The Birth of The Previously Forgotten
Chapter One: The Birth of The Previously Forgotten
Narcissa hadn’t expected to get pregnant so early into her marriage. Truthfully, she thought she’d never be pregnant at all, her childhood healer had told her that her chances of having children were slim to none. It’s why Lucius married her in the first place, he could use her supposed infertility to hide his own paramours, any bastards he may have could be passed off as her own, with his father none the wiser.
At least that was the plan originally, but sitting in the white hospital bed, in a fresh gown, a sleeping babe in her arms, she knew he would have to end his infidelity then. He knew it too, from the way he couldn’t keep his eyes away from their little son. A son who had the same black hair she did, streaks of pale blonde hidden in the tufts on his head. He was the new Malfoy heir, Cepheus Narcissus Malfoy, their little king.
Narcissa couldn’t help but smile down at the little babe, wrapped in white cloth and nestled against her chest. She vowed then, she’d do anything to protect her little heir, even if it meant murdering the new Dark Lord herself, she’d do what is needed to keep him away from harm.
In the corner of her eye, she could see the tears on Lucius’s face, the soft smile on his lips, and knew he made the same promise. He may be a loyal follower, but he’d be a loyal father first, where he wasn’t as a husband, she knew it.
And if he wasn’t, she’d make him.
Little Cepheus was two years old when his brother was born, the brother not born to his mother, but one of his father’s last paramours. Even at that age, he was aware of the dynamic of his family, His Father and Mother were not in love, but they loved him. His Mother could not have any more children after him, he’d been her little miracle, but his father wanted more children, more heirs. Heirs who would never replace Cepheus but could become great in their own right.
And so, little Draco Lucius Malfoy was born. Named by his “mother” but loved solely by his father. Unfortunately for the babe, his birth mother had not survived the birth, leaving him to be raised by his father’s wife. The woman who should’ve been his mother and the woman who couldn’t love him the same way she did her own son, but cared in little ways. Cepheus, however, adored his little brother, his little green eyes lit up whenever he saw him, he was an adorable babe. The spoiled heir often spent his time, when not with his mother, in the nursery beside his baby brother.
-An excerpt from “A Pureblood History” written by Corvus Lestrange, a biography on the intricacies of each pureblood family, written after the Second War. This excerpt was taken from “The Malfoy Seer” section of the “Malfoy” Chapter.
Cepheus stared out the window, anticipation filling his veins as he watched the slowly moving sun. He chewed his lip in an ungraceful manner, Mama would surely scold him later. However, in that moment, Cepheus found he could care less.
As he gazed out the window, the familiar sight of a brown owl caused his grey eyes to light up. He pushed open the glass to allow the majestic bird to land beside him, in its claws was a letter. The emblem, the one he had awaited for so long.
He grinned and took the letter, giving the owl a pat and some of the treats he had ready, before turning and rushing downstairs. He made sure to compose himself before entering the sitting room where Mama sat, as elegant as ever. Cepheus immediately made his way over to his waiting mother, a spring in his step.
“Mama! My Hogwarts letter came!” He exclaimed, stopping before her and holding the letter out to her. When she took the letter, he curled up next to her on the sofa, the plush cushions almost immediately making him relax, “Could you read it to me? I’m too nervous to open it.”
Narcissa smiled, petting her son’s black hair, “Of course, my heart, though it’s nothing to be afraid of, I’m certain you were accepted,” She reassured as she opened the envelope, slicing the wax off with her letter opener. Inside was a letter and a list, the elegant scrawl of a quill evident when she unfolded them.
She scanned the words, reading them aloud as she did so.
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Malfoy,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and materials.
Term begins on September 1st. We await your owl by no later than July 31st.
Yours Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Narcissa scanned the list, frowning at the books required. Hogwarts truly did lack everything an heir like her little star needed to know. Self tutoring would be needed over the summers, she decided then. Her son would not be lacking in any knowledge.
She shook her head to clear her thoughts before smiling down at Cepheus, who stared up at her with an excited but patient expression.
“It seems we shall have to organize a trip to Diagon at once. Go get your brother and we shall leave right after lunch, alright, my heart?” She said, laying a pale hand on her son’s head, petting his dark hair softly. Cepheus nodded, eagerly, before jumping up, “Yes, mama!” He replied, as he rushed out the room and up the stairs.
It was times like these, where Narcissa was shocked at how much her son was like her, in appearance, in attitude, there was so much of her in him and it made her heart swell with love everytime she realized. Draco would always be Lucius’s son, no matter how she protected him, she could never love him the way a mother should, but Cepheus would always be hers, her heart, her miracle.
The three sat around the table, eating a skillfully made lunch by one of their house elves, Cepheus tried to learn all of their names but there were just so many. Besides, he usually only interacted with his nanny elf, Bumble, who had cared for him since he was little. Cepheus shook out of his thoughts as he glanced over at his little brother.
Draco was pouting over his lunch, poking at it rather than eating it. Cepheus frowned, before he nudged the blond. “Dray, what’s wrong?” He asked quietly, as he set his fork down to give his brother his full attention.
Draco blushed when he realized he’d been caught sulking before he looked up at his brother, teary eyed. “I don’t want you to go. It’ll be lonely without you.” He muttered, looking down again as if he were embarrassed to have such feelings of unease.
Cepheus softened at his brother’s response, leaning over to lay a gentle hand on his brother’s shoulder, “You’ll see me over breaks, and I’m sure with me gone, Father will arrange more outings for you to spend time with Pansy and Theodore. Plus, in two years, you’ll be at Hogwarts with me and you’ll be sooo tired of me, cause I won’t leave you alone when you’re there.”
Cepheus reassured his brother, with a gentle, teasing grin, before it softened to a genuine smile, “I promise, you’ll be okay, it’s not like I’m leaving forever. It’s just for a couple months, okay?” Draco sighed a bit, before smiling uneasily, giggling a bit at his brother’s response. He nodded, before wiping away the tears that had not yet fallen.
“Okay..” He mumbled in response, before going to eat his lunch, a renewed excitement filling his veins as he remembered they’d be going to Diagon after eating.
Narcissa watched on with a small smile, nostalgia in her gaze as she watched the two brothers. She remembered two other brothers who had a similar conversation before Hogwarts tore them apart, she prayed silently to her Goddesses that the same wouldn’t happen to the two boys before her.