Family first chapter 7 December 22

Disclaimer I do not own anything

AN: This is another chapter that is a bit different from Cannon (I'm assuming that not many of you will care, considering that this whole fic is AU). The Weasleys never took their trip to Romania. Since Harry wasn't staying in the castle, the Weasley's decided to bring their children home too (during the original timeline I am guessing that Dumbledore may have given the Weasleys a little nudge to take the trip, and allow Harry, and Ron time to bond).

Beta'ed by Jasper's Mom

Harry had discovered that he could avoid the other occupants of the manor, and still explore as long as he stuck to the lesser used rooms. So far, he had run five laps around the ballroom, and built a fort on the balcony outside of the formal dining room. Now, almost two hours before lunch he was debating whether or not it would be wise to redecorate the formal sitting room. Would anyone notice if he moved a few bits and pieces around?

Before Harry could come to a final decision, a voice interrupted his train of thought. The slightly flat tone gave it away as belonging to a portrait. Most of the Malfoy portraits preferred to stay in the Portrait Hall, where they could observe the comings and goings of the manor. Many frequented the more well used rooms. Very few portraits ever visited the formal sitting room, as it was not often used by the family.

Harry spun, 90 degrees, towards the direction of the voice. There was a massive frame over the mantle, some kind of dark wood, embellished with polished precious metal. The background showed an exact replica of the manor. In front of it stood a middle-aged blond man, well dressed, with sharp green eyes, pale skin, and an air of importance about him.

"Mr. Malfoy." Harry greeted without hesitation

"I have already told you to call me grandfather, haven't I Boy?"

"Yes Sir."

"Well what's a fine young man like you doing cooped up inside a stuffy formal room on Winter Holiday?"

"Avoiding your grandson."

"And why would that be?" The portrait sneered "I thought you were a brave little Gryffindor."

"Trying to take on three Slytherins by myself is stupidity, not bravery."

"Three Slytherins?"

"Draco invited two of his little Slytherin friends over for a nice little get together." Harry set on a black sofa facing the portrait, and pulled his thighs to his chest, setting his chin on top of his knees. "They have a numbers advantage, and they know it."

"You certainly have a bit of Slytherin in you. Don't you Mr. Potter?"

"The Sorting Hat wanted to put me in Slytherin."

"So why did you end up a lion cub, and not become a little hatchling?"

"I argued with it, the hat. I wanted Gryffindor… well I didn't want Slytherin."

"Why not?"

"I had heard all kinds of bad things about Slytherin, and then I met Draco."

"Ah. I expect the boy was trying to impress. Lucius was much the same; he talked himself into quite a bit of trouble first year. But you shouldn't believe anything you hear, and less than a third of what you see. The only trick to that is realizing that most others will believe it, and react accordingly." When Harry didn't respond, Abraxas changed the subject.

"If you're so worried about the numbers disadvantage, why don't you even it up some?"

"What do you mean?"

"What do I mean? I mean, Harry, why don't you ask my son to allow you to invite a couple of Gryffindors over?"

"Ha. Ha. Ha. Yeah, and Lucius would just allow his home to be invaded by Gryffindors. 'Oh yes Harry my boy, why don't you invite them over and we'll have tea and crumpets.'" Harry did his best impression of Lucius' voice, which he would be the first to admit wasn't very good.

"You don't think he would be fair in that way?"

"He's a Slytherin."

"So? He's been fair to you up to this point hasn't he?"

"Yeah, but it's not the same."

"Enlighten me as to how it's so vastly different."

"Well, their Gryffindors, Hermione is a muggle born, and Ron is a Weasley."

I know it doesn't seem like it now, but in all honesty, Slytherin, and Gryffindor are just houses within Hogwarts. They separate students into smaller groups of likeminded students, which makes making friends easier. After all, birds of a feather often (but not always) flock together. However once you graduate, you'll find that what house you were in mattered little. Of course, you still support your house in quidditch games, and such. And naturally, you have more friends within your own house. But there is actually very little antagonistic reaction to other houses. After all do you think grown men would be stopped from making a mutually beneficial deal, because of traits that their 11-year-old self had?

As for the Weasley, Lucius has no issue with blood traitors; he is of the opinion that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Something I taught him from a very young age and one of reasons the Potter, and Malfoy families were able to remain so close. Furthermore it's much more likely that the child repeats what he hears his parents say, than supporting his own opinion. The fact that it's a Weasley specifically could be problematic, but you'll have to talk to Lucius about that."

"What about Hermione, I won't leave her out."

