Parallel

A/N: This little idea of mine has been keeping me a little awake for a while. I decided to get it out of my chest before it drove me insane or just disappeared. For those of you who are expecting any other fanfic update, er... I actually don't know what to update, so *shrugs*

Parallel
By: Ran Mouri.

It was a stupid thing to do. But they had been curious, and they could always blame it to Aunt Hermione. It was usually her that fueled stupid ideas into their young and impressionable minds.

Well, usually Scorpius’ mind. But Mr. Malfoy had never imagined his son would be around Granger, so he had never prepared him for the ridiculous theories she tended to research.

And as any Malfoy, Scorpius was curious.

After a while he was the only one that actually listened to Hermione, and she enjoyed it immensely.

Draco Malfoy guessed he had young Lily to thank for that.

She had appeared one day during Christmas holding hands with Scorpius Malfoy himself while her mother shrieked and her uncle Ron prepared to kick the blond boy out of their house.

Her father had neared them with a supposedly kind smile that was more a twitch of his lips, asking about the sudden turn of events.

Lily had stared calmly, her green eyes regarding her family coldly.

“He’s my boyfriend, I invited him over and Mr. Malfoy approved, can we eat now?” she said simply, her arm linking with Scorpius.

James had fainted right there while Albus flushed hotly, pointing at Malfoy.

“You touched my little sister!” he screamed.

“So?” Scorpius asked, an eyebrow lifted elegantly. “We made out, and you weren’t complaining.”

Albus kept quiet the rest of the week. Scorpius stood by Lily’s side at all times, most likely afraid of the other Weasleys and Harry Potter himself, who was in no way pleased with the sudden relationship.

Then Hermione had gone and started ranting during dinner about the strange way the planets were lining and that it was most likely a one time occurrence.

While everyone ate, Scorpius stared at the older witch and sighed.

“It will negate all magic for seven minutes,” he said simply. “Happens every twenty years or so.”

Hermione dropped her spoon and stared at him in awe.

“It has never been recorded,” she whispered, shocked. “How can you know that?”

Scorpius blinked at her.

“Father recorded it during the war. All Malfoys do but we keep the knowledge at the Manor’s library, just for family, you see.”

Ginny mumbled something that was not very polite and Ron nodded agreement. Harry glared at them, not sure it was the right thing to insult their guest and his daughter’s boyfriend.

Hermione grabbed Scorpius’ hand rather violently.

“You are Lily’s boyfriend, right?” she asked.

The Malfoy heir nodded.

“I’m her aunt, does that make us family?” There was an odd glint in her eyes and an almost manic grin in her face. She would not be denied.

Scorpius laughed a little, smiling happily.

“I would guess so, I’ll have to consult father, as he has the only key. But I doubt he’ll have any complain about you, Aunt Hermione.”

No one was prepared for the sudden burst of energy that was Hermione as she embraced Scorpius and giggled like a little girl. The Malfoy Library. Centuries upon centuries of Malfoys recording every single detail of their knowledge.

She couldn’t wait.

Harry sighed and continued to eat. Going against Hermione was like signing a death sentence, so he just ignored the fact that Scorpius Malfoy had been adopted into their family without his or his wife’s permission.

A day after that Harry, Hermione, Lily and surprisingly Albus sat at Malfoy Manor. Draco Malfoy was staring at them silently as a house elf served tea. Ginny and Ron had refused to even set foot on the Manor. Malfoy was definitely up to something, they said, and at least they would be sane enough to rescue the others in case of an emergency.

“Scorpius told me that the library was big,” Hermione said, her eyes fixed on the wall tall bookshelves that lined every single wall of the enormous room, almost salivating at the thought.

Draco snorted in amusement.

“Big is an understandment, as you can see, Granger,” he said, sipping his tea. “From Madame Margueritte Malfoi and her husband Melchor Slytherin to my father, all Malfoys have the duty to record all the knowledge we come around. Knowledge is power, you see.”

Harry couldn’t stop staring at Malfoy.

He had expected insults, sneers and even a temper tantrum at their presence. But so far, the blond man before him had been nothing but a gracious host.

“Father will write his own account as soon as I finish reading the library,” Scorpius supplied, placing a proud hand on his father’s shoulder. Draco smiled at him.

Hermione chocked on her tea.

