Disclaimer: If you recognize it, it's probably not mine It all belongs to JK I'm just playing in her sandbox a little. I do read a lot of Fanfiction so if you see anything else you recognize I may have accidentally incorporated something.
AN: Updated 1-25-20. As always Read and Review
Chapter 8 – September 11, 1995
~~~~~Power of Ancestral Magics~~~~~
Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire, England
Draco Malfoy checked that his trunk was packed and that he was ready to leave for Hogwarts before going to the formal dining room to eat breakfast with his parent, grandfather, and the dark lord.
The past two weeks since his grandfather's return to England had been a change of pace for Draco. Over the past two weeks, his grandfather had forced him to go over and share every memory of the past four years at Hogwarts. His grandfather had pointed out every mistake and had drilled into his head what he should have done instead. His grandfather had been rather upset with Lucius for not teaching Draco proper etiquette and wizarding traditions. So much so that he had shown his displeasure by cutting his access to the family fortune from 15 million yearly to 5 million yearly, among other things that Draco had not seen, as Abraxas had sent him away and locked and silenced the doors of the study they had been in. However, by his fathers chastised look it when he had left, it had not been kind.
His grandfather had, last night informed him that he would not escape his grandfather lectures by attending Hogwarts. It seemed that the parents of other students had expressed questions on whether or not Severus Snape's word could be trusted as he had told Lucius that Draco behaved like a perfect pureblood heir, and as proven by Potters words through the exchange of boons in the Wizengamot chambers, Draco had not acted as a proper pureblood heir ought. It seems they wanted a second opinion, and the board of governors had chosen two, in the form of his Grandfather Abraxas Malfoy being the Wizarding culture, and Traditions Professor and Heir Levine being the new History of Magic professor. The board had petitioned a stall on the other classes to have a chance to plan out requirements and such for those classes properly. The Wizengamot had voted and approved that they would have to be added within the next three school years. Draco wasn't sure what to think of it.
However, he wasn't sure of a lot of things he had been taught anymore. Draco was 16 and going into 5th year as of right before he was initially scheduled to begin Hogwarts, he had contracted dragon pocks, and at the time he had finally been well Hogwarts had been in session for two full months. Draco had to start his first year the following year. As he was 16, he had several family traditions to start or at least undergo this year. The Malfoy tradition of financial training had seen him cut off from the family vaults completely, he had been given a million galleons and what remained of his trust fund which until know had provided Draco with 25,000 galleons a year as spending money since his birth. Know he had the one mil. from his grandfather and the over 250,000 galleons in his trust vault and in 5 years he had to be able to show his grandfather how it had grown from that 1 million galleons to at least 2 million. He wasn't sure how, though and his grandfather couldn't help him. As his father hadn't passed this traditional test, he wasn't asking him.
Another tradition was the tradition of seeking he had until the winter solstice to give his grandfather a betrothal contract or his grandfather would make one for him. The last and final tradition Draco had undergone just three days ago. The tradition of seeing was a controversial tradition in many families. At the age of 16, you went to a seer and had your future in a way told you. Draco hadn't known what to think when his grandfather had taken him to the seer who had only one classified false prophecy ever spoken, and most considered a broken prophecy as parts of that one had been fulfilled. Grindelwald had been defeated but whatever she had spoken of when she said that he would lose the war, but his final goal would see fruition, was a mystery to many and was the part people marked as false.
~~~~~Flashback~~~~~
Draco and his Godfather entered the shop of one Serenity Collins. They were told to wait in the seats by the receptionist at the desk. A few moments after Serenity showed her last customers out and asked what they were here for.
"My grandson just turned 16 and needs to undergo the tradition of seeing." Said Abraxas.
"Well, then young Mr. Malfoy, please come with me." Stated Miss. Collins. Draco was shocked when his grandfather remained seated and motioned for him to follow. "It is customary for the seeing, young Malfoy, to be undertaken with no others besides the seer and the heir present. Now you have a few choices to make young Malfoy, your first option is we sit here and chat for about 15 minutes, and then I escort you outside to your grandfather and you never seek to know your future or the second option that you chose a method you wish for me to seek your future through."
