, Professor, If I tell you what I know you have to follow through with my favour."
"What would you like Tank?" Tom asked.
"I need to leave with you. Today."
Tom sat back and thought about it, why would a 14-year-old need to leave once he had told him unless...
"Granted."
"He became headmaster 4 weeks ago. I had told Thoros although, I believe our post was intercepted."
"What makes you believe this"?
"All my equipment and broom was stolen the very next day."
"Your wish is granted as I promised, go fetch your things."
"I don't have anything, nothing was ever found."
"Ready?" Tom breathed out an angry sigh.
The boy nodded as the trio apparated back to Nott Manor.
"Uncle Tank!" A very excited Theo ran to his uncle and jumped for a hug.
"Hey champ, have you behaved since I left?"
"I have, I have." Theo grinned
"Good." Tank gave him a squeeze before heading off and filling his older brother in, making sure to add he should do his OWLS with the Ministry rather than go back to School.
Tom and Severus floo'd back to Malfoy Manor after also speaking with Thoros with Tank, Tom told him he completely backed his decision to leave Durmstrang. Severus said his goodbyes before he floo'd back to Hogwarts to prepare for the next days off lessons. Tom sought out Lucius and filled him in.
"So he has been hiding." Lucius sighed knowing it would not end too well.
"He has, I am unsure as to why though."
"He will think you will kill him."
"I am going to make him sweat, I still may yet, he proved very disloyal and not trustworthy."
"You mentioned Cantankerus will study from home and take his OWL'S early."
"That is the plan."
"Does he want a career in the Ministry?" Lucius asked, plans in his head forming rather quickly. "I have heard he is rather clever and I could do with a secretary, someone I trust not to slip me love potions or poisons. It will not be a secretary persay, more as a younger left hand man."