“You are trying to tell me you have to read the whole library?” Harry asked, rather sorry for the Malfoy family now. Draco nodded.

“We read it and then learn it by heart. My ancestors took time and effort into creating all this records for us, it would be rude of us not to read them, don’t you think?”

Hermione’s glazed stared told Harry that she was in the middle of what Ron called an intellectual orgasm.

“All this... for you...” Hermione mumbled, still dazed. Draco nodded simply.

“Father offered to donate a portion for Hogwarst when I enrolled,” he shrugged. “Headmaster Dumbledore told him most would go to the Restricted Section, so it was better to keep the Library here where someone would actually read it.”

Hermione twitched in her seat.

Draco raised an eyebrow and sighed.

“Go ahead, Granger. I won’t mind,” he said. And without further words Hermione jumped from her seat and attacked the library with glee. Harry flushed embarrassedly while Scorpius went to the witch and suggested a book or another, Lily following him like a good girlfriend while Albus grumbled and made sure Malfoy didn’t take advantage of his little sister and aunt.

Draco laughed a little and continued to sip his tea.

“Three tomes to the right, son,” he said without really looking. Scorpius nodded and took the book his father signaled.

Harry stared.

“How did you know?” he asked. Draco blinked.

“This library is mine, like the rest of the house. I used to be here all the time when I was a kid, some of the portraits told me about each book and what it meant for them. This is my favorite room in the house,” he took a sip from his cup. “Also I know by heart the position of each and every book and knowing Granger that one in particular will interest her.”

Hermione squealed like a baby and started skimming through the book, commenting eventually to the kids about its content. Since no one was actually paying attention to them anymore, Harry decided to ask the question he’d had on his head since they arrived to Malfoy Manor.

“Why are you being so nice to us?” Draco stared at him then. His eyes blank.

“You are my son’s guests. You treated him with respect while he stayed at your home and made sure he was comfortable. I’m doing the same,” he explained simply. “We are no longer children, Potter. My son is my priority and his happiness to me is crucial. If he considers you friends, you shall be my friends. If he wants muggles in the house, I shall welcome them all with a smile and be the best host I can.”

Harry swallowed thickly.

“You love your son,” he whispered. Draco’s silver eyes turned to the blond boy eagerly pointing out books to an excited Hermione.

“Of course I do,” he answered. “Your children make him happy, Potter. And no one else will go near him because of his family name. Do you know how that feels? Of course you do, your children are haunted by their last name too. I guess that’s why they understand each other so well.”

“I thought you would put a struggle, that’s all,” Harry defended himself, suddenly feeling Draco Malfoy was a much better father than he was.

The blond snorted.

“All pure-blooded families are like that, at least the prosperous ones,” he explained. “Children born in the wizarding world are scare, we take care of our own with all we’ve got. Only then we can assure a safe future for our culture.”

Harry frowned.

“What do you mean?”

Draco sighed.

“I’ve read muggle newspapers since the war. In here, you will never hear of a child been abused, the sole idea of abortion to us is unthinkable, even unwanted pregnancies are cherished, the witch immediately puts and advert to search for a family, and the babies are taken care of from conception.”

“What about the Blacks?” Harry argued. “They disowned their children.”

Draco nodded.

“Oh yes, they did,” he sighed. “They disowned uncle Sirius because he chose the side of light, and aunt Andromeda because she married a muggle. I think it was a clever move altogether.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Well, think about it Potter,” Draco continued. “At the time Voldemort’s side seemed to be winning. Should he win, the Black head would be enabled to beg for Sirius’ safe return to them, he was the oldest son and therefore the heir. Also, Andromeda was taken to the muggle world, where she could not be reached by the war. However, should the Dark Lord be defeated, there would be two black heirs around, protected from the stigma of war. It’s all a matter of covering your bases correctly. I even think Regulus was supposed to go with Sirius to Gryffindor, but he took the dark mark before he could be shipped to his brother’s side.”

“How did you...” Harry snapped.

“It’s all in my father’s memories, he decided to leave a record of the different sides of the war and the causes that most likely led to it.”

“Father,” Scorpius said softly, his cheeks flushed with excitement. “Is it ok if we go to the dungeons? Aunt Hermione would like to try one of the spells in the book.”

Draco smiled and ran a hand through his child’s hair.