The portrait took a breath, and then hesitated. "My son, he has his own secrets, his own experiences, and his own past. He does have his reasons for not liking muggles, and as an extension, because they have been raised by muggles, muggle borns. I know several muggle borns that he interacts with daily, even a few that he has befriended. He does resent those who would choose to live in the muggle world, or who are not interested in learning about the magical world. Overall though, as long as your muggle born friend is intelligent, and can hold a civil conversation, he will not have a problem with her."

Harry cocked his head slightly.

"What happened? Why does he hate muggles?" He asked softly, gazing upon the portrait.

Abraxas sighed, looked slightly to the left

"Hold on." The man walked out of the left side of the frame, and a few moments later returned from the same side.

"Lucius has given me permission to inform you. If I tell you, it's between me and you, not even Draco knows this. Narcissia knows very little about the whole thing. It's something that Lucius keeps close to himself, and rarely shares with others. Look at me and promise, promise that you'll never repeat what I tell you."

"I promise."

Abraxas paused, look at the boy, and then began the tale.

"Cecily Malfoy was my youngest child, Lucius' younger sister, by 6 years. Despite the age difference they were very close. He doted on her, telling her story after story, constantly sending her owls with candy, and trinkets. When she was a toddler, she would toddle after him, following him even if he was just pacing the room. Even when they were both older, whenever he was home she claimed his time, and he was happy to give it.

We were out with the Potters, in muggle London on a Monday when it happened. Lucius had just turned 15 at the time. Cecily and James were playing in the park. Lucius agreed to keep an eye on them, while the Potters, my wife and I were ordering food from a vending cart a good five minutes away. While Lucius was trying to wrestle James away from some poor muggle woman he was pestering, Cecily vanished. The police found her body three and half weeks later, dumped in a back alley. My wife and I, were never he same, but Lucius changed the most. He began to hate, loath every muggle, no matter who they were, what they did, all that mattered to him was the fact that they were a muggle. He found them eventually, it was Voldemort induction gift to Lucius, he gave Lucius the Muggles who killed Cecily." Everything was silent for a few moments, Harry processing what he had heard. Abraxas didn't leave him too much time to think.

"He won't mind your friends coming over Harry go ask."

Harry hesitated, slightly at the door to the room.

"Well go on then."

Harry paused again, looked over at the portrait one last time, and then opened the door, and walked out.

It didn't take long at all to reach Lucius' study. He quickly knocked on the door, and, after receiving a shout of "Come in Harry" he opened the door. Harry's eyes flicked automatically to the sofa he had woken up on yesterday afternoon.

"What can I do for you?"

"I" he started, thinking of how to phrase the question, then all of a sudden, he decided just to just spit it all out at once.

"Can I invite some friends over?"

Lucius blinked at him three times.

"Of course, I'm surprised you so long to ask. Draco has been begging since the 17th. Who would you like to invite?"

"Hermione."

"Very well, we'll have to apparate to her house, as muggle residences are not connected to the floo. If you know her address, we can go ask her today, if not it will take a bit longer for me to find her. Is that all, no one else?"

" Ron."

"Weasley?" Lucius voice changed just slightly, enough to make Harry wary.

"Yes sir." Lucius gave an almost imperceptible wince.

"I don't know if that is a good idea. The Weasley's and the Malfoy's, we don't get along. Our families have been feuding since 1692, when Lorex Weasley and Lucinda Weasley nee Malfoy we're both found dead over their wedding dinner. Naturally both families blame the other. The blood feud was called off in 1853, but to this day we go to legendary lengths to avoid interactions with each other. However" the older man hesitated slightly "I would be willing to accept Ronald into my house if his parents will allow it. Don't get excited though, as I doubt that his parents will allow it. You should fire call him first, then we will go to the Granger house."

"Fire call?" Harry questioned.

" Yes, fire call. "

Lucius stood, and walked over to the fireplace. He reached to the top of the mantle, and grabbed some green sand out of the decorative vase. The blond dropped the sand onto the open flame, and in a clear, distinct voice, although not yelling, called out.

"The Burrow" Lucius stared at Harry for a few moments, while Harry stared back. Eventually, Lucius explained

"Kneel, and stick your head into the flames" Harry, very hesitantly mind you, did as he was told. He felt a brief moment of dizziness, as if you'd stood too quickly after sitting still for a long period of time, or as if you come to a sudden stop after a quick movement.

Looking around Harry could see that, somehow, he was looking in the Weasley's living room. Or at least, what he assumed to be their living room. It was just like Ron described. Old, and most definitely, worn. But it also had a charm, a coziness about. In the far left corner, Harry could see a purple, tattered, muggle overstuffed recliner. Ron had said that it was Mr. Weasley's favorite chair. Next to it sat, what Harry assumed, was a magical rocking chair. The chair had a cushion tied to it's seat, and was slowly rocking back and forth on its own. Between the chairs sat a wicker basket with several different bundles of yarn, and pieces of fabric lying in it. Ron had mentioned that his mom enjoyed knitting.

