AN: Sorry it's been so long, it took a while to move, and then things got rather complicated with RL, and my muse deciding that POAM wasn't all that interesting anymore. Luckily I have written ahead a little, and am hoping that reading the reviews generated from this chapter will help my muse return to this otherwise, I'm going to end up using the ending I'm not as satisfied with. On this note, I have posted a new poll on my profile page and would like all of your input. It will be open until the end of December at which point I will br moving on with my decision helped with by the poll results.

Chapter 24 – Blood Rites Part 1 ~~~~~Power of Ancestral Magics~~~~~

For Draco the time between the imprisonment of Sirius Black and the solstice was weird. He had pointed out at dinner the night of Michalis's verbal tongue lashing to his father that just releasing Black and clearing the charges would help Harry in forgiving the house of Potter. His father had merely sneered and said the house of Malfoy didn't bow to weakling such as Potter. But since his suggestion both his parents and Grandfather had been having discussions that abruptly stopped if he got within earshot. These conversations made Draco suspect that Lord Black had had an accident while under guard. It would suite Michalis's words of power hungry, and the furious anger that was Harry was holding. The ominous silence from house Potter also set his father on edge, and if he was honest, everyone Draco encountered. This silence unnerved Draco as well, if for a different reason. The others seemed to believe that this silence meant that the house of Potter would let the slight go without repercussions. Draco knew that silence from Harry meant that he was plotting and that his revenge would be epic.

All of this found Draco Malfoy on the afternoon of the winter solstice plotting to do something he had never done before. Draco was planning to outright disobey his father. Theodore Knott, and Blaise Zabini had both announced that they would be undergoing Blood-Rites this solstice. He had been expressly forbidden by both his parents from doing so. However, he had other plans and had already informed his account manager that he would be doing the rite and to take the cost from his vault. Now the day had arrived, and Draco found it rather easy to write the letters to both his parents, grandfather, and godfather of why exactly Draco would be absent over the next few days.

As Draco left the house via floo he passed these letters to a house elf giving directions to hand them to their intended recipients when the first one asked where he was. He took a moment before flooing to ensure that he had everything of importance before he left, he had no intention of returning to the manor. Draco had informed his account manager as to his plans and even that he expected to be disowned for it, only to be told that if he went through blood rites for the Malfoy family as well, he would be unable to disinherited, let alone disowned.

As Draco floo'd into the Gringotts bank in Rome he was escorted into a room with several other young men and ladies. Several of which he knew to be first-gen form school. Hanging out with Harry had made him hesitant to use the word muggle-born. He was surprised but then shrugged casting it off as being Harry sticking it to the ministry again. His thoughts were stopped by Theo, and Blaise clapping him on the back.

"Draco what are you doing here, I thought you were forbidden from undergoing the rite." Theo asked.

"Draco, know is really not the time to disobey your parents this isn't a joke." Blaise answered as a goblin strode into the room. A goblin that caused mumblings to go through the room.

"I thought Grinholt was to be overseeing the Rite here?"

"Where's Grinholt, he always oversees the Rome branch Blood Rite?"

Draco took all these rumblings in stride thinking for a moment, before brushing off Theo and Blaise, approaching the closest check-in Goblin he gave his name.

"Draco Malfoy."

"Excellent you are in row four look for your name, it'll be on the card on the stone."

"We'll about that…" Draco started.

"No refunds if you back out now." The goblin answered.

"No, it's, well," at the goblins stare Draco straightened his spine and stood up straight. "it is obvious that Grinholt is not going to be overseeing the Rite today, I would like to be transferred to one of the Egyptian branches to undergo blood Rites."

The goblin looked at him with a look akin to shock. Draco knew that usually this would be an idiotic move. But if he was right as Harry was in Egypt and the conversation he had overheard. He knew that Harry had not been planning on doing the rite till March but with everything that had happened to Sirius, he could see Harry doing it early, and if he was he would do it in Egypt, as to not slight the royals.

"Well, there is an opening, but the cost difference of doing the rite at the Memphis branch will not be refunded." Draco nodded at that. He had figured as much it cost generally about twice as much to have this rite done here in Rome rather than at most of the other branches.

