Fathers, Godfathers, and Godsons...Oh My

Chapter 2

Viola flapped her wings from her perch, displaying her brilliant purple colors for one and all to see. She had lighter tones of purple on the underside of her wings and a splatter of vibrant blue spots along her spine. Vain little thing, she was gorgeous and she knew it. Draco took a deep breath before entering the Great Hall, Cassie and the twins following him. Surprisingly his roommates hadn’t questioned him. They were concerned, but they accepted his need for privacy. All of them froze amidst a group of perplexed third and fourth years. The long benches and house tables had been replaced with more intimate round tables all over. They were all even spaced, no table better or worse than another. The teachers present ate and talked amongst themselves but said nothing. Draco grinned. It was his question come to life. No more house separation during meals. And with everyone arriving on a Friday, it allowed for more time for everyone to relax and prepare.

He grabbed Cassie’s hand and weaved around the congregating students, moving to the farthest table up front, closest to the teachers. Alex and Hen dragged behind him, each of them spreading out as food appeared before them. Cassie cooed to Viola and rubbed along her spine, “She’s so pretty!”

Draco rolled his eyes, “Don’t tell her that.” Huffing, “She puts my vanity to shame.” Viola puffed up her chest and bleated sharply in Draco’s ear. He winced and put her down on the table, she turning up her nose at him and flapping her wings again.

The twins spied the color change and moved closer to observe her. Cassie noticed the other students standing in the doorway still. Leaning over, “Is this one of those Dumbledore setups?”

Nodding silently, he sipped his pumpkin juice and watched the students who looked too nervous to move. They reminded him of sheep. He picked up a corner of cheese and tossed it, smirking when Viola turned and attacked it, preening forgotten. Spotting Hermione and Harry towards the back. Standing up and waving his hand once, “Harry. Hermione. Over here.”

The two Gryffindors grinned to one another and the seas parted as they walked confidently through the hall before sitting at Draco’s table. That seemed to jar the others, Gryffindors tentatively sitting with each other and other houses as well. Pansy smirked and grabbed Blaise, the two Slytherins nodding before sitting at the table with Draco and the others.

Draco chewed thoughtfully on his toast before glancing at Cassie who was sending him a questioning look. Blinking, “What? Oh, Blaise. This is Cassie and the twins Hen and Alex. You know Harry and Hermione of course.”

Blaise nodded thoughtfully and buttered his toast, “Of course.”

Ron sighed to himself, glancing over at Dean and Seamus before gathering his nerve, “Ron, you’re not really-...”

Glancing back at his friends, “Hermione and Harry are my best friends, I’m giving him a chance. If he acts like a git the gloves come off.”

He headed over to the table that was being silently scrutinized by the other houses. Harry and Hermione both froze when Ron approached, Hermione very wary. The redhead looked down at having caused that reaction before glancing at Draco who’s expression was completely blank. He could assume, he knew that. He could also ask Harry. But he got this feeling it would matter more if Draco approved, “Got room for one more?”

Draco pursed his lips for a moment, considering his options. He could see Harry sending him pleading looks and caved, “Would you be a friend, Ronald, or an ally, Weasley?” He glared mildly at having his hand nipped and tossed Viola a grape.

The redhead may not be the brightest of bulbs but he knew a test when he heard it. And he caught the distinction of how Draco addressed him, “I hope I would be a friend, Draco.”

The blond nodded with a thin smile, “We always have room for friends.”

Ron sat down warily, jumping just a little as a plate popped in front of him. Hermione frowned as she glanced around, seeing the eyes of Hogwarts on them but noticing the Slytherins weren’t sneering at them for the most part, “Is it just me or are the Slytherins acting oddly?”

Draco looked up, taking in the hall at a glance before looking back down, “Perhaps they’re honoring the code, even if I am disowned.”

Ron caught the pained break in the blond’s voice and winced to himself when Harry gave him a glare. Blaise frowned, “You’re not disowned, Draco. You’re new guardian adopted you, correct?”

Resting his chin in his hand, moving his spoon in a pattern in the bowl, “Yes, he took me in and adopted me but it doesn’t change the fact mother disowned me.”