"Harry dear?" Mrs. Weasley's face appeared slightly blurry around the edges and was shaded with the slightest hint of green, as was the rest of the room.

"I didn't know that the muggles you lived with were hooked up to the floo. Well, let me get Ron."

"No no, Mrs. Weasley I need to speak to you."

"What can I do for you?"

"Well, you see, I have new guardians, and they said that my friends can come over. So, I was wondering if Ron would be allowed to..."

" Of course." Mrs. Weasley smiled at him." What's the floo address?"

"Uhmm..." Mr. Malfoy must've heard Harry, because he could hear a voice behind him.

" Floo address is Malfoy Manor."

"Excuse me? Did you say Malfoy Manor? Harry, who are your guardians?" Mrs. Weasley voice had gone from indulgence, to hard and panicky and seconds.

"Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy."

"Oh, dear Merlin. Does Dumbledore know? How did they find you? Have they hurt you?"

"I'm fi-"

"Oh hush, it'll be fine. This is what I want you to do. Pull your head back, and step through if you can. Can you get enough floo powder for that?"

"No, Mrs. Weasley-"

"Don't worry then, I'll call aurors, we'll have you out of there in no time."

"No Miss Weasley, I don't need the aurors! The Malfoys are great. I want to say with them"

The redheaded witch's eyes widened when she realized what the child was saying.

"Well that's beside the point, you have guardians that are probably worried sick about you."

"The Malfoy are my guardians. It's legal and everything. Mr. Malfoy went the ministry at the beginning of Winter Break and did the paperwork with the Minister" Molly stood suddenly with a horrified look on her face.

"Harry I think it's best if Ron stayed here, after all Christmas is a time for family that's the whole reason we decided not to go to Romania this year. Good day!"

She practically ran from the room, as Harry pulled his head back.

"What did she say?"

"You were right, as soon as she figured out where I was saying she said no. She was going to let him stay before that.

"No surprise there. Come, let's go to the Granger residents." Lucius held out his hand for the boy to take. Harry placed his own hands in the older man's larger one and to his surprise the man drew him close, crushing Harry into the wider chest before popping away.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the country Molly Weasley was frantically writing a letter. Scribbled on a spare piece of old parchment was a simple little four line note filled with panic. Dumbledore.

Malfoys have Harry.

They bribed the minister it's legal.

Harrys been brainwashed. Help!

"Mum was that Harry?"

"No. Wrong address. Go play Ron"

Two figures popped into the middle of the street dressed in robes, heavy cloaks, scarves, gloves, and boots.

"Harry why do Muggle 's number their homes?"

"Well.. It so the people who deliver the mail know what house to go to, and stuff."

"You mean actual people deliver your mail? Never mind. Why numbers though?"
"What would you have them use? Letters?"

"Of course not. They should use names."
"Why are names so much better?"

"We don't use numbers to identify our children, now do we?"
"No, houses and children aren't the same thing though."

"No, but names still makes more sense, buildings have character, and charm, and personality. A proper name can show all of its qualities off."

Harry shrugged.

They approach a medium-sized home, just slightly larger than Number Four Privet Drive. It was two stories, with a nice size yard. The building it's self was surprisingly pleasantly shaped. Harry knocked on the front door, as Lucius looked around, noting the differences in this neighborhood compared to the one Harry spent his childhood in.

A woman opened the door. She was slightly taller than average, with a kind face, intelligent eyes, and short brown hair. She smiled, and Lucius wonder for a moment how she kept her teeth so white.

"Can I help you." Her accent gave away her expensive education.

"Mrs. Granger?"

"Yes?"

"My name is Lucius Malfoy, this is my ward Harry Potter."

"Harry Potter...Ah! Hermione's school friend?"

"Yes ma'am" Harry answered this time. "I was wondering if Hermione could come over for a few days."

"Please come in." She took a step back to allow them to enter. "Harry, Hermione is in her room if you would like to visit. Up the stairs, third door on the right."

"Thanks Mrs. Granger!" Harry stomped up the steps, content to tell Hermione about his time with the Malfoy's.

"Mr. Malfoy, would you like anything to drink? Tea? Water? Coffee?"

"No thank you." Lucius carefully and deliberately left out what would have been a polite request to call him by his given name."

Miss Granger led them to the sitting room before they said she turned and faced the blonde man

"Lovely to meet you Mr. Malfoy. My name is Emmaline."

"Pleasure."

"My husband, Robert, is at the office right now. Of course, I'll need to call him to make sure he's fine with Hermione staying at your home."

