Twisted Faerie Tales

Author’s Note: Well, here I am again with another Twisted Faerie Tale, this time, in the form of Rapunzel. I have my dear friend Deb to thank for both requesting the story and doing the Beta for it. I hope you enjoy!

Part 1

Desperate cries echoed through the marble corridors of Malfoy Manor and Lucius couldn’t seem to stop worrying his hands. He stood by his wife’s bed, watching as she slowly deteriorated into a whimpering, pain-filled mess. He quickly swiped the cloth from her brow, wrung it out and replaced it with a new one, trying to offset her fever.

His good friend and Potions Master, Severus sat on the edge of Narcissa’s bed, conducting a series of tests to try and determine exactly what the problem was. “She’s dying,” Snape said at last, not deigning to look up and meet Lucius’ anxious glare.

“I can see that already, Severus. Now tell me what I can do to stop it,” he snapped.

“I’ll need to brew a potion, but I doubt you have all the ingredients I would require,” he replied, now staring at the man in earnest.

“My ingredient stores rival any apothecary, I assure you, Severus. Take whatever you need, just save her life,” he pleaded, for he was not above such an act in that moment.

“You have dragons’ blood then?” he asked, and Lucius merely blinked at him.

“Dragons’ blood is impossible to get, Severus. Surely there is something you can substitute,” Lucius rasped, his throat closing as he imagined a life without his precious Narcissa by his side. The very thought of it nearly had him collapsing on the floor in despair, but he quickly pulled himself together. Or tried.

“I’m afraid if I attempt to substitute the dragons’ blood with a lesser ingredient, I might make things worse, not better,” he whispered. “It’s the final ingredient I would need to add, however, so that would give you two days to procure some.”

“Will she last that long?” Lucius asked, eyes wide and fearful.

“Yes, but only just,” his trusted friend replied. “I’m afraid she won’t last much longer than three without this potion.”

Lucius nodded and summoned his house-elf with no further questions. “Wren is at your service, Master Lucius. What bid you?”

He started to give his commands for the house-elf to fetch blood from a dragon himself, but he feared that with time so short, he couldn’t risk the outcome on a damned elf. “Find me a dragon, the closest you can locate, and bring me the Apparition coordinates within the hour. No longer, do you hear me?” he ordered and the house-elf nodded meekly and disappeared with a faint ‘pop’.

Lucius spent the next half-hour pacing the floor of his wife’s bedchamber and trying his best to make her as comfortable as possible. In her only lucid moment, Narcissa clutched her pregnant stomach and looked directly into his eyes. “You have to keep the baby safe,” she demanded. “I don’t care what happens to me, but make sure our son lives.”

“I promise.” He clasped her hands in his and squeezed them gently. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” she whispered and then the pain-filled screaming began again.

Another soft pop was Lucius’ only indication that the house-elf had returned and he nearly ran to the creature’s side. “Where can I find the dragon?” he asked. “Tell me.”

Wren summoned a map from the study and with his finger, drew a glowing circle around an outcropping of stones. The stones were, of course, mountains, and thankfully it would only take three, maybe four Apparitions to reach them. “There is a cave, Master Lucius, here,” the house-elf said, pointing to a narrow gully. “You’ll find your dragon there.”

“Excellent,” he said, grabbing up the map. “I want you to search every Apothecary in England for a vial of Dragons’ Blood. If you find it, I want you to notify Snape that he can pay their asking price from the Malfoy vault, whatever it is.”

Lucius didn’t hold to hope that any would be found, but in the chance that he might fail or die trying to procure the blood, he wanted there to be another way Narcissa might be saved. He knew Snape would do whatever he could in Lucius’ absence, but he also knew the man wouldn’t have time to scour the shops himself while brewing a delicate potion.

When he returned, Lucius vowed to hex every member of the Wizengamot that voted to make the ingredient illegal and so hard to procure. Had it not been for that Granger girl and her fighting to have all magical species treated equally, Lucius could have just petitioned the trainers in Romania for a vial and his darling wife would already be on her way to recovery.