"That is acceptable." He answered. The goblin said something to a nearby guard, who said something into his bracer, before four more guards approached and escorted Draco away much to the horror of some onlookers Lord Knott and Lord Zabini among them who had just been informed of Draco's presence.

~~~~~Power of Ancestral Magics~~~~~

For Neville the past few days had been a blur. It was hard to believe today was Wednesday and Harry had only received Sirius ring on Sunday. He had confirmed on Monday to Harry that despite the earlier time he would undergo Blood Rites with him. Now looking around the room he was feeling ill at the prospect. The room was square with five rows of raised stone beds with five beds in each row. Each stone bed was a slab of rock on top of a stout pillar that sat at about waist height. On each of the stone slabs were carved a circle that folded over the corners of the slab, as it was only half as wide as it was tall, you could see the edges of the circle on the sides and bottom of the slab. The beds in the fifth row, on the far side of the room where raised on a dais, with only one of these beds prepared. As they entered Harry saw a set of Goblins prepare another bad in the first row and change the name cards of that one with the one next to his. He was curious as to who the newcomer was until a voice behind him asked.

"So, where's Harry?" Neville jumped he couldn't help it. Whirling around he found the smug smirk of Draco Malfoy staring back at him.

"He's in one of the purifying rooms he intends to do full blood Rites not partial." Neville answered.

"Wait full blood rites as in more than four houses on his inheritance sheet. He does know that more than one failure in a full blood rite means he will die right?" Draco asked

"I am aware Draco, I am aware, but for me to pull off what I intend I will need all the power on my blood that is rightfully mine." Harry answered from behind them both. As he saw Harry, he could not help but notice the guards in the room besides the goblin ones.

"Umm, what's with the extra guards?" Draco asked.

"The goblins and I have recently suffered through a rather large disagreement. As such once their part in rituals is done, and the cuts are made, they will all be leaving including King Grinholt."

"Oh," Draco said exchanging a look with Neville who shrugged. That was not how agreements with the goblins ended.

"Please, find your places, it is time to begin." Grinholt said to the assembled. As the three split Grinholt could not help but think that in those three he was seeing a new generation rise.

Each stood on the right side of the bed and first cutting the upper right arm just under the elbow carefully dropped five drops of blood onto the right side of the circle. They then silently walked to the back of the bed and cut the left leg just under the knee dropped five drops of blood onto the circle there. Walking to the left the repeated the same as on the right but with their left arm. Walking to come and stand in front they did the same as they had done behind with the left leg.

Each of those undergoing the rite then climb onto the beds. A goblin then approaches and binding them to the stone slab, cuts a shallow but wide cut along each arm that allows blood to flow into the grooves of the circle. The goblins in the outer room chanting is obviously heard now. The goblins the reach down and cut at the joint a shallow cut into each foot also enough that blood flows easily, but not life threatening. The chanting grows louder and then suddenly stops as a light flashes through the room healing each of those bound to the stone slabs, leaving them with healed wounds but trapped within their magic. The only way out for each of them is to pass the tests set up by their family magics.

~~~~~Power of Ancestral Magics~~~~~

Draco wakes and blinks his eyes open as he sits up. He finds himself in a cylindrical room with no visible door. Along the wall's vines grew of varying shapes, types, and colors. Each vine had a specific flower growing from it, some gave off light that shined throughout the room. Draco turned looking at the other side of the room and found himself face to face with a man he recognized.

"My name is Silas Malfoy; I am your guardian for the duration of your time within the blood rite. The reason I was chosen over someone else, is unimportant. It is time for you to be tested, as this is a regular blood rite you may choose whichever vine you so choose. Each vine represents a house that you have running through your veins. The thicker the vine the older the house. The vines with the glowing flowers are the ones that you are heir to. I can answer any question about the vines or the flowers you may ask. I cannot tell you about the tests that that house will put you through."

"Well, would you be here after I take a test?" Draco asked.

"I will." Silas answered.

"Then if you could direct me to the Malfoy vine, I would be appreciative." Draco asked.

"That one is a bit different, lay back, and close your eyes." Simon said. Draco did as asked and when he opened his eyes a moment he was in a different place.

Draco sat up and looked around the spacious bedroom. Looking down he found himself in rich robes far more akin to his grandfathers ICW robes than his school robes. He turned as a knocking on the door caught his attention.

"Lord Malfoy are you prepared I'm here to escort you to the council room." A voice said from the other side of the door.

Draco carefully walked to the door and opening it he followed the young page outside the door. He followed him to the council room, listening to the page as he explained what was going on.

