"Tom," Abraxas greeted, eyeing the man lounging on his sofa like it was his house, "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

Tom smirked, seeing the irritation Abraxas wasn't quite quick enough to mask, before he ran his eyes over his friend's son. The boy looked remarkably ill at ease, his usual air of pureblood indifference obliterated at the sight of him in such an unexpected context. Good. "Abraxas, Lucius, I do apologise for dropping in unannounced."

"No, you don't," Abraxas scoffed, losing his look of irritation in favour of resigned exasperation. "Drink?"

"You're right, I do not." Tom agreed serenely, looking pointedly at Lucius, "Do sit down. I do not bite."

Lucius moved stiffly, hoping his mask was well in place as his mind whirled. Tom Riddle was one of his father's oldest friends, and he knew him as well as the man allowed anyone to know him. He was ruthless, calculating and quite frankly terrifying. And apparently, Hermione sodding Black's godfather. He couldn't picture it if he was honest. She was light and warm and magic and Tom was…. well. Tom Riddle.

"Whiskey if you have it Brax," Tom continued as Lucius finally sat down, ramrod straight and clearly uncomfortable. Tom hid his smile as he nodded his thanks as one of the elves handed him a glass. "Now. I assume you know why I'm here."

"The youngest Miss Black I presume." Abraxas replied wryly, sitting opposite him, "Why did you never mention the girl was your goddaughter?"

Tom paused, seeming to give the question some consideration, "There are some who would wish to hurt her to get to me."

Abraxas nodded his agreement, "True, but for no one to know?"

Tom smirked, "You mean why didn't I tell you?"

"Well honestly! We've been friends since school!"

Giving a huff of laughter Tom considered them, "I do not actually hide it. Those who have been in a room with both of us are likely aware if they're paying the slightest attention. Hermione's friends definitely are. You, however, were so focused on Andromeda Black that you failed to consider any of the other girls at those ridiculous parties and get-togethers people insist on," he paused, his eyes calculating, "That being said, I am here because the situation is rather more complicated than her just being my goddaughter. No one outside of her immediate family knows what I am about to tell you, therefore, you are going to take an unbreakable vow to never utter a word of this conversation within the hearing of anyone else." he spoke with a dangerous undercurrent to his voice that neither Malfoy was stupid enough not to notice and pay attention to, both of them unconsciously straightening further in their seats as he continued, "And in return, I shall tell you exactly why Hermione is my goddaughter."

Abraxas paused, a flash of disbelief crossing his face. "Very well," he muttered finally. "Lucius, if you will bind us." Utterly stunned Lucius moved to comply, wondering what exactly the little witch was mixed up in.

Vows complete, they returned to their seats and Tom turned to watch them silently for several beats.

"Just before my visit from Dumbledore at Wools, I was visited by a witch who told me a fantastical story about a boy who survived two killing curses, a man who was more snake than human, and a dictator disguised behind a grandfatherly mask. It was…utterly unbelievable truth be told. Magic, as a concept, wasn't something I had ever truly considered and so I laughed at her, made some cutting remarks and dismissed her. She informed me she would return. And she did. After Dumbledore had been, I was a little less scornful, unlike Hermione the first time he had been willing to prove magic was real. So, I listened as she repeated the bare bones of the story and despite my knowing she was leaving rather a large number of details out, she wouldn't elaborate but promised to return and fill in the gaps as I got older. I was not entirely polite at that. But she smiled and informed me she'd return to take me to Diagon Alley." he paused with a faint smile as if remembering something fondly as both Malfoys sat spellbound. "She did indeed return and I had the…strange experience of an adult who appeared to care. It was rather jarring truth be told and I was inherently distrustful. She ignored it, stubborn witch. Hades was a gift from her."

"Your owl?" Abraxas spluttered.

"Yes," Tom agreed. "She insisted. She also insisted on topping up the school's provision with some of her own galleons. And while I didn't trust her, I at least had a grudging appreciation for the witch who ensured I was not outfitted with entirely second or third-hand robes and supplies. While shopping we discussed the people I might meet at school, the unspoken rules I wouldn't have learned until much later on without her and the creatures that had only been present in fairytales for me. It was her who informed me of my legacy, who, eventually, two years later told me my mother's story and who, having visited me with reasonable frequency for years, sat me down just before sixth year and filled in those gaps she'd promised she would when I was eleven."

"And this witch is…related to Miss Black?" Abraxas hedged looking baffled.

Tom gave a genuine bark of laughter, "The witch was Miss Black."

"What?" Lucius blurted, "That's not…"

"Possible?" Tom finished lightly. "No it shouldn't be. But, it is. So now, I am going to give you the bare bones of her story and explain what we did next. Hermione Granger was born in 1979 and became best friends with Harry Potter, who was also known as The boy who lived or the Chosen One after he defeated Lord Voldemort as a baby. Making sense?"

"No." Abraxas retorted, rolling his eyes at his friend, knowing he was enjoying this.

Tom snorted, "She told me that originally, I murdered Myrtle Warren in sixth year with the basilisk that resides in the Chamber of Secrets. I murdered my father and grandparents the year after. I used both to create Horcruxes. And then I apparently trained for a while and amassed a following that I marked and presided over using pain and fear while simultaneously decimating our world and the muggle one. Dumbledore created a resistance in response. Towards the end of what Hermione knew as the first wizarding war, there was a prophecy that meant I was expected to target two families. I eventually went after the Potters where Harry Potter's mother's sacrifice saved him and left me as a wraith. Bellatrix and the Lestrange brothers tortured the Longbottoms, the second family the prophet could have pertained to, into insanity looking for information after my unfortunate defeat. And then Dumbledore left the young Potter with abusive muggle relatives and ignored him until he was elven. That's rather important."