After bidding his fitfully sleeping wife a solemn farewell, Lucius Apparated to the first point, pausing there only as long as it took to regain his energy to Apparate again.

The cave’s entrance was ominous and dark, but Lucius hadn’t expected otherwise. He was still slightly winded from his trip and felt as though all his magical reserves had been depleted. His logic told him to wait, or else he might be in trouble if he was too weak to fight an angry dragon, but his heart urged him to press forward. He’d nearly wasted a day already just getting to the caves. He could not afford any more delays.

Bravely, Lucius entered the dank cavern, stumbling occasionally because he was too weak to cast even a simple Lumos. Thankfully, he had no problem finding the dragon, because a soft glow and a musky scent led him to a vast stone room where the creature slumbered peacefully. Orange flames and thick black smoke puffed from the dragon’s scaly nostrils as it breathed loud and level. It was like no dragon Lucius had ever seen before, and he hoped the rarity might mean that its blood would work more surely in Severus’ potion.

The dragon’s scales were sapphire blue and gleamed obsidian along its tail before tapering away to a set of spikes that Lucius had no doubts could kill him in an instant. From his robe pocket, Lucius extracted a vial and a strong Goblin blade and he crept as quietly as he could toward the slumbering beast. He didn’t even have time to pierce the scaly hide before the massive tail swatted him away, sending him sprawling on his back across the sooty floor.

Lucius coughed and rubbed the back of his head as he levered himself up on his elbows to stare up at the great dragon. “Who dares come here and disturb my slumber?” it boomed in a terrifying voice.

Lucius righted himself, dusting off his ebony robes before addressing the dragon. “My name is Lucius Malfoy and I need your blood.”

“Oh?” the dragon questioned in its gravelly tone mixed with something that might sound like a chuckle in any other voice. His eyes gleamed a pale purple, like a meadow filled with lavender. “And why should I give you such a gift when you tried to sneak in here and steal it from me?”

“My wife,” Lucius pleaded. “She’s dying and I need fresh dragon’s blood for the potion meant to save her.”

“What meaning does that have to me?” the dragon asked, peering at Lucius with idle curiosity. “I know not you or your dying wife. I owe you no favors.”

“I could pay,” Lucius replied. “Handsomely. I’d gladly give all the Galleons and treasures in my vault and all the precious heirlooms in my manor if you would grant me but a single vial of your blood to save my wife and child,” he begged, falling to his knees.

“Child, you say?” the dragon purred, looking truly interested for the first time. It curled its massive tail in the air, flicking it back and forth like a content puppy.

“Yes,” Lucius replied, nodding eagerly. “She is pregnant with our son.”

“Well, why didn’t you say so?” the dragon boomed cheerily. “I shall give you a vial of my blood-”

Lucius nearly whooped in response. “Thank you, oh thank you!” he cried.

“In exchange for your son,” the dragon continued.

Lucius paused, absorbing the dragon’s words with excruciating pain. “My son?” he breathed. “But he is not yet born, and he is my only child, my heir.”

“A handsome gift requires a handsome price,” the dragon replied. “If you want my blood, you will promise me your child. Do you agree?”

“How could a dragon possibly care for an infant?” Lucius gasped, his mind reeling.

“That is none of your concern. I might eat him for breakfast and it wouldn’t matter because he would belong to me, not you,” the dragon snarled. “Now, do you agree to my bargain or not?”

Lucius swayed in place, both his mind and body worn and tired. He remembered his wife’s words, to save their child no matter what, but surely she was still delirious. It was still too far from her due date to save the baby if she died now, and perhaps there was a way for him to prevent his son from being stolen and gobbled up by the mighty dragon. He could put wards around the house and keep his son from ever leaving their sight. But none of that mattered if he didn’t agree.

He didn’t have time to look for a new dragon, and his son would never be born if his wife passed away. With the dragon’s blood, Narcissa could live to have a dozen children if they wanted, and without it, Lucius would die cold and alone. There was no choice really, not in the end.

