"What's that?"

Draco gave a tiny smirk, following the curious gaze to the large portrait behind him at his desk. It showed a small, deep blue couch - a couch that sat in the morning room Draco still used for certain meetings - upon which sat a pure silver fox with a luxurious, glossy pelt.

"A family portrait." Draco said with a bored lilt, arching a brow. "Everything in this room is traced back to the family or representative of the Malfoys and our history."

His son nodded quickly, understanding and awe dawning in his blue-silver eyes - like the fox's, like Draco's - as his mathematics tutor bowed, murmuring an apology for the impertinent query. Draco beckoned to the boy, and Altais grinned, trotting up and wrapping his arms around Draco's waist.

Draco petted his hair, returning the embrace before sending him off with his tutor, lesson plan approved.

He turned to face the portrait as the door closed, and smiled. He would tell Altais properly when he was a bit older - and alone - of course. He knew about his grandfather, and, though less, about Severus, but. . .

Draco had judged it best to keep the particular story of unregistered Animagi until his son was a bit older.

Altais had seen it before, knew of its presence, but the tutor had clearly not noticed the jet black snake - unusual colouring, for an asp, as moonlit silver was for an English fox - coiled neatly between the fox's front paws. Its angular head was half-concealed in the fluff of the fox's chest, but Draco could see the liquid black eyes still.

The pair were capable of resuming their human forms, and sometimes his Father and Godfather still advised him now as they had before their deaths. Mostly, however, they watched over the study from these forms.