"Um, why wouldn't I want to do this?" asked Draco, confused.
"The future is a burdensome thing, young wizard, for all of us, there are paths we take that solidify our fates, and once those paths are chosen, our paths are set. Sometimes it is a series of choices for others a single choice decides the fate of your entire life. Your father was one such as these I gave him a prophecy that said he would have a chance for power twice, but that one would be false and the other genuine power. The false path would give him power for a time, but it would ultimately cost him and that his false power would be useless when he needed it most, that in the end for all his power history would not remember him, as anything but misguided. Once spoken, once acknowledge such prophecy has power. Knowledge of the future young heir is not a thing to seek without respect for that which you seek."
"I choose to seek it, for it is better to know than to always wonder what if." Answered Draco.
"Very well I can an induce a vision, give you a prophecy, read your tea leaves, or see into a crystal ball. A warning young one if the fates so wish it any of these could end in me giving you more than one for only the fates decide how to tell the future." She said.
"I chose the crystal ball that I may see what you see." Answered Draco.
"Very well let us look into the ball, are you a studier of runes young Draco?"
"Yes, I'm second in my year."
"Good for I see three runic symbols, surrounding the emblem of Janus. You have a choice to make, and from each of those choices can come one of two results, but both are interconnected, the differences in the secondary paths are not made by your choices but the choices of others." As Draco looks into the orb, he sees images as her words begin to invoke a change in the crystal. First comes a distorted image, Voldemort fights on a battlefield, and Harry Potter, his opponent, cuts him down, in the background, Draco can make out a burning Malfoy Manor. The scene suddenly shifts, and a familiar face is talking to him, and his father says something and both he and his father attack, he sees his father and him attack the man, this image to then fades into an image of Malfoy manor burnt to the ground. His and his father's ashes were gathered, and given a traitor's burial, to be scattered in the four corners of Albion.
Suddenly the orb goes black, and a hazy, ethereal crystal-clear scene can be seen, a castle far more giant than Hogwarts appears, with a large city surrounding it, the image plays over the city before focusing in on the castle itself. As this happens, he sees a blurry of two people, one an older man he looks much like his grandfather with key differences he couldn't place. The man holds the hands of a child, that has the Malfoy blonde hair and other vital features that mark him as a Malfoy. They stand in front of a statue of 3 men fighting side by side valiantly. The little boy looks up and pointing at one of the men, asks, "Grandfather, who was he, and why do I look like him?"
"That my dear child was Draconis Malfoy, my father, he through his choices and alliances led the Malfoy line through perilous times and allowed us to have a place in Camelot. He was, my grandson, a great man strict on propriety and on etiquette, but the men he surrounded himself were as well. If it had not been for a single decision he made, our house could have perished."
At this the image wavered and shifted again, this time it focused onto a specific room of the castle, which seemed even more beautiful suddenly. He focused on the door as someone came through it. "You can come through now," stepping into the room, a man that was blurry and unclear laid on the bed.
"Draco come here, come meet our son, a prince to carry forth our lines, the first of many." At this moment, the visions ended, and looking up Serenity smiled at him.
"I dare say the fates chose to give a bit more of a peak then they usually do, but then again we are approaching a merging point. Before you ask, a merging point is a point where fates merge. They are endings, outcomes that must come to pass. The statue of secrecy, Arthurs ascension as King, the building of Hogwarts, were all merging points, we approach another, one that I spoke of in part many years ago."
"Can you tell me what it is?"
"No, unfortunately that is the seers curse we may see, we may watch, but we cannot usually interfere, what I can tell you is that it ties into an old prophecy in your department of Mysteries, it's from a time before those spells they now have on those orbs that permit only those it pertains to, to touch it. If you would like, you can request to hear it, but be warned and remember that prophecy is confusing and hard to follow, what you take to mean one thing could mean another." Answered Serenity.
Draco thanked Serenity for both the prophecy and her words of advice, as she escorted him out.
~~~~~Flashback End~~~~~
Draco thought of the prophecy now, what was the choice, what was the decision he could make that would cause one over the other.
"Draco, I would appreciate it if you could at least attempt to look as if you are trying to pay attention." Scolded his mother.