“Okay,” he whispered forlornly, and the dragon swooped his scaly head forward to better hear Lucius’ words. “I agree to your bargain,” he repeated.

“Excellent,” the dragon purred. “I will come for him on seventh day of the seventh month after his birth. If you do not relinquish him, I shall smite you down and take both wife and child as punishment.” Lucius bowed his head in understanding and when he looked up, a vial of gleaming violet blood hovered in the air in front of him. “Now take it and go,” he snorted, his eyes flashing with that haunting lavender glow once more.

Lucius did as he was ordered and fled the dark cave, both happy and grieved at his success.

“We should name him after your grandfather,” Narcissa cooed, smoothing down the delicate blond tendrils on her son’s head. “He has your eyes.” She smiled down at her beautiful baby boy and then up into her husband’s fiercely protective gray gaze as he ran his own fingertips along the pale baby’s skin. His touch was hesitant and soft as if he feared shattering the boy while Narcissa held him close.

Lucius thought of the name, twirling it over and over again on his tongue and shook his head. No, Abraxas didn’t seem right for the beautiful child in his wife’s arms. Remembering the bargain he’d struck, another name seemed more appropriated. “Draconis,” he whispered. “I’d like to name him Draconis.”

Startled, Narcissa stared into her husband’s intent gaze and nodded. “Draco,” she cooed as she rocked the sleeping child. “Yes, that’s perfect.”

“Nothing will ever happen to you, my son, my Draco,” Lucius promised, vowing never to allow the dragon to touch even a single golden hair from his son’s head. He would protect them all, no matter what the cost.

January seventh dawned with a heavy fog over both the Manor grounds and Lucius’ heart. He’d done everything he could think of to protect their home against the dragon barging in and stealing his only son. He’d kept Narcissa in the dark, knowing she would never forgive him for even considering such a pact, and it didn’t matter anyway, because he wasn’t going to let anything happen to their darling Draco, no matter what he’d bargained.

He spent most of the day anxiously awaiting a battle. Lucius kept near the windows, waiting to see the dark, looming shape of the dragon on the horizon, but breakfast, then lunch and then even dinnertime came and went without any sign of the beast. Lucius began to wonder if it had all been a dream. Had Narcissa even grown ill, had he found and struck an unwise bargain with a dozing dragon? He could remember vividly how terrified he’d been for Narcissa’s life, how grieved he’d been for the potential loss of his son, and how giddy he’d been when Severus’ potion had worked and Narcissa and the baby had been fine. Clearly it had happened, but perhaps the dragon was merely testing Lucius’ resolve, trying to gauge how much he loved his wife by bargaining for their son.

And then the Manor clock struck seven and there was a heavy knock on the door.

Lucius went to the foyer, curious as to whom it might be. A dragon couldn’t or wouldn’t bother knocking. Besides, he’d been watching carefully and never saw the beast approach the Manor, nor did the wards give any indication of such a large intruder.

At the door stood but only a man. He wore dark blue robes that seemed to shimmer in the fading sunlight and contrasted sharply with his curly blond locks. He looked madly happy as he grinned across the threshold at Lucius. “Can I help you?” Lucius asked, eyeing the man curiously.

“I’m here for your son,” the stranger replied. “Just as we bargained.”

Lucius’ eyes went wide and he tried to shut the door, but it was flung back into him with such force that it left Lucius stumbling. The man entered Lucius’ home and strode straight for the dining room where Narcissa was still trying to get young Draco to eat. It was like he knew exactly where to find the boy even though he’d never stepped foot in Malfoy Manor before.

“Draco,” he greeted softly, picking the boy up from his highchair while Narcissa looked on and gaped. Her eyes flicked to Lucius who looked stunned and terrified. “What a fitting name, Lucius. You’ve done our bargain proud.”

“What bargain?” Narcissa asked, standing and marching toward the stranger who’d taken her child. “Lucius, what is he talking about?”