A neighboring kingdom had declared that his king had given slight. Though in the eyes of this kingdom no slight had been given. In retaliation the neighboring kingdoms king had broken a trade agreement after Albion had already sent the requested items for trade. The neighboring king had then executed the sent traders as foreigners and taken all the goods they had taken with them. This was the third such incident of slighted honor on Aramours patience since the perceived slight which Aramour had requested answers as to what the slight was and had received none in reply. The military advisor greatly advised against war seeing as he did not foresee the people desiring this war. Looking through the paperwork in front of him Draco took in the full situation and knowing his duty to advise towards a diplomatic approach answered.

"Our neighboring kingdom, Salidia, has a foolish king at it's head, he is greedy, boastful, new to ruling, this king too does not hold the favor of his people. I understand the general's words that war is not the solution. Salidia however is coming into a season of transition, they have a split monarchy were a king rules for a partial year as a winter or summer king and then retires and allows the other king to rule for six months. The transition period is in less than a month the winter king have we have dealt with before ewe know what to expect from him. I do not think this new summer king will willingly pass the crown; he will cause civil war to keep the crown. We silence all trade or other goods and services with Salidia and then once the crown has transferred after the war is over, we deal in either peace or arms against the victor." Draco understood what he said.

The scene before him froze at his words and he could hear voices around him. "He speaks well."

"His reasoning is sound."

"But this is not what the king wanted to hear."

"But based on the information given he answered wisely and with a diplomatic solution."

The voices solidified, into one. "We have heard your voice of reason, you answered soundly, this council finds you a true Malfoy you have inherited the house." With that Draco woke once more in the cylindrical room.

"Well, that was quick, do not expect all tests to be as easy, is there another family you wish to test yourself against?" Silas asked.

"Well, I'm not sure, could you give me some advice?" Draco asked.

"I can." Silas answered.

"Albion's house of pendragon is returning; I wish to know what houses would be best suited to rise in the wake of a rising king."

"Well, as it is Albion, I would choose the silverfish green vine, the one with gold and white flowers, it is the family Emrys. I have heard of the Le-Fay lines return but its head seems to only partially understand what it means to be ancestral. A king could use a second head of an ancestral houses to aid him, even if Evan-Shade too returns."

Draco walked over and finding a vine against the wall larger around than his wrist, with the silver gold flowers that Silas had spoken of grabbed it and with a flash of light he was gone again. Draco opened his eyes once more to find himself on a great field with a man walking towards him. Draco stood waiting as the man approached. The man got close and promptly sat down on the grass motioning Draco to sit as well.

As Draco sat the old man spoke. "I see in your eyes curiosity; this is not what you were expecting of a blood rites test."

"No, it is not." Draco answered.

"That is for many reasons. When the idea for blood rites came and we bound the gifts of our lines to the blood and made blood rites the key we lived in a different age and a different time." The man said.

"Wait, when you created blood rites?" Draco asked not quite understanding what the man was saying.

"I suppose the story would be too old to have any written records anymore. Well, young heir listen closely and perhaps you will learn something of your own history. I was raised in an era of war. Villages were ransacked, homes destroyed all for the sake of more power. As I am sure you have learned the arcane arts are very different than the magic you use today. But the truth remains the same you are born with the ability for magic or not and the arcane arts are just another branch of magic. In my day the arcane were more well known, well versed in stories, this modern magic so civilized and absolute was only for the big cities, the people close to kings, safe from the rages of war. I was an illegitimate son of the local lord and had no power to my name and unlike my siblings in the castle was not raised learning wanded magics, I learned the arcane, and eventually went to war, as my brothers did. In war they perished and upon returning home I was brought to my father's house and made heir. The arcane magic practiced by the Le-Fay house I did not find difficult, but I used them sparingly having seen the devastating effects of war, I had no desire to add to it with the arcane ancestral magics. You have to understand that in that era in that time peace had no meaning to us. But then we were conquered, in this new governance, my father was put to the blade and I was installed in his place. For the first time in my life I learned what peace was. Our king was not as power hungry as the last, I married, I saw my family prosper, my children lived a different life than I had. But outside our borders a foolish king rose. His father had like me been a bastard son of a nobleman, with the death of all his fathers' legitimate siblings his father had been brought into the house as heir, but quickly died in an assassination attempt, on his grandfather's life. The boy had been turned out for a time and then was welcomed as the new lord of the manor."