"My apologies mother," said Draco, "I was lost in thoughts; what were we discussing?"
"What has had you so preoccupied Draco? You've been distracted and preoccupied with something for days," she responds.
"Draco, my son, you should not put so much wait into what that seer said." Lucius Malfoy insightfully spoke. "Just look at me, if I had believed her prophecy and let it decide my fate, I would never have become as powerful as I am now. You have to remember that prophecy only has power when people believe in them, most predictions are self-fulfilling without any input from us as individuals."
"I remember she said that," Draco answered a puzzled expression on his face.
"Then take what was said with a grain of salt and forget it." Interjected Narcissa, as she, Lucius and the dark lord finished their breakfasts and started to leave the table. "Your grandfather will be taking you to the station your father, and I have duties we must attend to."
Draco nodded in acceptance.
"They are both right Draco do not become lost in her words, my Dragon," Abraxas said.
"It's not her words Grandfather, it's what I saw. There were 4 options, paths to take the first two both saw the destruction of Malfoy Manor, and I have no doubt our line. The 3rd and 4th in different ways saw to the preservation of our line. We persevered, I saw my future son, my firstborn, I saw the return of Camelot Grandfather.
Abraxas smiled, "That is delightful Draco, in preparation for that you must take my teachings carefully, for it will mean the return of the court, and each country will vie for them to have the favor of Albion's King. You will need your knowledge to circumvent them and to keep the king's favor. Now finish your breakfast; it is almost time to go."
"But Grandfather its barely 8:30."
"And you are a perfect this year, you need to be there early. Do not argue with me, Draco."
'Of course not, Grandfather."
~~~~~ Power of Ancestral Magic ~~~~~
Platform 9 ¾, Kings Cross Station, London
Harry and company arrived at Kings Cross Station at 9 a.m., in a flurry of movement and activity. The morning had been relatively quiet so far as most of the Hogwarts students were already packed the night before. To Harry, it was a far cry from the frantic packing the morning of that he had seen so often from the Weasley's household.
As they settle entered the second to last car on the train Harry, in a quick transfiguration changed the sixteen-individual compartment, eight along each side, into one large open compartment, with benches and seats. This would allow more people to sit and talk instead of being forced to move from compartment to compartment, to talk other groups. This also allowed for Harry to keep an eye on all the children under his house's sponsorship and enabled him to inform them of the same rules that applied to them, and that the staff had been informed of. Silver, Jean-Marc, Artemis, and Arsenio, all took a seat next to Harry. The four bearers had gotten to know each other quite well over the past several weeks and become good friends. Harry had noticed how easy it was for him to get along with the other bearers, things he said, emotions he felt the way he interacted with his magic, they all understood. It was enlightening and revealing as to why bearers sought out other bearers.
In Albion, this had not happened in the past few centuries because Albion's bearers had been all but nonexistent since the fall of the Pendragon line. Since then only about 120 known bearers beyond the ones in the current generation had been known throughout all of Albion. This raised the question on the power of House Potter, as it now held not one but four bearers. Harry had been forced to prepare to fight with the ministry when the news came out. Two centuries ago when a bearer had died in a duel between two of his suitors, the ministry had passed a law that guardianship of all bearers born in Britain were to be wards of the Ministry and that it alone would decide on who would be their bonded. This law still stood on the books as Arsenio, Artemis, Silver, and Jean-Marc were not born in Britain they were relatively safe; however, Harry had been born in England and through claiming Harry they could claim the others through some of the archaic laws. Harry was however emancipated twice over and was exempt from this law as an heir. However, refusing to trust the ministry he had still built a defense against this as he doubted the Minister would do his research and simply try to force Ministerial guardianship onto him when other purebloods remembered this law.
Thinking this over led Harry to the robes the five of them wore, and how they had discovered both the Hogwarts bearers' uniform that they had then commissioned and the old Hogwarts charter, which contained an up to date listing of all the true rules of Hogwarts. Harry was going to have fun this year, he had decided to finally use his marauder legacy for something and was going to use every rule the headmaster was currently breaking against both him, the teachers, and the other students. This had also prompted Harry into creating a Hogwarts readiness kit for his group. The kit included, a simpler copy of the marauder's map, a special copy of the Hogwarts charter and a two-way mirror directly to Harry.