“Granger, if something happens to my child I will personally impregnate you for a replacement,” he said seriously, his eyes fixed in his son’s.

“WHAT?!” Hermione shrieked. “As if I would let you, Malfoy!”

“Then you’ll better take care of my boy, won’t you?” Scorpius grinned and gave his father a kiss in the cheek.

“He’s joking, Aunt Hermione, let’s go!” Soon Harry and Draco were the only ones in the room.

“He’s quite happy to have more family. His Aunt Daphne is not as entertaining as he would like.”

Harry smiled suddenly.

“If he marries my Lily he will get more aunts and uncles than he can count.” Harry really wanted to say more, but Draco’s laughter stopped him.

“Potter, you really think those two are together?” he laughed, covering his mouth with one hand.

Harry frowned.

“What do you mean? My daughter took your son home because he is her boyfriend!”

“Did they kiss in front of you, or do anything else than hold hands?”

The brunet was suddenly silent. Draco grinned.

“Most likely she wanted to set him up with one of her brothers, considering my son is not really interested in girls.”

“So my daughter is a matchmaker,” Harry whispered, feeling a little proud of her.

“Very Slytherin of her,” Draco nodded.

“By the way, Malfoy, what was that about the dungeons?”

“Oh, that? The manor’s dungeons are used when we want to practice spells that might somehow damage the structure of the house. Or when we need to draw complicated patterns and pentagrams. Most likely Scorpius wants to show Granger the summon he learned from the book.”

“Summon?” Harry asked, a little uncomfortable.

“Just a Nundu cub, very cute beast of you ask me. Eats his nightmares.” Slowly Draco raised his eyes from his teacup and promptly left it fall to the floor.

On the shelf where he had directed his son laid the summoning book.

The one missing, however.

Was the one his son had not read yet. The one Great Grandfather Odisseus had warned them not to try.

“Damn it!” he snapped. “Potter, let’s go!”

----

“An alternate reality?” Albus asked as Hermione read the pages of the book.

“Yes, imagine all the possibilities than can alter our reality!” she gushed. “Even the change of a name can affect the world in ways we can’t understand!”

“Sounds like fun!” Scorpius grinned. “Father never mentioned that book before. He must really trust you, Aunt Hermione.”

Hermione blushed, but her hands were too busy drawing the pentagrame in the book for her to respond with any other gesture.

“I don’t think this is a good idea,” Lily frowned. “I’m sure your father mentioned another book up there, Scorpius.”

“Nah,” Scropius argued. “I know him, he signalled me in the direction of the one that was darker, that’s what he always does.”

“It seems perfectly safe, Lily dearest,” Hermione smiled, patting her head. “Now, we have to write in the pentagram the parameters of the reality we want. This is so exciting!”

Lily Potter should have known that her Aunt Hermione was not in her right mind at the moment, but she chose to hear the little voice that whispered to her that Aunt Hermione was always right and would be there to protect them anyway.

“What about a reality where none of us three where ever born?” she asked finally. Albus perked at that.

“Would mom and dad be married anyway?” he asked. Hermione grinned.

“That’s a good idea,” quickly she wrote the kid’s names in the pentagrame. Then squinted her eyes to read the next paragraph, those Malfoys were so inteligent and detailed, but this one in particular had a chicken scratch so unreadable.

Albus stood over the pentagrame, peering at its design.

“You misspelled Scorpius’ name, Aunt,” he said absently. Scorpius walked to his side to see it.

“You are right,” he said, waving his wand. “S-C-O-R-P-I-U-S H-Y-P-E-R-I-O-N M-A-L-F-O-Y, there, all better.”

Suddenly the pentagrame started glowing brightly.

A door slammed open

“SCORPIUS, ALBUS!!! GET AWAY FROM THAT!!” Draco screamed, but it was too late. Both boys had already disappeared into the pentagrame, to experience a world where none of them had been born.

Albus had managed to grab Scorpius' hand as they slammed to the floor. He didn't really know why, but he had. Maybe he didn't want to be alone in this parallel reality they had fallen into.

"Are you ok?" he asked as the managed to stand. Scorpius was coughing a little and shaking the thick layer of dust he had fallen into from his robes.

"I guess so," the blond answered. "So, the spell worked." Albus nodded.

