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“Twinkle twinkle little star…”
Hermione smiled down at her newborn son, fresh to the world and its many joys and woes. He yawned and stretched his little arms from the star themed blanket he's wrapped in.
“Mummy… where him teef?” Her eldest son, still relatively new to the world, stuck his finger in the baby's mouth.
“Scorpius, remember what dad said. Gently.” Draco softly reminded him, taking the boy's hand to stroke the baby's cheek.
It had been two days since the birth and they still didn’t know what to name him.
“I quite like Orion” Hermione swapped sons with Draco and cuddled her toddler.
Draco looked hesitant. “But… the stars within it, I don't think…” Draco trailed off.
“It shouldn't ruin or put a dark spot over our lives, Draco. We have to live on” Hermione reached and squeezed his arm. She watched him sigh and rock side to side looking down at their baby.
“Orion…”
“Hugo”
“Orion Hugo Malfoy”
☆
*Ten years later*
“I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DID THIS”
“I'm sorry! Please, I can fix it!”
“No! Don't touch it! What is the matter with you? Why don't you ever listen?” Scorpius screamed at his little brother, pointing at the broken Japanese puzzle box.
Orion sobbed and wiped his eyes. “I'm s-s-sorry”
“Are you mad? Is that it? Just like Bellatrix who's in your name? Have we got another MAD Black in the family?” Scorpius scowled and jabbed Orion unkindly in the chest, staring him down like a hawk.
“SCORPIUS”
Both boys flinched from their father's thunderous voice from the doorway, the imposing figure casting a shadow over them. Scorpius instantly shut his mouth. They've never seen their father so angry, their mother is more likely to show frustration and anger sometimes, she said they're natural emotions and important to control.
Draco looked furious, his normally impassive or soft face was hard like marble and his brow furrowed in disappointment.
Orion sniffled and rubbed his eyes, it was too much. Everything had become overwhelming, it was only an accident.
“Father, I…”
“Don't speak. I can't look at you right now” Draco turned his face from Scorpius.
Orion's throat felt tight. He ran forward around Draco, down the hall and around the corner. He barely missed Hermione who was carrying a tray for their afternoon tea
“Ori? Where are you going?” Hermione was perplexed, she looked down the long hall towards Draco and sighed.
☆
Orion ran as fast as he could.
They were watching the manor, while Nana Cissa went on holiday. She was a bit paranoid leaving it unattended since the Ministry raids after the war. Orion wasn't technically supposed to know this, he read about it in archived Daily Prophet articles.
Such long corridors blurred together with his teary eyes, he lost count of how many doors he ran through and how many turns he took. He ran up a staircase or two. Scorpius’ voice rang in his head.
“Another MAD Black in the family!”
“Are you crazy?? What am I saying…”
The tears stung his eyes, he had to stop running to catch his breath. Combined with the physical effort and crying he couldn't breathe, the stitch in his side made it much more painful.
“Do stop spluttering, boy. Stand up and take a breath”
Orion froze, he wasn’t aware of a housekeeper in the manor apart from the elves, they certainly didn’t mention anything.
“Wh-what?” Orion squints, there isn't much light because the heavy curtains are drawn. The voice came from the end of the corridor, but it was a dead-end.
His anxiety started to spike, his feet took unsteady steps backwards. He wanted to scream but he had no idea if anyone would hear him, this corridor felt strange. All the portraits on the walls had drapes covering them.
“Don't tell me my heir produced a halfwit” The voice drawled.
Orion frowned and stood firm. “I am not a halfwit! I am Orion Malfoy!”
“Indeed” The voice hummed in thought.
Orion didnt know what to do with himself and wanted to leave this strange place. He took another step back onto a creaky floorboard.
“Hold your thestrels, boy. I want to get a look at you. Come over here and remove this drape, will you?” The voice sounded like it was used to giving orders and having them obeyed in a timely fashion.
“I don't…”
“Come now… a portrait can't hurt you”
Like a cat whispering to a sparrow to come down from the branch, Orion took tentative steps towards the end of the corridor, his heart thumped wildly in his chest.
When he reached the covered portrait he noticed the drape was a smooth black silk, unlike the rest of them. He touched it with his finger and when nothing terrible happened he sighed. He grabbed a corner and yanked the material off, an explosion of dust filled the air while it fell like water to the floor. Orion coughed and covered his mouth and nose, wafting the air.
He nearly stopped mid motion when looking upon the portrait. A huge canvas gilded in gold on the sides. An aristocratic man with long white hair sat in a dark forest green wingback chair, stared down at Orion. He's wearing a black suit, black robes with silver pattern filigree stitching and across his lap sat a cane, the head a silver snake bearing its fangs.
The man smirked at Orion, looking the child over. Orion, however, was frozen in shock.
“You're… Lucius Malfoy…”
“Very good, boy. I didn't think my son would talk about me” Lucius gets comfortable in his chair.
“Oh… he doesn't. I read about you in the Daily Prophet archives at the library” Orion pulled on his fingers and avoided the harsh blue eyes of Lucius.
“Of course. Insolent whelp” Lucius rolled his eyes. He peered down at Orion. “Why are you here in this state? It is no state for a Malfoy, stand up straight and tuck in that shirt” Lucius pointed his cane at him.