The simple Marauders map nickname the, was linked directly into the schools wards the first time it activated inside the castle. This link allowed the map to show a student's location and allowed them to select a person or a place by either writing out the persons name or describing/naming the place or by selecting it with their wand from a list of nearby or regularly visited places. It then gave you step by step directions to the person or place they wished to go.
The special copy of the Hogwarts charter was a marvel, it was linked to an enchanted piece of paper that was both enchanted against destruction and was connected to the book, it also had a search charm and a monitor charm on it. These 4 enchantments worked together to allow the paper to monitor activity around it, and then search out the rule that corresponded with it. This Harry knew would be a boon for him as he would need it to no doubt defend himself from both professor and students alike, he had also brought about two dozen additional copies with him to give out to those he trusted.
At a quarter to ten, it was unsurprising to Harry for the Weasley's and Hermione to come racing onto the train. No doubt by the perfect badges on their chests they would be by to Harry's compartment after the perfect's meeting.
That prompted Harry to think about other surprises that had occurred throughout the last 3 weeks. After the trial it had been revealed that Harry was indeed staying at Potter Manor. This had brought him to have several different visitors, from Madame Bones Regent of house Bones on his behavior towards Susan, to other members of the Wizengamot wanting him to support their bill. Letters had also become an issue as Dumbledore saw now to off center Harry and remove the mail redirect ward on him. This had prompted Harry to receive a couple thousand letters, all at the same time. The elves and the guard were still working together to sort through them, isolating the malicious ones, and preserving the nicer ones. This had prompted him to also publish several apologies in the newspaper for not answering to mail, after a slandering reply calling him a liar over it, Law Wizard Tonks had stepped in and shared the memories of Harry receiving his first wizarding letter, and being undulated with letters a few days before. The prophet had printed parts of these memories, only to escape full out lawsuit.
The news of a full audit being done at Gringotts had broken the next day and had taken attention off of Harry. But it had been in those days as he had been learning of his family's place in the world that Harry and Sirius received a visitor in the form of the newly name Lord William Weasley. The ring had rejected their father years before but had accepted Charlie as its master. Upon being briefed by the goblins over the matter of Molly's, Ginny's, and Ron's vaults, he had inferred that there was one for Hermione as well. He had escorted them to the bank, and it had been cataloged by the goblins that although both Molly, and Ginny had entered the vaults created by Dumbledore, Ron and Hermione had not. Ron had quickly after being told authorized the return of the money to the Potter vaults as Bill had done the same for Molly's and Ginny's noting the spent amounts and speaking to Harry of it.
Ron from what he had been told had spoken to Hermione of doing the same and she had refused. Stating that Dumbledore had given it to her and that she had a right to the money. After that and her subsequent outburst, Bill had had both her and Ron tested for any and all Potions and spells in their systems and on their personages. They had both come back positive. Ron had quickly at Bill's prompting undertaken the ritual that would remove all said spells and potions. Hermione had refused on the basis of all Rituals being dark according to Dumbledore and that they should be outlawed.
Ron who had accompanied his brother had apologized to Harry but both Harry and Bill could see the strain on the friendship between the two boys. Harry lamentingly set it aside as they had just grown to distant with all the changes Harry was making in his life. He mourned for the change in his friendship but also knew that his new friends, and Neville would be beside in ways that Ron could not.
It was Hermione that worried Harry. She was used to getting her own way and being right. Used to being needed and able to walk all over him and others. With this year being Owls, Harry among others would be required to perform in their studies to the best of their ability. To meet and surpass family expectations, along with performing and passing other family rites and tests. Harry had no time to take Hermione aside and slowly peel back the layers of Dumbledore's indoctrination. He had no doubt that this year would be hard on her as she would no longer have his protection. But Sirius had told Harry that if at yule if Harry had anything less than an EE he was pulling him out of Hogwarts. He even expected an EE in Potions he said "You are a young heir if you feel Snape is not performing to his duties then tell me to hire a tutor. I'm fine with that." Harry had taken it to heart.