The dark Italian made a scoffing noise, “She’s not a Malfoy, Draco. You know better than that.”

Draco looked up slowly, “What?”

Blinking in confusion, “She’s not a Malfoy. She’s a Black and the spouse of a Malfoy. You know perfectly well only the Head of your family name may disown a child.”

Shrugging, “And she did-...”

“And she’s a female while you are the first born male heir.” Seeing the outraged, indignant look on Hermione’s face, “You’ll forgive me if I say it that way but the ancient traditions still upheld by wizarding society and Gringott’s goblins is chauvinistic at best. A female cannot be named head of the line unless she is the first born and unwed. Were that the case, it would be the only way. And she would lose her status once she married. The only one that could disown you was Lucius, and since he was incarcerated by defacto you are now the Head of the Malfoy line. The wards to the manor would respond only to you and she would be kicked out automatically unless you specified otherwise. As the only remaining heir your properties and holdings will be preserved for you until your seventeenth year by your guardian.”

Standing up and leaning forward with a glint in his eyes, “Are you absolutely certain?”

“Fairly. Your guardian should receive any updates within-...”

Zabini stopped talking, silently watching as along with the morning post, an official owl from
Gringott’s swooped down in front of Albus. Draco didn’t even think, pumping his fist back in a clear sign of victory, “YES!”

***

Cassie pouted and dragged Draco along, “Come on, Sergeant, you have to rally the troops one more time before we get bogged down in classes.”

Draco rolled his eyes heavenward but allowed himself to be pulled. Ron looked at Harry, “Troops?”

Grinning, “You’ll see.” The redhead shrugged and followed, too curious not to. On the Quidich pitch stood twenty little bodies in front of their brooms, waiting expectantly and cheering when Draco and Cassie appeared. She gave him a wink and ran over to her broom stick, the others spreading out and doing the same. Neither Pansy nor Hermione were particularly fond of flying but they knew this was a last chance to do this for a while.

Draco stiffened, hands behind his back and pacing, expression stern, “Where’s this soldier’s broom?”

Ron jumped when the blond pointed to him, staring at Draco as a seven year old ran up to him with a spare broom before hurrying back in line. The redhead blinked once before copying the others, laying his broom next to him and holding out his hand as they were. He remembered this from first year, “Always remember to look out for your comrades. Now, mount up!”

A shout in unison, “UP!” And every broom went flying into waiting hands.

Students from all over Hogwarts ran to windows and doorways, searching out what was going on. In the astronomy tower, Roger Davies, the captain of Ravenclaw team watched them and was damn impressed. Draco grinned, letting his broom lift him off the ground before pulling out his wand. He cast the safety charm, then tucked away his wand and let the wind carry him above them, “I think we have some admirers.” He gestured back towards the school, seeing students and teachers alike bleeding out of the doors to watch, “Let’s show these Hogwarts kids what Home kids are made of.”

They all peeled out after him, following him like a swarm as he pivoted and turned, the little ones keeping up perfectly with him. Cassie grinned and shot overhead, looping around Draco as he started to spin around her. Harry laughed and sped above all of them, going for speed as he moved from one side of the Quidich field to the other like a dragon fly.

The twins played a game of tag around one of the towers while Ron, Hermione and Pansy just hovered and watched them, “I had no idea...”

Hermione shrugged, “I don’t think anyone did.”

Shaking his head, “I mean...he taught them how to fly, didn’t he?”

Pansy sighed, “Of course he did. Draco’s an excellent teacher. Do you really think Slytherins do so well in Potions because Professor Snape favors us?” She looked at Ron’s face and snorted, “Of course you do. That would denounce him as a Professor. Draco tutors us. All of us... damn, I’m going to have to talk to him about that.”

Ron peaked shyly at Harry, “You think he’ll tutor me?”

Harry grinned, “Only if you’re nice cause I already asked him.” Shrugging, “At least he’s teaching my
class.”

Ron sighed in relief, not having had time to compare schedules with his best friend, “Me too.”