"This certainly doesn't look like Malfoy Manor," he said staring at the stained windows and unkempt room they had landed in. Scorpius tightened his hand around Albus'

"This is my room," he whispered in shock, recognising the designs in the walls. "We are in Malfoy Manor still... but I guess the room was never used, if I was not born?"

Albus understood. He wondered if his house was in use or not, if his family lived there at all.

"I wonder why no one bothered to clean this room? Father would still live in here."

"Unless he doesn't?" the brunet suggested. Scorpius glared at him.

"Let's go get him, the fact I wasn't born doesn't mean he would not be in his rightful house."

Both boys ignored the fact they were still holding hands, none was brave enough to admit they were afraid. The spell in theory was interesting, fun almost to see the different outcomes their reality would produce, but to be there alone, without any reassurance, was frightening.

Neither of them had dared to imagine the situations that would lead to their non-being born, and now thousands of different theories had sprang to their brains. Scorpius only wanted to run to his father's arms and get reassured. Maybe his father had not married his mother yet, maybe he would be born later on, or maybe he had a different name?

Slowly, Albus opened the door, peering into the hallway.

"Father?" Scorpius asked. "I mean... Mr. Malfoy?"

Suddenly a hand sized them both and strong arms pinned them to the wall.

"Very smart, you monster, but not smart enough," a voice hissed, making Scorpius shiver. Albus felt immediately the tip of a wand pressed between his shoulder blades. "What's the name of the prostitute now, huh? You are one sick bastard."

The voice was so familiar, it was almost hurting with recognition.

"Uncle, it's not him!" a younger voice hissed. "I don't feel a thing, it's not him."

"Are you sure?" the older man growled.

Both boys heard light steps approaching them. Pale hands touched their heads and a relieved sigh caressed the air.

"Yes, it's not him in any way, please let them go."

The arms and wand were gone seconds later. Albus coughed and Scorpius had to lean on the wall for support.

Slowly both raised their eyes to regard the two men before them.

The first one was a boy about their age with short blond hair, the same as Scorpius, and deep green eyes.

"Are you two ok?" he asked.

Scorpius nodded, growling softly.

"Who are you, and what have you done to my house?" he asked. The boy's eyes widened.

"Your house?" he asked. "That bastard... sold this house." His slight frame shook a little and Scorpius could see his father reflected on the boy. It was the same gesture his father used when he tried to keep his rage inside himself.

"That's impossible," the man growled, Albus and Scorpius stared at him for a moment, unable to believe their eyes.

"Professor Longbottom?" Albus asked, shocked. The man before them was an exact replica of Neville Longbottom, except for the muscled arms, dark cloak and scarred face. His eyes reflected nothing but distrust instead of the usual honeyed warmth he had known all his life.

"What did you just..." Neville was about to interrogate the boys further when the sound of an explosion startled them all.

"STOP IN THE NAME OF THE MINISTRY!!" a voice snapped from the first floor. "ALL TRESPASSERS INTO THIS PROPERTY WILL BE DETAINED!"

"The Aurors!" the boy gasped.

Neville growled low in his throat.

"You two are coming with us," he snapped taking Albus by the shoulders and whispering an address into his ear. The other boy sized Scorpius and did the same.

"We're going to Chateau de Mont-Felix?" Scorpius managed to gasp before the four of them disappeared.

They were greeted by an old house elf who immediately fussed over the boy and Neville before ushering them all to a sitting room.

"You know this house?" Albus hissed at Scorpius who nodded.

"It was left for the family by one of Grandfather's friends, we used to spend a lot of time here when I was a child."

"Oh Merlin!" A man gasped as they entered, wrapping his arms around the mysterious boy. "Don't you ever do that again, Thomas, do you realize how worried I was!"

The boy, Thomas, sighed and wrapped his arms around the older man.

"I'm sorry I just wanted to see Malfoy Manor," he whispered soothingly.

"I was with him, Draco, don't worry about it." Neville said, eying Scorpius and Albus.

Both boys gasped as they were finally able to see the man's face. There stood Mr. Draco Malfoy in all his glory. He was thinner than the one back home, his hair longer, and had dark rings under his eyes.

TBC.

That's it for now. Second chapter I have written almost completely. But I want to make sure I have everything right before I post. Should be around next week, tops.

As always all types of feedback will be greatly welcomed.