There's a certain tension in the air, the ley lines flow disrupting in just so that Draco knows means Harry Potter was planning something. Everyone who'd spent any significant amount of time in Potter's presence in school could feel it, several pulling back from public spaces and tucking themselves out of view. His father had gotten out of Azkaban with barely any time served, Lucius Malfoy who had attempted to kill Harry Potter when the boy was twelve, who was now securing his future rein as Minister. Draco would have to be stupid to not feel something big was coming, and that Harry Potter was at the center of it.
Draco's eyes flicked absently over the Daily Prophet's front page, the picture taking up over half of it showing Harry Potter, dressed up like every bit of the lord Dumbledore had tried to hide from him, with Heir Bill Weasley at his side- the eldest Weasley had a mirthful grin on his face and his arms were spread out as if he was a cat presenting his familiar with a dead mouse. Except the mouse in that analogy would be one Lord Marcus Flint, who is spinning on his heel, offering a deep bow, and kissing Potter's hand in a very flirtatious way that has Potter's face darkening and Weasley breaking out into guffaws of laughter.
The headline reads; Lord Hadrian Peverall-Black, and Heir William Weasley courting Death-Eaters?
It goes on to drabble inanely about how Potter was recently revealed to be seeing a mind-healer, making the general populace (RE: the author) worry about his mental stability and how that may effect his Healer's Oaths.
Draco scoffs as he reads about how they're calling to have him released from his Oaths, as if that wasn't the only thing protecting them. Harry Potter was born and raised in war, steeping in destiny and surrounded by death his whole life. One day he would die in war, and sometimes Draco wondered if Potter had even survived the war.
The memory of those hauntingly glowing green eyes that resemble the killing curse so much, how Potter seemed to see things that weren't there, how he seemed to know things he shouldn't.
"Shacklebolt is out of office." His father's voice makes Draco freeze, his mother holds herself stiffly in her seat across from him.
"What?"
"We did it! Shacklebolt has been asked to step down, Potter is verging on a breakdown and everybody knows it, next election I'm stepping up to run with a new image of change, I'll steal Dumbledore's pheonix imagery."
Draco's blood runs cold as he watches his mothers face swiftly close off to hide her less then happy emotions at his fathers news.
Later that night, the ley lines crash harshly against their shores, signs of something powerful releasing a ton of magic. He finds out the next day that Potter was released from his Oaths. He starts writing a letter.
He writes out a list of names and places and times. He doesn't think he would need the extra encouragement, Potter from school would jump at the opportunity to help anyone who asked. (He also doesn't think the Potter from school survived. So better safe then sorry.)
His mother doesn't travel well anymore, she claims it's age, he knows it backlash. Malfoy marriage contracts demand absolute loyalty, which is something she can't afford to give any more. Draco doesn't correct her, doesn't tell her he's been counting the bloody petals she fails to vanish away. (Two orange lillies, six yellow tansies, one sunflower) He lets her cling to what they both know is a lie.
He gets his meeting, it's set for a muggle pub. It's called a 'Black Family Meeting', Draco supposes it's for their sake. Lucius can't afford to keep them from a blood family meeting. He hates how Potter thought of that before him.
Draco apparates them to a drop point nearby, close enough to walk but far enough for his mother to compose herself. He politely looks away while she rushes to hide her handkerchief. (he can't ignore the orange and yellow petals painted in sticky red like napalm fire so he pretends they both don't know she's dying.)
Potter is sitting at a table already, Aunt Andromeda and Cousin Edward are seated beside him. Draco never got the chance to meet Aunt Andromeda before, let alone Cousin Nymphadora, having grown up on secretive stories of Aunt Andromeda and Cousin Sirius causing problems and running amok he can't help but feel mournful of the life he could've had.
The Black family, once so large and proud, down too barely four members, with a Lord who's a twice removed cousin of a branch that's twice removed from the main branch. How the mighty fall.
"Lady Malfoy, Heir Malfoy, welcome welcome. I am glad you could make it." Potter stands to greet then, kissing his mother's hand and giving Draco himself a firm handshake and a solid grip on his elbow.
"Lord Peverall-Black, pleasure is mine." His mother greets cordially. She doesn't know Draco was the one who asked for this meeting. He assumes Potter already knew that as he doesn't mention it.
"My Lord." Draco gives his own greeting, only to be waved away by Potter.
"Don't bother with formalities Heir Malfoy. You can call me Potter or whatever other insult you come up with, I won't accept formalities from anyone who helped in the war." Draco shifts uncomfortably at the reminder, not sure where to go with that.