After the train left the station Harry's compartment filled up quick many students liking the different style of train car. Harry spotted Draco with his perfects badge, slip into the back but didn't comment. If he didn't bother Harry, he wasn't going to antagonize him. Harry, Arsenio, Artemis, Silver, Jean-Marc, Neville, and Ron once he joined them talked of many things, before the subject of Gringotts came up, more importantly, account managers.
"I simply could not believe it when I found out my Grandmother had taken our account managers salary down to the traditional one percent. I immediately changed it to three percent, and I have seen tremendous results." Said Neville.
"Dumbledore had done much the same with my vaults."
"Really Harry show some respect to the headmaster, its Professor Dumbledore, Headmaster Dumbledore." Interrupted Hermione.
"I am showing some respect, I haven't declared blood feud between our houses, what Dumbledore has done to the house of Potter was unforgivable. I am showing the exact amount of respect he deserves." Hermione harrumphed and returned to her book. "I changed the 1 percent retainers fee to 4 percent and made it tiered, so if he returns the dividends of house Potter to matching that of when my parents were alive within the next year then he will receive a 6 percent commission. If he managed to double that he will receive 10 percent. I set that up and then gave him access to only 10 percent of the family fortune. He's since then halfway returned the percentage to what it had been, in the few weeks since the trial. I then gave him access to 25% of the Potter wealth to invest; it will work well for me I believe."
Hermione lightly glared at Harry but didn't say anything further. As the train continued to move towards Hogwarts it looked as if this would be the first year that Harry`s entire train ride passed without interruption. Until the car door swung open and Susan Bones accompanied by Hannah Abbott and several other Hufflepuff students entered the car.
"Wow this car is really nice I wonder which teacher transfigured the car, and why they didn't also do so to other cars?" Commented one of the incoming students.
"If it wasn't for some of the people in this car, I would agree." Sneered Hannah Abbott.
"Tell me, Potter, how is it that Weasley has the perfects badge instead of you, see even I got one." Said Susan Bones.
"Of course, you did," said Ernie Macmillan. "You aren't a liar and a cheat like Harry."
"I knew you were a fool, but I hadn't realized you were an idiot as well." Sneered Draco.
"Well, then how do explain Weasley getting the perfects badge over Potter or Neville." Snapped another Hufflepuff from behind Hannah.
"Dumbledore playing politics, heir Potter recently made several political moves through his proxy against Dumbledore. I mean even the removal of Dumbledore from the Potter proxy seat could be seen as a political move against Dumbledore. Why do you think there are over 150 new students this term at Hogwarts, none of which are from the cadet lines of different British houses that have been recalled, or are counted among the new first years? Someone strong enough politically and magically has finally stood against Dumbledore and they all want to see how it ends."
"Dumbledore is a great man, Harry would never do something like that." Answered Hermione Granger.
"I have Hermione, Albus Dumbledore has set himself up as a King of Britain. I am a Potter, and as such I will permit no king that does not have a true claim to the Pendragon seat, to rule any of her territories."
"Dumbledore has Pendragon blood and the right to be King." Sneered Susan Bones.
"Then why has he not gone through the proper Rites and claimed the seat." Questioned Neville.
"Because he's not a power-hungry monster like the brat sitting next to you." Snapped Hannah Abbott.
"No, it's for the same reason as all the others in this car that have Pendragon blood. The seat can only be claimed by an heir, we haven't been chosen as the heir and as such can't claim it." Draco snapped, gaining some attention before it swiveled back to Harry.
"I suggest your group leave," spoke Harry. "I am nearing the end of my patience and you would not wish to see how your houses would fair against mine in a blood feud."
"You, filthy half-blood" snapped Hannah pulling her wand on Harry. Only to be met with half a dozen wands pointing straight back at her.
Draco spoke again "I suggest you and your friends leave heir Macmillan. You are no longer welcome here." With that, the group left seeing that they were very outnumbered.
"Thank you, heir, Malfoy you have honored your line today." They both nodded to one another.