"He unlike me saw no issue with using his arcane magics with the family magics and had risen to eventually be king. He challenged my king with little fanfare. The war was both brutal and horrifying even for war in that day in age. Eventually I and several others entered the field and destroyed his army using the arcane arts combined with our own family magics. The damage had however been vast, and half the two kingdoms laid as a desolate wasteland. Not wanting such a thing to happen again the oldest of the lines both far and wide came together. We spoke of many things and a decision was made to bind the magic of our families to the blood and use the blood rites and other rites to give access to the family gifts. The results were not what we had expected, our family magics gained a sentience and house magic was formed."

"This caused other issues as well, but it did do as intended and silenced the arcane wars, after that the arcane was still used but not to the extent that we used it. eventually long after my own time the day came when the books on Arcane where put up and I hope they never are pulled down again. Regardless instead of it merely becoming a rite that a father would see a son through magic itself influenced the ritual and the rites of Blood or Blood Rite as you know it changed. It instead of became a test issued by us as the lords of the house, a test issued by the magic of the line. Know at the time that was fine, but a day came when someone failed the test set down by the family and house magics, and the magic like with any failed ritual took its price. As time went on, we discovered the cost of our binding the magic in this way to our will. But it was still better than the horror of the Arcane wars. Do you understand young Draco?" The man asked his tale told.

"I think so, you created blood rites as a stop gap from people just taking over as family head that had no training to handle the responsibility that such a position required. It's why its only required for a family after they've developed to a certain point. You lived in a different age of magic, so I guess I understand what you mean about it being needed. I saw Harry just using a few family spells at the battle with Grindelwald and he nearly leveled the whole battlefield. It was frightening and he never reached for any arcane magic so I guess I can understand it. You were trying to put more of an importance on the responsibilities of the line rather than just on the power such a title got you." Draco answered surprised.

"That is why young Draco every test is different. Furthermore, as the family and house magic is with you at all times it is also why your test are different yet. The Emrys house was known for doing what was right not what was easy. Today you underwent blood rites knowing that it may cause you to be disinherited, but you did it anyways. You made in your mind the right choice with all the information you had and accepting the consequences of what that choice would incur did what you saw was necessary. We may not have liked it so much in our heirs and tried to teach them the right method of going about it, but it is what the Le-Fay house stood for. You passed your test before entering the chambers for your blood-rites. Congratulations Lord Emrys." As the old man finished his words the world for Draco went white again and he closed his eyes, when he opened them again a moment later he was back in the circular room.

"You young heir are impressive I now not what the test for Emrys was but you passed it quite easily. Which shall you brave through next?" Silas said.

"So, I did." Draco looked around he saw on the walls so many more vines, vines that he could undertake the rite for an gain their power but looking down at the Emrys ring now sitting on his finger, Draco thought of the story the old man had told before making up his mind. "None," at Silas shocked look he continued. "if I made power the strongest thing in my life, I could challenge every vine in this room and still not be satisfied. I would leave this room and become no better than Lord Le-Fay and my father who have hardened their hearts to reason and have focused their eyes only on power not seeing the consequences. I would make myself an enemy of a man that I love and that, that, is not what I desire. I desire to give our world peace again, to serve a just king that will think of others before his own desires. I want the house of Malfoy to be able to stand proud of their heritage, I want my sons to say that they come from an honorable line. No, I am done I have claimed what will be mine, the others, the others can be left for future descendants, their power is not mine and I desire them not." Draco answered and the room went white and he closed his eyes again.

When Draco next opened his eyes, he found himself not in the cylindrical room but back in Gringotts. He sat up rubbing his wrists, that where crusted with blood, before he had wet towel unceremoniously shoved into his hands. Looking up and seeing Harry's guard Alrick he nodded saying his thanks he then went to the other end of the room where he was escorted to Grinholt and he repeated his inheritance test. After a quick look at the date on the calendar he discovered that it was now the 24th. He looked down at the paper as it was handed to him and noted his father's attempt two days before to disinherit him. The attempt had failed as he was still under blood rites for that house. His status as the next heir of house Black stunned him for a moment but his eyes moved to other things. The Emrys ring was handed over in a box along with the paperwork for his immediate emancipation. After everything was handed over, he was escorted by Alomar out of the bank and to the palace, where they waited for Neville and Harry to wake.