"Hello Cissa." Andromeda takes pity on the Malfoy's after they've taken their seats, offering his mother a smile, making her relax.
Draco focuses on breathing, enjoying the feeling of being around the family he was deprived of until the muggle food server has dropped off their drinks and he feels the ley lines rise up to enclose them in entirety. His eyes snap to Potter, who has his head tilted and his curious eyes are pinning him to his seat.
"So, we have a lot to discuss today. I think the first thing on the table is the wealth." Potter snaps his fingers and a stack of papers appear, which he hands one to each of them.
"These papers have the most recent total value of Black vaults. When I got my situation with the Goblins sorted it was revealed I was expected to take on six lordships-" Draco and his mother gape at this, it's clear Aunt Andy already knew this detail. "So in an effort to salvage dead lines I've condesed them. The Black family has absorbed both the Gaunt and the Slytherin lines." He's waving his hands as he talks.
"The Gaunt line wasn't much, I destroyed their last shack, but the family Parsel magicks are stronger then the main Slytherin's at this point, but the Family magicks are super low. Slytherin's last blood relative in Britain is dead now, and he wasn't pureblood so he was unable to access much of the main vaults. That gave the Black's a very unneeded but still large boost, I've gone ahead and made Scion vaults for all of you again."
Aunt Andy is wearing her Scion ring already, but Cousin Edward only has his family ring. Draco has two rings in front of him, a Scion ring and a Family ring.
"It's my understanding that Lord Arcturus went into hermitage before he could welcome Heir Malfoy, so consider this an official welcome to the family. As well as a welcome back for Andy." Draco's mother's eyes are red rimmed, she'd been devastated he'd never be welcomed into her birth family with Arcturus's death and Sirius's incarceration.
"Thank you Lord Black. You have no idea what this means to me." Draco looks away, knowing he'd cry if he looked at his mother right now.
"Believe me, I do, Lady Malfoy." Potter is turning back and ruffling Cousin Edward's hair. "In other news, this is the official announcement of Edward Remus Lupin being my Heir for the Black family." Draco n9ds, that makes sense.
Potter turns to him. "You're expecting an Heir with your wife, Scion Greengrass, yes?"
"Yes, Scorpius Draconis Malfoy. He'll be here next month."
"I would like to appoint him as the Black family spare Heir."
Draco freezes, he doesn't get to ask his questions before Potter is rushing to explain himself. "I don't want to leave a chance for the Black family to be without again. I am only Lord because my Godfather was, I am in no way actually blood family with any of you. I know that. I'll be stepping down as Lord as soon as Teddy is old and experienced enough. He'll need a blood Heir, figure you can keep that cautionary line. The Black family charter is strict about treason, the family magicks wouldn't accept a Lord who murdered the previous, even at cost of the line ending."
It feels like hours later when they're finally at the dreaded topic.
"Let's discuss marriage." Andy brings it up first, opening the doors for Draco's future.
"I won't be forcing Teddy into a contract, but he will be raised knowing about the possibilities. I have plans lined up for my other family line, and I assume you're happy to remain Mrs, Tonks, Andy?" Potter is quick to jump on the subject.
"Indeed, though we will discuss Teddy's options later on."
"Of course. Heir Malfoy, how is your marriage?"
"I am perfectly content with it, in fact quite happy. Astoria and I get along well."
Draco can feel his mother is stiff beside him, she's trying to discreetly cough into a napkin when Potter turns his attention to her.
"And you, Lady Malfoy?"
"I am content. Lord Malfoy treats me well."
Draco grips the table as ge waits, frustrated.
"Lord Malfoy? Most content marriages don't refer to each other by titles." Potter pauses, but continues before she can respond. "Regardless, I must tell you that you're husband won't be around for much longer, so I'm giving you the opportunity now to save yourself. I can end the contract right now on grounds of treachery."
Draco sits stiffly as his mother shifts in her seat. She shakes her head. "No, no I'm okay." Is all she gets out before Draco is standing and slamming his hands on the table in front of her.
"Mother-" he stalls, trying to compose himself. "Mother. Let's stop pretending you aren't dying. Please." Her face has gone pale and she's shaking her head. "No. I know you are. I've seen the flowers. I've read Malfoy contracts before. Please. This is your chance." She's standing up and moving to leave when he grabs her sleeve.
"Mother I need you to still be here, be here for Scorpio if not for me." He knows it cruel, using her grief of her own family moving on and leaving her and her son behind, but it works. She's nodding her head and rushing out acceptances and hugging him now.
Draco can see Potter smiling, Heir Black is smiling and hugging him in a mimicry of the Malfoys.