The man hefted the laughing child to his hip, smiling as Draco ran his fingers through his curls and gently tugged. “’Ragon,” the young Draco cooed and the stranger chuckled and nodded.

“That’s right, little one, but you may call me Gellert,” he announced and all air fled from Lucius’ lungs at the pronouncement.

“Grindelwald,” he breathed, panic lacing through him. This wizard was renowned throughout all of Europe and maybe even the world. He possessed the Elder Wand, the greatest, most destructive wand to have ever been created.

“That’s right, Lucius. I’m only an Animagus dragon, but in that form my blood is as potent and powerful as any Hungarian Horntail,” he explained, and if Lucius had any doubts, they were all expelled when he saw the man’s eyes flash that same stunningly frightening lilac they had in the cave.

“Well, I for one don’t care who you are,” Narcissa bit out. “That’s my son and I demand you hand him over.”

“Mamma,” Draco cooed, pumping his little fists in the air, trying to reach for her.

“Mother’s right here, Draco. Don’t you worry, son,” she replied anxiously.

“No, there is no need to worry, Draco,” Grindelwald said, smoothing the boy’s platinum hair tenderly from his brow. “You and I will be very happy companions. I’ll teach you everything I know, so that one day, you’ll be just as powerful as I am. You’ll be my dragon apprentice.”

“’Ragon!” Draco cried again, laughing and clapping his tiny hands together with boyish glee.

“I said, give him back,” Narcissa growled. “He’s going nowhere with you.”

“Didn’t your husband tell you?” Grindelwald asked. “He traded your son’s life for the vial of my blood that saved yours. You should be thanking him, really.”

“He what?” she seethed. “You what?” she demanded, glaring daggers at Lucius.

“It was the only way,” Lucius explained, his tone pleading.

Grindelwald tisked, shaking his head in dismay as he strode past Lucius into the corridor. “Lucius, I’m ashamed of you. In my cave you were claiming to love your wife so dearly, but you didn’t tell her that you’d sold off her firstborn son? How very inconsiderate of you.”

Narcissa stiffened and drew her wand, leveling it at Grindelwald’s retreating form. “Take another step and I’ll Avada you so fast your head will spin off,” she warned.

All that met her ears was a gravelly laugh. “Keep in mind that I’m holding your child, Narcissa. Be logical. You can’t kill me without killing him as well.”

Her eyes flashed with fury and for a moment, Lucius thought she would damn the consequences and kill him anyway, but her resolve wavered and so did her wand. “Please,” she whispered, unshed tears welling in her eyes. “It’s my son, my boy, please don’t take him from me,” she begged.

Grindelwald frowned, a delicate purse of the lips and shook his wild mane of blond hair, not quite as white as Draco’s but more golden. “I’m sorry, Lady Malfoy, but a bargain is a bargain and you have nothing to offer that I would want in exchange.”

“Nothing?” she asked, desperation in her voice as she slinked forward, her fingertips moving to the front lacing of her bodice. Lucius growled, but she paid him no mind as she moved gracefully forward like water from a pitcher.

Again Grindelwald chuckled. “I’m afraid your beauty is lost on me, Lady Malfoy,” he told her and she collapsed to the ground, knowing she had nothing else to offer.

“Please,” Lucius said. “You can have every Galleon, Sickle and Knut from our vault. Take our home, take our land, just please don’t take our son.”

Those lavender eyes turned upon him and Lucius withered beneath their power. “Are you going against your word, Lucius Malfoy?”

The Elder Wand was in the stranger’s hand without Lucius even hearing a spell uttered and Lucius too fell to his knees prostrate. “Draco,” he whimpered. “My son.”

But when he looked up, there was no one there to claim, and no one there to fight, and only a furiously sobbing wife to try and console.

Author’s Note: So, the story has been set to action. What do you think? Grindelwald has been great fun for me to write because there isn’t much to go on. I’ve decided to make him Dumbledore’s compliment and antithesis, as I feel Draco is for Harry. I doubt you’ll like him as much as I do though…Oh, and this story will be the longest of the fairytales so far at 5 parts total.