Work Text:
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters!
“You there!”Soteira froze upon hearing a portrait shout behind her. She turned around to see a wise looking wizard in a portrait sporting Slytherin coloured robes. Soteira raised an eyebrow as she approached the portrait. She had just finished her meal and was heading up to one of the towers on the east side for some light reading. She had taken a wrong turn a few hallways back and was trying to navigate her way back.
“You with the platinum hair! You don’t happen to be related to the Malfoys, do you?” The portrait asked.
Soteira blinked and nodded her head, “My name is Soteira Aquaria Malfoy.”
“Aquaria?”the portrait nodded his head in affirmation, “A constellation name, I think it’s safe for me to assume that along your family tree, one of your ancestor is a Black?”
“My grandmother is Narcissa Black.”
“Ah! The precious youngest daughter of Orphellia!” Phineas smiled, “your father is Draco Malfoy, correct?”
“Yes, sir…”
“Oh! Where are my manners, I’m Phineas Black, the former headmaster of Hogwarts and your many great grandfather, you may call me great grandfather Black.”
“Nice to meet you great grandfather Phineas.”
“Why this is a surprise, the Malfoys hadn’t had a daughter for centuries!”Phineas studied the girl, “the fact that you are a Gryffindor doesn’t make me mad! I did tell Cygnus Malfoy that the union between a Malfoy and a Black would result in great deeds! What year are you in?”
“This is my first year here, great grandfather Phineas.”
“Very good, very good.”Phineas nodded, “Please do come to me if you need any help! I shall endeavor to sneak some time out of the headmaster room to chat with you! I would very much like to hear the great things about our family!”
“I’m honored! Screndus, Scordius and Scorpius would be delighted to meet you too!”Soteira beamed, “we don’t see many portraits in our home.”
“Are those your brothers?”
“Yes.”
“My my, Like I told Cygnus! The union was the greatest decision he had ever made in his life!”
Phineas grew fonder of the young Malfoy as he got to know her better. She was a child with imbecilic manners and was stunningly knowledgeable. She had taken every free time on hand to pass by his portrait to chat. He had enjoyed his talks with his descendant immensely and is looking forward to meeting her siblings.
“great grandpa Phineas!”Soetira beamed as she skidded to a stop before the portrait, “Scordius and Scorpius are coming with me during lunch to visit you! Isn’t that exciting?”
“My dear Aquaria,”Phineas smiled at the little Gryffindor he had started calling by her constellation name, “if they are both as wonderful a company as you are then I’m delighted to get to know them!”
A few minutes into lunch, he met the twins. Both with unmistakable blonde Malfoy hair.
“Great grandfather Phineas.”The twins greeted the portrait, making him beam, “My!my! Am I happy to meet you! Aquaria never did mention that you were twins! I will never cease to be amazed by the result of this great union! First Malfoy daughter in centuries and the first set of twins! My my my!”
The twins and Phineas got along well pretty quickly. The former headmaster was pleased with the fact that both had been sorted into Slytherin and the stories they told him kept him amused. Soon, Screndus also joined his siblings in their talk with their ancestor, all of them loving the talks with their ancestor.
“great grandpa Phineas,” Soteira beamed excitedly, “Mum and dad are coming to visit us for the Halloweek! Isn’t the exciting?!”
“Young Draco, I am proud of what a fine young man you have grown into! And the family you have created!”
Draco bowed, still cautious about how to approach his great great grandfather whom his children had grown a liking to. If his memory serves correctly, he was one of the more outspoken muggleborn haters and he was worried that his children would be severely disappointed if they learned that about him. “Is you wife with you?”
“She’s with the children.”
“You simply must bring her here! I must praise her on how well the children are taught! Her family must be proud of her too! Speaking of, which family is she from.”
“Great great grandfather Phineas.”Draco spoke up, “my wife isn’t of pureblood and I respectfully ask you to not bring your prejudice into your conversation with my children or towards my wife.”
“You married a halfblood?Merlin! But that could still be forgiven if we are able to trace her blood to-”
“she’s a muggleborn.”
“Outrageous! Shameful! Unbecoming! Atrocious!” Phineas’s cursing was stopped when he heard the familiar bell like laughter and the blonde haired girl bounced into his view.
“Grandpa Phineas!”Soteira beamed, “I have excellent news! Screndus caught the snitch today! Mum is coming here as well!”
Phineas tried to keep the scowl on his face, however, it melted away as Soteira continued to talk.
“Soteira!” The small group turned to see Hermione hurrying towards them. Hermione quickly wrapped a scarf around her daughter’s neck, “you scared us when you left so suddenly.”
“Mum! Mum!”Soteira beamed, “it’s great grandpa Phineas!”
Hermione turned to look at the portrait before them, pulling herself to her full height, “headmaster Black, it’s a pleasure to meet you again. My children speaks fondly of you.” Her eyes daring him to insult her. Draco gently wrapped an arm around her waist in support.
Phineas gritted as he recognized the witch before him as the very one in the Golden trio, “likewise Mrs. Malfoy.” He looked at the family before him, Soteira’s eyes sparkling up at him in joy, the twins’ face bright with excitement and Screndus’s smile beaming at him. He sighed in acceptance as he looked back at Hermione and Draco, “you have raised lovely children, it’s a beautiful family that you both have built.”
He smiled as he listened to Screndus retell the details of the quidditch match, his siblings pipping in to add more details. This would be the new face of the Malfoy line, and he realized that this new face looked like hope for a bright future.