Galatea Malfoy is born fifteen minutes before her twin brother.
To most people this would be inconsequential. A fun fact to bring up amongst friends or a trump card to shut down childish, petty arguments.
Unfortunately Abraxas Malfoy is not 'most people'.
Being the head of a prestigious family, not to mention a Prestigious Pure Blooded Wizarding Family, was a large and heavy responsibility. A burden that should be placed on steady shoulders. Atop them a head that must be raised on proper Pure Blooded ideals and could handle the tough decisions he would inevitably have to make.
Yes, the Malfoy Family has always been patriarchal. He planned to rule his family with an iron fist like his father before him, like his grandfather before his father and so on.
It's an easy decision to make and an even easier task to complete switching the times of births on the certificates, slipping a pouch of golden sickles to the doctor. For all intents and purposes, in the eyes of wizarding law, Lucius Malfoy was born fifteen minutes before his twin sister, destined to become the next head of the family. Convictions and beliefs will be ingrained into his very being, knowing that with his life he would defend the Malfoy name, becoming an ironclad shield against those who sought their downfall.
Too bad for Abraxas, and really everyone else, this left Galatea Malfoy free from such constraints.
"Gilderoy Lockheart?" Galatea repeats, folding the corner of the Daily Prophet to look at her son from across the dining table.
It was a beautiful sunny summer morning, nothing but blue skies and chirping birds outside the window. The perfect weather to have a lovely breakfast with her child. She had plans on enjoying it too until the boy brought to her attention a rumor that was too ridiculous to be true.
"He's to be your new Defense teacher? You're quite sure?"
In her time Hogwarts surely had trouble finding and keeping its Defense Against the Dark Arts professors. A rotating roster of accomplished witches and wizards made it obvious that the position was truly cursed, but the prestigious School of Magic couldn't possibly be desperate enough to hire the buffoon.
Julius shrugs, seemingly unconcerned for his upcoming academic year as he chews a corner of his buttered toast. "That's what Cassius heard from his mom, who read it in an article by RIta Skeeter, who says she heard from a house elf, who heard from Dumbledore."
Appetite put on pause Galatea puts down her cup of steaming tea, finger tracing the rim of porcelain pensively. "Gilderoy Lockheart…" She echoes again in disbelief. "A boy who couldn't tell a raven from a writing desk?"
"His books say otherwise, mother."
Galatea scoffs, waving her hand dismissively. "Mere fiction with himself as the main character. You should've heard some of the stories your father would tell of that boy. Utterly ridiculous. What is that bumblebore of a head master thinking?"
She grows quiet with thought. There had to be someone out there. Someone who was capable, experienced, better than Gilderoy Lockheart. A retired auror or someone from the staff, who already knew what to expect. But whom?
"Do they expect my child to receive a subpar education? The nerve."
"They probably couldn't find anyone else to take the job." Julius tries to placate, washing down his toast with some tea. "What else are they supposed to do? Hire you?"
It's meant as a joke. A light jab that would hopefully make the two of them laugh and continue with breakfast in peace.
Instead Julius watches his mother stand from the breakfast table.
"Why darling, what a novel idea." The woman muses, a delicate hand on her chin.
Julius doesn't know what hurts more, the hot tea snorted up into his nose or his knee hitting the table as he splutters. "Mother wait-" Julius coughs into his teacup, an action that would've usually gotten him gently reprimanded, but Galatea is too lost in thought.
"Kreacher," Galatea calls for their House Elf as she waves her hand, wand cradled in her fingers, directing a nearly full breakfast to float towards the sink for later disposal.
Galatea transfigures her morning robes into more appropriate attire. A long ankle length dress the same shade of dark wine red and black slippers that morphed into heels that clicked with every step taken to the closet.
The bowed head of the old House Elf appears from thin air, a croaking voice responding. "Yes, mistress?"
"Be a dear and prepare my bags. I'm thinking of paying Hogsmeade a visit." She orders while pawing through her summer cloaks, landing on one that was creamy white and stopped at her mid back.
"Mom!" Julius follows her back down the hall attempting to inject some common sense into this calm morning.
"Yes, Mistress. Right away." Kreacher bows before disappearing.
Julius just manages to block the woman's path to the living room where their fireplace is. "Mother you can't be serious about this. Becoming a teacher at Hogwarts? You?"
Slate grey eyes stare into him, a twinkle in them Julius has rarely seen, but knows for sure what it meant. One way or another Galatea Black (née Malfoy) was going to get what she wanted. A soft hand cups his cheek and he feels his mother place a quick kiss on his forehead.
"I want nothing but the best for you Julius. Always. The world is too big, and too abundant for us not to take what we want. Do you understand?."
The words are gently spoken and Julius is too awkward and heavy tongued to reply to such a sincere sentiment. Even if he were to think about the words and realize how inapplicable they were to the situation he wouldn't be able to do much more than nod.
There is a dull thump of a leather bag on floorboards as Kreacher reappears, ready by the fireplace.
Julius realizes too late that his mother has somehow breezed past him and is making a break for the pouch of floo powder on the mantle.
"Mother!" He tries one last time.
"I'll be back soon Julius darling!" She waves one last time as she steps into the fireplace. "The Three Broomsticks." Galatea dictates loud and clear like a bell before throwing her handful of powder down and disappearing in bright green flame.
Author's Note
First time I'm posting anything in Years! I hope you enjoy and would love to hear your thoughts :))
Also pour one out for Maggie Smith, we lost a real one folks. May she continue to slay in Heaven