"Harry James Potter that is the second time you have you have threatened blood feud against someone, first Dumbledore, now Hannah I am beginning to understand what Dumbledore means when he says you are ill-prepared for your lordship threatening such things. Blood feuds are simply justified murders of rival families in bygone eras, you have no business bringing back the practice. You ought to be ashamed of yourself Harry." Scolded Hermione.
"Miss, Granger I will forgive you for questioning my liege's honor this once, in honor of the fact you are a first-gen. In the future, if you challenge the honor of my liege I will put you in your place." Said Tyler Potter.
"How dare you…"
"Hermione," interrupted Harry. "You went to France this past summer, right?"
"Yes, but what does that…"
"When you went to France did you expect to follow English customs, and for everyone to do things as we do them in England?" asked Harry.
"Well, no but…"
"You can't do that here either, its why starting this year Hogwarts will have a Wizarding Culture and Traditions class. The wizarding world has different do's and don'ts, it's a different culture."
"Don't be silly Harry, we're all still English, we're all subjects of the queen, it isn't like we belong to a separate country when you have magic." Chided Hermione.
"Actually, Hermione no we aren't. Queen Elizabeth and the Windsor family rule over the Mundane side of England and only the mundane side. Magical Britain, most of Europe and the Magical United states are all part of the Magical Empire of Albion. We are ruled, if we currently had a king, by the Utmost and Royal House of Pendragon with its head of house as our King. It's also part of the reason behind the statute of Secrecy. After the death of the last monarch in 1485, the Roman Catholic church saw a chance to grab power, and so they declared us to be witches though by their terms we are mages, something completely different. So, the witch hunts began and cumulated into the Spanish Inquisition and Salem witch trials of the fourteenth and fifteenth century. To battle this the statute of Secrecy was put into effect and it still stands today."
"Harry that's impossible we would have learned this in History of Magic class." Replied Hermione.
"Not under Binns, it's why he's been sacked." Answered Neville.
Hermione just gave them disbelieving looks and Harry knew she was going to be in the Library over the next few days as classes didn't start until Monday.
"Hey mate not that I'm against it or anything but when did you pick up all formal stuff." Asked Ron.
"Over the summer I was located by someone that has been teaching me the old ways of the houses and the Wizarding World in general, a sort of guardian if you will. They've really been a good help." Answered Harry.
Malfoy and Neville seemed to simultaneously choke on something as they looked at Harry with respect in their eyes.
"If you ever need anything from my house, I would happily aid," said Draco.
"Same," said Neville, Harry gave both boys a hard look before nodding in acceptance.
"Hey, we're almost to the castle, so you should probably get into school robes." Came a shout from somewhere in the compartment. Harry quickly conjured several blankets and hung them up to form changing room in the back of the car, he saw several others including both Hermione, and the Weasley's use them.
"Harry, Neville you need to change into school robes." Said Hermione after she got back, giving the others in their section a dirty look for not also changing.
"I'll wear school uniforms for classes Hermione as long as I'm wearing robes I'm fine for the welcome feast, here it's right here in the Hogwarts charter." Answered Harry.
"Harry the Hogwarts charter was removed years ago." Answered Hermione. At the smirks and looks of others, she says, "it was in Hogwarts a History."
"If the charter had been removed then the founders magic in Hogwarts would have faded Hermione. No more hat, no points system, no sorting, no houses, none of it, Hogwarts can't function without the charter in place. The castle itself would transfer back to being Peverell lands if the Hogwarts Charter was removed." Replied Neville.
Hermione was speechless and Harry could see her mentally add research the Hogwarts Charter to her list of things to do.
The rest of the ride to Hogwarts was overall uneventful. As the train pulled into Kings Cross station a full hour early to make time for the sorting of almost 200 new first years and 500 transfer students Harry knew it would be a long night. As the other students left the compartment Harry set the train car to right as they left to the scolding from Hermione for undoing a Professor's work until she was informed Harry had done it in the first place. As they separated from those that were to be sorted, as those that had to be sorted had to cross the lake with the first years, Harry had a minor shock at seeing the Thestrals that he quickly got rid of. Harry was happy to return and wondered what exciting adventures would await him as he went through his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