Orion quickly does as he's told, he noticed the smirk on his grandfather's face. His father looked so much like him it's uncanny. The hair, jaw, nose, brow… but the eyes and mouth… that was Nana. That's where Draco carried his kindness.
“My brother yelled at me because I accidentally broke his special box that auntie Pansy and uncle Neville bought for him in Japan” The tears welled up again and he rubbed his eyes sniffling.
“Is that it? All this over some squabble? Boy, you need to wise up if you want to face the world” Lucius sat back in his chair and steepled his fingers. “Did you say… brother? By blood?”
“Yeah. I have a sister too. She is two years younger. Mum is pregnant at the moment, I heard auntie Pansy calling it an “Oops Baby” or something” Orion looks up at Lucius.
“There hasn't been more than one Malfoy heir in… since… ever” Lucius gestured vaguely. Orion fiddled with his shirt, unsure what Lucius meant.
“I don't think I should be talking to you” Orion turned to leave.
“That's up to you. But, remember, don't let mere words break your mental fortitude, Orion. Especially one with such a strong name” Lucius gave Orion a crooked grin.
“I… don't like it…” Orion looked at his shoes.
“Why ever not?”
“It has Bellatrix in the constellation… She did very bad things to my mum. I read about it, and… I'm scared I will be insane like her” Orion’s voice conveyed his pain, he covered his eyes on his jumpered arm and tried to keep composed.
Lucius sighs deeply. “Is that what your brother tells you?”
He waited until the sad child sniffled.
“Well, Orion Malfoy. You can tell your brother that it is not possible for the Black family madness to pass down to you. Do you want to know why? Because me and Narcissa did a ritual before Draco was born. His line won't be cursed”
“But, but… why am I so clumsy and get mad and do strange things?” Orion wiped his snotty face.
“Because you are eight years old! Salazar's tits, you should have seen what Draco was like!” Lucius rubbed his brow.
“I am not eight! I am nine and a half! I will get my Hogwarts letter soon!” Orion looked affronted and frowned up at the portrait.
“You look… just like your father… it's uncanny” Lucius chuckled at the expression on Orion’s face.
“Scorpius and Aurora look more like dad, I look more like mum” Orion shrugged again.
“Who is?...” Lucius raised his eyebrows.
“My mum? Hermione Malfoy” Orion scratched his head.
Lucius’ face dropped instantly. “He married that… that… “ He spat twisting the cane in his hands as if strangling his anger would help quell the outburst.
“Nana said you wouldn't like it”
Lucius’ face softened, the mere notion of his beloved calming the insult of his lineage being sullied. He sat forward.
“My Cissa? Do you see her often?” He whispered.
“Yes, all the time. We are manor-sitting while she goes on holiday with her ladies club” Orion whispered back.
The news of Narcissa placated Lucius enough that he sat back with a sigh. He had a distant expression upon his face looking past Orion.
“I suppose she was alright with your parent's union… so much I have missed while in Azkaban. A shame” Lucius narrowed his eyes down at Orion. “Do you know much about the stars?”
“I know where they are in the sky”
“Yes, well done” Lucius rolled his eyes.
Orion startled when the portrait clicked and swung outwards. It hid a door, just a plain door. Orion wasn't sure what to do, so he stood there.
“Go inside! There aren't any boggarts!” Lucius said impatiently.
Orion reached out and touched the doorknob, it swung open inwards instantly, the room was black and he hesitated.
“I'm scared” He said weakly.
The portrait swung closed on him pushing him inside, his scream was cut off by the door closing behind him.
“You're definitely as dramatic as Draco”
Orion looked up from his hands covering his eyes. The room was lit up by several candles. It wasn't a particularly large room, it had a desk, large green plush chair, book cases and a large semi circle window overlooking the grounds. There are artifacts on the shelves and desk, both covered and uncovered in glass boxes. Orion reached out to touch one.
“Welcome to my private study”
Orion withdrew his hand and looked behind him where the same portrait of Lucius hung on the wall.
“Even the ministry couldn't find it” Lucius snarked. “Now, I bequeath it to you Orion Malfoy”
“Me? Why?” Orion looked wide-eyed up at the portrait.
“I see potential in you, boy. Despite having a mu-... muggle mother. Anyway, the stars…” Lucius flourished his cane.
“They teach us many lessons. Your namesake, Orion, is very special. Orion the hunter was shot down by his own friend Artemis, unbeknownst to her, as a challenge. Always keeps your wits about you, boy, even those you trust” Lucius arched a brow down at Orion.
“Even… mummy and daddy?” He said quietly.
“Even them. Self preseverance, Orion. I can help prepare you for the world and how to handle your brother…” Lucius grins.
“I… don't know”
“It will be our secret, no one will hurt you again, my grandson”
“I think… I need to go” Orion edged out of the door and started running down the corridor.
“I'll be here!”
Turning one of the many corners and staircases Orion bumped into Hermione.
“Oh, Darling! I've been worried sick!” She knelt and hugged him tightly.
Orion allowed the comfort of his mother to soothe his nerves, but he couldn't get the thought of Lucius Malfoy out of his head…
☆
*5 Years Later*
Orion raised his wand to the caged mouse, in the secret private study.
“Avada Kadavra!”
The mouse slumped dead.
Lucius Malfoy grinned.