"That is…" Abraxas paused, considering him, "Not as shocking as it should be."

Tom smirked. "Quite. Sirius Black spent 12 years in Azkaban for the betrayal of the Potters, when it was one of their other friends who provided me with the secret kept address, the same friend who lived as the Weasley's pet rat after my apparent demise. He helped me return to a physical body in 1995. Hermione was involved in various shenanigans involving me during her school years that I won't go into, but it culminated in her spending months in a tent with two boys hunting my Horcruxes on Dumbledore's say so despite them being barely of age. It did not go all that well, mostly due to the fact that he had given them no information to go on and they had no food nor any actual idea of what they were doing. Despite that, the light side won. I gather it was a thrilling tale involving breaking into the Ministry and breaking out of Gringotts on a dragon."
"Did you just say a dragon?" Abraxas demanded.

"Yes." Tom agreed as if that was perfectly reasonable. "Harry Potter once again defeated me at what Hermione called the Battle of Hogwarts, only for Bellatrix to murder him. Many died, apparently. And once the dust settled, she found all the information Albus had hidden from them. It left her rather irate and so she came up with a plan. It took her almost five years, apparently, and during that time she became more and more disillusioned with our world which wanted to trot her out on feast days while simultaneously refusing to give her any place or affect any change. She was rather peeved about it all, truth be told."

"So Hermione Black is…Hermione Granger deaged?" Lucius hedged, attempting to make sense of what he'd just been told.

Tom scoffed, "Indeed she is not. She presented me with a two-part ritual just after we disposed of Dumbledore, explaining that she couldn't remain where she was with conflicting memories driving her to insanity, she wanted a fresh start. I think in all honesty, she was mostly terrified of what her life would look like without me being a threat and helping her gain friends. Her argument was unusually weak given the ritual she chose. However, by this point, despite it being less than six months for her, she had been visiting me for years so I agreed obviously and approached Orion at her request."

"Why Orion?"

"She had rather a large soft spot for Sirius." Tom shrugged. "Regardless, Hermione Black is indeed a Black. The ritual ensured Walburga carried a girl, we hadn't realised it would make her twin but it hardly matters. After her birth we completed the second part, imbuing some of the original Hermione's magic into the babe, in effect murdering the original." he paused, an uncharacteristic expression of sadness on his face before he masked it. "Her memories returned slowly, as we knew they would. She has them all now, albeit with many of the emotions muted so she doesn't actually trigger the Black family madness. Unfortunately, she did remember that she left me detailed instructions before she sacrificed herself."

Abraxas snorted, "Detailed instructions for what?"

"Muggleborn integration, creature rights, House rivalry, magic limitations. She truly is one of the brightest witches I have ever met."

"Did she know me…before?" Lucis asked hesitantly, his mind still reeling.

"Yes." Tom nodded, "Although mainly as someone who wanted her dead and watched Bellatrix torture her on your drawing room floor."

He went so pale Tom wondered if he'd faint. "What?"

"You heard me. She went to school with your son. You married Narcissa in her time. Andromeda did as she did this time, although I gather she had not been aware the witch was meant to marry you. She was devastated by that defection, especially as she tried so hard to keep her."

"Andromeda doesn't know…"

"No. Outside myself and her parents, only her brothers know."

"You couldn't persuade Cygnus not to disown Andromeda?" Abraxas asked with interest, the young Black going up massively in his estimations with all this new information.

"If Hermione asks me to I would." he admitted, "I don't think she will though."

"Why?"

"Why," Tom repeated with a sigh, "Because Andromeda fought her every step of the way, because Edward Tonks did not want to embrace our traditions and actively railed against them, because currently she is hurt that her cousin refused to see anything but the bad and was underhand in her handling of the situation. She could have married Edward without this nonsense if she had told Cygnus and Edward had attempted to integrate. Neither of those things happened; it was rebellion for rebellion's sake. That the witch has told her not to contact her again hurt her deeply, I gather she was close to Andromeda's daughter before."

"Mother of Circe," Abraxas swore softly.

"Did it affect her magic?" Lucius asked abruptly as a thought occurred to him.

Tom smirked, "Of course it did. Little witch is too powerful for her own good."

"I can feel it," he murmured.

"Can you?" Tom asked with interest. "That's…surprising."

"Is it?"

"Yes. She usually has rigid control."

"She doesn't worry about Narcissa?" Abraxas interjected.

"Yes, truthfully she does. Her decisions affect people she knew, and she has tried her hardest to ensure that they only do so in positive ways. She is… concerned about your son."

"He couldn't be our son?" Lucius asked before his mind caught up with his mouth.

Tom's eyebrows rose as he fought to keep himself from laughing, "Getting a bit ahead of yourself there young Lucius." he cautioned, "But yes I imagine he could, although I don't know how she'll feel about that."

"I do not want to marry Narcissa," Lucuis declared, daring to look Tom in the eye.

"No," Tom mused, "I had realised that. But, after hearing that, are you sure you wish to marry my goddaughter?"

Lucius snorted before he could help himself, "She is powerful, ruthless, apparently far more intelligent than I had given her credit for and overflowing with magic. Why wouldn't I want to marry her?"

"Because she will now bow to your expectations. make no mistake for all she was raised with them this time, Orion has given her far more free rein than even I expected. The man adores her. She is stubborn and righteous and…the person I care for above all others. Make no mistake, Lucius, should you marry her, we will all be watching. That little witch is my Heir. She saved my life, I will do everything in my power to ensure that hers is exactly as she wishes it to be, do you understand me?"

"Yes Sir," he murmured.

Tom nodded, "Should you proceed you will attend duelling lessons with me three times a week until I deem you sufficient."

Lucius nodded, taking a deep breath as he met Tom's eyes again, "When do we start?"