"That's perfectly understandable."

"How long do you intend to let her stay?"

"Late Christmas Eve. My family and I will be hosting a small party, ideally we would like to return her to you afterwards."

"Of course."

"At what time would be best?"

"Anytime at all is fine. Hermione knows where the spare key is, should she return after we go to bed."

"Alright." After a few moments of silence the woman attempted to start the conversation again.

"Mr. Malfoy, I'm assuming you're…"

"Indeed. My family and I are magical."

"My husband I, we have very little experience with Magic. Hermione is our only child, and we want to very best for her. It's difficult to do that when she lives in a world that we can never really comprehend. The professor that came to our home at the beginning of the year, Professor McGonagall assured my husband and I that Hogwarts was the very best magical school in Europe. She said that Hogwarts had some of the best professors of all the schools. She also said that safety was paramount, and that Hermione would not be placed in danger there..But when Hermione came back for break some of the stories she told made me and my husband nervous. At first we thought she was joking, we never received any letters about anything. She kept going on and on about it though, and we come to realize that she actually fought a troll. Is that normal?"

"No it's not normal, nor acceptable that she was put in the situation. Mountain trolls like the one your daughter and her friends went chasing after are extremely dull creatures. However the sheer size of them, along with the violent tendencies, make trolls dangerous. The incident was strange, to say the least. Trolls never been a problem Hogwarts. They do not travel great distances, nor do they reside near the school."

"Thank you. If you will excuse me, I'll call my husband, and have Hermione pack."

"I shall wait here."

Emmaline returned five minutes later, and five minutes after that the two children appeared.

Hermione approached the well dressed perfectly groomed man

"Hello Mr. Malfoy" She held out her hand for him to shake. As their hands touched, before he could say a word she continued on. "I'm excited to see how a wizarding home works. I've read all about the running of a magical home, but I expect that it's something you have to experience to fully understand."

"Indeed. If you are ready we'll take our leave."

"Yes, I'm ready. Bye Mum, I'll see you the 24th. Love you."

"Love you too dear. Have fun."

"Emmaline." Lucius bowed slightly, as was customary.

"Mr. Malfoy." Emmaline smiled and waved watching the three disappear with only a pop, and a slight displacement of air.

Lucius grabbed Hermione's arm just in time to keep her from falling on the hard floor.

"I apologize, I should have warned you, the first time you side along can be disorienting." He turned slightly to face Harry. "Harry, I have to go drop some paperwork off at the ministry. Show Hermione to her room. It's the guest bedroom next to yours. She will have to share the bathroom with Daphne, but other than that, the room is all hers."

Lucius took one more look at the girl, to ensure she was steady, and had good coloring before stalking to his office.

Harry showed Hermione her room, where she tossed her bag, before following Harry around the house and gardens. She was enchanted by the horses, but as expected the library stole the show. Hermione chatted contentedly as she gazed over the shelf.

"Do you need me to check over your homework? I know you said that you got it done, but that's no good if it's not up to the professor's standards."

"No, Mrs. and Mr. Malfoy helped me with it, and then they checked it over when it was done."

"I'm slightly jealous of you Harry, having adults to answer questions. The professors are all well and good, but they have so many students they don't have time to answer all of my questions." She changed the subject rather abruptly. "Do you think they would mind if I took some of these books to my room to read?"

"No, there always going on about how the books are there to read."

"Have you told Ronald anything yet?"

"No, I tried. I spoke to Mrs. Weasley but she wasn't too happy that I was saying here." Harry told Hermione about the history between the two families."

"Well that's ridiculous. Did you know that at that time poisonous toads were popular pets? It could very easily have been a beloved pet that killed both of them." Hermione huffed at the situation. "Anyway I brought you a few of the magazines you ask for. Most of them come from magical companies that specialize in making, and altering muggle products."

The two children spent the rest of the afternoon in the library. Hermione looking at and reading various different books. Harry flipping through the magazines that Hermione had given him and placing his orders."

Dinner went smoothly with Lucius and Hermione dominating the conversation. Hermione asked a multitude of questions about every subject she could think of. A few of her questions forced all three of adults in attendaence to admit they did not know the answer.

An hour and a half after everyone had headed to bed Hermione and Lucius were holding a heated political debate in the Library. Lucius suppose this particular muggle born was a bit more than tolerable. No one can ever know how much it pained him to say so.

AN: I was almost finished editing the chapter when my computer crashed. As you can imagine I wasn't thrilled to edit it again tonight. However I promised Logo that I would have the chapter up tonight, and so I shall. Please feel free to tell me if you see any mistakes, otherwise I will edit again tomorrow, when I am a bit more awake.

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